Rick Kohut
A vivid, intense, yet soulful story of community, bigotry, the fierce love of kin - all set against a historical moment in the streets of Boston and the wider U.S. On one level it's a mystery and a story of retribution. Yet, there's layers of thoughtful characterization, insightful description of place and time plus a stark reminder that hatred and violence still fester in the tightest knit of communities.
I chose the book only to complete one last "challenge" in a reading series - before 2023 concluded. It was on a "Best of 2023" list and so it fit the bill. I enjoyed the universe of gods - once subdued by humans, but now warring - with human foot soldiers. The main characters were engaging and yet from the start their story arc was pretty clear. I liked the "lite," mostly unexplained magic. And the typewriters and how they made the letters was clever. A quick read and yet not one which is likely to linger for me.
Mixed feelings about this book. I like the titular character as it's great to have leading PI's who are neuro-diverse (see the great "IQ" series of novels for another engaging character.) I like her backstory which I learned from the three Bill Hodges novels. I'd not read the other, more recent, series in which Holly and Barbara Robinson appear. And I don't think I will read it now as there's quite a few references which apparently spoil the climax in at least one of those novels. On the negative side, I don't like mysteries where the identity of the villain(s) is immediately known by the reader. While this gave intense insight in to their heads in this instance, I feel much more suspense could have been built. And then there's the cannibalism - which doesn't remain a mystery for long either. I think it was handled mostly tastefully (pun intended) - except for one scene late in the book which involves lines drawn by a sharpie - which was jaw-dropping for me. Lastly, the "twist" which leads to the climax was telegraphed a mile away. NOTE- I was disappointed in the audio version of this novel. I'd listened to the outstanding reader for the three Bill Hodges novels. Although Holly was a secondary character, he gave her a voice which illuminated her uniqueness. While having a female reader for "Holly" makes sense, I thought she gave Holly a flat, uninteresting and often tough to listen to voice. Overall, a good, mostly engaging story, but lacking in a few key areas.
I fell in love with the universe of the first book in this series - "The Rook." I think it's so cool that these "pawns" - each with a different (and often absurdly hilarious) "super-power" - are united in service of the British homeland against all sorts of engaging (and often humorous) supernatural events and entities. While I found the plot of "The Rook" to be hard to follow at times, this entry moves at a brisk clip. I like the juxtaposition between the born powerful pawns and the made powerful enemies turned allies from Belgium (!!!) While the action was great (especially in a couple of "set-pieces" that were superfluous to plot advancement) the mistrusting relationship between the two young women was a thoughtful and engaging heart of the story. Enjoyed this one so much that I immediately started reading the third entry so I can be again immersed in a fun and exciting universe of battles, intrigue and British bureaucracy.
Wow - what an end to a great trilogy! I've been reading Stephen King for more than three decades now. While I enjoyed his more recent non-supernaturally focused ones ("Fairy Tale," and the first two books in this series,) it was great to be back in a well-spun story with an evil, supernaturally powered plot. I liked how the villain in the first book makes an encore appearance with a far more malicious, fantastical and entertaining plan. The relationship among the core trio of Bill, Holly and Jerome is deepened in surprisingly emotional ways. While the technology which drives the suspense is far-fetched and the origin of the "superpowers" isn't fully explained, overlooking these details in the service of enjoying a fast-moving plot isn't hard to do. The ending was thrilling and satisfying. And once I finished this audio-book (read by the outstanding journeyman actor Will Patton) I was ready and eager to put "Holly" into my ears (although I was disappointed that a far less engaging narrator than Patton reads it.)
As soon as I finished listening to the audio-book of "Mr. Mercedes," I immediately put this audio-book right into my ears. I was eager to hear what these endearing characters - Bill, Holly and Jerome were up to in this 2nd installment. I liked the focus on unpublished journals containing the fourth and fifth novels in one of the greatest character arcs ever published in the world of this book (and reminiscent of the Rabbit books by John Updike in our own world.) And, as a dedicated reader myself, I could relate to the (obsessive) desire multiple characters have to "know what comes next" for a fictional character who has inspired them as much as a real person might. I feel the build up to the conclusion was too slow and I didn't connect much with the two main characters who drove the plot (and weren't in Mr. Mercedes.) While this second novel in a trilogy wasn't a masterpiece like "The Empire Strikes Back" was it it's trilogy, it was still an enjoyable listen. And a valuable one before diving into the amazing third book "End of Watch."
I picked up this audio-book after I learned that it's the first book in the series which serves as a "prequel" to the story and titular character of "Holly." I'm grateful I did this as not only did I experience Holly's backstory, but I also met the endearing character - Kermit "Bill" Hodges. The plot is thrilling as it picks up steam barrelling towards a satisfying conclusion, but it's the characters - especially the deeply disturbed villain Brady Hartsfield - who make this story sing. I'm glad that I picked the audio version of the book as the reader Will Patton (most recently in "Silo" on Apple TV+) is an amazing reader who captured the voices in ways which expanded the written text. As soon as this first audio in the series was out of my ears, I immediately reached for the next one - "Finders Keepers"
I've not read the first in the "Molly the Maid" series, so I was unfamiliar with the main character and her prior adventures. It took me a bit of reading to realize that the main character is neuro-diverse. This discovery added to my enjoyment of the story as I appreciate novels which feature characters with "superpowers" which come from the unique way their minds work. I liked how the mystery in the present connected with Molly's past - and her relationship with her grandmother. It was a quick and enjoyable read with a mostly satisfying conclusion.
I picked up this novel because I was fortunate enough to hear the author speak (for free) at my local, public library. She talked mostly about three areas of her curiosity which led to her extensive research and then resulted in the story in this novel. These three are: First - the history of former Nazis and their interest in the occult both during WWII and then afterwards – often while they were in hiding/exile in the Americas. Second, the arc of a “haunted house story” especially as described by Henry James and other great writers. And third – which is the setting of the story – the Mexican film-making industry in the 1980’s and 1990’s as what had been a vibrant business was dying.
Hearing these story components helped me appreciate the novel much more than I would have without these insights. In fact, after the rather slow start of the story, I would have likely given up and put it into my DNF category. But, knowing that there was an occult-focused, “haunted house” story in the midst of so much (to me) uninteresting Mexican film industry setting, kept me going until the end.
And I’m glad I did as the story became more engaging around the middle. The relationship between the two characters began to pay off and the creepy occult aspects moved forward. And – no spoilers here – these together led to one of the coolest, wildest, and most enjoyable climatic scenes and final resolutions that I’ve read in a lite-horror novel in a long time! So, stay with it – you’ll be glad that you did!
As I was engrossed by Cosby’s previous two novels – “Blacktop Wasteland” and “Razorback Tears,” I was eager to read his newest work. And that it appeared on multiple “Best of…” lists was icing on the cake. Like his other books, it’s a roller coaster from the beginning. In the first 30 pages there’s a school shooting and the exposure of a dark and deeply disturbing video record of murders of children in the Virginia town of the story. Although the crimes in the found footage were described delicately, the subsequent murders were described in quite graphic and far more disturbing ways.
This wasn’t my main problem with the book though. While I liked the main character, the plot didn’t move quickly enough. This was in part because there were many sub-plots, based on “issues of the day” which bloated and bogged down the story. There’s too many to list and, while some were more interesting than others – a southern town grappling with whether to retain its Confederate statues; others weren’t – an old flame returns and leads the main character to question his cooling relationship with the “local woman.”
While not a bad read, it didn’t grip me like his two other novels I mentioned. If you’ve not read either of those, check them out instead of this one
I found this novel on a few "recommended reads" lists and I'm glad I picked it up. It's a relatively quick read which kept me engaged throughout. Although I don't watch "reality" shows like "The Bachelor" I easily understood the way the show in the book -- "The Catch" -- worked. I liked how the story was told, chapter by chapter, with the focus on the different characters. The "excerpts" from the on-line discussions, journals and love letters added to the plot development. The mystery of the story wasn't deep, nor was the horror of it too intense. There's a few gory descriptions of carnage, but even these are brief and more for atmosphere than for shock and horror. I smiled when the meaning of the title is revealed near the end - especially since none of the characters (whom the chapters are named after) have the name "Patricia." An enjoyable read which celebrates the beauty of nature and a range of ways to love!
I picked up this audio book because I just finished watching the first season of "Silo" on Apple TV+. No spoilers here, except to say the only similarities are the overall concept/universe and some of the central characters. The show fleshes out character stories and creates numerous characters who aren't in the book at all. The book goes WELL beyond where the first season ends, so perhaps avoid the book if you're into the show and don't want to have a good idea about where the second season may go. I will say that the show helped me imagine what the silo looks like and without this visual, I don't think my reading would have been as rich. The writing is adequate in moving the story, but it isn't great literature as there's too many cliches and frequent over description - which slows the plot to a crawl in places. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series as I do like the concept, the main characters and am curious to see how the author develops this quite believable world.
I read b/c this book is on multiple Best of 2023 lists and I can see why it's been honored in this way. A poetic story of survival with some beautiful passages about the wonder of the natural world. Thoughtful subtext of colonization and the blindness to the glory of nature the settlers brought to America. The commentary on how much beauty is missed was particularly resonant for me. And I take to heart the final lines: “The wind passed, even as it is passing now, over all the people who find themselves so dulled by the concerns of their own bodies and?? their own hungers that they cannot stop for a moment to feel it's goodness as it brushes against them. And feel it now, so soft, so eternal, this wind against your good and living skin.”??
My experience of this audiobook was enhanced by a reviewer who urged readers to “not think about the plot details” and instead experience the world building. I second this advice and add that it helped me to view the story almost as an allegory - what colonization in the past does to a world and people in it. Even more so, it shines light on the growing darkness in our world - plague, pomgroms, ‘religion' colliding with governments to oppress those in the wrong “caste” and more. The fantastical elements were less than expected and not well explained - plot devices and symbols (like the “bright doors” of the title.) Overall, an engaging listen and a thoughtful exploration of how religion can use power and violence.??
I enjoyed the first book in this series more than this - the 2nd one. The first had wittier writing and a more engaging plot. Still, I like the world of the story and the narrator is endearing and hapless. I listened to the audiobook of this and the first book and I imagine this added at least a 1/4 start to my rating as the British narrator captured well the voices of the main character. Not sure if I'm going to listen to the 3rs in the series though.??
Storygraph recommended this novel to be and I am glad of this as I enjoyed it as much as any novel I've read or listened to recently. The first person narrator is endearing, honest, insightful - and funny! The supporting friends of his are well drawn and loveable too. I enjoyed the setting in Athens, GA - as the author captured the light and the dark of a football weekend in a southern college town. The mystery/suspense was the right amount to keep me turning the pages as I blew through this relatively short novel quickly. Recommended highly also as it helped me better understand what life with a degenerative physical disease/disability might be like. Again - so glad I found and read this story!??
I enjoyed this novel more once I realized that it's a fable along the lines of “The Alchemist” or similar. This helped me to bear the frequent pithy, wisdom statements that the Guide character in the story continues to offer to the narrator. The premise of the story is interesting as it answers the thought experiment many of us have: How would my life be if I made that one different choice?”??
Shorter and less intricately plotted than Station Eleven this feels like a novella. The time travel aspect is presented in a thoughtful manner and the question at the center of the plot is a generative one. It is a worthy and quick read, yet not one which stays with you long after the story concludes.??
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I revisited this book almost 40 years after the first time I was assigned to read it - in the year 1984 - when I was in 8th grade. I've changed since then and so has the world. I listened to the audio book, read of course by an author with a British accent, and was gripped by how much the world today is like the universe which Orwell creates.