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The Lake is one of those stories which I would classify as plausible fiction. What would happen if we found a real Fountain of Youth, one that would eradicate disease? What would the political and social consequences be, and how would the proper authorities go about dealing with them? This is the premise of the story. The protagonist, Jeff, is at the center of the action, acting as a liason between the water company that owns Crowley Lake (the source of the magic water) and the government. His romantic interest, Kate, is an Irish reporter who doesn't quite understand why everyone being healthy is so bad. Along the way, the reader meets various other characters who are all affected by the magic water in some way or another.
While I enjoyed thinking about the concept presented in The Lake, the writing itself was not very engaging. I felt as if the main characters lacked depth, and while new characters were constantly being introduced, Crawford failed to adequately develop them. Because of this, as paradoxical as it may seem, the plot was good, but the story fell flat.
Note: This book was sent to me by the author for review through the third party Bostick Communications.
Again, a classic. I do love my classics, and I'll post this review just in case someone wants to know my opinion.
As the title indicates, this book is a collection of Stevenson's short stories, the main one being Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The story begins with the protagonist, Mr. Utterson, discovering a creature known as Mr. Hyde committing certain atrocities. He further investigates and links the man to his good friend, Dr. Jekyll. He soon discovers that Dr. Jekyll has succeeded in creating an alter ego in Mr. Hyde that allows him to seperate his good and evil inclinations and house them in seperate bodies. What happens next is truly horrifying, but you must read the book to find out; I'm afraid I may give too much away if I keep explaining. I must admit that I have not read Stevenson before, and I was pleasantly surprised by his ability to depict horror without boring or disgusting me, as modern horror literature often seems to do. For those who enjoy mild horror, not quite Poe-level, Stevenson would be a good fit.
The other stories are quite good, although none as good as Dr. Jekyll, in my opinion. One story in particular that I did enjoy was The Misadventures of John Nicholson. I was quite amused by the many misfortunes that the poor protagonist had to suffer through; it would be perfect for those looking for a quick and light read. A Lodging for the Night was also funny, but in a more satirical way. My only complaint would be the dialect used in Thrawn Janet, it was difficult to decipher at times, especially with the additional slang terms. But otherwise, I really enjoyed this collection of short stories and would recomment them to everyone.
No Good Like It Is tells the journey of Lieutenant Dobey Walls through the Civil War and, when the war ends, to find his family. On the way he encounters Native Americans, slaves, and even love.
For me, this book was hard to get through. For someone who already knows a great deal about the Civil War, it would be perfect, but for someone who knows just the basics, like me, it's simply too jargon-filled and complicated to follow. Although the writing style was not bad by any means, the content of the book simply didn't capture my interest. I also felt like too much time was wasted on fighting scenes. Although this is a great read for Civil War history buffs, it might prove too difficult of a challenge for the average reader.
Note: This book was sent to me by the author for review through the third party Bostick Communications.
A Visit from the Goon Squad is about the passage of time and its effects on Sasha and Bennie, the two protagonists. The plot jumps between Benny and Sasha, showing them first as their present day selves, then delving into their pasts to explore how they got to their current situation, and finally progressing with them through their lives. The reader is introduced to a host of characters, who may seem trivial at first, but all come back to play a role in the protagonists' lives later on. In this way, Egan's book can only be described as a literal interpretation of life itself in its most raw and basic form.
Shamra Divided follows the tale of the ancient Shamra civilization and specifically the generations of the ruling family. The Shamra have survived through many hardships but each one has taken a toll on the people. Dara, the headstrong protagonist, has been prophesized as the only hope they have for further survival. The Shamra's greatests enemy, Chaos, is after them again, and only Dara has the tools to defeat him. The time period moves between the past and the present as Briana, Dara's friend, tells her about the history of her family. Shamra Divided is the second book in the Shamra Chronicles.
This book was definitely a very easy and enjoyable read. The writing was engaging and the plot line itself was fascinating. I have not read the first book of the series, so I was apprehensive as to whether I would be able to follow the story, but I was pleasantly surprised. While allusions were made to the first book, they were not so intricately woven in that I could not understand the story. The underlying threads of feminism were very pleasing to my ideals, so thank you Barry Hoffman for that. My only complaints are that it was sometimes hard to keep all the characters straight, and I really don't like the cover art, it seems juvenile compared to the content of the book.
Note: This book was sent to me by the author for review through the third party Bostick Communications.
I realize this book is a classic, but I decided to post a review anyway, in case anyone was interested.
Of Mice and Men follows the journey of two friends, George and Lennie, as they attempt to fulfill their American dream of owning their own land. George and Lennie work as temporary farmhands who move from ranch to ranch as they look for work. Lennie, who is not intelligent, sometimes complicates the process by getting them into trouble, but rather than abandon him, George sticks up for him and protects him. Just when George and Lennie are the closest they've ever been, a tragedy interrupts their plans. You'll have to read the book to find out what it is!
I have read Steinbeck before and so am familiar with his writing style, but this book is one of my favorites. Steinbeck has an ability to capture a grand story in a short book, something I admire very much. Again, this book is a very short read and a great introduction for the beginning classics reader and a great break for the practiced one.
Hanging by the Thread is a suspense thriller that follows five friends as they attempt to save the United States from the evil intentions of a secret society known as The Thread. Along the way, readers are treated to lessons in history and economics, courtesy of Dr. Isaacson, a professor at Brigham Young University.
As I strive to be honest in my reviews, I have to say that I did not enjoy this book. The writing was amateur and did not keep my attention. The message, while intended to be inspirational, was laced with right-wing propaganda. The writer seemed to be saying that anyone who supported any sort of economic regulation might as well become part of The Thread, as they were committing grave crimes against America. Although I am not opposed to religion in books, the way that Christianity was brought up again and again did annoy me a bit and diverted my attention from the plot line. I might have enjoyed this book had the writing contained more depth, the message not been so biased, and the plot not been so muddled.
Note: This book was sent to me by the author for review through the third party Bostick Communications.
