The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Beautifully written, inspiring, yet disturbing. This was in no way a light read but I am thankful to have read it.
**Spoiler**
There are many aspects of this book that remain ambiguous. Was Gibreel really an angel? Who is the narrator? God? Why was Saladin given a second chance when Gibreel wasn’t? Did Ayesha lead her followers to Mecca or to death? What did Saladin’s father see before he died that terrified him?
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Book Review: Let Me In
Let Me In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I watched the movie adaptation first and was intrigued by it. I watched several times and had dozens of questions about the characters. After reading "Let Me In," all my questions were answered...and then some.
This writer is obviously gifted. He was able to match the grotesque with a story of childhood love and friendship, without it being corny or cheap.
I suggest this book to anyone who has a bit of a tough stomach for gore, but especially to those that watched the film.
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Book Review: Best Friends Forever
Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Another great Weiner book. I felt this could have been a bit longer; it seemed rushed at the end. I would have happily sat through another 100 pages.
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Book Review: This Perfect Day
This Perfect Day by Ira Levin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Surprisingly good read. Impressive, especially when factoring in when it was written. I was surprised at several points in the book.
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Book Review: The Sorcerer's House by Gene Wolfe
The Sorcerer's House by Gene Wolfe
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I love a good fantasy novel, this was not one. The plot was scattered, the writing was poor and the ending did not fit the story.
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Book Review: Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk
Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Palahniuk has the ability to make you care for these horrible people. I love how his heroine's are these incredibly effed up girls that are breaking into pieces. Its easy to love something that is beautiful. The tricky part is to love something that is broken.
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Book Review: Son of Rosemary by Ira Levin
Son of Rosemary: The Sequel to Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
This was a sad excuse for a book. I will start by saying that I have not read Rosemary's Baby, but I've heard wonderful things so I assumed that Levin was a decent writer. The characters are pieced together poorly. Large gaps in plot. Major plot lines which remain unanswered.
In my opinion, Levin was a struggling writer who needed to make a quick buck and should be ashamed.
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Book Review: Rant : An Oral Biography of Buster Casey by Chuck Palahniuk
Rant : An Oral Biography of Buster Casey by Chuck Palahniuk
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
At first I was concerned that the collection of eye witness accounts hinder my ability to be truly drawn into the story, I was wrong. Though not my favorite Chuck P book, this was an excellent story. I am constantly amazed by his ability to jump into the minds of his characters, due to the amount of story tellers this was impressive. I have never read a Chuck P story that died with the closing of the book. His stories linger in you. Don't be surprised to find that a few months down the line that you recall a cleaning tip from Survivor, a beauty tip from Tell-All, the formula for chaos from Fight Club, or a line from a haunting postcard from Invisible Monsters.
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Book Review: Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction by J.D. Salinger
Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction by J.D. Salinger
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
***Spoiler in review (as well as poor spelling)*****This book is comprised of two short stories. The first about Seymour Glass' wedding day, as relayed by his brother, Buddy Glass. This story was classic Salinger.
The second story, a "introduction" of Seymour written by Buddy some 15 years after Seymour's suicide, was a labor to read. This story read more as a blog than a short story. Including lines saying that Buddy was going to bed and how and what he drank the night before. I did not enjoy this. However, it is my theory that Holden and the Glass family mimic the life of Salinger. With that understanding I read this story almost as a diary. Buddy's love of the "general reader" and distaste of the critic is parallel to Salinger's beliefs.
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Book Review: The Sandman Graphic Novels by Neil Gaiman
The Sandman: The Wake by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Prior to Sandman, I could only say that I was drawn to Neil Gaiman. The books I read were good, not great (exception being Neverwhere). After finishing the Sandman graphic novels, I know why I am drawn to Neil's writing. He shows profound beauty in the dark. See my three favorite characters (in no specific order): Delirium, Death, and Dream. Delirium can be a sad character if you choose to see her that way, prefer to see her as pure character. Delirium, who began her time as an Endless as Delight, provide a fun house mirror view of the world. She can be honest, comical, and incredibly insightful; all of this of course is unbeknown to her. Death is the Gidget of Grim Reapers, she provides a not so dark version of the end of life, even when she eventually has to collect the life of her younger brother. And finally, Dream. Hopeless romantic, brutally honest, and so completely broken than he is beyond repair; however, he is responsible for creating both nightmares and pleasant dreams and he does both well. He is not fair, he is not sinless, he is humanity magnified a thousand times. He takes his broken parts, helps those who he can, then he ends. By his choice. By his hand projected through the Morrigan. And as an audience, we could be angry, we could be sad, or we could understand and morn him in the Wake.
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