The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
“I don’t know how one should live — but I know that one should live, if one can possibly bear it.”
The Last Werewolf, by Glen Duncan, is the diary of Jacob Marlowe. At the beginning of the tale, Jake learns that he is the last werewolf on earth. The setting is in modern times, the world as described by Duncan could easily be our own. In this world, a secret organization known as the ”World Organization for the Control of Occult Phenomena (WOCOP),” has been hunting werewolves (as well as vampires and demons) for many years. They began as the Catholic Church then became a smaller sect with government funding. Jacob’s current diary begins in London, while he is visiting a long time friend and double-agent Harley. Harley works for the WOCOP and has been keeping Jake safe for as long as he could. Jake saved Harley’s life 50 years ago.
Jacob himself, is 200 years old. He has been journaling throughout his life. Those journals are kept in a safe deposit box. We, the reader, do not receive the full story. My only complaint regarding the writing is that at several points Duncan breaks down the 3rd wall and speaks directly to the reader. This is a bit jarring. I imagine someone saying, “hey, you, yes I’m talking to you.”
The WOCOP, also referred to as the Hunt, plan to kill Jake upon his next transformation. Jake is ready for this to happen. He complains that he has simply “had enough of life.”
This is not simply a fantasy story, this is a look into what keeps us going. What is it that makes us push forward in life when we feel there is no point? We watch Jake transform not only in a physical way but also in an emotional way.
I do not want to give any more away. I do not want this to be ruined for anyone. The story is dark, there is gore, and sex (vivid, descriptive sex). There are times when you hate Jake. Then there are times when you completely understand him and question yourself.
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2012 Reading Challenge
New year, new reading challenge. Yay!
Last year, I challenged myself to read any 70 books. This was a 10 book increase over the prior year. This year the challenge is to read with some structure. The total goal is 71, 45 of which are predetermined. The total number did not increase much as I have new people in my life. Reading is a solitary habit and I don't want to push away the people that I love.
So here it is, the 2012 reading list:
Dearly Devoted Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
Naked Lunch by William S Burroughs
We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht
A Novel Bookstore by Laurence Cosse
Sixty-One Nails by Mike Shevdon
The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan
When She Woke by Hillary Jordan
The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan
You Must Go and Win by Alina Simone
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman
The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
The Rules of Attraction by Bret Easton Ellis
The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
This is why I use the library ... 2011 wrap-up
This year, I read a total of 72 books. Thirty-seven of which were checked out from my local library. I used Amazon and Audible to price check the items (please see prior post for links to purchase from Indie Stores).
Fables: Vol 9 Sons of Empire - $12.23
Fables: Vol 8 Wolves - $12.20
Fables: Vol 7 Arabian Nights - $10.15
Fables: Vol 6 Homelands - $10.19
The Invention of Hugo Cabret - $14.99
Fables: Vol 5 The Mean Season- $10.19
Fables: Vol 4 March of the Wooden Soldiers - $12.23
Fables: Vol 3 Storybook Love - $10.19
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (audio-book) - $32.00
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (audio-book) -$88.55
Bossypants (audio-book) - $21.25
Lost (audio-book) - $31.93
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Last Gleaming - $10.00
This Perfect Day - $10.17
Little Children - $5.58
A Discovery of Witches - $10.88
The Shepherd's Tale - $10.19
Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang (audio-book) - $16.09
The Walking Dead Compendium No 1 - $34.79
American on Purpose (audio-book) - $31.93
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Twilight - $10.45
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Retreat - $10.62
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Predators and Prey - $10.62
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Time of Your Life - $10.72
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Wolves at the Gate - $10.71
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Long Way Home - $10.77
Freakonomics (audio-book) - $27.93
My Horizontal Life (audio-book) - $17.49
Ricky Gervais Presents: The World of Karl Pilkington - $13.57
The Stepford Wives - $9.59
Rosemary's Baby - $10.91
Role Models (Audio-book) - $20.99
Persepolis - $9.11
Persepolis 2 - $10.48
Fables: Vol 2 Animal Farm - $10.24
Fables: Vol 1 Legends in Exile - $10.24
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (audio-book) - Not available
Total Savings: $600.17
This total as impressive as it is, does not even factor in the DVD which I've gotten from my library.
This is why I love my library. This is why I donate my money and volunteer my time. I have a healthy income but I can't afford to keep up with my desired reading pace. If it weren't for the library, my life would be different.
2011 Book Challenge Completed!
I’m proud to announce that I have successfully completed my 2011 Reading Challenge! Yay, I challenged myself to read 70 books in 2011.
Books Read (by genre)
Fiction:
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick*
72 Hour Hold by Bebe Moore Campbell
Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson
Hocus Pocus by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood
Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
Little Children by Tom Perrotta*
Just a Nice Guy by Phil Torcivia
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Science Fiction/Fantasy:
Twilight Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko
Day Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling*
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko
The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin*
This Perfect Day by Ira Levin*
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness*
Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
If You Could See What I See by Sylvia Browne*
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Handling the Undead by John Ajvide Lindqvist
Graphic Novels:
Fables: Arabian Nights (and Days) Vol 7*
Fables: The Mean Seasons Vol 5*
Fables: March of the Wooden Soldiers Vol 4*
Fables: Legends in Exile Vol 1*
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi*
Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return by Marjane Satrapi*
The Long Way Home (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 8, Vol. 1) *
No Future For You (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight, Volume 2)*
Wolves at the Gate (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight, Volume 3)*
Time of Your Life (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 8, Vol. 4)*
Predators and Prey (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight, Vol. 5)*
Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season Eight Volume 6: Retreat*
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight Volume 7: Twilight*
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight Volume 8: Last Gleaming*
The Guild: Bladezz by Felicia Day
Serenity: Float Out by Patton Oswalt*
The Walking Dead Compendium One by Robert Kirkman*
Serenity, Volume 2: Better Days by Joss Whedon*
Serenity: Those Left Behind by Joss Whedon*
Non-Fiction:
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
Secret Diary of a Call Girl by Belle de Jour
The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee by Sarah Silverman
Chelsea, Chelsea, Bang, Bang by Chelsea Handler*
American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot by Craig Ferguson*
My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One-Night Stands by Chelsea Handler*
The Fat Girl's Guide to Life by Wendy Shanker
Ricky Gervais Presents the World of Karl Pilkington by Karl Pilkington*
* denotes library book
Bold denotes genre favorite
Book Review: I Know I Am, But What Are You?
I Know I Am, But What Are You? by Samantha Bee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the first audiobook that I've listened too and it was very enjoyable. I highly suggest going the audiobook route so that you can hear Samantha tell the stories.
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Book Review: My Sister's Keeper
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I enjoyed 90% of this book. It was entertaining and thought provoking. It seemed like the final 10% was undeveloped. It felt like the author got tired of her own story and wrote an ending to just finish the book.
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Book Review: From Hell
From Hell by Alan Moore
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
It took a bit to get into this massive book, but once the story starting tugging my interest I was hooked.
Can't beat a graphic novel that chronicles the nefarious deeds of Jack the Ripper...oh, and the facts were research by Neil Gaiman (no wonder I liked it).
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Book Review: Geek Love
Geek Love by Katherine Dunn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The descriptions are incredible, not only of geography but also of the Binewski family members. I have a very clear idea in my head about how each family member looked, walked, ate, and breathed in some cases. The material in this book was grotesque at times but worth the read.
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Book Review: Rosemary's Baby
Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
As is common for its era, Rosemary's Baby was for the most part a written version of the movie. No great insights were to be had, no changes to the plot, the dialogue was spot on. However, this did not hinder my ability to enjoy the book for the sake of the book itself.
Though, I do suggest that you avoid the sequel. Its rubbish.
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Book Review: The Suicide Collectors
The Suicide Collectors by David Oppegaard
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Interesting post apocalyptic book about a phenomenon called "the despair." The despair causes members of this society to kill themselves. Unlike the film, "The Happening," this is not a mindless process of weeding out the species. This a deep depression that bites at you until you give in. As this is Davie Oppegaard's first novel, I look forward to what he will come up with next.
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