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justindaze's reviews
403 reviews
Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King
3.0
Full Dark, 4/5 Stars
I liked all the stories. I think my favorite was Big Driver. I found that one very revolting but also satisfying in the end. I thought it was the most interesting story, and kept me on the edge the entire time. It's also the story that surprised me the most. But all of them were pretty darn good.
1922 Started out a little boring for me, and is part of the reason why it took me two times starting this book to finish it, but in the end I liked it. It reminded me of an Edgar Allen Poe Story and I was interested to find out that he'd gotten the idea from Wisconsin Death Trip, a book (and accompanying film) that I really liked.
Fair Extension was my least favorite. Surprsingly, I thought it had the strongest opening and most interesting beginning premise out of all the stories, but I knew where he was going to go with it and so the energy just went out of tale for me and it puttered down to become my least favorite. Plus I ddnt feel it fit the spirit of the rest of the book.
A Good Marriage almost tied with Big Driver as far as favorite story, but I think the protagonist of Big Driver was just a tad more interesting and so that's what pushed it ahead. Still, the inner dialog and premise behind this one was awesome, and I feel that it really showed off King's talent for constructing interesting, believable people and then inhabiting them.
Over-all this was a pleasure and I'm glad I picked it back up after setting it aside for so long. As a side note, let me mention that I devoured this book via the audio recording, and was very pleased with both of the narrators.
I liked all the stories. I think my favorite was Big Driver. I found that one very revolting but also satisfying in the end. I thought it was the most interesting story, and kept me on the edge the entire time. It's also the story that surprised me the most. But all of them were pretty darn good.
1922 Started out a little boring for me, and is part of the reason why it took me two times starting this book to finish it, but in the end I liked it. It reminded me of an Edgar Allen Poe Story and I was interested to find out that he'd gotten the idea from Wisconsin Death Trip, a book (and accompanying film) that I really liked.
Fair Extension was my least favorite. Surprsingly, I thought it had the strongest opening and most interesting beginning premise out of all the stories, but I knew where he was going to go with it and so the energy just went out of tale for me and it puttered down to become my least favorite. Plus I ddnt feel it fit the spirit of the rest of the book.
A Good Marriage almost tied with Big Driver as far as favorite story, but I think the protagonist of Big Driver was just a tad more interesting and so that's what pushed it ahead. Still, the inner dialog and premise behind this one was awesome, and I feel that it really showed off King's talent for constructing interesting, believable people and then inhabiting them.
Over-all this was a pleasure and I'm glad I picked it back up after setting it aside for so long. As a side note, let me mention that I devoured this book via the audio recording, and was very pleased with both of the narrators.
Kraken by China Miéville
2.0
This is my first try with Mieville. Unfortunately, this just wasn't for me, which is sad because I had heard a lot of great things.
For me the problem just came down to the writers voice, nothing against China Mieville, I just didn't like the way the words came off the page. It didn't feel natural to me, it felt stoppy-starty and robotic. The book never took to it's own gravity. It was a constant effort to read it, like swimming upstream.
Since the problem I had with this book was so subjective, I will still encourage others to give it a try. It does have a very interesting story that starts with the pickled remains of a giant squid completely vanishing from it's holding place within a museum. It's a weirdly interesting book, I just wish the words had been arranged by someone else.
For me the problem just came down to the writers voice, nothing against China Mieville, I just didn't like the way the words came off the page. It didn't feel natural to me, it felt stoppy-starty and robotic. The book never took to it's own gravity. It was a constant effort to read it, like swimming upstream.
Since the problem I had with this book was so subjective, I will still encourage others to give it a try. It does have a very interesting story that starts with the pickled remains of a giant squid completely vanishing from it's holding place within a museum. It's a weirdly interesting book, I just wish the words had been arranged by someone else.
The House by Edward Lee
5.0
Don't you hate when you're browsing good-reads and you come across something you should have rated a long time ago but somehow overlooked?
No idea how I managed to overlook this, but The House, which is basically 2 connected novellas in one book, was my introduction to Extreme Horror and I've been on board ever since.
I remember being chilled and sickened (like truly sickened) by some of the stuff in this book, but with each sting of nasty was another feeling, maybe exhilaration? That followed. I remember this realization that I had when I finished the first novella. I thought, "This actually disgusted me, I actually felt fear." And then a giddiness rose up in me as I realized I was starting the second novella with a bit of fearful reluctance!
As a horror fan, I think one of the things we cherish most is that which truly affects us, sicks us out or scares us. And the longer you remain true to the genre, the harder it becomes to get that scare or that gag that got you into it in the first place.
I'd given up hope on being truly affected by horror again, until I read this book and realized that there was a whole new level of Horror Fiction I hadn't explored, one that took things further.
So yeah, that's all I'm going to tell you. No spoilers or anything. You should go in fresh the way I did. If this is the kind of thing you're looking for, check it out. Just know that once you take it further, you're going to keep looking for this kind of literary thrill.
No idea how I managed to overlook this, but The House, which is basically 2 connected novellas in one book, was my introduction to Extreme Horror and I've been on board ever since.
I remember being chilled and sickened (like truly sickened) by some of the stuff in this book, but with each sting of nasty was another feeling, maybe exhilaration? That followed. I remember this realization that I had when I finished the first novella. I thought, "This actually disgusted me, I actually felt fear." And then a giddiness rose up in me as I realized I was starting the second novella with a bit of fearful reluctance!
As a horror fan, I think one of the things we cherish most is that which truly affects us, sicks us out or scares us. And the longer you remain true to the genre, the harder it becomes to get that scare or that gag that got you into it in the first place.
I'd given up hope on being truly affected by horror again, until I read this book and realized that there was a whole new level of Horror Fiction I hadn't explored, one that took things further.
So yeah, that's all I'm going to tell you. No spoilers or anything. You should go in fresh the way I did. If this is the kind of thing you're looking for, check it out. Just know that once you take it further, you're going to keep looking for this kind of literary thrill.
The Black Train by Edward Lee
5.0
This was the second book by Mr. Lee that I read. I had only read The House, and was expecting nonstop atrocity (and was worried that it wouldn't hold for a full novel, since I'd only read it in Novella form).
I was delighted to see that Lee did a great job of breaking up the horror and gore with very unique characters and memorable stories. I had fun exploring the setting with the main character. It was like a haunted house, but the parts between the scares were endearing and fun -- not just filler.
I look forward to more books like this!
Great work!
I was delighted to see that Lee did a great job of breaking up the horror and gore with very unique characters and memorable stories. I had fun exploring the setting with the main character. It was like a haunted house, but the parts between the scares were endearing and fun -- not just filler.
I look forward to more books like this!
Great work!