Scan barcode
shalini_rasamdaa's reviews
735 reviews
The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells
5.0
Wells created one of literature's most enduring monsters with Dr. Moreau. I had to skip most of the pages describing vivisection and pain, as it is simply too upsetting. I wonder sometimes why Wells would be so detailed about it, but I choose to believe he did it to protest the animal vivisection that was prevalent at the time. At the time most of the victims were dogs, since they trusted humans enough to allow such horrors be done to them (how sick that is!). It reminds me of the poem Rags, and I'm sure Wells must have been inspired to protest by a similar incident.
Prodigal Son by Dean Koontz
3.0
This review is for the series as a whole, not just the first.
I have to say that Mary Shelley wouldn't have appreciated the direction this book took with Frankenstein's monster. As usual Koontz had to infuse his work with a heavy dose of pompous religiosity, which is distasteful. Mary Shelley's work was more philosophical and spiritual, and Koontz's... is not. Deucalion smashes you in the face with Christian godliness. Which is why I was hoping he'd get his brains blown out sometime in the second book and make a likeable tragedy of himself, but alas, he lived to annoy us another day.
Now that's out of the way, the first three books were entertaining. I do like the two police officers, even though they were one-dimensional they were fun. However, the real plus points of the book, the reason you should read this just once, is the descriptive and well-thought mental slavery the created humans had to endure. That anguish and suffering, coupled with Victor's absolute lack of understanding that he's the failure and not them, is hell made flesh. Koontz really captured horror with Victor and his abominations. The ending was satisfying, and the open ending is a nice touch.
Avoid the last two books like the plague. They ruin the first three, I couldn't even finish as I just couldn't care less what happens to the characters. The plot required too much suspension of disbelief. Also, Deucalion got upgraded to a Class A Gary Sue with the afore-mentioned God hammer to smash you with. RUN AWAY.
I have to say that Mary Shelley wouldn't have appreciated the direction this book took with Frankenstein's monster. As usual Koontz had to infuse his work with a heavy dose of pompous religiosity, which is distasteful. Mary Shelley's work was more philosophical and spiritual, and Koontz's... is not. Deucalion smashes you in the face with Christian godliness. Which is why I was hoping he'd get his brains blown out sometime in the second book and make a likeable tragedy of himself, but alas, he lived to annoy us another day.
Now that's out of the way, the first three books were entertaining. I do like the two police officers, even though they were one-dimensional they were fun. However, the real plus points of the book, the reason you should read this just once, is the descriptive and well-thought mental slavery the created humans had to endure. That anguish and suffering, coupled with Victor's absolute lack of understanding that he's the failure and not them, is hell made flesh. Koontz really captured horror with Victor and his abominations. The ending was satisfying, and the open ending is a nice touch.
Avoid the last two books like the plague. They ruin the first three, I couldn't even finish as I just couldn't care less what happens to the characters. The plot required too much suspension of disbelief. Also, Deucalion got upgraded to a Class A Gary Sue with the afore-mentioned God hammer to smash you with. RUN AWAY.
Ghost Story by Peter Straub
4.0
A very engaging read, despite some slow parts. Would definitely hold up to a second read, despite knowing the ending. Psychological horror rarely disappoints and the author has mixed straight up horror and psych horror beautifully.