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astukes_close's reviews
298 reviews
Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon
3.0
so far- this has probably been my least favorite book of the series...I found it totally unrealistic and just a little too "convienant" at times. Though it's not going to stop me from finishing the rest of the books in the series (hopefully)
Cemetery Dance by Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child
4.0
I do enjoy the partnership of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child- their writing style really mesh well together throughout every collaboration. This book was a quick read and action packed from beginning to end.
The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
3.0
Every once in awhile, I follow the masses and get the "must read selection" of the summer. I did it before with the DaVinci Code and now again with The Lost Symbol. Ummm...how can I say this...After such a long wait from the DaVinci Code, I really did expect more from this book. Though it was relatively fast paced storyline, I felt there were entire sections of the book that could have been omitted- in essence the last 20 pages could have been removed entirely. With so many authors that have already follwed in Dan Brown's footsteps I guess I had unrealistic expectations for this book to deliver more of a punch then it really did. (Though there was a twist that really did catch me for a loop)
Dracula by Bram Stoker
3.0
Started this book for the "Infinite Summer readalong" and began with high hopes. Because I had never read the book before or even seen any movie adaptations I also had no preconceived notions, which probably "hyped up" my expectation of this ageless classic. Although I "liked" it, I'm sad to say I didn't "love" it. I think that a number of the secondary characters were not as developed as I would have liked and the ending...well let's not get started on how disappointed I was with the ending. It's almost as if Stoker just threw his hands up in the air and said "that's all folks".
I myself am not a fan of traditional horror and I'm not quite sure why I thought that reading Dracula would have in some way kept me up at night instead of lulling me to sleep in certain sections. Allthough perhaps I have just become so desensitized to "the allusion of horror" that I missed the underlying contexts of this novel all together.
I myself am not a fan of traditional horror and I'm not quite sure why I thought that reading Dracula would have in some way kept me up at night instead of lulling me to sleep in certain sections. Allthough perhaps I have just become so desensitized to "the allusion of horror" that I missed the underlying contexts of this novel all together.
Dracula the Un-Dead by Dacre Stoker, Ian Holt
2.0
This book was ...... Disappointing.
a lot.
I really wanted to like it but it just didn't happen for me. I definitley appreciated the intensified violence and fast paced adventures (however unrealistic they were). It just seemed like the younger Stoker tried (unsuccessfully) to incorporate too many themes from the original Dracula with his updated storyline. The "twists" in the storyline are as transparent as they are anticlimatic.
The "open ending" of the young Quincey Harker's character would lead the reader to believe that there will be another writing effort from Dacre Stoker...let's hope not.
a lot.
I really wanted to like it but it just didn't happen for me. I definitley appreciated the intensified violence and fast paced adventures (however unrealistic they were). It just seemed like the younger Stoker tried (unsuccessfully) to incorporate too many themes from the original Dracula with his updated storyline. The "twists" in the storyline are as transparent as they are anticlimatic.
The "open ending" of the young Quincey Harker's character would lead the reader to believe that there will be another writing effort from Dacre Stoker...let's hope not.
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
2.0
This book took me AGES to muddle through. I'm not sure if I'm a good fit for Niffenegger's writing style. Oddly enough I'm not sure I can pinpoint exactly what it is about her technique that doesn't appeal to me. Overall, I thought that entire portions of the book were too slow and poorly developed to justify their position in the story. The shift of the "main character" changes so many times during the couse of the storyline that I think too many themes were left undeveloped - causing me (the reader) to go WTH? I didn't read Niffenegger's first effort (The Time Traveller's Wife) which got rave reviews- but I'm wondering if after reading this, Niffenegger has lost her spark?
The Paris Vendetta by Steve Berry
2.0
The Fifth Book in the Cotton Malone left much to be desired. Though I really enjoy Berry's writing style this book really had the feel of a "first book of a series" and I believe that the introduction of so many new characters also lends to this fact.