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dans_bookscape's Reviews (29)
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
No Middle Name is a collection of short stories from Lee Child featuring Jack Reacher. It consists of 12 stories of various length and time periods. Some are set in between other Reacher books, when he’s left the Army life behind and is travelling the US, whilst others are set in his teen year or whilst serving in the Army.
This was a bit of a mixed bag, with some very enjoyable and some just okay. I think the ones set earlier than other Reacher novels are actually the better as it’s something new for longtime Lee Child readers, we get to see Jack Reacher in new environments and at different stages of his life, even if the structure of the stories doesn’t itself change.
All that said, I’ve never read a Reacher novel I didn’t enjoy in some way and this is no exception, it was an enjoyable quick read and a must for any Lee Child readers.
Note on the book itself, I love finding the little things when opening it up or seeing what's behind the cover...I'm a big fan of hardback and these little details add so much to them!
This was a bit of a mixed bag, with some very enjoyable and some just okay. I think the ones set earlier than other Reacher novels are actually the better as it’s something new for longtime Lee Child readers, we get to see Jack Reacher in new environments and at different stages of his life, even if the structure of the stories doesn’t itself change.
All that said, I’ve never read a Reacher novel I didn’t enjoy in some way and this is no exception, it was an enjoyable quick read and a must for any Lee Child readers.
Note on the book itself, I love finding the little things when opening it up or seeing what's behind the cover...I'm a big fan of hardback and these little details add so much to them!
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Martian – Andy Weir
“He’s the most famous man on Earth. The problem is, he’s not on Earth.”
When a heavy storm cuts short Area 3 Mars mission, a freak accident leaves astronaut Mark Watney stranded with minimal supplies and no way to communicate to NASA that he isn’t actually dead.
The first line of the book sums up his situation pretty well... “I’m pretty much fucked”.
This is just an excellent story of one man’s survival in the most dire of circumstances. It is often hilarious, with Mark’s straightforward commentary of his situation and efforts whilst also being terrifying as the slightest misstep can lead to disaster, which quite frankly often happens.
Each setback Mark suffers makes his chances of survival look increasingly unlikely but it is often met with a clever quip and a new plan that will likely be dangerous but necessary.
While Mark is figuring stuff out on Mars, there is also the impact of the situation within NASA and their efforts to keep him alive long enough to rescue him, this itself is filled with major setbacks.
A lot of the technical stuff want way over my head, I’m assuming it was well researched beforehand, but it didn’t take anything away from the story. This is a story about the greatest botanist is Mars history (and space pirate), of course I’m not going to get it all haha.
An easy recommendation from me for this book, it’s great, go check it out if you haven’t...the film is pretty good as well.
“He’s the most famous man on Earth. The problem is, he’s not on Earth.”
When a heavy storm cuts short Area 3 Mars mission, a freak accident leaves astronaut Mark Watney stranded with minimal supplies and no way to communicate to NASA that he isn’t actually dead.
The first line of the book sums up his situation pretty well... “I’m pretty much fucked”.
This is just an excellent story of one man’s survival in the most dire of circumstances. It is often hilarious, with Mark’s straightforward commentary of his situation and efforts whilst also being terrifying as the slightest misstep can lead to disaster, which quite frankly often happens.
Each setback Mark suffers makes his chances of survival look increasingly unlikely but it is often met with a clever quip and a new plan that will likely be dangerous but necessary.
While Mark is figuring stuff out on Mars, there is also the impact of the situation within NASA and their efforts to keep him alive long enough to rescue him, this itself is filled with major setbacks.
A lot of the technical stuff want way over my head, I’m assuming it was well researched beforehand, but it didn’t take anything away from the story. This is a story about the greatest botanist is Mars history (and space pirate), of course I’m not going to get it all haha.
An easy recommendation from me for this book, it’s great, go check it out if you haven’t...the film is pretty good as well.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a weird one for me, I wanted to like it, I like the concept but it just missed the mark for me a bit.
I like horror that involves someone just turning up to the door to fuck with those in the house, think films The Strangers and Funny Games. It’s a terrifying concept as it’s perfectly plausible it could happen...hang on a second while I check the doors is locked!
Right I’m back....so this book, there were good parts, some gruesome parts and some slow and repetitive parts, those last two I think brought it down a bit.
I really liked the ambiguity of the ending... sometimes it’s best to decide on your own how it’s all going to play out.
I went to see the film after finishing this and was also disappointed in that, though for different reasons.
I did love the author’s notes at the end of the book, it provided some excellent insights and pointed out some things I’d missed during the read.
I like horror that involves someone just turning up to the door to fuck with those in the house, think films The Strangers and Funny Games. It’s a terrifying concept as it’s perfectly plausible it could happen...hang on a second while I check the doors is locked!
Right I’m back....so this book, there were good parts, some gruesome parts and some slow and repetitive parts, those last two I think brought it down a bit.
I really liked the ambiguity of the ending... sometimes it’s best to decide on your own how it’s all going to play out.
I went to see the film after finishing this and was also disappointed in that, though for different reasons.
I did love the author’s notes at the end of the book, it provided some excellent insights and pointed out some things I’d missed during the read.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
After the brutal murder of a child, Terry Maitland is arrested with a boatload of evidence against him. Detective Ralph Anderson is convinced he has the right man, leading to a very public arrest of a the popular local. This turns the city hostile against their friend and generally accepted good guy, Terry.
Soon this slam dunk case begins to unravel when Terry’s airtight alibi turns out to be exactly that, but it’s to late, families have been destroyed while someone or something is still walking free to carry on their destruction.
I loved the mix of Kings crime/thriller writing with his supernatural/horror elements, they blend well to tell a really good story with this one. With my King journey I have been sticking mostly to the more grounded stories so this was a good look into the other side of his writing.
The really liked the characters in this, I can see why Holly Gibney has become a recurring character and I like Ralph’s conviction that he had the right man, but then the willingness to carry on investigating despite his massive doubts.
Soon this slam dunk case begins to unravel when Terry’s airtight alibi turns out to be exactly that, but it’s to late, families have been destroyed while someone or something is still walking free to carry on their destruction.
I loved the mix of Kings crime/thriller writing with his supernatural/horror elements, they blend well to tell a really good story with this one. With my King journey I have been sticking mostly to the more grounded stories so this was a good look into the other side of his writing.
The really liked the characters in this, I can see why Holly Gibney has become a recurring character and I like Ralph’s conviction that he had the right man, but then the willingness to carry on investigating despite his massive doubts.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Gone Girl – Gillian Flynn
To the outside world Nick and Amy are the perfect couple but on their fifth anniversary Amy goes missing with signs pointing to foul play. Nick is at first viewed as the loving husband desperate to find her, but soon a negative media campaign and troubling evidence start to point to him being the prime suspect....is there more going on than meets the eye or is it really always the husband that did it?
I watched the film adaptation of Gone Girl and loved it. I then picked up the book a while ago and was a bit apprehensive going into it in case I didn’t enjoy it as much...I needn’t have worried as the book is just as good if not better.
This was such a page turner, especially with the split narrative between Nick and Amy’s diary, it was near impossible to put down the story was just that intriguing.
I feel like this book is a perfect example of unreliable narrator, both of the main characters have their own perspective on past events and really it’s impossible to know which one is closer to the truth if either. This can cause an extreme swing in how you view each character, one minute you feel sympathy the next hatred.
I’ve tried to keep this spoiler free, if you’ve read it you know why!
To the outside world Nick and Amy are the perfect couple but on their fifth anniversary Amy goes missing with signs pointing to foul play. Nick is at first viewed as the loving husband desperate to find her, but soon a negative media campaign and troubling evidence start to point to him being the prime suspect....is there more going on than meets the eye or is it really always the husband that did it?
I watched the film adaptation of Gone Girl and loved it. I then picked up the book a while ago and was a bit apprehensive going into it in case I didn’t enjoy it as much...I needn’t have worried as the book is just as good if not better.
This was such a page turner, especially with the split narrative between Nick and Amy’s diary, it was near impossible to put down the story was just that intriguing.
I feel like this book is a perfect example of unreliable narrator, both of the main characters have their own perspective on past events and really it’s impossible to know which one is closer to the truth if either. This can cause an extreme swing in how you view each character, one minute you feel sympathy the next hatred.
I’ve tried to keep this spoiler free, if you’ve read it you know why!
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Warning Signs is the third collection from Jack Harding, it consists of thirteen stories of psychological horror. Warning Signs is on the surface different from his other collections, although there were hints of this kind of horror in Dark Lines.
These stories hit close to home as they are very grounded, not always in the stories themselves but most certainly in the psychological aspects the characters are going through. This makes the fear experienced in these stories more intense, and they stick with you afterwards because a lot of what the characters are experiencing mentally, emotionally or physically happens in the real world.
Slight spoiler ahead!
I mentioned in my review for Dark Lines that I felt personally attacked by some of the stories due to them covering real life fears I have or experiences I’ve went through and of course it happened again with Warning Signs, with one of the stories hitting me hard. My stepdad died a couple of years ago playing golf...As soon as I started ‘The Rub of the Green’ I knew where it was going, such a bittersweet story for me as I enjoyed it but it kind of hurt reading it.
All these stories are great so it feels unfair picking favourites out but I already mentioned The Rub of the Green due to the connection I feel to it. The others that stand out for me are The Last Stop, The Rails and In His Eyes.
Another excellent collection from Jack Harding.
These stories hit close to home as they are very grounded, not always in the stories themselves but most certainly in the psychological aspects the characters are going through. This makes the fear experienced in these stories more intense, and they stick with you afterwards because a lot of what the characters are experiencing mentally, emotionally or physically happens in the real world.
Slight spoiler ahead!
I mentioned in my review for Dark Lines that I felt personally attacked by some of the stories due to them covering real life fears I have or experiences I’ve went through and of course it happened again with Warning Signs, with one of the stories hitting me hard. My stepdad died a couple of years ago playing golf...As soon as I started ‘The Rub of the Green’ I knew where it was going, such a bittersweet story for me as I enjoyed it but it kind of hurt reading it.
All these stories are great so it feels unfair picking favourites out but I already mentioned The Rub of the Green due to the connection I feel to it. The others that stand out for me are The Last Stop, The Rails and In His Eyes.
Another excellent collection from Jack Harding.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Road - Cormac McCarthy
An often brutal and harrowing story of a Father and Son’s journey south, fighting starvation, the elements and raiders or cannibals in a post apocalyptic world.
There are few bright spots for the untamed father and son, and any happy time for them is quickly swallowed by the brutal reality of their situation.
Throughout the Father is clearly struggling, but he has to carry on to protect the boy, it is his only mission but this weighs heavy on him and he needs to ensure the boy is ready to carry on without him if needs be.
This is the book that helped make post apocalyptic one of my favourite genres, I’ve read it countless times and yes it’s depressing as hell and so bleak but I just can’t help but throw myself into this father and son journey.
I love the lack of answers in this book, it can often be annoying not knowing everything but with this, not being certain how the world became like this, when it’s set and though it’s suggested it’s set in the US, its not flat out stated, this leaves the focus directly on the man and boy. Ultimately their survival is the key thing, the rest is unimportant.
I’m not going to say this is a book for everyone as it’s not, it’s a lot and there isn’t much happiness to it but it is a great book, its one of my all time favourites, I would however highly recommend everyone give it a go!
An often brutal and harrowing story of a Father and Son’s journey south, fighting starvation, the elements and raiders or cannibals in a post apocalyptic world.
There are few bright spots for the untamed father and son, and any happy time for them is quickly swallowed by the brutal reality of their situation.
Throughout the Father is clearly struggling, but he has to carry on to protect the boy, it is his only mission but this weighs heavy on him and he needs to ensure the boy is ready to carry on without him if needs be.
This is the book that helped make post apocalyptic one of my favourite genres, I’ve read it countless times and yes it’s depressing as hell and so bleak but I just can’t help but throw myself into this father and son journey.
I love the lack of answers in this book, it can often be annoying not knowing everything but with this, not being certain how the world became like this, when it’s set and though it’s suggested it’s set in the US, its not flat out stated, this leaves the focus directly on the man and boy. Ultimately their survival is the key thing, the rest is unimportant.
I’m not going to say this is a book for everyone as it’s not, it’s a lot and there isn’t much happiness to it but it is a great book, its one of my all time favourites, I would however highly recommend everyone give it a go!
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Weasels in the Attic – Hiroko Oyamada
(Translated by David Boyd)
This strange Japanese novella is set out as three connected short stories, with each story set around conversations during a dinner.
The first is centred in an apartment above a tropical fish store, where our main character and old friend, Sayiki, are meeting with a third acquaintance and his young wife and child.
The second is at Sayiki’s newly purchased property in isolated mountains, in which the discussion is centred around the titled ‘weasel in the attic’.
The third, our main character and wife travel in a snowstorm, to have dinner with Sayiki, his wife and new baby.
The main theme running through Weasels in the Attic is parenthood, while the conversations aren’t always focused on this it’s definitely there in each story. I feel like there is a lot left unsaid throughout this book, I think this is because the perspective is from the male side and the women in this seem more clued into everything. There is always a slight unsettling feeling running through Weasels in the Attic and I can’t quite put my finger on why!
Weasels in the Attic is a short one, at 96 pages it’s one you can get through quickly. I love the cover as well, definitely drew my eyes to it when browsing
(Translated by David Boyd)
This strange Japanese novella is set out as three connected short stories, with each story set around conversations during a dinner.
The first is centred in an apartment above a tropical fish store, where our main character and old friend, Sayiki, are meeting with a third acquaintance and his young wife and child.
The second is at Sayiki’s newly purchased property in isolated mountains, in which the discussion is centred around the titled ‘weasel in the attic’.
The third, our main character and wife travel in a snowstorm, to have dinner with Sayiki, his wife and new baby.
The main theme running through Weasels in the Attic is parenthood, while the conversations aren’t always focused on this it’s definitely there in each story. I feel like there is a lot left unsaid throughout this book, I think this is because the perspective is from the male side and the women in this seem more clued into everything. There is always a slight unsettling feeling running through Weasels in the Attic and I can’t quite put my finger on why!
Weasels in the Attic is a short one, at 96 pages it’s one you can get through quickly. I love the cover as well, definitely drew my eyes to it when browsing
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Last of Us: American Dreams - Neil Druckman, Faith Erin Hicks & Rachelle Rosenberg
In honour of the end of season one of The Last of Us, I thought I’d review something a little different today, graphic novel tie in The Last of Us: American Dreams.
I’d read this before but thought I’d give it a re-read after the shows finale, and share it with you all.
The events in the graphic novel take place before The Last of Us, it gives us a look into Ellie’s first days at a new military school in the Boston QZ. It is split into four chapters, I think they were originally released separately.
After a fight, Ellie meets Riley and together they sneak out. A trip to the mall, a horse riding lesson and an explosion lead to the girls fighting for their lives against some of the infected.
A character is introduced, with knowledge of Ellie and her mother and then the girls head back to the Military school.
While nothing major happens in the graphic novel, it does provide a glimpse at Ellie’s time before we are introduced to her in the game/TV series and gives a bit more to her time with Riley.
Like I said, not much is added in terms of the story but it is an excellent companion piece to the game and a must have for TLOU fans!
In honour of the end of season one of The Last of Us, I thought I’d review something a little different today, graphic novel tie in The Last of Us: American Dreams.
I’d read this before but thought I’d give it a re-read after the shows finale, and share it with you all.
The events in the graphic novel take place before The Last of Us, it gives us a look into Ellie’s first days at a new military school in the Boston QZ. It is split into four chapters, I think they were originally released separately.
After a fight, Ellie meets Riley and together they sneak out. A trip to the mall, a horse riding lesson and an explosion lead to the girls fighting for their lives against some of the infected.
A character is introduced, with knowledge of Ellie and her mother and then the girls head back to the Military school.
While nothing major happens in the graphic novel, it does provide a glimpse at Ellie’s time before we are introduced to her in the game/TV series and gives a bit more to her time with Riley.
Like I said, not much is added in terms of the story but it is an excellent companion piece to the game and a must have for TLOU fans!
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Paroxysm of Fear
The Paroxysm of Fear picks up where The Prisoner left off, Doyle and Braham along with Scarlett continue their investigation into the events of the first book. With this Scarlett becomes more involved with the duo and shows how valuable she is to the team.
In Paroxysm, a personal case becomes even more personal as the team unravel the mystery at the heart of this story, but in doing so they put all their lives in danger with dire consequences.
I love the relationship between Doyle and Braham, they are likable characters and their banter and arguments with each other feel very real, there’s a Sherlock and Watson element to them and a little Mulder and Sculley thrown in there two. Scarlett is perhaps my favourite character though, she is a bit of them both but also wildly different and she really adds another level to the team.
I have a fondness for books that a written in dairy/journal format, it provides a good insight into the characters thoughts and motivations, it also helps break the story up into that obvious lie of just one more chapter
The Paroxysm of Fear picks up where The Prisoner left off, Doyle and Braham along with Scarlett continue their investigation into the events of the first book. With this Scarlett becomes more involved with the duo and shows how valuable she is to the team.
In Paroxysm, a personal case becomes even more personal as the team unravel the mystery at the heart of this story, but in doing so they put all their lives in danger with dire consequences.
I love the relationship between Doyle and Braham, they are likable characters and their banter and arguments with each other feel very real, there’s a Sherlock and Watson element to them and a little Mulder and Sculley thrown in there two. Scarlett is perhaps my favourite character though, she is a bit of them both but also wildly different and she really adds another level to the team.
I have a fondness for books that a written in dairy/journal format, it provides a good insight into the characters thoughts and motivations, it also helps break the story up into that obvious lie of just one more chapter