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lisacerezo's reviews
55 reviews
Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
5.0
Very intriguing look at the continuing life of a fairly complicated character. Good storyline, with a couple of unexpected twists. I'm really glad I read The Shining right before this, as I understand that father-son dynamic so much better than when I had just watched the movies. I definitely believe Jack Torrance is proud of his son.
Revival by Stephen King
4.0
I was hooked from the first sentence, and ready for the promise of "the most terrifying conclusion Stephen King has ever written". Conceptually, yes, I do think the conclusion was terrifying. However, the build-up--particularly in the middle of the book--was on such a slow simmer for so long, that I didn't get a big, visceral reaction like I was hoping for. And honestly, I'm not sure that was even King's intent, really. Instead, this novel played more like an extended character study, with the storyline as a simple framework to thread together the various anecdotal stories King wanted to tell. The beginning was very strong, almost a short story unto itself. And there were plenty of places with a good, deep, emotional resonance. To come from those moments to an eerie, truly visceral conclusion would have been an attempt to tell two different types of tales. And no, this ending didn't keep me up at night like some of his others have. But it has stayed with me, lingering in the back of my mind. Now that I know what kind of book I got myself into, I think this is one I'm going to enjoy re-reading, perhaps even more than the first time.
The Institute by Stephen King
4.0
I honestly picked up this book because I wanted to know if it was a rip-off of Stranger Things. I am happy to report that it is not. I am less happy to report that I may have found a new reason to lose sleep at night.
Little People: A Fantasy Story About Fathers, Sons, and Monsters by Daniel Charles Wild
4.0
Little People is an interesting mix of Gulliver’s Travels and Stand By Me, with an environment particularly steeped in childhood memory. Its first-person narrative gives a particularly intimate connection with the narrator, and provides a fair amount of secondhand catharsis for anyone who has ever been estranged from someone they were close to. The level of detail in the world-building made the scenes very easy to visualize—almost to the point of reading more as a screenplay than a novella.
I will mention that this particular edition has large, wide-set text, giving it the appearance of a children’s book. While the language is accessible enough for readers of most skill levels, the mentions of violence and gore along with occasional mild swearing would categorize this as a book not suited for young readers. I personally found the juxtaposition a bit distracting.
I will mention that this particular edition has large, wide-set text, giving it the appearance of a children’s book. While the language is accessible enough for readers of most skill levels, the mentions of violence and gore along with occasional mild swearing would categorize this as a book not suited for young readers. I personally found the juxtaposition a bit distracting.
The Adventurous Eaters Club: Mastering the Art of Family Mealtime by Misha Collins, Vicki Collins
5.0
There’s a lot to love about this beautiful cookbook. Not just for families with small children, this book includes simple, tasty recipes made with easily accessible ingredients. It also includes humorous anecdotes from the Collins family and gorgeous photography. Do be warned: some of the recipes are marked to basically make at your own risk! But I have many recipes bookmarked to try in my kitchen with my own kids. I can already vouch for the Pear Berry Breakfast Cakes and the Hop and Skip Butter. Sure to please!
It by Stephen King
5.0
I read this book as a teenager and it has haunted me ever since. For whatever reason, I chose to read this at night before going to sleep, and I distinctly remember the face of Pennywise leering from the jet black cover and spine. The story terrified me so much that I always had to put the book face down, spine away, to keep Pennywise from watching me while I slept. If you’re looking for a good King-sized scare, this is it.
The Awakening by Kate Chopin
5.0
I read this when I was a teenager, and it has stuck with me ever since. It was a mind shifting, life-altering book.