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majortomwaits's reviews
268 reviews
Killers of the Flower Moon: Oil, Money, Murder and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann
4.0
One of the better written works of non-fiction of this kind. While it does fall under the true crime category, I can't help but feel as if it doesn't fit with most of the works that are in that category. Because this is so horrid and so systemic that it feels wrong to place it next to a work of some charlatan who is obsessed with serial killers.
This is a work where victims come first and it is just heartbreaking to read as it unfolds. Even more heartbreaking is when a close comes and you realize that there's still about a hundred pages left. Because it didn't end with just a couple of guys being imprisoned. And that's what got to me the most.
Grann did fantastic work with this one, perhaps it is a tad too focused on the FBI, though I understand, it is partly about the founding of it. Regardless, the new evidence part was really well done and it is praise worthy that Grann went there himself and tried to see what he could find from the descendants and the local library.
This is a work where victims come first and it is just heartbreaking to read as it unfolds. Even more heartbreaking is when a close comes and you realize that there's still about a hundred pages left. Because it didn't end with just a couple of guys being imprisoned. And that's what got to me the most.
Grann did fantastic work with this one, perhaps it is a tad too focused on the FBI, though I understand, it is partly about the founding of it. Regardless, the new evidence part was really well done and it is praise worthy that Grann went there himself and tried to see what he could find from the descendants and the local library.
The Day of the Locust by Nathanael West
4.0
Batshit insane.
Okay, so at first I had trouble settling into this one, because I was still very much processing the previous two books I've read. However, the second Homer Simpson stepped onto the page, I was swept off my feet. That man is a bigger nervous wreck than I am and, not gonna lie, I really loved his presence in the book. And finding out that Donald Sutherland played him on film just makes so much sense holy shit.
But even that aside, this novel is juicy in the sense that its prose is so rich and detailed that it was a delight to go through. The biblical title seemed almost misleading at first, because the plot reminded me of a hybrid of Hemingway and Kerouac mixed with hallucinations that come with a lack of sleep, but then you reach the final chapter and all makes perfect sense. And that's entertainment, I suppose.
Okay, so at first I had trouble settling into this one, because I was still very much processing the previous two books I've read. However, the second Homer Simpson stepped onto the page, I was swept off my feet. That man is a bigger nervous wreck than I am and, not gonna lie, I really loved his presence in the book. And finding out that Donald Sutherland played him on film just makes so much sense holy shit.
But even that aside, this novel is juicy in the sense that its prose is so rich and detailed that it was a delight to go through. The biblical title seemed almost misleading at first, because the plot reminded me of a hybrid of Hemingway and Kerouac mixed with hallucinations that come with a lack of sleep, but then you reach the final chapter and all makes perfect sense. And that's entertainment, I suppose.
The Blade Artist by Irvine Welsh
3.75
Happy that Frank Begbie managed to cure his homophobia, sexism and like whole lot of other insane shit. Good for him.
Altogether this felt incredibly rushed to me. Still makes for a good read but it is nowhere close to the heights of the first two novels.
Altogether this felt incredibly rushed to me. Still makes for a good read but it is nowhere close to the heights of the first two novels.
T2 Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh
5.0
It's been many years since I've last read and watched Trainspotting, but I did a rewatch of the movie about a month ago and it just urged me to read the sequels, this one being the first.
I own this edition, I got it when the T2 movie first came out because the original cover and title (Porno) just wasn't available anywhere, so I stuck with the movie cover and title, saved me many explanations as well, so that's a big upside of this particular one.
This was fantastic. It just took me back and just revisiting these characters was almost therapeutic. It's tense and funny and insane and sad all at the same time and I loved it all the way through.
I do need to get myself a copy of Dead Man's Trousers, but I will read the other two sequels that I have for now.
I own this edition, I got it when the T2 movie first came out because the original cover and title (Porno) just wasn't available anywhere, so I stuck with the movie cover and title, saved me many explanations as well, so that's a big upside of this particular one.
This was fantastic. It just took me back and just revisiting these characters was almost therapeutic. It's tense and funny and insane and sad all at the same time and I loved it all the way through.
I do need to get myself a copy of Dead Man's Trousers, but I will read the other two sequels that I have for now.
The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman
Did not finish book. Stopped at 3%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 3%.
Wasn't in the right frame of mind to continue this story, but I will get back to it someday for sure
Northern Lights by Philip Pullman
5.0
This whole series was one regret of mine from childhood, because I saw the dreadful movie when it came out on the DVD, but the books weren't available at my local library. So I just sort of grew up and came to terms with a fact that I'm too old to dig into it now. Except I decided to have a go anyways.
I am honestly blown away. It is very obviously a children's book, but it is also super rich and detailed and brutal in its plot and descriptions. Plus the anti-church aspect that happens to be a major thing in the end. Well structured and intelligently written, now I must read the sequels.
I am honestly blown away. It is very obviously a children's book, but it is also super rich and detailed and brutal in its plot and descriptions. Plus the anti-church aspect that happens to be a major thing in the end. Well structured and intelligently written, now I must read the sequels.
The Prague Cemetery by Umberto Eco
4.0
I've struggled with this one over the years and decided to dive in once more.
It's not an easy book by any means, there's a lot of ramblings and a lot of smudges between fiction and reality. However, when it struck, it stayed with me, I found myself unable to quit it and it ended up being grand. This is my very first Eco and now I'll have to read The Name Of The Rose.
It's not an easy book by any means, there's a lot of ramblings and a lot of smudges between fiction and reality. However, when it struck, it stayed with me, I found myself unable to quit it and it ended up being grand. This is my very first Eco and now I'll have to read The Name Of The Rose.
Seven Keys to Baldpate by Earl Derr Biggers
Did not finish book. Stopped at 43%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 43%.
It was just too melodramatic for my taste..
Pimp: The Story of My Life by Iceberg Slim
4.0
Extremely fast paced, but also very vivid and detailed. Definitely brutal yet beyond interesting. Loved Ice T's foreword, it only added to the whole experience.
Sweeney Todd: The String of Pearls by James Malcolm Rymer
4.0
Despite it dragging at times, I can say that I enjoyed this more and more as it went on. It only got better in every conceivable way, from plot to writing and characterization, just great. I'm a big fan of the musical so I decided to finally check out the original penny dreadfuls and I wasn't let down in the slightest. An abundance of fun, if you ask me, of course.