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onetrackmind77's reviews
639 reviews
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
3.0
This was a good book, but I feel like it could have been an extraordinary one. The book lacked the substance and weight that it deserved, and the author should have stretched things out beyond the 210 pages we get here. While I empathized with the characters, there was very little work done to help define them and help the reader connect to them...they were just there. Also, while we were told that the Nickel School was an evil place, and we read about some of the disturbing practices, I felt like we were really only shown the briefest of glimpses into all the shit that was going on, and it was delivered in such a disconnected manner that it didn't make your gut clench with disgust...it was shoved at you, and before you could sit and reflect on it, you were bounced to something else. This story deserved more heart and detail.
The Fearing: Book Four - Earth and Ember by John F.D. Taff
3.0
While I enjoyed the serial format for The Fearing, I think I would have preferred to have it served up as one novel. My problem was that I had a difficult time keeping track of the cast of characters, and waiting a month between each installment left me disconnected and confused on who was who. Either I struggled with the delay between each book, or some of the characters weren't uniquely defined and tended to blend together. Either way, this was a fun ride with a unique story line.
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
4.0
This book captures my 80's childhood, and now I just want to go back and play those video games again. Bonus stars for the "rockin' like Dokken" reference.
Violet by Scott Thomas
3.0
This was a great story with some serious creepy vibes. It was definitely a slow burn, but it set a great atmosphere, and it all paid off at the end. It may have gone a bit too long, and it seems to take forever to wrap up all the loose ends, but still recommended.
Gwendy's Button Box by Richard Chizmar, Stephen King
4.0
To be honest, I was never really interested in reading about Gwendy and her button box (whatever that was). I wasn't drawn to this book at all. Then last week, my brother invited me to join him on a trip to a Q&A with Richard Chizmar...I'm a nerd, and enjoy hearing authors talk, so I went along. By the end of the night, after hearing Richard's stories about writing with Stephen King and his perspective on Gwendy, I figured that I'd pick up the Button Box book and give it shot...plus I could get it signed and inscribed while I was at it. This book was fantastic...such a magical ride of innocence and curiosity. I read half of this in bed before going to sleep one night, and then finished it the next morning before getting out of bed. Such a fun trip and even in this short story format, you can't help but love Gwendy.
Gwendy's Magic Feather by Richard Chizmar
2.0
While I loved the fast pace and mystery contained in Gwendy's Button Box, with the Magic Feather not much really happens. Sure we touch upon a few interesting stories, but it felt like we danced around them all, and never really committed to anything. This wasn't terrible, but really never achieved any level of tension. Disappointing.