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stormlightreader's Reviews (936)
A very interesting book with excellent narration! I could happily listen to Sue Black narrate true crime. I loved the format of the book, moving from head to toe detailing how the skeleton tells the story of a person after death and using true crime anecdotes to supplement the theory.
Another great book from Sue Black. Her narration is amazing. I've only listened to her books but I ended up buying the first book I read by her (Written in Bone) after I finished the audiobook. However, I think her narration makes it so much better. I loved listening to such an accomplished woman of science. It's very inspiring to listen to the ways a woman and her peers have contributed to Forensic Anthropology. All That Remains discusses the impact of death and how taboo the subject (still) is and she supplements the discussion with science, life and true crime anecdotes. I just love her writing writing style.
I'll never not get excited hearing anatomical names and knowing what they are 🥰
I'll never not get excited hearing anatomical names and knowing what they are 🥰
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A very mixed bag. I don't particularly feel like much even happened in this book. The purpose of this was book was clearly to introduce Harry and his issues because the crime seemed to be secondary and must've taken up a quarter of the word count, if that. It was a fairly quick read overall and the story was improved for me by the audio narration. Unless, I've misunderstood, it's quite clear that Harry is not meant to be likeable and as of finishing this book, I don't particularly like him but I want to see how this goes with a book set in Norway.
The most annoying character for the majority of the first half of the book is Andrew. Every time he's in a chapter, it's just a history lesson. I didn't care for that much folklore and it did not feel necessary or beneficial to the story to have that many stories. I honestly rolled my eyes when he'd start talking (sometimes for several pages - I zoned out). The inclusion of Aboriginal folklore seems like a good addition to the story but it's completely overshadowed by the fact that the is book 25 years old and so painfully shows its age with sexist and racist comments (not from Harry for the most part). Towards the end Harry plunges into a depressing phase of getting drunk, which is something else I just cannot stand in books and this was so tedious, though not as tedious as the history lessons with Andrew. I also got bored of Nesbo's Tour Guide to Australia, it felt like it was just a challenge to include as many places in Australia as is physically possible in 425 pages.
Overall, It was well written, the translation felt fine and the short chapters were a plus. I enjoyed the overly dark vibes of the book but I'm a little disappointed that the book wasn't set in Norway. I don't know what it is about thrillers set in Australia, but I just can't get away with them! I never felt like I was on the edge of my seat and trying to work out how the case was going to be solved BUT I did actually figure who the killer was and that NEVER happens for me, so there's that! Some reviews say that The Bat isn't worth the read in regards to the series due to its problems (and there are plenty: Harry going to dinner with a potential witness and proceeding to fall in love with her in a matter of days!, sleeping with a prostitute - another potential witness), so I'll file this under "read and never to be re-read", but I am tempted to give the second book a try but apparently the Harry Hole series is not to be judged based on the first 2 books, so that doesn't fill me with much hope for book 2 but I have heard really good things about later books.
The most annoying character for the majority of the first half of the book is Andrew. Every time he's in a chapter, it's just a history lesson. I didn't care for that much folklore and it did not feel necessary or beneficial to the story to have that many stories. I honestly rolled my eyes when he'd start talking (sometimes for several pages - I zoned out). The inclusion of Aboriginal folklore seems like a good addition to the story but it's completely overshadowed by the fact that the is book 25 years old and so painfully shows its age with sexist and racist comments (not from Harry for the most part). Towards the end Harry plunges into a depressing phase of getting drunk, which is something else I just cannot stand in books and this was so tedious, though not as tedious as the history lessons with Andrew. I also got bored of Nesbo's Tour Guide to Australia, it felt like it was just a challenge to include as many places in Australia as is physically possible in 425 pages.
Overall, It was well written, the translation felt fine and the short chapters were a plus. I enjoyed the overly dark vibes of the book but I'm a little disappointed that the book wasn't set in Norway. I don't know what it is about thrillers set in Australia, but I just can't get away with them! I never felt like I was on the edge of my seat and trying to work out how the case was going to be solved BUT I did actually figure who the killer was and that NEVER happens for me, so there's that! Some reviews say that The Bat isn't worth the read in regards to the series due to its problems (and there are plenty: Harry going to dinner with a potential witness and proceeding to fall in love with her in a matter of days!, sleeping with a prostitute - another potential witness), so I'll file this under "read and never to be re-read", but I am tempted to give the second book a try but apparently the Harry Hole series is not to be judged based on the first 2 books, so that doesn't fill me with much hope for book 2 but I have heard really good things about later books.
First read: no review (shocker!) but I remember really struggling with this book on my first read. (2*)
Re-read: reading almost 6 years to the day I first read it. The first 150-ish pages were fine but the middle chunk from around chapter 22 it became a bit stagnant (a lot of monologuing from a racist commander hellbent on creating 'a new nation' - this is without a doubt the dullest part of the book). However, it's we get more backstory on Reacher, which I adore. I think I'm more invested in Reacher as a character than I was when I originally read it, so now I can pick out more positives even in the less interesting instalments. The last half the book was fab! My rating has definitely gone up from my original read. I know I have the problem of rushing through books to find out what happens and Reacher has been a victim of this, hence the more patient reread. (4*)
Re-read: reading almost 6 years to the day I first read it. The first 150-ish pages were fine but the middle chunk from around chapter 22 it became a bit stagnant (a lot of monologuing from a racist commander hellbent on creating 'a new nation' - this is without a doubt the dullest part of the book). However, it's we get more backstory on Reacher, which I adore. I think I'm more invested in Reacher as a character than I was when I originally read it, so now I can pick out more positives even in the less interesting instalments. The last half the book was fab! My rating has definitely gone up from my original read. I know I have the problem of rushing through books to find out what happens and Reacher has been a victim of this, hence the more patient reread. (4*)
I'm not sure why I re-read this... I originally rated it 2 stars after reading the Kindle edition but gave the free audiobook a go as it apparently gives the story a bit of a creepier edge. It did and while I'm not blown away I think I can appreciate the story more than the first time and it has been promoted to the 3-star shelf. It's such a short story but tells the story of a woman with depression who is confined to a room decorated with, yes you guessed it, yellow wallpaper. I listened to the free audiobook on YouTube (Horrorbabble) and the narrator was really good for the story. I would worry if this were still a common way to 'treat' depression.
Still a solid favourite! The Shawshank Redemption is Red's story but Andy is the main character. I still love this story and I'm so excited for it to be released as a standalone book in September. This is my first reread of this one and it's such an easy one to go back to. It's still in my top King books! How is it that King makes prisoners so likable?!
Standout moments/quotes:
- Red thinking it would take Andy 600 years to tunnel out of Shawshank using the rock hammer
- Ugh, The Sisters are repulsive and Andy's gang rape definitely hits harder in the book.
- I love Andy explaining how Hadley could move his money around creatively, leading to him nearly getting thrown off the roof but ending with him watching his friends drinking beers he made a deal to get.
- THAT moment when the warden finds the tunnel!!
- Amazing quote: "Oh shit, it's shit!". Always funny!
The only improvement I could suggest would be for Morgan Freeman to narrate the audiobook!!
Standout moments/quotes:
- Red thinking it would take Andy 600 years to tunnel out of Shawshank using the rock hammer
- Ugh, The Sisters are repulsive and Andy's gang rape definitely hits harder in the book.
- I love Andy explaining how Hadley could move his money around creatively, leading to him nearly getting thrown off the roof but ending with him watching his friends drinking beers he made a deal to get.
- THAT moment when the warden finds the tunnel!!
- Amazing quote: "Oh shit, it's shit!". Always funny!
The only improvement I could suggest would be for Morgan Freeman to narrate the audiobook!!