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truebookaddict's reviews
784 reviews
Ghost Story by Peter Straub
5.0
I loved this book! I can easily see why Straub and Stephen King have collaborated because the feelings this book evoked in me are very similar to what I have felt while reading some of King's works. King and Straub are definitely kindred spirits. I just love the creepy and this book delivers big time in that regard. It's really hard to believe (well, not really) that the 1981 film based on this book is from this book at all. There is so much here that would have made the film better, but I digress. Straub takes his ghost story and turns it outside, inside, upside down. We have ghosts that are 'werewolves' and 'vampires', figuratively. It is alluded to in the book that perhaps ghosts such as these are where the old legends come from. We have mutilated livestock/horses drained of all blood...and humans too. Then there are seemingly benign girls and women who, with a certain knowing smile or look, give the chills as well. It's the subtlety of the writing, I think, that makes what would not normally be scary really damn scary. I think the tenets of this story are 1) if you do something bad, it will come back to haunt you and 2) don't sit around telling ghost stories. You just might find yourself in one.
I can't believe this is the first Peter Straub book I've ever read. It certainly will not be my last (since I own all/most of his books, reading them won't be a problem). If you haven't read Ghost Story, I recommend that you do posthaste!
I can't believe this is the first Peter Straub book I've ever read. It certainly will not be my last (since I own all/most of his books, reading them won't be a problem). If you haven't read Ghost Story, I recommend that you do posthaste!
Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland
3.0
Read my review here:
http://thetruebookaddict.blogspot.com/2009/09/book-review-any-given-doomsday-by-lori.html
Thanks!
http://thetruebookaddict.blogspot.com/2009/09/book-review-any-given-doomsday-by-lori.html
Thanks!
Night Walker by Lisa Kessler
4.0
When I was given the opportunity to participate in Lisa Kessler's virtual book tour, I jumped at the chance. You see, I have known Lisa for several years now (oddly enough, we met on MySpace) and I have followed her writing career, reading her stories and her updates regarding the novels she was working on and offering encouragement along the way. Night Walker was one of the novels she was working on during that time and I am pleased as punch for her and also so proud of her accomplishment.
Now I'm not a big reader of paranormal romance. In fact, I'm not much for romance novels at all. However, I had been reading Lisa's stories over the years and I really liked her style of writing. I am pleased to say that Night Walker just works on so many levels. First of all, anyone who knows me, knows I love the idea of reincarnation and this is an almost immediate premise in the book. Yes! And adding a love story along with reincarnation just makes it even better. But also, there are a moral implications at the base of the story that give it even more depth. I was pleased that the characters were likable and I developed an easy connection with them, with the exception of one very unlikable character, Jose, who is about as vile as they come. Don't worry...you're not supposed to like him. This really isn't a typical "vampire" novel, although many may try to pigeonhole it that way. As I said, it's more of a love story with a conscience. The moral issues were subtle, but recognizable. The displacement of Native Americans by the Spanish and the betrayal of the confessional by a monk (which leads to a despicable act) are the issues interlaced in the plot and I thought their presence added greatly to the depth of the novel.
I feel I must touch on the love scenes which are one of the reasons I tend to steer clear of the PR genre. I'm not fond of the explicit or overly erotic scenes. I have to send kudos Lisa's way. She really made the scenes sensual and classy (with the exception of Jose's scenes, but his aren't supposed to be). Would that other writers in this genre would take Lisa's lead and I just might become a convert!
Finally, the epilogue gives us an intriguing glimpse of what's to come as the Night series continues and I have to say...I can't wait! Well done, Lisa, on this wonderful first novel.
Now I'm not a big reader of paranormal romance. In fact, I'm not much for romance novels at all. However, I had been reading Lisa's stories over the years and I really liked her style of writing. I am pleased to say that Night Walker just works on so many levels. First of all, anyone who knows me, knows I love the idea of reincarnation and this is an almost immediate premise in the book. Yes! And adding a love story along with reincarnation just makes it even better. But also, there are a moral implications at the base of the story that give it even more depth. I was pleased that the characters were likable and I developed an easy connection with them, with the exception of one very unlikable character, Jose, who is about as vile as they come. Don't worry...you're not supposed to like him. This really isn't a typical "vampire" novel, although many may try to pigeonhole it that way. As I said, it's more of a love story with a conscience. The moral issues were subtle, but recognizable. The displacement of Native Americans by the Spanish and the betrayal of the confessional by a monk (which leads to a despicable act) are the issues interlaced in the plot and I thought their presence added greatly to the depth of the novel.
I feel I must touch on the love scenes which are one of the reasons I tend to steer clear of the PR genre. I'm not fond of the explicit or overly erotic scenes. I have to send kudos Lisa's way. She really made the scenes sensual and classy (with the exception of Jose's scenes, but his aren't supposed to be). Would that other writers in this genre would take Lisa's lead and I just might become a convert!
Finally, the epilogue gives us an intriguing glimpse of what's to come as the Night series continues and I have to say...I can't wait! Well done, Lisa, on this wonderful first novel.