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vivalibrarian's reviews
519 reviews
Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
1.0
I'm trying to think of a way to be objective about this...
I've been reading a lot of erotic fiction lately in preparation for a presentation to librarians on it. With all the hype, I downloaded Fifty Shades of Grey as homework to read on the plane ride. In our presentation, it was mentioned that Fifty Shades was a game changer because it brings erotic fiction into the limelight.
Having started out as Twilight fan fiction, you know the basic make up of the characters. Anastasia is an inexperienced, clumsy, thinks she's ugly college student who meets Christian, a very wealthy, experienced and somewhat unstable guy. They. must. be. together. The kink factor is what makes it different-Christian likes it rough and in control. Anastasia doesn't but will do anything to be with him. blah, blah, blah.
I am glad I read it as I now understand why it is popular with a certain set of readers. For people who are not familiar with the BDSM world, it is an invitation to explore that arena from the perspective of someone who is a virgin and is fearful and uncertain. Seriously, there are contracts and lists written out *in the book*. I can see the appeal. However, to those that live the BDSM lifestyle, the portrayal of that world is completely wrong. I wish a better representation of erotic fiction and BDSM had become so popular.
Still, in today's climate, it is a good thing that people are talking about sex, women especially, so I put on my librarian hat and think that perhaps good things will come of this craziness. Mild character development, small semblance of a plot, language is terrifyingly repetitive and a good editor is desperately needed.
I've been reading a lot of erotic fiction lately in preparation for a presentation to librarians on it. With all the hype, I downloaded Fifty Shades of Grey as homework to read on the plane ride. In our presentation, it was mentioned that Fifty Shades was a game changer because it brings erotic fiction into the limelight.
Having started out as Twilight fan fiction, you know the basic make up of the characters. Anastasia is an inexperienced, clumsy, thinks she's ugly college student who meets Christian, a very wealthy, experienced and somewhat unstable guy. They. must. be. together. The kink factor is what makes it different-Christian likes it rough and in control. Anastasia doesn't but will do anything to be with him. blah, blah, blah.
I am glad I read it as I now understand why it is popular with a certain set of readers. For people who are not familiar with the BDSM world, it is an invitation to explore that arena from the perspective of someone who is a virgin and is fearful and uncertain. Seriously, there are contracts and lists written out *in the book*. I can see the appeal. However, to those that live the BDSM lifestyle, the portrayal of that world is completely wrong. I wish a better representation of erotic fiction and BDSM had become so popular.
Still, in today's climate, it is a good thing that people are talking about sex, women especially, so I put on my librarian hat and think that perhaps good things will come of this craziness. Mild character development, small semblance of a plot, language is terrifyingly repetitive and a good editor is desperately needed.
Mortality by Christopher Hitchens
4.0
"What do I hope for? If not a cure, then a remission. And what do I want back? In the most beautiful apposition of two of the simplest words in our language: the freedom of speech."
It is hard to find the words to express the emotions I experienced reading this last memoir by Christopher Hitchens. In previous books, Hitchens has said that when he died he wanted to face down death and be completely present and aware so upon receiving a cancer diagnosis I wasn't surprised to see him do just that. Not in the way he intended it originally, but rather picking apart what it means to be living dyingly. Awkward, funny, intelligent and raw.
It is hard to find the words to express the emotions I experienced reading this last memoir by Christopher Hitchens. In previous books, Hitchens has said that when he died he wanted to face down death and be completely present and aware so upon receiving a cancer diagnosis I wasn't surprised to see him do just that. Not in the way he intended it originally, but rather picking apart what it means to be living dyingly. Awkward, funny, intelligent and raw.
The Prophet by Michael Koryta
3.0
"The prophet's goal is simple. When the final scream in the night comes, whoever issues it will be certain of one thing: No one hears."
In small-town Ohio, Kent is the town hero leading the high school football team through an amazing undefeated season. His brother Adam, also with a strong history in football, is content to scrape by as a bail bondsman and if he's lucky-he'll never have to talk to his brother again. When a teenage girl with ties to them both is murdered, the brothers are forced to deal with the murder of their own sister years ago.
I picked an ARC of this up at BEA after I listened to the VP of Little, Brown crack a James Patterson publishes too much joke and then said this made him cry at the end. I liked him instantly. Koryta writes my favorite kind of characters. They are flawed and haunted by what life has dealt them. The kind you yell at while you're reading because he also builds the tension and suspense into every moment until the end. Unflinching is my one word review for Koryta-even if he did have to throw football into the story.
In small-town Ohio, Kent is the town hero leading the high school football team through an amazing undefeated season. His brother Adam, also with a strong history in football, is content to scrape by as a bail bondsman and if he's lucky-he'll never have to talk to his brother again. When a teenage girl with ties to them both is murdered, the brothers are forced to deal with the murder of their own sister years ago.
I picked an ARC of this up at BEA after I listened to the VP of Little, Brown crack a James Patterson publishes too much joke and then said this made him cry at the end. I liked him instantly. Koryta writes my favorite kind of characters. They are flawed and haunted by what life has dealt them. The kind you yell at while you're reading because he also builds the tension and suspense into every moment until the end. Unflinching is my one word review for Koryta-even if he did have to throw football into the story.
Freaks of the Heartland by Steve Niles, Greg Ruth
3.0
A review on here said that this graphic novel was the love child of Frankenstein and Winter's Bone.
Yes.
Steve Niles usually writes some pretty horrific stuff and this is listed as horror-but I found it sweet. In the Midwest six years ago, the women who got pregnant had their babies on the same day. What happened after is a great secret, but as we all know, secrets always come back and demand to be seen. Beautiful art and strong character development. You won't soon forget Will.
Yes.
Steve Niles usually writes some pretty horrific stuff and this is listed as horror-but I found it sweet. In the Midwest six years ago, the women who got pregnant had their babies on the same day. What happened after is a great secret, but as we all know, secrets always come back and demand to be seen. Beautiful art and strong character development. You won't soon forget Will.
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind
4.0
"People could close their eyes to greatness, to horrors, to beauty, and their ears to melodies or deceiving words. But they could not escape scent. For scent was a brother of breath. Together with breath it entered human beings, who could not defend themselves against it, not if they wanted to live. He who ruled scent ruled the hearts of men."
What if it wasn't looks that attracted or repelled you to another person but rather their scent?
What if it wasn't looks that attracted or repelled you to another person but rather their scent?