Monday, February 20, 2012

Review: Thinner - by Stephen King

Published: January 1, 1984
Publisher: Signet
Thinner
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased at GoodWill


Billy Halleck, good husband, loving father, is both beneficiary and victim of the American Good Life: he has an expensive home, a nice family, and a rewarding career as a lawyer...but he is also fifty pounds overweight and as his doctor keeps reminding him edging into heart attack country.
Then, in a moment of carelessness, Billy sideswipes an old gypsy woman as she is crossing the street -- and her ancient father passes a bizarre and terrible judgement on him.
"Thinner," the old gypsy man whispers, and caresses his cheek, like a lover.  Just one word...but six weeks later and ninety-three pounds lighter, Billy Halleck is more than worried.  He's terrified.  And desperate enoguh for one last gamble...that will lead him to a nightmare showdown with the forces of evil melting his flesh away.  And away.  And away...

First Sentences
"Thinner," the old Gypsy man with the rotting nose whispers to William Halleck as Halleck and his wife, Heidi, come out of the courthouse.  Just that one word, sent on the wafting, cloying sweetness of his breath.  "Thinner."  And before Halleck can jerk away, the old Gypsy reaches out and caresses his cheek with one twisted finger.  His lips spread open like a wound, showing a few tombstone stumps poking out of his gums.  They are black and green.  His tongue squirms between them and then slides out to slick his grinning, bitter lips.  Thinner.

 My Thoughts
I honestly didn't know what to expect with this book.  I've avoided Stephen King books for the simple fact that I truly don't want nightmares.  Well, this book will have me trying out more in the future, that's for sure.  
I cannot remember the last time that while reading a book I was so scared/creeped out/disgusted/etc that my knuckles actually turned white while holding the book.  I just wished that the story had moved along a little quicker.  While there was a lot of detail, and that did help scare me more...I also thought it could have been a lot quicker.
You meet Billy Halleck after the Gypsy has already placed this curse on him.  I personally didn't find a deep connection to Billy -- it was like I was reading about him, but more fascinated by the other characters - especially the Gypsies.  
He is quickly dropping the pounds -- which is a good thing as he is extremely overweight...However it is falling off so quickly and no matter what he does it keeps coming off.  His wife, Heidi, is terrified because she is sure that it is cancer, and doesn't believe in this "curse" that Billy keeps talking about. 
After a trip to find the Gypsy that has cursed Billy, I think he ends up with much more than he originally bargained for.

Just as a side note -- it was extremely strange...as soon as I finished this book (the exact same night) the movie Thinner was on TV.  Of course, I am never really a huge fan of the movies after I've already read the book...but this was TERRIBLE.  It was so extremely cheesy and just plain awful.  James was in the room with me watching it and kept asking me how I could read something so incredibly dumb.  I had to repeatedly tell him that the book was NOTHING like the movie, and that the movie was so terrible had I seen that first I never would have read the book.

My Ratings
Cover: 2/5 - The cover of my version is extremely boring and doesn't really fit the book
Characters: 4/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Plot: 4/5
Ending: 5/5
Overall: 4.5

Happy Reading! 


Sunday, January 29, 2012

Review: Lover Enshrined by J.R. Ward

Lover Enshrined (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #6)Published: June 2008
Publisher: Signet
Format: E-Book
Source: Purchased on Amazon


In this "frighteningly addictive" paranormal romance sage there's a war raging between vampires and their slayers.  Here are the stories of a secret band of brothers like no other - six vampire warriors, defenders of their race.  And now a dutiful twin must choose between two lives...Fiercely loyal to the Black Dagger Brotherhood, Phury has sacrificed himself for the good of the race, becoming the male responsible for keeping the Brotherhood's bloodlines alive.  As Primale of the Chosen, he is obligated to father the sons and daughters who will ensure that the traditions of the race survive, and that there are warriors to fight those who want all vampires extinguished.As his first mate, the Chosen Cormia wants to win not only his body, but his heart for herself.  She is drawn to the noble responsibility behind the emotionally scarred male.  But Phury has never allowed himself to know pleasure or joy.  As the war with the Lessening Society grows grim, tragedy looms over the Brotherhood's mansion, and Phury must decide between duty and love.

First Sentences
"Twenty-five years, three months, four days, eleven hours, eight minutes and thirty-four seconds ago...
Time was not, in fact, a draining loss into the infinite.  Up until the very second of the present, it was malleable, not fixed.  Clay, not concrete."

My Thoughts
So, another phenomenal read!!  I've kind of always had a soft spot for Phury.  I'm not sure why, but he has always been somewhat mysterious and intriguing.  You know from the get-go that he's had a hard life -- with rescuing Z, loosing a limb, being celibate, and a drug addict...Maybe it's the "mother hen" in me, but I always wanted to help him...
Anyway, the war is getting much more intense, and now the young boys are getting involved.  The book starts off with a huge shocker, but I won't spoil it for you.  Let's just say...I KNEW IT! And here's a hint -- if I haven't already mentioned it 102320348234 times, I HATE LASH. :)
The Lessening Society has gone after all of the families in the glymera and is killing them off one by one.  This is forcing many of the vampires in Caldwell to pack up and move out.  There are a few that stay behind, but not many.  
This book is filled with horrible tragedies and was sometimes hard to read.  I still get goosebumps thinking about some of the scenes of the war.  Ward does an amazing job making you feel like you are actually part of the story, and can see and feel everything going on around you.
I can't wait to start the next book!!!

Favorite Quotes
"Among the problems with shame was that it in fact did not make you shorter or quieter or less visible.  You just felt like you were."
"As much as we have free choice, absolute destiny is immutable.  What is meant to happen does, through one measure or another."
"If you make a deal with a copperhead, you can't be surprised you get bit."
"A house can be empty, even when it's full of people."
"But if you find yourself fighting an inner voice in your head all the time, then it's not where you're supposed to be.  Being a good liar is not a virtue."
"Look, you didn't fail me.  Because you can't fail at the impossible."
"'I love you forever' didn't always need to be spoken to be understood."

My Ratings
Cover: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Ending: 5/5
Overall: 5

Happy Reading! 

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Review: Lover Unbound by J.R. Ward


Lover Unbound (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #5)
Published: September 25, 2007
Publisher: Signet
Format: Paperback
Source: borrowed from my cousin


In Caldwell, New York, war rages between vampires and their slayers.  There exists a secret band of brothers - six vampire warriors, defenders of their race.  Now the cold heart of a cunning predator will be warned against its will...
Ruthless and brilliant, Vishous, son of the Bloodletter, possesses a destructive curse and a frightening ability to see the future.  As a pretrans growing up in his father's war camp he was tormented and abused.  As a member of the Brotherhood, he has no interest in love or emotion, only the battle with the Lessening Society.  But when a mortal injury puts him in the care of human surgeon, Dr. Jane Whitcomb compels him to reveal his inner pain and taste true pleasure for the first time-until a destiny he didn't choose takes him into a future that cannot include her...


First Sentences
"Just take it, Jane."
Jane Whitcomb grabbed the backpack.  "You're still coming, right?"
"I told you this morning.  Yes."
"Okay."  Jane watched her friend head down the sidewalk until a horn beeped.  Straightening her jacket, she squared her shoulders and turned toward a Mercedes-Benz.  Her mother was staring out of the driver's side window, her eyebrows clenched.


My Thoughts
As I was finishing this book all I kept thinking was how difficult this review would be.  I really want to just go on and on and on about how incredible these books are, and tell you all EVERYTHING...but I don't think that is fair.


This was Vishous' book and it was the first one I didn't really think I would like.  Boy was I wrong.  Each book of this series is someone's story, and I just wasn't really looking forward to Vishous' as I just didn't really feel like he was as well built as the other characters.  I kind of felt like he was super secretive and just didn't really have a lot going on.  What a joke.  Ward -- you really got me!

From the first page to the last page, this book was amazing.  I was so shocked at Vishous' past, and couldn't believe what was in store for him.  There are a ton of shockers in this book - as there are in all the others.  

I truly started to worry as the end neared, because unlike the other books it didn't seem like there would be much of a happy ending.  Now the happy ending wasn't really what I expected, but I'll take it. 

My Ratings
Cover: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Ending: 5/5
Overall: 5

Happy Reading! 

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails