Monthly Archives: December 2014

Revival by Stephen King

American Literature 1 Comment

Synopsis: When Jamie’s childhood pastor loses his faith a spectacular crash and burn, Jamie’s own life takes a header into addiction and suicidal tendencies, but when the pastor comes back into Jamie’s life promising healing, Jamie takes the proffered gift with devastating repercussions. Review: First of all, I liked Revival better when it was called Needful Things. Secondly, I wish Stephen King would stop basing his interpretation of American Christianity off of one church service he went to back in 1962. Every time he explores…

Read More »

The Book of You by Claire Kendal

British Literature

Synopsis: After a night she can’t remember that left her with bruises on her thighs, Clarissa can’t shake Rafe, whose unrelenting attentions gain added menace when she starts noticing the parallels to a rape trial she’s attending as a juror. Review: The Book of You had some strong and memorable elements, particularly Claire’s emotional and physical isolation as a result of Rafe’s stalking. Unfortunately, the secondary characters remained largely flat on the page, never serving as much more than an unwitting Greek chorus to Claire’s…

Read More »

The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss

American Literature

Synopsis: A week in the life of Auri, who lives in the world beneath the world and keeps things in balance by knowing the perfect place for everything. Review: Is it just me, or did Patrick Rothfuss just drop a huge bombshell about Auri’s role in the final Kingkiller book? The Slow Regard of Silent Things was WAY better than the Bast story in Rogues. I’ve always worried that Auri was going to be just another manic pixie dream girl, but here she comes completely…

Read More »

Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes

American Literature

Synopsis: The corpse that kicks off this murder investigation is grosser than gross (think taxidermy and meat glue), and the whole thing goes to a supernaturally dark place for all concerned. Review: Lauren Beukes effortlessly melds the genres of crime and horror in Broken Monsters, to the point where I genuinely had no idea what to expect or how it was going to end. And the ending did blow me away–and haunted me with a nightmare. Eek!

Read More »