Under the Dome by Stephen King

Copyright: 2009

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Synopsis:
Randomly one day an entire town in Maine gets enclosed by an invisible barrier. Initial impact is deadly, and every day afterwards gets harder and harder to withstand. Townspeople attempt to band together to survive because it's a mystery that has no signs of ending anytime soon. The politicians of the town have their own agenda that is more for themselves than the town as a whole - but they carry all the power. There are good guys and bad guys - everything in between - and they are all a pleasure to read. Under the Dome gives you a glimpse of what could happen if disaster strikes with nowhere to run. How does human nature react? Is it hopeful or hopeless?

Review:
I finally chose this 1,072 page monster to read - after at least a year of debate - as It had almost scarred me for life on ever grabbing a book over 500 pages again. Don't get me wrong! Even though I thought it would never end, It is an amazing novel and totally worth the read. That is another review all together. Either way, it's an undertaking and a commitment. However, I had heard good things and Stephen King knows how to tell a good story! So it was time. And I knew it would take ME some TIME to finish. Being a naturally sllloooow reader, all I can see is MONTHS dancing around in my head as I look at the practical hand-weight of a book.

The book literally starts with a map and a list of people that were in town the day the Dome came down. A MAP. A LIST OF PEOPLE. I knew I was in for the long haul at that point. It is a very neat reference though and I did use it.

 

 

There are so many characters, I am not sure I can say there is a main one. They all get a pretty good share of screen time. But what I really liked about this book was how much you could like the bad guys as much as the good guys. They are written so well, their stories are so interesting, and they play such a huge part in showing us the undeniable dark side of human beings. Of course you can root for the good guys because they are genuine and heroic. You get to see how taking away people's freedom and resources effect them. In the end that's what Under the Dome is about. Not so much the sci-fi aspects of the non-earthly Dome, but of what people do when scared, under pressure, anxious and trapped. It's testing the boundaries of the mind and how far it can go before breaking.

 

Stephen King does not disappoint. Much like his other novels I have read, he has a superb way of sharing characters and worlds with extreme entertainment and quality. I can say that with Under the Dome I didn't really fall in love with one particular character. They all seemed to have a somewhat even playing field with me. I was just as interested in the fucked up shit that the "Town Selectman" were doing as the local fry cook turned back to US Military bigwig trying to save the town from itself. I do know that I said more than once, "These people are fucked up. I mean, holeee shit." But they are people, plain and simple. So really in the end, it's not that surprising. (Jaded much?)

 

Murder mysteries; possible out-of-this-world technology; love; hate; politics; religion; medicine - you name it, it's there. Even down to the ecological effects. Those who want the Dome to go - those who want the Dome to stay. It gets you...right until the very end! While it's a very long book - I almost didn't want it to end. But alas...

 

Quoteage time!

 

"But did family come first? Of course he said that - he was a Christian, after all, and half-owner of WCIK - but Junior had an idea that for his dad, Jim Rennie's Used Cars might come before family, and that being the town's First Selectman might come before the Holy Tabernacle of No Money Down. Junior could be--it was possible--third in line. He realized (maybe for the first time in his life; it was a genuine flash of insight) that he was only guessing. That he might not really know his father at all."

 

"It was the main reason he had never even considered leaving The Mill. In the wider world he might have made more money, but wealth was the short beer of existence. Power was the champagne."

 

"Joe didn't believe in praying for things he could do for himself, but he had sent up a brief one on a different subject: that if they found the generator, Norrie Calvert would give him another kiss. A nice long one."

 

I can't really give you more - as I am concerned about spoiling the great twists and turns and shocks. I can, however, totally recommend this book! And I will: Hey. Hey you. Read Under the Dome. It rocks.

 

 

 

 

The Shining by Stephen King

Copyright: 1977

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars!

Synopsis:
Jack Torrance has been given the job to be the caretaker of The Overlook Hotel in Colorado for the winter. He takes his wife Wendy and son Danny with him for this seven month long gig. Jack lost his teaching job and had nothing else to support his family with. Wendy and Jack are struggling to keep their marriage together. Most importantly - Danny has the "shine" - and is the key to unlocking The Overlooks' big-bad-ugly side. This novel (which is SO MUCH BETTER than the movie!!!) is an amazing horror story and a must-read Stephen King book!

Review:
I have seen The Shining film, starring Jack Nicholson, several times in my life. I have found that for the most part I really enjoyed it. I didn't care much for some of the bad acting and always made fun of their outrages outfits...but nonetheless was willing to admit that I liked the movie. My friends and I recently watched the film again - which sparked a debate amongst them about the movie versus the book. I had not read The Shining, so I could not participate in this discussion, but knowing that I was a growing Stephen King fan it only made sense that I finally pick this novel up and give it a try.

If there is one thing I would want you to take away from this review, it's this: the novel is about 100% better than the movie. In fact, I don't think I even like the movie anymore. Once I have experienced the true story in it's entirety - it's hard to go back to the half-assed version. I can also say, as I have before, that Stephen King is a superb story teller and one of the best writers I have had the privilege to read.

The Torrance Family: Jack, Wendy and Danny. I grew to really enjoy each character in their own light. I also loved the dynamic of the little family. The parents screwed-up past effecting their parenting of Danny and their marriage. Danny's ability to read thoughts and have precognition is not only a pivotal point to the story, but also one of the most interesting things about The Shining. The love Danny has for his father is overwhelming. Plus, Danny is only five years old--making his innocence in the situation...and him being forced to grow-up pretty quick...so enduring and heart breaking.

"Do you like Tony, Danny?"
Danny looked at the tile floor and said nothing.
"Danny?"
"It's hard to tell," Danny said. "I used to. I used to hope he'd come every day, because he always showed me good things, especially since Mommy and Daddy don't think about DIVORCE anymore." Dr. Edmond's gaze sharpened, but Danny didn't notice. He was looking hard at the floor, concentrating on expressing himself. "But now whenever he comes he shows me bad things. Awful things. Like in the bathroom last night. The things he shows me, they sting me like those wasps stung me. Only Tony's things sting me up here." He cocked a finger gravely at this temple, a small boy unconsciously burlesquing suicide.

The Overlook is one of the most terrifying entities in this novel. Watching it become stronger while sucking in the Torrance Family is gripping. All the details Stephen King gives in regards to what the hotel does to each character are amazing--and give The Shining its horror vibe flawlessly. It also makes me feel horrible for Jack and Danny, who get the worst of what the hotel has to offer. It's also important to know that up in the hills of Colorado, the snow gets to the point of no return. Therefore, escape isn't really an option for this family, because by November they are snowed in.

(Danny) From behind him, that soft flump sound of falling snow came again. He turned around and the head of one of the hedge lions was sticking out of the snow now, snarling at him. It was closer than it should have been, almost up to the gate of the playground.

(Jack) He found himself wishing that Wendy would ask him about the hedges, would ask him what Danny meant when he said You know because you saw---If she did, he would tell her everything. Everything. The hedges, the woman in the room, even about the fire hose that seemed to have switched positions. But where did confession stop? Could he tell her he'd thrown the magneto away, that they could all be down in Sidewinder right now if he hadn't done that?

This is definitely a book I could quote until the sun came up. However, I believe most of the details and bits of information should be experienced by the reader while going on this journey. I'd hate to spoil the really good stuff.

I highly recommend this novel! It's a wonderful and scary story. It's gripping. It's happy and sad and mean and nice and everything you would want from a realistic take on the not-so-realistic possibilities of this world. That makes sense, right? Haha. It makes the boogie man seem like it could be real. That's what is awesome about this story and the authors talent. Don't watch the movie - read the book.

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

Copyright: 2008

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Synopsis:

Randy Pausch, a college professor, is asked to participate in a "Last Lecture" series at the college he used to teach at. It becomes an absolute need for Randy to participate, because he ended up being diagnosed with terminal cancer shortly before this event was taking place. He shares his points on how to really achieve your childhood dreams as his theme of the lecture, but ends up contributing much more through stories and advice he as accumulated over the years.

Review:

I adore inspiring stories - especially of the non-fiction nature. Mainly because when I know that there are people out there bringing light to the world...giving us some positive vibes to feed off of....I can be more confident about my own approach to life. I won't lie - I can be down. Depressed. Negative. Bitchy. Snooty. Mean. Poopy pants. It's certainly not something I am proud of. I have always wished I could have been born that peppy chick -- that I could have been naturally happy and smiley and down-to-earth awesome. Some days I am. But other days I need inspiration to be more than a bump on a log. Books like this are perfect for that. Randy Pausch is all that I wish I could be. Even with pancreatic cancer!

Randy had a lucky life. He even says so himself. He has AMAZING parents (made up of the stuff most parents really should be and just aren't). He had a drive to get where he wanted to go and not stop. He had a super smart brain that made the sciencey part of the world up for grabs. He also learned some enlightening and awe-inspiring shit throughout his life. I am so stoked he shared it with the world before he passed away.

"The instinct in our house was never to sit around like slobs and wonder. We knew a better way: Open the encyclopedia. Open the dictionary. Open your mind."

"There's a lot of talk these days about giving children self-esteem. It's not something you can give; it's something they have to build. Coach Graham worked in a no-coddling zone. Self-esteem? He knew there was really only one way to teach kids how to develop it: You give them something they can't do, they work hard until they find they can do it, and you just keep repeating the process."

"Brick walls are there for a reason. They give us a chance to show how badly we want something."

"Complaining does not work as a strategy. We all have finite time and energy. Any time we spend whining is unlikely to help us achieve our goals. And it won't make us happier."

"Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other."

"If I could only give three words of advice, they would be 'tell the truth.' If I got three more words, I'd add: 'All the time.' My parents taught me that 'you're only as good as your word,' and there's no better way to say it."

"You ought to be thrilled you got a job in the mail room. And when you get there, here's what you do: Be really great at sorting mail. No one wants to hear someone say: 'I'm not good at sorting mail because the job is beneath me.' No job should be beneath us. And if you can't (or won't) sort mail, where is the proof that you can do anything?"

"My dad gave me the tongue-lashing of a lifetime. He believed manual labor was beneath no one. He said he'd prefer that I worked hard and became the best ditch-digger in the world rather than coasting along as a self-impressed elitist behind a desk."

If you need a nudge in the positive direction - pick this bad boy up. It's an easy 206 pages - and it's full of the good things in life, and how to appreciate and love them despite the dark and painful times.

Seize the Night by Dean Koontz

Copyright: 1999

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars!

Synopsis:
Christopher Snow lives near the ocean in California. This novel is his second installment of his journal chronicling the events that are taking place (the first novel is titled Fear Nothing)....and they're CRAY-ZEEE!! It has horror elements and sci-fi elements, along with friendship and love that every person wishes for in life, to make a well rounded, epic story. What happens in Moonlight Bay via mad scientists and the Big Brother? What do you do when you find out your pet dog was genetically altered and is probably smarter than you? How do you adapt to the world when you have a genetic disorder that forbids you to ever be in sunlight (or UV rays or computer screen glares!?!)? You are about to find out...

Review:
The first time I read this novel I was thirteen years old (upon its release in 1999). I thought it was the most amazing thing ever! It has also been in print for thirteen years, and as of today I have read it seven times. Yes, I think you can assume that I looove this book. It's so easy to do. The characters are amazing, the story is interesting and fast-paced, and it's quotable like a mother fucker. Not to mention, I am an over-the-top dog lover...and Orson is a bitchin' dog. I'm sorry if I sound like a surfer from Cali....when you read almost 500 pages of surfer characters, it can rub off on you.

First off: the main character is Christopher Snow. He's 28 years old and has a genetic disorder called Xeroderma pigmentosum. His body is unable to produce enzymes that replace the damaged DNA from ultraviolet rays....so any exposure puts him at extreme risk of skin and eye cancers. That's all I'll say - but it's important to know that this is why he is limited to the night (hence the title! ohhhh!) and why he knows what it's like to be an outcast; an outsider. Of course he embraces it well. His dad was a poetry professor - therefore Chris has a "poetic" way about him, which I think it unique and sweet (like "awesome" sweet...not "awww" sweet).

His best friend is Bobby Halloway. I love Bobby. He is the mellow surfer bro that is super sarcastic. Bobby and Chris' friendship is special and I adore it. Especially since you have to find the love and care between the lines.....as most dudes don't like sharing those kinds of feelings outright. Girls are a special breed when it comes to the mushy and gushy. Bobby's take on life and his philosophies are what I wish I could have for myself, but I am a girl who thinks too much and has too many feelings.

Chris has a girlfriend named Sasha Goodall. As you can imagine she has to be a bad-ass to fit in with this crew. She's a DJ. A songwriter. An exercise enthusiast. Has a past that could make any girl wish to be her. Plus, she can look beyond Chris' medical issues and love him for who he is. And will be there for him when worse comes to worse. Sasha is a good balance for Bobby and Chris in the novel, and the three characters compliment each other very well. It's practically sitcom ready.

ORSON! The super amazing, totally intelligent, lovable dog that I wish I could steal from the book and make my own. He is also a best friend of Chris'. Orson is always by Chris' side and being genetically smarter than your average mutt, he's not your run-of-the-mill puppy.

This novel takes place over a couple of days. Seriously action packed days! So much happens I am not even sure where to begin. But I think a few quotes are in order:

"This weapon has saved my life more than once, yet although it's a reassurance to me, I am not entirely comfortable with it. I suspect I'll never be able to handle it with complete ease. The weight and design of the piece have nothing to do with my aversion to the feel of it; this is a superb handgun. As a boy roaming the town at night, however, I was subjected to some memorable verbal and physical abuse from bullies - mostly kids but also some adults old enough to know better - and although their harassment motivated me to learn how to defend myself and taught me never to let an injustice pass without a firm response, these experiences also instilled in me a loathing of violence as an easy solution. To protect myself and those I love, I will use lethal force when I must, but I'll never enjoy it."

"So far, the changes have been disturbing, sometimes terrifying, but, with a few notable exceptions, they have been subtle enough that authorities have successfully concealed the truth about the catastrophe. Even in Moonlight Bay, at most a few hundred people know what is happening. I myself learned only a month before this April night; upon the death of my father, who knew all the dreadful details, and who revealed things to me that I now wish I didn't know. The rest of the townspeople live in happy ignorance, but they may not be out of the loop much longer, because the mutations may not remain subtle." 

I don't want to give too many details away. However, the idea of retrovirus', kidnappings, cover-ups and rescue missions is enough to pull me in! Coupled with these AMAZING characters to share the journey with makes a sweet-ass novel. Seriously though, you should read it.

"Carpe diem, said the poet Horace, more than two thousand years ago. Seize the day. And trust not in tomorrow. Carpe noctem works as well for me. I seize the night, wringing from it all that is has to offer, and I refuse to dwell on the fact that eventually the darkness of all darknesses will wring the same from me."

"I think dogs were put in this world to remind humanity that love, loyalty, devotion, courage, patience, and good humor are the qualities that, with honesty, are the essence of admirable character and the very definition of a life well lived."

"In good Orson I see the hopeful side of my mother's work, the real potential of science to bring light into an often dark world, to lift us up, to stir the spirit and to remind us that the universe is a place of wonder and infinite potential."

"So you believe you can ride through the end of the world by growing potatoes and broccoli on an uncharted tropical island somewhere east of Bora Bora, where there's both insanely fertile soil and mondo glassy surf - but you find it hard to believe in an afterlife?"

He shrugged. "Most days, it's easier to believe in broccoli than in God."

"Not for me. I hate broccoli."

Bobby shook his head. "I'm never gonna be at home in this brave new smart-animal world, bro. It's like I'm living in a maximum-wacky Donald Duck cartoon, but one where, between the laughs, dudes get their guts ripped out."
"The world according to Edgar Allan Disney," I said.

I could keep quoting this book all night long, but at that point I'd just be giving you the novel via blog post. Seize the Night is such a fantastic book - I, of course, recommend it. And will probably read it again before you pick it up.

White Oleander by Janet Fitch

Copyright 1999


My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Synopsis:
A young girl named Astrid (or Ass-Terd if you watch "The Office" sitcom) ends up in the foster care system after her mother goes to prison for murder. Her mother, Ingrid, is quite the messed up individual...and you can see how that effects a child being raised by such a character. This story takes you along Astrid's journey of being eternally connected to her biological mother, while also trying to survive as a teenage girl in this big, bad world.....one foster home after another. It's DRAMA! It's SEX! It's LIFE! (That's right, I said sex. Now do I have your attention?)

Review:
Where do I begin!?!?!

First off, this story is beautifully written. It's like reading one long (very long) tragic and inspiring poem. As it should be: the two main characters are "artists."  Astrid is a painter/drawer and Ingrid is an author. They live in L.A. CALI BABY! I'm only slightly jealous of that. Which is probably another reason I adored this novel - it took place in Southern California....a place I imagine would be lovely to live but will probably never find out. I shall live vicariously through these stories!

Astrid is a character that is easy to fall in love with and be pissed off at at the same time. She has to grow up quick, and having (what I believe) to be a slightly crazy mother...she didn't have much of a chance. I personally know of scenarios (in my own family!) that take place in Astrid's life, so it was simple to relate to and completely believable. Which made it all the more sorrowful, tragic, downright depressing. 

"I was torn. He deserved to be punished, but now she had crossed over some line. This wasn't revenge. She'd had her revenge, she had won, but it was like she didn't even know it. She was drifting outside the limit of all reason, where the next stop was light-years away through nothing but darkness. How lovingly she arranged the dark leaves, the white blooms."

What would you do if your mother killed her boyfriend? When you were 12 years old? I can't even begin to fathom what I would do. Astrid's life is one possible outcome - and more probable than most. It's genuine stuff. In all seriousness, it's more than likely happening at this very moment.

Astrid's character crosses a lot of lines that I never would (in theory, haha). But then again, I didn't have the traumatic and hard-knocked life she did. I'm not an incredibly judgmental person, so I chalked it up to: some people are fucked up...because that's how this world is. I love the detail Janet Fitch goes into when describing these things that are forbidden. Taboo. Wrong. If it makes you uncomfortable...good! She's doing her job as a writer, and you are doing your job as a reader. I enjoyed the really screwed up parts of the novel - they can give you a sense of security in knowing your life isn't as bad as you might think it is sometimes. It also helps to prove that humans are very complex. Every life is it's own universe. Anything can happen, so don't be so quick to judge or dismiss a person for the less sunny aspects of their existence.  

"And I was deluged by fresh waves of shame and regret. He never knew when he met me that first day, when the little boys sat on the porch, that I would be the one to ruin his life the way Starr crushed his model in the living room."

"I had foolishly doubled my dose, and now I lay shipwrecked on a desolate shore littered with broken glass. I caught a cold from the air-conditioning, which worked too well in my small porch room. All I could think of was how alone I was. My loneliness tasted like pennies. I thought about dying. A boy in the hospital had told me the best way was an air bubble in the bloodstream. He has bone cancer and had stolen a syringe he kept in an Archie comic book. He said if it ever got too bad, he'd shoot up some air, and it'd be over in seconds. If it weren't for my mother's letters, I would have thought of something. I reread them until they were soft and divided along the creases."

Ingrid, while a unique and strong-minded individual, should not have children. I know she loved her daughter Astrid, but she also ruined her. I see this all too much in reality. I wish I could save Astrid from her mother, but I know deep down that everything happens for some stupid reason or another...even if it makes no sense at all.

Astrid goes to a new foster home often  - she even says she went to eight different schools in five years. It's a struggle to want this one home...this one family to work out, but it's just as fucked up as the others ones, if not worse. However, every single home she lives in and leaves gives her a piece of herself that made her who she was in the end. Bad things can make good lessons, this I know is true. I've experienced it myself. It's always hard to comprehend while going through it - it can only be appreciated and recognized in the rear-view mirror.

Oh yeah! I did emphasize the sex to get your attention. There is the dirty, bad sex you'd expect a troubled 14 year old to have. Then there is the sexual tension that most people in general have. The sex gives the story life. It is, after all, one of the basic human instincts. It provides one of the uncomfortable edges to the novel, while making the characters more real. And it's totally not porno-esque...so don't get too excited.

Without giving too much more of the details away of this wonderful novel, I will say it was so worth the read. It's a melodic tragedy. It's heartwarming and heartbreaking. It's what a good book should be. I absolutely recommend White Oleander!

"Who am I, Mother? I'm not you. That's why you wish I were dead. You can't shape me anymore. I am the uncontrolled element, the random act, I am forward movement in time. You think you can see me? Then tell me, who am I? You don't know. I am nothing like you. My nose is different, flat at the bridge, not sharp as a fold in rice paper. My eyes aren't ice blue, tinted with your peculiar mix of beauty and cruelty. They are dark as bruises on the inside of an arm, they never smile. You forbid me to cry? I'm no longer yours to command. You used to say I had no imagination. If by that you meant I could feel shame, and remorse, you were right. I can't remake the world just by willing it so. I don't know how to believe my own lies. It takes a certain kind of genius."  

Hater by David Moody

 

Copyright 2006         

 

Synopsis:

Hater takes place in England/Great Britain (some country with a British accent). Danny McCoyne is our main guy and you get to take the journey of the world falling apart with him. It's 281 pages that takes place in a couple of weeks, and let me tell you, A LOT happens in those few days. It's a pretty neat take on zombies, if you will. People are changing....and depending on who you are....it's not for the better.

 

"Society is rocked by a sudden increase in the number of violent assaults on individuals. Christened Haters by the media, the attackers strike without warning, killing all who cross their path."

 

Review:

I finished this book in two days. I'm not afraid to admit that I am a slow reader - so this is quite the accomplishment for me! Hater, while full of angst-y hate and complaining by good ol' Danny, is a fast pace survival horror story. Because this idea is so plausible it gets you to the core. This shit could happen for real. Imagine just going along doing your own thing...and then everywhere you go people are losing their minds to the point of carnage-y death!? Um, no thank you.

 

This novel didn't really have characters I fell in love with. Danny got quite annoying with his bitching and complaining all of the time. However, it was his hatred of the mundane, everyday things that can wear individuals down that made him a very believable character. I may not have loved him and truly cared for him, but he was real to me. This guy totally exists right here and right now. What happens to Danny is something to be feared. To see his horror story unravel was the suspense driven novel I needed to read.

 

"The armed police officer is down. Another officer stands over him and unloads shots nine, ten, and eleven into the twitching body of his former colleague. I keep running. As I move a single devastating thought crosses my mind. Was that police officer a Hater? Christ, if there are people in the police force who are capable of this kind of cold-blooded, emotionless violence then what the hell are we supposed to do? The implications are vast and terrifying. Who's going to keep control? What the hell happens now?"

 

I gave Hater three solid stars out of five. I always enjoy some deep, wonderful character development, which it lacked. This story didn't necessarily need it - as it was more about the shit hitting the fan scenario. It helped imply the chaos, which I believe that to be one of the most important aspects of this novel. I totally got caught up in this story...not sure who to root for - "normal" dudes or the "Haters". In the end I had the seed of the novel planted in my brain, leaving me with nightmares of a world breaking down -- one evil, mindless, senseless murder after another -- and could it be me? Could it be my boyfriend? A complete stranger? Will I survive a zombie-esque world that happens over night?

 

"Don't know. Don't even know if I want to think about it. We have to keep fighting to stay alive, and you can bet they're going to be doing exactly the same thing. So we can only keep running and keep killing," he replies, "because if we don't get them, they'll get us." 

 

I hope I won't ever have to find out. Hater got me thinking (and slightly freaking)....and has successfully lead me on to the next! Dog Blood by David Moody - Part 2 of the Hater Trilogy.

 

Good book, people! I recommend when you have a little time to spare....pick this bad dude up. It'll be a quick treat of crazy British suspense goin' DOWN!