This near future YA thriller has terrific action scenes and an interesting plot. It is rather long, could have been easily divided into three books, eThis near future YA thriller has terrific action scenes and an interesting plot. It is rather long, could have been easily divided into three books, each with an explosive, climactic ending....more
I love Dolores Hitchens so much. This one has a satisfying mystery and a puppy. Again (like Stairway to an Empty Room), the story revolves around non I love Dolores Hitchens so much. This one has a satisfying mystery and a puppy. Again (like Stairway to an Empty Room), the story revolves around non cops, non professionals. I love that. From 1952.
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I love Dolores Hitchens so much. This one has a satisfying mystery and a puppy. Again (like Stairway to an Empty Room), the story revolves around non cops, non professionals. I love that. From 1952....more
From 1974 A man driving a Jaguar near Heathrow crashes and lands in a section of land between and under the roads. At first he is desperate to get outFrom 1974 A man driving a Jaguar near Heathrow crashes and lands in a section of land between and under the roads. At first he is desperate to get out, but even if he gets the driver’s attention they can’t slow down. Eventually he just stays in the traffic island, making a life with a highway hooker and a large simple man. There are names in this he also uses in Crash. The wife named Catherine. However, the main character in this is Maitland, whereas in Crash the main character is named JG Ballard...more
From 1991 A truly terrifying book about being in a car accident, being stuck in the vehicle, alive but drowning. There is no happy ending. The girl leFrom 1991 A truly terrifying book about being in a car accident, being stuck in the vehicle, alive but drowning. There is no happy ending. The girl leaves a party with a Senator who escapes the crash but leaves her to die. Seems completely based on the Ted Kennedy situation they call Chappaquidick or something like that. But this gives a voice and a horrible death to the female victim he deserted....more
A satisfying, page-turning thriller. Takes place in Maine and he uses Maine character names. There were so many I knew. As a kid I went to school witA satisfying, page-turning thriller. Takes place in Maine and he uses Maine character names. There were so many I knew. As a kid I went to school with Twomblys, Tripps and Pelletiers. He also mentions Grindle....more
This has all the “fun twists” of hidden truths, heavy secrets and unreliable narrators. McFadden is terrific at these. Ward D is creepy and claustrophThis has all the “fun twists” of hidden truths, heavy secrets and unreliable narrators. McFadden is terrific at these. Ward D is creepy and claustrophobic. But I hated how it flips back to high school. Ok, there are connections and all, but that doesn’t mean you have to return so often to teenagehood. I am sick of plots going back and forth through time. It seems so common these days. And I do not really want to read about high school. I guess many grown ups do read Young Adult, and I get it. But can’t we just stick to one time?...more
From 1961 This is a terrific, full, book set at a traveling carnival. I liked it more than I like most things set in circus situations (it is just sucFrom 1961 This is a terrific, full, book set at a traveling carnival. I liked it more than I like most things set in circus situations (it is just such an obvious setting for horror or thrillers that I feel it usually isn’t that good). This one is. Multiple characters work in the carnival. Characters the reader cares about die and the novel progresses. I already knew Frederic Brown was remarkable. This confirms it....more
I love looking at cultural shifts, changes you can’t quite see until twenty years have gone by. This book details the production of 8 sci fi, horror aI love looking at cultural shifts, changes you can’t quite see until twenty years have gone by. This book details the production of 8 sci fi, horror and fantasy movies that came out in the summer of 1982 (five years after Star Wars, and we all know how that changed everything). These films show what the movie industry went through in the 1980s. In the old days they didn’t make movies for nerds and childish adults. Now they always will. Speaking personally, I turned 6 in the summer of 1982. I did see E.T. in the theater. I am not alone in thinking the famous flops from that summer, the Thing and Blade Runner have some of the most important amazing details. Neither is a perfect movie, but the astounding practical effects in the Thing put CGI to shame. And Rutger Hauer’s performance in Blade Runner is absolutely spellbinding....more
From 1969 The Shivering Sands refers to quicksand. A well written Gothic Romance, really better written than most like this I’ve read. Deals with RomaFrom 1969 The Shivering Sands refers to quicksand. A well written Gothic Romance, really better written than most like this I’ve read. Deals with Roman remains on British soil. This is interesting. ...more
From 1976 I did like the first Quarry book, but I far preferred this one. It is so entertaining. In the Afterword (yay, I hate forewords) Collins saysFrom 1976 I did like the first Quarry book, but I far preferred this one. It is so entertaining. In the Afterword (yay, I hate forewords) Collins says he was told his Quarry was the first ever hit man character in fiction....more
From 1976 I had been saving the very last Lew Archer, which I had never read before. Well now I have read every book in the series. And I can say whatFrom 1976 I had been saving the very last Lew Archer, which I had never read before. Well now I have read every book in the series. And I can say what I already knew: you do not have to read them in order. I love that….. This is a typically intricate Ross Macdonald mystery about paintings and an artist’s model and 35 years having gone by. Now that, personally, I am getting near as old as Archer here (he does age, but only going from 40 something to 50 something in twenty years), I see that 35 years going by is not as big of a deal as I thought it was when I was young…… “the Blue Hammer” refers to the pulsing veins in the forehead of someone you love....more
From 1935 Pulp stories about a female warrior known as Jirel of Joiry. Pretty purple prose. Reminded me of Greek myth, Orpheus. But instead of crossiFrom 1935 Pulp stories about a female warrior known as Jirel of Joiry. Pretty purple prose. Reminded me of Greek myth, Orpheus. But instead of crossing the Styx, Jirel find secret tunnels to the underworld. I meant that the Purple Prose is pretty....more
From 1898 To make it scarier you tighten the screw. Like, while a ghost story with one child may be eerie, with “another turn of the screw” you have tFrom 1898 To make it scarier you tighten the screw. Like, while a ghost story with one child may be eerie, with “another turn of the screw” you have two haunted children and that is just beyond terrifying....more
I did not finish this. I love reading about cultural shifts and big changes it can be hard to see when you live through them. I read Generations by thI did not finish this. I love reading about cultural shifts and big changes it can be hard to see when you live through them. I read Generations by this author. She talked about our cultural norm going from collective to individualistic and this rise in self centeredness is connected to that. ...more
I adored Pitch Dark. When I started it I just figured I would learn about Northern Maine. For though I was born and raised in the Midcoast, I have nevI adored Pitch Dark. When I started it I just figured I would learn about Northern Maine. For though I was born and raised in the Midcoast, I have never been North of Moosehead Lake (as an adult, I was in the 70s but I don’t remember it). But then I was gripped by all the suspense. This book is a real page turner (to use a cliche). That’s really my favorite thing in fiction, not being able to put a book down. I will absolutely read more in this series....more
From 1955 Martians appear all over our world, irritating us, flying all around, seeing and hearing all. Some people think they are not aliens but greeFrom 1955 Martians appear all over our world, irritating us, flying all around, seeing and hearing all. Some people think they are not aliens but green devils sent from Hell. This book gets very thorough, detailing the ways these Martians destroy our economy and international political relations. But was the whole thing actually the creation of a Science Fiction writer?...more
From 1923 Follows the life of a second wife and how she lives after her husband dies. From the perspective of a young man who was a boy in the beginniFrom 1923 Follows the life of a second wife and how she lives after her husband dies. From the perspective of a young man who was a boy in the beginning....more
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