graywild's reviews
575 reviews

Ghostwritten by Ronald Malfi

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

4 novellas (about 100 pages each).  Each story has the basis of a cursed story or book.  I thought each story was clever and they were different from each one.  My favorite was This Book Belongs to Olo but The Story was also right up there.  Highly recommend if you like short stories and horror.
The Dark Between The Trees by Fiona Barnett

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

General concept is not bad.  Two different timelines of a haunted or cursed forest.  The book is 300 pages and the 1st 200 pages are the different groups wandering the forest with very little actually happening other than getting lost.  The end of the story is not terrible although left in the air a little.  Just disappointed about the overall arc of this story.
A Child Alone with Strangers: A Novel by Philip Fracassi

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

leaning toward a 4 star rating.  It's a long book but a quick read.  The story has 2 things going on and that is why it is a slightly lower rating.  If the author had focused on one or the other I think it would be stronger.  Henry survives a near death experience and is able to see the emotions of people and read their thoughts.  As the story progresses Henry is involved with some bad people (don't want to reveal plot) and then there is the side story of an alien/monster.  I liked the general writing and enjoyed the overall plot movement.  Maybe more focus and 100 pages shorter and this would have been a higher rating.  I would still recommend for those who like horror and supernatural
Anatomy of a Song: The Oral History of 45 Iconic Hits That Changed Rock, R&B and Pop by Marc Myers

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informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

3.0

This book covers songs from the 1960s-1990s. There were a few songs I could not recall. Obviously if you are not familiar with the songs this book is not for you. Each song has a short few pages that has interviews with the band, singer and songwriters. Nice back stories on the meaning behind the songs. Some also go into the song writing process. Nice vacation read.
The Odyssey by Homer

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

reread of this classic.  It tells the story of the journey of Odysseus from the war with Troy back home to Ithaca.  Because he blinded the Cyclops, Poseidon punishes him and vows not to let him return home.  Adventures that he encounters are the Cyclops, Scylla, the Sirens, Calypso (who imprisons him) and eventually fighting the suitors who are threatening his kingdom and wife Penelope.  If you like mythology this is a must read.  It does stall a little at times but recommend.
Our Narrow Hiding Places by Kristopher Jansma

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adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

3.0

Follows the story of Mieke during WWII as she lives in a village in Holland trying to survive and as she is an older woman living on the East Coast.  I enjoyed the general story of Mieke and her struggles in Holland.  I felt like the story as she is older was not fleshed out as well.  There is also some small sections where the story is told by eels.  That is ok but seems not to necessarily fit the overall tone of the book.  Recommend as a vacation read. 
To Each This World by Julie E. Czerneda

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Humans on New Earth have a space travel alliance with the Kmet.  Suddenly the Kmet want them to recall any humans on different planets.  Henry is tasked with going to those planets and retrieving the populations to New Earth.  The initial set up is complicated with how humans travel and how the Kmet communicate.  The last chapter was just ok for me and the ending seemed a bit rushed.  More like a vacation read for me.
The Displacements by Bruce Holsinger

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adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Daphne, her husband and 3 kids live in Miami.  He is a surgeon and they live in a well-off community. This story follows them as Miami is hit by a category 6 hurricane.  This is set in present day as climate change is starting to effect the US - fires, stronger tornados, stronger hurricanes.  Miami is wiped out and all the refugees are relocated by FEMA to megashelters.  Houston is also wiped out by the same hurricane.  I liked that this story doesn't focus on a global diaster but rather a more realistic US diaster and how the government deals with it.  How prepared are we?  Well written and I cared about the characters.  Recommend.
There There by Tommy Orange

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adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

This story is about Native Americans living in Oakland where there will be a big powpow at the Coliseum.   It is a relatively short story but there are 12 characters which are probably too many for the length.  All are struggling either with substance abuse, violence or poverty.  Much of this comes from the struggle to keep their culture alive.  Parts were interesting but parts also fell very flat.  Ending seemed unfinished. 
Desert Creatures by Kay Chronister

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

The story of Magdala and her "pilgrimage" to a relic she thinks can cure her.  Journey starts through the desert with her father and along the way she travels with a disgraced priest.  This take place sometime after an event that is not explained well.  There are hybrid human/plant beings that are also in the desert.  Story is disjointed for me and sometimes I struggled with following along on the plot.  Not recommended.