MyReads: August

I just started with listing the books I read, as I promised myself I would do a long time ago. I can't garantuee I've read all these in August. Some of them might have been in July.

Anyway, here's my booklist for August, I had vacation the whole month so that means I read a lot of nice, thick books. I'll give you a little synopsis and my opinion about them.


Justin Cronin - 'The passage' (read in Dutch; title: 'De oversteek')

Funny thing is, I brought this book home with me from the library and discovered at home I already had it in English. I was lazy and went with the Dutch version.
This book is set in a post-apocalyptic setting, in which the continent of America is under attack by vampire-like creatures. The people who survived live in a self-made camp, built to protect them from the creatures. One day, they meet a girl, who has the key in her body to form new life and end the mess the world is in. As a reader, you will meet the girl before the survivors, because the book starts with a sort-of explanation how the mess started in the first place.
A pretty heavy book, almost 1000 pages, but the story was quite alright in my opinion. It didn't fulfill all my expectations, but overal it's a nice book with some good qualities. A lot of viewpoints, a big time elapse, strong characters and a lot of excitement. If you like horror-like stories set in a dystopian future, I would highly recommend it.
Also, some days back I learnt there is a second book which will follow he events after the big show-down at the end of The Passage. It's on my library pile, you guys can expect a review next month or on month later. My library pile is always huge.

My score: 8.5/10


Guillermo Del Toro & Chuck Hogan - 'The strain' (read in Dutch; title: 'De meester')

This book bored me in the beginning but after some pages I really got into it. The second book in the trilogy is on my library pile, so you can say I really became interested after some pages.
The reason it bored me in the first place might have been because I've been reading a lot of apocalyptic horror books recently, and this one is no exception.
Set in America, things get way out of hand when a Boeing 777 arrives at JFK airport. Every soul in the plain seems to be dead, and scientists have no idea what happened. The CDC decides they need a specialist to help with this mystery, and Ephraim Goodweather comes in to play. Together with a colleague and an old man, they try to stop the victims from waking up again and starting a rampant. Sadly enough, they are playing with forces much stronger than they expected.
I would rather consider this a vampire novel, since the infected people all turn out to be blooddrinking psychos. But it's a good vampire novel, and I really look forward to read the other 2 books in the series.

My score: 7/10


RJ Ellory - 'Bad signs' (read in Dutch; title: 'Bekraste zielen')

Every book he writes is better than the one before, and his first book was pretty good... This last one is without any doubt the best one I've read from the hands of Ellory.
The story follows two half-brothers in the fifthies of America. Both born for bad luck, the boys live in a correctional facility after everything went downhill when their mother was brutally murdered. Bad luck isn't done with it's cruel show, because one day the boys get kidnapped by an escaped man who was awaiting the dead penalty. The choices both the boys make will change their lives forever.
The book is beautifully written and really brings you in the atmosphere of that time. I love books that take place in 'old America'. Also, the characters aren't what you would call 'multi-dimensional', but their motives and ideas are described in a good way. Near the end of the book, it got so thrilling I was skipping paragraphes to know what would happen. On every page of the book, you feel a chill, as if something awfull is going to happen. A brilliant thriller, never boring and always exciting.

My score: 9/10


Stephen King - 'Lisey's Story' (read in Dutch; title:'Lisey's verhaal')

This is not your average Stephen King novel. The horror portrayed is much more psychological than in his other books. Also, romance has an important influence on the story.
The book follows Lisey, who used to be married to writer Scott Landon. Two years after her husband passed away, Lisey decides to clean out his writing room. The stuff she finds there forces her to remember things she pushed away a long time ago. Scott was a brilliant writer, but he had a lot of inner demons. It's those demons Lisey will need to understand her late husband.
Overall, it was a good novel with strong characters and the typical King-writing style I love. But it's not his best. I like the idea of Scotts hidden world, but overall I didn't believe this story as much as I believe his others. I still enjoyed it, because, well it's Stephen King and he never dissapoints. Some of the sentences and scenes in this book really touched me, but in the end I still felt a little hunger, like if this was all we were going to get. Not his best, but still worth your time.

My score: 6.5/10



Scott Lynch - 'Red sees under red skies' (read in Dutch; title: 'Rode zee onder een rode hemel')

The second book in 'the gentleman bastard sequence' by Scott Lynch. The books follow two masterthiefs and their adventures and misfortunes. In the first book, we follow our heroes on stealing quests in their hometown. The second book takes it to a whole new level, and our heroes become pirates.
I enjoyed the first book already, but the second one is even better. A lot of new, interesting characters come to play and the descriptions in both books are amazing. It does have a lot of fantasy elements, but it's not your average fairytale. The towns, people and habits are much more violent and weird than in most regular fantasy books. The text is never boring and before you know it, something happens and the whole scene changes. I love how the author created crazy ideas such as 'contrarequilla's' in the first book and spooky places in the second. If you're into fantasy, I really recommend this series. A third book already is published, and 5 more are on the way. I can't wait to read the third one!

My score: 9/10


Stan Nicholls - 'First blood: Legion of thunder' (read in Dutch, title: 'Keizerin van het duister')

This is the second book in the first trilogy about orcs from the British author Stan Nicholls. Set in Maras-Dantia, the 'old world', we follow the adventures of an orc fighting group. After a mission went wrong, the orcs decided to hide and run from their evil queen Jennesta. On the mission, their task was to steal some sort of star with magical powers, so Jennesta can become even more cruel. The mission goes horrible wrong and after that, the orcs consider themselves free. They get on a mission to collect the other stars, and hopefully clean Maras-Dantia from all the evil and from humans, because most humans steal away the magic and mistreat the land.
These books aren't the best book out there. I read them because they are fun, not that thick and I do like the story. A lot of fighting happens, the book is never boring. It's not high literature at all, but it's entertaining and I'm reading the third book in this trilogy right now. I'm quite curious how the novels will end, so the books aren't that bad at all.

My score: 6.5/10


Stephen King - Duma Key (read in Dutch; title: 'Duma')

A man was once hapilly married. This man got into a car accident at work, but survived. Since then, he has to live with only one arm and he has some brain damage, which makes him very agressive at times. His wife decides to leave, and he, Edgar Freemantle, decides to leave, too. He starts a new life on Duma Key, Florida. But the island holds a secret, and Edgar is the pathway through which the secrets speaks. Once settled, Edgar gives his old hobby, painting, a new chance. Soon he realises his drawings try to tell him something, and together with some other inhabitants, they try to stop the evil before it's too late.
Although the ideas in the book aren't that original, I think he really pulled it off. The story is creepy, interesting and also very funny at times. The book isn't that scary but I liked the characters a lot and the storyline is never boring. The book could have been shorter, but we all know how much King loves to describe his scenes and personages. Would I read it again? No, I probably wouldn't, but I recommend a first time for all King fans out there.

My score: 7/10


John Ajvide Lindqvist -  'Little star' (read in Dutch; title: 'Wolfskinderen')

To all of you horror/thriller-fans: check out John A. Since he's Swedish, I don't know if all his works are being translated. I did read 3 of his other novels, the first 2 being not that great, but the 3th one already  shows a lot of potential, and he definetely used that potential to write this mini-masterpiece.
An old man finds a baby in the woods and takes her home with him. He and his wife want to keep the baby, and they let her live in the basement of their home. Teres, a child who doesn't speak and acts really weird, has an amazing, pure voice. After a tragical accident which tells us that Teres is completely insane, she goes to live with her lowlife-brother. Teres meets Teresa at an online poetry forum. Teresa is overweight and depressed, and the two girls become friends after Teres sings on 'idols" in Sweden. Together with a 'pack' of other neglected teenage girls, Teres and Teresa come up with a terrifying plan that will shock the nation.
If you're into a good thriller, pick up this book. The end is rather abrupt, but this wasn't a problem for me since I like open endings. It's a shocker tho. After reading this masterpiece, I found myself thinking about it over and over again. If I had the time, I would read it again. The novel got worldwide critical acclaim, so I'm not alone on this view. I would say: see for yourself, and enjoy.

My score: 9/10


That's all for now, folks. Check back in October for my September books!


Sabetha
pissedofpenguin@gmail.com