Flash Book Reviews (Dec 2010)
It’s that time again – Flash Book Reviews! Â It’s like flash dance, except with books! Er, maybe not…
Rainbows End – Vernor Vinge An awesome look at a very possible future. Augmented reality takes center stage here, and the story stays entertaining throughout. Main complaint is that a couple of character threads are left dangling. Verdict: If you want to see what the future will look like, read it. (Check out my full review of Rainbows End here)
The Road – Cormac McCarthy Can someone buy this man some quotation marks? The experimental style was distracting when I first picked it up, but the further I got in, the more it just worked. The bleakness of this story about a man and his son is incredible. Verdict: If you enjoy psychologically tense and/or post apocalyptic stories, read it.
Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency – Douglas Adams My first read into Adam’s books. Â It involves a horse, a ghost, a murder, an electric monk, and whatever Dirk Gently actually is (fraud or genius? Or both?). A good portion of this novel is spent on the set up, but it is handled with so much wit that I didn’t even care. Â The threads that Adams creates tie together nicely at the end where we discover why all this zany stuff is going on. Verdict: If you want something a little more light hearted and witty (or if you are a fan of Dr. Who type stuff), read it.
Mocking Jay – Suzzane Collins The final book in the Hunger Games trilogy. Â I wasn’t a fan of how some of the characters stories were resolved, and the end felt a little forced. Still, it was an enjoyable read and there was a couple of nice twists. Verdict: If you’ve read the 2nd novel, read it.
Shade’s Children – Garth Nix This novel really jumps into the thick of it with one of the main characters being hunted by mutant creatures from another dimension. Â The story follows four children who are gifted with a special power as a side effect of the “Change”, and they use these powers to fight against the Overlords and their minions (which leads to some decent action). I loved the logs between chapters and how it lets you get more of a peak into some of the character’s heads. Verdict: Awesome story. If you enjoy superpowers in a unique environment, read it.
