Another gruesome novel from the psychotic writer Shaun Hutson has been read and now reviewed for your pleasure.
Victims tells of an effects man who, after having an eye transplant, is able to see who is next on the killing list of a maniacal killer, copying the methods of previous, legendary killers. As more people are killed, the fx man is forced to work with the police and is dragged into obsession.
Fast-paced, gory and filled with mystery and suspense, Victims is the perfect horror novel and, so far, the best I've read (And I've read a lot). You can't go past 5 pages without curling your toes at the in-depth descriptions of gore which is the way I like my words to be.
The book was a fast read, finished in three sessions but the content makes up for the shortness. Hutson's chapter construction is interesting also with the book having chapters of only 4 pages max along with titled ones which tell the story of a child making a discovery.
Throughout the book you'll be thinking you've solved a question but you may just be wrong.
Victims is possibly my book of the year and deserves a 5 out of 5 mark. Nice work, Shaun.
Saturday, 6 August 2011
Sunday, 17 July 2011
Carrie by Stephen King
Yep, it's another Stephen King novel. This time it's his very first (published) one which was released in 1974 and made into a film two years later.
The book focuses on an outcast school girl called Carrie who possesses telekinetic powers. She also possesses a hugely religious mother and is a scapegoat for the school bullies. However, after accepting an invitation to the school prom from one of the most popular boys in the year, things start to look up. Until the bloody finale, of course.
I'd seen the film loads of times before reading the book so I kind of knew what to expect but I also knew the book would be different. However, I didn't expect it to be this different.
The book is written in the style of a collection of newspaper cuttings, interviews, biographical book sections and telephone recordings which is a style I've not experienced/read before.
Most of the film content leading up to the prom is almost the same as the book, once the prom has started, however, the book is much different with a lot more death, destruction and horror. As Carrie strolls through the streets in the book, there is more action than just the flipping of a car. The deaths of certain characters are also very different to the film version.
This was a book which would have been a lot more shocking if I didn't know what was coming but still had a creepy factor to it
Carrie was another one of those books which I found hard to put down and was finished in three or four days (it could have been less but I'm a busy man these days) and was worth the £2 I paid for it in a charity shop (although I recently found that I actually happen to already own the book).
If there's anyone out there wanting to read some Stephen King I'd say start with Carrie as it's fairly short at 270-odd pages and nowhere near as intimidating as It.
Total rating 4/5
The book focuses on an outcast school girl called Carrie who possesses telekinetic powers. She also possesses a hugely religious mother and is a scapegoat for the school bullies. However, after accepting an invitation to the school prom from one of the most popular boys in the year, things start to look up. Until the bloody finale, of course.
I'd seen the film loads of times before reading the book so I kind of knew what to expect but I also knew the book would be different. However, I didn't expect it to be this different.
The book is written in the style of a collection of newspaper cuttings, interviews, biographical book sections and telephone recordings which is a style I've not experienced/read before.
Most of the film content leading up to the prom is almost the same as the book, once the prom has started, however, the book is much different with a lot more death, destruction and horror. As Carrie strolls through the streets in the book, there is more action than just the flipping of a car. The deaths of certain characters are also very different to the film version.
This was a book which would have been a lot more shocking if I didn't know what was coming but still had a creepy factor to it
Carrie was another one of those books which I found hard to put down and was finished in three or four days (it could have been less but I'm a busy man these days) and was worth the £2 I paid for it in a charity shop (although I recently found that I actually happen to already own the book).
If there's anyone out there wanting to read some Stephen King I'd say start with Carrie as it's fairly short at 270-odd pages and nowhere near as intimidating as It.
Total rating 4/5
Thursday, 7 July 2011
The Executor by Jesse Kellerman
Another excellent book picked up in Poundland (I'm noticing a pattern here - all of the best books I've read recently have come from Poundland. Interesting.) written by the best selling author of The Brutal Art.
The book tells of a man who has recently been kicked out by his girlfriend and, when looking for a job so he can move off of his friend's couch, he answers a newspaper ad looking for a "Conversationalist".
He gets the job and as they become good friends he is offered a place in the huge house free of charge. Everything seems to be going perfectly well until the son of the woman appears on the scene.
The book is fast-paced, well-written and almost impossible to put down which is something I haven't felt to a book for a long time. It has some strange bits throughout and others where you want the character to stop worrying but other than that it's a book which kept me awake until the early hours because I didn't want to wait to find out what happened in the next chapter.
It's filled with twists and turns with a surprise middle and ending which you won't have anticipated at all. It has its jaw-dropping moments and, in my opinion, not a slow page throughout.
Due to the writer having gained a degree at Harvard and lived in the areas which the story is based, it is much more realistic than had it been written by someone who has never been to America. Along with this he also points out how distracting the Internet can be and doesn't exaggerate at all, writing it how it is. so to speak.
If you're into crime or thriller then this is a book you'll want to pick up when you next see it in Poundland. Failing that, it'll probably be in one of those expensive bookshop places.
One more annoying thing in this book was the lack of question marks. When a question was asked, it was finished with a full stop. Although I could understand that it was a question, this little thing got under my skin a bit.
Overall rating: 4/5 (Would be 5 if he hadn't been so worrisome at times.
PS: I've figured why I'm finding all these decent books which were written not so long ago (this was published in 2010): Imperfections. A slight stain in some pages, a creased cover etc.
The book tells of a man who has recently been kicked out by his girlfriend and, when looking for a job so he can move off of his friend's couch, he answers a newspaper ad looking for a "Conversationalist".
He gets the job and as they become good friends he is offered a place in the huge house free of charge. Everything seems to be going perfectly well until the son of the woman appears on the scene.
The book is fast-paced, well-written and almost impossible to put down which is something I haven't felt to a book for a long time. It has some strange bits throughout and others where you want the character to stop worrying but other than that it's a book which kept me awake until the early hours because I didn't want to wait to find out what happened in the next chapter.
It's filled with twists and turns with a surprise middle and ending which you won't have anticipated at all. It has its jaw-dropping moments and, in my opinion, not a slow page throughout.
Due to the writer having gained a degree at Harvard and lived in the areas which the story is based, it is much more realistic than had it been written by someone who has never been to America. Along with this he also points out how distracting the Internet can be and doesn't exaggerate at all, writing it how it is. so to speak.
If you're into crime or thriller then this is a book you'll want to pick up when you next see it in Poundland. Failing that, it'll probably be in one of those expensive bookshop places.
One more annoying thing in this book was the lack of question marks. When a question was asked, it was finished with a full stop. Although I could understand that it was a question, this little thing got under my skin a bit.
Overall rating: 4/5 (Would be 5 if he hadn't been so worrisome at times.
PS: I've figured why I'm finding all these decent books which were written not so long ago (this was published in 2010): Imperfections. A slight stain in some pages, a creased cover etc.
Monday, 4 July 2011
The Green Mile by Stephen King
So, I said I need to start reading books again and reading I have done. This time it was Stephen King's 1996 drama/fantasy/thriller the Green Mile, and what a book it was.
WARNING: Spoilers follow
The story tells of a giant who is convicted for killing two children who, the guards soon find out, has some sort of God-like healing power. Throughout the book the man displays this healing power which causes some characters to have second thoughts about who committed the crime which John Coffey the giant is on death row for.
The book is written from the memory of Paul Edgecombe (played by Tom Hanks in the film of the same name) from the old peoples' home in which he now lives/d. It tells the story of Paul in the death row block in 1932 but is written by him in the year of publication: 1996.
Reading through the story you/the reader feel/s sort of emotional towards the characters as King manages to write with description and in a way that makes them seem real, like the story really happened. Sort of in a biographical way, if you will.
This is definitely one of Stephen King's better books out of the seemingly hundreds he's written and the few I've read and definitely one people who are into fantasy and thriller mixed should pick up. It's a thick book at almost 500 pages but not that hard a read. A good one for a first-time reader of Stephen King.
I don't know if I'll be reading this again any time soon (I have a HUGE pile to read yet, including more Stephen King) but I might pick it up in a year or so as I tend to do with Simon Kernick books. We'll see but in the meantime I'll give this book a rare 5 out of 5 and a BIG recommendation to anyone who reads.
Coming next: I have no idea, need to select something out of 1000+ books.
WARNING: Spoilers follow
The story tells of a giant who is convicted for killing two children who, the guards soon find out, has some sort of God-like healing power. Throughout the book the man displays this healing power which causes some characters to have second thoughts about who committed the crime which John Coffey the giant is on death row for.
The book is written from the memory of Paul Edgecombe (played by Tom Hanks in the film of the same name) from the old peoples' home in which he now lives/d. It tells the story of Paul in the death row block in 1932 but is written by him in the year of publication: 1996.
Reading through the story you/the reader feel/s sort of emotional towards the characters as King manages to write with description and in a way that makes them seem real, like the story really happened. Sort of in a biographical way, if you will.
This is definitely one of Stephen King's better books out of the seemingly hundreds he's written and the few I've read and definitely one people who are into fantasy and thriller mixed should pick up. It's a thick book at almost 500 pages but not that hard a read. A good one for a first-time reader of Stephen King.
I don't know if I'll be reading this again any time soon (I have a HUGE pile to read yet, including more Stephen King) but I might pick it up in a year or so as I tend to do with Simon Kernick books. We'll see but in the meantime I'll give this book a rare 5 out of 5 and a BIG recommendation to anyone who reads.
Coming next: I have no idea, need to select something out of 1000+ books.
Thursday, 30 June 2011
I *really* need to start reading again
Title says it all really. I haven't sat down with a book and read properly for months. I've had a lot of time on my hands but I've spent it either partying, writing (I've got a decent long-term writing job now) or hanging out with friends.
I'm currently reading The Green Mile so a review of that will be up soon and I've got six books to read for my next uni year (if I get to return, that is) so hopefully I'll get back into reading soon. I also picked up 5 books yesterday including "Carrie", one of my favourite films. Alongside this I have a huge pile of unread books and about 1600 unread on my e-reader so I have no excuse really. Shame on me.
In my defence though, this writing job can take up a lot of time due to research and the weather has recently been beautiful. causing me to want to be out in it, strolling around and being active. Maybe I should just remember to actually take a book out with me each time I leave the house.
Give it a few days though and a new review should be up which will hopefully remain consistent. We'll see.
Until then, peace!
I'm currently reading The Green Mile so a review of that will be up soon and I've got six books to read for my next uni year (if I get to return, that is) so hopefully I'll get back into reading soon. I also picked up 5 books yesterday including "Carrie", one of my favourite films. Alongside this I have a huge pile of unread books and about 1600 unread on my e-reader so I have no excuse really. Shame on me.
In my defence though, this writing job can take up a lot of time due to research and the weather has recently been beautiful. causing me to want to be out in it, strolling around and being active. Maybe I should just remember to actually take a book out with me each time I leave the house.
Give it a few days though and a new review should be up which will hopefully remain consistent. We'll see.
Until then, peace!
Saturday, 16 April 2011
I am Legend by Richard Matheson
Now this was quite a book. And one which, although sharing its name, is not much like the film.Those who has seen the film of the same name starring Will Smith will know that the story features a post-apocalyptic plague which has turned all humans into creatures allergic to sunlight and thirsty for blood.
These two vampiric concepts are pretty much the only ones which follow the book other than the protagonist called Robert Neville who is locked up in his own house and is immune to the virus.
So what does the book tell us?
A strange germ has formed which, once it is inside the human bloodstream, turns said human into a blood sucking vampire (the genuine term used in the book) which is also allergic to sunlight, lives in the dark/comes out at night and will do anything to kill that human. In the book, however, the vampires are able to speak.
Robert Neville is immune to the germ (we find out how later on in the book) and after losing his family, has little choice but to survive and research this germ.
We travel through three years of his life which includes flashbacks, alcoholism, experiments and a stray dog. Robert Neville is one of those characters who is just determined to find out what is happening, find other humans and live happily ever after. However, as with all thrillers, this doesn't exactly go to plan and Neville is pretty much "screwed" without already knowing it.
Although it took me 5 days to read the story, it was only really a short one of 96 pages. With this in mind, it should be said that the book needn't be any longer as it tells all we need to know.
Despite being loosely the same story, the book and film could hardly be compared and are generally two different vampire stories with the same name. That's not to say it should go a miss, especially if you like an easy read with "death, vampires and whiskey" (Copyright quote, 2011).
So, if you happen to come across I Am Legend anywhere, give it a read.
Overall rating: 4.5/5
These two vampiric concepts are pretty much the only ones which follow the book other than the protagonist called Robert Neville who is locked up in his own house and is immune to the virus.
So what does the book tell us?
A strange germ has formed which, once it is inside the human bloodstream, turns said human into a blood sucking vampire (the genuine term used in the book) which is also allergic to sunlight, lives in the dark/comes out at night and will do anything to kill that human. In the book, however, the vampires are able to speak.
Robert Neville is immune to the germ (we find out how later on in the book) and after losing his family, has little choice but to survive and research this germ.
We travel through three years of his life which includes flashbacks, alcoholism, experiments and a stray dog. Robert Neville is one of those characters who is just determined to find out what is happening, find other humans and live happily ever after. However, as with all thrillers, this doesn't exactly go to plan and Neville is pretty much "screwed" without already knowing it.
Although it took me 5 days to read the story, it was only really a short one of 96 pages. With this in mind, it should be said that the book needn't be any longer as it tells all we need to know.
Despite being loosely the same story, the book and film could hardly be compared and are generally two different vampire stories with the same name. That's not to say it should go a miss, especially if you like an easy read with "death, vampires and whiskey" (Copyright quote, 2011).
So, if you happen to come across I Am Legend anywhere, give it a read.
Overall rating: 4.5/5
Saturday, 9 April 2011
Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
So I finally finished a book. And a pretty decent one it was too, albeit weird.
I picked up Metamorphosis from a library sometime last year along with The trial also by Kafka, but never opened it. However, now that it is one of the many books on my e-reader, I have easy and fast access to it.
So what is the book about? Well, the protagonist, Gregor, wakes up one morning to find that he's transformed into a bug. The story then tells of the next four months of how his family slowly start neglecting him and no longer want anything to do with him due to being this horrible greasy bug (which is never actually told of but the description makes it pretty obvious).
Being a very short book of only 50 pages, not a lot can be written about this book without spoiling it too much so I'll leave it there for the time being.
My opinionated thoughts on the book, however, are very positive. It may have been short and weird but I found it to be a good read.
I could have read it in a day but due to the beautiful London weather we've been having, reading has been one of the last of my worries, I've had more interest in making paper plate masks and playing football at 12 midnight, but that's an entirely different subject/story.
If you're looking for a quick read, Metamorphosis is a book I'd recommend picking up (Animal Farm is probably another but I haven't read that yet...). You could even pick it up if you're looking for a good read also. I have another Kafka book in my reader so that should be popping up in the future.
Although it was a good read I couldn't say it's one of my best reads.
Overall rating: 3/5
I picked up Metamorphosis from a library sometime last year along with The trial also by Kafka, but never opened it. However, now that it is one of the many books on my e-reader, I have easy and fast access to it.
So what is the book about? Well, the protagonist, Gregor, wakes up one morning to find that he's transformed into a bug. The story then tells of the next four months of how his family slowly start neglecting him and no longer want anything to do with him due to being this horrible greasy bug (which is never actually told of but the description makes it pretty obvious).
Being a very short book of only 50 pages, not a lot can be written about this book without spoiling it too much so I'll leave it there for the time being.
My opinionated thoughts on the book, however, are very positive. It may have been short and weird but I found it to be a good read.
I could have read it in a day but due to the beautiful London weather we've been having, reading has been one of the last of my worries, I've had more interest in making paper plate masks and playing football at 12 midnight, but that's an entirely different subject/story.
If you're looking for a quick read, Metamorphosis is a book I'd recommend picking up (Animal Farm is probably another but I haven't read that yet...). You could even pick it up if you're looking for a good read also. I have another Kafka book in my reader so that should be popping up in the future.
Although it was a good read I couldn't say it's one of my best reads.
Overall rating: 3/5
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