Featured reader reviews: Page 7

Listed below are the latest featured reader reviews on the site. Some are positive in praise, some are negative in criticism, but the one thing they all have in common is that they are well written and explain their reasoning. We can never have enough reader reviews as they add to the quality of the site, making it ever more useful for visitors.

Blindness by Jose Saramago

8 stars

A disturbing book to read as the suffering from Blindness progresses into mean, selfish characters . Strong men begin to inflict suffering on women and weak men, horde meager food supply and water from others. Is this a human behavior that all of humans would succumb to under these dire circumstances? The lack of NAMES for the characters was unusual at the beginning of the novel , but as it progressed it seemed more fitting. Our book group "Goddesses of Literature" select a broad spectrum of interesting and unusual books and expand our knowledge and enjoyment.

Jan
USA

It by Stephen King

8 stars

I've just finished it and I miss the characters. I could see the light of the long summer days from when I was a kid (I was 11 years old in 1987, growing up in Poland). The book instantly brought back memories of how we played during summer holidays. To me, its not a horror story. It's a story about a lost childhood. How we grow up and forget all those beautiful moments and purple that used to be very important in our lives. How we can't even remember some of the names of our childhood friends. It reminds me a lot of Hearts In Atlantis, which I consider one of the most beautiful books about childhood I've ever read. I found parts where Mike Hanlon reports sightings of Pennywise from old Derry redundant. You won't miss anything off you skip those parts. I hated the real monster. It's kind of lazy of King to have gone in this direction. I also found the seed scene very weird and unsettling. Otherwise, a must-read. The ending clearly shows that it is a book about wonders of childhood and how growing up robs us of it.

Andrew
United Kingdom

Beauty and Sadness by Yasunari Kawabata

10 stars

I first read Beauty and Sadness at 21, rereading it now at 61 it is even more stunning. The mystery of the book is that it is meant to be experienced and not solved like felt and not analyzed. See the beauty in the world, even in the sadness, the sadness in beauty. The characters are all flawed. They are all narcissistic to various degrees. It is a time capsule from an earlier era. But I with the emphasis on the art of painting it asks to be “viewed” and asks us to view ourselves as well.

Kevin
USA

Dune by Frank Herbert

10 stars

I first read Dune when it was a serial in Analog back in the 60s.I found it exciting and masterful.I have not read a science-fiction book that is better. I strongly agree with Nicolas King's review, especially his last sentence: "Anyone who considers themselves a fan of this genre must read it at some point in their lives."

Herb
USA

A Gathering of Shadows by VE Schwab

1 stars

This book was so much slower than the first book. It was okay until the explicit gay sex scene 3/4 in. The author is a lesbian so I guess it's no surprise, though I was surprised, I didn't expect a X rated porn novel. Was it necessary to make Rhy and Alucard gay, no, was it necessary to make them explicit gay X rated lovers? No. Ruins the book and the series. But I read the gay sex is important for the third book based on the author being upset that in Russia they deleted the X rated sex scene, I won't ever know, I threw it and this book in the trash. The author could have been a better author but she put her twisted gay thoughts in where they don't belong. Like idiot authors that put swearing in their novels.

M
United States

Midnight Tides by Steven Erikson

9 stars

After 4 books spent in the incredible Malazanverse, Erikson is still trying new things. And again... succeeding in somehow unexpected ways. This book tells a slower, more level-headed story of an unfolding imperialism and the imprending clash of cultures and wills that will come out of it. Brilliant pensive viewpoint characters again (Udinaas and Trull, Tehol and Brys... and the wonderful Seren Pedac!), great humor like nothing we had previously in the MBOTF, plus an exquisitely formed plot (relying heavily on suggestion and the reader's ability to connect the dots, thanks for your trust, Steven!), and surprises, twists and heart-breaking moments... what else could we want?

Raphaël
France

King of Ashes by Raymond E Feist

3 stars

The first review is right on the money. It read like a fanfiction by a horny 15-year-old. Declan was a likeable enough character to keep me interested, despite nothing ever really happening. Hatu's chapters were virtually unreadable. Ideas and phrases were repeated so many times that I thought I had accidentally re-read entire chapters. I will not be reading the sequel, and I suggest anyone who wishes to keep their respect for REF to stay far, far away from this book.

Jacey
USA

The Iron Man by Ted Hughes

10 stars

I obviously must have enjoyed this book very much as our teacher read this book to us in primary 4, 42 years ago and I have never forgotten it.

Linda
Scotland

King of Ashes by Raymond E Feist

9 stars

Polished off the 545 pages in 3 days while on holiday. Just as well as would probably have been going into work half asleep as could not put it down. Typical Fiest; nothing like the aftermath of a huge battle with thousands dead to grab your attention and draw you in and that’s just the prologue. The book has been used to build up the backgrounds of the main characters and the world they live in so that they can be developed in the narrative next two books. It’s very familiar to all Fiest fans old and new and very enjoyable. Two downsides: First i pre orderd my copy to be delivered on day of release so my copy was littered with spelling mistakes (has proof reading died to save costs) and second I’m going to have to wait (impatiently) for probably a year for the second book to get my next fix.

Jonn
Scotland

Touch by Claire North

8 stars

I had no idea what to expect when I began reading Touch even though I had glimpsed the synopsis. The idea of ghosts who have not died, moving from person to person is ingenious and original. The author has a beautiful use of language and the ability to bring the reader's imagination to life and make it all sound so possible. I did feel however that about two-thirds of the way into the story, I was reading 'page fillers'. As if there was an effort to make the book longer and parts of it felt 'dragged out'. Specifically when Kepler drags Nathan Cole from place to place in search of their 'contact'. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book immensely and recommend it to readers looking for something a bit different.

Rae
Australia

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