Really Fast Book Reviews

So like I said in my previous post, I'm reading more. Normally I post reviews of each of my readings...but I've read quite a few. So instead of going into too much detail, I'm going to limit each review to 3 sentences. Here we go!

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

80's Nostalgia Porn is the way to describe this. An intriguing and engrossing story delightfully filled with 80's movie and video-game references. Very good story and excellent writing make Ready Player One a book I'd recommend to anyone over the age of 30.

4 Stars

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

Neverwhere It never fails when I read Gaiman; I'm never a fan of the main protagonist. Because of this, I was never drawn to the character and situation, as well as, never felt the protagonist would make the decision he did. Great writing, frustrating story.

2 Stars

Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin

So take the great Song of Ice and Fire series, take out all but one of the most interesting characters, and create a narrative that doesn't really go anywhere, that's Feast for Crows. I could go on forever on this book, but if you are a fan of the series, you should read this book...because you have to. Just get to the end where G.R.R. Martin apologizes for every problem I had with the book.

2 Stars

The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel Series by Michael Scott

The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel This series is a combination of the following 6 young adult books about the secret life of Nicholas Flamel: The Alchemyst, The Magician, The Necromancer, The Sorceress, The Warlock, and The Enchantress. Interesting story line, but full of plot holes. Should have probably been compressed and complexities in the plot removed, but all-in-all a decent read.

2 and 3 Stars

Legion by Brandon Sanderson

Legion A novella about a highly functioning schizophrenic where each of his hallucinations have a special skill that he uses to solve mysteries. Yeah, why isn't this a full novel? So quick and awesome everyone should read Legion.

5 Stars

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

When I started this book, I had one requirement that she had better not use the cheap plot device of sending Katniss back into the games. So I didn't really care for Catching Fire. Now if I can just get through the third to see if she redeems herself.

3 Stars

Codex by Lev Grossman

Codex Most disappointing book ever. Grossman draws you in, makes you feel for the characters, gets you more exited about a fake book and author than the book you are actually reading (Codex), and then slaps you in the face with one of the most unsatisfying endings I've ever read. The ending overshadowed anything in the rest of the book, which is disappointing because Codex could have been amazing.

1 Star

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

The Name of the Wind A great fantasy world set in a medieval world that you could honestly believe is real. So much story and so much happens you forget that it is only a couple years of this kid's life. An amazingly well done and refreshing fantasy book, and I'd recommend The Name of the Wind to any fan of the genre.

5 Stars

The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss

A great sequel to the previous book, but ran a little long. Same great story and atmosphere as The Name of the Wind but whereas events in the previous were concise and to the point, many of the events in The Wise Man's Fear were a bit too drug out. Since once again, the story didn't cover a large chunk of Kvothe's life, I'm a bit worried that the series may drag on for too long unless Rothfuss can get on a 1 year writing cycle.

3 Stars

Star Wars: Dark Force Rising by Timothy Zahn

Dark Force Rising is another very, very good follow-up to the Thrawn Trilogy. It is simply a great expansion of the original Star Wars story. I have to again recommend the Marc Thompson audiobook version that draws completely in with the narration/voice acting, sound effects, and music.