Wednesday, October 2, 2013

What I Read Wednesday

Remember this summer when I was reading six books a week? Those were the days...
Alex: The Commandant Camille Verhoeven Trilogy
I almost didn't request this book because I sometimes have trouble with books that have been translated into English, but the premise sounded interesting so I went for it. I'm so glad I did. A young woman has been kidnapped and the clock is ticking. The senior detective on the case lost his wife to a kidnapping, so he unwillingly takes the case. What follows is a story with so many twists and turns that I truly didn't see what was going to happen next. It was one of those books where my sympathies shifted a million times and it was brilliantly done. This is not a 'who done it,' book but rather, a 'why was it done' book.

Doctor Sleep: A Novel
I love The Shining, but I hate The Shining because it scared the hell out of me. Like, didn't sleep for a whole night scared. Still, I love that Stephen King chose to write a sequel because someone asked him whatever happened to the kid from The Shining. And it's an interesting question because a kid who went through all that surely can't come out unscathed. The answer to that is no, he can't. He still has the shining, but as an adult, he's learned that one way to dull it is to drink. A lot. But that brings about its own level of trouble, of course. While there are echoes from The Shining, this book isn't about crazy Jack Torrence and the Overlook Hotel. There's some continuance, but mainly it's about the little boy who grew up into an adult and how there are things in this world scarier than the Overlook Hotel, that threaten adults and now little girls with the shining. So scary that when I was running at 4:30 in the morning after finishing this book, I spent most of the run peering over my shoulder. I liked this one. Stephen King can be hit or miss, but this one was good.

What are you reading?

6 comments:

Barb Ruess said...

Oh The Shining freaked me out too. I might have to try Doctor Sleep.

I read The Girl Left Behind by Jojo Moyes. Not nearly as thought provoking as Me Before You but an enjoyable read with a neat & tidy ending... sometimes neat & tidy endings are good and I liked this one.

Now I'm reading Age of Miracles and love it!

InTheFastLane said...

I do love some Good Stephen King...I will have to read this one. But maybe not until I am finished with the Ridge. Because the Ridge has ghosts and darkness and last night I had to stop reading because you know those books that switch between characters and suddenly the switches happen quicker and you know that is because something really scary is about to happen. I saw it coming and stopped reading so I could sleep. But I am going to have to keep going at some point....

One crazed mommy said...

Oooooh - Doctor Sleep is next on my list!!! I loved, and feared, The Shining - and I did not realize that this was the sequel...yes, must get!!

As for me...STILL READING THE SAME BOOK...I'm Sloooooooooow!
6 in a week...only in my dreams. :)

Becky said...

I'm still reading The Engagements - like you I haven't had the time to read as I did in the summer. I love this book so much though that I don't mind it taking so long.

After this I'm on to Winger or We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves. I can't remember if that's an Erin book or not...

Lyndsay said...

Hey you were right - I did enjoy Reconstructing Amelia! (and it did make me mad. and make me so fearful of Amara hitting the teenage years.)

Unknown said...

I'm reading Life After Life by Kate Atkinson. :)