Twilight by Stephanie Meyer: Book Review

I've heard so many people talk about these books that I just had to read them. It took me awhile to work up the nerve to go to the Library and get one because I had read the reviews and they were technically written for teens but I digressed and bit the bullet. I am so glad I did and am now patiently waiting on the second in the series - New Moon. So here goes my review.

Most vampire series, whether it be shows or books, are written in a way that make it impossible for them to be set in the real world. This book is not like that, it could very well take place in the world that we live in and not some fictional world. Twilight is a book that you just enjoy reading, whether it's the vampires, the realism, the romance or some combination of them all it is just a great read. When Bella moves to this small town, in an attempt to make life easier for her mom, she thinks she is just biding her time until she can start the rest of HER life but instead she finds her future. There are points in the book where I would think that the romance was being laid on a little thick but then I would remember that this was written as a young adult book. Meyer definitely has a great style of describing the attraction between the two main characters though. It makes you remember those moments of first initial attraction to someone and imagine them magnified hundred fold by being able to "smell their blood" and not just their cologne. Bella is one of the best characters that I have seen created in a book in a long time. She is so believable and endearing. The perfect combination of head-strong and caring that any person could ever hope to be. You will be completely enthralled by this book and ready to read the next immediately.

P.S. I keep waiting to get the next book in the series and in the meantime can't wait to see the movie version of this one that comes out next week. I'll let you know what I think of that too.

A Bend in the Road by Nicholas Sparks: Book Review

A Bend in the Road by Nicholas Sparks

There is a reason why Nicholas Sparks is the Bestselling Author that he is. This is a beautiful love story about forgiveness and doing the right thing even when you can’t forgive. I am not generally a fan of love stories but Sparks always manages to give it a little twist that makes it more than just a love story. The mystery that is the background of this story is heart wrenching all on its own. A wife and mother killed at an early age with no explanation to be found, A husband left behind with no way to move on, A little boy who has been allowed to just drift through school because his mom is gone and a teacher willing to make a difference. Fate is lovely, cruel in many ways but still lovely. My only complaint with this book is that it was a little predictable however this is easily made up for with Sparks’s wonderful use of words. He puts you into the mindset of a small town and draws you right into the story. The edge of madness that these people skirt is tantalizing. The husband was determined to blame an “enemy” for her death but this is a reminder that sometimes our only enemy is the one in our minds. This is a very quick and easy read but I loved it from beginning to end and probably will read it again someday. The story that is told in Chapter 13, that later leads to a superb ending for this story could be a book in and of itself.

Odd Hours by Dean Koontz Book Review

Odd Hours by Dean Koontz

I have read many other reviews of this book and I agree with most of them, the good and the bad. I, however, am not an all or nothing person. I also must say that I love Odd Thomas and there will never be another book like the original. This is a good book, if taken for what it obviously is. It is sporadic and very noticeably a set up for future story lines but why is that such a big deal. It is still a good piece of work and if you are going to be involved with a series of books you have to be able to roll with what the author is trying to accomplish. Koontz is known for letting his books lead him and I believe that is what he was doing here. Yes, this could have been a much greater novel but that may have ruined where he is going and yes, what was included in this book could have made a very compelling short story if written by a less voluble writer but again who knows what would have been lost. Now I can get on with my thoughts on this installment of the series.

“Odd Hours” gives us everything that we have come to expect from our loveable fry cook. He is humorous and philosophical yet full of humility. This writing is some of Koontz’s most memorable, although broken and erratic at times there are some real literary gems in this book. Some of the other characters are so enduring, namely Hutch and Birdie and some of the scenes so visible in my mind that I was delighted. There are many loose ends and unanswered questions but how else would he keep you anticipating where he will take you in the future. Then there is the whole situation with Annamaria which is very entertaining and took me back to read many of the sections a second time after I finished the book (I think I have her figured out but I will keep that to myself). By the end of this book Odd is no longer a naïve young kid, he has been forced to deal with where his gift/curse is going to lead him. This is, as I said, a good book if taken for what it is – a link in a series. If you haven’t read any of the Odd series, I highly recommend them but don’t start with this one. Start at the beginning and continue on through the 4 already written and the 3 more to come and I’m sure it will all make sense.