Review: One Door Away From Heaven by Dean Koontz

This book had been on my wish list for a while, but given that I have precious little bookshelf space these days, I ended up purchasing the e-book. Did I enjoy it? Yes, but I do think it was a little different.

The majority of the book follows separate plot lines and each time I settled into one of the plot lines I was reluctant to leave that character and jump to the next. I knew that that they must all come together in the end somehow, and probably spent too much time second guessing how Koontz was going to bring them all together.

I didn't quite 'get' the character of the 'motherless boy' in the beginning, but by the end of the story, his character was quite powerful. I loved the portrayal of the evil bioethicist Preston Maddoc, and the descriptions of his character were terrifying and thrilling! I was both repulsed and intrigued by his evil nature, and enjoyed (if that's the right word) when the book was told from his perspective in the first person. Very chilling!

I wanted to spend longer in the house of the hoarder, and wanted to find out what else was in the 100s of coffee cans. (One was full of toenail clippings and another was full of the bones of dead birds). I'm always interested in the obsessive compulsive, and this character had it all!

Leilani Klonk tugged on my heart strings and I wanted her mother to fall off the face of the earth for her cruelty.

Ultimately, this was a very enjoyable read, and had many of the Koontz trade marks! The messages of hope, love, and a higher presence was contained within the pages and dominated the story.

My rating = ***

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Review: Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote

This is certainly a well known classic, and I was really looking forward to reading it, but what a let down!!! This is a very short book and really only provides a glimpse into the lives of the two main characters over a twelve month period. Perhaps if I could have spent more time with these characters to enable the development of a deeper connection or understanding I may have enjoyed it a little more.

Made famous by Audrey Hepburn's portrayal of Holly Golightly in the film (which I haven't seen by the way) the book certainly isn't worthy of classic status in my opinion. The characterisations were too shallow, and the observations and plot didn't really seem to have a point or to take me anywhere of interest. The story could have continued beyond its end point to Africa but for some reason Capote chose to end it abruptly.

I don't have much else to add here, the literary world sure make a lot of fuss about nothing here!

My rating = *

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Review: Sunshine by Robin McKinley

A friend gave me this book for my birthday, and it is pitched as a 'mesmerizing SF horror romance'. In the beginning, I found it difficult to get into and equally tough to adjust to her unique writing style. However as soon as the character was 'kidnapped' and chained in a house with a vampire, I was hooked.

I desperately wanted to know so much more about the 'bad spots', the 'wars' and the 'wards' and 'part-bloods' but never received a satisfying amount of background on these topics. I would have preferred the book to cover more of this background and less about Charlie's Coffeehouse (the continual references to cinnamon rolls made me hungry every time I picked up the book). It was almost as though a level of knowledge was assumed here, although I don't think this book is part of a series.

I frequently stumbled over McKinley's writing style and constantly wanted to 'edit' her work which was a slight distraction. At the same time though, it must be said that I was immersed in her world and vividly imagined the characters and scenes she created and could easily imagine this as a movie or tv series.

Her portrayal of vampires differed to other books and was a relatively fresh take on what is a popular subject matter at the moment. I don't believe this book goes anywhere near 'blowing Anne Rice and Clive Barker out of the water' however it was a good read.

I definitely wanted to go out and stand in the sunshine when I was reading it.

My rating = ***

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Review: Called Out Of Darkness - A Spiritual Confession by Anne Rice

This is a book written by one of my all time favourite authors, Anne Rice. In this non-fiction publication, Anne recounts her life and her relationship with God. Beginning in her youth, Anne Rice takes us through her religious upbringing as a devout Catholic in New Orleans.

I was amazed at the extent of her devotion and worship and was able to catch a glimpse of what growing up in the Catholic faith was like in America at that time. I was also able to gain a clearer understanding of her admiration and love of nature, New Orleans and the Churches and significant buildings of her childhood. I often saw this reflected in her many novels and it is an aspect of her writing I thoroughly enjoy.

However after leaving home to go to College, Anne met non-Catholics for the very first time and gradually her faith began to crumble. This eventually resulted in her leaving the Church and God for a period of 38 years.

The second half of the book talks about her struggle with faith and how it helped her to shape her novels and the struggles faced by many of her main characters. I was totally engrossed in this part of the book and enjoyed her personal reflections with regard to plot and character, and found myself wanting to read all her novels again with this new insight.

Anne Rice returned to her faith and since then has decided to devote her life and her talents to God and write for him. This explains the end of her other series of books and how she came to commence writing a fictional account of Jesus' life, in Christ The Lord - Out of Egypt and Christ The Lord - Road to Cana.

I admire her struggle and years of research and reflection, and it really left me thinking about the themes of life purpose and 'soul searching'.

However the fan in me couldn't help but be disappointed when it became clear there would be no other books published that weren't related to her current faith related works.

In conclusion, this is really a book for those interested in the spiritual journey of the author, or those facing their own spiritual journey who wish to look through the eyes of another.

My rating = ****

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Review: The Arctic Event by Robert Ludlum

This book is part of a series created by Robert Ludlum but written by James Cobb. Confusing isn't it? James Patterson does a similar thing by co-authoring many of his books now, but forgive me for being old fashioned, but if it's Robert Ludlum's series, shouldn't it have been written by him alone? I don't believe writers should continue to write a book series after an author's death.

Okay, now that's off my chest, let me tell you I enjoyed this book. Recommended by a family member, I struggled with the introduction as this is the first real 'spy' book I can remember reading, (Ludlum having of course written the 'Jason Bourne' series). Once the characters were established, I was off and running/reading.

I was easily swept away by the plot but had to groan at the old enemy of the US, Russia, playing the bad guys. It did fit well with the plot though and the setting in the arctic had me pulling my doona right up to my chin and feeling the cold. The Arctic Event was exciting enough and I could easily see it being made into a film.

My rating = ***

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Review: The Secret Countess by Eva Ibbotson

This is the story of Anna, a Countess in Russia whose family has lost everything after the Revolution. Moving to London in 1919, Anna takes work as a servant at Mersham to support her family but the other servants and the Earl himself suspect there is more to Anna than a mere housemaid.

Anna is enchanting and captivates every character she comes into contact with. I found the inclusion of Eugenics quite an interesting topic and a perfect backdrop to paint the character of Muriel, the antithesis of Anna.

I enjoyed this easy to read novel, and it came complete with the fairytale ending one would expect from Young Adult fiction. This book is perfect for young teenage girls.

My rating = ***

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Review: Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell

This is the first book in the well known Kay Scarpetta series of novels by Patricia Cornwell. Dr Scarpetta is the Chief Medical Officer involved in a murder investigation to find a serial killer in Virginia. The book was set in the times when computers were just being introduced to the workplace and you could smoke in the morgue (very amusing).

I enjoyed the character development and the plot kept moving along at a good pace. I look forward to reading further along in the series, as I'm sure the books will continue getting better as Cornwell's career progresses.

My rating = ***

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N.B. I thought it was amusing that I read two books in a row by authors sharing the same surname, LOL! Not intentional, but amusing just the same.

Review: Stonehenge by Bernard Cornwell

I've always been fascinated and intrigued by Stonehenge and in this book Cornwell takes us back in time. We are introduced to the landscape, the settlements, the people and their beliefs in such a realistic fashion I almost forgot that this was fiction!

Of course, Cornwell has conducted extensive research and this is a spectacular work of fiction for any reader who has ever wondered about the meaning of Stonehenge or its construction. The people worship many Gods, including the God of the Sun and the Moon, and sacrifice is part of their everyday life. The reader also learns a little about the customs of the people and the cultures of those in faraway settlements.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about how and why Stonehenge was constructed (according to Cornwell) and marvelled at the human effort required. I also have a better understanding of what the stones represent having finished this work.

I thoroughly recommended this book for anyone who enjoys historical fiction or who has ever wondered about Stonehenge.

My rating = ****1/2

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Review: Your Heart Belongs To Me by Dean Koontz

Dean Koontz is one of my favourite authors, however Your Heart Belongs To Me was a little different to his usual style. The first half of the book seemed to just cruise along without too much drama however it was overflowing with too many descriptives. This style of writing from Koontz made me wonder if he was experimenting with a new style, and I'm sad to say I prefer his regular (and brilliant) writing style. The descriptives, metaphors and similes in this novel were weak and didn't add much to the building of the story line or the characters. It also seemed to be a little out of character for the author.

It wasn't until I passed half way through the novel that I experienced my first round of goose bumps and the novel suddenly became a rollicking good read for me. The improved pace continued to a reasonably satisfactory conclusion, however I believe this novel could have benefitted from a further edit. Your Heart Belongs To Me had me on the edge of my seat for many chapters and I was swept up in the mystery, however I think it had much more potential for greatness that unfortunately wasn't fully realised.

Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this book.

My rating = ***

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Review: World Without End by Ken Follett

World Without End is the magnificent sequel to the very popular Pillars of the Earth, an historical epic I thoroughly enjoyed reading about 15 years ago. This is a stand alone book but I imagine the length of > 1100 pages will deter a lot of would be readers. All I can say is don't be frightened by the size! When I was turning the last page I still didn't want it to end!!

Set in England in the 1300's this historical epic follows the lives of several main characters from childhood to late adulthood in the town of Kingsbridge and surrounds. This book covers all social classes from mere serfs, to merchants, monks, nuns, nobleman, squires, knights, Kings and Queens. Their lives intertwine and the novel takes the reader on a mammoth journey of love, war, hate, faith, jealousy, revenge, lust, passion, injustice, struggle and starvation, accusations of witchcraft, bribery, deception, greed, fear, enterprise and healing. I was also fascinated when the country was struck by the plague and the differing impacts it had on the main characters and residents of Kingsbridge.

The Kingsbridge Cathedral is the main backdrop for the book and the stunning architecture and descriptions detailing how it and other structures in Kingsbridge were built allow the reader to feel the history and I could really imagine myself there.

I was completely hooked on the first page, and could have stayed in Kingsbridge for another 100 years. I recommend this book to everyone as a 'must read' for 2009 and am in awe of the author Ken Follett. This is an absolute masterpiece.

My rating = *****

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Review: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

It serves me right for jumping on the Twilight bandwagon, but with the astronomical book sales, new release movie and vampire theme, I couldn't resist. I knew going into this that it was 'teen fiction' but I hoped it would work well for adults the same way the Harry Potter series of books do but I was sadly disappointed.

A great majority of the 500+ pages in Twilight is taken up with the teenage thoughts and actions of two people who like each other and want to be together. Not that I couldn't relate at all. I can remember being like that when I was a teenager, but I grew out of it soon enough and was bored to tears with this book. It was so dull and the main character got on my nerves!!

It also annoyed me that the basic vampire rules weren't followed in this book, and the main character left a lot of unanswered questions about his vampire history and that of his family. This was the only portion of the plot I was interested in and I was left unsatisfied.

I can understand why this book is so popular with the teens of today and I can certainly recognise the well publicised issues of sexual tension and celibacy here.

If you're over 20 and have read any Anne Rice books, you won't enjoy this one.

My rating = *

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Review: Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

This American classic by Mark Twain has been on my list of books to read for many years, primarily to find out why it is so popular and highly regarded. I had high expectations going in but unfortunately they weren't met.

I can certainly appreciate the literary accomplishment in reproducing the dialogue of the times for both Finn's character and that of the main negro character Jim. This was done exceptionally well and there were certainly some laugh out loud moments.

I thought it was interesting that although this book is set in the time of slavery, Huckleberry Finn wants to 'steal his nigger' friend Jim and set him free, but feels guilty at the same time and believes he will go to Hell if he carries it out.

I also found Finn's ability to hastily weave such convoluted lies quite amusing, however my interest started to wane when Tom Sawyer joined the adventures towards the end of the book.

I'm glad I finally got around to reading this American classic, but I couldn't say I enjoyed it all that much.

My rating = **

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Review: The Resurrectionist by James Bradley

I was really excited to read this book for two reasons: it's written by an Australian and is about the trade in stolen bodies used by anatomists in the 1800s.

I was really impressed that an Australian author could conjure the essence of London in the 1800s and was captivated by his writing early in the book. I'm fascinated by the topic of resurrectionists (grave robbers who steal recently buried bodies and sell them to anatomists who dissect them for science) and I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of this book.

I was disappointed in the direction in which the author decided to take the main character, and was confused when he appeared in Australia with a different name many years later. This part of the plot seemed disjointed and I felt unsatisfied by the conclusion. I understand the author was exploring the themes of death, murder and rebirth, but I just didn't like where he chose to take the plot.

James Bradley is certainly an accomplished author and if he publishes another book I'll definitely want to check it out!

My rating = ***

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Review: Just After Sunset by Stephen King

I received this book for Christmas, and it was definitely high on my wishlist. This is the latest book from horror guru Stephen King and is a collection of short stories. Some of the short stories are from early in his career and some are new, but all here are published for the first time in a book.

When reading several of the stories I found myself wishing he'd developed them into stand alone novels as I wanted to remain in the story for longer. The beauty of the short story though is that it packs a punch and doesn't need a plot to sustain a 300 page novel.

If you're a Stephen King fan, you'll love Just After Sunset, and if you're not, it could be a good introduction. Stephen King fans will especially enjoy his comments at the end briefly touching on the inspiration for each of his short stories. He certainly has a great sense of humour!

My rating = *****

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Review: Judge & Jury by James Patterson

I purchased this e-book based on the involvement of the co-author Andrew Gross, as I've enjoyed previous books he's co-authored with Patterson.

I enjoyed the first half of the book involving the capture of the big mafia boss and his subsequent trial. However the last half of Judge & Jury is typical Patterson, rollicking read with a very basic plot line.

I'm glad this one won't be taking up precious space on my bookshelf, however I'm glad I read it.

My rating = ***

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Review: Watchers by Dean Koontz

This was the first electronic book (e-book) I downloaded to my new Iliad - the best gadget ever, given to me by my loving husband for Christmas!

This is an old book by Koontz, and the main character is a very smart golden retriever dog. I enjoyed this book much more than his novel published last year The Darkest Evening of the Year also featuring a unique dog.

This is Koontz at his best and this was a great thriller. I really enjoyed getting to know the main character 'Einstein' the dog, and found his ability to communicate with people both fascinating and heart warming. Of course there is always a dark side to a Koontz novel, and this book was no exception. The polar opposite of Einstein is the 'Outsider' who pursues them across the country leaving carnage in its path.

Highly recommended for any Koontz fan or anyone who is a dog lover and enjoys a good thriller.

My rating = ****

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Review: Fridge Magnets are Bastards by Mark Dapin

I just finished reading this book by Mark Dapin and absolutely loved it! I received it as a gift last Christmas and it's been sitting in my TBR (to be read pile) since then and now I'm sorry I didn't get to it sooner.

This book had me laughing out loud every 5 minutes and wanting to share it with anyone who'll listen. His take on things like 'the loop', 'learning curve' etc had me chuckling all the way through.

I also loved his list of imaginary countries that should exist like 'Burmany, where the mysterious temples of an ancient civilisation are serviced by the finest roads in Europe'.

Mark Dapin is funny and witty and I'll definitely keep an eye out for him in the future.

Highly recommended for last minute Christmas gifts!!!

My rating = *****

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Review: The Chase by Clive Cussler

This is the first book by Clive Cussler I've read and I really enjoyed it. Set in America in the 1900s it isn't the era or setting I usually go for however I was pleasantly surprised and found it easy to immerse myself in this epic battle between 'good guy' Isaac Bell and the 'Butcher Bandit'.

Those with a love of trains or early motor cars will love this book and I found this aspect quite interesting, despite not having any knowledge in this field.

As the title suggests, the book feels like a chase and I was certainly on the edge of my seat (so to speak) until the final page.

I even purchased this book for a Christmas gift for somebody else, so it was a great referral, thanks Dad!

My rating = ***

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Review: War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells

I enjoyed reading this classic by H.G. Wells and can understand how it inspired so many authors to explore 'alien invasion' after reading it.

The narrator describes the events of the invasion in the past tense, so I struggled to understand how those listening to the reading over the radio could possibly think it was happening in the present. As I was reading it, I was trying to identify 'the passage' that could have inspired such panic but alas, I couldn't.

Once I gave up this quest I was able to enjoy the writing and the developing plot. The most poignant part of the book was when the soldier was discussing the fate of human beings in years and decades to come and how their relationships with the martians would change. The soldier also claimed to know what type of human being would die in the early stages of the invasion and the characteristics it would take to survive.

I wanted to linger here and explore this further but the main character left the soldier and continued his journey to look for his wife, and this depth of analysis was cut short in my opinion.

All in all, a great classic and an easy read.

My rating = ***

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Review: Death and the Arrow by Chris Priestley

This book was part of a series known as the Tom Marlowe series, but is a stand alone novel and a great little read. Based in London 1715, it is a medieval 'whodunnit' and was very enjoyable to read.

Similarly to P.C. Doherty, Priestley conjurs up the smell and feel of the city during this period which was what attracted me to read this book.

My rating = ***

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