Under the Dome by Stephen King

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
There are few authors that can literally force to me read their longest books through the night and into the wee morning hours. Stephen King is one of those. “Under the Dome” is a post apocalyptic doomsday story set inside a small town. The kicker is that they’re the only ones in the midst of the end of the world. The Dome, as it comes to be called, holds them all captive. They are cut off from the world.

We are introduced to characters we grow to love, cheer and weep for as the tale is woven through scene after scene. You end up really wishing death on every one of the villains so viciously you can’t help but love how King writes these characters. It is a brutal, painful and heart wrenching story of humanity at it’s worst and best. Be ready for some violence, a very aggressive and disturbing scene involving a woman being taken advantage of by a posse of insanity. The blood flows and so do the lessons. The truth of our humanity (both the good and the bad) is laid out in detail. How humans can be callous, power hungry and dangerous all at the same time.

It is also interesting how King brings the story to resolution. I’ll have to read deeply into the ending once again as I must have missed a few points. King writes for depth and thought and I definitely felt it. If you like thrilling non stop put you on the edge writing, then this will be you welcome friend. If you can’t handle it…well, go read Cujo. That’ll fix ya right up.

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My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The sequels are never as good as the original. In the case of “Elegy Beach”, I’m tempted to make an exception. It has the punch of the original (familiar characters return) with a new cast of magicians and nefarious gangsters of the Rasputin kind. There are some great moments in this book that when you reach them it’s like a old friend stopping in for a chat over tea. Much of this tome feels like that and it’s a welcome feeling.

The are moments of friendship rekindled, fears reborn and ultimately the question of returning everything to normal runs center to the end of this story. Instead of bashing you head in with the ideas it allows you to think on your own as the drama plays out as you read. I had a hard time deciding if the events had happened to me…what would I do?

Would I inspire to restart the industrial revolution in favor of the magical one that was now shaping the earth from coast to coast? It’s a pretty fun question and the book exacts its point fairly cleanly. I enjoyed the ending as it gives us hope and a happy ending. It doesn’t shy away from the reality of life and what it means.

I enjoyed it and would pick it up again to read through all the things I enjoyed and even some that I may have missed.

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My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow. I had never heard of this book until I stumbled onto it’s sequel “Elegy Beach” in the library and suddenly I was in a world of unicorns and magic. The idea of “Ariel” is that for whatever reason (it’s never really explained which I love) the world suddenly stopped being real. Technology, weapons, electricity and just about everything man created that moved, whistled and beeped no longer works.

Guns don’t work. You can load it and fire it. Nothing happens. The titular character of this book is Ariel, a unicorn. She takes our friend Peter on a journey of epic discovery that teaches him about life, truth and the reality of the world we live in without nary a thought to how it all really works.

I found myself staying up late to finish this book as each arc turned and twisted through the pages. I enjoyed the ending if only because it was the only way it could have ended. You may have a bittersweet feeling but don’t worry. Nobody dies. There’s dragons, wizards and other assorted creatures of fantasy to inspire your imagination. Read it for the post apocalyptic story of good versus evil and what happens to Man in the end when the world’s natural lines are blurred and erased.

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A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow. I loved this book to hate one or two characters. A simple four way story between four people destined to kill themselves. All on the same night. Together they awkwardly join together to become some eccentric gang of insane people gathered together towards a goal. Whatever that may be. By the end you want to throttle the young girl in the story and you want to hug the rest of them. It’s a fantastic little story of people, pain, struggle and in the end…twisted triumph. Love me some twisted triumph.

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Death Troopers by Joe Schreiber

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Holy crap. Zombies. Star Wars. Han. Chewie. ZOMBIES! ONNOMNOM!

That’s all you really need to know. It’s fairly terrifying (descriptions might make you squirm) but it’s a nonstop adventure in the deep darkness of space where everyone screams. And wants to eat your brains. ONNOMNOM!

If you like Star Wars, Zombies, Alien and all kinds of spacey scarey stuff…you’ll need to give this book a run over your eyes. It’s a fun little peek into the darker aspects of the Empire.

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Ex Machina Vol. 1: The First Hundred Days by Brian K. Vaughan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Graphic Novels or “comic books” are always tricky. This one isn’t really. A cool little story with a mix of “Heroes”, “Batman” and a few others it takes a honest and fascinating look at life with superheroes. What it means to them, us and those around it all. It starts off a little preach with politics but sealed the deal as it went along. I’d be curious to see the rest of the series.

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The idea of the presentation is that my young brother is getting married next year in January. I have resolved to stop him (read the sarcasm people) for many reasons. I will lay these reasons out in detail in my presentation to give you a complete (and totally fake) picture of why I’m strapping on the SWAT gear and renting a Blackhawk helicopter to lead the charge.

And so I will be asking, pleading and begging with you to vote for me. If not for the fun of giving me the chance to break out of my shell and succeed at my project…mabe the experience of seeing me ultimately and spontaneously combust on stage amidst all the lights, projectors and staring eyeballs burning through my very soul will give you something resembling fulfillment..

So there’s that. Can I count on your vote when the time comes? Will you lend the hand that needs lendiing? I’ll give it back. I promise.

Stay tuned for voting details!

Watched “Race to Witch Mountain” and enjoyed it. I’m a sucker for The Rock and cute kids saving the world. What can I say. Also watched “Appaloosa” and wasn’t thrilled. Moments of greatness followed by boring moments of uninspired drivel. Then I threw “Cagney and Lacey” season 1 into the DVD. I fell in love with those very attractive (aka HOT) detectives. Is that weird? Sometimes I wonder if I’m too honest here but I’m forging ahead. Because the project ain’t gonna write itself. Honestly.

Book review below!

Watchmen by Alan Moore

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Well. Watchmen is a comic book/graphic novel like any other. Viewing it today after all my comic book reading days that is. When it was published I’m sure it rocked the world and changed everything. However…it didn’t do it for me. Sure, it’s got a solid plot, great characters and one heckuva history to tell. Yes, it’s got a compelling storyline and without question is a excellent addition to the comic book genre.

I enjoyed reading it and may end up purchasing it someday. I enjoyed the ending with bittersweet feelings since a character or two gets offed. I agree with those that say all comic book fans should read this sucker. It is a great foundation builder and excellent introduction to the great dark and fun world of graphic novels.

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Her site is here and it’s awesomely titled “The Untold Tales of the Average Nursing Student”. Jenn’s married these and living it up in Las Vegas. I’m pretty sure she’s going to make a great nurse and despite all the adventures ahead I think she’ll make it through alright. So go read her stuff and bookmark/RSS/etc her stuff. K? Good.

Below is a review of a book I read this weekend and finally finished in the wee hours of last night. It was surprisingly good!

Something’s Alive on the Titanic by Robert J. Serling

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Wow. This book was just gobs of fun for me. I’m an oldschool Titanic geek and parts of this book had me smilin’ wide like a fool. Some good haunting moments and pretty thrilling story combined with a acceptable ending makes this book something I’d enjoy reading again to pick up on details I missed. Fun and historical. Gotta love it!

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It’s sad to see an author go because that voice, that character and unbridled creativity can never be duplicated in complete form.  You’ll see bits and pieces in other books and authors that might remind you of the greatness we once had in our midst, but we’ll never have the full feeling in our hearts again.  Robert Parker, I knew so little of your writing but I feel as you’ve given me a little something off to the side to hold in my heart.

Reading and the worlds that it can create in your mind is something I love so much.  I used to read when I was kid and inhale tomes of books.  Piles upon piles.  My appetite hasn’t slowed but sometimes the demands on my time divert my attention elsewhere.  Part of this project is to drive more reading time to feed my brain.  So far this month, I think I’ve succeeded.  And there’s certainly more to come.

Chapter four is here and Chapter 5 is here.  Both were written today!

To the tale of the tape!

I read “Enemies and Allies” and was immediately drawn in to the story. I enjoyed it to the point that I almost stayed up late last night to read it. It was just that fun. Someday I will be Batman. Someday.

To the tale of the tape!

1 – Lose it or Die
Burned 180 calories on a 30 minute fast walk on treadmill and 20 minutes in the pool for appox 200 calories. Added together I burned 380 today! YAHOO! WIN WIN WIN!

2 – Get out!
Shopping at Whole Foods? FAIL!

3 – Write it like you want it
Writing some more in a few. WIN!

4 – Rock out to more
Such a copout, but I googled “random band of the day” and the first hit was “Dirtfoot”. I know. I’m under the gun here people! WIN!

5 – Get Smart-er

Finished a book, which you can see below. I’m also working on a podcast idea that will involve my brother. Details to come. WIN!

Total Win/Loss for today – 4/5
80% = completion rate.
Grade = B! WOOT!

Enemies & Allies: A Novel by Kevin J. Anderson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A great introduction of the characters we all love. Fun, action packed and a fun time for any comic book fan.

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Keeping up with the fast pace of a first shift in hospital housekeeping is far different than the second shift I had worked on up until about two months ago.  The pace at the night hours was mundane and plodding.  It would make you wonder if you could keep going until the next crisis cropped up to give you something to do.  I yearned for first shift for a year and a half.  Thankfully for my mental sake God delivered me to the morning shift.

After hitting the ground running, stumbling and bumbling I’ve come to realize how lucky I was on the 3pm to midnight shift.  Now I’m trying to keep pace with the ever increasing rotating sprockets that push the day onwards.  I’ve got a long road to go but I’m firmly back on that road to success.  The New Year gives me a chance to strive for greatness, not goodness.

Let’s check in with our goals then shall we?

Terminator Salvation: The Official Movie Novelization by Alan Dean Foster

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
The book itself is fairly mundane and follows closely to what I know of the movie. It’s a fun popcorn read and will keep you entertained. Meeting up with some more familiar characters was great but I grew to not really care for much of them as it just didn’t feel as if the writer was invested. Given that this is was adapted from script, it’s understandable.

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