WOWEEE, I'm at a loss for words! Mockingjay was such an intense and uplifting conclusion to the Hunger Games trilogy! Just when I thought the series cWOWEEE, I'm at a loss for words! Mockingjay was such an intense and uplifting conclusion to the Hunger Games trilogy! Just when I thought the series couldn't get any better, I was wrong!
After the cliffhanger ending of
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, Katniss Everdeen, the girl on fire, has joined forces with District 13, who has come out of the shadows to overthrow the Capitol and restore peace to Panem. Katniss home has been reduced to rubble after District 12 is destroyed by the Capitol, and Peers Mellark has been abducted. Katniss, all this time without knowing, has been part of a revolution against the Capitol, and the success of defeating their enemy relies on her willingness to become the Mockingjay and put aside her personal feelings, no matter the consequences.
This may be by far the best trilogy I have ever read, loved each book and I want to thank Suzanne Collins for writing The Hunger Games series, for introducing such an intriguing series to readers, and for bringing Katniss Everdeen to life!
Is it possible that you this book is just as good as the first book, I was hooked right from the start, and the further I got, the more I needed to fiIs it possible that you this book is just as good as the first book, I was hooked right from the start, and the further I got, the more I needed to find out what happened next, such a great story, just like the first book beautifully written, I didn't want it to end!
Following the events of
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, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark's victory in the Hunger Games the previous year has inspired an uprising and talks of rebellion against the Capitol of Panem. It turns out that not everyone is happy with the outcome of the Games, and President Snow, the ruler of Panem, has his own plans for Katniss and Peeta. With the Districts being overrun by Peacekeepers and the brutality of the Capitol, Katniss and Peeta are forced to once again compete in the Hunger Games. Katniss allies herself with rival Finnick Odair, and once again must use her wits if she wants to stay alive. But what Katniss doesn't realize that regardless of the outcome, her life will never be the same again.
Filled with action, comedy, romance, a little bit of everything! We are left with a cliffhanger in the end that made me want to immediately jump into book 3!!
The character of Katniss Everdeen is so well written it's almost like you're there with her experiencing her pain, danger and love!
I can't believe it's taken me this long to read The Hunger Games, for some reason it just never appealed to me untMay the odds be ever in your favor!
I can't believe it's taken me this long to read The Hunger Games, for some reason it just never appealed to me until now, until finally someone kept telling me how good and addictive they are, and I gotta say after reading them, they were right, I'm already hooked! Can't wait to continue onward!
The story I told through the eyes of 16-year old Katniss Everdeen, who lives in the post-apocalyptic nation of Panem, formerly known as North America. The Capitol rules through corruption and exercises political control over the rest of the nation. Twelve districts surround the Capitol, and each year they hold The Hunger Games, an annual event in which a boy and girl from each of the 12 Districts aged 12 to 18 are selected to compete in a televised fight to the death until only one remains standing.
When Katniss baby sister Prim is chosen to participate in the Games, Katniss steps forward to take her place, Katniss has experience in survival and hunting. Coming from the coal-rich region of District 12 departs for the Capitol, where she meets up with Haymitch Abernathy, her mentor and the sole surviving living District 12 victor of the Hunter Games, and the male tribute Peeta Mellark.
I really enjoyed Suzanne Collins storytelling and her writing style, very simple and not too deep, and her ideas behind the Hunger Games, I found an interview on YouTube where she talked about her Father's service in Vietnam being an influence on the story, seeing footage of people competing on a reality show, and on another channel the invasion of Iraq.
I'm looking forward to continuing with Katniss journey, seeing her character and the other characters continue to grow and develop, learning more about the other District's, and discovering more of the Hunger Games Universe!
If you haven't read this book, it have 2 words, Read it!!
In the words of Michael Corleone, Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in! This has got to be the longest haul of Stephen King that I've dIn the words of Michael Corleone, Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in! This has got to be the longest haul of Stephen King that I've done, starting all the way at the beginning with Mr. Mercedes and binge reading my way through getting in preparation for Holly, and I did it just in time for its release!
Holly Gibney is brought into her first standalone (2nd if you include
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. She is contacted by Penny Dahl, a worried mother who's daughter has vanished without a trace, and wants to hire Holly to find her and bring her home. At first Holly is reluctant to accept, with the Finders Keepers detective agency semi-closed, with the recent passing of Holly's mother from Covid, Pete (Holly's partner) is sick with Covid, and Holly is practically on leave.
But there is something in the mother's voice that Holly just can't say no. For this case Holly is on her own, with Jerome Robinson in New York promoting his new book. Holly attempts to pick up the trail of Penny's missing daughter, soon discovering that over the past 5 years, more people have gone missing, and Holly begins to wonder if they're all connected.
Enter Professors Rodney and Emily Harris, semi-retried, well known and respected biologists, who live here blocks from where Bonnie Dahl was last seen. To the public the Harrises seem like a normally, happily long-time married couple, but to someone in Holly's shoes and profession, looks can be deceiving. The Harrises over the years have been keeping a deep dark secret, and they are not who they seem to be!
I'm very amazed at how far Holly has come along and how much her character has developed since her introduction in Mr. Mercedes. I did see Stephen King recently in an interview promoting Holly, and he said that she was just supposed to be a one time character but the readers and Stephen King himself (and I quote) stole his heart! I'm so glad that SK has decided to continue on with her character, she may be without a doubt my new favorite character created by SK, and I hope we haven't seen the last of her! and I never thought I'd say this, but I found it neat that King decided to include Covid in one of his novels as a subplot, where I see many people thought of the pandemic as something in a SK Story. Long live Holly Gibney!!
WOW!!! I think Linwood Barclay has just become one of my top authors, I know he has!! He was recommended to me because I'm a fan of Harlan Coben, and WOW!!! I think Linwood Barclay has just become one of my top authors, I know he has!! He was recommended to me because I'm a fan of Harlan Coben, and Barclay's writing style is so similar that you'd actually think it was Coben!! I'm definitely going to be checking out more of his books in the future!!
One morning, after a night of underage drinking, 14-year-old Cynthia Bigge wakes up, expecting to revisit the previous night's events with her parents. When she discovers her house is empty, her Mom, Dad and brother are nowhere to be found. Cynthia at first thinks nothing of it, but as time goes on she eventually realizes that without explanation her family has disappeared, and left no note.
Twenty-five years later, Cynthia is married to Terry, with a little girl named Grace, hoping to start her life over. But Cynthia still has many unanswered questions, where is her family, were they murdered, are they on the run from somebody, and why did they leave her behind? Now living in fear that she will lose her new family, Cynthia takes part in a TV documentary revisiting the case, hoping to shed some light on that night, or hoping her family may reach out to her. First nothing, then she starts getting prank calls and crackpots coming out of the woodwork. But then a brown car begins tailing Cynthia and her family, a stranger keeps watching their house, and then a mysterious letter is sent. Before she knows it, Cynthia's past comes back to haunt her, and she will soon discover what happened 25 years ago, but will soon realize that sometimes it's better to bury the past.
Love Barclay's writing style, very simple yet brilliant, excellent premise, something that could happen to anybody, and you almost feel like you're one of the characters! Highly recommended for mystery lovers!!...more
Before Stephen King brought us Carrie, IT, The Shining or The Stand, he brought us Blaze! I did some research before starting Blaze and I see King wroBefore Stephen King brought us Carrie, IT, The Shining or The Stand, he brought us Blaze! I did some research before starting Blaze and I see King wrote it back before Carrie, but it wasn't published until years later, when King rewrote the manuscript, and it was under Richard Bachman, his pen mane, the last Bachman book!
Clay "Blaze" Blaisdell is a 7-foot three hundred pound mentally disabled small time con artist, who is looking to fulfill the dreams of his deceased best friend George Rackley. Blaze kidnaps the infant son of a wealthy couple, hoping they'll give him a heavy ransom in exchange for their child back unharmed. A massive manhunt is issued for Blaze, with the FBI not on his trail, Blaze flees into the woods of Maine, during a horrible snowstorm, with a baby as a hostage.
The story goes back and forth between Blaze childhood and upbringing, becoming the man he is today, and to the present day. Blaze is a very unique character, one who even though he does bad things, he's a character you almost feel sorry for. A beautifully written, intriguing and sad story....more
Wow! What an incredible conclusion to an incredible trilogy, I don't think incredible even sums it up, there's just no words for this trilogy! Steven Wow! What an incredible conclusion to an incredible trilogy, I don't think incredible even sums it up, there's just no words for this trilogy! Steven King has really outdone himself here!!
Retired Detective Bill Hodges now runs his own Investigation agency Finders Keepers alongside his partner and best friend Holly Gibney. Hodges gets a call from his old partner from the Police force, who asks him to come take a look at what appears to be a murder-suicide. As similar cases mount up, Hodges discovers that all the evidence points to his old nemesis the Mercedes Killer, who is out for revenge after Hodges thwarted his vicious attack years ago.
But it turns out Mr. Mercedes is no ordinary killer, it turns out he has telekinetic abilities and also telepathy. Hodges, along with Holly and Jerome, sets out for the final chapter that will forever change the lives of everyone!
Loved all 3 books, was sad to see the story come to the end, I immediately fell in love with all the characters, especially Holly, I just loved the chemistry between her and Hodges!
When I first started Finders Keepers I didn't think it was going to be anywhere near as good and gripping as Mr. Mercedes, and didn't think it would pWhen I first started Finders Keepers I didn't think it was going to be anywhere near as good and gripping as Mr. Mercedes, and didn't think it would pull me in the same way, because for one thing it was not what I was expecting compared to the previous book, but as I got going, I discovered I was wrong, Finders Keepers is definitely a keeper!
The story of Finders Keepers jumps back and forth between the late 70's and the present day. It starts out in the 70's with deranged criminal Morris Bellamy, who has an obsession with the Jimmy Gold series (Sound familiar). Furious with the writer John Rothstein for his decision with his character, Morris breaks into his house, kills Rothstein, empties his safe filled with cash, and notebooks containing Rothstein's unpublished works. Wanting to keep the memorabilia for himself, Bellamy buries it in a trunk behind his house. Later on he is arrested for sexually assaulting a woman whole drunk, and sentenced to life in prison.
Present Day, Thirty-five years later, teenager Pete Saubers is living with his family in the house that Morris grew up in. When one day while outside playing, Pete comes across the mysterious trunk containing the money and memorabilia stolen years ago. With Pete's family struggling financially, he secretly sends the money in envelopes from the trunk to his family, who he never told about the trunk. Pete also starts to read the notebooks, becoming a fan of the Jimmy Gold series.
At the same time, Morris is granted parole and released from prison. Wanting to pick up the pieces and get his hands on the notebooks, Morris discovers that one thing stands in his way, Pete and his family. Discovering that his life is in danger, Pete turns to retired Police Detective Bill Hodges for help, who now runs his own investigative company called Finders Keepers, alongside his beloved partners in crime Holly Gibney and Jerome Robinson.
As I said up above, Finders Keepers takes a departure from Mr. Mercedes, and can probably be read as a standalone, and without giving away spoilers, Bill Hodges is included in the story but kind of takes a back seat and doesn't make his appearance until maybe the second quarter, where in Mr. Mercedes he is the main protagonist.
The Trilogy keeps growing strong, now onto the conclusion,
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!!
I know in the past I've read certain books of Stephen King and once I finish them I say to myself it wasn't a typical Stephen King book, well now I'm I know in the past I've read certain books of Stephen King and once I finish them I say to myself it wasn't a typical Stephen King book, well now I'm saying Mr. Mercedes was DEFINITELY not your typical Stephen King book, this one has no Horror involved whatsoever. Nevertheless it's just become another favorite of mine!
Mr. Mercedes is the first entry in the Bill Hodges Trilogy, introducing recently retired Detective Kermit William "Bill" Hodges, divorced, lonely, and sometimes suicidal. One day an unsolved multiple homicide case comes back to haunt Hodges, a year ago a stolen Mercedes plows through a crowd of men women and children on line for a job fair, then speeds off without a trace.
Hodges gets a letter from the killer, Mr. Mercedes, who taunts Hodges, and says he plans to kill again, this time an attack that will kill thousands, maybe more. Hodges is approached by the sister of the owner of the stolen Mercedes Benz that was used in the previous killings, to investigate further into Mr. Mercedes, and later falling in love with Hodges. Hodges accepts, along with 2 unusual allies, Jerome Robinson, Hodges nextdoor adolescent neighbor and hired help, who is a computer whiz, and Holly Gibney, a middle-aged woman who's emotionally unstable and obsessive compulsive but with razor-sharp memory and also a computer whiz. This dysfunctional band of trio comes together to bring down Mr. Mercedes before he can strike again.
I loved the chemistry between Hodges, Jerome and Holly, they were like a tag-team, Batman & Robin or Sherlock Holmes and Watson, like I said, I wouldn't call this a Horror novel in anyway, it was a detective novel! I hope to see more of this trio in the trilogy! Onto
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!...more
After reading the beloved Power of the Dog Trilogy, I just couldn't wait to find out what else Don Winslow had in store for me, and I'm glad I chose tAfter reading the beloved Power of the Dog Trilogy, I just couldn't wait to find out what else Don Winslow had in store for me, and I'm glad I chose this book in particular!!
Highly decorated NYPD Sergeant Denny Malone is the King of Manhattan North, and head of Da (The) Force, a fictitious elite Police task force assigned with rooting out crime within the city. But what only a few know, including his longtime partners Russo and Monty, is that Malone is a dirty cop, him and his crew have bribed, and stolen millions of dollars in drugs and cash, and use any means necessary to insure the streets of New York are safe.
Things look up for Malone until one day he is approached by the FBI, and he must answers for all the bad things he has done, even if it means going to prison and bringing Russo and Monty down with him.
A graphic, brutal and realistic look into the corruption in the Police force, think of Serpico, the French Connection, and The Departed all put into one book. As Stephen King wrote on the front of the copy, The Force is mesmerizing, a triumph, Think The Godfather, only with Cops, it's that good. And he was right!!...more
Due to the day and age with Politics being a sensitive issue, I'm going to keep my review short and just say it's an excellent and informative read abDue to the day and age with Politics being a sensitive issue, I'm going to keep my review short and just say it's an excellent and informative read about the lives of former U.S. Presidents and their families when they leave the White House for the last time. Been wanting to read it after reading one of Kate Andersen Brower's previous books a couple years back
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and really enjoying it!...more
I think I physically hurt all over now just imagining what all the characters went through and had to endure in this story. Stephen King sure made it I think I physically hurt all over now just imagining what all the characters went through and had to endure in this story. Stephen King sure made it The Long Walk!
Set in dystopian America, ruled by a totalitarian regime, 100 teenage boys compete in THE LONG WALK, a grueling contest where each step may be their last. The main character, Ray Garrity, who is determined to be the winner of the competition, making both friends and enemies along the way, and is up against impossible odds in the walk of his life.
A grueling early King novel, and now one of my favorites of the early Richard Bachman collection! ...more
Before The Hunger Games (Which I still have to read) we had The Running Man! The whole time I was reading this story of took every ounce in my not to Before The Hunger Games (Which I still have to read) we had The Running Man! The whole time I was reading this story of took every ounce in my not to envision Arnold Schwarzenegger as Ben Richards. As much as I enjoyed the film, the book was much better, and they're NOT at all alike!
Just like the Long Walk, (also written by King under his pen name Richard Bachman) the Running Man takes place in a dystopian United States, in the year 2025, the world in disarray and violence is rising, and run by a corrupt government. Ben Richards, a desperate man trying to support his wife and sick daughter, turns to the Games Network, a popular government-run television station that hosts violent game shows. Richards becomes the top contestant for The Running Man, the most popular and deadly competition.
Now forced to turn his back on his family, Richards is on the run of his life with government hitmen hot on his heels, and he slowly discovers that with The Running Man, you don't compete to win, but to survive.
A quick read that will keep you reading well into the night! Could not put it down!
I have read many mixed reviews about Rose Madder, and understanding that it's not one of SK's better known stories, I even read somewhere that StephenI have read many mixed reviews about Rose Madder, and understanding that it's not one of SK's better known stories, I even read somewhere that Stephen King himself said in his memoir
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, he said Rose Madder was one of his stiff, trying-too-hard novels, but after reading it myself, I was pleasantly surprised!
Rosie Daniels is married to Police Officer Norman Daniels, who is very abusive towards her, and beats her nearly to death when she is pregnant, resulting in a miscarriage. Years later, Norman continues his abuse, and Rosie, who is too afraid to leave him, because he specializes in finding missing persons. Then one day, Rosie finally has enough and steals Norman's ATM card and leaves him to start a new life.
Along the way, Rosie falls in love with local lawn shop owner Bill Steiner, and discovering a mysterious painting that seems to be speaking to her, and Rosie soon finds herself in almost another dimension. As time goes on, people close to Rosie end up being hurt or even killed by Norman, and Rosie realizes she can't stop looking over her shoulder. To survive, she must enter her own myth and become a woman she never knew she could be, ROSE MADDER.
Stephen King once again has outdone himself, and delivers a beautiful and at the same time hauntingly disturbing tale! ...more
What an incredible and heartbreaking story! Some nights I would only read small portions of it and others I'd be up past my bedtime reading it becauseWhat an incredible and heartbreaking story! Some nights I would only read small portions of it and others I'd be up past my bedtime reading it because it was so powerful and just moved me, sometimes it would be a lot to take in at once.
Beneath A Scarlet Sky shares the true story of Pino Lella, is a young boy growing up in Italy during the final days of World War II, and he's just an ordinary teenager, obsessed with music, food and girls. But when Pino and his family are forced to leave town after their home is destroyed by Allied bombs, Pino joins an underground group that helps Jews escape from the Nazis, using the Swiss Alps to get the Jews across to the Switzerland border.
Once the battle for Italy intensifies, in order to avoid combat, Pino's overprotective parents force him to enlist as a German soldier, he is recruited to become the personal driver for Adolf Hitler's left hand in Italy, and the most powerful and mysterious commander of the Third Reich, General Hans Leyers. Now behind enemy lines, Pino is spying on the Nazis, and reporting back to his family General Leyers every move and atrocity. Pino also falls in love with Anna, a beautiful widow 6 years his senior who happens to be the maid of General Leyers mistress.
I read in the preface of the story that Mark Sullivan met with Pino Lella and met with him numerous times, and says that Pino's stories changed his life, and he also met with Holocaust historians and some surviving eyewitnesses who corroborated various events in Pino's story. Sullivan also says at the end of the preface, and I quote, The story you are about to read is not a work of narrative nonfiction, but a novel of biographical and historical fiction that hews closely to what happened to Pino Lella between June 1943 and May 1945. Even so, everything I read in the book just felt so read, made me feel I was really there.
A beautiful, remarkable, moving and tragic tale all at the same time. I really love Sullivan's style of writing, and all the research he did to write this book. A must read for everyone!
I can't believe this book didn't get the attention it deserved, it was that good!! Definitely putting it up there with the best of Stephen King!!
The DI can't believe this book didn't get the attention it deserved, it was that good!! Definitely putting it up there with the best of Stephen King!!
The Dead Zone follows the life of Johnny Smith, who has awakened from a 5-year coma after being in a horrible car accident, one nobody believed he would ever wake up from, well they were all wrong. Since waking up from his coma, Johnny has been able to experience clairvoyant and precognitive visions whenever he touches someone.
As much as I enjoyed The Dead Zone, once again I didn't consider it a horror novel, I've felt that with a few of the other SK books I've recently read. Still very enjoyable with unforgettable characters and a great plot. Also enjoyed the 80's film starring Christopher Walken!
The epic conclusion of what may be the best Crime trilogy of all time!! It was everything I had hoped for, Don Winslow once again delivers!
Just when The epic conclusion of what may be the best Crime trilogy of all time!! It was everything I had hoped for, Don Winslow once again delivers!
Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in, as Michael Corleone says in The Godfather! With the ongoing War on Drugs for more than Forty years, Veteran DEA Operative Arturo (Art) Keller is left scarred and broken following the bloody events of
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. Keller is promoted to the head of the DEA, soon finding out that the War on Drugs is far from over, and the continuing death and chaos is not only in Mexico, but the US as well.
Now deceased Drug Kingpin and nemesis of Keller Adan Barrera's drugs are still hitting the streets and the Barrera clan is struggling to hang on to Adan's legacy while fighting against rival Cartels, while Keller finds he's surrounded by enemies on both sides, and at the same time facing off against the new upcoming US President who is in bed with the drug traffickers Keller is trying to bring to justice. The Trilogy comes to an epic conclusion and Keller must face his demons one last time!
Don Winslow has just been put in my top ten favorite crime writer's! The Cartel Trilogy is The Godfather only with drugs!! ...more
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