Former WWE ring announcer Justin Roberts recounts the story of his life and his time working for the biggest wrestling company in the world.
Justin worFormer WWE ring announcer Justin Roberts recounts the story of his life and his time working for the biggest wrestling company in the world.
Justin worked for WWE sporadically for years before finally securing a full-time announce gig as the voice of the ECW brand. From there, he worked his way up to Smackdown and eventually the flagship program, Monday Night Raw. Roberts discusses the highs and the seemingly endless lows of working for the world’s biggest wrestling organization.
Above all else, Best Seat in the House is a heartbreaking read. Justin’s endless passion for the wrestling business is second-to-none. The amount of effort and drive to do what he did just to get his foot in the door of McMahon’s monopolistic company is astounding. Once he got in, he quickly found out that working for WWE, while it may be a dream job for some, is unbelievably stressful. Not only do you have to exist inside an archaic hazing style environment, but you also need to work within a disorganized mess under the direction of an erratic and often irrational boss in Vince McMahon.
Obviously the WWE machine would not exist today if not for the tireless work by the company’s head-honcho McMahon, but judging by Justin’s memoir, Vince seems to expect everyone to either work just as hard as him (which in my opinion, is not fair), or be mind-readers.
Last year, WWE was under fire due to a report that alleged tenured performer JBL (John “Bradshaw” Layfield) relentlessly bullied play-by-play commentator Mauro Ranallo to the point where he left his position. Mauro, well known to suffer from bipolar disorder, luckily found a spot away from JBL under the umbrella of the NXT brand. While JBL, Mauro and WWE deny that the story was true, it’s not hard to believe its validity. In this book, Roberts goes into extensive detail about how he was treated by Layfield through excessive humiliation and constant mental abuse. What is even worse is that this type of behaviour is encouraged. While pranks (or “ribs”) have always been a part of the wrestling industry, telling someone to “kill themselves” or stealing their passport causing them to miss shows is crossing a line.
I know professional wrestling already doesn’t have the best reputation, but hearing about garbage like this will always keep it from truly penetrating the mainstream. Luckily, through the power of social media, word of this type of mistreatment travels quickly. Does it always work? No. However, at least this type of behaviour isn’t so easily buried.
The Best Seat in the House was more or less, a good read. There are some compelling stories about his time on the road and his role in helping WWE connect with Connor Michalek, an eight year old boy suffering from pediatric cancer. I found that a few of the stories tended to feel a bit repetitive near the end which had me skipping through the book a little during the last 10%. I think Justin’s story is an important one as he was neither considered an “employee” nor was he viewed as “talent”, so despite having an integral role in the company, he was often overlooked for promotions, raises or recognition and constantly undervalued. It’s really too bad, because he’s one of my all time favorite ring announcers....more
Former pro wrestler Mick Foley returns with his fifth memoir - this time taking a look at his years in the red suit portraying Jolly Ol’ Saint Nick (oFormer pro wrestler Mick Foley returns with his fifth memoir - this time taking a look at his years in the red suit portraying Jolly Ol’ Saint Nick (or Saint Mick, if you please).
When it comes to Mick Foley’s memoirs, they seem to have fallen within the law of diminishing returns. His first two are absolute classics while the two that followed lacked substance (at least in my opinion, anyway). However, this time around, I found that Foley once again found his footing in the literary world.
My unabashed love of Christmas could have played a role in how much I enjoyed this, but I truly feel this is a story worth telling. Mick has written about wrestling in four prior books, and while that’s his bread and butter, this entry felt both fresh and deeply personal. You will read about his charity work with RAINN (rape and incest national network), his struggles with his growing children and their diminished belief in the magic of Christmas - especially his son Mickey and his autism diagnosis, as well as the documentary he hosted that led to his entry into the world of Santa Claus - I AM SANTA CLAUS.
Of course, this being a Mick Foley book, there’s going to be some wrestling talk. He discusses his various portrayals of Santa Claus on WWE television - some great, some not so great - but clearly something he enjoys doing. His trademark wit and humor is again on full display in telling stories about performing with Norah Jones on stage, interacting with WWE superstars and working alongside his kids as Kris Kringle.
If I had to rank Foley’s books, I’d put this in third place just below Foley is Good and above Countdown to Lockdown with Have a Nice Day in first and The Hardcore Diaries finishing in last place. If you’re not a fan of Christmas and you’re looking for a wrestling memoir, this might not be for you. However, Mick is a rare genuinely good person and it’s nice to have your faith in humanity restored once in a while....more
The narrator and her boyfriend Jake are embarking on a trip to Jake’s parents’ farmhouse during a snowstorm. Along the way, the narrator tells the stoThe narrator and her boyfriend Jake are embarking on a trip to Jake’s parents’ farmhouse during a snowstorm. Along the way, the narrator tells the story of her relationship with Jake, how they met and their time together up to this point – a point where she’s thinking of ending things between them.
I’m Thinking of Ending Things is the definition of a “page-turner”. I blew through this in two days and to be honest, it would have been a lot quicker had I not had to do things like work or sleep. As I was reading this story, I knew there was going to be a shocking turn of events at some point, but I didn’t know what it would be. Scenarios raced through my mind as I tried to predict the novel’s big twist. I probably had half a dozen ways the story would go before the big reveal and even then, it wasn’t one I predicted.
There is a consistent feeling of uneasiness and dread permeating the entire novel that for the most part, kept the paperback glued to my hands. There is one section in particular that for me, is deeply unsettling and straight up terrifying. If you’re a fan of his new novel Foe, you’ll probably enjoy this (and vice-versa) as they have a similar tone and style.
This isn’t going to be for everyone. Honestly, when the novel finished, I was utterly confused and had no idea what I had just read. Sometimes, that can be a hindrance. In this case, I welcomed it. I immediately went online to see what other people thought of it – what their theories were about the final twenty pages or so. I can’t imagine what I would have done if I didn’t have the internet as a resource. Is that the sign of a good book? If you can’t figure it out on your own, is it poorly written? I guess that is up to the reader to decide.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go convince everyone I know to read this so I can talk to them about it....more
Schmuck The Buck tells the story of a Jewish reindeer who lives at the North Pole. Larry, or Schmuck The Buck as he’s nicknamed, is bullied and shamedSchmuck The Buck tells the story of a Jewish reindeer who lives at the North Pole. Larry, or Schmuck The Buck as he’s nicknamed, is bullied and shamed because he doesn’t fit the mold. Sound familiar? Like his red-nosed predecessor, Larry struggles to find his own way in a world where he feels like he doesn’t belong.
I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I’m not one to normally read this type of book, but when the author reached out to me, it sounded interesting enough to give it a go. Also, I’m a sucker for all things Christmas, so that may have factored heavily into my decision.
This was a quick read. It was under thirty pages and took me all of ten minutes to breeze through. The writing got a few chuckles out of me and I thought the artwork fit well to the story being told.
Every December, the world is dominated by Christmas even though there are many holidays being celebrated this time of year – as in the case of Schmuck the Buck, Hanukkah. Maybe this is coming from a place of ignorance because within my bubble, I don’t see a lot of representation from other religions. So, it’s important to have books like this, even if it is lighter fare....more
With each passing day, Scott Carey weighs less and less, however, he continues to retain mass. What will happen if he hits zero? That’s not Scott’s With each passing day, Scott Carey weighs less and less, however, he continues to retain mass. What will happen if he hits zero? That’s not Scott’s only problem, either. A young lesbian couple next door walk their dogs every day in front of Scott’s home only to have the dogs relieve themselves on Carey’s front lawn. He’s tried to reason with them, but they’re having no part of Scott’s efforts to establish a neighborly relationship.
At seventy-one, Stephen King isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. Elevation - although a novella - is the second book he's released in 2018 and while it’s better than its predecessor The Outsider, it’s pretty forgettable.
King has been a vocal critic of President Trump and has often commented on the deep political and ideological divide plaguing his country, so I can understand why he felt the need to write a story about folks coming together despite their differences. However, Elevation felt over-simplified with thin characters in a paint-by-numbers plot. To put it simply, it seemed like an after-school special with an ending wrapped up with a bow.
I think what bothered me the most was the sudden change in attitude by the townspeople - these are long-held, deep-seated convictions that are seemingly altered by one event. For a story like this, you’re going to need more time. It just didn’t work in less than one hundred and fifty pages. You’re also talking about Castle Rock here - people are off their rockers in this hole of a town.
Maybe I judge King more harshly than most authors but why not? He’s written some of my favorite stories, so he deserves to be held at a higher standard. If it were up to me, and I was his publisher, I believe Elevation belongs in a short story collection, maybe as an opening novella. I’m not sure this deserves its own release.
*** Also, the fact that this is classified under Best Horror in the Goodreads Choice Awards is laughable. King has written several stories that venture outside the borders of horror but he unfortunately gets stuck within the genre even if he isn’t writing under than umbrella....more
Over Thanksgiving weekend in the small Quebec Township of Three Pines, the body of a beloved resident is found lying amongst the leaves in the forest.Over Thanksgiving weekend in the small Quebec Township of Three Pines, the body of a beloved resident is found lying amongst the leaves in the forest. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec is called in to investigate what appears to be a murder. Can this picturesque town and close-knit community survive a rigorous investigation?
A year after losing my chance to meet Louise Penny at Bouchercon, I finally decided to dive into her acclaimed Inspector Gamache mystery series. I’m not going to lie; I initially had some reservations about it. I wasn’t worried about the quality, mind you; I just assumed it would be too soft and cozy for my liking. Thankfully, I was wrong. Still Life has enough death, backstabbing and deceit to shake a stick at.
Gamache, although a tad dry, is a solid choice to build around. Penny surrounds Gamache and his crew with a plethora of peculiar players that make up the village in which the murder takes place; a smart move considering Penny has now penned fourteen novels set in Three Pines - can’t have things getting dull now, can we?
For a first novel, Still Life is pretty damn impressive. I thought the mystery was well-crafted and the twist designed to uncover the culprit was quite clever, so it isn’t exactly a shock that Penny ended up with oodles of awards for this one. Penny’s sense of humor and her prose are very entertaining - I guess spending your prior career as a journalist can lead to a successful career as a novelist when it comes to writing interesting and funny dialogue.
I have high hopes for the series moving forward as recurring novels set in a small town can only get better as the characterization deepens - at least, I’m hoping so. Judging by her following at Bouchercon last year, her popularity is remarkable. I can only imagine how much she’s grown as a writer since this one, so I’m looking forward to reading on....more
Shortly after confessing she had once witnessed a murder, thirteen year old Joyce is found having drowned in an apple-bobbing tub during a Halloween PShortly after confessing she had once witnessed a murder, thirteen year old Joyce is found having drowned in an apple-bobbing tub during a Halloween Party. Famed investigator Hercule Poirot is brought in to uncover the killer.
I’m not going to lie, for a book that seems to be heavily marketed as a Halloween-centric novel, I was disappointed to discover that the story has little to do with Halloween. Yes, the inciting incident takes place during a Halloween party, but the season is dropped pretty quickly once Poirot gets down to business. Speaking of getting down to business, I really liked the way Christie had Poirot approach the case. Supposing that what Joyce had said was correct, Poirot worked backwards from any unsolved murders in the sleepy town’s history in order to possibly uncover a motive for Joyce’s killing. This added a few layers to the story which kept things moving briskly.
Christie is a master of misdirection, not that I need to tell you that. The culprit changed in my mind many times during the story and at the end of the day, I still didn’t see the reveal coming. However, you could also probably chalk that up to my inability to see through red herrings. The ending, while it seemed a little out there when compared to the two novels I previously read, was certainly plausible.
This being the third to last Poirot book, you could tell that Christie had begun to wind him down. He often complains about being sore after exerting only a minuscule amount of activity and often laments his age. I tried doing a little light research into Hercule’s age and given that many believe he is 62 in the first novel, that would make him 115 in this book - so that can’t be right. Although, in her autobiography, Christie has said that one of her biggest regrets was starting with Poirot at such an advanced age, I suppose it’s not that important given that he’s a fictional character and that Christie can do what she wishes. There’s another school of thought used in the Official Agatha Christie Companion applying an age formula that supposes that Poirot ages 2 years for every 3. This would make him a spry 93 at the conclusion of the final novel in 1975.
Sorry about that tangent. I thought I would remove if from the review, but who cares. This is my review after all! When it comes to my Poirot reading experience, I enjoyed Hallowe’en Party more than Murder on the Orient Express, but not as much as The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. It will probably take me a long time to get through all forty of the Poirot novels, so I’ve got many happy reading years ahead of me....more
Author Jon Robinson takes a look at the tremendous amount of planning it takes to bring together WWE’s annual flagship show, WrestleMania.
Honestly, wiAuthor Jon Robinson takes a look at the tremendous amount of planning it takes to bring together WWE’s annual flagship show, WrestleMania.
Honestly, with Creating The Mania, I was expecting a WWE produced fluff-piece. However, I was pleasantly surprised with both the honesty from those involved as well as the impressive detail on display from Robinson. Extensive interviews with performers, writers, producers and representatives from host cities reveal the twists, turns, bumps and potholes that make up the road to WrestleMania.
What I found most interesting was the planning process when it comes to finalizing the card as well as choosing the winners and losers. It’s been known for a few years that WWE head-honcho Vince McMahon rarely has anything nailed down and will often change his mind on finishes multiple times - even mid-match! With the main event of Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar seemingly planned up to two years in advance, it blew my mind that even three months out from the biggest show of the year, that was the only match set in stone. I suppose that adds to the belief that when it comes to ticket sales, the brand is what people pay to see rather than performers and specific matchups.
Although I did say earlier in the review that I appreciated the candid nature of the book, it’s hard to imagine the author was allowed to criticize much within a WWE-produced release. Missing is any real critique of the creative process when a storyline or angle falls flat - for example, the 25th Anniversary episode of Monday Night Raw is painted as a success despite the poor reception from fans and critics alike. The negative response to the main event is largely ignored (aside from a sentence or two) and missing is any mention of the controversy surrounding the “Fabulous Moolah” Battle Royal. There were also a few mistakes surrounding specific events (Bobby Roode won the NXT Championship in January 2017, not April 2017..), which just came across as amateurish.
Despite the above, I did enjoy this book overall. The amount of work it takes to not only produce an event the size and scope of WrestleMania, but to keep the WWE machine rolling is an incredible achievement. I consider myself a nerd when it comes to the behind-the-scenes components of wrestling, and by interviewing guys like Ed Kostky (head writer on WWE RAW), you get a glimpse into the inner workings of the WWE monster.
This is one of the better in-house WWE produced books I’ve read in recent years. I’ve already recommended it to a few people, so hopefully this isn’t the last book written by Jon Robinson within the WWE Universe....more
Career criminal Joe has his life turned upside down following his daughter Gemma’s unexpected suicide. Holding his cousin Adam responsible for his dauCareer criminal Joe has his life turned upside down following his daughter Gemma’s unexpected suicide. Holding his cousin Adam responsible for his daughter’s untimely death, Joe travels to Adam with annihilation on his mind. However, upon arrival, Joe is told of his wife’s gruesome murder and due to their rocky relationship as well as some damning evidence, Joe is believed to be a prime suspect. Pleading his innocence, can Joe clear his name? And what did Gemma write in her diary prior to her death seemingly damning her father?
After a rather lackluster September, I decided I need to turn to crime fiction to cleanse my reading pallet ahead of a month of horror novels. Luckily, I had a few Hardcase Crime novels sitting on my bookcase that I had picked up over the past few years from used book shops. Given it won the Edgar Award in 2005, Kiss Her Goodbye was an easy choice to sink my teeth into.
Having published well over one hundred novels since its inception in 2005, like all publishers, Hardcase has had some hits and misses. Luckily, Kiss Her Goodbye is one of the good ones. It’s filled to the brim with what makes these throwbacks great; tough characters, gritty settings and dialogue that punctures scenes like a semi-automatic.
While Guthrie isn’t exactly doing anything new here, he does produce a solid story with hard-hitting, hard boiled elements that left me satisfied at the end of the story. A few weeks ago, I wrote in a review that I was surprised at how easily I figured out the twist in a story (something uncommon for me). The same happened here. I liked what Guthrie was going for by including excerpts from Gemma’s diary, but it didn’t take long to see where he was going with it. That said, it didn’t make the ending any less explosive. Guthrie has some great chops when it comes to writing tension; you could almost feel the electricity in the room during the novel’s final scene.
If you’re a fan of noir storytelling, you’ll find Kiss Her Goodbye hits all the marks of the genre. One of Hardcase’s early success stories, Kiss Her Goodbye is a great stand-alone read that should satisfy fans of the publisher’s work....more
Everyday Hockey Heroes contains a collection of stories from inspiring men and women inside the world of hockey, on and off the ice.
Much like Bob’s prEveryday Hockey Heroes contains a collection of stories from inspiring men and women inside the world of hockey, on and off the ice.
Much like Bob’s previous hockey book, Everyday Hockey Heroes is broken up into individual sections featuring a different subject or personality involved in the game. Each story tells of how the game either helped them or how they used their experience to help others.
There are several feel good stories about players who received unconditional support from their community in the face of hardship allowing them to excel in something they loved. The book also ventures outside of the realm of the player and into the medical field with stories from doctors at the forefront of sports injury and recovery research. It also looks at commentators who broke down barriers to be able to call the action on the ice. There’s a veritable cornucopia of hockey chronicles in this book.
I don’t want to say that I didn’t like this book, but it certainly didn’t do a whole lot for me. The people profiled are both important to the game as well as the fight for inclusion, but because the stories are so short, they lack substance and more or less feel like fluff pieces.
Being released in October likely means the publisher is marketing the book as a great Christmas gift for hockey fans. Unfortunately, there are other better books out there to stuff in a stocking....more
MuchMusic launched the year I was born, so I’d be lying if I said I knew a whole hell of a lot about the station’s formative years. That being said, MuchMusic launched the year I was born, so I’d be lying if I said I knew a whole hell of a lot about the station’s formative years. That being said, with the majority of my teenage years spent glued to the TV, I have fond memories of the channel as a hub for pop culture. In the days before the internet’s file-sharing software (Napster/Kazaa/Limewire) and later YouTube, MuchMusic was the only place to see and hear your favorite bands without dropping twenty dollars on a piece of physical media.
I’ve always wanted to learn more about the creation of the station and luckily former VJ (video-jockey) Christopher Ward took on the task of chronicling the early years of “The Nation’s Music Station” MuchMusic with his 2016 book, “Is This Live?”
If anything, this book is comprehensive. Ward goes through the early days of CITY TV's late night music video show “City Limits” and how that evolved into what would become MuchMusic - a co-creation from broadcasters John Martin and Moses Znaimer. Ward details the loose atmosphere implored by the duo; how they wanted the station to feel like a “flow” of programming rather than a tight schedule of individual shows.
Ward also delves into the music videos that would define the early years of the station. Interviews with Canadian musicians Bryan Adams, Alan Frew (Glass Tiger), Jim Cuddy (Blue Rodeo), Jimmy Rankin and others are peppered throughout the book as they explain the relatively new process of creating videos as promotional tools. This is where I found the book lost a little bit of its focus as I felt too much time was devoted to the videos themselves and their production rather than the operations of the station.
This is purely preference on my part, but I wish Ward had further explored the 90s, but alas, that was not within the scope of the book. The closest we get are a few short interviews with Rick Campanelli, Ed The Sock (Steve Kerzner), Master T and Bill Welychka.
It’s really sad to see what MuchMusic has become now. Long gone are the days of VJs, countdowns and “videoflow” programming but honestly, who could blame them? Your favorite band’s latest videos are now available at your fingertips so who wants to wait around for hours for their favorite song to be played? After its sale to Bell Media in 2006, the station gradually shifted focus to become more of a destination for comedy programming, reality shows and teen-dramas - they even dropped the “music” part of “MuchMusic”!
Christopher Ward has produced a much (pardon the pun) appreciated account of the little station that could; a rebel channel existing on a shoestring budget that penetrated the cultural zeitgeist of young Canadians in the 80s to become destination programming. I would have preferred a more focused approach and a wider scope, but it is what it is. Folks around during the station's launch may get a bit more out of it than I did....more
Author Ian Ferguson recalls his time as a child living in a remote community in Northern Alberta.
This one is a bit hard to review. Ian has a disclaimeAuthor Ian Ferguson recalls his time as a child living in a remote community in Northern Alberta.
This one is a bit hard to review. Ian has a disclaimer at the beginning of the book noting that this is a “memoir of sorts” in that most of it is true other than the parts that are not. I suppose knowing ahead of time may make it easier when you discover what was real and what was changed, but I was disappointed to find one of the more emotional moments had been completely fabricated. As someone who champions James Frey’s Million Little Pieces and My Friend Leonard, maybe I don’t have a right to critique these elements of Ferguson’s book, but I would be lying if I didn’t feel a bit manipulated at the end.
That isn’t to say that you should skip this one; not at all. I enjoyed it for the most part. It is a fairly quick and often entertaining read. Although Ferguson won the Stephen Leacock (best in Canadian Literary Humor) in 2004 for this book, there are some particularly heartbreaking moments involving Ferguson’s father and friends Bud Peyen and Lloyd Loonskin.
Having lived in Northern Alberta for a time (although, I would not consider Fort McMurray “remote” even if there is only one road out of town; we did have a Walmart after all) I enjoy reading about life in isolated parts of the country. Village of the Small Houses is less tragic and more humourous, but it feels like an important read nonetheless if only to understand the complex relationship between indigenous and white Canadians....more
A man is murdered on a train stranded in a snowstorm. The conditions and timing of the murder suggest that one of the twelve passengers must be the kiA man is murdered on a train stranded in a snowstorm. The conditions and timing of the murder suggest that one of the twelve passengers must be the killer. Can the great Hercule Poirot identify the executioner or has he witnessed “the perfect crime”?
Murder on the Orient Express is now my third experience with the Queen of Mystery and while I don’t want to go so far as to say it was a disappointment by any means, it definitely didn’t live up to the hype like The Murder of Roger Ackroyd or ..And Then There Were None did.
Books like Murder on the Orient Express are the reason why Christie was so unbelievably successful. She would paint herself into a corner and readers would marvel at how she could get out of the room without scuffing up the floors. This book is no exception. Christie presents an unsolvable case and then unleashes her signature detective on it like a dog on a bone. Poirot is excellent here – like his creator, he’s playing a step ahead of the reader slowly leaking information to keep his audience invested; you never truly believe he’s lost in the dark.
While I did read this in a relatively short period of time, it is not a book I would consider “unputdownable”. My main complaint comes with the layout of the novel. I found the constant interviews repetitive although I understand the need to structure the story that way. There was just a ton of information coming in constantly that I found the need to re-read passages over and over again. Honestly, the whole thing felt like a math problem (if passenger A goes down the hallway at 1:15am and passenger B opens his door at 1:14am, how long would passenger A have to reach the end of the hallway before passenger C sees them from their room?).
I will say that I thought the final thirty pages or so were brilliant. I absolutely loved the ending and the big reveal caught me completely by surprise. I probably should have seen it coming, but I’m not the brightest when it comes to clues and hints dropped in plain sight.
Maybe I’m in the minority as this is one of Christie’s most popular novels and most widely adapted of her work. I plan to check out the 2017 film this weekend and will do a write-up for the blog. I’m hoping I enjoy a film adaptation a little more than the book....more
It’s October.. you know what that means? Another month filled with spooktacular Halloween reads! And who could have a month of horror without Uncle It’s October.. you know what that means? Another month filled with spooktacular Halloween reads! And who could have a month of horror without Uncle Stevie? Not this guy, that’s for sure. So I’ve dug into the past and selected one of Sai King’s early books, Cujo. Yes, a book that was written by an author so hopelessly consumed by cocaine he doesn’t even remember writing it. Does this book have bite? Or is it all bark?
The book sees us return to Castle Rock following the events of The Dead Zone where a beloved family dog comes down with a particularly nasty case of rabies (are there any good cases?). The novel follows two families; the Cambers (the owners of the killer Saint Bernard) and the Trentons. Both families are on the brink of collapse prior to Cujo's reign of terror. Joe and Charity Camber have never had an easy marriage and the long-suffering Charity is about to hit her limit while Vic and Donna Trenton are hoping to work through a bout of infidelity.
I hate to admit it but I sort of had my mind made up before I even opened this book. I was positive I wasn’t going to enjoy it. There was just something inherently cheesy about the plot and when you add in the cocaine-fueled memory loss, the book didn’t have a lot going for it. However, as often happens with rock-bottom expectations, the story ended up surprising me.
For a story about a bloodthirsty dog, there’s a lot of emotional depth here. King pens a few passages about the perils of aging. Donna, the matriarch of the Trenton family, discusses life passing her by while trapped in the life of a bored housewife:
“A little at a time, the shit started to back up in the pipe. She started to sharpshoot at Vic about little things, sublimating the big things because they were hard to define and even harder to articulate. Things like loss and fear and getting older. Things like getting lonely and being terrified of being lonely. Things like hearing a song on the radio that you remembered from high school and bursting into tears for no reason. Feeling jealous of Vic because his life was a daily struggle to build something, he was a knight-errant with a family crest embossed on his shield, and her life was back here, getting Tad through the day, jollying him when he was cranky, listening to his raps, fixing his meals and his snacks. It was a life lived in the trenches. Too much of it was waiting and listening.”
There’s quite a bit of that in the novel. A lot of these characters are grappling with lives that have turned out less than ideal in their eyes - it just seemed odd to craft an atmosphere of regret and mistrust featuring a raging canine as the central focus of the story.
Like many before me have said, I think this may have worked better as a novella - maybe along the same lines as The Mist. There’s a bizarre subplot about a struggling breakfast cereal company that while it does help to add some depth to characters, it really isn’t necessary. Same goes for the Cambers' trip down the coast to Boston.
Where this novel really shines is in the final fifty pages or so. King gets a lot of flack for some of his botched endings over his long career (I’m looking at you, Under The Dome) but the finale of Cujo is one soul-crushing experience. I felt like my heart was ripped out. I wouldn’t put it on the same level as Pet Sematary, but it’s not far off. Those who have a hard time with animal violence should probably steer clear of this one, but I’d say King could do a lot worse....more
Following a heated exchange with his heirs, the patriarch of the Lee family is found murdered. The door to the room in which his body was discovered hFollowing a heated exchange with his heirs, the patriarch of the Lee family is found murdered. The door to the room in which his body was discovered had been locked from the inside and the windows had not been moved. So, who did it? Through a series of interviews, Hercule Poirot and a crew of local policemen will attempt to uncover the culprit and solve a murder over the holidays.
Hercule Poirot’s Christmas is structured much in the same way as both Hallowe’en Party and Murder on the Orient Express. As the reader, you’re given an impossible scenario with a list of suspects that given their presence in the home at the time of the killing, logically must have committed the murder. Then, throughout the rest of the story, they’re all interviewed one by one as Poirot tries to poke holes in their stories and attempt to bring to light the party responsible.
While this isn’t my favorite Poirot to date, it’s up there. Then again, I can likely be easily swayed by some Christmas window dressing. I am however, finding that I need to take long breaks between these books as I’m not the biggest fan of the Poirot character. In the books I’ve read, he has the odd quip here and there, but otherwise, he seemingly only exists to be the smartest man in the room. I know that’s kind of a silly criticism when you’re talking about a brilliant detective, but there’s nothing particularly interesting about him, nor does there seem to be much of an evolution to the character. He often feels like he’s the only one playing with a full deck of cards which led to me nearly rooting against him.
Not that you need me to tell you, but Christie is a master of structure and plot and Hercule Poirot’s Christmas is no exception. If you could possibly have solved this murder before it is revealed, kudos to you. This isn’t one I saw coming. Then again, I’m rarely ever the smartest person in any room....more
Pandemic 1918 is the story of The Spanish Flu and the devastating effect it had during the early 20th century.
I received an advanced copy from the pubPandemic 1918 is the story of The Spanish Flu and the devastating effect it had during the early 20th century.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This was a harrowing read. Aside from a passing mention in Dennis Lehane’s “The Given Day”, I’ve been exposed to very little of the devastation caused by the Spanish Flu. It was an absolute monster estimated to have killed upwards of 100 million people worldwide (between 3 and 5 percent of the total population) and dealing a lasting generational effect for years to come.
Catharine Arnold’s book acts as sort of an aggregator in that she compiles countless recollections from those that lived it - sort of like those “oral history” books that have been enormously popular recently. The difference here is that Arnold carefully guides the reader through much of the chaos in pointing out the glaring mistakes made by those with the power to help hinder the procession of the disease. Looking back, given that it struck during the dying days of the first World War, governments had to walk the line between lifting morale and keeping the population safe. It also did not help that many were in complete denial about the severity of the flu until it was too late. During the latter half of 1918, which is the bulk of the book, an even deadlier second wave decimated millions.
The stories of the soldiers trying to survive the lethal flu while also battling the horrendous injuries and conditions brought on by war were heartbreaking. Even before reaching the battlefield, the soldiers would have to risk catching the virus traveling from North America to Europe aboard steamships. One particular crossing was told in detail when nearly one hundred recruits died and over two thousand fell ill while traveling in the massive USS Leviathan. Bodies were tossed overboard, without ceremony, just to clear the ship of the dead.
It goes without saying that here in good ol’ 2018, we take for granted just how accomplished we’ve become as a society in treating and preventing illnesses (at least here in the first world). It was only one hundred years ago that researchers and doctors were scrambling to find an effective treatment as the corpses piled up around them. That isn’t to say that we’re well-prepared for a pandemic today, should one occur.* Near the end of the book, Arnold details the bird flu that struck China in the late 1990s and the near outbreak that occurred. Panic nearly caused preventative measures to go off the rails yet again - so it’s hard to predict if we’ll be ready today.
Pandemic 1918 is both an informative and terrifying read. The author notes that this particular chapter of human history has been more or less forgotten; which I suppose helps to explain why I barely knew anything about it. I highly recommend this one and although it took me the better part of a week to finish it, it was painful to have to put down.
Following a four and a half year coma, Johnny Smith awakens to psychic powers that allow him to see the future. As he predicts events over time, JohnnFollowing a four and a half year coma, Johnny Smith awakens to psychic powers that allow him to see the future. As he predicts events over time, Johnny struggles with the responsibilities that go hand in hand with these new abilities. Should he prevent inevitable tragedies? If so, how can he persuade skeptics to believe him? And what happens when Johnny’s path crosses that of a rising politician who threatens the future of mankind?
The Dead Zone is a book you’ll probably find in the horror section with the rest of King’s work. But I’d argue that following several novels published in King’s scary 70s, this is his first foray into heavy drama. Sure there are some sci-fi elements, maybe a little fantasy and a bit of a thriller thrown in there, but King is deep into character study here. The novel’s protagonist, Johnny Smith, is an intensely tragic character. Seemingly everything that happens to Johnny is completely out of his control and you can’t help but feel for the incredibly difficult choices he has to make.
When not focusing on Johnny, the novel shifts to bible salesman-cum-politician Greg Stillson. Running as an independent, Stillson rises from small-town mayor to the house of representatives with his sights ultimately set on the nation’s highest office. Nearly thirty years prior to the rise of Donald Trump, King shows a man who excels through petty attacks, cheap political populism and a whole lot of smoke and mirrors. It’s almost eerie how similar he is to the current US leader. I had heard about this prior to picking up the book, but I guess I wasn’t prepared for unsettling comparisons.
As you can guess – and without spoiling anything – the two do eventually cross paths. The flash of the future Johnny receives upon shaking Stillson’s hand is particularly frightening and rocks Johnny to his core. King asks the hypothetical question – “if you travel back to 1932 and are given the opportunity to kill Hitler, do you do it?” Can he trust his own vision of the future? Is he prepared to deal with the moral consequences of assassinating someone who has yet to commit a crime? Given what Hitler goes on to do, it’s a no-brainer. But is Johnny prepared to deal with the consequences to himself and to his family? Johnny is in a no-win scenario and the pressure he’s under passes on to the reader. At least it did for me, anyway.
In my opinion, The Dead Zone is one of King’s all-time greats. It’s an emotional read that touches on guilt, love, mortality and obligation. At well over five hundred pages, I’d still call this a brisk read. It was one I couldn’t put down through the last hundred pages and at this point, it’s definitely in my top five King stories....more
Following a brief retirement, Shane Bishop returns to the west coast of the United States to investigate the disappearance of his estranged daughter, Following a brief retirement, Shane Bishop returns to the west coast of the United States to investigate the disappearance of his estranged daughter, Iris. Before vanishing, Iris gets mixed up with The Church of Solarism, a dangerous and mysterious new-age cult with its sights set on taking over the United States and installing a Fourth Reich.
I was provided with a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.
Following in the footsteps of The Spartak Trigger, Idol Threat is another exercise in meta-fiction (think Marvel’s Deadpool series) where the novel's chief protagonist is very much aware he exists within a fictional story. In less capable hands, this manner of storytelling could easily backfire, but Allen takes great care to use these moments sparingly. In addition to the main character's continued acknowledgement of his fictional existence, Bryce also throws in a plethora of footnotes that poke fun at his own writing and to also foreshadow future events in the story. The footnotes led to some of my favorite parts; a few of them were hit or miss, but there were moments where I laughed out loud causing a few strange looks from customers in coffee shops.
Have you ever seen Inception? You know, that movie from a few years back where the characters would go into a dream, and then into the dream of a character inside that initial dream? Well, in Idol Threat, Allen offers up a book, inside a book, inside another book. I’m not sure how often this is used, but in the hundreds of books I’ve read, it’s not something I’ve ever encountered. I loved this right away. In fact, that third level novel, by design, had some of the worst prose I’ve ever read - you need to read it yourself to believe it. I can’t do it justice myself by offering up a description.
Idol Threat is an off-the-rails read that offers up tongue-in-cheek take-downs of Scientology, the far-right and over-used storytelling tropes. Honestly, although a good read itself, I don’t even know if the first book is necessary, but if you’ve read The Spartak Trigger, you’ll enjoy the sequel....more
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