Lector Spectre

Give It A Couple Beats – Your Life Will Be Better

Revisado: 06-21-24

If you’re at all like me, this got recommended to me a couple of years ago, and I started it and right at the first, I was like “Wait… Is this how the whole book is going to sound? It sounds like it’s trying to be a slapstick sex-joke book. I was hoping for something more…” Buckle up, Buttercup. YES there’s tons of kind of slapstick sex jokes. I really didn’t have any issue with that – I just thought it was ONLY going to be that. It’s not. The whole series is amazing, but specific to this book, I was locked in within just a few chapters. I was laughing one moment, found… a little something in my eye another, and was swooning for a moment – the cackling with laughter again.

I got this book during a pretty dark time for me. It was still the middle of COVID, I’d been laid off, I had a lot of fear about my family’s health insurance and wondering if we’d be able to keep our home. I wasn’t sure anything could dig me out. This did – and quite neatly. I’ve now re-listened to this book at least a dozen times. I love Michael Lesley, who is an absolute genius behind the mic. I’d only read “The Extraordinaries” prior to this, and didn’t realize it was the same author (and narrator) until much later. But after this, I knew I’d read anything and everything TJ ever wrote. I don’t know how far down my darker path I really was, or how long I’d have been able to hold on, but it’s not hyperbolic to say, TJ helped save me. I know this book won’t be for everyone – but really? If you don’t like it – it’s really more of a “you problem.” You need to rethink your life. Because this? This is genius.

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Totally Hooked!

Revisado: 06-18-24

I've enjoyed the whole series, but I will say it was in this book where I felt more engaged than I have since book one. That doesn't mean I didn't like the prior books - I loved them! But there were times within the descriptions of items collected, or how a battle was playing out, I found myself slipping into a bit of passive listening. But that didn't really happen here. I can't tell you what the difference was, but for the first time, I started aching to go back and re-listen to the whole series again, and never wanted it to be over. The narration and production are amazing - as it has been since the first, it's got some neat effects that stop far short of being cheesy and are used just enough to keep things interesting and put a clear division of what's going on and where a conversation is taking place. Every time Donut is shouting, I can SEE the words typed in all caps in a chat. I'm ready to ride this series to the very end!

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Totally Hooked!

Revisado: 06-18-24

I've enjoyed the whole series, but I will say it was in this book where I felt more engaged than I have since book one. That doesn't mean I didn't like the prior books - I loved them! But there were times within the descriptions of items collected, or how a battle was playing out, I found myself slipping into a bit of passive listening. But that didn't really happen here. I can't tell you what the difference was, but for the first time, I started aching to go back and re-listen to the whole series again, and never wanted it to be over. The narration and production are amazing - as it has been since the first, it's got some neat effects that stop far short of being cheesy and are used just enough to keep things interesting and put a clear division of what's going on and where a conversation is taking place. Every time Donut is shouting, I can SEE the words typed in all caps in a chat. I'm ready to ride this series to the very end!

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Amazing Intro Into Queer Literature

Revisado: 03-01-24

When people asked if I liked romance books, I always said, "No," even though I'd never actually read one. I'd assumed queer novels were just a quick, "these two cute guys got together and yay, everyone's happy," OR… "Here's the tragic story of a love society wouldn't allow." There some of that intermixed, but NOT the meat of the story. I got this and fell in love with Ben and Tim. I cleared what of the series was out at he time, and pre-ordered every following book, so excited for each new story. The whole series is a gem - but this was my first wandering into romance at all - and especially into queer romance. Now when someone asks, I can say, "YES! I LOVE ROMANCE BOOKS!!" At least when they are like this!

I actually like the narrator, other than his voice for Tim. I'm honestly not sure what was happening there, but for the other voices, they are great!

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Like An 80's Themed DaVinci Code

Revisado: 11-09-23

I'm sure the author would hate that comparison, but it is meant as a complement. Stories like DaVinci Code, National Treasure, things like that - that focus on a puzzle-themed hunt through historical objects and references are a favorite of mine. As an 80's kid, I don't like thinking of things like Rubik's Cubes and 8-Bit being "historical." But I recently saw a museum that had a display of gaming, featuring an original NES system, and GameBoy - so… I guess it's fair.

I loved the book so much, I was extremely excited when the movie came out. IF you have read the book, and can accept that the movie is a brief overview of part of the story, with some serious changes (some of the story wouldn't play out as well on the screen - the first challenge for example, is playing the video game Joust, rather than a mad car race with dinosaurs and King Kong - playing Joust is great reading it - probably less exciting watching it), then the movie really isn't so bad - but it has NOTHING on the original story. The story isn't perfect, but it's very clever, and it's more fun if you lived through the 80's! Analyzing past Family Ties TV shows, and dissecting the original Pac-Man game history is more familiar than going over the history of the painting of The Last Supper. Overall, the story is engaging, a fun micro-lesson on some of 80's history and games and puzzles you can enjoy all the while, taking down evil corporations and dissecting the likely future we're all headed towards with the increase of corporate greed - people will need an Oasis to live in, to help us all forget everything kind of sucks.

Wil Wheaton is an absolute joy, which may or may not have to do with him being one of my first teen crushes, helping me realize something about myself earlier in life. He was my Crusher-crush. That aside, he's so perfect for this, and I have to wonder if he knew his own actual name would come up within the text and couldn't stop laughing when it did. This was one of my first audiobooks years ago, and helped me fall madly in love with the medium as reading for performance art.

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I Wasn't Sure I Wanted To Read This…

Revisado: 08-08-23

…I've read a few of Bill's books and I've always enjoyed them. When I saw what this was about, I wasn't sure I wanted an angsty book of people struggling with suicidal ideation. Post-pandemic, I've really tried to focus on more upbeat books. The world can be dark enough IRL, and books are my getaway. I am SO GLAD I got this.

I lost a parent to suicide and can relate with the kinds of questions friends and family ask themselves in the aftermath. I've also from time to time - found myself having early thoughts along those lines. I'd joke with people that I wasn't suicidal, but I'd for sure, "driven around the neighborhood." I don't deal with chemical depression, but I've had situational spirals that felt hopeless. It's the other reason I wasn't sure I wanted to read a about sad teens that had come to the end of their ropes. That's not what this is… exactly.

It IS that, and it's not that, at the same time. As the back cover already lets you in on - so there's no real spoiler here - you get the story, retold in each possible scenario of two teens standing on a bridge. The bulk of the story is focused on the more hopeful story. That doesn't mean it isn't still sad. All 4 timelines are sad, but they aren't "dark." The teens are angsty, but the story isn't. My second biggest fear (the first being - I just didn't want to read a really sad book), was that it would have the feeling of "…and when they decided to push through, they found fairy tale happiness, and everything worked out perfect for everyone." That also doesn't happen. It's real. Sometimes it's very raw. It is not idyllic. It doesn't feel false. And while the subject matter is sad, and there are kids and adults alike who have made the final choice, this book is beautiful, sad, and hopeful all at the same time. If you have any interest in understanding the mind of someone who has been pushed to their own edge (and that edge is different for everyone - and believe it or don't - everyone does have that edge), and the spinning thoughts and mindtraps boxed in by thinking errors and the inability to see the possibilities, this is an amazing read. If you've ever found yourself even lightly contemplating, "What if I just… wasn't… anymore?" The cause and effect mapping here is spectacular. If you're super lucky, and have never felt like you just couldn't see the end of a dark tunnel, but when you've heard of stories and thought, "Why would they do that? What was happening wasn't even that big of a deal! Everyone goes through that now and then…" This will help you understand.

Beyond that though, the real heart of the story that prevents it from being just a "sad book about suicide, or suicidal thoughts," is the support around them, and how curious it is, when you feel you can't support yourself anymore (emotionally), there always seems to be room to support someone else. When two people can't see their own way out, but can help see through the trees for each other? That is a stunning dynamic that I felt lightened an exceedingly heavy topic, shone a light into a dark place, and kept the story enjoyable (even if it feels weird to say a story about suicidal teens was "enjoyable," but it really was). If you can write about such a weighty issue, but keep it in the land of "not depressing," you've done a really stellar job with your craft.

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Their words say "Braaiiinns" but their hearts...

Revisado: 12-01-22

...their hearts say, "OMFG Will this ever end? Is this my eternity?"

Hugh Howey is an incredible storyteller who can strike true terror in my desensitized little heart. Zombie stories are fun - and most of the world has seen or read TWD, and lots of us were endeared by "R" in Warm Bodies, taking a perspective of a zombie that has the potential for rehabilitation… But what if the infected person was still in there? What if they were pure and simple witnesses to their own actions, but without any control.

Movies and books don't generally scare me. But there's a creation of terror through the idea of a time where you could literally be "dying forever" and be completely helpless. If there's anything like this perspective twist on a living dead story, I've not seen it - so this for me was such a unique perspective that was unsettling and shortened my breath - which is amazing to have happen! I loved everything about it.

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Brilliant Story - Ignore The Haters

Revisado: 05-10-22

While I have an affinity for LGBTQIA+ fiction, most of it surrounds m/m romance. This kept getting recommended to me, so I went thinking 2 things - this would be in the m/m romance section (I don’t like spoilers so I skim the blurbs - this backfires a lot).

This isn’t a romance. This IS a love story. A brotherly love story (no, not THAT kind).

Twin boys, one gay - one straight. One is the big hockey star and everyone’s favorite. The other dreams of being a Broadway star, and loves musicals but his family isn’t supportive.

I love getting a surprise lesson in my own prejudices. I thought, “Oh, another story where the poor gay boy has to fight to be seen as worthy just because he loves Broadway and isn’t the boy his parents wanted. *Hits Brakes* Oh! Ummm… sorry about that - the gay kid is the hockey star and the straight brother is the one who loves Broadway musicals.

That was my first surprise, and not the last. There are several places where the author will challenge your preconceived notions, making alterations to what at first seems like a stereotypical type of character. By throwing in these minor challenges to “what most people will probably assume,” it’s a very non-preachy way to remind us we don’t know every damn thing, and we ALL have unconscious bias. But none of that distracts from the story.

While told from the “straight twin’s” POV - it delves deeply into the homophobia of modern male sports, relentless bullying (regardless of sexual orientation) people have to fight through, and how blind you can make yourself to reality, when you really want something.

Bringing in aspects of the brutality kids can face in school to the abject loneliness that causes us to miss ALL the red flags being thrown - Mia had written an incredible story. It’s not perfect… though, I’m not really a fan of perfection anyway.

** Vague Spoiler **

I had to go back several times to understand really how they located each other - the twin connection was kind of mentioned (that it appeared to be absent - and stays that way for most of the story). Then it becomes a major point in the ending arc.

I felt it wasn’t really needed - another machination to find each other would have kept it more “real worldly,” or if you’re going with ESP and twin telepathy - bash me over the head with it. It brushes on this and then the way it’s used feels a little lazy for the end, and then it’s never mentioned again.

That’s just my preference - there’s nothing inherently wrong with it - it just felt like the telepathy thing was used as a way to quickly explain away how one twin could find the other. I prefer either a “strong fantasy” arc - like - as they get closer, they could be practically having full conversations while they try and understand each other - showing where their connections are increasing or fading based on how close they were feeling to each other. That might have been a fun way to note the times where Robbie was pissed (like going from feeling the connection - to finding the connection silent).

Or… get techno-nerd and find him by real means with things like explaining IP tracing and geotagged photos.

It’s a minor annoyance, that takes nothing away from a really talented piece of writing. I’ve read this three times now. I think this would make an amazing Netflix limited series.

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Not Horrid - Too Many Issues To List

Revisado: 11-14-19

So, I'll keep them lower so as not to spoil anything - but this WILL contain some spoilers. This may sound like I'm being overly harsh to the writer or the reader - but that's not my intent - both people still have written and read more books than I have, so...

The reader - I'm not sure how else to describe it but the waiver in the voice at different parts either made me laugh, or made me feel really uncomfortable. That may just be personal preference - but... yeah. It doesn't sound right to me.

For the writer - I'm trying to figure out what the obsession with ice cream is - but... I can tell you, it will be a long time before I have a craving for ice cream again. I kept wondering if Pete and Chip should be Ben and Jerry...

*Spoilers Below*

I'm not trying to be overly picky - but I find a lot of things pretty tough... The timeline - at one point I lost the timeline, and by the time Chip was talking about "really wanting something long term" I thought it had been longer? But then when he finally admits to Chip his night-job - he tells Chip it's only been a week - which means he's known Chip less than that - and... it seems... fast. They are gay men, not lesbians.

Chip is a horrible police officer. First, his comments and disdain for any sex worker shows a horrid lack of empathy - I know there is a little more that comes later - but... He keeps (and Peter too) calling it "a mistake." Chip's harsh comments initially, and then both of them repeating that this "choice was a mistake" was a little off-putting. I felt like it would cycle more around to what Peter's talk with the reporter ended up being - but even after that - he and Chip keep saying "mistake." I guess I don't get why this was a mistake. The OTHER reason Chip is a horrible police officer is after Pete get's his text message with the cryptic "help," Chip suggests he go back and investigate his apartment alone? It would seem that someone like Chip would have wanted to go over and see if he could help.

I can KIND of buy that he didn't - but when Peter calls and tells him the door has been smashed in - and Chip's response is "I'm sure everything is fine - maybe it was the wind."
what....?

This is someone else's story - not mine - but I think initially, the angle it started with - that a school teacher has a LOT of passion for the work they do - and thus, may have to find a side hustle was great! But so quickly, rather than coming from a power place - of "I have no shame in what I do at night, and I do that because I love what I do in the day," I think would have been stronger. We have a person who had such conviction, they refused to compromise who they were and what they wanted out of life and walked away from all-but-assured success. But... Then he spends half the book lamenting that he should have just stayed in the closet and not been a teacher. Really? Those are two different people. Someone that would walk away with that conviction may have that rattle around here and there - but it wouldn't be the constant narrative.

I think the biggest issue is the city setting... The fact that this takes place in Vegas... Just made it too unbelievable that anyone would have cared he gave naked massages. I'm certain there are a fair bunch of teachers during the day that are pole dancers at night IRL... And I mean, other than Tony's set up - I only remember two people he gave a massage to (from the initial ad). I just can't imagine the people of Vegas getting bent out of shape - especially if it came out that he'd actually had only 2 clients in his "whirlwind downfall into prostitution."

There are several other points along the way I was like, "Ummm..." but that's natural - the ones above are my biggest issues that I can remember.

All that being said - I can think of 5 or 6 of the sex scenes in the book that I will have spinning in my head for quite a while (in a good way) and even the way the reader read it - I was very electrified. I just wish in a 15-hour book, I'd have more than a couple of moments, and nearly no "lesson" or "tender sweetness" to latch onto. Sex is fine. I like stories that surprise me. I think if there had been more focus on first - that maybe "some types of sex-work - really aren't that bad" and that teachers are underpaid and willing to do so much just to continue teaching would have left some real power on top of a fun erotic adventure story.

Oh... One last thing. I don't care if a story expressly states whether or not the people having sex used protection - but I HATE when it's called out like it was at the first - in a "he really knew he should use some protection, but the moment was so hot, he couldn't wait and just had to have it in him..." kind of thing? No. Yes, many of us have been there - but there's no reason to make it sound so common. I find it to be irresponsible writing, making it sound like "oh everybody does it - because when it IS hot enough - it's ok.." It's not. Again - just my POV.

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The reader made me very uncomfortable

Revisado: 11-05-19

I have a hard time reviewing the book because... While it sounded a bit sweet and sexy - the reader's voice made me very uncomfortable. At first, I thought it was because I jumped the speed - I usually have it set on 2x. Sometimes it makes readers sound weird, so I thought that was it, and slowed it down. NO! It was not... The reader's voice doesn't sound steady - it sounds like he's trying to tell a bear why he shouldn't attack him again.

It just is really shakey, and pitches up and down without rhythm - so it was very distracting for the story. Maybe the story is better than I remember. Maybe it's awful. I'm not sure - I just know I got too focused on the reader's voice.

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