Christine M Pellew

I'll just listen a few minutes . . .26 hours later

Revisado: 11-01-20

I really did put this book on, expecting to fall asleep to it. It had been recommended by Stephen King and a couple other trusted sources so I used one of my precious credits. I treat each credit as if it were a solid gold doubloon, and it's hard to make that investment on a "new" writer. I have a habit of finding an author, devouring all of their works, then going back through and reading them again. To accept a new author, there must be high praise from trusted sources, because life is too short for crappy stories and sloppy storytelling.

I found, 15 minutes in, that not only was I no longer sleepy, I was also deeply engrossed in this book. As I continued to listen to it, I tried to do a little housework, or work on some knitting, but I found the story taking over all of my concentration. And as only the best authors can do, at some point some large hand had tipped my bed into the air 90 degrees so I found myself very much in the story, with the sister who narrates this tale. ***May I suggest that you read this book knowing as little about it as possible, as I did?*** I knew the summary from the dust jacket, and that either Stephen King or Joe Hill thought it was an amazing novel. Good enough for me. Let me introduce myself by way of what I read.

Save yourself a whole lot of my pointless drivel, don't try to get any details before reading. The less you know, the better.

I generally stick to horror or crime thrillers. Usually after a grueling day at work and on my 60 minute drive home, I listened to books. When I lived in Boston, I would read books as I walked to whatever my destination, and this included reading at night by street lamp. I'd read on the subway until my husband (now ex) gave me the best gift I have ever received. I believe it was in '99, but maybe it was 2000, he got me an Audible membership. 2 books AND a FREE MP3 player. I love Thomas Perry, esp the Jane Whitefield series. I love Michael Connelly's work, mainly the Bosch series. I love anything Steven King or Joe Hill. I love LotR, and have found some really great urban fantasy novels, like Jim Butcher's Dresden, Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid Series, Kadry's Sandman Slim books, Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse novels (please don't watch True Blood), & RS Belcher's constant new series, but would really appreciate he write a few more books of the series he's started instead of continually continuing new ones. It's like getting 3-4 of some delicious delicacy you cannot get anywhere else, and your left standing there, really, REALLY craving them. The Nightwise are my favorite, followed closely by The Brotherhood of the Wheel, but the 6-Gun Tarot is truly unlike anything I've read before. I was also pretty unsettled after reading Lost Gods by Brom; I'll have to read that one again, I think. I have memorized every book of the late Sir Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, and hope to take a full college course on Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series. I read the classics growing up. Austen, the Bronte's, Dickens, Poe, Mark Twain, and of course all the authors you read in school and at college, I have loved and read all kinds of books, but at this point in my life I don't want to meditate on me, I don't want to win friends and influencing people sounds too much like work, and I like my books as entertainment.

Am I telling you all this because I'm a pretentious snob and hoping someone will be impressed by me? I'm actually too lazy to even do that much. I am telling you this because I don't want you to know anything about the book before you read it. The less you know going in, the easier it will be to embrace the story's narrator. The book is a story of a family. And, with much of the same skill King has for creating people that you really like, and care about, Tremblay introduces us to the family through the two daughters, and their relationship. Don't read any review that summarizes the plot or goes into any detail. You will need to trust me. And Steven King, and those people that do top ten lists on YouTube and write reviews in Rolling Stone.

You know that I am a voracious reader, I like GOOD books, I know some people who literally read anything, because it's there. My mom reads these old British romance novels that make me want to pluck out my eyeballs or take an ice pick to my eardrums. But I like Neil Gaiman and Love Terry Pratchett and I read everything from Stephen King, and I've read Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series over and over, and I've recently finished the first Game of Thrones book. If I sound like someone who likes the same kind of books that you like, then I'm asking you to trust me and get Paul Tremblay's Head Full of Ghosts. Just that one book, for now. I felt wrung out like I'd been through one of those old laundry mangles that you'd feed your clothes through to squeeze all the water out before hanging them on the line to dry. I have never --- It has been a very long time since a book has put me through so many emotions. It was harrowing. Listening to it all in one sitting was probably part of the reason I was a little emotional when it was done. I've got over 600 books in my Audible library, and plenty more in my kindle, and in actual paper and ink books. I've been reading since I was old enough to watch Sesame Street and the Electric Company. (Morgan Freeman, Easy Reader). That book just stayed with me for weeks, and It was a very well done audio production with a brilliant narrator. I cannot recommend this book enough. I really need a top 50 books list to be fair, but if I had to have a top ten, Head Full of Ghosts would win one of those spots. Now, GO FORTH and read or listen to Head Full of Ghosts. I'd suggest starting it on whatever the equivalent of your Friday night is, just in case you can't put it down.

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listened to this almost non-stop

Revisado: 01-05-19

Really amazing book. It is gritty, well written with an excellent performance by a talented narrator. This is about a cop and his partners. this isn't some serial killer of the week book, this is all about this cop, his choices, his life, his love of the job and the city, and it's about dirt. who is dirty, how they got there.

it's an excellent book.

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esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

Unique Urban Fantasy Western

Revisado: 01-02-19

It was interesting and well written, with an excellent performance. Not a favorite, prefer the Nightwise series, but I would listen to the rest of the trilogy if only Audible had them available. It wouldn't hurt, if Audible isn't going to provide the entire series of a work, to inform us up front so we know before we begin, that we are on our own. The book isn't like others in the genre of Urban Fantasy and it held my interest, I just like the Nightwise series better.

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still liking the series

Revisado: 12-18-18

I listened to Nightwise, a couple weeks later I downloaded this sequel. I enjoyed it enough to then go back and listen to them again, back to back. regardless of whether you think there are a few bumps in the story, it's interesting, it's entertaining, it flows, and the characters pull you in. I want a book that makes me feel like I've just made a new group of friends, or when I close the cover or hear, the end, i'm shocked to see six hours have passed and it's dark outside. these books transport me. I'm Not sure if it was Pinchot's intent, but his Latham Ballard, if you didn't know better, sounds exactly like Matthew McConaughey, who is now who I picture as the main character. Bronson Pinchot is an incredibly talented actor and he absolutely brought the books alive for me. I'd absolutely keep reading more from the author, 6 gun Tarot his in my library, and of listen to Pinchot read the encyclopedia.

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I see Narration by Bronson Pinchot, I stop.

Revisado: 12-14-18

This was my 1st book by Mr. Belcher, and I've read all of his books twice. At least. I was expecting to find perhaps 2-3 themes to choose from.

My ONLY COMPLAINT about RS Belcher is that he keeps creating New Series!!

I have to get through every day with only 2, sometimes 3 of your books. Do you have any idea how unfufilling that is? it's like being offered amazing appetizers and when you finish, you get a totally different set of appetizers. maybe the first ones were Greek, now we have Italian, and they are mind-blowing. I mean, whichever it is, I'm on board.

BUT THERE IS NO DINNER!!!

YOU ARE KILLING ME. I need you to stop everything and crank out 6-9 NightWise books, NOW. Then I'd like 6-9 more of the BotW series.

An entire series dedicated to the Order of Women you created in the Shotgun Arcana series. Now that is coming along like a nice series should. I was sick when I started the first book. I didn't know it yet, but I had COVID. It started with a vicious 10 day flair of Gastroparesis which is more ghastly than you could imagine. Very little ability to digest food. it's like having Freddy Krueger inside your stomach slicing his way out with no excuse.

You can't just give us a taste and move on like nothing happened!! I was so mad, I was totally prepared to HATE Brotherhood of the Wheel. imagine my surprise when it was SO damn good I couldn't stop reading it. We have 2 of those, also.

I'm listening to the whole Shotgun Arcana on Audible, since I was too angry to read it the first time.

Please. Please. Don't start another new series. I already read your last book. if you were listening from anywhere in the US you should have heard me scream.

The books are great. Unlike most I've read before. the fact you have to concentrate and slow down a bit at first is because there really aren't books like this out there.

I would be so excited to just get even one more Nightewise book. the way Pinchot reads the lead character had planted good ol Matthew McConaughey in my brain now and I can't see him any other way, not that it matters since it's a book.

MY OCD brain is begging you for, and I don't think this is unreasonable, a minimum of 6 books, but preferably 12 of all the existing series, starting with Nightwise, then Brotherhood of the Wheel, Add a few more to the Shotgun Arcana and listening to each 2-3 times will keep me happy for some time.

I'm a fan, I'm addicted to literature, and I need you to throw me a bone, here Mr. Belcher.

Sincerely,

Christine

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Still enjoying the series.

Revisado: 10-18-18

I guess I'm past the "trying it out phase" of I'm on book 7 or 8 and I've gotten at least one of the Dresden books with my precious credit each month. haven't wanted my money or my time back. not even once. yet.

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Michael C Hall blew me away

Revisado: 08-09-18

I read the story about 20 years ago and was sufficiently disturbed, and did not read it again. I love Stephen King and enjoy reading re-reading and listening to his work.

This might be one of the best recordings of King's work, and as one who has almost every audio book in her library, I would know.

Even if you've read the story, do not deprive yourself the opportunity to hear Michael C Hall bring each character to life, and in so doing, allowing the listener to pull up a rocker and have a beer on the porch with Louis and Jud. I forgot my beloved Dexter was narrating. Also, if you've seen the movie, Hall IS actor Fred Gwynn, who portrayed Jud in the movie. Eerie. Pet Semetary will never be my favorite. It's just too disturbing. I do Hope to hear more MCH narration. ****Spoiler**** ****Spoiler****
****Spoiler**** ****Spoiler****
I don't usually want to hear more about characters that actually live they one of King's stories, but this time it's different. I wonder if King has ever wondered what happened to Ellie. I'd read that book.

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Still enjoying Dresden

Revisado: 07-05-18

Not every meal needs to be a twelve course gourmet feast made by world renowned chefs, sometimes a really good burger, fries and shake, done right, is all that you crave. I'm still enjoying the series, Marsden is the perfect narrator and it keeps my interest. I enjoy listening to the story, it gives me an occasional laugh. my favourite authors are able to create a scene so vivid and characters so compelling that I find myself fully immersed in the story. I can read for hours, and when I stop, it's like taking the first breath in hours, our looking around to see that the sun set hours ago, or I'm 5 miles past my subway stop. that isn't my experience with Dresden. but he's not bologna and corn nuts either (shudder).

4 books in and I'm not tired of the premise, I like the main character, and whatever mystery or adventure the book centers on is one that I'm interested in enough to see it through to the end. I don't see myself obsessively re-reading these as I do with my favorite authors, but I intend to finish the series.

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Kadrey, MacLeod Andrews & Stark=perfection

Revisado: 06-29-18

I spent an hour getting past this level one a video game while listening to Sandman 2 when the book made me laugh out loud and blow the level just 2 points from finally completing it. I had a couple of near misses with expelling food and drink nasally. not to be confused with expelling directly from my neck, as one main character must do. I loved it almost as much as one. looking forward to 3. if you like irreverent/highly blasphemous humor, violence and violence, Read this series!! I listened to both books straight through, total submersion into the book. Kadrey had the ability to pull you inside the book, as only the best can do.

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I started reading this in the 90's?!

Revisado: 06-27-18

I have been reading, re-reading and listening to these books for years. yet I have been unable to bring myself to read the last book in the series. partly because Robert Jordan became ill and passed on before he could write the final novel, but in large part because I have discovered something about myself, something I have in common with another favourite author who's work I've read and re-read over and do over, Stephen King. It is this, I do not like endings. I love the Journey, I am not always in love with the destination. fortunately, there are no endings or beginnings with The Wheel Of Time, and so, I am listening to the books again, from the first, all the way through to the last. It has been my habit with all series that I follow to go back to the first book and read all the way through to the newest release, and so here I am at book eight, bracing myself for the inevitable conclusion. Robert Jordan had a gift for weaving a story full of tantalizing clues that you work out or wonder about and those clues get richer and better each time you revisit the text. Here's to hoping I get some of the answers, and that the trail Jordan left for his wife and Brandon Sanderson to follow lead to a satisfying conclusion. If you've never read The Wheel Of Time series, please carve yourself out some 2-3 hour blocks of adventuring per evening, and please start at book one.

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