Stephanie

Solid summary

Revisado: 08-07-24

A standard summary and a good introduction to deeper research. I definitely recommend this to any who are interested in Native American topics.

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Maybe will be my favorite story for repeats

Revisado: 01-23-24

Jurassic Park is probably one of my favorite movies, and dinosaurs have long been a subject I have deeply enjoyed. The author's writing is fantastic, drawing emotion from his readers by fully explaining his thoughts through his characters, helping to develop a strong understanding of the battle between science and morality.

The action scenes are frequent but not overplayed, creating an intense adventure for the reader, pulling you along as though you are there, experiencing these creatures becoming alive and not withholding the important (and often overlooked.. or denied) fact that animals are equally as alive, emotional, and receptive to feeling as we humans are.

For those who have not read the book because you saw the movie - they are not the same. I highly recommend the audible version as well because the narrator made the story even more enjoyable. I will definitely be reading more of Michael Crichton's work.

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An interesting listen

Revisado: 01-15-23

It was interesting to learn more about Sting’s origin and what influenced his music.

I was never particularly fascinated by his work but I enjoy his music and have a new appreciation for his experiences and recent recreations of his hits over the years.

Certainly worth listening to, especially with coffee and rain in the background

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It Could Happen...

Revisado: 01-15-23

Listening to this book on audible is definitely the way to go.

This short story is perfect for the transition into fall with its dark humor and a plot that keeps the story moving. The play on gambling addiction and the troubles that could come from it were pretty realistic, I could tell Jeff Strand thought out his scenarios and how his characters might think in those situations.

Definitely worth reading, I recommend.

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A Strong Story

Revisado: 01-15-23

As a breakout novel, I felt there was a lot of good, revolutionary storytelling taking place for this generation. However, it has story progressions that don't necessarily make sense, and GennaRose Nethercott uses a variety of storytelling methods to change the speaker and the era - switching back and forth from tsarist Russia to modern times.

The story is told from the perspectives of Bellatine Yaga, Isaac Yaga, Baba Yaga and from the perspective of Thistlefoot - a house with chicken feet and magical abilities.

There are heavy Jewish/Russian references and folklore throughout, creating a fascinating story that ties in influences of real historical events and acknowledges prejudice. The overall message of the story is beautiful - to remember the sins of the past in order to create and ensure a better future for our descendants.

There are references of lesbianism and they/them culture. The author checks all the boxes for your standard YA modern fairytale, with a heavy twist on the dark side of the human psyche - Overall, I found this novel to be well researched and entertaining!

The quirkiness of the characters, particularly Bellatine and her puppets, Hubcap and his symbolic relationship with Isaac, Thistlefoot's root of emotional creation and Winnie's desire to be alive all brought the experience home for me - this book is deep in the very way that this reality needs right now.

Bear witness.

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A fun experience

Revisado: 01-15-23

This is my second Grady Hendrix novel, and for those who are not familiar with his work, then let me start off by saying this is a satirical horror comedy. And what's more, most of his published work follows in similar genres.

I didn't plan on reading this until next Halloween, however Audible has this book available to premium users without a credit and I simply cannot resist a horror comedy taking place in a department store.

Bring it on.

That aside, I've read many reviews from folks who did not understand the satirical concept, and from those who thought the main scenes were "gross". My immediate thought after reading the story is that more than any genre, it's supposed to be horror. I was not grossed out per se, but my check box for "horror" is definitely checked with fulfilled expectations.

From audible reviews, people also commented that the main narrator Tai Simmons was not a good fit for Amy's character, and that Bronson Pinchot should have narrated the entire story.

In my opinion, I felt that Tai Simmons filled the role of Amy very well - Amy's character is a young adult, college dropout, moved out of her mom's trailer and got a job at Orsk to pay past due rent for her apartment. Tai played this role perfectly, and Bronson's clever chapter-opening infomercials really made the book fun for me. I looked forward to each chapter opening as it foreshadowed the drama to come.

The manager Basil was my favorite, but I really appreciated the level of character development that Grady Hendrix accomplished across the board. This is my favorite trait about his stories - his characters feel real, with depth, emotion and realistic experiences when it comes to relating to everyday work lives, personal lives, and how people change, such as how PTSD affects a person after traumatic events.

That said, I rated this book 3 stars.

There are a couple segments in the story that I have issue with.

There is a scene where Amy and Basil are swarmed by walls of hands, attacking them as they're making their way through "The Hive." I had a problem with this segment, as it's very similar to scenes and descriptive imagery used in another book of his, My Best Friend's Exorcism The hands bit carried on longer than I wanted, and I kept thinking to myself, "Jazz Hands, cha cha cha chaaaa", making myself laugh and ruining the intended effect.

There was also the climax toward the end, where we learn the origin of the ghosts haunting the store and what their intentions are. I thought that was fine, but it got confusing at times, and I so wish that we could have learned a little more about the fates that beheld the remaining Orsk employees. Not entirely, but just a little something more.

With all of this said,

The ending is perfect. It was my favorite part, primarily because it was so realistic!

It showed all sides of the situation, and I really appreciated how the last couple pages satisfied the story, yet had me wanting more, wanting to continue the adventure and understand the rest of the pieces that didn't get resolved. There were also multiple moral messages about life, work and happiness that hit my heart strings.

I'm sticking to my 3 star rating because I know Grady Hendrix can bring beautiful satirical horror to the table, and with the hands scene and the climax (not to spoil it), I felt like he missed the mark.

I love his books, I can't wait for my pre-ordered, signed copy of How to Sell a Haunted House next month, and if you haven't decided to read Horrorstör after reading this, then i'll tell you - I recommend it!

You'll definitely be entertained, especially if you appreciate work sarcasm, ghost hunting, Ikea, or infomercials.

Enjoy :)

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2nd Time Listening, This Time With Audible

Revisado: 01-15-23

This was my 2nd time reading The Shining - this time taking advantage of Audible for a new perspective on the story.

The first time I read The Shining, I was 16 years old in 10th grade English class, burning time through SSR. It was my mom's copy, an early release paperback with yellowed pages and small print. As much as I enjoyed the story at the time, I have to say that I understood the story much more now than I did then.

The themes of alcohol abuse, domestic violence, psychic ability & insanity resonated with beautiful detail, and I came to appreciate Jack's character in a different light, his struggles, and ultimately seeing the depth that which he cared for his family.

I have my favorites when it comes to Stephen King, and The Shining is definitely towards the top of that list.

If you're interested in more Stephen King books, check out:

It
Needful Things
Fairy Tale
Joyland

You will not be disappointed!

5 stars for my favorite haunted hotel!

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Excellent story and performance

Revisado: 06-18-22

This is an excellent audio production that brought a lively cast of characters to life, such powerful drama and emotion telling the story of BP and life during the war. I highly recommend this story to anyone interested in historical fiction, 5 stars

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Should be a job requirement

Revisado: 04-30-22

This book is life changing especially for those who do not come from disciplined backgrounds or who have not had positive role models in their life previously. This book changed my perspective on interacting with people and seeking to understand why people do the things they do, and why they react certain ways in business. I have already begun to implement these tips into my management style and not only has my entire team become the driving force for sales in my region, but they are happy to log in everyday and do their best for the team and the organization. Positive reinforcement and encouragement 100% works, everyone should read this book

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