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Forgot to mention, I just finished Dean Koontz' latest book, "What the Night Knows".
It was REALLY good. Until the last chapter, which was just stoopid. Ah well, it was fun while it lasted ..... (LOL)
Have you read any of his earlier books? I liked them more than what he's been writing the last couple of years. He is a good writer - but none of the characters seem as fleshed out and detailed, and neither does the story, in the way that his older books were done. I miss that.
I am totally into Lucifer's Hammer. I think I have seen that book over the years but the title turned me off. The characters build up naturally, as does the story, and I'm so into it, that I keep expecting to see the tail of a comet in the skies whenever I look up from the book. Good books, books that really capture me do that to me sometimes - almost make me confuse their reality with reality.
I'm also surprised that it doesn't seem more dated considering when it was written.
I really loved Angela's Ashes. It made me laugh and made me cry - often in the same paragraph. Some of my friends complained that it was too depressing, but I don't agree at all. In fact, I found it more uplifting than depressing, in that someone could live through such a horrible, tragic childhood and not only survive, but thrive.
I read it quite a few years ago and loved it as well. I can't remember the name but I believe he wrote another similar book which was ok but not nearly as wonderful as Angela's Ashes.
There is another book by a different author (also autobiographical) called the INVISIBLE WALL by Harry Bernstein which was wonderful.. the writer is in his 90's now and lives in NJ but it deals with his childhood in England; really young around WW1. Very good read.
I read it quite a few years ago and loved it as well. I can't remember the name but I believe he wrote another similar book which was ok but not nearly as wonderful as Angela's Ashes.
There is another book by a different author (also autobiographical) called the INVISIBLE WALL by Harry Bernstein which was wonderful.. the writer is in his 90's now and lives in NJ but it deals with his childhood in England; really young around WW1. Very good read.
Frank McCourt also wrote "Tis" which picked up where Angela's Ashes left off, and then he wrote "Teacher Man" a few years later. I agree with you - his first was the best of the 3.
His brother, Malachy, who ended up in acting, also wrote a few books.
I'll look for The Invisible Wall - thanks for the recommendation!
OK I finished The Lotus Eaters this weekend and I though parts of it were really good, but as a whole it was just ok. I loved the descriptions of Vietnam, the food, the scenery etc but the characters were inconsistent, especially the main character. Her decisions didn't make sense sometimes. And she goes back and forth about her feelings toward the other characters, which is confusing and annoying. She didn't completely come to life for me.
Have you read any of his earlier books? I liked them more than what he's been writing the last couple of years. He is a good writer - but none of the characters seem as fleshed out and detailed, and neither does the story, in the way that his older books were done. I miss that.
I believe I've read all his books at this point (big fan), and had heard good things about this latest book. Hence my disappointment at the ending .....
Have you read any of his earlier books? I liked them more than what he's been writing the last couple of years. He is a good writer - but none of the characters seem as fleshed out and detailed, and neither does the story, in the way that his older books were done. I miss that.
I am totally into Lucifer's Hammer. I think I have seen that book over the years but the title turned me off. The characters build up naturally, as does the story, and I'm so into it, that I keep expecting to see the tail of a comet in the skies whenever I look up from the book. Good books, books that really capture me do that to me sometimes - almost make me confuse their reality with reality.
I'm also surprised that it doesn't seem more dated considering when it was written.
I reread LH recently and it does hold up surprisingly well considering when it was written.
OK I finished The Lotus Eaters this weekend and I though parts of it were really good, but as a whole it was just ok. I loved the descriptions of Vietnam, the food, the scenery etc but the characters were inconsistent, especially the main character. Her decisions didn't make sense sometimes. And she goes back and forth about her feelings toward the other characters, which is confusing and annoying. She didn't completely come to life for me.
Anyway onto the next one!
I agree. I was disappointed. I was expecting something much, much better. I found it in Cutting for Stone. Very good novel. In a day or two I'll be starting The Help. I hope it's better than TLE or Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter. Folks keep telling me it's good. I hope so. What's your next one?
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What's your next one?