CONSTANT READER REVIEW – Doctor Sleep by Stephen King

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“There came a time when you realized that moving on was pointless. That you took yourself with you wherever you went.”

In a word, Doctor Sleep is great. It’s FUN (I mean, a lot of the subject matter and imagery is pretty horrific, but the reading experience is a thrill).

“The world wasn’t a Hospice with fresh air, the world was the Overlook Hotel, where the party never ended.”

If you’re looking to compare this to The Shining, I would say that Doctor Sleep has a faster pace with a less…explosive ending.

“We are the True Knot. What is tied may never be untied.”

Rose the Hat is a compelling villain who, somewhat unfortunately in my opinion, becomes more human as we progress through the book.

“Because the past is gone, even though it defines the present.”

The references to The Shining were frequent (but not so much that they dominated the story) and subtle at times – if you’ve read The Shining recently, don’t wait too long to pick up Doctor Sleep.

“Once a little boy lived here… A little boy waiting for his daddy to come home from his job interview at the Overlook Hotel.”

REVIEW – Dracula by Bram Stoker

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“Listen to them – the children of the night. What music they make!”

Dracula is a spooky, gothic classic (duh). Stoker’s writing is incredible and covers every little detail. His terrifyingly vivid descriptions conjure up the sights, sounds and smells (seriously, SMELLS) of our journey from Castle Dracula to London and back again.

“…God seems to have deserted us.”

I audibly gasped multiple times while reading this book. Sometimes due to the horror within, and other times due to the amazing writing. There’s a scene in the first 50 pages that might be one of the most chilling things I’ve ever read. And if you think it will be relatively tame due to the era in which it was written, don’t worry. There’s no lack of blood in this book.

“But we are strong, each in our purpose; and we are all more strong together.”

The book includes a pretty solid cast of characters, and we get the perspective of each throughout the course of the book. Van Helsing and Mina were the most fascinating and best developed, in my opinion.

“Every breath exhaled by that monster seemed to have clung to the place and intensified its loathsomeness.”

There were moments throughout the book that reminded me of modern horror (and fantasy) novels. I wouldn’t be surprised if books like Silence of the Lambs, IT and even the Harry Potter series drew inspiration from Dracula, or vampire lore in general.

“…it all seems like a horrible tragedy, with fate pressing on relentlessly to some destined end.”

Dracula is not without its faults. It does drag a bit towards the middle (one character’s plot feels repetitive at times) and I found the ending to be a bit anticlimactic, but it’s still a solid classic that horror fans will enjoy.

REVIEW – Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

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“Why was I always suffering, always brow-beaten, always accused, forever condemned? Why was it useless to try to win any one’s favor?”

What can I say about Jane Eyre that hasn’t already been said? This book has it all – romance, suspense, a large cast of interesting characters, a complex, interesting heroine. There’s an underlying theme of feminism and independence. Even almost 175 years later, this book is relatable. Jane’s emotions and inner thoughts stand the test of time.

“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me; I am a free human being, with an independent will.”

Poor Jane can’t seem to catch a break for awhile – from her horrible childhood at Gateshead to the sadness at Lowood, Jane struggles to find her place. She settles in as governess at Thornfield, and falls in love – but then a horrific secret tears everything apart.

“Do you think because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! I have as much soul as you, and full as much heart!”

She experiences her lowest point after fleeing Thornfield, but only to be embraced by a family and community.

“…and yet, while I breathe and think, I must love him.”

As I got closer to the end, I was hoping Jane would ultimately get the happy ending she deserved. (Reader, she did.)

REVIEW – The Light Over London by Julia Kelly

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The Light Over London is primarily about one woman’s experience during WWII – I loved reading about the gunner girls and the whole crew.

I would categorize this as light historical fiction (well, half historical, half contemporary) that’s easy on the history but heavier on the romance. It’s a great read for anyone who’s looking for something set in WWII without the disturbing, gory details. It’s emotional, but not overly sad.

I thought the ending was a little too quick and wrapped up a little too neatly, but it was still an enjoyable book!

Thank you Gallery for the NetGalley copy!

REVIEW – The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

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“Why did I think it would nonetheless be business as usual? Because we’d been hearing these things for so long, I suppose. You don’t believe the sky is falling until a chunk of it falls on you.”

The Testaments picks up approximately 15 years after the events in The Handmaids Tale. Told from the perspectives of three different women affected by Gilead, The Testaments gives a more detailed look into the day-to-day workings of the region (and the lies and deceit that run below the seemingly pious exterior).

“She, too, has been alone in the dark, I thought…She, too, has gazed into herself, and has seen the void.”

Much like The Handmaids Tale, The Testaments is uncomfortable and disturbing to read, especially given our current political climate. I would recommend that readers wanting to pick up this book also check out the series on Hulu – The Testaments references plot points from both the original book and the show.

“It was always a cruelty to promise them equality, since by their nature they can never achieve it. We have already begun the merciful task of lowering their expectations.”

Overall this is good. It’s a somewhat satisfying conclusion to the original book, but can be predictable and almost cliche at times. I also feel that the show is going to have to take a certain path now that the fate of some characters has been revealed in this book (unless it will be like Game of Thrones and the show will end up in a different direction).

REVIEW – The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

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“The boys could have been many things had they not been ruined by that place. Doctors who cure diseases or perform brain surgery, inventing shit that saves lives. Run for president. …but they had been denied even the simple pleasure of being ordinary.”

As you can imagine from the synopsis, this is a difficult book to read. But it’s an IMPORTANT book. So many victims of our nation’s twisted, sordid, racist past (and present) are forgotten or overlooked. The Nickel Boys is fiction, but it’s based on a real place. This book should make you uncomfortable and it should make you angry.

Whitehead’s writing is simple and direct – not flowery or elaborate – but packed with emotion, wisdom and vivid imagery.

“You can change the law but you can’t change people and how they treat each other.”

CONSTANT READER REVIEW – The Shining by Stephen King

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“This inhuman place makes human monsters.”

Somehow The Shining is simultaneously a slow burning horror novel and a fast-paced thriller that spooks you from the beginning. There’s an overwhelming sense of dread that rapidly increases the closer you get to the book’s finale.

King is a master (but you already know that). The writing in this book is some of his most beautiful and vivid that I’ve read so far, while also making the reader feel isolated and claustrophobic.

I’ve spent some time in hotels that have been closed for the season, which likely made this that much more familiar – and that much more terrifying – for me to read.

“Your daddy…sometimes he does things he’s sorry for later. Sometimes he doesn’t think the way he should.”

Warning: Jack is an unlikable character. His descent into madness was easy to believe, simply because he seemed close to the edge to begin with. I felt a bit of sympathy for him during one brief moment towards the end, but overall it wasn’t a stretch to imagine him being so easily influenced by The Overlook.

I’ve only read a handful of King’s books, but this one has creeped me out the most!

REVIEW – Elevator Pitch by Linwood Barclay

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Elevator Pitch is a solid suspenseful story about elevator rides gone wrong in NYC. Barclay does a great job of setting the scene and making you feel safe until, suddenly, you’re not.

The story is fast paced and, honestly, a little fun. The premise is horrifying but the execution is very reminiscent of a good summer blockbuster.

I’ve never been afraid of elevators, but I might opt to take the stairs from now on.

Thank you William Morrow for providing me with a copy of this book!

REVIEW – The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff

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Graff does an incredible job of providing a complete account of what happened on 9/11. Just about every perspective you could imagine from the day’s events is covered. It’s a devastating read, but it’s an essential piece of our nation’s history and the documentation of first-hand accounts is so incredibly important.

Thank you Avid Reader Press for sending me an ARC of this book.