Finished reading 'The Unquiet' by John Connolly and 'Darkest Fear' by Harlan Coben. Yep, I'm a readaholic, plus I read fast. Not sure if I'm technically a speed reader but was tested prior to taking a speed reading class and they said I didn't need the class. Scored high on comprehension also, which is a definite plus. Reading fast means nothing if you can't retain anything.
Well, this blog isn't supposed to be about me and my many talents, although I guess you're going to get to know me over time. You can discover some things about a person just by the kind of books they read. I go through reading fits so I'd guess that says I'm eclectic? or more unflattering: scattered!
I told you recently that I had read all of Harlan Coben's books. I didn't knowingly fib, I just didn't realize I'd missed one. 'Darkest Fear' is excellent. You get to the end only to find there's another ending... only to find you really didn't get to the end 'cause there's another level, another twist. Loved this one.
In 'Darkest Fear' Coben's main characters, Myron Bolitar and Win (Windsor Horne Lockwood III), team up with some of my other favorites. Myron is told by his ex-college girlfriend that he is the father of her teenage son. The 13-year old is dying of a terminal disease and Bolitar's help is needed to track down an elusive bone marrow donor. Something that starts out seemingly innocent spirals into a can't-stop-reading-thriller.
The book is published by Dell, a division of Random House. It is an oldie, copyright 2000.
If you haven't read any of Coben's books I'd suggest you head to the library or the nearest new or used bookstore and start at the beginning. You can pick them up anywhere but they're much better when you grow with the characters, learn about the things that have influenced them, meet those who jump, fall, intrude into the main character's lives.
John Connolly's 'The Unquiet' is another outstanding book. I love the way Connolly brings in just a touch of the supernatural with a healthy dose of skepticism and soul-searching from his main character, Charlie Parker. Connolly weaves a tale that envelopes the reader, makes you step inside the book and walk along side not just Parker, but some of the others who cross his path.
I found myself, just like Charlie Parker, feeling some sympathy for a murderer. I justified his actions as though they were mine in the same situation. It takes a good author to make you part of the story!
'The Unquiet' is a story of child abuse, murder, horrible secrets and violence. Connolly builds layer upon layer to reach a conclusion that had me immediately wanting to read his next book.
This is another older book, although not quite so old as 'Darkest Fear'. It was first published in 2007 by Atria Books. Connolly is also an author who's work is best when read in order. However it's been a while since I read a book by Connolly (sorry to say) and I didn't remember enough about past characters to connect the dots. It didn't detract from the reading of the book at all. In fact, I decided I was going to write a list of his book titles and buy them all. I'm going to re-read this one when I get to it in the line of titles.
Showing posts with label harlan coben. Show all posts
Showing posts with label harlan coben. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
If Harlan Coben writes it... I will read it.
Sometimes you come across authors that snatch you up and carry you easily into their novels. Harlan Coben didn't snatch, he completely ensnared me. I have read every book he's written since finding the first one at our local Library book sale.
He can't write fast enough to make me happy.
I just finished reading Caught and it's definitely another Harlan Coben winner. I loved the twists and turns in this suspenseful book. He never seems to travel in the direction most authors would and nothing is ever what it seems. I always agree with his endings and like where he finishes up.
Caught is his 17th book.
In Caught a young girl vanishes from her home, people lose their reputations, some die, and some persevere. There is evil, some misguided, and good, sometimes accidental. The characters are human and react in ways that may surprise the reader. Things are never clear-cut in Coben's novels, Caught is no exception.
You get as much out of Coben's books as you're willing to put into them. You can read it as a straight mystery / thriller, or you can use it as a springboard to look into your own soul. What would you do to protect your family? What choices would you make if faced with a crisis in college? when established? How loyal would you be to your friends? Would you trust your instincts over the facts placed in front of you?
Life isn't neat and Coben's books show just how messy it can be, albeit for most of us we'll never, hopefully, encounter the situations his characters run into. We will probably judge others in those situations though. He develops the characters like building blocks, adding layer upon layer until you are inside their head seeing the world through their eyes.
I confess that I finished reading Caught in one evening. I stayed up until bleary eyed as I couldn't sleep wondering what would happen on the next page. Usually when I do that I end up reading the book again a few months later. I find it fun to re-read a book knowing the ending. I see all the little hints and nuances that lead to the conclusion.
It's not necessary to read Coben's books in order, although with some they build on past books. I started reading his books in the middle of the pack, then went back and picked up some earlier books, read some at the end, then back toward the middle. It didn't change my enjoyment of the books.
Shoot, I may have to start a hardback collection of his books. I usually read paperbacks because I am an abuser of books. I read them while cooking, while eating, and carry them stuffed into my messy purse. I turn page corners to save my place and break the spines when I prop them open with whatever is handy. I try to treat hardbacks a little better!
If you like mystery, suspense, thrillers, twists and turns, you'll love Harlan Coben's writing. I would love to have a Win (Windsor Horne Lockwood III) in my life, character flaws and all.
www.HarlanCoben.com
He can't write fast enough to make me happy.
I just finished reading Caught and it's definitely another Harlan Coben winner. I loved the twists and turns in this suspenseful book. He never seems to travel in the direction most authors would and nothing is ever what it seems. I always agree with his endings and like where he finishes up.
Caught is his 17th book.
In Caught a young girl vanishes from her home, people lose their reputations, some die, and some persevere. There is evil, some misguided, and good, sometimes accidental. The characters are human and react in ways that may surprise the reader. Things are never clear-cut in Coben's novels, Caught is no exception.
You get as much out of Coben's books as you're willing to put into them. You can read it as a straight mystery / thriller, or you can use it as a springboard to look into your own soul. What would you do to protect your family? What choices would you make if faced with a crisis in college? when established? How loyal would you be to your friends? Would you trust your instincts over the facts placed in front of you?
Life isn't neat and Coben's books show just how messy it can be, albeit for most of us we'll never, hopefully, encounter the situations his characters run into. We will probably judge others in those situations though. He develops the characters like building blocks, adding layer upon layer until you are inside their head seeing the world through their eyes.
I confess that I finished reading Caught in one evening. I stayed up until bleary eyed as I couldn't sleep wondering what would happen on the next page. Usually when I do that I end up reading the book again a few months later. I find it fun to re-read a book knowing the ending. I see all the little hints and nuances that lead to the conclusion.
It's not necessary to read Coben's books in order, although with some they build on past books. I started reading his books in the middle of the pack, then went back and picked up some earlier books, read some at the end, then back toward the middle. It didn't change my enjoyment of the books.
Shoot, I may have to start a hardback collection of his books. I usually read paperbacks because I am an abuser of books. I read them while cooking, while eating, and carry them stuffed into my messy purse. I turn page corners to save my place and break the spines when I prop them open with whatever is handy. I try to treat hardbacks a little better!
If you like mystery, suspense, thrillers, twists and turns, you'll love Harlan Coben's writing. I would love to have a Win (Windsor Horne Lockwood III) in my life, character flaws and all.
www.HarlanCoben.com
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