Gerald's Game

by Stephen King

Gerald’s Game is the story of a sexual fantasy gone wrong. After an unexpected incident with her husband, Jessie remains handcuffed to the bedpost. In typical fashion, Stephen King makes something happen in a story where nothing happens. We enter into the mind of Jessie as she deals with her fate, at the same time trying to escape it. We experience thirst, fear, and reflection with Jessie through the author’s spectacular writing.

This book is a very interesting read, and I found myself running the gamut of emotions along with Jessie. I was thirsty, terrified, and in cringe-worthy agony. What I didn’t expect was what we learn from Jessie’s periods of introspection. These parts of the book were also very well written, and were practically a story in itself. What I mean by this is that many elements of this book could have stood alone as separate stories. It is almost as if a short story could be written about A, B, and C. This is not meant to imply that the story did not fit well together, rather that each facet of the story was sufficiently developed that it could have been a story unto itself.

At the same time, my one critique would have to be with the ending. I’m always afraid that with these reviews I’m going to reveal too much about the book. In addition, I don’t want to discourage anyone from reading it by saying I am unhappy with the ending. Regardless, the ending was very weak. In fact, it was the only part of the book that seemed disjointed and disconnected from the actual story. It was unnecessary, and didn’t really tie things up. There are some issues that are not resolved, but I can’t say that I really noticed initially.

Overall this book was very well written, and the action keeps going throughout. (I have to laugh when I say action since the book is about a woman chained to a bed). Aside from some disturbing material, I would definitely recommend this book.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Bunsen Burners

Up Next: Mr. X by Peter Straub

Men of the Otherworld

by Kelley Armstrong

While Armstrong's series "Women of the Otherworld" is quite popular, this book is not part of this series, but rather a supplement to help readers know more about the characters. While the "Women of the Otherworld" series is dominated by female protagonists (as the review before this points out), this book helps readers understand and learn about the men in her series. Primarily focused on the men in the "Pack" (i.e. the werewolves). Finally a book that not only answers age old questions like, "How did Clay become a werewolf and become in Jeremy's care? Why does Jeremy have such a different demeanor?", but a book that is also from the men's point of views!

This story is compiled of four short stories. Armstrong apparently had these written as an e-series and eventually made into a book with more detail. The four stories are: Infusion, Savage, Ascension, and Kitsunegari. Infusion is the first story and answers some questions about Jeremy's family and past. Told from the point of view of his father Malcolm, this sets the mood and helps to understand Jeremy's character even more. Savage and Ascension are all from the point of view of Clay Danvers. We follow Clay from when he was bitten as a child to his life in his later years. It covers his first meeting with Jeremy, introduction into the Pack, his adventures, and friendships/enemies. This book is rich with detail that only help you love him even more as a character. Kitsunegari is told from the perspective of Jeremy and reveals what his mother was before she met her sad end.

Kelley Armstrong is a very strong writer and I so enjoy reading her books. Although I wouldn't have chosen this series or these topics on my own, I am so glad I was introduced to them. Her descriptions are fantastic and don't keep you wondering. Armstrong has a way that make such complex topics very easy to follow. I finish her books way too quickly!! I find myself upset when I have to put her books down and think about them until I can pick it back up wondering what will happen next. Armstrong's strength and interest is clearly writing about the werewolves. These books are so much stronger then the others.

My one complaint about this book is the final story Kitsunegari. Once I was introduced to Clay as the narrator and protagonist I didn't want it to stop. Kitsunegari seemed to break the flow of the book by changing it to Jeremy's point of view. It also was a less interesting topic even though it covered some needed information about Jeremy's character. While it answered these questions I would have much rather had it presented in a different way or brought up in one of the other books. It seemed a very awkward way to finish the book.

Overall this book was very interesting and I loved it! Kelley Armstrong hasn't let me down yet!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Up Next: Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand

Spell Bound

by Kelley Armstrong

Continuing where we left off at the end of Waking the Witch, Spell Bound is the 12th book in Kelley Armstrong's 'Women of the Otherworld' series which follows several female protagonists (Elena, Paige, Eve, Jaime, Savannah, and Hope) as they face the perils of being supernaturals (a werewolf, a witch, a half-demon/witch now deceased, a necromancer, a witch/sorcerer, and a half-demon respectively).

Savannah has just completed her first assignment on her own and has been left powerless. Literally. Then she discovers there are several people on her tail and she has no way to defend herself. As the book progresses, we find out there is more to what's going on than meets the eye. A war is on the way and everyone Savannah knows is in danger.

Kelley Armstrong's writing style is extremely appealing and easy to follow. Her world is so descriptive that the reader has no trouble visualizing what's going on. The language she uses feels completely natural to each character and to the reader as well. Many of the exchanges between the characters caused me to laugh out loud (particularly the dialogues between Savannah and Cassandra, the aging vampire).

Armstrong's female characters are strong and powerful even without their supernatural prowess. Despite their strengths, each of them is fallible and 'human.' They are easy to relate to and act like any other person you might meet. The characters and the world they reside in are believable despite the fantasy setting.

If I had to voice a complaint about this book, it would be that it ended too quickly. ;) Firstly, I had difficulty putting it down and finished it in less than a week (I was pacing myself too!). Secondly, the entire course of events does not end at the completion of the book. Several questions are not answered and some things are left unresolved. This book is the first in the series that really doesn't end when you reach the final pages. There is more to come and I cannot wait to read it. And that is probably the only other disappointing portion of this book; that the next one won't be out for some time!

I give this book 4.5 out of 5 Wheeks!

Up next. . .I have no idea. I'm sort of out of reading material right now.

The Gunslinger

By Stephen King

The first book of Stephen King’s magnum opus focuses on Roland Deschain, as he tracks down the infamous “Man in Black.” This books serves as our first introduction to Roland and his World. We learn how Roland became a gunslinger, what he is pursuing (the Dark Tower), and the author starts introducing the important themes of the series.

The book begins with Roland pursuing the “Man in Black” across a vast desert. It is yet another example of one of the author’s favorite themes: walking. As he tracks the villain, he meets a few people in the desert. Through flashback, we also get to hear a little about Roland’s past and some of the supernatural encounters in the previous town of Tull. There is also a great deal of foreshadowing in this book, preparing the reader for what is going to happen in the remaining six books as he continues to pursue the “Dark Tower”.

Overall, I liked this book a great deal. It is full of action, and does a great job of building the story and making you want more. As always, Stephen King does a great job at developing his characters while leaving out enough information to keep you wondering.

This book is a terrific read, not only because the series is great, but also because it opens the door for further understanding of his other novels. (The Dark Tower, and the Crimson King are overarching themes of many of his books). I would definitely recommend this book for someone looking for a science fiction novel with a great deal of action.

Rating: 4.5/5 Bunsen Burners

Up Next: Gerald’s Game by Stephen King

A Bend in the Road

by Nicholas Sparks

Nicholas Sparks is an author my mom introduced me to in high school. Being an impressionable romantic I absolutely loved his books. I was captivated by The Notebook, closely followed by A Walk to Remember. I absolutely adored them both and they were such page turners. As I opened up this book I was hoping it would turn out the same.

A Bend in the Road has the typical Nicholas Sparks formula: love and tragedy. It follows the story of Miles Ryan, a deputy sheriff, who lost his wife Missy to a car accident. Miles falls in love with his son’s teacher, Sarah Andrews, his first possible love interest since the accident. Sarah is recovering from a terrible divorce. Miles constant obsession with finding the driver that killed his wife, threatens to dissolve this romance, as does a looming secret.

This book, similar to a winding road, has many twists and turns. The constants are the characters-you will enjoy them and root for Sarah and Mile’s love. Sparks tends to always make the subject of family a part of his writing. Whether it is a close family or a family that does not get along, he makes it an interesting part of his books. This book is no different.   I found Jonah, the son, endearing and really relished the moments when Miles and Jonah were the subject of certain chapters. Nicholas Sparks does a commendable job in making readers care for his characters.

While this book had many decent attributes, it had a few things I did not like as well. This book is very much a “beach read”. I consider a “beach read” to be anything that doesn’t involve a ton of thinking and is a book that will pass the time easily and with a smile on my face.  Keeping this in mind, pick this book to be exactly that. Don’t anticipate a book that keeps you guessing or keeps you trying to remember facts from college. This book is a bit predictable and I often found myself rushing through passages because I knew what would happen. There were a few unpredictable moments but not many.

I would recommend this book as a fast read. Something not to spend too much money on and something to help you distract yourself from a 3 hour plane ride or road trip.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Coming Soon: Men of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong

The Only Dog Tricks Book You'll Ever Need: Impress Friends, Family--and Other Dogs!

by Gerilyn J. Bielakiewicz

This book is a great introduction to the joys of clicker training your dog. The author spends a good portion of the pages defining the ins and outs of clicker training. She even goes over how to train basic tricks like sit, down, and stay using the clicker. The book gives you a strong foundation in clicker training to build on by the time you get to more complex tricks and behaviors.

That being said, for me, the book spent too much time on the basics and not enough time on training more complex behaviors. I'm already quite experienced using the clicker and many of the tricks in the book I have already trained my dog how to do. I did, however, get a lot out of it and would definitely recommend this book to others. Especially novice trainers who do not have a lot of background in the finer points of clicker training.

The book is well-written and easy to follow. The author outlines the way she trains the behaviors in a nice, step-by-step process. She even goes on to describe many of the activities you can get involved in with your dog if you find training to be a lot of fun for you both. Some of this information is out of date (AKC does allow mixed breeds to compete now and she only lists 2 of the 3 canine freestyle organizations) but all one needs to do is look online for more information on the various activities.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in training their dog how to perform crowd-pleasing tricks or needs a quick introduction to clicker training.

I give it 4 out of 5 Wheeks.

Up next, Spellbound by Kelley Armstrong

Hearts in Atlantis

By Stephen King 


Being a huge Stephen King fan, there are only a few novels of his that I haven’t perused as of yet. This is one of them, and another example of one of his books that has been made into a movie. 


 This book consisted of multiple stories, which are tied together by similar characters. The stories take place along a timeline encompassing the youth, adolescence, adulthood, and old age of the characters involved. The crux of the novel ends up being the Vietnam War and the events surrounding it. 


 I guess the best place to start with my review is to talk about what I liked about this book. As always, Stephen King does a great job about making you feel for the characters and developing the emotional state of each of them. I loved the first and second part of the book, and the rest was definitely readable (saved perhaps only by Mr. King’s writing style).


What I didn’t like about this book, as I have eluded to was the rest of the stories. First off, I was so interested in the first main character (Bobby) that I didn’t feel satiated once his story was over. Mr. King eluded to a number of things that were to happen in Bobby’s life, that I almost wish that he would have just written the rest of the book about these events. Instead, we are taken to the next story, somewhat rudely I might add. The final 3 stories were interesting of course, but nowhere near as gripping as the first two. It almost even feels like they were included, and changed appropriately to fit in with the rest of the story. I was also very disappointed with the conclusion of the book, and didn’t really feel like all the loose ends were tied up. 


An additional complaint I will submit, is that this book will make more sense to a seasoned King-reader due to his references to his ubiquitous villain, The Crimson King. There are several elements which are commonplace in many of his books, which will be missed by the casual reader. 


Overall this book was a good read, and it did get me interested in Vietnam (the war, the times, etc.). However, I feel that the author could have done more with some of the stories, and way less with others (even not including them). 


Rating: 3/5 Bunsen Burners


Next:  The Gunslinger by Stephen King

Hearts in Atlantis

by Stephen King

Although I am not a huge fan of Stephen King, every once in a while I will pick up one of his novels and give it a go. His descriptions, vivid detail, and ways of bringing his characters to life make him worth trying. Even if you just try one of his books.

This book is broken into five different stories. Although they each have their own main character, all of these stories are intertwined with the three main characters that are introduced in the first story. King manages to tangle magic, love, and tragedy throughout the stories as well. Hearts in Atlantis starts in the year 1960 with three childhood friends, Bobby Garfield, Carol Gerber, and John Sullivan. This story follows these friends through a life changing summer: Bobby’s mom rents an apartment to an elderly man (Ted) who Bobby becomes friends with. It is through this companionship that this first part really takes off. Bobby and Ted’s relationship is endearing and wonderful. You immediately become attached to their bond and their friendship. This first story is full of wonderful moments that are so like all of our lives it will make you remember childhood stories and similar memories.  

The other four stories continue through different years: 1966, 1983, the next two in 1999. These follow different characters through various stages of their lives. While the story develops the characters, King also includes history of the times. The first follows a college student on campus during the Vietnam War. It follows the protesting and political views of the times. It is obvious through this section that King stays true to the history of the time period throughout his writing of this book. The 1983 story follows the story of a Vietnam vet and his days/struggles after the war. The first 1999 section follows former child John Sullivan, as he attends a funeral of one of his fellow soldiers in Vietnam and the second 1999 section returns the focus on Bobby later in his life.

Unfortunately, while in the literary sense the book delivered, the actual content of these last stories were disappointing. While I appreciated them for their authentic history content, I truly felt much more emotionally attached to the first section and its characters. I felt that so many subjects and questions I had were unanswered at the end of this book. Despite this I would still urge others to read this book as it is a wonderful source of content for Vietnam, protesting, realistic childhood memories, and tragedy-it is the first section that keeps me thinking about this novel and would be the reason I would pass it along to someone else. Even if you read each section as individual short stories.

Rating: 3 out of 5


Next: A Bend in the Road -Nicholas Sparks

The Things They Carried

by Tim O'Brien

Ever since reading Hearts in Atlantis (review soon to be published) I have taken a great interest in the Vietnam War. While this conflict did not affect me directly, it was present during the lives of my parents. Couple this with the old adage "those who do not learn from history are bound to repeat it," and that is all the explanation needed.

This book is an informative look at the day to day activities of soldiers out humping, and also an unflinching look at some of the more unsavory aspects of war. The author, a Vietnam Veteran, describes what it was like "in the green" very well. He identifies himself as an author, and does not deny that some stories have been altered for readability. Overall he tells stories that are sometimes hard to hear, but really deserve the opportunity to be heard.

This book was very different from what I am used to reading, a combination of firsthand account and slight embellishment by the author. Being a fairly short book and very interesting, I breezed through it in a few days. My only complaint is not really a complaint at all. When I got the book, I was craving much more of a history lesson. This book did not address a number of things about the war that still exist as a gap in my knowledge. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an account of the Vietnam War from a Veteran. It truly is crazy what these men went through, and his account makes understanding these soldiers much easier.

Rating: 4/5 Bunsen Burners

Coming Up: The Gunslinger by Stephen King

Forbidden Research

by Howard Simon, M.D.

In the vein of Michael Crichton, Forbidden Research combines science and medicine in a story that both educates and entertains. The story involves a team of surgeons and their residents who are concerned about their lives and livelihood when an extreme animal rights group starts attacking various labs and researchers. The animal rights group opposes all animal-based research and is systematically trying to eliminate it by employing various modes of terrorism. The FBI gets involved to fish out which organization is behind the attacks before all the research labs decide to close and doctors lose one of their important methods of research.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The characters were well fleshed out and developed to the point that you cared about what happened to them. My only criticism about the characters, however, is that there were so many of them. I had some difficulty keeping track of certain ones and, after having put the book down for a day, often asked myself "Who is that again?" when I came upon one of the supporting characters. While it was enlightening to learn about the other doctors and staff at the hospital, many of them were not essential to the plot and could have been eliminated without the story suffering.

I also found some of the additional subplots unnecessary. They really didn't add much to the main plot or the characters aside from a bit more introduction to certain character flaws. The book would have still been successful without them.

The language in this book was easy to read however, if you haven't taken a biology class or caught reruns of ER recently, you might get a bit lost in some of the medical terminology. While the author does explain some of the more complex terms (like the medical term for gall bladder removal: cholecystectomy), other terms are simply left undefined.

As the book drew to a close, it became quite a page turner. I was surprised at one of the developments but a bit disappointed with another. It seemed like it would be a foregone conclusion, however, given the nature of the surgeons' research.

I would rate this book 3 out of 5 Wheeks. It was an entertaining read but not a book I would read repeatedly.

Up next: The Only Dog Tricks Book You'll Ever Need: Impress Friends, Family--and Other Dogs! by Gerilyn J. Bielakiewicz