philibin's reviews
825 reviews

(4.0 Stars)

A fun little story.

Very dark, but if you've read any Kadrey... you probably already know that.

(3.75 Stars)

This was an interesting book, very much like a thought experiment. It is nicely paced and really thought provoking.

It uses both historic and current events is explain how we got where we are today, and where we go from here. The Narrator does a good job, and the chapters are laid out in a way that makes sense.

I borrowed this book from the library, and the wait was just over a year. It was well worth the wait!

(2.5 Stars, rounded up to 3 for the artwork)

This author can clearly write. The dialog is very good. The characters are distinct and well developed. Sure some literary shortcuts are taken with them, but only for the lesser characters. Even the pacing is good. The artwork is very good, and the narrator does a great job.

However, I personally feel like this book is a good example of the sum of its parts being greater than the whole. I loved a lit of the little story segments, but thought the overall story was uninteresting and disconnected, and to be honest, lacking originality. But I really liked everything except the overall arc.

I haven't read anything else by this author, but it really seemed to be very self-indulgent. I'd still give him another try.

(4.0 Stars)

I am not the target demographic for this book. At least, not anymore. I'm about 40 years past the prime audience. With that being said, I *was* the target audience for this book. I grew up on horror books. And I really like this author, so when I saw it...I knew I needed to read it.

This was a very well written book. Chuck Wendig is a great storyteller and it translates to a relatable monster story tailored towards a younger audience.

The Audiobook narrator does an excellent job and makes the experience enjoyable.

(3.5 Stars)

This was a really well written and researched look at American Politics today, and how we got here. It isn't only about America, but it does compare and contrast the US against other world leaders and systems.

If you follow politics, you'll have heard a lot of this before, but after reading this book you'll know more details and be able to see the progression (or would it be regression) of the political parties in America. 

If you don't follow politics, you should read this book and have your eyes opened to it.

(If I could rate this book higher than 5 stars, I would)

This is a beautifully written book. If you like Sci-Fi books with next-level world building, and/or books with unparalleled character development and growth, this could be your next series.

This is written my the same team that brought us The Expanse, and I have been both eagerly anticipating this book, and dreading that it wouldn't like to my expectations... it was everything I hoped for, and more. 

I honestly can't give this book enough praise. The narration is done by Jefferson Mays, the same person who narrated the expanse, and it is familiar because of him, but also completely different than The Expanse. 

I can't wait for the rest of this series!

(2.5, rounded up to 3 Stars for audio)

This was a good collection of stories. In typical fashion, the protagonist is full of bluster and typical machismo, but the stories themselves are interesting and enjoyable. The narrator is excellent and I will be looking for more books narrated by him. 

If you like adventure fantasy books, this is a decent collection, fast paced, and easy to follow.

(2.5 Stars rounded down to 2.0 for audio)

2.5 Stars for me is "average", which is what I would consider this book. When I read, I visualize things in my mind and I was never quite able to do that with this book. I found a lot of the book to be slightly confusing, and in a lot of cases uninteresting. I wouldn't say I disliked the book, but I would not read another book if this turns into a series, and would also have to think twice about the author. For me, it was just "okay", and I really had such high hopes for this book.

This is a story about slipping in between different "worlds", so a little bit like Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. If you liked that, maybe you would like this.

At the very end, the author has a write-up about her inspiration for this book, and I thought that segment was very interesting, and would probably read more of just that.

As for the audiobook narration, her enunciation was excellent, but her cadence seemed off. Sometimes it was distracting. 

(3.5 Stars)

I really need to start off by saying that I have never read the BRZRKR comics, but from what I have seen about it, I think the upcoming Netflix series looks good. So, maybe I would have had a enjoyed this book more had I read the comic books, but based on other reviews, maybe not. I'm also very familiar with China Miéville, and while his books are well written and enjoyable, they are also very long winded and slow paced, which might not be the best fit for a comic book adaption.

I think this story was good, or maybe it is more accurate to say that the story arcs were all very good, it just never came together into a cohesive or compelling narrative. A lot of time was spent on the most mundane details, or leading up to the details, and the "action" was glossed over or told in such a way that was confusing and anticlimactic. The characters had great backstories, but were uninteresting when encountered. I just didn't find myself caring about what was happening.

It was a lot like Highlander: The Series, but with a militaristic bend. I thought a lot of the narrators were good, and tried to add some life to the characters, but there is only so much you can do when the same thing happens over and over with just the scenery changing. To be honest, it really made me want to re-watch Highlander: The Series.

(Stars explained below)

So... I started reading Jason Pargin when he was still "David Wong" and releasing his chapters online. And I really thought it was unique and different and maybe even exciting. But then reality set in, and the accusations started coming in. Everyone said his books were misogynist, steeped in racial stereotypes, juvenile, trolling, and like an incel's manifesto. I've tried to separate that from my review, but it is difficult when the main male protagonist embodies most of these characteristics, but here goes:

The writing is really good, Pargin is excellent with dialog, and gives each character their own unique "voice". His characters are instantly familiar and he intertwines American subculture like no other. He maintains a constant, even, pace and while he is never boring, he might get a little to fantastical with situational events and outcomes. His world building skills are good, but you do have to suspend some belief in reality to accept his world, but if you do, you should enjoy his world. Where he lacks as a writer is with character growth. Most of his characters arrive fully formed and they don't "develop" as much as they share additional information to excuse their behavior. If you like Ready Player One, but prefer your writing less socially and self aware, this could be a good book for you. Basically, if you find yourself thinking that Joe Rogan would make a good story teller, this should be right up your alley. On writing alone, I'd give this book 4.5 Stars. It has a good beginning and while most of the events skirt the edges of believability, the middle of the book does a good job pulling you along with it and all the zany loose ends are neatly tied up.

If I look at this book under the lens of my own beliefs, politics, and societal norms... It is a disturbing look at humanity. It spends an incredible amount of time explaining and trying to justify (or maybe even normalize) the mistreatment of others. Like when you meet someone and they seem like a nice person, but then they start saying some problematic things about people who don't look like you, and it just makes you uncomfortable. And it is so obvious, the author even tries to write a disclaimer about it at the end of the book. So, based on that, I'd give this book a 2. 

The narration is very good.

That is why I am giving this book a 3.5 Stars, and rounding it up to a 4, because had I not known about the author, or didn't listen to his "disclaimer"... It is what i would have rated this book.