philibin's reviews
828 reviews

(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.

(5.0 Stars)

This was a very unique book. Yes, it is a horror book, but it is also a story about growth, development, acceptance, and living with fear.

The audiobook version has an all-star cast, the pace is great, the narration is superb.

This book is a great story with great characters, and represents all people. It is a realistic portrayal of people in a backdrop of a horror story. 

(4.5 Stars)

I'm old enough to remember when Trump was "The Donald", a clownish character somewhat of a cross between Scrooge McDuck and the monopoly guy. I personally never watched The Apprentice, but I lived through that era so was familiar with who was on it, and the "You're Fired" catchphrase by way of commercials and watercooler scuttlebutt. I never thought that his presidential run was anything serious. 

This book is well written, and really makes me glad that I missed the train-wreck that was The Apprentice. And also makes me wish more people did, since that show only served to legitimize Trump, make him a household name, and propel him into serious contention for the presidency. 

The Narration was expertly done, and the pace was easy. This book does not paint Donald Trump in the best light, so if that is going to bother you, this probably is not a book for you. However, if you see the dumpster fire that surrounds Trump like a swarm of flies, and you want a glimpse into a man who surrounds himself with sycophants and yes-men. This is a decent primer into his delusional self-aggrandizing bubble that has expanded to encompass the (well, half) country.

If you just would like a behind the scenes look into a piece of pop-culture that helped turn us from a sit-com/soap opera nation into one of reality TV addiction, this would also be a good book for you.

(5.0 Stars)

This book is simply delightful to read. I have to admit that I was a little worried by the overly generous inclusion of biblical passages and *almost* proselytizing. But my worries were unfounded. I think the author (IMHO) used the Bible, and it's claim of "moral superiority" to showcase the contradictory nature of how people truly act, to how they conveniently omit certain actions or outright lie to justify their "goodness". Okay, rant over :)

Back to the book. This is a story of what happens after the movie (The Wizard of Oz) ends. It is part fan-fiction, part noir detective/mystery, and wholly enjoyable. The characters feel real, and the story follows a logical path to its conclusion. 

Fans of Gregory Maguire should really like this book. I am fortunate to have come across this book on NetGalley, because otherwise it probably would not have been on my radar at all. This author has a beautiful writing style and is descriptive without being boring. Unfortunately, this is the author's final work, and I think his first audiobook offering. My hope is that this is well received, and more of his earlier works will become available as audiobook offerings, other than his YA series about Edgar Allen Poe.

(3.75 Stars)

This was an enjoyable book, made even more enjoyable by the narration.

The good: Like I said, enjoyable... But also fun. It was a story about killing, obviously, but focusing more on the contractual obligations of assassination, so that kept it from getting too dark. It is also about the undead, friendship, and family (kinda). It was well paced and the characters were likeable.

The bad: It was very predictable, and seemed to do two contradictory things. First, it really spelled out "important" parts of the plot that lead to the finale. But, it also threw some elements in completely from left field, like a literal red herring, but not done well enough to be misleading.

The writing style is similar to Edgar Cantero or L.G. Estrella. Not quite YA, but not far off from it.

(5.0 Stars)

This was very informative. In fact, I'd say it is more informative than narrative. But that's not to say there isn't plenty of story included. The book takes you down a journey where scientists and discoverers needed to weigh presenting the facts, over possibly ruining their lives, because of the influence of "The Church".

I'd love to say that it was a look back, when we were more superstitious and primitive... But I still see some of the same arguments being made today, about racial "superiority", biblical "accuracy", the age of the Earth, heck... even the shape of the Earth. 

Biblical Literalists have always stood in the way of progress, and this book, in addition to the fascinating historic look back at the golden age of discovery, could also be used as a cautionary tale for the current (and future) generations.

(4.5 Stars)

This was a great book. It was very long, but worth every minute. 

(4.5 Stars)

This was a really good Horror/Sci-Fi Story. The narration is excellent, the characters are unique and identifiable, and the plot is intriguing. It is hard to believe how much action was packed into a very short story. But it didn't feel rushed, and it had a perfect pace. 

If I had to compare this to something, I would say it is a lot like the movie Predator, combined with Anaconda. I really liked this story a lot.