Books – Page 2

Book Review: ‘Caliban Cove (Resident Evil, #2)’ by S.D. Perry

15th Dec 2024Leave a comment

For the final book of my 2024 reading challenge, I picked up S.D. Perry’s ‘Caliban Cove (Resident Evil, #2)’.

Having enjoyed Perry’s first ‘Resident Evil’ novelization, I wanted something lighthearted and easy. With its evil corporations, secret labs, and hordes of zombies, this book was a no-brainer. Pun intended.

Unlike most of Perry’s Resident Evil books, ‘Caliban Cove’ is not tied to a specific video game. There is no ‘Caliban Cove’ game – this story is Perry’s creation. Free to craft her own story, she takes us on a new romp with Rebecca Chambers, the rookie medic from the first story. The story follows the events of ‘The Umbrella Conspiracy’. Perry dives straight into the action.

Like its predecessor, ‘Caliban Cove’ is fast-paced and easy to read, making it a breeze to fly through the pages. I appreciated Perry’s creativity with new monsters and villains, bringing some freshness. That said, the ending felt rushed, and I wanted more details about some of the creatures. While keeping your big bads in the shadows can build suspense, having some payoff at the end is nice.

Although weaker than book one, ‘Caliban Cove’ is still fun – it’s good cheesy action to turn your brain off.

Book Review: ‘The Umbrella Conspiracy (Resident Evil, #1)’ by S.D. Perry

15th Dec 2024Leave a comment

I picked up ‘The Umbrella Conspiracy (Resident Evil, #1)’ by S.D. Perry, for my next read of the year.

I’ve loved the ‘Resident Evil’ games since my older brother got ‘Resident Evil 3: Nemesis’ in the early 2000s. I’ve since devoured every game. With ‘Resident Evil 3’ day at the end of last month, I wanted to delve back into Raccoon City. But I didn’t have the time to replay the games. So I thought, ‘Why not try the novels?’ I’ve heard other fans talking about them in horror circles, and I’m a big fan of trashy books and B-movie horror.

The book follows – surprise, surprise – the S.T.A.R.S. members as they investigate trouble in Raccoon Forest. People have been disappearing, sometimes turning up eaten. Perry opens the novel with the S.T.A.R.S.’s Bravo team going missing, leaving the Alpha team to investigate. It doesn’t take long until a zombie shambles onto the page, and from there, the book follows the game’s beats. We even get P.O.V.s from Jill and Chris – the first game’s two playable characters – along with the rest of the cast.

The book follows the game’s story much more than its silver-screen counterparts. It might do too well, describing the maze-like corridors and endless puzzles. But I understand that Capcom must’ve insisted Perry do this. This adherence might also be a plus for those who felt the movies should have stuck to the source material.

I went in expecting it to be enjoyable but flawed – after all, I have a soft spot for the movies – but it turned out decent. It’s not ‘The Shining’ or anything, but who would expect that from a video game novelisation? The characters are as we remember them, with some embellishment. The settings are all there, and the atmosphere is suitable. The puzzles fit into the story, and all the monsters appear – even if killed “off-screen”.

Perry’s book scratches the itch (itchy, tasty) well if you want to return to the Spencer Mansion.

Book Review: ‘Es wächst und wächst und wächst…’ by R. L. Stine

21st Nov 2024Leave a comment

R. L. Stine’s ‘Es wächst und wächst und wächst…’ is my penultimate read for my 2024 reading challenge.

I decided to pick up another after reading a few Goosebumps books in German to help me learn the language. I needed something easier after struggling with ‘Der kleine Prinz’ earlier in the year.

The book follows Evan, a boy whose parents left him with his old aunt as they leave town searching for a new house. Evan, who is very reluctant to do this, brings along his best pal, an old dog named Trigger. He soon meets a young girl of the same age named Andy, who shows him a dusty old toyshop with an irascible owner. The pair discover a strange tin with the word ‘Monsterblood’ (‘Monsterblut’) on the label. But, upon purchasing this treat, Evan learns it does not stop growing.

The story is classic Stine – fun, with likeable characters and easy-to-hate bullies. The book has plenty of peril, but you always know the heroes will get out of it (although, as a kid, I didn’t know this!). As my friend promised me upon gifting me ‘Der kleine Prinz’, I found the German in this book much more accessible. Some bits were tricky and required a dictionary, but I got through it. It’s getting more accessible – I’ll move on to the Fear Street novels in German soon.

‘Es wächst und wächst und wächst…’ is a great horror book for kids and is an excellent book to help adults learn a new language.

Book Review: ‘The Stand’ by Stephen King

16th Oct 2024Leave a comment

For my latest read of 2024, I dove back into Stephen King’s ‘The Stand’.

As with most of King’s work, ‘The Stand’ is something I read as a teen and wanted to revisit. A monster of a book, I began this while on holiday in Finland over the summer. It took me from mid-July to last week to finish. When I was a kid and had no commitments, I could burn through a tome like this in a week. But those days are long gone.

You might stick with a book this long for one of two reasons: either it drags, and you dread picking it up, or you love it so much that the length doesn’t matter. ‘The Stand’ definitely falls into the latter camp. It’s an absolute triumph and one of King’s best.

The book begins with a catastrophe at a military base. What follows is a pandemic that ends almost all human life. A few smatterings of survivors remain, left to rebuild how they see fit. Groups form around two individuals who the survivors dream about. Mother Abigail, a 108-year-old black woman, serves as a force for good. Randall Flagg, an evil figure with supernatural powers, is hellbent on destruction. King writes so many characters that it’s hard to pinpoint a single protagonist. But there are clear groups of ‘heroes’ and ‘villains’, and the large cast adds depth and complexity.

The intro is electric, with that cloying, inescapable destiny thing that King does so well. As soon as the wheels start to fall off – and the body count rises – King doesn’t let up. After this, the tempo slows, and we get to know our wide cast. The characterisation of this wide range of people, from good to evil, is astonishing. As things become more complex, you can’t help but feel their losses and celebrate their wins. Nobody does this like King. You’ll be so hooked when the magical elements – e.g. prophetic dreams – come in that you won’t mind the shift to fantasy. ‘The Stand’ is a glorious book from one of the best to do it.

It’s a long read, but every single page is worth it.

Book Review: ‘Goodbye, Eri’ by Tatsuki Fujimoto

27th Aug 2024Leave a comment

With a gentle prod from my friend, Leander, I read Tatsuki Fujimoto’s ‘Goodbye, Eri’ as my next book of 2024.

Fujimoto is also the creator of other well-known mangas, such as ‘Fire Punch’ and ‘Chainsaw Man’. I have not read either of these. But that may change, depending on what Leander gives me to read, with encouragement, in the future. He gave me ‘Goodbye, Eri’ a while back, and it has waited for me in my stack of books. Well, buddy, I finally got around to it.

The story follows Yuta Ito, who receives a smartphone as a birthday present. His ill mother then requests that he record her as much as possible before she dies. Only, when it comes to recording her death, he chickens out. The story spirals out from there, twisting, turning, and folding in on itself.

The book breezes by and takes about the same time as a movie. As Leander recommended, I binged it in one sitting, and it’s the best way to consume ‘Goodbye, Eri’. It reflects on storytelling, creating art, and grief and loss. When taken in one shot, it is quite a profound experience. I loved it.

Given how fast it is to read, I’d recommend it to everyone, even if you don’t like manga.

Book Review: ‘The Walking Dead, Vol 2: Miles Behind Us’ by Robert Kirkman

8th Aug 2024Leave a comment

For my next read in 2024, I read Robert Kirkman’s ‘The Walking Dead, Vol 2: Miles Behind Us’.

I purchased ‘Compendium One’ at the start of the year and breezed through the first volume. As you could have predicted, I adored it because I love all things zombie. My obsession with the undead will never die (pun intended). But, with the usual relentlessness of life, I didn’t get around to continuing.

After finding some time on my hands, I recently blasted through the second volume. And it’s brilliant. The story continues with Rick and Co’s struggle to survive in a zombie-infested world. The volumes don’t quite line up with the season breaks of the show, but they match, more or less.

The story deviates from the TV show, but these changes are pleasant surprises. Some of the big moments I remember from the show are there, and some aren’t. And there are a few new ones. I can say the same for the characters, too. It’s fun seeing where the showrunners stuck to the script and where they made their tweaks.

But I have to praise the artwork. It’s sublime and gory. You can’t tear your eyes away from some of the gruesome images on the page. The use of black and white for scenes involving blood and viscera was a clever one. It reminds me of one of my favourite movies, George A. Romero’s ‘Night of the Living Dead’.

I aim to dive into the third volume soon, as I’m having a blast.

Book Review: ‘Pet Sematary’ by Stephen King

5th Aug 2024Leave a comment

For the next book of 2024, I decided to reread Stephen King’s ‘Pet Sematary’.

I first read ‘Pet Sematary’ between thirteen and fifteen. Around the same time, I read ”Salem’s Lot’, and the two books moved me unlike anything else. ‘The Shining’ was my first King book, but these two novels marked the point where I fell in love with his writing. They showed me that horror books for adults can be vibrant yet grim, full of hope and fear. It was the first time I ached for characters when tragedy befell them. I’ve always maintained that these two books are my favourite.

So, with that said, does the book live up to the hype I’ve had in my head for half of my life?

One hundred per cent.

The story follows Louis Creed, a doctor who moves – with his young family – into an old house in Maine. Across the street, a kind old couple, Jud and Norma, live. And up the hill, into the woods, there’s an odd place where generations of kids buried their deceased pets.

The book is beautiful and horrific. The pages rip by, and before you know it, you’re deep in the woods of the novel. The terror is palpable – there’s a reason why King thinks this is his scariest book. And the sorrows are so deep. Even though I already knew the events of the book, they struck me as hard as they did seventeen or so years ago. I was a little scared – in more than one way – to reread ‘Pet Sematary’. I was afraid it wouldn’t live up to the book I had made it out to be in my mind. What a silly notion; this is Stephen King, after all.

‘Pet Sematary’ is one of the best from the best, and it is an absolute must-read.

Book Review: ‘The Near Witch’ by V. E. Schwab

28th Jul 2024Leave a comment

For my next book of 2024, I read V. E. Schwab’s ‘The Near Witch’.

My wife gifted me this book (along with many others) for Christmas, and I’d wanted to read it for a while. It has a beautiful cover, and anything with ‘witch’ in the title always piques my interest.

The book follows Lexi, a young woman living in the town of Near with her mother and younger sister. In the neighbouring house resides the imposing figure of her overbearing uncle. Some witches live on the outskirts of town, but most people avoid them. There is also an old nursery rhyme about the Near Witch, but everyone thinks this is a fairytale. That is, until a mysterious stranger appears, and the children start to disappear.

I had a good time with ‘The Near Witch’. The pages flew by, and the simple story was engaging. I appreciated the family dynamics, with the friction between our hero and her uncle. But I adored Lexi’s relationship with the witches, who were the show’s true stars. While the budding teen romance didn’t resonate with me, I can see how it would captivate other readers. The creepiness of the titular witch was well executed, although the ending felt a bit rushed.

All in all, I enjoyed Schwab’s debut book. As an aspiring author, reading ‘The Near Witch’ was entertaining and inspiring. The book has its shortcomings, but these imperfections are manageable. It was a good story that shows you don’t need to be perfect to hold the readers’ attention; you only need to entertain.

The best part of ‘The Near Witch’ is that it shows an author with plenty of talent beginning to master her craft.

Book Review: ‘The Drawing of the Three (The Dark Tower, #2)’ by Stephen King

26th Jun 2024Leave a comment

I read Stephen King’s ‘The Drawing of the Three (The Dark Tower, #2)’ as my next book for 2024.

I’m continuing along with my revisit to the world of the Dark Tower. Book two, in my previous opinion, was where the series started in earnest. The first book was necessary to kickstart the story, but it always felt like the black sheep of the family to me. It wasn’t until I got to book two that I thought, ‘Yeah, I can see why this gets so much love.’

Does the book still stand up in my estimations?

If you know me, you can guess my answer: without a doubt.

The story follows Roland, the last gunslinger, as he reaches the coast, following the end of book one. An encounter with a sea creature leaves him wounded. Struggling with blood poisoning, staggering along the beach, he finds a door in the sand. From there, the story rockets off into the stratosphere. ‘The Drawing…’ is King in his prime, firing on all cylinders. The action gets so intense that it’s unbelievable. I won’t spoil the events, but if you struggled with ‘The Gunslinger’, your payoff begins here.

I first read ‘The Drawing…’ when I was a teen passionate about books. King spellbound me then. I have now reread the book as an adult who also writes as a hobby. King has me in awe – this is a master of his craft flexing his muscles.

Flawless.

Book Review: ‘Utopia Avenue’ by David Mitchell

3rd Jun 2024Leave a comment

David Mitchell’s ‘Utopia Avenue’ is my next ‘sort of’ read of the year.

I say ‘sort of’ because I couldn’t bring myself to finish the book. I got a few hundred pages into it and realised I wasn’t having a good time. It took me a while to understand that I was not fond of the book because I’ve enjoyed Mitchell’s stuff before. I loved ‘The Bone Clocks’ and ‘Slade House’. Also, the book is set in the sixties, with which I have a semi-obsession. Enigmatic characters, such as Pink Floyd’s Syd Barrett, fascinate me. On paper, I ought to love ‘Utopia Avenue’.

And yet I didn’t.

It’s difficult to pinpoint why I wouldn’t say I liked the book. There are too many ‘main’ characters introduced in such a short time frame that you struggle to care for any of them. The book makes the swinging sixties – the hippie era – colourless and dull. There’s no straightforward story besides these folks coming together and making music. There’s no hook established in the chunk of the book I read. The name drops and cameos of famous bands and gigs feel goofy. And not in a good way.

I found the book rather exasperating because I could have loved it. I should have loved it.

Or, instead, Mitchell should have made me love it.