What are you currently reading?

[sholloman81]

Chiming in on THE PALLERBEARERS CLUB (if I haven't already, but I don't recall doing so) with another thumbs down...and I'm a big fan of his work. Unlike Sholloman81, I didn't make it to the final two chapters, so will have to take his work for it that it finishes strong, but everything else he mentions is spot on: unlikeable characters, one of whom has the classic unreliable narration which adds nothing to the plot other than confusion, and a slow slog of a rather shallow plot...if there was some rich subtext going on under that surface telling of this story, it escaped me (or, at least, the first half that I read before DNFing it). I'm looking forward to HORROR MOVIE, his new one that's due out in a couple months, and have confidence it'll be a return to form. Then again, I had hoped that as well from his most recent offering, THE BEAST YOU ARE, half of which was a free-verse novella of poetic narration, which turned me off -- fairly or not -- immediately, so I didn't pick up that one. I like that Tremblay is experiemental to a degree in his form and isn't wary of taking chances and expanding his approach, but like all readers I guess I have my limit and "The Beast You Are" pushed it over the red line for me.

That's a bummer to hear about the Beast You Are. Haven't picked it up yet and but was hoping for something more in vain of his Growing Things collection which I enjoyed. I'm sure the free-verse novella of poetic narration thing will not be my cup of tea either; however, I'm sure that I'll give the book a chance up the road.

[RonClinton]

Thanks for the review of the Tremblay book. It pretty much sealed the deal as far as passing on it goes. Maybe if I pick it for a song the aftermarket, but the general consensus is that it just isn't that good and there WAY too many other books to spend money on.

Chiming in on THE PALLERBEARERS CLUB (if I haven't already, but I don't recall doing so) with another thumbs down...and I'm a big fan of his work. Unlike Sholloman81, I didn't make it to the final two chapters, so will have to take his work for it that it finishes strong, but everything else he mentions is spot on: unlikeable characters, one of whom has the classic unreliable narration which adds nothing to the plot other than confusion, and a slow slog of a rather shallow plot...if there was some rich subtext going on under that surface telling of this story, it escaped me (or, at least, the first half that I read before DNFing it). I'm looking forward to HORROR MOVIE, his new one that's due out in a couple months, and have confidence it'll be a return to form. Then again, I had hoped that as well from his most recent offering, THE BEAST YOU ARE, half of which was a free-verse novella of poetic narration, which turned me off -- fairly or not -- immediately, so I didn't pick up that one. I like that Tremblay is experiemental to a degree in his form and isn't wary of taking chances and expanding his approach, but like all readers I guess I have my limit and "The Beast You Are" pushed it over the red line for me.

[Sock Monkey]

Just finished reading the SST LE of Paul Tremblay's "The Pallbearer's Club". As much as it pains me, the reviews are mostly correct. While the writing was good, the story itself was a slog to get through. The two main characters were unlikable, and the plot was pretty boring. The last two chapters were pretty good, but by then, it was too late for any redemption for this story. Overall, for me, this book was a disappointment. Hope Tremblay's next one is a return to form.

Am now reading the Earthling LE of Tyler Jones' "Midas". Am very excited to see if it lives up to the high praise it has received so far.

Thanks for the review of the Tremblay book. It pretty much sealed the deal as far as passing on it goes. Maybe if I pick it for a song the aftermarket, but the general consensus is that it just isn't that good and there WAY too many other books to spend money on.

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading the SST LE of Paul Tremblay's "The Pallbearer's Club". As much as it pains me, the reviews are mostly correct. While the writing was good, the story itself was a slog to get through. The two main characters were unlikable, and the plot was pretty boring. The last two chapters were pretty good, but by then, it was too late for any redemption for this story. Overall, for me, this book was a disappointment. Hope Tremblay's next one is a return to form.

Am now reading the Earthling LE of Tyler Jones' "Midas". Am very excited to see if it lives up to the high praise it has received so far.

[brlesh]

Finished The Store by Bentley Little.

Enjoyed this re-read quite a bit, more than I remember from the initial reading.

Next up, Elsewhere by Dean Koontz.

Based on the first 100 pages, not expecting much from this one.

B