The Wolfen...be prepared to be eaten!!

 

Some time ago I made a comment on an online forum that I felt annoyed and depressed at the complete lack of intelligent and readily available horror reading material. Recently I have been pleasantly surprised to discover such gems as “The Concrete Grove” by Gary McMahon and the ultimate werewolf tail (little play on words !) High Moor by Graeme Reynolds a new and rising star in this genre…so belief and a smile are slowly returning to my face.

After some difficulty I was successful in securing a copy of “The Wolfen” by Whitley Strieber and am so pleased that I did. In essence The Wolfen is a story of man and Canis Lupus Sapiens or more commonly referred to as the Werewolf trying to eke out a living and cohabit in an overcrowded world and a world that refuses to acknowledge it’s existence. Two policemen are murdered whilst carrying out routine duties at a car pound in a district of New York, and the investigating officers Rebecca Neff and George Wilson are tasked with bringing the perpetrators to justice. Wilson and Neff soon discover that this is not a simple case and suspicion soon falls on the Werewolf, The Wolfen as named in the book. The story evolves with a great list of characters and a cracking storyline that never relaxes. It soon becomes clear that The Wolfen pack are themselves hunting Wilson and Neff, as the knowledge these two officers now possess concerning the existence of The Wolfen, threatens the werewolf community and way of life….the hunters have become the hunted!! The chief of police Underwood is only interested in his promotion to Commissionaire and refuses to accept that a pack of Werewolf’s are living and running amok in his city, and are responsible for the death of two of his officers. Carl Ferguson the curator of the Natural History Museum is haunted by the possibility of an imminent Werewolf attack and in one particularly tense scene he is walking the museum late at night and is deeply troubled and frightened by every sound the building exudes. This tension and fear prevailing throughout the book draws the reader in and creates a great sense of unease. The Wolfen is a silent predator who can destroy his prey efficiently and with clockwork precision. To understand the mind of The Wolfen it must be appreciated they only really attack to satisfy their hunger and they view man as a means to exist and a good source of nourishment. They are also selective in their choice of victim,(the murder of the two policemen was a mistake) and choose to kill only those who they see as weak and who live in the fringes. They kill with ruthless and silent efficiency and it is this ability that totally immerses the reader in a nightmare reading experience! The brutal strength and beauty of The Wolfen is best described in one memorable scene from the book……

“Now she was down, she was pushing her nose past cloth, slick hot flesh, feeling the vibration of subvocal response in the man, feeling his muscles stiffening as his body reacted to her standing on it, then opening her mouth against the flesh, feeling her teeth scrape back and down, pressing her tongue against the deliciously salty skin and ripping with all the strength in her jaws and neck and chest, and jumping back to the wall with the bloody throat in her mouth. The body on the bench barely rustled as its dying blood poured out….Now her job was over,she dropped behind the wall and ate her trophy. It was rich and sweet with blood. Around her the pack was very happy as it worked….Then the pack ate in rank order. The mother took the brain. The father took a thigh and buttock. The first mated pair ate the clean organs. When they returned from their duty the second mated pair took the rest. And then they pulled apart the remains and took them piece by piece and dropped them in the nearby lake…When this was done, they went to a place they had been earlier, a great meadow full of the beautiful new snow that had been falling. They ran and danced in the snow, feeling the pleasure of their bodies, the joy or facing headlong across the wide expanse, and because they knew that no human was in earshot they had a joyous howl full of the pulsing rhythm they liked best after a hunt…..

Neff has a difficult home life and a complicated working relationship with Wilson, however they must lay aside these differences to keep focused and avoid being consumed by The Wolfen. The chase becomes a game of cat and mouse and a marvellous experience for the reader as the tension never relaxes and we rush towards a bloody conclusion. This is not merely a horror story but the portrayal of a misunderstood group trying to exist and survive in the shadows of the city and avoid the wrath of man….I strongly recommend!

The Whisperers by John Connolly

John Connolly's books fall between two genres horror and crime with a little bit of da vinci code thrown in. I love Charlie Parker, yes like all cops he's got his past and his demons but these in no way interfere in a cracking storyline. In essence ancient artifacts have been stolen from Iraq and are being smuggled into the US via Canada for what else profit...for the bad men : The Whisperers are a curse/demons that are securely locked in a small box and just waiting to be released on an unsuspecting world...Into this story enter a host of characters...The Collector..The Captain...Herod (being eaten alive by a speeding cancer...which only adds to his evil), and lets not forget Charlie's two able bodied helpers Angel and Louis....add a number of ex servicemen who are mysteriously dying/committing suicide, an array of evil gangsters...together with the aptly named Jimmy Jewel (didn't he have a comedy show with Hilda Baker ;)...and we have a top class thriller and as they say....grabs you from the first page and never lets go!.....so for all fans of dark and highly entertaining crime/horror fiction this is a must read...enjoy...and sleep tightly otherwise the Whisperers will get you......

It's an amazing Boy's Life...

This is a book rich in imagery, innocence, good and evil. It is a book that is far above the standard set by Stephen King and his stories of small town America. This story is set in Zephyr Alabama and follows the coming of age of a young and exuberant Cory Mackenson. From the opening chapter our attention is grabbed as Cory and his father our delivering milk one morning ,they avoid a collision with an auto mobile travelling towards them as it crashes into the nearby lake. Corey's father dives into the lake deep down, and tries to rescue the driver, who is naked and handcuffed to the steering wheel, but he is unsuccessful in his rescue attempt. This image of the trapped man haunts Cory's dad throughout the book and fills his every day with feelings of inadequacy and suicide. This however is only one of many images and stories that entertain and enthral the reader. We feel Cory's love of life and freedom, when school recesses for the summer and Cory and his friends sprout wings and fly, a lovely magical scene depicting the sense of freedom that only the coming of school holidays can bring. We learn of Cory's sadness when his old and trusty bicycle collapses, when he returns with his father to collect and perhaps repair the bike is no longer there but has disappeared collected by Mr Scully the local scrap metal merchant, the description at the scrap yard where Cory's bike is now "dead" is funny and touching. Corey is presented with a brand new bicycle by "The Lady" and he names it "rocket", Cory and rocket have many great adventures together. The residents of Zephyr are both eccentric and fun, at the local barber shop we meet one elderly gentleman who supposedly saved the life of Wyatt Earp, and proceeds to tell a colourful story. At a later stage in the book there is a scene reminiscent of High Noon when there is a shoot out at the bus station with the local bad guys and our elderly gentleman again saves the day, a lovely fun and touching scene. The music of the beach boys enrages the town's clergyman and he preaches hell and damnation to the locals with very funny overtones. Equally there are some very touching chapters when Cory's best friend accidentally falls on a rifle,the rifle discharges and he dies, or Cory reading a copy of "Life" in his room and looking at pictures of the assassination of Kennedy, the war in Vietnam, awakening him to the realities and cruelties of the human spirit. In the final chapters we travel forward in time and meet Cory as a grown man returning to his place of birth only to find as we all do that his childhood memories, and places he knew no longer exist...lost in time 
This is a truly entertaining, exciting and enjoyable book rich in heart-warming dialogue, imagery, sadness and hope. It makes the reader laugh and cry, it makes the reader warm to a story of outstanding beauty and a dialogue that is rich in it's delivery. This is a story that has certainly touched me, and will live in my mind and memory for a very long time. I highly recommend and hope this review will encourage many to join Cory on a trip down memory lane and meet the residents of Zephyr Alabama.

Welcome to Concrete Hell!

The word concrete, the overpowering image of the Concrete Grove, the shear struggle for survival in a world full of harsh, bitter and destructive influences is what flows through this book making it an unbelievable and at times difficult read. The content is bleak, the subject matter is bleak and the characters we meet, for the most part are people at the bottom of the food chain struggling for some form of survival and existence. The story takes place in a run down council estate somewhere in North East England, and in such a locality there lives the takers and those who are taken from. The author must surely draw upon his knowledge when he introduces us to Monty Bright, evil personified who together with his associates Terry (whose prosthetic limb lends itself to one of the most enduring and horrific scenes)and Francis Boater a murdering psychopath for most of his life but finally finds some sort of peaceful conclusion. The only real hero, in an otherwise pitiful list of characters, is Hailey whose bad luck it is to find herself living in this concrete hell, but has the good fortune to be drawn to a form of magic that may prove her redemption. Hailey's mother Lana Fraser is a woman who will do anything to remove herself from the burning fires of this living nightmare and when she finds herself in debt to Monty Bright hopes that her friendship with Tom will be her escape. Tom receives very little sympathy from the reader as he is fundamentally a weak character and bemoans his life and his non existent marriage to the grotesque Helen. Gary McMahon graphically shows what life must be like living in the gutter style existence of the concrete jungle where only the takers succeed and the taken from survive by eking out an existence in a world that largely chooses to ignore them.

Mo Hyder....a bit of a disappointment :(

What is it about crime writers that they just do not seem to be able to keep me the reader entertained for the complete read??? I have read all Mo Hayder's books and even enjoyed the stand alone's ie Pig Island...but here in this read we have a real dilemma..:(( The first 300 pages is enjoyable and the plot/storyline is a little different...and our two heroes Caffery and Flea are once again on the case. I particularly enjoy "The Walking Man" which in essence is a "sounding board" for Caffery, a man who lives by his wits under the skys and although he and Caffery share a related/sad past for the most part The Walking Man is a way for Caffery to take stock and introduces a nice touch for the reader...we should all have a walking man to bounce our ideas off. Living in Bristol I enjoy the setting for this series with the mystical surroundings of Somerset playing a major part...however this all falls apart if the story becomes somewhat pedestrian and predictable. Someone is kidnapping young children..why?..when it becomes known the answer is somewhat bizarre...who is doing this?...someone with insider information...any amateur reader/detective will soon have worked the solution out by page 300..and then there is the question of Flea??? What exactly is her role in this story, she is a police diver by trade....and well does what she is best at...eh..diving...why...not sure?? She's gets into a little trouble and blow me down the killer tracks her down..will our hero Caffery rescue in time!! Of course he will, this is a series, and so we plod along for some 200 pages...killer dies...Flea lives...what a surprise!! Dear author please try not to bore us the reader, this book was too long by some 200 pages, fine if the story merits it but if not it is a real struggle to finish...but finish I did. I started off giving this latest Hayder book 5 stars....but it became so utterly predictable by the final page I was tempted to award one star...however on reflection and given that I have great respect for the author I decided to award two stars...but come on Miss Hayder if there is no further life in this series and the storylines become even more boring and bizarre...perhaps it is time for Caffery and Flea to do themselves a favour and both retire.....

Infected by Scott Sigler

I read Scott Sigler's Intected last year and thought if a first class horror/techno thriller with some very funny moments....here's my review :)

Well just finished my first sigler book and wasn't it great  I had this strange sensation of wanting to scratch myself and take a knife to that spot that's been annoying me on my butt! The little fellas what a lovely name for those cute little triangles THEY'RE HATCHING...HURRY UP...GET THIS THREAD POSTED.... Well fellas we all know what was the most horrific and gut wrenching for us to read...yep putting your balls on a table and getting your big knife out...now that really did make me cringe . I loved the writing style the fast and easy to absorb chapters and the techno talk which was never too complicated or long to allow you to lost interest. I have the follow up book Contagius on order and I look forward to another great instalment of the life and times of the anti-hero Perry Dawsey!

A cracking edge of the (tube) seat horror story :))

"John continued staring until the train moved on, and her peculiar words floated back to him, resonating with threat "We'll all cook before the end" A great line in what is a cracking short horror story by a very talented author. A pulsating London, a crowded tube station, a busy rush hour and always the fear of the unknown...all these ingredients come together to make this novella an exciting albeit short read. Who is the mysterious John Rowe, where is Melody the girl he wants to marry, what is the significance of the Lady and the child and what part does the young Asian gentleman play??? All is revealed in a surprising and timely conclusion but let's leave the final word to the woman announcer "This is a Hell-bound train...to your impending demise"...read and enjoy :))

A poor horror read for the kindle lover :(

Yet another book of pure horror rubbish! What is it about so many horror writers today that they just do not get it...they need to have as a fundamental a decent story and that is just not present here in Night of the Nazi Zombies. I actually enjoyed the start, boys own for sure but nothing wrong with that...D Day is imminent and our heroes have a very hard landing on French soil ahead of the main invasion fleet. The task of Lieutenant Harvey and Sgt Smith is to attack and preserve bridges so that our lads can make successful inroads into France part of the great push to Berlin....and then they run into some deranged Zombies...and that's the end of the story as the remainder of the book is devoted to descriptions of repelling the attacks of blood thirsty Zombies...woa what a story...how well thought out...you should hang your head in shame for writing such puerile rubbish (how did I ever finish) The grammar is atrocious...do these so called "books" (and I use the term loosely) never get proof read?? I love horror but writing of this nature does more to damage the reputation of this genre and in my opinion should never be published!!

And now for some great horror :))

Following on from my great disappointment yesterday and just to prove there are some really good undiscovered authors waiting in the dark to be discovered...I would like to say well done to Graeme Reynolds and his snappy little werewolf tale High Moor I thought this was a fantastic read and here is my recent review on Amazon....I look forward to the next instalment Graeme :))


Well I do enjoy a good horror book and having read very little concerning our good close doggy friends the ever pleasant werewolf I thought I would give High Moor a try especially as the price had just been reduced by the author for a limited period...and I must say I was pleasantly surprised :)) The action is fast and most of it takes place in the 1980's with the last third moving forward to the present. Anyone meeting or infected by the werewolf can expect to meet a sudden and very nasty death, we are introduced to Carl Schneider werewolf hunter extraordinaire arriving with a full arsenal of weapons to tackle the nasty epidemic of the werewolf. The real werewolf beast is the "moonstruck" variety and as the name implies only emerges at a full moon name but boy does he reap carnage.....whereas the more "pleasant" :)) werewolf can change at will and as the action in the book shows they are the only real weapon available to kill the moonstruck werewolf. The story essentially is the return of John Simpson to his childhood home and there he confronts adversaries from his youth....but in order to achieve a good and enjoyable werewolf read the author must blend storytelling with dark humour and Graeme Reynolds does an excellent job at portraying the full horror and joy of the werewolf sage to an eagerly waiting reader salivating at the mouth...with a little bit of blood and grizzle.....enjoy!!

It's 2012...and lets make it a blogging year :))

First of and what have I read...well I am a great admirer of Horror and am constantly on the lookout for something new and original. With the great increase in the use of the Kindle there is ample opportunity to sample and read lots of new and hopefully exciting horror stories. Having heard so much about Jeff Strand http://jeffstrand.wordpress.com/ I decided to read yesterday Wolf Hunt and was very disappointed especially given all the fantastic reviews the book had by fellow reviewers...ah well everyone to their own taste....

What if Sunday was actually Monday?....what if your neighbours were really aliens?...what if your wife and family and everything you believed in was not what it seemed.....welcome to the world of Linwood Barclay. I enjoy Linwood Barclay but as someone famous once said I love babies but I couldn't eat a whole one (no offence meant!) His novels grab you from the opening sentence and lead you on a merry dance right to the final page. They are fun, they are great reads they are totally nonsense but above all they are great entertainment...and surely that is what good writing is all about? David Harwood enters an amusement park with his wife and child...his wife disappears and thereafter David's world is never the same again. You will be hooked and you will race along with David in a story that becomes increasingly bizarre as it heads like a steamroller to the somewhat predictable but enjoyable finish....I do recommend but as it says on the medicine jar...do not exceed the stated dose......

What can I say for a mere 0.86p you can acquire a truly original horror short story collection. What makes this book so different is the fact that all these stories are joined together in a very clever way. The writing is very taut, bright, fresh and new, and I loved every word. So often in the past I have been disappointed when reading horror books, but AJ Armitt is a breath of fresh air and I urge you to downlod...you will not be disappointed :))

I'm back!!

I've been a naughty boy...I start my blog all enthusiastic...all ready to go...and what happens..after a few short weeks...I neglect it....I just don't post...well that is going to change and I'm going to post again about my three main passions running..reading...cycling. I enjoyed a really great Half Marathon at Newent near Gloucester on July 24th, it was scenic, it was hilly, it was hot and it was tough and I thought to myself as I slogged the tarmac...what the hell am I doing here!! I'm 55..can this really be doing me any good?..but I love it :)) I completed the course in 1hr 39mins and was rather discusted with myself....what a rubbish time...well it was for me. I left as soon as the race was over and only glanced at the results on Monday the 25th...and I could not believe my eyes...I had won a prize!! yes 1st male 55 to cross the finish line, and I left and did not collect my prize...the first prize I have actually ever won in my long and not so illustrious running career. I emailed the race organizers in the hope that they would send me my winning four bottles of beer and quality street chocs, but they ignored me and I cannot blame them if I was not willing to receive my prize. Luckily one of my fellow bittonroadrunners collected my prize and I finally did receive at the Thursday club meet..hurrah. Tomorrow I shall share with you some thoughts on books I have read recently so lets keep posting runner...it may not be everyday...but I plan to spread my enthusiasm and thougths to the world....

Reviews...reviews...reviews...

I tend to surf the web avidly  seeking book recommendations on a particular genre I am at present reading. Having just completed Crack-up by Eric Chrispopherson I am amazed how a book that cost pennies can create such an impact on me the reading public. A good story should have something extra or quirky that makes it stand out from the book crowd and this is certainly true of Crack-Up. Our hero Argus Ward runs a successful security company specializing in protecting companies from computer hackers or industrial espionage. Argus has a little secret that he has kept hidden for a number of years and by the use of medication it is not known that he suffers from acute delusion ie he is a paranoid schizophrenia. This is not a problem until someone or something alters his medication and rather than consuming tablets to keep his schizophrenia hidden the tablets now have no value or effect on his condition. Someone is attempting to control him and condition him to commit murder...which he does. This is a first class thriller with great moments of black humour as Argus and his alto ego Darth Vader periodically indulge in some comic conversation...can Argus clear his name?...can he confront the real culprit?..enjoy a fast  roller coaster ride on what is a first class thriller.
I was recommended a short horror novella Come Closer by Sara Gran and although it was a fun and short read I am afraid for me the enjoyment did not really happen. It is essentially the story of a young lady being possessed by a daemon, fun with some amusing moments essentially and certainly readable horror however in the final analysis it did little to convince me that modern horror writers can reach the heights of the masters from the past.

You must read this :))

For those who have a kindle and would like a recommendation concerning a good book...a book that is impossible to put down...a book that will keep you reading into the small hours...a book of such brilliance it deserves to be a best seller...look nor further than Crack-Up by Eric Christopherson!!

There are a number of sites to that will give you the book's background and first class reader reviews. I would also note the if you buy the book via amazon you will pay a fraction of the price charged by smashwords!!

There is some really good reading material available for the kindle at very competitive prices and if I find I will certainly post on my blog...nough said just get a copy by looking and clicking through my recommendations on the right start reading, and let me know your thoughts :))

http://ebooks-that-sell.blogspot.com/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crack-Up/dp/B002HMCLFQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1295534570&sr=1-1

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/5363

Lets go to work!

We live here in the UK in a benefits society, where so many people think it is smart and right not to work but if possible (and it seems to me it always is) claim benefits. Those who choose this path in life, in my opinion,  lack any desire or want to aid society or to pay their dues, excluding of course those genuine claimants. I voice this opinion because since last Friday Jan 14th I have been unable to work as I am afflicted..not with man flu..but something that started as a cold and then progressed to a lung infection and I, by my own admission, am now becoming somewhat difficult to live with! I have been removed from my weekly routine, I have been unable to  set schedules, tasks or organise a working day. I have not enjoyed the pleasure of cycling to and from work (and sometimes further) nor have I been able to prepare for my next upcoming half marathon taking place in the rolling hills of South Gloucestershire mid march......in effect I have become a "miserable bastard" :( but fear not fair reader of my blog I am fighting back! In preparation for my return to work on Friday, amidst all my coughing and lack of well-being, and as the weather today is what could only be described as a beautiful winters day, I have set myself the task of making both my cycles work ready!!...and boy do I feel much better. I have set myself a mission, I have a schedule and I have organised the start of my late working week even though I am consuming a daily dose of 1500 mg Amoxicillin. In short work and exercise makes us what we are and gives us a purpose, a need to belong and a desire to succeed and make sense of our lives in the world we live which is part of a greater good and a greater universe.....here ends today's lesson :)) 

The Joy of Reading

The enjoyment of books and reading has been greatly enhanced to me since the internet exploded into our lives from the mid 90's onwards, and yet it is really only in the last few years that we have truly been able to appreciate it's power and it's influence. As an avid reader the ability to discuss and make contact with like minded enthusiasts throughout the world has been and continues to be a fantastic experience. In a pre broadband era the choice of what to read, what constituted good books, and what made for enlightened reading, could only be accessed via local libraries, book stores or recommendations through friends....in other words the choice was somewhat limited. However today it is possible to discuss and debate the literary word throughout the world and by participating in book discussion forums expand our knowledge of what constitutes good authors and intelligent reading. The ability to exchange views, and have contact with authors is something only imagined a few short years ago but now is a part of our reading lives...and long may it contiune :)

A nice place to read in and just relax! Cyprus 09

The King of dark horror Greg Gifune!!

I just finished Drago Descending by Greg Gifune...who you may ask and that's the problem. I discovered Greg Gifune crawling the net and searching for dark horror fiction, horror that does not rely on gratuitous violence,horror that does not inundate you with sexual depravity but rather horror that makes you question and think about the world we live in and the evil that surrounds us. Drago Descending essentially confronts the age old question if we we believe there is good in the world, if we believe there is an afterlife then it stands to reason there must be some form of hell. So in essence the book is a battle between good and evil and those who would sell their souls to attain some kind of immortality. This is the second book I have read by Gifune and the main protagonists are flawed they are people living at the extremes of society who are trying to assimilate and make sense of their individual existence. Private Investigator David Drago is a former policeman and Gulf War veteran struggling with his combat experiences, his time spent in the psychological ward of a veteran's hospital, and the darkness of his past. When he is approached by a mysterious client who hires him to locate his missing fiance, Jesse Greenlaw, Drago hesitantly takes the case. The problem, Jesse is also David's former girlfriend, and an integral part of the murky past still haunting him. Drawn into a world of pornography, where Jesse was working at the time of her disappearance, his investigation leads him into a labyrinth of violence, sexual intrigue, black witchcraft, and satanism. The deeper he digs, the deeper Drago descends into a dark netherworld haunted by terrifying visions of angels and demons alike, and where nothing is what it seems. David Drago is trapped in a nightmare, and there is no escape.
I have his latest book on order "Gardens of Night" but unfortunately as he is little known here in the UK it has to be sourced and bought from the US, but I will certainly look forward to reading and reviewing. Do visit his web site at
http://www.gregfgifune.com/.....lets talk tomorrow :))

Kindle in the wind....

It's cool..it's slim...it ooozes sex appeal...it's about 6+ inches long :) and it slips smugly into my pocket...ladies and gentlemen it's the all new wonder of 2011..the beautiful..the humble...the sleek..the elegant..Kindle!! and I'm in love with it. A very short few years ago when the idea of an electronic reading device was revealed I like many other avid and loyal readers, bought up on a diet of well thumbed paperbacks, were of the opinion that an "ebook" would have a difficult task of trying to prove itself as a worthy substitute for the humble paperback. As a lifetime buyer of books the joy of perusing, selecting, holding, smelling, fondling, and collecting them was a simple pleasure that all book lovers will fight to retain and few will relinquish willingly. The joy of visiting a book store with the smells and sights of neatly aligned books standing to attention awaiting inspection, the enticing comfort and coziness offered by back street book sellers, and the  warmth and friendliness of the local library are all emotions that draw us  to the love the humble book and hold dear the printed word.

         The early ebook readers were chunky affairs, bloated and difficult to hold and manipulate with the hand, then along came Amazon and the Kindle 3…and the whole world smiled, changed and accepted that maybe there was a place beside the humble book for this supposed usurper of the throne. The Kindle 3 made reading and acquiring books easy, in fact download via whispernet took seconds and for a consumer orientated society this was bliss. More importantly the ability to read this amazing ebook without the fear of eye strain, by the use of virtual or e ink was what I believe finally sold the idea of an electronic book reader to a previously skeptical public. From personal experience I find that my ability to assimilate and read a book quickly has improved dramatically since acquiring my Kindle on December 25^th…….but what of the future of the printed word?

         I still love to hold a book, put my nose between the open pages and smell the aromatic essence, caress and fondle and admire texture and flow of the written prose. Today I was in central Bristol (at the NHS walk in…told you I was ill!) and could not resist the pull of my local book store Waterstones! Always eager to read and taste the delights of new authors I acquired Horns by the acclaimed Joe Hill and that great coming of age story Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury…was this an attempt to placate the guilt in my soul..was this a snub at the Kindle 3,…of course not, I enjoy reading the printed word in either book or electronic form and believe that both can live happily side by side not as enemies but as friends who compliment eachother….lets talk tomorrow…

Kindle 2

Kindle 3

God do I feel awful....

I know ...I know I'm still moaning..however had the chance to finish Mine by Robert McCammon today having started it yesterday. Yet another outstanding book by McCammon in essence we are talking about a chase but a chase so brutal and horrific you just have to hold on for the ride! The main character is the superbly named Mary Terror and when we first meet her it soon becomes obvious that Mary has some serious "social issues" Described as a 6ft tall Amazon chick she is built like a "brick ****house" Mary is the sort of woman that you would encourage your friend to choose at the local dance hall..while you choose her pretty mate :) So Mary has decided that her long lost lover from some 20 years ago is calling her to join him from a little town north of San Francisco. Mary and Lord Jack were originally part of a terror group and Mary was carrying Jack's child when caught in an explosion she lost the child...so now our hero Mary decides to steal a baby and travel to meet Jack..who is bound to welcome her with open arms....not!! A baby is taken from the hospital newly delivered to the beautiful and wealthy Laura Clayborne and she is naturally none to pleased, whilst waiting for little David to be returned to her side after a weight check,....he is grabbed by the in form Mary and taken on a terror ride he will never forget. The story is a great dark horror tale told in a very easy and fun way by the master Robert McCammon...and I completed the 540 pages within 24 hours....woa!! My next read, already downloaded to my kindle, is Drago Descending by the soon to be world famous Greg Gifune, an author of outstanding literary ability so check him out at http://www.gregfgifune.com/ ...lets speak later...when I have stopped coughing...splutter..splutter :(( :((

Man Flu continues....

Having been awake since 4.00am I took the decision that " man flu" meant work was a no no today...and that means only one thing to me!..The house to myself..well almost (the 12 year old Lucy is sick as well) I decided that as running was out of the question (unless I'm totally mad or as Pink Floyd would say "I know I'm mad I've always been mad"...for those of a certain age :)) I armed myself with lots of hot tea and settled down to "Mine" by Robert McCammon http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R3M990DT7ZIW0N/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt#R3M990DT7ZIW0N
View the blurb, read the first pages this is a truly amazing read and within no time I was page 350! This is one fantastic author and I look forward to discovering many more of his books in the future. Why is it that when you are ill,  and when you telephone to report to your immediate boss that you will not be attending work today, you feel guilty. You always feel that even though you are genuinely  ill you have to sound really really ill..even depressed..as you may  not be believed. I know this is because of the sick culture we live in and with so many so called dedicated employees pulling a "sickie" it gives us genuine cases a feeling of guilt when we don't report for duty...sir!!...or maybe I just have a complex  :(. I also spent some time today updating my profile on goodreads a book social networking site that in my opinion is fast becoming one of the best on the net and you can see my profile at http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3542870
It's party time for Lucy tomorrow and there is a sleepover...god help us...lets speak then..if I'm awake :))