Mike's Updates en-US Thu, 22 May 2025 17:15:02 -0700 60 Mike's Updates 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Review7591600256 Thu, 22 May 2025 17:15:02 -0700 <![CDATA[Mike added 'Lock Every Door']]> /review/show/7591600256 Lock Every Door by Riley Sager Mike gave 1 star to Lock Every Door (ebook) by Riley Sager
DNF

I've heard of slow-burn books, but this was a no-burn book. Simply boring. ]]> Review7473051729 Tue, 08 Apr 2025 11:21:20 -0700 <![CDATA[Mike added 'Crawlspace']]> /review/show/7473051729 Crawlspace by Herbert Lieberman Mike gave 2 stars to Crawlspace (Paperback) by Herbert Lieberman
Crawlspace is a good metaphor for this book, in that there were so many interesting aspects to the plot that dead-ended in a dark corner. For example:

* The book gives every indication of being a creepy supernatural horror story, but ends up in a very different, and much less interesting place. (Think: well-meaning couple foster a vicious pit bull which ends up it biting people and forgetting its potty training.)

* The seemingly happy couple, who make up two of the three main characters of the story, reveal some serious problems in their relationship, but none of them are explained or resolved by the end of the book.

* The back story of the third character of the book, Richard, makes little sense and does nothing to explain his bizarre behavior, which swings from doting kindness to extreme violence.

* The author tosses in a post-death, "going-to-the-light" sequence that comes out of nowhere and abruptly ends, with no further connection to the story.

Add to that, a small town populated with stereotypes - a crooked sheriff, gangs of teenage thugs, hypocritical Christians, etc. They all do exactly what you expect them to do.

I will say that the book was a page-turner until the last 100 pages or so, when it became obvious that the plot was petering out, a real disappointment.

Another author to add to the "don't read again" list.
]]> Rating836451233 Sat, 15 Mar 2025 13:33:37 -0700 <![CDATA[Mike Wach liked a review]]> /
Mike liked Andrea Raub's review of Honestly, We Meant Well:
Honestly, We Meant Well by Grant Ginder
"Lots of people liked this book but I’m not even sure why I finished it. Too trite for words. "
]]> Rating836450979 Sat, 15 Mar 2025 13:32:34 -0700 <![CDATA[Mike Wach liked a review]]> /
Mike liked Story's review of Honestly, We Meant Well:
Honestly, We Meant Well by Grant Ginder
"Boring and cliched. "
]]> Review7405767396 Sat, 15 Mar 2025 13:07:20 -0700 <![CDATA[Mike added 'Honestly, We Meant Well']]> /review/show/7405767396 Honestly, We Meant Well by Grant Ginder Mike gave 2 stars to Honestly, We Meant Well (Hardcover) by Grant Ginder
The story of this book is the type that has already been covered, and covered better, by Allison Lurie. Ginder's main goal as an author seems to be to craft clever titles for his books, rather than to write clever books. The plot, the characters, the clichéd ending are ripe for an adaptation to one of those crappy films that keep the Lifetime Channel, and other purveyors of drivel, in business.

Sadly, the only good thing to come out of my time wasted reading this book is that I can add Ginder's name to the list of authors I will never read again. ]]> Review7330066542 Mon, 17 Feb 2025 11:19:40 -0800 <![CDATA[Mike added 'I'm Not Scared']]> /review/show/7330066542 I'm Not Scared by Niccolò Ammaniti Mike gave 3 stars to I'm Not Scared (Paperback) by Niccolò Ammaniti
As always, I'll let others summarize the plot.

Pros:
� I have never encountered a plot like this one--completely unique in my experience--and it's one that generates a good level of tension.
� The author does an excellent job of seeing the world through the eyes of the narrator, a nine-year-old boy named Michele. In fact, without that viewpoint, there would be no story.

Cons:
� Nine-year-old boys have an extremely naive view of the world, and they are not good at understanding the personalities of the adults around them and their motivations for the things they do. Because of this, the adult characters are all two-dimensional--no depth and little to differentiate one from another.
� There is not enough to the story to fill a novel; it would have made a compelling short story. Unfortunately, Ammaniti fills the voids with countless descriptions of Michele walking here, biking there, etc. Also, he repeatedly discusses the weather, which is hot and dry, for absolutely no reason--it has no role in the story at all.
]]> Review7015168008 Thu, 16 Jan 2025 18:34:57 -0800 <![CDATA[Mike added 'Moab Is My Washpot']]> /review/show/7015168008 Moab Is My Washpot by Stephen Fry Mike gave 2 stars to Moab Is My Washpot (Kindle Edition) by Stephen Fry
I think the general rule is that a memoire should be shorter than the life it relates, but Fry's book feels like you're slogging through every experience in his life. There are hundreds of little incidents, told in semi-chronological order, populated with dozens of minor characters you'll forget by the next page. Fry repeatedly tries to explain the British education system to non-British readers, but he does a miserable job, and I learned very little-and cared even less-about how it all works. As for learning about Fry, my takeaway message is that he thinks he's brilliant but bad at sports. After making it through about two-thirds of the book, I found I couldn't stay awake anymore and put it down. If the book contains an explanation of its title, I didn't encounter it by that point. ]]> ReadStatus8777220820 Sun, 22 Dec 2024 11:15:08 -0800 <![CDATA[Mike wants to read 'Havoc']]> /review/show/7108984948 Havoc by Christopher Bollen Mike wants to read Havoc by Christopher Bollen
]]> Review7015168008 Mon, 18 Nov 2024 08:42:38 -0800 <![CDATA[Mike added 'Moab Is My Washpot']]> /review/show/7015168008 Moab Is My Washpot by Stephen Fry Mike gave 2 stars to Moab Is My Washpot (Kindle Edition) by Stephen Fry
I think the general rule is that a memoire should be shorter than the life it relates, but Fry's book feels like you're slogging through every experience in his life. There are hundreds of little incidents, told in semi-chronological order, populated with dozens of minor characters you'll forget by the next page. Fry repeatedly tries to explain the British education system to non-British readers, but he does a miserable job, and I learned very little-and cared even less-about how it all works. As for learning about Fry, my takeaway message is that he thinks he's brilliant but bad at sports. After making it through about two-thirds of the book, I found I couldn't stay awake anymore and put it down. If the book contains an explanation of its title, I didn't encounter it by that point. ]]> ReadStatus8559306505 Fri, 25 Oct 2024 15:42:23 -0700 <![CDATA[Mike wants to read 'Redemption: A Novel']]> /review/show/6954468971 Redemption by Howard Fast Mike wants to read Redemption: A Novel by Howard Fast
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