Sunday, September 07, 2008 Cruz Review: Twilight, true Love at 17? POST A COMMENT 'Doubtful Teen-lit author Meyer needs any help pushing her Twilight book series, but as promised here's my perspective: Book Genre: Teen Vamps -- 'Propelled by suspense and romance in equal parts,' offers Publishers Weekly. Story Blurb: A perfect male-model-type Vampire falls for your ordinary girl next door -- (or what coulda been subtitled, finding your soul mate at age 17...'subtracting of course anything to do with sex), so it's a big time fantasy. Page-turner meter, (or the can't-put-it-down factor): I gotta be honest, I was not hooked from page one, but I ending up reading the entire book in under four days...'in large part my I'm-not-buying-this meter got in the way of fully enjoying the suspense. Could also have something to do with the fact that I'm not the intended female teen audience; but, the good news is that regardless of your age (or gender), the story kicks into high gear after about page 90. So, on a scale of 1-10, it gets a shaky 8. What I really liked: I do get it; 'and especially understand why girls really love it. The protagonist, Bella, is your average teen girl and after spending so much time in her head we see a modern day Prince Charming story (or in this case, add a touch of the Prince of Darkness danger factor to the mix). What I least liked: I got it down to two things that really bite at me... (1) In Meyers world nobody has, or talks sex...'I'm sure, if memory serves correctly, that your average 16 or 17 year old might have at least thought about it once. One of the most seductive things in Vamp-lore is the erotic nature, so to cut that out completely feels very Sarah Palin-ish. (2) A few critics have accused Meyer of 'peddling saccharine melodrama,' I think that's in part to do with the dialogue. The characters in this book don't sound like your average teens...unless they all live on a Amish farm. 'That being said, there's a part of me (like any screeching teen girl) that also yearns for eternal love and finding my soul mate...'so, I'm eagerly looking forward to seeing the movie, and reading more from Meyer. Labels: Books, Cruz book reviews, Film, Stephenie Meyer, Twilight Saga, what I'm reading posted by Henry Cruz at 7:09 PM Thursday, August 28, 2008 Cruz Review: Dirty-handed-fun! POST A COMMENT Meg Gardiner knocks-it-out-the-park with her American-debut (and here with her sixth novel), The Dirty Secrets Club. I wrote briefly about this author last week, now After finishing the book, I'll offer ya'll my short review below: Book Genre: Like getting ya' hands-dirty with suspense, crime, and danger, leading up to nail biting climax? -- Then The Dirty Secrets clubs right up your alley. Story Blurb: Police call in Forensic psychiatrist Jo Beckett to sort out a crime; 'the clock is ticking 'cause they have 48 hours before somebody else dies. Page-turner meter, (or the can't-put-it-down factor): On a scale of 1-10, this gets a solid nine. I could almost see a Julia Roberts (or another A-lister) doing twirls in the film version. What I really liked: I'll focus on two things, but there's lots to like here: (1) The villains here could've been flat, but the author smartly went out of her way to make it less of a one noter, which looks at the good and bad inside humanity, as opposed to plain 'ol good guy versus bad guys. (2) Getting back to the suspense level, it's very well plotted. A touch of Alfred Hitchcock mixed with the girls of ABC's short lived legal drama series Women's Murder Club. What I least liked: If I really have to pull something from between my butt cheeks to Pu-pu the fun...'or something that set me off, I got two things (but, I'm nitpicking here): (1) We don't meet our protagonist Jo, until chapter three (around page 14th). Which made my brain work harder to sort out whose story it is, for a brighter person this might be okay...for a slow learner like me I don't like so many obstacles (2) I love those quirky character driven books, but this story's so very very plot by the numbers which never slows down long enough to give me a throw away moment that doesn't tie right into the plot. I know, I know, everything nowadays is story story story, or cut it out...but, I would like to see more small moments for the sake of character in the next book, and nothing to do with moving the plot. For example, for my money the best part of the USA's Monk is less about the crime, and more about the quirkiness of Monk. The Dirty Secrets Club Labels: Critics, Cruz book reviews, The Dirty Secrets Club, what I'm reading posted by Henry Cruz at 4:54 AM Wednesday, June 18, 2008 When life gives you Duma... POST A COMMENT Just spent 21 plus hours with the book-on-tape version of Stephen King's Duma Key...I wont give away the storyline; but, let's just say the main character has the worst day of his life...and things get worse, and of course things get a bit spooky... I'll be interested to see the condensed film version. A great story, that starts off slow -- I might have edited it down...but, if you hang in there, it's definitely a worth-while journey. I'd tip my hat to the King, but I doubt he needs any tips from me -- (his last two novels, received overwhelmingly positive criticism from The New York Times). The Cruz "Duma Key" Book Review: **** 1/2 stars (Four and half stars, out of a possible Five stars) Labels: Books, Cruz book reviews, Duma Key, stephen king posted by Henry Cruz at 4:10 AM     ARCHIVES October 2005 . November 2005 . December 2005 . August 2007 . September 2007 . October 2007 . November 2007 . December 2007 . March 2008 . April 2008 . May 2008 . June 2008 . July 2008 . August 2008 . September 2008 .