Billionaire John Farrington is obsessed with the idea of offending God to the point that God would want to confront him in person. Farrington has abducted priests and nuns to commit sexual atrocities with the most grievously genetically deformed people he can find. People that he's also abducted and kept in such a high state of sexual intensity, with a drug his company produces, that they are just ravenous for physical contact. The abductees, with basically no self control, commit some of the most depraved sex acts, over, and over again. Westmore and Bryant, a photographer and journalist, are given the rare opportunity to interview the reclusive Farrington and see inside his mansion and operation. Only to find the horrors within, and who have become pawns in the mysteries they find behind every door. Farmington's plan may work, and to make sure he's successful, he will do whatever it takes to have the deity of man face him.
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Rating: 5 out of 5
Genre: Horror, Splatterpunk
Ever since I read my first Edward Lee book, I have wanted this book. It is not available in eBook form as of this post. Luckily, I received it as a gift otherwise it would have stayed low on my to-read list.
This book was co-authored by Wrath James White. This duo made for an awesomely-grotesque team of the sickening kind.
The book is perfect in length for if it would have been shorter or longer, the gripping details could have proved too little or too much. This was just right!
The story was interesting but what grabbed me by the balls (if I had any) was the grotesqueness of the actions performed within the story. Disturbing acts of freaky sex occurs frequently throughout with enough description to make the reader bit their lip and hold back a little vomit.
The eccentric character made the entire story. Without him and the developmental skills of Lee and White, this story would have flopped big time. He was the meat of the whole book!
I recommend this book to anyone who loves the disturbing, grotesque and all and out face-slapping sickness of Lee and White.
Welcome to Chromatacia, where the societal hierarchy is strictly regulated by one's limited color perception. And Eddie Russet wants to move up. But his plans to leverage his better-than-average red perception and marry into a powerful family are quickly upended. Juggling inviolable rules, sneaky Yellows, and a risky friendship with an intriguing Grey named Jane who shows Eddie that the apparent peace of his world is as much an illusion as color itself, Eddie finds he must reckon with the cruel regime behind this gaily painted façade.
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Rating: 5 out of 5
Genre: Dystopic Fantasy
Before this book, I was not familiar with Jasper Fforde’s work. I took a chance on the referral of a good friend of mine and put “Shades of Grey” in my to-read list. I pushed it back a few times thinking I was not going to like it as much as my disgusting horror books. I decided to get it after my last horror book to change genres. I cannot believe I put it off for as long as I did!
Fforde’s writing style in “Shades of Grey” is fantastic and different from anything I have ever read before. The story itself was an amazing spiral of nonsense and true-to-life happenings. The ridiculousness of what happens along with some of the made-up words and history simply makes you laugh and crinkle your brow confused-like simultaneously.
The beginning can be hard to get into at first. Do not let this put you off in any way. There is a reason that the book starts the way it does. Imagine being dropped off in another world. Would you understand everything right of way? Do you think you could understand the hierarchy or language in this different world? The story takes its time in explaining some things, but it is worth the wait. It will allow you to appreciate the style and pace the author has chosen. By the end, you will be begging for more!
I must say that Jasper Fforde is now one of my most favorite authors. I recommend this book to those who are looking for something comical yet amazingly brilliant. Fforde will not disappoint!
The distilled essence of Buddhism in plain English. Contains the essential truths that you can apply in your life.
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Rating: 5 out of 5
Genre: Beliefs (Buddhism)
It may seem strange for me to give such a high rating for a book that is only 33 pages. I do have my reasons.
First of all, this book is a simple introduction to bits of Buddhism. It is not meant to be a full explanation. It is simply a taste of what can become a full way of living. Second, it is only 33 pages. What do you expect to get from a short book?
Anyone looking for a lengthy explanation, this is a never-read.
It shows you "The Essence" of Buddhism. It also does not claim to explain it in its entirety or as much as one could explain something like this.
If you are looking for something new or different for what ever reason you are looking, this is a must-try. It is short enough to hold your attention and explains quickly the basics of this belief/way of living.
A group of city kids on an overnight camping trip get more than they signed up for in this non-stop, rocket right straight into terror. Imagine the worst thing that can happen to you.
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Before I rate this book, I have to mention that I read two versions of it. The first was the final edited version and the second was the uncut version. I will rate them together because they are essentially the same story. There are big differences from one to the other, but those will be discussed in the hidden spoiler section below.
Rating: 3 out of 5 (edited version)
Rating: 4 out of 5 (uncut version)
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5
Genre: Horror
As usual, Kilborn tantalized my ocular sense with gruesome acts and a spine-tingling horror story.
The edited version (EV) felt like the whole story was not being shared with the reader. This is likely due to the editing. The uncut version (UV) filled in the gaps that the EV left out. The UV also allowed for a story that made much more sense than the EV. There was one totally unnecessary addition made to the EV that made me keep saying, “There better be a point to this?”
The UV was very descriptive. I am not sure why the editors tore the book apart the way they did. It was so much better than the EV. It made a heck of a lot more sense than the EV. There was nothing to hate about the UV.
I understand I am being pretty vague here, but if I got into the details, I may give away some of the fun-tastical story. Please bear with me, especially if you have not read this book yet.
The UV has grammatical errors along with spelling errors, but this to be expected with an uncut, unedited book. Despite these small flaws, the UV was much more fulfilling to me as a fan of Kilborn (J.A. Konrath).
I recommend reading both versions simply to see the differences for yourself.
As for choosing my preferred version, it would most definitely be the uncut version. The story flowed much better and the original characters made it much more believable. I found myself saying, “Oh, now that makes sense!” In addition, the UV does not “feel’ like it is jumping from one person to another.
The EV felt like some of the characters were forced into the story unwillingly. The story felt jumpy. What do I mean? I mean that the story felt lacking in believability. It was not true to itself as far as story-telling goes. It was almost as if I was being lied to.
~!~Discussion and Spoilers Here~!~
!~*~Spoiler Alert~*~!
The first major and most important difference was the unnecessary baby.
~In the edited version (EV) there was a baby. It had no real purpose in the story and was more of a distraction that anything else. It really did not have too much to do with the story going on around it. It really felt like an afterthought. It was like pushing a square peg into a circular hole. It just did not fit properly.
~*~Seriously, any one of us who has children knows for a fact that a baby would not be that quiet with all that ruckus happening around it. (i.e. jostling, not eating regularly, being hung from a tree) It was very unnecessary.
~In the uncut version (UV) there was no baby. I was so thankful for that! It allowed for the characters and story to move in a more natural fluidity.
The next big difference was what actually happened to Sara when she was a child.
~In the EV, she was playing with some cousins at her aunt’s house and then went to a near-by barn. Her boy cousin eventually coaxed her into an old trunk and locked her in. Sara was stuck in the trunk for several hours and was let out by the boy cousin. He then threatened her with a very big knife so she would not tell on him.
~In the UV version, there was no visit to an aunt’s house or cousins. This version had a kidnapper named Paulie Gunther Spence and a friend named Louise. Paulie had kidnapped Sara and Louise. He locked the two girls in a car trunk. He proceeded to remove Louise and do horrific things to her all the while describing to Sara his actions. He also described the knife he was using on Louise.
~*~I liked both versions, although, I prefer the kidnapping scenario because that would be scarier to me. As for Sara being locked in an old trunk by a cousin, well, eventually that aunt would notice she was gone and would go look for her. It is no less traumatic. But for this story, the kidnapping had more of an effect on me. It was a more suitable puzzle piece. It also made Subject 33 more of an important character in the UV.
A minor, but notable change was the Georgia and Lester scene in the beginning of the story.
~In the EV, Georgia and Lester did not have sex. She gave him a hand-job. She did not even consider having sex with Lester at all.
~In the UV, these two did have sex. She wanted it and Lester was more than willing to oblige.
~*~The reason I wanted to note this was because it made sense to have them have sex. She was already a nutty-freak herself. She had no sense of self esteem and simply having anyone want her in any way was a definite bonus in her eyes. This version allows for a better connection between the two of them later in the story. It was a nice addition!
Another big change was the General and Kong.
~The EV had a General named Tope. He had been watching the island via satellite and had business with the doctor.
~The UV had a director of a prison system from China involving the same business with the doctor.
~*~The base story of how these guys were involved were similar in both versions. They both wanted to have Plincer’s serum to gain control over the world. I prefer the UV version because Kong is everything that true American’s despise since 9/11. What could be more evil than someone from another country plotting to kill everyone in another country?! Scary!
***My comparison is only that of the hatred of Americans, by the book’s character Kong, and wanting to get rid of them by any means necessary. It’s a story and my opinion about the story, not about China, Americans or 9/11. Relax, it’s a book review.***
There are other changes, but the ones above are the most worthy of a mention.
A Dareville short! It's Karaoke Night at the local Cinco de Mayo celebration, but Red Marbury is singing the blues. When a gorgeous barfly named Miguel offers to cheer him up, Red comes to realize he can still enjoy the fireworks.
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Rating: 2 out of 5
Genre: Short Story, Erotica
This is another short erotica. I must say a disappointing one at that.
I was expecting a bit more erotica in this story, but was let down big time. Yes, there was an erotic scene within this story, but it fell flat. It was very brief and left a lot to be desired.
It is a quickie-read.
If you are looking for a detailed experience, this is a never-read.
