A sci-fi fantasy set 13,000 years into the future and the same universe as Robin Sloan's previous novels Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore and SourdougA sci-fi fantasy set 13,000 years into the future and the same universe as Robin Sloan's previous novels Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore and Sourdough. When 12-year-old Ariel de la Sauvage rejects his destiny by not pulling a very important sword from a stone and thereby angering the town's ruler, the wizard Malory, Ariel barely escapes with his life. Setting upon an epic hero's quest, Ariel will encounter ancient humans of a lost civilization, spaceships, talking animals, genial robots, dragons, and our narrator: a sentient yeast-AI hybrid.
To be honest I've been sitting on this review for days because I'm finding it incredibly hard to put my Moonbound experience into words. There's just so much going on and it's weird and unlike anything I've ever read, but somehow also incredibly familiar and recognizable at the same time, and most importantly: SO FUN!
Moonbound is an immersive journey, a weird, wild, and wonderful adventure seeking an answer to the evergreen question: what happens next?
Thanks to the publisher for providing a complimentary review copy....more
38-year-old Belle returns to California from her life in Montreal in the wake of her mother, Noelle's, unexpected accidental death. Estranged in recen38-year-old Belle returns to California from her life in Montreal in the wake of her mother, Noelle's, unexpected accidental death. Estranged in recent years, Belle grew up in the shadow of her mother's beauty, and beauty regimens. She soon discovers Noelle was deeply in debt at the time of her death thanks to an elite and secretive spa with wchich she was involved taking cult beauty to the literal extreme. Belle, herself a devotee of a popular skinfluencer, is helpless to resist the offer of a free treatment from said spa and soon finds herself on her own journey with unexpected consequences.
Rouge reads like a midnight dark fairytale; disorienting, surreal, bizarrely funny, oddly touching, and weird in an uncomfortably recognizable way. In Rouge Awad holds a mirror to not just the ugliness within the beauty and wellness (a rose by any other name...) industrial complex, but the insidious concept of beauty and how those ideals infect, consume, and are propagated through, mother-daughter relationships. Awad's writing is so deeply weird in an enjoyably off-putting way, it feels as though you're in some sort of fever dream or perhaps a nightmare, but you don't want to leave.
Thanks to the publisher for providing a complimentary review copy.
Merged review:
38-year-old Belle returns to California from her life in Montreal in the wake of her mother, Noelle's, unexpected accidental death. Estranged in recent years, Belle grew up in the shadow of her mother's beauty, and beauty regimens. She soon discovers Noelle was deeply in debt at the time of her death thanks to an elite and secretive spa with wchich she was involved taking cult beauty to the literal extreme. Belle, herself a devotee of a popular skinfluencer, is helpless to resist the offer of a free treatment from said spa and soon finds herself on her own journey with unexpected consequences.
Rouge reads like a midnight dark fairytale; disorienting, surreal, bizarrely funny, oddly touching, and weird in an uncomfortably recognizable way. In Rouge Awad holds a mirror to not just the ugliness within the beauty and wellness (a rose by any other name...) industrial complex, but the insidious concept of beauty and how those ideals infect, consume, and are propagated through, mother-daughter relationships. Awad's writing is so deeply weird in an enjoyably off-putting way, it feels as though you're in some sort of fever dream or perhaps a nightmare, but you don't want to leave.
Thanks to the publisher for providing a complimentary review copy.
Merged review:
38-year-old Belle returns to California from her life in Montreal in the wake of her mother, Noelle's, unexpected accidental death. Estranged in recent years, Belle grew up in the shadow of her mother's beauty, and beauty regimens. She soon discovers Noelle was deeply in debt at the time of her death thanks to an elite and secretive spa with wchich she was involved taking cult beauty to the literal extreme. Belle, herself a devotee of a popular skinfluencer, is helpless to resist the offer of a free treatment from said spa and soon finds herself on her own journey with unexpected consequences.
Rouge reads like a midnight dark fairytale; disorienting, surreal, bizarrely funny, oddly touching, and weird in an uncomfortably recognizable way. In Rouge Awad holds a mirror to not just the ugliness within the beauty and wellness (a rose by any other name...) industrial complex, but the insidious concept of beauty and how those ideals infect, consume, and are propagated through, mother-daughter relationships. Awad's writing is so deeply weird in an enjoyably off-putting way, it feels as though you're in some sort of fever dream or perhaps a nightmare, but you don't want to leave.
Thanks to the publisher for providing a complimentary review copy.
Merged review:
38-year-old Belle returns to California from her life in Montreal in the wake of her mother, Noelle's, unexpected accidental death. Estranged in recent years, Belle grew up in the shadow of her mother's beauty, and beauty regimens. She soon discovers Noelle was deeply in debt at the time of her death thanks to an elite and secretive spa with wchich she was involved taking cult beauty to the literal extreme. Belle, herself a devotee of a popular skinfluencer, is helpless to resist the offer of a free treatment from said spa and soon finds herself on her own journey with unexpected consequences.
Rouge reads like a midnight dark fairytale; disorienting, surreal, bizarrely funny, oddly touching, and weird in an uncomfortably recognizable way. In Rouge Awad holds a mirror to not just the ugliness within the beauty and wellness (a rose by any other name...) industrial complex, but the insidious concept of beauty and how those ideals infect, consume, and are propagated through, mother-daughter relationships. Awad's writing is so deeply weird in an enjoyably off-putting way, it feels as though you're in some sort of fever dream or perhaps a nightmare, but you don't want to leave.
Thanks to the publisher for providing a complimentary review copy....more
Inspired by the diaries of 18th century midwife Martha Ballard The Frozen River is a fictionalized account of Ballard's involvement in the case of a mInspired by the diaries of 18th century midwife Martha Ballard The Frozen River is a fictionalized account of Ballard's involvement in the case of a man accused of rape found dead in the frozen river (*snap snap*) of post-Revolutionary Maine.
In 1789, 54-year-old midwife Martha Ballard is called to examine a body recovered from the freezing river running through town. The obvious assumption is death by drowning, though upon Martha's examination she determines he was beaten then hanged before entering the river. When called before the court to testify to her findings Martha encounters pushback from those in authority seeking to discredit her. This case is further complicated by the body's relevance to a concurrent rape case in which Martha is also entangled.
I don't read a ton of historical fiction, but felt called to The Frozen River by a combination of trusted reviews, the post-Revolutionary setting, and feature of a historical midwife. So much can be understood about society by entering the sphere of women. I ended up rapt by this story and Martha Ballard....more
Laurel Grant is kind of a screw up, or she WAS. She has made some mistakes in the past, but has finally landed a job she loves as social media ma3.5/5
Laurel Grant is kind of a screw up, or she WAS. She has made some mistakes in the past, but has finally landed a job she loves as social media manager for an Ohio tourism publication, things are on track. The only problem is her boss is under the impression she owns a farm with a husband and two kids and is something like the Joanna Gaines of central Ohio, but that would actually be her twin sister Holly. Laurel just runs the picture perfect social media account.
When her boss invites himself to Christmas Eve Eve dinner expecting a special holiday spread as detailed by the Meadow Rise Farm's Instagram account, Laurel steps into her sister's life to keep up the ruse, borrowing her kids and her brother-in-law's best friend to play her spouse. Laurel has considered Max her nemesis since they butted heads at her sister's wedding years ago, but surely they can pull off this act for a single evening. Except a freak blizzard has other plans and this merry cast of characters ends up snowed in together for days.
Faking Christmas is a modern retelling of the classic film Christmas in Connecticut. It's fun and funny, filled with plenty of heart and holiday cheer. Max and Laurel have good chemistry and the farm setting at winter is charming complete with cozy holiday meals, cookie baking, and twinkle lights. As always I appreciate Kerry Winfrey setting her stories in the Columbus area as a local myself.
Definitely one of my favorite reads this holiday season....more
A woman gets stuck in a time loop on December 4th the day she's up for an important promotion at work and the day her fiance is in an accident and falA woman gets stuck in a time loop on December 4th the day she's up for an important promotion at work and the day her fiance is in an accident and falls into a coma.
Through the Snow Globe is being shelved as romance, but it's definitely contemporary fiction. The story is about a woman discovering the importance of truly connecting with others and all that entails (being vulnerable, letting others in, showing up for people and allowing them to show up for you). I appreciated this angle, unfortunately everyone outside of the MC read very underdeveloped to me and as a result left me craving more depth to the story....more
Eli, a trans man rapidly approaching 40, returns from NYC to his Florida hometown for Christmas with his comedy writing career in shambles. He ha3.5/5
Eli, a trans man rapidly approaching 40, returns from NYC to his Florida hometown for Christmas with his comedy writing career in shambles. He hasn't been home for many years, definitely not since he transitioned, though his family is supportive even if his home state is hostile. While home Eli crosses paths with Nick, his best friend from childhood and his first... everything. Nick is in his own state of transition as a divorced dad of a young girl, and finds himself unexpectedly drawn to Eli.
Second Chances in New Port Stephen is a sweet second chance romance with a full cast of endearing characters. Packed into this largely lighthearted story are deeper topics such as alcoholism, transphobia, and racism. There is great balance in the writing, it never feels too heavy, in fact there is plenty of humor, but important points and perspective still come across. I appreciated the nuanced LGBTQIA+ representation.
A sweet (and slightly spicy!) new, old love story with a good bit of holiday cheer. I laughed, I cringed, I cheered the MCs; I really enjoyed reading this!
Thanks to the publisher for providing a complimentary review copy....more
Reeling from the loss of her mother and fleeing an emotionally abusive relationship 34-year-old Iris moves to NYC seeking comfort and a fresh start inReeling from the loss of her mother and fleeing an emotionally abusive relationship 34-year-old Iris moves to NYC seeking comfort and a fresh start in the city she grew to love through her mother's memories and spurred by 90s rom-coms. While there she happens upon a family-owned gelateria in chaos because the small batch, vanilla gelato they are known for can't be produced as the patriarch, Santos, the only living person who knows the secretive, generations old, family recipe has recently suffered a stroke and subsequent memory loss. When Iris, a trained chef, samples some of the only remaining batch of gelato she recognizes it as the special recipe her mother made for her growing up. Unsure what the connection is but wanting to find out Iris offers to work with the handsome Gio, nephew of Santos, to try to replicate it, but she doesn't tell him she actually knows the recipe.
A Winter in New York has something of a While You Were Sleeping vibe about it with an orphan craving connection being drawn into a boisterous and loving family via an avenue of untruth. I found the story a bit uneven as it feels like there are extraneous storylines, but I loved the found family aspect and the Serendipity-esque magic uniting Iris and Gio. Could have used far more winter atmosphere considering the title, but overall I liked it....more
Becca is a sprightly sorority house mom alone the week of Christmas when a blizzard leaves her seeking shelter with her grumpy, well prepared neighborBecca is a sprightly sorority house mom alone the week of Christmas when a blizzard leaves her seeking shelter with her grumpy, well prepared neighbor, Harrison, the school's football coach with who she shared one date and a steamy kiss before he ghosted her. This forced proximity soon leads to sparks flying, and I don't mean from the fireplace!
Snowed in for Christmas is light on Christmas cheer, but makes up for it with steamy snuggles in front of a cozy fire.
TBH I found Becca more annoying than endearing, but it didn't prevent me from rooting for this couple.
My favorite thing about Eileen is it appears to be written by Ottessa Moshfegh out of spite. Eileen is the 2015 debut novel of critically acclaimed wrMy favorite thing about Eileen is it appears to be written by Ottessa Moshfegh out of spite. Eileen is the 2015 debut novel of critically acclaimed writer Moshfegh. At the time she wrote Eileen she had already penned a number of critically acclaimed short stories and hailed as an important voice in American literature, but she was relatively unknown, far from a commercial success, and short stories often don't pay the bills. So Moshfegh looked around at authors who achieved bestselling status, decided she too could write a novel that would garner enough attention to allow her to live off her writing, and did so as a sort of joke with the help of a book called The 90 Day Novel. That project turned into Eileen which was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize.
Eileen is a psychological thriller told in present day by an elderly Eileen recounting an event which occurred in 1964 when she was 24-years-old culminating with Eileen fleeing her sleepy Massachusetts hometown, changing the trajectory of her life forever. It is a suspenseful, noir, crime novel, but really it's a character study of Eileen, one of the most bleak, depressing, off putting, and well imagined characters I've ever inhabited as a reader and that alone is an accomplishment.
Eileen is set at Christmas time making this an absolutely unhinged holiday read. ...more
Eugene Miles is not like other residents at the elder care facility where he lives as you will soon find out as Eugene - Geno - shares his life story.Eugene Miles is not like other residents at the elder care facility where he lives as you will soon find out as Eugene - Geno - shares his life story. A story which encompasses many lives beginning in Moorish Spain in the Middle Ages, where Geno, a street thief struggling to survive, meets the love of his life, Gaya, a woman his life will intersect with again and again. Geno finds a willing ear in his aide Angel, a young soon-to-be a father who is working to repair his relationship with his soon-to-be child's mother with Geno's help.
Again and Again is primarily told through two timelines: 11 century Spain and the decades leading up to present day with glimpses into Geno's other lives: a guide to Lewis and Clark, Oscar Wilde's beloved cat, a WWII soldier storming the beach of Normandy, and others, but all along we are unsure whether Geno's stories are true, or a figment of an elderly man's imagination.
I found Again and Again serviceable, but lacking a certain depth and development that would have allowed for deeper connection and a more lasting impression.
Thanks to Dutton for providing a complimentary review copy....more
London, 1960; Hazel is a bookseller at a cozy rare bookstore shocked to unwrap a copy of Whisperwood and the River of Stars a children's book gai3.5/5
London, 1960; Hazel is a bookseller at a cozy rare bookstore shocked to unwrap a copy of Whisperwood and the River of Stars a children's book gaining widespread popularity in America. This book tells the story Hazel invented decades ago and shared only with her sister who has been missing for nearly 20 years. In 1940, fifteen-year-old Hazel and her five-year-old sister Flora are evacuated from war bombed London to billet in private homes in the English countryside. Hazel invents Whisperwood and comforts her little sister with stories of this fantastical realm while they're away from home. When Flora disappears without a trace Hazel is forever haunted by the loss, refusing to give up hope even with little to go on until the very story she invented brings an ending she did not foresee.
The Secret Book of Flora Lea is the second book I've read from author Patti Callahan Henry, the first being Once Upon a Wardrobe. Both stories center books and the magic of storytelling, which I appreciate as a dedicated reader. Told with dual timelines and interweaving real history The Secret Book of Flora Lea is enchanting and mysterious with something of a fairytale feel; a captivating and cozy read....more
...the there there, was gone, there was no there there anymore.
There There is a novel comprised of 12 Native Americans with a wide range of lived
...the there there, was gone, there was no there there anymore.
There There is a novel comprised of 12 Native Americans with a wide range of lived experiences, but also much of the same, in the time leading up to their attending a big Pow Wow where they will join with other Native people to celebrate their culture and heritage. The stories are intersecting and related, primarily set in Oakland, California and are all impactful. Characters struggling with sobriety, loss, poverty, a young man who was born with fetal alcohol syndrome, a documentarian and his nephew working on a project for Native Americans to share their experiences in their own words, a great aunt caring for her sister's grandchildren, and more; Native Americans grappling with what it means to be Native in contemporary times.
There There is brilliantly written, exploring identity and how it transforms over time; clinging to a traditional culture eradicated through violence and generations of dispossession while that culture is also divorced from your modern experience. A culture and identity now shaped by a history of trauma, violence, and poverty, squeezed out by whiteness, struggling to remain relevant; the complex realities of descendants grappling with a culture and identity that no longer feels like their own, bearing the weight of keeping it alive.
This is the kind of book I find hard to explain in words, but I feel so deeply while reading. A testament to Tommy Orange's ability to convey so much through his characters and their stories....more
The Color Purple is the story of Celie, her sister Nettie, and others around her in early 19th century rural Georgia. Beginning when Celie is a teenagThe Color Purple is the story of Celie, her sister Nettie, and others around her in early 19th century rural Georgia. Beginning when Celie is a teenager and following her for decades she tells her story in epistolary format, first with letters written to God, later to her sister Nettie. Celie has a hard life and little education and opportunity, the men around her mistreat her, and the women around her are all struggling, but a relationship with Shug Avery, a vivacious woman, a performer living on her own terms will help Celie find her way.
The Color Purple is a powerful American classic. A Black feminist work of love, redemption, spirituality, survival, hardship and hope. ...more
Set in the days leading up to the 2016 presidential election at a Seattle college, Oliver, an aging white male professor is infatuated with Ruhaba, a Set in the days leading up to the 2016 presidential election at a Seattle college, Oliver, an aging white male professor is infatuated with Ruhaba, a younger, Pakistani Muslim law professor. When her 15-year-old nephew Adil comes from France to stay with Ruhaba, Oliver seizes the opportunity to insert himself into her life by hiring Adil as his dog walker and sort of taking him under his wing. The plan works, to a certain extent, but things become complicated when campus politics find Oliver and Ruhaba on different sides.
The Laughter is a brilliantly written novel reminiscent of Lolita and Vladimir. The entire story is told from the perspective of Oliver, and it's a very intimate perspective, as though the reader is inside his head. Unlikeable barely scrapes the surface here; Oliver is brilliantly written. The story is being recounted in hindsight leading up to some sort of event, which slowly takes shape as the story unfolds, this makes for plenty of tension and suspense and a race to the finish! Race, identity, campus politics, power, The Laughter is an excellent read....more
I read Michael Cunningham's Pulitzer Prize winning The Hours in high school. I remember not liking it, thinking it sort of pretentiously overwritten. I read Michael Cunningham's Pulitzer Prize winning The Hours in high school. I remember not liking it, thinking it sort of pretentiously overwritten. But I was a teenager, this in the time of boy bands, skunky highlights, and wearing multiple layers of shrunken polo shirts with overpriced brands emblazoned across the chest, what did I know about anything tasteful?
So I saw Day was intrigued by the promise of a family drama and the pandemic novel angle. I noted it was written by Cunningham, batted away opinions formed in adolescent English classes and dove in.
Readers are dumped into a family's overstuffed Brooklyn brownstone inhabited by two middle aged parents: a career focused mother, ex-rocker turned househusband, father, bonus parent/uncle/public school teacher, Robbie, and two kids aged five and ten. There are some side characters which could be eliminated completely and not missed at all, the only one I'd keep is Wolfe, uncle Robbie's aspirational Instagram catfish. The story plays out in a three act structure on the fifth day of April over the course of three years: morning 2019, afternoon 2020, evening 2021. The structure is interesting, there is very little plot, the story is deeply character driven.
I like character driven stories. I like literary stories. I did not particularly care for this character driven literary story. The entire time I was reading I was very aware that this is a Literary Novel and these are Literary Characters. To me it felt as though all of the characters had the same voice and perspective. So much so, that as I read this >300 page book over the course of 3 sittings I actually forgot who some of these characters were and had to take a moment to reorient myself. This happened multiple times.
Anyway, Michael Cunningham is a bestselling, award winning, critical darling. It's entirely possible, if not overly likely, that this is a case of it's not him, it's me. But you know what? I still find Cunningham's style pretentiously overwritten. Not all opinions formed during formative years are wrong. The end....more
An enemies to frienemies to friends to lovers romance inspired by When Harry Met Sally.
Josh and Ari first meet through Ari's roommate whom Josh i3.5/5
An enemies to frienemies to friends to lovers romance inspired by When Harry Met Sally.
Josh and Ari first meet through Ari's roommate whom Josh is dating and with who Ari occasionally hooks up. Josh, a tightly wound chef, and Ari, a polyamorous comedian, are very different people; sparks fly upon their first meeting, and not the good kind. But as their paths cross over the better part of a decade, Josh and Ari evolve as individuals and so too does their relationship.
One does not need to have seen When Harry Met Sally to appreciate You, Again, but also: why haven't you seen When Harry Met Sally? What are you doing with your life?! It's a must watch!
There are definite nods to Harry and Sally throughout the book, the biggest connections between the stories being fantastic banter, opposites attract, relationship evolution over time, and being very of NYC. You, Again offers a lot of emotional development which makes for a really engaging and satisfying romance. Also, much steamier than When Harry Met Sally (I'll have what she's having, eh?!)...more
Set in a small mountain town in North Carolina June Farrow is the youngest of a long line of women beset by a curse which leads them on a slow sp3.5/5
Set in a small mountain town in North Carolina June Farrow is the youngest of a long line of women beset by a curse which leads them on a slow spiral to madness. After the death of the grandmother who raised her June discovers clues leading to answers about her own mother's disappearance when June was a baby as well as the family curse, which has already started to present in June as breaks with reality and hallucinations.
The Unmaking of June Farrow is a magical read, my first Adrienne Young. I loved the setting and really just the *feel* of this story, it's enchanting. However, I don't seem to have loved it overall in the same way most other readers do. I found some of the world building confusing in a way that drew me out of the story and also I craved deeper development, but still an enjoyable read especially if you're willing to show up for plot and vibes, which are completely enjoyable, and not think too much beyond that....more
In 1950 in a small Florida town teenaged Gloria has become the head of her Black family household after her mother's untimely death due to illnes3.5/5
In 1950 in a small Florida town teenaged Gloria has become the head of her Black family household after her mother's untimely death due to illness and her father's Northern escape after being wrongly accused of assaulting a white woman. Gloria and her 12-year-old brother Robbie Stephens Jr. are staying with an elderly family friend at the time that Robbie becomes entangled with the law for kicking a white boy in the leg while defending his older sister. Much too quickly Robbie is sentenced to six months at Gracetown School for Boys, a segregated detention school where boys that go in don't always come out. Gloria knows she has to get Robbie out of there, but her resources are limited and the system they're up against is anything but just.
The Reformatory is inspired by author Tananarive Due's family history with the real life Dozier School for Boys, a reform school operated by the state of Florida which became known for horrific abuse, torture, and murder over its 111 year history; it closed in 2011. The Reformatory is a historical literary horror novel with elements of magical realism. I had some issues with the pacing, but overall an incredibly affecting story bringing dark history (none too far past) to life. Truly one of the most haunting stories I've ever read.
Content note: detailed abuse and violence in many forms.
Thanks to the publisher for providing a complimentary review copy....more
Sean and Dan are two strangers in their twenties, skilled workers whose paths happen to cross in a small Wisconsin town haunted by the 40 year old disSean and Dan are two strangers in their twenties, skilled workers whose paths happen to cross in a small Wisconsin town haunted by the 40 year old disappearances of three young boys. After Sean's truck breaks down he takes a carpentry job at the home of an old curmudgeon the townspeople avoid. Sean hires Dan, also just passing through, to help with the project. Both Dan and Sean are shaped by and running from their past and their presence in town will lead to unexpected ends.
Distant Sons is another well crafted literary suspense thriller from Tim Johnston. While Distant Sons is very much a stand alone novel, it does feature characters from Johnston's previous novels: The Current and Descent. While you don't need to have read these books to appreciate Distant Sons you should read them because they are good reads. Johnston writes stories with enough plot to keep the pages turning but the magic really lies in his well crafted characters....more
Every October I like to use Spooky Season as an excuse to pick up a backlist Stephen King book I haven't yet read. This year it's Firestarter.
Goi3.5/5
Every October I like to use Spooky Season as an excuse to pick up a backlist Stephen King book I haven't yet read. This year it's Firestarter.
Going in the only thing I knew about Firestarter was an image of little Drew Barrymore blowing things up with her mind in the movie adaptation that I had never seen so my understanding was purely thanks to some sort of pop culture osmosis.
Firestarter is the story of 8-year-old Charlie McGee and her father Andy on the run from a shady governmental organization dubbed "The Shop". The Shop is the super secret Department of Scientific Intelligence who are running shady and decidedly unethical experiments on people involving a drug called "Lot 6" which they hope will unlock participants latent psychic abilities.
Charlie's parents-to-be were administered Lot 6 as unsuspecting college students looking to make a few bucks. Not only did they make some cash, they also developed psychic abilities and, better yet, fell in love - awww! Apparently The Shop didn't consider for what might happen if their test subjects reproduced, but they did and their mutant genes combined and concentrated to produce Charlie: an elementary schooler with pyrokinesis, the ability to set fires with her mind and you're not going to like her when she's angry, at least not if you're the one pissing her off!
And so, The Shop wants Charlie back considering her abilities have the potential of becoming seemingly as powerful as the atom bomb (side note: Stephen King frames this all as a real drag on individual rights when the government wants to imprison people to weaponize them and I totally dig this, but also? I'll be honest, I'm not sure I'm entirely comfortable with someone just running around with the power to single handedly release untold destruction upon the planet. This is not unlike how I felt knowing the Cheeto in Chief was in possession of the nuclear codes. It's a toss up whether he or an eight year old with limited control over her innate powers is easier to wrangle.) Andy doesn't want The Shop to get ahold of Charlie, understandably, they aren't good guys, and so Charlie and Andy go on the run.
I liked Firestarter. It's woefully outdated in a lot of ways, but timeless in others. It was interesting seeing King revisit ideas (there's definitely some obvious overlap with Carrie) for the first time (I think?) in a way I know will become a trend in his work. It runs a little long and doesn't pack the punch of Carrie or The Shining in a lot of ways, but it felt comfortingly familiar to me as a King fan.
We did go on to watch the movie adaptation, the 1984 version, of course, (I don't get the impression the 2022 version is worth my time, but please correct me if I'm wrong) with young Drew Barrymore (and a terribly young Heather Locklear AND Martin Sheen and probably other people of note that I don't recognize because the movie is older than I am) and it's delightfully cheesy and pretty true to the book. Little Drew Barrymore blowing things up with her mind did not disappoint. ...more
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