"In Cold Blood" is arguably one of the most well-known American books ever. Does it live up to the hype? I think if you read the book without knowing anything intimately related to the story (i.e. seen “Capote,” etc.) then, for the most part, yes.
All tagged flashback review
Columbine – Dave Cullen
Dave Cullen is a talented writer who used meticulous research and years of building a strong rapport with victims and investigators to bring us what has been called the "ultimate" description of what happened on April 20, 1999.
Into the Wild – Jon Krakauer
Krakauer kept my attention from the first page to the last, and I found myself wishing that there was more to the story. I know that many people have a love/hate relationship with this book - mainly because they either love or hate McCandless - but there is no denying that Krakauer is a gifted writer.
The Goldfinch – Donna Tartt
Expectation: A modern “Great American Novel.”
Reality: A captivating and gorgeously written novel that, at times, asks too much of the reader.
Wanderers – Chuck Wendig
Expectation: “The Stand” meets “The Walking Dead.”
Reality: A mostly solid end-of-the world story that is a tad too long to provide maximum impact.
The Road – Cormac McCarthy
Expectation: A fast-paced apocalyptic survival tale.
Reality: A slow-burn family drama that packs a lot of understated horror and emotional attachment to the main characters into the rich prose.
Under the Banner of Heaven – Jon Krakauer
I had thought I was picking up an American true crime story in the same vein as "In Cold Blood," and while I did get that story, I was treated to nearly 200 pages of history on the Mormon religion.
Not expected.
The Hype Was Lost On Me: Popular Books That Missed The Mark
The hype was lost on me, here’s six popular books I hated, plus five I couldn’t even finish.
In Defense Of…The Books That Only I Seem to Like
I defend five books that have obnoxiously low Goodreads ratings for how much I enjoyed them.
2020: The Best Books I Read
Curious about what to read first in 2021? These five-star reads and honorable mentions are a great place to start.
2020: The Worst Books I Read
I read these books so you don’t have to.
2020: The Best And Worst Audiobook Narrations I Heard
Almost 82 percent of my reading this year was done through headphones, but you don’t need to be an audiobook all-star to recognize a good narration from a bad one.
“A Christmas Carol” and the Other Classics I Read This Year
All told, I read 10 classics this year, which accounted for about 13 percent of my total books read – my English teachers would be so proud!
The Nix – Nathan Hill
When Samuel Andresen-Anderson’s estranged mother Faye makes headlines for, literally, throwing stones at a political candidate, he’s provided an opportunity to jump start his stalled writing career by telling her story, and in the process learn the motivations behind her departure decades earlier.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz – Heather Morris
Story aside, which is rather enthralling, the execution is stilted and some of the emotion feels forced. Not to mention many situations are not historically accurate even though “based on a true story” is used heavily in the marketing. Proceed with caution.
A Harry Potter Retrospective
What can you possibly say about Harry Potter that hasn’t already been stated? Overall, I'd give the series 4.5/5 stars. There were parts of each novel that could have been cut, but, this world and these characters are ones that have stayed with me for years.
A Little Life – Hanya Yanagihara
Jude, Willem, JB and Malcolm form a close bond in college that continues through the many seasons of adulthood. While Jude is the emotional center of the group, he finds it difficult to share with others the terrible abuses he suffered as a child and teen. His adopted parents, physician and friends refuse to give up on him and spend decades trying to help him realize he deserves love, compassion and support.
Why "The Art of Racing in the Rain" Movie Is Better Than The Book
Neither is a masterpiece, but “The Art of Racing in the Rain” film changed one key plot point from the book, which helped elevate the overall story. Does that make it better than the book?
Flashback Reviews: Beartown & Us Against You
A flashback book review from 2019, and perfect for Pride Month as the “Beartown” series by Frederik Backman features an amazing gay character, Benji Ovich, who is instantly relatable to those of us that participated in sports growing up.