NETGALLEY BOOK REVIEW: Hearers of the Constant Hum by William Pauley III

February 29, 2024February 29, 2024 / E.A. Hoffmann / 1 Comment

Audiobook Length: 6 hours and 50 minutes

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Horror, Bizarro Fiction

Publisher: Doom Fiction

Published Date: September 11, 2021

Goodreads’ Synopsis: Della Comb is the queen of her hive. She’s only in her early twenties, but she’s already managed to build an empire selling drugs to junkies who are looking for the ultimate escape. The key to her success is that she manufactures her drugs with a secret ingredient: a very specific blend of pesticides.

Her only problem is the two bumbling exterminators she’s come to rely on for product. They spend more time playing video games and making armchair philosophies than actually working. Thankfully, they realize they too are short on supplies—pizza and breakfast burritos—so they give her a call, asking to meet up at the Chase High Rise, a building known for its unique brand of squalor.

Immediately, she feels sick to her stomach. Not only is the place absolutely disgusting, but it’s also home to Bill Krang, a man who claims to hear insects speaking. The things they say don’t make sense, even to him, but the words are causing him to physically deteriorate at a rapid pace.

Della’s ultimate fear is meeting this man and contracting his disease. However, business is business, and Krang’s apartment is abundant of product. Before long, she finds herself thrown straight into her worst nightmare, and the experience…changes her.

HEARERS OF THE CONSTANT HUM challenges its readers to work against instinct by exposing the dangers of our own curiosity. It’s more than just a story, it’s a warning of a much needed social change. We either take its advice, or risk rewriting what it means to be human in a world ran by insects.

Read Start Date: February 11, 2024

Read Finish Date: February 18, 2024

My Review: I received this audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Bill Krang, our protagonist, is a captivating mess. He’s plagued by the constant hum, a nonsensical insect chant that both drives him mad and fuels his bizarre investigation into the deeper meaning of the chant. As he gains knowledge about his situation and the world at large, his body begins to decay — to collapse. He lives alone in a dingy apartment filled with cockroaches when he meets Della and her exterminators.

This book is dark and weird, and I enjoyed the particularly unconventional and unsettling atmosphere. My skin crawled with Pauley’s description of the cockroaches. As always, Pauley’s prose is descriptive and draws the reader into the story. The characters are another highlight of this book. The exterminators are characters from another of Pauley’s books, The Brothers Crunk, which I have not read yet. I know what I’ll be reading next!

Connor Brannigan is, as always, a fantastic narrator.

I would highly recommend this book to people who like weird and/or bizarre horror fiction. If you are already a fan of Pauley’s books, this one won’t disappoint.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

BOOK REVIEW: One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

February 18, 2024January 24, 2024 / E.A. Hoffmann / Leave a comment

Book Length: 331 pages

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit

Read Start Date: October 2, 2023

Read Finish Date: January 5, 2024

Goodreads’ Synopsis: In her twenties, Emma Blair marries her high school sweetheart, Jesse. They build a life for themselves, far away from the expectations of their parents and the people of their hometown in Massachusetts. They travel the world together, living life to the fullest and seizing every opportunity for adventure.

On their first wedding anniversary, Jesse is on a helicopter over the Pacific when it goes missing. Just like that, Jesse is gone forever.

Emma quits her job and moves home in an effort to put her life back together. Years later, now in her thirties, Emma runs into an old friend, Sam, and finds herself falling in love again. When Emma and Sam get engaged, it feels like Emma’s second chance at happiness.

That is, until Jesse is found. He’s alive, and he’s been trying all these years to come home to her. With a husband and a fiancé, Emma has to now figure out who she is and what she wants, while trying to protect the ones she loves.

Who is her one true love? What does it mean to love truly?

Emma knows she has to listen to her heart. She’s just not sure what it’s saying.

My Review: I will be honest. The beginning of this book did not grip me, and it took me several months to finish it. I always put it down in favor of another book. Eventually, I made the goal to finish it and move on. I think the issue was that the beginning was like the background story- the events leading up to the day Jesse went missing. The “then,” if you will. It didn’t have the same heartfelt emotions that the rest of the book did.

Once I hit a certain point (the “present,”) however, I plowed through the book in a matter of days. I was gripped by the emotion and the struggle to choose. Although, I have to admit that I was rooting for Sam. He seemed sincere and like a really nice guy. He was always putting Emma first. Jesse, on the other hand, was kind of a jerk. He was pushy and, at times, selfish, but he was Emma’s first love, the one she thought she’d spend the rest of her life with. And for some reason, she didn’t seem to share my view of Jesse.

Emma loved them both in different ways. While she might have had two true loves, she could only be with one of them. Someone was going to get hurt. Who would it be?

I would recommend this book. And don’t give up at the beginning if you are also feeling it drag a little bit. If you push through to the end, you won’t be disappointed!

NETGALLEY BOOK REVIEW: Automated Daydreaming by William Pauley III

February 12, 2024 / E.A. Hoffmann / 1 Comment

Audiobook Length: 5 hours and 53 minutes

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Horror, Bizarro Fiction

Publisher: Doom Fiction

Published Date: November 14 ,2021

Goodreads’ Synopsis: This is a cycle. Unalleviated, its components are connected by electricity and fed through the rage of lightning. Insect and road monsters scour the desert. Bodies morph into new constructions, only partially human and searching for conclusion. Tongues entwine in an embrace of benthos, while mermaids and jellyfish glow in tandem. The moon is waiting. Dream.

Read Start Date: February 8, 2024

Read Finish Date: February 11, 2024

My Review: I received this audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Usually, I love Pauley’s books, and I have read nearly everything he has written. While I usually give Pauley’s books 5 stars, this one didn’t land as nicely as the others. Honestly, I think I was too triggered by this book. For example, there was one particularly graphic scene of rape with a truly “bizarro fiction” twist. It was too much. The writing was so vivid, and it was so disgusting that it literally turned my stomach.

The above being said, I am still giving this book 4 stars. Pauley is a master at description. It is what I love about his writing. Connor Brannigan returns as the narrator; his performance was as great as usual. Bricker Cablejuice (great character name) is immortal, and he is forced to live the lives of 5 other people through “automated daydreaming.” It was a little confusing how the lives intertwined as Cablejuice “switched between channels.” Each of the lives was very interesting and unique.

If you’re looking for a light and fluffy read, this is not the book for you. But if you’re interested in a dark, weird, vivid, and imaginative story, then Automated Daydreaming is definitely worth checking out. Just be prepared for some disturbing content.

NETGALLEY BOOK REVIEW: Chaos in Color: A Memoir of Childhood Trauma and Forgiveness by R. Layla Salek, PhD

February 9, 2024 / E.A. Hoffmann / 1 Comment

Audiobook Length: 11 hours and 5 minutes

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir

Publisher: River Grove Books

Published Date: September 19, 2023

Goodreads’ Synopsis: From a young age, Layla Salek has experienced some people as colors—her mother brown, her father green, her husband rainbow. As she notes, sometimes, when words fail, colors speak.

Chaos in Color is the captivating story of Layla’s journey from childhood to adulthood with a mother who suffered from untreated bipolar disorder. Each chapter paints a vivid, heartbreaking picture of the abuse, neglect, and trauma that she experienced as she grew up at the mercy of her mother’s bipolar swings, an incompetent mental health system, and the strangers with whom she was often left. But dissipating those times of darkness were moments of love, joy, and happiness that she felt while being cared for by others in her life. These moments inspired her to start her own family, complete a doctorate in psychology, and work with children with mental illness and severe behavior disorders.

Layla’s story traces how personal and familial trauma is carried into adulthood and how it can be released through forgiveness. This honest, provocative memoir offers a relatable account for others who have experienced similar trauma, as well as hope for healing and a future full of light.

Read Start Date: January 30, 2024

Read Finish Date: February 5, 2024

My Review: I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The book chronicles Salek’s journey from childhood to adulthood, growing up with a mother who suffered from untreated bipolar disorder. Through vivid and emotional prose, Salek paints a picture of the abuse, neglect, and trauma she endured, but also her resilience and, ultimately, her path toward forgiveness.

I really liked this book. It was honest and raw, and it did not sugarcoat anything. The author was unapologetic in telling her trauma story, which is really brave. I could not help thinking of my young daughter as I read this book. I cannot imagine EVER treating my daughter like Salek’s mother treated Salek. It just plain broke my heart.

The one aspect of the story that I was not so enamored with was the relationship to the colors. Salek possesses the unique ability to see people in colors, each representing their aura and experiences. However, I found that this ability was not fleshed out well in the book. Salek refers to each person by their color on multiple occasions, but she doesn’t really explain what each color means to the reader. For example, her mother was either “brown” or “black.” While intuitively, I can assume that “black” is negative, I have no idea what a brown aura means. A friend of hers is “purple.” You can pull from the story that purple is good, but the exact meaning is never explained. This is true of all the main players in the book given colors.

Chaos in Color is not an easy read. As I mentioned above, it dives headfirst into the harrowing reality of childhood trauma, weaving a narrative that confronts abuse, neglect, and resilience with unflinching honesty. This is a crucial strength – the book doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable truths, making it a powerful testament to the author’s journey.

However, this raw portrayal comes with triggers. Descriptions of emotional and physical abuse may stir difficult emotions, and the overall weight of the story can be emotionally draining. Despite the heavy subject matter, the book portrays hope and the human spirit’s ability to persevere. Salek’s courage in sharing her story and ultimately finding forgiveness is truly inspiring. I would definitely recommend it for readers who can handle the emotional toll.

BOOK REVIEW: The Dark Forest by Cixin Liu

February 4, 2024January 24, 2024 / E.A. Hoffmann / 2 Comments

Book Length: 512 pages

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Science Fiction, Aliens

Series: Remembrance of Earth’s Past #2

Read Start Date: December 2, 2023

Read Finish Date: December 26, 2023

Goodreads’ Synopsis: In The Dark Forest, Earth is reeling from the revelation of a coming alien invasion — four centuries in the future. The aliens’ human collaborators have been defeated but the presence of the sophons, the subatomic particles that allow Trisolaris instant access to all human information, means that Earth’s defense plans are exposed to the enemy. Only the human mind remains a secret.

This is the motivation for the Wallfacer Project, a daring plan that grants four men enormous resources to design secret strategies hidden through deceit and misdirection from Earth and Trisolaris alike. Three of the Wallfacers are influential statesmen and scientists but the fourth is a total unknown. Luo Ji, an unambitious Chinese astronomer and sociologist, is baffled by his new status. All he knows is that he’s the one Wallfacer that Trisolaris wants dead.

My Review: The storyline continues from the events of The Three-Body Problem, where humanity becomes aware of an alien civilization known as the Trisolarans, who are planning to invade Earth and takes readers from the present to 200+ years in the future. The story introduces readers to a range of compelling characters, each grappling with the existential challenges posed by the Trisolaran threat. As humanity unites in its efforts to confront the impending invasion, The Dark Forest weaves a complex tapestry of political intrigue, technological innovation, and interpersonal relationships against the backdrop of an impending cosmic catastrophe.

Like the first book, this book is also a slow burn, and when I finally reached the ending, where the title of the book is explained, I got chills. I still get chills just thinking about it. What I love about this series is that even though it is fiction, I can see its events taking place. I don’t want to say too much and risk giving away the plot points, which should unfold naturally.

Therefore, I will leave you with this. This series is phenomenal and should be on everyone’s reading list.

Other Books In the Series:

Book Length: 472 pages

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Science Fiction, Aliens

Series: Remembrance of Earth’s Past #1

Read Start Date: October 7, 2023

Read Finish Date: November 5, 2023

Brief Summary of the Plot from Goodreads: Set against the backdrop of China’s Cultural Revolution, a secret military project sends signals into space to establish contact with aliens. An alien civilization on the brink of destruction captures the signal and plans to invade Earth. Meanwhile, on Earth, different camps start forming, planning to either welcome the superior beings and help them take over a world seen as corrupt, or to fight against the invasion.

My Review: The Three-Body Problem is the first book in the Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy. The story begins during China’s Cultural Revolution, a tumultuous period in the mid-20th century marked by political upheaval and ideological fervor. The protagonist, Ye Wenjie, witnesses her father’s public execution during this time, which profoundly shapes her outlook on humanity. Subsequently, she became involved in a secretive government project called Red Coast, aimed at using advanced technology to make contact with extraterrestrial civilizations.

The narrative then shifts to present-day China, where a nanomaterials researcher named Wang Miao gets involved in a mysterious conspiracy. Scientists around the world are facing unexplained suicides, and bizarre occurrences are disrupting the fabric of reality. Wang discovers a virtual reality game called Three-Body Problem, where players are immersed in a world that mirrors the challenges faced by an alien civilization on the fictional planet Trisolaris.

As a lawyer, I know almost nothing about complex science theories, physics, astronomy, etc. Due to my ignorance, I have no idea whether the science explored in this novel is real, based upon actual theories, made up by the author to suit the story or some mixture of all three. Nevertheless, I found it to be utterly fascinating, and the message of the story (I won’t give away the ending) stayed with me — even now, I think about what would happen if this were to really happen in real life.

I have never read a book by a Chinese author before, so I really liked branching out and reading something from a culture I don’t know much about. The book had a slow-burn feel, with a big reveal at the end of the book. I just checked out the second book at the library and can’t wait to delve into it.

NETGALLEY BOOK REVIEW: Pirate Cove: An Insider’s Account of the Infamous Southport Lane Scandal by Richard D. Bailey

January 29, 2024January 29, 2024 / E.A. Hoffmann / Leave a comment

Audiobook Length: 7 hours and 13 minutes

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Genre: Nonfiction, True Crime, Business, Finance, White Collar Crime

Published Date: November 7, 2023

Read Start Date: January 25, 2024

Read Finish Date: January 27, 2024

Goodreads’ Synopsis: In Pirate Cove, Richard D. Bailey provides an insider’s chronicle of a white-collar crime whose headline-grabbing elements first appeared on the front pages of The Wall Street Journal. It’s the true, unvarnished, complete, previously untold, and fascinating story of how one honest man helped unravel the massive Southport Lane fraud perpetrated by the author’s former employer, 26-year-old, self-proclaimed financial prodigy Alexander Chatfield Burns. A really smart friend of the author once asked Burns how he got control of four state-regulated insurance companies. With a Cheshire cat grin, Burns cryptically responded, “Jesus with a telescope on Mars couldn’t figure out how I did this.” But the author eventually did. If (and when) Pirate Cove is made into a movie, it’ll stand right alongside such successful dramedies as American Hustle, Can You Ever Forgive Me, Bad Education, White Collar Crime, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Michael Clayton.

My Review: I received this audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I grew up in Westport, CT, and went to Staples High School. Alexander Chatfield Burns, a.k.a. “Lex Burns,” was in the Freshman class of 2001. Although I had already graduated by then, my younger sister remembers him as being “weird,” and that he always thought he was smarter than everyone else. My sister’s memories of him reflect the man described in Pirate Cove. I was simply fascinated by this story.

Richard D. Bailey is a Certified Fraud Examiner. For over 30 years, he has provided actionable and realistic financial, management, and corporate development services to distressed public and private manufacturing, service, and distribution companies. He is brought into Southport Lane by an old friend, and upon investigation, strange exchanges and discrepancies lead him to suspect fraudulent activities at the heart of Southport’s operations.

This book is Bailey’s first-hand account of what he discovered, the ensuing FBI investigation, and the ultimate downfall of Alexander Chatfield Burns and his partner Andrew Scherr.

I found this book captivating and didn’t want to stop listening to it. I probably would have listened to it straight through if I had not had other things to do (like care for my daughter). Pirate Cove is a gripping and well-written account of a real-life financial scandal. Bailey’s insider perspective and willingness to share his experiences make the book even more fascinating. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in true crime or in learning more about financial fraud.

BOOK REVIEW: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

January 28, 2024January 24, 2024 / E.A. Hoffmann / Leave a comment

Audiobook Length: 2o hours and 43 minutes

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Dragons

Series: The Empyrean #1

Read Start Date: December 7, 2023

Read Finish Date: December 19, 2023

Goodreads’ Synopsis: Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.

My Review: Violet Sorrengail was raised to be a scribe, like her father. After her father’s death, Violet’s mother forces her to join Basgaith War College and train to be a dragon rider. Despite her small stature and weak physical constitution, Violet surprises everyone by not only making it through the War College, but thriving there.

Honestly, I was unimpressed with this book for the first 30%. There was too much superfluous violence, the characters were unlikeable, and many second-tier characters had no depth. I thought that there were way too many cliches — like the evil arch nemesis, who we all know will be the love interest– and Yarros world building just kept adding layers and layers of questions, which were never answered.

I pushed on, however, given the hype this book has received. Then the book suddenly got good. The violence was still superfluous, but suddenly I wanted to know how/why Violet was bonded to not one, but two dragons. The sex scenes were really hot and steamy. I became invested in the main characters and their well-being. I kept listening to the audiobook long after I should have gone to sleep. The ending had an unexpected twist, which frankly blew my mind — I was not expecting it at all. And I thought about this book for weeks after finishing it, which is rare for me.

I immediately went on the holds list for the next book in the series at the library, but alas, it will be several more months until it is my turn. The wait is torture.

If you read one book this year, make it this one.

BOOK REVIEW: The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

January 7, 2024January 6, 2024 / E.A. Hoffmann / Leave a comment

Audiobook Length: 15 hours and 20 minutes

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Historical Fiction

Read Start Date: November 22, 2023

Read Finish Date: December 3, 2023

Brief Summary of the Plot from Goodreads: Texas, 1934. Millions are out of work and a drought has broken the Great Plains. Farmers are fighting to keep their land and their livelihoods as the crops are failing, the water is drying up, and dust threatens to bury them all. One of the darkest periods of the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl era, has arrived with a vengeance.

In this uncertain and dangerous time, Elsa Martinelli—like so many of her neighbors—must make an agonizing choice: fight for the land she loves or go west, to California, in search of a better life. The Four Winds is an indelible portrait of America and the American Dream, as seen through the eyes of one indomitable woman whose courage and sacrifice will come to define a generation.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Great Alone comes an epic novel of love and heroism and hope, set against the backdrop of one of America’s most defining eras—the Great Depression.

My Review: Elsa is intelligent, brave, resilient and independent. These are all traits that any woman in 2024 would desire. Would be applauded for. However, Elsa lives in the 1920s, where such traits are worthless. Even worse, she is tall and “handsome” rather than beautiful, all but requiring that she live as a spinster. Her parents have always told her that no man would ever love her. Maybe this is why, when the roguishly handsome son of a neighboring Italian farmer shows an interest, Elsa throws caution to the wind and starts a forbidden love affair with him. Losing her virginity in the back of Raef’s truck, Elsa and Raef continue seeing each other despite their age gap and his impending move to college and engagement in a sort of arranged marriage. When she becomes pregnant, she is disowned by her parents and moves in with Raef’s family. They are married in a quickie wedding without much fanfare. Elsa’s journey is both heartbreaking and inspiring. She is forced to make agonizing choices that test her courage and faith, yet she never loses sight of her love for her children and her deep connection to the land.

Hannah’s storytelling is immersive and evocative, transporting readers to the desolate landscapes of the Great Plains and the vibrant, hopeful communities that once thrived there. She skillfully captures the desperation and despair gripping the region while highlighting the moments of camaraderie and resilience that emerged amidst the hardship. However, to be honest, I found this book mostly depressing. This book might not be for you if you are not in a good headspace. Set it aside until you can handle reading how tragedy strikes characters you grow to love again and again.

Stats: Goodreads Choice Award: Nominee for Best Historical Fiction (2021). As of January 6, 2024, this book has 4.3 stars on Goodreads.

NETGALLEY BOOK REVIEW: The Edge of Reality by J. Allen Hynek and Jacques Vallee

January 6, 2024 / E.A. Hoffmann / Leave a comment

Audiobook Length: 11 hours and 51 minutes

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Genre: Nonfiction, Science, Aliens, UFOs

Read Start Date: October 31, 2023

Read Finish Date: December 22, 2023

Brief Summary of the Plot from Goodreads: From the outset, Hynek and Vallee make their position UFOs represent an unknown but real phenomenon. The far-reaching implications take us to the very edge of what we consider known and real in our physical environment. Perhaps, say the authors, UFOs signal the existence of a domain of nature as yet totally unexplored. In this mind-stretching book, the authors sample UFO reports, including those allegedly involving humanoids, and describe the perceived patterns in the behavior of the phenomenon. They also establish a framework for further study. Where might such study lead? What can be studied, and how? What is the real nature of the UFO phenomenon? Does it originate with the actions of other intelligences in the universe? If so, where and what might they be? Does the UFO phenomenon have a purely physical explanation, or is there a vast, hidden realm that holds the solution? In this invaluable work, we gain insight into the thinking of Hynek and Vallee’s research and investigations into UFOs, including Project Blue Book, the Pascagoula case, and the Betty and Barney Hill experience.

My Review: I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The book delves into the history of UFO sightings, the plausibility of extraterrestrial explanations, and the implications of these encounters for our understanding of reality itself. While the book seems to be well researched, and I found the subject matter to be interesting, I am only giving the book three stars for several reasons:

The book is told in a narrative fashion, like an interview or conversation, that probably is easier to follow when reading it in written form. I often got lost in the narrative and wasn’t sure who was speaking. There are also photos and other exhibits referenced in the audiobook that the reader cannot see but would be available in the print version.

Through the aforementioned interview style, the authors present “evidence,” including firsthand accounts, statistical analyses, and physical evidence, which suggests that UFOs are not simply misidentified natural phenomena or hoaxes. They explore the possibility that these objects may represent advanced technology from another civilization or even a different dimension of reality. I write “evidence” in quotations because the book relies heavily on anecdotes/stories and does not provide definitive proof of any of these “sightings.” In other words, it is speculative, and the conclusions are open to interpretation. This is nothing new, and with all other things UFO related, you either believe, or you don’t.

I grew up watching The X-Files and know a lot about aliens and the UFO culture, so this book didn’t really tell me anything new. However, if you are just getting into the topic, there are a lot of interesting stories in this book that would be a good starting point.

BOOK REVIEW: Revival by Stephen King

December 31, 2023December 11, 2023 / E.A. Hoffmann / Leave a comment

Book Length: 405 pages

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Horror, Thriller

Read Start Date: November 9, 2023

Read Finish Date: November 30, 2023

Brief Summary of the Plot from Goodreads: A dark and electrifying novel about addiction, fanaticism, and what might exist on the other side of life.

In a small New England town, over half a century ago, a shadow falls over a small boy playing with his toy soldiers. Jamie Morton looks up to see a striking man, the new minister. Charles Jacobs, along with his beautiful wife, will transform the local church. The men and boys are all a bit in love with Mrs. Jacobs; the women and girls feel the same about Reverend Jacobs—including Jamie’s mother and beloved sister, Claire. With Jamie, the Reverend shares a deeper bond based on a secret obsession. When tragedy strikes the Jacobs family, this charismatic preacher curses God, mocks all religious belief, and is banished from the shocked town.

Jamie has demons of his own. Wed to his guitar from the age of thirteen, he plays in bands across the country, living the nomadic lifestyle of bar-band rock and roll while fleeing from his family’s horrific loss. In his mid-thirties—addicted to heroin, stranded, desperate—Jamie meets Charles Jacobs again, with profound consequences for both men. Their bond becomes a pact beyond even the Devil’s devising, and Jamie discovers that revival has many meanings.

This rich and disturbing novel spans five decades on its way to the most terrifying conclusion Stephen King has ever written. It’s a masterpiece from King, in the great American tradition of Frank Norris, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Edgar Allan Poe.

My Review: The story centers on Jamie Morton, a young boy whose childhood is profoundly impacted by the arrival of charismatic preacher Charles Jacobs. Jacobs is young and has an equally young family. He is interested in electricity, and when he is not preaching, he tinkers with his inventions. When a devastating tragedy leads Jacobs to question his faith, he is fired from his job at the church and moves away from town.

Decades later, Jamie Morton is an adult and addicted to heroin when he sees Jacobs again, this time at a county fair. Jacobs has progressed in his inventions and claims to be able to heal Jamie of his addiction. Using electric shock therapy, Jamie is healed. But his sobriety comes with a terrifying price.

I found Jamie Mortion to be a relatable protagonist, and the complex relationship he shares with Jacobs serves as the emotional core of the novel. King takes the time to meticulously develop their connection as their lives intertwine again and again. The narrative unfolds gradually, allowing the tension to build organically. This book is a very slow burn, but the ending was worth the wait. In fact, the ending had me simply terrified, and I haven’t been able to shake it since.

Although this book was published in 2014 (I am not usually a fan of King’s new books), Revival reminded me a lot of his older works.

Stats: As of the writing of this review (December 11, 2023), this book has only a 3.8 rating on Goodreads. While I would highly recommend this book, it is obvious that it has received mixed reviews. Some of the “negatives” that readers have mentioned are the slow pace and the ambiguous ending. To say a few words on these subjects, as I mentioned above, the book was definitely a slow burn, but I didn’t mind. King’s writing is great, and his storytelling is masterful. The ending was gut-wrenching. I didn’t find it that ambiguous.

The Legal Alien

An American Lawyer Living Abroad

book review

NETGALLEY BOOK REVIEW: Hearers of the Constant Hum by William Pauley III

BOOK REVIEW: One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

NETGALLEY BOOK REVIEW: Automated Daydreaming by William Pauley III

NETGALLEY BOOK REVIEW: Chaos in Color: A Memoir of Childhood Trauma and Forgiveness by R. Layla Salek, PhD

BOOK REVIEW: The Dark Forest by Cixin Liu

Other Books In the Series:

NETGALLEY BOOK REVIEW: Pirate Cove: An Insider’s Account of the Infamous Southport Lane Scandal by Richard D. Bailey

BOOK REVIEW: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

BOOK REVIEW: The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

Other Books I have read by Kristin Hannah:

NETGALLEY BOOK REVIEW: The Edge of Reality by J. Allen Hynek and Jacques Vallee

BOOK REVIEW: Revival by Stephen King