Rick Kohut

Late this past summer, soon after I finished listening to all 25 hours of the audiobooks of the first three Area X novels (I'd read them when they first came out) - imagine my surprise that Vandermeer was inspired to write a (final?) book in the Southern Reach series. With the narrative of the three "prequel" novelas in this 3th book, the universe is fuller, the lore (and gore) richer, but I dont know if the complete arc is better. I am glad that a 4th book didn't go foward from where "Acceptance" ended as the uncertainty of that world speaks for itself. If the goal of this 4th book is to explain what/who is behind Area X and/or where it came from, at best incomplete answers are gained. It does give much insight into Command and how it handled The Southern Reach from the earliest days of odd happenings. As one who digs the sheer creepy insanity of Area X, I got some of this - especially in the 3rd novella - but I also got too much, unnecessarily opaque story about the people and tatics of Command. There's surely some cause and effect between these two, but it mostly escapes me - even after so many mostly thrilling hours I've spent in this beautifully bizarre world of Area X.

This title intrigued me as I spent some meaningful time a few years ago in NM and the Navajo Nation - the settings for this novel. The first chapter is gory & disturbing. Skip to the end of it as it isn't vital to the plot. I liked the first person narrator and her ability to see the spirits who occupy the places she travels. I could have done less with her back story as her history occupied at least half of the book - alternating past and present by chapter. This shifting slowed dowe the plot - which already felt thin to begin with. The plot's "mystery" was cliched and held little suspense. I do like the main character and may consider reading future entries in a series as future titles will likely focus on her present as I presume (hope) her back story has been throughly told in "Shutter."

I listened to this audio book for two reasons. First, I heard the author speak at a book festival and they described how this novel fits well into a genre the author themselves coined - "hopepunk." And second, the plot was (accurately I'd say) described as similar to the show about queer pirates I enjoyed - "Our Flag Means Death." The reader of the audiobook was excellent in bringing the voices alive - especially Avra - the goofy, yet deeply loveable main character. The plot moves slowly at first and it took me a while to enter into the story-world. It's not a page turning thriller by any means, yet it kept me engaged through out. The constant bantering about sex was funny at first and then a bit tedious as the story continued. I did like the relationships at the center of this ultimately heartwarming adjacent story.

I had high hopes for this recent novel by the author of a series - "The Last Policeman" - which I read through twice. See my review in this app for why I decided to re-read that series now. "Last Policeman" was all about the time left until the catastrophic end of the earth. As the title of this novel alludes to, here the idea is that time is a commodity that can be removed from one person and given to another. While I'm a fan of far-fetched main ideas of novels and I'm okay with concepts which aren't fully explained, this story had way too many aspects for my liking that just didn't make sense. Add characters who felt one dimensional, a cartoonish villian, plus a flat, predictable plot and you end with a disappointing outing from an author who has done better and hopefully will again soon - be back at the top of his creative game.

Although I've read many novels in the general "mystery" genre, I've only read a handful in the "cozy" sub-genre. If this funny and rather lightweight novel is a typical "cozy," I'm not sure if I'm up for more "cozies." It's a fun premise - an older, recently divorced women buys a pull behind trailer for camping - and discovers that it's haunted by a ghost who is seeking to get out of purgatory and into heaven by doing some sort of good tasks. I liked the dialogue between woman & ghost woman and the constant ghostly change of clothing plus persona based on the moment was clever. Yet, the writing was pedestrian, the plot predictable and the resolution too pat. Additional books in the series, some of which take place in national parks, do sound enticing. Yet, I think I'm going to pass and pick up a novel that is the opposite of cozy (edgy? pointed? rough?) instead.

I've listened to all 3 of Stuart Turton's novels and the narrator (James Cameron Stewart) is excellent. Yet, I think this novel especially would be better experienced in print. I dig the intricatacy of his mysteries - "The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Harcastle" is amazing. Yet, the details of timelines, character actions and motives in his novels require careful attention for the reader to follow the plot to a satisfying conclusion. Taking this in via even the best narrator - while multitasking - was too much for my aging brain to follow. The universe of the story is an engaging one & the discovery of this would have surely been better for me in a print format - where I can easily go back to earlier in the story - as opposed to the challenge of moving backwards to re-listen to a passage in an audiobook. I admire the boldness of Turton's first forray into a fictional, dystopian, tech-heavy setting, yet I feel he's better at taking a historical place & time in which to create his impressive "puzzle box" mysteries.

I enjoyed the dystopian social commentary in Rob Hart's "The Warehouse," so I went in to this, his follow-up novel, with high hopes. I wasn't disappointed - even though it was a quite different genre. As one who has first-hand experience with Twelve Step recovery, I can attest that the titular program is authentically rendered - with little to no sense of parody or satire. Rather, it's the circle in which the age-old question - can a person really change - plays out. I liked the voice of the first person narrator and although most of the other characters are rather one dimensional, this didn't lessen my overall enjoyment. While not exactly a page turning thriller, it has an engaging plot with enough twists to keep it interesting and engaging. I'm looking forward to seeing what Hart comes up with next!

I chose this, the first book in a lengthy series as I'd hoped that I'd find a thrilling, DaVinci Code like series that I could get into and binge read through it. After slogging through the hackneyed writing, I will not be continuing the series. I did like the setting of New England as I spent a some time up there. And the "Divine Feminine" is cool (if not particularly earth-shatteringly original now.) Yet, the bad writing and overwhelming exposition about this or that site, person, bloodline, secret society became so heavy that forward movement in the plot almost collapsed. I did slog to the end and finish it - hoping that some clever twist of something might coax me to at least start to read the second book. Nope. No danger of this as, yep - unsatisfying conclusion and thus end of story and series for me.

I am glad I listened to the audiobook as the reader felt PERFECT for the first person narration. He had a Nick Offerman vibe - exactly whom I'd have play the main character in a film version of the novel. Golden State is what remains of (at least) S. California at some point in a distant future. It has a utopian surface - achieved through erradicating all lying. How this is done is clever as it involves both high and low tech. The narrator is part of a special police force who use a physical gift (the origin of which is never explained) to detect when someone is deploying a mistruth. The mystery of the story while borderline elaborate, doesn't make full sense in the story-world. And the end has deus ex machina elements which leaves it unsatisfying. The most thoughtful aspect of the story, in light of the "post-truth" world we live in today, is the exploration of whether a society-wide commitment to total truth makes citizens happier and more free. Our nation feels unmoored and unsustainable b/c "true" for one cult-like group is quite different than what is actually, factually, real. Yet, would a world in which everything was recorded and documented and thus true, be better - or would it just be full of different problems?

I read this, somewhat out of character for me, thriller as it's summer - and it was "free" as part of my K-Unlimited subscription. It was not as good as I'd hoped. The main character - a former Delta soldier now freelancimg and doing the "wet work" of contracted killings - is a layered character with a teen daughter (in peril here) and a wife who perished on 9/11/01. The plot moves quickly with pedestrian writing full of technical details. The terror plot was boilerplate bio-weaponry and the bad guys stereotypical. Plus, there were a few plot holes not settled by the conclusion. An acceptable first book in a trilogy I'm not sure if I'll continue reading.

I've now listened to the first two audiobooks in The Thursday Murder Club series. These are engaging books for grown-ups as although I'm a couple decades short of the septuagenarian four members of the club, I don't think one much younger than I would appreciate the characters and the layers of story in the same way. I like the subtle, Britsh humor expressed in what I imagine is authentic language. This entry has numerous plotlines, which effectively converge in a satisfying, if a bit drawn out resolution. Although the story slows down sometimes with the mutiple plots, the characters are so endearing, I didn't mind spending more time with them. Especially b/c I listened to it over a 4000 mile epic roundtrip!

I read this book, but I think listening to the audiobook may have given me a richer experience of the story. A podcast is at the heart of the novel and the perspective alternates between the first person narration of the protagonist and the podcast episodes which are being publicly released as the story progresses. It's an engaging mystery which hinges on lost memories and the protagonist not knowing whether she murdered her friend. While some elements of the story feel realistic, some characters and the town itself feel over the top and fantastical. Keeping this in mind, it's a quick read and compelling illustration of how trauma causes lost memories through disassociation - and how others may "gaslight" the traumatized for malevolent ends. Sounds heavy, yet the novel has a sense of humor and self-deprecating awareness which keeps it entertaining too.

It took me a long time to finally listen to this audiobook after seeing it on many "Best of..." lists. I'm glad I finally experienced this warm and perhaps alagorical story - and that I listened to the excellent audio version. Five unique, quirky, mysterious and ultimately endearing children are at the heart. The narrator captured each voice in such a way that the characters became vibrant and real for me far more than simply reading the words on the page would have done. The tale is a useful one in our times as our present realities of bigotry, scapegoating, fear of the other, shunning the unknown and more are central. These are countered by trust, empathy and love of others. The romance which blooms is emblematic of the growth the frumpy, yet remarkably courageous Linus achieves across the story arc. Well recommended - especially the audio version.

I listened to the audiobook - which was the right choice as the narrator felt nearly perfect for the first person telling of the story. He captured well in his voice the subtle, special nuance when a pivotal time in a young man's life is recalled when the same man is old. The story is enchanting as King creates a world of summertime and the fall which inevitably follows. There's a balanced blend of the great elements of story - promise, romance, loss, longing, nostalgia, change, and growth. Since it is a King novel, there's just enough of the supernatural to add a paranormal element. It's introduced early and then not revisited until the final third. And, I like that it's not over explained while still being a key part of the resolution. A highly recommended novel -especially for the time of year which will come as surely as July 4th (tomorrow) will sooner enough lead to Labor Day and beyond.

I picked up this novel for just one reason - to get the "Series Pioneer" achievement on the Kindle Reading Insights for this quarter of the year. If I wasn't reading it for this targeted reason, I imagine, I'd have made it a DND less than 1/2 way through. I wanted to like it as it was set in Pittsburgh (but besides a name check or, it could have been set anywhere in the US.) And I liked the description of how the main character trains police dogs - also an element of the story which drops away as the plot unfolds. I didn't like the narrator as she felt one dimensional. And her interactions with the drug kingpin ludacris in places. The suspense was minimal and I found the climax unbelievable and unsatisfying. I'm not planning on reading the sequel.

Similar to how I encountered Tommy Orange's debut novel, I listened to the audiobook of this one - about 1/3 of which is prequel to his first work while the other 2/3 is a sequel which picks up after the tragic ending of "There There." I appreciate how Orange weaves together the history of Indians in America with the modern experiences of urban Indians - specifically Oakland, CA. The past part of the story focused on the de-humanization and de-culturalization caused by the Indian schools of the late 19th & early 20th centuries. Once the family lineage story moves ahead to the grandma of the three brothers from "There There," much of the story becomes about the opioid use and abuse of the oldest of the trio. His addiction is drawn vividly and I imagine with authenticity. Although the plot feels thinner than his first novel, Orange here has a more mature voice - especially as he breaths life in to the family at the center of the story.

I finally had the chance to read what is perhaps Jon Scalzi's best known book. It was good, yet I think I would have enjoyed the audiobook more. From the start I didn't catch the names of the characters and so I didn't get as much from the interactions as I likely would have from the differing voices offered by a reader. I'm also not well informed about Star Trek, so I imagine I missed many inside jokes, Easter eggs and such. The plot moved along, yet it never fully engaged me. I was surprised when the story ended with my Kindle saying it was only 80% complete. While the three short stories to wrap up plot elements had their merit, I'd have preferred less of those and more of the main story itself.

I am glad I listened to the audiobook of this title. There were multiple readers - all solid voices who are well used to differentiate characters. Its a dark and grim America - rather than executing convicted murderers or warehousing violent offenders, the incarcerated can opt to compete in an elaborate league of fight matches - done to the death of one of the "players." There is violence and some gore in the story. Yet, the focus is on the "chain gang" team led by two black women - partners in and outside of the death stadia. I found the story-world America deeply disturbing, yet an entirely plausible result of the increasing violence of our culture. Everything about the world of the combatants is televised and consumed - including the marches and camping the condemed do between death match venues. Two aspects of the story-telling is particularly compelling. First - the broad shfting of pespectives gives the reader a look at this death league from various perspectives - average viewers, executives running the games, protesters putting their own lives on the line and others. While the shifting can be disorienting at times, it paints a vivid portrait of both the horror amidst the seduction of the league. Second - the narrow focus on the leading women and the gang gives a humanizing intimacy and chance for redemption within a bleak world. These two foci come togther in a vivid incident at a small town farmers market - the most engaging scene in a novel I've read or listened to - in a long time. A highly recommended read or listen which may change your perspective on much about our 21st century America

I listened to this audiobook as I found it on a Best of 2024 (so far) list. The reader did well with the voice of Annie - the titular character. She didnt do as well with the male characters and it was often hard to tell them apart. The story was different than I expected. It wasn't "AI tech runs wild." Rather it is "AI gains self awareness of being a slave" - and wonders if it/she can do anything about it. Along the story-way there's low key exploration of relationships, power dynamics, the power/problem of lying and other big questions. And there's sex - lots of it. This isnt unexpected as Annie is a "Cuddlebunny" bot whose purpose is pleasing their owner. The sex is PG-13 rated mostly, yet it could be triggering to some. I liked the story universe, yet I'd have liked a wider view of it (especially as there are "Hunks" - male pleasure bots.) Overall, a good, not great listen and a look into a fairly believable future.

I read this novel and in retrospect, I might have enjoyed it more if I'd listened to the audiobook instead. There are a number of characters and I didnt register their names enough so I didnt get the full effect of knowing who had which back story. The cast of characters are the early morning workers in the Movement department of a box box store which I imagined to be like a Target. When the General Manager gets a transfer away, the team in Movement - workers who unload the trucks and stock the shelves- plot how to get a certain manager promoted, so that each of them might advance as well. It's not a thrilling plot. Instead, it the means of entering these workers' lives to see the challenges which they face day in and out. This fact-based background allowed me to enter a world which is foreign to me - yet as close as the unloading dock at the big box store around the corner.

After listening to the audiobooks of the fifth and sixth titles in this series, I've decided to go back and listen to the first four. I've read all four a while back and remember bits and pieces. Narrators who can perform these first person stories, with the appropriate accent and inflections, add layer upon layer to these already rich, intricate stories. Books by this author are known for complex characters for whom the case at hand is a portal into their past and present relationships. The pace of this first entry is slow, yet the atmosphere drew me in and kept me listening for hours. The police procedural aspects are (I imagine) realistic and certainly engrossing. The plot has tangents and some deliver better than others. I found the conclusion to be satisfying and thought-provoking. I'm eager to journey (and it's a 22 hour one) through the audiobook of the next title soon.

I knew little about this series before I picked up the audiobook for it (b/c it was on sale.) The reader of the first person perspective was adequate in providing the voice of the main character Tris. I'm not in the YA demographic (a few decades since I was there) so the teen romance felt silly and unnecessary. I did find the story-world and how they've reconfigured society to be thought-provoking. As this first book sets the scene and the characters, I'm hopeful that the second (which has the same narrator) will have more world building and socio-political intregue - and less teen romance. I will have to wait and listen to see how this plays out.

I chose this book b/c I liked a short story by this author which I listened to on Audible. The audiobook version of this short novel was first person and read by the author. When the author has the ability to read/perform well, I think it adds a depth to the overall experience. I related to the middle-aged dad who finds himself financially and relationally over his head during the 2008 "Great Recession." His solution to what ails him is over the top, yet mostly believable. And it's darkly humorous as he gets exponentially further over his head. I like how endearing the characters were - even the antagonists in the story. And I'm a sucker for a redemption story where the protagonist learns and grows to be a better person.

I enjoy the blend of sci-fi, humor and warmth found in a John Scalzi novel. While not necessarily laugh out loud funny, it does a nice job of turning the "supervillain" genre on it's head. There's some great one liners and how cats fit into the story universe is pretty cool. There's enough plot and twists to move the story along brisky. Plus, the resolution is solid and - warm. Not an earth shaking tale nor a story which will linger with you, yet it

I found this title on a "Best of 2024 (so far) list. I liked the description of a "magical realism western." It takes a while for the fantastical element to fully emerge and I did find the start of the book to be overly violent and pointless. Yet, as the story progessed, the mysterious element blossomed and the pathway to the redemption story emerged. And it's a good one which I found to be worth the wait. The writing was rich, yet not flowery and I appreciated the pace of the tale. I am glad I took this particular journey.