Lightning

Not for me
I'm all for fast-food books : fun page-turners, not memorable but enjoyable
This is junk food : bloated and badly written, peppered with the author's toxic politics (violence is bad but non-violence is equally bad, that's why true Americans need to carry guns) and pretending to be smart (the main character's head hurts when trying to understand time travel paradoxes)

This book bravely asks what would happen if we follow a strong female lead from Lemony Snickett's Series of Unfortunate Events into Terminator but the plot suddenly Alex Macked into Kung Fury.

I almost DNF'ed this one but I just couldn't look away after page 156.

At its core this story could've been solely about female self-actualization, empowerment, and strength. Laura and Thelma are such badasses and watching them overcome so much adversity in their lives was pretty thrilling, so their relationship was one of the only things that kept me reading. Then, the story betrays all that character-building by launching into a very pulpy second half with some hysterical character reveals.

Maybe Stefan's backstory should've been introduced in pieces earlier than halfway through the book? But even then I don't think that would've made me want him gone any less. Yes, I have the gal to read a book with time-traveling Nazis and say the ending was too contrived but hear me out:

There is no conceit under the sun that could make a Nazi relatable.

If destiny is immutable, then stick to your guns.

Please give me a helpful vote on my Amazon review -
https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R3JEMF0ME3GGPV?ref=pf_ov_at_pdctrvw_srp

This is a fun and entertaining book with a novel twist on the time-travel genre.

Dean Koontz takes us into the life of Laura Shane. We see that someone keeps interfering her life at key moments. We have no idea why or how. Ultimately, we learn that her mysterious benefactor is not from our time, but his true location is a complete surprise.

This book is also an alternate history genre. I found it ironically fascinating that this book was written in 1989, such that the events a few years later and the fall of the Soviet Union would show history returning to the pattern with which he ends this book.

I needed something I could count on for the plane to Chicago, so instead of taking a Kindle full of potential not good reads, I grabbed my own, worn copy of Lightning. It did not disappoint. I first read this when I was 12 or 14. I loved it. I think it was one of the first books I ever read about time travel. Then I read this again in my 20's when I was a new mom and a little overwhelmed with life. Now, considerably older (haha), I have read it again.

It's a good story, but I'm a different me. The idea of a knight in white, shining (kind of literally, here) armor does nothing for me. I may even be repelled by it, if it were not for the things I still love about it: the fast pacing (man, this book moves quick!), the beautiful relationship between Thelma and Laura, and-hello- time travel. Yes, it's pop culture references are crazy out of date (in fact, some of the pop culture stuff was out of date IN 1989).

Every time I reread an old favorite I fear I'm going to hate it or it wont be how I remembered, but then I also think of Jo Walton (a hero of mine) who rereads all of the time.