Matthew

Donald Ray Pollack is a master of the Southern-grotesque. His characters are cleverly engineered backwoods brilliance, not the dumb hicks you may come to expect from some ahem, other, authors. The story focuses on Arvin, the son of Willard Russell, whose childhood is consumed with sacrificial blood spilling on a "prayer log." No animal is safe from Willard sacrificial log, and Arvin soon learns no human life is safe either. As the story progresses we are introduced to more characters, each sick in their own way, and the story unfolds as each encounters the son of Willard Russell... The performance can be a bit flat at times, but overall a very entertaining read. If you like Danny Woodrell, or James Lee Burke, you will probably enjoy Pollack as well.

First off, I think The Passage was brilliant. This second installment of the trilogy disappointed me though. The amount of important characters swells, and the overall outcome is a story line diluted by some periphery characters that distract the reader from the core characters of the story, at least for the first half. The last half of the book really picks up and while it was not what I was expecting, it certainly kept my attention. If you read the first, you have to read this book. Trudge through the slow start and you will be rewarded at the end. You will also be waiting to find out what happens to the crew, or what is left of it, in the next book.

Excellent background information, coverage of the murders, Manson, his "family," and the trial that put a lunatic behind bars for life. Bugliosi tells a fascinatingly sick true story of a sick and twisted man who gained control over weaker minded individuals and used them to try to start a war against the establishment.

This story is violent, heavy, and hard to stomach at times. McCarthy is one of the only authors that has the ability to make me woozy while reading, but I love every minute of it. This book is a classic study of good vs evil. An internal battle that is absorbed into the surrounding 1800's Americana. A classic for sure. Must listen...

Probably up there with the greatest stories of survival ever told. Louie Zamperini is a remarkable human being, but the story that shaped him into the man he later became was on of the most intense, enjoyable listens I have ever had. I cannot see how anyone would not enjoy this book. Following transformation of Zamperini from thief, to track star, to soldier, to husband and father was a pleasure. Highly suggested and should be required reading for students learning about the WWII era.

If you like Catch-22, you will most likely enjoy this audiobook and the narration of Jay O. Sanders. For those of you who did not enjoy the book but wanted to give audio a shot, do not waste your time. Sanders cannot make up for the annoying tone and characters in this book. To be honest I do not really understand why anyone would really like this book. Heller's version of the war makes it look like everyone involved was a lunatic, its hard to follow the characters and even harder to like them.

Yes, absolutely, in fact I look forward to listening again before the next installment is released in the fall. The book is long, rich, with well developed characters and a story line that keeps on giving.

Its like The Road meets Road Warrior meets Outbreak meets 30 Days of Night. Its a perfect blend of post apocolytic and realistic vampire virus action.