Book 4: I, Alex Cross by James Patterson

This book is the 15th book in the Alex Cross series. It is a good book but not his best. Patterson is known for his short chapters that keep you wanting to read on and this one is no exception. If you haven’t read the other books in this series I would go back and read them in order as the emotional moments only matter to those who have some background with the characters.

I, Alex Cross starts out good but slowly starts to fade at the end of the novel. The story revolves around a high end prostitution group and prostitutes are being killed. The killer in this novel is known as Zeus and is interesting enough until you find out who he is at the end. It is as if Patterson is trying to top his killers and make them more important or more high profile. This time around the White House is involved and I could have cared less in those sections of the book

The book does end with a little glimpse into the possible future of the series. Patterson needs to get back to making more interesting killers like the Wolf or Kyle Craig.

Oh yeah, Nana Mama is sick in this one again. I swear she seems to be sick and almost dying in the last few books.

Even though I still enjoyed this book I am starting to lose my faith in James Patterson being able to deliver in his books. He has been writing so many books per year that they are losing out in quality. Usually the Alex Cross books keep me interested but even these books are starting to lose their luster. I think he needs to come to some finality to this series. It is as if he is afraid to kill off main characters or bring some finality to the Kyle Craig story.

Book 3: Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower

I have been waiting to read this final book for 9 months now reading every book that is in the series and connected to the series. I have always wanted to read the Dark Tower series because the idea intrigued me, but I would never start because I was a bit overwhelmed by how long the books were and how there were so many books connected to the series. I would just keep putting it off over and over again. I would borrow the books from the library and return them unopened. I would borrow them from my brother and they would sit there collecting dust. I even bought the books and they just sat there. I kept saying I’ll get to those books when I’m ready to commit a lot of my time to one series. I finally started reading in April and never stopped reading. Nothing but Stephen King books about the Dark Tower. It was a chore at times to get through some of the connected books, but it was exciting to find out what was going to happen next and have more mysteries revealed.

There has been a lot of mixed feelings on how this final book ended everything and I was worried myself because I kept hearing how I was going to be disappointed. I can understand how if you have read this series from the day it started, and you had to wait 22 years to see its conclusion, how you would be disappointed and left wanting more. I was disappointed with some of how the book ended by I was overall satisfied.

The book starts  right where Song of Susannah left off with Callahan and Jake battling there way through the Dixie Pig.  The book begins with death and action and ends with tragedy as I would have expected it to end. There was a lot of sad moments in this book and ultimately what I wanted to happen. Many main characters die and this book had that epic journey feel to it. All the places you have been waiting to see like where the Breakers are kept to the castle of the Crimson King are visited.

I wanted to know more about the Crimson King and was left disappointed with only a little bit of information about him and a not too epic battle against him. Some of the places they visited were quick and seemed a little rushed like the author had to put them in there but just wanted to get to the end. I enjoyed the battle where the breakers lived and learning more about past characters from other books.

The other disappointment was with the character of Patrick Danville. He seemed out of place and unimportant. He does play a part in helping Roland on his journey but it was kind of stupid. I would have been happier if he was ERASED from the book altogether. Those who have read the book know what I mean.

The ending was tragic as I suspected and you are left with a little bit of a holy shit moment at the end so I was pleased and felt the read was worth it in the end.

Book 2: Dark Tower VI- Song of Susannah

After reading the sixth book of the Dark Tower Series I was left thinking whether I like where the series is going or not? Before reading the book I was told that this is the book that is the worst in the series and takes a turn for the worst. I actually would have to say I enjoyed more things about this book then I was annoyed by. It is my least favorite of the Dark Tower books but it does not ruin the overall story.

The story takes place mainly in New York in different time periods and in Maine where Roland and his ka-tet are split to complete different tasks before they continue their journey to the Dark Tower. Susannah takes center stage in this story where she is being led by this mysterious other version of herself Mia to have her demon child in New York.

I can’t stand the character of Susannah and her multiple personalities. She already had three different personalities prior to this book and now she took on a fourth. It gets annoying and that is where this book shows weakness. The other part that annoyed me about this book was all the poetic speak. Every chapter or section has a little poem with come-comalla this and come-comalla that! Why? Come comalla and cut the shit so we can continue the story and stop wasting my time.  Stephen King is a great story teller but sometimes I question why he adds certain things to his stories that make no sense and are not important to the story at all.

Okay, enough on the negatives of the story. Now to the stuff that made it worth reading. The book kept me hooked because it continued telling you more of the mysteries surrounding the Dark Tower and kept throwing the characters in dangerous situations. Susannah is in 1999 where it is the future to her so she is in awe with how things have changed in the world. We learn about who the baby is why he is important to the overall story. The part of the story where Eddie and Roland end up starts off with guns blazing and keeps you wondering if they will make it out alive or not. Father Callahan and Jake’s side of the story leaves you with a set up for the final chapter of the story and makes you want to start the next book immediately to see what happens.

At the end of the fifth book, it hinted that Stephen King would be playing a part in his own story and I was very hesitant and annoyed that he was going to be in his own novel. I was pissed off and hoped that he wasn’t going to make himself God and that he would be the one at the top of the Tower. That is still a possibility since I haven’t finished the series yet but what they did with fictional Stephen King in this book was pretty cool.

I still have high hopes for how this series will end and still am very intrigued about the characters and the mystery of the world. This book is the lead in to the final chapter and did just that. I still think the whole series will all end in tragedy but instead I might be the one left with the tragedy that the ending sucked and I will have wasted 8 months of my life reading these books.

Book 1: Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla

My first few reviews will be about the end of the Dark Tower series written by Stephen King. I have been reading the Dark Tower series and all the books that connect to the series since April and it has been quite the journey. In order to review the fifth book in the series I have to talk about all the other books in the series as well so you can have something to compare to.

The four books before Wolves of the Calla were all excellent reads. King creates a world that is very interesting and  is comparable to the world found in the Lord of the Rings saga. I am really enjoying the characters found in the Dark Tower and love how the books reveal a little bit about the world and keep you hooked to find out what is going on. It is similar to the television show Lost where you aren’t always sure about what is happening and why it is happening but you keep watching to find out how it is going to end. You question yourself and come up with theories to find out what will happen next.

The books also are wonderful because they connect to other novels that Stephen King wrote. As you read the Dark Tower series you come across characters and places from novels like The Stand and Salem’s Lot. It is really interesting to see characters from another world appear in this mysterious world.

If you have not read the other four books  starting with The Gunslinger then I suggest you stop reading this review and read the first four books in the series. They are worth reading.

Okay, now let’s get talking about the Wolves of the Calla. This is where the series takes some interesting turns and the world you think you understood from the beginning of the series gets more complex. The book starts off with a new setting in a place called the Calla where there are wolves that attack their village every 20 years or so and take one child from every set of twins who have not yet hit puberty. Some of those children return but are never the same again and others never return. This premise got me hooked from the start wondering who these wolves were and why they wanted the children of this world.

The book then jumps to our main characters of Roland the Gunslinger and his ka-tet(group). They just escaped the evil wizard who at this point may be the Man in Black, or Maarten, or Randall Flagg, or Walter? If you are confused yet then that is good because I am too. Again, part of that mystery which is the Dark Tower. Roland and his group journey into the Calla and that is where the majority of this story takes place.

During this story we run into Father Callahan who is from another Stephen King book entitled Salem’s Lot and again think cool I saw him before but why is he here and how the hell did he get here? This book is full of those kind of mysteries, which is the biggest draw to this series in my opinion.

The story shifts between different worlds as characters travel back and forth through various dreams and portals. It gets confusing at times but most of the story makes sense and is explained by the end of the book.

The book drags through the parts that take place in the Calla when we have to hear about the people who live there and why they do and do not want to fight the wolves. The book ends strong with a very epic battle which contain references to some very familiar books and movies. Stephen King writes some really intense action sequences. He usually makes you read through tons of background on characters(sometimes too much background) before you get to the these scenes but it is worth the wait.

Slowly throughout the book you learn more about the world of the Dark Tower and most of your questions about the wolves and why they take the children are answered. Don’t worry though, there are more mysteries and questions to make you wonder where this series is going next. So overall I think this book is a worthy addition to the series.

After reading this book, I am still excited to see how it all ends but I am worried that it will be disappointing. I am curious to see if Roland and his group make it to the Tower and what will happen when he gets there. There are only two books left and I still don’t know much about the Crimson King and why he wants the Tower destroyed. Will Roland make it and save the day or will it end in tragedy? Who will live and who will die? My theory is that it will end tragically with Roland dying and his mission will be unsuccessful. We will see!

Why am I trying to read 52 books in a year?

My goal is to read 52 books in a year for a special cause that my brother told me about.  If I read 52 books in a year then there will be a donation made to help put a student through college.  I will be jumping all over the place reading books about undercover ATF agents to books about elves.  Enjoy the ride!

It Begins

Even though I’m not part of the Official Cannonball Read over at Pajiba, (mostly because my dipshit brother was too slow to get the damn request in on time), I’m still participating in spirit.  And by that, I mean, I’m going to haunt you bastards until one of you gives up.

It’s on.