Kristal

• Rated 4 stars

“Owning its' main structure to the events of the Russian Revolution (1917-1944), George Orwell uses an ancient form of satire: the animal fable to critique the political system of totalitarianism.

In its opening, the animals on Manor Farm are tired of being exploited by the farmer, Mr Jones (Tsar Nicholas II). In an effort to rise above this injustice, the oldest animal on the farm, Old Major (Karl Marx & Vladimir Lenin), gives an inspiring speech of a vision he has of the animals living without oppression of men, of being free, well fed and happy.

Old Majors' vision soon becomes a reality when all the animals come together as one and rise up against Mr. Jones, sending him scurrying from Manor Farm. The animals start to establish their new found freedom by renaming the farm Animal Farm and establishing a small list of rules. This works for a short time, and slowly, a new dictatorship emerges via the pigs. The lesser farm animals soon find themselves with a new set of rules that look vaguely familiar, but do not seem to have the same meaning as they originally thought.

Orwell's story is unpretentious in it's simplicity yet innovative in it's haunting ability to still be accurate 60+ years later.”

Kristal wrote this review 9 days ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“Okay, this is in no way a classic but sometimes books just mean so much to you at a certain time in your life or just give you that warm & fuzzy feeling inside. Well, that's what this one did for me. I am an only child and have a very small immediate family. I have often times wondered what it would be like to be part of a large family. I got to feel that in this book. This is the second book of Ms Volland's that I have read. I look forward to read more from her. ”

Kristal wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“I really couldn't see how a ghost story could be re-invented, but Joe Hill did it. I really enjoyed the character of Jude and his soul searching to find a way to end his nightmare. The storyline of the dogs was very dear to me and that aspect will forever stay with me. Thank you Joe, for a wonderful story. ”

Kristal wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“I read lots of horror and although this is not horror in the sense of monsters, but rather what one human can do to another. And I think I would rather battle a monster than some of the characters in this novel! The story is a non-stop horror rollercoaster ride. You will go to bed with the lights on, the security alarm set and a gun or baseball bat within easy reach. And to really add to the excitement, the writing is clear, vivid and intelligent. But be warned, it is gruesome and not for the faint of heart. I can't wait for more from Jack Kilborn!
”

Kristal wrote this review Monday, November 16 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“What If? What if, during the Cold War years, things had taken a turn for the worse? If the tension between USSR and America got heated and someone made a single, life-threatening mistake? And if the happened, how would you react? (in 1959) Having no electricity, no readily available food, no sanitation, no medical supplies?

With my fascination this year of reading apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic novels, I was very surprised that a book written before I was even born could still scare the living day lights out of me! Even though there was no gruesome details of death and destruction, the author simply wrote about a small town in Florida that was spared the horrible fate of being annihilated with a nuclear warhead, even though the fate of most of the state was complete devastation. But the struggle to survive and the people's banding together and resourcefulness really makes you take a deep breath and a step back to see where you are right now and, if, just if, you were ever put in that same situation, what would you do?
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Kristal wrote this review Thursday, November 12 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“I just can't seem to say enough about this series. It has been amazing for me and with this last installment, it's getting even better.

As usual, Rachel always finds herself in some kind of mess. But she is still reeling after the death of Kisten. And she won't rest until his killer is found. Ivy too, hasn't put his death behind, but she deals with the murder in her own, unique way.
There is a new character introduced, Pierce, a ghost, whom Rachel first called up when she was only 18. The banter between Pierce and Al is great!
And in typical Hollow fashion, the punches just keep coming!
”

Kristal wrote this review Monday, November 9 2009. ( reply | permalink )

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 5 stars

“My first Bradbury and I'm ashamed at myself for taking so long! This was a truly wonderfully written story about the evils of childhood and coming of age. Bradbury's prose is exquisite and unique. And while I'm sure the coming of age is wrapped around the two boys, I couldn't help but feel that the father really took some steps towards manhood himself. A great read for the month of October. ”

Kristal wrote this review Monday, November 9 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“Hattie lives in Tallahassee, Florida but returns to her hometown of Chattahoochee to attend the funeral of her mother. But once there, she reconnects with old friends and starts to fall in love with the town, that at one time, she couldn't wait to leave. When her best friend from high school is attached because he is gay, Hattie's attachment to the town deepens and she is faced with some life-altering choices.

This was a cute book, but some of the recipes that were interspersed throughout are just mouth-watering!!
”

Kristal wrote this review Wednesday, November 4 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“I thought this was a masterfully crafted story, but then I have lived with dogs my whole life and could not imagine a day without them, so reading all the descriptive language describing the training of the dogs was a real treat. Without doubt, it is a tale of love and loss and the discovery of one's self. A true coming of age tale.
”

Kristal wrote this review Wednesday, November 4 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“Renata DeChavannes is has recently lost her mother and now she has seen a tabloid photo of her boyfriend and a hot, young actress having a rollicking good time in Scotland. Added to the fact that she has writer's block, she decides she needs some time away. So she heads to her grandmother's mansion on the Gulf Coast of Alabama. Her grandmother, Honora DeChavannes, is a force to be reckoned with and refuses to let her granddaughter wallow in self-misery, even after she becomes a suspect in the attempted murder of her father's young, clueless soon-to-be bride. In her effort to reclaim her life back, Renata discovers that she must first unearth the host of secrets that are buried with her mother and discover the true woman that she was, and make peace with the first man who abandoned her and broke her heart- her handsome and distant father.
”

Kristal wrote this review Wednesday, November 4 2009. ( reply | permalink )