[Review] Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King

Ah I am beginning to understand why so many people love and will continue to love Stephen King novels. They are the epitome of a fun thriller without ever really feeling like a guilty pleasure. Characters tend to work, the writing is brisk, and their sheer popularity makes the read more relevant, especially if you are someone who likes to “get” popular culture references. That being said, Mr. Mercedes is not without its flaws, and when it really comes to the wire, there are quite a few things in the way of this approaching King’s previous masterpieces (It, The Tommyknockers, etc.). Not that I have read them, as the only other King work I have ever read is The Stand, which was…certainly a journey. Mr. Mercedes marks a departure for the king of 20th century horror, into the region of the so-called “hard-boiled detective story”.

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Mr. Mercedes begins incredibly strong, with the use of a first chapter that shows what many have tried but failed – an introduction whose raw emotions and atmosphere could make it its own story. Take that very first chapter out, and it could definitely work. But the way King seamlessly transitions from this stellar beginning tragedy to its aftermath is quite masterful. He links emotion to emotion, emotion evoked from the audience to a character contemplating his own emotions. Bill Hodges is a retired police detective, and in his lackadaisical days of wallowing on with life, he considers suicide. Then mail arrives, addressed to him from what appears to be the perpetrator of one of the few unsolved crimes that marked Hodges’ otherwise unblemished record. The letter taunts and goads at Hodges, who in term is consumed by a rekindled rage to fight, and to catch him. Now up until this point, King has done everything in good taste; he has all the ingredients, and in the hands of someone like King, he can definitely make something out of it. Each layer he adds creates a more complete picture, woven extremely tightly. Nigh perfect if I dare say so myself, but then the cracks begin to appear.

As a character, Hodges is likable – he is charming, nice, and actual empathizes with other characters. He never feels forceful, and this is where the disbelief begins to appear. If Hodges is such a great personality, how he can keep it when he chases Mr. Mercedes, without involving the police? The answer? King begins to shift other characters, and bending the plausibility of the plot to adapt to Hodges’ stagnancy. Hodges has to be pushed, be fed incentive to hunt the killer, and this takes away credibility from the entire setup. Why even bother with trying to catch the killer by himself when he needs motivation with each obstacle? Here, it feels like the presence of other characters not only hinders his own development, but even slows down the plot.

Another problems lies in the middle of the novel, which experiences a lull. Or at least, I did. The beginning was gripping, a psychological study of both the cat and the mouse, but the middle, which should be King winding up the tension, feels too flat. I will say it here – one hundred pages of the middle of Mr. Mercedes could have cut out, and I wouldn’t really feel the difference. Now sure, the final buildup wouldn’t be as exciting, but I also wouldn’t have to force myself to turn the pages until we reach that ending. Actually, from what I understand, this is a problem with a lot of King books – they could definitely pass a few more cuts. But I guess when you are a superstar author where it doesn’t matter what you write about as long as you write, this is understandable.

Also, did anyone else feel Mr. Mercedes was a weird form of Norman Bates? Maybe it is just the Oedipus complex, and their intelligence but I kept on feeling the vibes and connections between the two.

Overall, another great novel from Stephen King book-ended by a fantastic beginning and a thrilling ending, but let down by the excessive, stagnant middle.

Doesn’t everyone like the ice cream man?

3.5 Stars

“Review”: Fables by Bill Willingham

I will do a more comprehensive “series-in-sum” review of the whole series (though I do not know when I will continue), but I will briefly cover my thoughts on the first 5 chapters/volume one of this series.

We start off the story with some introduction of some fairy tale characters – Jack, the Wolf, Snow White, etc. Their personalities have been slightly altered, as has the state of their lives. Set in modern day (or really, a decade earlier since this was published back into 2002) New York, Fables follows the lives of the fairy tale creatures and characters after being chased out of their lands by the “Adversary”. As the first volume, not too much is revealed about this, but what is extensively focused on is the fact that they want to return. Now, I only watched the beginning of Once Upon A Time, but does that sound somewhat similar? Or am I completing messing up the comparison? Anyways, they have all entered this agreement in which past grudges from the old land should be dropped, and they now function as a relatively autonomous government (though the “mundy” are not aware).

Obviously, other than an introduction to the world, we also see a few subplots, with the main one being a murder scene regarding Snow White’s sister. For obvious reasons, I will not go too into depth, but I will mention that the build-up to the end was better than the end itself. Sure the “big reveal” was interesting with regards to how the detective came to his final conclusion, but the clues were not as well masked, and it was a tad anti-climatic. That said, I really liked the character interactions, specifically how they went about this case. As they say, the journey is more important than the destination.

The art was above average, and the whole thing was colored with a rather bright solid palette, and there are certain pages in which it certainly exceeds expectations. However, as a first volume, it could have been more clear in establishing set terms, though it certainly isn’t a bad introduction. I would recommend if you like a twist between fairy tales and the modern world (which seem to be popping up more and more often nowadays).

Overall: C+ (72.4/100) OR 3.62/5 Stars

Character/Setting (30%): 3.4

• Characters: 1.9/2.5 – Interesting, but could have had more variety and innovative
• Setting: 1.7/2.5 (-0.2 due to confusion of the setting)

Writing (10%): 3.5

• Dialogue: 1.7/2.5
• Flow/Style: 1.8/2.5

Art (30%): 4.1

• Style: 1.4/2.0
• Grade: 1.35/2.0
• Consistency: 0.85/1.0
• BONUS +0.5 for full-colored!

Story/Plot (20%): 3.3

• Exposition: 0.8/1.0
• Rising Action: 0.7/1.0
• Climax: 0.6/1.0
• Falling Action: 0.6/1.0
• Resolution: 0.6/1.0

Enjoyment (10%): 3.6

• General Enjoyment: 1.4/2.0
• Personal Preference: 1.5/2.0
• Recommendation: 0.7/1.0

Review: Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

This is going to be a shorter review since I am going to try to read more (meaning less time to do lengthy write-ups).

First off, this is book is enjoyable, innovative in some regards, but still suffered from what I like to call the “Fantasy Conundrum”. The issue I have with a lot of fantasy that I have read is how “unbalanced” they are in terms of character, setting, writing, and the story. You can have great characters and setting, but average writing, or a really great story with bland characters. This is particularly noticeable in fantasy because the worlds and magic are so different from our reality that even the smallest changes make the biggest impacts on our perception. Sanderson is well-known for his story and world-building, as evidenced from the rising popularity of his books, and Warbreaker was the first adult fantasy I read by him (I had previously read Steelheart). Though I did not write a review on the latter, I think that I have a repeated problem with Sanderson (but don’t kill me if you disagree):

1. His characters are meant to break tropes, but they inadvertently fall into a different trope: i.e., an analogy would be if Anna and Elsa from Frozen went from dependent princesses to strong independent female rulers – in an effort to break the common mold, Sanderson has made his characters nearly indistinguishable from each other. He sets up back stories, but then the actions of the characters in the book directly contradict their past actions and motivations.
2. He likes plot twists, but either they are predictable, or they are really good. Okay, let me clarify – I really like about 60% of his plot twists. But the other 40% were quite predictable, and that was somewhat disappointing. Obviously, I will not mention them otherwise they wouldn’t be twists anymore. He also likes deus ex machina, like a lot.
3. His writing aggravates me – its not that the writing isn’t good for the story, but rather it is not to my personal tastes. I really like more hidden language, but his writing was on the “surface level” in the regards that it did not require any real “thinking”.
4. He tries to create comic-relief/funny characters that aren’t really that funny – okay I did laugh on the inside during some of the Lightsong scenes, but for most of the dialogue, I just thought he was being a little pretentious, albeit slightly amusing.
5. His worldbuilding is quite good, though sometimes a bit exhaustive/confusing. This is another problem that I have with fantasies – either the worlds are too simple, or they are too complex. In terms of a stand-alone (which might change), Warbreaker straddles the line fairly well, though I did have a few problems. Mainly, was how small the world felt – he did reference other kingdoms than the main two, but they were never really explored, so the story felt small-in-scope.
6. They are really easy to read, and will not feel like almost 700 pages (my edition was 688 to be exact). Basically, this is sort of like my final verdict –  I recommend this book if you are in the mood for a light read with little thinking. I would recommend trying to get through at least the first 5 chapters before really making an opinion. Overall, it was a decent read with interesting ideas, but could have done better in execution.

Overall: C (65.1/100) OR 3.255/5 Stars

Character/Setting (35%): 3.5

• Main Cast: 1.35/2.0 (-0.5 for inconsistency)
• Rest of the Characters: 0.3/0.5
• Setting: 2.35/2.5

Writing (35%): 3.0

• Style: 1.05/2.0
• Flow: 1.3/2.0
• Consistency/Meshing: 0.65/1.0

Plot/Story (20%): 3.2

• Exposition: 0.7/1.0
• Rising Action: 0.7/1.0
• Climax: 0.8/1.0
• Falling Action: 0.55/1.0
• Resolution: 0.45/1.0

Enjoyment (10%): 3.4

• General Enjoyment: 1.65/2.0
• Personal Preference: 1.1/2.0
• Recommendation: 0.65/1.0

Review: Shutterspeed by Erwin Mortier

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Title: Shutterspeed

Author: Erwin Mortier, translated by Ina Rilke

Paperback: 192 pages

Publisher: Pushkin Press (May 5, 2015)

Links: Amazon, Goodreads

I really enjoyed this read – it was one of those short books that are really good for a warm lazy summer afternoon with a cold drink next to you. Its a classic coming-of-age story that is elevated by excellent writing, though some of the events can be a bit slow and the ending is not definitive.

The main character, Joris, is a little bit bland though his voice is certainly interesting. If you are expecting a snarky or witty protagonist, he probably isn’t the one you are looking for, but his voice (really Mortier’s writing) just floats off the page. The book is situated like a series of vignettes that depict his experiences of growing up; being raised by his aunt and uncle after his father died and his mother took off for Spain. The rest of the cast is probably a bit more lively, but they leave the memory rather quickly. The setting also fleets from the mind, and as a whole, nothing is too memorable about the book.

The events can also move a little slow, but I would also recommend reading this in one or two sittings because that is how to get the whole picture. By the end, I felt like “life is fleeting and time really slips through our fingers” is something that I took away from the book. I would by no means call it boring, but it is not a page turner.

Well, I can’t really say that because the writing is certainly enticing, but beyond that, a lot more could have happened in 192 pages. I would definitely recommend this book for people who are looking for a slower melancholic read, not an action/thriller. Like I said at the beginning, its a beautiful coming of age story narrated by a flowing and soothing voice, one perfect for a lazy summer day.

Overall: 3.435/5 Stars

Character/Setting (30%): 3.1

• Joris: 0.6/1.0
• Rest of the Cast: 0.95/1.5
• Setting: 1.55/2.5

Writing (35%): 4.1

• Flow: 1.8/2.0
• Style: 1.5/2.0
• Consistency: 0.8/1.0

Story/Plot (25%): 2.8

• Exposition: 0.65/1.0
• Rising Action: 0.5/1.0
• Climax: 0.5/1.0
• Falling Action: 0.55/1.0
• Resolution: 0.6/1.0

Enjoyment (10%): 3.7

• General Enjoyment: 1.4/2.0
• Personal Preference: 1.55/2.0
• Recommendation: 0.75/1.0

Review: The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Short stories still haven’t grabbed me in the way that I had previously hoped. I have tried short stories from a lot of my favorite writers such as Nabokov, but I still have yet to find one that I have genuinely cherished. Perhaps there is an issue with how the character development and world building is accomplished – I have never found a short story that excels in both. Writing in short stories are usually decent, but if I am not attached to the story or the actions of the characters, then it already holds less meaning for me.

With that said, The Yellow Wallpaper was probably one of the better short stories I have read. Gilman’s writing was good, though it lacked a particularly distinct style, and some parts of it were a bit confusing. Overall, I would still recommend one check it out, though probably not of the utmost urgency.

The Narrator and the Yellow Wallpaper

I will be brief since I don’t want to spoil it, but basically our narrator is writing to us in the form of a diary or journal without headings or dates included. She is the wife of a doctor, and feels that she is ill, though her husband sees otherwise. At the beginning of the story, they are on a 3-month vacation, and when they arrive at their rented estate, they are surprised at what they got for the price that they paid. In the end, they end up residing in the attic.

So that is the basic set-up, which is somewhat standard for shorter fiction, but then Gilman introduces this “yellow wallpaper”, and this is where things start getting interesting. The wallpaper isn’t strictly yellow, but rather a multitude of different hues and shades. The main thing is that it drives the narrator crazy. She can’t stand it, and soon emotions regarding it begin to clash. I will not say any more, but if that hooks up, then I would go check it out.

Themes

The Yellow Wallpaper does address some themes, but most are up for individual interpretation. One recurring theme regarded how marriage trapped women and essentially cut off their voice of free speech. Throughout the story, the narrator tries to speak up, but each time she is either ignored or not taken seriously. Ironically, it is her husband that does this the most, and the eponymous yellow wallpaper becomes a playground for the narrator to be herself (and really, the only place she is allowed). By the end, the yellow wallpaper that served as a “cage” becomes her “liberation”.

Final Verdict

Yeah, so since this one is going to be short, I will be brief. I liked it, but I didn’t love it. I had read it because I had heard about how good it was, but let me just say don’t go into it expecting something completely new and different. Because you might not get that, depending on what you have read before. Personally, I will probably never read it again, but then again, it certainly is short, and interesting in some concepts that it explores.

Overall: C+ (71.8/100) OR 3.59/5 Stars

Character/Setting (30%): 3.2

• Narrator: 1.45/2.0
• Rest of the Cast: 0.2/0.5
• Setting: 1.55/2.5
• BONUS POINTS FOR THE NAMESAKE YELLOW WALLPAPER +0.3

Writing (35%): 3.8

• Style: 1.35/2.0
• Flow: 1.6/2.0
• Consistency: 0.85/1.0

Plot (25%): 3.8

• Exposition: 0.7/1.0
• Rising Action: 0.75/1.0
• Climax: 0.8/1.0
• Falling Action: 0.75/1.0
• Resolution: 0.8/1.0

Enjoyment (10%): 3.5

• General Enjoyment: 1.5/2.0
• Personal Preference: 1.3/2.0
• Recommendation: 0.7/1.0

The Respectful Prostitute by Jean-Paul Sartre “Review”

I’m sure how I feel about this one.

If I had to rank Sartre’s works, I would imagine this one would go to the bottom, not because it is great, but because I really don’t like some of the characters. The whole thing felt slightly rushed, but more of that later. Since I am in the middle of a Read-athon, I will only post a partial review, and update it later.

Overall: C (69.9/100) OR 3.495/5 Stars

Character/Setting (30%): 3.4

• Lizzie: 1.1/1.5
• Rest of the Cast: 0.6/1.0
• Setting: 1.7/2.5 – Felt like Sartre didn’t know this setting as well, and it just felt out of place.

Writing (35%): 3.6

• Flow of Dialogue: 1.35/2.0
• Style: 1.5/2.0
• Meshing/Consistency: 0.75/1.0

Plot (25%): 3.5

• Exposition: 0.8/1.0
• Rising Action: 0.85/1.0
• Climax: 0.55/1.0
• Falling Action: 0.6/1.0
• Resolution: 0.7/1.0

Enjoyment (10%): 3.4

• General Enjoyment: 1.4/2.0
• Personal Preference: 1.35/2.0
• Recommendation: 0.65/1.0

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr Review

It has been so long since I read an entire book in one sitting.

Sorry, no fanart today.

When I first started All the Light We Cannot See, I held the initial opinion that it was another one of those overrated pretentious novels. I was so wrong. Not only did I read the entire 530 page book in one sitting, I enjoyed every moment of it. The tale was so gripping, and is certainly a step away from what I have come to expect with modern releases.

The characters and setting were exceptionally strong. The novel had a large host, each with foreign names, but never did they fall out of my memory (although this may have to do more with the fact I didn’t stop). Each one had a distinct quality, and the two main characters were quite well fleshed out. My only bone to pick is that while each of the characters were different enough to differentiate between them, I would have enjoyed a greater variety, particularly when it came to the backstory of the two main protagonists. The first protagonist, Marie-Laure is blind, and lost her sight at the age of 6. Her father builds her a model of their neighborhood, and later of an entire city, for her to learn so that she can still learn the roads and paths of the city. This irrevocably brought the setting into the story, which was certainly a good choice, as the setting is quite the interesting one. Although it may sound cliché, the majority of the book is set during World War II in France and Germany, Doerr had a very interesting take on it, and seeing the city from the “eyes” of Marie-Laure was extremely refreshing. The other main character, Werner, is a German orphan who is exhibits a very special talent, and ends up going to a school for it. Although on the surface the two may sound completely different, the essential “what actually happened” is the same – they are both displaced from their home and sent somewhere, and was usually not their choice. Although from here their stories did diverge, I wish there had been more interaction between the two of them – though this is more of an issue with the plot than in the characters or the setting.

The writing was quite fantastic, although nothing that blew my mind away. It reminded me at time like Anderson’s writing in Wintergirls, though not with all the heavy metaphors. It is extremely smooth, and is almost a perfect fit for the story. Almost. What I mean is that something about it bugged me – especially towards the beginning. I still have not figured out what bothered me, but I just know that something did bother me – so when you first start this book and if you also feel bothered, just keep going; the wrinkles get ironed out rather quickly. That being said, there was an issue that was quite prevalent through the entire book – the writing did not change. While that is normally a good thing as it conveys consistency in the writer, in this case, I would have definitely liked more variety, particularly when it came to telling the story of the two main characters. Unfortunately, it was extremely difficult of me to tell whose story we were following at the time if I didn’t know the order or if I didn’t see that character’s name. Of course, this aspect did not really interfere with the enjoyment – in fact, it might have even aided it because it kept the whole novel very smooth and uninterrupted.

All the Light We Cannot See is a fantastic historical novel, and I urge you to see as soon as possible – if it is within 2014, then that would be even better! It is a poignant read, with equal parts action, suspense, tragedy, regret, and hope. Doerr weaves the story of the two protagonists seamlessly, and the plot is very tight, with only a few holes. I highly recommend this to anyone, and I personally will look for more Anthony Doerr books!

Overall: C+ (71.2/100) OR 3.56/5 Stars

Character/Setting (30%): 3.6

Writing (35%): 3.4

Plot (25%): 3.6

Enjoyment (10%): 3.9

{Catalyst by Laurie Halse Anderson Review

***For the purposes of this review, I will only use “Catalyst” when referencing the book***

A strong start, strong finish, weak middle.

When I first started reading Catalyst, I had really high hopes for it, as the beginning was so strong. In fact, initially, the score was on the rise. Then, I reach the middle, which dragged like crazy – now don’t get me wrong, it was still extremely enjoyable, but it felt like the middle 100 pages could have been 50 instead.

The setting (like my previous review) was the weakest in my opinion. We never learn the actual setting, just the locations like houses and schools. However, this could be appropriate as the struggles of our main character, Kate Malone, can be felt by teenagers across the United States. Speaking of Kate, she is probably one of the more amusing narrators that I have read this month – and this book is mostly likely the most lighthearted.

The writing was pretty good and quite different from the other Anderson book I read, Wintergirls, which speaks for her diversity. It was quite refreshing in regards to sarcasm, although I feel some things are rather dated, but nevertheless, did not affect the enjoyment.

Catalyst was a solid read, with enjoyable characters and new writing. It suffers in setting and slow plot progression towards the middle. However, it is still definitely a worthwhile read, and another good one from Anderson (thumbs up).

Overall: C – 68.8/100 OR 3.44/5 Stars

Character/Setting (30%): 3.3

Writing (35%): 3.5

Plot (25%): 3.5

Enjoyment (10%): 3.5

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson Review

I seriously need to find some lighter but still good reads.

Art from http://sprinklekriskris.deviantart.com/

*This novel contains some serious topics and can be quite depressing at times.*

Everything I have read this month so far is pretty depressing – although, this one was not completely so, and it certainly exceeded my expectations. When I had first initially started the book (aka carrying it around), I kept on having people coming up and telling me how good it was and how I would not regret reading it. They were right.

First off, let’s get the weakness of this novel out of the way – definitely the setting. Although there was a setting in Wintergirls, I did not feel as if it really contributed to the story. However, this is certainly not a “bad” thing if you see it as a way for Anderson to make it a more “encompassing” story by giving it an ambiguous situation. Unfortunately, I could not accurately gauge whether or not this was her true intentions, so I have to leave it up to the individual reader. A strong part of this book was central cast – consisting of the main character, Lia, her ex-best friend Cassie, and Lia’s families. In fact, I think they were such strong and distinct characters that their personalities will definitely stick in my head for quite some time. I enjoyed how Anderson did not explicitly list their qualities, but instead revealed them subtly, dropping hints like breadcrumbs. This made the read extremely engaging as you are thrown into a blizzard and you have to find your way out. The families of Lia were also important, but they are already starting to slip out of my mind – save for Emma, Lia’s younger step-sister. Emma represents not only innocence but also the promise and potential of youth. She is essentially the bright light in this bleak tale of survival, and her interactions with Lia certainly added depth to both of their characters.

If the setting was a weakness, then the writing was its absolute reason why you should go and read it strength. It featured crossing out (demonstrated by yours truly) of phrases, and the formatting was extremely refreshing. But what stood out the most was Anderson’s writing – it was filled to the brim with metaphors, similes, hyperboles, and imagery that literally brought the story out of the page yes I know it is cliché but deal with it. At first, I did not think I would like it, but very quickly, it attached itself to the story and its characters, blending into a magical fusion of extreme emotional depth and polished technical details. It was a joy to read, and an experience seriously go read it to enjoy in of itself. In fact, it was so good, that the plot almost didn’t matter as much. The writing kept rolling along, building an avalanche of emotion amidst a winter fantasyland. However, certain aspects of the plot does warrant some mention – particularly how the majority of the events are precipitated by the death of Cassie this is not a spoiler as it happens in the very beginning and how she comes back to haunt the protagonist.

Wintergirls was absolutely stunning, and has cemented my decision to make Laurie Halse Anderson my November featured author. Other books that I plan to read by her include Speak, {Catalyst, and The Impossible Knife of Memory. If you guys have any suggestions, you should let me know!

Overall: C+ – 71.6/100 OR 3.58/5 Stars

Character/Setting (30%): 3.5

Writing (35%): 3.8

Plot (25%): 3.2

Enjoyment (10%): 4.0

Art from http://zutaraforever12.deviantart.com/

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini Review

If this book is a foreshadowing to what is going to come, then I am very excited for the rest of the month.

Art from http://mastermime.deviantart.com/

For reason, I always have a difficult time transitioning from one month to another, particularly when it comes to reading. This month was no different, except that this transition was possibly one of the smoothest ever, as it was aided by a fantastic read. In fact, this book alone almost made me choose Hosseini as my November featured author, except that he has only released 3 books (I usually have a minimum cap of 5 major works) and as a result, I am still looking. But enough of that – let’s get to the actual book!

The Kite Runner’s biggest flaw in my opinion is in the main character, Amir. He is essentially the epitome of a wimpy protagonist who has to always complain when obviously others around him have it worse. Also, he happens to be rich (in the beginning) and irresponsible. Over the course of the novel, nothing really drastically changes, except some of his actions, but it still felt like a rehashing occasionally. However, this is no reason why you shouldn’t like the other characters, who are all well fleshed out, and are relatively distinct. The main ones (in the beginning to avoid spoilers) would be the loyal Hassan, kind Ali, masculine Baba, and the ever sadistic Assef. Their colorful personalities greatly contrasted with our main character, which definitely aided in how relatable the story was. In fact, because Amir was rather dull, it brought out the variety in the rest of the cast. The majority of the characters reside in Afghanistan, but major portions of the book do take place in the United States and other parts of the Middle East such as Pakistan. This resulted in a very interesting fusion and a dichotomy of the differences between the various settings and respective cultures that added a great deal to the realism and depth to the story. The setting could always be felt, but never really intruded into the story, although some of the time (dates in particular) were more challenging to grasp.

The writing was a gem – its stark and straightforward nature cut straight to the heart of the matter, and never masked the events with roundabout pretentiousness. In fact, I would almost go to say the writing was perfect, except that it was from the viewpoint of Amir, which did make some potentially emotionally gripping scenes borderline bland occasionally. Additionally, Hosseini did bring in motifs that did not feel completely immersed in the story, although these are just minor deductions and did not really affect the book negativity in the big picture.

*I will only mention the exposition of the plot to prevent any spoilers*

The Kite Runner had an extremely gripping exposition – for some reason, it reminded me of Things Fall Apart but different, maybe even better. I was never bored by the plot, and the beginning only gives a glimpse to what is to come. In fact, tragedy occurs repeatedly through the book, from the beginning all the way to the end.

Overall, The Kite Runner was an emotional roller-coaster, and really a gem in terms of writing, and the character cast (aside from the main character) was a delightful crew. As Hosseini’s debut work, I am definitely intrigued and on board to read his other works.

Overall: C+ (71.6/100) OR 3.58/5 Stars

Character/Setting (30%): 3.2

Writing (35%): 3.7

Plot (25%): 3.7

Enjoyment (10%): 4.0

*Note: The Kite Runner is not intended nor suited for a younger audience. Please proceed with caution.

Art from http://rock-me-sensless.deviantart.com/