Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Audiobook Review: Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King




Title:  Mr. Mercedes

Author:  Mr. Mercedes

Narrator:  Will Patton

Unabridged Length:  14 hrs, 25 mn.





Here is a summary of the book from the publisher's website:
In a mega-stakes, high-suspense race against time, three of the most unlikely and winning heroes Stephen King has ever created try to stop a lone killer from blowing up thousands. 

In the frigid pre-dawn hours, in a distressed Midwestern city, hundreds of desperate unemployed folks are lined up for a spot at a job fair. Without warning, a lone driver plows through the crowd in a stolen Mercedes, running over the innocent, backing up, and charging again. Eight people are killed; fifteen are wounded. The killer escapes. In another part of town, months later, a retired cop named Bill Hodges is still haunted by the unsolved crime. When he gets a crazed letter from someone who self-identifies as the perp; and threatens an even more diabolical attack, Hodges wakes up from his depressed and vacant retirement, hell-bent on preventing another tragedy. 

Brady Hartfield lives with his alcoholic mother in the house where he was born. He loved the feel of death under the wheels of the Mercedes, and he wants that rush again. Only Bill Hodges, with a couple of highly unlikely allies, can apprehend the killer before he strikes again. And they have no time to lose, because Brady's next mission, if it succeeds, will kill or maim thousands. 

Mr. Mercedes is a war between good and evil, from the master of suspense whose insight into the mind of this obsessed, insane killer is chilling and unforgettable.

My Review:
Although there is no way I would have "read" this book, I have to admit the audio version was wonderful!  This book kept me interested the entire time, gripping my steering wheel some days, and I found myself wanting to get in my car to listen to it.  I've always had a problem reading King's novels, but I thought I would try an audio this time, and that proved to be a great experience!

Hodges is an overweight, retired cop who seems to have lost his zest for life.  He starts every miserable day alone, mindlessly completing his daily tasks.  A couple of unsolved cases bother him, but one day the case of the Mercedes Killer is opened up all over again.  He knows when he receives a letter from someone identifying himself as the Mercedes Killer, that he should contact the police, but he decides to take matters into his own hands.

As Hodges follows clues he becomes rejuvenated.  He feels better than he has felt in years and can't help but keep this case to himself, rather than contacting the police, just a little longer.  He recruits a couple of unlikely characters from the book to help him with his investigation.  We grow to care about the welfare of these characters, not wanting them to be hurt by this wackjob throughout the story.

Patton did a great job of bringing these characters to life for me.  I honestly don't know if I would have enjoyed "reading" this book as much as listening to it, so I have to thank Patton for his narration skills.  Since this is a book from the mystery genre, I'm not going to give any more away.  With themes of friendship, suspense, and murder you may enjoy this book as much as I did.  I highly recommend this audiobook for personal leisure or even for book clubs that enjoy the murder/mystery genre.

My Rating:  5/5

Disclosure:  This audiobook was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
In a mega-stakes, high-suspense race against time, three of the most unlikely and winning heroes Stephen King has ever created try to stop a lone killer from blowing up thousands.

In the frigid pre-dawn hours, in a distressed Midwestern city, hundreds of desperate unemployed folks are lined up for a spot at a job fair. Without warning, a lone driver plows through the crowd in a stolen Mercedes, running over the innocent, backing up, and charging again. Eight people are killed; fifteen are wounded. The killer escapes.

In another part of town, months later, a retired cop named Bill Hodges is still haunted by the unsolved crime. When he gets a crazed letter from someone who self-identifies as the “perk” and threatens an even more diabolical attack, Hodges wakes up from his depressed and vacant retirement, hell-bent on preventing another tragedy.

Brady Hartsfield lives with his alcoholic mother in the house where he was born. He loved the feel of death under the wheels of the Mercedes, and he wants that rush again. Only Bill Hodges, with a couple of highly unlikely allies, can apprehend the killer before he strikes again. And they have no time to lose, because Brady’s next mission, if it succeeds, will kill or maim thousands.

Mr. Mercedes is a war between good and evil, from the master of suspense whose insight into the mind of this obsessed, insane killer is chilling and unforgettable. - See more at: http://books.simonandschuster.com/Mr-Mercedes/Stephen-King/9781476754451#sthash.Q9aFpPS2.dpuf
In a mega-stakes, high-suspense race against time, three of the most unlikely and winning heroes Stephen King has ever created try to stop a lone killer from blowing up thousands.

In the frigid pre-dawn hours, in a distressed Midwestern city, hundreds of desperate unemployed folks are lined up for a spot at a job fair. Without warning, a lone driver plows through the crowd in a stolen Mercedes, running over the innocent, backing up, and charging again. Eight people are killed; fifteen are wounded. The killer escapes.

In another part of town, months later, a retired cop named Bill Hodges is still haunted by the unsolved crime. When he gets a crazed letter from someone who self-identifies as the “perk” and threatens an even more diabolical attack, Hodges wakes up from his depressed and vacant retirement, hell-bent on preventing another tragedy.

Brady Hartsfield lives with his alcoholic mother in the house where he was born. He loved the feel of death under the wheels of the Mercedes, and he wants that rush again. Only Bill Hodges, with a couple of highly unlikely allies, can apprehend the killer before he strikes again. And they have no time to lose, because Brady’s next mission, if it succeeds, will kill or maim thousands.

Mr. Mercedes is a war between good and evil, from the master of suspense whose insight into the mind of this obsessed, insane killer is chilling and unforgettable. - See more at: http://books.simonandschuster.com/Mr-Mercedes/Stephen-King/9781476754451#sthash.Q9aFpPS2.dpuf

Monday, November 17, 2014

What Are You Reading?

Sheila over at Book Journey hosts this meme that gives you the opportunity to share the books that you have been losing yourself in lately and also the ones that you are looking forward to picking up next.

What I finished:
An Unexpected Grace by Kristin von Kreisler was our last book club selection.  I still have to get my review ready, but I can tell you that most of my book club (including me) did not care for this one.

What I'm listening to now:
When I requested All Fall Down by Jennifer Weiner, I must not have realized that it was about a woman struggling with an addiction to pain killers.  This is a great story that has my attention every step of the way.

What's next:
Our book club won copies of And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini from ReadingGroupGuides.com, so that is what I will be picking up next.  I'm so excited to read Hosseini's next novel.

So that is what has been keeping me busy, how about you?  Life has been pretty crazy, obviously limiting my time available for blogging.  So please know if I don't stop by, that I'm thinking of you!  Between working full-time, and keeping a handle on my home and other activities, it's all I can handle.  I remember when I would try to post something every day, now I'm lucky to post a review once a week.  But that's ok!  There is just too much of life that I want to enjoy, I guess!





Thursday, November 6, 2014

Audiobook Review: Love Life by Rob Lowe

Title:  Love Life

Author:  Rob Lowe

Narrator:  Rob Lowe

Unabridged Length: 7 hrs, 35 mn.

Here is a summary of the book from the publisher's website

When Rob Lowe's first book was published in 2011, he received the kind of rapturous reviews that writers dream of and rocketed to the top of the bestseller list. Now, in Love Life, he expands his scope, using stories and observations from his life in a poignant and humorous series of true tales about men and women, art and commerce, fathers and sons, addiction and recovery, and sex and love.

In Love Life, you will find stories about:

• Kissing Unexpectedly
• The secrets they don't teach you in acting school
• His great, great, great, great, great-grandfather's role in the American revolution
Parks and Recreation, Behind the Candelabra, and Californication
• Trying to coach a kids' basketball team dominated by helicopter parents
• The hot tub at the Playboy mansion
• Starring in and producing a flop tv series
• Camping at Sea World
• Playing saxophone for president Bill Clinton
• The first journey to college with his son
• Warren Beatty
• The benefits of marriage

Throughout this entertaining book, you will find yourself in the presence of a master raconteur, a multi-talented performer whose love for life is as intriguing as his love life.


My Review:
Let me start by saying how much I appreciated this audiobook narrated by Rob Lowe.  When I listened to Stories I Only Tell My Friends, I found myself laughing quite often.   This book still had a few humorous moments, but overall it carried more of a serious tone.  Lowe didn't hold back with his life experiences once again and my heart just melts as he proclaims his love for his wife.  

When I think back on the book, it is hard to pick just one story that stuck with me more than any other.  One instance that brought tears to my eyes is when he shared with us about his stint in rehab.  This was obviously a turning point in his life as he came to accept how drugs and alcohol were controlling his life.  The part that really got to me was the therapy session about the NFL player.  How the entire group came together to support and comfort this man when no-one else would was beautiful.

The other "Holy Smokes" moment for me was when he was telling us about his experience with the Nip/Tuck television series.  I absolutely loved this show, clearing my calendar once a week so as not to miss an episode.  I won't say any more about this in case you are a Nip/Tuck fan too!

I truly enjoyed all Lowe's stories in this book and having him narrate just enhanced my listening experience.  I was able to pick up on the love and emotions regarding the subjects he was talking about.  With themes of love, family, career, and opportunities, you may enjoy this book as much as I did.  I highly recommend this book for personal leisure or as a book club selection, especially if you are a fan of Rob Lowe.

My Rating:  5/5

Disclosure:  This audiobook was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Teaser Tuesday-Nov. 4

Check out Teaser Tuesdays from Should Be Reading. TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

This week my teaser is from An Unexpected Grace by Kristin von Kreisler:
"Because he seemed like he was trying to look prosperous.  Janitors don't usually wear sports coats and ties."

pg. 39