Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Audiobook: The Running Man by Richard Bachman (SK)

 


I’m on a Bachman kick of late. Read The Long Walk a few weeks ago, and now The Running Man. The only Bachman book I had ever read previously, and this was years ago, was Thinner. Absolutely loved it. For years I’ve been saying I need to read the rest of the so-called “Bachman books” but for some reason I just never did.

Sexxy Review: This book was a surprise for me. Having seen and enjoyed the movie—years ago—I was expecting something similar. The book and movie are worlds apart. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy the book. I did. Just in a different way than I enjoyed the movie. Though the novel had inflections of King, it was not a typical King novel. I honestly kept thinking I was listening to a Philip K. Dick novel. It was like a Richard K(ing) Dick novel. So, very cool.

Three of the biggest disparities (there’s a 4th but it’s a spoiler), are: 

1. The contestants aren’t necessarily criminals. They’re everyday shlubs who interviewed to be on the show.

2. They aren’t confined to a closed set/course. The “Runners” are out in the real world, no boundaries. They can go anywhere. Even fly to different states.

3. The “Hunters” are mentioned but not featured or fleshed out, save one, the lead Hunter, Evan McCone. And he isn’t featured or fleshed out much. Shows up towards the end. The police are the main antagonist. And the network.

Character disparities: 

1. Killian, played wonderfully by the late Richard Dawson in the movie, was a black man in the novel. And he wasn’t the emcee of the show. He was more of a producer. Personality-wise, both movie and novel character are in synch.

2. Ben Richards, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the movie, did not resemble, in either physique or personality to novel Richards. Novel Richards (NR) pyshique is lean, disheveled and worn to movie Richards (MR) clean-cut, bulky buff muscley frame. 

NR is a nobody, unemployed, disheveled, and desperate, but smart.

MR is a cop, respected until he goes against the killing of innocent citizens. 

NR is married (his wife is a prostitute) and has a daughter—who is sick w/influenza or some lung disease. Which is why he goes on the show. He wants to win the money to pay for doctors & treatment for her.

MR is single and childless and goes on the show b/c he was a prisoner and that’s how they treat criminals.

Novel Richards persona differs greatly from movie Richards. NR is a self-centered asshole with anger issues. He has moments of empathy, very light empathy. He puts others at risk, is rude and dickish. Not a very likable person.

MR has morals, and believes in doing the right thing and sacrificing himself for others.

3. Amber Mendez, played by Maria Conchita Alonso in the movie resembled novel Mendez personality, somewhat. In the movie her character is in almost the whole thing. Novel Amber is only in the last 20-30% of the book. She’s more of a convenience character.

Sub-characters are way off so I’m not even gonna get into it. The novel had some interesting and likable supporting characters. But only 1 or 2 were really given any depth. The rest were mentions or had shallow bios. In fact there is a serious lack of character development that is very un-King.

Audio review: The narrator, Kevin Kenerly, was awesome! I thought his reading, inflections, energy, and style were all perfect. Really brought the story and characters to life. I’m gonna look up more audiobooks by him.

Overall: Once I was able to purge the movie from my mind, I really enjoyed the novel. As I said already, it’s not a typical King novel. Which I keep saying even though I know it’s a Bachman-style novel. I think reading The Long Walk before Running Man helped me adjust to that. I liked the dystopian sci-fi aspect, and murderous game shows. Would’ve loved more in-depth character development and def more on the Hunters.

Final word: Out of the 4 original Bachman books, I still have Rage, and Roadwork left to read. Looking forward to them.

My rating for The Running Man: *πŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“š

*trying a new rating system

Monday, May 10, 2021

Final Girls by Riley Sager


3 1/2 stars. Another enjoyable, if not predictable and at times bordering absurd, fhriller (fluff-thriller) by Riley Sager. This is my 2nd novel by Sager—Lock Every Door being the first. I feel the same way about Final as I do about Lock, they’re both entertaining. In the same way most action movies are fun, exciting, & thrilling, but lack depth and substance—so too are Sager’s novels.

“Final” was a cool nod to 80’s slasher flicks with a mystery whodunnit twist. It’s a page-turner, just not a scary yarn. More of a “I need to know what happens next” story. The ending was a bit weird and unnecessary.

I want to love Sager’s novels, but I can’t. I think one of the reasons is b/c of the intentional attempt of misdirection, and painfully forced (and at times, pointless) plot twists. If he’d focus on a more cohesive plot/story, and deeper character development I feel his novels would be so much richer. 


This is not to say they aren’t good novels, or aren’t worth reading. They most definitely are both good, and worth reading. His writing style still sucks me into the story. The layers are there and I want to keep peeling away to see what lay beneath. He builds suspense, mystery, and the desire to keep reading. He just falls short of great. IMHBO (In My Humble Bookie Opinion)

I definitely recommend Final Girls for a fhrilling good read!

Stay Booked! πŸ“– Happy Reading!

Friday, May 7, 2021

Lock Every Door by Riley Sager


 I read this book b/c it was a Stephen King recommendation. 

SK (via Twitter): Looking for a suspense novel that will keep you up until way past midnight? Look no further than LOCK EVERY DOOR, by Riley Sager.

How could I NOT check it out?! I do have to say this upfront—I mistook his comment that it is a scary as hell, keep you up at night kind of book. It’s not. It’s a page-turning just one more page, just one more chapter, keep you up all night kind of book.

It’s an average suspense/mystery/thriller. I like the creepy goth bogie mysterious NY apartment building backdrop. The main character, Jules—which is her actual name, not a nickname—was fleshed out well. But I feel like the other characters in the book weren’t. There was a huge missed opportunity to ratchet up the creep factor. One character in particular, Lesley Evelyn, had the potential to be a modern Mrs. Danvers, but sadly fell way short. 

The predictability level was pretty high. I guessed one of the “villains” upon their introduction. And one of the other ones early on. There were scenes that didn’t make much sense, some scenes that were predictable, or led to predictable outcomes. Sager tries to confound the reader as to whether this is a story about ghosts/haunting, satanists, serial killer(s), cursed building and/or people, or malevolent rich white folks. There are aspects of it that I thought were unique and cool. And some aspects that were WTF and silly. I’m not sure why it was titled Lock Every Door. Doesn’t fit in with the story at all.

I don’t want this to come across as a negative review. I didn’t love it, but I did like it. Overall it was an enjoyable read. A definite page-turner. A Friller (fluff-thriller), if you will. A solid XX rating (=3 1/2 stars).

This was my first Sager novel, and it won’t be my last. In fact I’ve already started another one, Final Girls.

Read Lock Every Door for a frilling good time!