A Stranger in the Mirror by Sidney Sheldon

(Photo taken from Goodreads)

Title: A Stranger in the Mirror
Author:  Sidney Sheldon
Publisher:  Grand Central Publishing
Language: English
ISBN-10:  0446356573

ISBN-13:  978-0446356572

Buy this book on Amazon

Rating:

 

This book is amazing-blah-amazing.  I know it sounds confusing, but read on, and I'll explain to you as best as I can.

According to Goodreads

"Toby Temple is a superstar, the world's funniest man. He gets any woman that he wants, but under the superstar image is a lonely man. Jill Castle is a sensuous starlet. She has a dark and mysterious past and has an ambition even greater than Toby's. Together they rule Hollywood."

This story builds its momentum with meticulous precision, snappy dialogue, and slow-but-gripping pace.  The back story is a bit long, but necessary to understand the whole story, and in my opinion, it was the best part of this book.  I learned a lot about all the characters, that I was able to form an attachment for Toby and Jill for their similar struggles and sacrifices.  I laughed with them, cried with them, got mad with them, and dreamed with them.  I loved them.

Reading further, I thought it would deepen the connection I felt between these characters.  For Toby, it certainly did, seeing all his efforts finally paying off.  However, for Jill, I suddenly felt like I did not know her anymore.  Gone is the down-to-earth Jill full of hope.  Replacing her is a mean and vicious woman, out to get everyone that put her down in the past.  I'm afraid to say that although I was behind her every step of her struggles, I was not very pleased with this development in her character and really began to resent her.  Maybe that is what the author wanted, to have the readers really connecting with the characters and then either understanding or shunning this unfavorable change in Jill's character.  Maybe that means the author has really written a story with really relatable characters that have distinguishable personalities and definitive backgrounds. 

With regard to the story, I really have no problem with it except that it dragged towards the middle and I had a bit of difficulty pushing through its slow pace.  I was rewarded, however, with an enriching experience when the story built into its climax and resolution.  I loved how it turned out, even if it does seem tragic and sad.  But for me, I was completely satisfied with how things played out in the end, I was totally vindicated with my sudden dislike for Jill, and not wanting to inadvertently put in a spoiler here, I am thoroughly content.  To understand what happened, you better grab a copy of this book.

 

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This will definitely be the last post for this blog this year, and ARGH and I would like to greet everyone a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!  We wish that 2011 will be a fabulously-awesome year for all of us!

 

Bloodline by Sidney Sheldon

(Photo taken from Amazon)

Title: Bloodline

Author: Sidney Sheldon
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Language: English
ISBN - 10: 0446357448
ISBN - 13: 978-0446357449
Rating:









All of us dream of somehow inheriting a vast fortune, but for Elizabeth Roffe, this inheritance comes with an invisible enemy. Inheriting Roffe Industries after her father's mysterious death, things start happening that convinces Elizabeth that someone, or some people, are trying to take over her fortune - even if it means taking her life.

If the above plot has not moved you yet, then you probably have problems. The first few pages of this book is strongly gripping, forcing you to turn the pages and read it in one sitting. The ugly duckling to graceful swan that is Elizabeth's life is magical and full of beautiful imagery, her relationship with her stoic father very realistic and sympathetic. Fast-paced and dripping with exciting dialogue, this book will lead you on a thrilling roller coaster ride, only to have the ride stop at the top of the highest loop, the operator telling you that the ride is over.

What happened to Elizabeth's cousins? To the other characters? I can't believe that a book with so much promise could end so utterly disappointing. Yes, it did solve the mysteries but it just fell flat. The author has created such vivid characters that one would think they would each be given endings befitting their flamboyance. I would have thought that great character development + original plot + sharp dialogue + brilliant author = smashing novel. But I was wrong, glaringly, stupidly wrong. Without giving away a spoiler, I would have thought that the discovery of the bad guy would be more complicated than what happened. It's so disappointing to learn that while guessing whodunit, it turns out, it's not even worth knowing, as this book is hardly worth reading. Flat, flat, flat.

Obviously, I am very bitter about the ending, hence the low rating. But bad ending aside, this book is a superb story of maturity, love, wisdom, dysfunctional families, coveted fortunes, and gruesome murders and attempted murders. The author's storytelling is excellent, letting the reader see for him/herself what happens in each chapter, letting the reader feel and not just know, each word's impact in this story. I tried to get past the throng of questions and unresolved issues I had with the ending and the characters, but I just can't. I felt that it ruined the whole book for me. If you can be satisfied with how this turned out, then I admire you. Maybe it's my 'impatient reader' attribute kicking in again.

If you're planning to read this book, go ahead. As I say over and over again, preference is relative. What may be dull and flat for me may be the most exciting for another person. After all, I have seen a number of good reviews on this book, I just can't be swayed by other people's opinion. Maybe I'm just a stubborn ox.

Kiss the Girls by James Patterson

(Photo taken from Amazon)

Title: Kiss the Girls
Author: James Patterson
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Language: English
ISBN - 10: 0446601241
ISBN - 13: 978-0446601245
Rating:







A dedicated policeman and psychologist. A killer in the West coast who calls himself, "Gentleman Caller," and a killer in the East coast who calls himself, "Casanova." Several females murdered and missing. Gruesome killings and tortures in graphic detail. Ah, classic James Patterson indeed.

Every time I read books from the likes of James Patterson, Thomas Harris, and John Sanford, I can't help thinking: "They all look like sweet, cute, huggable grandpas, and they write really scary stuff like this. Are they for real?" Of course they are. And they totally rock!

This story is the second installment in the Alex Cross series. This time, Alex hunts down two killers whom he suspects to be working together with each other, what he calls "twinning". Alex's niece is one of those missing women that one of the killers may have taken, and he comes rushing to help solve the case and on the way encounters familiar friends and new characters that gives this novel its thrilling, snappy appeal.

I like the novel's fast pace and economic dialogue. The flow of the story is precise, creative, and suspense-filled, that you can't help but hurry to the next chapter. However, for maximum appreciation, you must savor every detail in this story and let it come to you - just be sure to lock all your doors and windows, and keep the lights in your room open. I did all those things in the middle of reading this. I was totally hooked but paranoid! But, although the story is very action-packed, I just can't resist thinking that it's very predictable/unpredictable in that, if you are like me who reads and thinks about this book at the same time, you can already figure out some of the twists but you still get this strange feeling that when you get to a predicted twist, the author turns the tables on you and surprises you with stuff you haven't thought of. It's like he's telling you, "Gotcha there, didn't I?"

But as much as I would love to rave about this book, there is one quirk though, that I didn't like much: the romance between Alex Cross and an escaped victim. I mean, come on, they've only known each other what, a few weeks? And then there's the trauma the victim went through. Was it really that easy to get over and decide that you're in love again? No matter how strong a person is, stress will still be stress. It's not just something you take for granted - you have to deal with it first before you can get on with your life. And I'm talking about really heavy stress here.

Overall, I really liked this book and it certainly got me curious about the other ones on the series. Other readers have their vampires and what-not. I have psychotic killers and gruesome murders. Bring it!