My Book Reviews

The Long Walk by Richard Bachman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I usually take my time to read my books. But for some reason, I was quite addicted to this one, although the plot is fairly simple: A long walk.

Ray Garraty and 99 other teenage boys are taking part in the annual Long Walk. Participants have to walk at least 4 miles and hour minimum, and three strikes and you're out... permanently.
Literally.
They are not allowed to stand still, sit, or even rest.
Yes, they literally have to keep walking for days on end, come rain or shine, until only one is left standing. That person will win The Prize: literally anything their heart desires.
Throughout their journey, they're not allowed any outside help whatsoever, and while they can request for as many canteens of water as they like, they are only given one belt of food concentrates per day, most of it coming out of tubes in the form of paste or in jars (that's HARDLY enough to fully satiate someone in an activity as intense/taxing as this).

First of all, I get tired just READING about it. I'm not the least bit athletic, so I don't think I would even last a whole day on my feet. Hell, I wouldn't be crazy enough to even think of signing up for it in the first place. And food concentrates ?? The greedy pig in me would probably need at least 3 belts a day. =3

The ending result is pretty predictable, though I'm surprised that this book does not have the little twists that Stephen King (or in this case, Richard Bachman,) is so famous for (unless you count that teeny tiny revelation towards the end).

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One Hundred Days of Happiness by Fausto Brizzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is a journey in itself. I just cannot find enough words to explain how this book so perfectly brought me along on Lucio's journey.

Perhaps one of the things I loved most is Brizzi's humour. The character of Lucio occasionally interacts with the reader, and sometimes, gives the reader a chance to think about what they would do. It may sound confusing, but read this book and you'll understand. Actually, I'd recommend this book to EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU .

As with most great pieces, I bought this book simply because the synopsis at the back sounded intriguing enough for me to decide to give it a go. That, and I had been looking for excuses to buy more books. (Because of course, right?) From the get-go, you're taken into Lucio Battistini's life through his eyes. And as we all do, Lucio takes his life for granted and has never really stopped to appreciate his life and what he has.
Until he finds out he only has 100 days to live.
Then he goes on a journey to make up for everything that he has done/never done, and basically put right everything he has to before the time comes.

The story has a fairly light tone to it, all things considered; that is, until the last weeks when reality hits hard and Lucio realises that the end is very much nearing quickly.
Then things start getting steadily and understandibly heavier, taking on a more sombre tone.

As expected, the parting did me in. Some may argue that it may have been a bit predictable, but it didn't dampen the effect whatsoever. It's been a while since I actually cried reading a book (the last time probably being the last Mitch Albom novel I read, The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto), and twice I had to stop so I could actually continue reading.

All in all, this is a brilliant work from Brizzi, and I would love to read all of his translated books. This will definitely be one of my more treasured books, hands down.

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Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really liked this book. The plot is not complicated, and the storyline is not too confusing; though I did have some trouble with connecting the names and what their roles were in the story, for some reason.

Since getting struck by lightning, Harper Connelly has been making use of her newfound ability to make a living.
What is this ability of hers?
Finding dead bodies and knowing how they died. Along for the ride is her half-brother Tolliver Lang, who also plays a huge part in relieving Harper’s severe separation anxiety.

But when things begin to happen to Harper and Tolliver after taking a job in Sarne, they begin to suspect that they may have uncovered and disclosed more than they were welcome to.

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