Liseys Story (2006)- Stephen King

Plot:  Lisey Debusher Landon lost her husband, Scott, two years ago, after a twenty-five-year marriage of the most profound and sometimes frightening intimacy. Scott was an award-winning, bestselling novelist and a very complicated man. Early in their relationship, before they married, Lisey had to learn from him about books and blood and bools. Later, she understood that there was a place Scott went- a place that both terrified and healed him, that could eat him alive or give him the ideas he needed in order to live. Now it's Lisey's turn to face Scott's Demons, Lisey's turn to go to boo'ya moon. What begins as a widows effort to sort through the papers of her celebrated husband becomes a near fatal journey into the darkness he inhabited. Perhaps King's most personal and powerful novel, Lisey's Story is about the wellsprings of creativity, the temptations of madness, and the secret language of love (The summary of the book, belongs to the author, and publishers of Lisey's story and can be seen on the inside flap)

Year: 2006

Author: Stephen King

Publisher: Scribner

Genre: Horror/ Psychological/ Romance

Review: I loved this book! I think this book is just wow! It's a very deep story filled with love, and terror. I don't even know how to review this book, really it was that good in my mind. I'm a romantic type. I love dark romance like gothic romance type story's I love it. I think it's because i'm a romantic at heart but yet I love horror and when the two are combined it's just wow. With that said would I go out looking for a relationship with this much darkness surrounding it god no. Okay now that i'm done with the intro i'll continue with my review. First of all, this is a complex read so far out of all the King Novel's I have read this one absolutely requires the highest reading level to comprehend. Now, it's not very hard. But, if you're younger or have a hard time following a story that switches from past to present constantly then you will likely have a hard time following. But, if you take the time to read this book. I don't think you will be let down. This book I think is King's most intimate novel. I believe it's kind of a love letter to his wife Tabitha. It's unreal this book explorers the darker realms of a relationship it doesn't focus on all the good things. Well that's not true it does just it does have darkness surrounding those good things, but because of that it makes those good things, that much better. This book is very psychological, romantic, dark, deep, and sad. I loved this book!

Level of Disturbance (8/10): I think this story is a rather disturbing one it just shows how dark a relationship can be. And, the emotional toll it can take on each spouse.

Sex (6/10): It did have sex. No rape or anything, and not very detailed either. But, detailed enough you know what's going on.

Blood and Guts (4/10): It wasn't extremely gory, but the gore it did have for the most part was pretty gory. At least depending upon your imagination.

Bottom Line: Read this book! Yes it can be hard to follow in spots, and maybe even hard to read if you're a lower reading level, but even then it's worth a try I think. Great book! Especially if you love both horror and romance.

Rate: 10/10

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Savage (1993)- Richard Laymon

Plot: It is Whitechapel in November 1888 and Jack the Ripper is committing his last known act of butchery in the one-room hovel occupied by the luckless harlot Mary Kelly. And beneath the bed on which the fiend is cruelly and cheerfully eviscerating his victim cowers a fifteen year old boy... This is just the beginning of the extra ordinary adventures adventures of Trevor Bentley, a boy who embarked on an errand of mercy and ran into the most notorious serial killer in criminal history, a boy who became a man as he traveled on a quest of vengeance across a wild and untamed continent - a boy who brought the horrors of Jack the Ripper to the new world. In a bold new language forged out of Mark Twain and Conan Doyle, Richard Laymon's Savage is a brilliant departure and an innovative feat of story telling that is destined to add luster to an already flourishing reputation. (The summary of the book, belongs to the author, and publishers of Savage and can be seen on the inside flap)

Year: 1993

Author: Richard Laymon

Publisher: Headline Book Publishing PlC

Genre: Horror/Serial Killer/Torture/Splatter Punk

Review: Oh man, where do I begin this book. Is like a mix between an horror novel, and an adventure novel, and a western all rolled into one book. The book in my mind is written perfectly it has short chapters which are nice. It's paced beautifully. It's a very fast paced read. Man some of the gore described in this book is pretty bad. From England to the Seas to the wild west you read this book you're in for a ride. I will say that this book isn't nearly as extreme as Richard Laymons The Island it's not nearly as gory. And there's not really any rape. However, this book feels more real feels a little more realistic which I suppose is because Jack the Ripper actually did in fact exist. I actually like this book a little more than the Island. Although I love both with a passion. I'm really a big time Laymon fan. Yes some of his characters don't feel all that realistic but if you let yourself get absorbed in the story enough even his cheesy characters are real. This book is about a kid who is determined to stop Jack the Ripper from killing more innocent-well maybe not innocent- people. Every time you think something worse couldn't possibly happen to this kid, indeed something worse happens. Although he learned a valuable lesson in all of this. I'm not going to tell you what it is because that's for you to decide maybe you thought he learned a different lesson. But, I will tell you one thing along his journey he found love. And he would do anything for this girl. Yes this book is one giant adventure. Well written plenty disturbing but not too much. Great book!

Level of disturbance (8/10): Not as disturbing as island but in the scenes that their is gore. Trust me it's disturbing at least the images that went into my head are.

Sex (4/10): There was one sex scene the entire book. And, it wasn't an extremely sick and depraved sex scene it was completely consensual. And it just wasn't bad. Absolutely no rape or anything else. Only the one sex scene and some other sexual content like descriptions or kissing but that's it.

Blood and Guts (9/10): Quite a bit of blood and guts. Yes guts too. It has both. Great gore! But, realistic gore relating to Jack the Ripper.

Bottom Line: Not for children. Or the weak stomached. Not quite as bad as Island but bad enough that neither of those types should read this book. But, other than that I loved this book and I do recommend it. I think it's way more plot oriented than other Laymon novels.

Rate: 10/10

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The Strain (2009)-Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan

Plot: At New York's JFK Airport an arriving Boeing 777 taxiing along a runway suddenly stops dead. All the shades have been drawn, all communication channels have mysteriously gone quiet. Dr. Eph Goodweather, head of a CDC rapid response team investigating biological threats, boards the darkened plane... and what he finds makes his blood run cold. A terrifying contagion has come to the unsuspecting city, an unstoppable plague that will spread like an all-consuming wildfire--lethal, merciless, hungry... vampiric. And in a pawnshop in Spanish Harlem an aged Holocaust survivor knows that the war he has been dreading his entire life is finally here... (The summary of the book, belongs to the author, and publishers of The Strain and can be seen on the back cover)

Year: 2009

Author: Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan

Publisher: William Morrow and company

Genre: Horror/Virus/Vampiric/Apocalyptic

Review: Okay, so this is one of the first novels I have read all the way through, and it was freshman year of highschool, and i'm now currently a junior so this review may not be 100% accurate as I may not remember everything about the book. But, what I can tell you is that yes I believe it is technically considered a young adult book. But, don't let that fool you it's rather scary actually. And, it has quite a bit of gore. The only reason I can come up with that they may call this a young adult novel is due to the fact it is a pretty low reading level. It's not a very hard read what so ever. I love this vampire novel lets just say the vampires in this novel. Are not the traditional vampire what so ever. These vampires are actually more similar to zombies than vampires. They don't have a brain what so ever just pure instinct. And they just kill. Believe me these vampires have no mercy what so ever. And they're created by a biological virus. It's actually a rather deep plot when it comes to all this all i'll tell you is that the vampires are some how related to the holocaust. I won't say how though. Or that would give a way the book. The book is actually pretty scary. And, i'm not scared easy it builds suspense pretty nicely as well. This book is the first book of a trilogy with The Fall, and The night eternal as it's successors. I have not read either yet. But, I am looking forward to them!

Level of Disturbance (6/10): Was pretty disturbing I don't know just the way this book was written it felt like it was something that could and will happen. Just scary, and disturbing trust me!

Sex (0/10): None based on what I can remember

Blood and Guts (7/10): Not an extremely gory book by any means. But it don't let you down either. The gore was perfect. For this particular book.

Bottom Line: If you want an original apocalyptic take on vampires and don't mind to start reading a trilogy than I highly recommend this book.

Rate: 8/10

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The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon (1999)- Stephen King

Plot: What if the woods were full of them? And of course they were, the woods were full of everything you didn't like, everything you were afraid of and instinctively loathed, everything that tried to overwhelm you with nasty, no-brain panic. The brochure promised a "moderate-to-difficult" six-mile hike on the Maine-New Hampshire branch of the Appalachian Trail, where nine year old Trisha Mcfarland was to spend saturday with her older brother, Pete, and her recently divorced mother. When she wanders off to escape their constant bickering, then tries to catch up by attempting a shortcut through the woods, Trisha strays deeper into a wilderness full of peril and terror. Especially when night falls. Trisha has only her wits for navigation, only her ingenuity as a defense against the elements, only her courage and her faith to withstand her mounting fear. For solace she tunes her Walkman to broadcasts of Boston Red Sox games and the gritty performances of her hero, number 36, relief pitcher Tom Gordon. And when her radio's reception begins to fade, Trisha imagines that Tom Gordon is with her-her key to surviving an enemy known only by the slaughtered animals and mangled trees in it's wake. A classic story that engages our emotions at the most primal level, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon explores our deep dread of the unknown and the extent to which faith can conquer it. It is a fairy tale grimmer than Grimm, but aglow with a girl's indomitable spirit. (The summary of the book, belongs to the author, and publishers of The Girl who loved Tom Gordon and can be seen on the dust cover)

Year: 1999

Author: Stephen King

Publisher: Scribner

Genre: Horror/Psychological/Survival

Review: Well this is not a very long read at all especially for being a Stephen King novel. Now, i've heard mixed reviews on this book from others. Some, love it some think it's bad, and others think it's only okay. I personally love the book. Many people don't find it scary they say it's bland in the scary factor for being a King book. I personally think it's the scariest novel of his I have read. Which is probably because I go travelling, and hiking, and go to the mountains and such a lot. And, I can picture it and picture what Trisha is going through very easily. The stuff in this book scares me being lost in the wilderness like she is. But, I love reading survival type books. I also love reading horror books, and this book is a perfect mix between the two. I also find this book very psychological. King does great at going through the thoughts inside this girl's head. From hallucinations, to anxiety, to loneliness, sadness, to extreme fear. He does great getting inside her head and putting it on paper. I personally love this novel. It's got so much in it the characters are real, the experiences are real. It's just so real. And, it's a pretty quick read to boot. I really enjoyed this novel. But, no I do not believe it's one of Stephens best.

Level of Disturbance (7/10): I don't know that i'd call this book disturbing. I only gave it a 7  on the level of disturbance purely because it's a very creepy, and just chilly story. And I don't have a category for that so i'm putting it under the disturbance. It's a very just freaky book in my mind.

Sex (2/10): If I remember correctly the mom, and dad to have sexual intercourse although it has been a while since I have read the book so i'm not certain. If they did, however, it wasn't very detailed.

Blood and Guts (3/10): This book is not really gory.

Bottom Line: I personally recommend this book. Especially if you go travelling, hiking, or camping a lot. Or if you like and enjoy survival stories I liked this book but not everyone will enjoy it.

Rate: 6/10

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