Gyo

I've always been a huge bookworm.  However, when I was 18 I spent a year just reading comic books.  When I was 19 I missed normal books and I never really went back.  Still, for some reason, I read Ito's fantastic Uzumaki.  I wanted to explore even more of his books.  While Uzumaki is a much better read, Gyo is a good effort. It's about sea creatures like fish and sharks having legs and destroying Japan.  They also have a horrible stench.  I guess I have too much of a vivid imagination because I could imagine the stench far too well.  It kind of me nauseated.  Maybe I should give comic books a chance again.    

The Neverending Story

I love the movie The Neverending Story.  When I was in the third grade I went up to a teacher and asked if there was an attic or a basement at the school.  She told me, "Beth this isn't The Neverending Story."  I walked away sad.  This was my third or fourth time reading the book which I also highly recommended.  It's sad that the second part of the book was never done justice.  The sequel wasn't that good.  Bastian basically turns into a jerk.  The Childlike Empress gives him unlimited wishes.  He uses it on things such as good looks.  The problem is that with each wish he loses his memory.  He eventually becomes a boy who can't even remember his name.  Nevertheless, he is able to redeem himself.  I don't know why Momo (another book by Michael Ende) isn't on Kindle.  I'll have to wait for the book I purchased.  It's hard not having a library opened during the Coronavirus.

The Rats

This was an ok horror book.  My friend introduced me to him and I've never heard of Herbert but apparently, he is a best-selling horror writer worldwide.  But then I don't really know what's going on in the horror genre nowadays except for Stephen King.  I read half the book in two days.  It was kind of experimental in that every chapter had a different character and their confrontation with the murderous rats.  Then the book just focused on one character the schoolteacher.  I didn't think that he was the most interesting character and was disappointed.  It was an all right book but I haven't heard good things about Herbert's other books.  This will probably be my only read from the author.  

The Wanting Seed

This book would definitely not be written today.  It's not politically correct at all. It is about an overpopulated world.  Tristram's wife Beatrice-Joanna is having an affair with his brother Derek.  Homosexuality is encouraged in this world and Derek lies about his orientation to get ahead.  The worst always seems to happen to Tristram and soon enough he is tricked into signing himself to the army.  The book also explores cannibalism.  Yes, it touches sensitive topics but I felt more comfortable with reading this than A Clockwork Orange. Burgess was not afraid to push the envelope.

Voyage in the Dark

I decided to give one of Jean Rhys' early works a try.  This reminded me of a Precode.  It's about a chorus girl and her love affair with an older man.  There are also taboo topics like abortion discussed.  I wished that more was talked about Francine.  It's probably because I love Wide Sargasso Sea so much and wanted even more.  It was a good work though and it shows the potential that would later lead to her masterpiece.