nici1807

Maybe a bit too happy/cheesy in the sub-plot area, but combined with the main plots it's exactly why I love this series so much. Hope #10 won't be the last book of the series.

I have no idea what drew my interest to this book in the first place. Maybe it was the idea of the end of the world I happen to read quite often these days or something else. But it doesn't matter. I ordered the book and read it before everything else that is still sitting on my shelfs waiting to get some attention.I loved it. After a few pages I was close to put it away again, but I'm glad I didn't. The writing style is so different from what I've read before and at times it felt like reading the rambling of a ten-year- old. But then I realized that this special style - lots of run-on sentences and no quotation marks and sentences that were 10 or more lines long - was in fact what carried the plot.The main character is living a confusing life and when the story starts her life is about the get even more confusing; far away from home, love, a war, not knowing if she can survive being a fugitive without much to eat or without knowing what happened to the people she loved.Once I got used to the writing style I hardly could put the book down until I finished it. And now that I have I feel a bit empty.

I read the series in the shortest of time and I really liked it. After book 1 I was a bit disappointed to see the story evolve into a new direction, but thinking about it now makes me realize that it was a good idea of the author to take that road. Starting the last books made me really curious about how the story would end and while I knew I couldn't expect a happy ending I still hoped to be left with some hope.I am now. And I'm relieved.The whole series made me think about many things I take for granted and I tried to imagine how it would be to not have these things in my life anymore. It's hard and I don't think I could do it. But that made me appreciated the filled fridge, the heater in my house, power 24/7 and everything else even more.

I really loved this book and I'm glad I ordered the whole series at once. The only thing I have to complain: At the end of this book they printed a preview of book 3 that - as far as I can tell by now - spoils book 2 :(But that's not Mrs. Pfeffer's fault. She did a great job making my cry a few times.

So langsam kommt es mir vor, als würde ich nicht "Das Tal" lesen, sondern "Lost" anschauen. So viele (neue) Fragen, so wenige Antworten ...Mit den ersten beiden Bänden konnte dieses Buch zwar nicht mithalten, aber dennoch war es spannend und genau nach meinem Geschmack. Nur ... wann geht es denn weiter? Und geht es überhaupt weiter?Ich meine die vier Bände sind mit "Season 1" betitelt - da muss es doch eine "Season 2" geben, nicht? Ich hoffe, sie kommt - und zwar bald.Nach diesem Cliffhanger ...

I love these unusual characters and their relationship. Actually, I was surprised how much these relationships changed in this book. The case was interesting and I had no clue who the killer was until we actually learned the truth.I loved it. Can't wait for the next book - should it come.

I really enjoyed reading the Dream Catcher trilogy. First, I had to get used to the style, but once that happened there was no way to put the books down for hours. I liked the development of the plot, the way the characters are described and how everything seems to work out in the end.While, the first two books were really great, the last one lacked a bit of plot driving excitement. It was more quiet, depressing at times and got me thinking a lot. But I missed the fast pace of the first two books. Thus, only 4 stars (of 4.5 if that would be possible).

First impression after 300 pages: I'm not so sure I like this book. At first, it was solid and looked like a crime-solving, teenage gang, mystery book. That was until the point when the plot caught up with the epilogue. From that on it turned into something I would call "Gossip Girl meets Supernatural". Absolutely not the kind of thing I'd expected - if I had I wouldn't have bought the book in the first place.Well, I won't judge the whole book until I'm finished, but right now I'm pretty disappointed and the development isn't really helping to cope with the annoying know-it-all main character :(And finished: I won't read another book of this series. It's just not my kind of genre. Too bad.

Once you managed to get used to the style the story gets quite interesting. Of course, most parts read like only notes the author took to plan the plot, but I kinda liked it. It makes you fill the blanks by your own imagination - which isn't that bad at all. And this book really keeps you awake when you are supposed to be asleep. I'm curious about the next two books and I plan to read them soon.

I finally managed to start the Kay Scarpetta series and although it's somehow weird to follow an investigation that has hardly any technology equipment I liked it. It's nice to have a break from all the fancy equipment shows like CSI, Bones or NCIS use that can do magic and solves crimes within 42 minutes.Kay Scarpetta and her team are intelligent enough to do their work with the equipment they carry with them: Their minds, logic, luck and footwork.I liked that. Very much. And I sure will read more books of this series. Who am I kidding? Book #2 is already on my table waiting for me ;)

I love King and his books are amongst my alltime favorites. But I never seem to get into his shortstory collections. I don't know why though :( This book sure had its highlights but overall it wasn't that exciting for me to read. That it took me forever to finish it is proof enough, I guess.

Wenn ich das beste Buch des Jahres küren müsste, dann wäre dieses auf jeden Fall ganz oben auf der Liste. Ich habe es in weniger als 24 Stunden (inkl. Schlaf) verschlungen und musste mich zwischendurch wirklich dazu zwingen, Pausen einzulegen.Das Buch macht ebenso süchtig wie das Spiel, das es beschreibt. Und es macht nachdenklich und ein wenig ängstlich ...Wer ein gut recherchiertes Buch mit ausgeklügeltem Inhalt und aktuellem Bezug sucht, ist bei EREBOS an der richtigen Stelle.

Best King ever written!

I've been a huge John Christopher fan ever since I first watched "The Tripods" more than 23 years ago. I was still a child and scared by the Tripods, but also fascinated by the plot, the characters and this whole universe Christopher created.For a while (especially, after the series ended after only 2 parts - out of 3) I focused on something else, but a few years back my parents made me the best birthday present ever by getting me the dvds.I started re-watching the show and the hype was back. I tracked down every book I could get hold of, and except for a few books (that are out of print) I read everything."The Guardians" was one of the books I recently found and read.It's not comparable to "The Tripods" (these will always be outstanding and the best Christopher has ever written) but it was good. A young adult book I - as an adult - enjoyed reading. The plot is fascinating and had surprising twists. Unfortunately, the end is a bit to abrupt and you close the book with the feeling that you've missed something; it's as if the story isn't done yet and you expect for chapters to follow. Unfortunately, there are no more chapters and I am a bit unsatisfied by that. Thus, only 3 stars.

First impression after 5 chapters (about 1 hour): It's more children book than the HG were, but it's still great and well written. Thee way Collins characterized Gregor and 2-year old "Boots" is so cute. I'm already in love with these kids.And Paul Boehmer is an excellent narrator.I just finished the book and I really, really enjoyed listening to it. Yes, it is a children book (not like "The Hunger Games"), but that doesn't mean you can't read it as an adult. It will make you smile, laugh, cry ... what else do you want from a fictional book.Gregor, the 11 year old main character is a hero, although he doesn't know it (or don't want to accept it) and the way he takes care of his little sister alone is hero material.Speaking of: "Boots" is such a cutie and they way Collins wrote her and how Boehmer reads her is too good. You have to read/hear it to know what I mean.So, if you liked "The Hunger Games" and you like fantasy (or even if it's not your favorite genre - like it isn't mine) you should give this first book a try.I'm glad I did and book #2 is already on my iPod ;)

!!!SPOILER!!!SPOILER!!!I really wish there were five stars on the top of my review, but unfortunately, I can't give them. I really, really liked this series and I loved the first two books (the first one a bit more than the second), but the third (and last) one ... not so much.I can't exactly say what I disliked the most, but I think it has much to do with the fact that we didn't really see the arena and we had no games. The games were the parts I liked the most of the first two books, and without them it was (for me) pretty boring to read.It's not that I can't understand why the plot turned out this way and why it had to do this. It's just ... it wasn't what I had expected, when I first started "The Hunger Games". All I knew was that it was about deadly games provided to the rich in form of Reality TV. I liked that and this scenario was what was really intriguing. I wished it would have stayed this way, instead of taking the turns it did in the end of "Catching Fire".Yes, I was curious what happened with District 13 and I was surprised, when Katniss - instead of running away to find out what was going on in 13 - had to go back to the Arena first, but that everything would turn into a war, was not what I had wanted to read.Maybe it's just me, I don't know. I might be one of only a few who never liked the final "Harry Potter" book (because of the war scenario) and maybe that's the reason why I am so disappointed with "Mockinjay"? I don't know ... But I know - once again - that I shouldn't expect to much, as I will only be disappointed.But in the end it still made me cry. Not when Prim died (that happened way too fast and unexpected for me to fully realize what had happened) but I cried, when the cat, Buttercups, came back and couldn't understand that Prim was gone :( The desperation Katniss had to make him clear that Prim was dead almost killed me. It was so heartbreaking.I liked that Katniss and Peeta stayed together, but I would have liked it, if Collins hadn't given us the Epilogue (I didn't like the one JKR gave us, either). Friendship would have been enough for me. And even though Gale was never my favorite character, I thought it was a bit unfair to just mention his whereabouts with ever telling us how Katniss really felt about it and how it affected her emotionally.Speaking of emotionally: I think Collins did a great job exploring the mess that was Katniss' inside. How the games affected her, how she dealt with the aftermath, with the consequences her actions caused, the uncountable deaths and the way Coins and Snow (and almost everyone else) used her. But, at times, it didn't felt like I was reading about a seventeen year old. Okay, she had to grow up fast, after her father died and especially when she took Prim's place in the games. But still ... sometimes, it didn't feel right that he teenager played such an important role (but then again ... Harry Potter was also only a little boy).Maybe I will read the whole series a second time in a few months (or next year), and maybe I will change my mind then. But for now, 3.5 stars are all I can give (3, because there are no 1/2 stars).And on a side note: I can't understand why this series is considered as a children book. I think it's too dark and brutal (especially part 3) to be a children book. Plus, many adults might miss the series, because they assume it really is something only kids would read.