Harry_Redknapp

Hi all, I read this book in a week. I've read all of stephen kings books post 1997 and the best of 80s-90s. I read Stephen King's "on writing" he says he has never known an ending as he starts writing a book. Some of his books it works, others not so e.g. the cell. I loved the characters and the story of under the dome and the ending as a plot device is a bit weak / cliched but the book is so good that to just know what happens to the characters was amazing enough for me (Big Jim Rennie !!!!!!). don't be put off ! Equally not a book to dip into either at over 1000 pages.

I got this book cheap, thank god and probably only got it due to the hype and online reviews. The first 50 pages with the initial murder was great then I struggled with the rest of the book as I found it boring especially teen romance / a childish religious glorification of the after life; the supernatural elements were like a poor version of the ghost (the film in the 90s). Maybe being male, mid 20s and "not of the faith" I really should have skipped this ! (loved time travellers wife which is a hundreds times better)

He or she is an enigma ! His sophistication is possibly thousands of years beyond our own, in an era where everyone writes and no one reads - bit selfish really or pointless ....maybe learn some population dynamics and the answer will be revealed.

Thorn birds ....... I have no idea on her series of Rome books, although good reviews on Amazon.com. Funny you mention Harris's Pompeii as I got that book second hand the other day so looking forward to reading it soon (the only Harris book left I haven't read).

yeah dude you are right, I'm just trying to emphasise how well the books sit together, can't wait for the 3rd out in 2011 which finishes the trilogy - although I know how it all ends, that damn caesar and his emperors (ironically augustus was the first official emperor not julius) On a side note if you like battles and a more sweeping use of the time period with pompeii, crassus and caesar etc - conn ingulden four emperor books were great although less legal and politically detailed.

I re-read imperium (the 1st book) but I disagree about not needing to read the 1st book, as a lot of his political enemies he had when he was younger become allies in the 2nd book out of desperation. The story of how Cicero became so powerful from such low roots and of his life long friends, wife; I think need to be understood to enjoy the 2nd book. So read the first book as both are amazing.

One of the most surprising (as in i underestimated it), morally corrupt but equally it still rings true today. You can tell oscar is revealing his own internal struggle with religion, the church and its dogma, homosexuality; the value of intellect, art and aesthetic beauty. The corruption of morals and beauty by ageing. What a book !

Just finished this, bought for a pound so may be this has some influence on my conclusions (joking) Im aware of the bad reviews on amazon: yes the plot is a bit foggy (irony), some characters a bit flat and the protagonist - well hard to like. However, i thought this was a great book .... alot of the bad reviews i sum up to: not liking the descriptions of gore, violence, darkness, debauchery or opium. If not read in a short space of time, the fragmented, allusive, short chapters could easily confuse and negate the really important assumptions/questions needed for the story to progress as the author intended. I actually thought the ending was fitting, historically interesting and justifiably different to the whole book, yet this was the main criticism on most review. Do not be put off

First Koontz book i read was life expectancy it, particularly the plot even if a it was a bit surreal with the use of clowns - couldnt stand the continual references to baked cakes etc but really enjoyed its pacing Just finished the watchers being touted as his best book by many on amazon. Was good, however the slow drawn out desciptions of the outsider really didnt scare me one bit and i just couldnt imagine it at all. Was this book written when lassie was popular ? Moving on to lightning heard it is more sci fi than horror which is more my genre