Bobbi’s Comments (group member since Jun 24, 2020)

Bobbi’s comments from the Random Reads group.

I will be listening to it on audio!! This was also one of the first King’s I read as a kid so I’m curious to see what I think now!

I’m going to listen on audio as well. I’m going to pick it up here in a few days.

Natalya please continue!!! It gets so so so good! The next book is Lestat and you get way more insight to him as a character. I want to keep going myself. I read through book 6 in the series as a teen and now the series is up to 13 books. I love Rice’s writing and you get such an insight to each character as the series progresses! We could read together if you want?

We could Lauren! There are 13 now so it would take us years. 😂😂

The rest of the series is good! I need to reread them and then continue. 😂

For October Vicky and I have chosen Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice! This is a reread for both Vicky and I, but neither of us have read it since we were teens....and that was some time ago! Both of us were interested in seeing if we felt the same way about the story as adults.

I LOVED the Vampire Chronicles when I was a teen. I first read Interview when I was around 14. My mom had the book lying around the house and since I had seen the movie, I was interested to see if the book was any different. Spoiler alert, it is. But in a good way. While the movie follows the book rather well, there are certain nuances that you just can't get in film. And while Anne Rice herself hated the casting of Tom Cruise as Lestat, after reading the book I think that he played Lestat brilliantly.
After devouring Interview and loving it, my mom bought me the rest of the Vampire Chronicles and I flew through them. There are currently 13 books in this series and I have read 6 of them. The underworld that Rice created was so fascinating to see develop. Especially with all the passage of time and watching these characters navigate the world as it changed around them and they never aged. Queen of the Damned will always be my favorite in the series, but the movie was a trash fire. What amazed me is that I always thought that Louis was the main character for the series. He's not. Lestat is. As you read the series that becomes abundantly clear. He is one of the most fascinating characters I have ever encountered. As the series evolves new characters come in and take the forefront, but Lestat will always be my favorite. The scheming, cocky, selfish, no f*cks given vampire that he is. Rice also describes New Orleans so perfectly it feels like you are right there. I always feel completely immersed when I read her books.

I hope you join Vicky and I in revisiting Interview with the Vampire in October! It is a reread that has been a long time coming for both of us, and what better time to pick it up than in October?

Here is the official synopsis:
This is the story of Louis, as told in his own words, of his journey through mortal and immortal life. Louis recounts how he became a vampire at the hands of the radiant and sinister Lestat and how he became indoctrinated, unwillingly, into the vampire way of life. His story ebbs and flows through the streets of New Orleans, defining crucial moments such as his discovery of the exquisite lost young child Claudia, wanting not to hurt but to comfort her with the last breaths of humanity he has inside. Yet, he makes Claudia a vampire, trapping her womanly passion, will, and intelligence inside the body of a small child. Louis and Claudia form a seemingly unbreakable alliance and even "settle down" for a while in the opulent French Quarter. Louis remembers Claudia's struggle to understand herself and the hatred they both have for Lestat that sends them halfway across the world to seek others of their kind. Louis and Claudia are desperate to find somewhere they belong, to find others who understand, and someone who knows what and why they are.

Louis and Claudia travel Europe, eventually coming to Paris and the ragingly successful Theatre des Vampires--a theatre of vampires pretending to be mortals pretending to be vampires. Here they meet the magnetic and ethereal Armand, who brings them into a whole society of vampires. But Louis and Claudia find that finding others like themselves provides no easy answers and in fact presents dangers they scarcely imagined.

Originally begun as a short story, the book took off as Anne wrote it, spinning the tragic and triumphant life experiences of a soul. As well as the struggles of its characters, Interview captures the political and social changes of two continents. The novel also introduces Lestat, Anne's most enduring character, a heady mixture of attraction and revulsion. The book, full of lush description, centers on the themes of immortality, change, loss, sexuality, and power.

The uncut version is the one we are reading

Okay last comment 😂 Tom needs to be protected of all costs.

I spoke too soon. Poor Rita. Drugs are bad kids.

Okay Randall has to be something supernatural right? There is no way this guy is human. I also find it interesting that Nick is dreaming of both Randall and Mother Abigail, and his dream is where we first see her. It was no shock that Randall rescued Lloyd. A guy who thrives on chaos picks up a murderer. Sounds about right. 😂 And everyone had started traveling now which is good.

Wow. The apocalypse happened rather quickly. 😳 I’m enjoying following Larry and Rita and also Nick. I’m curious as to how Lloyd is going to get out of that prison and we haven’t seen Stu in awhile. I’m not super attached to Frannie and I have a feeling she’s just going to annoy me. I know the little communities that form are in Vegas and Boulder which are west coast. How are Larry and Rita going to make it that far from New York? This is giving me tons of Walking Dead vibes minus the zombies. I’m super sucked in now.

We got one chapter where we meet Randall, and I know he plays a huge part of the story later on. Stu and Nick I’m really invested in. I want to know why these few people aren’t getting sick. It’s insane how fast it’s spreading and the way it’s being covered up. I’ve binged over 200 pages today. If the book continues like this I will finish it quickly!

I read way further than I needed to before realizing I needed to comment my thoughts! 😂 So far I’m intrigued but it’s very slow going. He’s clearly setting up all the characters that are going to end up surviving this flu. I’m liking getting all their backstories and getting to know them. King is a master at sucking you in and making you care. So far Nick is my favorite. I find him super intriguing. Also audio was definitely the way to go with this one!

I’m also going to try and get my hands on the audio for this one. King tends to be dense and audio makes it fly by.

I’m so glad you two loved it!!! Bloody Rose is the sequel and predictably it follows Gabe’s daughter Rose and it’s all about her band. I have yet to read it but I hear it’s just as good if not better than book 1.

Mike wrote: "Wow. I was not expecting to love this as much as I am. I don't typically read fantasy, but this one has been so much fun. The characters are fantastic and the interaction between the group has real..."

Those names are in fact intentional nods to rock bands, for exactly the reason you said. To really drive home getting the old "band" back together concept.

I am so glad you are loving it too! I love seeing non fantasy readers loving it. The way they get Matty out of there is hysterical. As for book 2 if everyone loves it we could for sure add it as a book to read later on. I know that book 3 is coming out next year some time and has a title. Book 2 came out in 2018, and while I own it I have yet to read it.

So happy seeing that you guys are enjoying yourselves so far!!

Vicky wrote: "Ok this book is so much fun! The humor is right up my alley. And Moog is my fav 😄I’m relieved that I actually know what’s going on 😂 I am not typically a fantasy reader, but I’m not struggling with..."

This comment brings me so much joy!!! I am so glad you are loving it already!! I am going to pick it up tonight after Danielle's game. Won't get much read, but I will at least get a start. Moog is also my absolute favorite. Matty and how they get him out of his situation made me cackle. But that is in the next section. I am so excited that you are loving it! I hope everyone else does too!!

Hey guys!

For June I have picked Kings of the Wyld!! Vicky has always told me that she has wanted to get in to fantasy but she has been too intimidated. Now normally I would just recommend some fantasy romance to help someone dip their toe in, but we all know Vicky doesn't like much romance in her books so that was a no go. So I perused my shelves and it hit me. Kings of the Wyld was one of my favorite books in 2019. I could not stop gushing about it. So much so, even Vicky took notice. There is no other book more perfect to get your start in to fantasy.
Kings is a book where the world is expansive yes, but not so confusing to where you feel lost. The characters are grouchy, older men, just beyond their prime. They are all retired mercenaries trying to adjust to life after fame. The story is full of humor. I found myself shaking my head and laughing out loud multiple times, because even though this is a fantasy story the humor and what these men go through is relatable to someone close to middle age. You can tell the story is based on the concept of an old rock band that had broken up and is trying to get back together, only this is mercenaries in a fantasy world. It is full of hysterical stories from the character's pasts as they travel through the world and learn how to be a band again. There are tons of mythical creatures, a gladiator style fight, flying ships with sails, a haunted and dangerous forest, magical weapons, a gay wizard, and more. It is the perfect blend of medieval fantasy and modern fantasy.
I really hope you all join us in June for this fun ride! While it is a reread for me, I am still excited to jump back in with Clay and the Band! Here is the official synopsis:

Clay Cooper and his band were once the best of the best -- the meanest, dirtiest, most feared crew of mercenaries this side of the Heartwyld.

Their glory days long past, the mercs have grown apart and grown old, fat, drunk - or a combination of the three. Then an ex-bandmate turns up at Clay's door with a plea for help. His daughter Rose is trapped in a city besieged by an enemy one hundred thousand strong and hungry for blood. Rescuing Rose is the kind of mission that only the very brave or the very stupid would sign up for.

It's time to get the band back together for one last tour across the Wyld.

Kings of the Wyld

For February Vicky and I chose Brother by Ania Ahlborn! Ania is a female horror author who has become pretty popular in the past few years. Brother is supposed to be her most disturbing book. From what we’ve heard it’s akin to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I’m all for some gory horror! We hope you join us in reading this shorter horror novel in the shortest month of the year! Here is the synopsis:

Deep in the heart of Appalachia stands a crooked farmhouse miles from any road. The Morrows keep to themselves, and it’s served them well so far. When girls go missing off the side of the highway, the cops don’t knock on their door. Which is a good thing, seeing as to what’s buried in the Morrows’ backyard.

But nineteen-year-old Michael Morrow isn’t like the rest of his family. He doesn’t take pleasure in the screams that echo through the trees. Michael pines for normalcy, and he’s sure that someday he’ll see the world beyond West Virginia. When he meets Alice, a pretty girl working at a record shop in the small nearby town of Dahlia, he’s immediately smitten. For a moment, he nearly forgets about the monster he’s become. But his brother, Rebel, is all too eager to remind Michael of his place…

I feel like I’m so behind but I just finished part one. I like all 4 of the men for the most part. You can tell already that Jude is going to be the catalyst for the entire story. I found myself skimming quite a bit in certain parts. Like when we are getting JB’s backstory and he’s talking about all the different artists he shares the loft with. I didn’t care. I doubt those people will have any bearing on the story so why are we going on about them for 4 pages? I’ve also found it confusing on keeping everyone straight. JB and Malcom are black. Are Willem and Jude white?? Malcom is rich. JB is kind of upper middle class. Willem’s entire family is dead and he came from the working class. And was have no clue about Jude. I’m finding the story to be rather meandering, which is fine to learn about the characters, but I’m ready for the good stuff. I tend to love stories about complex relationships, but I’m finding this one dragging a bit. I hope it picks up in part 2.