Life Expectancy Review

Life Expectancy

Published: 2004

Author: Dean Koontz

Genre: Comedy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Literature, Metaphysical, Occult, Psychological, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller, Visionary Fiction

Check the summary of this book here:

Life Expectancy Summary

The Review

Life Expectancy by Dean Koontz is a suspense horror thriller. The plot centers around five major occurrences in the lifetime of James "Jimmy" Tock, a self-proclaimed lummox. There is simply no writer today or in the past who can compete with Dean Koontz in what he does with his genres. His characters are magnificent, his story arcs are flawless, his pacing is perfect, and his dialogue does seem to be absolutely priceless. "Life Expectancy" is another of his greatest. 

As is so frequently the case with his writing, the touches of magic in this story are equivalent to years of focused world-building from authors who are just superb writers. Few authors have the confidence, let alone the talent, to create characters that are completely good or completely wicked. Koontz has this talent and employs it to create beauty. To understand what I mean, read From The Corner Of His Eye.

I'm honestly surprised that there hasn't been a film adaptation or discussion of this book anywhere. It means that there has been no attempt to make a film of this amazing work, and if there has been, please let me know because I would love to see it someday.

Despite its ostensibly grim theme, this Koontz novel is light on the supernatural and teasing in tone, because its heroes virtually shine brightly. His heroes, as is so frequently the case, are plain, unadorned creatures of flawless character, characters that excel at the commonplace because it is more wonderful to them than being kings and queens. 

The trick to great writing, they say, is to develop fantastic characters and then place them in dreadful situations. After getting to know Jimmy and Lorrie, it's tough to fathom this world without them, so even the most terrible situations don't seem nearly so dire.

Dean Koontz has created another masterpiece! I'm not sure how this man keeps coming up with such fantastic stories, but I'm thankful he does. 

This is not an Odd Thomas narrative; rather, it introduces a new character or characters to his universe. And, as much as I adore Odd, this is a new path he has brought me down. I was hooked from the first page; his prose is addictive, and his life philosophy is uplifting. If you read it, you will not be sorry. 

I was curious where Koontz would go after Odd's departure. Jimmy Tock isn't his successor, but we do get most of the same rich and hilarious storytelling and fascinating yarns-man-ship. If you enjoy a good story with unexpected twists and turns, you'll enjoy this one. And I'm sure we'll see the Tocks again.

Life Expectancy reassured me of what a smart thinker Koontz is and what a lovely manner he has of expressing his perspective on this amazing life. Dean Koontz has long been a favorite of mine. I adore his writing style: serious, tense, frightening, and always peppered with amusing banter from the cast. This novel is no exception, and I found myself saying, "Didn't see that coming!" multiple times.

When I first began reading him I praised Dean Koontz as "very inventive and intelligent" after reading many of his works. I promoted him to "Genius" after reading Life Expectancy. I think this is the most entertaining and humorous work I've ever read. At every turn, a grin. A "Must Read," and even after finishing his most recent work, I still consider him a genius.

Although the first portion of the book is hilarious, I truly loved it all together. The novel was not what I anticipated from Dean Koontz; it was an unexpected combination of Dobie Gillis and IT, Stephen King's crazy clown. 

It blends implausible happenings with vaguely supernatural themes and ties the whole thing together with unexpectedly sharp comedy, unusual but likable central characters, and exotic villainy. I would suggest this book to anybody looking for a little entertainment, a few good chuckles, and the hope that the inherently good will win in the end. One of Koontz's most accomplished pieces. 

I've noticed that I'm not the only one who enjoys a good first-person narrative, and this is one of the few Koontz novels written in the first person, which he usually reserves for his most fleshed-out characters. 

Life Expectancy is not only an entertaining book, but it also taught me how to utilize humor and a positive attitude to get through the difficult moments in life. I wholeheartedly suggest this book.

I've been really busy for the past few years and haven't been as in touch with movies as I used to be, so I don't know if a movie adaptation of many of my favorite books and authors is out yet, which is why I ask readers of my reviews to let me know if they know of any adoptions that I may have missed to inform on these pages.

Final Thoughts

It wasn't a scary novel, but it was a compelling narrative. If I were to categorize it, I would call it a comedy (in a very good way). I wasn't expecting that, but it turned out to be a really funny book. Many of the jokes reminded me of Dean Koontz's Odd Thomas books.

This book was filled with wisecracks. If you're seeking for a genuine horror novel, you should avoid this one.

Also, if you are afraid of clowns, you should probably avoid this book. The plot revolves around a circus clown and trapeze artists. Isn't that crazy? Right.

If you're looking for a fast, entertaining, nonsensical read, this should fit the bill.

It follows Jimmy Tock from the night he was born till many years later. Jimmy's grandfather was dying on the night he was born, and he awakens from his coma to make grave prophecies about five dates in Jimmy's future.

I adored Jimmy's character and the woman he eventually marries. He is a baker who is working his way up to pastry chef under his father's instruction, who is the pastry chef at a facility located in the Colorado Rockies.

My life is really difficult, and sure, who does not have a difficult life, but I believe I am living in a game that is set on a nightmare while living on a hell level, so every little thing I do requires a large quest and effort to achieve, which is why I adore novels that make me feel wonderful. Most feel-good novels leave me chilly, but Koontz's stories leave me soaring on clouds. This one is no exception. Very, very highly recommended.

Synopsis

“With his bestselling blend of nail-biting intensity, daring artistry, and storytelling magic, Dean Koontz returns with an emotional roller coaster of a tale filled with enough twists, turns, shocks, and surprises for ten ordinary novels. Here is the story of five days in the life of an ordinary man born to an extraordinary legacy—a story that will challenge the way you look at good and evil, life and death, and everything in between.

Jimmy Tock comes into the world on the very night his grandfather leaves it. As a violent storm rages outside the hospital, Rudy Tock spends long hours walking the corridors between the expectant fathers' waiting room and his dying father's bedside. It's a strange vigil made all the stranger when, at the very height of the storm's fury, Josef Tock suddenly sits up in bed and speaks coherently for the first and last time since his stroke.

What he says before he dies is that there will be five dark days in the life of his grandson—five dates whose terrible events Jimmy will have to prepare himself to face. The first is to occur in his twentieth year; the second in his twenty-third year; the third in his twenty-eighth; the fourth in his twenty-ninth; the fifth in his thirtieth.

Rudy is all too ready to discount his father's last words as a dying man's delusional rambling. But then he discovers that Josef also predicted the time of his grandson's birth to the minute, as well as his exact height and weight, and the fact that Jimmy would be born with syndactyly—the unexplained anomaly of fused digits—on his left foot. Suddenly the old man's predictions take on a chilling significance.

What terrifying events await Jimmy on these five dark days? What nightmares will he face? What challenges must he survive? As the novel unfolds, picking up Jimmy's story at each of these crisis points, the path he must follow will defy every expectation. And with each crisis he faces, he will move closer to a fate he could never have imagined. For who Jimmy Tock is and what he must accomplish on the five days when his world turns is a mystery as dangerous as it is wondrous—a struggle against an evil so dark and pervasive, only the most extraordinary of human spirits can shine through.

This eBook edition contains an excerpt of Dean Koontz’s The Silent Corner.”

Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

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Rating: 95/100

Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

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The Stand Review

The Stand

Published: 3, October 1978

Author: Stephen King

Genres: American, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Literature, Metaphysical, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Suspense, Teen, Thriller, Young Adult

Check the summary of this book here:

The Stand Summary

The Review:

Stephen King's The Stand is a post-apocalyptic dark fantasy book. The narrative revolves around a devastating catastrophe of engineered influenza and its consequence, in which the few people who survive are divided into groups, each guided by a figure of good or evil, and appear destined to battle. The author wanted to write an epic in the vein of The Lord of the Rings but set in modern-day America.

Because of the enormous number of characters and plots, he found the novel challenging to write. But, at 1,152 pages, Stephen King's The Stand complete and uncut edition is his longest stand-alone work, surpassing his 1,138-page novel IT.

By the time I was writing this post, the book had sold 4.5 million copies (19 January 2022.) This novel is regarded as one of the author's greatest, and sure, it is quite good if you can actually finish it.

I was fortunate enough to watch the 1994 television series based on this novel, but it was a watered-down version that was only watchable because the screenplay was written by none other than Stephen King himself.

I was unaware of the most recent adaptation of this novel as a television miniseries, but I will definitely watch it as soon as I can.

Marvel Comics' graphic novel version of this book was likewise a hit, and I enjoyed it much.

I read this book a long time ago and was hesitant at first because I couldn't make sense of all the diverse characters with such complex backgrounds. But I kept reading, occasionally going back, and eventually, I found myself tethered to the plot.

A story that begins so descriptively and deeply will suddenly stir in your dreams as you sleep, and I had to put this book down for a few days because I began to have dreams in which I found myself trapped in the same universe as these characters, for every page turned is a shadowy journey of the stuff that waits patiently for the unfortunate people of this legend.

Some spirits are powerful, while others are ineffective. Even the weakest souls, however, warn us and speak of our own crimes, flaws, and burdens to bear, that we should all be wary of white in our hair.

The Stand was a significant bestseller years before the extended variation was released; there was no purpose for the larger version to be created other than to freshen sales in the eyes of many readers, but as an author myself, I understand why it was published.

It had to be published in its trimmed version a long time ago since the publishers demanded that the author cut at least 300 to 400 pages from his real book, which he had to do in the end.

But now that he has the freedom to do anything he wants and publish as many pages as he wants, he went ahead and did it. Because a book is like a child to its creator, and I am proud of him for finally getting the book published the way he desired.

I have already read both versions, and despite the fact that the first edition was already a lengthy novel, I found it to be immensely engaging.

I have to mention something that will make a reader decide whether to read the first version or not. The extended version is far too large for the average reader.

For me, it was like returning to a location I had missed as a child but only had the opportunity to see after I had grown up, and it was like hunting for signs and things that I had wanted to see in the first place.

I was not disappointed, but as I previously stated, it is not for the average reader, and if you have previously read the earlier edition, you may not enjoy it as much as I did due to the way it seems stretched and modified.

I should clarify that it is not actually stretched or whether fillers were added to make it feel larger; instead, so much new material is added to the story that a reader who remembers the first book thinks it isn't the same, even though it is the same book with all the missing material that was supposed to be in it in the first place.

Like there's a character in the enlarged edition who was totally removed out of the original; that character is uninteresting as a good man or a villain, and we already know he brought nothing but a detour that added no additional dimension to the novel's overall ambiance and tone. However, this is just my perspective, and others may enjoy this feature.

Now something about the features that I loved. The extended version is fantastic since it includes backstory and Easter Eggs from previous Stephen King works. If you're a fan like me, you'll see those small connections every time you read.

The personalities, the battle, and the build-up of the pandemic are all fascinating. Flagg is also in this one, and Stephen King aficionados and ardent readers are familiar with him, so I won't say anything about him for the benefit of new readers.

Another feature of these novels is that you may locate and read something new each time you read them, even if you've already read them many times.

Because I know Stephen King nearly always includes secrets and Easter Eggs in his novels that are related to his previous novels, I find myself searching things up to see if they lend context to events that occurred in earlier works.

At the author's epic narrative, you'll smirk and frown, but I'd wait till you're mature enough because things do become gory. If you enjoy this author's approach, I recommend placing this book at the top of your to-read list.

Final Thoughts:

I was going to give it ninety-five points but then I recalled how big this book was and how much effort Stephen King, the great author, put into it, so I revised it to a full hundred points. I know it doesn't matter to many readers, but it doesn't matter to me either since the author deserves all the admiration and respect for what he has accomplished; just try writing one complete page of a tale and then try to recall how many pages this book has.

Here you will discover misery, loss, and tragedy. You'll also discover togetherness and warm beer cans. It's a battle of good over evil, love versus hate. There's a lot of sex and violence in this massive work, but it's evenly divided across the pages.

I'm torn about what to advise people about which version to read because both versions were fantastic in their own right. And I believe I just supplied the solution a few lines ago, so it should be easy for both old and new readers to determine after reading that. So I'm not going to say anything further, and it's up to the readers to decide.

Synopsis:

“The tie-in edition of the nine-part CBS All Access series starring Whoopi Goldberg, Alexander Skarsgard, and James Marsden.

When a man escapes from a biological testing facility, he sets in motion a deadly domino effect, spreading a mutated strain of the flu that will wipe out 99 percent of humanity within a few weeks. The survivors who remain are scared, bewildered, and in need of a leader. Two emerge--Mother Abagail, the benevolent 108-year-old woman who urges them to build a peaceful community in Boulder, Colorado; and Randall Flagg, the nefarious "Dark Man," who delights in chaos and violence. As the dark man and the peaceful woman gather power, the survivors will have to choose between them--and ultimately decide the fate of all humanity.”

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Rating: 100/100

Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

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Called Out of Darkness Review

Called Out of Darkness

Published: 2008

Author: Anne Rice

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Catholicism, Christianity, Fiction, Inspirational, Metaphysical, Personal Growth, Religious, Self Help, Visionary, Women’s

Check the summary of this book here:

Called Out of Darkness Summary

The Review:

In Called Out of Darkness, Anne Rice walks us through her life, from her childhood in an intellectual New Orleans family where she developed a deep love of her beautiful Catholic Church, to moving to Texas and California, where she and her new poet husband rejected all religion and lived on the outskirts of the San Francisco hippy movement, to her surprisingly hugely successful career writing books about witches and vampires (I read all of these, she sold 100 million of them). Finally, she brilliantly portrays her sorrowful return to the Jesus she still loved but couldn't believe in, as well as to the Church of her upbringing.

"Honesty" is the term that comes to me when I think of the book. Her concluding articulation of what it means to fully follow Jesus and how tough it is to just love rather than obey man-made laws moved me deeply. I enjoy reading biographies and would give this one a thousand points if I could.

I'm at a loss for words to explain how much I like and respect the transparency and honesty shown here. I know a lot of individuals who are becoming more informed and open-minded about Church politics and just loving Christ who have had some of the same experiences here.

In the middle of all this turmoil, they walk out of the Church doors, and in doing so, they walk out on Christ. In a gloomy and seemingly hopeless catacomb, Anne Rice is a bright lamp.

She expresses her pain as well as her blessings, and most importantly, she teaches the Love of Christ, emphasizing the need of loving, forgiving, and not judging people, including our family, friends, neighbors, and even adversaries.

She demonstrates how to be guided out of the shadows. I am eternally grateful to Anne Rice for her beautiful stories, and I must thank her once more for this wonderful work.

This is the book for anybody who has ever wondered what happened to Anne Rice and why she quit writing vampire novels around the time this book was published. It's not a tough book to read, yet it's quite intimate.

This novel reads quite amateurishly. However, it is simply the author's thoughts flowing directly into the pages, which gives it a stronger feeling of its own unique personality.

You have the impression that a friend has just informed you that she has regained her religion. It's not flowery or overly ornamented, and it's quite down to earth. I also appreciate seeing individuals tie their faith to their daily life, so I found that to be interesting to read.

Even if you've never read Anne Rice's works, you can tell she was a superb writer based on the popularity and reviews of her books. Because of the darkness and vampire subject matter, I read any and all of her work because I enjoy reading these kinds of books when they are written well and by an author like her.

I came upon her more recent works about the life of Christ and warily read her article at the conclusion of Christ the Lord out of Egypt about how she studies for her books.

I felt good reading what she had to say about Christ's life since it was so eloquently written. As soon as I finished the first book, I went on to read the sequel Christ the Lord the Road to Cana, and then I came upon her Called Out of Darkness A Spiritual Confession.

Incredible! A truly remarkable account of a remarkable spiritual journey, and as a non-Catholic, it answered many of my questions about the Catholic Church simply because I want to learn more about all of the major religions because I believe they are all essentially one religion with many branches or versions of the same story.

Each of these three books has had a spiritual impact on me, and I frequently suggest them. Anne Rice is one of my top ten authors, and she may be the finest. Her writing is engrossing, enthralling, graphic, thought-provoking, and not at all monotonous!

Careful readers, it appears to me, strive to comprehend the metaphors at work in her novels and delve deeper into the volume's content. There's no need to hunt for metaphors in this totally unusual reading experience since she talks so honestly and invitingly.

It's practically irrelevant if one can relate with her individual experience or revelation about God within the context of the Catholic experience. In these days of high tension, numerous wars, political correctness, random killings, broken marriages, and so on, it is both invigorating and challenging to read about another's search for the deepest meanings in a happy existence.

It all starts with her background in New Orleans, where she grew up in a neighborhood where everyone she knew or encountered was a devout Catholic.

Author was so committed to religion that she determined as a child that she wanted to be a Catholic priest. She went to Catholic schools, went to church several times a week, and was so eager to devote her life to the Church that she would not even consider becoming a nun and was shocked to learn that becoming a Catholic priest would be impossible.

Called Out of Darkness is a remarkable memoir in which the author shares intimate details about her upbringing, including the tragedy of her alcoholic mother, her enormous difficulties in learning to read effectively, her marriage, the deaths of her young daughter and husband, and her deep love for the city of New Orleans and its architecture.

Anne Rice has had a fascinating existence, one that most of her long-time followers have only had a passing knowledge of.

This biography shows how she went from writing novels about vampires and witches to creating fiction committed to portraying the story of Christianity, a change that surprised her readers (Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana and Angel Time: The Song of the Seraphim, Book 1).

Fans of Anne Rice's novels will like her memoir, but her narrative is so unique that even those who haven't read her books will be intrigued by what she has to say.

Final Thoughts:

This is a fantastic book about a fantastic author who shocked the world when she returned to her Christian faith, then shocked the world again in July 2010 when she said she couldn't stay in a group of people who were disputatious, homophobic, and believed they were the only ones going to heaven while secretly relishing the thought that everyone else was going to hell. Although she still believes in Jesus, she refuses to call herself a "Christian!"

I'm always happy to state that I've read all of Anne Rice's books. This is just because she's so incredibly talented, and I'm drawn to the realm of myth and vampires.

I chose to read this because I wanted to read a book by someone who has gone through multiple pathways of religion, someone who has wandered but not lost, and most importantly she is Anne Rice, who writes amazing books.

This was a fantastic book to read. I would suggest it to everyone, whether they are a protestant, a Catholic, an agnostic, or an atheist.

Synopsis:

“Anne Rice’s first work of nonfiction—a powerful and haunting memoir that explores her continuing spiritual transformation

Anne Rice was raised in New Orleans as the devout child in a deeply religious Irish Catholic family. Here, she describes how, as she grew up, she lost her belief in God, but not her desire for a meaningful life. She used her novels—beginning with Interview with a Vampire—to wrestle with otherworldly themes while in her own life, she experienced both loss (the death of her daughter and, later, her beloved husband, Stan Rice) and joys (the birth of her son, Christopher). And she writes about how, finally, after years of questioning, she experienced the intense conversion and re-embracing of her faith that lie behind her most recent novels about the life of Christ.”

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Rating: 85/100

Recommended: 90/100 Yes.

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Of Love and Evil Review

Of Love and Evil

Published: 30, November 2010

Author: Anne Rice

Book 2 of 2: The Songs of the Seraphim

Genres: Assassination, Christian, Fiction, Ghost, Historical, Jewish, Literary, Metaphysical, Mystery, Poetry, Psychic, Renaissance, Romance, Suspense, Theory, Thrillers, Time Travel, Vampire, Visionary

Check the summary of this book here:

Of Love and Evil Summary

The Review:

In Anne Rice's novel "Of Love and Evil," Toby O'Dare, a former hitman, is summoned once again by the angel Malchiah and transported back to fifteenth-century Rome, to the land and time of Michelangelo, Raphael, Pope Leo X, and the Medicis. To a period marked by high drama and strife in both the public and private spheres.

This time, Toby is in charge of investigating the case of Vitale, a Jewish man who lives in the house of Antonio, a wealthy gentile. Niccolo, one of Antonio's sons, is terminally ill and dying a slow, painful death, with Vitale suspected of being the perpetrator due to his Jewish heritage.

During this time, the home is also subjected to a powerful metaphysical disruption caused by an enraged dybbuk—a dislocated spirit, or "ghost" for want of a better phrase. It's up to Toby to solve these two puzzles, as well as the actual reason for Niccolo's sickness and the dybbuk's rampage.

It's tough to go much further with this review without revealing too much information. Anne Rice manages to integrate a fascinating mystery thriller into a masterfully crafted, dramatic tale with themes loaded with action, philosophical questions on life, love, spirituality, history, and prejudice, among the many captivating things you should know about this outstanding book. Her superb conciseness is much more visible here than in her second book about Jesus' early life, "Road to Cana."

The author skillfully creates a story with an honest tone that is authentically "biblical." Niccolo's connection with his brother is a significant theme in the story. Also, the would-be killer's technique of choice, poisoning, is an intriguing story device.

It takes a certain sort of killer to select poison as a method of murder, and it tells a lot about them. They don't suffocate their victim with a single, powerful blow or a knife to the throat, as they could. Instead, they systematically inject precise toxic quantities over time.

This not only provides the impression that the victim is dying of a long-term disease, but it also allows the killer to hide in the shadows and see the fatal scheme unfold. Few activities are more terrifying than this...

The concept that evil, or sin—severe wrongs performed against innocents, crimes, discriminatory deeds, and so on—leaves a permanent impression in Anne Rice's Angel Time, and especially here, Is a key aspect of the tale of "Of Love and Evil" from a conceptual standpoint.

There can be no atonement until and until the wicked deed is confronted, dealt with, and set right. The victim of the terrible deed lives on in unrelenting rage until there is closure and salvation.

This story's ghost, or dybbuk, is enraged. Is that ever the case! And with good cause. Redemption is something that must be gained. It can't just be given out without a plan. Only when justice has been served can there be any semblance of peace.

The strength of Anne Rice's works has always been her curious personality. Every one of her novels revolves around a challenging spiritual subject that she has been debating for a long time. "Of Love and Evil" poses an intriguing quandary that is central to Christianity.

What decides whether anything is a good or bad conduct now that we have this new Christian perspective? Could a loving deed that we feel mirrors the spirit of Christ, however, be clearly evil?

This book should appeal to anybody searching for an exciting mystery thriller with human characters who have true flaws, whether or not they are Christians. Furthermore, people of many religious backgrounds face the same spiritual issues as these characters. Christians, Jews, Muslims, Atheists, and Agnostics all think about the purpose of our lives.

Despite the fact that our positions appear to be solidified from the outside. We continue to have doubts about the opinions we thought we had established. I was divided between the questions as I read this book, but it's best if you read it first and then figure out the questions and answers for yourself.

This book, in my opinion, is a piece of art, but it is modern art, not a tidy picture, but wide strokes painted with feeling, around the narrative of a foiled assassination plan and an earlier century Jewish ghost, with an unexpected intrusion of the Devil. Toby of Angel Time continues to fulfill specific petitions for the angels as repentance for his prior existence as a mass murderer and executioner.

All of this could only make sense in the hands of a writer like Anne Rice. As far as I can tell, she's been decoding vampires for years, so the realm of Angels and Demons appears to be a natural progression.

She leaves us hanging at the conclusion; just as Toby is about to go to confession and have a lovely reunion with God and his Catholicism, a link from his CIA days emerges as a young stranger asking inquiries - the end!

This is the most apparent lead-in to a sequel I've ever seen, yet it works - I was waiting for the third chapter, but it never arrived; at the very least, the tale was finished.

Final Thoughts:

Anne Rice's books never fail to put me in a trance while I'm reading them or after I've finished them. The want to keep reading her writings usually strikes you like a sudden longing for a cup of hot coffee or a piece of rich chocolate.

Her books are braided into a complicated web of gorgeous design that includes multiple important spiritual truths on every page.

Her latest installment “Of Love and Evil” in the "Songs of the Seraphim" series sticks to the tried-and-true format of her previous works. This isn't meant to be construed as a critique. Her combination of intriguing writing, first-person viewpoints of a solitary personality, and rich historical settings, in fact, brings her books to a very high degree of excellence.

I've read all her books and her works leave a mark of enormous fascination that is impossible to remove. Instead, the reader is only interested in reading the next book in one of her numerous series or conducting a study into some of the fascinating historical, spiritual, or philosophical issues discussed in her writings.

Yes, it was a tiny book, but it was to the point with no fillers, and I was surprised by some readers who were unhappy with the size. I'm not sure what people want; if Anne Rice writes a thousand-page book, they don't like it and complain that it's too lengthy; if she produces a short book, they complain that it's too short; please just make up your minds.

Synopsis:

“The second book in this nationally bestselling series is a gripping metaphysical thriller in which angels partner up with assassins, from the author of Interview with the Vampire.

Barely recovered from his previous divine mission, former contract killer Toby O'Dare is once again summoned by the angel Malchiah to investigate the poisoning of a prominent nobleman and stop the haunting of a diabolical dybbuk. Together, they travel back to fifteenth-century Italy—the age of Michelangelo, the Holy Inquisition, and Pope Leo X—and this time Malchiah has Toby pose as a lute player sent to charm and calm this troublesome spirit. But Toby soon discovers that he is in the midst of plots and counterplots, surrounded on all sides by increasingly dangerous threats as the veil of ecclesiastical terror closes in around him.”

Useful Search Related Words & Keywords:

Angel Time, Anne Rice, Back In Time, Book In The Series, Century England, Century Rome, Contract Killer, Guardian Angel, Hit Man, Love And Evil, Lucky The Fox, Main Character, Mayfair Witches, Mission Inn, New Orleans, Right Man, Seraphim Series, Songs Of The Seraphim, Ten Years, Toby O Dare, Toby Odare, Vampire Chronicles

Rating: 90/100

Recommended: 95/100 Yes.

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Interview with the Vampire (1994) (R)

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Angel Time Review

Angel Time

Published: 27, October 2009

Author: Anne Rice

Book 1 of 2: The Songs of the Seraphim

Genres: Assassination, Christian, Fiction, Historical, Jewish, Metaphysical, Poetry, Psychic, Suspense, Thrillers, Vampire, Visionary

Check the summary of this book here:

Angel Time Summary

The Review:

In Angel Time, Anne Rice has done it again! Despite the fact that the protagonist in this work and its sequel is a ruthless assassin, the author immerses us in his world and makes us sympathize with him. Toby O'Dare, alias Lucky the Fox, is a tortured soul struggling to reconcile his spiritual sensitivity with his ruthless profession.

When a Seraphim takes him from such a life and sends him to work actually on the side of the angels, we typically rejoice. Anne Rice's portrayals of life in a remote time and place are meticulously researched and fascinating, as they always are.

Toby is a figure that makes us rejoice at his seeming absolution of innumerable misdeeds in his past life, and we eagerly anticipate the next chapter of his exploits, similar to Lestat in Memnoch the Devil.

This time, Anne Rice's primary character is an angel, namely a seraph. When you put the divine creature, in all its beauty and perfection, next to a professional assassin, you get a powerful, mind-blowing novel that tackles themes like faith and sin, anger and forgiveness, the futility of good and the necessity of evil, all mingling together in a single chance to give up your past and start a new life.

Angel Time is a book for people of all faiths. It's a remarkable novel about the atonement that's nearly difficult to put down. Tony O'Dare has had a difficult upbringing. He had numerous siblings and his mother was an alcoholic.

He did everything he could to assist the family. But then something terrible happened, and his life would never be the same. He takes on the role of assassin. He works for a man named 'The Right Man,' who orders hits, and Tony, also known as 'Lucky,' utilizes poison needles.

Tony is nothing but a shell. He's completely hopeless. His dreams are no longer alive. He's basically a walking corpse. The straw that broke the camel's back came after a strike he made in a spot close to his heart.

Despite everything he's been through, he's never lost faith. Anne Rice's prose is stunning, and the writing of the Angel Time, which transports Tony and the angel, is both beautiful and magical. It's convincing and elegant.

First and foremost, Angel Time has the advantage of being a short and easy read. It's simple, yet it's chock-full of historical information and nuggets. Anne Rice's preoccupation with Catholic Monasticism is also prominent throughout the story, in addition to her deep knowledge of the world of Angelic intervention.

I found it fascinating to read about the various forms of education that a monk may study and impart in the course of their dedication. Anne Rice's description of the interaction between Jews and Christians in the middle Ages (and presumably an accurate picture of subsequent centuries) was both heartbreaking and heartwarming.

It only goes to show that no matter how religious you are, you are still a human being. Even though Christianity was the dominant religion at the time, monks, priests, and monarchs relied on the knowledge of Judaism to transmit their wisdom.

It's always reassuring to believe that everyone has a guardian angel looking over them, always attempting to communicate with humanity. In a time when Christian hope is hard to come by, here is yet another lovely story of redemption and Christian hope.

If you're interested in learning more about angels, I strongly suggest Billy Graham's book "Angels," which gives a biblical explanation of God's messengers. William Young's "The Shack" is also quite similar in its portrayal of how salvation may be found even in the darkest of situations.

Angel Time by Anne Rice starts with her trademark vivid imagery, which makes the reader feel as though they can see and feel every element she's describing. In this example, she's talking about the Mission Inn in Riverside, California, and I don't think there's a better place to get a better recommendation than here.

Then we learn about Toby O'Dare, the book's primary character and our lute-loving anti-hero, and his tumultuous life. His is a damaged soul if ever there was one, yet, like she has done so many times before, she manages to elicit pity or at the very least empathy for someone who kills on a regular basis and excels at it by detailing in great detail the events that led to him being who he is.

In a strange sense, this novel reminded me of Interview with the Vampire. Only the main character, the Angel, and another character, who has a significant role in the narrative to tell, are the narrators, and they are the ones who put everything together.

It's also amazing how Anne Rice can transport a reader back in time and write about it in a way that's just as plausible and realistic as when she's writing about our own reality.

I've read all of Anne Rice's books and have never been dissatisfied. Her stories draw you in and surround you, whether they are about vampires, witches, the life of Jesus, her own hardships, or angels. This novel will not disappoint Anne Rice lovers. I hadn't given my guardian angel much consideration in years. This book helped me remember that my angel is real and always at my side.

This novel included an Angel visit, but I got the impression it was more like her vampire and witches stories than her most recent, which focuses on Jesus and her version of his life. Those who like her vampire novels will likely appreciate this fantasy featuring angels.

Final Thoughts:

It is a fantastic read for both believers and those who wonder if their lives have any meaning. It was a fascinating read. Insightful and thought-provoking. I highlighted key points that I wanted to go over again and again, but instead of doing so, I read it from beginning to end.

I could empathize with Lucky the Fox because the character felt so real. This book will appeal to everyone who enjoys intelligent reading. As soon as I completed this book, I started reading the following one, "Of Love and Evil."

I really suggest this book to everyone, whether you are a firm believer in God or don't believe at all. Like all of her works, the plot is brilliantly written and linked, and you will leave with more intellectual capability, as she always teaches as well as thoroughly delights.

Angel Time, as predicted, has an open conclusion, as Toby's experiences are not yet complete. Toby's journey to atonement is likely to be as lengthy as his misdeeds have made it, which means the Seraph will provide him with several opportunities to aid mankind and answer the most difficult pleas. 

Overall, Anne Rice has written a wonderful story that will have the reader thoroughly engrossed and anxious to learn everything there is to know about Toby O'Dare, a complicated and tortured character.

Synopsis:

“NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A divinely thrilling series about an assassin with the choice to turn from darkness to light—from the author of Interview with the Vampire

It’s the present day. Toby O’Dare—aka Lucky the Fox—is a contract killer on assignment once again. He’s a soulless soul, a dead man walking. His nightmarish world of lone and lethal missions is disrupted when a mysterious stranger, a seraph, offers him a chance to save rather than destroy lives. O’Dare, who long ago dreamt of being a priest, seizes his chance. Now he is carried back through the ages to thirteenth-century England, to dark realms where children suddenly die or disappear, and accusations of ritual murder have been made against Jews. Here O’Dare begins his perilous quest for salvation, a journey of danger and flight, loyalty and betrayal, selflessness and love.”

Useful Search Related Words & Keywords:

Anne Rice, Century England, Guardian Angel, Hit Man, Lucky The Fox, Mayfair Witches, Mission Inn, New Orleans, Right Man, Songs Of The Seraphim, Toby Odare, Vampire Chronicles

Rating: 85/100

Recommended: 95/100 Yes.

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Interview with the Vampire (1994) (R)

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The Alchemist

Published: 1988

Author: Paulo Coelho
Genres: Action, Adventure, Alchemy, Coming Of Age, Education, Fantasy, Fiction, Greek & Roman, Legend, Literary, Magic, Metaphysical, Myth

Rating: 100/100

Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

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Check the summary of this book here:

The Alchemist Summary

The Review:

The Alchemist is a treasure of life lessons. This book contains and references to lessons that appear to be a comment on ethics and metaphysics, history and anthropology, post-colonialist critique, and folk tale all at once. Biblical parallels abound, alongside Islamic lectures on the nature of God, and institutions and mysticism are equally likely to be invoked and revoked. There's always the impression that something is hovering beneath the surface while you read, but the moment you attempt to capture it or express it in a review, it appears to vanish and I was never completely satisfied with what it is. I felt I know this story and what was happening but it was just an illusion and this book is an original work of art that comes to life through the words that are passing through the reader’s mind.

I had no idea this book would be so good. But at first, I thought it was just another book hyped by people who wanted to be part of the popular group, but I'm glad I was wrong and decided to read it. I never imagined a book could have such an impact on me. It's a simple story, but it's packed with lessons if you look for them, and it's short enough to read in one sitting. Only a few books have had such an impact on me, and one of them is "The Book of Flying," which I also highly recommend.

I read this book a long time ago and recently had the opportunity to listen to the audio version, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I also recommend the audio version to fans because I am confident you will enjoy it as well.

Some people dislike this book because they never understood it and the simple words that are actually very deep to the point where these people were never able to reach the depth. So, disregard the complaints and a few low marks and read or listen to the book, and be amazed at its simplicity, which can be as deep as you want it to be. But as you go deeper, your eyes widen and you begin to see the true messages that this novel has to offer.

This book has a lot of valuable lessons to offer. It ultimately boils down to pursuing your ambitions and taking calculated risks in the process. When you decide to follow your aspirations, the entire world conspires in your favor, which the author refers to as "beginners luck," which we have all experienced at some time in our lives. He also talks about a period in our road toward fulfilling our aspirations when everything goes horribly wrong and everything works against us, nearly forcing us to forsake everything and return to what was once so intimately acquainted.

Final Thoughts:

This is one of those stories that you don't want to come to an end. A journey of self-awareness and the discovery of hidden strength and potential that everyone possesses but not everyone can recognize. I discovered a great coming-of-age story and a man's constant struggle to find the hidden treasure that was always his from the beginning.

A must-read for everyone, just to understand what it's all about, and it may help you discover your own self, which has been hiding inside you since the beginning.

Synopsis:

“Paulo Coelho's enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world. This story, dazzling in its simplicity and wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way, he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an Alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way but what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a meditation on the treasures found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is art eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts.”

Useful Search Related Words & Keywords:

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The Stranger in the Lifeboat

Published: 2, November 2021

Author: Mitch Albom
Genres: Family Life, Fiction, Historical, Inspirational, Metaphysical, Mystery, Religious, Visionary

Rating: 95/100

Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy The Kindle Version Here:

https://amzn.to/3D8KHN3

Free With Free Audible Trial:

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The Review:

A fantastic read that is profound, intriguing, enthralling, and simply wonderful. Mitch Albom is a fantastic storyteller and this is yet another masterpiece from him. I really enjoyed every minute of this novel. Mitch Albom can always be counted on to not only produce a well-written and enjoyable novel but also to push the reader to search within and experience something new.

I liked the concept of this book and was intrigued by the question, "What would you do if God came face to face with you and told you about himself?" I really like stories about Jesus, Santa, God, and other characters like that, as well as stories about miracles coming true, and this kind of, gave me the same feeling, and I just read on like my younger self was reading and watching stuff about miracles because nothing like that can happen in real life.

A word of caution to all readers: do not start this book right before going to bed, unless it is a weekend, because once you start it, it is impossible to stop until it is finished.

Really captivating narrative and a finale that leaves the reader with something to be positive about.

I wish this book was a little longer since I felt so happy reading it and wanted to know more about what was going on in the pages and, especially, in my head.

I want to say more, but this book must be spoiler-free due to the truth and the characters involved, so I must restrain myself and let the readers decide what they think since it was an excellent novel with an excellent premise in my opinion. Just read and comment but please do not spoil anything for others.

Final Thoughts:

A quick read, I couldn't stop until it was completed. It's a wonderful story of faith. Unexpected turns keep you turning the pages, and the central mystery of who this "Lord" is, keeps you guessing until you find out the final answer. Hundred percent recommended.

Synopsis:

“What would happen if we called on God for help and God actually appeared? In Mitch Albom’s profound new novel of hope and faith, a group of shipwrecked passengers pulls a strange man from the sea. He claims to be “the Lord”. And he says he can save them only if they all believe in him.

Adrift in a raft after a deadly ship explosion, nine people struggle for survival at sea. Three days pass. Short on water, food and hope, they spot a man floating in the waves. They pull him in.

“Thank the Lord we found you,” a passenger says.

“I am the Lord,” the man whispers.

So begins Mitch Albom’s most beguiling and inspiring novel yet.

Albom has written of heaven in the celebrated number one best sellers The Five People You Meet in Heaven and The First Phone Call from Heaven. Now, for the first time in his fiction, he ponders what we would do if, after crying out for divine help, God actually appeared before us? What might the Lord look, sound, and act like?

In The Stranger in the Lifeboat, Albom keeps us guessing until the end: Is this strange and quiet man really who he claims to be? What actually happened to cause the explosion? Are the survivors already in heaven, or are they in hell?

The story is narrated by Benji, one of the passengers, who recounts the events in a notebook that is later discovered - a year later - when the empty life raft washes up on the island of Montserrat.

It falls to the island’s chief inspector, Jarty LeFleur, a man battling his own demons, to solve the mystery of what really happened.

A fast-paced, compelling novel that makes you ponder your deepest beliefs, The Stranger in the Lifeboat suggests that answers to our prayers may be found where we least expect them.”

Useful Search Related Words & Keywords:

Answered Prays, Belief, God, I Am Lord, Inspiration, Lord

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