True Colors, by Kristin Hannah (audiobook)

I was all set to complain about this book, but as I was looking up the Amazon link to the audiobook I found this "unabridged" version. It's 9 disks! My version is only 5! This totally renders one, maybe all, of my complaints invalid!

Here are those complaints anyway.

First, the author goes for very long passages without mentioning some characters. I actually thought that I had spaced out during a passage and missed the Father's death, because he wasn't mentioned for half a disk. Now, of course, I figure he was probably mentioned in the unabridged version. Same goes for Luke, the family's childhood neighbor and the oldest daughter's unrequited love interest. He's there, and then he leaves, and then suddenly he's back again and they act like it's no big deal he was married and whatnot in that time. Also, there's the middle sister, Aurora, who never once gets to tell her own story. Of the 3 sisters, she's the only one who never gets to "talk", which is a total shame because of the 3 sisters she's the most level-headed, most kind-hearted, and least selfish. The other two--oldest Wynona, youngest Vivi Ann, spend a great deal of time being as selfish as possible, and failing to care about anyone's feelings but their own.

In the end, though, it's a good book and I actually like all the sisters after all.

Aurora the most, though!

Horns, by Joe Hill

One of my obligations finally ended! But after attempting several books and failing to finish them, I decided not to get anything out of the library and to reread a book I already have at the house.

That book is Desperation, by Stephen King, if anyone is interested.

However, the past Saturday I was hanging out at a Kroger, waiting on a relative to pee. Did you know they sell books at Kroger? Did you also know that the book section is BIGGER than Wal-Mart's, and actually has books that are not: romances, teen vampire romances, adult vampire romances, christian fiction (ugh), or westerns? I was browsing around a big table, making a mental list of books I'd like to buy as I circled it, when the name "Joe Hill" caught my eye. I read this guy's other novel, Heart-Shaped Box, before I started the blog, but just imagine a gushing post about how much I loved it, okay? I really, really loved it. So when I saw the name again, I got very excited, completely abandoned all the other books I'd been thinking of buying, and then stood, waiting for my relative some more, completely and totally excited.

I started reading it that night, around 10. I read until 3, because I couldn't put it down. I didn't WANT to put it down. I read it some more on Sunday, until I finished it, because it is one of the best books I've ever read.

Short synopsis: Iggy's got horns. ACTUAL HORNS. He just wakes up with them one day, after a particularly bad bender. They give him powers--not very good powers. But Ig's good, deep down, so he doesn't abuse them too much. He does find out some horrible things about the people in his life, though. I felt really bad for him the entire time. Also, dude's totally a demon now. And guess what?! You find yourself rooting for the demon. He deserves this! His life, since the death of his girlfriend (everyone thinks he did it) has been complete shit, and now he's finally going to get something good.

The only book of Hill's that I haven't read is 20th Century Ghosts, and dammit I have to read it now. I have to OWN it. I NEED IT.