Birthday Bookhaul

Hi everyone

January 24th was my birthday! I had a lovely day celebrating with my husband and our two daughters. The weekend after my birthday, we gathered with my parents, my brother, and his wife to continue the festivities. My husband’s birthday was on the 12th of January, and we celebrated with his family the day after his birthday.

The best part? Everyone (except my husband) gave me money for books! They all know how much I love to read, and honestly, it’s the perfect gift for me.

So, I bought myself some very anticipated new books! I ordered all of them from Bol and they arrived over the last couple of days. 
Here's what I got.

- James S. A. Corey: Memory's Legion

- Eowyn Ivey: Black Woods Blue Sky 

- Rachel Joyce: Miss Benson's Beetle

- Toshikazu Kawaguchi: Before the Coffee gets Cold

- Stephen King: Firestarter

- Stephen King: Needful Things

- H. P. Lovecraft: Cthulhu Mythos Tales

- Edgar Allan Poe: The Complete Poetry

- John Steinbeck: Travels with Charley

- Andrea Stewart: The Bone Shard Daughter

- Xiran Jay Zhao: Iron Widow

Have you read any of these? If so, which one should I read first? I’d love to hear your recommendations!

Happy reading!
Helena 

Stephen King: Under The Dome

Hi everyone

Stephen King's Under the Dome has been on my wishlist since it came out, but I kept putting off buying it because I don’t like movie-tie-in editions, and I wasn’t a fan of the original cover with the old man. But when this new edition was released, I had to have it. The premise sounded like something I’d absolutely love, and I was right! 
I got my copy from Bol. 

"On an entirely normal, beautiful fall day in Chester's Mill, Maine, the town is inexplicably and suddenly sealed off from the rest of the world by an invisible force field. Planes crash into it and fall from the sky in flaming wreckage, a gardener's hand is severed as "the dome" comes down on it, people running errands in the neighboring town are divided from their families, and cars explode on impact. No one can fathom what this barrier is, where it came from, and when -- or if -- it will go away.
Dale Barbara, Iraq vet and now a short-order cook, finds himself teamed with a few intrepid citizens -- town newspaper owner Julia Shumway, a physician's assistant at the hospital, a select-woman, and three brave kids. Against them stands Big Jim Rennie, a politician who will stop at nothing -- even murder -- to hold the reins of power, and his son, who is keeping a horrible secret in a dark pantry. But their main adversary is the Dome itself. Because time isn't just short. It's running out." 

I loved this book. It was everything I hoped for and more.

Under the Dome is a giant book (almost 900 pages and in rather small print) but it reads so fast. There’s non-stop action, and even when there’s a lull, something important is always brewing; whether it’s planning, strategizing, or uncovering secrets. 
King’s writing is easy to read, to the point, and even thought-provoking when it needs to be.  
What terrified me most was how quickly everything and everyone in the town broke down. Sure, the process is sped up for the sake of the story, but I completely believe it could happen this fast in real life. Fear and panic are incredibly powerful forces, and when you add someone like Big Jim Rennie and his cronies to the mix, it becomes horrifyingly plausible. The way King portrays the descent into chaos is both chilling and gripping.

The characters are fantastic. I especially loved how most of the "good," sensible people are women. Whether they’re brave leaders or reluctantly part of the resistance, the characters who actually think things through, who stand against all the madness are mostly women. And Stephen King wrote them so well! They feel real, complex, and compelling.
I also really liked Dale Barbara. He’s not your typical military man, he doesn’t rely on brute force for everything. He’s intelligent, thoughtful, and cares about others, which made him such a standout character.
The resistance in this book was everything I love in a story. People come together at their own pace, for their own reasons, and everyone contributes what they’re capable of. There’s something so powerful and emotional about seeing people work together toward a common goal; it always gets to me.

As for the reason behind the dome, it’s expected, especially for a Stephen King novel. I can see why some readers might be disappointed by the lack of a thorough explanation, but I wasn’t. For me, this book is entirely about the people under the dome, not the dome itself. The human drama is what makes it so gripping.

My only disappointment was with Big Jim Rennie’s end. He deserved every terrible thing imaginable, and his fate felt a little too tame for how much I hated him. It’s been a long time since a character in a book infuriated me this much, so I was hoping for something more satisfying. But at least he’s gone for good.

Have you read Under the Dome? Did you love it as much as I did? Or did you feel differently about the ending or the characters? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Which Stephen King books should I buy next? 

Happy reading
Helena 

Bookhaul

Hi everyone

I got some new books and I’m so excited to dive into them! 
Here’s what I added to my collection:

- Katherine Addison: The Tomb of Dragons 

- Stephen King: Under the Dome

- A. K. Larkwood: The Unspoken Name

- Shauna Lawless: The Children of Gods and Fighting Men

- Ferdia Lennon: Glorious Exploits

Have you read any of these? If so, how did you like them? I’d love to hear your thoughts; especially if you have a favorite or a recommendation on where to start!

Happy reading!
Helena

Wrap Up: April 2025

Hi everyone

April was wonderful; we had plenty of sunshine breaking through the typical Belgian grey skies, and I read a ton too! I’m excited to share what I dove into. 

Here's what I read:

- Dennis E. Taylor: Earthside

- Terry Pratchett: The Last Continent 

- Becky Chambers: A Prayer for the Crown-Shy

- Stephen King: The Dark Half 

- Neil Gaiman: The Ocean at the End of the Lane 

- Bessel van der Kolk: The Body Keeps the Score

- Richard Matheson: A Stir of Echoes

- Peter Brown: The Wild Robot Escapes

What about you? How was your reading month? Did you find any new favorites or re-read an old beloved book? I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading!

Happy reading!
Helena

Stephen King: The Dark Half

Hi everyone

I was in the mood for another Stephen King book, and with so many to choose from, I decided to pick up The Dark Half.
This time I read The Dark Half. 

"The sparrows are flying again. The idea haunts the edge of Thad Beaumont's mind. He should be happy; for years it is his secret persona 'George Stark', author of super-violent pulp thrillers, who has paid the family bills. But now he is writing seriously again under his own name, and his pseudonym is buried forever."

Unfortunately, The Dark Half wasn’t as good as I’d hoped or expected. The biggest issue was that it felt way too drawn out, which made it really boring in places. There are some great action scenes, chilling, frightening, and classic King, but the parts in between drag the plot down, killing both the pace and the tension.
The ending was underwhelming, too. I expected more from this book, especially given King’s reputation for mind-blowing twists and haunting conclusions. That said, I did enjoy the writing and the horror elements, particularly the cruel, vile George Stark scenes, which were shocking and brilliantly done. The core plot itself is interesting, but the execution was just too slow.

That’s how it goes with King’s books for me, some I love, some I find mediocre, and some I can’t even finish. This one fell somewhere in the middle: not bad, but not great either.

Have you read The Dark Half? Did you feel the same way, or did it grip you more than it did me? I’d love to hear your thoughts; maybe I missed something! 

Happy reading.
Helena

My Favorite Books of 2024

Hi everyone

In 2024, I read a total of 92 books! But not every book was a 5-star read, so I wanted to share a curated list of the ones that truly stood out to me. If I’ve reviewed any of these in the last few months, you can click on the title to read my full thoughts!

Here’s the list in alphabetical order: 

- Stephen Aryan: Magebane

- Nathan Filer: The Shock of the Fall

- Yuval Noah Harari: Sapiens

- Eowyn Ivey: The Snow Child

- Stephen King: Pet Sematary

- Brian McClellan: Sins of Empire

- Brian McClellan: Wrath of Empire

- Brian McClellan: Blood of Empire

- Pascal Mercier: Night Train to Lisbon

- Sequoia Nagamatsu: How High We Go in the Dark

- Emma Newman: Before, After, Alone

- Emma Newman: Planetfall 

- Terry Pratchett: Feet of Clay

- Terry Pratchett: Jingo

- Dennis E. Taylor: A Change of Plans

I’d love to see your list of 5-star reads from 2024! What books stayed with you? Which ones blew you away? Let me know in the comments; I’m always looking for new recommendations!

Happy reading!
Helena

Wrap Up: September 2024

 Hi everyone

Another month has flown by! Autumn is really here in Belgium; rain, cold, wind, perfect weather for reading.

Here's the list of the books I finished in September:

- Stephen King: Pet Sematary

- Yuval Noah Harari: Sapiens

- Lucy Holland: Sistersong 

- N. K. Jemisin: The Killing Moon 

- Richard K. Morgan: Altered Carbon 

- Sequoia Nagamatsu's How High We Go in the Dark

How was your September in books? Did you discover any new favorites or revisit old ones? Anything you’d like to recommend?

Happy reading in October!
Helena

Stephen King: Pet Sematary

 Hi everyone

I finally read one of Stephen King's absolute classics; Pet Sematary. And what a ride it was!
I got my copy from Bol.
You can find all my Stephen King reviews here.

" The house looked right, felt right, to Dr Louis Creed. 
Rambling, old, unsmart and comfortable. A place where the family could settle; the children grow and play and explore. The rolling hills and meadows of Maine seemed a world away from the fume-choked dangers of Chicago.
Only the occasional big truck out on the two-lane highway, grinding up through the gears, hammering down the long gradients, growled out an intrusive note of threat.
But behind the house and away from the road: that was safe. Just a carefully clear path up into the woods where generations of local children have processed with the solemn innocence of the young, taking with them their dear departed pets for burial.
A sad place maybe, but safe. Surely a safe place. Not a place to seep into your dreams, to wake you, sweating with fear and foreboding... "

This was so heavy. Especially now that I have children (3 and 7 years old), it really hit me differently. The moment Gage dies and every word after chilled me to the bone. Before this scene, the book was good but not amazing. But after his death, it turns really dark and terrifying.
It’s horror, but in a psychological way. It makes you doubt yourself and question how you would react, how your sanity would fare.

The writing is perfect for this novel. It’s easy to read, atmospheric, and there’s a chill in the air from the first chapter. It’s hard to put down; but I did, and frequently, because I felt chilled, short of breath, and terribly sad.
The last 50 or so pages were absolutely mental.

Pet Sematary is not just a horror story; it’s a deeply unsettling exploration of grief, love, and the lengths we go to in desperation. It lingers with you long after you finish it.

Have you read Pet Sematary? Did it haunt you as much as it did me? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
Helena     

Stephen King: The Stand

Hi everyone

Stephen King’s The Stand. I finally found the courage to start reading this one. And I couldn’t put it down.
My copy is the complete and uncut edition, counting a whopping 1439 pages plus 14 pages preface and opening. It actually hurt my wrists and fingers to read it.
I got my copy from Bol.
You can find all my Stephen King reviews here.

“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 Abigail, the benevolent 108-year-old woman who urges them to build a community in Boulder, Colorado; and Randall Flagg, the nefarious "Dark Man," who delights in chaos and violence.”

                                *   SPOILERS   *

The Stand is a huge book. Probably the biggest I’ve read to date. But it is worth it. I’m so glad I read the uncut edition because I can’t imagine leaving something out. It’s a real page-turner, it did drag in some places, but never so much as to make me want to put it down. I enjoyed every chapter.
The writing is astounding, the sheer scope of the novel is impressive and the plot is truly epic.

I loved the time we spent on the early days of the virus; the start of the outbreak, the panic, the military actions to stop people from knowing what’s going on and then ultimately, the death of most people. It’s nerve-wracking to read about people you care for and then loose most of them.
Stephen King killed of so many of the characters we got to know in those days, I wondered who would be left to actually star in the rest of the book. But I loved this part of it.

The characterization is amazing. Everyone is so different and yet they all grow so much. You’d expect a few fully fleshed out characters, but everyone who’s a tiny bit important has a decent background and well-rounded characteristics.
I loved the characters, even the ones I hated, because I loved them for the role they played in the novel. There wasn’t one character I felt didn’t belong or didn’t sound right. You feel so much for them, even the ‘evil’ ones grow on you.

The world-building was flawless. I could see every scene right in front of me, as if I was watching a movie. The thought that has gone into this book is astounding. The finer details and the imagery; I loved it.

I’m not religious and I try to avoid books with religious undertones, but King did a great job on making this is a God vs the devil or a good vs evil book without it becoming patronizing.
At first I was really hesitant about the supernatural element. I wanted it to remain a realistic book because I love those kind of apocalyptic books set in a world that could be true. And this one turned out to be not so realistic. It was a bit of a disappointment when I figured that out, but the story quickly captured my interest again. And this supernatural element does set the book apart from others in the genre. Because The Stand isn’t anything new. King pushes a few elements around to make it different and interesting, but the essence of the story has been told before.

The story itself is truly epic. The whole range of human emotions and reactions have a place in here. It’s frightening, captivating and I loved it.

The end is perfect. The nagging doubt about the baby and the survival of the human race. Perfect! I’m still wondering how Boulder will work out now it’s armed and ready to take on everything thrown at them. I can see it all starting over again in so many years. We humans can’t seem to help it. And at the same time, this is the ultimate book about redemption and the faith in humanity.

I kept thinking about this one in the car, in the shower, while cooking,… I couldn’t get it out of my head.

5 STARS

Happy reading!
Helena

Stephen King: The Long Walk

Hi everyone

The Long Walk is a Stephen King novel written under his pseudonym of Richard Bachman.
My copy has 370 pages and I got it from Bol.
You can find all my Stephen King reviews here.

 “Every year, on the first day of May, one hundred teenage boys meet for an event known throughout the country as "The Long Walk." Among this year's chosen crop is sixteen-year-old Ray Garraty. He knows the rules: that warnings are issued if you fall under speed, stumble, sit down. That after three warnings... you get your ticket. And what happens then serves as a chilling reminder that there can be only one winner in the Walk - the one that survives...”

I kept this book for one of those moments I needed something I knew I would love. There are quite a few of these types of books on my TBR.
After disliking Jonas Jonasson’s The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden I needed that assurance of something good.

The Long Walk is very well written. It is raw, dark, creepy, sometimes thoughtprovoking, disturbing and really bleak. The book is solely about The Walk. There’s no world-building, no background. The Walk is all there is and it is good that way because to them, it’s all there is.
The characters are interesting and very diverse. I could see them all before me. They change during the walk. Some become philosophical or spiritual, others simply go mad. They weren’t likeable but I still cared for some of them. Their intereactions especially were complex and interesting.
From the very beginning you’re pretty sure how it’s going to end and that’s not a bad thing. What got to me was the unexpectedness and the not-knowing of who was next and why.

What disturbs me most is the fact that these boys choose to do this. It’s their own choice even though they know 99 out of 100 boys will die. You can’t blame anyone else for this because they did it to themselves.

I loved the book.

5 STARS

Happy reading!
Helena

Lazy Sunday.

Stephen King: The Shining

Hi everyone

This review is about my reread of The Shining by Stephen King.
I got my copy from Bol and it has 659 pages.
You can find all my Stephen King reviews here.

 “Jack Torrance’s new job at the Overlook Hotel is the perfect chance for a fresh start. As the off-season caretaker at the atmospheric old hotel, he’ll have plenty of time to spend reconnecting with his family and working on his writing. But as the harsh winter weather sets in, the idyllic location feels ever more remote . . . and more sinister. And the only one to notice the strange and terrible forces gathering around the Overlook is Danny Torrance, a uniquely gifted five-year-old.”

*  SPOILERS  *

I’ve read a few reviews by other bloggers and/or Booktubers where they talk about how predictable the story is. And it is. The Shining really is predictable. But in my opinion that’s the point. You know Jack will go mad, you just know it’s going to happen at some point. But when will it happen? Will he kill his wife and son? Will he realize what is going on? When will it happen? Those are the real questions.

The Shining is very well plotted. Again, the story is predictable, especially because everyone has seen the movie (which Stephen King himself hated) but the way the story builds is amazing. It starts so subtle and slow and the ending is an amazing culmination of panic, fear and madness.
The atmosphere is creepy and eerie, the isolation is almost panic inducing and It’s amazing how gradually the pace builds to where you can’t put it down.
Choosing a hotel as the setting for this was a stroke of genious too because throughout the novel you get this sense not only of isolation but also of simply not-belonging. It’s not their home, they are in a sense trespassing.
Rereading the book has made me see and appreciate the subtleties throughout the novel and the gradual buildup of tension and horror.

King is a master at characterization. Wendy is such a strong character and she is like a lion when it comes to protecting her son. King could’ve made her a caricature very easily, but she still feels very realistic.
Jack’s background of alcoholism and abusive behavior towards his wife and son give the story so much credibility. His road to madness is very realistic because he has these tendencies in him already. And that’s the scariest part of The Shining. A father murdering his wife and son because he truly believes he should kill them.
But they barely talk. We are privy to every thought all three main characters have, but they do not talk to each other about them. And these thoughts feel so real with unfinished sentences, pure feelings and flitting impressions. Very realistic.

I really, really enjoyed it.

5 STARS

Happy reading!
Helena

There's nothing better than chocolate and a book.

Stephen King: Salem’s Lot

Hi everyone

I finished Salem’s Lot! This is my first Stephen King novel of the year but it certainly won’t be the last.
The novel was nominated for the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel and the Locus Award for the All-Time Best Fantasy Novel.
The book has 653 pages and I got it from Bol.
You can find all my reviews of Stephen King’s books here.

“ Salem's Lot is a small New England town with white clapboard houses, tree-lined streets, and solid church steeples. That summer in 'Salem's Lot was a summer of home-coming and return; spring burned out and the land lying dry, crackling underfoot. Late that summer, Ben Mears returned to 'Salem's Lot hoping to cast out his own devils... and found instead a new unspeakable horror.
A stranger had also come to the Lot, a stranger with a secret as old as evil, a secret that would wreak irreparable harm on those he touched and in turn on those they loved.
All would be changed forever—Susan, whose love for Ben could not protect her; Father Callahan, the bad priest who put his eroded faith to one last test; and Mark, a young boy who sees his fantasy world become reality and ironically proves the best equipped to handle the relentless nightmare of 'Salem's Lot.”

For the last three days, I couldn’t read this book at night.
It’s honestly that good. We live in a new house now and every time I heard a sound I couldn’t place I thought about this book.

The writing is easy, to-the-point and really tension building. The suspense rises slowly, subtly and it doesn’t let you go. It’s brilliantly done and it’s very hypnotic.
The characters are compelling, tragic and realistic. They’re not the hero-type of character but they have real emotions and they are afraid of what’s happening.
I liked how big it is. The whole town is involved, there are a lot of characters and the scope in general is rather big.

I could only find two faults.
In my opinion, telling the same story but a bit shorter would have made it even better. Not that it’s boring, certainly not; it’s just a bit slow.
And there should be a bigger role for at least one woman in the novel. But more women would be better.

4 STARS

Happy reading.
Helena

Stephen King: Full Dark, No Stars

Hi

Full Dark, No Stars is a collection of five novellas by Stephen King: 1922, Big Driver, Fair Extension, A Good Marriage and Under the Weather.
The book has a total of 453 pages and I got it at the Boekenfestijn.
You can find all my Stephen King reviews here.

I definitely need to get more Stephen King novels. And that’s why I ordered three more from Bol. I’m expecting them very soon.

This collection is mixed in terms of quality. I loved 1922, Big Driver and A Good Marriage. Those were definitely my favorite novels. They stayed with me the longest and those were the stories I kept thinking about at night. Those were the ones that lingered in my mind, just like Stephen King wants according to his afterword.
Fair Extension was a miss in my opinion.
Under the Weather was just too short, it ended too soon because I would have loved to find out what happened after the conclusion.

On the whole, this is a very enjoyable collection. Satisfying, thrilling, bleak, mesmerizing, disturbing, fascinating, nasty, powerful and depressing.

The stories that aren’t that good don’t matter because there is enough of King’s work to go around.

Happy reading!

Helena

Stephen King: The Green Mile

Hi

I got this one very recently but I wanted to dive in right away!
The Green Mile won the Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel and was nominated as Best Novel for the British Fantasy Award and the Locus Award.
This novel was originally published as a six volumes serial novel with King writing every next part by a deadline.
My copy has 435 pages and I got it at the Boekenfestijn.
You can find all my Stephen King reviews here.

 “At Cold Mountain Penitentiary, along the lonely stretch of cells known as the Green Mile, killers are depraved as the psychopathic "Billy the Kid" Wharton and the possessed Eduard Delacroix await death strapped in "Old Sparky." Here guards as decent as Paul Edgecombe and as sadistic as Percy Wetmore watch over them. But good or evil, innocent or guilty, none have ever seen the brutal likes of the new prisoner, John Coffey, sentenced to death for raping and murdering two young girls. Is Coffey a devil in human form? Or is he a far, far different kind of being?”

The novel is simply amazing and I couldn’t put it down (almost being late at work because of reading late at night).
It is very beautifully written, every scene is vividly sketched and the story is told by a real master. This means that it’s almost perfect. Not too humorous for this type of novel, not too emotional for a non-dramaqueen like me and not too suspenseful to be a real thriller.
Aside from Paul; the characters were a bit superficial but it didn’t bother me at all. The story didn’t need it.
It is gripping and heart-breaking and I could feel for every one of the ‘good’ characters. I laughed when they made jokes, I hated Percy with them and I felt the way they did about John.

I loved it. You really need to read this!

Happy reading!
Helena

Stephen King: Doctor Sleep

Hi

It’s been about 8 years since I read a Stephen King novel, but when I saw this one at Waterstones, I had to buy it.
My copy has 485 pages.

“On highways across America, a tribe of people called The True Knot travel in search of sustenance. They look harmless—mostly old, lots of polyester, and married to their RVs. But as Dan Torrance knows, and spunky twelve-year-old Abra Stone learns, The True Knot are quasi-immortal, living off the “steam” that children with the “shining” produce when they are slowly tortured to death.
Haunted by the inhabitants of the Overlook Hotel where he spent one horrific childhood year, Dan has been drifting for decades, desperate to shed his father’s legacy of despair, alcoholism, and violence. Finally, he settles in a New Hampshire town, an AA community that sustains him, and a job at a nursing home where his remnant “shining” power provides the crucial final comfort to the dying. Aided by a prescient cat, he becomes “Doctor Sleep.”
Then Dan meets the evanescent Abra Stone, and it is her spectacular gift, the brightest shining ever seen, that reignites Dan’s own demons and summons him to a battle for Abra’s soul and survival. This is an epic war between good and evil, a gory, glorious story that will thrill the millions of devoted readers of The Shining and satisfy anyone new to the territory of this icon in the King canon.”

The story is good. It’s a bit predictable and it lacks suspense because of that and because we know from the very beginning how powerful Abra is.
It’s a very satisfying read. It’s not scary but it is suspenseful and compelling; it’s so easy to read and fluent. Lots of details, vivid descriptions, almost real psychic abilities and his characterization is the work of a master.
I could keep on reading for hours because of that.
King's allusions to popular culture, music, YA novels and movies are perfect. Just perfect. They make me smile, they’re exactly right and they are an example of the seamless blend of The Shining in our mundane world. This novel is set in our world and it is this day.

Rose The Hat is the perfect villain; she and the Crow are frightening, but her gang is a bunch of comically, stupid rednecks.
I would have liked to know more about The True Knot instead of having to accept them as they are.
The novel is too long. Doctor Sleep would have been better with 100 pages less and the same story. It starts slow and it goes on too long; not some specific chapters but throughout the novel.

Overall, the novel has a good feel about it. The importance of family, friendship, support, recovery after addiction and good vs. evil are all themes.

If you want a sequel that’s much the same as The Shinning, you’ll be disappointed. If you want to find out what happened next to little Danny, you’ll like this.
Stephen King changed a lot since The Shining, and that shines through in his novels. I don’t mind, as long as you don’t put the label ‘horror’ on this novel, because it isn’t and it sets you up to disappointment. Read it like the sequel it is and as a supernatural thriller.

Happy reading.
Helena

 Time to relax before I go to sleep.