#Book Review: MADE FOR YOU

Made For You by Melissa Marr

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



First off, Melissa Marr is an excellent writer.
Second, if you don't like HORROR, don't read this book.

What's the difference between horror, suspense, and mystery? The main difference is that "horror" shows the violent act as it happens, causing a visceral reaction in the reader. For more information on the difference between these types of stories, you can read a post I wrote: http://www.margokelly.net/2012/04/is-...

There used to be an unwritten rule that when an author created a story for the young adult audience, the point of view of the evil villain was not shown in graphic detail. This is changing. MADE FOR YOU is NOT the first YA book I've read that shows the evil antagonist's view point. Personally, I find it a bit disturbing to read the murderous thoughts of a seventeen-year-old boy. But I suppose in today's world, it's more common to have teenagers who commit violent crimes. And that's even more disturbing. I do wonder what the statistics are concerning violent crimes today versus decades ago. It also makes me wonder if reading about it influences the thinking of young adults ... but then that's related to the old argument of whether or not playing violent video games makes boys go out and shoot people.

MADE FOR YOU is a story told from three points of view: 1) the main character, Ava 2) her best friend, Grace and 3) the killer. Since I listened to this as an audio book, I was glad that the producers had three different skilled actors read the different points of view. That helped me keep it straight in my mind who was speaking.

The audio book was well done. And I enjoyed the story when told from Ava's and Grace's points of view. I cringed during the killer's chapters.

This book not only contains graphic violence, but it also contains sex and the f-word, which all together would probably give it an R rating. So keep that in mind before picking it, thinking it's a light-weight YA book ... because it is not. It is however, very well written.



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Book Review: ODD APOCALYPSE

Odd Apocalypse by Dean Koontz

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Odd Thomas is funny, clever, and psychic. He's one of my favorite Dean Koontz characters. And this was one of the better Odd Thomas novels. I found myself laughing several times and reading faster at other times to find out what was going to happen. There were a few gory scenes - so beware if you don't like that kind of stuff, but there was practically no cussing and there was no sex. So - just your basic horror. ;)

Here's an example of why I like Dean Koontz:

On page 74 he writes: "Without faith to act as a governor, the human mind is a runaway worry generator, a dynamo of negative expectations. And because your life is yours to shape as you wish with free will, if you entertain too much anxiety about too many things, if you place no trust in providence, what you fear will more often come to pass. We make so many of our own troubles, from mere mishaps to disasters, by dwelling on the possibility of them until the possible becomes inevitable."

And on page 77 when Odd Thomas is hiding inside of a bin trying to be silent so that he won't be discovered, Koontz writes: "Bleachy ozone tingled in my sinuses, but I trusted providence to prevent a sneeze, refused to worry, declined to dwell on negative possibilities, and I did not sneeze, did not sneeze, still did not sneeze, but then I farted."

The reasons I did not give the book five stars include: 1) The "freaks" (monsters, pigs, whatever) were not very scary, and they reminded me too much of zombies. I don't like zombies. 2) I wanted more development and resolution with Annamaria. That character is becoming frustrating. I hope more happens with her in the next book.

I love Odd Thomas, and I cannot wait to read the next book.



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Is it HORROR or Suspense?

Not long ago, I read a great article (6 Secrets to Creating and Sustaining Suspense by Steven James) in WRITER'S DIGEST magazine (January 2012 issue, page 28), and it had a chart that detailed the differences between the categories of mystery, horror, and suspense.

I found it very interesting. I wish I had an online link to let you SEE the original chart, but I don't; so here's my variation of it:

 

	MYSTERY	HORROR	SUSPENSE
Timing of Crime/Crisis	The violence occurs before the story begins.	Readers see it happening.	Readers anticipate that it will happen.
Narrative Question	Who was responsible for the crime?	How will the character die?	How can the crisis or impending crime be averted?
Reader Orientation	Readers may lag behind the detective in understanding the clues.	Readers view the action; they’re in on the secret.	Readers know about danger that the characters do not.
Reader Appeal	Head (intellectual curiosity)	Gut (visceral reaction)	Heart (worry and concern)

Which genre do you prefer to read? Write?

Editorial Note of Thanks: Diane Carlisle gave me the ONE LOVELY BLOG AWARD. Thanks! I will better acknowledge and pass along awards after my scheduled AtoZ posts. :)

Creation of YA Horror Story

Okay ... I went from freaking out about bed bugs yesterday to dealing with about 35 young women last night ... preparing a skit for next week's Girls' Camp.

I ate a few chocolate chip cookies as a result.

Did I mention how excited I am for camp next week? I'm really looking forward to all of the bugs fun.

Maybe I should write a theraputic journal entry a YA horror story about camp ... and bugs that infest the human body causing the teenage girls to appear pregnant ... but they won't be giving birth to human babies! And imagine the attitudes of the parents when the girls come home from camp "with child" ... and ready to burst.

... BWHAHahahahahaa ...

I feel better already. How 'bout you? :-)