J.J. Jacobs

‘Men and women who can’t get over the past,’ Aunt Evvie said. ‘That’s what ghosts are. Plot: 8/10 It is a slow ride, take it easy, enjoy the journey. Characters: 8/10 Multiple intricate storylines crafted by a master wordsmith. Setting: 7/10 The town of Castle Rock is more than the sum of its parts. The town itself is dull, but it is dull by design. The characters bring it to life. Theme: 8/10 The theme of the book is positively Faustian… if Mephistopheles hung around afterwards and struck deals like a time-share sales agent. Style and Mood: 8/10 If they scratched his name off the cover and handed me the book, I would still peg this as a Stephen King novel. Total Score: 7.8/10 Another terrific book by Stephen King. You should read it. #stephenking #stephenkingbooks #needfulthings #instabookreview #bookstagram #antiqueshop #collectables #bookphotography #horrornovel #thrillerbooks #castlerock #mysterious #chaos #death #stephenkingbookreview #booklovers #fictionbooks #richardbachman #stephenkingquotes #bookoftheday #ghosts #desires #goodreads

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“It is true that normal people couldn't hear Gaspode speak, because dogs don't speak. It's a well know fact. ... Besides, almost all dogs don't talk. Ones that do are merely a statistical error, and can therefore be ignored.” Plot: 8/10 Standard plot + chaotic and magical setting = very entertaining novel Characters: 9/10 Gaspode (aka Deep-Bone) the talking dog and the combustible vampire iconographer are brilliant characters and will stick with me for a long time. Setting: 8/10 Ankh-Morpork…. Need I say more? Theme: 9/10 By showing the birth and eventual incorporation of the news media in a virgin society, the author explores three important themes. First, the subjective nature of the truth as viewed through the media. Second, the fickleness of the news consuming populace. Finally, the skewed views of both sides in determining what is and what isn’t important. Style and Mood: 10/10 Classic Pratchett, he can inject humour into every scene without sacrificing the gravitas. Total Score: 8.8/10 Another classic Discworld novel, a must-read for every fantasy fanatic. #terrypratchettdiscworld #terrypratchettbooks #bookreview #bookstagram #discworld #atuin #thetruth #joshkirbycover #gaspodethewonderdog #terrysaidwhat #novel #fantasybooks #deathofrats #dogsofinstagram #doggo #vintagephotography #cutedogs #bestfriends

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“The horror! The horror!” Plot: 8/10 Charles Marlow is tasked with finding the enigmatic ivory trader, Mr Kurtz. His hazardous journey into the heart of Africa opens his eyes to profound but unsettling aspects of human nature. The mythical presence of Mr Kurtz follows him, hinting at the wondrous and terrible realisations that await him at the end of his journey. Characters: 9/10 Charles Marlow is an insightful and objective observer. Mr Kurtz is a constant presence throughout. In most of the narrative, he is part of the setting, rather than a character. His personality and the embodiment of the jungle run hand in hand, each new revelation about the untamed wilderness invariably enhances the protagonist’s understanding of Kurtz. Joseph Conrad’s minor characters serve their purpose. His descriptions of the native Africans are haunting, the sorrow and hopelessness are vivid and beautiful. Setting: 8/10 The setting alone is a reason to read the novel. The jungle is an ominous, all-present, oppressive force. Theme: 9/10 Contrary to six different reviews; I did not find Racism, imperialism, and the fragility of civilisation to be the main themes. I think people should read this specific book without preconceived notions about what the author is trying to say. I’ll give you a hint as to my interpretation. “He is unadulterated WILL,… a force of nature.” Style and Mood: 8/10 Marlow recounts his experiences while fishing on the Thames, years after his return from Africa. Joseph Conrad’s transitions between the present and Marlow’s recollections are seamless. Total Score: 8.5/10 This book is dark, disturbing, and some will find it offensive… you should read it anyway. It is raw and beautiful, like watching a lion devour a gazelle. #heartofdarkness #novella #horrorstories #dark #rawbeauty #jungle #africa #congo #charlesmarlow #obsession #ivorytrade #aplaceofdarkness #omnious #bookreviewers #bookstagram #bookphotography #disturbing #josephconrad #quickreviews #bookrecommendations #bookporn #booksofinsta #bookaesthetic #saauthors https://www.instagram.com/p/CKCNAi9r6lg/

“She was opposed to books on strict moral grounds, since she had heard that many of them were written by dead people and therefore it stood to reason reading them would be as bad as necromancy.” Plot: 9/10 Esk, a young girl, is accidentally imbued with wizardly powers. The local witch, Granny Weatherwax, takes Esk under her wing. It soon becomes plain that Esk must go to Unseen University to learn how to control her powers. The novel follows Esk and Granny’s journey from the Ramtops to the cosmopolitan city of Ankh-Morpork. Characters: 9/10 Granny Weatherwax is one of my favourite characters in the Discworld series. I believe Terry Pratchett actually met this witch. Esk, the young wizard girl, made the trek across the Discworld an enjoyable journey. Her inquisitive and fearless personality was a perfect choice for this novel. Setting: 9/10 Ankh-Morpork, The Ramtops, Unseen University; Sir Pratchett creates worlds within worlds, each of them unique and intricate. Theme: 8/10 A lot of Equal Rites blubs, and summaries made the book sound like a treatise on gender equality. This was not my impression. I found the theme to be a light-hearted examination of old-world values and antiquated gender roles. It is more of an arthritic slap-fight than an outright battle-of-the-sexes. Style and Mood: 10/10 Classic Pratchett: whimsical, entertaining, and laugh-out-loud funny. Total Score: 9/10 Another brilliant addition to the Discworld universe. #bookstagram #booksofinsta #bookaesthetic #bookrecommendations #bookreview #terrypratchettdiscworld #terrypratchett #terrypratchettquote #morals #necromancy #grannyweaterwax #equalrites #antiquatedgenderroles #whimsical #ankhmorpork #theramtops #sirpratchett #novel #copper

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“This was music that had not only escaped, but had robbed a bank on the way out. It was music with its sleeves rolled up and its top button undone, raising its hat and grinning and stealing the silver.” Plot: 8/10 Wizards are donning leather, guitar stores are selling out, and people can’t stop tapping their feet and shaking their rumps. Music with rocks in it is disturbing the delicate social equilibrium in Ankh-Morpork. Characters: 9/10 Anyone can create a fully fleshed-out character in 80 000 words or more. The author creates a world of unique personalities, each one as detailed as the main character. Setting: 9/10 Theme: 9/10 Terry Pratchett parodies the social unrest caused by the rise of rock and roll in the US and UK. It’s a light-hearted look at the rock and roll lifestyle. Style and Mood: 10/10 Classic Pratchett; funny, insightful, vivid, and relatable. Total Score: 9/10 Freedom, angst, music; I wanted to learn to play the guitar after this. #terrypratchett #terrypratchettquote #discworld #discworldseries #music #bookstagram #booksofinsta #bookreviewersofinstagram #soulmusic #ankhmorpork #rocknroll #leatherjacket #guitar #vivid #funnybooks #freedom #angst #novel #grunge #bookphotography #insightfulbooks

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“We are all mere insects caught in the web that the gods spin for us.” Plot: 8/10 Epic, in both size and plot. Taita leads the reader on a trek across the ancient greater-middle-east. Political intrigue, danger, hints of magic and there’s a love story in there as well…If you like that sort of thing Characters: 8/10 I made the mistake of reading the “Egypt Series” books out of order. Despite this I found Taita to be an enigmatic yet fully formed character in each novel. The other characters develop brilliantly, you watch them grow from children to adults and come to care for them accordingly. Setting: 10/10 If I could give him an 11 I would. I wish I could paint worlds like Wilbur Smith, no one does it better…. breath-taking. Theme: 8/10 Ancient politics, the choice between duty and happiness, fate, love. Style and Mood: 9/10 This novel justifies every single tree that died to print this 250K word-count tome. Intensely visual, with that subtle, enchanting, yet weird, sexual undertone that permeates Smith’s Egypt series. Total Score: 8.6/10 Great book, just try to read them in order if you can. #wilbursmith #wilbursmithbooks #desertgod #bookreviewers #bookstagram #booksofinsta #bookphotography #trek #lovestory #adventurenovels #ancientmiddleeast #egyptbooks #breathtakingbook #gods #ancientegypt #greatstoryteller #bookcover #bookcollection #wilbursmithquotes

“The human mind delights in grand conceptions of supernatural beings.” Plot: 8/10 Pierre Aronnax’s journey to kill an elusive sea monster crosses paths with the enigmatic Captain Nemo and his wondrous submarine, the Nautilus. This fated meeting will lead Pierre and his two companions on a fantastic journey across the world’s oceans. Characters: 8/10 I try to learn from each new book I read to improve my own writing. This is one of those instances where I cannot, for the life of me, figure out where the magic lives, it is brilliant, and I don’t know why. Setting: 9/10 Have you seen those award-winning nature documentaries about the oceans? Take one of those documentaries, insert underwater battles, Atlantis, submarine volcanoes, and sea monsters. Theme: 8/10 The all-consuming revenge that drives Captain Nemo, and his self-imposed exile, are dominant themes in the novel. I also get the impression that Jules Verne wanted the reader to consider the impact that industry and colonialism have on the environment and the “Third World”. Style and Mood: 8/10 This book is the granddaddy of the Steampunk literary style, and it is plain to see why. Verne’s sense of wonder and his fascination with the technology used to construct the Nautilus is almost childlike. If I had one critique about this book it is the pages and pages filled with Latin whose sole purpose it is to distinguish one sea worm from another. To be fair, this isn’t a valid critique, this book was written in a different time, readers in the late 1800s would’ve found this very interesting. Total Score: 9/10 Every fantasy, steampunk, sci-fi and adventure fan worth his salt must read this book. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is a classic in each one of those genres. #steampunkbooks #steampunknovels #steampunkfantasy #steampunkdrawing #20000leaguesunderthesea #captainnemo #julesverne #seamonsters #submarines #nautilus #journeybook #naturedocumentary #underwaterbattles #atlantis #1800s #science #scifibooks #steampunkartwork #bookstagram #bookreviewers #quoteoftheday

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“Inside Every Living Person is a Dead Person Waiting to Get Out…” Plot: 9/10 DEATH gets fired from his job, for developing a personality, and takes a job as a farmhand. Death’s departure is causing a fair amount of distress for a recently deceased wizard, Windle Poons. Characters: 9/10 Any book featuring Terry Pratchett’s DEATH character is an instant hit with me. Zombies, undead wizards, and the death of rats, this book is a cacophony of ridiculous and fascinating characters. Setting: 9/10 I especially liked the view of the Ankh-Morpork’s “Zombie Culture”. Theme: 8/10 Death is what adds value to a life; if life did not end it would not matter Style and Mood: 10/10 Hilarious, and enlightening. I’ve read everything from Dante to Genesis and Pratchett’s view of Life and Death are brilliant in their simplicity and elegantly relatable. Total Score: 9/10 It was the first Discworld book I bought; I now own the entire series. #discworldseries #terrypratchettdiscworld #bookoftheday #reaperman #skeleton #death #fantasybooks #facinatingcharacters #bookstagrammers #instabookreview #fantasynovel #grim #macarbe #grungefantasy #magical #quoteoftheday #lifeanddeath #ankhmorpork #zombieculture