Book: The WVU Coed Murders

 Book: The WVU Coed Murders    

Author: Geoffrey Fuller and S. James McLaughlin

Pages: 416

This is my 106th read for the year

This is the story of two freshman at West Virginia University who were murdered in 1970.  Mared and Karen were found in the woods beheaded after hitchhiking near their campus.  After 63 years their murder has never been solved.  The cops at the time worked with suspects that seemed to fit the murders, but they were all dead ends.  As the years went by, the case got colder and colder.  After 100s of interviews and looking into all the suspects, the murderer was never caught.  Enter Geoffrey and Sarah who thought they might be able to use the modern age to open the case and find out what happened to these young women.  In 2021, they started a podcast about the murders and then wrote this book and still came up empty handed in the end.

This was an okay book.  I am glad I read it because my parents actually were at WVU as students in 1970.  I was curious about the case, and was hoping that because of the podcast and book that the murder was finally caught.  But he wasn't.  The book is a bit dry - delving deep into the ins and outs of the case, but more interesting than dull overall.  I am glad I read it even if the ending was not what I was hoping for (the murder being solved)

Stars: 3

Book: The Stand Graphic Novel: No Man's Land

 Book: The Stand Graphic Novel: No Man's Land

Author: Stephen King

Pages: 136

This is my 105th read for the year

Boulder Colorado is quickly becoming a home to those who have settled there.  The power is turned back on.  The people have started to clean up the town - burying all the dead and turning off all the appliances that were left on when the people died.  The leaders have chosen people who need to go west to spy on Randall Flagg and his crew.  Nadine approaches Harold to encourage him to follow his true self and come with her west to Randall.  But before they leave Boulder, they have one last task to perform.

This is the next to last book in this Graphic Novel series.  Still being well told through Graphic Novel form.

Stars: 4.5

Book: The Stand Graphic Novel: Hardcases

 Book: The Stand Graphic Novel: Hardcases

Author: Stephen King

Pages: 136

This is my 104th read for the year

The next installment in the The Stand Graphic Novel series.  Mother Abigail and her group have arrived in Colorado and are starting to organize.  They form a committee that will help make the rules for their new settlement.  Meanwhile - Randall Flaggs group is also gathering in Las Vegas.  The Trashcan Man has burned Gary Indiana to the ground, and is now on his way to Las Vegas to help Randall Flagg burn the whole world to the ground.

Another good Graphic Novel in this series.  

Stars: 4.5

Book: The Stand Graphic Novel: Soul Survivors

 Book: The Stand Graphic Novel: Soul Survivors

Author: Stephen King

Pages: 136

This is my 103rd read for the year

In the 3rd installment of The Stand Graphic Novel - we meet Tom Cullen.  A disabeled man that Nick comes across on his travels who he convinces to come along to see Mother Abigail.  People who have dreamed of Mother Abigail start to show up at her house in Nebraska and she tells them they must head west to Colorado.  Mother Abigail discusses how she is afraid of what Randall Flagg is up to and they are soon going to have to unite against him.  Meanwhile, Stu and Frannie realize they have feelings for each other which upsets Harold.  Larry meets Nadine Cross who, when Larry asks if she ever dreams of Mother Abigail, states she doesn't dream.

This was another good installation.  It didn't advance the story as much as I expected it to since there are only two more graphic novels.  I am wondering if it is going to start to skip ahead more.  But this one was again well written.

Stars: 4.5

Book: The Stand Graphic Novel Volume 2: American Nightmares

 Book: The Stand Graphic Novel Volume 2: American Nightmares

Author: Stephen King

Pages: 144\

This is my 102nd read for the year

The plague has wiped almost everyone out.  Stew Redman, Nick Andros, Larry Underwood, and Frannie Goldsmith start heading out to see if they can find answers.  But they are not the only ones looking for survivors.  Randall Flagg is starting to build his army.  He is starting by getting Lloyd out of jail.  Stew and his friends are having dreams of an old lady in a corn field and of a bad man who they fear.  Something is coming, and the sooner Stew, Nick, Larry and Frannie can find others to unite against Randall Flagg, the better.

This is the second installment of The Stand Graphic Novel series.  I liked it as much as the first.  They are quick reads, but nice to see one of my favorite books played out in graphic novel form.  Even though it is just touching the surface of the much deeper story, I don't find it is missing much with so much visual information.  Looking forward to the next one.

Stars: 4.5

The Stand Graphic Novel: Captain Trips

 Book: The Stand Graphic Novel: Captain Trips

Author: Stephen Kind

Pages: 160

This is my 101th read for the year

A accident at a secret army base in the desert has caused a plague that is killing people faster than anything that has ever been seen before.  eople think they have the flu and in a few days, they are dead.  There are some people, though, that aren't getting sick at all.  Stew Redman - one of the original people who was exposed - has never gotten sick and has been under observation at the base ever since.  Others - Like Larry and Nick and Frannie - are all burying those they love, but are not getting sick themselves.

Meanwhile - evil is waiting patiently in the shadows in the form of Randall Flagg.  As the world burns, Flagg is biding his time making his way to Las Vegas to meet those who will soon follow.

This is my favorite Stephen King novel, and when I saw they made a graphic novel version - I had to check it out.  I love seeing stories played out in art, and this one did not disappoint.  I am glad I read this one and look forward to completing all 5 graphic novels that make up the story.

Stars: 4.5

Book: The Country of the Blind

 Book: The Country of the Blind

Author: HG Wells

Pages: 30

This is my 100th read for the year

"In the country of the blind, the one eyed man is king".  Or so thinks a mountaineer named Nunez who stumbles upon a completely blind community living in the mountains.  He believes that he can overtake them since he is sighted, and quickly finds out that isn't the case.  Before Nunez got there, the valley where the blind townspeople live was completey cut off from everything else.  A disease had struck them early on in their settlement and over time, every new baby that was born was blind.  As Nunez falls into the community, and falls in love, he starts to doubt if he really needs to be sighted or he is truly the disadvantaged one.

This was a pretty good book.  And really short.  I always struggle with short novels - as you have heard me say many times in the past.  Always leave me wanting just a little bit more.  Just as I was getting into the story with Nunez and his acceptance of the Bind community, it abuptly ends.  I would have liked the story to go on a bit more to be satisfied.

Stars: 3.5