Hello
happy readers! I hope everyone is
enjoying the start of the holidays. I
have started on my baking list, yes I need a list to bring some order to the
chaos that becomes my kitchen, and hope to have some type of order. That said I have managed to get some
audiobook time in and finish a couple books.
Today I'd like to talk about the first, The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer.
Rating: 4 Stars
I
have been curious about this book since it came out since Twilight got me back into reading again I will always be interested
in Meyer. That said I also really
enjoyed The Host and wish I could get
those other books that were promised when I first read it. Still even though I still want that I was
curious about this new book. It takes a
very different turn as it has no supernatural elements and is more spy / cat
and mouse type story. Alex, as she goes
by at the moment, used to work for the government but not many knew of her or
her work as she was the dark secret they kept under wraps. She was a chemist, the chemist really, able
to brake any subject without mutilation but with chemistry. She was the best, until they decided she was
a liability and tried to erase her. She
has spent the last few years on the run from the people she used to work for. Then one day her former handler offers her
one last job to clear the slate and the target off her back. Things are never easy though.
I
honestly went into the story not knowing much about it. I just dove right in and let the story
develop in front of me. I enjoyed
Alex. She was methodical to the point of
insanity at times but when you live on the run you have to be. I loved that she had learned what she could
from any source even farfetched spy books.
I understood her. She acts
tougher than she is because she has to and that is think most people can
connect with. Then as the story moves on
and we get introduced to other characters, predominantly Daniel and Kevin. While we don't get as much out of them as we
do Alex being in her head we do see more about
them as a whole and their struggles.
This
book is rather dark at times from the job she does and the crisp efficiency she
has at it or the many fights/chases/etc. that involve the body count constantly
rising. Some moments hit you in surprise
and hit you harder than you'd expect.
There is serious violence in this as well as things are not pretty by
any means. Still there was a balance and
Meyer found a way to bring in tender or humorous moments. The connections between people and what we
will do for them is something I always enjoy watching play out. What makes you want to run or fight. I enjoy seeing different takes on things like
this as its something we all think about when read/watching something
"what would I do" type thing.
The Chemist was like a spy movie you can
put on and enjoy anytime. It has lots of
everything going for it and was a pretty quick listen, possibly because one you
get listening you don't want to pause again until you hit a break in the
action. There is plenty to keep the
story moving along in both action and emotional content and the overall cat and
mouse espionage of it all. While it did
have some little things here and there that kind of pushed believability even
for a work of fiction at times it didn't hold me back to much and I still
enjoyed it overall.
Until
next time…
