Wednesday is Library Day!- Strangers & Lifelines

I actually haven't read much lately... I've been hiding out in beads, TV, and solitaire. Actually easier to turn my brain off doing something other than reading right now. Weird.
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Strangers by Dean Koontz

From the cover: They were strangers. A handful of people. From different backgrounds, living in different towns and cities across America, they had nothing in common- except fear.
They were victims. Cold and stark, an unknown terror gripped their dreams and turned their days into living nightmares.
They were chosen. And they could not escape. Deep in the heart of a sprawling desert, a dark memory called out to them, drawing them to the Tranquility Motel- where the terrifying truth was waiting...


I enjoyed Strangers so much that I've read it a total of three times so far. I like the characters, the plot moves quickly, even though it is long (680 pages), and the various situations are compelling. I like the book very much.
The haunting horrible mystery that draws all of the people together. The intriguing memories. The paranormal powers. Friendships, love, a touch of romance. Good guys against bad guys. Yup, good story.



Lifelines by CJ Lyons

From the cover: July 1st- Transition Day. The most dangerous day of the year. The day staff at Pittsburgh's Angels of Mercy Medical Center brace themselves for the arrival of the cocky, untested new interns. It's also the first day for L.A.-transplant Lydia Fire, the new ER attending physician. Not a good day to lose a patient- especially not the chief of surgery's son. Now to save her career, Lydia must discover the truth behind her patient's death, even as it leads her into unfamiliar- and risky- territory.
At least she's not alone. There's med student Amanda, a sweet Southern belle with problems of her own; Gina, a resident with a chip on her shoulder; and Nor, the no-nonsense charge nurse with a cool head but a fiery temper. Not to mention the paramedic who'd like to try out his bedside manner on Lydia. These four women will learn to depend on each other in their fight to save lives- because everyone needs a lifeline...


I was disappointed with this book. Yes, the medical details are exacting and exciting. Yes, the plot moves. Yes, there's tons of stuff going on...
In fact, I thought there was too much going on. Too many characters- I got mixed up on a couple of them (specifically Amanda and Nora) and would have appreciated a little more clarification and differentiation between them- They seemed very similar to me.
Some of the story-line/plot bits got a little jumbled and turned around... There's a riot downtown and a bomb and a gunman and poisonings... And a bad guy, except he's a surgeon. And then the bad guy isn't the surgeon. And then there's two bombs... And one of the characters has tremors, and the other was raped, and one of the others has a bad childhood... Too much!
Anyway, the back of the book claims that it's about these women learning to depend on each other, but they don't. They rarely interact at all. In fact, during the biggest crisis they are all in different places and doing different things and not working together. I don't know that I read a single scene where all of the characters were in the same room...
I'd probably only give the book a C, but lots of other readers have loved it so I must be missing something. http://cjlyons.net/books/reviews/