Chuck Wending had to deliver. He didn't have a choice by to be better than the others. His website terribleminds became a landmark for writers-to-be over the last few years and his colorful but heartfelt and roadproofed writing advice showed to be more pragmatic and valuable than the pile of garbage advice usually available on the internet. He was in same position than Jack in the series LOST. He had to live up to his image of knight in shining armor. If BLACKBIRDS sucked, he would've had to find himself a job at a community college.
Fortunately for him and for us, BLACKBIRDS didn't suck. In fact, it was one of my favorite reads so far this year. Wendig's storytelling is second to none and as it takes most of the place in his novel, he doesn't neglect the stylistic aspect whatsoever. The short, sharp prose doesn't waste any words and the present tense gives the novel a sense of emergency that few other thrillers have. So really Chuck Wending is Jack Shephard, but with writing skills instead of a PhD in spinal surgery and a beard instead of daddy issues. You know what I mean.
THREE REASONS TO READ: BLACKBIRDS
2) This is the kind of books that will bring tweenies back to literature. See it as a bridge between Harry Potter and Elmore Leonard. You think movies are more involving than books? Think again. BLACKBIRDS is like being caught up in an amazing action movie for about eight to ten hours.
3) Admit it, you want to see for yourself if Chuck Wendig is the real deal or not and whether or not I'm a sellout blogger.
THREE TOPICS ABOUT: BLACKBIRDS
2) Would you say there is any kind of responsibility attached to the "gift" of seeing how people die?
3) Why do you think Miriam goes out of her way to save Louis, when she barely knows him?