A colleague recommended this epic tome several years ago with high praise.  This book is a 900 page journey set in the wake of nuclear apocalypse.  It chronicles the experiences of several scattered characters across a wasteland America as they struggle to find others, to determine their destiny, and simply survive in arduous circumstances.  Robert McCammon weaves an intriguing and emotional tale that stirs the soul and creates deep bonds with the characters specifically the messianic Swan.  As a decent read I recommend this book with a 8 out of 10 rating with demerits mainly for the dragging mid-portion of the story.  However, given the length of the book this is somewhat expected as a start-to-finish action packed read at 900 pages is a little unrealistic.

What sticks with me most in the story is an after effect of the radiation as a result of the nuclear fallout.  The characters develop a grayscale growth on their faces that becomes quite burdensome with eventual occlusion of their vision and impacting of their faculties.  This monstrous mask eventually peels off and the true nature of the characters’ souls is revealed in their new visage.  The truly evil are left with skeleton manifestations, and the divine with angelic like features.

If only we could strip aside the superficial and evaluate people and products in a similar manner.

I recently had the opportunity to try two different beers.  One was Helltown’s Idle Hands double ipa.  The other was Conclusion by Pizza Boy.  I tend to think very highly of Pizza Boy’s product and am usually not disappointed.  However, back to back, I was given an abundant surprise.  Despite my belief in the pedigree of Pizza Boy, the Helltown beer was just vastly superior.  I wanted to believe in the brand.  Just knowing the beer was from Pizza Boy almost made me grant it a 8 out of 10.  But, I had to see it for what it really was, a poor beer.

Helltown Idle Hands DIPA(galaxy hops) – Crisp and fresh tasting with a sugary citrus tinge and a sweet delectable nose.  It’s hard to believe that this is a relatively new brewery as the quality of this beer rivals that of many established and prominent brewers.  I would put this head to head against Bells Hopslam, Avery’s Maharaja, and Green Flash Imperial. 8/10

Pizza Boy Conclusion – An American ipa that was devoid of hop flavor. Unfortunately hoppy flavor is what I expect from an American ipa.  This tasted rather yeasty and bready as opposed to the slight bitter and piney taste of my expectations.  I practically chugged the glass wanting desperately for the experience to be over.  Sad.  3/10

Humbly yours,

J