Spelling the Month in Books: June

Jurassic Park

It took me several tries to get into Michael Crichton’s best-known work, I kept getting bogged down in some of the early science-y info dumps, but I had a couple of friends who kept insisting that I read it, so I kept trying and failing. Then, with just a month or so left before the movie was released, I forced myself to try again—and pushed ten or so pages further than I’d gotten before and read the rest in one sitting. Or maybe it took two—it was 1993, who knows? I just remember being captivated and loving every second of the rest of the book. It wasn’t like anything I’d read before. I do wonder what I’d think of it today, but not enough to take the time to try, the memory’s enough.

Uneasy Relations

Aaron J. Elkins’ Gideon Oliver series was one of the early “adult” mystery series that I got hooked on, so they’re always going to have a sentimental appeal to me. Thankfully, even without that, they’re clever little reads with characters that feel like old friends, so I’m always game for one. The setting for this one, Gibraltar, is the star for sure. Elkins is either very well-traveled or great at research (likely both) and is the rare kind of author I’d like to read travelogues by.

When I initially posted about this I said, in addition to the archeology the book features “some satirical takes on publishing, literary agents, and academics…Oh yeah, and the murder—there’s that. That was a good puzzle…The solution to the murder was a nice twist, and the Skeleton Detective was as clever as ever.”

The Name of the Wind

What is there to say about the novel that launched Patrick Rothfuss to Fantasy novelist stardom that hasn’t been said a million times? For me, it took very little time before I was in love with this book. I’ve read it three times—and even sought out a hardcover so I could use my paperback as a loaner (and then had to replace that when my first one wasn’t returned). I love the way Rothfuss uses words, I want to spend more time with every other character (except Ambrose, natch—cannot stand that guy). I’m familiar with—and even agree with—many of the criticisms of the book. And you know what? I don’t care because the overall impact of the book just works for me on levels I can’t express.

Yeah, I know, I know, I know—Rothfuss is as bad as/worse than Martin when it comes to needing to finish a series. But as much as I want to see how things wrap up here, I’ll be forever grateful I got to spend some time with this book—no matter what happens with the rest.

Evil Ways

This is the second novel in Justin Gustainis’ too-short series about an Occult investigator and his white witch consultant. Think Harry Dresden but split into two roles, just not as funny.

Evil Ways focuses on someone killing white witches around the country, and the FBI’s investigation into a series of child murders. From that grim and sober premise, the reader gets a wild and intense thriller about a ritual to bring Hell on Earth (literally).