Author: HCNewton Page 208 of 635

The Friday 56 for 2/10/23: A Man Named Doll by Jonathan Ames

On February 10, 2023

In Currently Reading, News/Misc., Quotations, The Friday 56

This is a weekly bloghop hosted by Freda’s Voice.

RULES:
The Friday 56 Grab a book, any book.
Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your ereader. If you have to improvise, that is okay.
Find a snippet, short and sweet.
Post it.

from Page 56 of:
A Man Named Doll

A Man Named Doll by Jonathan Ames

I went back inside and looked at the blood trail some more. Someone had dragged blondie from the table to the elevator and up to the sixth floor, and then for some reason had left him there and taken off.

Or, alternatively, that person was somewhere inside, hiding, and not making themselves known.

So I had a dilemma: Should I search the whole house? Or should I go home immediately and call the cops and tell them everything? Every stupid thing I had done?

I decided to search the house.

A Few Quick Questions with…Troy Lambert

By HCNewton

On February 9, 2023

In A Few Quick Questions With..., Dogs, Fiction, Literary Locals, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

A couple of hours ago, I posted about Lambert’s novel, Harvested, the first of a series I know I’m coming back to soon. Now, I have the chance to get some more information about him and the book in this Q&A. He’ll be back in a couple of weeks for a Q&A about writing in Idaho as part of the Literary Locals series—be sure you come back for that.

All authors have more ideas running around in their head than they can possibly develop—what was it about this idea that made you commit to writing it? Also, what was the starting point for this book? Was it the story about the missing dogs or the ongoing story (I’m being deliberately vague here) that required you to invent Max, or did you have Max and need to figure out some stories to put him in? Or is that kind of answer impossible—and you got the whole ball of wax at once?
So the idea of Max as a character came first, although the idea for the plot came shortly after. The idea of missing dogs appealed to me in a lot of ways, and I saw the twist in my head after only a little research, and it kinda all came together after that.

The same was true for Teaching Moments, although in that case the idea for the killer came to me first, and then I worked it into the Max series. The next book in that series is much the same, although I think the main villain in that case is even worse. That one will be out late this year or early next.

Multiple authors have talked about the unbreakable rule even in Crime Fiction is “you don’t kill the dog (or other pets).” But you not only kill some, but threaten several more. Did you think much about the danger inherent in this plot? What compelled you to go forward with it? Or was that danger what drew you into it?
So that is often a “rule” but I think it is all in how you handle it. The dogs for me are just like people in this book: they are valuable characters, and they are even heroic at times (no spoilers, of course)

And the story of dogs continues in Teaching Moments as one of them becomes Max’s partner throughout. Of course, a lot of my other work features dogs as well, and that is because I love them, and can’t help myself when it comes to casting them in books.

Supporting characters really make or break a book for me more than the protagonist does. Dr. Gamble is a great example of that—she was such a fun character. When she was introduced, I really didn’t expect much of her, she seemed like a typical “generic subject matter expert to help the PI get to the next step” that we’re all used to seeing, but you really fleshed her out and made her a big part of the story. Was that the idea all along, or did you just enjoy her so much that you changed her role?
So I liked her from the start. She was a favorite character who came to me pretty fleshed out. I think supporting characters are key to a good story: they produce conflict, tension, but also from time to time just some pleasant relief to that tension. I think she serves all those roles in this story, and she may play additional roles in the series going forward, even becoming more of a key character in Book 5, but that is down the road a bit.

Who are some of your major influences? (whether or not you think those influences can be seen in your work—you know they’re there)
There are several. I would say that Stephen King and Dean Koontz top the list, at least for writing style and in some cases subject matter. They’re also both inspiring on a personal level. But there are certainly others: Lee Child, Vincent Zandri (a good friend now) and others.

Let’s play “Online Bookstore Algorithm” (a game I made up for these Q&As). What are 3-5 books whose readers may like Harvested?
Ha! A fun game. L.T. Ryan readers, stories like Unmasked and that series, Brad Lee, A Team of One, anything in the Chase Baker series by Vincent Zandri, and the Finding Reacher series by Diane Capri.

Your Amazon Author Page lists a lot of titles—you’ve been a busy man for the last decade or so. What is it about storytelling/writing that keeps it fresh for you? Is this a compulsion to keep going, or is it more pleasure?
That’s a two part answer: it is a compulsion, yes, in some ways. But it is also pleasure. I love telling stories, and plan to do it until I just can’t any more. I hope that day is a long way in the future. I don’t ever plan to retire, and there are so many more titles coming out even just this year. I can’t wait to see what I come up with next.

In somewhat of a related question, what’s next for Troy Lambert, author? Also, are there more Max Boucher books to come, or is it a duology? (I largely ask for myself, so I’m in the right frame of mind before I start the next)
So there is another book in the Capital City Murders, and one that signals a major change in the series story, coming in April. Right now there are at least three more Max books planned along with a novella that will be out this year as well, and a new series coming sometime either later this year or the first part of next.

There will be a couple of anthologies and story collections coming, and even a book of poetry at some point. So stay tuned!

Thanks for your time—and thanks for Max Boucher, he’s the kind of PI that the Northwest needs more of (at least in fiction).
You bet. Thanks for having me.

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Harvested by Troy Lambert: A Man Bites Dog P.I. Novel

By HCNewton

On February 9, 2023

In Dogs, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

This is part of my Literary Locals series. Be sure to come back this afternoon for a Q&A with the author about this book—and in a couple of weeks to see his thoughts on writing in Idaho.

Harvested

by Troy Lambert

DETAILS:
Series: Max Boucher Mysteries, #1
Publisher: Unbound Media
Publication Date: March 15, 2019
Format: Paperback
Length: 247 pg.
Read Date: January 2-3, 2023

What’s Harvested About?

Max Boucher is a P.I. in Seattle. Like a good (fictional) P.I., he spends a lot of time drinking. He spends most of the rest of his time working just to make ends meet. He really wants to devote his time to looking for whoever murdered his daughter, killed his dog, and either kidnapped or murdered his wife. He—and his former colleagues in the Seattle PD—have followed every lead they have, but he’d spend all of his life going back over the evidence time and time again if he could.

Now, he’s taken on a case—he takes on every case that comes his way—that takes him back to his old neighborhood. The dog park that he and his family used to go to, in fact. There’s a rash of dognappings in the area, and owners have come together to hire him to find their canine friends. The police can/will only do so much, but Max can devote more time to it.

It doesn’t take long for things to get hairy—there’s a connection to a Korean mob boss. Some of the dogs start reappearing—with strange injuries. And it turns out that this has been happening all over Seattle for some time. Max isn’t sure what he’s gotten himself into, but it’s about a lot more than missing poodles.

Supporting Characters

Obviously, you’ve got to have a compelling P.I. in a book like this—and a good hook for the story. That’s what the reader comes for, and the writer had better deliver. A plausible villain, is important, too—but the others can overcome an iffy one. But what will really make a P.I. novel work is the supporting characters—the cop buddies/frenemies/rival (depending on the series), the client, the witnesses, and so on.

Lambert nails this throughout the book. I like Boucher and want to see more of him, but I enjoyed some of the side characters more than him. There’s a friendly and helpful veterinarian who could probably carry a cozy mystery series on her own—and I would buy six of those tomorrow if they existed.

There’s a guy who details Max’s car (he’s got an older car that’s his pride and joy)—which is something definitely called upon when your case involves carrying injured dogs (and injured detectives) around. If Eddie shows up for a scene or two in every book in the series, you can color me pleased. I’m not even sure why—I also don’t care much, I just liked him.

I’m not going to say I enjoyed the Korean mob boss* in the same way I did those two. But the scenes with him are some of the most intense in the novel.

* Ahem. Suspected boss, of a mob that may not even exist.

I could go on for a few more—I don’t remember exactly my point when I started this section, other than to rave about Dr. Gamble and Eddie. But I guess that I just want to stress that Lambert gives us more than a solid P.I. He knows how to give the reader characters to invest in and care about—even if only for a page or two.

Beware of (Hurt) Dogs

* (yeah, that’s a lame section title—but it’s better than “It’s a Dog Eat Dog Book” with the implied cannibalism)

I know I have readers who will be antsy about this book—we’re talking about kidnapped and injured dogs here (there’s a reason I have a recurring post about books about dogs who live). And for those who cannot take violence toward animals, this is a book to avoid.

I will say, however, almost all of the violence happens “off-screen”—you see very little of it on the page. And what you see on the page isn’t that bad (up until the climactic bit at the end, but the violence there is spread amongst characters with two and four legs (and the two-legged ones get the worst of it).

The point of this book is Boucher investigating the kidnappings, stopping them by getting to the bottom of things and rescuing as many dogs as he can. So if you’re on the fence, you can hold on to that.

So, what did I think about Harvested?

This was a good read. Lambert delivered in every way I wanted a book like this to—solid plot, unique case, great character work, and a pace that keeps you turning the pages long past the time you should put the book down for sleep or chores. I’d recommend this just for the (relative) novelty of a Seattle P.I.—mid-sized US cities need to be the setting of more P.I. novels. The book delivers on everything it promises and gives you an open (and welcome) invitation to come back for another. I know I’m accepting that invitation.

Oh—minor spoiler—by the end, one of the kidnapped dogs can’t be matched with an owner and ends up staying with Max. So you know I have to come back, just for more of him.

I’d have come back anyway—I want to see how Max moves on from this point in general. I’m quite curious about the clues he discovered regarding his wife’s case, too. I’m assuming (and really don’t want to know the truth until I’m into the next book) that book 2 will advance the investigation into his wife’s kidnapping while Max and his new partner dive into another stand-alone case—and we’ll continue that way for a while. That sounds like a great time to me. Grab this one—the second book is out now, you might as well grab it, too. You’ll have fun.

3.5 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
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Book Blogger Hop: Favorite Childhood Genre

By HCNewton

On February 8, 2023

In Book Blogger Hop, Books, News/Misc.

Book Blogger Hop

This prompt was submitted by Mark @ Carstairs Considers:

What was your favorite genre to read as a child? Do you still read that genre, or do you read something else now?

My reading tastes have been called “immature” and “popular” (as in for the hoi polloi, not as in well-known—a glance at my blog stats tells me that on a daily basis), so it will come as no surprise to many of you that my tastes as a child mirror my tastes now. I had a lot of fun, actually, over the last couple of days thinking about this question before finding time to sit down and answer this. There are actually a lot of precursors to what I read today in what I read as a child. I was tempted to sit down and look at a good number of those in this post, but that wouldn’t really be answering the question. Also, that’d end up taking me longer than I want to/can afford to spend on this post. Hopefully, I get around to writing it down—if only for my sake, I’d really like to work out some of this.

Anyway—my favorite genre as a child? Mystery/Detective novels. Leroy “Encyclopedia” Brown and Sally Kimball; Jupiter Jones, Pete Crenshaw, Bob Andrews (The Three Investigators); Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny Alden (the Boxcar Children); the Sugar Creek Gang (particularly when they were solving a mystery—loosely defined); Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson; whatever Ellen Raskin novels that I could get my hands on. Those were my almost constant companions, those stories were my bread and butter. There were others, too, but the names of the authors didn’t stick for whatever reason (I can picture some covers, but, that’s about it). Possibly because I didn’t re-read those authors with the frequency I re-read those.

Essentially, if the library book had a yellow sticker depicting a figure in a Fedora and Overcoat or a white sticker with a fingerprint and a magnifying lens on it—I read it. And likely re-read it. I know in my weekly trips to the library (4-5x a week during the summer), I’d often just wander the shelves looking for those stickers. I read a lot of dross because of that (arguably some of what I listed above fits). Oddly, I never clicked with the Hardy Boys, and bowed to social pressure to never give Nancy Drew a chance (I still regret that).

Anyway—do I still read that genre? Oh, yeah. Anyone who’s read more than 2 posts on this site probably knows that. I’ve mentioned before, that I pretty much realized I was a reader who always needed a book around while reading Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective (although I was pretty voracious before that, I just realize it). Maybe that’s where my brain got wired that way (although I vaguely recall a couple of other detective-ish books before that), but to this day, Mystery/Detective/Crime Fiction is my default genre. I guess I’m still that kid in the backseat of my parents’ station wagon watching Encyclopedia and Sally triumph over Bugs Meany and the rest or wandering the stacks at the Payette Public Library looking for those yellow or white stickers.

And you? Have your tastes shifted?

WWW Wednesday, February 8, 2023

By HCNewton

On February 8, 2023

In Books, Currently Reading, News/Misc., WWW Wednesday

Last week, the way I phrased things made it seem like I was slogging my way through The Hero Interviews—I’m not. I’m working through it slowly while I do other things. A long book + multitasking= it takes a bit to get through, that’s all.

With that little bit of housekeeping, let’s move on to this week’s WWW Wednesday.

This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words—and shown to me by Aurore-Anne-Chehoke at Diary-of-a-black-city-girl.

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Easy enough, right?

What are you currently reading?

I’m about to finish the very amusing The Hero Interviews by Andi Ewington and the ARC for Scratching the Flint by Vern Smith (a book answering the question why shouldn’t Toronto have noir?). I also am listening to Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz, narrated by Samantha Bond, Allan Corduner on audiobook.

Blank Space

What did you recently finish reading?

I just finished Josef Matulich’s The Silk Empress and Underground by Kat Richardson, Mia Barron (Narrator) on audio.

The Silk Empress Blank Space Underground

What do you think you’ll read next?

My next book should be the next book in The Azure Archipelago trilogy, The Foundling, the Heist, and the Volcano by K. R. R. Lockhaven. My next audiobook should be more madcapery with Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano, Angela Dawe.

Blank Space

Are you reading anything good?

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Sacrifice by Vicky Walklate

By HCNewton

On February 8, 2023

In Book Tour, Fantasy, Fiction

I’m very pleased today to welcome and help kick-off The Write Reads Blog Tour for Vicky Walklate’s Sacrifice. I’m a couple of days late with this–the email slipped by me. Better late than never, right? (no, not really). Be sure to watch https://twitter.com/WriteReadsTours over the next few days to see a lot of bloggers write interesting things about it. Sacrifice was a finalist for the 2022 Book Blogger’s Novel of the Year Award, so you know there’s a lot of good to be said about it–but let’s start with a word about BBNYA.

BBNYA:

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists and one overall winner. If you are an author and wish to learn more about the BBNYA competition, you can visit the official website http://www.bbnya.com or Twitter @bbnya_official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

Book Details:

Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: Champagne Book Group
Release date: June 14, 2021
Format: Paperback/Ebook
Length: 238 pages

About the Book:

Dragon gods rule the realm, demons lurk in the shadows, and a sorcerer hides a dangerous secret. A war is brewing in Jothesia, and the gods have no idea.

Being selected as human sacrifice to the immortal dragon shifters is supposedly an honor, but rebellious Libby doesn’t see it that way. When the sacrificial ritual goes badly wrong, she finds herself in a reluctant alliance with eldest god Rhetahn. He’s grumpy, cynical, and utterly exasperating …and she can’t get him out of her head.

Rhetahn knows there’s something wrong with this sacrifice, and it’s not just her infuriating stubbornness or the way she makes his jaded heart skip a beat. When terrible misfortune befalls his brothers and renders him powerless, his only choice is to unite with Libby to seek answers.

As they set out on a dangerous quest across the realm, the compelling attraction between them is undeniable, yet doomed. To recover his magic, regain his strength, and prevent the demons from seizing power, Rhetahn needs her blood. He must kill her at the end of their journey, even if it breaks his heart to do so.

But a terrible power lies hidden in Jothesia, one that could destroy everything the gods have built. Libby and Rhetahn’s forbidden relationship may be the realm’s only hope against utter ruin.

Book Links:

Amazon.ca ~ Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Goodreads

About the Author:

Vicky is a romance, fantasy and historical fiction author from Norfolk, UK. Along with Sacrifice, she also published a monster romance novella last year, and her latest book, a Regency mystery with romantic elements, is out now.

When she’s not writing she transforms into a giant bookworm, eagerly devouring books of all kinds, especially romance.

My thanks to The Write Reads for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials they provided.

The Night Watch by Neil Lancaster: Lancaster Just Keeps Getting Better and Better

By HCNewton

On February 7, 2023

In Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

The Night Watch

by Neil Lancaster

DETAILS:
Series: DS Max Craigie Scottish Crime Thrillers, #3
Publisher: HQ Digital
Publication Date: September 8, 2022
Format: eBook
Length: 461 pg.
Read Date: January 9-10

Being alive is dull, being dead is tedious. The transition is what counts. Watching him die made me feel more alive than I could ever describe to anyone.

What’s The Night Watch About?

After a high-profile trial, a drug dealer walks free. He and his lawyer go separate ways to celebrate and are both soon dead. Theoretically, the lawyer’s death wasn’t suspicious, but the dealer was clearly murdered. The coincidence is too much for Max and his team to believe—and they soon find the evidence to back that up. The two of them killed near the same time? That smells like a vigilante.

These weren’t the vigilante’s first two victims either. A tip from an oddly cooperative reporter puts them on the right track—the victims appear to all be connected with the same investigative team. A vigilante cop is the last thing that Craigie and the rest want to imagine—but now they have to stop the killer before they strike again.

The Killer’s POV

I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned a time or twelve that I rarely find chapters from the Killer’s POV in a Detective/Procedural novel to be that effective. I figure I’m in the minority on this point—if only because authors keep using them. And after the first one in this book, I made the note, “Did we need this? Did it add anything?” and it took a while before I saw Lancaster’s point with them in this one.

But note “it took a while,” by the end—I saw (at least most of) what Lancaster was doing with these moments from the Killer’s POV. Not only did I understand the point, but I appreciated what he did with them.

So, what did I think about The Night Watch?

I’m tempted to just copy and paste what I said about the last Max Craigie book, The Blood Tide—it all fits, once I swap out the titles. The Blood Tide was a noticeable growth over everything Lancaster had written before, and The Night Watch is even better.

Some procedurals are about figuring out who did what, and some are about figuring out how to prove they did it—or apprehending them before they do something else. This is about all of those. But—like the others in this series—it’s also about the toll paid by those involved in stopping the killing.

There’s some good character development with all the characters—not just our protagonist. Although most of it is happening between novels, and we just get to see the effects—I really like that style, it’s so much easier to buy than growth in the middle of one case that takes place over a limited time.

The Night Watch had some very effective twists, some great reveals, and some genuine surprises. Yeah, I identified the killer right away—but Lancaster fooled me and I abandoned the idea—and I just love that. As always, Lancaster knows how to keep the reader turning pages because you just have to know what happens next. Basically, this is exactly what I’m looking for in a police procedural.

Wholly satisfying and it just made me more eager for the next DS Craigie book.

4 Stars

LITERARY LOCALS: A Q&A About Writing in Idaho with Danielle Higley

By HCNewton

On February 7, 2023

In A Few Quick Questions With..., Literary Locals

Literary Locals logo
Back before this series had a name, I posted about Danielle Higley’s book (described below) and she participated in a nice Q&A about it. Now, I’ve got her back to talk about writing in Idaho. I can’t recommend her book enough and I think she gave some great answers below. Hope you enjoy!

Before we get into things, why don’t you give the reader a brief introduction to you and your work.
Sure! I’m Danielle Higley, author of The Stories Behind the Stories: The Remarkable True Tales Behind Your Favorite Children’s Books” rel=”noopener” target=”_blank”>The Stories Behind the Stories: The Remarkable True Tales Behind Your Favorite Children’s Books.

It’s a nonfiction collection of backstories that details how books like Charlotte’s Web, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and even Captain Underpants came to be. In 2022, it was selected by the Idaho Center for the Book—an affiliate of the Library of Congress—to represent Idaho at the National Book Festival. Since then, I’ve done some public speaking engagements, school visits, and local events to help promote the book. I’ve also been learning how to promote myself as an author and reader online, so if anyone is interested in finding me, you can do so on Instagram at @bookishinboise.

Are you a native Idahoan? What is it about Idaho that keeps you here?
I’m as close to being a native Idahoan as you can get without getting your eye wet. My family moved to Boise from Arizona when I was five, and my parents actually still live in the house I grew up in. I left Idaho a couple times in my 20s—twice for internships and once for fun—and I came back loving Idaho all the more.

To me, Idaho is the stuff of love notes. [IR: That’s such a great line!] It’s beautiful and generous; bountiful with mountains, wildlife, and opportunities to explore the outdoors. I grew up near the foothills, where people spent long minutes waving one another forward at a three-way stop. We borrowed sugar from our neighbors and traded vegetables across the fence.

Idaho is changing. We’re proud of our state, and rightly so. But I hope we always keep our kindness, our welcoming hearts, and our neighborly compassion. More than our simple freeways, our four colorful seasons, our ski resorts, and our beautiful downtown, it’s the culture that keeps me close.

Are you tied into some sort of local author/bookish group/culture? If so, tell us about it and how it helps you as an author.
Boise has several great groups for authors and book lovers. My favorite group is the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), which has a local chapter that meets monthly. Since I write almost exclusively for kids, it’s a good fit for me. I’ve also done some events with the Idaho Writers’ Guild and found that group to be welcoming and well-established.

If you’re a local writer, I’d encourage you to consider joining such a group for several reasons: First, there’s the community aspect. Writers are solitary workers, but the revision process requires us to bring in other perspectives to see where we can improve. Getting input from fellow writers can help uncover plot holes, inaccuracies, and inconsistencies.

Second is the education component. Writing groups often offer conferences and other literary events that can help writers and illustrators hone their craft. Such events sometimes also bring in publishing professionals and, for a fee, you may be able to show your work to an agent or editor who could offer you a contract.

What kind of events in the area do you attend—either to sell/promote your books or to network with authors? Are there any outside of this area that you hit regularly and wish we had something like it here?
Last year (in 2022), I attended the first-ever Idaho Books and Brews event, which brought together local authors and local breweries—seriously, what a genius marketing idea that was! I also attended a local author’s event at the Eagle Public Library. Other than that, you can sometimes find me at Rediscovered Books—either the Boise or Caldwell location—and I try to attend any school that wants to have me for an author’s event.

I missed the Books and Brews event (and doing so led to this series!). What was that experience like?
It was great! Basically, the space was divided in two—local authors and their books along the outside edge, and a bunch of local breweries in the middle. Attendees could buy tokens to be exchanged for books or beer. The beer was served in small glasses, perfect for tasting a variety of flavors. The best part, I think, was that authors had plenty of time to talk to readers and sign books.

I hope it does become an annual thing. If so, I definitely plan to attend again.

What’s the breakdown of your audience—do you have a strong local base, or are your readers from other parts of the world?
That’s a great question! I do get messages sometimes from readers, librarians, and booksellers around the country, but most of the people I’ve talked to about my book have been local.

I’m fortunate to have found a really wonderful partnership with Rediscovered Books in Boise, and they’ve supported me by including my book at events and putting it on display in prominent spots in their store. My book doesn’t have a huge marketing budget behind it—Bushel & Peck is a small, independent publisher—so having that kind of attention from a bookseller has made all the difference. I’m truly grateful.
It’s hard to say enough good things about Rediscovered, isn’t it? (incidentally, my copy was on a big display there before it was on my shelf). I’ve imagined the experience as an author would be good—it’s great (and dangerous to the checking account) for the reader.

Do you think there are particular challenges or advantages to being a writer in the Treasure Valley? (possibly both)
People always say “write what you know,” but what we know is a culmination of our life experiences, opportunities, and surroundings. To me, that makes my challenges and advantages one and the same.

Do you bring Idaho (or some sort of Idaho-sensibility, assuming one exists) to your work? Whether or not anyone else sees it, can you look at some aspect of your writing and think “That’s Idaho” or “I would do ____ differently if I was a Kentuckian or from Illinois?”
Hmm… I definitely picture my books in Idaho when I write fiction. Strolling my childhood sidewalks, marching the practice field of my high school, walking along the canal behind my parents’ house. I suspect others could point out my Idaho-isms better than I could, as I’m often guilty of being blind to my own assumptions and generalizations.

One final question, is there a book (or two…or 18, if you get really carried away), that embodies Idaho/the Idaho spirit to you to recommend to my readers?
There’s a really beautiful picture book that just came out and made me think of the Idaho pioneering and family spirit. It’s called Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall, and it’s absolutely gorgeous.

For YA, I’d say All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. My mom and I once made a tour of unique Idaho landmarks, including Balance Rock, Soda Springs, and Hagerman (home of the Hagerman horse fossil). That sort of “explore your own backyard spirit” is a cornerstone of that book.

For adult fiction, The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes comes to mind. Once upon a time, before there was a library in Garden City, my mom and I would visit our local bookmobile to check out new reading material each week. Not exactly books in saddlebags delivered on horseback, but that sounds quite “Idaho” as well.

And lastly, for nonfiction readers I really must mention The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of the Donner Party by Daniel James Brown. Had they taken the conventional path through Idaho, the Donner party might have escaped their terrible fate. As it was, we know what happened, and unfortunately I have to admit that had I been a pioneer in their shoes, I absolutely would have opted to take the shortcut…
Wow…this is a great (and thorough) list. My TBR is bigger!

Thanks for your time and participation! Hope you enjoyed it!

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On the Savage Side by Tiffany McDaniel: A Funeral for Dreams

By HCNewton

On February 6, 2023

In Fiction, General Fiction/Literature

On the Savage Side

by Tiffany McDaniel

DETAILS:
Publisher: Knopf
Publication Date: February 14, 2023
Format: eARC
Length: 464 pg.
Read Date: January 23-31, 2023

So, you can tell from the title of this post, that this is not a happy tale. The other big hint along those lines is the author’s name. I’m sure that Tiffany McDaniel is perfectly capable of writing a fun romp of a novel—I just have no evidence that she’s interested in doing so.

When you do see her name on a cover, you know a few things going in—the book is going to feature some sort of childhood trauma; the beautifully stylized dialogue (that doesn’t even pretend to be realistic); and prose that can only be described as gorgeous.

Everything else may differ from book to book, but the above are pretty much a given at this point.

What’s On the Savage Side About?

We meet 6-year-old twin sisters Arc and Daffy on the day their father died. Believe it or not, this is likely the best their life is going to be for the rest of this book. They spend most of their childhood in a home with their mother and aunt (I’m very carefully not saying they were raised by their mother and aunt), prostitutes who spend what little money they have on drugs—heroin, primarily. There are brief periods where the children are taken care of by their grandmother—who is kind, loving, and able to take care of them—but those are brief.

We see them age—struggling to separate themselves from their mother and aunt, and eventually following in their footsteps in addiction and profession. As adults, Arc’s focus is her (more fragile) sister’s safety and well-being. It’s because of Daffy that she finds a rehab facility, there’s a (probable) serial killer out there leaving women’s bodies in the river, and Arc is determined to not let Daffy become the next. Hopefully, she can prevent her friends from being the next, too.

Interspersed with chapters describing their lives (with some time jumping involved), we get some selections from their mother’s diary—back when she was capable of keeping one. We see her struggle with addiction and knowing the danger she poses to her daughters (and I was so glad when the book gave us that—it was the first maternal action I saw from her, but we didn’t get to see it for a long time).

We also get chapters describing the point-of-view of the river that flows near their town. How it reacts to being where the bodies of women are discarded, along with its thoughts on other things as well. It’s these chapters—particularly early on—that give the novel its depth and perspective. It feels to me like those chapters are McDaniels speaking with the least amount of artifice. The river feels like her voice unfiltered through the devices she uses the rest of the time.

Chillicothe, Ohio

Until I started this book, I knew Chillicothe, Ohio as the birthplace of Archie Goodwin of Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe books. I half-assumed it was a fictional location, and never bothered to look it up. Now I know that it exists, and I’m going to have a hard time reestablishing the positive associations I had with the name. It feels like a great place to be from, not a great place to be. I’m sure that it’s a perfectly fine place in reality, but the small city does not come across very well in these pages.

So, what did I think about On the Savage Side?

This was just a brutal read. Every time you get a glimmer of hope, a glimmer of a feeling that things might be okay for some of these characters—something snuffs it out. But there’s another source right around the corner. But, to go back to that line from the novel I borrowed above—the book is full of funerals for dreams.

But there’s beauty in the darkness. And a drive to keep persevering shared by the reader and the characters. I wondered more than once why some of them kept trying—but they did. The mother of one of Arc’s adult friends is a strong vision of enduring love and hope—she’s always ready to help her daughter no matter how tight the grip of addiction is on her at the time. She’s always trying, always striving to give her daughter the care she needs—even when (especially when) there’s no reason to think it’ll do any good.

I mentioned a serial killer above—it’s not a serial killer novel, though. It’s a novel about the women that may be his target and their fears about it. But people looking for a Thomas Harris read will be disappointed. Actually, people looking for most things you find in typical novels will be disappointed. Many of the looming questions in our characters’ lives are left unanswered. But you don’t walk away frustrated that you don’t get the answers like you would from other novels—because we’re given answers to questions we never thought to ask. Some of those are more important, too.

Like always, Tiffany McDaniels delivered a book that’s going to stay in my subconscious for a while—lurking there, making me rethink what I read from time to time. It’ll probably stay there until her next novel comes along (Betty‘s been there for a couple of years, and really only was dislodged by this one—and The Summer that Melted Everything is still there all these years later). It’s somber, it’s sober, and it’s difficult to read. But it’s so worth it in ways I cannot adequately explain. It’ll make you think. It’ll make you feel.

I’m having a hard time articulating exactly why you should read this without getting into the details—if you’ve read McDaniels before, you know what I’m saying. If you haven’t—it’s time to.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Knopf via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this.

4 1/2 Stars

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The Nature and Work of the Holy Spirit by Ra McLaughlin: A Broad and Capable Introduction to the Holy Spirit

By HCNewton

On February 5, 2023

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

The Nature and Work of the Holy Spirit

by Ra McLaughlin

DETAILS:
Series: Christian Essentials 
Publisher: P & R Publishing
Publication Date: April 26, 2022
Format: Paperback
Length: 153 pg.
Read Date: January 29, 2023

What’s The Nature and Work of the Holy Spirit About?

As I said about the second volume of the Christian Essentials series, one of its advantages is that I can largely recycle what I said about the others.

This is a basic and broad introduction to Pneumatology—the doctrine of the Holy Spirit from a broadly Evangelical perspective. There’s a good mix of foundational theology and application of it to the Church and the individual believer. The book is adapted from curriculum using language that’s easy to translate—particularly into languages that don’t have a well-developed theological vocabulary—so the English is kept basic, too. There’s almost no academic or technical theological language used, and those that are used are well-defined (including in a handy glossary).

The chapters are short (most around fifteen pages) and well-organized. Each contains a handful of side-bars consisting of a paragraph or two with the contents of interviews with pastors and theologians on the topic under discussion. These interviews were with people from a variety of theological perspectives helping broaden the text so that it’s not exclusively from a reformed perspective.

The Organization of the Work

One thing that really jumped out at me while reading this book is that it wasn’t organized the same way as similar works are—which is refreshing because you get tired after a while of reading remixes on a topic. But mostly refreshing because I thought this was a really good way to approach the subject.

We start with the role of—and revelation of—the Spirit as a member of the Trinity—as seen in the Old Testament, then the New, and then as it was worked out in Church History. Those are three quick chapters that should probably be longer but did the job for the scope of this book.

Then we get chapters dealing with the Spirit’s work in the world—providence, creation, revelation, and common grace. Followed by His work in the Church—through special revelation, covenant grace, and gifts. The last two chapters focus on His work in individual believers—in conversion and sanctification.

So, what did I think about The Nature and Work of the Holy Spirit?

Solid teaching, an effective and helpful organization, all in all, a good book.

Like the rest of this series—the big problem with this book is that it works so hard to not take a particular position that it gives a watered-down presentation on areas of controversy. If they’d only taken a firm stance on (for example) cessationism, and then went on to give a fair presentation of non-cessationist views, that’d be different. Instead, we’re given descriptions of the views written in a way to explain them, but with the aim to avoid particulars and the offense they may carry—and really leads to it being almost useless.

When it’s not discussing intra-mural debates or disagreements, it’s a very useful and helpful work (like the other two books in this series). It’s good on the essentials—although exactly how “essential” is defined might be quibbled with.

For the series, I think this might have been the strongest entry. For just an introduction to the doctrine of the Spirit, it’s a pretty solid one. There are better books about Him and the theology surrounding Him, sure—but they’re of a nature and depth that this doesn’t want to achieve. Like the rest, I’d happily pass this volume on to someone who is just getting their feet wet.

3.5 Stars

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