Author: HCNewton Page 325 of 610

Top 5 Tuesday – Top 5 books where something went wrong

On August 4, 2020

Top 5 Tuesday has a new host, and a new slate of topics—I think I can have some fun with these next few.

This week’s topic is, “Top 5 books where something went wrong.” Now, really, what story doesn’t involve something going wrong?* At best, it’s a book about something that went wrong before it started and the protagonists are trying to set it right, or at least make things better. But pretty much every book focuses on things going wrong. It’s just a matter of how often and how wrong things go. Still, when you read the topic, you have a pretty good idea what’s meant, right?

This was a hard list to whittle down—a Top 15 would’ve been easier than Top 5, but I think I’ve got a good, eclectic, group. To make things a little more challenging for myself, I didn’t choose any book I’ve read this year (that also will prevent recency bias). Shall we see what I came up with?

* I’m tempted to make a theological point here, but I’ll restrain myself.

	The Freedom Broker by K. J. Howe I’m not sure why, this one was the second title that jumped to mind when I started thinking about the topic. I remembered few of the details without my post to jog my memory. But it works pretty well, Thea Paris is in private security, with a specialty in K&R (Kidnapping and Ransom)—both the negotiation side, and (when that fails) the rescue teams. She’s one of the best around. Until her super-rich father is kidnapped, and everything starts going wrong. I described Howe’s writing as: an “everything including the kitchen sink” approach to story telling—the number of things that go wrong during Thea’s search for her father, and the number of opponents and obstacles in her way is seemingly endless. I love it, every time you think she’s on a roll and things are going to start going her way, a problem that the reader should’ve seen coming (but almost never does) shows up to derail things again.
	All Our Wrong Todays by Elan Mastai Since I read this book, it may be the one I’ve most frequently recommended to people who ask for a recommendation. 2016 is the future that 1950’s Sci-Fi promised, peace, prosperity, flying cars, all that. Until the day the first time machine was turned on and something went wrong. History was re-written and what resulted is the (relative) dystopia that was 2016 (who knows what Mastai would’ve had his protagonist think of 2020). The only person that knew this was the first time traveler. What happens next is a series of attempts—and failures, so, so many failures—to restore the timeline. It’s such a great read. I should probably schedule a re-read, come to think of it. (My original post about the book)
	Mechanical Failure by Joe Zieja It’s right there in the title, right? Any of the Epic Failure trilogy would’ve fit, but the first seems to feature more failures—from the Droid who can’t swear to the retired engineer who tried to be a pirate—and his failure ended up getting him re-enlisted and promoted, and promoted and promoted again after repeated failures. People are assigned to the wrong stations on board the (appropriately named) Flagship, every device malfunctions, battle droids don’t function appropriately, and so on. (My original post about the book)
	The Cartel by Don Winslow What doesn’t go wrong in this book? You’ve got a prisonbreak, freeing the head of the biggest Cartel in Mexico—if only so he can wage war to stay the largest. You’ve got corruption at every level of the War on Drugs (on both sides of the border). You have new gangs rising to prominence, mostly due to bloodshed. You have more and more money coming into the cartels and more competition for that money. You have journalists, politicians, doctors, cops trying to do the right thing and being hunted, shot, and/or killed for it. I can’t think of anything that goes right in this book—at least not for very long.
	The Martian by Andy Weir Mark Watney finds ways to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory time after time after time. The strength of this book is that it’s about problem-solving your way out of those defeats, but from the first page (moments before the first page, technically) until the very end—things go wrong for Watney, giving him plenty of opportunities to exercise his problem-solving ability. This is the first book I thought of when I saw the prompt, and it’s probably the best example on my shelves of it. (My original post about the book)

The Silence by Luca Veste: A Chilling Look at Spiraling Consequences of One Fatal Night

By HCNewton

On August 4, 2020

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

The Silence

by Luca Veste

eARC, 400 pg.
Sourcebooks Landmark, 2020

Read: July 17-20, 2020
Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

This is one of those thrillers where it feels like if you say anything, you’ll ruin something. But, I’ve got to try (if only for the sake of my NetGally Feedback Ratio).

What’s The Silence About?

I’m going to borrow the blurb, because if that says too much, it’s on Sourcebooks, not me.

It was supposed to be our last weekend away as friends, before marriage and respectability beckoned. But what happened that Saturday changed everything.

We killed a stranger and covered it up.

In the middle of the night, someone died.

We didn’t know our victim was a serial killer.

The six of us promised each other we would not tell anyone about the body we buried.

But now the pact has been broken.

We don’t think he was working alone.

And the killing has started again …

The year following the killing of the serial killer was not easy on these six friends, the toll on them all is great. Then when the killing starts again, it’s even worse, the fragile hold that Matt (the narrator) has on his life and mental health is about to shatter. Sone of his friends are doing somewhat better, while others…well, you should read that for yourself.

While we what happens to these six around the one-year anniversary we get some quick glimpses at some of the formative experiences they shared through childhood, adolescence, and university that shaped who they are and how they reacted to the present crisis.

What can I talk about?

That borders on too much about the plot, and I really don’t think I can talk much about the characters for the same reason—almost everything we learn about them is tied to the story.

Let’s focus instead on the feel of the book, the atmosphere. Wow. The opening pages are upbeat, joyful—but you can tell that won’t last for long (and not just because you’ve read the blurb). Then it gets bad, and worse, and worse yet. And you can’t look away—like the proverbial car wreck you see coming. Not only can you not look away, you have to see more, you have to keep turning the pages to see just what kind of damage will be done. How these lives will be further shattered.

It’s horrible. It’s tragic. It’s compelling.

So, what did I think about The Silence?

I don’t know that I can honestly say that I enjoyed this book—I don’t think anyone can. It’s not that kind of book. It’s a serial killer novel like you’ve never read before. If for no other reason than the focus isn’t on the killer or the hunt for the killer. It’s about the victims, prospective victims, and those that are left behind. It’s about seeing the ripple effects of trauma.

It’s a great experience. An intense read. This will be lurking in my subconscious for a while. Veste tapped into something here, and you’ve gotta try it.

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

4 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, opinions are my own.

Catch-Up Quick Takes Timeless; Point Blank; Smarter Faster Better; Heartburn; In Plain Sight; Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed; The Bitterroots

By HCNewton

On August 4, 2020

In Audiobook, C. J. Box, Comics, Fiction, General Fiction/Literature, Joe Pickett, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, Non-Fiction, Steampunk, YA/MG/Children's Books

The point of these quick takes post to catch up on my “To Write About” stack—emphasizing pithiness, not thoroughness. Half of this particular group bothers me to include here, but I’m afraid I’m about to lose track of them. The other half? Well, I might have trouble coming up with enough to talk about even in this format.

Timeless

by Gail Carriger, Emily Gray (Narrator)
Series: The Parasol Protectorate, #5
Unabridged Audiobook, 11 hrs., 25 mins.
Hachette Audio, 2012
Read: May 13-18, 2020
Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

(the official blurb)
I won’t deny that there were a couple of moments that had me on the edge of my seat, but overall this concluding novel felt like a letdown. There was just a lot of treading water going on, the plot just wouldn’t move for ages, it seemed.

An audiobook narrated by Emily Gray Unabridged Audiobooks a multitude of shortcomings, however. She’s just so much fun to listen to.

I’m glad I listened to this series, but I’m also glad that I’m done. It started strong, but over the course of the series, it kept getting weaker and weaker. A fun mash-up of Urban Fantasy and Victorian Steampunk, but ultimately unsatisfying.

Point Blank

by Anthony Horowitz, Simon Prebble (Narrator)
Series: Alex Rider, #2
Unabridged Audiobook, 5 hrs., 42 min.
Recorded Books, 2013
Read: May 29, 2020
Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

(the official blurb)
Alex Rider is back with another dose of escapist spy fiction for the MG set. It’s fun, but disposable. It’s the audiobook equivalent of NCIS, an entertaining way to spend some time, but that’s about it. I liked what Horowitz did with his character and I appreciated the growth in Alex.

This time, Alex is sent to an exclusive private school in the guise of a child of a rich and powerful man. Two similar fathers, from different parts of the world, with sons at this school, had recently been assassinated and M16 wants to get to the bottom of it.

Prebble did a fine job with the narration, I hope he continues.

This was clever and pretty exciting, I hope the series continues in this vein—I can absolutely see why my son tore through them (and re-read them, probably the only things he re-read). I’ll be back for more (just wish I’d made myself do this back when he was reading them).

Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business

by Charles Duhigg, Mike Chamberlain (Narrator)
Unabridged Audiobook, 10 hrs., 23 min.
Random House Audio, 2016
Read: July 2-6, 2020
Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

(the official blurb)
My chief complaint about Duhigg’s book, The Power of Habit, was that I expected something the reader could use for themselves. This isn’t as easy to apply as you might want, but it’s clearly written with an eye for the reader not just to understand the principles of efficiency and productivity, but to show some ways to bring the lessons home.

That said, it’s not a how-to book, it’s not self-improvement, it’s largely about the science/study/understanding of productivity. I found it just as fascinating as the last book, and can see where it’d be a useful guidebook for people in some sort of position of authority in an organization.

Duhigg also shows us his process while illustrating his own application of the book’s lessons—which I really enjoyed.

I’m absolutely on board for whatever book Duhigg puts out next, Chamberlain is a great narrator for his material, too.

Heartburn

by Nora Ephron, Meryl Streep (Narrator)
Unabridged Audiobook, 5 hrs., 30 min.
Random House Audio, 2013
Read: July 7, 2020
Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

(the official blurb)
A very pregnant cookbook writer/TV host/new mom’s marriage crumbles around her, as she attempts to salvage it, protect her children, and make a way for herself in the world. Really, she’s trying to do it all, and do it well. (that’s a lousy summary, just click the link above, will ya?)

The narrator? This Meryl Streep person? I tell you what, I think she’s going places—there’s something special about her performance. Seriously, she did a great job, no surprise there.

Nor is it a surprise that Ephron can write a clever little book. I’m a long-time fan, I knew I should’ve picked this up when it was released. I don’t know that it’s necessarily deep, or that you walk away with new insight into the human condition, marriage, or love. But it was funny, it felt honest and real, and you get caught up in the life of Rachel Samstat right away. Solidly entertaining.

In Plain Sight

by C. J. Box, David Chandler (Narrator)
Series: Joe Pickett, #6
Unabridged Audiobook, 8 hrs., 23 min.
Recorded Books, 2008
Read: July 22-24, 2020
Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

(the official blurb)
So this is all about chickens coming home to roost—almost everything that happened in this novel ties into one or more of the previous novels. And never the fun stuff from those novels. There’s the marital issues we got a glimpse at since Day 1 (and getting worse all the time—especially in the last book), the dead former Sheriff, the new Sheriff and his issues with Joe, Joe’s new boss—and more that I will just gloss over and let you read.

There’s a truly disturbing secret unearthed that really sheds light on so much of what happened in the book, most authors would’ve spent a lot more time on it than Box did here, he just let it be something that happened on the way to the major showdown. I like that he did it, but also kind of wish he’d given us a little more about it.

I did like the new governor and hope we get to see him again. (I especially like the fact that he’s a fictional politician and governs a neighboring state, not my own, I don’t even think I could enjoy him as a fictional Idaho governor).

There’s a lot left hanging at the close of this novel, I know the series continues (for many, many books to come), but I really have no idea what it’ll look like when I come back for Free Fire. Joe will be different, too, no matter what the circumstances around him are like. I assume Box is going to address it and I’m very curious about it.

Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed

by Laurie Halse Anderson, Leila del Duca (Art)
Paperback, 208 pg.
DC Comics, 2020
Read: July 25, 2020
Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

(the official blurb)
I really didn’t need this book, Leigh Bardugo’s YA retelling of Wonder Woman’s origin was good enough, and superior to this one. But I’d read some largely positive reviews and decided to give it a shot.

It felt less like a Wonder Woman story, and more like Anderson wanted to find a way to talk about certain issues and shoved Diana into the necessary circumstances and then shaped the character around that, rather than making it feel organic and earned. Also, there was too much left unexplained. There was so much I didn’t understand about what was going on with Diana on the Themyscira and physically that it felt more like Anderson dropped the ball and less like she was being understated.

It wasn’t bad, but it sure wasn’t good.

The Bitterroots

by C. J. Box, Christina Delaine (Narrator)
Series: The Highway Quartet, #5
Unabridged Audiobook, 9 hrs., 49 min.
Macmillan Audio, 2019
Read: July 30-31, 2020
Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

(the official blurb)
Cassie’s done with law enforcement (but like Harry Bosch, will always think like a cop), and is making a living as a PI. A blast from the past calls in a favor owed and hires her to do some work as an investigator for the defense in a criminal proceeding. Cassie hates the idea in general, and loathes it in particular—the client is clearly guilty. Clearly guilty of raping his teenage niece, no less. He’s also a highly unpleasant person—she wouldn’t want to work for him even before the rape charge. But a debt’s a debt, and she figures she’ll find enough evidence to get him to switch his plea to guilty and work out a deal.

Readers/Listeners know all too well that the clearly guilty part guarantees that Cassie will eat some crow on this point, but that’s for later.

So Cassie travels to the very small town in northern Montana where the crime took place and the client’s estranged family runs everything from their ranch to the school board and all things in between—including the Sheriff’s Office and Courts. Things do not go well for her and her investigation—which just makes her think there’s something for her to find to help the client after all.

I definitely listened to this too soon after In Plain Sight, one of the themes of it is repeated here—not something I’d have noticed (at least not as much) if a few more weeks had passed.

Box ultimately won me over, but I came close to DNFing this a time or two, and I really didn’t enjoy most of the book. It was just a little heavy-handed, and the tie-in to a prior nemesis really didn’t work for me at all (and I’m not sure the introduction of the tie-in works now that I’ve seen where Box was taking it—it’s too complicated to explain, especially for this post, let’s just say I didn’t like it). But by the end, I liked what Cassie got up to and how she handled herself—and I like the way that Box dealt with the climax and denouement—both were really strong (and semi-unexpected).

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase from any of them, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.

Luck and Judgement (Audiobook) by Peter Grainger, Gildart Jackson: Death at Sea, Corruption and Destruction on Land

By HCNewton

On August 3, 2020

In Audiobook, DC Smith & Kings Lake, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

Luck and Judgement

Peter Grainger, Gildart Jackson (Narrator)
Series: A DC Smith Investigation, #2

Unabridged Audiobook, 11 hrs., 57 min.
Tantor Audio, 2016

Read: June 10-12, 2020
Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

…this was, when you thought about it, typical of the places that Smith brought you to, of the situations that you could find yourselves in when working with him…He had these ideas which somehow seemed to be more than hunches and a way of making things happen before you realized it. Half suggestions would have momentum before you could blink.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it until it’s no longer true* but there’s a certain magic, an ineffable alchemy about Jackson narrating Grainger’s work. It’s just fantastic, I think I’d have liked these audiobooks with another narrator (or in print), but I don’t think I’d have liked them as much. I’ve enjoyed Jackson’s narration before, but it was (no offense intended) good, not great. But you put the two of them together? It’s fantastic.

* I expect that will be roughly the time that one of them retires.

The downside here is, that I don’t have a lot to say beyond that. And it kind of drives me crazy. I made a couple of notes, but I’ve misplaced them (which is pretty annoying).

What’s Luck and Judgement About?

We start off with Smith and Waters taking a helicopter to an oil rig with some other police to investigate a death/missing person (the helicopter rides inject a much-needed bit of levity to keep the beginning of this novel from being too dark). Smith and Waters are really along for the ride, most of the work will be done by the others, but the victim was in Smith’s jurisdiction—as it the rig. Or close enough, so they have to come along.

The higher-ups and the executives on the rig are willing to write it up as a suicide, but are leaning on an unfortunate accident as the explanation. Smith, shockingly, isn’t convinced. Suicide seems unlikely for several reasons, and one would have to work really hard to get around all the safety measures, guard rails, fences, gates, and whatnot in order to have an unfortunate accident. It makes him no friends, but Smith is convinced (and is more so by the hour) that this is a homicide.

As bad as it is for the victim, their suffering is over—but for their survivors, the crime (if there was one) will affect their lives for years to come. In this case, we’re talking about his wife and a small child. They didn’t have a lot of money coming in before his death, but now, there’s nothing. A small apartment, little financial security, and nothing else. Without becoming maudlin, or focusing on them too much, Grainger does allow us to see how these events will alter their lives and what the future may hold for them. We got a little bit of that in the previous novels, but it plays a larger role this time. It’s a small thing, but one that’s too often over-looked in Crime Fiction.

There’s a new detective on the team, a transfer, and one that Smith has a hard time relating to—he’s trying to be cautious and make sure she’s acclimating. At the same time, he’s worried that he’s not using her, and that the best way to get her acclimated is to throw her in. With the rest of the detectives (including those he doesn’t appreciate), you don’t see him uncertain or reflective. So watching Smith trying to figure out how to manage someone is a new side to him.

That same detective plays a role in an undercover operation that Smith undertakes to follow a lead—it’s possibly the most comedic part of the series to date—while not really being that funny at all. Judge for yourself.

As much as Smith’s hunches, his intuition, might start his team down a road, or help him to see a connection that others miss, once he makes that intuitive leap to start an investigation, procedure takes over. I can’t think of another “police procedural” where the procedure is as effective as it is in these books. Smith and the team (mostly the team) grind and grind and grind, doggedly going through all the steps before them, and it pays off—at least to a degree. I really respect that as a narrative choice—sure, Smith’s (or someone else’s) intuition (experience guided by intelligence, as Nero Wolfe would put it) will sometimes help set the direction, but it’s legwork that gets it done.

What’s Going On Other than the Main Case?

Smith continues to work with the True Crime writer on that previous case of his, and a friendship develops between the two As an ongoing arc, this is a real slow burn, and I’m enjoying it, as much as I don’t understand what Grainger is up to. I’m assuming instead of a B (or C) story, this will eventually become the A story for a novel—maybe the last in the series? But unless this is just going to demonstrate that Smith’s biggest case ever was his biggest failure and he’s going to have to find the real killer now, I’m not sure I see how.*

* Okay, I just came up with a half-baked idea where it would work, but I’ll hold off on that idea until it can get solidified.

Lastly, it’s time for Smith to be recertified as physically fit to carry on his duties. He’s missed two previous opportunities to qualify and he has no choice but to show up for this one. It feels pretty personal, the DCI who’s had it in for him since before the series started seems to be using this to force him out. The reasons he missed the previous two are legitimate reasons, and the DCI just looks petty for forcing his hand like this. But then when doesn’t this guy look petty? In the last book, he tried to get Smith to transfer to another office, and that didn’t work, so this is his new attempt. It’s short-sighted and small-minded to force Smith out, but the dies have been cast. While the new assignment was being dangled in front of Smith, a private-sector job was also offered—the lengths (the questionable, reckless, and likely illegal) that Smith goes go to pass this test demonstrates how un-tempting he actually found the offers last time, no matter what he may have thought. Smith loves this kind of police work and will have to be forced into retirement, kicking and screaming.

So, what did I think about Luck and Judgement?

So much for the three paragraphs that I was hoping to come up with for this post, I guess, eh?

I pretty much gave that away in my first paragraph, didn’t I? There is something about the combination of Grainger’s novels and Jackson’s performance that make these books so satisfying. Are they the best written, most exciting and suspenseful Police Procedurals? No. But they are just about the most satisfying, most immersive, most effective that I can think of—even when the ending isn’t what you’d want. There is a strong sense of humanity in these books, not just in the protagonists, but in the victim, the killer, the witnesses, the people who aren’t the killer but who aren’t up to anything legal/moral/ethical…everyone. There’s no one cartoon-y or over the top (in any direction). You just don’t see enough of that.

I was sucked into the intricacies of this case and thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Smith and the rest of the team—and I can’t wait to return to this world.

4 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, opinions are my own.

July 2020 in Retrospect: What I Read/Listened to/Wrote About

By HCNewton

On August 1, 2020

In Books, Calendar Items, Currently Reading, News/Misc.

I finished 27 books (okay, fine…26 books and one picture book), with 9,217 pages (800+ of those I’ve been working on for a few months, though) and a 3.85 average rating. That counts as a very good month around here. I didn’t post as many things as I wanted to (I talked a little bit about that this morning), but I liked what I did post. If I only felt free to leave me house, I’d call July a win—a pretty good month, regardless.

So, here’s what happened here in July.




	/td>





		Still Deciding

		Average =	3.85
	5		1
	1		0
	8		0
	8		0
	4

“Traditionally” Published: 19
Self-/Independent Published: 8

Genre	This Month	Year to Date
Children’s	1 (4%)	3 (2%)
Fantasy	5 (19%)	23 (15%)
General Fiction/ Literature	4 (15%)	12 (8%)
Horror	0 (0%)	0 (0%)
Humor	0 (0%)	1 (1%)
Mystery/ Suspense/ Thriller	7 (26%)	6 (32%)
Non-Fiction	1 (4%)	9 (6%)
Science Fiction	3 (11%)	14 (9%)
Steampunk	0 (0%)	1 (2%)
Theology/ Christian Living	2 (7%)	11 (7%)
Urban Fantasy	4 (15%)	21 (14%)
Western	0 (0%)	0 (0%)

Happy: Why More or Less Everything is Absolutely Fine (Audiobook) by Derren Brown: DNF
Catch-Up Quick Takes: Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner; Out of Range; The Fangs of Freelance; Wonder Twins, Vol. 1: Activate!
The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding: BOOK VIII., xi.-xv.
The Curator by M. W. Craven: I do not have enough superlatives in my repertoire to do justice to this novel
Elphie Meets the End of The World by Hagit R. Oron, Or Oron Misgav (Illustrator): It’s the End of the World as he Knows it, and Elphie (eventually) Feels Fine
The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding: BOOK IX., i.-iv..
One Man by Harry Connolly: A Broken Man Against the World
Spells for the Dead by Faith Hunter: Nell and Her Team Face a New Type of Deadly Threat
The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding: BOOK IX., v.- BOOK X., i.
Peace Talks by Jim Butcher: Family Complicates Everything
Vagrant Queen by Magdelene Visaggio, Jason Smith: A Quirky Space Opera that Hits the Mark
The Silence by Luca Veste: A Chilling Look at Spiraling Consequences of One Fatal Night
I Was Told It Would Get Easier by Abbi Waxman: The Cat’s in the Cradle and all that…
The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding: BOOK X., ii.-v.
Classic Spenser: Looking for Rachel Wallace by Robert B. Parker

Other than the Saturday Miscellanies (4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th), I also wrote:

20 Books of Summer 2020: July Check-In
Ultimate Book Tag
Down the TBR Hole (8 of 24+)
Down the TBR Hole (9 of 24+)
WWW Wednesday for July 1, July 8, July 15, July 22
The Friday 56 for 7/3/20, 7/17/20, 7/24/20, 7/31/20

How was your month?

Saturday Miscellany—8/1/20

By HCNewton

On August 1, 2020

In Books, News/Misc., Saturday Miscellany

I had a potential of 14 things I was going to post this week–it was ambitious, and I didn’t think I’d actually get all of it accomplished, but it was something I actually thought I might accomplish. I got 6 things posted. One was a repost, four of them I wrote last Saturday. So, yeah, I composed 2 posts this week. Every day this week after work, I sat down to do something and then I ended up closing the laptop with only a paragraph or two written (or re-written, if I’d tried to finish my abandoned post from the day before). I slept a little more than usual, but mostly I just stared at my screen not accomplishing anything (including finding things for this post). In the grand scheme of things, it’s not a big deal–but man, it was really demoralizing.

But, tomorrow is another day. fiddle-dee-dee, and all that. (Also, it’ll shave a couple of minutes off of compiling my July report later today)

Odds n ends about books and reading that caught my eye this week. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:
bullet The Trouble with Reading Multiple Books at Once—I can juggle a few at once, but rarely want to anymore. Anyone out there enjoy doing this?
bullet Making the most of your reading time—Nothing new here, but good advice.
bullet ‘Kingkiller Chronicle’ Editor Believes Author Hasn’t Written Anything for Years—I haven’t seen if Rothfuss has responded to this (and looked a little bit), and am fairly surprised at how little attention it received on Twitter, etc.
bullet THE LAST OF US PART II, COWBOY BEBOP, and Letting Go of the Past—I’ve never played the game or watched the series, but what it says about the end of a series is something that we can all appreciate.
bullet The Name’s Wolfe, Nero Wolfe: Rex Stout’s Influence on Ian Fleming—you know me, I’ll drop a link to a Stout/Nero Wolfe piece any day. It’s easier when they’re as fun as this.
bullet Guest Post: Which Generation Reads the Most Infographic by Best By the Numbers.—I’m also always a sucker for an infographic, this guest post at The Tattooed Book Geek is a good one.
bullet Discussion – What Book Bloggers Love To Talk About—yeah, pretty much.

This Week's New Releases That I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:
bullet Spells for the Dead by Faith Hunter—Nell and PsyLED face off against a magical virus. I really dug this one.
bullet Chaos Vector by Megan E. O’Keefe—one of the things I didn’t write about this week was the first book in this series (I didn’t realize it was going to be a series when I started it, nor that the second one was coming so soon). Space battles, an AI with an agenda, and some scrappy heroes. Can’t wait to find out what happens next.
bullet Tales from the Folly: A Rivers of London Short Story Collection by Ben Aaronovitch—I had completely forgotten that this collection was coming out until it appeared on my Kindle yesterday, what a pleasant surprise!

Lastly I’d like to say hi and extend a warm welcome to Tannie LowA.C. Stark, and Mike Finn who followed the blog this week. Don’t be a stranger, and use that comment box, would you (assuming it’s working, which it may not be)?

BOOK BLITZ: The End of the Road by Anna Legat

By HCNewton

On July 31, 2020

In Book Tour, Fiction, General Fiction/Literature

I’m running inexcusably late, but today I’m pleased to welcome the Book Blitz Tour for Anna Legat’s The End of the Road. This was published yesterday and we’re celebrating that with this blitz. This looks like a gripping read, you should definitely check this out, why not escape our dystopian moment for a few hours with this dystopian nightmare?

Book Details:

Book Title: The End of the Road by Anna Legat
Release date: July 30, 2020
Format: Ebook/Paperback
Publisher: Crooked Cat / darkstroke
Length: 225 pages

Book Blurb:

The fight for survival has begun

All-out war spins out of control, and it doesn’t discriminate. Governments fall, continents are obliterated, deadly viruses consume everything in their path, and what’s left of humanity is on the run. Caught in this global refugee crisis are a few unlikely survivors.

Tony, a philandering London lawyer, escapes the doomed city and his own murky past as he evacuates to the continent.

A hapless flock of Belgian nuns prays for a miracle as they watch their city turn to rubble.

Bella, a naïve teenager, thinks she is going on holiday when her father drags her across the globe to New Zealand.

Reggie, a loyal employee of a mining corporation, guards a hoard of diamonds in the African plains, fending off desperate looters.

Alyosha, a nuclear scientist, has been looking for the God-particle in Siberia, but now the world is at an end, he wishes to return home to Chernobyl.

A pair of orphaned children are cowering in the Tatra Mountains, fearing the sky will fall in on them.

Will they find an escape route before it is too late? Or are they doomed to fail?

About the Author:

Anna Legat is a Wiltshire-based author, best known for her DI Gillian Marsh murder mystery series. A globe-trotter and Jack-of-all-trades, Anna has been an attorney, legal adviser, a silver-service waitress, a school teacher and a librarian. She read law at the University of South Africa and Warsaw University, then gained teaching qualifications in New Zealand. She has lived in far-flung places all over the world where she delighted in people-watching and collecting precious life experiences for her stories. Anna writes, reads, lives and breathes books and can no longer tell the difference between fact and fiction.

Purchase Links:

Amazon.UK ~ Amazon.US

My thanks to Love Books Group for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials (including the novel) they provided..

20 Books of Summer 2020: July Check-In

By HCNewton

On July 31, 2020

In Andy Carpenter, Books, Chet and Bernie, Currently Reading, David Rosenfelt, Don Winslow, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction/Literature, Ian Rankin, InCryptid, John Rebus, Kevin Hearne, Luca Veste, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, News/Misc., Non-Fiction, Spencer Quinn, Urban Fantasy

So, I did a lousy job of taking into account new releases, review copies, and life when I made the original list. I only read 4 of the remaining 13 books in July, which doesn’t bode well for August. I think I can still pull this off, but I’m going to have to make a couple of more substitutions, based on how long it took me to read Winslow’s The Cartel and Hearne’s A Plague of Giants, I’m not going to be able to tackle their follow-ups in August (which annoys me greatly, I was counting on this challenge to help force my hand with these). So I’m substituting Hearne’s next book, the launch of a new series, Ink & Sigil (there’s a balance to that) and The Revelators by Ace Atkins (not as epic in scope as Winslow, but … it’s the best I can realistically do).

✔ 1. Nothing Is Wrong and Here Is Why by Alexandra Petri
2. The Last Smile in Sunder City by Luke Arnold
3. Screamcatcher: Dream Chasers by Christy J. Breedlove
✔ 4. The Finders by Jeffrey B. Burton
✔ 5. Fair Warning by Michael Connelly
✔ 6. One Man by Harry Connolly
✔ 7. The Curator by M. W. Craven
8. The Ninja Daughter by Tori Eldridge
9. The Rome of Fall by Chad Alan Gibbs
✔ 10. American Demon by Kim Harrison

11. Ink & Sigil by Kevin Hearne
12. Betty by Tiffany McDaniel
✔ 13. Imaginary Numbers by Seanan McGuire
14. Curse the Day by Judith O’Reilly
✔ 15. Of Mutts and Men by Spencer Quinn
16. Rather Be the Devil by Ian Rankin
✔ 17. Muzzled by David Rosenfelt
18. Bad Turn by Zoë Sharp
✔ 19. The Silence by Luca Veste
20. The Revelators by Ace Atkins

20 Books of Summer Chart July

The Friday 56 for 7/31/20

By HCNewton

On July 31, 2020

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:
Coffee and Condolences

by Wesley Parker

“Think fast,” a voice calls from behind me and, before I can fully turn my head, a red, rubber ball bounces off my head and sends me sprawling into a rack of shirts. In an attempt to break my fall, I grab for a shelf only to find out it’s not fastened into the wall tight enough, and I bring down the entire supply of skinny jeans on top of me. I can hear the gasps and footsteps of people coming to dig me out of the pile of hipster rubble. As I get to my feet, I hear Lily scolding a worker for not securing the shelves to the wall—as if they were the catalyst for what just happened.

“Lily, what the fuck?”

“My bad! I thought having kids gave you better instincts.”

“Yeah, for falls and spills. It didn’t give me spider sense.”

Ultimate Book Tag

By HCNewton

On July 29, 2020

In Book Tag, Books, News/Misc.

Ultimate Book Tag
I saw this over on Way Too Fantasy last month, and it looked fun. It was maybe a touch too long in the end. But still, hopefully you enjoy. I’d like so see what you all come up with for these.

Do You Get Sick While Reading In The Car?

Not typically, but on a recent road trip, I got hit hard by it. I was in misery, my wife couldn’t understand what was going on–reading’s supposed to be the thing I can do anywhere, anytime. Thankfully, it passed after a miserable hour (and I was able to finish the book before it was my turn behind the wheel).

Which Author’s Writing Style Is Completely Unique To You And Why?

I honestly don’t get this question (and read a few other bloggers versions of this tag, which didn’t help). Lisa Lutz, Josh Bazell, Russell Day, Douglas Adams, Abbi Waxman jump to mind as great voices, with fantastic styles. If I spent more time, I could find another dozen names to list, but I’m not sure any qualify as “completely unique to me.”

Harry Potter or Twilight? Give 3 Reasons Why.

Harry Potter

Better written, better plotted, better executed.
I liked each successive Twilight book less. Exponentially so.
I want to re-read Potter several more times. Can’t see myself ever picking up a Twilight again.

Do You Carry A Book Bag? If So, What’s In It (Besides Books)?

Not since college.

Do You Smell Your Books?

Of course. I’m only human.

Books With or Without Illustrations?

Don’t know if I have a preference one way or another, but I’m always in favor of a well-done and fitting illustration.

What Book Did You Love While Reading, But Discovered Later It Wasn’t Quality Writing?

“Discovered” bothers me in that question. I find it amusing that every version of this I read points at Twilight. There are plenty of books I really enjoy while not being all that impressed with the writing, but I can’t think one that fits this scenario.

Do You Have Any Funny Stories Involving Books From Your Childhood?

Should probably ask my mom–she’d be the one who’d remember those. I just remember never having enough of them 🙂 (a problem that plagues me to this day)

What Is The Thinnest Book On Your Shelf?

Being There by Jerzy Kosinski

What Is the Thickest Book On Your Shelf?

Jane Austen The Complete Novels by Jane Austen

I have a Don Quixote paperback that’s about the same size, but I have an image of The Austen, so I’ll give that the credit.

Do You Write As Well As Read? Do You See Yourself Being An Author In the Future?

I have written a few novels that should never be seen by anyone. A handful of short stories, essays, and whatnot. I don’t see myself developing the necessary discipline to get published, but you never know.

When Did You Get Into Reading?

I don’t remember a time that I wasn’t. There are stories of me getting into reading when I was three and starting to figure out that the black squiggles meant words. Once I got into school and had a lot more options available to me, my addiction got worse.

And worse.

And now…

What Is Your Favorite Classic Book?

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë.

What Was Your Best Subject In School?

History/Social Studies/Government. Though English classes were always my favorite.

If You Were Given A Book As A Present That You Read Before And Hated, What Would You Do?

Thank profusely and add it to my shelf. Not to read again, but to remember the gesture.

(and to chuckle to myself about, I’m sure)

What Is A Lesser Known Series That You Know Of That Is Similar to Harry Potter or the Hunger Games?

Similar to Potter? Jeremy Scott’s The Ables, just replace Wizards and Witches with Super Heroes.
Similar to the Hunger Games? Mercedes Lackey’ Hunter series, you’ve got the media/celebrity thing, the exceptional young woman from a rural area who proves to be a superstar/super-competent fighter.

What Is A Bad Habit You Always Do (Besides Rambling) While writing?

I can’t spell definitely to save my life. I overuse “honestly,” “to be honest,” ellipses, and so on.

What Is Your Favorite Word?

Sesquipedalian? Floccinaucinihilipilification? Indeed? Flummery?

Pfui. Too many to choose from.

Are You A Nerd, Dork, or Dweeb?

Nerd. (I prefer Geek, but it wasn’t an option)

Vampires or Fairies? Why?

Fae.

Shapeshifters or Angels? Why?

Shapeshifters. Changeling (formerly, and now, known as Beast Boy was one of the first superheroes that I got into–and remains a favorite. Then I got into Lycans and similar characters. I just find them interesting.

Also, the use of angels always leaves me a bit uneasy. No one gets them right, and it’s usually stepping too close to the sacred for my comfort.

Spirits or Werewolves? Why?

Werewolves. This is related to the above. Spirits are to ephemeral, ineffable, and insubstantial to really work for me.

Zombies or Vampires? Why?

Vampires. They have brains, agency, personality.

Love Triangles or Forbidden Love?

Forbidden love, I guess.

Full-on Romance Books Or Action-Packed With A Few Love Scenes?

Action (or something else) packed with romance on the side.

As usual, I’m not tagging anyone in this—but I’d like to see what you all have to come up with.