Author: HCNewton Page 524 of 634

Hammered (Audiobook) by Kevin Hearne, Luke Daniels

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On August 19, 2016

In Audiobook, Fiction, Iron Druid Chronicles, Kevin Hearne

Hammered Hammered

by Kevin Hearne, Luke Daniels (Narrator)
Series: The Iron Druid Chronicles, #3

Unabridged Audiobook, 9 hrs, 40 min.
Brilliance Audio, 2011

Read: July 25 – 26, 2016


This one is my least favorite in the series (I think, I’m pretty sure, anyway) — Atticus is held to promises he made in the last book, which brings him into contact with the Norse pantheon — particularly Thor — and knocks over the dominoes that will change the lives of Atticus, Granuaile, and Oberon forever. This book prevents the Iron Druid Chronicles from being a Dresden Files-Light series, which I’m glad for.

But it just doesn’t work that well for me. Oh, I could point to passages that are stirring, well-written, thoughtful and so on — some of Hearne’s best action scenes are here. He’s got some great character work going on, too (Perun was one of my favorites from the start). I just think Hearne could’ve done better.

Some of Hearne’s funniest material is in this book — Atticus’ internal monologue where he replaces the angel/devil on your shoulder with a Spock and Kirk combo, the stuff about American beer, Oberon’s extended rant about Bacon Lattes from Starbucks. Just great. Sadly, the story surrounding all that just doesn’t hold up too well.

Still, a less-good Iron Druid book is still pretty good. It’s like an iffy pizza. It’s still pizza 🙂

Luke Daniels solidified his place as my favorite Audiobook narrator with this one — I laughed out loud at and loved his Ratatoskr. I don’t think I mentioned in the last book how much I appreciated his Coyote (and if I did, it bears repeating). His accent work was good — just everything. He even elevated the slow part of the book — the sitting-around-the-campfire, telling-stories-about-what-a-jackwagon-Thor-is chapters.

Not my favorite, but for who it introduces, what it sets up — and for the completest in me — worth your time. It’s probably a victim of Hearne’s rush to finish the trilogy to fulfill his very quick publishing contract. Which just means it gets better from here.

—–

3.5 Stars

The Summer that Melted Everything is Hot!

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On August 18, 2016

In Books, Fiction, General Fiction/Literature, News/Misc.

(sorry, that was just horrible, but I couldn’t stop myself)

So, last month I posted about Tiffany McDaniel‘s debut, The Summer That Melted Everything and even did a Q&A with her. She was recently featured on the longlist of contenders for The Guardian’s Not-the-Booker prize — and was among some really august company.

Well, Monday they released the list of 6 finalists, and McDaniel was among them (and many of the august company, like DeLillo, were not). This is really great to see and I’d like to congratulate her, and hope she does well here (go vote!).

Help The Once and Future Podcast

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On August 17, 2016

In News/Misc.

Family stuff is keeping me from getting anything done here today. The timing works out well because this week, Anton Strout’s podcast had a brief episode that I’d like to talk about.

I don’t know if you guys are listening to this podcast or not — I’ve talked about it more than a few times. If you don’t, you should — Strout (author of the Simon Canderous novels and the Spellmason series) talks to authors, game designers, publishers, artists, etc. — creative people in geeky fields about their work. I’ve found several favorite authors thanks to these episodes.

It’s a lot of fun, pretty informative — and it could use some financial help. Spend 10 minutes listening to Strout talk about how you can help and what his plans for the podcast are. Then go diving through the archives.

The Phantom Tollbooth (Audiobook) by Norton Juster, Norman Dietz

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On August 16, 2016

In Fiction, YA/MG/Children's Books

The Phantom Tollbooth The Phantom Tollbooth

by Norton Juster, Norman Dietz (Narrator)

Unabridged Audiobook, 5 hrs, 20 min.
Recorded Books, LLC., 1993

Read: August 1, 2016

4 Stars

I needed something to listen to at work a couple of weeks back, and the only thing I could find from the library’s collection was the audio version of the children’s classic, The Phantom Tollbooth. It’s been a few years since I read this with my kids, so I figured it was worth a shot. The story of bored (and boring) Milo receiving a magic Tollbooth that transports him to a magic kingdom where he goes on an adventure to restore Rhyme and Reason to their rightful places has long been a favorite of mine.

It wasn’t a bad use of time, but was a little disappointing. A lot of the word play needs to be read, not heard — having to over-pronounce the “h” in “whether man” to make it the joke land just doesn’t work. I could list other examples, but that’ll do.

Still, most of the magic is there, you still get the overall feel of the book, the strange adventure that Milo, Tock and the Humbug have is intact, it’s just missing some of the details.

Really, any version of The Phantom Tollbooth that doesn’t feature the art of Jules Feiffer is missing something — even the cover of this one was done by someone else! Thankfully, I remembered what most of the pictures looked like and could supply them in the right spot. But it’s just not the same.

Basically, I guess I’m saying any audio-only production of this novel is hobbled out of the gate. Which is nothing against Norman Dietz’s work — he did fine, nothing spectacular, but nothing detrimental, either. Good, capable, entertaining narration — but it’s just a bad book to try to do this with, I think. (that said, apparently David Hyde Pierce did an audiobook recording of it, too — and I will grab that if I can).

If you’ve read it before — this will scratch the re-read itch if you have it. It might be a good way to entertain the kids on a road trip. But this shouldn’t be anyone’s initial exposure to the story — get the book. Really. I’m giving it 4 Stars for sentiment’s sake — and Juster’s words/story.

—–

4 Stars

Chasing Freedom by Marina Fontaine

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On August 16, 2016

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

Chasing FreedomChasing Freedom

by Marina Fontaine

Kindle Edition, 222 pg.
Createspace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016

Read: July 27 – 28, 2016


A few decades from now, the government of the United States (although I don’t think it’s directly called that, but it’s clear that’s what it is) has become the totalitarian regime so many fear, imposing a type of public “civility” on the citizenry. Public protests are closed down by the authorities, but keep springing up (and seem to be coordinated in a way that the authorities can’t pin down) — and then they evolve into organized resistance groups and information dissemination efforts (counter-propaganda efforts).

On the whole, the book focuses on the resistance groups, their allies and those they aid — with the occasional look at those in power and their operatives. The resistance groups are full of people who are looking for different things — some out of ideology, some out of concern for the safety and health of their loved ones, there are even criminals who help just to get under the heavy thumb of the government, some just want a way to express themselves and make art rather than be “contributing members of society.”

In different ways, these people (and many others) work together (and apart) to force the government to get back to its own foundational principles. There are glimpses of violence here, but mostly this takes place between the battles — in the ramping up to them, or in the aftermath. It’s violent enough to satisfy those who want that and to seem grounded in the subject, but that’s not the focus. The focus is on what the struggle means to people and what it does to them — some characters are scarred, some characters are driven to find hidden strength(s), a few characters are both.

I noted while reading this that the type of government/society depicted in a dystopian novel tells you a lot about the politics of the author — as does what the characters of behind the resistance/opposition want to replace it. Fontaine grew up in the U.S.S.R., and knows a little about real dystopia, that’s reflected in these pages, too. Her vision of the future isn’t one you typically see in fiction — and agree with her or not — it’s a breath of fresh air.

I’ve read works that were better written, more convincing — but this one hit me right. I love the vision of this book, the way that Fontaine gets her characters to work together — even when there’s little reason to. Their hopes of the good life — or at least a better one — really resonated with me. There wasn’t (much) drive for vengeance, it wasn’t one or two people against the system — it was a variety of people, doing various things that drove the action of this novel. A solid effort, an entertaining and borderline inspirational read. I hope to see more from Fontaine in the future.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

—–

4 Stars

United States of Books – Independence Day (Audiobook) by Richard Ford, Richard Poe

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On August 15, 2016

In Fiction, General Fiction/Literature, United States of Books

Independence DayIndependence Day

by Richard Ford, Richard Poe, Narrator

Author: Serena at Savvy Verse & Wit

Synopsis from Goodreads – A visionary account of American life–and the long-awaited sequel to one of the most celebrated novels of the past decade–Independence Day reveals a man and our country with unflinching comedy and the specter of hope and even permanence, all of which Richard Ford evokes with keen intelligence, perfect emotional pitch, and a voice invested with absolute authority.

Entertainment Weekly said, “The second of four books to feature Frank Basscombe, a sportswriter-turned-Realtor who’s the perfect sarcastic resident of that great big suburb called New Jersey.”

Independence Day by Richard Ford, narrated by Richard Poe, is one of those novels in which readers can be frustrated, as the main character, Frank Basscombe, often scurries along tangents just when the narration appears to be going somewhere relevant. Poe does a good job of narrating this character. He’s a divorced man who lives alone in his former wife’s house in Haddam, N.J., and he’s entered the real-estate game. He barely sees his children, still wants to hang onto his newly married ex-wife, but also says that he loves his girlfriend.

Basscombe tells the truth as he sees it in that moment, but from moment-to-moment that truth can change. He’s not steady in his beliefs, and much of that is because he’s clearly in the midst of a crisis. He’s unsure of his own direction and his own place in life and in his family. On a trip with his son to the Basketball and Baseball Halls of Fame, Basscombe makes a concerted effort to be someone to at least one somebody — his son. However, like him, his son is going through a period of unease, as he’s unsure how to be and act, and he’s trying on different hats — some of which raise concern with his mother about his mental stability.

In many ways, Basscombe and his son’s inability to stand firm and find their own peace in the world mirror the wishy-washy perception of New Jersey — which ET calls a suburb. The view of New Jersey can be its industrial gas and oil farms or the fact that it is the neighbor of New York, a place where those who work in the city come to escape the fast-paced life and find some green.

It’s hard to believe that there are four books about this character, given his disinterest and disdain for everything. Independence Day by Richard Ford, narrated by Richard Poe, is one man’s search for a final independence — he’s looking to free himself from the ties that bind him to his ex-wife, trying to carve out a new career, and to find some direction for his own life without being hampered by the past.

RATING: Tercet (3 stars)

About the Author:

Richard Ford is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist and short story writer. His best-known works are the novel The Sportswriter and its sequels, Independence Day and The Lay of the Land, and the short story collection Rock Springs, which contains several widely anthologized stories.

One of the Few by Jason B. Ladd

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On August 14, 2016

In (Auto)Biography, Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

One of the Few One of the Few: A Marine Fighter Pilot’s Reconnaissance of the Christian Worldview

by Jason B. Ladd
Kindle Edition, 318 pg.
Boone Shepherd, 2015

Read: June 10-17, 2016


Jason Ladd served as a Marine pilot and is a father and husband. In his early adulthood, he became a Christian. This book talks about the process he went through to become all of the above, and what he thinks and believes about Christianity. This is an interesting approach to a book — it’s mostly a collection of autobiographical anecdotes from childhood through adulthood, with a focus on his military training and service. These anecdotes are then used to illustrate spiritual insights/teachings/beliefs of the author. The earlier portions of the book are more obviously connected — a clear storyline can be seen.

I’m only saying this because Ladd told me that his book was “especially relevant to Reformed Protestant Theology Nerds.” But the theology in this thing is a mess, there isn’t a coherent Christian Worldview put forth in this book — there are portions of Christian(ish) Worldviews, but not one. And if there’s a Reformed Protestant view mentioned here, I missed it. I’m not saying that Ladd’s not a Christian, or that he doesn’t have a coherent Worldview, but he didn’t do a great job of displaying that Worldview in these pages — instead, we get a little bit of this, a little bit of that, and a dash of something else. If this was the kind of blog that critiqued theologically oriented works, my critique of Chapter 12 (for example) would be at least three times as long as his chapter. I think we’re all relieved that this isn’t that kind of blog.

The later in the book we go, the less the organization makes sense to me — clearly Ladd had an organization in mind, I just didn’t see it. He kept saying “Now it’s time to talk about ____.” What made it time to do so is beyond me, there was rarely an obvious link between topics when he said that. It doesn’t take away from the worth of the material, but the scatter-shot approach makes it hard to follow.

I recommend this with reservations — and have actually recommended it to a couple of people who I thought would appreciate it more than I did — the writing is crisp, the autobiographical/military training anecdotes are well-written and interesting, the theology needs a lot of work, but isn’t wholly without merit. If you like the concept, you’ll probably find it worth your time.

Disclaimer: I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest thoughts about it. I thank him for his patience — this is horribly overdue.

—–

3 Stars

Backlog (writing and reading)

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On August 13, 2016

In News/Misc.

I’ve had a couple of weeks lately where I open up a file to write a review/review-like thing and nothing happens, there were 4 I tried to write this week that didn’t get done. This is extraordinarily frustrating.

Well, just to feel like I actually accomplished something today (other than finishing a pretty decent book), I just updated my Reviews in Progress page. I just added 23 books from this summer that I haven’t made/found time to write about.

The size of my TBR list is about the same. I’m tempted to make a similar page for it, but think I’ll hold off, as it fluctuates a bit.

Wow! I really, really, really need to get to work . . . Authors who are waiting, I promise I’m doing what I can.

Saturday Miscellany – 8/13/16

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On August 13, 2016

In Books, News/Misc.

Odds ‘n ends over the week about books and reading that caught my eye — skimpy list this week, but what’re you gonna do? You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:

    This Week’s New Releases I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:

  • How to Party With an Infant by Kaui Hart Hemmings — a new book from The Descendants‘s author
  • I mentioned this a couple of weeks ago, but apparently it was released this week. Whoops. Nevernight by Jay Kristoff — after The Lotus War I’ve gotta give whatever he puts out a shot. Doesn’t hurt that this looks really good.
  • Killer Instincts by Linden Chase — a creepy looking mystery from Fahrenheit Press

The Purloined Poodle by Kevin Hearne

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On August 10, 2016

In F-J, Fiction, Iron Druid Chronicles, Kevin Hearne, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

The Purloined PoodleThe Purloined Poodle

by Kevin Hearne
Series: Iron Druid Chronicles, #8.5/Oberon’s Meaty Mysteries, #1

eARC, 112 pg.
Subterranean Press, 2016

Read: August 8, 2016


The best and most consistent part of The Iron Druid Chronicles has been Atticus’ Irish Wolfhound, Oberon. Now Kevin Hearne has given us a novella narrated by and starring him, with Atticus in the supporting role. It’s good that he kept the Druid around, because he has the whole opposable thumb thing going for him and can do things like communicate with other people

While playing in a dog park, Oberon stumbles upon a rash of dognappings — the victims are all Grand Champions. Oberon is appalled that such a thing can happen and vows to find the dogs and return them home. He enlists Atticus to assist him (and well, to do most of the work). They spend the next couple of days moving around the country visiting various dog trainers/owners and skirting trouble with the law. While Atticus does the heavy lifting of investigating, Oberon has a lot of fun meeting various Champion dogs — in particular, a Boston terrier named Starbuck.

The interplay between Atticus and Oberon is a lot of fun, but his narration is even better — between the repeated mentions of trying to pull off “the Full Jules” (reciting Ezekiel 25:17 at just the right moment); his summary/slash review of The Great Gatsby (which will forever alter the way I look at the book); Oberon as food critic (his takes on coffee and mustard are highlights); and a repeated tribute to Denis Leary’s best movie, this book was flat-out entertaining. Because it’s by Hearne and featuring Oberon, I assumed I’d enjoy it — I didn’t plan on (but should’ve) cackling by the 7% mark.

I thoroughly enjoyed this — the story was good enough to justify the time reading, but Oberon’s voice elevates this to something really special. It is now one of my major Life Goals to hear Luke Daniels do the audiobook of this. If you’ve read an Iron Druid Chronicle or two, you’ll know how good Oberon can be. Read this, you won’t be disappointed.

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

—–

4 Stars

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