Category: Fiction Page 329 of 341

On the whole, Turn Coat is about the problems in the wizarding world that Butcher’s been giving hints about and glimpses at for a while now–and they come into focus in the most surprising of ways–Morgan asking Harry for help.

There’s just so much good stuff to be mined from Harry helping Morgan hide from the Wardens, deal with the Merlin (and others at HQ), investigate a murder/frame-job–it’s almost a shame to see Butcher wrap it up in 400 pages, because I’d love to get more of it. Great stuff.

In addition to all that, we see three important relationships forever altered in important ways (well, maybe one’s only temporarily altered, time will tell)–some good long-term character development for our pal Harry and his gang.

So, so good–Butcher had the ol’ brain firing on all cylinders for this one.

Dusted Off: Small Favor by Jim Butcher

By HCNewton

On May 29, 2013

In Authors, Fiction, Harry Dresden, Jim Butcher, Urban Fantasy

Small Favor by Jim Butcher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Loved this book the first time I read it, and it’s better the second time around (if for no other reason than I could slow down and enjoy it more rather than have to race to find out what happens). Like he’s been doing for awhile now, the stakes get bigger–as do the foes–in this book, as does the cast.

At the same time–for most of the book anyway–this is a lighter read than the last couple have been, it’s a bit more “fun” in the midst of the darkness and destruction, I guess you could say.

And then the fun goes away and you get only darkness and destruction for awhile–and an emotional punch in the gut that fans really didn’t want (but love anyway).

I’m not sure how well this’d work as a jumping on point for someone new to the Dresden Files, but I think it’d stand on it’s own, and show readers why they’d want to go back and read all of the best Urban Fantasy series going.

Dusted Off: An Underachiever’s Diary by Benjamin Anastas

By HCNewton

On May 29, 2013

In Fiction, General Fiction/Literature

An Underachiever’s Diary by Benjamin Anastas

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

The recommendation I read for this called said it “may have been the funniest, most underappreciated book of the 1990s”. Really? I remember the 90’s having better taste. This is the very colored reminiscences of the lesser of two twins. William is constantly outshone by his brother Clive (despite testing as well as, if not better than) from the cradle onward. Clive’s more successful in school, socially, athletically, etc. He’s better looking, healthier…better in ever conceivable fashion. William sees this from an early age and determines to keep things that way–to basically excel at not being as good as his brother (or anyone else for that matter). And in that, and in that only, does he find success. There are sentences/paragraphs scattered throughout the novel that almost make it worth the effort, like:

universal LOVE, the failing panacea of my parents’ generation: flower children, baby boomers, whatever name you’d like to use. Exactly what had the sexual revolution gained them, after all? Some measure of bodily happiness, a sex instinct unfettered, the herpes virus, the social acceptability of T-shirts and cutoff shorts, but what else? Had they really changed our values and attitudes?

Aside from those momentary displays of authorial talent, there’s no profit from spending time with this determinedly miserable character.

Dusted Off: The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

By HCNewton

On May 29, 2013

In Fiction

Outstanding. Just outstanding. Fun. Gripping. Suspenseful. Awe inspiring. Other adjectives that if I was 1/24th as good as Lynch I could fill this space with.

The world he’s created alone deserves 4-5 stars — so wonderfully constructed, so intricate, so original. Lynch does in this one volume what it’s taken Martin 5 to create.

The characters? I’m not even going to try to describe how great these guys are.

Clearly, words are failing me. This is just too good to not read.

Dusted Off: Something Missing by Matthew Dicks

By HCNewton

On June 8, 2011

In Fiction, General Fiction/Literature

Something Missing by Matthew Dicks

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Martin’s a thief–a very peculiar kind of thief. He keeps going back to the same places time and again, mostly stealing staples–food, household supplies, etc.–enough to get by on, but never enough to get noticed. This book takes effort to get through–the quirky, even funny, premise will carry you through the first chapter or two, but then the excruciating detail that the Narrator gives about every little thing threatens to drag the story to a halt. I wanted to stop more than once, but there’s something about Martin that made me want to stick with it.

I’m so glad I did, it was so worth it. After all the painstaking detail about how Martin gets into people’s homes, learns their habits, decides how much to take, and then inventories it and so on…a new side of Martin starts to break through. One that cares about people. He starts taking risks–and everything, every dull, obsessive detail that you trudged through pays off.

The book becomes thrilling, endearing, heartwarming…by the end, I couldn’t believe how much I liked Martin and was pulling for him.

Dusted Off: The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag by Alan Bradley

By HCNewton

On June 4, 2011

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

The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag by Alan Bradley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The plucky young chemist with a nascent obsession with death is back in action. The case is a little less personal for Flavia de Luce this time, but that doesn’t stop her from jumping in whole hog to get to the bottom of it.

Flavia runs into a couple of traveling performers with some car trouble and before you know it, she’s got them some help–and a gig. While she hangs around the TV star and his assistant, she finds herself surrounded by some of her town’s darker history and then face to face with a murder. And Flavia being Flavia, she can’t resist sticking her nose in and making sure all the knots are untangled–particularly the ones adults are ignoring, despite them being painfully obvious to her.

We get less of Flavia’s sisters (and the rest of the household, come to think of it) in this installment–but when they’re around, their impact is greater. Clearly, as this series continues, there’s going to be some serious drama on the homefront with some major implications for the de Luce family, I hope Bradley tackles that quickly, the foreshadowing’s getting old quickly.

Unlike with so many other amateur sleuths (particularly juveniles), it’s nice to see that her reputation and track record are acknowledged by some in the community — which is both a help and a hindrance, I hope to see more of that in the future.

My only major quibble with this installment is that it takes far too long to set the main action of the novel up–in a 348 page mystery novel, you’d better get to the central crime before page 150 or so. Unless you’ve got a heroine like Flavia to focus on, I can’t imagine being patient enough to wait that long to get the ball rolling.

Another fun (occasionally hilarious) read, with a mystery satisfyingly twisty, with just enough red herrings to get you through it. Highly recommended if you’ve read the first in the series.

Dusted Off: I Thought You Were Dead by Pete Nelson

By HCNewton

On May 25, 2011

In Dogs, Fiction, General Fiction/Literature

I Thought You Were Dead by Pete Nelson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Start with a young-ish divorced man, struggling to get his career going, in love with a woman dating someone else. Throw in a parent with a major health issue, a supportive sister, and a much more successful older brother who’s a lifelong rival and idle who he must come to terms with. On the whole, there’s not much here you can’t find in many other books on the General Fiction shelves. But Nelson executes his story so well, the lack of novelty isn’t that important. Nothing seems forced, even if several plot developments can be seen coming a hundred pages or more away, they still unfold naturally. And you’re left with a tale well told, and well worth your while.

And that would be enough, but there is one element to this book you won’t find anywhere else–Stella, “a mixed breed, half German Shepherd and half yellow Labrador, but favoring the latter in appearance. Fortunately, she’d also gotten her personality from the Labrador side of the family, taking from the Germans only a certain congenital neatness and a strong sense of protectiveness, though as the Omega dog in her litter, it only meant she frequently felt put upon.” As with any good book with a dog as a main character, Stella is the heart and soul of this book–at least until her master gets his act together, and then he shares that billing. Stella’s also the source of the humor in the book–humor frequently needed to keep the story from being bogged down in the muck of her master’s life.

If you can buy Paul talking to Stella and Stella talking back (and there’s no reason you shouldn’t), this is a sweet, heart-filled book that’s a great way to wile away a few hours.

Dusted Off: Misc. Things about Books

By HCNewton

On April 28, 2011

In Books, News/Misc., Robert B. Parker, Spenser

We’re all more than familiar with the stereotype of the socially awkward bookworm (heck, it’s practically my whole identity for huge chunks of my life), but some recent research suggests that just might not be so. In fact, those who read a lot of fiction might be more empathetic than others (gotta say, that’s long been my theory, glad to see that I was probably right). (h/t:Lifehacker)
This has been linked like crazy all over, but author extraordinaire Michael Chabon has a great essay out about The Phantom Tollbooth (taken from his introduction to the forthcoming 50^th anniversary edition). Loved, loved, loved that book (and re-re-re-re-re-reread it as a kid). A couple years ago I read it with my kids and fell in love again–thanks to Mr. Chabon, I have to go read it again.
I’m torn about this. I’m a huge, huge fan of Robert B. Parker, and the thought of not getting new Spenser and Stone volumes each year depresses me, but the news that the Parker estate and his publisher have hired new authors to continue his two main series (thankfully there’s no talk about more Cole/Hitch books). If Joan’s comfortable with it, it seems wrong for us fans to be naysayers. But, my initial reaction’s more like what Andrew Wheeler tweeted, “V.C. Andrews, move over: sharecropping to begin over Robert Parker’s barely-cold corpse.” (h/t:Harry Connolly’s feed). But, hey, it’s not like Parker treated his stuff as much more than a commodity anyway lately (and honestly, I liked some of the choices that the new Stone writer made with the movies more than Parker made). I do know I’ll be grabbing them up from the library as soon as humanly possible–and hopefully I’ll like ’em enough to head to a bookstore after that.

Dusted Off: A Bad Day for Sorry by Sophie Littlefield/After the Golden Age by Carrie Vaughn

By HCNewton

On April 27, 2011

In Carrie Vaughn, Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

A Bad Day for Sorry: A Crime Novel by Sophie Littlefield

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I knew that crime fiction would come up with someone to dethrone Lisbeth Salander as reigning Queen Bad*ss, but I never woulda figured it’d be someone like Stella Hardesty. Sure, Lisbeth could take Stella in a steel cage match–but in an extended campaign, that little girl wouldn’t stand a chance, Stella’d kick her Asperger’s all the way back to Sweden.

After years of spousal abuse, Stella finally had enough and killed him. Some years later, Stella augments her income from her sewing supply store by helping women in similar situations by making their spouses, boyfriends, etc. To say that her methods are unorthodox would be an understatement of the highest order.

The case at the center of this book seems pretty straightforward–the jerk in question seems to need (and respond to) some encouragement to stick to the behavior plan that Stella’s lined out for him–like she expected, but lo and behold, he ends up kidnapping his ex’s kid.

Things go out of control from there.

Given the subject matter, this book obviously goes to some pretty dark places. Yet this story is told with a lot of wit and charm–a few laughs, too (particularly as a mutual attraction grows between Stella and the new Sheriff). It doesn’t take long at all to really like Stella and get invested in her crusade, as well as this case.

Just can’t wait to get my hands on the sequel.

After the Golden Age by Carrie Vaughn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

(really 4.5 stars, if that were possible)

This should make up for my less than glowing review of Vaughn’s last book (the fun Steel). This is the best novel Carrie Vaughn has published–and that’s saying something.

Beyond paraphrasing the book description, or spoiling the whole thing, I can’t think of anything else to say.

Just read it.

Dusted Off: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

By HCNewton

On April 23, 2011

In Fiction, General Fiction/Literature

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Meticulously crafted, wonderfully written, intricately , fantastic characters, a world you’d love to live in, imaginative, creative, a concept so great, so well executed…aaaaaand I had to force myself to read it. I took 3 breaks from this novel, and had to drag myself back to it each time.

I feel like I owe this book 5 stars because it deserves them, but I really want to give it 1.75 or so. There is no reason at all that I shouldn’t like it–people should love this work, actually. But I just didn’t.

Sorry Mr. Wroblewski.