Cracked this open for the first time last night, shortly after my shift started. At 6:25, when I had to take care of some end-of-shift chores, I had 100 pages left.
100 pages!!!
My kingdom for another 40 minutes!
Category: Fiction Page 338 of 341
Betcha can’t guess why we were there…
(Obviously, it was the large Magic Tree House display in the kids’ section that drew us)
(click on the image to see the strip in its full size)
We all have the ability to really freak ourselves out over nothing–a wrong number in the middle of the night, strange yet ultimately benign noises in the house, having to repeat routine blood tests, and so on.
Last night I’m reading a detective novel about a serial killer–I’d read it before, back when the Love of My Life was expecting Samwise and was too uncomfortable to sleep in our bed. Which worked out well this one evening. The depiction of the …evil, the insane (literally) depravity had set me on edge. I vividly remember, sitting on my bed not taking my eyes from the page, leaning forward as I read, as if that’d speed things along. It’s incredibly rare for a book to affect me like that, I wasn’t scared–but I was downright close. When I finally finished the book between 4 & 5 am (371 pages of tense prose and tiny type in one sitting), I went out to the living room, confused my wife by giving her a big hug and went to bed to catch a little sleep before work–purposely leaving all the lights on in the room.
So last night, I’m rereading the same book for the first time, and it’s starting to grip in in a similar way–but not as completely as before. About the time that the author really begins to reveal the nature of the killer–later described as “a creature beset by what Coleridge called ‘motiveless malignancy'”–I start remembering that night 8 years ago, details from the end of the book, and so on. This gives me a sort of detachment from the book. And as I realize this detachment’s existence, I feel a bit of relief.
And then, over my headphones comes the lighting strike of Kirk Hammett’s guitar, the staccato thunder of Lars Ulrich’s drums, and James Hetfield’s guttural vocals
Darkness imprisoning me
All that I see
Absolute horror
Frak.
I put a finger in the book to hold my place, walked across the room…
and turned on another light.
“Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhh!”
Deathly Hallows cover released (a wrap around!).
Click here for a full image, and non-US covers.
I’ve set aside most of my current reading because Robert Crais just released his latest, The Watchman. I will admit that I was very nervous about this book heading into it, because this is being billed as “The First Joe Pike Novel.” I just didn’t think the idea would work. Instead of the focus being on his partner, Elvis Cole, this time we’re treated to seeing things from Pike’s POV (thankfully not told in first person, because I really don’t think that’d work at all). I’m glad Parker has decided to not write a Hawk novel, Stout writing from Wolfe’s perspective wouldn’t have been the same (we need Archie in order to like his boss), LeHane having Patrick and Angel play second-fiddle to Bubba would just be scary.
But so far, I’m really enjoying this book. I could easily have finished it in one sitting–but am forcing myself to take a week or so to work through it. Lovin’ this thing. Mr. Crais, sorry for doubting you.
Last few trips to the library, I’ve been dipping into the Leo Waterman mysteries by G. M. Ford. They don’t carry the interestingly titled debut, Who in Hell is Wanda Fuca?, so I started with Cast in Stone and The Bum’s Rush, the second and third entries. While I can’t say that I’ve been blown away by them, or addicted to the characters, I’ve definitely enjoyed my time with Leo. And then we come to the fourth installment, Slow Burn–and Ford earns me as a loyal reader. 
I still might not rush to get him like I would say, Levine or Butcher (my two favorite “finds” of ’06), but I will read anything by him I find.
Why’s that? Because while telling a pretty entertaining story and developing the characters naturally, but clearly; Ford reveals himself to be (like myself) an unabashed Nero Wolfe fan. He blends in direct references, subtle references and an homage or two to “my favorite fatty” (to quote Archie Goodwin) seamlessly into his story. Now, if you have no idea who Wolfe is–or only a passing knowledge–it won’t make a difference to the story, you still get Leo and his crew of homeless operatives cracking an interesting case in their inimitable fashion. But if you know that the hours of 9-11 and 4-6 belong to the plant rooms, and are not to be violated; you have always wanted to drink a bottle or two of Remmers beer; beam at being told something is “satisfactory” (want to do backflips when told “very satisfactory”); and have ever averred “contact is not a verb in this house;” well then–this book is so much more than Leo and the boys.
There’s the client–Sir Geoffrey Miles–who in bulk, mannerisms, and appetite is clearly Wolfe (though he pronounces the interjection “phooey”). Miles’ butler, Rowcliffe, who owes his name, but certainly not his attitude to the Lieutenant from Homicide. The plot tips it’s cap to both Too Many Cooks and Some Buried Ceasar, two of the most popular Wolfe novels. And at the end there are some direct references made by Leo to Mr. Wolfe. There’s quite likely even more than that (oh, like the book’s dedication), but that’s enough for now. The suspects themselves could’ve appeared in the yellow chairs in Wolfe’s office.
I just loved that. Now, Kinky Friedman tried this in one of his earlier novels. But it didn’t work quite as well. It felt forced, sometimes even tacked on. Ford’s doesn’t.
Again, that’s just one part of the novel–it is more than just a Wolfe Geek trip. There’s a decent murder, there’s the Rebecca-Leo banter, a quick visit from Hector, the ex-ACLU lawyer, the strange family connections that open every door Leo needs, etc., and some very funny scenes. Well worth the read.
Oh, for the .5 of you who might’ve read this far–a back cover blurb on an earlier Ford novel welcomed Leo Waterman to the ranks of fictional Seattle PI’s (or words to that effect). There are other Seattle PI’s? Anyone know who? Sure, Gideon Oliver’s based out of UW, but I can only think of one case of his in Washington–and that wasn’t in Seattle.
from Sci Fi Wire:
J.K. Rowling announced on Dec. 21 the title of her upcoming seventh and final Harry Potter book: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, according to her British publisher, Bloomsbury. The publication date has not been set, though it’s expected in 2007.
Deathly Hallows? uhhh. oookay. If you ask me, it doesn’t have the ring of and the Sorcerer’s/Philosopher’s Stone; …and the Chamber of Secrets; …and the Prisoner of Azkaban; or …and the Goblet of Fire.
Ah well…who cares what it’s called? It’s one step closer to being here!!
On Oct 23 in Chillicothe, Ohio, Archie Goodwin entered this world–no doubt with a smile for the pretty nurses–and the face of American literature was destined to change.
I’m raising a glass of milk in his honor.
Somewhere I have a long list of wonderful things that Archie has said, but (and I’ve quoted this before here) this is the only one at my fingertips. Am sure one or two of you could add some in the comments section. But I think this tells enough about the gumshoe that one can understand why he’s my favorite, and maybe even want to read some of him themselves.
I would appreciate it if they would call a halt on all their devoted efforts to find a way to abolish war or eliminate disease or run trains with atoms or extend the span of human life to a couple of centuries, and everybody concentrate for a while on how to wake me up in the morning without my resenting it. It may be that a bevy of beautiful maidens in pure silk yellow very sheer gowns, barefooted, singing Oh, What a Beautiful Morning and scattering rose petals over me would do the trick, but I’d have to try it. — Archie Goodwin
If I started it before Labor Day Weekend, it counts, right? For the record, it’s not that I’ve stopped reading since July 27, my last Summer Reading post–but it seemed that no one really cared, as much as I found the discipline helpful (even had a complaint or two). So I’ll limit these to the books I really want to talk about. ‘Sides, school’s back in session, and I don’t have that much time for extra-curricular reading period (but one of my professors last year impressed upon us the importance of doing so to keep our minds fresh. So I’m going to try).
Enough of that. Steve Solomon, Victoria Lord and all the rest are back for #3 in Paul Levine’s series about mystery-solving lawyers in love, Kill All the Lawyers. Weighing in at an anemic 368 pages (the first book was 576!), I wondered if it would stack up as well. It did. 
The weaknesses I felt about book 2 weren’t present. First, there was more Bobby. The heart of the series is Bobby. Period. Let Steve grow/mature. Let Victoria loosen up/accept Steve. Let the supporting cast become more well-rounded characters. Fine. But the emotional core will always be Bobby. He has to be a player in each book. Just don’t see who Levine can pull it off otherwise.
Secondly, there was a real element of risk involved. Trying to avoid spoilers, I’ll put it this way. The bad guy set out to frame someone for a horrible crime. And it really looks like that person was going to fall into deep legal trouble–maybe so much so that it’d have to be resolved in the next book. Sure, utlimately, there’s no doubt that the team of Solomon & Lord will save the day at some point. But I fully expected arrests, interrogations, trials, fall out, etc. I just didn’t get that feeling last time out.
Character-wise, I did think Victoria got the short end of the stick this time out, but not sure where Levine could’ve stuck more of her in. Maybe in Book 4, which the back cover assures us he’s hard at work on. Although I didn’t mind too much. Rather have Steve’s voice than hers dominate the book. They were on their home turf–so most of the supporting cast from Book 1 was back, just not as prominent. Which was good, Levine needs to use them regularly, but sparingly.
The pacing was excellent, yet again. Note to my writer friends out there who haven’t picked Levine up: You should just to study this aspect (and you’ll discover yourself enjoying the read anyway). The way he can jump between having you chuckle and having you lean forward in anticipation. Good action scene to wrap things up.
Another solid outing for the team, looking forward to the next..