Tag: From the Archives Page 13 of 28

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: A Nation of Sheep by Andrew P. Napolitano

By HCNewton

On May 29, 2013

In Non-Fiction, Politics/Current Affairs

A Nation of Sheep by Andrew P. Napolitano

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Am reading Andrew P. Napolitano’s book A Nation of Sheep, which is quite the experience so far. The book is about how our national government ignores, circumvents, and attacks the rights and liberties that are the foundation of our nation.

Napolitano’s best known for his frequent/regular appearances on pretty much every show on FOXNews, he obviously takes his talking points from the GOP, slavishly promotes the agenda of the Bush (43) Administration, and is some sort of fascist (closeted or otherwise). Right?

Except he’s not. In fact, the Bush Administration’s agenda is the main target of Napolitano’s vitriol. However, I should note that the Adams (2), Lincoln, Roosevelt (32), Trueman and Nixon administrations receive knocks as well.

After a few chapters skimming U.S. History (with quick glances at contemporary events), Napolitano turns his focus on the present with this little end-of-chapter tease:

If you’re not convinced that the government is hell-bent on accumulating extreme amounts of power in the name of national security, the forthcoming chapters will finalize the exsanguinations of your skepticism. In other words, get ready for some sleepless nights.

I found that more amusing than I ought–the one phrase I’ve been muttering to myself (and TLomL) about the book so far is “don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep again.” And he now tells me it’s gonna get worse?

Yipe.

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: The Story Board

By HCNewton

On August 8, 2012

In Authors, News/Misc., P-U, Patrick Rothfuss, Writing

The thing I mentioned with Arnold the other day is pretty much over, and the family (he in particular) are working on recovering from that, and I am drained mentally and physically, I’m clinging to consciousness here at work the last few days. For example, right now, if I leaned back in my desk chair, I could be asleep in 30 seconds. Which is making the whole writing thing pretty hard — I’m trying to be good, I just know if I let off on the daily writing thing, it’ll take months, if not a year, to reestablish that. So I got about 100 words yesterday, 300 or so today. No where near my minimum requirements, but…

Anyway, by gum, I’m trying to get something new posted by the end of this week.

Trying.

Here’s something that both entertained and inspired me, sorta the point of this post. Geek & Sundry, one of the new Youtube channel things (and the one I watch the most of, all due respect and fealty to The Nerdist notwithstanding) started a new thing yesterday, a monthly google+ hangout conversation hosted by Patrick Rothfuss about writing called The Story Board. Now, that’s enough for me, I’m watching. But this first episode featured Jim Butcher as one of the guests talking about Urban Fantasy. Squee! Good stuff. You must check it out.

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: Exactly How They Work

By HCNewton

On May 31, 2011

In Books

Of all the “motivational” style posters I’ve seen, this is probably closer to the truth than any of them (can’t imagine getting much closer, honestly). I’ve seen this link posted a handful of times over the last few weeks, and each time I’ve left the tab open, returning to look at it several times throughout the day. Figured it’s about time I put it up here…

Can’t imagine it’s going to work well on this here template, so you’d be better off clicking the link above or the image below and seeing it in a better way.

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.