Tag: Spelling the Month in Books

Spelling the Month in Books: February

On February 15, 2022

Spelling the Month in Books: February
I kept the focus this month on books I haven’t read in a decade or more. Sadly, despite having read most of the books listed here multiple times, my memory about them is pretty rusty. Still, it was fun thinking about them again, and I can fairly confidently recommend them all.

	Faces of the Dead Brad Parks made his fiction debut with this novel, the first in his series about investigative reporter Carter Ross (a series that has shown up in his stand-alone works, too). I don’t know how long it took me to get into this book/series, but I’d be willing to bet it was less than 50 pages. I just clicked with Ross right away—he had a nice style, and watching one of the last print reporters in fiction do his thing was a blast.
	The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp Rick Yancey was a discovery my eldest and I made about the same time (it’s possible it was the same trip to the Library), I was reading his Highly Effective Detective series, and my son went with this (and I soon followed). This high schooler and his guardian uncle set out to steal Excalibur (yes, that one) and things get stranger from there. Arthurian bad guys, demons, and all sorts of lesser evil types running around. It’s got a more fun, almost Percy Jackson-feel (they were released the same year, so it might have been something in the air) than Yancey’s other YA stuff. I only have very vague memories of the series, but they’re fond memories.
	Big Trouble Dave Barry’s first novel is hilarious. He’s grown as a novelist and his more recent work is much better, but this was funny. Which is really all you want in a Dave Barry book—the plot involved an advertising executive, a couple of hitmen, an embezzler, and a couple of high schoolers. Some odd event kicks off a chain reaction bringing all of these together in a comic crime disaster that could only happen in Florida. Barry Sonnenfeld made a movie adaptation from this starring Time Allen, Rene Russo, Stanley Tucci, among others. It wasn’t Sonnenfeld’s best, but it was okay, as I recall.
	Rizzo’s War Lou Manfredo’s debut kicks off a gripping trilogy. Rizzo is an NYPD detective headed toward retirement, partnered with a rookie detective to show him the ropes. Unlike most police procedurals, the partners dealt with several cases at once—with (I think) one dominating their attention for most of the book—although it might have traded places with another case for the home stretch. I’m pretty sure I read this in 2009, so my memory is vague. Neither Rizzo nor his partner are super-cops, they’re just guys trying to get the job done in the best way they can and go home at the end of their shift. This one reeked of authenticity.
	Underground This is the third in Kat Richardson’s Greywalker series (finally, something that isn’t a first on this list!), and it’s a doozy. As I recall, Harper Blaine is basically Kinsey Millhone with ghosts and other supernatural whatnot, a PI who after a near-death experience can see the dead. Something is awakening a Native American monster in Seattle that’s eating people (a whole bunch of homeless people, I think)—and it’s up to Harper to stop it. I never got around to reading the rest of the series, and I’ve often wondered why. Just thinking about it a little now has made question a few decisions I made.
	The Accidental Sorcerer K.E. Mills’s fantasy series about mages, rival nations, and government agents was told with a great combination of mirth and drama. I’ve been sitting here for a while trying to conjure up details about this book, and I really can’t. I had a blast reading this very strange book and the rest of the series, that much I remember.
	The Rabbit Factory Marshall Karp’s debut novel is another mix of comedy and drama—a pair of LA Homicide detectives investigate a murder at a place that is totally not Disneyland. There’s pressure from the amusement park as well as the police brass for them to find the killer—especially when other bodies are found in/around the park. The detectives have a fantastic rapport and friendship, the extended families (or maybe just one of them has family we spend time with) are a hoot, and the mystery was great. I read this three or four times pre-2010 and loved it every time.
	Yesterday’s Hero This is the second in Jonathan Wood’s series about a British police officer who’s brought into MI37—the service in charge of dealing with supernatural threats to the UK. This is a combo platter of Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy, and Spy novel, told with a sharp sense of humor. Arthur Wallace is the protagonist, and the point of entry character into this strange world—but his team is made up of a fantastic ensemble of characters. This is another series I need to revisit.

Spelling the Month in Books: January

By HCNewton

On January 28, 2022

In Books, News/Misc.

Spelling the Month in Books: January
I saw a few people doing this over the last year or two and thought it seemed fun. It also felt like a good way to highlight and talk a little bit about books I haven’t talked about in a while, or at all. I’m going to try to mostly talk about books I haven’t blogged about here, just to keep things interesting (for me and you–how many of you really need to hear me saying something glowing about Robert B. Parker? again, etc.).

I intended on getting this done earlier in the month but I spent too much time fiddling with the look. Now that I’ve settled on one, I should be able to get this going earlier in the month for the rest of the year.

	Juliet, Naked Nick Hornby’s novel about a reclusive musician is tough to summarize briefly. Duncan’s a superfan of Tucker Crowe, a pop star turned recluse. Anne breaks up with him because…well, there’s a lot there. Along the way, she becomes online friends with Tucker, and eventually, that relationship grows. Maybe somewhere in all that are new lives and second chances for all involved. Or something like that. It’s been a decade, my memory’s a bit fuzzy.
	After the Golden Age Carrie Vaughn’s tribute to Golden Age super-heroes was a great ride. Celia West is the non-powered daughter of two of the greatest heroes ever, she did all she could to stay away from that world after she grew up. Now, events are dragging her back into that world, despite all her efforts. Ten years ago, I thought it was the best thing Vaughn had written. It’s still at least in the Top 3.
	Needle Song Russell Day’s first novel about Doc Slidesmith is one I’ve talked a lot about, but it’s been a while, so I’m allowing it. Also, of the novels on this list it’s by far my favorite. The language just grabbed me, the characters were fantastic, and the story was almost as good–overall, it was a devilishly good book. (here’s my original post about it)
	Uprooted Naomi Novik’s novel took my breath away. Just that simple–it’s a revisited folk tale, and it’s something special. I didn’t know what to say back in 2015, not sure I do now.
	The Automatic Detective A. Lee Martinez’s novel is a mash-up of SF and hard-boiled detective tales. Mac Megatron is a robot who has turned away from his intended purpose and is trying to make his way as a P.I. I remember having a hard time taking in all the weirdness that Martinez brought to the table, but once I did, I had a blast with it. I’ve since gone on to read all of his novels, and can’t wait for the next.
	Riding the Rap This is the second of Elmore Leonard’s books to feature Rylan Givens. As I recall, it gets vaguely adapted in season 1 of Justified. I remember very little about this book, but remember really enjoying it. Hard not to think reading a Leonard book was a good use of time.
	Year Zero Rob Reid’s hilarious story about First Contact and Copyright law. No, really. The rest of the universe has become addicted to Earth’s pop music and owes us enough money that they’re about to become bankrupt. Wiping out the Earth’s populace would be a whole lot cheaper. Can this lawyer save us all?