Umney's Alley - The Book Log for 2006

A Year in Reading: 2006

2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012

The companion piece to my film log, the book log keeps a listing of everything I've read over the course of a year, as well as giving me a place to type up a short review. As a handy reference, the book title of each listing provides links to the Amazon page for the book.

Starting in 2009, I began providing star ratings of the books I read. The ratings are out of five stars, with five stars being equivalent to an A, 4½ to an A-/B+, four to a B, and so on.

12-9	Hannibal Rising, by Thomas Harris	Harris's good writing is still evident, but the story is a mess. It's simultaneously too sprawling and too focused. Too sprawling because there are too many interchangeable generic characters, and not enough background on any one of them; not focused enough because it seems to be implying that all of Lecter's madness derived from one incident, and that just seems simplistic, especially coming from Harris, who always seemed to have a window into the mind of madness. We don't want Lecter explained, I'll admit. He's more fascinating as an enigma. But if he has to be, surely there could have been something better than this, which manages to be something I never would have expected from Harris: pedestrian and slightly dull. If nothing else, a plunge into the nightmarish excesses of Hannibal would have been welcome here; instead, it's a fairly run of the mill revenge book that happens to be about Hannibal Lecter. Profoundly disappointing.
12-5	No Country for Old Men, by Cormac McCarthy	A "gearshift" book of sorts, one whose shifts renders more effective each of the two parts. The first section of the book concerns a drug deal gone horribly wrong, a man who steals what may not be his, and a remorseless killer who wants it back. It's a solid enough thriller, with plenty of action and great characters...which makes the shift into thoughtful contemplation about the world and our society all the more effective. A beautifully written, intelligent, heartbreaking look at our modern world.
11-25	The Wall, by Jeff Long	In bits, this adventure novel, about a pair of old friends that decide to go climb the mountain that made them famous, really soars. There are some great descriptions, and some fantastically tense scenes. And, if nothing else, it truly wrings every bit of drama out of a mountain climb, all while managing to seem realistic and knowledgeable. Unfortunately, the plot ends up just being sprawling and falls apart by the end, with its "shocking" ending that just falls flat. But, hey--the excerpt from Long's next book shows that he's written a sequel to his brilliant first work, The Descent, so it's not all bad!
11-23	Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, by Patrick Süskind	A strange, entirely unique read about a kind of serial killer you've never read about before. The story concerns a young orphan who, although he produces absolutely no scent of his own, has an incredibly developed sense of smell, one far beyond anyone else on earth. How that leads to a series of murderers, a journey to a cave, and a bizarre fate I will leave to you to discover. Suffice to say that this is unlike much else I've read, but that doesn't say how good it is--how excellently it evokes a world of scents, how immersed you are in the strange mind of its main character, and how ultimately effective the whole book is. I picked this up because I heard about the upcoming film; it will be interesting to see it, because I can't see how you could possibly bring this peculiarly olfactory work to a visual medium, short of abusing the narration I know the film to have.
11-22	The Hard Way, by Lee Child	It's a Reacher book, which means you know what you're getting into: that is, a perfect escapist action book, with truly bad guys, a great hero, women who love the hero, and a nicely developed plot. No, these won't win any literature awards, but for their genre, they are tops--well-written, with good characters, interesting plots, and the right mix of heroism and intelligence without going overboard. The plot here--involving a kidnapping, some mercenaries, and some payback--is great, and it's always fun to watch Reacher deal with a situation in his own unique way--smarter than everyone else, and far more dangerous.
11-6	Road to Perdition, by Max Allan Collins	An interesting piece of pulp noir that, while good, was ultimately better on the screen, due in no small part to the film having the benefit of Conrad Hall’s stunning cinematography. Admittedly, the book is beautifully drawn, and the story strong, with a few interesting plot threads absent from the film. But the strengthening of the adversary character, the humanization of even the smallest parts, and the beautiful visuals ultimately make the film better than this, even though this is quite good.
11-3	Lisey's Story, by Stephen King	Describing the plot of this one seems pointless; in the end, it will just seem like Rose Madder redux, and that’s a fair comment. But as always with King, it’s the writing, not the plotting, that makes his work soar, and the strong characterization, the powerful emotion, and ultimately the love story between a woman and her dead husband all combine to make this a fantastic book that far surpasses the limitations of the plot. Yes, I’m inclined to like anything that King writes, but when he writes this well, why wouldn’t I like it?
10-24	Fever Pitch, by Nick Hornby	To say this is a book about football (sorry, soccer--hey, you try reading this whole thing and not calling it by the British name) is like saying High Fidelity is about music. In other words, it's to miss the point entirely. Like Stephen King managed in his half of Faithful, Hornby uses his obsession with the sport to look at what it means to be a fan, what draws so many people into his sport, and exactly what effect it might have on those around him. The book isn't as solidly written as his later work, but it's still filled with typical Hornby wit, and it's interesting enough to even appeal to a non-sports fan like me. I really enjoyed it a lot, but if you've ever been obsessed with a sport, oh, is this for you.
10-13	The End, by Lemony Snicket	The end of the Series of Unfortunate Events, and for the most part, it's a nice, satisfying conclusion to it all. Yes, Snicket leaves a LOT of loose ends hanging, and that's a little frustrating. That being said, it's still full of his wonderful writing, and there's enough thematic complexity to this final volume to make it a most satisfying conclusion, from an emotional standpoint. As always, Snicket handles material whose depth would probably otherwise be inaccessible to his young readers, and does it very well. With a nicely parallel ending to the beginning, the resolution of a couple of nagging questions, and most of all, a well-crafted conclusion, it's a strong finish to a gleefully twisted, anarchic, and ultimately satisfying series of exceptional children's books.
10-7	The Wall of the Sky, The Wall of the Eye, by Jonathan Lethem	An interesting (if mixed) collection of seven short stories by the creative and imaginative Lethem. At his best ("The Happy Man," "Vanilla Dunk"), he reminds me of Philip K. Dick, who took fascinating concepts and then used them as jumping off points for more personal and human stories; at his weakest ("Forever, Said the Duck"), he at least creates worlds unlike anything you've read before. It's not a flawless collection, and some are definitely far better than others, but it's still a good showcase for Lethem's boundless imagination, and shows quite clearly just how much talent he has.
9-26	Lunar Park, by Bret Easton Ellis	An outstanding book--easily my favorite Ellis that I have read, and one of the most fascinatingly literate and intellectual horror novels I have read. The book is hard to describe; equal parts fictional memoirs, truthful memoirs, family drama, sequel to American Psycho, meditation on loss, and all-out horror novel, it works on every front (yes, even horror--the book is incredibly frightening, and grows more and more unsettling as it picks up steam), and closes with a powerful chapter which elevates the book to something more substantial, uplifting, and meaningful than I think many would have thought Ellis capable of. An outstanding and compelling piece of fiction.
9-17	The Beatrice Letters, by Lemony Snicket	Not the final book of the Unfortunate Events series, but more of a companion piece, consisting of letters between Lemony Snicket and the oft-discussed but never seen Beatrice. Much like the Unauthorized Autobiography, this is more of an intricate puzzle than a book, and it ends up raising more questions than it answers. Then again, isn't that part of the fun of these books? The price is a bit steep for the time this takes to read, but as much as I love this series, I know I'll end up reading this plenty of times.
9-16	The Ruins, by Scott Smith	The short version? This is one of the best, most effective horror novels I have read in years. It is terrifying, unsettling, and incredibly disturbing--by the end, this makes Hannibal look like a kid's book. For the longer version of my thoughts, go here.
9-9	Blood Meridian, by Cormac McCarthy	A fascinating, if incredibly bleak, meditation on violence in the old West. This may be among the most violent books I have ever read, and that is saying something. The plot, such as it is, concerns a party of scalp hunters riding through Texas in the late 1800s. But the book is more concerned about that violence as a window into the nature of man, chiefly as represented by two main characters: The Kid, an innocent who does the wrong things for all the right reasons, and the Judge, a demonic patriarch who represents the darkest sides of humanity. It is not an easy read--not just for the violence, but also the intricate and beautiful writing--but that makes it no less powerful or rewarding.
8-24	Dispatch, by Bentley Little	The latest from Little, and it's a nicely different book for him. The concept revolves around a boy who figures out that when he writes letters, people listen, and major events happen--all thanks to his writing. The book nicely stays in the realm of creepy, never hitting the balls-to-the-wall nightmare that some of Little's books hit, but that's not a bad thing here. Rather, the atmosphere makes the book more compelling, as well as lending an interesting backdrop to some social ideas Little is playing with. The ending is a bit of a fizzle, but that didn't make me like the rest of the book any less.
8-11	Nocturnes, by John Connolly	A decent enough collection of short stories from Connolly, ranging from darkly comic ("Miss Froom, Vampire") to downright unsettling ("Some Children Wander by Mistake"). The thing is, though, Connolly is a pretty good writer--not great, but very good--until he starts writing a Charlie Parker story, that is. Then, he becomes a master, mixing atmosphere, philosophical musings, dark humor, and chilling scenes of terror, all while filtering it through Parker's fascinating worldview. As such, it's no surprise that the Charlie Parker novella that closes the collection is the masterpiece of the book. Not that the rest is bad--it's just that the Parker books set the bar so very, very high.
8-5	The Complete Calvin and Hobbes, by Bill Watterson	Is it weird that a collection of ten years worth of comic strips might still be the best thing I've read all year? I've said it before, and will say it again: there never was anything else like Calvin and Hobbes, and (much to out discredit) there probably never will be again. What made the strip so wonderful (and what keeps it so perfect) is not just the hilarious comedy, and not just the wonderful artwork, although both are there in spades. It was the heart that Watterson brought to the strip--heart that never felt forced, but that could genuinely touch you, and bring about some strong emotions. Re-reading all of the strips was like reconnecting with old friends, and the strip is even better than I remembered it, which is saying something. This set may be expensive, it may be heavy (22.5 pounds!), but it's worth it for the sheer wonder and fun that's inside those covers.
7-29	As She Climbed Across the Table, by Jonathan Lethem	Typically strange, genre-bending fun from Lethem. It's a classic romance story: a guy who loves a girl. The girl used to love him back. But now she's in love with a void in the universe that seems to negate physics and confound philosophers. Plus, there are these two blind guys...you know what? I don't think I can do this one justice. It's funny, clever, and the ending is pretty unexpected, and manages to change the book completely from what you think it is. It's not for all tastes, but I really enjoyed it a lot.
7-22	The Book of the Dead, by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child	The latest Pendergast book, and a typically solid thriller from these guys. It's fun to dig into Pendergast's past and get a better sense of what made him the person that he is. But it's all the great action setpieces that really make the book, with settings ranging from prisons to museums to old tombs to dusty attics. And as Diogenes's plot becomes clear, you have to admire the cleverness of the books, and how well the authors have set you up for it all along. It's a really great read; my only real gripe (and it's a minor one) is that I think the final line was a bit unnecessary. Still a great and fun read, though.
7-16	Prayers for Rain, by Dennis Lehane	Ho, hum, just another dazzling masterpiece from Lehane. The Kenzie/Gennaro books are one of the best mystery series out there, mixing the darkest of all humors with thought-provoking social commentary, believable action, and magnificent character work. While this one may not be my favorite in the set (that honor would probably go to Gone, Baby, Gone or Darkness, Take My Hand), it's still a gripping read, telling the story of how a picture-perfect Donna Reed-type woman ended up taking a suicide dive naked off a tall building. Like all the books in the set, difficult moral questions are raised, justice may or may not be doled out, and the characters' pain is oh so real. Excellent, like always.
7-15	The Prestige, by Christopher Priest	Went and picked this up after seeing the outstanding trailer for the movie version coming later this year, and was very, very satisfied. The plot concerns a pair of magicians whose rivalry spins disastrously out of control. To say more would spoil the joys of the book. Suffice to say, the plot is completely compelling and incredibly tricky, the writing is top-notch and expertly crafted, and the characters perfectly realized. It's an excellent book, and after re-watching the trailer, I'm even more excited for it than I was before.
7-15	Loop, by Koji Suzuki	The final book in the trilogy of books that began with Ring, the book that inspired all those horror films about videotapes. This final book is really, really bizarre--it runs in a whole different direction than the first two, into the realm of science fiction. By the final act, I understood what he was doing, and kind of appreciated the way that the finale caused much of Spiral to be rethought. But it doesn't change that the book takes far too long to go anywhere, and is ultimately kind of unsatisfying, apart from the finale.
7-14	Immoral, by Brian Freeman	Decently solid thriller about a detective haunted by a missing girl who is confronted with a second disappearance. The plot is pretty interesting, with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing, even if a LARGE chunk of it seems ripped out of another book I read (I won't say which one, so as not to give away the plot, but much of the story is exactly the way it was in the other book). Still, there's enough additional twists, enough interesting characters, and a solid enough third act to make this pretty satisfying.
7-12	Company Man, by Joseph Finder	Another good read from the author of Paranoia. The hero is a little more sympathetic, which removes some of the nasty fun of the earlier book, and the plotting a little less tightly wound...but even so, it's still an engrossing, tense read, with much higher stakes than anything in Paranoia, and the tension nicely ratcheted up as a result. A fun read that does for executives what Grisham used to do for lawyers--make great thrillers about 'em.
7-2	Jitterbug Perfume, by Tom Robbins	Chaotic fun from Robbins. To describe the plot would be impossible (due in no small part to the fact that I don't think it really has one), but in general, it involves perfume, the evolution of man, immortality, the god Pan, and so much more. It's all over the place, and completely entertaining, as well as funny as hell (and runs rampant with silly puns). Beyond that, I'm not sure if I can explain it much. But did I like it? Very much so.
6-20	Gone, Baby, Gone, by Dennis Lehane	Possibly the best in this series so far. What sets Lehane apart from so many other detective writers is the way that he never downplays the horror of what he's depicting, or, more important, the effects of such horrors on those who see it. He lets his characters be flawed, and his endings untidy. That can make his books hard to take, and this one is no exception: in spinning a tale that only just begins with the disappearance of a young girl, Lehane horrifies the reader, and leaves more than a few questions about just what the right thing may be, especially with his devastating and painful ending.
6-17	A Saucerful of Secrets, by Nicholas Schaffner	A fairly fascinating biography of Pink Floyd, ranging from their formation, through the problems with Syd, following through Waters' control of the band, and ending with the band's "rebirth" with Momentary Lapse. It's a very well-researched book (I learned just how crazy Syd really was), but what makes it really great is the way it manages to maintain journalistic integrity by never taking sides in the great Waters/Gilmour debate, all the while clearly coming across as a fan. If you're a Floyd fan, this is a must read.
6-17	The Resort, by Bentley Little	Standard fare for Little: terrifying scenes; brutal, almost nauseating violence; disturbing sexual undercurrents (and over-currents); unsettling scenes of unimaginable horror--all in all, another good time in Little's frightening reality. Like always, plotting is his weakest point, but when you write scary stuff as good as he does, I'm willing to cut some slack.
6-16	Oblivion, by Peter Abrahams	A standard detective novel that becomes something much more complex and interesting when the lead character collapses, is diagnosed with a tumor, and undergoes surgery--an experience which riddles his memory with holes, including a large one which eclipses his current case. Abrahams does a great job focusing on the personal effects of such a diagnosis, contrasting the character before and after the surgery. But it's the clever detective story that really grips, as Petrov works from the opposite direction to figure out all he's already learned. A pretty fascinating book, although the ending is a bit weak.
6-13	Infernal, by F. Paul Wilson	The 9th Repairman Jack book, and, in some ways, the darkest yet. My only real gripe about the book is that the ending is so obvious, but, as with all the RJ books, it's the character development and little touches along the way that make the book such a great (and emotional) read. Combine a gripping opening, an solid plot, a countdown out of nowhere halfway through the book, and some last page conclusions which promise nothing good for the future, and you have a great book. What a shock.
6-12	The Lincoln Lawyer, by Michael Connelly	A nice new character for Connelly, who trades in his jaded but heroic Bosch for a true anti-hero: an ambulance chasing, money-grubbing, amoral defense lawyer. The character really makes the book here, intriguing the reader until the plot kicks in, and then driving it, as you both feel bad for this jerk as well as question how much his morality will really kick in. The plotting is tight, the writing strong, and the ending more than satisfying.
6-8	The Cold Moon, by Jeffery Deaver	A new Lincoln Rhyme book, and a great return to old form for Deaver. I've liked the last few, but felt that they were a bit weaker than some of his older work, like The Coffin Dancer or The Devil's Teardrop. This is a great read, and the twists are not only clever, they make sense, in a bizarre sort of way. The book rockets along, features a great villain, a fantastically curvy plot, and the typically great dialogue and sense of fun. I was a bit worried about Deaver losing his greatness, but this makes me feel much better.
6-4	Crisscross, by F. Paul Wilson	The new Repairman Jack book, and, as always, a damned good one. The plot is intricately woven in this one, tightly weaving together a blackmailer, a religious cult, Jack's personal life, and his constant struggle with forces beyond his comprehension into a satisfying, surprising climax that brings it all together in a perfect way. But it's the writing and the characters that really make the Jack books, and this one is no exception, as Jack finds himself pushed to darker and darker places, and we get more hints that the darkness around him may have some plans in store for Jack himself, as well. It's a great , thrilling, exciting book in the best series going today. Go read it, dammit!
6-3	The Penultimate Peril, by Lemony Snicket	The penultimate book (naturally), and the last one out until October. It's a great read simply from a story point of view, with one of the most complicated plotlines of any of the books. But it's the slew of character development, especially the hints about Olaf, that really make the book...that, and the finale, which is the logical culmination of so much, and yet still manages to be completely shocking. It's surprising how great these books really are, and how much I am already ready for October 13th to be here.
6-2	The Grim Grotto, by Lemony Snicket	More interesting characters, and some major developments along that notion of the division between being good and evil. Like the Harry Potter books, these books only get more complex and rewarding as you get into them, and only become more fascinating. With revelations about the hook handed man, new allies, and a fairly shocking appearance on the last page of the book, the set really begins to rocket towards a conclusion that I hope is happier than the Baudelaires typically get...
6-2	Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography	What a bizarre, wonderful book. It's not like much else--it's a collection of notes, telegrams, photographs, codes, pictures, and a wonderfully circuitous index that are all packed with clues and hints about the mystery at the core of the books, if only you can piece it all together. A lot more involved than I think most people would expect from a kid's book, but that only makes it a more enjoyable and satisfying little puzzle box of a book, and exactly what the set should have as a hint book.
6-2	The Slippery Slope, by Lemony Snicket	Perhaps the most emotional book so far, in which the orphans are given a chance to rest and actually realize the extent of their loss. We also see the further development of the moral gray areas, as villains seem more friendly and our heroes more villainous, but it's the emotional sections of the book that really soar. Of course, there's also a doozy of a surprise about halfway through, followed by even more mystery, and typically great writing. It makes me sad that I'm coming up on the end of the set...
6-1	The Carnivorous Carnival, by Lemony Snicket	In which the series continues to change into something different. More clues are given, but more interesting are the changes in the orphans, who find themselves taking actions they never would have taken before, and becoming more and more like the villains they so hate. It's an interesting idea, and adds some depth to the set. Combine this with Snicket's increasingly hilarious asides and the mystery of VFD, and you have a great read, with a BITCH of a cliffhanger ending that made me glad I had book 10 ready to go.
6-1	The Horrible Hospital, by Lemony Snicket	In which Snicket actually begins to hugely diverge from the formula, and the books, which were fun, become even better. With no guardians, the trio are forced to fend for themselves (well, more than usual), giving the story a much more open sense of adventure. Not everything is different, but the connections only hinted at before become more and more clear, making the book pretty fascinating. Plus, there is a three page diversion about butterflies solely to set up a bizarre pun--how can you not love that?
5-31	The Vile Village, by Lemony Snicket	Thanks to my wife, who found a great deal on eBay, I finally own the first ten books of this series in a nice, affordable paperback form, which allows me to catch up on them. The series tells the miserable, darkly hilarious adventures of three sad orphans, who are continually being chased by the villainous Count Olaf. The stories all follow a pattern--the orphans meet their new guardian, life under the new guardian is terrible, Count Olaf appears (but no one believes it's him), the orphans triumph, Olaf escapes--but it doesn't remove the wicked, twisted sense of humor that Snicket infuses the books with. With his hilarious asides, bizarre word definitions, and brilliant descriptions (where else can you find books that describe both bombs and strawberry shortcakes as being more dangerous to make than assumptions? or throwaway lines about signs made out of dead monkeys?), the books are just a twisted, funny treat to read. And the development of what appears to be a far more intricate storyline--what is the V.F.D.? and how does Snicket know Olaf?--only heighten the enjoyment. Yes, the books are simple, but if you like the dark humor of Roald Dahl or Edward Gorey, these are right up your alley.
5-31	The Ersatz Elevator, by Lemony Snicket
5-31	The Austere Academy, by Lemony Snicket
5-30	The Miserable Mill, by Lemony Snicket
5-28	The Regulators, by "Richard Bachman" (Stephen King)	The strange, surreal sister book to Desperation, King wrote this under his pseudonym perhaps only to keep from saturating the market, because it's definitely closer to King's style than Bachman's. It's a fascinating companion piece to Desperation (same characters, but jumbled up; connected stories), but if that were all it was, it would be a failure. It works as an intense, nightmarish world; it manages to start in wonderful suburbia and slowly become a completely alien, terrifying world. Not as complex as Desperation, but just as frightening, and a little more amoral (natch, for Bachman).
5-26	Desperation, by Stephen King	After seeing the disappointing miniseries, I decided to re-read this, and I remembered how strong it is. It's one of King's most intense, disturbing books, but it's also one of his most thoughtful and complex. The movie could only render it as preachiness, but the book manages to struggle with faith and doubt in fascinating, intelligent ways, all the while escalating a vicious sense of tension and fear. It's a hell of a read, and just as good as I remembered it being...but it really does expose the miniseries as the failure it is.
5-22	Domain, by James Herbert	Ugh. It took forever to get through this piece of crap. Utterly generic, with flat characters, uninspired settings, dull setpieces, and a general air of incoherency. It really is about as generic an "end of the world" horror as you can get, and completely nonsensical. The ending is more laughable than interesting, but at least it has a sort of idea. But it's the end, and it's a crappy one, at that. Just an utter waste of my time.
5-13	Detour, by James Siegel	Good, but not the rocketing thrill ride that Derailed was. The plot is pretty outstanding at first, and damned gripping. But the longer it goes, the more twists get chucked in, and the less effective they are. It's not that the book gets dumb; it almost more feels like it just slowly runs out of gas and comes to a halt. Still, it's enjoyable enough for most of its length; it's just not sustained enough for its whole length.
5-4	The Areas of My Expertise, by John Hodgman	There is really no way that any explanation I can give would do this book justice. Hodgman has been a regular "expert" on The Daily Show as of late, and it's really made me want to read his book. It doesn't disappoint. Nominally, it's an almanac of facts, but that in no way does justice to the bizarre, surreal, and side-splittingly funny worldview that Hodgman creates here. I honestly don't think anything has made me laugh this hard since reading America the Book last year. Just do yourself a favor--go pick up a copy and read the book jacket. That should be enough to sell you, and it's well worth the price.
5-1	Lord of the Flies, by William Golding	Haven't read this since high school, and it's almost a shock to remember how engrossing it is. The fact that it works on symbolic and literal levels equally well is just a testament to its greatness. A first rate adventure story, but more to the point, a disturbing look into human nature, bookended by a lot of details that I forgot from the first time through--the world outside the island truly is no better. A classic, and for a good reason.
4-30	Paranoia, by Joseph Finder	Found this NEW for $2.99--apparently a marketing deal, as it was cover price--and decided to pick it up. What a blast. It's just a fun read that reminds me of Grisham and Crichton before their decline into suck, only better. Great characters, a nicely complicated plot, and the usual fun of a spy novel (written by a former Sovietologist!) in the guise of a corporate thriller. Addictive and great, with a fantastic ending--do yourself a favor and find this. It's well worth the three bucks, I promise.
4-28	Vineland, by Thomas Pynchon	Despite what you might think from the lengthy reading time, I really enjoyed it--it's just very dense, and life has been busy. I can't say that I feel like I understood all of the book, but I enjoyed its wicked sense of humor, its keen sense of the bizarre, and its lament for/effort to take back the 60s. It may be sprawling and all over the place, but with so many well-written scenes, a great style of writing, and a whole slew of great characters, it's hard to not enjoy it, even if it's ridiculously complex and at times completely baffling.
4-12	One Shot, by Lee Child	Well, it's finally happened--I'm all caught up on the Jack Reacher books. Bummer. At least this was a hell of a book to leave off on. The plot is pretty rock solid and fascinating, and although there are little bits you can piece together in advance, the story as a whole twists and turns enough to definitely keep you guessing. And, of course, there's Reacher, who is just one of the best thriller characters around. Top notch stuff.
4-9	In the Night Room, by Peter Straub	Interesting sequel (of a sort) to lost boy lost girl, Straub's last book. I think this one is more successful, mainly due to the wildly fascinating plot that ends up being as much a meditation on the imagination and writing as it is a horror novel (and a pretty successful one at that). As seems to be the case recently, Straub is more interested in playing with the genre than focusing on a plot, something which can make his work frustrating, but this one works more than not, culminating in yet more proof that, whatever else Straub does, he sure as hell knows how to created the archetypal "haunted house" story.
4-3	Maus II: And Here My Troubles Began, by Art Spiegelman	Stellar continuation/culmination of the first book's powerful story. This one becomes more meditative, with the author himself making intrusions as the author, questioning what he is doing, and telling the reader how his father's death has affected the continued writing of the book. The combination of the complicated father/son dynamic, the guilt over profiting off of and re-telling his father's story and death, and the haunting, unsettling Holocaust story makes this a truly remarkable work of art.
4-3	Maus I: My Father Bleeds History, by Art Spiegelman	Unlike any comic book you've ever read. I'm hesitant to even use that term, "comic book"; this is one of those situations where the name "graphic novel" really comes true. The idea of an artist retelling his father's life during the Holocaust in comic book form, with the Jews as mice and the Nazis as cats--it's impossible to tell you how well it works, how haunting its images are, how visceral an impact they really have. Further, by juxtaposing the history with their relationship in the present, the book becomes even more moving. I'm already halfway through the concluding half, and am blown away.
3-31	The Sandman Vol. 2: The Doll's House, by Neil Gaiman	Definitely showing growth from the first volume, this travels more into Dream's domain, complete with the meetings with some of his strange siblings). It's great stuff, and fascinatingly ambivalent. There are no good and bad characters (well, the Corinthian is nightmarish and terrifying...but maybe not meant to be pure evil)--just characters, who each act according to their own natures. It's interesting stuff--where else could you read about a convention of serial killers that is equal parts comedy and pure horror?
3-31	The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes & Nocturnes, by Neil Gaiman	Finally got to pick this up thanks to WCHS's library getting a copy. These early issues are solid and interesting, but I get the impression that they really don't give you much of a feel for how Gaiman would develop the set. Not that they're bad--far from it. They introduce fascinating characters, an interesting cosmology, and feature some of the most disturbing and unsettling work I've seen in a comic book. It's really outstanding stuff, and leaves me very, very ready to read the next volume.
3-30	Clockers, by Richard Price	Don't let the lengthy reading time fool you--this was an excellent book. It's the tightest plotted of the Price books that I've read, but it's also the most focused, and the most riveting. Typically, Price spends as much time, if not more, setting up his characters and environment as advancing the story, but here, perhaps because of the focus, the social criticism, the black humor, the fascinating worldview--it all comes together perfectly. It really is an incredible read, in every way, and the final revelation is perfect. Magnificent.
3-10	A Scanner Darkly, by Philip K. Dick	After seeing the trailer for the movie, decided to re-read this. As hilarious as the concept sounds, it's a heartbreaking book, and you can tell that Dick wrote it as an elegy for drug-users. It does not romanticize anything; it's a devastatingly sad book about wasted lives and ravaged minds. There is a dark, dark comic undercurrent, but more than that, there's Dick's fascinating, thought-provoking take on identity, life, and society. It's an amazing book, filled with some of Dick's best writing--it's just not a real up-lifter.
3-5	Sacred, by Dennis Lehane	The next in the series, and it's a good one again. I don't think it's the amazing achievement that A Drink Before the War and Darkness, Take My Hand were, but that doesn't say much; it's still a damned entertaining, cleverly plotted, solidly written book. It may not plunge into the heart of darkness like those two books did, but that's okay sometimes. It's still head and shoulders above so much else out there right now.
3-4	Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War, by Clive Barker	The story continues, and Barker's imagination explodes all over the page. It's pure formula for the most part, but Barker's wondrous visuals keep the story involving. Beyond that, there are his fascinating characters, more complex than most kid's books deserve, and at least one fascinating plot development (not the one that's hinted at throughout, but one that was far more surprising). I loved the hell out of it, and can't wait for book three.
2-18	Abarat, by Clive Barker	Re-read this since I finally picked up the sequel. There are few writers alive today with the imagination of Barker, and creating a "children's" fantasy work really allows a reader to simply revel in pure imagination. I put "children's" in quotation marks because the book may be a little dark for kids, especially with its hints of what's to come; that being said, it doesn't make the book any less of a joy to read for this man. It's a lot of fun, and full of wonder and magic. I hope the next book can keep it up.
2-18	V For Vendetta, by Alan Moore & David Lloyd	Fascinating, thoughtful stuff. Although it's not the equal of From Hell or Watchmen, it still carries Moore's typically thoughtful, almost philosophical approach towards telling a story. Moreover, it's almost chillingly relevant still today, with its depiction of totalitarian governments and rule through fear and control. The idea of a movie adaptation made these days...it could be excellent. As for the book itself--remarkable stuff, especially the very well-done and pitch perfect ending. Fascinating, thought-provoking work.
2-17	Gateways, by F. Paul Wilson	I've said it before, and I'll say it again: if you enjoy reading, and you're not reading the Repairman Jack books, you're not a good human being. Wilson continues to ratchet up the unease and the drama, working not only on bringing Jack to the nightmare of Nightworld, but also in exploring his personal life. It's the latter that makes the books soar, because there may not be a cooler character in modern thrillers than Jack. With humor, action, suspense, and great writing, the best book series around only gets better with book seven. Now I just have to wait a few months for #8...
2-13	The Closers, by Michael Connelly	A typically strong Bosch book, though I don't think it's the best of the series (I think that honor would probably be City of Bones), and I miss the first person narration introduced in Lost Light. Although I worried about bringing Bosch back into the force, Connelly plays it right, changing his role to that of a cold-case investigator. It's this decision that really gives the book its strength and power, allowing Connelly to explore the way the crime has affected people over the years. Sadly, there's just too little Bosch for the book. It's his character that drives the series, and while the world Connelly creates is good, as always, I miss the personal drive of the last few books. Still damned good, tho.
2-5	A Man Rides Through, by Stephen R. Donaldson	The conclusion to the Mordant's Need set, and a pretty solid piece of entertainment, I have to say. It's taken me some time to get through it, for any number of reasons, but I have to admit that every time I managed to get into it again, I ended up addicted and unable to put it down until life interfered. I don't find it as fascinatingly complex as the Thomas Covenant books, but it's still remarkable fantasy, with strong characters, an intricate, rewarding plot, and a flawless creation of a magical world.
1-29	Cell, by Stephen King	Was reading the continuation of the Donaldson book, but, hey, the new King came out. It's damned good stuff--pure horror, the way King used to write, although with much of his more thoughtful modern side to it. It's pure zombie gore at first, and while those parts are intense, one of the best things about the book is the way it constantly shifts and mutates into something new and different. And, despite its surprisingly short length, it manages to have a nice epic scope to it. Entertaining, creepy as hell, and immensely satisfying.
1-14	The Mirror of Her Dreams, by Stephen R. Donaldson	Kind of hard to review this one, since it's very much the first half of a much larger work. But it's interesting, although a little slow to get going. Donaldson seems to be fascinated with flawed, struggling protagonists, and Terisa's struggle to find herself and her purpose keeps the book engaging. Of course, the dizzyingly complicated plot and fascinating depiction of the world don't hurt things. I'm glad I have the second part already, although as long as this one took me, could take a while to get through it...still, I'm quite hooked.
1-8	The Informers, by Bret Easton Ellis	From what I have read, this started life as a series of short stories which were then edited and slightly connected together. It still feels like short stories--not that that's a bad thing. It's typical (from my limited exposure to him) Ellis, filled with moral bankruptcy, the blackest of black humor, and more than an undercurrent of brutality. Very good, if unsettling in large portions, with some stories being stronger than others (I particularly loved "Letters from L.A." and "On the Beach" the most).
1-4	Dance of Death, by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child	The latest and greatest Agent Pendergast book, this one pretty much picks up right where Brimstone left off, and takes off running. The plot is excellently twisty, although the final revelations about the plot seem a little anti-climactic. Still, it manages to bring together almost all of the authors' characters without seeming crowded, and there are so many exciting sequences, so much good plotting, and such a devilishly cliff-hanging ending that I couldn't help but love it as much as I've loved all of their books.

e-mail me at
clydeumney@gmail.com

page updated:
September 29, 2009