Umney's Alley - 2007's Book Log

A Year in Reading: 2007

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.

12-25	I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson	After seeing the movie, I felt compelled to re-read this, and I'm really glad I did. Matheson's book is a true marvel; it feels unlike anything else you've ever read, and captures a fascinating character in Robert Neville, who is, quite literally, the last man on Earth. Playing with shifting morality, fear of death, scientific phenomena, horror staples, and more, Matheson creates a vampire novel unlike any other, and manages to make a story with no dialogue and only one man talking to himself incredibly captivating and haunting. If you saw the movie, come read the book and see what you're missing out on, including a phenomenal ending that really makes the book so legendary. (The copy I own has a few short stories attached, all of which are fun. "Prey" is the most well-known, but I really found "Person to Person" to be the best, with its gleeful blend of humor, horror, and thriller elements. And "The Funeral" is just too entertaining.)
12-23	The Quick, by Dan Vining	A strange, haunting blend of hard-boiled detective stories and the supernatural. The Quick is technically a mystery, but that mystery never really takes center stage. Rather, the book plunges the reader into a strange, slightly off-kilter version of L.A., using the case as a jumping off point. The book is a strange read; transitions are almost entirely absent, and a lot of times you feel like you're not sure where you're at, but I think it's intentional, and adds to the eerie mood of the book. None of this sounds like a strong recommendation, but I really loved the book; the world it enters is unlike much else that I've read, and there are some peculiarly haunting and unsettling scenes. The mystery may not be the focus, but given how fascinating the world of the book is, I find it hard to complain too much about that.
12-22	Every Person on the Planet, by Bruce Eric Kaplan	A dry and pretty funny story about a couple who decide to invite every person on the planet to their holiday party so as not to offend anyone. The whole thing is completely absurd, and the whimsical drawings only emphasize the insanity at play. It's a quick read, but it's well worth checking out; if you've ever thrown a party, a lot of this will seem familiar, and if you haven't, it's worth it for the understated and clever humor.
12-22	Midas, by Russell Andrews	A fun little popcorn read that takes on current events in the most insane and conspiracy riddled way possible. I don't mean that as a bad thing; although it's obvious that the book is a really thinly veiled look at the current administration, the conspiracy at play here is an interesting one, and with great action, good twists, and solid writing, there's really nothing here of substance; just a jumping point for a summer beach type read. I really enjoyed it, as I think I have every Andrews book so far.
12-22	The Fury, by John Farris	After wanting to check out Farris for a while, I finally picked up a couple, and decided to start with his most famous work that I know of. All I can say is that I sure hope this isn't representative of his talent. The Fury is pretty much a muddled mess, with too many characters and not enough depth. There are some great ideas and scenes, but often I had no idea who the characters were or why I cared, and without that, it's hard to get involved in the action at all. None of the deaths had any impact, and when it was done, I had to think hard to piece together anything that had happened. I have one more Farris book to try, but I sure hope it's a lot better than this was.
12-16	The Wheel of Darkness, by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child	A really great Pendergast book that starts to lose a little steam towards the end. Setting the book on an ocean liner is a work of genius; the closed environment really ratchets up the tension throughout, and it becomes a more horrifying version of some sort of Poirot story, in some ways. The scientific explanation, usually a strength of these guys, is a little weak, which is a major disappointment; add to that an ending that both feels rushed and not explored enough (contradictory, I know, but I stand by it), and you have 9/10ths of a phenomenal book from these guys. Still worth checking out, but not on par with their best - still head and shoulders above most books of its ilk, though.
12-5	The Dark River, by John Twelve Hawks	I decided to check this out despite my mixed feelings on The Traveler, mainly because I felt like a lot of those feelings were due to the massive amount of setup that book had to do. And for the most part, this second book in the series moves a lot faster, leaping through story points and locations and delivering some thoughtful looks at the rapid decline of privacy in our world. I'm not convinced of the story yet--namely, still not sure exactly why a Traveler is so important--but the world itself is fascinating, and I'm getting more and more involved in the characters. Not sure how this will find a satisfying payoff in one book, but I'll almost definitely check it out and see.
11-25	The Overlook, by Michael Connelly	A slight but engaging Harry Bosch book, this follows a tumultuous 24 hours on a case that starts as a simple execution-style murder, and then becomes much, much more. This started life as a serialized tale in New York Times Magazine, which explains the length, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The streamlined story doesn't lack of surprising developments, and Connelly maintains his keen eye on the state of the world and continues to make Bosch a satisfying and rewarding character. Don't let the size fool you; it's still a great book in the series.
11-24	Ubik, by Philip K. Dick	Another mindgame from the master of them all. Questions of afterlife, product sales, psychic cannibalism, time travel, and more all come into play in this richly satisfying read about the aftermath of an explosion. To say any more would be to ruin the fun; suffice to say that this is easily one of the best works by Dick I've read, and that's saying something. Nobody pulls the rug out from underneath you the way Dick did, and the fact that he manages to do it so many times here, all while engaging in fascinating and thoughtful discussions about so much, just emphasizes how talented he really was.
11-23	Speaks the Nightbird, by Robert McCammon	McCammon's first book in almost a decade, and it's a richly satisfying tale, though it's definitely a further step from the horror genre he used to be known for. The book is almost a legal thriller, concerning itself with a witch trial in a Carolina city in the 1690s. The characters are richly drawn, and the story is twisty enough to be involving, but never to the point of excess. The whole work creates a vivid and memorable sense of time and place, and I loved the way it kept moving in directions I never expected. I was a little bothered by the fact that it is the first in a series, but the excerpt of the next book reads more like a continuation than a sequel, and I'm more than fine with that.
11-16	Killer Instinct, by Joseph Finder	Another fun read from Finder, who really has, as one of the quotes puts it, done for business men what Grisham used to do for lawyers. In other words, he writes tight, fun thrillers with characters both realistic and involving, and knows how to ratchet up the tension. This one does rely a little heavily on a character being magically all-powerful, but in the way of great popcorn books, there's a little suspension of disbelief. And with writing this tight, and characters this interesting, you don't worry about it too much. Finder is a lot of fun, and well worth checking out for fans of business and legal thrillers.
11-12	Time Out of Joint, by Philip K. Dick	Imagine The Truman Show as written by...well, as written by Philip K. Dick, and you'll have a decent idea of what this is about. Of course, as with all Dick writings, the plot is only part of the appeal; what makes his books so fascinating are the philosophical questions and digressions, the windows into worlds so like our own and yet so different, and the mind-bending shifts in reality. It's a superb look at paranoia, the ephemeral nature of reality, and of our own perceptions. A great read, as so much Dick is, and a fascinating one at that, one that's left me thinking and fascinated long after I finished it.
11-7	The Vanishing, by Bentley Little	Let me preface this by saying that I like Bentley Little a lot. When he's one, he delivers some really terrifying scenes, usually linked together by a serviceable to interesting plot. And man, does this one have some truly unsettling sequences, including one punctuated by nothing more mundane than the meowing of a cat, used to chilling effect. It's just...I don't know if I wasn't in the mood for a Little book, or if his usual bizarre ending just didn't do it for me, or if things came together more than I felt like...but I wasn't real thrilled with this one, despite some perfect scenes along the way. I may give it another shot some day, and see if it was just my mood, but it certainly didn't feel like a great one.
10-31	End of Story, by Peter Abrahams	I kinda like Peter Abrahams, but occasionally I wonder why. I'm not usually all that satisfied when I finish reading one of his (I'll make an exception for the wonderful Oblivion), and a lot of times, I find myself questioning why he's so highly regarded. It's not that his books are bad--the writing is excellent throughout, and Abrahams brings more characterization and depth to the genre than most writers even dream of. And yet, somewhere in all of that, the "thriller" part occasionally gets lost; this one is fascinating for a while, but then just kind of peters out towards the end. It's not a bad read--there are some great ideas, some perfect scenes--but I would be lying if I said I was totally satisfied with it, and I'll be damned if I can figure out why.
10-24	Night Watch, by Sergei Lukyanenko	I had been putting off checking this out for a long time; while the movie had some intriguing ideas, my reaction to it was definitely lukewarm at best. But I finally gave in, and I'm really glad I did. The book is far more fleshed out and interesting than the film, with a far more intricately constructed world, but also far more interesting characters, with discussion of morality, rules, philosophy, politics, and more. Not too much--in the end, this is essentially a horror twist on a "spy game" sort of story--but the depth is interesting enough, and the plot satisfying enough, to keep you more than entertained. Some great concepts and ideas really make this a solid read, and I'll have to see what I can do about reading the rest of the books in the set pretty soon.
10-12	Something Rotten, by Jasper Fforde	The fourth in the Thursday Next series, and definitely the conclusion to the first part of the set. While I've mentioned about Fforde's lack of interest in plot, it's fascinating to realize just how intricately planned out this series has been, something that comes very sharply into focus near the end, with one of several fairly shocking revelations. It's a great ending to the book and to the first part of the set, which has so well juggled slapstick, literary humor, science fiction, thrillers, and character development, all while creating one of the most fun and entertaining worlds I've ever encountered in books. Reading the first four has been pure joy, and I'm going to have to get the new one awfully soon.
10-11	I Am America (And So Can You!), by Stephen Colbert	It's definitely The Colbert Report to America: The Book's Daily Show. In other words, it's viciously tongue-in-cheek, searingly sarcastic, hilariously self-aggrandizing, and a complete treat for fans. With charts like "Things That Are Trying To Turn Me Gay and Their Success On A Scale of One to Ten" and "Endangered Animals and Why They Are Unloved By God", bizarre graphics, and a side margin commentator reminiscent of "The Word", the wit is plentiful, and the whole thing vastly entertaining. Basically, if you like the show, you owe it to yourself to pick it up. If you're on the fence, pick up a copy and check out the "About the Author" blurb on the back. It'll sell you, I bet.
9-28	Bloodline, by F. Paul Wilson	The new Repairman Jack book feels almost like the beginning of Act Three in Jack's life. After the momentous and epic events of Harbingers, Bloodline feels pretty small, but there's a lot of setup, ideas, and seeds being sown for some major new events. And besides, I don't think we as readers can handle something quite on the scale of Harbingers this soon. It's a good read, but it feels a little like the first chapter of something--it just doesn't feel quite complete yet. The ending is a tad anticlimactic, and a lot goes unanswered. That being said, a Jack book is a Jack book, and this one has all of Jack's cunning, sense of humor, and great characters--and one hell of a dark side, something that continues to grow and grow. The only really bad thing is that I have to wait until the next book for a while again!
9-27	Echo Park, by Michael Connelly	The latest Harry Bosch book may not be the best of the series, but it's still damned good, and it's nice to see how Bosch has aged and changed over these twelve books. Connelly isn't a perfect writer--his dialogue is hackneyed at best--but his sense of character and mood are perfect, and it's fascinating to watch how the Bosch series has changed in theme from current crime to the crimes of the past, and how the aftermath has become such a central theme. As always, Bosch remains a great figure--a perfect descendant of film noir detectives everywhere. The plot's solid, but it's Bosch's cynical worldview, combined with his struggle for justice, that makes the book so good.
9-22	The Well of Lost Plots, by Jasper Fforde	The third in the Thursday Next series, and easily the least plot driven. In fact, in a lot of ways, what plot there is almost feels like an afterthought here...and yet, it may be the most fun and enjoyable of the series. Fforde plunges completely into the literary world here, and the resulting fun with characters, literary staples, famous characters, and the bizarre "behind the scenes" world of literature make every page a complete treat. The humor is sharp, and Thursday remains a great character; what the book lacks in plot (at least, until the end), it more than makes up for with her development.
9-15	Lost in a Good Book, by Jasper Fforde	The second in the Thursday Next series, and it's as much fun as the first, if not more. The book does a great job of revisiting Thursday's world while never seeming like a retread of the formula--a tough thing for many series authors to do. The plot, like the first, is classically convoluted, involving dodos, Great Expectations, a new Shakespeare play, time travel, and the end of the world...and yet, I was never confused by a bit of it. Fforde's writing is light and a complete joy, and between his absurd puns, an incredibly imaginative world where books are nothing more than doorways, and memorable characters, I finished this and went right to the next of the series, only regretting that I hadn't started reading Fforde a lot sooner.
9-7	Johnny the Homicidal Maniac: Director's Cut, by Jhonen Vasquez	Reading this made me question more than ever what the hell Nickelodeon was thinking by giving Vasquez a show. Hell, I'm surprised Invader Zim was as tame and acceptable as it was! JTHM is a warped, disturbing little book, to put it mildly. It's viciously bleak, with a hatred for humanity only matched by a scathing take on itself. There's an undercurrent of black, black humor, to be sure, but in general this is a withering look at the world and at its strange, massively unreliable narrator. I've never read much like it, and I don't know that I'll read it again; Johnny's mind isn't necessarily a fun place to hang out, but it's certainly a memorable one.
9-5	The Dark Tower: Gunslinger Born, issues #6 and #7	As much as I grumbled a little bit about the "been there, done that" nature of reading a story I've already read, I'd be lying if I said I didn't really get into these last couple of issues. Maybe it was taking a little break, or maybe it was just the natural excitement of rushing towards the finale, but I really got back into this series at the end. I am still more excited about the next series, which should be new stuff, than I was about this one, but the artwork, writing, and supplementary pieces of this series were so astounding that I'm really excited to see what comes next. And, man, did the thinny look fantastic.
9-2	I'm a Lebowski, You're a Lebowski, by Bill Green, Ben Peskoe, Scott Shuffit, and Will Russell	It's a book written by fans, for fans, and it succeeds admirably on every level. Funny, entertaining, and incredibly informative, the LebowskiFest creators managed to interview almost everyone who was in the movie, trace the (surprisingly many) real-life influences on the story, look at the cult following, and do it all with a sense of humor and some real affection for the film that shines through on every page. If you're a fan of The Big Lebowski, I can't recommend this book enough; if you're not, it's still a remarkably thorough examination of the movie and its following.
8-14	High Crimes, by Joseph Finder	A fun and twisty read from Finder, who is rapidly becoming required popcorn-legal-thriller reading for me. It lacks the density and complexity of his later stuff, and it's nowhere near as good as Paranoia, but it's still a really fun read, and the story is interesting enough to keep you gripped. Some of the supplemental characters are a little weak (the lawyer who helps out Claire screams out for more characterization), and it's one of the rare books where a little more detail and writing might have helped. Still, it moves well, the plot's interesting, and the twists satisfying. Hard to ask for more.
8-5	The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, by Philip K. Dick	What Dick lacks in writing technique, he more than makes up for with ideas, concepts, philosophy, and theology, and this may be one of his best. As always, Dick takes a futuristic and slightly darker version of our world and spins it, filling it with ideas that undercut our way of looking at the world. Here, we begin to question reality, God, religion, eternal life, all while getting involved in a bizarre thriller where the only way to win may be to kill the Almighty. It's hard to explain it, but if you've read a Dick book, you know what you're in for--while the writing is pedestrian, the ideas are like no one else's. As always, I left with my mind swimming, and with thoughts I'd never considered before. Really, this is one of Dick's best works, and I'm just sorry it took me this long to read it.
8-4	The Coma, by Alex Garland	You know that old saying that life is a journey, not a destination? The same applies here. The story here is just enough to prop up the book--a man is beaten and put into a coma, and then awakes--or does he? There's not really much plot here, but the symbolism, mind games, psychology, and just fascinatingly strange world the protagonist finds himself in all make this a strangely effective and unsettling little read. It won't take you long, and if you read it, don't expect an ending or a resolution. But for what it is--a slice of life (or slice of a dream, maybe), it's incredibly effective. Alternately creepy, moving, unsettling, beautiful, and more, it really shows off Garland's talent, and while it doesn't really work as a novel, as a haunting portrait, it's really great.
8-3	Panic, by Jeff Abbott	A decent enough thriller that never really picks up the speed or momentum it needs. The whole thing starts off well, and there's a great concept in here, but Abbott's payoff is pretty weak, and the plot just lurches along, rather than developing that gripping speed and tension that comes in the best thrillers. It's certainly not awful, but it's not as good as you'll hope, and the fact that it starts so well makes the rest pretty disappointing.
7-23	Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, by J.K. Rowling	A fantastic finale to a truly memorable series. DH is easily the most action-packed in the series--the damned thing moves like a rocket, and I stayed up far too long, unable to put down the book and see what happens next. But what really makes the book so great is how mature it is--not a surprise, really; after all, each book has gotten more and more emotionally complex, and DH really brings that to a head, not only delivering an epic finale, but juggling ideas about sacrifice, destinies, family, love, honor, redemption and what it really means to be an adult. The body count is high and the book is dark, but it all works magnificently, and I'll fully admit to tearing up a time or two; whatever Rowling's shortcomings as a writer, she makes up for with a fully-realized world and characters who have endeared themselves to us far more than we've realized. I want to say more, but to do so would rob you of the joy of discovering what happens for yourselves. Suffice to say, it's a great finale to the series, and well worth the wait.
7-22	Harry Potter and the Half- Blood Prince, by J.K. Rowling	Re-read this to ramp up for Deathly Hallows, and I was surprised how much had slipped my mind. The thing about Half-Blood Prince is that, for all the backstory and important plot points introduced, very little really happens in the book. And yet, it's a great read, simply because Rowling lets the characters take center stage for a while, and lets us get to know them all, even Voldemort, a little better. It's a daring move to stop this epic war in mid-tracks, but it pays off, giving the reader a really rewarding read and really investing us in the characters before the final book brings the climax.
7-18	The Amalgamation Polka, by Stephen Wright	Not the stand-up comedian, no. This Wright is among the most overlooked literary talents working today, and if there were justice, he would be mentioned alongside Heller, Vonnegut, Pynchon, and DeLillo regularly. As it is, we can only hope that this, his fourth book, brings him the fame he deserves. Polka tells the story of Liberty Fish, born to abolitionist parents right before the Civil War, and his struggle to reconcile his beliefs with his Southern ancestry. What results is equal parts satire, horror, road novel, comedy, and a personal journey. Imagine a cross between Alice in Wonderland and Heart of Darkness, and you might get close. To describe the plot is pointless, as it's not plot that Wright is interested in. In fact, while the plot is involving, it's the beautiful, poetic writing that, as always, makes Wright an essential read. No one writes quite like Wright, mixing unique imagery with clever wordplay while never losing the narrative thread. Really, I can't recommend this enough; it's not Wright's best, but even his worst (probably M31) is head and shoulders above almost every other writer working today.
7-7	The Big Over Easy, by Jasper Fforde	Leaving behind his "Tuesday Next" Literary Detective series for a bit (and man, do I really need to read more of those), Fforde creates a wonderful new series involving a detective in charge of Nursery Rhyme Crimes, spinning together a gleeful parody of detective stories with a skewed look at the world of nursery rhyme characters. The results are funnier and more endearing than the sound; as gimmicky as this seems, the books are well-written, the humor is funny beyond the incongruity of the characters' new situations, and the mystery (involving the fall of one large egg from a wall) is intriguing. It's just a really fun read, with clever and entertaining imagination to spare.
7-7	The Wrong Man, by John Katzenbach	The Katzenbach this reminds me most of is The Analyst, and that's high praise indeed. Both books follow ordinary people who find their lives turned upside down by a villain they find themselves unable to handle, and both books find a true terror in the events, realizing that the most sympathetic heroes are human ones, not superhuman ones. The shifting points of view make for an interesting look at the story, and I even liked the cross-cutting to the framework, although it started to feel a bit unnecessary by the end. That being said, the ending of this book is such a rocket ride that it's only afterwards you'd think of anything like that. A great thriller--one that's actually scary, effective, and involving. And I gotta say--when I finally understood the title near the book's end, I loved it.
7-6	The Road, by Cormac McCarthy	I haven't read much McCarthy, but I've read enough to know that even with his stripped-down, no nonsense prose, he evokes haunting images and fascinating characters, all though subtlety and nuance. The Road is an incredible work; following the journey of a father and son in a post-apocalyptic landscape, the book creates an unforgettable world and a quietly heartbreaking relationship between the two characters. The plot is alternately beautiful and terrifying, and always compelling, but it's the least important aspect of the book. What makes the book is McCarthy's complex view of human nature, and the way he sees us at the end of the world. It's a tough read, but it's an unforgettable one by an author I am more and more impressed by with every book.
7-2	Death Instinct, by Bentley Little	It's funny that this was written under a pseudonym, because other than the lack of supernatural material, this could not be a more "Bentley Little" book. Insane violence, some disturbing childhood traumas, decent but mostly stock characters...it's pretty much what he's always done, but a little less polished--after all, it is an early work. The plot is much less inventive, although the identity of the killer is a bit...bizarre, to say the least, but the idea is at least unique. It's not a bad read, but it's mainly for fans, or people who want to see the development of a writer.
6-27	Batman: The Long Halloween, by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale	An interesting and mostly very successful story of how Gotham City changed from a city of gangsters to a city of costumed "freaks" like the Joker and friends. The noir elements of the story are great, and I like the way the whole story slowly transitions to the new world brought in by Batman. There are some flaws, to be sure; some of the villains feel a bit shoehorned in, and the central mystery, while fascinating...well, let's just say the answer isn't as clear as we might hope. That being said, the story is really great, and it's nice to see the comic so fascinated by the idea of justice--always a complicated issue in the world of Batman. Well worth the time to read this one.
6-25	Stephen King's Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born - Issues #4 and #5	I won't say I'm not still enjoying these comics, because I am. And, for the most part, my same praises and complaints are staying true. The artwork is amazing; the extra material on the Dark Tower universe is interesting; the story is a bit too much of the same old stuff. But I feel like that last point is starting to overwhelm the rest, and while I like the extra, by the time I got through the third extra item in the fourth issue, I was wondering why they didn't just use a few more pages for the comic. I feel like the story didn't progress much in these two issues, and while I know where it ends, I was hoping for some new stuff by the end, and I'm starting to feel like the pace is so slow I won't get much. It's not a bad read still, but I'm beginning to feel some dragging feet...
6-24	The Sleeping Doll, by Jeffery Deaver	The first book of Deaver's new series, featuring the kinesics expert Kathryn Dance (introduced in The Cold Moon), and it's a typical Deaver, with all the good and bad that implies. You get a rocketing plot, fun (but not extremely deep) characters, lots of good plot twists, and Deaver's quick reversals--a few too many, if anything, to the point where it begins to feel that everyone in the book is a super genius. It's a popcorn read, through and through, but it's a fun one, and the twists are satisfying. The fact that Deaver plans on alternating Dance and Rhyme books for a while? Suits me just fine.
6-18	Blaze, by Richard Bachman (Stephen King)	Not a great book by King standards, but a good one, and the best of all the Bachman books. The Bachman books have always been more low-key crime novels than horror, and Blaze is no exception. It's a simple story about a man whose abuse-filled childhood left him a bit on the slow side, and the crime he decides to commit. What makes this a real standout among the Bachman books, and a nice lead-in to King's own work (this book actually pre-dates Carrie) is the strong and sympathetic characterization, making Blaze a tragic figure and giving the whole tale a humane and heartbreaking feel. The plot may be simple, but between the great backstory and King's character-building skills, Blaze succeeds far more than a plot summary would suggest.
6-12	Nine Stories, by J.D. Salinger	I had not read any of these since high school, when I enjoyed them but was left baffled by many of them. I think I get them a lot better as an adult; Salinger has a habit of leaving a lot of the characters' thoughts or even the main action out of the story, leaving it to the reader to draw out the implications for themselves. Nowhere does this work better than the excellent story "The Laughing Man," where the rise and fall of a relationship is charted without ever even telling you that there IS a relationship. (You can read it online here.) It's a beautifully done story, and easily the best of the book, although I enjoyed all of them quite a bit, most notably "Teddy", with its haunting ending.
6-8	The Unquiet, by John Connolly	The latest Charlie Parker book is definitely less epic and theological than The Black Angel, but it's no less well-written, filled with strong characters, unsettling, and thoughtful than any other book of the set. Parker finds himself investigating a very old case of child abuse, and the investigation brings him back in touch with some characters from the short story in Nocturnes, as well as lots of new adversaries. The book is a fascinating exploration of morality, as Parker finds himself greatly reflected in those he is dealing with, as well as a haunting look at the sins of the past and the bond between children and parents. The epilogue is masterful, both as a wrap-up to the book, a series of major steps in Parker's life, and as a haunting and disturbing final scene. It's as strong as any book in the series, and Connolly remains the best author you're probably not reading.
6-5	The Black Angel, by John Connolly	Re-read in preparation for the new Connolly book (The Unquiet), and I'm no less impressed with it this time than I was the first time. It's not just the intricate plotting, and it's not just the phenomenal and poetic writing. It's the way that Connolly explores the nuances of even the smallest characters; it's the way that even a mystery novel becomes imbued with philosophical and even theological undertones, as Parker comes closer to (maybe) understanding himself. The depth and richness of this series are rarely equaled, and the horrors that Parker faces are hard to shake, because Connolly explores evil unblinkingly, and brings a true horror to it that few authors are capable of. An outstanding entry in an outstanding series, and my appetite is quite whet for the new one...
5-24	State of Fear, by Michael Crichton	It's going to be hard to explain why this is such a weak book any better than this review does, but I'll do my best. It's not just the ridiculous strawman that makes up Crichton's "argument" about global warming; it's the condescension and almost insulting tone of the whole thing. But what makes it worse is the way that Crichton seems to forget about his own story by the end, leaving out pieces and gradually just letting it all fall apart in favor of more lecturing. Definitely a weak effort, and disappointing, since the story itself could have worked out pretty decently, had Crichton not enjoyed his high horse so much.
5-7	Rant, by Chuck Palahniuk	Quite possibly Palahniuk's best, and easily his most complex. A lot of his books have been kind of one note, yet still enjoyable; Rant maintains that bizarre glee, but is packed with a plethora of fascinating ideas, and plays with some incredibly surreal concepts. What's most fascinating, and it's hard to make sure I don't say too much (in fact, don't read the book jacket till you're done; it won't ruin it, but it'll spoil some of the fun) is the way Palahniuk ends up twisting genres that you never expected, introducing new themes you didn't anticipate, and convoluting the plot with an express purpose that won't dawn on you until you're done. It's definitely a Palahniuk book, with all the weirdness and occasional depravity that implies, but it also brings with it the sharp writing, the twisted humor, and the trenchant commentary on our world (something Rant does better than almost anything else he's written). It's a hell of a read, and I think I'm about to re-read it, knowing what I know now; I have a feeling it'll be a far different book.
5-4	Prey, by Michael Crichton	It has been a long time since I read a Crichton book--hey, between Timeline and Airframe, can you blame me? So it was a nice surprise to pick this up and remember just what a great science thriller Crichton is capable of writing. With enough science speak to keep the book interesting and informative, but a plot that really does grip pretty well and ratchets up the tension nicely, this was a nice return to form for someone who used to be one of the best techno-thriller writers around. The plot twists and turns, the science is sound, and the characters interesting enough to stay involved. A really fun read.
4-29	The Book of Lost Things, by John Connolly	In which John Connolly leaves behind his Parker books for a moment to write a marvelous story about a young boy lost in a world of grim, twisted fairy tales. There's little humor or play to the book, apart from a brief scene with the seven dwarves; unlike Shrek and its ilk, this creates a world both dark and haunting. But it doesn't do it for its own sake; instead, it uses the fairy tales as a mirror to the growth from childhood to adulthood. The characters are complex and not always heroes, the plotline compelling and exciting, and the final chapter beautiful, moving, and eloquent, elevating the book to a piece of art. It's a really dazzling work, full of imagination, psychology, but most of all, heart.
4-15	Watchmen, by Alan Moore	Reading The Dark Knight Returns got me in the mood to re-read this, and on a second readthrough, I'm more convinced than ever that sometimes, the term "graphic novel" is just necessary. Calling this a "comic" doesn't do justice to the rich characterization, the layered plot, the buckets of symbolism, the intricate philosophical and moral discussions, and the complexity of what is going on. There really is nothing like Watchmen, and if you are avoiding it because you don't read "comics," then shame on you, because Watchmen isn't just an amazing comic; it's among the best works of fiction ever created. With fascinating and fleshed out characters, intelligent discourse, and a plot that grips and at least once stuns you into silence, Watchmen is a masterpiece, plain and simple. (I'll mention that, once you've read it, there is a website called The Annotated Watchmen that provides some fascinating notes and has a great eye for detail. Well worth reading.)
4-11	The Dark Knight Returns, by Frank Miller	It's hard, in this small space, to articulate what a masterpiece this is, but it says something that so much of what it brought to the Batman franchise is now taken for granted--that, more than anything else, shows how revolutionary and influential this is. It's almost a more character centered take on the world of Watchmen--a Gotham City without a Batman, where Bruce Wayne has retired and tried to put that life behind him...and yet, the constantly worsening hell of the city calls to him. What results is an incredibly blend of crime fiction, psychological drama, philosophical discussion on the morality of vigilantism, comic book, and far more. The artwork is stunning, but it's the writing--from the tight plotting to the tense action pieces, and most notably the perfect build to the return of the Dark Knight that makes said return so damned exhiliarating...look, the whole thing is really amazing. Just take my word for it--it's all it's said to be and more.
4-7	Stephen King's The Dark Tower: Gunslinger Born - Issue #3	More Wizard and Glass goodness, with Roland and Susan's first meeting, a tense showdown with the Coffin Hunters, and the introduction of one John Farson. The artwork continues to look stunning here, really bringing King's world to life. But, like last time, it's those supplemental pieces (here, a story about the first Gunslingers and a comic panel with King and the comic creators) that really make this indispensable for fans.
4-5	From the Borderlands	A pretty solid horror anthology, with a nice tendency to feature lesser known authors. As with any anthology, the stories are going to range; some are scary ("N0072-JK1" is pretty surreally terrifying, "The Planting" showcases Bentley Little's usual talent), some funny ("The Thing Too Hideous To Describe" is simultaneously a spoof and homage to B-horror movies), some moving ("Rami Temporalis" takes a fascinating concept and plays it out as a personal morality drama), and some that just fall flat ("Father Bob and Bobby" seems like a stretch, any way I look at it). And, yes, there's a new King story, which is decent King, but great by most standards. If you're into horror, you could do a lot worse, but it's an anthology, so take it for what it's worth--some ups, some downs.
4-1	Eats, Shoots, and Leaves, by Lynne Truss	A really clever, funny, and incredibly informative book about, of all things, punctuation. If it were just a grammar book, it wouldn't be half as great as it was; what makes it such a great read is Truss's wit, as well as the time she takes to trace the history of the marks she discusses. But, it's the wit that sticks with me--anyone who says that people who mix up it's and its should be struck by lightning, hacked into pieces, and buried in an unmarked grave somewhere...well, I'm all for that decision. A lot of fun, and not just for grammar geeks either--Truss makes the education really enjoyable.
3-27	18 Seconds, by George D. Shuman	To his credit, Shuman takes an unusual premise (a woman who can see the last memories of the dead) and makes it plausible, due in no small part to his realistic and nuanced characters, and the attention to their personal lives and relationships. The overall thriller that the plot revolves around...well, it's certainly not bad, but with so many characters, overlapping perspectives, and more, it often gets a little muddled. In fact, the best moments of the books are the standalones--the opening crime, and the trip to a small town to investigate the death of a young boy. That being said, I definitely enjoyed it--the characters are great, the premise ingenious, and the plot involving, even when you're a bit lost. For a debut, it's quite impressive; hopefully he can tighten things up in his forthcoming works. But for fans of thrillers, you could do far worse.
3-17	America (The Book): Teacher's Edition	You have to give the Daily Show team credit for trying to do something different with the paperback version. The idea of having a teacher write notes all over the original book is a good one; unfortunately, it's all done as though by a serious college professor, and so very little humor is added to the book. Good thing the original text provides so much. If you have the original version, no need to get this; if you don't, you could do a lot worse.
3-15	Stephen King's Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born - Issues #1 and #2	The first two issues of a seven issue comic book series based on King's famous series. The main story (at least, so far) is pretty much all stuff any Dark Tower fan has already read, since it's mainly derived from flashbacks told in The Gunslinger and Wizard and Glass, but the stunning artwork really makes the story come to life. What really sold me on these, though, were the supplementary materials, including stories about the Beam Guardians, the origins of the Crimson King, and more. Those are more than worth it for any fan of the series. All in all, required reading for any serious Dark Tower fans.
3-12	The Final Solution: A Story of Detection, by Michael Chabon	A strange, haunting little tale of (as the title promises) detection, but also of aging, the horrors of war, family problems, and far more. The plot involves a world-famous detective (unnamed, but it's not hard to guess), long since retired, puzzling out the identity of a murderer and the whereabouts of a lost parrot. The plot, interesting though it is, isn't as involving as the little side tracks and fascinating little character studies that unfold, and the final mystery, which remains unsolved by the characters, hangs ominously over the tale, changing the reader's perceptions of the whole thing, and bringing a far darker feel to it all. It's hard to explain why, but I really liked this; in its short length, it packs in more interesting pages, ideas, and characters (including the aforementioned parrot, who tells his own story in one chapter) than a lot of full-length novels I've read of late.
3-7	The Last Rakosh, by F. Paul Wilson	If you've read All the Rage, you've pretty much read this, except for a couple of minor changes. But that doesn't make the original story any less fun, and it's interesting to see where Wilson started with this--a tale of Jack finding something unexpected at a freak show--and how it ended up being tied in to the larger plot of All the Rage. A fun story, and an excuse to read more Repairman Jack stuff, which is all that really matters.
2-22	Harbingers, by F. Paul Wilson	The latest Repairman Jack book, and probably the most intense and wrenching of the series. It's not just the action that makes this great--though there's some spectacular action, and it's gripping stuff. And it's not just the solid plotting, as Wilson ties together loose threads you didn't even know were loose until he pulls some serious reveals out of his sleeve. No, as always, it's the characters, as Jack faces some horrifying situations that push him to places we rarely see him go. Some powerful scenes and heart-breaking moments really elevate this to the top of the series for me. How long till more, dammit?
2-16	The Torment of Others, by Val McDermid	A series of brutal murders begins, oddly following the exact same pattern and M.O. as one years ago...done by an incontrovertibly guilty killer who is locked away. It's a handy little riddle, and McDermid plays it well, filling the book with her usual great characters and the always fascinating Tony Hill. Unfortunately, the last act here falls a bit flat, and contains at least one development that means to be shocking, but just feels tacked on. Regardless, McDermid knows thrillers, and does them well; the ending isn't a deal-killer, but it certainly undermines the rest of the book's solid quality and tension.
2-10	Deadwood: Stories of the Black Hills, by David Milch	There's almost a whole genre of books now based on being a cheap TV show tie-in, which makes this book all the more rewarding. Rather than cheap, thoughtless behind the scenes trivia and reproduced scripts, Milch writes candidly, intelligently, and at length about himself, his brilliant show, and the philosophy, themes, ideas, and symbolism that went into making it. What emerges is a complicated, intricate, philosophical look at a television show that deserves nothing else. Peppered with both fascinating historical context and lengthy character interpretations by the actors, this is pretty much essential reading for any fan of the show, and far surpasses what any tie-in would be expected to do. (A word for the wise: do NOT read this if you haven't seen all three seasons.)
2-9	The Last True Story I'll Ever Tell, by John Crawford	A powerful and effective memoir about Crawford's extended tour of duty in Iraq. What Crawford is missing in writing talent, he makes up for in honesty, candor, and emotional power. The stories are simple ones, and although Crawford makes it clear that he doesn't agree with the war, the book has no real political aim. Rather, these are stories about what he saw and lived during the war, and how those experiences affected and changed him. It is less about the current war and more about how war can affect anyone. A quietly devastating book, and one of the finest war memoirs I have read in some time.
2-6	The Traveler, by John Twelve Hawks	Ever see that South Park with Towelie, where the kids just want to play their game, but have to sit through speech after speech explaining the villains' dastardly plan? That's kinda how this is: a lot of setup, not enough payoff. I'm a little forgiving of that, because the setup--a world in which almost all privacy is gone, and an organization seeks to erase it permanently--is so intriguing (and, not coincidentally, so close to our own, adding to the quite effective sense of unease that the book holds). But ultimately, this is an interesting world with interesting ideas...and not much else. It is, apparently, the first book of a set, so maybe the next book will run more with the characters. As it is, it's not bad...just too much throat-clearing and exposition, not enough pure plot, and no real joy to speak of. It's not bad...it just never has the joy and zest that a good thriller should have.
1-30	Fragile Things, by Neil Gaiman	I don't want to call this bad, per se, simply because it would be hard for someone of Gaiman's immense talent to write a bad book. But it's definitely his weakest work to date; I read one review that said to think of it as a collection of B-sides, and that works for me. There are moments of Gaiman brilliance throughout--"A Study in Emerald", "Goliath", and "October in the Chair" are all unqualified successes, and showcase not only Gaiman's boundless imagination, but his depth of characterization and emotion--but in general, these feel like some lesser, unpolished works. Good by most standards, yes, but mostly kind of weak for Gaiman. Still enjoyed it, though.
1-25	The Burning, by Bentley Little	If you've read Little, I'll say that this is most in the vein of The Walking in terms of scope, but it's far better; that being said, it's not in his top tier. If you haven't read Little... well, it's a tale about supernatural and horrifying events that begin happening to a slew of characters, scattered across the country. Naturally, the events are connected, and our motley cast progresses towards a finale both surreal and nightmarish. In other words, it's all stuff Little does well, this time melding his sense of the truly brutish and hateful side of human nature with his epic horror. Good stuff, but not his best--in the end, it's just not as imaginative as his best work. Still, for those who like their horror twisted, this is for you.
1-21	More Twisted, by Jeffery Deaver	Another fun set of short stories from Deaver, the king of twist endings. They're not quite as solid of a set as the original Twisted; some of the endings aren't quite as crisp, and a couple of the stories don't rocket along as much as you might hope. That being said, these are still a lot of fun, and when everything comes together, like in "The Voyeur", "Born Bad", or "Double Jeopardy", you're set to have a blast. And, hey--nothing wrong with any book with a new Lincoln Rhyme story in it (although I think the twist in that one comes out too quickly...but, hey, I didn't write it). Anyways, fun stuff in general, but nothing brilliant. Maybe it's just that too many twists become a bit formulaic after too long, something that the original collection managed somehow to avoid. Not bad, though.
1-15	World War Z, by Max Brooks	From the author of the Zombie Survival Guide comes this similarly zombie themed, but far superior work of alternate history (future?). World War Z is an oral history (interviews with survivors and witnesses) of the great global conflict with the zombies, from the first outbreak to the final assault. The book is shamelessly epic, and although Brooks doesn't quite create different voices for each character, the variety of stories more than makes up for it. Add to that some biting social commentary that makes the book stingingly relevant and all too believable, and you have a book that far surpasses the sum of its parts. With engrossing tales of heroism, horror, and ourselves, Brooks does what all of the best zombie horror tries to do: hold up a mirror and show us ourselves.
1-4	Knife of Dreams, by Robert Jordan	In which Robert Jordan atones for the sins of the last (and horrible) book in this series, and reminds me why I loved it in the first place. This is the eleventh book in the Wheel of Time series, a set I've been reading for almost 16 years now. I love the set, but the last few books have convinced me that Jordan would either never finish, or the ending wouldn't be worth reading. But this book surprised me, in a very good way. A return to action and actual forward plot motion, combined with a return to good characterization, and the signs that the last battle might actually be coming...all in all, it's a solid return to form, and made me awfully excited for the next (and final!) book in this epic, world-creating series.

e-mail me at
clydeumney@gmail.com

page updated:
March 9, 2011