If you read my review of William Shakespeare’s Star Wars, then you know what to expect from William Shakespeare’s The Empire Striketh Back by Ian Doescher. They are fun little tidbits, translating Star Wars into something The Bard would have been proud of. Luke Skywalker, on his battle with the Imperial Walkers: A hit! A very palpable hit. Wait, Although my… Read more
I am sad to report that World Book Night US has suspended operations: “The expenses of running World Book Night U.S., even given the significant financial and time commitment from publishers, writers, booksellers, librarians, printers, distributors, and shippers, are too high to sustain without additional outside funding,” [executive director Carl] Lennertz wrote. If you follow here, you might remember… Read more
Ride Around Shining by Chris Leslie-Hynan A provocative debut novel about a young white chauffeur and his wealthy black employer, an NBA player—a twenty-first century inversion of what we’ve come to expect stories of race and class to look like, and a discomfiting portrait of envy and obsession. Ride Around Shining concerns the idle preoccupations, and later machinations, of a transplanted… Read more
“Doctor Who: You want weapons? We’re in a library. Books are the best weapon in the world. This room’s the greatest arsenal we could have. Arm yourself!”(from Tooth and Claw in Season 2) – Russell T. Davies, Welsh screenwriter and television producer, whose work includes Dr. Who Read more
I have a special love for short stories. When they are well done, they have as much impact as a novel, but in a fraction of the time. Flings: Stories by Justin Taylor: The acclaimed author of Everything Here Is the Best Thing Ever and The Gospel of Anarchy makes his hardcover debut with a piercing collection of short fiction that illuminates our struggle… Read more
Wilde Passions of Dorian Gray by Mitzi Szereto is purported to follow the adventures of an iconic character, but I think this novel suffered from a bit of misrepresentation. It was presented as a follow-up to The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, so cleverly alluded to in the title, and that’s a workable idea for a novel. I would be… Read more
Is anyone else excited about the Walking Dead marathon coming up July 4th weekend? Hopefully, you’ve got better things to do than hang around inside, watching tv, but if the weather is lousy it wouldn’t be a bad way to spend the weekend. Maybe instead I’ll spend it reading… We’re All Infected: Essays on AMC’s the Walking Dead and the Fate… Read more
Now, this is a book that had me hooked from the very first pitch! Ever wonder who would win in a fight if the most popular thriller characters were paired against their most worthy opponents? Would you bet on Lee Child’s Jack Reacher or Joseph Finder’s Nick Heller, or even Dennis Lehane’s Patrick Kenzie over Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch? Oh yeah! If you love your detectives… Read more
Isn’t this the truth? I don’t think I will ever have enough books. “The odd thing about people who had many books was how they always wanted more.” – Patricia McKillip, American fantasy/sci-fi author Read more
I was thrilled to receive a copy of The Abduction by Jonathan Holt, the second book in the Carnivia trilogy. It wasn’t long ago that I reviewed The Abomination, which I thought was a terrific mystery, so I was eager to see where the story went next. The Abduction focuses again on the unlikely trio of detectives: Venetian police captain Kat Tapo,… Read more