Hater by David Moody


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A growing epidemic of random violence sweeps across England. Society collapses as everyone wonders whether the person next to them might turn into a raging murderer, whether that person is a stranger, neighbor, friend, spouse, or even child. The Haters have superhuman strength to match their murderous rage.

At first, I had a hard time with this book because the narrator is a bit unlikeable. As the book goes on, however, that bothered me less (though it was still true). The book is a quick read and well-paced, and at times very violent and bloody (the cover is streaked with blood so what do you expect?). It will stick with you, making you ask how well you really know the person next to you.

Note: A movie is planned, as are 2 sequels.

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Here's a kind of cheesy video, designed to promote the book:

The Southern Festival of Books ended yesterday, but I went to a reading and signing this evening at our local Davis Kidd bookstore, just down the road from work. Author Stephen Mansfield, who has written a variety of books about religious faith, including books on both George W. Bush and Barack Obama, has written has a new history of Guinness.



Here's a little bit from the publisher's description: "It began in Ireland in the late 1700's. The water in Ireland, indeed throughout Europe, was famously undrinkable, and the gin and whiskey that took its place was devastating civil society. It was a disease ridden, starvation plagued, alcoholic age, and Christians like Arthur Guinness-as well as monks and even evangelical churches-brewed beer to offer a healthier alternative to the poisonous waters and liquors of the times."

Mansfield commented tonight that many people of faith find alcohol reprehensible, which has not always been true for a great many Christian denominations. However, he is not encouraging people to drink.

The more important thrust of the book seems to be, in the wake of the financial crisis, the Enrons, Worldcoms, Bernie Madoff's, and AIG's of the world, that Arthur Guinness founded a company on Christian principles that made money, appreciated its workers of whatever faith, and promoted proper morality and respect. Many of the benefits Guinness put in place for his workers would be unheard of even today.

As an added bonus, the author adjourned after the Q & A to the bookstore's cafe where the first round of Guinness draught was on him. I had to drive home, so one round was more than enough. Huzzah! I really liked him, and not just because he bought me beer.

I'm looking forward to reading it.

The Magicians by Lev Grossman


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Imagine a smart young man, full of drive, but disappointed in reality after growing up on a diet of Narnia. Set in the contemporary "real" world, The Magicians imagines what would happen if magic were real. Quentin Coldwater is soon drafted into a school for people with the talent to become magicians. We watch him grow up to learn shocking secrets about the fantasy world of his youth.

The author does a brilliant job borrowing generously from The Chronicles of Narnia and Harry Potter, as well as The Lord of the Rings and other classic fantasies, to break down those stories and imagine some of the real psychological consequences of magical power. In doing so, it manages to both satirize and deconstruct the fantasy genre.

This is a serious adult novel, but for adults who were raised on fantasy and/or still indulge in the genre. Highly recommended.

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I know you're going to be shocked by this.

I went to the Southern Festival of Books this weekend. I know it's hard to believe. Me, avid reader and librarian, at a book festival. What's even more surprising is how many of my library colleagues and friends I ran into there.

Okay, that's hooey. There's no surprise at all in any of it.

rosepurr had Friday off and I took it. We made our way downtown. Michael Sims, normally a nature writer, has found a passion for Victorian literature and he's promoting an anthology of gaslight era stories about the bad guys. There are lots of anthologies of detective stories of that time, but the more sordid stories of the lowlifes and criminals then have been buried by history. He's doing a fine job resurrecting them.

We also attended a reading of Southern gothic novels by Ron Rash and William Gay. I have been hearing about Ron Rash for awhile now, though I haven't read his work; I was entirely unfamiliar with Gay. The acoustics in the room were awful. Rash was hard to hear. Gay was impossible to hear. rosepurr said listening to Gay in that room was like listening to Bob Dylan read the phone book on a drive-through speaker. Nice. But I did peruse and purchase books from both, and got them both to sign.

We also attended a panel of female thriller and horror writers. I think rosepurr enjoyed that one more than I did, and we did leave with a few more titles on our to-read list and under our arms.

Dangerous places - book festivals. My heart and mind are happier, but my wallet feels hollow.

We came home, had dinner, and unsurprisingly read well into the night.

Saturday morning, we picked up our CSA and got back to the house just as our friends yrmencyn and Jerrod arrived. They accompanied us back to the book festival. They attended different events than I, which was good because I got to hear about them. I saw Dave Cullen who wrote a book I want to read, simply called Columbine, a thorough account of that tragedy and its aftermath. It was fascinating, albeit tough to listen to at times. One of the audience members, an elementary school teacher, commented that she had read the book, but could only do 2 pages at a time. I understand that.

I also went to hear probably the biggest star of the festival - Buzz Aldrin, who has a new memoir out. He admitted at the outset that he doesn't enjoy public speaking, and it showed. I still have a great deal of respect for him - he walked on the moon, for God's sake - but the talk wasn't exactly captivating. I'll still read the book. They were sold out of copies so I didn't get him to sign, unfortunately.

Then we did some browsing and eating and coffee drinking. Finally, we went back for a panel by Kevin Wilson and John Pritchard. It was really them reading, which was wonderful, but the panel was dedicated to "Profane and Profound — Books of Distinctive Southern Characters." We all laughed out loud several times. Kevin Wilson only has one book to date, a collection of short stories called Tunneling to the Center of the Earth. Pritchard just published a sequel, called Yazoo Blues, to his earlier Junior Ray. They both got some of my money yesterday and they were kind enough to sign as well.

We went out for dinner and drinks after. It was a great day.

Today, rosepurr and I are lounging about, drinking coffee, checking email, reconnecting. Soon we'll start preparing for the week - doing laundry, dishes, straightening up, etc. I also want some downtime to read some of my new books.

I may have said this before, but Nashville keeps growing on me. It has taken time to adjust to living here, to get comfortable here, but it's starting to feel like home. With the Southern Festival of Books and the Americana fest, the Ryman, Broadway, favorite restaurants and a continually growing circle of friends, Nashville has gained a personality uniquely its own. It has become our friend itself.

The Post-American World by Fareed Zakaria


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Thoughtful and thought-provoking, Fareed Zakaria makes a clear and compelling case for the "rise of the rest" rather than American decline, as the title might suggest. He focuses primarily on the growing economies of India and China while talking about America's strengths and weaknesses in being a world power in a changing world. Zakaria cites many statistics and historical precedents, but does so in elegant prose that is accessible and easy to understand. Highly recommended.

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Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Biography by Chester Brown


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A "biography" done as a graphic novel. I read this as part of my Experimental Book Club. The author takes great liberty with historical events, to the point it is probably fiction rather than non-fiction. However, it was interesting to read about this major figure in Canadian, whom I knew nothing about, that some consider a martyr and others consider a rebel and a murder.

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Lamentation by Ken Scholes


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The city of Windwir, with its huge Library, explodes in a devastating attack, killing everyone in it. An ancient weapon has been rediscovered, but who is ultimately responsible? It is an event that fundamentally changes the world and its people, down to their fundamental beliefs.

This is a rich fantasy novel. The world is interesting and well-drawn. The writing is sharp and the characters stay with you. It is full of political intrigue and riveting twists and turns that keep you turning pages, even through a couple of (slightly) slower parts. Sequels are expected, and I plan to read (the first is due out in October).

If you enjoy fantasy novels, particularly of political-type intrigue, put this at the top of your list.

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B Is for Beer by Tom Robbins


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A short entertaining book about the history, making, and importance of beer. Written from the perspective of an inquisitive six-year-old, this may be the most easily accessible of Robbins's books, though obviously it doesn't have as much of the wordplay or insight he is known for (don't worry - it's in there - just not as plentiful).

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The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A fitting, epic conclusion to a great YA series. I didn't want it to end, but it's very satisfying.




Vanilla Ride by Joe R. Lansdale


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I love Joe R. Lansdale and I'm a huge fan of his Hap & Leonard series. I haven't read all of them . . . yet. This is a great return to the series for Lansdale with its poetic vulgar language and violence. A blast!

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The Killer Inside Me by Jim Thompson


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A disturbing and entertaining noir novel from the 1950's. Considered very shocking when it came out, it still holds pretty well as its protagonist-narrator is both unreliable and unrepentant. Well-written, brutal and riveting.

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Money Shot by Christa Faust

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The first book from Hard Case Crime written by a woman, "a Veronica in a world of Betties," according to Quentin Tarantino. Former porn star Angel Dare is shot and left for dead. Will she have the strength to exact her revenge? If so, will she have the strength to stop?

The book is gory and graphic at times and paints a vivid, disturbing picture of the contemporary porn industry. It is also quickly paced, well-written and an exciting read.

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The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The third installment of the fantastic Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Intrigue and adventure build as Percy listens still more about being a half-blood and what it truly means to become a hero.

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The Nymphos of Rocky Flats by Mario Acevedo

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
Feliz Gomez goes to Iraq a soldier and returns a vampire. When he returns to the states, he takes up as a private detective. He is called upon to investigate an outbreak of nymphomania at a secret government facility.

The book is not nearly as sordid as it sounds. It's fun and light with a lot of action and intrigue. Enjoyable.

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Smonk: A Novel by Tom Franklin

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
E.O. Smonk is a nightmare, a dream and on the verge of death. For years, he has terrified and tormented the town of Old Texas, Arkansas. But the town has dark secrets and Smonk knows them all. Is he evil, or is he the hand of God come to punish the townspeople?

I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced, brutal, violent and gory book. A great mix of Western, adventure, and gothic with characters and scenes that haunt long after the last page. Not for everyone, but the right audience will love it.

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I took today off. Hooray!

I took Calypso to the vet this morning (just a followup - she's fine). rosepurr had a hair appointment this morning, so when I returned, I just curled up on the couch with a book and a cup of coffee.

Nice.

Despite it being a short week, it's been a bit stressful and I haven't wanted to do much. One of my colleagues announced that she got a new job. It's a great opportunity for her and we're all happy for her. But we were already short-staffed and there's a hiring freeze. We'll see what happens.

I'm just glad for some downtime. rosepurr took this week totally off (which probably contributed to my work stress, just knowing she was home relaxing). She needed the time and she has spent it curled up in novels. I'm jealous. I'm hoping to do some of that myself this weekend. Even when we're just in the same room reading together, it's just wonderful having her in close proximity.

I've been meaning to update for awhile. Last weekend, rosepurr and I, along with some other poetry-appreciating friends, went and heard Billy Collins read and talk. He was very entertaining. I admit to not knowing much about contemporary poetry before meeting our friend Christina here in Nashville, but I knew Billy Collins before. I've always liked his work. Hearing him read just added to my perspective on it. Some of my favorites (even before the reading, but my fondness has since increased): Aristotle, Introduction to Poetry, and Litany. I love how, especially in the last one, he messes with tradition and expectations in poetry, turning them on their ear.

He was reading at Lipscomb University here in town for a Christian Scholars Conference. I've never associated his work with Christianity, but the focus of the conference was on narrative and, if nothing else, "Aristotle" at least addresses narrative. After the reading, there was a reception. But because it was a Christian Scholars conference, they didn't serve alcohol. Instead, they serve vanilla ice cream sandwiches on freshly made (i.e., still warm) chocolate chip cookies.

It was more fitting and more satisfying than booze.

One of the best things about the whole event is that Collins has a sense of humor. I've heard and read some wonderful poets recently, but he is definitely the most playful.

Last night, rosepurr and I faced a sinkful of dirty dishes and little motivation. So we went out for some yummy sushi. rosepurr had finished her novel and needed another. (She only buys books when she's ready to read them; the books she contributes to our shelves are ones she's already read. I, on the other hand, fill the shelves with books I want to read but haven't yet gotten to. I expect to be one of those old men who dies buried under a toppled shelf of books I never got to.)

Anyway, so rosepurr wanted to stop by the bookstore. She drove her swanky new car (did I or she mention the new car? Anyway, she got a new car) and we went to the nearest bookstore, a Books a Million. We picked up some things (the bargain bin bit me again) and got drinks in the cafe and sat there reading until they pretty much kicked us out. We came home, rosepurr poured me some Maker's on the rocks (she still had some tea from the bookstore) and we just continued reading into the night.

I think it was just about a perfect evening before the long weekend.

Speaking of the weekend, I have no idea what we're doing for it. We have a plethora of options, but I think we're feeling a bit tired, lazy and in the mood for a bit of a staycation. That could change in a hour, but that's where we are. We do have some errands to run today and Saturday.

Anyway, it's time for more coffee and perhaps more reading.

Happy 4th, everyone!

h Beat the Reaper: A Novel by Josh Bazell

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
A fast-paced crime novel about a doctor in the witness protection program who is discovered by his former employers. With flashbacks to update the backstory, the book was written by a doctor, so it is especially graphic and gruesome in spots. (How truthful I can't speak to.) A fun, fast read.


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Once a Runner: A Novel by John L. Parker

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Runner's World calls this "the best novel ever written about running." It's high praise and well-deserved. The book captures brilliantly the insanity, the solitude, the joys and sadness of long-distance running. In short, it's brilliant, well-written, and inspiring. Highly recommended, particularly for runners or those interested in running.


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