Birds of Paradise by Oliver K Langmead

Day 8: I have accepted a challenge from Sandra G to post 12 books that I have read. One per day, no exceptions, no reviews, just the covers. The goal is to promote literacy and to create a good reading list.

Fire in the Grove by John C Esposito

Day 5: I have accepted a challenge from Sandra g to post 12 books that I have read. One per day, no exceptions, no reviews, just the covers. The goal is to promote literacy and to create a good reading list.

The Wax Pack by Brad Balukjian

Day 6: I have accepted a challenge from Sandra G to post 12 books that I have read. One per day, no exceptions, no reviews, just the covers. The goal is to promote literacy and to create a good reading list.

The Apocalypse Seven by Gene Doucette

Day 4: I have accepted a challenge from Sandra G to post 12 books that I have read. One per day, no exceptions, no reviews, just the covers. The goal is to promote literacy and to create a good reading list.

True Crime Addict by James Renner

Day 3: I have accepted a challenge from Sandra G to post 12 books that I have read. One per day, no exceptions, no reviews, just the covers. The goal is to promote literacy and to create a good reading list.

Dare to Know by James Kennedy

I have accepted a challenge from Sandra G to post 12 books that I have read. One per day, no exceptions, no reviews, just the covers. The goal is to promote literacy and to create a good reading list.

Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson

All the lavish praise and talk of how this book is a "true tour de force"? That's evidence that publishing people done lost their minds. The writing style is strong, I'll grant you that, but the plot belongs in a second tier Encyclopedia Brown story, and the "twists" are so obvious you have to wonder why he bothered writing them down. (irritating minutia: if you're foolish enough to read the book, count how many times the healthy main character feels faint . . . simply from missing a single meal.) 

Pass.

Rovers by Richard Lange

Yowsers, this was good!  

Two imortal brothers - Rovers in their parlance, vampires in ours - run afoul of a Rover biker gang, and the violence that follows threatens to consume them all. 

Richard Lange can WRITE, kind sir, and every page reminds you of that fact. This one's worth a purchase. 

#richardlange #rovers

Billy Summers by Stephen King

I'm stumped at the praise this book is getting; I think it's an entertaining crime novel that will be forgotten in a decade, even by hardcore King fans. It's full of King tropes that wore thin years ago: the main character (poses as) a writer; there's a bunch of sappy kids who recite rhymes and talk like sitcom children from the 50's; and anyone who votes differently than the author is a monster. My biggest pet peeve? That the novel within a novel, designed to show how Billy went from hero to contract killer, merely stops, with its conclusion abruptly left to be explained within a conversation. Bah. It's worth a library read at best. #stephenking

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

Although it grabbed my attention at first, it eventually becomes an overly complicated mish-mash of genres with a pat Scooby Doo ending.  The author can turn a phrase,  but I think he overreached. I'm in the minority tho, because I've heard nothing but praise for it elsewhere.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (the novel)

I loved this novel, the first by Tarantino, as it expands on the wonderful universe he created in OUATIH. I adore the movie, so I cop to being biased, but I really think the book was swell. Order it!

RIP Beverly Cleary

I was nearly brought to tears by the news that Beverly Clearly died today at the age of 104.

I read "Henry and Ribsy" in 1st grade, the first true "book" I ever attempted, and for the last 40 years I've remained a devoted fan of her work

Henry Huggins. Ribsy. Ralph the Mouse. Beezus. Ramona. Every one of them a friend.

RIP Mrs. Cleary. You made a difference in this world.

Star Wars From a Certain Point of View

I've finished reading my first book of 2021, a collection of stories told from the POV of minor Star Wars characters from the 1977 movie. A few tales were duds, but on the whole it's an entertaining and imaginative undertaking.
 

Malorie by Josh Malerman

If I remember right, I thought "Bird Box"was a better book than a movie, but no great shakes in either format. 

I don't know what's changed for author Josh Malerman (besides all the moolah in his bank account), but somewhere along the line he really learned to WRITE.  

"Malorie," the sequel to "Bird Box," grabs you from the first page and keeps you riveted until the end. The characters are stronger and have admirable depth; the dystopian world is much more developed; the plot is less frantic but just as engaging.

I really enjoyed book, and yeah, that kind of surprised me. 

Pick up a copy.

Joe Biden by Evan Osnos

I read this book looking to get a more comprehensive understanding of Joe Biden. I can't say that was accomplished, largely because the author felt free to insert himself in the narrative and hold to no standard of impartiality; understandably, that makes it rather hard to trust what's on the page. 

The book briefly touches on Biden's personal life, races through his time in the Senate, discusses his role as VP in some detail, and ends with a thinly disguised wish list of how the author hopes a Biden Presidency will go. Flaws and mistakes are briefly presented, but only so they can be quickly dismissed by the author.  

Truly, there isn't much meat here. It's a glorified campaign piece. Shame on me for believing what were obviously biased reviews before I picked it up, and shame on the author for blowing the opportunity to convince a Republican that this is a man worth following.

Clive Cussler

Aww, dangit. Adventure novelist Clive Cussler has passed away. RIP

Mary Higgins Clark

The Queen of Suspense and author of 56 books, mystery writer Mary Higgins Clark, has died at 92 from complications of old age. 

RIP

Bloody Genius by John Sandford

"Bloody Genius" is bloody good. #johnsandford #virgilflowers

Blue Moon by Lee Child

Easily one of the worst Reacher novels; certainly in the bottom two or three. A weak incentive for action, idiotic victims, a disjointed plot, a death toll larger than some Civil War battles, and allies that sound like Reacher clones. Pfui. Skip it.

Helter Skelter

I originally read this in high school and picked it up again this week.  A great book.