This was a lot of fun. As soon as I finished I put in my preorder for the next book. This is kind of similar to Becky Chamber’s series but I like thisThis was a lot of fun. As soon as I finished I put in my preorder for the next book. This is kind of similar to Becky Chamber’s series but I like this better....more
I heard several of these essays read during a tour I took my mother to a couple of years ago. The evening was a lot of fun, except for one awkward momI heard several of these essays read during a tour I took my mother to a couple of years ago. The evening was a lot of fun, except for one awkward moment where DS told a subtle but super dirty joke and I prayed it had gone over her head.
Over the years David Sedaris seems to have mellowed a little bit, become a little more reflective. I miss a little bit of the meanness, but overall this was a really enjoyable read. ...more
This is probably the MacDonald Hall book I read the fewest number of times as a kid, but it's available for kindle now, so I picked it up. I hope theyThis is probably the MacDonald Hall book I read the fewest number of times as a kid, but it's available for kindle now, so I picked it up. I hope they get around to all the rest of them. ...more
It took me a couple of months to read this, because it is rough. Important, but rough. Near the end I'd just read a chapter every few days. It took me a couple of months to read this, because it is rough. Important, but rough. Near the end I'd just read a chapter every few days. ...more
I've been going back to a lot of old favorites post-surgery and 1980-90s Gordon Korman never lets me down. I've been going back to a lot of old favorites post-surgery and 1980-90s Gordon Korman never lets me down. ...more
I listened to the audio version read by Graeme Malcolm and really enjoyed it. John Wyndham is a fairly recent discovery for me and I've been surprisedI listened to the audio version read by Graeme Malcolm and really enjoyed it. John Wyndham is a fairly recent discovery for me and I've been surprised by how much I've liked everything I've read. ...more
I'm not entirely sure how I found this book, but I must have read it 50+ times in high school. I hadn't read it in years, but recently had surgery andI'm not entirely sure how I found this book, but I must have read it 50+ times in high school. I hadn't read it in years, but recently had surgery and this was perfect non-taxing reading. Even now I still practically know it by heart.
The rest of the series is somewhat hit or miss, but I'd still recommend if you're looking for some easy mysteries. Gillian Roberts has a dry sense of humor which I always though set these apart from many other amateur PI mysteries. ...more
This was so good. I wasn't aware when I saw the movie "Edge of Tomorrow" that it was based on a novel. I really liked the movie, so I'm kind of disappThis was so good. I wasn't aware when I saw the movie "Edge of Tomorrow" that it was based on a novel. I really liked the movie, so I'm kind of disappointed to see that they opted to switch several main characters to white actors. It could have been an even better movie if they'd kept the setting in Asia and had Japanese actors play some of the main roles. I'd have liked to see the American and Japanese armies fighting together as they do in the book. ...more
I read this book quite a few times as a child and it left me with some strange ideas about Guy Fawkes that have persisted to this day. It's such an odI read this book quite a few times as a child and it left me with some strange ideas about Guy Fawkes that have persisted to this day. It's such an odd book. I loved it - probably even more now than I did as a kid - but it's so unsettling. The idea of 12-year-olds running from a police inquisitor to avoid being executed by being burnt at the stake is kind of a lot to handle. I would almost say I'd hesitate to give this book to a child, but thinking of the stacks of Holocaust fiction I read as a kid, I am probably overreacting. Maybe it's the contrast. The story is disturbing, but also very, very funny, in a dry, unsentimental way. ...more
Five stars when I was 8 or 9, three stars as an adult, so I'm splitting the difference. This holds up surprisingly well for a book that is nearly 45(!Five stars when I was 8 or 9, three stars as an adult, so I'm splitting the difference. This holds up surprisingly well for a book that is nearly 45(!) years old. There are mentions of being measured for shoes, and Fudge gets a spanking at one point, but other than that, it doesn't feel very dated. ...more
This was an unexpected delight. I bought it on a whim after reading a review on tor.com and immediately regretted paying new release price, but it turThis was an unexpected delight. I bought it on a whim after reading a review on tor.com and immediately regretted paying new release price, but it turned out to be worth it. This is just a lot of fun; sort of a John Bellairs for adults. There are a couple of things about it that I didn't care for, like the use of the name "Helsing", which feels a little cliche at this point, and there was a (very minor) hint of romance that I found unnecessary. But overall, I really, really liked this and I'll be looking forward to the next installments. It's unfortunate to get excited about a new series when there's only one brand new book, but oh, well.
P.S. I should note that I do not recommend reading the review on tor.com, which gives away a ridiculous amount of the plot. Luckily I had only kind of skimmed it, but I just went back to look, and for once I was grateful for some inattentive reading on my part. ...more
This is essentially the novel equivalent of those foggy, blue-grey tinted British police procedurals I like to watch. A little bit Vera, a little bit This is essentially the novel equivalent of those foggy, blue-grey tinted British police procedurals I like to watch. A little bit Vera, a little bit Scott & Bailey, with some extra focus on the anguish of the victims. The pace is a little slow; almost a bit dreamy in parts, and honestly, that got a bit tedious around the 3/4 mark. I was listening to the audiobook and eventually increased the speed slightly near the end. I was very ready to have things wrapped up.
I did like this quite a bit, though. I'm in between three and four stars, leaning a bit more toward four. I see this is compared to The Girl on the Train and The Guilty One, and I think it's far better than The Girl on the Train, which is a book I guess I'm never going to stop being cranky about. I can't remember the Ballantyne book well enough to say one way or the other, but I suspect that comparison is a little better. I'd almost compare this to Tana French, but her detectives are better characters. I see there's another Clemo novel coming out this year, so I may pick that up next time I'm looking for something in this genre. ...more
I've been dipping into this book here and there for a ridiculous number of years at this point so I thought it was time I just read it. It is very, veI've been dipping into this book here and there for a ridiculous number of years at this point so I thought it was time I just read it. It is very, very good and honestly I think just about everyone could benefit from reading it. I was especially pleased that he ended with a chapter on what is and isn't reasonable fear....more
I wish I'd discovered this in late childhood, around the time I started on Tolkien. What a lovely book. I wish I'd discovered this in late childhood, around the time I started on Tolkien. What a lovely book. ...more
I'm going back and forth as to whether this is a three or four star book for me. I've changed it twice already. I thought the beginning and ending werI'm going back and forth as to whether this is a three or four star book for me. I've changed it twice already. I thought the beginning and ending were super, but I wasn't wild about the middle. To be honest, it's kind of hard to root for a man who admits he's skinny and not that attractive, but complains when the women who approach him don't meet his very high standards of beauty. Oh, well, the book is older than I am, and I suspect William Goldman was maybe a bit of a jerk anyway.
PS I'm never going to the dentist again.
PPS William Goldman / William Golding / William Gibson - not once do I pick the right name on the first try. It's the old Paul Simon / Paul Newman / Neil Simon riddle....more