Here are some of the books I have read and enjoyed in the past few months.
The Monstrumologist Series by Rick Yancey - YA and Teen books are often characterized by two things: the first being simple writing, the second being simple characterization. Yancey's incredible books feature neither. These are elegant tomes full of darkness, deep themes and very vivid character growth and development. The series also does something that very few authors (YA or otherwise) dare to do: be complex. Yancey presents the deep and twisty story and allows his reader to draw conclusions. Nothing is spoon fed and the answers are neither clear nor pretty. Each of the novels could be read as a standalone but work best as a series exploring the darkness within all of us. The first book The Monstrumologist serves as stark reminder that the real monsters are among us; The Curse of the Wendingo flits with the fantastical, and the nature of myth and reality (to this point the novel could be interpreted a couple of different ways, it might just be the Shutter Island of teen fiction); the final novel (so far, as #4 comes out in Fall 2013) is The Isle of Blood which again ties together the theme of monsters among us and the true horrors of the world being right in front of us. One of the more remarkable things about these novels is that at no point did I feel like I was reading a teen book. They are gruesome, haunting and resonate deeply. I am still thinking about them long after I finished reading. The characters are neither simple or one dimensional. They are real, flawed and strikingly complex. Read this series and enjoy it as quickly as possible.
The Ballad of the Whiskey Robber by Julian Rubenstein - A madcap adventure featuring a backup hockey goalie in post- Soviet Hungry who becomes a bank robbing, whiskey swilling, pelt smuggling, Robin Hood-esque hero to the people. The man, from Romania (and more specificially from where Dracula made his bones) is a fascinating character whose experience serves as a microcosm for a truly bizarre time in the history of Eastern Europe.
Sweetness by Jeff Pearlman - So many biographies are straighforward and refuse to take into account the whole measure of a person. Pearlman's subject, the much beloved Walter Payton, has been deified for a very long time and this book does a wonderful job of humanizing him. There are no punches pulled - all of Payton's faults and dark moments are captured in this moving and well written account. One can see why Pearlman took a lot of heat about "slamming his subject" but that is simply not true. He has written a great, balanced and full measure of the man known always, and forever, as Sweetness.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Best of Jan, Feb and March
There are a lot of books to read, and in the past few months I have read some good ones. Here are the most notable:
Area 51 by Anne Jacobson - Imagine a book that does not shy away from the mysteries of Area 51 but rather addressed them in a genuine and logical manner. This, my friends, is that book. For one of the first times an author pulls back the curtain on one of the most secretive locations in the entire world. Jacobson is a great writer and some of the secrets she divulges are shocking - but always truthful. She does not write about aliens and conspiracies (other than a whopper of one around Roswell 1947) but rather focuses on the military history of the installation. There is truth here, and Jacobson writes it fluidly. Believe her or not, this is a solid book.
Ashfall / Ashen Winter by Mike Mullin - In dystopian fiction there is often a very dark tone, and in many cases this is well deserved. There is dark and then there is what Mullin writes - these books are incredibly bleak. Set in a world where the Super Volcano underneath Yellowstone unexpectedly erupts throwing the entire United States into chaos, the struggle to survive is desperate and brutal. For the two main characters Darla and Alex, life becomes a dire prospect which grows dimmer with each passing day. As the two find love in a dying world, the importance of things we take for granted like water, food and vitamins take on an added dimension as unthinkable actions (like cannibalism etc) become commonplace. These are richly imagined books and the world Mullins destroys and then rebuilds is fascinatingly realistic. Truly an achievement leaving me eagerly anticipating the third volume.
Area 51 by Anne Jacobson - Imagine a book that does not shy away from the mysteries of Area 51 but rather addressed them in a genuine and logical manner. This, my friends, is that book. For one of the first times an author pulls back the curtain on one of the most secretive locations in the entire world. Jacobson is a great writer and some of the secrets she divulges are shocking - but always truthful. She does not write about aliens and conspiracies (other than a whopper of one around Roswell 1947) but rather focuses on the military history of the installation. There is truth here, and Jacobson writes it fluidly. Believe her or not, this is a solid book.
Ashfall / Ashen Winter by Mike Mullin - In dystopian fiction there is often a very dark tone, and in many cases this is well deserved. There is dark and then there is what Mullin writes - these books are incredibly bleak. Set in a world where the Super Volcano underneath Yellowstone unexpectedly erupts throwing the entire United States into chaos, the struggle to survive is desperate and brutal. For the two main characters Darla and Alex, life becomes a dire prospect which grows dimmer with each passing day. As the two find love in a dying world, the importance of things we take for granted like water, food and vitamins take on an added dimension as unthinkable actions (like cannibalism etc) become commonplace. These are richly imagined books and the world Mullins destroys and then rebuilds is fascinatingly realistic. Truly an achievement leaving me eagerly anticipating the third volume.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
The Best Books of the Year 2012
Another year has drawn to a close, and another year of reading continues to wind down. Amazon.com and various other publications have now released their own "Best of the Year" lists (albeit with books written in 2012 only). Once again please remember these are books I have read this year but they are not necessarily written in 2012 - though many are:
Clive Cussler Award (Best Page Turner)
Live by Night by Dennis Lehane - After a couple of stumbles (notably the "pulled punches" of his previous effort Moonlight Mile) Lehane returned to form with this fantastic sort of sequel to his historical novel The Given Day. Instead of focusing on the characters from the previous book, Lehane strikes out to create new terroritory with a Godfather-esque tale that slowly and subtly twists and turns. The novel is Lehane at his dark best and features a brutal sequence set in prison that shapes the remainder of the tale.
Three Nights in August by Buzz Bissinger - As the baseball season wound down I picked up this gem from the author of the classic Friday Night Lights and was not disappointed. Bissinger breaks down a three game series between the Chicago Cubs and Saint Louis Cardinals through the eyes of manager Tony La Russa. The book goes inside the world of baseball amd allows an unforgettable and intimate glimpse inside a world often viewed as simple or mundane.
James Patterson Award (Most Disappointing Books of the Year)
The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson - A horror classic and supposedly one of the scariest books of all time, this one actually read like a series of "and then...and then...and then..." and not one bit of it rang true in any way. Ultimately incredibly disappointing, especially in the way Anson writes - without any tension or sense of terror.
Snowblind by Robert Sabbag - Sabbag has to be complimented on one aspect of his book: it takes someone with great skill to make the story of a drug trafficker boring. Zachary Swan was a drug dealer in the 70's who realized money could be made on cocaine...and then virtually nothing else happens aside from Sabbag's failed attempts at stylish writing.
Harper Lee Award (Best YA / Female Authors)
Divergent / Insurgent by Veronica Roth - After finishing The Hunger Games one must turn to other dystopian YA series and Roth's is one of the best. Her books are fast paced, interesting and twisty.
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo - Dark, serious and powerful, this is a book that stays with you after you have read it. Unlike other dystopian thrillers, this one is set in a world we do not recognize and one undergoing a transition to a new era. Bardugo gets a lot of credit for literally manifesting the darkness in the world into a physical place ominously called "the fold".
Bill Simmons Award (Best Sports Books)
Richer than God by David Conn / Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby - Two sides of the same coin, Conn's book owes a great debt to Hornby's classic of the sport, and then becomes almost the sequel Hornby never wrote. Both authors wrote about their teams (Arsenal and Man City) and both covered their own, autobiographical rises in relation to their love of said team. Where they differ is Conn's attempt to understand the world of football beyond his own small sphere. He examines the oil sheik who bought the squad and the impact of money in the world of the game. Two incredible reads by any estimation.
The Dream Team by Jack McCallum - A whimsical and interesting look at the 1992 Olympic basketball team (with many parallels to the 2012 squad) this is a great, lighthearted read.
The Best of Down Goes Brown by Sean McIndoe - In what could have easily been a series of blog posts (and is) the author elevates his material by being absolutely hilarious. A quick and funny read for all those who miss the game we all love during this awful lockout.
David Simon Award (Smartest Books)
Supergods by Grant Morrison - A brilliant look at how superheroes reflect and shape our culture, Morrison's book is not an easy read. It is however a rewarding one: challenging, complex and utterly fascinating this is a worthwhile book to understanding just why superheroes have been around for such a long time.
The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Keen - Imagine sitting in Grade 9 Science class and having to learn about the periodic table. Now imagine learning it is completely awesome thanks to Keen's great book which is interesting and enlightening about the elements we absolutely need and do not really know.
The Best Books of the Year
(A Quick Note: this list does not include Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn simply because I absolutely could not decide on the book. Did I love it? Did I hate it? I simply cannot come to any final thoughts on it, but I did read it and acknowledge that it exists)
5. The Twelve by Justin Cronin - Like the first book The Passage this one is a post-apocalyptic story set after a virus radically changes twelve death row convicts (and one scientist). Just like the previous book, Cronin shapes and molds a world that has fallen apart in absolutely breathtaking style. In the hands of a less skilled writer this would have fallen apart completely but Cronin is such a great writer that the world he creates is beautiful and haunting. His book deepens and complicates the world he created before and is so heart wrenching and sad that it makes up for a challenging (and chaotic) ending.
4. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl - A stunning book that evokes the best of Harper Lee, this novel (the first of a series) is a powerful book about being an outcast and fighting to fit in. Add a gothic setting and mystery and it all adds up to a wonderful novel. The love story at the center of the story manages to be so real and tragic that the book elevates and challenges the reader to put it down.
3. On Writing by Stephen King - A book about the ins and outs of writing that is actually good and readable? You had better believe it, especially when it is written by Stephen King. Absolutely fantastic.
2. Fever Pitch
And the best book of the year is:
1. The Last Policeman by Ben Winters - Many authors have tried their hand at post-apocalyptic tales that detail a world and civilzation jarred to a brutal end through some kind of devestating catastrophe. Many authors have written hard boiled noir so dark, complex and thrilling that it is virtually impossible to put down. Then there is Ben Winters who has written a flat out brilliant novel that sets a noir mystery against the backdrop of a pre-apocolayptic world slowly consuming itself and its citizens. What Winters does is create a world held together by duct tape, and a man struggling to do the same within himself. All his main protagonist has ever wanted is to be a policeman and now that he is getting his chance the world will be completely destroyed in six months. The book moves through one haunting scene of desperation, decadence and devestation to another and all along the policeman keeps plugging along, following his instincts to solve a crime where the outcome does not matter. Amidst all of this is a series of conspiracy theories and the frightening destruction of our society, piece by piece. The book sticks with you long after it has been read, and Winters writes with such an emotional and deadpan style that perfectly gibes with the world falling apart. One scene however sticks apart from all others: the policeman awakens one more to a vibrating rumble and believes the asteroid coming to Earth has arrived early. His heart wrenching panic and the complete disintegration of his carefully constructed composure falls apart completely as the true horror of his future washes over him completely. Then he realizes his phone is ringing. He pulls himself back together, but it is still simply by bits and pieces that are barely hanging on. What happens to the world when there is no hope, none at all. As Winter's elegantly notes: some fall apart while other struggle to hold some sense of order together, no matter what the cost.
Clive Cussler Award (Best Page Turner)
Live by Night by Dennis Lehane - After a couple of stumbles (notably the "pulled punches" of his previous effort Moonlight Mile) Lehane returned to form with this fantastic sort of sequel to his historical novel The Given Day. Instead of focusing on the characters from the previous book, Lehane strikes out to create new terroritory with a Godfather-esque tale that slowly and subtly twists and turns. The novel is Lehane at his dark best and features a brutal sequence set in prison that shapes the remainder of the tale.
Three Nights in August by Buzz Bissinger - As the baseball season wound down I picked up this gem from the author of the classic Friday Night Lights and was not disappointed. Bissinger breaks down a three game series between the Chicago Cubs and Saint Louis Cardinals through the eyes of manager Tony La Russa. The book goes inside the world of baseball amd allows an unforgettable and intimate glimpse inside a world often viewed as simple or mundane.
James Patterson Award (Most Disappointing Books of the Year)
The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson - A horror classic and supposedly one of the scariest books of all time, this one actually read like a series of "and then...and then...and then..." and not one bit of it rang true in any way. Ultimately incredibly disappointing, especially in the way Anson writes - without any tension or sense of terror.
Snowblind by Robert Sabbag - Sabbag has to be complimented on one aspect of his book: it takes someone with great skill to make the story of a drug trafficker boring. Zachary Swan was a drug dealer in the 70's who realized money could be made on cocaine...and then virtually nothing else happens aside from Sabbag's failed attempts at stylish writing.
Harper Lee Award (Best YA / Female Authors)
Divergent / Insurgent by Veronica Roth - After finishing The Hunger Games one must turn to other dystopian YA series and Roth's is one of the best. Her books are fast paced, interesting and twisty.
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo - Dark, serious and powerful, this is a book that stays with you after you have read it. Unlike other dystopian thrillers, this one is set in a world we do not recognize and one undergoing a transition to a new era. Bardugo gets a lot of credit for literally manifesting the darkness in the world into a physical place ominously called "the fold".
Bill Simmons Award (Best Sports Books)
Richer than God by David Conn / Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby - Two sides of the same coin, Conn's book owes a great debt to Hornby's classic of the sport, and then becomes almost the sequel Hornby never wrote. Both authors wrote about their teams (Arsenal and Man City) and both covered their own, autobiographical rises in relation to their love of said team. Where they differ is Conn's attempt to understand the world of football beyond his own small sphere. He examines the oil sheik who bought the squad and the impact of money in the world of the game. Two incredible reads by any estimation.
The Dream Team by Jack McCallum - A whimsical and interesting look at the 1992 Olympic basketball team (with many parallels to the 2012 squad) this is a great, lighthearted read.
The Best of Down Goes Brown by Sean McIndoe - In what could have easily been a series of blog posts (and is) the author elevates his material by being absolutely hilarious. A quick and funny read for all those who miss the game we all love during this awful lockout.
David Simon Award (Smartest Books)
Supergods by Grant Morrison - A brilliant look at how superheroes reflect and shape our culture, Morrison's book is not an easy read. It is however a rewarding one: challenging, complex and utterly fascinating this is a worthwhile book to understanding just why superheroes have been around for such a long time.
The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Keen - Imagine sitting in Grade 9 Science class and having to learn about the periodic table. Now imagine learning it is completely awesome thanks to Keen's great book which is interesting and enlightening about the elements we absolutely need and do not really know.
The Best Books of the Year
(A Quick Note: this list does not include Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn simply because I absolutely could not decide on the book. Did I love it? Did I hate it? I simply cannot come to any final thoughts on it, but I did read it and acknowledge that it exists)
5. The Twelve by Justin Cronin - Like the first book The Passage this one is a post-apocalyptic story set after a virus radically changes twelve death row convicts (and one scientist). Just like the previous book, Cronin shapes and molds a world that has fallen apart in absolutely breathtaking style. In the hands of a less skilled writer this would have fallen apart completely but Cronin is such a great writer that the world he creates is beautiful and haunting. His book deepens and complicates the world he created before and is so heart wrenching and sad that it makes up for a challenging (and chaotic) ending.
4. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl - A stunning book that evokes the best of Harper Lee, this novel (the first of a series) is a powerful book about being an outcast and fighting to fit in. Add a gothic setting and mystery and it all adds up to a wonderful novel. The love story at the center of the story manages to be so real and tragic that the book elevates and challenges the reader to put it down.
3. On Writing by Stephen King - A book about the ins and outs of writing that is actually good and readable? You had better believe it, especially when it is written by Stephen King. Absolutely fantastic.
2. Fever Pitch
And the best book of the year is:
1. The Last Policeman by Ben Winters - Many authors have tried their hand at post-apocalyptic tales that detail a world and civilzation jarred to a brutal end through some kind of devestating catastrophe. Many authors have written hard boiled noir so dark, complex and thrilling that it is virtually impossible to put down. Then there is Ben Winters who has written a flat out brilliant novel that sets a noir mystery against the backdrop of a pre-apocolayptic world slowly consuming itself and its citizens. What Winters does is create a world held together by duct tape, and a man struggling to do the same within himself. All his main protagonist has ever wanted is to be a policeman and now that he is getting his chance the world will be completely destroyed in six months. The book moves through one haunting scene of desperation, decadence and devestation to another and all along the policeman keeps plugging along, following his instincts to solve a crime where the outcome does not matter. Amidst all of this is a series of conspiracy theories and the frightening destruction of our society, piece by piece. The book sticks with you long after it has been read, and Winters writes with such an emotional and deadpan style that perfectly gibes with the world falling apart. One scene however sticks apart from all others: the policeman awakens one more to a vibrating rumble and believes the asteroid coming to Earth has arrived early. His heart wrenching panic and the complete disintegration of his carefully constructed composure falls apart completely as the true horror of his future washes over him completely. Then he realizes his phone is ringing. He pulls himself back together, but it is still simply by bits and pieces that are barely hanging on. What happens to the world when there is no hope, none at all. As Winter's elegantly notes: some fall apart while other struggle to hold some sense of order together, no matter what the cost.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
The Scariest Books Ever
With another Halloween come and gone, it seemed a perfect time to reveal the Scariest Book I have ever read:
The Shining by Stephen King - Not sure why this book was so scary when I read it until I realized that haunted houses / creepy isolation terrify me. This book is naturally a combination of the best of those two things so it makes sense it would be pretty scary to read...alone...in an old house...at night. For my money this is the most terrifying novel King has written. You have been warned.
The Hot Zone by Richard Preston - A non-fiction thriller about a highly infectious African disease that kills up to 90% of those infected? No idea why this would be scary, no idea at all.
Summer of Night by Dan Simmons - The main reason this one was creepy to me was because it reminded me so much of my friends and I hanging out during the summer. This sort of thing (well, not all of it) could have happened to us. Sure it goes slighly off the rails near the end but that does not take away the full effect of a creepy and dark summer horror.
It by Stephen King - A classic horror story that meshes every single scary thing into one giant stew of terror: evil clowns, monsters, and of course a giant freaking spider. This is also a great book and one of King's true masterpieces (along with The Stand and The Shining).
Bedbugs by Ben Winters - Winters set out to write a modern version of Rosemary's Baby and succeeded in writing a very, very scary novel about creepy crawly little bugs and losing your mind. This is a taunt, top of the line novel. Read it and prepare to do a lot of scratching.
What other novels should I read to add to this list?
The Shining by Stephen King - Not sure why this book was so scary when I read it until I realized that haunted houses / creepy isolation terrify me. This book is naturally a combination of the best of those two things so it makes sense it would be pretty scary to read...alone...in an old house...at night. For my money this is the most terrifying novel King has written. You have been warned.
The Hot Zone by Richard Preston - A non-fiction thriller about a highly infectious African disease that kills up to 90% of those infected? No idea why this would be scary, no idea at all.
Summer of Night by Dan Simmons - The main reason this one was creepy to me was because it reminded me so much of my friends and I hanging out during the summer. This sort of thing (well, not all of it) could have happened to us. Sure it goes slighly off the rails near the end but that does not take away the full effect of a creepy and dark summer horror.
It by Stephen King - A classic horror story that meshes every single scary thing into one giant stew of terror: evil clowns, monsters, and of course a giant freaking spider. This is also a great book and one of King's true masterpieces (along with The Stand and The Shining).
Bedbugs by Ben Winters - Winters set out to write a modern version of Rosemary's Baby and succeeded in writing a very, very scary novel about creepy crawly little bugs and losing your mind. This is a taunt, top of the line novel. Read it and prepare to do a lot of scratching.
What other novels should I read to add to this list?
Sunday, October 28, 2012
The Best Lately
Lately I have read quite a few note worthy books - here are some of the best:
Richer than God by David Conn - More than twenty years ago, Nick Hornby wrote an absolute masterpiece about football called Fever Pitch, now Conn has done a very similiar thing. Writing about the rise of Manchester City and their trillionaire Oil Sheik owner, he is able to contrast the Premier League's business feel of today with the feeling of years ago when he was a boy. The combination is incredible and his conclusions show just how much of a business it all is. A fantastic read for any sports fan.
Falling Angel by William Hjortsberg - A reissued noir horror classic, this novel about a private detective who has to track down a missing singer in the years after WWII is a stunner. Dark, twisted and downright horrifying, it pulls the reader into a deep and horrifying hole. The final twist is a shocker of epic proportions. A great spooky read for Halloween.
The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean - How interesting is the periodic table of elements? According to Kean, it is very interesting and he proves it with his fascinating and well written book about the elements we take for granted. He delves into how each came about and breathes live into a fantastic cast of historical characters. Additionally, he gives you brilliant tidbits about the stuff that makes up our lives and just how fragile it all is. A wonderful read even if you do not love all thing science.
Richer than God by David Conn - More than twenty years ago, Nick Hornby wrote an absolute masterpiece about football called Fever Pitch, now Conn has done a very similiar thing. Writing about the rise of Manchester City and their trillionaire Oil Sheik owner, he is able to contrast the Premier League's business feel of today with the feeling of years ago when he was a boy. The combination is incredible and his conclusions show just how much of a business it all is. A fantastic read for any sports fan.
Falling Angel by William Hjortsberg - A reissued noir horror classic, this novel about a private detective who has to track down a missing singer in the years after WWII is a stunner. Dark, twisted and downright horrifying, it pulls the reader into a deep and horrifying hole. The final twist is a shocker of epic proportions. A great spooky read for Halloween.
The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean - How interesting is the periodic table of elements? According to Kean, it is very interesting and he proves it with his fascinating and well written book about the elements we take for granted. He delves into how each came about and breathes live into a fantastic cast of historical characters. Additionally, he gives you brilliant tidbits about the stuff that makes up our lives and just how fragile it all is. A wonderful read even if you do not love all thing science.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Great Book: The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters
In 2012 I have read a lot of good books and a few very good books, but I have not read too many truly "Great" novels yet this year. All of that changed during the last week of summer when I read The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters.
The premise of this novel is inventive and downright brilliant: In six months an asteroid (cleverly nicknamed "Maia") is going to strike the earth and wipe out all life. There is no hope of salvation, no last second Armaggedon-like scenario and yet the world keeps on turning. What would happen to that world? Winters begins his story with a death, one of many, and a detective who is determined to do his job right until the last horrifying moments, Winters intercuts his great story with a bunch of thought provoking lines and gives glimpses of a world without hope. The book is deeply complex and full of horrifying scenes in a rapidly disintigrating world held together by the thinnest of strings. As a noir mystery novel it is amazing; as a preapocalypse noir mystery story it elevates even higher. Run out and get this book and while you are at it pick up another book by Winters Bedbugs which is a fantastic update on the Rosemary's Baby-ish story of a creepy and psychological thriller set in a New York apartment. It is a very dark and truly terrifying story. Read it and prepare to scratch a lot...
The premise of this novel is inventive and downright brilliant: In six months an asteroid (cleverly nicknamed "Maia") is going to strike the earth and wipe out all life. There is no hope of salvation, no last second Armaggedon-like scenario and yet the world keeps on turning. What would happen to that world? Winters begins his story with a death, one of many, and a detective who is determined to do his job right until the last horrifying moments, Winters intercuts his great story with a bunch of thought provoking lines and gives glimpses of a world without hope. The book is deeply complex and full of horrifying scenes in a rapidly disintigrating world held together by the thinnest of strings. As a noir mystery novel it is amazing; as a preapocalypse noir mystery story it elevates even higher. Run out and get this book and while you are at it pick up another book by Winters Bedbugs which is a fantastic update on the Rosemary's Baby-ish story of a creepy and psychological thriller set in a New York apartment. It is a very dark and truly terrifying story. Read it and prepare to scratch a lot...
Thursday, August 16, 2012
The Joy of Re-Reading
In the dog days of summer reading is a favorite occupation on the beach and in the parks. Nothing beats reading in the sunshine with a cool drink. Summer is a time for action packed, exciting books which require little or no deep thought.
Another great joy of summer is re-reading some old favorites. Occasionally I will re-read books, but generally only if they are complex enough to demand it. This summer has been different: I have torn through three of my all-time favorites. Here are my re-reading faves and perfect summer books:
Darkness Take My Hand by Dennis Lehane - I last read this book in 2007 and it has been awhile since I went back to this classic. Reading it took me down a dark and deep rabbit hole and made me want to tear through the rest of Lehane's catalogue (if you have never read Lehane before start with the Patrick Kenzie series before hitting Mystic River). This is a fantastic meditation on violence and the creation of darkness within all of our souls. Prepare to spend way too much time on the beach trying to read this book in one day.
The Power of the Dog by Don Winslow - I read this one every couple of years, it is one of my favorites. Taking on the Mexican Drug Cartels and the complex government conspiracies which allowed they to become emeshed into the fabric of Mexican society, Winslow has written a great book. At times it stretches some credulity but overall it rings true. This is a horrifying and deeply thematic book and is meant to be read and enjoyed over and again.
The Matarese Circle by Robert Ludlum - It had been more than a decade since I read this classic (some call it the best book Ludlum wrote) and it lived up to my memory. A deep action and plot driven book push this into the upper echelon of spy thrillers. There is a complex web of intrigue going on in addition to a couple of great characters. Thrilling and intense this is the perfect beach book.
What are the books you re-read?
Another great joy of summer is re-reading some old favorites. Occasionally I will re-read books, but generally only if they are complex enough to demand it. This summer has been different: I have torn through three of my all-time favorites. Here are my re-reading faves and perfect summer books:
Darkness Take My Hand by Dennis Lehane - I last read this book in 2007 and it has been awhile since I went back to this classic. Reading it took me down a dark and deep rabbit hole and made me want to tear through the rest of Lehane's catalogue (if you have never read Lehane before start with the Patrick Kenzie series before hitting Mystic River). This is a fantastic meditation on violence and the creation of darkness within all of our souls. Prepare to spend way too much time on the beach trying to read this book in one day.
The Power of the Dog by Don Winslow - I read this one every couple of years, it is one of my favorites. Taking on the Mexican Drug Cartels and the complex government conspiracies which allowed they to become emeshed into the fabric of Mexican society, Winslow has written a great book. At times it stretches some credulity but overall it rings true. This is a horrifying and deeply thematic book and is meant to be read and enjoyed over and again.
The Matarese Circle by Robert Ludlum - It had been more than a decade since I read this classic (some call it the best book Ludlum wrote) and it lived up to my memory. A deep action and plot driven book push this into the upper echelon of spy thrillers. There is a complex web of intrigue going on in addition to a couple of great characters. Thrilling and intense this is the perfect beach book.
What are the books you re-read?
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