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.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
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?
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
2012 Best of the Year...So Far
Yes, it is mid-late July and only now am I releasing my Best of the Year...So Far. My apologies for the delay but European Vacations tend to get in the way of things like, say, reading or writing about reading.
In 2012 I have read a large amount of non-fiction; and a shocking (for me) amount of female authors. Here are the best books I have read in 2012 thus far (keep in mind once again that not all of these books were written in 2012 but this is the year in which I have read them):
Clive Cussler Award (Best Page Turner)
Fiction: The Way it Was by George Pelecanos - Pelecanos really made a bit of a mini comeback for me after a series of disappointing novels in which he seemed to lose his way. This was a gut punch of a novel; hard, fast and brutal. Maybe writing it over the course of three blistering hot summer weeks contributed to that. In any event this is simply impossible not to read in one sitting and flashes the immense talent of Pelecanos to us all once again.
Non-Fiction: American Lightening by Howard Blum - The exhaustive and well written account of the 1910 LA Times bombing is great. Blum weaves the birth of Hollywood and modern cinema in with a domestic terrorist attack and class warfare in the early years of Los Angeles. This is a detailed and rich story filled with riveting characters, simply try putting it down.
Harper Lee Award (Best Female Fiction / Non-Fiction)
Fiction: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia / Margaret Stohl - Comparing books is frequent and something all readers do as seeking connections allows us to understand what we read on a different level. Never have I compared a book to the classic To Kill a Mockingbird until now. Keep in mind I am not stating this book is on the level of a timeless classic because it is not. However the themes the authors touch are similiar, as is the small town Southern injustice (and setting). Detailed analysis would be wrought with spoilers so all I will say is this: give this book a shot. It is beautifully written and lushly imagined.
Non-Fiction: Inside Scientology by Janet Reitman - Writing a history of the controversial "religon" (Editor's Note: It is a CULT) takes some serious guts but the best thing about this book is that there are no judgements made by the author. She simply presents the facts - horrifying as they are - and allows the reader to draw their own conclusion. At the end she gives little doubt the twisted purpose of Scientology and the taut, frighteningly sad section on the brutal death of one of the members is one of the scariest things you will read all year. Bravo to Reitman for exposing and rightfully airing all the dirty laundry of what amounts to little more than a criminal organization.
Bill Simmons Award (Best Sports Books)
Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby - A delightful read about the nature of obsession and love for our teams, Hornby's book is a masterpiece. Long before he moved on to novels, this was his magnum opus. Hilarious and heartwrenching he shows exactly what it means to support your team.
Among the Thugs by Bill Buford - The scariest book I have read all year does not rest anywhere near the confines of the "Horror" Section at any bookstore. Rather, it sits, awaiting its next victim in the Sports Shelf. Buford's book is horrifying and shows the depths and depravity that arise from disenfranchisement and our growing lack of a moral center, especially among the working class. He follows English soccer hooligans through their remarkably organized chaos, death and destruction. Absolutely terrifying.
Unfinished Business by Jack McCallum - Going inside one of the last years of Boston's Big Three (as in Bird / McHale / Parish) allowed McCallum to get a true understanding of the cost of winning as well as what it takes. This is a hilarious book which serves to humanize some of the gods of the 80's basketball.
James Patterson Award (Most Disappointing Books)
Lords of the Line by David Cruise and Allison Griffiths - After reading the duo's amazing Net Worth I eagerly dug into this stinker. It was okay...but apparently Canadian Railway History is just nowhere near as interesting as the financial history of the NHL.
The Accountant's Story by Roberto Escobar - After spending most of the book arguing that he was not going to defend his brother (Pablo)'s actions...Roberto does just that. He puts the blame on everyone but Pablo...all the while reminding you that he will not do so. Frustrating, but somewhat interesting insider view of the life of the World's largest Cocaine trafickers.
Gone by Michael Grant - I read this one with high expectations and it simply let me down. So much potential...so little execution.
Other Great Books I read this 1/2 Year:
Wild Thing by Josh Bazell - Highly entertaining and surprisingly deep. Also check out his earlier book Beat the Reaper.
Wilt by Wilt Chamberlain - Hilarious, larger than life and, well, just like Wilt himself. This book proves how self-centred the man was and how little he understood true greatness. Still a great read.
Kings of Cocaine by Guy Gugliotta and Jeff Leen - A detailed look at the world of Cocaine and the men who revolutionized it. A dark portrait of some of the most powerful criminals of our time.
A Feast for Crows / A Dance with Dragons by George RR Martin - Not as good as the third book but still quite good! I understand the frustration of many of his readers but these were solid books.
Collusion by Stewart Neville - Dark and twisty, this book continues the story Neville began in Ghosts of Belfast. While this novel is not anywhere near as original as his first it is still a haunting tale of a country struggling to get over decades of strife.
In 2012 I have read a large amount of non-fiction; and a shocking (for me) amount of female authors. Here are the best books I have read in 2012 thus far (keep in mind once again that not all of these books were written in 2012 but this is the year in which I have read them):
Clive Cussler Award (Best Page Turner)
Fiction: The Way it Was by George Pelecanos - Pelecanos really made a bit of a mini comeback for me after a series of disappointing novels in which he seemed to lose his way. This was a gut punch of a novel; hard, fast and brutal. Maybe writing it over the course of three blistering hot summer weeks contributed to that. In any event this is simply impossible not to read in one sitting and flashes the immense talent of Pelecanos to us all once again.
Non-Fiction: American Lightening by Howard Blum - The exhaustive and well written account of the 1910 LA Times bombing is great. Blum weaves the birth of Hollywood and modern cinema in with a domestic terrorist attack and class warfare in the early years of Los Angeles. This is a detailed and rich story filled with riveting characters, simply try putting it down.
Harper Lee Award (Best Female Fiction / Non-Fiction)
Fiction: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia / Margaret Stohl - Comparing books is frequent and something all readers do as seeking connections allows us to understand what we read on a different level. Never have I compared a book to the classic To Kill a Mockingbird until now. Keep in mind I am not stating this book is on the level of a timeless classic because it is not. However the themes the authors touch are similiar, as is the small town Southern injustice (and setting). Detailed analysis would be wrought with spoilers so all I will say is this: give this book a shot. It is beautifully written and lushly imagined.
Non-Fiction: Inside Scientology by Janet Reitman - Writing a history of the controversial "religon" (Editor's Note: It is a CULT) takes some serious guts but the best thing about this book is that there are no judgements made by the author. She simply presents the facts - horrifying as they are - and allows the reader to draw their own conclusion. At the end she gives little doubt the twisted purpose of Scientology and the taut, frighteningly sad section on the brutal death of one of the members is one of the scariest things you will read all year. Bravo to Reitman for exposing and rightfully airing all the dirty laundry of what amounts to little more than a criminal organization.
Bill Simmons Award (Best Sports Books)
Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby - A delightful read about the nature of obsession and love for our teams, Hornby's book is a masterpiece. Long before he moved on to novels, this was his magnum opus. Hilarious and heartwrenching he shows exactly what it means to support your team.
Among the Thugs by Bill Buford - The scariest book I have read all year does not rest anywhere near the confines of the "Horror" Section at any bookstore. Rather, it sits, awaiting its next victim in the Sports Shelf. Buford's book is horrifying and shows the depths and depravity that arise from disenfranchisement and our growing lack of a moral center, especially among the working class. He follows English soccer hooligans through their remarkably organized chaos, death and destruction. Absolutely terrifying.
Unfinished Business by Jack McCallum - Going inside one of the last years of Boston's Big Three (as in Bird / McHale / Parish) allowed McCallum to get a true understanding of the cost of winning as well as what it takes. This is a hilarious book which serves to humanize some of the gods of the 80's basketball.
James Patterson Award (Most Disappointing Books)
Lords of the Line by David Cruise and Allison Griffiths - After reading the duo's amazing Net Worth I eagerly dug into this stinker. It was okay...but apparently Canadian Railway History is just nowhere near as interesting as the financial history of the NHL.
The Accountant's Story by Roberto Escobar - After spending most of the book arguing that he was not going to defend his brother (Pablo)'s actions...Roberto does just that. He puts the blame on everyone but Pablo...all the while reminding you that he will not do so. Frustrating, but somewhat interesting insider view of the life of the World's largest Cocaine trafickers.
Gone by Michael Grant - I read this one with high expectations and it simply let me down. So much potential...so little execution.
Other Great Books I read this 1/2 Year:
Wild Thing by Josh Bazell - Highly entertaining and surprisingly deep. Also check out his earlier book Beat the Reaper.
Wilt by Wilt Chamberlain - Hilarious, larger than life and, well, just like Wilt himself. This book proves how self-centred the man was and how little he understood true greatness. Still a great read.
Kings of Cocaine by Guy Gugliotta and Jeff Leen - A detailed look at the world of Cocaine and the men who revolutionized it. A dark portrait of some of the most powerful criminals of our time.
A Feast for Crows / A Dance with Dragons by George RR Martin - Not as good as the third book but still quite good! I understand the frustration of many of his readers but these were solid books.
Collusion by Stewart Neville - Dark and twisty, this book continues the story Neville began in Ghosts of Belfast. While this novel is not anywhere near as original as his first it is still a haunting tale of a country struggling to get over decades of strife.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
(4) Bruen vs. (13) Parker
Ken Bruen has written a series of ridiculously good, semi-poetic novels set in Ireland. Parker writes about the twisty criminal landscape of Southern California. Is this a battle...or a slaughter?
Quality of Books - We begin with Parker, the lower seed. He has written a ton of books but for reasons I will soon get in to, I have only read six. Here is how they stack up:
Great: California Girls
Good: LA Outlaws
Okay: Storm Runners, The Renegades
Not Good: Iron River, The Border Lords
Only two of six books fit into the Great - Good catagory...not a great percentage.
Bruen's voluminous works on the other hand, break down like this:
Great: The Guards, The Killing of the Tinkers, Priest
Very Good: The Dramatist, The Magdalen Martyrs, Cross, Inspector Brant series
Good: The Devil, Headstone, Sanctuary, We Were Cops, American Skin, Tower, London Boulevard
This thing is essentially already over.
Massive Edge: Bruen
Great Characters - Parker has one major series character, Charlie Hood, but the books become progressively bad the longer the series has gone on. Hood is a somewhat interesting character made better in the good first book LA Outlaws due to the presence of "villain" Allison Murrietta. Frequently scarred by tragedy, Hood cuts a dark figure and stands as the "good" against the "dark forces" around the San Diego border.
Bruen has created two amazingly unique characters. His drunk Irish PI, Jack Taylor, is an f-ed up force of nature who has made a career out of destroying those around him. Everyone but Taylor dies, and he often pays the price for his brief acts of contrition. The other creation is Inspector Brant, a brutally corrupt police officer who runs his crime squad like a medieval fifedom. Both characters are darker than noir and find themselves frequently travelling from bad to worse.
Massive Edge: Bruen
Style / Inner Workings / Readability - Parker's books are page turners and often compulsively readable. California Girls is a taut and haunting murder mystery played out over decades, and Parker expertly shows the effects on one grief stricken family. However, some of his books are just plain bad. In Iron River he attempts to pull a horrible James Lee Burke impression. Only one man can write like James Lee Burke and he is seeded #1 in this competition. Parker has talent and can write taut thrillers but he has been pulled in too many different directions (too much music!) and has lost his way.
Bruen writes Irish noir poetry and his style is the most incredibly original thing in mystery. Not a word is wasted. In one three line sentence he often conveys more emotion than other writers get out of an entire chapter. His books are spare meditations on violence and brutality and the creeping darkness that surrounds us all. The best work he has written in my opinion is The Killing of the Tinkers in which his tortured hero, Jack Taylor, is given everything he could ever want. Having to watch it snatched away piece by piece is gut wrenching and utterly horrifying. Few mystery writers do it better or more consistently. There is a reason Bruen is in my Mystery Writers Pantheon. Additionally, try putting one of his books down. You will read them all in one sitting and keep returning to his hauntingly beautiful style.
Massive Edge: Bruen
No surprise here: Bruen destroys Parker and moves on.
Quality of Books - We begin with Parker, the lower seed. He has written a ton of books but for reasons I will soon get in to, I have only read six. Here is how they stack up:
Great: California Girls
Good: LA Outlaws
Okay: Storm Runners, The Renegades
Not Good: Iron River, The Border Lords
Only two of six books fit into the Great - Good catagory...not a great percentage.
Bruen's voluminous works on the other hand, break down like this:
Great: The Guards, The Killing of the Tinkers, Priest
Very Good: The Dramatist, The Magdalen Martyrs, Cross, Inspector Brant series
Good: The Devil, Headstone, Sanctuary, We Were Cops, American Skin, Tower, London Boulevard
This thing is essentially already over.
Massive Edge: Bruen
Great Characters - Parker has one major series character, Charlie Hood, but the books become progressively bad the longer the series has gone on. Hood is a somewhat interesting character made better in the good first book LA Outlaws due to the presence of "villain" Allison Murrietta. Frequently scarred by tragedy, Hood cuts a dark figure and stands as the "good" against the "dark forces" around the San Diego border.
Bruen has created two amazingly unique characters. His drunk Irish PI, Jack Taylor, is an f-ed up force of nature who has made a career out of destroying those around him. Everyone but Taylor dies, and he often pays the price for his brief acts of contrition. The other creation is Inspector Brant, a brutally corrupt police officer who runs his crime squad like a medieval fifedom. Both characters are darker than noir and find themselves frequently travelling from bad to worse.
Massive Edge: Bruen
Style / Inner Workings / Readability - Parker's books are page turners and often compulsively readable. California Girls is a taut and haunting murder mystery played out over decades, and Parker expertly shows the effects on one grief stricken family. However, some of his books are just plain bad. In Iron River he attempts to pull a horrible James Lee Burke impression. Only one man can write like James Lee Burke and he is seeded #1 in this competition. Parker has talent and can write taut thrillers but he has been pulled in too many different directions (too much music!) and has lost his way.
Bruen writes Irish noir poetry and his style is the most incredibly original thing in mystery. Not a word is wasted. In one three line sentence he often conveys more emotion than other writers get out of an entire chapter. His books are spare meditations on violence and brutality and the creeping darkness that surrounds us all. The best work he has written in my opinion is The Killing of the Tinkers in which his tortured hero, Jack Taylor, is given everything he could ever want. Having to watch it snatched away piece by piece is gut wrenching and utterly horrifying. Few mystery writers do it better or more consistently. There is a reason Bruen is in my Mystery Writers Pantheon. Additionally, try putting one of his books down. You will read them all in one sitting and keep returning to his hauntingly beautiful style.
Massive Edge: Bruen
No surprise here: Bruen destroys Parker and moves on.
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