Reviews

2011 Books

While I don't have time to do the actually reviews right now, here is a list of some of the books that will be on the list (ones I've read so far this year).

Complete Short Stories of Ambrose Bierce
Anasi Boys - Neil Gaiman
The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror
The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
Killer Year (an Anthology of Crime fiction)
Best American Short Stories 2010
Nightmare at 20,000 Feet - Richard Matheson collection
The Life & Times of the Thunderbolt Kid - Bill Bryson
Watchmen
Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman
When You Are Engulfed in Flames - David Sedaris
Alice Cooper, Golf Monster
Assholes Finish First - Tucker Max
Animal Farm - George Orwell


There are another dozen or so on my Kindle that I've read but don't have in front of me and can't remember exactly, at the moment, and another 3 or 4 books that I have to look at the book shelves to remember if I read them this year or last (sometimes these things blur together).

2010 Books

Brother Odd - Dean Koontz
Part of the Odd Thomas series. I came to this series rather late in the game. I quite enjoyed it to begin with. I think that the ghost of Elvis being a main character may have had something to do with this. I struggled through Brother Odd, though. I'm finding that the books are too repetitive in their effort to explain Odd Thomas. I know this has to so with trying to let them stand alone if the reader hasn't read the previous books in the series, but it becomes quite annoying. Not sure if I will continue with them.
That said, the story itself is interesting if you haven't read the other books. I think you would be best served to start at the beginning though and see if the  series can hold your interest long enough for you to get to this one. I am sure Mr. Koontz, if he ever heard my criticism, would look down from his mansion at me and flip me off from behind his big pile of money.

Darker Masques - edited by J.N. Williamson
Collection of Horror short stories including works by Ray Bradbury, Graham Masterson and Dan Simmons. Note that Bradbury's contribution here is a short poem-like piece. I'm sure the name recognition helped sales. I rarely am disappointed in collections because even if one tale doesn't cut the mustard for me I don't have much time invested in it and there is another tale waiting to redeem the book. Can't think of one in the group here that disappointed. A solid collection.

I'm a Stranger Here Myself - Bill Bryson
A collection of essays by the Travel writer, written for British audience upon Bryson's return to the U.S. after living abroad. Bryson is the best travel write I know of; always informative and humorous. This book was no exception.

On Writing - Stephen King
I re-read this book every other year or so. It is one of the best books out there to give you a sense of the craft and what it takes to succeed. The book is regularly recommended as a must read for would be authors.
Of course, I agree. I would also say it is a must read for any Stephen King fan as it gives a good look at the man behind all those best sellers.

Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
I had heard so many great reviews of this book from friends and family that I was prepared for a bitter disappointment. I was happily unjustified in my concern. It was an excellent, very clever book. There were a few parts, one in particular that I won't get in to for fear of a spoiler, that I found unnecessary and even silly but these areas were easily forgiven. The book was, overall, very powerful and enjoyable.
And for a book whose second line is "I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973" it has a reasonably happy, satisfying tone throughout.

Heart Shaped Box - Joe Hill
This is the second offering by Mr. Hill, the first being a collection of short works called "20th Century Ghosts" (I'll get to that later). This novel was clever, moody, scary and funny while appealing to my inner Big Hair, 1980's, Rock and Roll teenager.
I enjoyed the book so much that I went in search of more work by Joe Hill (finding the aforementioned collection and catching the newest novel (I'll get to that, as well) when it came out. I also started following Joe on twitter and regularly visit his website. I am happy to say he was my author of the year find and, I guess not surprisingly, after reading Heart  Shaped Box, I discovered that he was Stephen King's son.

20th Century Ghosts - Joe Hill
The previously mentioned short story collection. Some highlights: 20th Century Ghost, Abraham's Boys and The Cape (which, at the time of this update is being worked into a 4 part comic, the first of which just came out). To be honest, I enjoyed every story. It is, perhaps, the best collection of stories by a single author that I have ever read. I even ended up by another couple copies to give out for All Hallow's Read.

World War Z - Max Brooks
It's a heady time for the offspring of the famous. Max Brooks's father is Mel Brooks.
World War Z is the immensely popular book that chronicles the Zombie War as if through the notes and writings of a reporter. It's clever and interesting though it doesn't have a real clear direction or a traditional pace from beginning to end. It is more of a (fictional) historical report in an "as seen through the eyes of" style. Still, I didn't feel like I wasted my money (but to be fair I think I got it for 50% off).

The Zombie Survival Guide - Max Brooks
What can I say? I like Zombies.
This book was well organized and would actually be quite useful in the event of an actual Zombie Apocalypse. Beyond that, however, not one I would necessarily recommend. Really nothing new that any Zombie fan doesn't already know.

Horns- Joe Hill
The latest offering from Mr. Hill. My high expectations for this book can be seen in the fact that I bought the hardcover copy.
The plot: a guy wakes up after a drunken night to find that he has turned into the devil, more or less. And the fact that you find yourself rooting for the devil is a testament to Hill's writing.
All I'm going to say is that Hill is working on another book now, due out in 2011 some time, and I will be buying that in hardcover, as well.

Evil: A Primer - William Hart
An intellectual exploration of the idea of Evil, its roots, causes and consequences. While the author can;t really define the source of evil, the book is an interesting review of what people think of as evil and how those opinions can change, vary and be manipulated.
I wouldn't call this one a page turner, but it has its qualities and I found it interesting.

Smoke and Mirrors - Neil Gaiman
This is not the first time I read Gaiman but ti was the first book of his that I bought. Much like Joe Hill, I was so impressed with this work that I got into a bit of a Gaiman craze but I don;t find that to be a bad thing. I would rank him among my top five authors (at least living authors, but probably all time as I demand consistent quality works not just a classic here and there).
Smoke ans Mirrors is a collection. I would always recommend trying out an author with a collection of some of their short works, if possible. It's less of a commitment. While I can't think of any of the stories or poems in this collection that I didn't enjoy, some notables that stick out for me are Nicholas was..., Troll Bridge and We Can Get Them For You Wholesale.

The Book of Totally Useless Information - Dan Voorhees
Is just what it says it is and just the sort of thing I enjoy. Id you know, for instance that the QWERTY keyboard design was actually meant to slow down typists?

Blockade Billy - Stephen King
Limited Edition (originally) short. The theme of this story goes to King's love of baseball. This one's nothing horrific, necessarily, and not the best King I've ever read, but it's a quality story. It will probably end up in a future collection, which would make it more digestible. Spending the money for a single short that you can knock out while lounging in the tub one evening kind of chaps my ass, but....it is what it is..

The New Dead - edited by Christopher Golden
A zombie anthology. As I said (and as future reviews will show) I like zombies and I like anthologies. Notables: Lazarus by John Connolly, Family Business by Jonathan Maberry, Kids and Their Toys by James A. Moore. Highlight: Twittering From the Circus of the Dead by Joe Hill (Yeah, I know, but c'mon...the whole story is told through 140 or less character tweets. Very fucking clever.)

Fragile Things - Neil Gaiman
What can I say? When I find something I like, I stick with it. More short work by Gaiman. More satisfaction for me.

Darkness: Two Decades of Modern Horror - edited by Ellen Datlow
Works by some of the biggest names in the game; Stephen King, Dan Simmons, Clive Barker, Peter Straub....How can you go wrong?

I Am Legend - Richard Matheson
Besides the original novel, this book includes much of Matheson's other works. Legend is (or should be) required reading for horror writers and fans. For those of you who have seen any of the movie adaptations, none of them have yet done the written work justice. They may have their own qualities in their own stories but you must, MUST, read the novel, especially if you have seen the movies.

Something Wicked This Way Comes - Ray Bradbury
A classic. Another required read for horror fans. The original, creepy carnival. This is one of my top two Bradbury books. I'm not sure how many times I've read it, but it had been several years since the last time. I enjoyed it as much this time as if it was new to me, which is a rare feat in re-reading fiction work.

Dark Delicacies III: Haunted - Del Howison and Jeff Gelb
A collection of horror. I also recommend volumes I and II. There is always good work by newer or less famous authors and a couple gifts from the masters. Dark Delicacies is a store in Burbank, CA for all things horror. I've never visited but it is on my to do list.

American Gods - Neil Gaiman
One of the more clever ideas for a book that I have seen. I read a short that was based on this book in a collection, prior to actually getting this novel. THe short stood well enough alone and didn;t give away the novel at all, but they both compliment the other.
American Gods is a bit of a misnomer as the book is really about ALL gods and belief systems and the state of the human mind and soul. At least, that's what I got out of it. You might find something different in there but I am sure that, whatever you find, you'll enjoy the search for it.

Notes From a Small Island - Bill Bryson
A bit of the reverse of "I'm a Stranger Here Myself." In this work, Bryson regales us with tales of his travels through Britain. Every time I read one of Bryson's works, it makes me want to visit where ever he is and, I guess, that's what makes him a successful travel writer. Even better would be to visit these places with someone that has such a sense of adventure, a keen eye and the ability to find the joy, humor or silliness in nearly every situation as does Bryson.

Stories: All-New Tales - edited by Neil Gaiman and Al Sarrantino
Mostly stories leaning toward the horrific, but not necessarily a Horror Collection. Some of the regular greats like Lansdale. Joyce Carol Oates, Straub and (my find of the year) Joe Hill.
While all of the stories were pleasing and some were great, I was most struck by a story by Jodi Picoult. Presumably, based on her success, many people are of agreement that she is an excellent writer. I have never read anything by her but I may have to now, even though I don't think her typical books are my regular fare. Her contribution here caused me actual physical pain. It was great!

Good Omens - Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
This "Anti-Christ, looming end of the world. Armageddon" story is (despite that description) very funny. It offers some interesting views of good and evil, as well.
There is an interesting story about how Gaiman and Pratchett came to collaborate on this one (but I'll let you find that on your own). Suffice it to say. the authors were continents apart as they worked on this and, by their own admission, often wrote with the intention of making the other laugh. They basically went back and forth in telling the story and, if you've read any of their other works you can usually tell who is most greatly influencing each bit (but it doesn't detract from the overall work at all).
This book has gathered quite a cult following and rumors persist that a sequel is in the future. Recently, Pratchett and Gaiman have been seen "discussing" things in hushed, clandestine type ways that bode well for those of us hoping the rumors are true.

What Makes Flamingos Pink - by Bill McLain
Picked this one up at a used bookstore visit to feed my need for pointless, but interesting, information. Mission accomplished.

God is Not Great - Christopher Hitchens
This is pretty much what you might expect from an atheist and I don't say that in a good or bad way. It just is what it is and the title should be enough to let you know what you are getting yourself into. I am in no mood to discuss my personal beliefs but I think, whether or not you believe in God, you should be willing to explore all sides of the argument. After all, if you can't listen to the opposing view and still feel confident in your own opinion then your faith (or lack of) may need some strengthening or reconsidering.
I will say that Hitchens, much like Richard Dawkins, tends to come off as very arrogant and pompous. Actually, even more so than Dawkins.
While Dawkins is on my brain, this is not a 2010 read but The God Delusion is worth checking out, too.

Song of Kali - Dan Simmons
This is the first book by Simmons, who I am more personally aware of due to his short stories. This book was written in 1985, so I am getting around to it rather late but, as I said, I am more aware of Simmons' work in the Short Story genre.
The reviews for this World Fantasy Award winner prepare you for something beyond horrific: "makes the stuff of nightmares very real" - "Shock treatments abound" - "Where Stephen King flinches, Simmons doesn't" - etc. Maybe I am more jaded than most or, more likely, 25 years ago this seemed more horrific than it does now. It had its moments and the ending is fantastic but it certainly didn't give me nightmares. And, to be quite honest, it felt a bit drawn out for my taste. I still recommend it, but it wouldn't have made my top 10 of the year.

The Living Dead 2 - edited by John Joseph Adams
Anthology. Zombies. I'm sold.
Zombie regular Max Brooks is here, The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman contributes and Zombie fans will recognize a few other names. That should be enough to convince you to give this one a run.
Notable: Danger Word by Steven Barnes & Tananarive Due, The Crocodiles by Steven Popkes and Last Stand by Kelley Armstrong.

I Am The Messenger - Markus Zusak
Story about a cabbie with no particular goal in life, kind of a wanker but mostly an okay guy, who is suddenly enlisted by someone or something to take care of certain issues that may or may not be good or bad and may require a small gesture or a major undertaking. He finds quickly that he has no choice in the matter and that he has to go through the suits of a card deck (each suit with three missions) to complete his task.
The book moves reasonably quick and the characters are engaging. You may need a little interpretation here and there as the author is Australian and it shows.

The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman
A Newberry Medal winner for excellence in Children's Literature, a Hugo Award winner and Bestseller. Gaiman claims the idea for this book came to him years ago but that he didn't feel that he was a good enough writer then to tackle it.
I read this book aloud to my two boys and we enjoyed it together. The book is really made up of several small stories (each chapter) that could nearly be stories all on their own other than the fact that they are tied together by the main character, Nobody Owens, and the thread of his existence as a live boy being raised in a graveyard, by ghosts and dealing with a certain someone who did a certain something and wants to do a certain something more (no calling me a spoiler there).
The book may be a bit too much for some young children, though I am of the opinion that if you hit them with the crazy shit early they won't grow up to be pussies. Of course, I suppose they could grow up to be serial killers.... Well, it was okay for my 8 year old, entertained my 14 year old and kept me wanting to turn the page, as well.

Full Dark, No Stars - Stephen King
A collection of four novellas (similar to Different Seasons and Four Past Midnight). These stories stay away from a supernatural element and tend to be more focused on the psychology of the human when put in exceptional circumstances (which, by the way, King often says is his preference when writing rather than more "literary" works that tend to deal with extraordinary people in normal circumstances).
I like the diversion. King is great when dealing with ghosts and ghouls and monsters, etc. but he is at his best, in my opinion, when exploring how dark the human soul can be.

Coraline - Neil Gaiman
Decided to read this one as the boys liked The Graveyard Book and we needed something else to keep "book night" rolling. Why not stick with what's working?
Coraline is a girl in a new house who loves to explore. Her busy parents find it necessary to sort of brush her off a bit by having her do things like count all the doors in their new place. This leads to Coraline finding a special door that takes her to what we might as well call a parallel universe with her "other" mother and father.
Coraline finds that things are not always greener on the other side of the universe and must outsmart her "other" mother in order to save her real parents and return to her own home. Quite good, a bit creepy, but suitable for younger kids.
The animated film, by the way, is a pretty good adaptation.

Best New Zombie Tales, Vol 1 - edited by James Roy Daley
My first Kindle purchase (well, second actually but I'm not counting my own book that I bought just because I could and it was cool to have it on my Kindle). Anthology. Zombies. You know the drill.
Daley claims to have gathered the best of the best of Zombie tales. It is pretty easy to see that he gathered the best of what was submitted to him. Maybe I'm wrong but, as someone who has been involved in such things, this had the distinct feel of a collection from an open submission, entirely judged by Daley, who likely put the work together on a shoe string budget. And God bless him for it. We need more people doing that kind of thing.
Sadly, you can see in the editing that it was a small scale operation. Some of the stories had so many grammatical and spelling errors that I couldn't concentrate on the story itself. Those things are the author's fault, as well, but the ultimate responsibility is that of the guy who puts his name on the book as editor.
Generally, however, the typos were minimal and the stories were pleasing. Some were especially solid and the volume of stories, and the Kindle pricing, certainly made it worth while.

Well, I think that's going to do it for my 2010 book reviews. I may be back to do some movies for you but probably not. There were several other books read during the year, as well as some really good comics, but I just don't have it in me to figure out all of them and give them even snippet reviews. Here's a few that I read, in 2010 (or re-read) that I will just give you a "I recommend them" for:

Lord of the Flies - William Golding
Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
The Pines - Robert Dunbar
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - John Boyne
Caddy For Life - John Feinstein
The Know It All - A.J. Jacobs
Nothing's Sacred - Lewis Black
The Prince - Niccolo Machiavelli
One Magical Sunday - Phil Michelson
Pure Drivel - Steve Martin
I Hope They Serve Beer in Heel - Tucker Max
The Complete Works of Edgar Allen Poe - E.A. Poe
Books of Blood - Clive Barker

Okay, that's it for now. More as 2011 rolls along.