Starting in January 2008, I am going to participate in the Book a Month Challenge. At the beginning of every month, a theme will be posted. Participants are asked to read a book based on the theme, and then post a review on their own website/blog or in the comments of the Book a Month (BAM) Challenge blog. I love that this is a very flexible set-up-- you don't have to read one particular "assigned" book, and you have all month to read and post. It's going to be exciting to see the spectrum of books chosen for each theme, and I suspect that the story behind why someone chose a particular book is going to be as intriguing as the actual book review. I can see my "to-be-read" list growing by leaps and bounds, because I love book suggestions that come from other readers.
Please participate in the BAM Challenge with me! Every month I will post the theme and my book review. You are all invited to post your book reviews here at Booked Up in the comments section of my post. Happy reading!
Friday, December 28, 2007
Saturday, December 15, 2007
I'm So Thrilled!
I thought for a long time that my favorite genre was mystery. However, I’ve discovered that what I really like is a good “thriller.” Most mystery/suspense stories fall into this category, but so do many books about war, intrigue, and illegal activities of all kinds. According to Wikipedia, the all-encompassing but sometimes uneven and poorly documented online encyclopedia, thrillers are a “broad genre of literature, film, and television” that is “characterized by fast pacing, frequent action, and resourceful heroes who must thwart the plans of more-powerful and better-equipped villains. Literary devices such as suspense, red herrings, and cliffhangers are used extensively.”
What I really like are strong characters who are trying to make things right. They can be male or female, police detectives or private eyes, cops or criminals, lawyers or their clients, game wardens or poachers, and so on. All of them must have some redeeming quality, even if it’s minimal and only temporary. Some of my favorites are Max Allan Collins’ Quarry, who is an independent hit man for the Mob, Wyatt, Garry Disher’s Australian bank robber, and Spenser, Robert B. Parker’s irreverent private investigator. Even though each of these men operates either outside the law or skate along the razor edge of legality, each is also quick-thinking, decisive, and committed to whatever action is needed to resolve the problems he faces.
On the other hand, I thoroughly enjoy the impulsive, lovable Stephanie Plum, Janet Evanovich’s hometown New Jersey bounty hunter. Evanovich has written a very entertaining series that combines humor, romance, mystery, and action into a tasty thriller stew. Another of these humorous antiheroes is John Dortmunder, whose thieving antics that always go wrong for everyone but him. Donald E. Westlake is the creator of this comic thief and deserves credit for bringing a bit of laughter into what could be a too-serious genre. By the way, I don’t include horror stories in my list of thrillers because I find believable stories about life may be horrible enough without the addition of the gruesome or macabre.
Other than those mentioned above, here are some of my favorite authors:
Elmore Leonard—Has written 33 crime novels, the first being The Big Bounce (1969), The Hot Kid (2005), and the latest, Up In Honey’s Room (2007). Often writes about the criminal rather than the cop. Originally wrote westerns. His westerns are among the best you’ll ever read. For a sample, read The Complete Western Stories of Elmore Leonard (2004). There are also several western novels.
James Lee Burke—Has 2 major characters: Dave Robicheaux (RO bih show), a deputy sheriff in New Iberia, Louisiana (Crusader’s Cross, 2005); Billy Bob Holland, an attorney and former Texas Ranger in Deaf Smith, Texas (In the Moon of Red Ponies, 2004).
Ben Rehder (RED er)—An Austin, Texas writer who writes about the experiences of John Marlin, a Blanco County game warden. Books are full of humorous characters and unexpected action. First book: Buck Fever (2002); latest, Gun Shy (2007).
Lee Child—Writes about Jack Reacher, former U. S. Army Military Policeman. First book, The Killing Floor (1997); latest book: Bad Luck and Trouble (2007).
Stephen Hunter—Writes about the Swaggers, father and son, Earl and Bob Lee. Often sets the scene in Arkansas (Hot Springs, 2000) and once in Oklahoma (Dirty White Boys, 1995). His first book, The Master Sniper (1980), is about the greatest Russian sniper during WWII. His latest is about Bob Lee Swagger, 47th Samurai (2007).
William Diehl (DEEL)—Wrote a 3-book series about Martin Vail, defense attorney in Chicago, Illinois. The first book, Primal Fear (1993), is one of the most powerful, disturbing crime novels you will ever read. It was made into a genuinely frightening movie, starring Richard Gere (lawyer) and introduced us to Edward Norton (really scary bad guy). The succeeding books in the series are Show of Evil (1995) and Reign In Hell (1997). Has also written 6 non-series books.
Bill Pronzini—Has written about 70 books, with 30+ books in his “Nameless Detective” Series, the latest being Mourners (2006). “Nameless” books are chronological, beginning with The Snatch (1971). His latest non-series book is The Alias Man (2004).
-- Tim, MCMLS Assistant Branch Manager
Have a favorite thriller? Leave it in the comments!
What I really like are strong characters who are trying to make things right. They can be male or female, police detectives or private eyes, cops or criminals, lawyers or their clients, game wardens or poachers, and so on. All of them must have some redeeming quality, even if it’s minimal and only temporary. Some of my favorites are Max Allan Collins’ Quarry, who is an independent hit man for the Mob, Wyatt, Garry Disher’s Australian bank robber, and Spenser, Robert B. Parker’s irreverent private investigator. Even though each of these men operates either outside the law or skate along the razor edge of legality, each is also quick-thinking, decisive, and committed to whatever action is needed to resolve the problems he faces.
On the other hand, I thoroughly enjoy the impulsive, lovable Stephanie Plum, Janet Evanovich’s hometown New Jersey bounty hunter. Evanovich has written a very entertaining series that combines humor, romance, mystery, and action into a tasty thriller stew. Another of these humorous antiheroes is John Dortmunder, whose thieving antics that always go wrong for everyone but him. Donald E. Westlake is the creator of this comic thief and deserves credit for bringing a bit of laughter into what could be a too-serious genre. By the way, I don’t include horror stories in my list of thrillers because I find believable stories about life may be horrible enough without the addition of the gruesome or macabre.
Other than those mentioned above, here are some of my favorite authors:
Elmore Leonard—Has written 33 crime novels, the first being The Big Bounce (1969), The Hot Kid (2005), and the latest, Up In Honey’s Room (2007). Often writes about the criminal rather than the cop. Originally wrote westerns. His westerns are among the best you’ll ever read. For a sample, read The Complete Western Stories of Elmore Leonard (2004). There are also several western novels.
James Lee Burke—Has 2 major characters: Dave Robicheaux (RO bih show), a deputy sheriff in New Iberia, Louisiana (Crusader’s Cross, 2005); Billy Bob Holland, an attorney and former Texas Ranger in Deaf Smith, Texas (In the Moon of Red Ponies, 2004).
Ben Rehder (RED er)—An Austin, Texas writer who writes about the experiences of John Marlin, a Blanco County game warden. Books are full of humorous characters and unexpected action. First book: Buck Fever (2002); latest, Gun Shy (2007).
Lee Child—Writes about Jack Reacher, former U. S. Army Military Policeman. First book, The Killing Floor (1997); latest book: Bad Luck and Trouble (2007).
Stephen Hunter—Writes about the Swaggers, father and son, Earl and Bob Lee. Often sets the scene in Arkansas (Hot Springs, 2000) and once in Oklahoma (Dirty White Boys, 1995). His first book, The Master Sniper (1980), is about the greatest Russian sniper during WWII. His latest is about Bob Lee Swagger, 47th Samurai (2007).
William Diehl (DEEL)—Wrote a 3-book series about Martin Vail, defense attorney in Chicago, Illinois. The first book, Primal Fear (1993), is one of the most powerful, disturbing crime novels you will ever read. It was made into a genuinely frightening movie, starring Richard Gere (lawyer) and introduced us to Edward Norton (really scary bad guy). The succeeding books in the series are Show of Evil (1995) and Reign In Hell (1997). Has also written 6 non-series books.
Bill Pronzini—Has written about 70 books, with 30+ books in his “Nameless Detective” Series, the latest being Mourners (2006). “Nameless” books are chronological, beginning with The Snatch (1971). His latest non-series book is The Alias Man (2004).
-- Tim, MCMLS Assistant Branch Manager
Have a favorite thriller? Leave it in the comments!
Friday, December 7, 2007
Reader Resources: MonsterLibrarian
I am not the biggest horror reader, having been cursed with an overactive imagination. But somebody out there loves horror fiction, and the best-selling authors Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and Anne Rice would surely agree. Monsterlibrarian is a great resource not only for die-hard horror fiction fans, but for those looking to just a dip a toe into the genre. There are book lists, reviews, and links to other horror resources. The reviews are broken up by subject-- "Chick Lit with Fangs", anyone?-- but there is also a comprehensive index. The "Coming Horror Fiction Releases" lets you know what's on the horizon. The Monsterlibrarians also include reviews of horror fiction for teens and scary books for kids, which is a nice addition. Check out Monsterlibrarian today!
What's your favorite horror fiction title/author?
What's your favorite horror fiction title/author?
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Best Books of 2007
The lists are starting to roll in as we count down to the end of the year. The top titles of the year include The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao, Tree of Smoke (also the National Book Award winner), A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, Then We Came to the End, and A Thousand Splendid Suns.
Publisher's Weekly Best Books of the Year
The New York Times 10 Best Books of 2007
Amazon's Best Books of 2007
2007 Book Sense Picks Highlights
The National Book Critics Circle Best Recommended Books
What's your favorite read of 2007?
Publisher's Weekly Best Books of the Year
The New York Times 10 Best Books of 2007
Amazon's Best Books of 2007
2007 Book Sense Picks Highlights
The National Book Critics Circle Best Recommended Books
What's your favorite read of 2007?
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