October 2015 – Page 2 – Looking For a Good Book

October 14, 2015

EDGE: COLLECTED STORIES – M. E. Kerr

It is surprisingly difficult to find short story collections for younger readers. I suspect, in part, I am simply not aware of them, but I sure do like it when I come across them. M.E. Kerr is the award-winning author of some very progressive teen fiction, addressing topics such as homosexuality, racism, AIDS, absent parents, and Continue reading

CHILDREN’S, SHORT FICTION, Uncategorized, YA

Book Reviews, Books, Children’s Books, Reviews, Short Stories, Young Adult

October 13, 2015

THE CHAPLAIN’S WAR – Brad R. Torgersen

A year or two ago I sent Brad Torgersen a message telling him that I thought he was one of the best new writers of sci-fi writing in the field today. I had read a number of his works that were up for consideration for the Hugo Award and felt that they were really outstanding Continue reading

SF/FANTASY, Uncategorized

Book Reviews, Books, Reviews, SF/Fantasy

October 12, 2015

THE DOUBT FACTORY – Paolo Bacigalupi

Paolo Bacigalupi’s The Doubt Factory is a YA thriller that is long on lesson, riddled with romance, and occasionally over-the-top with its action. For those of us familiar with Bacigalupi from his sci-fi books The Windup Girl and Pump Six and Other Stories, this book is definitely a departure, though it’s definitely not unusual for Continue reading

MYSTERY, Uncategorized, YA

Book Reviews, Books, Reviews, Thriller, Young Adult

October 9, 2015

THE LAND OF DREAMS – Vidar Sundstøl

When a naked Norwegian man is found brutally murdered in the Superior National Forest, and another naked Norwegian in shock nearby, U.S. Forest Service officer Lance Hansen, the first on the scene, begins a journey that has him questioning the past, family relationships, and his future. Vidar Sundstøl has written a mystery that is mostly Continue reading

MYSTERY, Uncategorized

Book Reviews, Books, Mystery, Reviews

October 8, 2015

RHODE ISLAND RED – Charlotte Carter

Throwback Thursday: Reviewing a Reissue What do you get when you combine a mystery with an unlikely heroine and jazz music? Rhode Island Red, a Nanette Hayes Mystery. Nanette Hayes is a tall, intelligent, bald, African-American jazz saxophonist playing tunes on the street for whatever cash she can get. When her live-in boyfriend dumps her Continue reading

MYSTERY, Uncategorized

Book Reviews, Books, Music, Mystery, Reviews

October 7, 2015

MERCY THOMPSON: HOPCROSS JILLY – graphic novel

I loved this book. I am not at all familiar with author Patricia Briggs or with her character Mercy Thompson, other than through this graphic novel, but I really did enjoy this book. Mercy Thompson is a shapeshifter and an honorary member of a local werewolf pack in this modern world where people with such Continue reading

Dark Fantasy/Horror, GRAPHIC NOVEL, Uncategorized

Book Reviews, Books, Graphic Novels, Horror/Dark Fantasy, Reviews

October 5, 2015

BLACKHEART’S LEGACY – Sally Copus

The success of the children’s/YA Harry Potter series has done a great deal to bring attention to the children’s book market, and I’ve seen an incredible amount of YA fantasy and science fiction over the years. But what if you aren’t interested in reading about witches and spells and the like? Is there still material Continue reading

CHILDREN’S, Uncategorized, YA

Book Reviews, Books, Children’s Books, Reviews, Young Adult

October 2, 2015

ANDERSONVILLE – Edward M. Erdelac

This is how you write a horror novel. I’ve read a fair number of horror/dark fantasy novels recently, and it seems that I keep repeating the thought that writing and sustaining horror for the length of a novel is extremely difficult, and most of the books I’ve read haven’t quite succeeded in this task. Author Continue reading

Dark Fantasy/Horror, Uncategorized

Book Reviews, Books, Horror/Dark Fantasy, SF/Fantasy