Cavallaro's Cavalcade of Carnage
I'm back! Did everyone enjoy Women In Horror month? I celebrated by reading 4 women authors...on accident (sorry, I would've tried harder if I would've known in advance). Oh, and in case you're keeping count: Jessica Hamilton is a pseudonym for Ken Greenhall, so...doesn't count as a woman.

Only change for this month is I will put my grade next to each entry, with a short comment. Thanks to whoever suggested that. Always willing to improve!

1: HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE, Dianne Wynne Jones. **C** Not as good as DOGSBODY
2: THE GREAT ALONE, Kristin Hannah. **A** see below
3: AND HER SMILE WILL UNTETHER THE UNIVERSE, Gwendolyn Kiste (collection). **B** THE RUST MAIDENS is now a must-read for me
4: FOG WARNING, Edward Lorn. **B** My first, but not last, Lorn reading
5: ELIZABETH, Jessica Hamilton. **B** I liked HELLHOUND even more, but the narrative style in both are superb
6: BLOODCHILD AND OTHER STORIES, Octavia Butler (collection) **C** I know. It's Butler; I was supposed to like it more
7: MILA 18, Leon Uris. **D** see below
8: INFIDEL, Pornsak Pichetshote. (graphic novel) **B** Deserving of all the accolades. Has been optioned for film (!)

Ok, lets get it over with...

Worst: MILA 18 by Leon Uris

Full disclosure: I usually dislike historical fiction. So why do I even try? Because of these: McCammon's Matthew Corbett series, FEVRE DREAM by George RR Martin, and THE NIGHTINGALE by Kristin Hannah. And, because I'm an optimist. Anyway, back to MILA 18. Books of this genre fall into a spectrum ranging from "HISTORY + story" to "STORY + history". This book falls into the former category. Despite having a compelling plotline, (Jewish freedom fighters banding together in the sewers of Poland), Uris juxtaposes this plot through too many different points of view. In short, if you want to learn about the Nazi occupation of Poland, but you want some dialogue and characters thrown in, this book is for you. But if you want a great historical fiction novel that is actually fun to read, go with SPEAKS THE NIGHTBIRD.

Best: The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Although my favorite Hannah novel is still FIRELY LANE, I must say that she has continued her streak of exquisitely well-written family dramas. The players: Damaged, former POW father, desperate yet hopeful mother, and the coming-of-age daughter caught in the riptide of her parents' parasitic relationship. The setting: 1970's Alaska. I take that back. Alaska is more than a setting in this book, it's a main character. However, the pressures of the Alaskan wilderness are just one factor eroding this family's unity...This book has recently been optioned for film by Sony (fingers crossed)

Written by Jason Cavallaro
@pinheadspawn

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