So yeah-that "someone" is me, in case you didn't catch the subtlety there. I'd been hearing this on a loop in my head all month: "I totally don't care that I'm 40". Which probably means that I DO care.
sigh
Coincidentally, I also had a physical done at work the same week as my birthday. Results? Physically, I'm in good standing so far, despite having a horrific diet for a long time. Put it this way, there was a time in my life that I actually thought eating pizza was a really responsible decision because well....at least it's not candy!
Hopefully I can be here another 40 years because I will need those years to read everything that I need to.
Ok, lets get to the books. Same as last month: Splatterpunk nominees are exempt from ratings because I'm on the Splatterpunk jury (register for KillerCon people!)
1: DEAD STRIPPER STORAGE by Bryan Smith. **Splatterpunk nominee**
2: THE WRITHING SKIES by Betty Rocksteady. **Splattterpunk nominee**
3: THE BOOKS OF MAGIC by Neil Gaiman (graphic novel). **see below**
4: MAGIC HOUR by Kristin Hannah. **see below**
5: DJStories by David J Schow. **Splatterpunk nominee**
6: THE CUNDY by RH Dixon http://horrordrive-in.com/serendipitynew/index.php?/archives/1019-The-Cundy,-by-R.H.-Dixon.html
7: A HOUSE AT THE BOTTOM OF A LAKE by Josh Malerman. **B** Novella. Quality-wise, it's in the upper echelon of Malerman's bibliography
8: BROKEN LANDS by Jonathan Maberry. **B** Spin off of the ROT AND RUIN series, and not quite as good, but still quality stuff.
WORST: THE BOOKS OF MAGIC by Neil Gaiman
Firstly, I need to come clean on something that will upset some of you: I'm not a fan of Gaiman's THE SANDMAN. I know that my previous statement will seriously undermine my graphic novel review credibility, but so be it. I did love his run on Marvel's 1602, and THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE is my favorite fantasy novel if that helps any. THE BOOKS OF MAGIC wasn't "bad" in any identifiable way. I just didn't have much fun with it.
BEST: MAGIC HOUR by Kristin Hannah
I'm starting to feel like a broken record with my Kristin Hannah praise, but as they say: I call em like I see em. According to a Kristin Hannah fan site (don't remember which one), this is her best book, which I do not agree with (FIREFLY LANE is). But...it IS one of her better novels. My only complaint was the inclusion of a mostly ineffective love interest subplot. This is a relatively small gripe in the grand scheme of this novel though. The plot concerns a disgraced child psychiatrist tasked with domesticating a feral child. It's a tale of redemption, family, and community. If you like these types of books (domestic dramas?), then you must pick this one up.
And yes...I do realize that I'm the only person in the history of mankind that has read both MAGIC HOUR and DEAD STRIPPER STORAGE
Jason Cavallaro
jcavallaro42@gmail.com
sigh
Coincidentally, I also had a physical done at work the same week as my birthday. Results? Physically, I'm in good standing so far, despite having a horrific diet for a long time. Put it this way, there was a time in my life that I actually thought eating pizza was a really responsible decision because well....at least it's not candy!
Hopefully I can be here another 40 years because I will need those years to read everything that I need to.
Ok, lets get to the books. Same as last month: Splatterpunk nominees are exempt from ratings because I'm on the Splatterpunk jury (register for KillerCon people!)
1: DEAD STRIPPER STORAGE by Bryan Smith. **Splatterpunk nominee**
2: THE WRITHING SKIES by Betty Rocksteady. **Splattterpunk nominee**
3: THE BOOKS OF MAGIC by Neil Gaiman (graphic novel). **see below**
4: MAGIC HOUR by Kristin Hannah. **see below**
5: DJStories by David J Schow. **Splatterpunk nominee**
6: THE CUNDY by RH Dixon http://horrordrive-in.com/serendipitynew/index.php?/archives/1019-The-Cundy,-by-R.H.-Dixon.html
7: A HOUSE AT THE BOTTOM OF A LAKE by Josh Malerman. **B** Novella. Quality-wise, it's in the upper echelon of Malerman's bibliography
8: BROKEN LANDS by Jonathan Maberry. **B** Spin off of the ROT AND RUIN series, and not quite as good, but still quality stuff.
WORST: THE BOOKS OF MAGIC by Neil Gaiman
Firstly, I need to come clean on something that will upset some of you: I'm not a fan of Gaiman's THE SANDMAN. I know that my previous statement will seriously undermine my graphic novel review credibility, but so be it. I did love his run on Marvel's 1602, and THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE is my favorite fantasy novel if that helps any. THE BOOKS OF MAGIC wasn't "bad" in any identifiable way. I just didn't have much fun with it.
BEST: MAGIC HOUR by Kristin Hannah
I'm starting to feel like a broken record with my Kristin Hannah praise, but as they say: I call em like I see em. According to a Kristin Hannah fan site (don't remember which one), this is her best book, which I do not agree with (FIREFLY LANE is). But...it IS one of her better novels. My only complaint was the inclusion of a mostly ineffective love interest subplot. This is a relatively small gripe in the grand scheme of this novel though. The plot concerns a disgraced child psychiatrist tasked with domesticating a feral child. It's a tale of redemption, family, and community. If you like these types of books (domestic dramas?), then you must pick this one up.
And yes...I do realize that I'm the only person in the history of mankind that has read both MAGIC HOUR and DEAD STRIPPER STORAGE
Jason Cavallaro
jcavallaro42@gmail.com
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