I love reading outdoors.
So what a cruel trick of fate that I live in a state (Louisiana) where it is impossible to read outdoors for at least 30% of the year, for fear of turning into ash.
July is one of those months.
Yet, I still managed to get lots of reading done. Let's begin.
BEST OF THE MONTH
Ghostopolis by Doug TenNapel (Story and Art)
A charming middle grade graphic novel that manages to be dark, genuinely funny, and wholesome. All at the same time.
WORST OF THE MONTH
Dreamfall by Amy Plum
Every reader has their idiosyncratic dislikes. For me, it's lengthy dream sequences in prose. I know what you're thinking: "But Jason, the title has the word DREAM in it. You should have known." What can I say? I'm an optimist.
The rest:
Boys in the Valley by Philip Fracassi. This is probably Fracassi's most successful book. As a fan of his other stuff, I expected to like it more. Grade: C
The Remaking by Clay McLeod Chapman. Same thing here. Chapman is good, but couldn't get into this one. Grade: C
The Maid by Nita Prose. Bestselling/Mainstream Mystery isn't a niche I often find myself in, but this was pretty good. Grade: B
The Godsend by Bernard Taylor. I have never read a Taylor novel that hasn't impressed me. Grade: B
Project Pope by Clifford D Simak. When Simak is good, he is easily one of the best to ever do it. But this isn't one of those. Grade: D
Karate Prom by Kyle Starks (writer and artist). Not quite as good as Sexcastle, but if you're looking for a bizarro take on Karate Kid, this is it. Grade: B
The YA Horror 400 (non-fiction) by Tony Jones. This is the reason I'm reading so much YA lately. Grade: A
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh. Not bad, but I do like her short stories more. Grade: C
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson. Another mainstream book. I was completely disconnected from these characters. Grade: D
Samaritan by Richard Price. A 400-page musing on the nature of altruism. Food for thought, but not so fun. Good writer though. Grade: C
Ghost Eaters by Clay McLeod Chapman. What Kind of Mother is definitely my favorite from him. Grade: C
Harrow Lake by Kat Ellis. A cursed film, a weird, isolated town. Thought I'd love it. Grade: C
Blood Feud by Cullen Bunn (writer) and Drew Moss (art). Lots of gory vampire fun to be had here. One of Bunn's best. Grade: B
These Fleeting Shadows by Kate Alice Marshall. Rules for Vanishing is her best book if you want that one instead. Grade: D
Tyler Cross: Black Rock by Fabian Nury (writer) and Bruno (art). Got this from a list of "most disturbing graphic novels." It wasn't disturbing, so maybe that threw me off. Grade: C
House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland. A dark fairy tale. Great characters and premise. Honestly not sure why I didn't like it more. Grade: C
A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall. I received an ARC of this one. After being disappointed with These Fleeting Shadows, I was surprised with the quality of this one. Grade: B
The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline. Excellent premise: post-apocalyptic story with marrow/dream stealing at its core. Not enough to keep me interested though. Grade: D
When We Were Animals by Joshua Gaylord. Aka: Alden Bell. The Reapers are the Angels is his big hit, but I think this one was better. Grade B
That's it! See you next month.
Reviews by Jason Cavallaro
jcavallaro42@gmail.com
Twitter: @pinheadspawn
So what a cruel trick of fate that I live in a state (Louisiana) where it is impossible to read outdoors for at least 30% of the year, for fear of turning into ash.July is one of those months.
Yet, I still managed to get lots of reading done. Let's begin.
BEST OF THE MONTH
Ghostopolis by Doug TenNapel (Story and Art)
A charming middle grade graphic novel that manages to be dark, genuinely funny, and wholesome. All at the same time.
WORST OF THE MONTH
Dreamfall by Amy Plum
Every reader has their idiosyncratic dislikes. For me, it's lengthy dream sequences in prose. I know what you're thinking: "But Jason, the title has the word DREAM in it. You should have known." What can I say? I'm an optimist.
The rest:
Boys in the Valley by Philip Fracassi. This is probably Fracassi's most successful book. As a fan of his other stuff, I expected to like it more. Grade: C
The Remaking by Clay McLeod Chapman. Same thing here. Chapman is good, but couldn't get into this one. Grade: C
The Maid by Nita Prose. Bestselling/Mainstream Mystery isn't a niche I often find myself in, but this was pretty good. Grade: B
The Godsend by Bernard Taylor. I have never read a Taylor novel that hasn't impressed me. Grade: B
Project Pope by Clifford D Simak. When Simak is good, he is easily one of the best to ever do it. But this isn't one of those. Grade: D
Karate Prom by Kyle Starks (writer and artist). Not quite as good as Sexcastle, but if you're looking for a bizarro take on Karate Kid, this is it. Grade: B
The YA Horror 400 (non-fiction) by Tony Jones. This is the reason I'm reading so much YA lately. Grade: A
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh. Not bad, but I do like her short stories more. Grade: C
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson. Another mainstream book. I was completely disconnected from these characters. Grade: D
Samaritan by Richard Price. A 400-page musing on the nature of altruism. Food for thought, but not so fun. Good writer though. Grade: C
Ghost Eaters by Clay McLeod Chapman. What Kind of Mother is definitely my favorite from him. Grade: C
Harrow Lake by Kat Ellis. A cursed film, a weird, isolated town. Thought I'd love it. Grade: C
Blood Feud by Cullen Bunn (writer) and Drew Moss (art). Lots of gory vampire fun to be had here. One of Bunn's best. Grade: B
These Fleeting Shadows by Kate Alice Marshall. Rules for Vanishing is her best book if you want that one instead. Grade: D
Tyler Cross: Black Rock by Fabian Nury (writer) and Bruno (art). Got this from a list of "most disturbing graphic novels." It wasn't disturbing, so maybe that threw me off. Grade: C
House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland. A dark fairy tale. Great characters and premise. Honestly not sure why I didn't like it more. Grade: C
A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall. I received an ARC of this one. After being disappointed with These Fleeting Shadows, I was surprised with the quality of this one. Grade: B
The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline. Excellent premise: post-apocalyptic story with marrow/dream stealing at its core. Not enough to keep me interested though. Grade: D
When We Were Animals by Joshua Gaylord. Aka: Alden Bell. The Reapers are the Angels is his big hit, but I think this one was better. Grade BThat's it! See you next month.
Reviews by Jason Cavallaro
jcavallaro42@gmail.com
Twitter: @pinheadspawn
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