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I was both saddened and satisfied when I finished reading this book. As I said, it is a mosaic novel, and the characters depicted within are men all at different stages of life, all struggling with identity, all existentially stranded. Nine men are portrayed, so it doesn’t make sense to discuss all of them here—it would merely be a list. What I will discuss is the depth to which Szalay portrays their hardships. Their social, mental, financial, and sometimes emotional struggle

If I wanted to watch Anthony Perkins playing a psychopath, I’d watch Psycho (1960). That being said, Anthony Hopkins does his level best in the film, Magic (1978), playing a fragile man struggling with fractured personalities, but I couldn’t, no matter how hard I tried, blink and not see Anthony Perkins. They play the same role. Their characters are both subjugated by a dominant “other.” They even have lookalike hairstyles. Hopkins plays Corky, a struggling stand-up comedian/

I am currently reading All That Man Is by David Szalay, a mosaic novel. A mosaic novel “uses parallel storylines that converge at a specific moment or through a common theme, place, or object” (Google Search). George R. R. Martin, Jennifer Egan, Raymond Carver, and Ray Bradbury are examples of authors who write these types of novels. Nine men from different stages of life are depicted. This book, published in 2016, is a Man Booker Prize Finalist. As per my process, I’ll let y

When reading a novel like The Trees, I am always reminded of reader perspective: your past and experiences fuel your perception of the characters, events, places, and themes of what you read. Back in college, I took an African-American Literature class. When reading the first book on the syllabus, Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison, my reader perspective was challenged outright. I at first thought that all of the characters depicted in the novel were White; that is, until I met

I am currently reading The Trees: A Novel by Percival Everett, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author. The story involves a mystery, which is what drew me to it, while it also chronicles life in the Southern United States, especially in Mississippi. Brutal murders and missing corpses in a suburban/almost rural town called Money, intrigues two State Detectives, who are brought in after the first corpse disappears. I’ll let you know what I think when I’m finished.

As I read through this novel, another suspension of disbelief question fluttered through my mind. And this one is specific to science fiction, not unlike the White Time Syndrome I’ve discussed in earlier posts. I’ll get to that in a bit. One of the aspects of this novel is the “class struggle” between humans and synthetics, with humans being superior in numbers, nature, and morality. Or so the world Shawn Goodman created for this novel claims. Nick Schneider, the main and tit

I read the book, internalizing, or trying to, its instructions. I purchased the lock pick set. I tried picking this lock—I failed. I spent a good ten minutes on it, and still failed. I asked a student to try it—he failed. Another—she failed. My next option—and this is not an admittance of defeat, I don’t know what is—is to buy a bolt cutter and a new lock. Since I have a hammer in my desk, I entertained the idea of banging on the handles until one of them breaks, but that wou

In true Hollywood fashion, Raiders of the Lost Ark spawned many copycats. Or at least, they had several films that wanted to be ROTLA . Some were hits, some were misses. Romancing the Stone fell somewhere in the middle. It was a hit when it was released—both critically and commercially—and helped to launch the career of director Robert Zemeckis. Unfortunately, it also had many of the drawbacks of an 1980s film. One of these drawbacks was a sparse script, sacrificing charact

This science fiction/hardboiled mystery novel takes an unconventional, but not wholly original, approach. Taking place in a futuristic city where what could only be described as a class struggle between humans and synthetics simmers, Detective Nick Schneider, the titular character, investigates the murder of a senator’s daughter. What promises to be a reworked, gritty tale of violence and redemption filled with dark humor and action, I look forward to reading this novel, hopi

I’m glad I finished the streaming series of The Alienist, which included (most of) the plot from The Angel Of Darkness in Season 2, before I read TAOD. Needless to say, there were several significant changes from the book to the small screen, which is why the novel kept my attention from the beginning. But I’d rather not talk about said changes—I’d rather discuss the book itself. The same team of investigators is brought together as was in the first novel, this time at a poin

Along with what I’m currently reading, I am also studying—yes, I said studying—Lock Picking for Complete Beginners & Intermediates. You might think that I am examining this manual as research for one of my characters. Or that I seek to add a new skillset to my résumé. Or that my salary as a teacher is so unsatisfactory that I need to pursue another lucrative avocation. But no. The reason why I am reading this book stems from my own stupidity. Plain and simple. You see, in my

I am currently reading the second book in the unfortunately halted Dr. Lazlo Kriezler Series, The Angel of Darkness. As mentioned, author Caleb Carr in 2024, when he was in the midst of writing a third book in the series, as well as a prequel novel. Having read this years ago—and wondering at the time if Carr could top the villain serial killer from the first book—and having watched both seasons of the streaming series, I know what to expect, and I look forward to spending ti

As I read through this book, gaining a closeness with the characters as I would in any good book, I wanted more. I didn’t want it to end. The authors, Rhett Bruno and Jamie Castle, had only planned for and delivered a trilogy, essentially concluding the story of outlaw-turned-immortal enforcer James Crowley, the Black Badge of the title. As I reached the end, I agreed with them. Every character, from good to evil, was handed their just desserts, either violently or by quiet s

Bingeing Secret Level is like reading a collection of flash fiction—short films/stories with only plot elements and not full plots. The “flash fiction” here includes games, mostly video games. And, like all flash fiction, it sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t. The season opens with a story set in the world of Dungeons and Dragons, a beloved and timeless tabletop role-playing game if there ever was one. The story works and is quite compelling. Other episodes from other clas

I am currently reading Ace in the Hole (Black Badge Book 3) by Rhett C. Bruno and Jamie Castle. It’s the third installment in a supernatural western series, filled with colorful characters and an antihero with a conscience. I read the previous two books last year, and am eager to dive back in. When I’m done, I’ll share my thoughts.

This book was a good read, and kept me attentive throughout. The main character, Thomas Austin, riddled by grief and regret, is not your typical hardboiled detective seeking redemption. At first, he seeks solace, which is why he left the NYPD and moved to Hansville, Washington, on the Puget Sound, 3,000 miles away. He is a reluctant retiree, with no intentions of returning to police work. But old fears and longings re-emerge when a bag of an infant’s bones is found on the sho

I am currently reading The Bones At Point No Point , by D.D. Black, feeding my usual diet of mystery and urban fantasy. This one falls in the first category. The detective in this case is Thomas Austin, a former NYPD Detective and recent widower. A mysterious bag of bones pulls Austin back into law enforcement, and hence the mystery begins. As usual, I’ll share my thoughts when I’m done.

I had fun reading this book. From world-building to snarky jokes, from character arcs to anticipatory chapters, from plot twists to moral quandaries. I had a blast. The Malevolent Seven centers on Cade Ombra, a mage who is a self-proclaimed villain. Who hangs out with other villains. And do villainous things. He narrates the story, delighting in his wickedness, yet still making morally right decisions. You see, Cade wasn’t always a bad guy. The book starts with a job that res

I am currently reading The Malevolent Seven, by Sebastian de Castell. I had the honor of meeting Mr. Castell at last year’s Balticon, and when he told me what his books were about, I added them to my TBR. “Terry Pratchett Meets Deadpool” is the marketing line of this book, and I look forward to diving in. I mean, what’s not to like? A snarky, foul-mouthed wizard narrating a tale of magic, mayhem, and mystery? As usual, I’ll let you know my thoughts when I’m done.

This was the third time I have read this book, and I loved it every time. The most prominent concept I want to discuss about The Alienist is its readability. Caleb Carr has done a fantastic job of making long, somewhat unwieldy sentences enjoyable and easy to ingest. How is it that I can read a book like this, with its attention to historical detail, and, especially, its narrative voice in the style of the time period, as well, and be absolutely engaged? At the same time, oth