The Cruel Sea, by Nicholas Monsarrat

• Title:  The Cruel Sea
  
• Author:  Nicholas Monsarrat
  
• Borrowed from MD Public Library (Worcester County, Ocean City, MD), Kindle Edition
  
• Started: 4/6/2016
  
• Finished: 4/20/2016
  

I have Herman Wouk (courtesy of the WSJ) to thank for this recommendation.  The Cruel Sea was one of five works Mr. Wouk recommended for great nautical yarns, and I can't begin to describe how much this work touched me.  I did not know anything about the work (or Monsarrat), and would likely have never heard of or read this book without Wouk/WSJ recommendation.

These are fictional characters, who we meet at the start of the WW2 through the end, and by the middle of this book I cared more about these sailors than I did about most of my fellow man.  That sounds terrible, but I was so engrossed by the story, and worried about these men, and had a hard time concentrating on anything other than their ordeal.  A very powerful book.

The Final Solution, by Michael Chabon

• Title:  The Final Solution
  
• Author:  Michael Chabon
  
• Borrowed from DC Public (AudioBook)
  
• Started:  4/19/2016
  
• Finished:  4/21/2016
  

I loved Chabon's The Yiddish Policemen's Union, but for some reason never went on to read any of his other works.  When I saw that he had written a short work involving (we assume) Sherlock Holmes, I had to give it a shot.

Like TYPU, I really enjoyed this one.  It was sad, or maybe bittersweet, but a mute boy with a pet parrot, murder and infidelity, old age and youth... this was just a wondering read.

A Head Full of Ghosts, by Paul Tremblay

• Title:  A Head Full of Ghosts
  
• Author:  Paul Tremblay
  
• Borrowed from DC Public (AudioBook)
  
• Started:  4/16/2016
  
• Finished:  4/19/2016
  

This one started off a little slow and I wasn't sure I would enjoy it.  The blogger seemed particularly annoying.  Well it was just a slow burn, because soon the book had me hooked and I struggled to do anything other than finish this work.

You don't get a lot of answers in this book, but I'm ok with that.  Similar to the book I read in the summer of last year, The Voices (by Tallis), it is up to the reader to decide which theory they subscribe too.

Do you trust the narrator?  Even though she's only 8 (when the events happened), and at the end presents herself to be potentially totally untrustworthy?  Do you think the sister was really possessed?  Is the narrator possessed?  Was the father molesting the sister?  If so, did the mom know and turned a blind eye?  Were the reality TV crew in on the fake possession (if fake)?  Ken specifically?

Some readers will likely be annoyed that these questions and many others are never answered.  Again, I suspect many readers were annoyed by the lack of answers in The Voices.  If I had any criticism at all, it would be the that we are told at the end of the book that some statements by the narrator contradict (I'm paraphrasing) the police report -- but we are never provided that report.  I sure would have liked an appendix that contained that report to give us even more to chew on.

Anyway, this is the most I've written about a book in a while, so you can tell I enjoyed it.  For what it is worth, my gut says there is no possession, the sister was mentally ill, and the narrator is semi-reliable.  I'm on the fence about the father molesting the sister and the mother knowing about it but not doing anything to stop it.  But I think I like that explanation best, as it sets up the ending best (narrator & red sauce).

As a side note, I grew to love those blog posts that I initially hated, mostly because the blogger had the same love of horror lit and movies that I do (or that everyone who would read a book like this would).  My only complaint was that I didn't get any recommendations for books or movies, since I had already consumed all that were mentioned.

Paradise Sky, by Joe R. Lansdale

• Title:  Paradise Sky
  
• Author:  Joe R. Lansdale
  
• Borrowed from DC Public (AudioBook)
  
• Started:  4/7/2016
  
• Finished:  4/16/2016\
  

A non-Hap & Leonard book by Lansdale, this was a piece of historical fiction (mostly fiction, I'd imagine) Western of a black gunslinger.  As with most of Lansdale's books, it was enjoyable if not memorable.  A big book too at over 400 pages, which was a pleasant surprise.

Mr. Midshipman Hornblower, by C.S. Forester

• Title:  Mr. Midshipman Hornblower
  
• Author:  C.S. Forester
  
• Borrowed from DC Public (AudioBook)
  
• Started: 4/2/2016
  
• Finished: 4/7/2016
  

I've been pretty desperate for a fix since finishing the Aubrey/Maturin (Master & Commander) series a while back.  The first (chronologically) book in the Hornblower series was available so I gave it a shot. 

Entertaining, but it's not a great replacement for Aubrey/Maturin.  Nothing will be though, I suppose.  Maybe I should re-read that series...

We Need to Talk About Kevin, by Lionel Shriver

• Title:  We Need to Talk About Kevin
  
• Author:  Lionel Shriver
  
• Borrowed from DC Public (Kindle Edition)
  
• Started: 3/25/2016
  
• Finished: 4/6/2016
  

Has there ever been a more ominously titled book?  I've been wanted to read this one ever since reading a review of the movie based on the novel.  Wanting to read it, but also dreading reading it, so I've put it off for something like 5 years.

But I finally worked up the nerve and started it, and pretty soon I was drawn in.  This rarely happens, but I had crazy dreams almost nightly related to this book.  Not nightmares, but anxiety dreams.  Very odd.  

Anyway, the book is very well written and I was hooked immediately.  I had guessed the "twist" ending almost immediately, well a version of it anyway, but I'm not certain it was really supposed to be a twist at all.  The book has an overwhelming sense of loss?  Dread?  Anxiety? Sadness?  I'm not sure how to describe it, but the gloom which hangs over it doesn't tell me that the reader is supposed to assume the narrators husband is still alive. 

My initial guess was that he had killed himself, unable to live with what Kevin had done.  That changed as soon as the daughter was introduced mid-way through the book.  Then I knew.

Difficult and engrossing, I'm glad I read this one.  I think I'll skip the movie though...

A Banquet of Consequences, by Elizabeth George

Tittle: A Banquet of Consequences:

Author:  Elizabeth George
Borrowed from DC Public (Audiobook)
Started: 3/25/2026
Finished: 4/2/2016

First inspector Lynley book I've read.  Enjoyable, dragged a bit, but the mystery kept me going.

The A.B.C. Murders, by Agatha Christie

• Title:  The A.B.C. Murders
  
• Author:  Agatha Christie
  
• Borrowed from DC Public Library (Kindle Edition)
  
• Started 3/14/2016
  
• Finished: 3/25/2016
  

Another Poirot mystery with a satisfying twist at the end.

The Cellist of Sarajevo, by Steven Galloway

• Title:  The Cellist of Sarajevo
  
• Author:  Steven Galloway
  
• Borrowed from DC Public (Kindle Edition)
  
• Started: 3/18/2016
  
• Finished: 3/24/2016
  

The latest book club book, which I had my doubts about when it was selected.  Well, I'm an idiot.  I loved this book.  Won't go into further detail here since we haven't had the book club meeting yet.  

Honky Tonk Samurai, by Joe Lansdale

• Title:  Honky Tonk Samurai
  
• Author:  Joe Lansdale
  
• Borrowed from DC Public (AudioBook)
  
• Started:  3/15/2016
  
• Finished:  3/17/2016
  

Another Hap & Leonard book, I've been hot & cold on the series as of late.  This one was funny, no doubt about it, I was laughing out loud several times on my walks to & from the office.  There is some gratuitous promotion of Lansdale's daughters music career, but if I had the platform I'd probably do the same for my loved ones.

The bigger issue to me is, as I listened to this book I kept thinking I had already read it.  I had to check the publication date several times.  Hadn't read it, just knew what would happen before it did each time, I assume because the plots/actions are so similar to past Hap & Leonard books.

But those are probably nit-picky complaints.  These books are written for people like me who have followed the shenanigans of these two lovable losers for 10 or so novels now.  We'd keep on reading them no matter what the plots.  It's the back & forth wise-cracking, not the plots, that keeps us reading.

Retribution, by Max Hastings

• Title:  Retribution
  
• Author:  Max Hastings
  
• Borrowed from DC Public (Audiobook)
  
• Started: 2/29/2016
  
• Finished: 3/14/2016
  

A big history of the final year or so of the war in the pacific.  Very interesting, Hastings is no apologist for the use of nuclear weapons and has almost no kind words for MacArthur.  Neither of those is a criticism on my end, but it did make for an interesting read.

Death on the Nile, by Agatha Christie

Title: Death on the Nile
Author: Agatha Christie
Borrowed from DC Public Kindle Edition
Started: 2/23/2016
Finished: 3/13/2016

Another solid, enjoyable, Poirot novel.

The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde

Title: The Picture of Dorian Gray
Author: Oscar Wilde
Borrowed from DC public library (audiobook)
Started: 2/25/2016
Finished: 2/28/2016

Had not read this one since high school. Very enjoyable.

Train Dreams, by Denis Johnson

Title: Train Dreams
Author: Denis Johnson
Borrowed from DC public library
Started: 2/23/2016
Finished: 2/25/2016

The book that turned me onto Denis Johnson. Yes I just read it last year, but I needed a Johnson fix and wanted to revisit this one. Just a beautiful book. I know I said this about Haruki Murakami in my last review but is is true of Johnson as well -- Johnson's books make me want to write. What an amazing gift he has.

I've said this before as well: Will Patton's narration really is fantastic.

Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman, by Haruki Murakami

• Title:  Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman
  
• Author:  Haruki Murakami
  
• Borrowed from DC Public (Audiobook)
  
• Started: 2/6/2016
  
• Finished: 2/23/2016
  

The second Murakami book I've read, the first was The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (which I loved).  This book is a collection of short stories, some more memorable than others, but overall enjoyable.  Murakami's books always make me want to start writing, there is just something about them.  Not to write like him, but for whatever reason I find them inspiring to me to want to write.

Instead I usually boot up the PS4 and play video games...

Also, my public library added a bunch of Murakami audiobooks to their collection, so it is likely I'll go through a few more of these this year.

The Guest Room, by Chris Bohjalian

• Title:  The Guest Room
  
• Author:  Chris Bohjalian
  
• Purchased from Amazon (Kindle Edition)
  
• Started 2/11/2016
  
• Finished: 2/22/2016
  

Another book club book, I'm not sure how I feel about this one.  The subject matter was so horrific, and many of the characters were unlikable.  Still it was a fast-paced and exciting (if that's the right word) novel.  

I thought the plot fell apart near the end.  Just could not believe the actions by the main character (Richard) once the woman returned to his home.  

Sad Cypress, by Agatha Christie

Title: Sad Cypress

Author:  Agatha Christie 

Obtained from the small free library in Ocean City, MD, Northside Park

Started:  1/19/2016

Finished: 2/11/2016

This is a pretty slight novel to have been reading for almost a month. The reality is I started it a while ago and then put it down for a while. 

At any rate, I enjoyed this one. I would have liked more Poirot, he isn't in much of this one, but it is still very enjoyable. 

Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides

• Title:  Middlesex
  
• Author:  Jeffrey Eugenides
  
• Borrowed from DC Public (Audiobook)
  
• Started:  1/18/2016
  
• Finished:  2/5/2016
  

A recommendation from a book-club member (not one of our book club books), I LOVED this one.  Wanted to take days off to continue this book.  I won't lie, I though the book sort of fell apart after Cal ran away from his folks in NY and ended up at the club in San Fran.  But that's a small issue in an overall wonderful read.

The Columbo Phile: A Casebook, by Mark Dawidziak

• Title:  The Columbo Phile:  A Casebook
  
• Author:  Mark Dawidziak
  
• Purchased (used) Amazon.com
  
• Started:  August 2014
  
• Finished:  February 3rd, 2016
  

Almost two years I've been reading this!  Well that's not quite fair, it has been sitting on my night stand for almost two years and every so often I would read a section on an episode, slowly (very slowly) making my way through the series.

Overall I enjoyed this, having first come upon it in the library at USF (the real one in Tampa, not the fake one in San Fran) when I was an undergrad there.  I had always wanted to pick up a copy but could never justify the expense for used versions.

I got lucky in August of 2014 when I found a copy for a more reasonable $29 (right now the cheapest is $89, and some go for over $300!), and a gift card to Amazon as well.  

Dawidziak and I don't always agree on the caliber of the episodes (I can't understand how he didn't love "An Exercise in Fatality", one of my favorites), but overall we were on the same page.

Mrs. Engels, by Gavin McCrea

Title: Mrs. Engels
Author: Gavin McCrea
Purchased on Amazon (kindle)
Started: 1/1/2016
Finished: 1/18/2016

Another book club book. Really wanted to like this one, but just could not get into it. Also, spoiler alert/warning, there is a drowning cats in a sack scene.

The Drop, by Michael Connelly

Title: The Drop
Author: Michael Connelly
Borrowed from DC public audiobook
Started: 1/6/2016
Finished: 1/17/2016

I've read a few other Harry Bosch novels. They're ok, not my favorite, this was more of the same.

Anna Dressed In Blood, by Kendare Blake

Title: Anna Dressed In Blood
Author: Kendare Blake
Borrowed from DC Public Audiobook
Started: 12/24/2015
Finished: 1/5/2016

Something of a guilty pleasure, although not that much pleasure. I was looking for an easy listen after several books I thought I'd like were not my thing.

I went with this YA novel mostly because it took place in Thunder Bay, ON, where my wife and I visited on our vacation last year.

That's about the best I can say for this one...

Presumed Innocent, by Scott Turow

Title:  Presumed Innocent

Author: Scott Turow

Obtained from the small free library in Ocean City, MD, Northside Park

Started: 12/22/2015

Finished: 1/1/2016

Thought this one was decent, but very dated. First finished book of the new year...

The Confession, by Charles Todd

Title: The Confession
Author: Charles Todd
Borrowed from DC public library (audiobook)
Started: 12/10/2015
Finished: 12/22/2015

A pretty good post-WWI British crime novel. I had the killer figured out way before the detective, but that's a small complaint. This one was very enjoyable.

The Man from Skibbereen, by Louis L'Amour

Title:  The Man from Skibbereen

Author:  Louis L'Amour

Obtained from the small free library in Ocean City, MD, Northside Park

Started:  12/11/2015

Finished:  12/20/2015

Fun western, clear good/bad guys. Hero (likely) gets the girl. 

Misterioso, by Arne Dahl

• Title:  Misterioso
  
• Author:  Arne Dahl
  
• Borrowed from DC Public Library (audiobook)
  
• Started:  11/29/2015
  
• Finished:  12/9/2015
  

This was probably a perfectly fine crime novel, but I think I have reached my limit on Scandinavian murder mysteries for a while.  Did not enjoy this one very much.

The Last Flight of Poxl West, by Daniel Torday

Title: The Last Flight of Poxl West
Author: Daniel Torday
Borrowed from DC public library (audiobook)
Started: 11/19/2015
Finished: 11/28/2015

This was a fun book, would definitely recommend.

Angels, by Denis Johnson

• Title:  Angels
  
• Author:  Denis Johnson
  
• Purchased from Amazon (print)
• Started:  11/9/2015
  
• Finished:  11/22/2015
  

Another Denis Johnson novel, his first I believe.  While not quite as polished as the other works of his I've read, I still very much enjoyed it.  I had to force myself to slow down, reading it too quickly and not savoring his writing.  In fact about 20 pages in I re-started the book realizing I just wasn't reading this thoroughly enough.

I thought the book lost its way a bit about 3/4s through, but picked back up again when Houston was on death row.  If I had known about Johnson's work when I was in college I think I would have been obsessed (I'm close enough now as it is), the way I was with Henry Miller.  It is fun to find an author whose work you love, that is for sure.

This was my choice for the book club I joined recently, curious to see if anyone else enjoyed it.

The Bat, by Jo Nesbo

• Title:  The Bat
  
• Author:  Jo Nesbo
  
• Borrowed from DC Public Library (AudioBook)
  
• Started:  11/16/2015
  
• Finished:  11/19/2015
  

This one started off strong, but fell apart about a third of the way through (bar fight) and was never the same for me.  Found myself barely paying attention near the end.  

The City & The City, by China Mieville

• Title:  The City & The City
  
• Author:  China Mieville
  
• Borrowed from DC Public Library (Audiobook)
  
• Started:  11/9/2015
  
• Finished:  11/14/2015\
  

Embarrassed to say I let my biases get the better of me and assumed the author was female based on the first name China.  Have to try to limit my assumptions in the future.  Anyway, this was my first book by Mieville and I like it quite a lot.  I knew nothing about his writing going in and had to Google this book when I first started because I was so confused.  I didn't read much, no spoilers, just enough to get a basic understanding of the city/city structure.  Armed with that knowledge, I had no trouble accepting this strange premise at face value and enjoyed the book immensely.

The Death of Caesar, by Barry Strauss

Title: The Death of Caesar
Author: Barry Strauss
Borrowed from DC Public Library (ebook)
Started: 10/15/2015
Finished: 11/8/2015

Enjoyed this history of the assassins of Caesar, which provided a different timeline of events than I knew about. A wonderful retelling of an amazing story, highly recommended.

Shogun, by James Clavell

Title: Shogun
Author: James Clavell
Borrowed from DC Public (audiobook)
Started: 10/9/2015
Finished: 11/8/2015

This was a big book. 60 or so hours, right at a month to consume. So a daily average of almost two hours of listening. Well worth it.

Really enjoyed this story, part historical fiction, of 17th century Japan.

Going to go with something a little less epic for the next read...

The Bridge of San Luis Rey, by Thornton Wilder

• Title:  The Bridge of San Luis Rey
  
• Author:  Thornton Wilder
  
• Borrowed from DC Public (AudioBook)
  
• Started: 10/5/2015
  
• Finished: 10/8/2015
  

My first Thorton Wilder book, I believe.  I loved this work, hard for me to believe I had not read it or even heard of it before.  How many of these gems are out there just waiting for me to discover them?  This is what makes books and reading so wonderful.

Fun Home, by Alison Bechdel

Title: Fun Home
Author: Alison Bechdel
Purchased from Amazon (Kindle edition)
Started: 10/5/2015
Finished: 10/5/2015

Second book for the book club, a graphic-autobiographical novel. Short but entertaining. Not going to say more since I'll be discussing the book with a group soon.

The Daughter of Time, by Josephine Tey

Title: The Daughter of Time
Author: Josephine Tey
Borrowed from DC Public Library (audiobook)
Started: 9/28/2015
Finished: 10/3/2015

I don't remember where I got this recommendation but I'm glad I did. I loved this book. A historical mystery, of sorts, a policeman in the hospital needs something to occupy his mind and happens onto Richard III and the two boys he is supposed to have murdered. With the help of a research assistant they go on to prove that Richard was innocent, and then discover that other have already done this as well. My description isn't doing the story justice. What a fun book.

Ghost, by Alan Lightman

• Title:  Ghost
  
• Author:  Alan Lightman
  
• Borrowed from DC Public (Audiobook)
  
• Started: 9/18/2015
  
• Finished:  9/27/2015
  

I almost gave up on this one as soon as I started it.  The book just didn't grab me, nor did the narrator reading the audiobook.  But then the protagonist mentions that he was reading a novel by Japanese author about an out of work man who keeps getting harassing, sexual explicit phone calls from strange women.  I assume he meant the book I read earlier this year (and loved), The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.  I figured anyone who liked that book enough to mention it in theirs deserved a shot, so I finished it.

Didn't love it, but the story at times was interesting enough.  Not a good sign but I have to say I'm glad it is over.

Cat Among the Pigeons, by Agatha Christie

• Title:  Cat Among the Pigeons
  
• Author:  Agatha Christie
  
• Borrowed from DC Public Library (Kindle Edition)
  
• Started: 9/11/2015
  
• Finished: 9/18/2015
  

Not my favorite of the Poirot mysteries, but still an entertaining enough read.

Louis L'Amour Collection, by Louis L'Amour

• Title:  Louis L'Amour Collection
  
• Author:  Louis L'Amour
  
• Borrowed from DC Public Library (AudioBook)
  
• Started: 9/15/2015
  
• Finished: 9/17/2015
  

I wasn't sure if I should include this one, but decided it fit well enough to be considered a book.  This audio production on Amazon is listed as being unabridged, but I'm pretty sure that isn't the case and that these stories are edited and re-written to work better in this superb audio production.  I hope I'm mistaken and that these are word-for-word reproductions of the original stories.

The stories included are as follow:

• Riding for the Brand
• The Black Rock Coffin Makers
• Dutchman's Flat
• The Nester and the Piute
• Mistakes can Kill You
• Trail to Pie Town
• Big Medicine

All stories are narrated by Willie Nelson, who does a reasonable job.  His voice is distinctive enough to sound good with a western, even if his timing and tone are often off.  The real standout in this collection is "Riding for the Brand" which features an all start cast from the Highwaymen including Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson (and Nelson as the main narrator).  That story was by far the best, such an entertaining hour of storytelling.

Definitely going to pick up some more of these kinds of Westerns, very entertaining with the phrases like "cleared leather" popping up all the time.  I was lost in another world for my 30 minute walks to and from the office and I had this playing through my headphones.

Appointment with Death, by Agatha Christie

• Title:  Appointment with Death
• Author:  Agatha Christie
• Borrowed from DC Public Library (AudioBook)
• Started: 9/14/2015
• Finished: 9/15/2015

I liked this Hercule Poirot book, but not as much as some in the past.  It was a pretty short novel, set in the near east which is always a great location for Poirot book.  And I'll say this for it, I was positive I knew the outcome and Christie got the better of me.  I was totally fooled, but once Poirot explained the mystery I could see that all the clues were there.  I just was unable to correctly connect them.

Bird Box, by Josh Malerman

• Title:  Bird Box
  
• Author:  Josh Malerman
  
• Borrowed from DC Public Library (AudioBook)
  
• Started:  9/10/2015
  
• Finished: 9/14/2015
  

I tried to like this one, and sometimes I did enjoy it.  But ultimate I was never totally immersed in this dystopian world, never really cared much for the people in it.  Perhaps this is most telling -- I didn't even flinch when the dog died.

With that said, there were some well written scenes, some interesting ideas.  It wasn't painful to read, just not very satisfying.  Particularly the way (I felt) the rules for the unseen beasts kept changing.  Animals are also affected!  Except when they're not!  

The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah

• Title:  The Nightingale
  
• Author:  Kristin Hannah
  
• Purchased from Amazon.com (Kindle Edition)
  
• Started: 9/1/2015
  
• Finished: 9/10/2015
  

So I joined a book club.  Probably more accurate to say I harassed my neighbor enough to get invited into his club.  This was the book chosen for what will be my first meeting at the end of the month.

Since it is my first book for the club, I desperately wanted to give it a good review.  The book was entertaining enough, story was compelling, easy to read.  But overall I can't say I liked it.  There was something off about this book.

Something like 12,000 people on Amazon think I'm wrong, giving it 4 & 5 star reviews.  The writing was just so melodramatic, and I never once felt like any of these characters were real, or even remotely cared about what happened to them.

I'll see how the others felt at the book club, but expect to start seeing more books like this (that is, books I would not have normally chosen to read) as the book club continues.

The Chill, by Ross MacDonald

• Title:  The Chill
  
• Author:  Ross MacDonald
  
• Borrowed from DC Public Library (AudioBook)
  
• Started: 9/3/2015
  
• Finished: 9/8/2015
  

This must be MacDonald's masterpiece, at least as far as the Lew Archer series goes.  Much as I love the Archer series, I'm surprised I've never tried to read them all in order.  I've read many of them, and the Drowning Pool was always my favorite -- until this one.  The Chill has it all, and right up to the end I was thinking "now Archer's not saying what I think he's saying, is he?"  He was.

Below, by Ryan Lockwood

Title: Below
Author: Ryan Lockwood
Borrowed from DC Public
Started: 8/27/2015
Finished: 8/30/2015

Still on the epic road trip, picked up my wife in Jackson Hole, WY and didn't listen to books for about a week as we chatted and sang to outlaw country radio on our drives north and east.

Once we entered canada and online radio options dried up, we put on this book which I thought would be a popcorn-type fun beach read. I think that's what the author was going for but didn't quite achieve. Book was pretty amateurish, read like a first novel. I wish this guy well, but would not recommend this one to anyone.

Black Money, by Ross MacDonald

Title: Black Money
Author: Ross MacDonald
Borrowed from DC Public Library (audiobook)
Started: 8/19/2015
Finished: 8/19/2015

Day two of my marathon drive, this time from Omaha to Jackson hole, Wy. Less than 48 hours from DC to Jackson -- I don't recommend it.

This Lew Archer book helped to kill the time as my dog and I high tailed it across the country. Really enjoyed this book, as I have many Lew Archer books in the past.

The Black-Eyed Blonde, by Benjamin Black

Title: The Black-Eyed Blonde
Author: Benjamin Black
Started: 8/18/2025
Finished: 8/19/2015

Made a marathon drive from DC to Omaha and needed audiobooks to help keep me awake. This was one of them and I loved it. Another recommendation from old WSJ best of the year book lists. A great Marlow from a non-Chandler author.

The Big Sleep, by Raymond Chandler

• Title:  The Big Sleep
  
• Author:  Raymond Chandler
  
• Borrowed from DC Public (AudioBook)
  
• Started: 8/16/2015
  
• Finished: 8/17/2015
  

This was at least the third time I'd read this one, and I'm really not sure why.  I like it, but it is ins't my favorite.  Still I do like this book and there is something about the twist ending that always gets me, when the little sister tries to empty her revolver into Marlowe not knowing he has replaced her bullets with blanks.

Jesus' Son, by Denis Johnson

Title: Jesus' Son
Author: Denis Johnson
Borrowed from DC Public (audiobook)
Started: 8/14/2015
Finish: 8/15/2015

My Denis Johnson love, adoration, and infatuation continues with his collection of related stories, Jesus' Son. I have to quickly say a word about the reader -- Will Patton -- who has been the reader for all of these Johnson books I've consume. Patton just has a gift for this, and his reading really compliments Johnson's wonderful works.

Another outstanding book by Johnson.

The Turn of the Screw, by Henry James

• Title:  The Turn of the Screw
  
• Author:  Henry James
  
• Borrowed from DC Public (AudioBook)
  
• Started: 8/11/2015
  
• Finished: 8/14/2015
  

I have of course read this book before, either High School or Jr. High.  I recall enjoying it immensely, but also remembered it as a straight-up ghost story.  I must either have a terrible memory, or have had terrible teachers in my public school education.

This reading, where I am in my 40s, opens up an entirely different view.  Maybe several different views.  I find as I read ghost stories where there is the possibility of no supernatural happenings, that that ends up being the interpretation I'm drawn to (think "The Exorcist," and the recent book I read "The Voices").  And so it is with The Turn of the Screw.

In this reading I was struck immediately by the sensation that the Governess was off, and that her visions and forebodings were all in her head.  And the extreme sexual undertones to the book (to my modern ears, anyway)  puts me squarely in the "no ghosts" camp.

Loved this book.  Has me thinking about re-reading "The Haunting of Hill House," one of my all time favorites.

The Thief, by Fuminori Nakamura

• Title:  The Thief
  
• Author:  Fuminori Nakamura
  
• Borrowed from DC Public (AudioBook)
  
• Started: 8/9/2015
  
• Finished:  8/11/2015
  

A few weeks back I was scouring the past several years of WSJ.com best books of the years (best of 2010, best of 2011, etc.) trying to get some ideas for books I might enjoy.  The Thief was one of those books.

WSJ did not let down, I really enjoyed this book.  And the "did he live/did he die" ending, far from being frustrating, left me happy that I could enjoy the possibility of a reformed life with the young boy he had grown fond of.

A very enjoyable, very short, read.

The Savage Detectives, by Roberto Bolano

• Title:  The Savage Detectives
  
• Author:  Roberto Bolano
  
• Borrowed from DC Public Library (Kindle Book)
  
• Started:  Circa May 2015
  
• Finished:  Circa August 2015
  

I'm going to start with the good -- what an amazing title for a book, right?  Ok, I'm joking.  I did not hate this book, and I can see my college self LOVING this book.  I might have been quoting from this one instead of Tropic of Cancer...

But now that it is almost 20 years since college, this kind of book just doesn't grab me the way it used to.  I would pick up the book and read it for a while, then grow bored and not pick it up again for a couple of weeks.  

Maybe I need to join a book club where discussions over a  book like this might make it more interesting.