Spot-Lit for May 2013

Posted on May 7, 2013 by everettpubliclibrary

So, you’ve probably heard that Dan Brown, John Sandford, John Le Carré, Isabel Allende, and Kite Runner author Khaled Hosseini all have new books out or due out this month. Below are some more titles getting a lot of advance review buzz and/or publisher support. Click on the titles to read more or to place holds.

General Fiction / Literary Fiction

A Dual Inheritance by Joanna Hershon
A friendship formed at Harvard in 1962 then abruptly broken off is the focus of this love-triangle novel which spans the past fifty years. Hershon’s novel is being compared to Freedom, Rules of Civility, and The Marriage Plot.

Fools by Joan Silber
Occurring in many locations around the globe, and spanning the 1920s to Occupy Wall Street, these interlinked stories look at the ways people dupe one another – subtly or otherwise – and are likewise duped.

First Novels

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra
After her father is abducted, an eight-year-old girl and her neighbor, Akhmed, take refuge in a bombed out hospital in Chechnya where Sonja, the sole remaining doctor, treats the wounded and mourns her missing sister. In writing that is detailed and eloquent, Akhmed and Sonja explore their pasts and the events that have bound them together.

Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews
Pitting Putin’s SVR against the CIA, this exceptional spy thriller includes a host of villains, hit-men, and politicos while employing such spy-trade techniques as counterintelligence, surveillance, “sexpionage,” cyber-warfare and covert communications. Ex-CIA man Matthews knows his stuff.

Under Tower Peak by Bart Paul
Iraq-war vet Tommy Smith and his wilderness guide partner find themselves in the thick of things when they discover the wreckage of a missing billionaire’s airplane high in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Thugs and family members all seek their self-interest and Tommy has to dust off the sniper skills he thought he’d retired for good.

Crime Fiction

The End of the World in Breslau by Marek Krajewski
Hard-drinking Eberhard Mock investigates the grisly murders of two seemingly unrelated victims in the Polish town of Breslau in 1927. Evidence deliberately left at both crime scenes points to a single suspect. Suspicion falls on Mock’s wife when she begins to display unusual behavior.

The Redeemer by Jo Nesbø
Renegade detective Harry Hole has little to go on in solving the contract killing of a musician. Flawed, frail human nature is revealed in the characters of The Redeemer – along with their ambiguous quests for redemption. This is masterfully plotted crime writing that explores the darkest corners of the human psyche.

SF / Fantasy / Horror

The Human Division by John Scalzi
A bold, hard-SF novel in which earthlings find their own Colonial Union has deceived them and conscripted humans in a generations-long fight with aliens. Things get interesting when the aliens appeal to the betrayed humans to join them in the fight against the CU… Bradbury and Heinlein fans will want to grab this.

NOS4A2 by Joe Hill
Charles Talent Manx has a thing for abducting children. Victoria McQueen is the only victim to ever escape his grasp. That was long ago, but he hasn’t forgotten her. And now he has her son.

Red Moon by Benjamin Percy
This supernatural thriller featuring werewolves (lycans) in a story with strong social and geopolitical undercurrents should attract more than just horror fans. Percy’s book is drawing comparisons to Justin Cronin’s The Passage and Max Brooks’s World War Z.

Spot-Lit for April 2013

Posted on April 8, 2013 by everettpubliclibrary

General Fiction / Literary Fiction

The Flamethrowers by Rachel Kushner
An aspiring artist with a passion for Italian racing motorcycles heads to 1970s New York. The romance she falls into while there propels her to Rome, where she gets mixed up in Italy’s radical late ’70s politics. Advance reviews have been hugely enthusiastic.

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
Ursula Todd lives and dies many times, always reborn back into the same family, where she sometimes corrects her past mistakes, and where she finds herself in a position to truly change the world. From the author of Behind the Scenes at the Museum and Started Early, Took My Dog.

Woke Up Lonely by Fiona Maazel
Thurlow Dan is separated from his wife and daughter, and he runs Helix, a loneliness-battling cult complete with communes and speed dating. As it’s grown, Helix has attracted the attention of governments from around the world – which leads to botched reconnaissance and hostage-taking, and involves his ex-wife. A crazy quilt, funny look at mass culture and loneliness.

First Novels

Snapper by Brian Kimberling
An eccentric cast of characters swirls through this finely written tale about a young, barely-scraping-by bird researcher living in Indiana, his love for a mysterious woman, and the twisty, risky road to full adulthood. Humorous and thoughtful reading.

The Movement of Stars by Amy Brill
Hannah Price lives within the restraining principles of her 1840s Nantucket Quaker community, but her nights are given to rooftop star-gazing in hopes of discovering a comet and attaining scientific recognition. Based by the work of America’s first female astronomer, Maria Mitchell.

Amity and Sorrow by Peggy Riley
A mother flees from the compound of a polygamist cult with her daughters Amity and Sorrow, who have never seen the outside world.

Crime Fiction / Suspense

Submergence by J.M. Ledgard
Readers open to non-linear, beautiful, and thought-provoking storytelling should take a look at this novel that explores the tensions between Islamic fundamentalism and Western views, while also exploring marine biology and other subjects. A visceral, rewarding and unusual “spy thriller” set in Somalia and France.

Tuesday’s Gone by Nicci French
A social worker finds her client serving tea to a dead man. Frieda Klein is called in to investigate, but fears whoever killed this man may be targeting her next.

SF / Fantasy / Horror

River of Stars by Guy Gavriel Kay
Another epic, historical fantasy from the acclaimed Kay (Under Heaven), this one set in China’s Song dynasty.

Spot-Lit for March 2013

Posted on March 8, 2013 by everettpubliclibrary

How exciting for short fiction fans to see George Saunders’ story collection, Tenth of December, rise on national best-seller lists and amass 15 holds on our 5 local copies (we spot-lit it in January). Those of you who enjoyed these stories might want to go on to The Fun Parts, Sam Lipsyte’s new story collection due out this month.

Below are ten forthcoming, full-length novels for you to enjoy. Click the titles to read more and place holds. For all new fiction on order, click here.

General Fiction / Literary Fiction

A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki
This beguiling story links a suicidal Tokyo teen, a centenarian Buddhist nun and a Vancouver novelist. A poignant, emotional reckoning of meaning, life and time.

Benediction by Kent Haruf
Strained and estranged family relationships along with end-of-life realities are at the center of this humane novel by the acclaimed author of Eventide and Plainsong.

Middle C by William Gass
Joseph Skizzen emigrates from Austria during World War II and grows up in Ohio where he ultimately becomes a piano teacher. It’s impossible to summarize this wide-ranging and language-rich story in a sentence or two, but adventurous readers should be pleased.

First Novels

The Guilty One by Lisa Ballantyne
Defense attorney Daniel Hunter confronts his own troubled childhood and difficult past while representing an 11-year-old boy accused of killing a younger boy. A legal thriller charged with psychological insight.

Wolfhound Century by Peter Higgins
An alternate history set in Stalinist Russia that stirs together revolutionaries, cabaret girls, terrorism, the secret police and elements of the paranormal.

Masterman

Rage Against the Dying by Becky Masterman
Brigid Quinn has just retired – or so she thought – from a career as a sex-crimes undercover agent when there’s a new lead in the Route 66 serial killer case – the only one she’d left unsolved.

The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat by Edward Moore
Three women and four decades of their close-knit lives – school, marriages, parenthood, and more – all watched over by Big Earl and served with his copious plates of fried chicken. Fans of The Help and Waiting to Exhale should enjoy.

Dreams and Shadows by C. Robert Cargill
Welcome to the Limestone Kingdom, a land not easily left behind. This dark literary fantasy in the mold of Neil Gaiman and Lev Grossman offers an intricate plot and exceptionally well-developed characters.

Crime Fiction /Suspense

Death on a Pale Horse by Donald Thomas
As regular readers of areadinglife know, many authors have picked up where Arthur Conan Doyle left off. Donald Thomas offers a worthy addition that has Sherlock Holmes and Watson tracking down an international conspiracy of criminals who have designs on bringing down Britain.

A Dying Fall by Elly Griffiths
The recent discovery of King Richard III’s skeleton should give a boost to Griffiths’ fifth forensic mystery, in which King Arthur’s remain have been discovered, a fellow archaeologist is murdered, and a right-wing group is terrorizing a local campus.

Long Live the Dog!

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Lisa

Don’t, just don’t…

I’ve never seen nor read Old Yeller - I just know better. My mom preferred stapling the last couple pages of The Snowman together over having me be repeatedly disappointed that the boy’s wonderful new friend never got to stick around. Bambi didn’t get much airtime in our house, and All Dogs Go to Heaven still makes me feel betrayed (but seriously, shouldn’t the halos on the posters have tipped me off?). Alas, I was a sensitive child.

Taking all that into account, it should be no shock to my readers that I still try to avoid books and films where the non-human lead dies in the end. If you’re like me, just knowing that a book has a lovable (or not so lovable) dog in it tends to be a deterrent because you just know how that’s going to wind up. It doesn’t matter if it’s supposed to be a heartwarming death or a senseless one, we instinctively know to steer clear.

Thankfully there are books out there that buck the trend. The best way that I have found to avoid having my emotions brutally toyed with is to get into a series in which the dog happens to be the main character. To help you all out, here are a few series that I would recommend for other softies like me who wouldn’t flinch if the human protagonist got eaten by a tiger, but would cry their eyes out if the author dared to have Rex die peacefully of old age surrounded by a litter of loving offspring.

For kids and young adults:

Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell. Originally introduced in 1963, Clifford has lived to an amazing 213 dog years and shows no sign of decline. The Clifford empire has expanded from simple, delightful softcover books for young readers, to a range of television programming, movies, video games, and toys.

Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion. Harry was one of my favorite books when I was a kid. I’m happy to report that, like Clifford, Harry continues to live a long and productive book, DVD, and merchandise life.

Castaways of the Flying Dutchman* by Brian Jacques. This title gets an asterisk because technically the dog is already dead; that’s how the series begins (no real spoilers there). I won’t get into the details, but Ben and his dog companion Ned travel throughout the ages, irrevocably tied to the fate of the famously cursed ship, The Flying Dutchman. As they wander through time the duo get into a series of adventures, befriend an interesting cast of characters, and fight evil when they encounter it. Though these books can be a little bittersweet at times, because Ben and Ned are always forced to move on from their newly established lives, you know that they will not be parted from each other.

For Adults:

The Mrs. Murphy Mystery series, by Rita Mae Brown. I know some dog-loving purists may take issue with the fact that this series was co-authored by Brown’s cat, Sneaky Pie, and features two cat detectives, but hear me out. I personally love Tee Tucker, the lively crime-stopping corgi that plays a big role in all of Brown’s mysteries. I think if you gave the series a chance you’d root for Tee too.

The Chet and Bernie Mystery series, by Spencer Quinn. For those who can’t stomach the idea of their dog hero sharing the spotlight with a couple of cats, there are Chet and Bernie. Failed K-9 cop Chet, the narrator, works with his human companion Bernie as a private eye. These books are full of suspense, humor, and a little bit of canine mischief, that all adds up to very enjoyable reading.

All of the above series have multiple volumes, so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting your dog hero fix with minimal heartbreak. That should keep your eyes busy and your tails wagging!

Lisa

Sherlockmania!

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Ron

He is one of the most recognizable names in literature. Hundreds of pastiches by copious authors have been written about his character. Movie and TV series abound. Parodies aimed at all ages proliferate. And a multitude of quotes which never issued from his fictional lips are attributed to this British detective, Sherlock Holmes.

Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories are undoubtedly brilliant, introducing (or at least popularizing) a new genre, a new style of detection. The hero is not a particularly likable or sympathetic chap, but his skills are remarkable. It’s no wonder that he has maintained such a high level of acclaim for more than a century.

Sherlock Holmes originally appeared in 4 novels and fifty-six short stories set between 1880 and 1914. His character apparently died in a story written in 1893 (but set in 1891), but fan outcry led to his resurrection in 1901 (in a story set in 1894).

Technology has changed since Holmes’s introduction and Everett Public Library carries Sherlock Holmes books on CD, eBooks and AudioEBooks in addition to plain ol’ books printed on paper.

Perhaps it is comforting to know that Sherlock’s adventures did not end with the death of Conan Doyle. Numerous authors, many alive today, have written stories about Holmes’s exploits during the same period that Conan Doyle chronicled.

(The Italian Secretary is also available as an AudioEBook)

Other authors have dared to speculate on Holmes’s life after his apparent retirement.

(Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes titles by Laurie R. King are available as books, large print books, eBooks, books on CD, and AudioEbooks.)

(A Slight Trick of the Mind is also available as a book on CD)

In some cases, Holmes has even been thrown into the present, through a series of mysterious occurrences, of course.

One can also find series aimed at young adults featuring Sherlock as a teenager.

(Death Cloud is also available as a book on CD and AudioEBook)

One series, which focuses on the young boys who make up the Baker Street Irregulars, is aimed at younger readers.

(Set in the Victorian era)

Another format aimed at young adults and juveniles is graphic novelizations of Conan Doyle’s stories.

(These juvenile books include explanations of Holmes’s deductive reasoning and the clues that helped him arrive at a solution)

Perhaps the biggest buzz currently centered around the famous detective is the BBC series Sherlock. This take on Holmes has him living in present-day London, not a man somehow removed from Victorian times but simply a brilliant investigator born near the close of the 20^th century. This ingenious show delivers unto us a Holmes who has all of the 21^st century’s miraculous technology at his fingertips. The stories are based in the Conan Doyle canon, but include abundant updating and fast-paced dering-do.

And when you finish this superlative series, be sure to look into some of the other big and small screen depictions of England’s most brilliant detective.

And if that’s not enough to keep you busy, there’s always Agatha Christie …

Ron

Spot-Lit for January 2013

Posted on January 14, 2013 by everettpubliclibrary

Whether you want to get the new year going with a new author (the first-time novelists listed here are getting rave reviews) or a returning favorite, there’s a lot to choose from this month.

And if you happen to be a Downton Abbey fan, you’ll want to check out Habits of the House, a new book by Fay Weldon (author of the pilot for Downton-predecessor Upstairs, Downstairs), and the debut novel, Ashenden by Elizabeth Wilhide. You might also take a look at The Tutor’s Daughter by Julie Klassen.

General Fiction / Literary Fiction

Tenth of December by George Saunders
Saunders, known for his sharp, oddball satire, adds deep emotion and compassion to the mix in this knockout collection of 10 new stories.

Ways of Going Home by Alejandro Zambra
A story within a story set in Pinochet’s Chile that reflects on life under dictatorship and explores the nature of writing.

First Novels

Truth in Advertising by John Kenney
This highly anticipated debut from a New Yorker humorist, features a burnt-out 39-year-old ad-man whose long-estranged father has just gone into the hospital – witty, spot-on accounts of work and coworkers, lovers and friends, and a family in crisis.

The Intercept by Dick Wolf
Ground Zero’s new Freedom Tower is threatened – and more – in this high-energy, twisty, terrorism and espionage thriller from the man responsible for TV’s popular Law and Order series.

The Death of Bees by Lisa O’Donnell
Upon their negligent parents’ deaths, Marnie and Nelly bury them in the backyard and try to avoid detection for a year – when Marnie will be old enough to become the guardian of her sister. A compelling coming-of-age novel that is bleak, moving, and at times funny.

Cover of Snow by Jenny Milchman
Nora Hamilton’s seemingly happy husband has hung himself. As she struggles through her grief and begins to dig into the circumstances of his death, she discovers shocking secrets about both her spouse and the town in this taut thriller.

Motherlunge by Kirstin Scott
The theme of motherhood winds through this realistic story of two sisters as they tussle with the decision of whether or not to have children while also dealing with their own mentally fragile mother. Likable characters and solid storytelling.

Six-Gun Tarot by R.S. Belcher
An ancient evil comes to inhabit a played out silver mine in Golgotha, Nevada where a host of characters, who are not quite what they appear to be, attempt to reckon with it in this wild-west steampunk debut.

Crime Fiction /Suspense

Gun Machine by Warren Ellis
A lunatic with a shotgun kills detective John Tallow’s partner, and a cache of weapons is discovered with connections to killings that span decades in this noirish twist on forensic detective work.

The Third Bullet by Stephen Hunter
Sniper Bob Lee Swagger is back, and this time he’s tracking down evidence that may indicate the presence of another gunman in the JFK assassination.

Retribution by Adrian Magson
Ex-MI5 agent Harry Tate’s past comes back to haunt him when an assassin begins tracking down all the members who were part of the U.N. close-protection unit during the Kosovo war – one of whom is alleged to be involved in the rape and murder of a young girl.

Science Fiction

Great North Road by Peter F. Hamilton
A clone in the extended North family is murdered in 2143, leaving precious little evidence for Sidney Hurst to go on, though what he turns up could connect the murder with a two-decade-old slaughter. Epic, big idea, thrilling science fiction.

Romance

The Tutor’s Daughter by Julie Klassen
Emma Smallwood goes with her father to tutor a baron’s four sons, but mysterious events occur that both threaten and tempt in this suspenseful, gothic, Regency romance.

Carol’s Killer List of Awesome Books: Pride and Prejudice Part 1

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Carol

I have one, you have one. Everybody has one. It’s the Never-Ending Way-Too-Long Bucket List of reading lists. Someone recommends a book, an author, or a series, and it sounds terrific. However, I usually let my mood dictate what I want to read next. And I only ever read one book at a time. So that sterling recommendation goes onto the ever-growing list of books I’d like to read—someday.

Would it surprise you to learn that even though I’ve enjoyed countless books set in the Regency era, I’ve never actually read any Jane Austen? Pride and Prejudice has been at the top of my Must Read Before I Die List since I was a teenager. My best friend has read it. My mother has read it countless times. I have purchased a hardcopy and downloaded the eBook. But I’ve never even read the first page. I haven’t had any motivation to do so.

Until now.

Starting this year I’m finally going to begin reading books from my Killer List of Awesome Books. And I thought the best way to start is with Pride and Prejudice, a tale told and retold through countless mediums and re-imaginings. To motivate myself to read this incredible book, I have pinned an adorable Pride and Prejudice button to my collar. I will wear it every day until I have actually read the book. Pin

So keep a lookout for me in the stacks, in the office, on the street. And if you see me wearing the pin, be sure to give me a hard time! Tell me how great the book is, what your favorite scene is, who your favorite characters are. Keep me in line and, who knows? Maybe I’ll actually read it.

But golly gee, I hope the book lives up to the hype!

Carol

EBooks at the Everett Public Library

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Ron

EBooks are a relatively new thing in the history of written stuff. Sure, there were clay tablets, papyrus scrolls, and hand-copied books for eons back in the mists of time, but even mass-produced printed books have been around for nearly 600 years. EBooks are scarcely a zygote.

In spite of this newbie status, the amount of titles available in this infant electronic format is increasing dramatically as the number of e-readers and tablets proliferate. And this trend will continue until the next technology comes along.

I am no Luddite, and in fact have worked on the slightly techy side of computers, but I did not see myself as a potential eBook reader. I like books, holding them, turning pages. Conversely, I don’t particularly enjoy staring at computer screens. But as free eBooks became available in libraries, I was lured by the siren call of near-infinite storage in something the size of a slim paperback. No more vacations with backpacks full of books! No more wondering if the pantry should be filled with food or overflowing stacks of books!

Initially, I feared that the library would carry only best-seller eBooks rather than titles suited to my quirky tastes. However, after thoroughly exploring the catalog, I can state unequivocally that this is not the case. Everett Public Library currently has over 3,000 electronic books including fiction in all genres, kid’s books, young-adult, and non-fiction ranging from history to cooking to biographies. Here are a few of the titles I founds while browsing for eBooks in the EPL catalogue.

A Lady Cyclist’s Guide to Kashgar by Suzanne Joinson
Historical fiction
Available as an eBook, book, large-print book, and audiodisc
In 1923, two sisters, one devout and the other not-so-much, journey to be missionaries on the ancient Silk Road.

Hedy’s Folly: The Life and Breakthrough Inventions of Hedy Lamarr, the Most Beautiful Woman in the World by Richard Rhodes
Biography, history
Available as an eBook, book, and audiodisc
Yes Virginia, Hedy Lamarr was an inventor who created the technology that became the basis for cell phones, Wi-Fi and other devices commonplace to modern life. This book tells of her adventures with inventing partner George Antheil, an avant-garde composer known to use airplanes and other machinery in his compositions. High on my to-read list.

The Dead Gentleman by Matthew Cody
Juvenile fiction
Available only as an eBook
A hole through time, zombies, steampunk, a bad guy called the Dead Gentleman, and two kids from different eras attempting to save the world.

Fodor’s 2012 Hawai’i
Travel guide
Available only as an eBook

Billy the Kid and the Vampyres of Vegas: A Lost Story from the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott
YA Fiction, short story
Available only as an eBook
Billy the Kid, who is an immortal, and Scathach the Shadow join forces to defeat vampyres who control Las Vegas.

Mirage by Matt Ruff
Fiction
Available as an eBook and a book
Matt Ruff is one of my favorite authors, but I’d be the first to say that he’s not for everyone. His books tend toward the surreal, being full of twists and unlikely situations. Mirage takes the 2001 attack on the Twin Towers and turns it on its head, with Christian fundamentalist terrorists attacking the benevolent Muslim states.

Happy Healthy Monsters: Good Night, Tucked In Tight by Naomi Kleinberg
Children’s picture book
Available only as an eBook
Grover and Elmo teach toddlers and their parents the importance of ample sleep.

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
Juvenile fiction
Available as an eBook, book, AudioEBook, audiodisc, playaway and DVD
The last refuge for humanity, the city of Ember, seems to be in peril. Lina and her friend Doon try to decipher an ancient message to save the city.

George F. Kennan: An American Life by John Lewis Gaddis
Biography, politics
Available as an eBook, book, and AudioEBook
A look at the work of this key figure who battled to help America survive the Cold War.

Richard Scarry’s Bedtime Stories by Richard Scarry
Children’s picture book
Available as an eBook and a book

Stay tuned for an informative post on how to check this great stuff out from the library. And don’t forget about our hands on eBook instruction session coming up on Saturday, January 12th.

Ron

Spot-Lit for December 2012

Posted on November 29, 2012 by everettpubliclibrary

December brings new releases by a number of favorite authors, including: Jim Butcher, Tom Clancy, Joy Fielding, W.E.B. Griffin, Linda Howard, Karen Robards, Stuart Woods, and the team of Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child.

But we wanted to be sure you also heard about the titles below.

General Fiction / Literary Fiction

A Possible Life by Sebastian Faulks
Faulks links five remarkable stories across continents and centuries as his characters seek human connection and understanding.

A Thousand Morons by Quim Monzó
Nineteen stories, a mix of longer pieces and flash fiction, that surprise, amuse, horrify, and astonish.

First Novels

Ru by Kim Thúy
A flowing reminiscence of the immigrant experience that takes ten-year-old Nguyen An Tinh from her beloved Saigon to Quebec – and decades later, back to Vietnam. Winner of Canada’s Governor General Award.

Too Bright to Hear Too Loud to See by Juliann Garey
A stark exploration of the ravages of mental illness is at the heart of this story of a man who goes off his meds, abandons his family, and travels the world in search of himself.

Crime Fiction /Suspense

Dying on the Vine by Aaron Elkins
In Tuscany, detective Gideon Oliver discovers the remains of a vintner and his wife, and he’s not buying the police’s assertion that it’s a murder-suicide.

Thieves of Legend by Richard Doetsch
In this globe-hopping thriller, reformed thief Michael St. Pierre and his ex-girlfriend must steal two artifacts that, together, will solve one of history’s greatest mysteries.

Come the Fear by Chris Nickson
Constable Richard Nottingham investigates the death of a woman and her unborn fetus in the seedy environs of 18th-century Leeds.

What’s on Ron’s Bookshelf?

Posted on November 15, 2012 by Ron

Today we answer that age-old question, “What’s on Ron’s Bookshelf?” Some people take too much food at a meal because their eyes are bigger than their stomach. I check out far more books than I can actually read because I want to look important and smart.

Rather than tell you about each of the books, I will tell you why they ended up on my bookshelf. If you’re interested in further details click on a link to go to the library’s catalog, which is chalk full of information about each title.

So, without further ado, here’s what’s on Ron’s bookshelf.

The Iron Wyrm Affair by Lilith Saintcrow
I enjoyed Saintcrow’s series about Jill Kismet, exorcist and demon slayer, not a read that would typically interest me. If Saintcrow can engage me in a topic I don’t care about, then The Iron Wyrm Affair, a novel of Victorian steampunk, should be a shoo-in.

The Map of Time by Felix J. Palma
A review of The Map of the Sky by the same author made reference to this first book in the series. Upon further investigation I discovered a mix of time travel, H. G. Wells and Jack the Ripper, and seriously, what more can a fellow ask for?

Scorch by Gina Damico
A glowing review lead me to Croak, the first book in this trilogy (Scorch is second) about grim reapers, their jobs and living conditions. Funny and touching, exciting and poignant. Hoping for more of the same in this follow-up.

Five Novels of the 1940s & 50s by David Goodis
Recently I’ve developed a strong interest in pulp and noir. Goodis is an author I’d not heard of before and I ran across him in research. The stories in this collection are reputed to be superior examples of the genre.

The Doomsday Vault by Steven Harper
Victorian England, a plague, zombies, clockwork automatons, pirates…

Guys & Dolls: The Stories of Damon Runyon by Damon Runyon
No one else uses language or creates a bygone time like Runyon. It is a delight to experience his prose, characters and unforgettable stories.

So You Created a Wormhole: A Time Traveler’s Guide to Time Travel by Phil Hornshaw
This humorous look at the science behind time travel theory provides heady knowledge as well as entertainment. And gossip about Einstein.

False Negative by Joseph Koenig
Recently the Hard Case Crime series has re-released older pulp/noir classics as well as new or unpublished stories. The recently-penned False Negative is the first book by this critically acclaimed author in 20 years.

Death Warmed Over: Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. by Kevin J. Anderson
This is a book I found whilst browsing. Why did I choose it? Three words: Zombie. P. I.

How to Sharpen Pencils by David Rees
I encountered this book in a review and its quirky humor appealed to me. Little did I know that it is perhaps the funniest book in existence. The dry text takes an exhaustive and authoritative look at the artisanal craft of pencil sharpening. You will never need another book on the subject.

The Diviners by Libba Bray
I recently finished Beauty Queens by Libba Bray, a humorous look at beauty pageants, and it was one of the more entertaining books I’ve read in some time. The Diviners looks like an entirely different beast, focusing on occult-based murders in 1926.

The Janus Affair by Pip Ballantine
Ballantine’s first book, Phoenix Rising, was one of my favorite’s of 2011. It’s a rip-roaring, dynamite ‘splodin’, secret agent whirlwind set in a steampunk Victorian England. I have eagerly awaited the sequel.

So now you know what’s on my bookshelf. Feel free to share your own bookshelf denizens with me. Perhaps we can get together to discuss some titles once I’m done building my time machine.

Ron

areadinglife.com

All Things Everett Public Library

Category Archives: Historical Fiction

Spot-Lit for May 2013

Spot-Lit for April 2013

Spot-Lit for March 2013

Long Live the Dog!

Sherlockmania!

Spot-Lit for January 2013

Carol’s Killer List of Awesome Books: Pride and Prejudice Part 1

EBooks at the Everett Public Library

Spot-Lit for December 2012

What’s on Ron’s Bookshelf?

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