I was on my way to a gig in Canada, scrunched into the backseat of a rented Nissan. I always take the seat behind the tallest person because I require the least legroom. My singer peeked over and asked what I was reading and what it was about. The best I could come up with was “It’s sort of a science-fiction book about plants taking over the world?” That doesn’t really do the book justice but if I had to do it in a single […]
Well-written Novel That Left Me Cold
I heard about Harry Crews from a friend a long time ago who described his book as “sleazy, dark fiction set in Florida” (sold). I’ve been meaning to read something of his and decided to give “Body” a try. I was especially psyched to read it because the central plot point is a bodybuilding competition and I love lifting weights and will take any motivational workout porn I can get (seriously, even that scene in “The Mirror Has Two Faces” where Streisand goes to the […]
Satisfying thriller that I wish I hadn’t started at night
This book had been on my Amazon wishlist for about 10 years. I don’t remember why but since I started this thing I’ve been trying to just buy up the whole damn list in chronological order and it’s insanely satisfying. I knew vaguely that this was a thriller/horror novel and that was about it. My expectations were modest, but I burned through “Under the Beetle’s Cellar” in about two days. The book opens with a hostage situation involving 11 children and their bus driver kidnapped […]
I am a guitar teacher and tribute musician by trade and pre-ordered this as soon as I found out about it. I figured it would help to have some historical perspective on the thing I hold in my lap all day. I get to spend my hours showing people how to play “Wonderwall” or pretending to be Izzy Stradlin. If I’m never going to get a real job I should at least excel at my odd career choice. This book mostly does what it sets […]