A Quick Reading Update and a Look at Graphic Novels

It's a beautiful, sunny day this Tuesday. Jo and Clyde are snoozing so I'm taking advantage to write this entry. I've finished a couple of books... you know the deal, if you read this at all.. reviews, new books, yada yada. I also want to take a bit of time to look at some graphic novels, as they compare to the original books.

Just Finished

Two books finished since my last update. As I mentioned in my last post, it's been a slow reading month for some reason.

1. Alabaster: Wolves by Caitlin R. Kiernan (Alabaster #1 / 2012). I've read the 3rd collection in this graphic novel series and enjoyed a lot.

"I've been enjoying exploring the work of Irish / American horror / Sci Fi author, Caitlín R. Kiernan. I've finished the first two books of the Tinfoil Dossier trilogy and hope to complete this year. I've also begun reading her Alabaster graphic novels and just received and started (and completed) the first book which contains Chaps 1 - 5 of the series; Alabaster: Wolves.

Alabaster follows Dancy Flammarion, a Georgia girl, who is the agent of an angel who wanders the South killing demons. Alabaster: Wolves follows her in South Carolina as she hunts werewolves. The various stories tell her back story or an incident in Georgia and also that of Masie, a werewolf that Dancy killed but seems to have returned to save Dancy's life when she is attacked by a pack of werewolves. (She does have a reason). During these chapters, Dancy also revokes her 'partnership' with her angel and is now basically on her own. Oh yes, there is also a talking blackbird who follows Dancy, offering advice (Thus spake the Raven?)

It's an interesting, action-filled collection of stories, drawn expertly by Steve Lieber and colored by Rachelle Rosenberg. Each chapter is based on or more accurately, written to the lyrics of a song; Chap 1 'written entirely to the music of Brown Bird (Brownbird.net), illustrated mostly to 'All Eternals Deck' by the Mountain Goats' (And no, I've not checked out the songs yet to see how they relate.) 

Dancy is a wonderful character, a scripture quoting fighter, who loses some of her strength when she goes against the wishes of her angel. The story is tense but also humorous and attention - grabbing. Maisie and the bird (Don't call me Birdie!) add to the texture and interest. I've read two collections of this series thus far and have the middle one on the way. I'm really looking forward to it. (3.5 stars)"

2. A Time to Keep Silence by Patrick Leigh Fermor (1953).

"To be fair, I'd never heard of English author Patrick Leigh Fermor until I read Susan Hill's Howards End is on the Landing. In it she discusses books she wants to read, books she's cherished and from that made a list of 40 books she would keep if that's all she was allowed to read until she died. A Time to Keep Silence by Fermor was one of those 40 books and it sounded interesting so here I am, providing my meagre thoughts on it.

A Time to Keep Silence is a very short book, my edition being just 96 pages (New York Review Books Classics paperback), sort of a combination travel book, book on religion and a book on searching one's soul. It's a collection of essays as Fermor, sometime after WWII, visits a collection of Benedictine monasteries in France and Turkey, specifically Cappadocia. During these visits, he provides historical info on the various monasteries, branches of the Benedictines and also his thoughts on his feelings while staying at the various monasteries. (He did spend some time in most and found the transition from busy life in Paris and other cities to the quiet and calm of the monasteries, a big adjustment.)

The various Benedictines were all interesting, from the more intellectual sects that lived in St Wandrille de Fontanelle to the more austere, isolated sect of Cistercians at Le Grand Trappe. It's an aspect of life in general that I know very little about, being a relatively non-religious person. Well, except for my Cadfael mysteries, I guess. :) But it was fascinating to read about. The small section dealing with the abandoned monasteries in Turkey was fascinating and looking at photos of them, make them even more fascinating.

It's a thoughtful, calm, beautifully written book. It was nice to take the time to appreciate it, not to rush though the chapters. Did it teach me anything? I'm not sure but to read more about this side of religious life was most interesting. (4.5 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline (2017).

"In a futuristic world ravaged by global warming, people have lost the ability to dream, and the dreamlessness has led to widespread madness. The only people still able to dream are North America's Indigenous people, and it is their marrow that holds the cure for the rest of the world. But getting the marrow, and dreams, means death for the unwilling donors. Driven to flight, a fifteen-year-old and his companions struggle for survival, attempt to reunite with loved ones and take refuge from the "recruiters" who seek them out to bring them to the marrow-stealing "factories."

2. A Wizard of Earthsea: the Graphic Novel by Fred Fordham (2025). This is a graphic novel adaptation of Ursula K. LeGuin's fantasy novel, and part of my follow-on thoughts.

"Ursula K. Le Guin’s timeless and revered A Wizard of Earthsea is reimagined in a richly expansive graphic novel by acclaimed artist Fred Fordham, creator of stunning adaptations To Kill a Mockingbird and Brave New World.

"The magic of Earthsea is primal; the lessons of Earthsea remain as potent, as wise, and as necessary as anyone could dream." —Neil Gaiman

Ged was the greatest sorcerer in Earthsea, but in his youth he was the reckless Sparrowhawk. In his hunger for power and knowledge, he tampered with long-held secrets and unleashed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tumultuous tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to restore the balance.

Experience the bestselling first adventure of Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea Cycle as a masterly crafted graphic novel. Fred Fordham brings new life to Le Guin's iconic fantasy classic with his breathtaking illustrations and thoughtful text adaptation."

New Books

I have a few on order but only one new one to talk about at the moment.

1. The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed (2024). I've read one other fantasy by Premee and enjoyed very much.

"A world-weary woman races against the clock to rescue the children of a wrathful tyrant from a dangerous, otherworldly forest.

At the northern edge of a land ruled by a monstrous, foreign tyrant lies the wild forest known as the Elmever. The villagers know better than to let their children go near—once someone goes in, they never come back out.

No one knows the strange and terrifying traps of the Elmever better than Veris Thorn, the only person to ever rescue a child from the forest many years ago. When the Tyrant’s two young children go missing, Veris is commanded to enter the forest once more and bring them home safe. If Veris fails, the Tyrant will kill her; if she remains in the forest for longer than a day, she will be trapped forevermore.

So Veris will travel deep into the Elmever to face traps, riddles, and monsters at the behest of another monster. One misstep will cost everything."

So now onto my next discussion....

The Graphic Novel Adaptation vs the Original Book

Saga Vol 1; Bks 1 - 5

In previous Blog entries, I've discussed my love of comic books as you youngster. I did a series of Blogs on the subject, starting with this one back in 2010. You can scroll up from there or find links to comic books in the side columns to find out more if you'd like. In the past year or two I've begun selling off my comics but replacing them with 'graphic novels', which are basically collections, in many cases anyway, of individual comics. I think of Saga or Space Boy, which has made compilations of individual comics. 

More recently, I've noticed more and more that original novels are now being adapted to the graphic novel, with a graphic artists interpretation of the book. I've read 3 of these so far and am currently working on a 4th. I have to say it's made for an interesting relook at some favorite books of mine. Here are the 4, plus one other I noticed that I'm waiting to read the book first. Now there is the thought of the day on this topic. If you as a reader, have not yet read a specific novel and discover a graphic novel version, would you wait to read the book first or jump into the graphic novel and then, if you enjoyed the graphic, try the novel too? Are you that interested in the comparison of the two to try both?

1. A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin (Tales of Earthsea #1 / 1968). I've been working through the Earthsea fantasy series. In fact, I've been trying to read everything by Le Guin. Back in the day, this was my review of the book.

"Back in my university days, 74 - 78, I took a science fiction novel course and was introduced to Ursula K. Le Guin, specifically The Left Hand of Darkness and The Dispossessed. I enjoyed those books so much that I went looking for others of her books. I found A Wizard of Earthsea but over the years I never tried to read it. 

I found another copy of the book recently and decided to try this series again and I'm glad that I did. Ged is a young man of Earthsea who lives on the island of Gont. When the island is invaded by pirates, we discover Ged's talents as a wizard. He saves his village. The wizard of the island takes him in after his naming ceremony to teach him how to be a wizard. After Ged brings a shadow from the underworld up in an effort to impress a young girl, Ogion sends him to the Wizard school on the Island of Roke.

Much time is spent with Ged's education as a Wizard but he is involved in a number of incidents, almost dying when he tries to impress another wizard - student by bringing up a spirit from the underworld. A Shadow remains on the earth and when Ged finally completes his wizard training he must go after the Shadow as it is a threat to his life.

It's a fascinating story, thoughtfully written and describing an interesting new world. In so many of these stories, I struggle to read the maps or many places are left out, but I was quite happy that these were clear and easy to read, even in a paperback edition. Ged is an interesting character and the others, while not as major, are still interesting, especially his friend Vetch. There were intimations of events that take place in Ged's future, presumably they'll be described in the continuing versions of the Earthsea saga. (4 stars)"

1a. A Wizard of Earthsea; a Graphic Novel by Fred Fordham (2025). Now I only recently discovered the graphic novel version and have just started reading it, but so far, I'm liking it. The artwork is excellent, if at times with a tendency to being a bit dark in shading and the story seems to be following the book respectably. 

2. The Lottery by Shirley Jackson (1948). This short story was my introduction to the work of Shirley Jackson.

"I heard about this story on Jeopardy, oddly enough. It's a simple, straight-forward short story, but at the same time, creepy and shocking. I read that she got hate mail after she wrote this and also that people were writing to her to find out what town the story took place. You need to read to find out what the Lottery is. I recommend. (4 stars)"

2a. Shirley Jackson's The Lottery, The Authorized Graphic Adaptation by Miles Hyman (2017). One thing I have noticed in the forewords to most of these graphic novels is the approval of the estates of the authors of the original books. That they seem to be happy that the graphic novelist respects the particular piece of work and will honor the the story with his or her adaptation.

"Aim #1. Make this review shorter than the short story / graphic adaptation that it's about..

OK, there is no Aim #2, well, maybe not to give away the complete story. 

Back in 2014, I discovered The Lottery, a short story by Shirley Jackson. The Lottery was published in 1949, after her first novel. It's a simple, terrifying in its simplicity, story. It's been turned into at least two movies and now her grandson, Miles Hyman has adapted it into a graphic novel. (As an aside, Jackson also wrote six novels during her life; I've read 3 and enjoyed each one)

I won't get into the plot too much as it's short, succinct and gets to the point in a quick, effective, terrifying way. Basically, every year, the town (and it seems every town) gets together to conduct the lottery. One person in the town families is selected in this lottery. It's been happening for years and will continue to happen for years (although it appears that some towns may have given it up). What is the Lottery for? That's for you to find out.

Hyman's adaptation turns the town into a sort of American Gothic setting. The drawings are stark and detailed. The characters are drawn and colored wonderfully and he gets the original story and presents it in all its detail. Read it. (Did I meet Aim #1?) Oh well. (3.5 stars)"

3. The Road by Cormac McCarthy (2006). It seems that back then, I wasn't writing reviews of books, just rating them. The storyline is below.

"A father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don't know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food—and each other. (3.5 stars)"

3a. The Road, A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Manu Larcenet (2024).

"I read Cormac McCarthy's The Road back in 2010 and 'enjoyed' it quite a bit. Recently I saw a graphic novel adaptation, The Road: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Manu Larcenet so thought I'd give it a try. It was excellent. It portrayed the starkness, the darkness so clearly.

The story follows a father and his son as they travel through the ruins of America trying to reach the coast. Everything is covered in ash and grime. All is in ruins and the US is devastated. They take to the roads but have to constantly try to avoid roving gangs who kill anyone they meet, even eating them. It's a terrifying world and the father continues to try and protect his young son from the evil. They have little to no food and spend their time scrounging in ruins of buildings to find any scraps of food and water and anything useful. The father keeps the boy from seeing the dead bodies as much as possible. He wants there to be some hope left.

It's getting colder as winter approaches so they head south. They do meet people along the way. At some times they must run and hide. They lose their belongings at times. They meet individuals and the boy persuades his father to help as much as they can. They find some underground hiding places; one not so good, one where they are able to rest for a few days. The father has one revolver with three bullets. If things get so bad, he plans to use them to protect the boy from being alone. The father is sick but keeps moving along.

It's a dark, depressing story, 'beautifully' recreated in this graphic novel and respectfully follows the tone of the original story. For all of the evil left in the world, there is still some hope.... If you've never read the book, read it first, then read the graphic novel. (4.0 stars)"

4. Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell (1949). One of the classics of the Sci-Fi genre. This once again falls into the category of me not writing a review because it's been a long time since I read it. But, it's a 5-star read.

"Newspeak, Doublethink, Big Brother, the Thought Police - the language of 1984 has passed into the English language as a symbol of the horrors of totalitarianism. George Orwell's story of Winston Smith's fight against the all-pervading Party has become a classic, not the least because of its intellectual coherence. First published in 1949, it retains as much relevance today as it had then."

4a. 1984, The Graphic Novel by Fido Nesti (2020).

"I read George Orwell's 1984 many years ago so when I saw 1984: The Graphic Novel by Fido Nesti a couple of months ago, I thought it might be good to check it out, to see what I remembered from the book and whether this graphic novel was respectful of the subject matter.

I did remember some of the book and yes, I believe Nesti was respectful of the original book in creating this excellent graphic novel version. He even included the explanation of Newspeak and of chapters from the Brotherhood's book... 'War is Peace', 'Ignorance is Strength'.. As I read the book, it made me realize that maybe Orwell just had the year wrong...

The graphic is as stark and grim as the book with excellent artwork accurately reflecting the feel of the book. The story follows Winston Smith a low level worker in the Records Department of the Ministry of 'Truth' in the country of Oceania (England, America, etc.). His job is to find documents, news reports, etc that no longer accurately reflect the statements of Big Brother and ensure they are either amended or just destroyed. 

Winston lives in his small apartment surrounded by a huge telescreen that he can't turn off and he presumes that can monitor his every action. He has a small alcove out of sight of the monitor and there he maintains a diary of his thoughts (Illegal!!!) His world is an authoritarian one where every thought, every action, every gesture might be monitored to ensure its citizens don't engage in sedition, doublespeak, thoughtcrimes etc. However, Winston maintains his thoughts and as the story progresses even begins an illicit love affair with another worker, Julia. 

Gradually, contact is made with O'Brien, an upper level member of the State. He introduces them to the 'Brotherhood' who are a form of secret group fighting against Big Brother and IngSoc (English Socialism). They are given a book by the Brotherhood (chapters are provided in the story) which explains against what they are fighting.

Of course, things go wrong, even when it's expected by both Winston and Julia and .... well, you need to read the story to get the feel for the times Orwell is portraying and how it ends. In its way, it's a terrifying look at a dystopian future. When Orwell wrote it, he set it in 1984. Would he have called it 2024 nowadays? It should be read, either the book or this excellent, stark graphic novel,  along with The Handmaid's Tale, Fahrenheit 451, etc. (4.0 stars)"

So those are the ones that I have. I mentioned that I saw another at one of my locals, The Laughing Oyster bookshop, that being Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler. I didn't buy it because I've yet to read the novel and that sits currently on my shelf. So we'll see whether I buy it anyway... 

At any rate, I hope you found this interesting. I do like this new trend in graphic novels. I just hope that as new ones come out, they are of interesting books and are adapted as sympathetically as these above were.

A Mid - March Reading Update

I was just checking when I last posted an input in this Blog and was surprised how long ago it was. So since it's almost mid-month, let's do an update. I've been a bit slow starting off the month and have left behind my promise to myself not to read any more books than 5 at a time.📚📚📚 LOL! Anyway, let's get a move on!

Just Completed

(I've completed only one book this month so far and given up on one...)

1. On Book Banning by Ira Wells (2025). I saw this book in my local and I believe the owner just bought it at a book fair. From what I've heard from other people, it might not be on wide distribution yet. (I haven't verified that. If it isn't, it should be)

""Literature isn't reducible - not to summaries or quotations, or to any of these pleasures or values or states of being. And reducing literature is precisely what censorship does. With its ideological checklists or puritanical frameworks, it reduces literature to a shrunken, misshapen parody of itself. A novel teeming with voices and perspectives becomes a single 'message', or a wicked idea, a naughty image, or even a single, abominable word.'

On Book Banning: Or, How the New Censorship Consensus Trivializes Art and Undermines Democracy by Ira Wells is a thoughtful look at book banning, censoring, 'weeding' by right wing abolitionists and even by left leaning idealists. It's very depressing at times but it's so well-written and covers the area in detail, from the history of censorship and book banning and library burning to those people who write about the need to allow the distribution and circulation of diverse ideas.

The book starts with a historical look at book banning / censorship. The Greeks burned books of dissident voices. Julius Caesar liked criticism, permitting both oral and written criticism and responding to it. He published the proceedings of senate meetings, believing in transparency. But under Augustus, Rome's first emperor, things changed. He only permitted favourable commentaries. Anyone who voiced dissent was punished. They had all of their work destroyed, this destroying, often resulting in suicide or death to the victim. The Romans had another way of censoring dissenters, that being basically making the person a 'non-person'. Any record of their existence was wiped out. They didn't exist. (Reminds me of George Orwell's 1984). The Roman Catholic Church published a regular list of publications that were to be censored. Wells talks about the Comstock Act which we've been hearing more and more about the past years. Comstock was a relentless crusader for public morals and lobbied to have laws passed to prevent 'obscenity' from being sent through the mails. (the definition of what obscenity was being somewhat undefined)

At the other end, you've got Benjamin Franklin who established one of the first lending libraries in the US, the Library Company of Philadelphia; 30% history, 20% literature, 20% science, 10% philosophy, religion and miscellaneous. By 1800, there were 40+ lending libraries in the US. In Franklin's opinion, 'the libraries have improved the general conversation of the Americans, made the common tradesman and farmers as intelligent as most gentlemen from other countries...' Andrew Carnegie funded over 2500 free public libraries over the world.

I don't want to quote the whole book here, suffice it to say it's a great discussion of libraries and the pressures they are under. He highlights two different types of 'banning'. In Florida, groups like Moms for Liberty have lists of LGBTQ+, racial books, etc. that they feel should be removed from libraries, and get the support of the State government. They want to remove books, to white wash libraries to basically ensure their supremacy, to denigrate the 'other'. From the other perspective, the Peel School board has a policy of removing books that have been published in excess of 15 years ago. While trying to remain all inclusive, they feel that many classics and earlier books use terminology that makes their communities feel denigrated. So to that end, books like Anne Frank's diary, books by Maya Angelou don't make it to their shelves because they were published over 15 years ago. Instead of using these books to discuss and educate, they are 'weeded out'.

It's an ongoing battle between these forces. Wells talks about freedom of speech, which is the freedom to discuss your ideas, but not necessarily to shout them out just to hear your own voice. He mentions a discussion on 'freedom to read' which was quite interesting. I readily admit that I sometimes got a bit lost in the language but for the most part, the book was informative and very interesting and thought-provoking. I'm probably giving the story short shrift with my review, it's definitely worth reading.

Teachers and librarians need support and public funding, the politicians need to have the courage to defend reading, diversity, discussion of uncomfortable topics and to fight back at those from either side who want to hide the past, and to show the whole past, in all its grittiness and also to encourage all reading and proper discussion. The way things are currently, I'm not hopeful but it's worth fighting for. (4.5 stars)"

2. Doppelganger by Naomi Klein (2023). This was my DNF. I just found it all too depressing.

"Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World by Naomi Klein ends being a Did Not Finish (DNF) for me, I'm afraid. There is no doubt that Naomi can write, beautifully, in fact, but it just came down to the subject matter. It kind of just made me depressed. 

The basic premise for this non-fiction novel is that one day Naomi Klein discovered that she had started being mistaken for another author, Naomi Wolf, or more correctly, vice versa. Naomi Wolf was  a left leaning author dealing with women's liberation issues who had gradually (especially during the COVID years) become a serial fantasist, one spending her time on Fox news and Steve Bannon's War Room spouting anti-vax propaganda, etc. 

They have their similarities and as she wandered through the internet, more and more, she found herself being confused with Naomi Wolf and found herself disappearing as a person, or a brand. She finds herself spending more and more time watching right wing propagandists and that becomes the crux (as I saw it so far, until I gave up the ghost) of her treatise, the ways in which people like Bannon and Wolf and others are making a mirror world of propaganda, making real life seem insignificant. 

As I said at the beginning, Naomi Klein knows how to present a story. I just couldn't spend any more time in this Mirror World. I think you should judge for yourselves and give the book a chance. It just wasn't for me anymore.(NR)"

Currently Reading

1. A Series of Murders by Simon Brett (Charles Paris #13 / 1989). I really like this mystery series about semi-failed actor Charles Paris, the entertainment settings and the mysteries.

"As an actress, Sippy Stokes was absolute death.' From the vain leading man to the rock star making his acting debut to the aging writer whose books were being chopped to death on the set of the 'Stanislas Braid' TV series, everyone seemed to hold the same opinion of the young female lead. And when she fell victim to a fatal backstage accident, shockingly few tears were shed. While dutifully performing his role as the dumb town constable Sergeant Clump, amateur investigator Charles Paris couldn't help but start asking questions on the side. What he found out made for riveting drama. Sippy Stokes had given someone a very good reason to cast her as a corpse - but her killing was only the opening act."

2. The White Russian by Tom Bradby (2002). I previously read Master of Rain by Bradby and enjoyed it very much. It's been a few years since I put this one on my book shelf. I'm enjoying so far.

"St Petersburg 1917. The capital of the glittering Empire of the Tsars and a city on the brink of revolution where the jackals of the Secret Police intrigue for their own survival as their aristocratic masters indulge in one last, desperate round of hedonism. For Sandro Ruzsky, Chief Investigator of the city police, even this decaying world provides the opportunity for a new beginning. Banished to Siberia for four years for pursuing a case his superiors would rather he'd quietly buried, Ruzsky finds himself investigating the murders of a young couple out on the ice of the frozen river Neva. The dead girl was a nanny at the Imperial Palace, the man an American from Chicago and, if the brutality of their deaths seems an allegory for the times, Ruzsky finds that, at every turn, the investigation leads dangerously close to home. At the heart of the case, lies Maria, the beautiful ballerina Ruzsky once loved and lost. But is she a willing participant in what appears to be a dangerous conspiracy or likely to be it's next, perhaps last, victim? In a city at war with itself, and pitted against a ruthless murderer who relishes taunting him, Ruzsky finds himself at last face to face with his own past as he fights to save everything he cares for, before the world into which he was born goes up in flames."

3. A Time to Keep Silence by Patrick Leigh Fermor (1953). I'm enjoying very much so far. There is a calmness to the story and an intelligence in the writing. 

"While still a teenager, Patrick Leigh Fermor made his way across Europe, as recounted in his classic memoirs, A Time of Gifts and Between the Woods and the Water. During World War II, he fought with local partisans against the Nazi occupiers of Crete. But in A Time to Keep Silence, Leigh Fermor writes about a more inward journey, describing his several sojourns in some of Europe’s oldest and most venerable monasteries. He stays at the Abbey of St. Wandrille, a great repository of art and learning; at Solesmes, famous for its revival of Gregorian chant; and at the deeply ascetic Trappist monastery of La Grande Trappe, where monks take a vow of silence. Finally, he visits the rock monasteries of Cappadocia, hewn from the stony spires of a moonlike landscape, where he seeks some trace of the life of the earliest Christian Anchorites.

More than a history or travel journal, however, this beautiful short book is a meditation on the meaning of silence and solitude for modern life. Leigh Fermor writes, “In the seclusion of a cell—an existence whose quietness is only varied by the silent meals, the solemnity of ritual, and long solitary walks in the woods—the troubled waters of the mind grow still and clear, and much that is hidden away and all that clouds it floats to the surface and can be skimmed away; and after a time one reaches a state of peace that is unthought of in the ordinary world.”

New Books

(Four new books, one of which showed up in my Little Free Library that I want to read.)

1. Pound of Flesh by Sara Clancy (Wrath and Vengeance #1 / 2018). A new author for me.

"Terror feeds them. Rage drives them. Only fury lasts forever…

A ghost town, isolated from civilization by miles of scorching desert, has become a killing ground. Blood taints the sand and the stench of rot hovers on the humid air.

It’s a small patch of hell that Aleksandr Sokolovsky was born into. The son of the world’s most prolific serial killers, he yearns for a freedom he’ll never have. He comforts himself with the knowledge that death eventually comes for everyone. But he had never considered the Furies.

Summoned by years of pain and rage, the three demonic sisters have descended upon the ghost town. The creatures of Greek legend are real. Consumed by their desire for blood and vengeance, they rain down a reckoning. They delight in ripping their victims’ minds and bodies to shreds before offering a merciful death.

For most of his life, Aleksandr has been ready to die. But he’ll fight to his last breath to spare his younger brother and sister the same fate. Unable to battle the hellish creatures alone, Aleksandr is forced into an uneasy truce with Evelyn Figueroa, the woman his parents chose to be his first female victim.

Together they face an ancient rage that can’t be reasoned with or destroyed. Burning with an inferno of hatred, the Furies won’t stop until they’ve collected their debt in full.

A pound of flesh for every sin."

2. Hunting by Stars by Cherie Dimaline (Marrow Thieves #2 / 2021). I have the 1st book in the Marrow Thieves but haven't read yet.

"A new story about hope and survival.

Years ago, when plagues and natural disasters killed millions of people, much of the world stopped dreaming. Without dreams, people are haunted, sick, mad, unable to rebuild. The government soon finds that the Indigenous people of North America have retained their dreams, an ability rumored to be housed in the very marrow of their bones. Soon, residential schools pop up—or are re-opened—across the land to bring in the dreamers and harvest their dreams.

Seventeen-year-old French lost his family to these schools and has spent the years since heading north with his new found family: a group of other dreamers, who, like him, are trying to build and thrive as a community. But then French wakes up in a pitch-black room, locked in and alone for the first time in years, and he knows immediately where he is—and what it will take to escape.

Meanwhile, out in the world, his found family searches for him and dodges new dangers—school Recruiters, a blood cult, even the land itself. When their paths finally collide, French must decide how far he is willing to go—and how many loved ones is he willing to betray—in order to survive."

3. Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler (2005). I've been working through Butler's Lilith's Brood trilogy. I saw this standalone at another of my locals.

"Octavia E. Butler's final novel is the story of an apparently young, amnesiac girl whose alarmingly unhuman needs and abilities lead her to a startling discovery. She is in fact a genetically modified, 53-year-old vampire. Forced to discover what she can about her stolen former life, she must at the same time learn who wanted—and still wants—to destroy her and those she cares for, and how she can save herself."

4. The Incredulity of Father Brown by G. K. Chesterton (Father Brown #3 / 1926). This was in my Little Free Library. I've enjoyed others in the Father Brown books.

"There was a brief period during which Father Brown enjoyed, or rather did not enjoy, something like fame. He was a nine days' wonder in the newspaper; he was even a topic of controversy in the weekly reviews. His exploits were narrated eagerly and accurately in any number of clubs and drawing-rooms...his adventures as a detective were even made the subject of short stories appearing in magazines."

Strangely enough, this renown reaches him at a most unwelcome time. Sent to officiate in a dispute in South America, he lands in the middle of a revolution, recognized, attacked and left for dead.

In fact everyone thinks he is dead--until he rises from his coffin, creating no end of trouble with the natives...for they certainly know a resurrection when they see one!"

So there you go, some book ideas for you. In my next post, I hope to start a new thread, a look at some of my favorite non-fiction novels. 😎 Enjoy the rest of your week.

March is Here!

It's that time of year when I'll have to sit down and figure out our income taxes. But not today! I'm tired from my run. (Is that excuse enough?)

For the time being I'm going to do my first post on books for March 2025, an update on books read and started and also some new books.

Just Finished

(I finished 4 books as I wound up February)

1. Wycliffe and the Winsor Blue by W.J. Burley (Superintendent Wycliffe #14 / 1987).

"Wycliffe And Winsor Blue is the 14th book in the Superintendent Wycliffe mystery series by British author, W.J. Burley. This story finds Wycliffe investigating a murder in the town of Falmouth in Cornwall.

Wycliffe had headed to the town for a presentation ceremony when he hears about a murder in the town. First, let's take a step back in time. Businessman Edwin Garland dies of a heart attack. He runs an art store and also a separate framing business. After the funeral, his son Francis was shot dead while walking his dog. Wycliffe decides to take over the investigation as he finds the closeness of the two deaths quite suspicious.

He brings a team from HQ to help with the investigation, including two of his most reliable Inspectors, Kersey and Lane. As always, it's an interesting investigation. We meet all of the people who were to inherit something from Edwin's death. Besides being an art dealer, he was also an excellent artist and the case seems to involve both his inheritance and his relationship with two artistic friends, one dead, one alive.

The area is always nice to visit. Falmouth is a popular tourist area. The characters are well - defined and like any good mystery, you like some and suspect others. I will say that I had the mystery pretty well figured out but it didn't take away from the story. Wycliffe is an excellent character, crusty, smart (he is a Superintendent of course) and intuitive. I kind of thought he missed some things that I saw earlier but ultimately, he gets the gist of what's going on.

Entertaining and enjoyable. I like how the Wycliffe story flows and how people interact. (3.0 stars)"

2. A Field of Vision by Charles Causley (1988).

"I first heard of the poetry of Charles Causley while reading Howard's End is on the Landing by Susan Hill. In this non-fiction book, she lists 40 books she would keep if she could only read the same 40 books for the rest of her life (basically). She selected a book of poetry by Mr. Causley. Based on that I decided to check out Causley's work and bought a short collection of his poetry published in 1988, A Field of Vision. Only 68 pages, it contained some lovely poems.

I tried to follow Hill's rules for reading poetry as well; basically read a few lines, think about them, try not to read too many poems a day. In fact I believe her recommendation was to read only one a day. I wasn't that strict, but I did find myself reading a paragraph, reading it again to try and get into the flow of the poem. It seemed to work. What I found neat (a very poetic description, eh?) is how Causley's poems flow from line to line. Sometimes they are more traditional, one thought to per line, but then at other times, the sentences carry over to line after line.

from Dick Lander -

"My Auntie said before he want away

Dick was a master cricketeer. Could run

As fast as light. Was the town joker. Had

Every girl after him. Was spoiled quite out

Of recognition, and at twenty-one

Looked set to take the family business on....."

It made me read carefully, get into the flow of his thoughts, his ideas. He crafts such lovely pictures with his words. One I particularly liked made me think of my relationship with my wife.

I love the laurel green

(after Etienne Jodelle)

"I love the laurel green, whose verdant flame

Burns its bright victory on the winter day,

Calls to eternity its happy name

And neither time nor death shall wear away.

I love the holly tree with branches keen,

Each leaflet fringed with daggers sharp and small.

I love the ivy, too, winding its green,

Its ardent stem about the oak, the wall.

I live these three, whose living green and true

Is as unfailing as my love for you

Always by night and day whom I adore.

Yet the green wound that stays within me more

Is ever greener than these three shall be:

Laurel and ivy and the holly tree."

I enjoyed his poetry so very much. His style, his word craft, his ability to make you see what he is trying to say. I've since ordered his collected works to give him more of a look-see. (4.0 stars)"

3. Gun Honey: Collision Course by Charles Ardai (Joanna Tan #3 / 2025).

"(Warning: This graphic novel has nudity within)

Gun Honey: Collision Course is the 3rd volume of the Gun Honey, e.g. Joanna Tan, hard case crime, pulp graphic novel series. Just like the others, it's an action - packed thrill ride, a sexy, brightly drawn, entertaining story.

After the last two novels, Joanna and her partner Brook Barrow have been hiding out in the jungles of Borneo. As Joanna tells Brook, they need to stay hidden for a year so their enemies will think they are dead. Joanna has a safety device, a cache of incrimination information hidden away in a secretive vault in Mongolia.

Of course things happen and Joanna and Brook head off on a series of adventures, trying to stop government agents from killing them, destroying their allies, ending up in Paris where there is a plot to kill a senior US government official, who is attending the Paris Olympics.

Lots going on, some doesn't sense. I find it somewhat difficult at times to ascertain who is who especially with the plethora of bald, white, muscular men all fighting it out. But hey! It's pulp fiction, it's action and more action. It's nice to just sink yourself into the story, watch the action (did I say action?) and everything else. Just fun and games. I'm looking forward to Joanna next adventures. (3.0 stars)"

4. The Blackhouse by Peter May (Lewis Trilogy #1 / 2009).

"The Blackhouse is the 1st book in Scottish author Peter  May's Lewis trilogy (+1) and also my first attempt at his work. I've also got the first book in the Enzo Files sitting on my book shelf. I'm afraid I let myself get a bit intimidated by the size of this book and kept setting it aside for the past few years. I'm glad I finally decided to try it.

Edinburgh detective Fin McLeod, who grew up on the Isle of Lewis, is sent to look into a murder on the Isle because there are strong similarities to one that he is investigating on his home turf. The lead detective on the Lewis case, one from Glasgow doesn't appreciate Fin being there, but lets him look  into the case.

The murder brings back painful memories of his growing up on Lewis. The murder victim was an old bully, one who, along with his brother, tormented the other kids in their home town of Stornoway. He had been accused of raping a young girl and was found murdered. Fin investigates the murder with the assistance of local cop, DS Gordon Gunn. But he is also investigating his past life, the events that affected his growing up, the traumas and relationships he experienced while a young boy / man on Lewis.

It's a beautifully written story and wonderfully describes the setting and life on this harsh island off the north coast of Scotland. I've never visited but in my travels did spend a night on Shetland, which is a bit further north so it was interesting to try and compare. Anyway, the story moves from the past to the present smoothly and presents the characters that impacted on Fin's life and who he affected as well. I can't say that Fin is all that sympathetic as he did negatively affect others that he left behind when he went to the mainland, but he is an interesting character.

The story is rugged, the lives were / are rugged. I especially found the annual trip by group of men to the even more remote island of An Sgeir fascinating. It's a trip by 12 men from Stornoway to cull 2,000 young gulls from the island as a 'treat' for their families and folks back home. The trip that Fin and his best friend Artair take part in affects both of their lives until the true story of the events come out much later in the future.

So, the people are interesting and well-crafted, the story flows easily between past events and the current case and the ultimate conclusion, with more dramatic events on wind-blown An Sgeir, make for an excellent mystery & novel. Now to move on to the Lewis Man (4.0 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. The Naming of the Dead by Ian Rankin (Rebus #16 / 2006).

"A murder has been committed - but as the victim was a rapist, recently released from prison, no one is too concerned about the crime. That is, until Detective Inspector John Rebus and DS Siobhan Clarke uncover evidence that a serial killer is on the loose ...

When Rebus also starts looking into the apparent suicide of an MP, he is abruptly warned off the case, not least because the G8 leaders have gathered in Scotland, and Rebus's bosses want him well out of the way. But Rebus has never been one to stick to the rules, and when Siobhan has a very personal reason for hunting down a riot cop, it looks as though both Rebus and Clarke may be up against their own side ..."

2. Children of Chicago by Cynthia Pelayo (Chicago Saga #1 / 2021).

"This horrifying retelling of the Pied Piper fairytale set in present-day Chicago is an edge of your seat, chills up the spine, thrill ride. ‪ When Detective Lauren Medina sees the calling card at a murder scene in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood, she knows the Pied Piper has returned. When another teenager is brutally murdered at the same lagoon where her sister’s body was found floating years before, she is certain that the Pied Piper is not just back, he’s looking for payment he’s owed from her. Lauren’s torn between protecting the city she has sworn to keep safe, and keeping a promise she made long ago with her sister’s murderer. She may have to ruin her life by exposing her secrets and lies to stop the Pied Piper before he collects."

New Books

1. Swallowtail and Sword: The Scholar's Book of Story and Song by H. Leighton Dickson (2015). I've enjoyed the 1st two books in this fantasy series.

"Before there was a Shogun, Before there was a Journey, there was a Story. As a collection of short stories, poems and Ancient songs, these are the tales of the Captain and the Geomancer, the Scholar and the Alchemist, the Major and the Priest before they came together to change the world. From Ling's first hour as Empress to Solomon's last hour in the world of men, these are the events that shaped them, molded them, set them on the Road to Pol'Lhasa and it's proud, high-winged courts. "Fascinating, Exotic, Original Fantasy!" - Jennifer Quail, Strange Roads"

2. Alabaster: Wolves by Caitlin R. Kiernan (Alabaster #1 / 2012). I'm enjoying Kiernan's take on horror, both books and graphics.

"For nearly as long as she can remember, Dancy Flammarion has fought monsters, cutting a bloody swath through the demons and dark things of the world, aimed like a weapon by forces beyond her control or questioning. But now, for the first time, Dancy finds herself alone--and the wolves are closing in.

Collects Issues #1-5."

3. The Wintermen by Brit Griffin (Wintermen #1 / 2014). I discovered Brit Griffin when I signed up to follow her husband, NDP federal rep, Charlie Angus. The books looked interesting. I just have to find #3).

"The Wintermen is a near-future, climate-changed western, with snow machines riding into town and a showdown in the snow. Johnny Slaught and his Algonquin buddy Chumboy Commando didn't set out to lead one of the most notorious bands of rebels in recent history. But after the world descends into climate change chaos, the government does some serious triage, forcing wide-scale evacuations and abandoning rural areas to the non-stop snow. Soon enough, Slaught is forced by circumstance to stand up to the muscle of TALOS Security Corporation, setting in motion a rebellion of average folks fighting to rebuild their lives in the abandoned snow-scape of the northland. As TALOS sees it, Slaught and his Wintermen are a dangerous bunch of resistant fighters threatening control over the resource-rich hinterlands. TALOS, protecting their control and financial bottom line, are taking the Wintermen resistance very seriously. And so the hunt is on, with souped-up snow machines and heavy-duty firepower. To face off against TALOS? ruthless mercenary contractors, Slaught deploys a mixture of scrap snow-machines, gasoline and the military wisdom of Subcommander Marcos, backed-up by a ragtag community of bible-thumping seniors, a hippy midwife, a couple of gay stoners and Chumboy's mystical Auntie. Forget the western. Welcome to the Northern!"

4. The Wintermen II: Into the Deep Dark by Brit Griffin (Wintermen #2 / 2018).

"The nightmare of an endless winter is the least of the problems for Johnny Slaught and his rag tag group of climate chaos refugees. They've been surviving in a frontier town abandoned by a government that has lost control - but their world is about to be rocked by the greatest menace of all - human greed. Into the Deep Dark is the second in Brit Griffin's eco-catastrophic adventure series the Wintermen. The north is full of ancient legends of violence, fear and madness that descended on isolated communities in the darkness of winter. For Johnny Slaught and the Wintermen, the legend is knocking at their door, and he has slicked back hair, a sheep-skin coat and a pump action."

5. Fifteen Dogs by Andre Alexis (2015).

"" I wonder", said Hermes, "what it would be like if animals had human intelligence."

" I'll wager a year's servitude, answered Apollo, that animals – any animal you like – would be even more unhappy than humans are, if they were given human intelligence."

And so it begins: a bet between the gods Hermes and Apollo leads them to grant human consciousness and language to a group of dogs overnighting at a Toronto vet­erinary clinic. Suddenly capable of more complex thought, the pack is torn between those who resist the new ways of thinking, preferring the old 'dog' ways, and those who embrace the change.

The gods watch from above as the dogs venture into their newly unfamiliar world, as they become divided among themselves, as each struggles with new thoughts and feelings. Wily Benjy moves from home to home, Prince becomes a poet, and Majnoun forges a relationship with a kind couple that stops even the Fates in their tracks.

André Alexis's contemporary take on the apologue offers an utterly compelling and affecting look at the beauty and perils of human consciousness. By turns meditative and devastating, charming and strange, Fifteen Dogs shows you can teach an old genre new tricks."

I still haven't sorted out what my new theme might be. Besides I'm heading off to watch curling with the missus. Enjoy your weekend!