Violence against fairies, umpires, houses

.

039) The Smartest Man in Ireland by Mollie Hunter, finished July 27

This book was first published in 1963. The copy I read was published in 1996, though it seems to have since gone out of print. I can't say as I'm surprised. The YA fantasy market has changed enormously since '96 and Hunter's more folky feel just doesn't feel like, say, Harry Potter.

That said, it's a small, fun book that tastes like old folk tales. I think for kids who like fantasy, it would be a nice bit of leaven for their diet.

Note that the book was, it seems, first published under the title Patrick Kentigern Keenan. And while a '63 copy would probably be falling apart, the cover's much more retro cool. (Click the image to the right to see it.)

perhaps a couple weeks



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038) Blockade Billy / Morality by Stephen King, finished July 12

It's nice to find a slender Stephen King book, isn't it? And this one's very small, just two stories. I found it remaindered at an office superstore with a KIDS BOOKS sticker on it. Cost me two or three bucks. Made me glad I hadn't picked it up new as I darn near did.

"Blockade Billy" is a story of a baseball legend erased from the record books. It was a good story, but the reveal was a bit pedestrian. "Morality" was a chilling look at what the deliberate introduction of sin can do to a soul, a marriage. But in the end, it didn't really sing for me either. Though this may be because I've been sick which makes it harder for books to succeed. Not fair, not fair.

three days, one day per story with a day inbetween



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037) Dispirited by Luisa M. Perkins, finished July 9

I enjoyed this books as much as everyone said I would. And you will too. Read the first few chapters to see for yourself.

I intend to write a longer review on AMV at some point. It'll show up here when I do.

I will say that I'm a bit surprised it was published by Zarahemla as any Mormon connection was vague enough as to be immaterial.

four days of three reading



Previously in 2012 . . . . :

Read the reviews of 34-36.
036) Hyperion by Dan Simmons, finished July 2
035) A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. Peck, finished June 27
034) Kampung Boy by Lat, finished June 22

Read the reviews of 29-33.
034) The Giant Joshua by Maurine Whipple, finished June 20
033) Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl, finished June 18
032) Wicked Plants by Amy Stewart, "finished" June 18
031) Make the Bread, Buy the Butter by Jennifer Reese, "finished" June 15
030) The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon, finished June 9
029) Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War by Nathaniel Philbrick, finished early June

Read the reviews of 25-28.
028) Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, finished May 24
027) The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan, finished May 16
026) The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, finished May 10 (I'm astonished a month has passed since I've finished a book)
025) Dominant Traits by Eric Freeze, finished April 10

Read the reviews of 21-24.
024) The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr., and E.B. White, finished April 2
023) UNTITLED MS by Kyle Jepson, finished March 12, 2012
022) The Complete Peanuts 1981-1982 by Charles M. Schulz, finished March 4
021) The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex, finished March 3

Read the reviews of 14-20.
020) Billy Hazelnuts by Tony Millionaire, finished February 25
019) Good-bye, Chunky Rice by Craig Thompson, finished February 26
018) Madman 20th Anniversary Monster HC by [everybody], finished February 25
017) Billy Hazelnuts and Crazy Bird by Tony Millionaire, finished February 25
016) Billy Hazelnuts by Tony Millionaire, finished February 25
015) Habibi by Craig Thompson, finished February 20
014) The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: 1910 by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill, finished February 15

Read the reviews of 12-13.
013) Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell, finished February 12
012) Black Hole by Charles Burns, finished February 11

Read the reviews of 6-11.
011) The Complete Peanuts: 1979-1980 by Charles M. Schulz, finished February 4
010) Blankets by Craig Thompson, finished February 4
009) Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut, finished February 2
008) The Millstone Necklace (forthcoming) by S.P. Bailey, finished January 31
007) American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, finished January 27
006) Across a Harvested Field by Robert Goble, finished January 23

Read the reviews of 1-5.
005) Hark! a Vagrant! by Kate Beaton, finished January 21
004) The Death of a Disco Dancer by David Clark, finished January 12
003) Bucketfoot Al: The Baseball Life of Al Simmons by Clifton Blue Parker, finished January 9
002) Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror by Chris Priestly, finished January 9
001) What of the Night? by Stephen Carter, finished January 5