.
I'm with Roger Ebert. Just a work of art by what it is trying to be. Not against some other arbitrary standard unrelated to it's intentions.
With that in mind,
Serial Killer gets an A-,
Magic Pen a B,
One Step Enough an A,
Ether an A, and
The Big Clock an A+. Even taking into account modern grade inflation, an excellent set of books!
.
119) The Serial Killer's Guide to San Francisco by Michelle Chouinard, finished November 22
Funny how a book can pop into your life at just the right moment. For the book, I mean. I found this advance copy in a little free library and was charmed by the title and brought it home. A couple days later, the book I was carrying around wasn't in the right spot as I was leaving this house and this fresh arrival was easy to grab and so I did. Plenty of books in its position never get opened.
I like a lot of stuff about this book. I enjoyed spending time with the protagonist who is my own age and seems like a good person to know. She runs crime-themed tours in San Francisco and is getting along. Unfortunately, a serial killer who has popped up who is mimicking the murders her grandfather committed fifty years prior. You know how it goes.
In related news, her daughter's tuition source has disappeared and so to make money she has no choice but to start a podcast about the murders and to try and solve them before they get placed upon her or her daughter. You know how it goes.
Anyway, it's fun to read. I didn't know who the current killer was. And I was wrong about who the actual, nongrandfather killer of fifty years ago was, even though I was convinced I knew from early on. Unfortunately, I was misremembering a crucial detail.
Pretty sure that misremembering was my fault, but I can't be sure. This advance copy is riddled with errors—more than I'd expect for a book this far along. And the some elements—most notably the podcast recording—are so awkward I can't help but wonder if they were added in a last-minute rewrite. And other parts—like the hacking—seem more like plot convenience than reality.
The contemporary mystery ended so near the end I was figuring the old-time mystery and the flashing-arrow romantic option would have to wait for the sequel. But no. They wrapped it all up in the last dozen pages.
I was entertained. This is pure candy-bar fiction but it has the occasional deeper pleasures of all good entertainment. If it's got peanuts, it's a Snickers. And it's a Snickers.
Don't love the cover though. I always felt like oppressive gender normers were out for me, carrying it around. And yeah, middle-aged single mom solving crimes as she makes a true-crime podcast could not be a more female-coded novel in 2024, but still. I read it. And, you know, I'm, like, super manly and stuff. So there.
probably three weeks
120) Magic Pen by Dylan Horrocks, finished November 23
I think it's worth starting by clearly stating this graphic novel ends somewhere true and meaningful and in a significant point worth making. A finale that perhaps justifies the path that took us here. Because the story quite intentionally creates a series of pornographic events in its exploration of desires, the morality of desire, and the intersection/relationship of fantasy and reality. Sometimes it dwells longer than necessary on sexy green ladies and sometimes it lingers too long in philosophical hokum. Fewer nipples and less blathering would not hurt this book a bit.
Magic Pen is also autofiction. It's protagonists speaks at a symposium Horrocks spoke at and writes an autobiographical comic with the same title as Horrocks's.
And, in the end, is it any good? Even if I like the conclusion and if it's visually exciting, is it good?
Well, perhaps I should answer that by noting that although the book occasionally seemed vaguely familiar—like maybe I'd read a couple excerpts before—I did not know until finishing the autofiction paragraph above and finally looking around that, ah,
I've read it before. And clearly it made very, very little impression. It appears I like it more this second time, but still: Doesn't add up to much of a recommendation.
three or four days
121) One Step Enough by Carla Kelly, finished November 28
This is the sequel to Kelly's My Lovely Vigil Keeping (thutopia, thubstack) which I adored and whose sequel I purchased a few weeks after finishing the first book. I likely would have purchased it sooner except I had not known there was a sequel.
It's quite a different sort of novel. The first is a romance. And although the outer world's story is of a tragedy that is pending from page one, this is a romance, and so the inner story is one of love and of choosing the right man among more than one excellent choice.
This one is different. Our heroes are married. And struggling to overcome the tragedies that have defined their lives thus far. Not just the massive one at the end of My Lovely Vigil Keeping but also the loss of her father and his wife and cetera and cetera and cetera. They have a lot of pain to overcome.
(Which gets to the one Actual Historical Character whose [nonlocal] appearance I did not love. I mean—I didn't mind his existence, but let us either recognize him or not. You don't need to later get a character to say his full name [Sigmund Freud] for the bit to work.)
The book is filled with crises and redemptions as two adults learn how to be married to one another. It's not easy.
The supporting cast is marvelous. I felt like Della came down harder on her uncle in this book. Which isn't to say he didn't deserve it, but to say it felt out of place thematically. For most of the book, Della's personal growth is manifest in her ability to love others with less baggage. Not so her uncle.
A volume of loose ends are tied up in this book. Some more conveniently than others but all believably. This is the sort of book where, by the end, you love all the characters. And regardless of how they came into the story, you're happy to know them. It is a work of joy.
probably a little over a year
122) Ether: A Brief Theological Introduction by Rosalynde Frandsen Welch, finished November 29
I fear I grow weary of this series, but Rosalynde's book is another winner. And if I was too tired to gain all I could have, I yet gained much.
For instance:
• Reread Ether 12 understanding the word after (where the grammar allows it) in the same way as in the phrase "after the manner of happiness" and see what you discover.
• Perhaps scripture lives only through our continuous retranslation. That is what makes a scriptural tradition.
• Scripture becomes scripture only when it is read with "the Lord [as he gives its reader] grace, that they might have charity" and thus discover scripture—and the Lord therein.
• Moroni models for us how to imagine Christ's love beyond the boundaries were, in our fallen way, naturally feel.
• The brother of Jared's shock at the finger of the Lord may well have been at how . . . normal it was. How not-mighty-seeming.
• The coming of Christ is happening over and over, every time a willing soul opens themselves up.
One to go!
about a month
123) The Big Clock by Kenneth Fearing, finished December 7
I'd never heard of this book.
I heard of the (first) movie based on it a few weeks ago on YouTube, but in my failed search to find the movie, I discovered my library had the book. I checked it out, not expecting to actually read it.
But it was the most convenient book at a moment I needed a book so I decided to carry it with me, read the first couple chapters, see what I thought.
I ended up having time to read a quarter or a third of this slim volume and let me tell you: so glad I did.
I did find the movie for free today (and I intend to watch it) but I'm glad I didn't on my first pass because this is one of the most tightly wound works of literature I've ever read.
In short, a man in put in charge of a manhunt. But he knows something no one else knows: their unidentified target—is himself.
The machinery winds its trap and he does what he can to get closer and closer without stepping inside.
It's excellent.
It's also an early mystery to take on multiple points of view. And it's got plenty of subtext for your book group.
I loved it.
a couple weeks or more
===========================================================
2024 × 10 = Bette Davis being Bette Davis
001) Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke, finished January 1
002) The Complete Peanuts: 1977 – 1978 by Charles M. Schulz , finished January 6
003) The Sandman: The Kindly Ones by Neil Gaiman et al, finished January 10
004) Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke, finished January 17
005) Touched by Walter Mosley, finished January 19
006) Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever by Matt Singer, finished January 20
007) Evergreen Ape: The Story of Bigfoot by David Norman Lewis, finished January 24
008) What Falls Away by Karin Anderson, finished February 1
009) Peanuts Jubilee: My Life and Art with Charlie Brown and Others by Charles M. Schulz, finished February 3
010) Legends of Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke, finished February 3
A few of my favorite things
011) Roaming by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki, finished February 3
012) The Return of Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke, February 9
013) Things in the Basement by Ben Hatke, February 10
014) A Charlie Brown Religion: Exploring the Spiritual Life and Work of Charles M. Schulz by Stephen J. Lind, finished February 10
015) 1st Nephi: A Brief Theological Introduction by Joseph M. Spencer, finished February 10
016) Dendo by Brittany Long Olsen, finished February 11
017) The Ten Winners of the 2023 Whiting Awards, finished February 12
018) The Peanuts Papers: Writers and Cartoonists on Charlie Brown, Snoopy & the Gang, and the Meaning of Life edited by Andrew Blaune, finished February 17
019) Do Not Disturb Any Further by John Callahan, finished February 17
020) Mighty Jack by Ben Hatke, finished circa February 19
021) 2nd Nephi: A Brief Theological Introduction by Terryl Givens, February 24
022) The Life and Death of King John by William Shakespeare, finished February 28
022) Mighty Jack and the Goblin King by Ben Hatke, finished February 29
023) Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel García Márquez, finished March 4
024) Millay by Edna St. Vincent Millay, finished March
025, 026) The Life and Death of King John by William Shakespeare, finished March 6, 8
027) Murder Book by Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell, finished March 11
028) A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr.
029) The Last Hero by Terry Pratchett and Paul Kidby, finished March 15
030) Karen's Roller Skates by Ann M. Martin and Katy Farina, finished March 18
Four comics could hardly be more different
031) The Sandman: The Wake by Neil Gaiman et al, finished March 18
032) The World of Edena by Mœbius, finished March 23
033) Three Rocks: The Story of Ernie Bushmiller, the Man Who Created Nancy by Bill Griffith, finished March 23
034) Mighty Jack and Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke, finished March 23
Jacob says be nice and read comics
035) Jacob: A Brief Theological Introduction by Deidre Nicole Green, finished March 24
036) Starter Villain by John Scalzi, finished March 27
037) Mister Invincible: Local Hero by Pascal Jousselin, finished March 30
038) The Toon Treasury of Classic Children's Comics, edited by Art Spiegelman and Francoise Mouly, finished March 30
039) Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass by Mariko Tamaki and Steve Pugh, finished April 1
040) The Super Hero's Journey by Patrick McDonnell, finished April 5
Eleven books closer to death
041) The Stranger Beside Me: Updated Twentieth Anniversary Edition by Ann Rule, finished April 9
042) Huda F Are You? by Huda Fahmy, finished April 13
043) Enos, Jarom, Omni: a brief theological introduction by Sharon J. Harris, finished April 25
044) The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson, finished April 27
045,046,049) The Mysteries by Bill Watterson and John Kascht, finished April 29, 30; May 3
047) The Children's Bach by Helen Garner, finished April 30
048) No. 1 with a Bullet by Sehman/Corona/Hickman/Wands, finished May 2
050) Over Seventy by P. G. Wodehouse, finished May 7
051) The Happy Shop by Brittany Long Olsen, finished May 16
052) Shades of Fear, finished May 21
053) Love Poems in Quarantine by Sarah Ruhl, finished May 21
And a vibrator makes it five dozen.....
054) The English Understand Wool by Helen DeWitt, finished May 25
055) Mosiah: A Brief Theological Introduction by James E. Faulconer, finished May 26
056) Lives of the Monster Dogs by Kirstin Bakis
057) 100 Essays I Don't Have Time to Write: On Umbrellas and Sword Fights, Parades and Dogs, Fire Alarms, Children, and Theater by Sarah Ruhl, finished June 1
058) Our Malady: Lessons in Liberty from a Hospital Diary by Timothy Snyder, finished June 4
059) Dead Man's Cell Phone by Sarah Ruhl, finished June 6
060) The Next Room, or the vibrator play by Sarah Ruhl, finished June 8
And with Ursula, 69
061) The Robber Bridegroom by Eudora Welty, finished June 10
062) Blood of the Virgin by Sammy Harkham, finished June 11
063) Mulysses by Øyvind Torseter, finished June 11
064) Between the River and the Bridge by Craig Ferguson, finished June 12
065) Cranky Chicken by Katherine Battersby, finished June 12
066) Mile End Kids Stories by Isabelle Arsenault, finished June 12
067) Tiny Titans: Field Trippin' by author, finished June 14
068) Brief Theological Introductions: Alma 1–29 by Kylie Nielson Turley, finished June 16
069) Words Are My Matter: Writings on Life and Books by Ursula K. Le Guin, finished June 16
Numbers 70 through 75
070) Better Living Through Criticism: How to Think about Art, Pleasure, Beauty, and Truth by A. O. Scott, finished June 17
071) Alice, Let's Eat by Calvin Trillin, finished June 20
072) My Lovely Vigil Keeping by Carla Kelly, finished June 21
073) Dreamsnake by Vonda N. McIntyre, finished July 9
074) The Red House Mystery by A. A. Milne, finished July 11
075) Best. Movie. Year. Ever. How 1999 Blew Up the Big Screen by Brian Raftery, finished July 16
Comics soup and rice
076) I Survived the Attacks of September 11, 2001 by Lauren Tarshis and Corey Egbert (et al), finished July 16
077) Skull Cat and the Curious Castle by Norman Shurtliff, finished July 18
078) Epileptic by David B., finished July 19
079) Amethyst: Princess of Gemworld by Shannon and Dean Hale, and Asiah Fulmore; finished July 30
080) Fadeaway by E. B. Vickers, finished August 2
081) You're Dad by Liz Climo, finished August 4
082) Meanwhile...A Comic Shop Anthology, finished August 5
Lobsters are vermin you eat
084) Lobster Is the Best Medicine by Liz Climo, finished August 7
085) Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang and Leuyen Pham, finished August 12
086) Alma 30–63: A Brief Theological Introduction by Mark A. Wrathall, finished August 18
087) The Pearl by John Steinbeck, August 20
088) The Woman in the Woods and Other North American Stories, finished August 20
089) Our Lady of Darkness by Fritz Leiber, finished August 23
090) Radiant Vermin by Philip Ridley
Six books closer to the end of all things.
091) After the Blast by Zoe Kazan, finished August 30
092) The Nether by Jennifer Haley, finished August 31
093) Mr Burns, a post-electric play by Anne Washburn, finished August 31
094) The Voynich Manuscript ed. by Raymond Clemens, finished September 4
095) Brass Sun by Ian Edgington and I. N. J. Culbard, finished September 5
096) Termush by Sven Holm, finished September 7
Ally Condie kills it (+2 more)
097) The Unwedding by Ally Condie, finished September 13
098) Enola Holmes: The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer, finished September 18
099) Helaman: A Brief Theological Introduction by Kimberly Matheson Berkey, finished September 21
The end of one century and the beginning of another
100) Motor Girl: Real Life by Terry Moore, finished October 2
101) The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare, finished October 5
The If-Dagwood-Was-Mormon Sandwich
102) 3rd, 4th Nephi: A Brief Theological Introduction by Daniel Becerra, finished October 6
103) My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix, finished October 10
104) The Moviegoer by Walker Percy, finished October 11
105) Bed-Knob and Broomstick by Mary Norton, finished October 12
106) Psycho II by Robert Bloch, finished October 17
107) Osamu Tezuka's Original Astro Boy: 3 by Osamu Tezuka, finished October 19
108, 109, 110) The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare, finished October 22, 22, 23
111) Here by Richard McGuire, finished October 23
112) Sequential Drawings: The New Yorker Series by Richard McGuire, finished October 25
113) Mormon: A Brief Theological Introduction by Adam S. Miller, finished October 26
Would you rather live on the Moon or in Rome?
114) Frankissstein by Jeanette Winterson, finished November 4
115) Motor Girl: No Man Left Behind by Terry Moore, finished November 4
116) Life on the Moon by Robert Grossman, finished November 10
117) The Griff by Christopher Moore and Ian Corson with Jennyson Rosero
118) Cato by Joseph Addison, finished November 16
.png)
