Marking Books: The Bones of Avalon by Phil Rickman

Reading aloud to Greg, writing poetry and working to keep a roof over our heads doesn't really leave me much time to read for myself... but I do, no matter how long it takes me to get through a book. The Bones of Avalon is one such novel that I believe has taken me over five months to read through absolutely no fault of Mr. Rickman's.

While not for the faint of heart or for what I term "bubble gum" reading, The Bones of Avalon offers a magical and, at times disgustingly, realistic dive into 1560's Elizabethan England. The use of just enough Elizabethan speech helps to guide the reader back in time without confounding the "modern" mind and gives the story an overall sense of authenticity. As one may come to expect from Phil Rickman, a wide range of characters to both adore and abhor are introduced through a mist of mystery, plot twists and treachery at the highest levels.

At the same time I found myself affected by the inner and outer turmoils of Dr. John Dee, I grew especially fond of a rather minor character, a very colorful "maggot" by the name of Joan Tyrre and I was left curious to know more about her. Mr. Rickman, as always, was kind enough to include notes and credits at the end of the book to clear the path between fact and fiction and, with his much appreciated source citing, I am able and eager to read more on Mistress Tyrre's account.

I guess that is the hook with which Phil Rickman has successfully snagged me -- he has such a wonderful way of cultivating existing truth and legend into a beautifully dangerous garden of imagination that once I've finished enjoying the fruit, I wish to dig deeper to explore the very seeds for myself.

Yet another tantalizing tale from "across the pond," The Bones of Avalon was well worth the long read and has left me wondering when I can pencil the second Dr. Dee novel, The Heresy of Dr Dee, into my schedule.

Marking Books: 11/22/63 by Stephen King

Greg said that he wasn't interested in reading a book about the Kennedy assassination even if it was written by Stephen King. Then, my best bud out there in California sent 11/22/63 our way saying she liked it and that is wasn't what Greg thought it was. Julie's recommendations rarely miss when it comes to books and movies and she certainly wasn't wrong about this one.

Yes, the Kennedy assassination is addressed in this book but 11/22/63 is not about JFK. It is about a high school English teacher who finds himself thrown into a skewed reality that blurs both past and present. With 11/22/63, Stephen King strings together yet another page-turner -- all 849 of them with accompanying questions for discussion, author Q & A, a playlist, and a menu with recipes. As the story unfolds through the eyes of Jake Epping (our reluctant would-be hero), Stephen King pulls the reader back and forth through time as small (and not-so-small) choices have cataclysmic consequences down the line. The truth of the human condition -- all the dirty, clean, loving, hating, horrible, beautiful mess that it is -- unfolds masterfully as Mr. King unveils the simple reality that there are no easy answers.

I wouldn't classify 11/22/63 as "horror" so much as a suspenseful drama where you think you know the history but quickly realize that history, like everything else, is relative. I definitely recommend this one (having read to Greg until I was hoarse on more than one occasion) and send out a huge "Thank you" to Woo for forwarding the book all the way from California.

Marking Books: Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz

Years ago (dare I say decades?), my best bud told me she had just read a good book and that I should give The Bad Place by Dean Koontz a try. While I have been known to enjoy the seriously strange and unusual, The Bad Place was a shade too “out there” for my taste and, after finishing it, I promptly swore off the works of Dean Koontz.

When Greg, never shy to recommend a series I might like, suggested not only that I read Odd Thomas but read it aloud to him even though he had already read the series, I was intrigued. It turns out, as it invariably does, I was wrong about Mr. Koontz and so, now publicly apologize for not having given his work another chance before now.

Being written in first person, Odd Thomas endeared himself to me almost instantly – the simplicity, honesty, and… well, oddness of his character is hard not to love. Throughout the twisting plot and string of otherworldly incidents, I found myself rooting for Odd and his soul mate Stormy – cringing when I knew they were walking into something sure to be bad and laughing at the absurd bits of humor tucked into all the right places. It is also the first book in quite some time that elicited such sudden sadness in me that I had to put the book down for a moment to cry.

I recommend the book for those who like suspense with a bit of weirdness and humor – albeit dark humor at times. Odd Thomas is definitely character driven with a fast-paced heavily atmospheric story line. It is a good read and I’m looking forward to the second book (Forever Odd) as soon as Greg and I get through our current tome (11/22/63 by Stephen King).

Marking Books: Gator a-go-go by Tim Dorsey

Okay, I finally get what my brother and Greg (and a whole slew of other people) have been talking about. Yes, I absolutely adore Serge A. Storms. Never mind that he is seriously manic, a bit deranged, and kills people in a variety of interesting and inventive ways – they are usually… I won’t say deserving but… let’s just say they are usually not very good people.

Gator a-go-go is yet another of Dorsey’s insane romps through the Sunshine State – this time documenting the history of Spring Break and all its debauchery. FBI agents and a cocaine kingpin bob and weave with Serge, his sidekick, Coleman, and their expanding following of college students as irony and near-miss encounters mount in a frenzy of hilarity. While not for the faint of heart or for the easily offended, Gator a-go-go is a fun ride.

After spending six weeks resident training at Southeastern Academy of Travel and Tourism in Kissimmee, FL back in 1988, I was convinced Floridians were crazy and that I would never want to live there. After reading Gator a-go-go, I feel my initial impressions were correct and my aversion to the state has been validated. ;)

Marking Books - WISHES: The Horror Book by G. W. Huber

Through the years I have had the privilege of editing all kinds of writing across many genres. WISHES: The Horror Book has been one of those remarkable gems that was as enjoyable to read as it was to work through. Like one of Michael Forcade’s paintings, WISHES: The Horror Book rolls out a tapestry of life with characters and family histories intricately interwoven into elaborate scenes as delicate as they are dark. Whether it be because of a young man struggling to speak or an old woman lonely for her dead husband, the reader is drawn into the fantasy of what one desires only to be reminded to “watch what you wish for.”

Straightforward and unapologetic, G. W. Huber creates a reality in which real-world difficulties bend and shift, shaped by the dreams of the desperate and the hands of something much more sinister.

Yes, I fully admit this one is close to my heart...

Marking Books - The Secrets of Pain by Phil Rickman

Greg introduced me to Mr. Rickman's work over a decade ago and I've been hooked ever since. So, when we finally had our hands on The Secrets of Pain, we were more than eager for "reading time."

Being the eleventh book in the Merrily Watkins series, The Secrets of Pain takes us back to the Vicarage of Ledwardine, Herefordshire to visit with what have become a cast of "old friends." This time around, Merrily, the vicar and diocesan exorcist, finds herself in unwelcome territory for a woman and priest as she faces the Hereford-based SAS while continuing to struggle with her job, her faith, and her now eighteen-year-old daughter. Gomer, Danny, Lol, and Jane are wrapped up in their own not-quite-so-unrelated mess and DI Francis Bliss walks a rail that nearly set me off screaming at him.

Never to disappoint, Phil Rickman blurs the edges between the rational and the unexplained -- twisting reality just enough to make you wonder, all the while serving up a dose of gritty and socially conscious reality that rings as true here in the United States as it does on the Welsh border.

Although I will admit that trying to read aloud dialog from "across the pond" was tongue-tying at times for this Pennsylvanian patriot, with Greg's patience and Mr. Rickman's addictive plots and subplots, I'll be happy to take on the "hexercise" any time.

If you enjoy mystery and suspense and haven't had the pleasure of reading Phil Rickman's work, I invite you to search him out. We still must import his books here in the U.S. -- a shameful thing indeed as we feel his work should readily be available on any store's bookshelf whether it be digital or brick and mortar.

Marking Books – The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice

In the past, when I was very ill with parasitic food poisoning, Greg read to me during my weeks of recovery (The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King). With the onset of Greg’s vision difficulties, we have adapted our “reading time” again such that now I read to him. One benefit is that we spend time together without having to wait until one of us is finished with the story before the other can read it. The down side of that is when we run into a book that is… well, not terribly good. In those cases, we suffer together. (No, we do not put down the book without finishing it - once started, we see it through to the end.) Unfortunately, the tale we have just finished, Anne Rice's The Wolf Gift, turned out to be one of the suffering kind.

What had been anticipated joy for a new opportunity to lose ourselves in the eloquent settings and gripping story lines of Ms. Rice's imagination turned quickly into bathos and grueling disappointment as we struggled through chapter upon chapter of repetitive, unimaginative language and shallow characterization and plot. I don’t mean to be harsh… Anne Rice has proven in the past to have the inexplicable talent to transport her readers to a different place and time. Her rich descriptive narrative and ability to introduce multifaceted characters of great depth and wisdom endeared her to her fans (Greg and myself included) through stand-alone stories like The Feast of All Saints or Cry to Heaven and her captivating series such as the now famous Vampire Chronicles and The Mayfair Witches. The premise of The Wolf Gift held promise but, unfortunately, didn’t deliver. What could have been a brand new series full of innovative plot twists, remarkable places and fascinating people fell horribly and inexcusably flat. Needless to say, I don't recommend the book. :)

Marking Books – An Introduction

Being an editor paired with a writer, I tend to read a lot. While I am not really fond of reading or writing book reviews, I am compelled at times to give praise (or warning) for  works I find to be extraordinarily good… or bad. Since I’ve begun this blog in the spirit of sharing, and I like to give authors as much exposure as I can, I’ve decided to swallow my review-aversion (to a degree) and invite you to follow along with my bookmarks.