Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Since I have a bit of Irish in my history, I make sure to wear some green on this day, and tonight I’ll be enjoying a beer (or three, haha!). That’s about the extent of celebrations in this household.
Today is also the start of a long weekend readathon with the Unexpected Readathon group on Goodreads. This morning I finished a couple of my current reads, next I’ll be searching my TBR for a book with green on the cover. Once again I didn’t make any definitive goals or reading lists, I’m just going to get as much reading time in as I can during the next few days.
The Week in Books
The Redbreast by Jo Nesbo — 4.5 out of 5 stars
One of my selections for March. Detective Harry Hole has made one too many mistakes and has been put on surveillance duty. While checking into the activities of a neo-Nazi group, he finds himself in the middle of an investigation into the murders of some WWII veterans. Alternating between the past and present, Nesbo introduces some of the history of Norwegian soldiers who chose to fight for Nazi Germany, and masterfully weaves the sins of the past into the actions of the present. An additional storyline left me reeling, and from what I understand, will haunt Harry Hole through the next two books. If you haven’t read any of the series, you can easily start with this one. Highly recommend.
Little Bird by Tiffany Meuret — 4 out of 5 stars
Josie spends her time playing with her dog and drinking large amounts of vodka in an effort to cope with her father’s death and the end of her marriage. This lonely, solitary life soon changes when a strange plant starts growing in her backyard, followed by the appearance of an unexpected guest: a talking skeleton named Skelly. Where did Skelly come from, and will her wisdom be able to help a grieving Josie? I really didn’t know what to expect, but I quickly found myself caught up in this story. Josie may not be the most likeable or sympathetic character, but I could relate to some of the emotions she had regarding her losses. I’m still not sure how I feel about the ending (maybe I was building up something different in my head? I don’t know), but overall a great novel, one of my favorites of 2022. Highly recommend.
Any Man by Amber Tamblyn — 4 out of 5 stars
Amber Tamblyn’s novel looks at rape from a different perspective: from men who have been victimized and damaged by a serial female rapist known only as Maude. Utilizing poetry, inner monologues, chatroom exchanges, and other writing skills Tamblyn explores the personal and social fallout that all rape victims, regardless of gender, must face, from suicidal thoughts to victim shaming. It’s a tough read but one I highly recommend.
Spare Parts: The Story of Medicine Through the History of Transplant Surgery by Paul Craddock — 4 out of 5 stars
Look for my full review coming here and at MrPinkInk the weekend of March 25-27!
Novellas, Short Stories, and Anthologies
Devil’s Night by Curtis M. Lawson — 4 out of 5 stars
During the 70’s, 80’s, and much of the 90’s, October 30 was Devil’s Night in Detroit, a night where people would set fires and loot buildings and leave the city in smoldering ruins (think The Purge only with arson instead of murder). Lawson focuses on one night in 1987 and creates fourteen stories that showcase the horrors of that night. There are tales that tie in the local myths of Nain Rouge (a devil who brings death to your loved ones until you are the only one left) and Piggy Peggy, a bloodthirsty butcher’s wife with the face of a pig. A biker faces his own mortality; a stripper is hired to kill a man at a party that isn’t what it seems; a vampiric “angel” is brought back to life; two young boys use a devilish version of Dungeons and Dragons to help their drug-addicted mother. I thought that this was a strong collection, thoroughly creepy and entertaining. Be sure to add this to your Halloween reading list.
Stay safe and Happy Reading!
