Monthly Archive for December, 2009

The Preacher Series Vols 1-9 by Garth Ennis And Steve Dillon (52 Books, 44-52 Down, 0 To Go)

Published
by
Chris
on December 31, 2009
in 52 Books 52 Weeks
. 0 Comments

I’ve decided to lump the lat 9 books of my quest to read 52 books in a year together because they are all tied together. At times, I didn’t think I would be able to complete this quest, especially after spending a month with Infinite Jest this past summer and only getting halfway through (I do plan to get back to it). But here on New Year’s Eve at 9:15 pm I finished book 52, volume 9 of Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon’s Preacher series. I’ll state up front that I am not a big graphic novel guy. I tried reading Watchmen earlier this year, got about halfway through, and lost interest. But, after many recommendations from Matt, I decided to give it a spin. It was worth the ride. Preacher tells the story of Jesse Custer, a small town minister who is possessed by Genesis, the offspring of an angel and a demon. Along for the ride is his girlfriend, ulip, and a sidekick, Cassidy, who happens to be a vampire. After the main storyline is set up, about two thirds of the rest of it is spent filling in the backgrounds of all the characters, and what led them to the present. That’s where the beauty of this series lies. And there’s a huge bonus for hitting all sorts of cultural touchstones for me….Yeats, McSorley’s, Blood Meridian. Most Highly recommended.

Branded Woman by Wade Miller (52 Books, 43 Down, 9 To Go)

Published
by
Chris
on December 31, 2009
in 52 Books 52 Weeks and Uncategorized
. 0 Comments

Yet another release from Hard Case Crime, Branded Woman is perhaps the most frustrating book I’ve read of theirs. Cay Morgan has, quite literally, been branded by a man she has crossed. Her quest to get revenge takes her to Mexico, where, of course, things aren’t always as they seem. The problem I had with Branded Woman is a tale of two extremes. When it is good, it is verry good. When it is not, well, it’s just pretty boring, and the boring parts far outweigh the good ones.It’s not quite as disappointing as the Stephen King Hard Case Crime book that I read, but pretty close.

361 by Donald E. Westlake (52 Books, 42 Down, 10 To go)

Published
by
Chris
on December 31, 2009
in 52 Books 52 Weeks
. 0 Comments

Donald Westlake died a year ago today. He was peripherally on my radar (I often see book collectors looking for his harder to find novels written under the pseudonym Richard Stark). When he died, I took even more notice as all the tributes from people i respect started rolling out. Hard Case Crime’s reissue of 361 is my first experience with Westlake, and it certainly won’t be my last. The man is a master. Ray Kelly comes home to New York after a stint in the Air Force and meets his father in New York City. On the trip home to upstate New York, their car is ambushed, with the father being murdered and the son severely injured. Thus starts Ray Kelly’s quest to find the killer of his father. Engrossing and superbly written, this is the best of the Hard Case Crime books I have read thus far, and have gotten my hands on some of those Richard Stark novels for the near future. Very highly recommended.

The Vengeful Virgin by Gil Brewer (52 Books, 41 Down, 11 To Go)

Published
by
Chris
on December 31, 2009
in 52 Books 52 Weeks
. 0 Comments

Yet another selection from Hard Case Crime…The Vengeful Virgin tells the story of Jack Ruxton, a TV Repairman, and the mess that he get himself involved in. While on a job he falls form a girl who is taking care of her invalid rich step-father. A plan is hatched to murder the old man and get his money, bus as usual, complications arise. More people need the be killed and someone stumbles across their plan. It’s a little simplistic, but then so is most noir. Its a fun, quick read, although at time it didn’t quite hold my attention. Still, a worthwhile pick if you are looking to check out some pulp noir.