Friday, March 16, 2012

Words Devoured: The Infernals

I had already read "The Gates", and was thrilled to find a sequel. I must have forgotten about it, or something. "The Infernals" picks up a bit after the events of "The Gates".

Mrs.Abernathy, having harnessed energy from the LHC at CERN after it had been reactivated, brings her hated enemy Samuel Johnson (and his little dachsund Boswell) to Hell to get her revenge.

John Connolly creates demonic hordes very well! His cast of characters--demons and humans alike--are easily loveable/detestable. His worlds are also amazingly rich, and lovingly crafted.

Connolly's writing is hilarious, and the footnotes--often offering the author's own opinions--are well done! I love his writing-style, and this book was just as well done as any of the others he has written

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Words Devoured: Redeye

This is the first of Clyde Edgerton's novels that I have read. I must admit...I really enjoyed it. It is presented to readers as a pamphlet/guide explaining a trip that the reader is embarking on. The idea that you, as the reader, are meant to be taking this trip and following the guide written by a company is quite a great one.

He introduces a cast of characters through some of their own journal entries. These characters all took, at a point in the novel, the same trip the reader is about to take.  The, in some cases epistolary, nature of these entries is quite an interesting way to further the book.

On their trip, a first for all of them, there is a tragedy that is hinted at; a shoot-out. The novel leads to this moment, and doesn't fail to entertain along the way. All the characters get to give their input on the trip, and how they feel, etc. It's a great way to get insight into the characters without some sort of omnipotence.

Edgerton's cast is varied, and well-realized. As a western novel, most of them are quite colorful! There is a bounty hunter and his mean catch dog, the titular Redeye, some Mormons, an anthropologist, a couple women, and some Indians that serve as "guides'. The place they live, a western front in Colorado, is just as colorful, everything you'd expect a western city in a western story to be.

I greatly enjoyed this funny western jaunt. The characters were engaging and believable, as were their surroundings. I definitely look forward to checking out other works by Edgerton!

Current Review Read for March 2012/Upcoming Posts

As I mentioned before, I get review copies of books from Harper Collins. This month I chose A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. I have started it already, and am currently enjoying it. 

I have read a number of books over the past month or so, and will be writing posts about them. I have two upcoming posts (just to get posts up there) using reviews I wrote (read: painstakingly typed on a cell phone keyboard) for Good Reads.

The two aforementioned posts will be on John Connolly's The Infernals and Clyde Edgerton's Redeye. They were both great novels. I also have to write a review of Haruki Murakami's 1Q84, which is my new favorite of his works!

I look forward to sharing my thoughts!

I'm Back, Baby!

The installer from Charter just left a little bit ago, which means I am back to the internet! There is soooo much I need to catch up on! I read a number of books (I need to write a post about 1Q84), and saw The Phantom Menace 3D. I can't wait to get back to it! ;)