I was on vacation last week and, as you can tell from the stack in the header, I read a LOT…
Stonewall: The Definitive Story of the LGBT Rights Uprising that Changed America ****
I wish this had focused more on the Uprising itself, as opposed to being a semi auto-biography on those who were involved in it. But it’s still a fascinating story at the nascent days of the LGBTQIA+ Movement, the challenges and complexities, and what emerged from it. A good gateway into learning more.
The Pursuit of Pearls ***
Very similar in structure to the first one, almost too much so. Which stinks because I otherwise enjoy this character and the series but the similarities made it difficult to appreciate. Still looking forward to the final book.
Lust, Caution ****
A quality novella turned into excellent movie. Ang Lee did a good job bringing these characters to life on screen.
While Justice Sleeps ***
I wanted to like this one much more than I actually did. I love Stacey Abrams; been a fan since before the rest of the country discovered her amazing work. But this is too beach read-y for my taste. Nothing wrong with a beach read but given Abrams’ experience and knowledge of politics, I was expecting a little more depth.
The Rocksburg Railraod Murders ***
The start of the Mario Balzic series shows the humanity of its namesake detective and his connections to the people he polices. Probably would have worked better as a short story; there’s not much even for a 196 page book. But it’s sad and devastating all the same.
March Violets ****
A re-read. Even better than I remember. Kerr definitely leaned into the Chandler-ness in the early stories and it worked. The latter ones are densely packed with Nazi history and sometimes water down the story. Not here. Well done.
Can’t Knock the Hustle ***
Read this to learn about Kyrie Irving and also to understand how the Players Movement developed around George Floyd’s murder. The basketball stuff is better covered in Ethan Sherwood Strauss’ The Victory Machine.
The Lime Pit ****
Cn. Rape, statutory rape, tragic homosexuality
Cincinnati’s not a town known for mystery tales but Jonathan Valin does a good job bringing them alive here. I wish the story didn’t involve the beats it hit in the CN. Valin wants his series to be slightly different than the typical PI one but he regurgitates some tropes. Still, it was an engaging tale (again, minus the potential triggers) and while I wouldn’t go out of my way to read the next one, I wouldn’t say no either.
