I’m a hardcore urbanite. I love cities, real and imaginary. There’s just something about masses of humanity drawn to an area with gaudy structures and richly envisioned neighborhoods. I can’t live too far from a city or I’ll lose my mind. I’m not a big comics guy. If I had a favorite, it’d be Batman, simply because he has no superpowers and has to rely on his training and wits. But also, Batman has always defended Gotham City and I find Gotham City to be […]
Food and Flowers; Love and Politics
Read for CBR10Bingo: Food I began a new call to a church last year. One of my parishioners is a Japanese native; perhaps the first person I know on an intimate level from the island itself. This has led me to read more about Japan, both fiction and non-fiction and I find the more I read, the less I know. Japan has a rich history and a deep, diverse culture. I learn something every time but I still feel wanting. I won’t pretend to […]
The Psychological and the Profane
Read for CBR 10 Bingo: Award winner. It won the “New Blood Fiction Dagger” and “Ian Fleming Steel Dagger” from the 2007 Crime Writers Awards. I don’t know how to feel about this book. I think like Gone Girl, in which Gillian Flynn makes an improvement over her first novel here for a deeper tale, I will appreciate it more as time goes on. But I’m having a hard time discerning what the point Flynn is trying to make about women and parenting, aside from that […]
Dublin Noir Shot With Witty Dialogue Chaser
Read as part of the CBR10 Bingo: First in a series. This is the first in the Dublin Trilogy. I’m a big fan of the I Don’t Even Own a Television podcast, in which the hosts do a hilarious job chopping up bad books. At the end, they always give recommendations. One of the hosts has a taste for mysteries that is in alignment with mine, so I usually make time to check out what he suggests. This was one and a good one. I’m none too […]
The Locals Pronounce it “Mayum-fiss”
Read as part of CBR 10 Bingo: Brain Candy I love the Akashic Noir series, having read or browsed through the Baltimore, Detroit, New Orleans and Bronx ones. They provide two things I enjoy: a murder mystery and a tourism read. My dad is a native Memphian and despite the city’s many flaws, I’m partial to it. So it was a no-brainer to pick this one up. As with the rest of the series, some of these are better than others. I was partial to Through […]
Prophet of Female Rage
Read for CBR Bingo: Inspired by another person’s review. Two things before the review… 1. I was inspired by vel veeter’s review to do this book. vel gave it three stars; they liked it but didn’t love it. I liked it a little more and will explain why below. Here’s vel’s review: https://cannonballread.com/2018/07/do-you-think-it-could-happen-in-real-life-what-for-someone-to-have-no-conscience/ 2. I was fortunate to meet Megan Abbott at a book signing and have her sign it! It was awesome to hear her talk about the book, the process of writing, crime fiction, The […]