Number 47 - The Night Eaters- She Eats the Night - Liu and Takeda

 While I'm waiting for the next volume of Monstress to be released, I thought this would be a good stopgap. 

By the same creative team, this is part one of a new trilogy.

Milly and Billy are American/Japanese twins. Their mother is harsh and unforgiving of any laxness on their part and their father is much more relaxed. Milly dropped out of med school and has been a disappointment to her mother ever since. Billy spends most of his time trying to be an online influencer when not running the bakery he opened with his sister. 

However, their mother has a task for them.  They have to clean up the abandoned house opposite their parents' home, which was the scene of gruesome murders in the not too distant past.

While trying to please their mother for once, they discover secrets about themselves and their family, as well as learning that reality is not what they thought.

This is a good start to a horror franchise with some great artwork and characters I really want to know more about.

The book is packed with gore and some real surprises.

 

The art isn't as amazing as the Monstress series for me. For the most part it's gorgeous, but there's a tendency for frightened faces to be drawn like something out of a Pokemon cartoon (especially Billy). However the story is good enough that I can forgive the occasional panel that makes me wince (I've never liked the art in Pokemon).

Now of course, I'm waiting on the next volume in two series by this rather excellent creative team. There are worse things that could afflict me. :)

Number 46 - Shy - Max Porter

 Lanny was one of my favourite books of the last few years. The Death of Francis Bacon  confounded me almost completely (although it did inspire me to check out Bacon's artwork).

After such opposing reactions to his previous two books,  I had no idea if I was going to like or understand what the hell was going on in this one.

Luckily, this one does have a clearly discernable narrative combined with Porter's inimitable style and therefore it's a definite on the success side.

Shy is a teenager living in a last chance boarding school for out of control youth. The book follows him one evening as he leaves the dorm and walks to a nearby pond carrying a rucksack full of stones.

We are let into all his most intimate thoughts and flashbacks to his life so far. We hear all the voices that have shaped him into what he is now. 

Impossibly, considering how deeply unlikeable Shy would be if you were to meet him in real life, Porter manages to garner, if not full blown sympathy, an understanding and acceptance of why he is the way he is. By the end of the book I found I liked him despite myself. 

It's written in Porter's usual choppy style with no regard for sentence structure or traditional narrative form. It bonces back and forward through his thoughts and experiences and feels like a more genuine stream of consciousness writing as a result.

Just because it's only 120 pages doesn't stop a book from hitting you right in the emotions and this does it in spades. It's a remarkable act of literary ventriloquism that dropped me completely in the head of a character far removed from my experience as I think is possible. 

Max Porter is a genius and his writing is genuinely unique. His books have all been drastically different but all instantly recognisable as his writing.  That's one hell of an achievement. I will continue to pick up his work as soon as I see it in the shops.

Number 45 - Aeota - Paul Di Filippo

 And the short fiction reads continue with this little oddity from PS Publishing, normally a reliable source for quality fiction. I'd never heard of De Filippo before but the plot description sounded good.

This is a surreal science fiction story about a laconic, wise cracking, world-weary private detective, Vern Ruggles, who discovers that his latest case involves corporations that can change the nature of reality itself and sentient slime from either end of the time continuum trying to destroy history. And only Vern can stop it from happening. No pressure then...

This is fast moving, funny and somehow never confusing despite the shifting realities Ruggles finds himself thrown into. There's a whole load of WTF going on, but it's never confusing.

The supporting cast are equally good fun, his wife/ex-wife, his non-existent daughter,  the beautiful wife of the missing man he's been hired to find, and the sentient slime creatures from the ends of time.

It's a light, easy read and an inspired dose of sci-fi weirdness. I had a blast reading this and will happily seek this author out to read more of his books.

Number 44 - Mapping The Interior - Stephen Graham Jones

 

Continuing my theme of short fiction, this is a novella by Stephen Graham Jones. 

Just because it's short fiction doesn't mean it can't be deep and filled with meaning, metaphors and social commentary.  This manages all that whilst remaining an easily accessible read, and low key creepy as hell with a gut punch ending.

Junior is a Native American boy who leads a troubled life and is wildly protective of his young brother Dino who suffers from fits and has learning difficulties. One night aged 12, he thinks he sees the ghost of his father walking through the house . His quest for explanations leads to darker places than he could possibly have imagined.

I know a lot of people have issues with SGJ's style, but though it's still very evident here, I found this book is a lot more accessible than The Only Good Indians which took me a fair time to tune into. 

The back cover suggests that this is a House of Leaves type story where the house has hidden spaces not of this earth, but it's more that he finds out what's inside himself and what he's capable of doing.

It's not a perfect novella, the ambiguity as to whether he's actually seen something or if it's all in his mind goes on for a bit too long before he confirms one way or another. There are some sequences where it's not entirely clear what's just happened and I did reread a couple of pages for clarity.

It will certainly reward a second full reading at some point.  Junior was a sympathetic narrator with a creepy story to tell. There are enough layers to the story that I know I'll see new meanings next time I follow the maps into the interior of this character's head.

Number 43 - Here's Negan - Kirkman et al

 

 This is a fun little one shot looking at the backstory of one of the Walking Dead’s most popular characters. How did Negan rise to power amongst the Saviours, and where did he find his beloved Lucille? And why was the Glenn-pounder called Lucille in the first place?

I think it could maybe have been stretched out a bit more. It feels far too short and quite rushed. Once he met the group that would become the Saviours, he was their leader far too quickly. His turn to barbarism came too suddenly.

The artwork is the usual, competently drawn but nothing amazing. There are none of the eye-catching feature pages/double spreads in here that occasionally punctuated the original comics. If you’re a fan of the comics, this is a nice little add-on.

Number 42 - Last Chance to See - Douglas Adams & Mark Cawardine

 

Book number 42 in the year has to be Hitchhiker's Guide related, so here is the only book of Douglas Adams that I had managed never to read or own until now.

That's ironic because the only time i met Douglas Adams, it was at a signing tour for this book back in 1990. Unfortunately I was a poor student at the time and just had to settle for getting my radio scripts signed and I couldn't afford to buy this one.

The first Last Chance to See I ordered online turned out to be a follow up by Mark Cawardine and Stephen Fry with the main title in large letters and "following in the footsteps of Douglas Adams" in small print. serves me right for not reading the product description properly. Or indeed looking at the picture of Stephen Fry on the cover...

On my second try ordering it, I received this little beauty, a USA first edition that looks a lot longer than it  is because the paper is probably the thickest in any of the couple of thousand books in my house. 

Anyway... the book is a non fiction account of Douglas traveling to assorted remote locations around the world with naturalist Mark Cawardine to try to find and take pictures of assorted very rare animals for a BBC radio show.

I still remember Douglas telling the packed audience in Manchester Waterstones about the troubles involved in buying condoms in China (to protect a non waterproof microphone so they could put it in water) when you don't speak the language. It was one of the funniest moments of a very funny evening.  That anecdote is present in this book and is only one of many such anecdotes, all told with Douglas Adams' knack for finding the exact phrasing for maximum comic effect. 

I have received more than a few strange looks from people at work this last week for sitting in the lunch room giggling to myself. That's always a good sign when you're reading a comedic book.

This has its serious side as well. The whole book is about conservation of animals. The species they're looking for are some of the rarest creatures on Earth, and in general, the reason they're so rare is because of humans. This is a point that's hammered home time and time again. There is a sense of wonder when he meets the rhinos and  Komodo dragons.  The chapter about the kakapo parrots is poignant and funny at the same time.

This is a book that's going to stick with me for a long time.

Interlude - The noble art of the Shreddie

 

Those who read these reviews on a regular basis may have noticed that I refer to Shreddies quite often when talking about horror novels. It was pointed out to me that I seem to be the only person who currently uses the phrase.

I'm not sure if I lifted it from some other source many years ago and it's now just part of my lexicography, or if I did decide that horror needs its own phrase to describe what sci-fi calls the Redshirts- characters who serve no purpose to the plot but to die horribly- and decided that Shreddies was the word we needed.

James Herbert's early novels were classic examples of how to use shreddies.

There are rules for a good shreddie. 

1- Their death should in no way drive the plot. 

2- They should not have any connection to the lead characters. 

3- They should only appear in one chapter. This chapter should be ten to fifteen pages maximum and let us get to know them and their dreams for the future before the big bad rips them to shreds

4- Their death should be DRAMATIC. These are basically chapters to demonstrate the strength of the big bad without having to dispose of a valued member of your central cast. Make these deaths make you scared for what could happen to the people we're supposed to care about.

5- When you have the shreddies template set up in your books, you can pull a bait and switch if you're skillful enough- a chapter where the character we follow and expect to die actually just witnesses the true shreddie being slaughtered at the end of the chapter. Herbert does this in Domain where we're introduced to a flasher and fully expect him to die, but instead he witnesses one of the early deaths. He appears later on as comic relief. It made for a nice twist on the usual format.

A shreddie chapter is basically a short story about a totally unconnected character and could theoretically be removed from the book without damaging the storyline in the slightest. When skillfully written, they provide the additional body count necessary to make a fun gore novel without having to traumatise your lead characters early by killing off their friends and loved ones.

It should be possible to excise without altering the plot, but too entertaining for the editor to want to do that. 

It also adds to your page count if your central story is running a little short.

Points to note.

The lead character's spouse/loved one who dies to spark a revenge storyline is not a shreddie. 

The character who dies as collateral damage in a chapter where the MC is running from danger is not a shreddie. 

If they have no name or background, they are not shreddies (unless it's the bait and switch shreddie from point 5 above).

The villain's henchmen sent to die at the hands of the hero are not shreddies.

The lead character is possibly allowed to learn about the shreddie's death in the news on TV or newspaper, but this should normally be an incidental detail. Theoretically the MC could make deductions derived from the news reports and their own experiences up to this point. this is the maximum that they can impact on the story.

What not to do- 

Bring them in in several dedicated chapters before killing them. Dogs by Robert Calder did that and it still makes me angry 18 months later. If removing a shreddie means excising a third of the book, and they still never met or interacted with your MCs even indirectly, and their deaths have no impact on the story - YOU DID IT WRONG.

Number 41 - Last Breath - Karin Slaughter

My new theme for the next several books (apart from book 42) is short fiction. So here's a novella from the appropriately named Karin Slaughter.

Her Sarah Linton and Will Trent series are both excellent and haven't dipped in quality so far (and I'm 10 books in) which is remarkable. Some series go downhill fast after 5 books (looking at you Ms Cornwell) but Karin Slaughter is never less than a damned good read.

This short little volume continues that trend.

When lawyer Charlotte (Charlie) Quinn is approached by a teenager seeking emancipation from her guardians, she readily takes the case.  Like the girl, Charlie suffered a violent bereavement as a child and now she feels duty bound to help the helpless cases.

The girl, the ridiculously named Florabama, is in much more trouble than Charlie could have expected.

Despite the brevity, this is a twisty and turny little story and Charlie is a likeable and believable protagonist with a good set of supporting characters to drive the plot forward.

The worst thing about this book is the girl's name, Florabama. It's a good thing she's referred to as Flora for most of the story.

It goes into some dark places by the end, and that's always a positive. It's a good read, if not as good as her last novella I read, Martin Misunderstood. A good way to while away a lazy afternoon.

Number 40 - Something Is Killing The Children Vol 6

 

Much the same comments as the last volume. 

The artwork is patchy. Some panels are amazing, but there are some pages where it's a bit weak. 

The storyline continues to impress. Some of the background politics of the Houses is almost as scary as the monsters.

Erica continues to be one of the kick ass heroes. Imagine if the watcher's Council in Buffy weren't simply amoral but actively evil, you'd have a good idea of the tone and storyline of this saga.

And if I thought Vol 5 ended on a cliffhanger! this one is ten times more cliffhangery... and i've got months again till the next volume

Number 39 - The Big Yaroo - Patrick McCabe

 I think this book is a classic example of setting my expectations too high.

This is Patrick McCabe's sequel to the Butcher Boy, which was almost a lifechanging book for me when I read it many many years ago. It was also filmed very memorably by Neil Jordan back in the 90s.

This picks up on Francie Bradie's life several decades later. He's still a resident in the psychiatric home he was committed to at the end of book one.

He's the editor and chief writer of a magazine for the inmates called "The Big Yaroo". He's received a worrying diagnosis from the doctors as regards his physical health, but he's planning the perfect escape.

We're introduced to a host of new characters and flashback cameos from some familiar faces from the first book.

And that's pretty much the whole book.  And therein lies my issue.

In the Butcher Boy, the story was always building up to something. There was a palpable tension as we realised the widening gap between young Francie's beliefs and the world he was actually living in. There were surprises and shocking moments. The plot moved in a straight line.

This sequel doesn't have any of those. We already know about the gulf between him and reality. There's no real build of tension even to the planned escape. The plot moves backwards and forwards so much that it becomes more difficult to interpret. We're following at least 4 sets of flashbacks that may or may not reflect actual events in his life.

There are moments of comedy and the prose is just wild. You can sit and let it wash over your brain and that's a remarkable craic all by itself. I think I might have enjoyed the story more if I'd allowed myself a few hours uninterrupted reading more often than I did during the last week. reading it piecemeal the way I did added to the confusion I think.

All in all, I think any problems I've had with this are down to me and not the book. I set my expectations so high, it was almost certainly not going to live up to them. I read the book in short segments rather than setting time aside to properly concentrate on it. 

One to reread another time maybe. when I can give it the attention it deserves.

Number 38 - Room - Emma Donoghue

 

I could make this review just the one word - "WOW!" but I think that would be unsatisfactory.

I'm very late to the party on this and it has been in my TBR for a couple of years at least. Now I've read it, I wish I'd done it a long time ago.

Some books you read, and some you experience.  This is an experience. 

Jack is 5. He lives in Room with Ma. Old Nick comes in at night and makes squeaks on Bed with Ma. Sometimes he brings Sundaytreats.  Nothing else exists for Jack. Outside is a fantasy he sees on TV. 

We're thrown right in at the deep end in this book. The whole story is narrated from Jack's totally unique point of view. 

This book is has leapt straight into my top ten all time reads. I genuinely cannot remember the last time a book had the emotional impact on me that this book had.

I was wiping tears from my eyes for nearly a third of the book at least. I could feel young Jack's confusion as he learnt the truth about his existence. When I read the escape attempt, I had to take an extra half an hour for my lunch to get through it and then recover emotionally enough to go back to my desk. 

This book is genius on every level. Jack's voice is convincing with the grammar errors scattered through it. There's always enough information for us to fill in the gaps between what is happening and what he thinks is happening. His innocence makes the book truly heartbreaking.

I can't recommend it highly enough.

Number 37 - Oxblood - Tom Benn

 This month's book group read is this family sage set in the mean streets of Manchester. It follows the wives and children of a family of crime lords in Wythenshawe from the 50s to the 80s.

When the story opens, it's 1984. the husbands are dead in a car crash a few years earlier. The daughter (Jan) is 14 and completely out of control evidenced very strongly by the fact that she's recently had a baby of her own and spends three quarters of her segments in the book giving sexual favours to any man or boy who so much as glances at her. The oldest son (Kelly) has just been released from Strangeways after doing time for a drugs offense.

Their mother, Carol, is still mourning her lost lover who was beaten to death by her husband and father-in-law 14 years ago when they were released from prison themselves for another violent crime.

The grandmother, Nedra, wife to the ex-head of the syndicate now looks after the local children to make ends meet but still thinks her family rule the area.

The style of writing is brutal and frequently deliberately vague.  There are pages I had to read three times to try to work out what was going on.

There are occasional flashes of brilliance in the writing, but overall I didn't get on at with this book.

I read primarily for pleasure.  This is not a book to read for pleasure.  It's too miserablist and bleak. That's not necessarily an issue as long as there's enough to admire about the writing, or the characters are compelling enough to drag you through the book regardless, or the storyline is strong enough to drag you. Money by Martin Amis was a great example of all three of those. 

This isn't.

Amis gave us an astounding display of literary ventriloquism and presented us with an unlikable but compelling character who a savvy reader would see was being played for a fool, and this reader at least found the tightening grip of the trap Amis's patsy was caught in to be compelling in much the same way as watching a car crash in slow motion. 

Benn gives us writing stylised to the point of obfuscation. I didn't find much to admire in it for the most part, although, as mentioned there were some flashes of greatness. The characters were all equally unlikable and the plot, such as there is, was kitchen sink drama with some underage shenanigans. I had no emotional connection to any of them, and creepily, the only man in the book presented with any degree of sympathy was the 30 year old teacher who took 14 year old Jan for a dirty weekend in the lakes.

Did it accurately portray time and place? That's a matter of opinion, but I personally didn't find it particularly convincing. The writing was too off-putting in its weird syntax which is nothing like I've heard in 30 years of living in Manchester myself.

I scored this 5/10 at the book group meeting last night and I think I might have been generous.

5 pages of glowing reviews before you start the book aren't always correct.