Feca67 (Sam) reads some books

Having another go at this challenge. I tried a few years ago and failed miserably. If I manage over fifty that will be an achievement.

Some info - I mainly read science fiction, crime, modern american, a few classics, and some other oddness. Some of it is acclaimed award winning literature, and some is pulp trash, and the rest is in between.
I read paperbacks, no hardbacks and no audio books. I buy all the books I read, almost always second hand. I like vintage editions, but they're becoming more and more expensive and hard to find, but hopefully there will be some this year - I will post pics.
I only read fiction, so no biographies, history, or reference etc.

I will try to do a brief review for each book, and maybe a few background words on the book and why I chose it.

Follow the thread if that sounds interesting, and comments are always welcome.

I hope everyone has a great 2022 and enjoys reading some wonderful books.

Book #1 Grass by Sheri S. Tepper (1989)

A new author for me, a random pick from the SF Masterworks series, which I've found to be a good reference for decent sci-fi. I started this in 2021, but it will be the first book I finish in 2022, so I'm counting it as #1!

Best of luck in getting to your goals this try, Sam. I think you're off to an *awesome* start with Tepper. I didn't love everything she wrote but did love Grass, or so my ever-more-plastic memory tells me. I am down with any horror-adjacent theocracy-knocking novels, anyway.

I fully agree with you about the SF Masterworks series. It's a solid pointer, again though not perfectly aligned with my own tastes. After all I'm not the one running it.

May the rest of 2022's reading live up to this start.

Happy reading in 2022, Sam!

Welcome back, Sam. Tepper’s definitely a good start.

This group always helps me to read; welcome back to the group, Sam.

Enjoy your 2022 reads!

Thanks for the warm welcome, a lovely start to the year.

Review #1 Grass by Sheri S. Tepper

Well, I guess you can get a long way from trad sci-fi in a footnote spaceship. This is more of a jolly fantasy foxhunting romp, aside from a few interesting observations on religion, I found it a bit twee. It's a tally-no from me.

Book #2 Piranesi by Susanna Clarke (2020)

I try to pick up the odd recommendation from the yearly award long lists, mainly as a way of discovering new authors. A lot of the currently in vogue subjects don't appeal much, but this title is one I've been eagerly awaiting to find in the used paperback sellers' inventory for quite a while. Sounds like my sort of story, so high hopes here.

Review #2 Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Pleased to say I really enjoyed this one, it's quite a quick read, but there's plenty to think about afterwards. It reminded me of several other books I rate highly, Walking on Glass and Kleinzeit in particular. I won't attempt an explanation, I think there are many elements, and often these will be of personal meaning to the reader. Guidance is internal as they say.

>11 feca67: It's a very, very provocative read, is Piranesi. I'm glad your second read hit you the right way, Sam.

Book #3 Downward to the Earth by Robert Silverberg (1970)

Another one from the SF Masterworks series, but I found a vintage copy of this title. I've never read any of his other novels, so off into the unknown we go.

My top picks from last year. I would choose the Harry Crews as my favourite (two novels, some essays and a biography in one volume).



The Fifth Head of Cerberus by Gene Wolfe (1972), complex sci-fi about mysterious alien cultures
Classic Crews by Harry Crews (anthology 1970s), dark southern gothic writing with marvellously insightful and weird characters
The Sunken Land Begins to Rise Again by M. John Harrison (2020), a beautiful and strange zeitgeist novel
Ghostwritten by David Mitchell (1999), an excellent and very clever story in separate inter-linked sections
The Continental Op by Dashiell Hammett (short stories 1920s), superbly plotted crime noir

>14 feca67: I also really liked Ghostwritten Sam but I thought the last quarter of the book tailed off a little as if he was rushing it for publication.

>15 PaulCranswick: It did change direction, but it was onto home turf for me, I was definitely pleased with the way it turned out

>16 feca67: Yes, David Mitchell is indeed a Lancastrian although apparently he grew up in Worcester.

>17 PaulCranswick: Haha, yes I live in Yorkshire, but I meant it went all sci-fi towards the end. Didn't realise he's English though, I though he was Irish for some reason, memory has never been my stong point.

>18 feca67: That makes four of us, Sam. John Simpson is from Wakefield and Tony (meanderer) is, I think, from Huddersfield.

I'm also from Wakefield but have lived 28 years in Malaysia.

Review #3 Downward to the Earth by Robert Silverberg

By coincidence there is a common theme with Grass here, but I definitely preferred this much shorter novel. Though dated it is far more focused, the central idea of the story is explored then revealed very effectively.

Book #4 The French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles (1969)

I've previously read The Collector, so this or The Magus has been on the list for a while. I'm aware this isn't a normal novel in its structure so I'm hoping for something enjoyably different.

>21 feca67: I do like that one, Sam.

Review #4 The French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles

Another good read, certainly not your average book. I enjoyed the unusual and non-conventional features of the novel, the insightful 20th century narrator of a Victorian story, the author as a character and the alternative endings, all difficult tricks to perform but successful and worthwhile in this case. There are many intellectual aspects to the writing, but I never found it tedious or pretentious. The knowledge of the author and the period prose are impressive, and balanced by a good story that is often surprisingly funny.

Book #5 Vermilion Sands by J.G.Ballard (1971)

My 9th Ballard title, so I'm confident this will be good.

>24 feca67: I hope it's not the one that finally disappoints.

Have a weekend cram-jam full of optimal reading, Sam.

Review #5 Vermilion Sands by J.G.Ballard

Dreamy and entrancing short stories, some strikingly good, but I've deducted half a star as there was slight feeling of similarity in the themes as the book wore on.

>26 feca67: I have that one on the shelves, Sam. Perhaps I should squeeze it in soon.

>27 PaulCranswick: If you like Ballard I would agree, yes

Book #6 The Locked Room by Paul Auster (1987)

The final part of the New York trilogy, I've read the previous two volumes, and appreciated the metafiction twists that make these novels standout from the ordinary.

Review#6 The Locked Room by Paul Auster

Can you separate the author from their writing? Or the author from a story about an author and their writing? Yup, brains in a blender, very blurry indeed. Overall I enjoyed this more than volume 2, but volume 1 stands out as the pick of the three.

Book #7 The Expendable Man by Dorothy B. Hughes (1963)

Bit of a random selection this time, as recommended by Harriett Gilbert on the Radio 4 programme A Good Read

Review #7 The Expendable Man by Dorothy B. Hughes

I'll agree with Harriett, this was a good read. There's tension from the first page to the last, mainly from the racial divide that runs through the heart of the plot - it's a period piece in this respect, but a decent example nonetheless. On the downside, there's a measure of being too good to be true, at the expense of realism, somewhere between Boston Legal and the Fresh Prince.

Book #8 The Secret Pilgrim by John le Carré (1991)

My eighth Smiley novel. A stand out attraction here being that although these books are all 'spy novels', with some recurring characters, they differ greatly in theme, setting, and storyline.

Review #8 The Secret Pilgrim by John le Carré

A series of anecdotes and dead-end plot short stories, recalled at the time of Smiley's retirement. Initially I was disappointed to find the book wasn't a single substantial tale, but by the end I'd realised this was a fitting way for le Carré to handle the end of Smiley's career.

Book #9 The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon (1966)

I've read two other Pynchon novels, and honestly, I'm still not sure what to make of him. All I can say is that I hope this is better than Foucault's Pendulum.

>35 feca67: I do think that the feeling of bemusement is usual to readers of Pynchon.

>36 PaulCranswick: I'm glad it's not just me then!

Review #9 The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon

Conspiracy theory stories shouldn't take themselves too seriously, or at least portray the interplay between logic and absurdity, and thankfully Pynchon seems to agree, the story is rooted in the academic study of a seventeenth century play but otherwise careers around wildly, with many bizarre twists and hilarious events. It does reflect America's obsession and belief in such subjects quite accurately, at least from the perspective of this outsider. Bonus points for reminding me of an episode of Keeping Up Appearances with the use of the word 'riparian'.

Book #10 Time Out of Joint by Philip K. Dick (1959)

I've read more books by PKD than any other author. As someone with a reliably blank imagination, I'm deeply envious of his amazing talent.

Review #10 Time Out of Joint by Philip K. Dick

An early PKD novel, not so mindbending as some of the later ones. Enjoyable for the most part, but has a fairly standard sci-fi theme outcome.

Book #11 Men Without Women by Ernest Hemingway (1927)

Slowly getting round to reading more titles by this well known fellow.

Review #11 Men Without Women by Ernest Hemingway

It's not difficult to see how Hemingway's style had such an impact when first published, especially compared to the florid writing of the 19th century. Today it's not so much the simplicity of the style that stands out, but the economy of the text in telling the story, when compared to current trends for novels to be so tediously long and bloated, that is so easy to appreciate.

>42 feca67: I do appreciate some Hemingway's spare style, Sam, although some of his stuff is not particularly politically correct these days.

>43 PaulCranswick: Definitely not, but I'm not easily offended, and I do accept a novel within the context of the time it was written. Having said that, there are some obvious cases of why times change, Stranger in a Strange Land being a good example, but I wouldn't put Hemingway in this category.

Book #12 Blue Champagne by John Varley (1986)

Short story collection, the fourth title in the so called 'eight worlds' series, I've read the previous three. The books are only loosely connected, they're not an official series, it's just how fans refer to them I believe. Varley won many awards in the 70s and 80s - this book contains The Pusher, a hugo award winner, and Press Enter, which was a hugo and nebula awards winner.

Review #12 Blue Champagne by John Varley

Some good stories here, remarkably prescient on subjects such as AI and the internet, and the impact of ubiquitous sex change operations. Some of the overt sexual content is a little tiresome however.

Book #13 Strangers On A Train by Patricia Highsmith (1950)

I've previously read the Ripley novels some years ago, though I only managed the first three before losing interest. Decided to revisit the author and try this one.

Review#13 Strangers On A Train by Patricia Highsmith

Easy to criticise this one, the characters are infuriating and irrational, the prose is a little grating and the logic is questionable, but overall it's worth reading. It's not difficult to see why it was adapted by Hitchcock for the big screen, albeit with substantial alterations.

Book #14 Greybeard by Brian Aldiss (1964)

Post-apocalyptic classic sci-fi next. Aldiss didn't do much for me back in my youth, but I think I'm warming to him now.

Review #14 Greybeard by Brian Aldiss

This was enjoyable enough, but the plot moves really slowly, a lot of the book is various sections of back-story that give some insight into the characters and the cause of the apocalypse, but aren't entirely relevant to the main narrative. Also, you have to wait until the last few pages to find out 'what happens', which as I say, is nothing much up to that point.

Book #15 Dark Tales by Shirley Jackson (Short stories written in 1950s/60s)

When I see a photo of Shirley Jackson I have difficulty associating the image with the dark and chilling stories she wrote. I bet she was a fascinating woman to have personally known.

I like very much your way of showing off your book covers, Sam, quite unique.

Have a great weekend.

>53 PaulCranswick: Thank you! I've always been a sucker for a cover art, I tend to favour the vintage editions as most publishers just don't bother with cover illustrations these days.

Review #15 Dark Tales by Shirley Jackson

A brilliant book from a great writer, top quality literature with evil intent, from slander through murder to the paranormal and ultimately the warped and disorientating breakdown of reality, almost like Lovecraft at times, minus the tentacles.

Book #16 The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enriquez (2009)

I had a trawl through the shortlists of last year's major awards and picked this (but oddly it was written a decade ago). I've no idea what to expect here.

Review #16 The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enriquez

What a crazy book. I suppose you'd call these stories horror, in a modern urban setting. There's witches, curses, fetishes and ghosts, I thought "Where Are You, Dear Heart?" stood out and must be Poe inspired, but these tales are far more brutal than anything he wrote. Not for the faint hearted, but otherwise excellent late night reading.

Book #17 All The Names by José Saramago (1997)

I read Blindness a few years ago and was a bit exhausted by the unrelenting bleakness, so its taken me a while to get round to reading another Saramago novel.

Review #17 All The Names by José Saramago

Do you cease to exist when you die? Here the living find existing a challenge, while the dead demand attention and occupy a lot of space. This is a subtle novel, it's detailed and introspective, but there's also a building feeling of oppression and claustrophobia, but with a lack of rationale and an undefined tension, all combining to make this simple story engaging and mysterious. Saramago's ability to craft this delicate narrative, seemingly achieved so easily, is remarkable.

Book #18 Calling Inspector Marsden by Count Arthur Strong (2021)

I recently saw Count Arthur Strong (a comedy character familiar to listeners of BBC Radio 4) live at the theatre, where I bought this book. I'm the only person on LibraryThing with a copy, so I'm not expecting anything remarkable, but hopefully it will be a fun read.

Review #18 Calling Inspector Marsden by Count Arthur Strong

A quick read, amusing.

Book #19 Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck (1935)

Not sure why I've not got round to reading this until now, looking forward to it, I have no doubt there will be great writing and great reading.

Review #19 Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck

Sentimental tales of altruistic alcoholics, God's love of dogs, and a useless vacuum cleaner. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Book #20 Quarry's Vote by Max Allan Collins (1987)

Pulp ficton! Another dose of fast paced action with lovable hitman Quarry, I expect dangerous dames and assassinating a plenty ahead.

Review #20 Quarry's Vote by Max Allan Collins

Fun read, not the best of the Quarry series, but they're always pretty good, plenty of action and snappy prose (if wholly politically incorrect).

>62 feca67: I have never seen that cover before, Sam.

>66 PaulCranswick: It's an American edition, Signet #816, from 1952. I like the cover illustration. There's more illustrations in the book, not sure if all versions have them?

Book #21 Reservoir 13 by Jon McGregor (2017)

I like this guy, I've read a couple of his other books, he has quite a distinctive understated style. I particularly enjoyed Even The Dogs.

Review #21 Reservoir 13 by Jon McGregor

Spoke too soon on this one. While the minimalist style worked well describing the harrowing events of Even The Dogs, here we have 300 pages of life in a sleepy rural village. Poetic tedium with no pay-off. I feel conned.

Book #22 The Stain On The Snow by Georges Simenon (1948)

I read my first Simenon book last year, The Man Who Watched Trains Go By, it was pretty decent, so here's another.

Thanks for stopping by my thread and commenting on The Dangers of Smoking in Bed and noir in general.

I really like your review of TDOSIB! Do you ever post your reviews on the book's page?

Too bad about Reservoir Thirteen. That one sounded interesting to me.

Review #22 The Stain On The Snow by Georges Simenon

The story of Frank, a young man raised in poverty under the oppression of occupation, and living a compassionless life in his mother's brothel. His mentality is savage almost to the point of being inhuman, yet as the book progresses to it's inexorable conclusion we get an fascinating dispassionate insight into his nihilistic inner darkness.

>71 streamsong: Thank you for the great feedback - I don't post reviews on the book's pages as I feel that's maybe better left to people who want to do a structured appraisal, whereas here I just write a couple of sentences about some random aspect of my reading experience, which may well not be terribly helpful to a wider audience.

Reservoir 13 was highly praised by the literary world so I wouldn't encourage anyone to write it off, it just didn't hit the spot my tastes.

Book #23 Song of the Silent Snow by Hubert Selby Jr. (1986)

Hubert Selby Jr. didn't write many books but had a major impact with the gut-wrenching Last Exit to Brooklyn. This is a collection of short stories.

Review #23 Song of the Silent Snow by Hubert Selby Jr.

Thankfully an easier read than Last Exit to Brooklyn, but the themes are similar to his earlier books, and the unmistakable writing style is still present. There's a memorable tale of a bum's relationship with his coat, and others about characters wrestling with their inner demons, but perhaps the surprise is that some stories have happy endings.

Book #24 The Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons (1990)

I read Hyperion last year, a well known Sci-Fi novel inspired, in part, by the Canterbury Tales. It started really well but I felt it didn't sustain the high standard through to the end, however I liked it enough to now read the sequel.

>76 feca67: Dan Simmons is a fantasy, sci-fi horror author that I have actually read and enjoyed. Drood, I specifically remember fondly, Sam.

Yeah, Simmons is a fave of mine. I really enjoyed Drood, but also The Terror.

>77 PaulCranswick: >78 drneutron: Thanks for the recommendations, I'll check them out

Review #24 The Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons

I enjoyed this more than I expected to, I don't usually find lengthy space operas are worth the effort, but this was an exception. Simmons has the knowledge to back up his grand concepts and the use of Keat's poetry is particularly effective. Ultimately it's a cross between the Foundation trilogy and Neuromancer, but has enough depth and originality to recommend it.

Book #25 A Far Cry From Kensington by Muriel Spark (1988)

From her other books I've read, I love how Spark's writing manages to be simultaneously funny and dark, insightful and terse, quite a feat.

Review #25 A Far Cry From Kensington by Muriel Spark

Packed with character studies, executed in Spark's brilliantly understated, irreverent and amusing prose. The plot contains serious events, all dealt with by the narrator, the inimitable and forthright Mrs. Hawkins, in fine acerbic style. A joy to read.

Book #26 The Third Policeman by Flann O'Brien (1967)

I was introduced to Brian O'Nolan aka Flann O'Brien aka Myles na gCopaleen via his column in The Irish Times back when I was a student (many years ago). Soon after I read At Swim-Two-Birds, but I overlooked The Third Policeman, until now.

Review #26 The Third Policeman by Flann O'Brien

While the novel does have a plot, and quite a good ending, much of the text is simply a wondrous expression of the joy of playing with words, ideas and humour. The story explores philosophical paradoxes, crazy inversions of physical principals and many other illogical absurdities. Frequently compared to Alice in Wonderland, Borges and Douglas Adams, but there is an extra dimension, each sentence in isolation has that beauty and wit unique to Irish writers.

Book #27 Dawn by Octavia E. Butler (1987)

A new author to me next, I'm not sure how I came across this one, I think it caught my eye on a list of 'Best Sci-Fi novels' somewhere.

Review #27 Dawn by Octavia E. Butler

Not bad, not great, just OK. Everything was average, plot, characters, dialogue, prose, nothing stands out. I found the whole book slightly tedious and un-interesting, but I wouldn't criticise it for anything in particular. Wouldn't recommend unless you have an affinity for the author.

Book #28 Kingston Noir Ed. by Colin Channer (2012)

Fellow 75'er streamsong suggested the Akashic Noir series to me (thank you!). I've not read any before but they seem popular and there's plenty to choose from, I picked this one at random.

Review #28 Kingston Noir Ed. by Colin Channer

Happy to report I enjoyed this one. I've only come across one of the authors before, but the standard is surprisingly high, several stories stood out as being excellent and only one was a shade below par by my evaluation. The writing is highly evocative of life in Kingston and the Jamaican patois is a lot of fun, adding greatly to the authenticity. I will definitely be reading more of this series.

Book #29 The Third Man and The Fallen Idol by Graham Greene (1949/1948)

No introduction necessary here, you can't go far wrong with a Graham Greene novel.

>89 feca67: Too true and you got two novellas for the price of one there, Sam!

>90 PaulCranswick: yes, only 130 pages, shouldn't take long

Review #29 The Third Man and The Fallen Idol by Graham Greene

The Third Man is a novella, a straight up murder story with a plot twist, I liked it (maybe because I've never seen the film), and don't feel a need to complain, as some do, that it lacks depths and qualities found in other Greene novels, though I wouldn't disagree either. The Fallen Idol is a disturbing short story and perhaps makes up for these shortcomings by portraying the events as the poorly understood observations of adult life as experienced through the eyes of a child.

Book #30 Too Much Happiness by Alice Munro (2009)

I read Runaway a few years ago and was blown away, I hope this is in the same league.

Review #30 Too Much Happiness by Alice Munro

An excellent set of stories about women who experience life-changing events. There's no formula here, the approach is different in each case, but the result is always superb. I was confused by Wenlock Edge, feeling I'd failed to grasp all the aspects of the story, but not having the brain of Nobel Prize winner I excused myself and read some study notes, turns out reading Sir Gawain and the Green Knight first would have helped.

Book #31 The Safety of Objects by A. M. Homes (1990)

This is one that the LibraryThing algorithm threw up as a recommendation. I'd not heard of the author before, but she seems to have written some provocative stuff, worth a try I thought.

Review #31 The Safety of Objects by A. M. Homes

Random tales of everyday folk in unusual situations or exhibiting some strange behaviour, it's funny and shocking at the same time, yet somehow down to earth and relatable, but is it deliberately scandalous?

Book #32 Charlesgate Confidential by Scott Von Doviak (2018)

Another from the enjoyable Hard Case Crime series, this is a recent title by a new author but has had some very positive reviews.

Review #32 Charlesgate Confidential by Scott Von Doviak

Thumbs up from me, a great story based on real places and real events (the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum art theft), but reworked to create a plot that runs across three time lines. This is Von Doviak's first novel I believe, I hope he writes more, though I may have to figure out the rules and scoring of baseball first.

Book #33 All Systems Red by Martha Wells (2017)

In my ongoing efforts to try out more current Sci-Fi writers I picked this. It's a popular title, and won a Nebula award.

Review #33 All Systems Red by Martha Wells

I didn't really buy into the idea of the Murderbot, an armed and dangerous human-like robot, or a robot-like human, with social anxiety and a poor work ethic. Entertaining, but not convincing. Every difficulty encountered is solved by a quick bit of hacking. Or shooting. Or watching soaps.

>100 feca67: I have often wondered what Murderbot was Sam, but I was a little shy to ask!

>101 PaulCranswick: Might have made a better graphic novel, the teenage 2000AD fan in me thinks, if that helps.

Book #34 Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett (1929)

The first novel by Hammett, though the main character, the Continental Op (an operative of the Continental detective agency), first appeared in a short story published in 1923. Original is best hopefully.

Review #34 Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett

Well, the clue is in the title, this is a bloodbath, it starts out as a murder mystery, but rapidly descends into gang warfare. There's a sea of characters, multiple sub-plots and plenty of breakneck speed action, which together with the snappy dialog and period lingo all makes for an exciting read. A negative for me was the implausibly infallible sleuthing ability of the protagonist, who rapidly solves every element of the mystery with negligible evidence or effort.

Book #35 We Can Remember It For You Wholesale by Philip K. Dick (1987)

That bittersweet feeling when you reach the last installment of a great series - this is the fifth and final volume of PKD's collected short stories. Bonus pic of the full set.

Review #35 We Can Remember It For You Wholesale by Philip K. Dick

I'll happily recommend this volume for PKD fans, there's several origin stories here that developed into films and full length novels, as well as some previously unpublished works too. A few stories are light hearted but many deal with more troubling issues, and PKD's philosophical approach asks open ended questions of the reader's ethical opinions, thankfully theoretical in some cases. The all inclusive nature of the collection means the standard is variable, but everything is worth reading, across all five volumes, and the author's notes at the end is a valuable addition to the text.

Book #36 For Esmé - with Love and Squalor by J. D. Salinger (1953)

I saw this on 75er ChrisG1's thread. I've not read any Salinger since high school, so this is long overdue.

From the bookseller's description: "The notorious cover which caused Salinger to insist on plain, non-sensationalized cover designs for his books ever after." - I'll admit I picked this edition for the cover, you can form your own opinion of me as a result.

>105 feca67: I know of Dick's most famous books, Sam, but these are unfamiliar to me. I like the throw-back covers!

>108 PaulCranswick: These paperback editions were published by Grafton in the early 90's. I think they were originally published by Victor Gollancz in hardback in the late 80's, with different titles and covers. Each volume is 500 pages, 2,500 pages in total, roughly chronological, so probably an undertaking for sci-fi nerds only.

Review #36 For Esmé - with Love and Squalor by J. D. Salinger

Wow, it's hard to think of anyone who writes better dialog driven narrative than Salinger in these stories. And then there's the punch at the outcome of each tale. Superb.

Book #37 Poor Things by Alasdair Gray (1992)

A couple of years ago I read Lanark, a book I'd known about for a long time, but had always been a bit apprehensive of reading, for the same reason I've never read Ulysses. It was lent to me by a work colleague, who happens to come from Lanarkshire, and I was glad he did as it's an incredible book, but please don't ask me to explain it. Anyhow, it's now time for another novel from this great man.

Review #37 Poor Things by Alasdair Gray

Gray presents a long lost manuscript, written by a Scottish surgeon who recounts how the body of a dead woman is resurrected, and then tells the story of her subsequent life, with illustrations. There is also correspondence from the woman herself, as well as a fact checking appendix including maps, photos, newspaper articles and letters relating to the people, places and events referred to in the book. The text is wide ranging and discusses politics, feminism, the British empire, war, class, sexual behaviour and medical practice. Of course the entire work, even the press reviews, are all the many voices of Gray himself, and the result is not only impressive but also highly enjoyable and often very amusing.

Book #38 Random Acts of Senseless Violence by Jack Womack (1993)

Back to Sci-Fi now, and another go at trying a new author from more recent times.

Review #38 Random Acts of Senseless Violence by Jack Womack

At first I thought I'd been sold a pup here, it starts out distinctly young-adult in style and although billed as cyberpunk there's no technology element whatsoever. However this dystopian novel follows a frighteningly effective path, as New York descends into chaos and the violence takes hold, the text slowly shifts into street slang vernacular and is more realistically horrific than other comparable works. I'll definitely read more of this series.

Book #39 The Loved One by Evelyn Waugh (1948)

Something a bit calmer next.

>114 feca67: Well that description got me. Into the Someday Swamp with it!

>116 swynn: Thanks - do give it a go, underrated and underappreciated seem to be the terms most often used to describe it, though it has been re-published as part of the SF Masterworks series.

Review #39 The Loved One by Evelyn Waugh

Very funny book, developing into quite savage humour by the end, there's a great scene about a dead parrot... oh come on now, seriously, I'm not making this up honestly.

Book #40 Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro (2021)

I've previously read Never Let Me Go, but nothing else by Ishiguro, so I think this should be good, hopefully.

Review #40 Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

An intelligent novel that asks questions about the nature of love, loss and consciousness, and how these concepts extend beyond the bounds of humanity. Narration by an android, Klara, provides the unique perspective, however, there is a sizeable amount of fairy tale in the construction, which helps focus on the main aspects of the novel, but also requires regular suspension of disbelief.

Book #41 Black Wings Has My Angel by Elliott Chaze (1953)

A new crime author next, this award winning novel has a good reputation, let's see if it's deserved.

Review #41 Black Wings Has My Angel by Elliott Chaze

A Bonnie & Clyde style heist caper. Well written with good characters, but it feels a bit generic, especially the plot, with nothing that makes it really stand out. Entertaining enough I suppose.

Book #42 You Should Come With Me Now by M. John Harrison (2017)

Short stories from "a Zen master of prose". You don't always know where you are Harrison, but you don't care too much as the writing is so beautiful.

Review #42 You Should Come With Me Now by M. John Harrison

Halfway between the Naked Lunch and a game of Mornington Crescent. An anthology of fear. Dislocated and disorientating, dreamlike with occasional transient focus. Strangely recurring in waves of distorted familiarity. Calming then unsettling again.

Book #43 Miami Blues by Charles Willeford (1984)

I'm familiar with the author but not the protagonist, police detective Hoke Moseley. Blurb sounds a bit crazy, apparently there was a film version back in 1990.

Review #43 Miami Blues by Charles Willeford

That's more like it, a hectic crime story about an ex-con on the rampage and a jaded cop's efforts to sort out the carnage. The bad guy, Frenger, is really bad, and the cop, Hoke Moseley, is given the run-around in a believably confusing and disjointed series of twists and turns. According to the introduction, this was written without a plan, Willeford just started writing and let the plot develop, an approach that seems to have suited the nature of the story perfectly. Definitely worth reading, there's even a smutty joke in Haiku form.

Book #44 Thérèse Raquin by Émile Zola (1867)

Come on Sam, read something proper. OK then, let's give this a go.

Book #44 Thérèse Raquin by Émile Zola

A story of adultery, murder and anguish. The theme of the novel is unfortunately very familiar and has been used many times, so although the writing is excellent, the second half of the book does feel laborious. Zola teases every last drop out of the dismal plight of the lovers, and skilfully presents many aspects of their torment, but ultimately I was glad to reach the end.

Book #45 O Caledonia by Elspeth Barker (1991)

Random odd book. Came up on a list of suggestions from Amazon I believe, the subject attracted me and I was further intrigued as it has excellent reviews on many sites, but it's the only novel she wrote.

Review #45 O Caledonia by Elspeth Barker

The story of girl growing up in rural Scotland. She's intelligent and horribly misunderstood, but painfully endearing. It's an excellent book, every page is funny, poignant, beautiful and surprising. The prose is wonderful, the characters leap out and the story is gripping, it's a faultless read. I do have one question though, who, or what, in reference, are the Lords of Luna?

Book #46 As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner (1930)

This has been on my 'to read' list longer than any other book, probably a couple of decades at least, I'm not really sure why, I've always wanted to read it, I just never felt insipred enough to go ahead and do it before now. I'm reading more than I usually do this year, to try and hit 75 books, so that's helped get some of these old outstanding titles checked off.

Review #46 As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner

Not what I expected (not sure what that was), but clearly a ground breaking work. A book I had to read carefully to follow the details, and get the most from the story. The multiple narrators (each in their own voice), free flowing style and dialect speech are a challenge but obviously what makes the novel such an achievement. The story itself is a great insight into the period and social culture even if the ending is little odd given the momentous events that precede it.

Book #47 The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell (2014)

Probably the longest book I'll read this year, at a hefty 650 pages, might take a while.

>132 feca67: Isn't that one great?
>133 feca67: I liked that one too. Hope it hits you just right.

>134 swynn: The Bone Clocks is pretty good so far. I read Cloud Atlas and Ghostwritten, they were excellent too.

Review #47 The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell

Much of this long novel concerns the life of the main character, Holly Sykes, from adolescence to old age. It's not all directly relevant to the plot, and I did find myself urging Mitchell to hurry up and get to the point on several occasions. The main plot is a supernatural fantasy affair, and for the first half of the book, while various strange events remain unexplained and mysterious, I was hooked. By the second half, when everything is revealed I became less impressed, but then I'm not really a fantasy fiction fan. I was reminded of Heinlein's novella, The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag, which although not that similar as it turned out, is definitely more to my tastes for a paranormal nightmare story, and mercifully far far shorter.

Book #48 The Long Tomorrow by Leigh Brackett (1955)

Another foray into the classic sci-fi vault next, I've not read any of her books before, but apparently she worked on the script for The Empire Strikes Back.

Review #48 The Long Tomorrow by Leigh Brackett

Fairly standard post nuclear apocalypse novel. Set in the USA where Mennonite values have taken hold and technology is shunned, but not totally eliminated. An enjoyable read but not in the same league as A Canticle for Leibowitz.

Book #49 The Neon Wilderness by Nelson Algren (1947)

Algren writes about some of my favourite literary subjects, users and dealers, gamblers and gangsters, pimps and prostitutes. I've read a couple of his books before and I'd agree with Hemingway, he writes a powerful novel.

Review #49 The Neon Wilderness by Nelson Algren

Short stories on varied subjects, many on the hardships of the great depression, as well as boxing and the experiences of enlisted troops in the second world war. The prose is dense, with excellent dialogue, focusing on the situation, feelings and motivations of the characters rather than the plot. Most of the stories have miserable outcomes, but there is also humour, and although nearly all the activity is of a criminal nature it's impossible not to feel compassion for people struggling with such deprivation.

While perusing threads this morning, I'm glad I stumbled upon yours. I am enjoying the vintage covers you've posted and the interesting commentary.
I read Piranesi late last year and loved it, I also have read Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell and The Ladies of Grace Adieu by the same author, so I was banking on an enjoyable read based on the previous ones (so far I have not been disappointed).
I found a few more suggestions for the never ending TBR list based on your thread, so thanks for that.
I've been trying to work my way through the 'classics' of SF over the past few years based on an audio course I was listening to and various lists, since I've always been a fan of the genre. Dystopian novels used to be a favorite but after living through the last few years in one, I had to broaden my horizons.

Book #50 Naked in Garden Hills by Harry Crews (1969)

My most anticipated book of the year. I've been looking for this for years, so I'm really excitied to have finally found a copy of this much sought after but long out of print novel.

>141 kaida46: Thank you so much, it's great to find overlap with other members and I really appreciate your positive feedback. This isn't a huge community, and many other members have quite different tastes, so I guess there's a slight feeling that I'm just talking to myself sometimes, but your comments really show it's worthwhile - cheers!

Review #50 Naked in Garden Hills by Harry Crews

A truly bizarre book, as to be expected from the pen of Harry Crews, but really quite shocking and surprising nonetheless. The story revolves around a morbidly obese 600lb man, a failed race horse jockey and Dolly, a childhood beauty queen. They all live in Garden Hills, Florida, the site of a former phosphate mine and now an industrial wasteland. The 'fat man' is living off the proceeds from his father's sale of the land to the mysterious mine owner, while the few other remaining residents live in poverty until Dolly decides to develop the disused factory into a go-go bar. While clearly a satire on Christianity and many aspects of American culture, Crew's sharply focused portrayal of the characters has depth and delivers a disturbingly memorable novel.

Book #51 A Song for Quiet by Cassandra Khaw (2017)

I saw this title on Steve's thread (swynn), and his review caught my eye so I'm giving it a go. Thanks Steve! Wikipedia has this under the heading of "Chapbooks" - "In early modern Europe a chapbook was a type of printed street literature", "a small publication of up to about 40 pages", a term I'd not heard before, and as this has about 100 pages and a regular binding, I'm not sure it qualifies, but interesting to learn.

Review #51 A Song for Quiet by Cassandra Khaw

Music vs Monsters. Long on style, short on substance. It's never really clear who the main characters are, or precisely what's going on. Lovecraft's novels gave me a helpful frame of reference, but beyond the relentless and slightly repetitive fancy prose there's something lacking I felt.

Book #52 Montana Noir Ed. by James Grady & Keir Graff (2017)

Having enjoyed Kingston Noir earlier this year I think I'm on the way to being hooked by this Akashic series, so I'm trying another. I've always wanted to go to Montana, so I picked this one.

>146 feca67: Sorry that fell flat for you, Sam. I loved the prose, which I thought fit the jazz-themed story well.

>148 swynn: As a creative writing exercise it was good, just needed more to make a good story I guess

Review #52 Montana Noir Ed. by James Grady & Keir Graff

A couple of good stories here, but overall not quite as enjoyable as Kingston Noir. Looking forward to reading more from this series though.

Book #53 The Island of Doctor Death and Other Stories and Other Stories by Gene Wolfe (1980)

I've only recently started reading Gene Wolfe, but the couple of books I've tried so far have both been excellent, so I'm excited about this.

Review #53 The Island of Doctor Death and Other Stories and Other Stories by Gene Wolfe

A collection of short stories, of variable quality, but worth reading for the final story alone. "Seven American Nights" is similar to Wolfe's brilliant novel Peace, in that it features an unreliable narrator and is full of cryptic and allegorical clues to the true events. The three "Death Island" stories are also of intertest, especially in light of the interviews Wolfe gave, explaining the writing process behind them.

Book #54 The Glorious Heresies by Lisa McInerney (2015)

I have no memory of how this title came to my attention, but it was nominated for multiple awards, so hopefully a safe choice.

Review #54 The Glorious Heresies by Lisa McInerney

If you like Irvine Welsh it's a safe bet you'll like this too. Set in Cork, and written partly in southern Irish dialect, the novel starts out following three groups, a prostitute and her partner, a gangster and his mum, and a school kid dealer and his girlfriend. After a significant event (hint - someone dies), they all become interconnected, and the novel then follows their paths over the next decade. If you guess that probably involves one disaster after another, you'd be spot on. There isn't a big finale at the end, in fact it all feels a bit clumsy with some retrospective fill-ins, but there is a sequel or two, so more to look forward to.

Book #55 The Sweet Hereafter by Russell Banks (1991)

Years ago I read Rule of the Bone, but through oversight none of his other books. I recently reviewed my library to see what follow-ups I should add to the list and so now I'm reading this.

Review #55 The Sweet Hereafter by Russell Banks

This moving novel follows a number of people in the aftermath of a school bus crash that kills and injures many children. The traumatic event has profound repercussions, that affect the lives of those involved in starkly differing ways, and leads to further upheaval over the following months. As a study of how we live our lives it is an excellent book, but it's also a reminder of the difficulties and coldness faced by many unfortunate people.

Book #56 Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers (1930)

A well known crime mystery writer, I've not read any of her books before so I'm starting with one of her most highly rated novels.

Review #56 Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers

A jolly dose of light reading, it's all a bit daft to be fair, even our hero Lord Wimsey remarks at one point how surprisingly eager all the other characters are to divulge useful information without any inducement or obvious motivation. However it's quite witty and the 1930's time period comes through clearly, so I'll give it a qualified thumbs up.

Book #57 The Rediscovery of Man by Cordwainer Smith (1975)

Short story collection, billed as further out there than regular sci-fi. Let's find out.

Review #57 The Rediscovery of Man by Cordwainer Smith

A series of short stories charting the future of mankind as we evolve, develop new technology and colonise the stars over many thousands of years. However that's where similarity with other sci-fi ends. Smith doesn't dwell on the science aspects (there's often more of a mystical approach), but instead looks at the roots of future developments, frequently involving insignificant but pivotal characters. The writing has a unique style and although it's influenced by other literature and real human history, the extent of the re-imagination is profound, extreme and bizarre yet rewarding. Oh, and there's cats, what more could you ask for?

Book #58 The Dain Curse by Dashiell Hammett (1929)

A second dose of Hammett this year. Why not?

Review #58 The Dain Curse by Dashiell Hammett

Not sure where to begin here, there's so much plot in this short book, I'd rather enter Monty Python's Summarize Proust Competition, though perhaps not in swimwear. I can say I lost count of the murders, and the number of suspects. Completely bonkers would be my synopsis.

Book #59 Everything That Rises Must Converge by Flannery O'Connor (1965)

A new author for me next, but in a similar vein to other book's I've read this year. Flannery O'Connor was an American author, she wrote in the Southern Gothic style, but sadly she suffered with Lupus and died at only 39 years of age.

Review #59 Everything That Rises Must Converge by Flannery O'Connor

Stories about disagreeable people getting their comeuppance, frequently resulting in death. The narratives are straightforward and often seem to use a sledgehammer to crack a nut, but there is also great precision in the crafting of the characters, situations and dialog. Racism and Christian virtues are common themes, but I felt sometimes there is perhaps an over reliance on stereotyping. Unflinching and ruthless writing but precisely executed.

Book #60 Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead (2021)

An author I'd heard about but not tried before, until I saw this new title on drneutron's thread - thanks Jim!

My pleasure!

Review #60 Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead

Great novel, I don't really have a bad word to say about it. The book tells the story of Ray Carney a Harlem furniture salesman, doing his best to earn an honest dollar. However being the son of a career crook and surrounded by friends and family who scheme and cheat at every opportunity makes staying on the straight and narrow impossible, hardly surprising given the constant racial oppression from every white section of New York society bent on denying the black population any chance of improving their lives. The plot delivers plenty of exciting action but also skilfully develops the characters over several years whilst gradually filling in their back stories, without ever sacrificing plausibility. The language is a joy, authentic but never incomprehensible to an outsider such as myself, and paints a vibrant portrayal of Harlem and it's unique culture.

Book #61 Small Gods by Terry Pratchett (1992)

I read the first few Discworld novels as a teenager when they were published back in the 80's, but moved on in my reading tastes. I've more recently seen this heralded as (with tongue firmly in cheek) the 'book of atheism' - some religious satire usually goes down well, so let's see if it stands up to scrutiny.

Review #61 Small Gods by Terry Pratchett

Very funny, funnier than I was expecting, and an excellent satire. It's broader than just a spoof on religion, also encompassing philosophy and the development of science, and accurately sends up the problems that occur when these practices intrude on each other's turf. It's not a condemnation of religion or a belief in god(s), but a deeper reflection on the history of our relationship with religion, good and bad. There is a message here, and it seems to be that religion and humanism ought to get along a bit better, they perhaps don't have so much to fear from each other.

Book #62 Interzone by William S. Burroughs (1989)

Next, revisiting another author I've not read for many years, this is a collection of short stories and other early works from the 1950s.

Review #62 Interzone by William S. Burroughs

Fortunately, I have been ill. Nothing serious just a cold, but the muggy headedness suited reading this disjointed and nonsensical stream of consciousness novel. It's partway between Junky and The Naked Lunch but doesn't really succeed as they do by being biographical or hallucinatory. Too fragmented and experimental.

Book #63 Bluebeard by Kurt Vonnegut (1987)

And another return to an author I've sadly neglected for too long.

Review #63 Bluebeard by Kurt Vonnegut

Unusually for Vonnegut this is a straightforward story, but the theme of reflections on World War 2 and related events will be familiar to his readers. It has plenty of his trademark humour though perhaps more sentimentality than his other novels I've read. It's well worth the effort, and clearly the work of a top notch writer, but I missed those zany twists and tricks that drew me to discover his writing.

Book #65 A Rage in Harlem by Chester Himes (1957)

After enjoying Harlem Shuffle I picked another Harlem based novel from my list.

Review #65 A Rage in Harlem by Chester Himes

This reminded me of the Tarantino films such as Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown, I'd be amazed if he hadn't read this, all the elements are there, wild shootouts, a crazy car chase, con artists on the run, expletive laden dialog, hopeless bad guys high on drugs, and even the bible quotes. This isn't crime noir, it's frequently more of a comedy, sometimes hilariously so, Himes definitely has a successful formula here, some follow-ups will be high on my list.

Book #66 Emphyrio by Jack Vance (1969)

Back to sci-fi now, Vance was a prolific American writer from the 1950s onward, but I've not read any of his books before, maybe he was less popular here in the UK than in his homeland, or maybe I came across his fantasy novels and discounted him back when I was younger and bought books in rural secondhand book shops, I don't quite remember. This is a DAW edition, usually collectable for their great covers alone, this isn't one their best unfortunately, but a nice addition nonetheless.

Review #66 Emphyrio by Jack Vance

Classic sci-fi liberation from oppression tale, hardly a literary masterpiece, but not pulp junk either. There's a fantasy element with strange creatures and primitive planets, mixed up with space ships and high tech wonder, often mentioned only briefly making it difficult to visualise a wider image of the culture. The first half of the book is fairly pedestrian, but the second half switches up several gears and a lot happens very quickly, leading to a grand and sudden ending with a bit of a jolt. Various threads are left hanging, so not an entirely satisfactory read, but a fun example of the genre.

Book #67 The Unseen World by Liz Moore (2016)

Something a bit more up to date next. An LT recommendation that sounded interesting, the tags include A.I. (which I know a bit about) and Mystery, coupled with 'beautiful' as a common description in the reviews, so caution out the window, let's wade into this lengthy novel.

Review #67 The Unseen World by Liz Moore

Initially I found this one quite tedious, the prose isn't great, and the story is bloated with humdrum text not directly relevant to the plot, which itself doesn't engage the reader much in the first part of the book. It does improve however, the plot develops into various strands that complement each other well, and the pace picks up, though the writing never really focuses into anything out of the ordinary. Then at the end, a twist, there's a reason for all the overblown detail, though it's not particularly convincing.

Book #68 Nobody's Angel by Jack Clark (1996)

Random selection by a little known author from the Hard Case Crime series.

Review #68 Nobody's Angel by Jack Clark

Write about what you know is the advice to aspiring authors, well Jack Clark knows about driving a taxi. Now this is a murder mystery, but that's very much a sideline, the majority of this novel is about the everyday life of a Chicago taxi driver, the customers, the city, the lifestyle, and Clark absolutely nails it. The prose is pitch perfect, the dialog is joyfully sharp, the descriptions of Chicago are vivid and the stories about the customers are highly entertaining. A simple novel, and not a long book, but just a great example of how to turn an original idea into a great read.

Book #69 Dark Benediction by Walter M. Miller Jr. (1980)

Another return to a neglected author. I read the sci-fi classic A Canticle for Leibowitz decades ago, so it's about time for some more Miller. This is a lengthy anthology of short stories, so fingers crossed.

Just perusing threads today and it was nice to catch up with all the interesting reading you've been doing. Yay! for reaching #69!

Review #69 Dark Benediction by Walter M. Miller Jr.

A bit of a slog this one, a long and quite heavy going book, that disappointingly never reaches the standard I'd hoped for. Full of typical old classic sci-fi tropes such as pioneer life on mars, brains in jars and interstellar spaceships made from a few valves and relays. A recurring theme is the threat of homo-sapiens being usurped by androids, clones or mutants, then add some questionable portrayals of women, a few racial stereotypes, frequently predictable plots, and you've about got it covered.

Book #70 Third Class Superhero by Charles Yu (2006)

This one came up on the Radio 4 programme 'A Good Read', and sounded so unusual I had to give it go.

Review #70 Third Class Superhero by Charles Yu

An experimental work, very sharp, highly focused (almost minimalist), insightful and moderated with a lot of humour. Overall Yu gives us some very weird ways of looking at the normal everyday stuff of life, presenting an affirmation of mediocrity. Not doing so well? It's OK. One story uses theoretical physics equations to represent the problems when a couple have their first child, in another a man sees his life as a play as he obsesses over the emotions he is able express. I particularly enjoyed a story where a man phones a woman he is hoping to date, both of them unaware that the 32% probability of success is determined by a long sequence of dependent events dating back to her school years.

Book #71 Berlin Game by Len Deighton (1983)

I read Funeral in Berlin years ago, and seem to remember enjoying it so I've picked this next. Hopefully it's good as it's the first part of a trilogy.

Yay, I completed the 2022 Halloween Treasure Hunt. #2 and #14 had me stumped for quite a while. #14 took some lateral thinking and #2 is just difficult, unless you know the answer of course.

Review #71 Berlin Game by Len Deighton

I'm a bit ambivalent about this one. It's an enjoyable read, and ticks all the boxes for a cold war spy novel. It seems reasonably authentic and well researched, however the plot is a bit wobbly at times, and not entirely believable. Still, I think I'll read the rest of trilogy at some point.

Book #72 The Trial by Franz Kafka (1925)

I'm slightly embarrassed to admit I've never read this.

Review #72 The Trial by Franz Kafka

No surprises here, this is a strange and dark novel. As he saw his own life, this is a story of struggle and failure without meaning, but at the same time, there is truth and beauty and fulfilment as a result. As a parallel to the modern human world there are many insights, how absurd, alienating and lonely it can be, but we have created this world for our own freedoms and protection, and so it's up to us to embrace and exploit it, or to question and change it.

Book #73 The Burn by James Kelman (1991)

This is an author I've known of for a long time, I've been tempted to try his award winning novel How Late It Was, How Late several times, but always hesitated undertaking it, so instead I've finally chosen a shorter collection of stories to try to get to grips with his writing.

Review #73 The Burn by James Kelman

Very little explicit plot in many of these brief introspective inner monologues, leaving an exercise in reading between the lines to try and figure out what's going on. The writing is heavily stylised but flows naturally and is engrossing, but the form feels limited and leaves the reader with many questions.

Book #74 The Restraint of Beasts by Magnus Mills (1998)

Another new author next, this first novel was shortlisted for several awards, and is described as a black comedy.

Review #74 The Restraint of Beasts by Magnus Mills

A story about building fences, and going to the pub. There are some darkly humorous twists, and a general malevolent brooding feel, but the story builds to an abrupt end without resolution. Not entirely satisfying.

Book #75 The Gospel Singer by Harry Crews (1968)

I'm really happy to see Penguin Classics have recently re-issued Harry's first novel, so I chose it as my 75th book to complete the LT challenge. Hopefully some of his other novels will come back into print soon too.

Review #75 The Gospel Singer by Harry Crews

A very impressive first novel. The characters are fascinating and complex, the plot is well constructed and moves rapidly, and the writing is excellent and uniquely Harry Crews. A savage and shocking portrayal of life in the deep south in the mid twentieth century, but the themes of how religion, racism and poverty operate in American society are still relevant today.

Challenge completed with a month to spare!

Book #76 The City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clarke (1956)

I read quite a few of Clarke's novels in my teenage years, but I don't remember this one, hopefully I've not read it before.

>197 feca67: Congratulations on reaching 75!

>200 FAMeulstee: Thanks - my second attempt, and the first time I've succeeded. It was more a case of discipline than effort, but definitely rewarding and I'm really glad I decided to try again.

Congrats!

>202 drneutron: thanks!

Review #76 The City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clarke

I'd summarise this as a right load of old nonsense, a daft fantasy on a grand scale that gets completely out of hand by the end. There's very little science in the fiction other than being set in the future and some space travel. It's difficult to relate to the characters, and although it tries to be profound and farsighted about human nature and development, I'm quite convinced it isn't.

Book #77 The Affirmation by Christopher Priest (1981)

Let's hope this is an improvement on the last book. Priest is know as a sci-fi writer, but I believe this is something a bit different.

Review #77 The Affirmation by Christopher Priest

I loved this book, its appeal probably isn't universal but it's definitely the sort of literature with an experimental edge I find rewarding and highly enjoyable. This is the story of Peter Sinclair, whose life goes off the rails and then he suffers a mental breakdown. As he tries to rationalise what's happened, he attempts to re-invent himself by writing a biography, but this accelerates the fracture, distortion and multiplying of his perceptions. The manuscript becomes the central device of the book, mirroring the dual realities and confounding the reader, it's very cleverly and skilfully employed. This is certainly a romanticised presentation of mental illness, but as an art form it works brilliantly, and to seal it off the ending is a moment of perfection.

Book #78 Dark Entries by Robert Aickman (1964)

Spooky stories for the November nights next.

I really do like some of the covers you put up Sam.

I thought I had left my congrats on you reaching 75 but I cannot seem to see it up there. Congrats anyhow!

>208 PaulCranswick: Thank you - and thanks for your support throughout the challenge.

Review #78 Dark Entries by Robert Aickman

Highly enjoyable and well written, this is a good quality collection of weird tales. All of the tales invite the reader to ponder their meaning, sometimes a bit of logic leads to a deeper comprehension, while others seem to be more reflective on subjects beyond our abilities to analyse. Often the clues lie in references to other works of literature and the wider arts. The prose has a formal style, a common technique that lends itself effectively to the incredible nature of the events described, and well exercised here.

Book #79 Tehran Noir Edited & translated by Salar Abdoh (2014)

A third installment of Akashic Noir this year, this one has good ratings. Set in Iran I'm expecting some stark insights into a soceity far removed from life in the west.

Malaysia's branch of the 75er's wishes you and yours a happy holiday season, Sam.