Completed six reads in June. The month got off to a really strong start but finished with a disappointment.
Jane Goes North by Joe R. Lansdale:
Received this in a Subterranean Press grab ba g. Purposely did not read what the book was about before I started it. Turns out it is a an unlikely buddy story with great characters and a fun story. I would actually like to read more with these characters. If you enjoy the Happ and Leonard stories I think you would also like this one.
5 Stars
Behind Japanese Lines: With the OSS in Burma by Richard Dunlop:
I have read several stories about the OSS activities in Europe during World War II but had never even thought about their work on Asia. Turns out the first clandestine deployment was against Japan in Burma. This tells a story of that deployment from a few who served. I understand the reason for formatting this as a story but I think I would have preferred a straight documentation.
4 Stars
A Little Bronze Book of Greebles by Owen King:
This Little Book is a blend of fiction, non-fiction and opinion pieces by Owen King. I have found the Little Books that are a random collection of the authors writing hit and miss. This one was a hit. The fiction is strong as is the non-fiction. The opinion pieces were a bit puzzling.
4 Stars
Timber Gray by Ronald Kelly:
I was not sure what to think of this one. Southern Fried Horror writer goes traditional western. Wimple truth is that Ronald Kelly can write. This story of a wolf bounty hunter in the west shortly after the civil war is absolutely fantastic.
5 Stars
Children of the Dark by Jonathan Janz:
I was able to read an ARC of Mr. Janz first novel. I enjoyed it but felt the author had not yet found his voice. Well as he went on to gain many fans I kept thinking I need to revisit his work. Well I am happy to report that he has found his voice. This is a story of a mass killing event in a small town told by a survivor who was in high when it happened. The story is well told and avoids the cliché coming of age elements that it would have been easy to fall into.
4 Stars
A Life in the Cinema by Mick Garris:
I have thoroughly enjoyed the novellas and novels Mick Garris has published. This one has been on my want to read list for a long time. The stories in this collection rate from pretty good to absolutely horrendous. The writer too often writes like a thirteen-year-old boy trying to write porn. I initially rated this as a 3 star read when I finished on the strength of two of the stories. In retrospect I have lowered it to 2 stars. The bad simply outweighs the good.
2 Stars
Jane Goes North by Joe R. Lansdale:
Received this in a Subterranean Press grab ba g. Purposely did not read what the book was about before I started it. Turns out it is a an unlikely buddy story with great characters and a fun story. I would actually like to read more with these characters. If you enjoy the Happ and Leonard stories I think you would also like this one.
5 Stars
Behind Japanese Lines: With the OSS in Burma by Richard Dunlop:
I have read several stories about the OSS activities in Europe during World War II but had never even thought about their work on Asia. Turns out the first clandestine deployment was against Japan in Burma. This tells a story of that deployment from a few who served. I understand the reason for formatting this as a story but I think I would have preferred a straight documentation.
4 Stars
A Little Bronze Book of Greebles by Owen King:
This Little Book is a blend of fiction, non-fiction and opinion pieces by Owen King. I have found the Little Books that are a random collection of the authors writing hit and miss. This one was a hit. The fiction is strong as is the non-fiction. The opinion pieces were a bit puzzling.
4 Stars
Timber Gray by Ronald Kelly:
I was not sure what to think of this one. Southern Fried Horror writer goes traditional western. Wimple truth is that Ronald Kelly can write. This story of a wolf bounty hunter in the west shortly after the civil war is absolutely fantastic.
5 Stars
Children of the Dark by Jonathan Janz:
I was able to read an ARC of Mr. Janz first novel. I enjoyed it but felt the author had not yet found his voice. Well as he went on to gain many fans I kept thinking I need to revisit his work. Well I am happy to report that he has found his voice. This is a story of a mass killing event in a small town told by a survivor who was in high when it happened. The story is well told and avoids the cliché coming of age elements that it would have been easy to fall into.
4 Stars
A Life in the Cinema by Mick Garris:
I have thoroughly enjoyed the novellas and novels Mick Garris has published. This one has been on my want to read list for a long time. The stories in this collection rate from pretty good to absolutely horrendous. The writer too often writes like a thirteen-year-old boy trying to write porn. I initially rated this as a 3 star read when I finished on the strength of two of the stories. In retrospect I have lowered it to 2 stars. The bad simply outweighs the good.
2 Stars
Comment