tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75379856038802466352024-03-13T11:40:53.452-07:00BLACK GUYS DO READ - Book Reviews BlogThis is primarily a blog of book reviews. I simply just love reading and I like to record my informal thoughts and reviews on books that I come across. I prefer books with very high stakes so I mostly read crime, noir, and horror/sci-fi, but I enjoy any great story. I'll go for anything as long as it's good! <br><br>*Explanation of the Blog Title:
A friend mentioned that there is a stereotype that most black men don't read fiction. Well, I'm here to prove otherwise!Black Guys Do Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03897473359532652650noreply@blogger.comBlogger509125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537985603880246635.post-25673148151136336712023-11-20T07:06:00.000-08:002023-11-20T07:06:56.565-08:00 BORN TO BLEED by Ryan C. Thomas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYPovLOyjxgeuxMJaaWsjxIEIYtowOfT-IfAtCpM2jtSuNy7r02uMgu3XvrmScXc-l2IGA_nBWgkX5ooWyrla4zmZAJ71Ddlw4sllq8eCNPR_RSMN1jAZ-xmI9G3DKar-4JMrYLBvaebWa60z8r0GqM9mVlsB5-2eBPvAqJy1yppj9qmAIpzCZDCsJApkX/s400/35407392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="267" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYPovLOyjxgeuxMJaaWsjxIEIYtowOfT-IfAtCpM2jtSuNy7r02uMgu3XvrmScXc-l2IGA_nBWgkX5ooWyrla4zmZAJ71Ddlw4sllq8eCNPR_RSMN1jAZ-xmI9G3DKar-4JMrYLBvaebWa60z8r0GqM9mVlsB5-2eBPvAqJy1yppj9qmAIpzCZDCsJApkX/s320/35407392.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><b><i>The Summer I Died</i></b> was one of the hardest books to read due to the extreme graphic violence but was still wholly satisfying as a story. So I wanted to read its sequel but had to take a deep breath before jumping into this one. <div><br /></div><div>But nope, I still wasn’t prepared…</div><div><br /></div><div>Roger Huntington, who barely survived that first book is trying to manage his trauma and has attempted to move on, relocating to Los Angeles and working as a painter of serene woods scenes. But that doesn’t last long, as trouble catches up with him again. </div><div><br /></div><div>The violence and depravity is just as hard-hitting in this book and the author still manages to deftly touch on the long-term affects of trauma and how it changes Roger in ways that he never expected, where he’s constantly questioning what kind of person he might be becoming. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: x-large;"><b>GRADE: B+</b></span></div>Black Guys Do Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03897473359532652650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537985603880246635.post-4854595706531366822023-11-20T07:02:00.000-08:002023-12-01T07:08:30.241-08:00A TOUCH OF DEATH by Charles Williams<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYBNtfCM4GGOsAc3a78JvXx49YrpSwxGubWd4GNxSKTu5doT3X42H_JxAQWZZ4BKD0vwuHv16BQR-VK0delt_TEkB4v1Drzk88VmNNSjvbg6JX7b-1aOaCtmJ98nvkghE3suRkIjGFfMoJeTKpFEp7PRe1nxR17BKdoibwObaYNksy81rx5Kd36WXHv3EE/s475/3308028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="283" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYBNtfCM4GGOsAc3a78JvXx49YrpSwxGubWd4GNxSKTu5doT3X42H_JxAQWZZ4BKD0vwuHv16BQR-VK0delt_TEkB4v1Drzk88VmNNSjvbg6JX7b-1aOaCtmJ98nvkghE3suRkIjGFfMoJeTKpFEp7PRe1nxR17BKdoibwObaYNksy81rx5Kd36WXHv3EE/s320/3308028.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>This is another banger by Charles Williams, where a broke ex-football player gets sucked into a robbery plot by a scheming brunette in a bikini. <div><blockquote><b><i><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: courier;">…looking like something the censors cut out of a sailor’s dream.</span></i></b></blockquote></div><div>It really stands out because not only was it constantly surprising but it features one of the coolest femme fatales in the genre, a master manipulator that never once used sex to seduce our lead sucker, because she simply doesn’t need it, she’s that good. Seriously, I constantly kept waiting for the clothes to come off but was always surprised. In fact, the moment that the two meet, they hate each other, and the hate only grows hotter as the story moves forward. </div><div><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: courier;"><i><b>You’re a business proposition to me, a hundred and twenty thousand dollars’ worth of meat to be delivered on the hoof.</b></i></span></blockquote></div><div>The other thing that grows is the tension, which is the real star of the show here. The moment the plot gets going, the suspense never lets up, and I was right there in the protagonist’s shoes, not sure how much more I could take, and nearly yearning for the police to just catch them already or for the double-crosses to happen, if only to allow me to breathe for a bit. And when the ending comes, it’s not like I didn’t see it coming, but I didn’t expect it to be as satisfying. While this one isn’t as much of a slam-dunk classic as <b><i>Hell Hath No Fury</i></b> (The Hot Spot), it’s still a fantastic noir by Charles Williams. </div><div><blockquote><i><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: courier;"><b>There were no days now. Time had melted and run together into one endless and unmarked second of waiting for an explosion when the fuse was always burning and forever a quarter of an inch long.</b> </span></i></blockquote></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: x-large;"><b>GRADE: A-</b></span></div>Black Guys Do Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03897473359532652650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537985603880246635.post-79045575736504082452023-10-31T18:54:00.001-07:002023-10-31T18:54:16.074-07:00FEAR ME by Tim Curran<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YINukpdnQSvXa_HwQdPE1ELrH84ZmMtg7embakXV-emX-sNLY9wu3twHMa2nRC_76aYs5WBBy9l8T66hqszl2Xgt6o560ZnoDILLuogodaIld7QK3IGB5bnanl__1Q3JQXQCDCcqQmrNAkzWfjlu7tmTrzqiLnkV5IRoezntjFwkTjL5K-N0e-HMJhFL/s309/11960993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="200" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YINukpdnQSvXa_HwQdPE1ELrH84ZmMtg7embakXV-emX-sNLY9wu3twHMa2nRC_76aYs5WBBy9l8T66hqszl2Xgt6o560ZnoDILLuogodaIld7QK3IGB5bnanl__1Q3JQXQCDCcqQmrNAkzWfjlu7tmTrzqiLnkV5IRoezntjFwkTjL5K-N0e-HMJhFL/s1600/11960993.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>As if the idea of being stuck inside a maximum security prison wasn’t terrifying enough, imagine if a bloodthirsty monster was locked up in there with you. <div><br /></div><div>In this novella, a prisoner at Shaddock Valley Penitentiary seems to be a meek victim for the more hardened cons, but hides a secret that will lead to more than just a prison yard shanking. Author Tim Curran does a great job of setting up the oppressive atmosphere in the prison, a hopeless place that brings out the worst in people and the darker side of humanity. But then, when prisoners begin dying in the night, the tension gets ratcheted up like crazy. The way that Curran describes what happens after lights out is pretty chilling. And even though it did get a bit repetitive at times, I appreciated how damn creepy it was. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: x-large;"><b>GRADE: B+</b></span></div>Black Guys Do Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03897473359532652650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537985603880246635.post-72421810023848259102023-09-30T09:17:00.001-07:002023-09-30T09:17:24.736-07:00SMALL MERCIES by Dennis Lehane<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjut2gLFdaUm5QUfIELapwZji6oWiCIuD2JDgtDkqlZvbAcn-pM9e3xZTs01SOFu9RBZ2260l_i_tT4a14I2Qr9yipxr3eACWZOBxdgkbbLQecdhkvaWnYofETZyVNx28PEw2pec0tvEbrDZgtEnk89Ow4syHo9YpDGmJK4IQtUxky-gvUDNtWs6p3yJ5JR/s1000/814RsaMtNuL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjut2gLFdaUm5QUfIELapwZji6oWiCIuD2JDgtDkqlZvbAcn-pM9e3xZTs01SOFu9RBZ2260l_i_tT4a14I2Qr9yipxr3eACWZOBxdgkbbLQecdhkvaWnYofETZyVNx28PEw2pec0tvEbrDZgtEnk89Ow4syHo9YpDGmJK4IQtUxky-gvUDNtWs6p3yJ5JR/s320/814RsaMtNuL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>Set on the eve of the desegregation of Boston's public schools in the 1970's, a woman from Southie, an ex-addict cop, and the Irish mob collide after a young white girl goes missing and a black man is found dead at a train station, setting fire to an already lit match of racial unrest in the city. <p></p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: courier;"><i>"We're not built for princesses down here."</i></span></blockquote><p></p><p>It feels like it's been a while since I've read a novel by Lehane, one of my favorites. And everything here is all that you expect from a master crime writer. The man has such a strong command of his art form at this point. Not only is this a great time capsule documenting this tense time in Boston (and American) history, but it's also a fantastic portrait of these two lead characters. </p><p>Mary Pat Fennessy is finally confronted with how stuck she and her community have been in their ways, how malignant her environment can be, and how she has to reckon with how this toxicity could have tragically spilled into her daughter. And in contrast, Detective Bobby Coyness has grown up in the same way but somehow managed to keep on the right path, even though it's an everyday struggle to keep his morality and his sobriety. </p><p><span style="font-family: courier;"><i></i></span></p><blockquote><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: courier;"><i>He considers the possibility that maybe the opposite of hate is not love. It's hope. Because hate takes years to build, but hope can come sliding around the corner when you're not even looking.</i></span></blockquote><p></p><p>Although this didn't have the raw power like some of his best novels have, this is still a great book, with its focus on the struggle to not allow hatred to be passed down from generation to generation.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: x-large;"><b>GRADE: B+</b></span></p>Black Guys Do Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03897473359532652650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537985603880246635.post-32560766237986756982023-09-11T19:37:00.000-07:002023-09-11T19:37:32.290-07:00ALL THE SINNERS BLEED by S. A. Cosby<div><i><span style="font-family: courier;"><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPFqIdXzq8iIg0DbsK5geyoQy4hCY3BNCLgSmvzJSd5x-QZolSo2AHJH5_1FHZKmaSRmqX8ZwMqhICNktPnTUpZaJYOVFkpKsI2NYrlgCzHiTLHkxUMoY5MKrH3wFKjlPjJV9P5pdI-h2Ms4oWNMaQt9Tj8y0-fBxm_fgB4kJSKeBUhXHhrRlIQOyWZRh/s1500/91xxhwnNcyL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="987" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPFqIdXzq8iIg0DbsK5geyoQy4hCY3BNCLgSmvzJSd5x-QZolSo2AHJH5_1FHZKmaSRmqX8ZwMqhICNktPnTUpZaJYOVFkpKsI2NYrlgCzHiTLHkxUMoY5MKrH3wFKjlPjJV9P5pdI-h2Ms4oWNMaQt9Tj8y0-fBxm_fgB4kJSKeBUhXHhrRlIQOyWZRh/s320/91xxhwnNcyL._SL1500_.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><blockquote><span style="color: #ffa400;">True madness is like an aura around someone. It glows blue like the flame from a gas fire. That madness can spread. Become like a religion for the lost.</span></blockquote></blockquote></span></i></div><div>With this new novel, Cosby is 4 for 4. He continues to kick down the doors with guns blazing as he releases banger after banger in the crime fiction genre. </div><div><br /></div><div>Being an investigative cop drama, I was a bit worried that it would feel a bit stale as the detective mystery has gotten a little worn out to me. But I should have know better. This feels very fresh as it follows Titus Crown, the first black sheriff of the small Virginia county of Charon, as he not only tries to get a lid on the racial unrest in his town but also hunts a terrifying serial killer on a rampage.</div><div><br /></div><div>Cosby does everything right here, starting with the portrayal and build-up of the serial killer. The killer and their actions here are seriously bone-chilling and serves to maintain a potent layer of tension throughout the whole book. I was also impressed by how well-developed the community was, and loved how present Titus's deputies were, showing how this investigation is not a one-man show and how much he can't do his job without them. There's a romantic figure from Titus's past that pops up halfway through the book and I was really worried that this would turn into a silly love triangle, but I loved the mature way it was handled, without resorting to soap opera antics. One of the author's strengths is a tendency to never oversell, never hit the reader over the head, but efficiently present just the right amount of emotional development and social commentary to keep the reader truly engaged. He's like a storytelling gymnast, finding the right balance. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: x-large;"><b>GRADE: A-</b></span></div>Black Guys Do Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03897473359532652650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537985603880246635.post-69724574925735781002023-08-25T09:23:00.004-07:002023-08-25T09:23:31.090-07:00GOTHIC by Philip Fracassi<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdRKFr-YhLa8gpDMp_FjombbZmTPwO0X-aXXZwNQ1FFnCVt86V8of9So-Bvb5YNcUfI1VJ1cOgPqbaiPg3Zc8h_MkDeLk21heZ0TZNu8ZKsNlMYnSQaImiktUfdwz0P1F8twb08Ex1qy7-JHaTb6O96FsR82FdoXrQdWX9ZealteWZqiBzdVddzKnXBur/s373/59909683.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdRKFr-YhLa8gpDMp_FjombbZmTPwO0X-aXXZwNQ1FFnCVt86V8of9So-Bvb5YNcUfI1VJ1cOgPqbaiPg3Zc8h_MkDeLk21heZ0TZNu8ZKsNlMYnSQaImiktUfdwz0P1F8twb08Ex1qy7-JHaTb6O96FsR82FdoXrQdWX9ZealteWZqiBzdVddzKnXBur/s320/59909683.png" width="219" /></a></div>It's been amazing to witness the rise of Fracassi's career as he has steadily planted his flag among the crowd in the literary horror genre. I've been reading his work since I discovered his short stories and novellas early on and he has quickly become a priority author for me. He's recently been on a roll with his novel releases and this one does not disappoint!<p></p><p>The setup is simple, introducing Tyson Park, a washed-up horror novelist with writer's block, who is gifted a new desk that ends up being a bit more than just new furniture. Turns out that the desk is made of material from an ancient occult altar and Tyson begins to succumb to its influence. It's pretty unnerving to witness Tyson's gradual corruption, rotating between seeing it from his POV and the view of others around him. I felt dirty being in his head with his thoughts as they became more and more disturbing until I realized that the person that I was reading about is not the same person I was introduced to earlier. </p><p>There are effective horror sequences in this book as well, right up there with the best of the best. So if you're looking for engaging classic King-style horror storytelling, by an author flexing his powers, check out this great novel.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;"><b>GRADE: B+</b></span></p>Black Guys Do Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03897473359532652650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537985603880246635.post-62694319888941257372023-08-14T12:01:00.000-07:002023-08-14T12:01:03.592-07:00CITY OF DREAMS by Don Winslow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DlA6gm0qFPyFdIuFXfU_piEA4JkP0iHnQNqWKGGTGCp16EPPsSmFnhGdx1CGo_c6sL2kphNxtEGL97DbCGYXb9NdEuEMDWrY3HR9QZlhlhkY9fjzSkG7JXCBLEZ9dNA3x0Migv79sZMfJlHYxTvsVjtMSOfKNpzQ2SjAohv_2zf0YmclL0lfjEDmn9ue/s500/9780062851239-us.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="331" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DlA6gm0qFPyFdIuFXfU_piEA4JkP0iHnQNqWKGGTGCp16EPPsSmFnhGdx1CGo_c6sL2kphNxtEGL97DbCGYXb9NdEuEMDWrY3HR9QZlhlhkY9fjzSkG7JXCBLEZ9dNA3x0Migv79sZMfJlHYxTvsVjtMSOfKNpzQ2SjAohv_2zf0YmclL0lfjEDmn9ue/s320/9780062851239-us.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>*Book 2 of the City Trilogy*</b></span></div><div><i><span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: courier;"><blockquote>...because the wounded find the wounded, washed up on the same sad shore.</blockquote></span></i></div>Picking up immediately after Danny Ryan hightailed it outta Providence after losing his wife and the war with the Italian mob, this second novel in Winslow’s final trilogy finds Danny on the run, and struggling to carve out a safe space for his friends and young son. <div><br /></div><div>The novel takes on a very different atmosphere than the first, trading New England for the the sunny West Coast, bouncing around San Diego, Las Vegas, and the city of dreams itself, Los Angeles. I love that the book takes a bigger look at and expands on what were minor characters from the first novel as Danny makes this journey with the ragtag crew that he ran from Providence with. It was cool seeing more of Bernie Hughes, Jimmy Mac, Ned Egan, and especially the constantly entertaining Altar Boys: Sean and Kevin. The love story is potent but watching these New England hoods try to navigate the Hollywood world is pure gold!</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #bf9000; font-size: x-large;">GRADE: B+</span></b></div>Black Guys Do Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03897473359532652650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537985603880246635.post-19350349212706756442023-08-08T19:49:00.001-07:002023-08-08T19:49:59.589-07:00JUDAS GOAT by Greg Gifune<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0an42Awy-voIHjp2T9qvRHEHLqd2JM7AvaFCWy84REN1-fLRD24yIHI8AxpsPOYso2kYQfZzWijAoi1OFpIX_dKacN-AxXTEVcAhHbYEWVhkP-OQd_YIq3fUfA88tObosavYe1r4Sh4ZwQ0a9yuQeOz6DDaGV4xRXrourD5cWqMOX8dShPB40KHdN2V2h/s1000/51uL1CVLExL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="666" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0an42Awy-voIHjp2T9qvRHEHLqd2JM7AvaFCWy84REN1-fLRD24yIHI8AxpsPOYso2kYQfZzWijAoi1OFpIX_dKacN-AxXTEVcAhHbYEWVhkP-OQd_YIq3fUfA88tObosavYe1r4Sh4ZwQ0a9yuQeOz6DDaGV4xRXrourD5cWqMOX8dShPB40KHdN2V2h/s320/51uL1CVLExL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>I really need to stop waiting so long between Gifune books! His work scratches a horror itch for me that most writers fail to hit. The books dive to emotional depths that others never dare to, while still providing the terror and thrills. <div><br /></div><div>This novella feels like a<font size="4">n eerie</font> dream from the very first paragraph and it never once lets up on the atmosphere, especially as our main character Lenny gets to the small town where his ex-girlfriend has died and mysteriously left him her house. As he struggles to understand what happened to Sheena, we the reader discover a tragic story of love squandered and two people filled with pain and regret. I almost always leave a Gifune book satisfied and impressed and this is another great one. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;">GRADE: A-</span></b></div>Black Guys Do Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03897473359532652650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537985603880246635.post-80312263908880711972023-08-04T06:01:00.002-07:002023-08-04T06:01:17.174-07:00FIND HIM by Jake Hinkson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzMXA_2DqqILuM7l6HJ7mXKltybuSt_8BH8Eo3vaVBobVpnE4HwvhuOy43KfFdLOC6aAGasRKjIL4hm7WmB43SpHuyHCx6MK7mjij59beJQcW2eyLO81S8kpoQPcJGYInJNGp-lzKeOs_4hY0TBFOTz8CrPJINY7ShG26a8fdxLMlXDgq_8ul6UFyx01c/s1000/813txWQ9GxL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="647" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzMXA_2DqqILuM7l6HJ7mXKltybuSt_8BH8Eo3vaVBobVpnE4HwvhuOy43KfFdLOC6aAGasRKjIL4hm7WmB43SpHuyHCx6MK7mjij59beJQcW2eyLO81S8kpoQPcJGYInJNGp-lzKeOs_4hY0TBFOTz8CrPJINY7ShG26a8fdxLMlXDgq_8ul6UFyx01c/s320/813txWQ9GxL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>While not the hard-hitting gut-punch noirs that I’ve come to enjoy from the author (like <a href="https://blackguysdoread.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-posthumous-man-by-jake-hinkson.html" target="_blank">The Posthumous Man</a>, <a href="https://blackguysdoread.blogspot.com/2015/09/no-tomorrow-by-jake-hinkson.html" target="_blank">No Tomorrow</a>, or his recent <a href="https://blackguysdoread.blogspot.com/2019/11/dry-county-by-jake-hinkson.html" target="_blank">Dry County</a>) this new Hinkson novel is still a solid thriller in the vein of <a href="https://blackguysdoread.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-big-ugly-by-jake-hinkson.html" target="_blank">The Big Ugly</a>, and it also might be his most accessible book with arguably his most likable characters. <div><br /></div><div>The strength here is in how enjoyable it is to follow our protagonist Lily Stevens, a devout and pregnant "one-ness" Pentecostal teenager who bravely steps outside of her sheltered life to go full amateur dick and track down her missing baby daddy. Even if you can’t relate to her background and religion, it’s hard not to get swept up by her determination and zeal. <font>Allan is also another great character, a kind man with a fondness for Reba McEntire, and a sense of morality that he can’t shake, no matter how much it might get him in trouble. These two together make for satisfying companions in this read and it's another great entry into Jake Hinkson’s bibliography!</font> </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #bf9000; font-size: x-large;">GRADE: B+</span></b></div>Black Guys Do Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03897473359532652650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537985603880246635.post-68185053916004027002023-03-04T17:31:00.000-08:002023-03-04T17:31:33.477-08:00MORE BETTER DEALS by Joe R. Lansdale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVUogmdFynRqVwjtn4615zwpysvVUOeTIf7eAK-qZDxnZHx1QATf1N7Twk55PK33PNOOgApmwN6U0KiRgkUjltIzjrAjauUjexUnz5YlS7dVjjc5tuAj_0xCDEFMw0i-3dEk1OmRdrNATfq7tQ-XONI9EnWXbV1MrYOoPbCYITm7jYgfXmlnEXtpXRg/s500/s-l500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="331" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVUogmdFynRqVwjtn4615zwpysvVUOeTIf7eAK-qZDxnZHx1QATf1N7Twk55PK33PNOOgApmwN6U0KiRgkUjltIzjrAjauUjexUnz5YlS7dVjjc5tuAj_0xCDEFMw0i-3dEk1OmRdrNATfq7tQ-XONI9EnWXbV1MrYOoPbCYITm7jYgfXmlnEXtpXRg/s320/s-l500.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>Joe Lansdale is one of our best authors and a total genre chameleon. He jumps from genre to genre with no warning and succeeding better than most, whether it’s horror, buddy comedies, westerns, or coming-of-age dramas. And even though he’s a chameleon, he still stands out in each lane because he has a voice all his own. <div><br /></div><div>Now, he’s back again with a straight noir worthy of the Gold Medal or Black Lizard label. It follows a used car salesman and passing mixed-race, Korean War veteran named Ed Edwards who wants the White American Dream for himself: the dream of owning a business, having a white woman on his arm, and making enough money to send his sister to school. And to get that, he’ll do anything, whether it’s sleep with another man’s bored wife, or plot a murder or three!<div><br /></div><div>This one was extremely enjoyable, and it's Lansdale doing what he does best, plotting a well-paced backwoods noir with enough violence, sex, and betrayal to make Gil Brewer or Charles Williams smile, and doing it with the knack for humor, dialogue, and dramatic irony that we’ve come to love from the author!</div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff3c00; font-size: x-large;"><b>GRADE: B+</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Black Guys Do Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03897473359532652650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537985603880246635.post-61093647224786946422023-02-27T23:22:00.000-08:002023-02-27T23:22:06.042-08:00 EVERYBODY KNOWS by Jordan Harper<i><font face="Courier New"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VyrZLmRFJ2M_cYrRhOqK5S4GnO8ZINvLObs9JSCrRp22d4gWc3tbis8nIV-55gvXpuE806G83neD1zyqO4VqiJjGozHHTt2MoRaepcISmpc7v96Ml15ZitrhMb6CXdDXgUIbqA1_YFDA0lKlVmQV__MVpMxhbtUN3-ENc_Li_byV2cNgq3yCmf1nEg/s489/Harper23_1024x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VyrZLmRFJ2M_cYrRhOqK5S4GnO8ZINvLObs9JSCrRp22d4gWc3tbis8nIV-55gvXpuE806G83neD1zyqO4VqiJjGozHHTt2MoRaepcISmpc7v96Ml15ZitrhMb6CXdDXgUIbqA1_YFDA0lKlVmQV__MVpMxhbtUN3-ENc_Li_byV2cNgq3yCmf1nEg/s320/Harper23_1024x1024.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><span style="color: #cc0000;"><blockquote>Give them horror or give them heartstrings. Nothing else sticks.</blockquote></span></font></i><div>Jordan Harper is one of the best crime writers today and in his latest novel, he’s tackling the underbelly of the City of Angels. <div><div><br /></div><div>Jordan Harper’s <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Los Angeles is a place of</span> secrets, black bag PR, sponcons, money and celebrity in excess; a world filled with “noise to hide the whispers” and corruption so widespread that it’s a wonder anything ever gets done. You can feel the love/hate relationship with the city here, with a condemnation of the town so scathing that it could only come from when you love a place. </div><div><br /></div><div>His two main characters, Mae Pruett and Chris Tamburro, are two people haunted by what they have done for the PR beast and desperate to somehow make things right and regain whatever decency they have left. </div><div><br /></div><div>It’s a powerful novel, which is not a surprise given how great Harper’s writing here. It reads like something James Ellroy would write if he stepped into 2022. Harper’s writing even evolves into something akin to the Ellroy, with muscular and punchy prose that hits hard and fast. Harper does an amazing job with character here, navigating the emotion maturely and riding that line of sentimentality perfectly. </div><div><br /></div><div>It’s still early in Harper’s career so it’s exciting to imagine what he has in store next. </div><div><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: courier;"><blockquote>“It’s like I’m in this backward purgatory. Like maybe if I commit enough sins, I’ll be able to get free.”</blockquote></span></i></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><b>GRADE: A-</b></span></div>Black Guys Do Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03897473359532652650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537985603880246635.post-27616467834568554522023-01-23T12:39:00.003-08:002023-01-23T12:39:35.715-08:00THE KING OF SHADOWS by Robert McCammon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3rdn7qDLT1scJ8KT1_jrrOuVbHteDmwujTmuI8uxIMkYNoiRV4MowtqmfHZGnLvB-kxJ7VWz1-EWFYlRhsqpYzrW2ILmOveSXnB03NPQyNvqU10wwTuQjhYCUJfNVNNLEhK4jyPhbZ2hkpt0Y7TT8hf4vZUICa10QzTEfDdBQ4cBryRhu8CBkvuIcIg/s1360/71-TfTD2DHL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="946" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3rdn7qDLT1scJ8KT1_jrrOuVbHteDmwujTmuI8uxIMkYNoiRV4MowtqmfHZGnLvB-kxJ7VWz1-EWFYlRhsqpYzrW2ILmOveSXnB03NPQyNvqU10wwTuQjhYCUJfNVNNLEhK4jyPhbZ2hkpt0Y7TT8hf4vZUICa10QzTEfDdBQ4cBryRhu8CBkvuIcIg/s320/71-TfTD2DHL.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>Maybe it was bound to happen at some point. Maybe it was too much to hold out hope that McCammon could maintain the high quality that I’ve come to expect from the wonderful Matthew Corbett series, even with it being eight books deep at this point. Well here it is, this book marks the dip in quality. <div><br /></div><div>I’m not sure why this book was even written. It blows my mind that the author thought that it would be a good idea to have a random side quest for the entirety of the penultimate book in a 9 book series, when the momentum should actually be rising to a climax. But, it’s exactly what happens here, grinding the overall story to a halt while Matthew and his unlikely band of colleagues find themselves stuck on a mysterious Mediterranean island isolated from society. It’s all the small issues I had with <b><i>The River of Souls</i></b> but times 100 here. </div><div><br /></div><div>But like with <i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-weight: bold;">River of Souls, </i><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I could forgive it if said side story was interesting on its own. But it’s the opposite. It feels lazy and pedestrian and not even remotely interesting, with a strange, half-baked cop out of an answer as to what was happening on the island. It also had side quests within the side quests, as we spend like 200 pages flashing back to the origins characters we don’t really give a shit about. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So essentially, the book reads like the rejected drafts of about 4 supplemental novellas that take place in the Matthew Corbett universe that were cobbled together in an unsatisfying collection and labeled the 8th book in the main series. A total disappointment. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: #990000; font-size: x-large;"><b>GRADE: D </b></span></div>Black Guys Do Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03897473359532652650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537985603880246635.post-53877227399694192442023-01-01T17:31:00.004-08:002023-01-01T17:31:37.054-08:00A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS by George R. R. Martin<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCW5aAJl0kK_opWspsdG8M-Pd4imcZ-Sv_iWipKosQ2G1oQ4siFQDFImGdDr0aTZpeKKBWcqBYOO5RyICklGm7PUY2nlKwJRy3MgEc-9yHWk_4l9PdqZQExnuKIc8-iNLRBil98GuM5QtBu1yzqS5OCkGXIy2IOnKM0AYHOTAamMwmJ_Zfp-lIlNie3g/s500/51gt34HUd9L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="329" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCW5aAJl0kK_opWspsdG8M-Pd4imcZ-Sv_iWipKosQ2G1oQ4siFQDFImGdDr0aTZpeKKBWcqBYOO5RyICklGm7PUY2nlKwJRy3MgEc-9yHWk_4l9PdqZQExnuKIc8-iNLRBil98GuM5QtBu1yzqS5OCkGXIy2IOnKM0AYHOTAamMwmJ_Zfp-lIlNie3g/s320/51gt34HUd9L.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>If you're a <b><i>Song of Ice and Fire</i></b> or <b><i>Game of Thrones</i></b> fan like myself, then you know what I mean when I say that there really is such a thing as "Westeros-Withdrawal". Westeros-Withdrawal is a serious condition, affecting those of us who were sucked into the World of Ice and Fire, and during the long wait for anything new from the mythology, there's a feeling of malaise and loss that can't really be filled by anything else. Doses of <b><i>Star Wars</i></b> lore is enough to provide a little respite, but not enough. I had been trying to hold off on reading this, in an attempt to stretch out my access to new material as much as possible, but my enjoyment of the absolutely fantastic new <b><i>House of the Dragon</i></b> show blew all that effort to smithereens. <p></p><p>Set around 80 years after the events in <b><i>House of the Dragon</i></b>, and nearly a century before the events in <b><i>Game of Thrones</i></b>, this book is a collection of the trilogy of great novellas focused on the travels of Ser Duncan the Tall, a low-born hedge knight dedicated to maintaining his honor, and his squire, a little bald boy named Egg. Anyone with a deep knowledge of Westerosi history knows that these two characters end up making a big name for themselves in the history of the Seven Kingdoms. And during these tales, we dive deeper into the events that shaped who they turned out to be and illustrates how they unknowingly had a hand in shaping history as we know it. </p><p>The stories here are as good as anything in the main Game of Thrones series, but this time there's a real focus on the street-level happenings, as opposed to the highborn drama in the main series. And that's pretty refreshing. It's a love letter to the small folk and to knighthood, but also serves as a great buddy tale, showing the growing kinship between this simple knight and his special squire. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">GRADE: A-</span></b></p><p><br /></p>Black Guys Do Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03897473359532652650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537985603880246635.post-66295501087523121242022-11-06T03:52:00.003-08:002022-11-06T03:52:35.495-08:00EXTANT by Michael McBride<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm7OQV--KZJz_5PAX-A1t0XjfMUn8gsfVyGr0ggiPgbOtAokmY_EscjbyD0nJexzF_ZL7IqLETmkAVaH5AQhn0S-wtN5wy2kqeoWK6Ljv_4H2l0vYrrBAcOLYQwxcX78Bd0Lu7aptuS9WDpTIMtVq_eT-gtHMKF3-pZ3mZWYZskzRdNgQ0Utdty-RPXg/s500/51CnRz0D+rS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm7OQV--KZJz_5PAX-A1t0XjfMUn8gsfVyGr0ggiPgbOtAokmY_EscjbyD0nJexzF_ZL7IqLETmkAVaH5AQhn0S-wtN5wy2kqeoWK6Ljv_4H2l0vYrrBAcOLYQwxcX78Bd0Lu7aptuS9WDpTIMtVq_eT-gtHMKF3-pZ3mZWYZskzRdNgQ0Utdty-RPXg/s320/51CnRz0D+rS.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>I made a two-week trip to Egypt early this year and explored up and down the Nile, growing more and more fascinated with Egyptology and the rich history. And I'm usually pretty engaged with Michael McBride's work, which reads like less wordy Michael Crichton books. I also was looking for something quick and easy to read while I'm in the middle of a big job, so when I discovered this novella, it ticked all the boxes. But, like eating a bag of chips in the middle of the desert, it was a bit of a waste and left me wanting something more satisfying.<p></p><p>An expedition team in the Siwa Oasis searches for the final resting place of the army of Cambyses II that vanished thousands of years ago. When they discover mysterious underground ruins, they also discover that they're being stalked by deadly creatures that have survived millennia. </p><p>I was left pretty dry with this one. It felt like the most generic parts of every creature-feature I've read all thrown into 90 pages. It's nowhere near as entertaining or scary as books like <i><b>Sunblind</b></i> or <b><i>Snowblind</i></b>. There's nothing actively bad about this book, it's simply just not that memorable and terribly bland. That's it. There's not much else to say.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: x-large;"><b>GRADE: C-</b></span></p>Black Guys Do Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03897473359532652650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537985603880246635.post-19636445025581713352022-10-27T07:32:00.000-07:002022-10-27T07:32:38.590-07:00UPGRADE by Blake Crouch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh96ZjUchgoq85PhS1W55SHM-Nq6uJqz437uoChR5RZCm-uYEqjA28hIwpb8vuwVbLCdhr7P3NkpH7MCCRZaSbJDt8F3RMQSSB1QjAe8QyAVvdY_bJz7uwvA5Ezz0p-gPL-gkatY4pSihc8rFFnYHeGM4NKsnM0DlJ5yHmn5KKAsVWhVx64SqESU_Obxg/s2560/59838811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1684" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh96ZjUchgoq85PhS1W55SHM-Nq6uJqz437uoChR5RZCm-uYEqjA28hIwpb8vuwVbLCdhr7P3NkpH7MCCRZaSbJDt8F3RMQSSB1QjAe8QyAVvdY_bJz7uwvA5Ezz0p-gPL-gkatY4pSihc8rFFnYHeGM4NKsnM0DlJ5yHmn5KKAsVWhVx64SqESU_Obxg/s320/59838811.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>It’s exciting starting another Blake Crouch novel, akin to heading to the theater for the latest summer blockbuster, anticipating the spectacle and excitement. This new novel is set in the near future where genetic engineering has reached a dangerous height and genetic study and practice in general has been deemed illegal. And after a raid gone sour, Genetic Protection agent Logan Ramsay starts to notice that he’s changing…<div><br /></div><div>While the concept is fun and much of the material here is pretty thought-provoking, I couldn’t help but feel that this one fell a bit flat for me. It was thrilling to read how Logan's ability kept evolving and I was constantly pausing to Google genetic science shit and do more research. But I’m used to his novels hitting hard in the emotional feels just as equally as the cerebral ones, and the attempts here at sentiment just didn’t work for me and felt tacked on. The book is still fascinating in concept and has the excitement that I’ve come to expect. In general though, it felt a little “paint-by-numbers.” In other words: “Crouch-lite.”</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">GRADE: B-</span></b></div>Black Guys Do Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03897473359532652650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537985603880246635.post-7185907526599397832022-10-16T13:28:00.000-07:002022-10-16T13:28:46.179-07:00BANG UP by Jeff Strand<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAeGiABMyMiH_JvoZYo6fxx_9IHO2mKkkB8mMShGvy8Uj4aab3jD2FD4WdEizUP92C1M9AqSSv7zmMSjv6OI7SZ_tW1Zrg-eDrVtA-cUsFgti7f2Yb3oB7AKQjMqEfd7U9ZnKLiK1qv_22PzexiuCRKZzYdFeeIG_n8mSy1pu122Qm_SxS2ZgyKn-4ag/s500/42415114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAeGiABMyMiH_JvoZYo6fxx_9IHO2mKkkB8mMShGvy8Uj4aab3jD2FD4WdEizUP92C1M9AqSSv7zmMSjv6OI7SZ_tW1Zrg-eDrVtA-cUsFgti7f2Yb3oB7AKQjMqEfd7U9ZnKLiK1qv_22PzexiuCRKZzYdFeeIG_n8mSy1pu122Qm_SxS2ZgyKn-4ag/s320/42415114.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>I’ve never once thought to myself, “Self, one thing you’re missing from your life is an erotic fiction novel from Jeff Strand.” That thought has never crossed my mind. <div><br /></div><div>But I can say now, with full confidence, that yes, I did very much need to read erotica by Jeff Strand. <div><span style="font-family: courier;"></span></div><blockquote><div><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: courier;"><i>"Did you bring condoms?"</i></span></div><div><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: courier;"><i>"Uh, no. Not to a planned murder. That's a whole different level of deviance."</i></span></div></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: courier;"></span></div><div>At this point, Strand is a genre unto himself, but there’s no denying that this book is erotic fiction through-and-through (with all of its hot and heavy doses of sex), just with a bit of a twist. </div><div><br /></div><div>A jealous husband named Ralph decides to approach a hot stud named Kent at a diner and hire him to have bad sex with his wife Julie so she can be dissuaded from cheating. Kent has the hots for Julie and Julie really wants to get laid, so obviously things don’t go as planned. No one has ever said anything about these characters being smart.</div><div><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: courier;"><i><blockquote>Ralph could handle his wife shouting the wrong name during sex, but not the wrong two names.</blockquote></i></span></div><div>What follows is quite possibly one of the funniest books I’ve read, causing numerous moments of out-loud laughter as I marveled at the terrible decisions the characters made and the hilarious dialogue exchanges that Strand conjured up. One of the things that makes Strand’s work so irresistible and fun to read is the feeling that he’s having the time of his life writing this filth. </div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: x-large;"><b>GRADE: B+</b></span></div>Black Guys Do Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03897473359532652650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537985603880246635.post-83249685804427472272022-10-03T05:51:00.002-07:002023-08-04T06:18:06.344-07:00CITY ON FIRE by Don Winslow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7mD_7b3F-tCwRdGJcW6Nc-j1bYTcwxJ4VGf_wVVm4Cs_DUOcPYZV55YN-J-PMS6gj5WVgtf1re8kfKhVQrhIT3Vc0eBSU-fyRhYy2aDDJX4hKVZRcRjgisp7KKBKrxJ-C-onzn6ilInT-I1qz6w-zho7lmWhfgVLkMm6IDEL3hkx9oST3WV_hlibAg/s400/57558287.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="265" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7mD_7b3F-tCwRdGJcW6Nc-j1bYTcwxJ4VGf_wVVm4Cs_DUOcPYZV55YN-J-PMS6gj5WVgtf1re8kfKhVQrhIT3Vc0eBSU-fyRhYy2aDDJX4hKVZRcRjgisp7KKBKrxJ-C-onzn6ilInT-I1qz6w-zho7lmWhfgVLkMm6IDEL3hkx9oST3WV_hlibAg/s320/57558287.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b>*Book 1 of the City Trilogy*</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">At this point, it’s safe to predict that any novel by Don Winslow will be </span><font size="4" style="text-align: left;">one</font><span style="text-align: left;"> I enjoy! </span></div><div><br /></div><div>This is the start of a new epic crime trilogy by the author and I’m here for it. Inspired by Homer’s classic: The Iliad, Winslow spins a tale of a 1980’s gang war between Irish and Italian families in Providence, Rhode Island and the damage it causes. The book focuses on Danny Ryan, surrogate son of the Murphy family, who’s sense of honor and loyalty keeps him fighting for the Murphy’s even if it’s not in his best interest. The book never hides its influence, featuring a modern Helen of Troy, whose body would launch a thousand beat-downs, a Paris that’s just as useless as one would expect, a Hector that must fight the war his brother started, and even an interesting twist on Achilles. </div><div><br /></div><div>As usual with books by Winslow, it’s immensely readable, accessible, and engaging, with compelling writing and clear, relatable characters. But it does fall short of being amazing as it feels like it’s missing something. It feels more like an earlier draft than some of his better novels and is nowhere near as powerful, affecting, or as timely as The Power of the Dog or The Force. If a lesser author’s name was on the book, it would be a very good standout, but it comes off as Winslow-lite, as I’ve now come to expect him to always bring his A+ game. But, it is in no way a bad book. I just hold him to a higher standard now. But I still really enjoyed it and it’s worth a read, especially as the start of a new trilogy. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><font color="#b45f06" size="6">GRADE: B+</font></b></div>Black Guys Do Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03897473359532652650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537985603880246635.post-64152172673935151622022-09-12T05:30:00.002-07:002022-09-12T05:30:46.998-07:00FIRE & BLOOD: A TARGARYEN HISTORY VOL. 1 by George R. R. Martin<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxcDLQ7Ss9w8DiGy5miDF_1zpKN88U7TLV1bY3_KR_gJFQ2AaXeJEvhEPOu2qGP2vqwmccaH1msx-Gs_S_yTClxg8LgNMUKLQWsgyrocNXTljyUOcofbFT0FNcFrSJZlszDbKb1Lg_1wACouXFMY1kuMvtfSS4_KWWCYuGvVhvKxpxeZaRILlsIYGgJQ/s500/51sw9sAJJ3L._AC_SY780_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="329" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxcDLQ7Ss9w8DiGy5miDF_1zpKN88U7TLV1bY3_KR_gJFQ2AaXeJEvhEPOu2qGP2vqwmccaH1msx-Gs_S_yTClxg8LgNMUKLQWsgyrocNXTljyUOcofbFT0FNcFrSJZlszDbKb1Lg_1wACouXFMY1kuMvtfSS4_KWWCYuGvVhvKxpxeZaRILlsIYGgJQ/s320/51sw9sAJJ3L._AC_SY780_.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>Whew! Finally finished, this took me forever due to life things getting in the way. </div><div><br /></div><div>Here’s a book made for us <b><i>Song of Ice and Fire</i></b> nerds! <div><br /></div><div>Seriously, if you’re new to Martin’s epic world, don’t make this the first thing you read. Start with the main series or watch the <i><b>Game of Thrones</b></i> show instead. It’s written as an historical account rather than a novel and that might be a turn off to someone who isn’t a big fan already. I thought it was going to be a difficult read but I was pleasantly surprised by how well this flowed! I was always overwhelmed by the history of the Targaryen dynasty but this book actually showed me that’s it’s actually not to difficult to get a grasp on. </div><div><br /></div><div>The book is styled as a translation of a text by Grandmaester Gyldayne from information gleaned from historical texts. It covers the reign of the Targaryen Dynasty in the continent of Westeros from the initial conquest by Aegon, Visenya, and Rhaenys Targaryen through the end of the tumultuous civil war that nearly saw the end of the dysnasty. It takes place during a period of roughly 150 years, which in itself begins 300 years before the events in A Game of Thrones. </div><div><br /></div><div>The material could’ve been tedious but the writing style happened to be pretty engrossing, making the whole thing very readable. And of course there are all the betrayals, backstabbing, murder, sex, and tragedy that fans have come to expect from anything involving the Iron Throne! My favorite parts were the ones focused on the Dance of the Dragons (which is really the heart of the book) and the part focused on Maegor the Cruel, which was dramatic and fascinating! The book dragged slightly during the Jaehaerys part (mostly because the kingdom was at relative peace), except for the Elissa Farman story, and the Aegon III parts (because he was so sullen). </div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, fans that love diving deep in Westeros and <b><i>Game of Thrones</i></b> lore should snatch this up!</div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: x-large;"><b>GRADE: A-</b></span></div>Black Guys Do Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03897473359532652650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537985603880246635.post-54636047744104262372022-05-19T11:12:00.000-07:002022-05-19T11:12:05.458-07:00HASTY FOR THE DARK: STORIES by Adam Nevill<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQvWbBHKV4ML-G_CvAiqXwZ5Vpk12WmlsUMrGj4s88ct2EIwR7C85vLNQAR24oHLmWbnvg9eklTRl3_3BHyEwDZSyQ62Egz6uGP9e770H1XD3Ds9WyX7Rj4HsP01wjwxlpVbBvcr3R3QsAZjXxSjxuogHPz6j55xYTFS3GLy1vQeTClfn1G_vcEoh2Zg/s1545/51bhsz1JSYL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1545" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQvWbBHKV4ML-G_CvAiqXwZ5Vpk12WmlsUMrGj4s88ct2EIwR7C85vLNQAR24oHLmWbnvg9eklTRl3_3BHyEwDZSyQ62Egz6uGP9e770H1XD3Ds9WyX7Rj4HsP01wjwxlpVbBvcr3R3QsAZjXxSjxuogHPz6j55xYTFS3GLy1vQeTClfn1G_vcEoh2Zg/s320/51bhsz1JSYL.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>There are dedicated, vocal fans of Adam Nevill among horror readers, with praise that I’ve been hearing for a while. His work has always looked interesting to me, so when I felt like reading another short story collection, I jumped into this one as my introduction to Nevill’s work. <div><br /></div><div>Each story in this collection has an elusive quality, a creeping, disorienting feeling that really lends to the horror. Each stands out in how little they spoon-feed the reader, challenging our ideas of horror and story form. One of the standout stories here, <b>“Hippocampus,”</b> reads like a found-footage movie in prose form, with no dialogue or characters, just pure mood and discovery as we explore <g class="gr_ gr_26 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" data-gr-id="26" id="26">an ship</g> of death adrift in a storm. And most of the stories take everyday circumstances of discomfort and take them to the extreme, pulling pure horror out of the day-to-day, like a horrible subway commute in <b>“On All London Underground Lines,”</b> abusive relationships in <b>“The Days of Our Lives,”</b> or aging and Alzheimer’s in <b>“Little Black Lamb.”</b><div><br /></div><div>Not everything here is great, as some of the stories are just plain boring, but it’s a solid collection and if you’re looking for challenging stories that aren’t your usual fare, give this one a look. </div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: x-large;">GRADE: B</span></b></div>Black Guys Do Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03897473359532652650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537985603880246635.post-3152529608452743762022-05-13T13:22:00.000-07:002022-05-13T13:22:23.501-07:00THE BOOK OF THE MOST PRECIOUS SUBSTANCE by Sara Gran<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DL7ENjw9Xhzp0N8_egRD8g_d6KB9BxsNbHq2JuNKWUKhq_4AxjOE-hOxnOMQyYiwXnQZSoysjTa-FFSdOVg3mbHwmYUs9cW7_iKcJvzd-4DxahubO4N4SE6r1gqoQOj7KeffIYGoAGpBQG6wbcZrYBqW145NmQMtXSB3UNYobBexTab8K-N0bVKG4g/s1801/the-book-of-the-most-precious-substance.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1801" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DL7ENjw9Xhzp0N8_egRD8g_d6KB9BxsNbHq2JuNKWUKhq_4AxjOE-hOxnOMQyYiwXnQZSoysjTa-FFSdOVg3mbHwmYUs9cW7_iKcJvzd-4DxahubO4N4SE6r1gqoQOj7KeffIYGoAGpBQG6wbcZrYBqW145NmQMtXSB3UNYobBexTab8K-N0bVKG4g/s320/the-book-of-the-most-precious-substance.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>I’m pretty surprised that a novel about rare books and sex magic would be so compelling…</div><div><br /></div><div>...or maybe it shouldn’t be a surprise? </div><div><br /></div><div>Because on second thought, that sounds awesome. And to top it off, it’s written by the great Sara Gran. </div><div><br /></div>This novel follows a successful author-turned-book-dealer who is hired to track down a mysterious rare grimoire detailing a complicated sex spell that promises the practitioner unimaginable power after the successful completion of five acts.<div><br /></div><div>Sara Gran has a serious talent for writing with a powerful efficiency in characterization; she really knows how to introduce and illustrate a character to the point where you immediately understand who they are. She’s detailed and engaging in her descriptions and astute in her observations. She’s a stand-out and better at this than most authors I’ve read, and it makes her work immediately readable. Just like with Gran’s masterful horror novel, <b><i>Come Closer</i></b>, the power here is in the subtleties. The plot and the way it evolves is actually deceptively simple, but it leaves room for Gran to focus on what’s really going on here which is the spiritual and emotional reawakening that Lily goes through in the search for the book. And the author does this in a subtle, well-paced way. </div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, it’s a book about greed, sex magic, and rare book-selling, but it’s also a sometimes touching look at getting past grief. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f4cccc; font-size: x-large;"><b>GRADE: A</b></span></div>Black Guys Do Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03897473359532652650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537985603880246635.post-76346342600237649102022-05-11T19:00:00.001-07:002022-05-19T11:11:44.010-07:00MAN WITH NO NAME by Laird Barron<div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YGG13Rxgd-FNdkjK2Y3G1-eSysFAkqApFVdzeesw5nc7t3qxV2r_RE2jRNaAREJhz_BAnfV43SVCJP2lDjVFYRDvx0YSZSX-4_kS5TMUWJ3xsSD9yy4A3ABsmN3TV-tNvYMHJhHhRraVzi6un1UaomUxS8j7JZ2Ui7E0fa6mO6TJOkOdPn4HoOHvJw/s1360/71jmxEJqXJL.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="850" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YGG13Rxgd-FNdkjK2Y3G1-eSysFAkqApFVdzeesw5nc7t3qxV2r_RE2jRNaAREJhz_BAnfV43SVCJP2lDjVFYRDvx0YSZSX-4_kS5TMUWJ3xsSD9yy4A3ABsmN3TV-tNvYMHJhHhRraVzi6un1UaomUxS8j7JZ2Ui7E0fa6mO6TJOkOdPn4HoOHvJw/s320/71jmxEJqXJL.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>During this entire novella, Barron had me entranced by his writing. His prose is equal parts efficient and deliriously lyrical in this strange crime story about an enforcer for the Heron clan of the Yakuza and his colleagues as they kidnap an ex-celebrity wrestler during a gang war. From the start, I got a sense that this story was not going to be your run-of-the-mill crime thriller, as the author infuses the tale with a sense of existential dread that just gets worse and worse as it goes on. And once the climax hits, it becomes something way more creepy than I ever expected. </div></div><br /><div>The first thing I attempted to read by Laird Barron was the story collection, <b><i>Swift to Chase</i></b>, which I was disappointed by but which I now understand was more advanced, grad school-level Barron, especially with the fact that Barron’s books reference each other. Well I’m still in Barron high school so this short book was my next choice, and although I still might not understand all of its mysteries, I enjoyed it much more. And there’s even a bonus story that was just as impressive, “Blood and Stardust,” which played like a really twisted <b><i>Frankenstein</i></b>. I’m excited to read more <g class="gr_ gr_23 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" data-gr-id="23" id="23"><g class="gr_ gr_24 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" data-gr-id="24" id="24">Laird</g></g> Barron soon.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#e06666" size="6"><b>GRADE: B+</b></font></div>Black Guys Do Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03897473359532652650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537985603880246635.post-70309238193915192692022-05-10T18:45:00.001-07:002022-05-10T18:50:01.458-07:00PIECES OF HER by Karin Slaughter<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqlYtKVAOUHuYjl_63MiL0xJ23iMifxkwQTXXyc_qm1_fGq5F938IChH0-cZuinpK1KyoUtSuVtxHa1CeIKm9DX9-nB2jChh3nSHjdclWAUlLSsk4nOZ9iVsTz8jUXLPgTkSxejQgYZVBLdz5iXzvZzSAN3fLnLtDYX1EyB_SZTFlz_Qu7l7_uwZO4g/s2416/91BGemgaOgL.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2416" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqlYtKVAOUHuYjl_63MiL0xJ23iMifxkwQTXXyc_qm1_fGq5F938IChH0-cZuinpK1KyoUtSuVtxHa1CeIKm9DX9-nB2jChh3nSHjdclWAUlLSsk4nOZ9iVsTz8jUXLPgTkSxejQgYZVBLdz5iXzvZzSAN3fLnLtDYX1EyB_SZTFlz_Qu7l7_uwZO4g/s320/91BGemgaOgL.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>A good novel is hidden somewhere in here. I know it. Karin Slaughter’s book starts off with a promising and provocative opening sequence as our main character Andrea witnesses her speech therapist mom take down a mall shooter. </div><div><br /></div><div>But once the book attempts to move past this opening, and I started to be increasingly irritated by one of the least compelling protagonists I’ve ever read, it started to go downhill fast. Not only does Andrea have the personality of a sea slug but Slaughter falls into the habit of trying to telegraph drama by detailing her inner monologue of worrying and whining and it goes on and on. It’s tiresome to read. </div><div><br /></div><div>And I knew I was in for a bad time when someone asks Andy a question about something and her reply is:</div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: #f6b26b; font-family: courier;"><i><blockquote>“I don’t know… About anything actually.”</blockquote></i></span></div><div>And then it got even worse when a new parallel flashback storyline is introduced and the main character there is just as irritating in the same way. Then, when I got to the 65% mark and I realized that nothing much had happened, it was the final straw. The book is painfully boring and actually tedious to read. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-size: x-large;">GRADE: D</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Black Guys Do Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03897473359532652650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537985603880246635.post-56826445817716119362022-01-29T16:12:00.000-08:002022-02-17T09:13:42.147-08:00COMMODORE by Philip Fracassi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBh0mpwpKWCiQ_uChKWQs54D6S4rijz78TxiyzbuWimfqcG_iV8FVXYAanBCCl5Gmmm7wAkvWpKVLYp8nW0fxtZXeI78UcwNc20hBIPMxbVQiHIY39CkbaVJ7ehSC8TOj6rkGY17e06_Sb1B2oNLvsJ1wrrbRDVyT99npBhNjRoo9kLxUQDHoj78sLPA=s500" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBh0mpwpKWCiQ_uChKWQs54D6S4rijz78TxiyzbuWimfqcG_iV8FVXYAanBCCl5Gmmm7wAkvWpKVLYp8nW0fxtZXeI78UcwNc20hBIPMxbVQiHIY39CkbaVJ7ehSC8TOj6rkGY17e06_Sb1B2oNLvsJ1wrrbRDVyT99npBhNjRoo9kLxUQDHoj78sLPA=s320" width="202" /></a></div>I went into this prepared for a Stephen King-inspired coming-of-age drama laced with horror tones similar to <b><i>Hearts in Atlantis</i></b> or <b><i>The Body</i></b>, with its 1950’s small-town setting, <font size="4">and a story about</font> a group of curious boys looking for adventure. What I did not expect was a mysterious and disturbing horror of haunting imagery, body trauma that will make you cringe, and inexplicable cosmic occurrences. <div><br /></div><div>The novella follows five young friends in the fictional town of Sabbath who head to a vast junkyard to find a fabled black car that’s become a town legend. The story is well-written <g class="gr_ gr_21 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar replaceWithoutSep" data-gr-id="21" id="21"><g class="gr_ gr_17 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar replaceWithoutSep" data-gr-id="17" id="17">and</g></g> quick and easy to read, but what’s really exciting is realizing that this is one smaller story in a bigger mythos that Fracassi is building with the town of Sabbath. While the story here is creepy on its own, the hints at deeper horrors in the town were even more unsettling to me. Even at the beginning of this book, you get a sense that something isn’t quite right in this small town. And are the residents aware? Are they okay with this? Do they even have a choice?</div><div><br /></div><div>And discerning Fracassi readers will recognize that the events in this story were referenced in the first Sabbath short story, “Soda Jerk,” which can be found in his latest collection, <b><i>Beneath A Pale Sky</i></b>, or as a bonus story at the end of his novella <b><i>Shiloh</i></b>. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">GRADE: B+</span></b></div>Black Guys Do Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03897473359532652650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537985603880246635.post-85128502949817211112022-01-29T16:11:00.001-08:002022-02-06T12:22:51.943-08:00MAN DOWN by Roger Smith<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlEamE1HcisztcgEy4kNHO-_xhLO8iHPX241W_veA5R8-WwW7ZXeP1k1vX5oI_Gdg9Gn0sMyI5ajYKUBGFwy2xzvRlp7z95uGm3PbOpNyjtFKbQ6fSX55HXFQHgCD_jnhyjGf_L0xoIBC0DVLMkn7Fp11qMKWA6Ivfm-pT9d89KmaG4y5z2yEmkK6y3A=s475" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlEamE1HcisztcgEy4kNHO-_xhLO8iHPX241W_veA5R8-WwW7ZXeP1k1vX5oI_Gdg9Gn0sMyI5ajYKUBGFwy2xzvRlp7z95uGm3PbOpNyjtFKbQ6fSX55HXFQHgCD_jnhyjGf_L0xoIBC0DVLMkn7Fp11qMKWA6Ivfm-pT9d89KmaG4y5z2yEmkK6y3A=s320" width="211" /></a></div>Roger Smith is known for his brutal, grim, violent crime novels and <i>Man Down</i> might be one of his most nihilistic and that’s saying a lot. This suspenseful thriller uses a home invasion story as its basis, but it expands in surprising ways until you get a stronger sense of what sins of the past have influenced the attacks on John Turner, his wife Tanya, and his daughter Lucy, South Africans who emigrated to the U.S. and found some success. </div><div><br /></div><div>The first thing that struck me was how “off” Smith’s writing felt compared to his other work. It came off to me as a bit wordy, with constant run-on sentences that felt a little lofty and pretentious, very different from my experience with other novels by Smith. I was also a little turned off by the non-linear structure, which normally I don’t have a problem with, but it felt like it distracted from the story and there was no rhyme or reason when certain storylines and timelines were paired. </div><div><br /></div><div>But ultimately, the story did click for me halfway through. Smith really brought it home by the end and I was actually pretty satisfied. There are hardly any redeeming characters (even John our protagonist was pretty reprehensible), but I was riveted for the last half of the book once it all started coming together. </div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: courier;"><i><blockquote>He felt a moment of powerful vertigo, a curious lurching, like an elevator coming suddenly uncoupled from his winding drum, and, despite clenching his fist, jaw, and asshole, the feeling persisted, as if something so deep within his being that he had become aware of it only by its absence had broken its tether and was now lost to him forever.</blockquote></i></span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;"><b>GRADE: B-</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Black Guys Do Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03897473359532652650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537985603880246635.post-81778081975036394152022-01-29T16:07:00.001-08:002022-02-03T17:19:23.372-08:00SLOW DOWN by Lee Matthew Goldberg<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9C-iOLOT9bMTLmLO9CBNyfp9iBee1Kq4HkB35aXNWVfP_1j_jDtIuHYcs5ftP5hD34bcGdRGC0tNi-1_jZasW1U7-ETG-C4q9QYehRQfye9eG5zyq_oPCa-tx1ck9aHUiY5MKl32N6L7OKHJAmD0hQpJjgPnyn-xAjBZ9gsvsMR2WblJNNR8cnAdjDg=s1360" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="907" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9C-iOLOT9bMTLmLO9CBNyfp9iBee1Kq4HkB35aXNWVfP_1j_jDtIuHYcs5ftP5hD34bcGdRGC0tNi-1_jZasW1U7-ETG-C4q9QYehRQfye9eG5zyq_oPCa-tx1ck9aHUiY5MKl32N6L7OKHJAmD0hQpJjgPnyn-xAjBZ9gsvsMR2WblJNNR8cnAdjDg=s320" width="213" /></a></div>This novel is sold as a tense noir in the same vein as a classic James M. Cain novel with a successful filmmaker recounting his cutthroat rise to fame by stealing his mentor’s film and wife. It had some potential but ultimately, there’s not enough there to really live up to its hype and promise. <div><br /></div><div>The characters aren’t nearly as compelling as they should be and once the lumbering plot gets going about halfway through, it proves to be barely existent beyond a maddeningly basic noir skeleton that can be summarized in a couple of sentences. The entitled asshole protagonist got on my nerves and the femme fatale was <g class="gr_ gr_13 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" data-gr-id="13" id="13">completely</g> without nuance. And the ending…goodness, what a timid cop-out that doesn’t at all stand up to the stories that it professes to be influenced by. </div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: x-large;">GRADE: D</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Black Guys Do Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03897473359532652650noreply@blogger.com0