I just finished a stack of paperbacks and they’re looking for a good home. Anyone want them? If you know me in the physical world and you’re interested, send me an email. If you don’t know me, you can just read my witty remarks and then take your butt down to your local independent bookstore. Sunlight on your road.
After slogging through 1984, I found myself perusing my favorite used bookstore (now sadly deceased) for something light and easy. I stumbled upon Bloodsucking Fiends: A Love Story by Christopher Moore. “Yep. That’ll do.”
It’s written in a Douglas Adams-type style though not quite so clean in either content or diction. It certainly made me laugh out loud though and it’s set in San Francisco – it’s always entertaining to read yourself along familiar streets.
I’d qualify it as what a friend of mine calls “popcorn fiction.” It’s not going to win a pulitzer, but it’s entertaining enough, in the way that Corona is good beer. I can at the very least assure you that you’ll never purchase poultry at the grocery store without wondering about its nocturnal habits after reading this book.
After Bloodsucking Fiends, I turned the cover of Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett and found a happy medium. A good book that is also easy to read. Hallelujah. Engaging, good characters, good story. I’ve found a new novelist to devour. I’ve already bought another of her books so I need some room on my bedside table.
The story is set in an Catholic home for pregnant girls. I’d say that the tone would be inappropriate for new or expecting mothers (and possibly new or expectant grandmothers as well). Otherwise, dive in.
Next I picked up The Princess Bride by either William Goldman or S. Morgenstern depending on who you ask. At the risk of sounding uncultured, I preferred the movie.
I found the artificial editor’s comments to be long-winded and self-serving. I imagine (I hope) some of that was intentional but that doesn’t necessarily mean I want to slog through it. And as for the rest, I found the characters a little flat and can only say that Rob Reiner and company did a great job bringing it to life, because the movie is, of course, superb.
On the plus side, the copy I have has a neat pull out map of Florin which I’ll scan and add to my fantasy map collection.
However, I’ve been told I can be critical about stuff like this, so if you think you’ll like it more than me, many blessings and it’s all yours.