ONE LONELY NIGHT (1951)
Novel by Mickey Spillane
Mike Hammer comes to the rescue of a woman being attacked on a bridge, but she leaps to her death anyway. It turns out both the woman and her attacker were communist infiltrators (note the publication date!), so Hammer decides to do some infiltrating of his own. He exposes an insidious plot involving a straight-arrow political candidate, his evil twin, and a debutante who fell in with the wrong crowd. (September 9, 2007)
THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME (2003)
Novel by Mark Haddon
Told in the first person, Christopher is an autistic teen who decides to investigate the killing of a neighborhood dog. In the course of discovering that his own father did the deed, he also learns that his mother is not dead (as his father had always told him), but living in nearby London. Convinced that his father is not trustworthy, Christopher sneaks away and takes a train to London—an almost insurmountable task for a boy with phobias, behavior problems and a very limited understanding of the outside world. (September 7, 2007)
I SHOULDN'T EVEN BE DOING THIS! (2006)
Non-fiction by Bob Newhart
Some people don't find Bob Newhart laugh-out-loud funny. Too bad for them. I laughed out loud from the beginning to the end of this collection of anecdotes and comedy routines (September 6, 2007)
DAMN YANKEES (THE YEAR THE YANKEES LOST THE PENNANT) (1954)
Novel by Douglass Wallop
Middle-aged baseball fan Joe Boyd has only two desires: for his hapless Washington Senators to win the pennant, and—just once—for the unstoppable New York Yankees to lose. Conveniently, the devil (calling himself "Applegate") transforms him into home run machine Joe Hardy (no relation to the teenage sleuth). Needless to say, this arrangement with the devil turns out to be trickier than Joe anticipated. (September 3, 2007)
THE SINFUL ONES (1950)
Novel by Fritz Leiber
What if you found out that all the world is a clockwork mechanism running a preset program—that the person with whom you're having a conversation would be reacting the same way whether you were there or not? Leiber takes the limitless possibilities of this scenario—and does very little with them. Employment office interviewer Carr Mackay tries to help the waifish Jane evade the trio that is (for no particular reason) trying to do her harm. Despite truckloads of unsubtle clues, it takes over half the book for Mackay to even get an inkling that something unusual is happening. The lurid title, by the way is apropos of nothing; it was added by the original publisher in order to boost sales. (September 2, 2007)
FEAR ITSELF (2003)
Novel by Jonathan Nasaw
Simon Childs takes very good care of his mentally disabled sister Missy. On the downside, he's a sadistic serial killer who targets phobics—using their terrors against them. Hunting Simon is an unlikely trio: Sartorially-challenged Special Agent E L Pender (two-weeks-from-retirement), Investigative Specialist Linda Abruzzi (still on the job despite the debilitating effects of MS), and Carmel artist Dorie Bell (the only of Simon's victims to survive). (August 29, 2007)
VISITS FROM THE DROWNED GIRL (2004)
Novel by Steven Sherrill (unabridged audio version)
While working atop a high tower, Benny Poteat inadvertently witnesses a suicide: a young woman wades into the river and disappears. Benny climbs down and rushes to the scene, where he discovers a still-running video camera has recorded the event; he also finds the woman's backpack, with several homemade videotapes inside. He decides to keep the tapes, and never mention to anyone what he saw. He gradually becomes obsessed with the "drowned girl" (and later, her diminutive sister Becky), and enters a downward spiral of guilt and sadism that can only end in tragedy. (August 19, 2007)
THE DEVIL GENGHIS (1938)
Novel by Kenneth Robeson
The first victim was a dog, then a Eskimo. Then a gentlemen on the French Riviera, and finally Major John "Renny" Renwick. All of them now ignore the real world, and engage in unending battle against an unseen enemy directly overhead. It turns out that this is all part of the evil plan of Doc Savage's old nemesis John Sunlight, who has set himself up as "Genghis" of a mountainous country somewhere "beyond Afghanistan," where he is building an army to conquer the world. More pulp fiction thrills with Doc and company. (August 13, 2007)
PEOPLE DIE IN THE TENDERLOIN (2006)
Novel by Darrin Atkins
There's a serial killer loose in San Francisco, who not only decapitates his victims, but leaves a shoe print on the face (Yeeg!). The police are baffled, and turn to the only man who can crack the case: Part-time crime reporter Joshua Sloat. Sloat soon learns he has been framed for the crimes, and is forced underground. A fun homage to tough guy heroes of the past, such as Mike Hammer and Race Williams. (August 6, 2008)
STRANGERS AT THE GATE (1995)
Novel by Leonard Gross
Immigrants from Hong Kong (legal and otherwise) are flooding into San Francisco. A young television reporter decides to do a story on the influx, and gets her face slashed for her trouble. SFPD Captain Zach Tobias has to crack the case quickly before a full-scale race war breaks out. Tobias has other problems as well: his socialite mother is nagging him to stop this silly police hobby of his, and assume leadership of the family business (Z Tobias and Company) before his conniving sister puts the corporation a billion dollars in debt. Above average. (August 5, 2007)
ADVENTURES OF A CONTINETAL DRIFTER (2005)
Non-fiction by Elliott Hester
Funny and well-told episodes from Hester's year-long trek around the globe, which included stops in Argentina, French Polynesia, Australia, Southeast Asia, India, Northeast Africa, and Europe. Despite the language problems and diarrhea, he had one hell of a memorable trip. (August 1, 2007)
PLAYBACK (1958)
Novel by Raymond Chandler
The final Philip Marlowe novel is the runt of the litter. Also, the title has nothing to do with the story, in which Marlowe is hired to tail a woman, but decides to help the woman instead. Apparently he has nothing better to do than rescue people who don't want rescuing, and then refusing to accept payment. "I didn't ask you to protect me," she tells him. "I'm not your client. Why don't you go home—if you have a home—and stop annoying people?" Excellent question. (July 19, 2007)
TOP OF THE HEAP (1952)
Novel by A A Fair (Erle Stanley Gardner)
One of ESG's Bertha Cool & Donald Lam mysteries. The owner of an illegal San Francisco casino launders his earnings through several profitless mining operations in Siskiyou county. When one of the mines actually strikes gold, the entire scam is threatened, and he soon turns up dead. Donald Lam investigates (telling the story in the first person), while bellicose Bertha Cool stays back at the office, spewing idiotic lines line "Fry me for an oyster!" Lam is cool. Cool is annoying. (July 13, 2007)
STICKIN' (2000)
Non-fiction by James Carville
Loyalty, says Bill Clinton's onetime right-hand man, became a corny concept somewhere along the line (especially in Washington DC). Carville tells why it's important to stick with your friends and stick it to your enemies. (July 10, 2007)
FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE (1938)
Novel by Kenneth Robeson
John Sunlight, a mysterious evil genius, stumbles upon Doc Savage's arctic Fortress of Solitude (and before you Superman fans start hurling accusations, Doc had his first!) and makes off with the Man of Bronze's arsenal of high-tech weaponry (including a beam which stops atomic motion, causing the victim to turn into dust). Sunshine proceeds to sell the machines for ten million dollars a pop, and, oddly enough, gets away at the end. (July 8, 2007)
HOW TO READ LITERATURE LIKE A PROFESSOR (2003)
Non-fiction by Thomas C Foster
An informal introduction to symbolism in literature. Interesting, but much of it is so wishy-washy (This always means that, except when it doesn't) as to be useless. (July 6, 2007)
THE PAINTED WORD (1975)
Non-fiction by Tom Wolfe
Wolfe's scathing attack on the modern art movement (specifically painting) since World War I. The decisions of what is and isn't good art is made by a handful of people who care less about the painting itself than the artistic theory behind it. (July 4, 2007)
THE CASE OF THE RUNAWAY CORPSE (1954)
Novel by Erle Stanley Gardner
Perry Mason and Della Street travel to Paradise, California (my home town) to retrieve a sealed envelope. This envelope supposedly contains a letter from the husband of Mason's client, charging that his wife is planning to poison him. Shortly after, the husband is pronounced dead, and poison is the stated cause of death. But wait! The body is missing—and a witness claims it climed out of the window and drove away. A typically entertaining Perry Mason adventure, with all the usual twists and turns. (July 3, 2007)
THE REST OF THE ROBOTS (1964)
Short story collection by Isaac Asimov
The alternate title could have been Stories Not Good Enough to Include in "I, Robot." But even when an Asimov robot story isn't that great, it's still pretty good. I've been reading more science fiction than usual these past few months ("usual" being none at all), and some of it, at least, I've been enjoying. Still haven't warmed up to Westerns, though (July 1, 2007)
ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF STARTING THIS LIST : JUNE 26, 2006 - JUNE 26, 2007
ARMADA (1981)
Novel by Michael Jahn
A ten-mile-long alien spacecraft arrives to turn all of humanity into protein shakes. It’s up to Captain Nathaniel Broadsword (I’m not kidding!), voluptuous co-pilot Margot and space prospector Baxter to save the day. Standard space shoot-em-up, with some gratuitous sex and profanity thrown in for good measure. (June 25, 2007)
BIG RUSS & ME (2004)
Non-fiction by Tim Russert
The moderator of NBC's Meet the Press writes a loving tribute to his father, and to growing up in Buffalo New York. Nicely done. (June 24, 2007)
DR. BLOODMONEY, OR HOW WE GOT ALONG AFTER THE BOMB (1965)
Novel by Philip K Dick
Dick has populated post-apocalyptic Marin County with a bizarre ensemble cast: Hoppy Harrington, an adult Child of Thelidamide whose psychic powers may be stronger than he’s letting on; Bruno Bluthgeld, a paranoid schizophrenic who believes he can light up the sky with nuclear explosions by simply willing it; Bill Keller, the unborn twin brother of Evie Keller, who exists inside his sister’s abdomen, and communicates with her telepathically; and—orbiting high above—astronaut Walt Dangerfield, who hosts the world’s most popular (and only) radio show. Better than I’ve made it sound. (June 22, 2007)
THE GOLDEN TURKEY AWARDS (1980)
Non-fiction by Harry & Michael Medved
I originally read this book in college, back when it first came out. It features the nominees and winners for "the worst achievements in Hollywood history," such as "the worst two-headed transplant movie ever made" and "the most unerotic concept in pornography." This is the book that introduced many people (myself included) to Edward D. Wood Jr, proclaimed the worst director of all time, largely because of his bargain basement epic, Plan 9 From Outer Space. (June 18, 2007)
MODERN MANNERS: AN ETIQUETTE GUIDE FOR RUDE PEOPLE (1989)
Satire by P J O'Rourke
O'Rourke gives polite society a solid kick in the pants by redefining the rules. Some wickedly funny stuff here, but the nonstop drug references get a bit tedious. (June 17, 2007)
THE SUN ALSO RISES (1926)
Novel by Ernest Hemingway
A group of expatriate Americans and Brits living in Paris—newspaperman Jake Barnes, lovesick Robert Cohn, novelist Bill, fickle Lady Brett and her bankrupt aristocratic fiancée Michael—decide to take a fishing trip to Spain, which culminates in the running of the bulls in Pamplona. A "Lost Generation" precursor to Kerouac's On the Road. (June 13, 2007)
DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP? (1968)
Novel by Phillip K Dick
The novel upon which Blade Runner was loosely based. Rick Deckard is a bounty hunter (not a "blade runner"—that term never appears in the novel) in post-apocalyptic San Francisco. His job is to track down and "retire" runaway androids. In this grim future, life itself has become so rare that owning an animal—any animal—is a major status symbol. For those who can't afford the real thing, electric replicas will have to do. At one point, a character states that science fiction usually does a lousy job of predicting what the future will be like. This novel, set in the early 21st century, turns out to be no exception, although it's still quite readable. (June 9, 2007)
FROM RUSSIA, WITH LOVE (1957)
Novel by Ian Fleming
SMERSH devises a plot to kill James Bond, and discredit the British Secret Service in the process. This is the third James Bond novel I've read recently. While an improvement over Casino Royale (see July 22, 2006) and Diamonds Are Forever (December 1, 2006), it was still pretty dry, and took far too long to get rolling—Bond doesn't even enter the story until chapter 11. (June 6, 2007)
SOMETHING FROM THE NIGHTSIDE (2003)
Novel by Simon R Green
Think Raymond Chandler meets H P Lovecraft, with some Escape From New York tossed in. A case involving a runaway girl causes private eye John Taylor returns to his old stomping grounds: The Nightside, a vaguely extra-dimensional part of London where strange people exist and strange things occur (and which bears a curious resemblance to "London Below"—see Neverwhere, April 1, 2007). Needless to say, it's all a trap, but Taylor still manages to rescue the runaway, who was in the process of slowly being eaten by a house. Don't ask. (May 29, 2007)
NEVER HAVE YOUR DOG STUFFED AND OTHER THINGS I'VE LEARNED (2005)
Non-fiction by Alan Alda
Touching, funny memoir by the former star of M*A*S*H. The title is both literal (his parents did indeed have the family dog stuffed), and metaphorical of the futility of trying to hang on to the past. "The harder I try to pull them back," says Alda of his childhood memories, "the more they recede and the less real they seem." I can relate. (May 25, 2007)
INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (1954)
Novel by Jack Finney
The original novel that inspired the movies. Things are not what they seem in Mill Valley, California. People keep complaining to Dr Miles Bennell that their loved ones are not themselves, but exact duplicates. Then a few days later, the same people say that everything is fine. And what are those strange-looking pods that keep appearing everywhere? Good fun. (May 18, 2007)
IT'S SUPERMAN! (2005)
Novel by Tom De Haven
Revisionist version of the origin of Superman. Set in the 1930s, mopey farmboy Clark Kent sets out to see the world and (hopefully) overcome his existential angst. Clark fits in so poorly he sometimes feels as if he's from another planet (an idea his father attributes to those foolish pulp magazines Clark is always reading). After working as a Hollywood stunt man (where he acquires a red and blue costume with an "S" on the chest), he winds up in New York City (not "Metropolis"), where he develops a crush on bitchy reporter Lois Lane. Clark begins wearing glasses, not to disguise himself, but because he thinks they make him look more intelligent (he has a massive inferiority complex about his rural upbringing). Very entertaining in spots, but vaguely unsatisfying on the whole. (May 13, 2007)
THE WATCHMAN (2007)
Novel by Robert Crais
He wears his sunglasses at night. As a favor to an old friend, former policeman/mercinary/detective Joe Pike agrees to protect a federal witness: spoiled rich girl Larkin Barkley. Needless to say, nothing is what it seems, and the rich girl falls in love with him along the way, etc, etc. The characters were effective, especially the contrast between ultra-stoic Pike and his easygoing partner Elvis Cole. (May 8, 2007)
FIRST BLOOD (1972)
Novel by David Morrell
The first appearance of the "Rambo" character, who bears no resemblance to Sylvester Stallone; in fact he is referred to as "the kid" throughout most of the book. To Police Chief Will Teasle, "the kid" appears to be just another dirty hippy drifter, who needs to be escorted to the edge of town and sent on his way. Big mistake. 256 pages later, almost every character is dead, and half the town has been blown to smithereens. (May 6, 2007)
SAN FRANCISCO STORIES (2005)
Non-fiction by Derek M. Powazek
"It's all about finding your spot," says Powazek who collected these ultra-short episodes from his life in the Cole Valley section of San Francisco. Not only are the stories poignant, he actually manages to have a beginning, middle and end, which is hard to do with real life. Especially in a page and a half. (April 29, 2007)
MASTER OF SPACE AND TIME (1984)
Novel by Rudy Rucker
Joe Fletcher's friend Harry has invented a time machine that also grants wishes. In short order, Earth has been invaded by brain parasites/religious zealots from another dimension, while the environement is quickly being destroyed by pork chop bushes. Goofy, but generally entertaining. (April 14, 2007)
NEVERWHERE (1997)
Novel by Neil Gaiman
London office worker Richard Mayhew gets pulled out of his reality and into another when he helps a young girl he finds bleeding on the street. Soon he finds himself in London Below, a strange shadow world of sewers and subway stations. Accompanying a very bewildered Richard on his adventures are young Lady Door, the amazonish Hunter, and the not-quite-trustworthy marquis de Carabas. Sort of a dark variation on The Wizard of Oz. (April 1, 2007)
MEN, MARTIANS AND MACHINES (1955)
Short story collection by Eric Frank Russell
Four voyages with the oddball crew of the starship Marathon: Pompous Captain McNulty, robotic pilot Jay Score, several tentacled, chess-obsessed Martians, and the salty sergeant-at-arms who narrates the stories. Very dated, but good fun. (March 17, 2007)
THE TRUTH (WITH JOKES) (2005)
Non-fiction by Al Franken
Franken launches another vehement attack on the Bush administration. A very funny book, also depressing because of how much of it rings true. (March 10, 2007)
PAST TENSE (1997)
Novel by Stephen Greenleaf
A straight-arrow police detective inexplicably opens fire in a crowded courtroom, killing the defendant. It’s up to PI Marsh Tanner to find out why his best friend has suddenly turned into a killer. A good feel for San Francisco, with a Jim Thompsonesque ending. (March 9, 2007)
THE CITY ON THE EDGE OF FOREVER (1996)
Non-fiction by Harlan Ellison
Ellison tells his side of the long-standing controversy surrounding his script for a well-known Star Trek episode. Series creator Gene Roddenberry often claimed that Ellison's original script was totally unusable—for instance, Ellison depicted the usually-lovable character of Scotty as a drug dealer. Totally untrue, says a bitter Ellison, who presents his original script as exhibit A. (February 26, 2007)
THE ULTIMATE FRANKENSTEIN (1991)
Short story collection, edited by Brian Aldiss, Kurt Vonnegut, and Loren D Estelman
Nineteen very different stories, all dealing (more or less) with Dr Frankenstein and his monster. As is to be expected, the quality of the individual stories is all over the map. (January 23, 2007)
PSYCHO (1959)
Novel by Robert Bloch
The book that inspired Hitchcock's classic movie probably packed some thrills when it came out 48 years ago, but by now it's pretty campy. Unlike actor Anthony Perkins, Bloch's Norman Bates was fat, balding and bespecticled. (January 9, 2007)
1,911 BEST THINGS ANYONE EVER SAID (1988)
Edited by Robert Byrne
Most books of quotations aren't designed to be read cover to cover, but this one is different. Instead of being categorized alphabetically, the topics are allowed to flow seamlessly from one to the other. Readability is also helped by the fact that most of the items are pretty funny. (January 5, 2007)
CALL ME CYRIL (1981)
Non-fiction by Cyril Magnin and Cynthia Robins
Autobiography of the man Herb Caen used to call "Mr San Francisco." From transforming the ailing Joseph Magnin clothing store into a successful chain, to being The City's number one booster, and even portraying the Pope in the movie Foul Play, Cyril Magnin did it all, and, in the process, became a San Francisco institution. (January 2, 2007)
M*A*S*H GOES TO SAN FRANCISCO (1976)
Novel by Richard Hooker and William E Butterworth
Mildly amusing romp with a cast of dozens, and so many plot threads, it would be nearly impossible to summarize. Suffice it to say that the climax involves everyone rushing to San Francisco, via various aircraft, to either perform or receive an operation. The sixth (or so) installment of the series, it's pretty weak compared to the classic original M*A*S*H. (December 22, 2006)
DISNEY: THE MOUSE BETRAYED (1998)
Non-fiction by Peter Schweizer & Rochelle Schweizer
In decades past, Disney stood for safe, wholesome family entertainment. The Schweizers present documented evidence that the Disney theme parks of today cuts safety corners, and routinely cover up serious crimes such as rape as child molestation. In addition, Disney farms out it merchandising to third-world countires that employ child labor. The phrase "Walt must be spinning in his grave" comes up often. (December 15, 2006)
WEST FROM HOME (1974)
Non-fiction, edited by Roger Lea MacBride
Collected letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder (of Little House on the Prairie fame), describing her visit to the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exhibition, held in San Francisco Detailed first-hand accounts of Market Street, the Cliff House, and, of course, the exposition itself. (December 8, 2006).
A CHRISTMAS STORY (2003)
Short story collection by Jean Shepherd
Most everyone has seen the classic 1983 movie about young Ralphie Parker and his quest to get a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. These five stories, first published in the 1960s, were the basis for the script. Interesting to note that in the original story, Raphie's aunt sent him pink bunny slippers, not an entire pink bunny suit, as in the movie. (December 6, 2006)
GRAVITY (1997)
Non-fiction by Joseph Lanza
Self-indulgent claptrap, with a scattershot approach. Subtopics range from the intriguing (the possibility of gravity as an energy source) to the ridiculous (comparing the abilities of Superman and Liberace). And the subject of roller coasters comes up. A lot. A full page is dedicated to explaining why Lanza chooses to spell “roller coaster” as one word instead of two. To this (and most of the book), I say “who cares?” (December 4, 2006)
CHASING THE DRAGON (2004)
Novel by Domenic Stansberry
Dante Mancuso is a former SFPD detective who resigned in disgrace after being framed. Frank Ying is a current SFPD detective, recently demoted for digging too close to the truth. Now both have been recruited by a mysterious government agency to assist in a sting operation against local drug lords—or is it actually an elaborate conspiracy to eliminate two cops who know too much? Nice evocation of San Francisco's North Beach, an area losing its Italian identity as it gradually becomes a Chinese neighborhood. (December 2, 2006)
DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER (1956)
Novel by Ian Fleming
At the height of the Cold War, James Bond must stop to that major threat to British national security—diamond smuggling (???). In the course of his investigation, Bond comes up against fixed horse races at Saratoga, crooked blackjack tables in Las Vegas, and other things that have nothing to do with diamond smuggling. CIA agent Felix Leiter returns, now minus an arm and a leg. And of, course, (yawn) Bond falls in love. (December 1, 2006)
A DARING YOUNG MAN: A BIOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM SAROYAN (2002)
Non-fiction by John Leggett
Unflattering portrait of the famous Armenian-American writer, depicted as a self-deluded egomaniac, chronic gambler and bad parent. Leggett's verdict on Saroyan's prose is equally damning: the early work was too schmaltzy, the later stuff too bitter and self indulgent, and very little of it was any good. Mildly interesting tidbit: Saroyan's cousin was Ross Bagdasarian, creator of Alvin & the Chipmunks. (November 27, 2006).
THE GIRL WITH THE LONG GREEN HEART (1965)
Novel by Lawrence Block
Above-average grifter story, in which two con men enlist the help of a small-town tycoon's secretary to swindle him out of $75,000. In the end, of course, the woman has been conning all three of them: she kills the tycoon, vanishes with the loot, and leaves the con men framed for the murder. (November 20, 2006)
THE GREEN MILE, PART 6: COFFEY ON THE MILE (1996)
Novel by Stephen King
In the final installment, Coffey's execution is imminent. Percy, apparently under Coffee's influence, murders a sleeping Wharton, then collapses into catatonia. Edgecomb suspects that Wharton committed the murders for which Coffey is being executed. And Coffey gives Edgecomb a final gift, which may turn out to be immortality. (November 16, 2006)
CITY OF TRUTH (1990)
Novel by Jack Morrow
The placebo effect is a type of lie: the belief in the medicine is more important than the medicine itself. And the placebo effect is the only hope for Jack Sperry's terminally ill son. In this futuristic society, however, the ability to lie was long ago eliminated. In desperation, Jack joins an underground cult in hope of learning the lost art of deception before time runs out for his son. (November 11, 2006)
LAKE WOBEGON SUMMER 1956 (2001)
Novel by Garrison Keillor
Life of late has been a mixed bag for young Gary. On the upside, he's become a writer, having acquired both a second-hand typewriter and a part-time sportswriting gig. On the downside, puberty has kicked in with a vengeance, and he's developed an obsession with sex in general, and his cousin Kate in particular. (November 8, 2006)
THE COME ON (1989)
Novel by Jim Cirni
New York bartender Frank Fontana reluctantly accepts a local mob boss's invitation to an all-expense-paid vacation in Atlantic City. Before he knows what's happened, he's won $300,000 in a rigged poker game—and the game's big loser was a rival mob boss. Fontana's been set up, and now everyone wants him dead. Complicating the situation are two sisters who may or may not be on his side. (November 2, 2006)
THE PROFESSOR AND THE MADMAN (1998)
Nonfiction by Simon Winchester
The story of the Oxford English Dictionary, the first complete listing and defining of every word in the English language. Started in the 1880s, it took forty years to complete, and ended up being twenty volumes. Strangely enough, one of the major contributors was William Chester Minor, a convicted murderer, who mailed in his definitions from a hospital for the criminally insane. (October 31, 2006)
THE GREEN MILE, PART 5: NIGHT JOURNEY (1996)
Novel by Stephen King
The warden’s wife takes a sudden turn for the worse. Edgecombe and the other guards risk their careers by sneaking Coffey out of his cell and to the warden’s house, in hopes that the big man’s magical touch might heal her. (October 27, 2006)
HARDCASE (2001)
Novel by Dan Simmons
PI Joe Kurtz makes Mike Hammer look like a sissy. By page six, he's tossed someone from a high window after feeding the guy's arm down a garbage disposal. After an eleven-year hiatus in Attica, he returns to his carrer (sans license) and offers his investigative services to the don of a fading mob family. Meanwhile, almost everyone in the greater Buffalo area is trying to kill him. A action-packed read with good pacing. (October 26, 2006)
DRIVING MR ALBERT (2000)
Non-fiction by Michael Paterniti
The bizarre account of Paterniti volunteering (for no particular reason) to drive an eccentric no-longer-a-doctor to the west coast, in order to deliver the tupperware-encased brain of Albert Einstein (which he simply walked off with forty years earlier) to the famous physicist's granddaughter, who doesn't want it. (October 25, 2006)
STEP TO THE STARS (1951)
Novel by Lester del Rey
Vintage space opera, in which an eighteen-year-old loner is recruited for a top-secret project, which turns out to be the construction of the first American space station. Overcoming sabotage and shortened deadlines, the station is finished on time, and the boy develops into a natural leader. Corny, but fun. (October 23, 2006)
WINCHELL (1971)
Non-fiction by Bob Thomas
At the pinnacle of his influence, a mention in Walter Winchell's column (or on his radio show) could make or break careers—and, boy, did he know it. Winchell made no pretense at being impartial, or even accurate in his reporting, and this earned him a host of enemies. His corrosive arrogance eventually drove away every friend, and finally his audience. (October 19, 2006)
THE GREEN MILE, PART 4:
THE BAD DEATH OF EDUARD DELACROIX (1996)
Novel by Stephen King
As the serial moves into the second half, Coffey resurrects the crushed body of Mr Jingles. Percy causes Delacroix's execution to be far more painful than necessary. Edgecombe begins to hatch a wild scheme involving the warden's dying wife. (October 16, 2006)
WHY I LOVE BASEBALL (2004)
Non-fiction by Larry King
Heartfelt tribute to the national pastime, with special attention given to the Brooklyn Dodgers of the 1950s. Included is Thomas Boswell's top 100 reasons that baseball is better than football. (October 16, 2006)
THE SENSUOUS DIRTY OLD MAN (1971)
Satire by Dr "A" (Isaac Asimov)
Intended as a light-hearted spoof of pop-psychology books of that era (The Sensuous Man, The Sensuous Woman, The Sensuous Couple, and so on) the humor hasn't aged well. Asimov once said that this book has no audience; it isn't dirty enough for porn fans, and isn't "Asimov" enough for Asimov fans. At least it's short. (October 15, 2006)
A G-MAN'S LIFE (2006)
Non-fiction by Mark Felt and John O'Connor
Mark Felt loved being an FBI man. He saw J. Edgar Hoover's G-men as the ultimate good guys in the fight for justice. Then Hoover died, and President Nixon began turning the FBI into a political tool. Felt couldn't stomach this, and did something about it: he leaked information to Bob Woodward of the Washington Post. Soon, the scandal was named "Watergate," and Felt was code-named "Deep Throat." (October 15, 2006)
THE HUNDREDTH MAN (2004)
Novel by Jack Kerley
An Alabama police detective must track down a psycho who's been decapitating his victims. When all else fails, he reluctantly visits the insane asylum to consult another psycho (No, not Hannibal Lechter, but the cop's own brother). Exceedingly grisly in spots, but with a few unexpected touches of humanity. (October 12, 2006)
THE RUNNING SKELETONS (1943)
Novel by Kenneth Robeson
Doc Savage and company look into why so many people are desperate to recover a pet carrier that contains a most unusual dog—one that appears to be a living skeleton. Further investigations reveals that that the canine (and several unwilling humans) have been injected with an experimental serum designed to alleviate fatigue and hunger, but has the unfortunate side effect of rendering the soft tissues translucent. (October 10, 2006)
MORGETTE ON THE BARBARY COAST (2001)
Novel by G G Boyer
I've never been much of a fan of western novels, and this one didn't do much to convert me: Dolph Morgette has tracked the man who killed his friend all the way to old San Francisco. Oddly enough, upon arrival in The City, he makes zero effort to locate the guy. Instead, he becomes involved in a boxing match, a couple of romances, and other stuff that never seems to add up to much. Almost as an afterthought, he finally captures his prey a few pages from the end, after someone tells him exactly where he can be found. (October 9, 2006)
THE GREEN MILE, PART 3: COFFEY'S HANDS (1996)
Novel by Stephen King
As the serial continues, Paul Edgecombe discovers that Coffey can heal sickness with a touch; this causes Edgecombe to have some doubts about the big man's guilt. Wharton spends time in a straight jacket, and Percy kills Mr Jingles the mouse. (October 9, 2006)
I. ASIMOV: A MEMOIR (1994)
Non-fiction by Isaac Asimov
During a four-decade career, Isaac Asimov wrote 470 books, on almost every imaginable subject. He finsihed this autobiography shortly before his death, and it captures his personality: funny, egotistical, loyal, phobic, arrogant and brilliant. My kind of guy. (October 8, 2006)
THE GREEN MILE, PART 2: THE MOUSE ON THE MILE (1996)
Novel by Stephen King
In the second installment, Delacroix is befriended by a mouse, sadistic Percy has (apparently) improved his attitude, and Wharton almost succeeds in strangling a guard. (September 26, 2006)
STIFF: THE CURIOUS LIVES OF HUMAN CADAVERS (2003)
Non-fiction by Mary Roach
A funny (but not irreverent) look at the various fates of human bodies no longer needed by the original owners, whether it be organ donor, scientific experiment, evidence at a crash site, a cannibal's lunch, or just plain rotting. (September 25, 2006)
THE SECRET MAN (2005)
Non-fiction by Bob Woodward
Three decades after Watergate, the identity of "Deep Throat," the shadowy source of so much dirt on the Nixon administration, is finally revealed. He was W. Mark Felt, former second-in-command of the FBI. Sadly, Felt is now senile, and most days doesn't remember that he helped bring down a president. (September 21, 2006)
THE GREEN MILE, PART 1: THE TWO DEAD GIRLS (1996)
Novel by Stephen King
Back in the 1990s, King was experimenting with different ways to present his stories. He chose to do The Green Mile in serial form: six books of about 100 pages each, issued at monthly intervals. This first installment introduces the guards and inmates of Cold Mountain State Prison. (September 20, 2006)
HELLMAN AND HAMMETT (1996)
Non-fiction by Joan Mellen
In her memoirs, Lillian Hellman depicted her thirty-year relationship with Dashiell Hammett as a love affair for the ages. Mellen tells (for over 450 pages) how Hellman invented a great deal of the "legendary passion," rewriting history to suit herself. Ironically, many supposedly-factual incidents reported in this biography are quoted directly from the very memoirs that Mellen discredits. (September 19, 2006)
THE BLACK DAHLIA (1987)
Novel by James Ellroy
Hard-as-nails noir based in part on actual events. In 1947 Los Angeles, the nude, mutilated body of a young woman is found in a vacant lot. The media dubs her the Black Dahlia. Officer Bucky Bleichert (amongst many others) is assigned to investigate. His dedication to cracking the case soon becomes obsession, and finally mania. (September 10, 2006)
A DEVIL IN PARADISE (1956)
Novel by Henry Miller
In this short autobiographical novel, Miller invites Conrad Moricand, a down-on-this-luck acquaintance from Paris to come stay with him in Big Sur. Moricand soon drives the Miller household crazy with his eccentricities and demands. Enjoyable, despite the fact that Miller tends to deliver the punchlines in French. (September 6, 2006)
THE OLD NEIGHBORHOOD (1999)
Non-fiction by Ray Suarez
For the last forty years, Americans (specifically, white Americans) have been leaving the big cities in droves. As a result, many municipalities have seen their populations dwindle to half of what they once were. Mr Suarez discusses the causes and inevitable effects of this "white flight." (September 5, 2006)
THE CONFESSION (2004)
Novel by Domenic Stansberry
A Marin County psychologist is being cleverly framed for murder by the DA, who has eyes for the shrink's wife. Told in the first person, the psychologist pleads his innocence directly to the reader—only to imply on the last few pages that he was guilty all along. (September 3, 2006)
DOUBLE WHAMMY (1987)
Novel by Carl Hiaasen
The setting is the world of high-stakes bass fishing tournaments. Ostensibly, the story is about a photographer-slash-PI finding himself framed for murder, but the real focus is a half-crazed hermit, whose diet consists entirely of roadkill, and who, by the way, is also the former governor of Florida. Wickedly funny. (August 29, 2006)
THE CLUE OF THE FORGOTTEN MURDER (1934)
Novel by Erle Stanley Gardner
One of Gardner's earlier works, which does not feature Perry Mason. A criminologist and a newspaper publisher team up to solve a reporter's murder. A ridiculously convoluted plot, made worse by several characters having too-similar names (Malone, Morden, Lorton, Ordway, and so on). (August 26, 2006)
BRANDO: SONGS MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME (1994)
Non-fiction by Marlon Brando, with Robert Lindsey
Brutally honest autobiography, covering Brando's rebellious childhood, his indifference to Hollywood, and his affection for American Indian culture and Tahiti. Fascinating. (August 25, 2006)
THE AMERICANS (1970)
Non-fiction by David Frost
Transcribed interviews from Frost's talk show, featuring the luminaries of the late 1960s. It was a different time, when the country was trapped in an unpopular war, the economy was tanking, racial tensions were high, people mistrusted the president... okay, maybe it wasn't all that different. (August 22, 2006)
IN WATERMELON SUGAR (1968)
Novel by Richard Brautigan
A must-read for burnouts who watch the TeleTubbies while stoned. Alas, I don't fall into that category. This book was first inflicted upon me by a high school English "teacher." I wanted to see if it was as pointless as I remembered. Nothin' wrong with my memory. (August 20, 2006)
BARBARY COAST (1933)
Non-fiction by Herbert Asbury
For the sixty years following the gold rush, San Francisco's Barbary Coast was a cesspool of murderers, muggers, prostitutes and kidnappers. Herbert Asbury's informal history starts out strong, but he never varies the tone or the pace. As a result, what seems shocking on page 100, is humdrum by page 200, and downright tedious by page 300. (August 19, 2006)
THE SNAKE (1964)
Novel by Mickey Spillane
Mike Hammer and Velda befriend a young woman who's convinced that her father—a candidate for Governor—is trying to kill her. It turns out that he is, and he's not the only one. It all has to do with $3,000,000.00 from a bank robbery thirty years earlier. Typical Spillane sex and violence—fun stuff. (August 13, 2006)
GROWING UP (1982)
Non-fiction by Russell Baker
A warm-and-fuzzy memoir of a boy's Depression-era childhood, and his mother who insisted—often—that he "make something of himself." Populated with a memorable assortment of oddball relatives. (August 12, 2006)
ENDER'S GAME (Author's Definitive Edition, 1991)
Novel by Orson Scott Card
A gifted six year old boy may be Earth's last defense against an alien invasion—assuming the brutally intense training program doesn't destroy him first. Character driven, with a minimum of Sci-Fi baloney. (August 4, 2006)
NAME DROPPERS (1994)
Non-fiction by Barnaby Conrad
In the 1950s, El Matador was San Francisco's favorite nightspot. Conrad serves up dozens of outrageous anecdotes about the celebrities and characters that came through the doors of his famous North Beach saloon. (August 1, 2006)
THE EXPERIMENT (1999)
Novel by John Darnton
Jude Harley is shocked when his exact duplicate (the clone he never knew he had) shows up at his front door—and soon the shadowy group that creates the clones is after both of them. A suspense-packed novel, with a conspiracy worthy of the X-Files. (July 31, 2006)
KENNEDY & NIXON (1996)
Non-fiction by Christopher Matthews
Fast-moving history of the rivalry between JFK and Richard Nixon, from their earliest days in Congress, to the White House and beyond. (July 27, 2006)
CASINO ROYALE (1953)
Novel by Ian Fleming
James Bond gets off to a shaky start in the novel that launched the entire franchise. The first fifty pages are dry as dust. The middle fifty pages have some of the action you would expect from 007. The last fifty pages are sappy soap opera. (July 22, 2006)
HOW TO PACK (1997)
Non-fiction by Laurel Cardone
Occasionally hilarious (unintentionally, of course). My favorite line: "Is your choice of suitcase less important than choosing a mate?" Uh, yeah, much less important. (July 21, 2006)
SAVAGE NIGHT (1953)
Novel by Jim Thompson
A diminutive hit-man, posing as a college student, comes to town to deal eliminate a squealer. This assignment is complicated by the hit-man's poor health and rampant paranoia. In classic Thompson style, just when it looks like the plan might all work out, everything completely goes to hell. (July 19. 2006)
DANSE MACABRE (1981)
Non-fiction by Stephen King
Best-selling horror writer Stephen King's overview of the entire horror genre. Makes a few interesting points here and there. (July 17, 2006)
FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS (1971)
Novel by Hunter S Thompson
"Raoul Duke" and his Samoan attorney take a drug-enhanced roadtrip to Sin City, and barely leave the place standing. Mean spirited, criminally irresponsible and absolutely hilarious. (July 9, 2006)
52 PICKUP (1974)
Novel by Elmore Leonard
Three hoods try to blackmail a Detroit businessman, but soon discover they've picked entirely the wrong guy to mess with. Good story and characters, but lacking the humor of Leonard's later works. (July 5, 2006)
HOTEL SECRETS FROM THE TRAVEL DETECTIVE (2004)
Non-fiction by Peter Greenberg
Tips, warnings and anecdotes from the travel editor of NBC's Today Show. Interesting stuff, although some of the advice is a little "out there." (July 4, 2006)
GEORGE BURNS AND THE HUNDRED YEAR DASH (1996)
Non-fiction by Martin Gottfried
Nicely-done biography of George Burns, covering his entry into showbiz at age eight, his long, successful partnership with Gracie Allen (onstage and off), his struggle to redefine himself after Gracie's death, and finally becoming a superstar in his eighties. (July 3, 2006)
CANNERY ROW (1945)
Novel by John Steinbeck
A short, easygoing story, full of memorable characters. Having lived in Monterey for two years, it was easy for me to visualize the locations. Not a great deal happens along the way, but I suppose that’s the point. (July 1, 2006)
CELL (2006)
Novel by Stephen King
A handful of strangers are thrown together by weird circumstance: a mysterious signal (broadcast through cell phones) has transformed nearly everyone in the world into mindless killing machines. A slow-moving and talky novel, with a cop-out ending. (June 26, 2006)
During the last year or two, I also read
NICK CARTER: THE DOOMSDAY FORMULA (1969) by "Nick Carter"
LIES AND THE LYING LIARS WHO TELL THEM (2004) by Al Franken
THE ALL-WHITE ELF (1941) by Kenneth Robeson
SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE (1969) by Kurt Vonnegut
THE DRIFT (2002) by John Ridley
THE COLORADO KID (2005), by Stephen King
ZODIAC (2002), by Robert Graysmith
STORMY WEATHER (1995), by Carl Hiaasen
THE GIRL CHASERS (1963) by Mickey Spillane
GOD SAVE THE MARK (2004), by Donald E Westlake
DASHIELL HAMMETT: LOST STORIES (2005), edited by Vince Emery
THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE (1970), by George V Higgens
THE DHARMA BUMS (1959), by Jack Kerouac
HOT SPRINGS (2001), by Stephen Hunter
PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS AN OLD MAN (2000), by Joseph Heller
GEORGE RAFT (1974), by Lewis Yablonsky
THE DISTANCE (2002), by Eddie Muller
JACK KEROUAC, KING OF THE BEATS (2002), by Barry Miles
WEST ON 66 (1999), by James H Cobb
THE HUMAN COMEDY (1943), by William Saroyan
SELECTED LETTERS OF DASHIELL HAMMETT (2002). Edited by Richard Layman & Julie Rivett
DRACULA (1897), by Bram Stoker
…and probably others that I can’t think of right now.