Last time out, I mentioned the OMG moment that occurs when you come across a book that you didn't know about and you really want to read it. That month, I had 2 of those moments and wrote about one of the books. This month, I'll let you know about the second OMG book, as well as a couple of other interesting items.
Series
The Monkey's Raincoat - Robert Crais ($7.99/$.50, 201 pages, copyright 1987, paperback)
I think this is the first of the Elvis Cole mysteries. It's a missing person case that - as usual - gets out of hand. Cole has a wise-ass attitude, and a tough-guy partner to step in when things need it. Gratuitous sex, violence, and jokes - what more do you want? I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
Dead White - Alan Ryan ($3.50/$.50, 351 pages, copyright 1983, paperback)
I got pulled in by the blurbs. It's a small, upstate town that's hit by the worst snow storm ever and.."an antique circus train bringing clowns...and shadows...and death". Sounded good, and I'm a sucker for a circus/carnival horror story. The author follows the Stephen King bible - Different people head alternating chapters, very descriptive weather-related sections, and a disappointing ending. It's OK, if you like King's endings.
A Graveyard for Lunatics - Ray Bradbury ($13.00/$.50, 308 pages, copyright 1990, Trade Paperback)
This is the second OMG book that I mentioned last time. RAY BRADBURY! And it's a novel, and one that I'd never heard of! What a find! It's a mystery, set in a Hollywood studio during the heyday of the studio system, and stars Bradbury himself, and his best friend Ray Harryhausen (that's right - the great animator), but all the names are changed. The beauty and magic of Bradbury's words still rings true, but unfortunately, I figured out early who the mystery person was so, for me, the rest of the book dragged itself out. Not bad, but not Bradbury's best.
Ragged Dick and Mark, The Match Boy - Horatio Alger ($1.50/$.50, 382 pages, copyright 1962, paperback)
This is actually 2 of Alger's novels published in one volume. Originally, they were published in the mid-1800s. I'd never read anything by Alger, but everyone knows of his "plucky young poor boy who makes good" stories, and these are perfect examples of that genre. These poor boys get by on luck, and help from a better-off benefactor. In fact, Ragged Dick is the benefactor for Mark, the match boy. Kind of like an Americanized Dickens (we don't need all that descriptive stuff, just a quick, feel-good story). I enjoyed it (them).
A Spot of Bother - Mark Haddon (No price/$.25, 354 pages, copyright 2006, Trade Paperback)
This was written by the same guy who wrote "the curious incident of the dog in the night-time", which I enjoyed. Also, there is nothing on the cover to explain what the book is about. This made me curious enough to buy it. An English family deals with the daughter's second marriage (the father's retired and going crazy, the mother's having an affair, the son is gay, and the daughter's not sure she's doing the right thing). Things fall apart, then come back together, with some English humor thrown in. It was OK, but not my cup of tea (get it?).
That's it for now. Keep reading!
