[REVIEW] In Session – M. J. Rose

M. J. Rose
In Session: Dr. Morgan Snow with Steve Berry’s Cotton Malone, Barry Eisler’s John Rain & Lee Child’s Jack Reacher (Anthology of 3 short stories)
(US: 15th October 2011) [eBook & audio only]
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I’ve never read anything by Steve Berry, Barry Eisler, or Lee Child, and before now have never read anything featuring their characters. Got to be honest, when authors write using other authors’ characters, this fan fiction makes me nervous. Even though M. J. Rose has the authors’ blessing.

She’s an author I’ve read before. Starting with erotic fiction, she’s moved into thrillers, all featuring psychology. I really like the standalones and the Morgan Snow novels, even though I don’t care much for her character – I love reading about Morgan’s clients and their therapy.

As for the Reincarnationist novels…not for me. Read the first, and haven’t been inspired to try the next two. Reportedly the fourth, The Book of Lost Fragrances, will have more psychology. Fingers crossed.

Anyhoo, In Session is an anthology of three short stories, available only in eBook and audio format. It’s only 58 pages, which explains why there’s no print edition. The first tale, “Extenuating Circumstances”, is the weakest story, a quiet tale of an erotic art book, and how discussing it brings out the bookseller’s past. The second, “Decisions, Decisions”, is the strongest, about ethical issues and a well-known man’s threats. The final story, “Knowing You’re Alive”, starts with action, but do we ever find out who the bomber is? Just Nina’s unnamed patient? Bit anticlimactic, but I guess we’re supposed to be focused on Jack Reacher’s tale.

M. J. Rose is a strong writer, even though Dr. Morgan Snow talks a lot about designer pieces and whatnot. But I’m lower-middle class, so I can’t relate. Still, this collection reminds me that I still have The Venus Fix, the third Morgan Snow novel, to read.

[REVIEW] The Gardener – S. A. Bodeen

S. A. Bodeen
The Gardener
Macmillan Feiwel & Friends Square Fish (US: 1st March 2011)
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PLANT PEOPLE!

Before you tell me off for posting a spoiler without warning, check out the book’s front cover. If the publisher chooses to be upfront with spoilers, I may as well, too. Kudos to cover artist Matt Mahurin for his wonderfully creepy depiction.

The Gardener is at a slower pace than the author’s first novel, but just as creepy. Makes me wish I’d taken biology in high school. But maybe I’d have enjoyed this less had I been more educated in the ways of photosynthesis?

If you only read one novel about plant people this year, make it The Gardener. Hell, just read this anyway – I’ve never encountered anything like it before, but I love the eerie horror.

[REVIEW] The Compound – S. A. Bodeen

S. A. Bodeen
The Compound
Macmillan Feiwel & Friends Square Fish (US: 1st September 2009)
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The Yanakakis family is supposed to spend fifteen years in their underground bunker. Six years in, Eli will do anything to get out.

I haven’t been this crept out about milk since Emma Donoghue’s Room. Also awkward: mention of a human host…

A claustrophobic setting with family secrets, a puzzle to solve, and the threat of nuclear annihilation – all at a brisk pace and ideal for anyone looking for a quality teen thriller. The science afoot also contributes to this five-star read. Anyone else feel the need to read Nevil Shute’s On the Beach?

Books I Ordered Off Amazon Today

-Diana Preston’s Before the Fallout (non-fiction)
-Todd Stone’s Novelist’s Boot Camp (non-fiction)
-Mario Acevedo’s Werewolf Smackdown
-Lori Devoti’s Amazon Queen
-Megan Hart’s Passion Model

All print books. These were the cheapest titles on my wishlist. $50 all up – $21 on books, and $29 on postage to Australia.

7 New Covers (Banks & Dane, Clark, Crane, Dane, Ellison, Leicht & Neal, Roberts)

November 2011 Releases

Done with October 2011 Releases? Here are November 2011 Releases. To see future titles, check Reading Wishlist.

[REVIEW] Shade – Jeri Smith-Ready

Jeri Smith-Ready
Shade (Shade, Book 1)
Simon & Schuster (UK & AU: September 2010; US & CA: April 2011)
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Gather ’round, children, to hear the tale of “The Ghost Who Couldn’t Get It Up”. Intrigued? Of course you are.

In Baltimore, teenage Irish-flavoured punk-rock band the Keeley Brothers has interest from two record companies. After playing a showcase, the band parties up big time, downing plenty of beer, “Liquid Stupid”, and – in the case of Logan Keeley – cocaine. It’s a fatal combination, leaving Logan a ghost.

His very much alive girlfriend, Aura Salvatore, turns to a new Scottish student for comfort, together researching the night sky and megaliths. It’s supposedly a project for school, but this time it’s personal. But rest assured, this novel is not as cliché as it sounds.

In fact, it’s surprising how good this story is, a true testament to Jeri Smith-Ready’s considerable talents. She’s put a fresh spin on ghosts, and intriguing world-building that bloody well better be further explained in the next two books in the series. (Shift is out now; Shine is out in 2012.) I’d love to learn more about BlackBoxing, what caused the Shift, and what the megaliths and the night sky have to do with it.

Is this yet another teen paranormal romance love triangle? Yes, it is. Logan is a ghost. Zachary is alive. I don’t really care for either, except I do have a weakness for the Scottish accent. Don’t we all?

The music is mostly hipster, except for the commercial Snow Patrol. I do not care for their Eyes Open album, and you can blame the media saturation of “Chasing Cars” and “Open Your Eyes” for that. Final Straw is a much, much better album, and with a non-sappy ballad (“Run”). You may think I’m digressing, but you can judge a lot about a person – and characters, for that matter – by their musical tastes. Zachary Moore’s favourite song is Death Cab for Cutie’s “I Will Possess Your Heart”. Emo-hipsters tend to love that song. I appreciate the bass-line, but the lyrics… A wise woman, Justine Larbalestier, once said that love songs are basically stalker songs. Read the title of Zach’s favourite song. Yeah. (PS I’m struggling to choose a favourite song, but I think it might be Tori Amos’s “Spark”. Make of that what you will.)

I’m loving the world-building; so looking forward to reading more. I’d gone off paranormal for several months, but Jeri Smith-Ready has lured me back in, that siren…

Remembering Dan Wheldon & Jennifer Rardin

In my teen years Ferrari, and sometimes McLaren, dominated F1. Bored, I tried out America’s premier open-wheeler series. I didn’t care for the oval tracks, but I liked the road courses and the purpose-built circuits with more than four corners.

The series was CART, later renamed ChampCar, and currently IndyCar. It was on free-to-air Monday nights/Tuesday mornings (Aussie time) on 10, but then 7 bought the V8 coverage, and with them came the US open-wheelers. Never saw IndyCar on the TV scheduling, though, so I stopped following the series.

We later acquired Foxtel’s basic package, and only this year added a sports package. So we get SPEED, which broadcasts IndyCar, but I never remembered to include the races in the planner.

So come the Las Vegas race this past weekend, I wasn’t really a fan, but it was still a blow to learn of Dan Wheldon’s death. He wasn’t in the series during my fan days, yet his name seemed so familiar.

I remembered Jennifer Rardin.

I don’t profess to be a big fan of her work, but what stood out to me was that she was an IndyCar fan. The kind of authors I read aren’t into motorsport, unless maybe NASCAR, so an American open-wheeler fan is a rare gem.

In my early days of book blogging, I conducted author interviews and hosted guests, and I asked Jennifer to share about her love of IndyCar. Her guest blog was posted 14th June 2008.

Her favourite driver was Dan Wheldon.

So Monday was nostalgic for me, remembering Jennifer Rardin and my ChampCar days. This weekend, Mr Wheldon was to have raced on the Gold Coast in Australia – stock cars, not open-wheelers. A few of his fellow IndyCar drivers have withdrawn from the race (the field is to be half regular V8 drivers sharing duties with half from international series). But others will be racing in honour of Mr Wheldon, and a special memorial is scheduled.

So many cars on such a small track at such high speeds. Rumours to start from the back and receive US$5 million if he’d won. And you wonder why I don’t care for oval tracks.

[REVIEW] Miles from Ordinary – Carol Lynch Williams

Carol Lynch Williams
Miles from Ordinary
Macmillan St. Martin’s Griffin (US: 15th March 2011)
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I loved Carol Lynch Williams’s The Chosen One. Miles from Ordinary is a different sort of novel but it, too, is an absolute cracker.

One summer’s day, Florida teen Lacey and her mother set off together: Lacey to a volunteer position at the library, and Angela to work as a supermarket check-out chick. It’s a big event that could improve their lives immensely.

The day does not go well.

This Gothic psychological thriller could almost be considered horror if it wasn’t so believable. Short and snappy, this riveting read is five-star quality. Buy now and save to read during a summer night’s storm.

The Extent of Chuck Lorre’s Repertoire

Two and a Half Men: Sex jokes.
The Big Bang Theory: Geek jokes.
Mike and Molly: Fat jokes.

That is all.