Aug

21

Catching Up

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Babies do make it hard to post, but it’s not as hard to read as I expected.  In fact, I think I’m about on course.  In the month or so (5 weeks, actually) since the baby was born I’ve read 15 books which has me similarly situated in terms of pacing.  Though I’m down just a little bit in the last two weeks when there haven’t been any grandparents around helping out, but I think I’m in a comfortable place.

Happily I’ve had lots of great stuff to read.  I absolutely loved Public Enemies by Bryan Burrough, and if you were around at all for the weeks I spent reading it you probably were already regaled with tales of outlaws.  It was a mediocre movie, and it’s even worse when you look at how amazing the book is.  Originally it was supposed to be adapted into a miniseries and I am crying real tears that it didn’t happen that way.  It would’ve been the best miniseries ever.

Public Enemies is a two-sided story, though it’s nonfiction.  It’s about a couple of crazy years of criminality, when John Dilinger, Bonnie & Clyde, the Barker Gang, Pretty Boy Floyd, Baby Face Nelson and a bunch of others were all running around the midwest simultaneously.  It’s also about how their escapades led to the formation of what became the FBI.  But really, it’s just amazing how incompetent everyone was.  They were fantastically dumb criminals whose plans went constantly wrong, and the cops were even worse, especially the feds.  Following the constant games of cat and mouse was invigorating.  Initially it was a bit hard to follow since so much was happening at once, but as you settle in and get to know the big players better it becomes amazing to think that while one gang is stranded on the side of the road in Oklahoma, another is pulling off a bank robbery 100 miles away.  For someone who’s not a big nonfiction reader, I have to say it was one of the most engrossing nonfiction reads I’ve ever come across.

It also gave me a whole new perspective on the interaction between law enforcement and criminals.  People always go on and on about the 50’s and 60’s and how the Supreme Court suddenly gave criminals all these rights blah blah blah it ruined everything.  You know what?  It was sorely needed.  Because in all those hundreds of pages you don’t really see any warrants.  And they shoot you up before they’re sure who you are.  They didn’t even try to arrest most of them, they shot first and asked questions later.  And people are complaining about Miranda rights?  Goodness.

The other highlights of my recent reads were two great crime novels.  Black Water Rising by Attica Locke reminds me of early John Grisham, and I mean that in the best way.  It’s one of those stories of a lawyer who gradually gets entrenched further and further into a web of crime and scandal while trying to get out of it.  It’s set in the South (specifically in Houston).  It’s got a heavy political background, with a workers strike as one of the primary plot elements.  And there’s a heavy racial element as well.  It was a joy to read, the plot twists were constant and exciting and didn’t feel too contrived.  It was wonderfully written with exquisite character development.  I really look forward to seeing more from her.

Bad Things Happen by Harry Dolan is one I just finished and that was a doozy.  Very reminiscent of old noir, but in the best way.  Even better, it involved a magazine that published noir fiction, so the characters are always talking about what would happen if it was a noir story instead of real life.  An incredibly tight plot, great characters who come across as very believable, and a writing style that keeps you constantly intrigued.  I had a wonderful time reading it.  At one point I didn’t even care who the killer was anymore, I was just enjoying the ride.

In other book news, I’m done with Harlan Coben.  Apparently his books make better movies than books.  Stephen L. Carter missed with his newest book.  I feel like he may have peaked with New England White, he should go back to his strengths instead of trying these new approaches.  Scott Turow’s WWII novel was surprisingly good, I really enjoyed it.  I think Turow is better than he gets credit for, his novels are really full and interesting.  I don’t even think of him as a thriller writer anymore.  And I finally finished John Henry Days by Colson Whitehead, which is probably my least favorite of the three I read.  It had its moments, but overall it felt too scattered since it was constantly switching points of view and time periods and writing styles.  Not that he’s not an incredible writer, but it’s the kind of book you admire more than enjoy.  Which is a shame because I really enjoyed the first third.  And Tom Rob Smith’s sequel to Child 44 is like Child 44 except shorter and crazier.  That man has the writer’s version of ADD.  If an insane plot twist doesn’t arrive every five pages he’ll die.

I have a bunch of library books coming in and I’m dying to read Pat Conroy’s new novel and Margaret Atwood’s (coming out next month).  I plan to read them no matter what so I’m strictly avoiding reviews.  I’d also love to read Dave Eggers’ new book, especially since I was so enamored with What is the What, which everyone should read immediately.  I don’t know that I’ll be able to get any of them from the library… may be time to borrow the Kindle.