Category Archives: Book Reviews

Stop the Presses! The Third Prester John Book, by Catherynne Valente

Posted on March 9, 2015 by Marion

I spoke to Catherynne Valente while she signed some books for me at FOGCon, in Walnut Creek, CA, last weekend. With a bit of trepidation, I asked her about the third book in the Prester John series. I say “with … Continue reading →

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Ripper, by Isabel Allende

Posted on February 27, 2015 by Marion

Near the end of Isabel Allende’s novel Ripper, a serial killer has abducted Indiana, the mother of the teenaged main character, Amanda. Before getting ready to kill her, the serial killer ruminates on Indiana’s faults; she is stupid and unobservant; … Continue reading →

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The Negative Review

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Marion

When I started this blog, I tended to approach reviews of books that weren’t very good the same way I approach Syfy Original movies; with a maniacal glee. Syfy Original movies, are, after all, fair game; nobody (not even Syfy) … Continue reading →

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Greg Van Eekhout at Copperfield’s, Petaluma

Posted on January 31, 2015 by Marion

Greg Van Eekhout, who wrote last year’s urban fantasy California Bones, is on a “mini tour” as part of the release of Pacific Fire, a sequel. Copperfield’s in Petaluma was one of his stops. He said he had been happy … Continue reading →

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The Books We Got for Christmas

Posted on December 28, 2014 by Marion

This year, we each got more potential books than physical books to unwrap. I got two gift cards to bookstores, including one to the Four-Eyed Frog in Gualala, and Spouse also got two. (One of his is for Mockingbird Books.) … Continue reading →

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Creativity or Desperation

Posted on December 11, 2014 by Marion

The first part of this post is going to be in code because I don’t want to name the writers. That is mainly because I want to talk about the practice and not get off-topic into a discussion about the … Continue reading →

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Joyland by Stephen King

Posted on November 4, 2014 by Marion

Joyland is another mashup by super-author Stephen King; it’s part murder mystery, part ghost tale, part coming of age story. There is more than the usual share of King-isms, the gorgeous girl, the cute but tragic child, and a heaped … Continue reading →

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Claire DeWitt and the Bohemian Highway; Tasty but Fails to Satisfy

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Marion

A while ago I read Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead. It was a new experience for me; far from a standard detective story. Although it is set completely in this world, it felt a little like reading New … Continue reading →

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The Book You Have to Read

Posted on October 14, 2014 by Marion

 (Fair Warning: Despite my title, if you are someone who is terrified you’re going to get Ebola, don’t read this book yet.) Station Eleven, by Emily St John Mandel, is a book you need to read. In a market cluttered … Continue reading →

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What I’ve Been Reading

Posted on October 4, 2014 by Marion

The streak of excellent books is continuing, more or less, and I feel very blessed.  Here’s a sampler: The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell. Mitchell, of Cloud Atlas fame, has delivered once again, a stunning literary fantasy about time, personal … Continue reading →

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