This week I read Steve Himmer's The Bee-Loud Glade and Dennis Lehane's Darkness, Take My Hand. I've already started drafts of both reviews. Darkness, Take My Hand was to just let myself relax into a fast-paced, well-written crime novel--and for the Smooth Criminals Reading Challenge hosted by Ben at Dead End Follies. Ben's reading challenge is cool-only eight books required, but the categories are a little tricky. I'm looking forward to reading Cornell Woolrich's Rendevous in Black for the Noir category, and Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep for the Hard-Boiled Category. The Bad Seed by William March is my pick for a book with a psychopathic protagonist. For a book written by an author who did time, I've got James Ellroy's White Jazz. I still don't have a title for a book set inside a prison, or for a Gothic novel -- any suggestions? Darkness, Take My Hand is for the Why the Hell Am I Doing This To Myself category, just because it doesn't seem to fit anywhere else. For a classic book that revolves around a crime, I have several in mind....still deciding.
And.....Darkness, Take My Hand allows me to cross a book off my TBR list and is my third book in the Mount TBR Challenge hosted by Bev at My Reader's Block. I still have a long climb ahead before I reach the top of that mountain, but I'm making progress....
Coming next week: my review of Andre Dubus III's riveting memoir Townie, and an interview with Andre Dubus III. Writing the interview questions was a great experience, and the author was extremely generous, gracious, and honest in his responses. I'm extraordinarily excited about this post.
I still need to get moving on my Back to the Classics Challenge--I've only completed one book for this challenge so far. And I really wanted this to be my year of reading Dickens....I've picked up The Old Curiosity Shop, but I'm not sure if I'm really going to read it right now. It's time for me to make a list for this challenge--that should get me going....
Of course I asked Andre Dubus III what his favorite classic novel was...hint: it's by John Steinbeck....
8 comments:
I read Gone, Baby, Gone and Moonlight Mile last fall, and sort of fell in love with Lehane. I love a good mystery, but I don't enjoy serial mysteries (20+ books with the same detective/plot formula), and I'm picky about writing style. Lehane fit the bill for me in every way. Looking forward to your review of Darkness, Take My Hand
It's great to have that feeling of catching up with yourself, isn't it. Long may it continue for you.
Well, as I mentioned on Twitter, my favorite Lehane (that I've read) is Shutter Island. While the movie was good, the book was so much better than the book.
I can't wait to see your review of The Bee-Loud Glade. I really enjoyed that book.
@Kerry- I read Mystic River earlier and thought it was excellent-I think I'm now hooked on Lehane.
@Scriptor Senex-Thanks, I hope it does continue!
@unfinishedperson-now that I am hooked on Lehane, Iwill probably read his entire list....
@Suzanne-yes, Bee-Loud Glade is reallygood!
Lol - it sounds like the biggest challenge of the crime-mystery challenge is not the reading but choosing the books!
What level did you sign up for in the Mt TBR Challenge? I thought I was going to be able to knock that one out of the park but I've been accepting far too many review books for March, April and May.
Good luck with your challenges!
@Lisa-Ben's challenge is fun for the list-making aspect: it forces you to do some research....On the Mount TBR challenge I'm going for Mount Arrarat....Hope I make it!
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