Five Stars for The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers

 

The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers is the best book I've read this year, and war books are not my cup of tea. The Yellow Birds follows a soldier named Bartle and his experiences of terror in the Gulf War while trying to protect a younger soldier named Murph, while both men are under Sgt. Sterling, a man made for war. Kevin Powers's writing style is powerful. I loved his writing! He made me feel every bit of the terror and dissociation from a broken war. It reminded me a lot of Tim O'Brien in The Things They Carried and also in Crane's Red Badge of Courage. But, unlike O'Brien and Crane, the lyrical quality of Power's words mesmerized me, and near the end of this novel, they devastated me. I found myself crying at the end of this book in a Walgreens parking lot. This book had a profound effect on me, and I encourage others to read it.

3 Stars for Terry Pratchett's Thud!

Terry Pratchett's Thud is a clever mystery; however, despite its knighthood charm, I couldn't get past the odd names and the unnecessary references to Sam's reading to his son, which were jarring and made it hard to follow the mystery plot. Below is an example of what I mean. Pratchett is clever, but maybe too smart, leaving me with a more Don Quixote logic than King Arthur. I think I was looking for more Good Omens and was left with more Alice in Wonderland, minus the White Rabbit. 

"You did, Insert Name Here!" said the imp proudly. "But they were leaving every gate, you see, and probably no guard ever spotted more than one or two extra carts."

Overall, the writing is solid, and Pratchett does spin a plot of sorts. It's a good book, but not one to my taste. 

5 Stars for Johannes Cabal the Necromancer by Jonathan L. Howard

 

Johannes Cabal the Necromancer may be one of the best books I've read this year. Its humor resembles Good Omens, where the outrageously absurd can make you laugh. It doesn't so much deal in prophecies as in Good Omens, but it does have a delicious deal with the devil, and it appears Cabal will do about anything to get his golden fiddle or his soul and mission to defeat death underway. The book jumps through several hoops for Cabal to possibly beat the devil. Tagging along with it is a monstrous brother, a carnival ready to steal souls, and a lady of pure righteousness. Good battles evil in this one, and often, you wonder what side you're really on. I will read more. Loved it!

Five Stars for By the Sword by F. Paul Wilson

It's been a while since I read a Repairman Jack novel. It's too long because I'd forgotten how much I liked these books. By the Sword, by F. Paul Wilson delivers. It's action-packed with a creative, intricate plot about a possible end of times. Book 11 started this move towards Jack possibly having to save the world, but 12 certainly expanded upon it by utilizing careful research of our evolutionary world spinning towards possible extinction. Book 12 truly takes facts and turns them into fiction.  Isaac Asimov says, "Science fiction writers foresee the inevitable, and although problems and catastrophes may be inevitable, solutions are not." Jack the Repairman is a solution, a human one, and a funny one. Jack's sense of humor is part of the reason I keep reading...

Bad guy: "Early bird catches the worm."

Jack: "Consider yourself a nightcrawler." - this is after Jack Robin Hoods the bad guy. 

As soon as I get my hands on the next book, I shall read it with much pleasure.

5 Stars for Bentley Little's The Policy

Bentley Little's books take a reader down some pretty dark paths. The Policy by Little is no exception. The Policy toys with an idea brewing in the minds of most Americans: Insurance companies are evil because they often use scare tactics and then charge outrageous fees, and when something happens, Where are they? Of course, this is Bently Little, and he takes this idea and stretches it, turning it from a bite-size balloon to the Goodyear Blimp. The story plot starts with what one might think of as a leaky ceiling that eventually floods an entire house. At first glance, the insurance agent in this book is stereotypical but often morphs into something much more sinister when gazed at for too long. The people he targets are just like you and me, trying to live, love, and avoid horrible accidents. Ironically, the Insurance Man's policies prevent only making others suffer, and the deals are only on the table for a short while, making it impossible to feel safe at any moment if they are not signed. This story gets pretty crazy, turning down a dark, twisted road that makes you feel like there is no light at the end of this policy. I'm never disappointed after reading a Bently Little.