The Mathews Men: Seven Brothers and the War Against Hitler’s U-Boats

On January 18, 2019 By upstateasbIn History, NonfictionLeave a comment

An absorbing non-fiction work based on a subject that, I daresay, is unfamiliar to most of us – the role of the Merchant Marine in World War II. From unarmed vessels, these heroes supplied our troops throughout the war and saved Britain’s bacon by supplying them before we ever joined the fight. All the sacrifice, none of the honor. Who knew? The seven Mathews sons serving as merchant seamen during the war personalize the story. If this sounds iffy for your taste, just trust me. Deserves to be told, deserves to be read.

Full Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided to me by PENGUIN GROUP Viking / Viking via NetGalley. I would like to thank the publisher and the author for providing me this opportunity. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

The Outcast Hours

On January 18, 2019 By upstateasbIn Anthologies, Fantasy, Horror, Sci-Fi / Dypstopian, Short StoriesLeave a comment

A collection of short stories (edited by Mahvesh Murad and Jared Shurin) set in those lonely, eerie hours after the sun goes down, stories about those who live, work, exist during those hours, and about things that….occur…..then. These are original, delicious, fun, thought –provoking and, yes, creepy, so have a go. You won’t put it down until you have to turn on the lights. Scheduled to drop somewhere between February 19 and February 22.

Full Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided to me by Rebellion Publishing / Solaris Books via NetGalley. I would like to thank the publisher and the author for providing me this opportunity. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

Kill ‘Em and Leave: Searching for James Brown and the American Soul

On January 18, 2019 By upstateasbIn Biography, History, Music, NonfictionLeave a comment

James Brown, a poor Southern black child with an instinctual genius for entertaining. He could make us “feel good” whether he did or not. An entertainer who came from, and through, desperate times and circumstances whose legacy and an estate are still under contention. James Brown is thoughtfully considered here by one of the best writers around today, James McBride (The Color of Water, The Good Lord Bird).

Full Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided to me by Random House Publishing Group – Random House / Spiegel & Grau via NetGalley. I would like to thank the publisher and the author for providing me this opportunity. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

Wallis in Love: The Untold Life of the Duchess of Windsor, the Woman Who Changed the Monarchy

On January 18, 2019 By upstateasbIn Biography, History, NonfictionLeave a comment

He abdicated the throne for the woman he loved. Poor self-indulgent schmuck and self-centered schmuckess. Not to speak ill of the dead, of course, but, according to Andrew Morton, this was not the greatest love story of all time, not even since Liz Taylor and Richard Burton. For me, this was a good read at the right time.

Full Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided to me by Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley. I would like to thank the publisher and the author for providing me this opportunity. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

Rachel Lyon’s Self-Portrait with Boy

On January 18, 2019 By upstateasbIn Literary FictionLeave a comment

Photographer Lu Rile is probably the most interesting fictional character I’ve met in quite some time, and I read more than the average bear. The best work Lu has ever done inadvertently captures the death of a young boy, her neighbors’ son. Will she, can she, use this piece to achieve artistic success in spite of the pain it will cause, and, if so, how far can she take it? I’m still thinking about this character, and I still don’t know how I feel about her. Read it. Love it. Like I did.

Full Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided to me by Scribner via NetGalley. I would like to thank the publisher and the author for providing me this opportunity. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

Mick Finlay’s The Murder Pit

On January 18, 2019January 18, 2019 By upstateasbIn Historical Fiction, Mystery & Crime FictionLeave a comment

Second installment in the Arrowood mystery series. Set in Jack the Ripper’s era, this is a ripper of a mystery with a delightfully seedy Holmes and Watson type detective pair who resent that Holmes gets all the glory. And characters, oh my goodness. Packed as full as a Christmas fruitcake. But the second in a series? Well, of course, I had to buy the first, also titled Arrowood, and you will, too. Too much fun to miss. Due in February from MIRA.

Full Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided to me by HARLEQUIN – MIRA (U.S. and Canada) / MIRA via NetGalley. I would like to thank the publisher and the author for providing me this opportunity. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

Mallory Smith’s Salt in My Soul: An Unfinished Life

On January 18, 2019March 15, 2019 By upstateasbIn Memoir, NonfictionLeave a comment

The “unfinished” life of Mallory Smith is told here through her journals and the thoughts and experiences of those who shared her journey. Mallory has Cystic Fibrosis, a cruel and life-consuming lung disease with a grim prognosis, but this fierce young woman refuses to be about her illness. In her writings, she thoughtfully considers her condition and its consequences as she embraces life, athleticism, scholarship, youth, and all those around her. Ultimately she battles for and endures a lung transplant, her only hope. Recommended, and available in March from Random House / Spiegel & Grau.

Available now at your local indie bookstore or from Amazon.com.

Tommy Tomlinson’s The Elephant in the Room: One Fat Man’s Quest to Get Smaller in a Growing America

On January 18, 2019January 18, 2019 By upstateasbIn Memoir, NonfictionLeave a comment

Tommy Tomlinson is an awesome talent and deserves wider appreciation, so here’s your chance. Those of us lucky enough to be from Charlotte have known and loved Tommy’s writing and commentary for years, from his lengthy stint as a columnist for The Charlotte Observer to his current gig hosting the podcast Southbound.

Beginning his story at a massive 460 pounds, this gifted writer shares his life honestly and painfully, but with his signature humor and grace. A must read and a gift to all of us. You go, Tommy. This Charlottean still loves you!

Full Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided to me by Simon & Schuster and NetGalley. I would like to thank the publisher and the author for providing me this opportunity. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

Allie Larkin’s Swimming for Sunlight

On January 18, 2019January 18, 2019 By upstateasbIn Chick-Lit, Contemporary Women's LitLeave a comment

More of a woman’s novel than I’d usually read, but the first sentence got me. A young divorcee returns with her traumatized dog, rescued from a kill shelter, to the Florida home of the grandmother who reared her. There she is surrounded by quirky retirees who love her and bless her with their kindness and courage. Won’t blow your socks off, but neither does it waste your time. Engaging, entertaining. Look for this one to drop from Atria Books in April!

Full Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided to me by Atria Books via NetGalley. I would like to thank the publisher and the author for providing me this opportunity. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

It Was the Best of Lines, It Was the Worst of Lines: Memorable and Not-So-Memorable First Lines in Literature – August 9, 2016

On August 9, 2016February 26, 2019 By upstateasbIn First Lines, It Was the Best of Lines . . .4 Comments

It Was the Best of Lines, It Was the Worst of Lines is a new feature which I hope will appear from time to time here on a day in the (reading) life. I’ll be spotlighting what I think are some worthwhile, and some dismal, first lines from books and short stories as I come across them, sometimes with my accolades or scathing commentary, as appropriate. Other times I may let the lines just speak for themselves. Hope you enjoy! Comments and opinions, for and against (it’s a free country, y’all), are always welcomed as long as we all stay respectful.

Vampire castle

“When Elena told people she was a vampire hunter, their first reaction was an inevitable gasp, followed by, ‘You go around sticking those sharp stakes in their evil putrid hearts?'”

Nalini Singh, Angel’s Blood.

Ugh. I know I’m probably going to catch some heat from Nalini Singh’s fans and paranormal romance (i.e., bandwagon lit.) readers, but come on peeps! This isn’t exactly the kind of sentence that inspires one to bated breath and the anticipation of what’s to come. Trite, trite, trite, banal, banal, banal, and just all-around lazy, boring writing. “You go around sticking those sharp stakes in their evil putrid hearts?” sounds like crappy dialogue from a Buffy the Vampire Slayer rip-off.

Now, granted, I only read the first line (and a few more in the next paragraph where Singh’s character refers to “the idiot fifteen-century storyteller who’d made up that [staking] tale in the first place”), so maybe Angel’s Blood is meant to be campy fun. I wouldn’t know though because I couldn’t get past those initial paragraphs. If you want campy bloodsuckers, Charlaine Harris does it much better.

I’m not sure what 15th century “idiot” Singh’s referring to (the first literary appearance of the vampire is widely credited to John Polidori’s 1819 short story, “The Vampyre”, although vampire-like beings can be found in folklore all the way back to ancient times), but for my money Bram Stoker and, to a lesser degree, Anne Rice, did vamps best and darkest. And dark is the only way a vampire should be (none of those sparkly Twilight chaps for me, thanks). Stoker is, well . . . Stoker. ‘Nuff said. And Anne Rice, for all her verbosity and tendency toward melodrama, created a character in Lestat that has endured for years and set the standard for vampire assuredness and cockiness (and yes, Tom Cruise did get it right in the movie, and I’m no Cruise fan).