Posts Tagged by caught stealing
Something Nice
| 17 April, 2012 | Posted by Erik Carlson under Uncategorized |
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If You Had Ears, You Could Not Ignore It: Mainstream Responses to Punk by David Bloom - This article looks at the reaction of pioneers like Springsteen and Young to the birth of punk in ’77.
For those looking for an interesting read, here are a few books I’ve finished this month:
The Mystic Art of Erasing All Signs of Death – Charlie Huston
This is easily one of the best novels I have ever read. I’m not saying it’s Steinbeck or DeLillio, but it holds its own amongst the top ten. Webster Fillmore Goodhue is an ex-teacher profession slacker who has decided the time has come for employment. Unfortunately, the only one willing to hire him is Clean Team – a family run trauma cleaning business. And a woman who needs a favor.
Huston creates compelling characters – believable in their characterization and motivation. You not only feel for each one despite their foibles, but you find yourself empathizing with them as well.
Caught Stealing – Charlie Huston
For years I have been hesitant about reading more Huston for the fear that nothing could compete with The Mystic Art….Well, Caught Stealing doesn’t quite make it there, but I’ll be damned if it isn’t completely intense and captivating in its own right. Caught Stealing is another ‘wrong place/wrong time’ scenario and for protagonist Hank winning out in the end comes at a such a loss, it almost is easier to accept just laying down and dying as a resolution.
Joe Golem and the Drowning City – Christopher Golden and Mike Mignola
This quick read started with a mystic, a half sunken New York, and a 14 year old street rat, it quickly found itself running out of steam. I love the work of Mignola and Golden, but the severe lack of subplots creates a literary mouse wheel effect, you feel like you’re getting somewhere but the incessant metal squeaking could drive you mad. Joe Golem looks to be a great core character (in the way that Baltimore did), and his continued quest will certainly fill the pages of Dark Horse spin-off books, but overall its feels like its missing the same sense of fun Hellboy or BPRD does.
