January 2017
        Orange Is the New Blck ~ Piper Kerman (2011) memoir (302 pgs)
Insider view of life in women's prison system. Eye opening on how to survive, how the system is screwed up.
        Emperor Mollusk Versus the Sinister Brain ~ A. Lee Martinez (2012) sf/fantasy/humor (293 pgs)
Fun and inventive little romp through the tropes of super-villainy by the always enjoyable Mr. Martinez
        The Extra Man ~ Jonathan Ames (1998) novel (366 pgs)
An odd couple for the new age, aging male “escort” and young man with some odd fetishes. Funny, and even touching.
        The Bride of Fu-Manchu ~ Sax Rohmer (1931) thriller, pulp (282 pgs)
One of the original Fu-Manchu novels. Fun quick-moving pulpy adventure-- lots of exclamation marks!!!

    February 2017
        Along Those Lines: The Boundaries That Create Our World ~ Peter Cashwell (2014) science, history (229 pgs)
Geography, music, politics, gender, science, arts-- so many things involve the idea of “lines” being drawn.
        They Eat Puppies, Don't They? ~ Christopher Buckley (2012) novel (334 pgs)
Political satire and dark humor, great characters and plot twists as usual from Buckley.
        Doc ~ Mary Doria Russell (2011) historical fiction (394 pgs)
Great re-telling, and correcting, of the myths of Doc Holliday, the Earp brothers, and others. Well-done characterizations.
        The Fuller Memorandum ~ Charles Stross (2010) horror (304 pgs)
Another adventure in the Lovecraftian-inspired darkness of the Laundry Files. Kick ass fun from Stross.
        Uganda Be Kidding Me ~ Chelsea Handler (2014) humor (255 pgs)
Some funny stuff, but after a while the drinking and bad behavior and arguing got tiring to read.
        Curse of the Thunder Jewel ~ Becky Burkheart (2013) fantasy (216 pgs)
Read in preparation for doing a new cover, think I can give it an interesting and eye-catching one.

    March 2017
        The Reproductive System ~ John Sladek (1968)
        The Muller-Fokker Effect~ John Sladek (1971)
        Tik-Tok~ John Sladek (1983) - 3 SF novels (total 480 pgs)
Omnibus collection of three of Sladek's weirdest, most surreal socially satirical sf novels. Truly, wonderfully twisted writing.
        I Love You More Than You Know ~ Jonathan Ames (2006) essays (267 pgs)
Low-key humorous essays from a writer who lays out all his personal twists for perusal.
        Arrival (previously Stories of Your Life and Others) ~ Ted Chiang (2002) sf short stories (281 pgs)
Wonderful collection of stories, loved the ones exploring ideas of “what if this aspect of religion was real” type.

    April 2017
        The Malice of Fortune ~ Michael Ennis (2012) novel (396 pgs)
Murder-mystery in the Renaissance. Interesting to read once, but nothing I'd go back to.
        The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry ~ Gabrielle Zevin (2014) novel (270 pgs)
Lovely, simply and directly told tale of somewhat cranky bookstore owner who finds he can share his life with others.

    May 2017
        The Gormenghast Trilogy ~Mervyn Peake (1988) novel, fantasy (1,023 pgs) RE-READ
        collects: Titus Groan (1946), Gormenghast (1950), Titus Alone (1959)
Fifth time to read the trilogy: first two novels still amazing in prose and ideas, third a disappointment after those wonders.
        House of Leaves ~ Mark Z. Danielewsk (2000) novel (709 pgs) RE-READ
Second reading, gripping core story, and bizarrely wonderful book design.
        Delancey ~ Molly Wizenberg (2014) memoir (240 pgs)
Tale of a couple starting their own restaurant, never having had any experience at all. Fun, gentle read.
        Dear Committee Members ~ Julie Schumacher (2014) novel, humor (180 pgs)
Loved it, composed of a series of Letters of Recommendations by a jaded academic professor. Satirical and funny.

    June 2017
        The Mountains of Madness and Othes – H.P. Lovecraft (1939-1943) horror, fantasy, (432 pgs) RE-READ
It's been a while since read HPL, but still one of a kind, over the top, and uniquely weird.
        Tales of The Cthulhu Mythos, Volume 1 ~ August Derleth, Ed (1927 – 1944) short stories, horror, fantasy (240 pgs) RE-READ
One tale from HPL, nine by other authors. Even as better writers, they don't pull it off as well as he does. There can be only one!
        The Rose Motel ~William Breiding (2017) non fiction, essays (210 pgs)
Collection of personal essays, some sci-fi fandom related, most not. Always interesting when folks open up their own lives in print.