January 2023
        Welcome to Night Vale ~Joseph Fink & Jeffrey Cranor (2015) novel (401 pgs)
Strange tale of a strange place written in a wonderfully florid and strange style, highly enjoyed this one.
        It Devours! ~ Joseph Fink & Jeffrey Cranor (2017) novel (347 pgs)
A return to Night Vale for more inspired weirdness.
        HP Lovecraft: The Mysterious Man Behind the Darkness ~ Charlotte Montague (2015) biography (187 pgs)
Great concise bio of HPL life, plenty of photos of the man, artwork from his work, and synopsis on every story!
        Road to Mars ~ Eric Idle (1999) science fiction (309 pgs)
Loved the bits from one character about what comedy "is", wish he would have written more about that.

    February 2023
        If You Can’t Live Without Me, Why Aren’t You Dead Yet?! ~ Cynthia Heimel (1991) essays (221 pgs)
Dark humor about people that stays so relentlessly dark and pessimistic that it is less funny than sad.
        The Crusades: Five Centuries of Holy Wars ~ Malcolm Billings (1987) history (232 pgs)
Next time someone tries to tell you religion is only a force for good, say "the crusades".
        The Mouse That Roared ~ Leonard Wibberley (1955) humor (152 pgs)
Tiny country wants to be defeated by US in war so they can get reparations, but things don’t quite go that way.
        The Mouse on the Moon ~ Leonard Wibberley (1962) humor (124 pgs)
They’re back, this time joining the race to be first on the moon using wine-based fuel!

    March 2023
        Senor Vivo and the Coca Lord ~ Louis de Bernieres (1991) novel (331 pgs)
Another wonder of writing and a follow up to his previous, some truly amazing passages. Looking for the third volume!
        How to Talk to Your Cat About Gun Safety ~Zachary Auburn (2016) humor parody (136 pgs)
Getting so crazy out there can no longer parody the nuts. Just repeat what they say, and change "child" to "cat".
        Vassa in the Night ~ Sarah Porter (2016) novel, fantasy (296 pgs)
Some nice weird touches, but too much "why are you doing that?" for character actions, and withholding of info just for plot.
        The Night is Large: Collected Essays, 1938-1995 ~Martin Gardner (1996) essays, everything (565 pgs)
60 years of a brilliant mind that is interested in, and can talk in depth on, just about every subject out there.

    April 2023
        Broken (in the best possible way) ~ Jenny Lawson (2021) essays, humor (285 pgs)
More weirdly wonderful hilarious writing from Lawson on getting through life while a bit askew.
        Shambling Toward Hiroshima ~ James Morrow (2009) science fiction (169 pgs)
Another strange alternate look at the world that only Morrow could produce, great quick read.
        Dog On It ~ Spencer Quinn (2009) mystery (305 pgs)
Fun gimmick having dog doing narration, but just another mystery book, and ending kind of perfunctory.
        Orange World ~ Karen Russell (2019) short stories (271 pgs)
Fantastic collection of stories of worlds just off-center from our own. Russell is great.

    May 2023
        The Reason I Jump ~ Naoki Higashida (2007) essays, autobiography (139 pgs)
Autistic man writing about what it is like to be inside a mind controlled by autism.
        The Library of the Unwritten ~ A. J. Hackwith (2019) fantasy (374 pgs)
Not bad, just not really engaging. Some good moments, but it just never grabbed.
        Archive of the Forgotten ~ A.J. Hackwith (2020) fantasy (352 pgs ~ not finished, 100 pgs)
Tried the second volume, found kept skimming to get to next thing. Just not for me, I guess.
        Nine Kinds of Naked ~ Tony Vigorito (2008) novel (402 pgs)
Odd characters, crossing time lines, weird happenings, a wonderful read.
        Rocket City ~ Cathryn Alpert (1995) novel (347 pgs)
Two separate stories of fascinating characters that touch briefly at the end. Sadly, her only novel.

    June 2023
        Blue Boy ~ Rakesh Satyal (2009) novel (265 pgs)
Very funny story of a kid who just cannot be put down, great look at many alternate lives.
        Making the Mummies Dance ~ Thomas Hoving (1993) autobiography, art history (429 pgs)
Fascinating memoir of the Director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the 60s and 70s.
        The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman ~ Louis de Bernieres (1992) novel (388 pgs)
Final volume of his "Latin America trilogy", just as wonderfully written and inventive as the first two.

    July 2023
        Devolution ~ Max Brooks (2020) horror (286 pgs)
More straight up horror than his "Z" books, well done, but not my cup of tea.
        Secret Ascension or, Philip K. Dick is Dead, Alas ~ Michael Bishop (1987) science fiction (341 pgs)
Very, very weird. Includes the exorcism of Richard Nixon in an alternate timeline.

    August 2023
        The Innocents Abroad ~ Mark Twain (1869) travel (428 pgs)
Alternately savagely clever satire of American tourists, and cringing observations of non-Americans.
        You Might Be a Zombie, and Other Bad News ~ Editors of Cracked.com (2011) science, history, humor (295 pgs)
If science and history was taught more often with humor mixed in, I’d remember much more of it!
        Lovecraft Country ~ Matt Ruff(2016) horror (372 pgs)
Macabre horror with an historical and sociological twist different than the usual. More great work from Ruff.

    September 2023
        Razzmatazz ~ Christopher Moore (2022) novel (390pgs)
Another odd one from Moore, though not as strong as previous. But hey, still a fun read!
        Someone Could Get Hurt ~ Drew Magary (2013) humor essays (243 pgs)
Observations on having children, funny stuff.

    October 2023
        Banvard's Folly ~ Paul Collins (2001) history (286 pgs)
The lives of thirteen people, famous in their day, all but forgotten now. Fascinating reading.
        The Panic Hand ~ Jonathan Carroll (1995) short stories (295 pgs)
Great collection of odd, fascinating, slightly off center shorts from Carroll. Always worth reading.

    November 2023
        Carmen Miranda's Ghost is Haunting Space Station Three ~ Don Sakers (ed) (1990) sf short stories (307 pgs)
Anthology built that title, some fun ones, but nothing to read a second time.
        Time's Last Gift ~ Philip Jose Farmer (1972) science fiction (266 pgs)
Quick read, minor part of his “Wold Newton” concept of famous literary characters being related.

    December 2023
        The Big Book of Modern Fantasy ~ Ann & Jeff Vandermeer, editors (2020) short stories (875 pgs)
Dozens of amazing writers from around the world, found several I want to read more from.
        The Invention of God ~ Bill Lauritzen (2011) religion (130 pgs)
Highly disappointing. Evidently, according to him, everything in every religion is based on volcanoes. Just…weird.
        Nothing To See Here ~ Kevin Wilson(2019) novel (254 pgs)
Another great read from Wilson- take one odd thing, kids catch on fire but are not harmed- and exam the human condition.
        Gulp. ~ Mary Roach(2013) science (327 pgs)
A trip from one end of the alimentary canal to the other, with one of the best science-for-non-scientists writers out there!
        The Wangs vs. The World ~ Jade Chang(2016) novel (354 pgs)
Modern Chinese immigrant family having troubles in America. Funny, and often quite moving.