Beau Adler (Author of Central Avenue Poetry Prize)

Beau Adler is currently reading Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 24, 2025 12:50PM · like
Beau Adler rated a book it was amazing Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 22, 2025 05:16PM · like
Beau Adler rated a book really liked it Storm Front (The Dresden Files, #1) by Jim Butcher (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This was so fun. Had some really creative takes on old tropes and successfully wow-ed me with their vampire lore. I LOVE how much of a mop Harry is. Like every chance Butcher had, he needed to remind you how much of a loser Harry is. Showing up to th ...more
Dec 09, 2025 10:32PM · like · see review
Beau Adler is currently reading Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 03, 2025 09:20PM · like
Beau Adler wants to read Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy by Mary Roach Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee in Readers' Favorite Nonfiction	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 03, 2025 09:20PM · like
Beau Adler wants to read The Once and Future Riot by Joe Sacco	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 03, 2025 02:14AM · like
Beau Adler rated a book liked it The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3.5 stars! Grady Hendrix is so good at writing potato chip chapters. I binged the hell out of this one, too. It's those short, punchy chapters, man...they just keep you reading. I liked this more than Witchcraft for Wayward Girls. I think having one ...more
Nov 20, 2025 12:21AM · like · see review
Beau Adler liked Gabriel Noel's review of The Central Avenue Poetry Prize 2025: " ARC given by NetGalley for Honest Review A collection of poetry put together for the second annual Central Avenue Poetry Prize. I was a feeling a little disappointed with this collection as last years was much more robust and put together. I find the" Read more of this review »
Nov 19, 2025 11:47PM · see review
Beau Adler and 1 other person liked Summer Connell's review of The Central Avenue Poetry Prize 2025: "I really liked this collection! I loved being able to sample so many different poets in one spot. My favorite poems were: - SOMETIMES THE BURNS ARE WORTH IT - TENDER FLESH - MEDUSA - HRT IS ALCHEMY - COCKTAIL QUEENS - A NOTE ON RUIN - SOMETIMES, I FEAR THE" Read more of this review »
Nov 19, 2025 11:47PM · see review
Beau Adler rated a book liked it The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3.5 stars! Grady Hendrix is so good at writing potato chip chapters. I binged the hell out of this one, too. It's those short, punchy chapters, man...they just keep you reading. I liked this more than Witchcraft for Wayward Girls. I think having one ...more
Nov 19, 2025 11:29PM · like · see review

Beau Adler is currently reading

Beautyland
by Marie-Helene Bertino (Goodreads Author)

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Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
by Mary Roach

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Storm Front (The Dresden Files, #1)
by Jim Butcher (Goodreads Author)

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This was so fun. Had some really creative takes on old tropes and successfully wow-ed me with their vampire lore. I LOVE how much of a mop Harry is. Like every chance Butcher had, he needed to remind you how much of a loser Harry is. Showing up to th ...more

Beau Adler is currently reading

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
by Mary Roach

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Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy
by Mary Roach
Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee in Readers' Favorite Nonfiction

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The Once and Future Riot
by Joe Sacco

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Beau Adler rated a book liked it

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires
by Grady Hendrix (Goodreads Author)

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3.5 stars! Grady Hendrix is so good at writing potato chip chapters. I binged the hell out of this one, too. It's those short, punchy chapters, man...they just keep you reading.

I liked this more than Witchcraft for Wayward Girls. I think having one 3.5 stars! Grady Hendrix is so good at writing potato chip chapters. I binged the hell out of this one, too. It's those short, punchy chapters, man...they just keep you reading.

I liked this more than Witchcraft for Wayward Girls. I think having one stable cast worked in its favour, even if some of them are underused (I really couldn't remember who Maryellen was by the end of the book...sorry girl). I loved Mrs. Greene and Grace so much honestly, even though I have Issues with how Mrs. Greene's story was handled as the only prominent Black woman in the book. But we'll get to that. Patricia was a pretty fun character to follow and I liked how much of a doer she was, as opposed to the girl in Witchcraft whose name I've forgotten already (sorry girl). Hendrix's writing shines in his vivid descriptions and sense of place; he sets such a clear tone in the setting, and ohh my god the part where Miss Mary is describing her childhood and the peach tree (iykyk)...riveting. Just absolutely spellbinding.

I'll say this, though, I don't think Grady Hendrix writes complex or nuanced characters so much as he writes archetypes with good dialogue. There is genuinely a lot--a LOT--I deeply enjoyed about this book, but I'm gonna go on my hater tirade *Spike BTVS voice* 'cuz that's what I dooo...

OK I THOUGHT I COULD BE TONGUE AND CHEEK WITH MY SPOILERS BUT IM NOT SO MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW THIS POINT!!!!!

So what's up with the Magical Negroes in Hendrix's work? Like okay, I do think, hands down, Mrs. Greene is just better written than Zinnia (and potentially Hagar) in Witchcraft. Hagar's plot was essentially JUST in service of the white girls, so at least Mrs. Greene had her own agency and goals (and a POV chapter!! Sorta. Like half of one and then another half). I was absolutely spellbound by her parts in the book (the rats and then the trailer and woods hello hello), but she kind of spends the climax doing diddly...? Like while Kitty was doing shit at the end I was kind of like okay...why is this another WW (white woman) POV chapter when Mrs. Greene is right there lmao. At least she takes over at the end but just for a paragraph. We just don't get enough of her even though she's so (seemingly?) pivotal. I saw some people say she'd be a better protag than Patricia which...yeah she'd be more efficient but then the whole book would be different so it's kind of a moot point--that said I do get the root of the sentiment. I think she's a really great character and a necessary addition to the cast it's just...man we are not doing enough with our Black women. You know. Moving on...

So I'm super nitpicky with my vampires. This point is mostly about my personal tastes and not a reflection on Hendrix's book, necessarily, but I know I'm not alone in genre and mythological expectations of vampires among readers. I can appreciate that Hendrix changed how his vampire feeds (I love the idea of basically putting your victim on dialysis by feeding from them), even though I'm such a stan for the classic Fangs Out thing. I also prefer a vamp with genuine sun aversion. I'm talking bursting out into flames, not just sparkling or getting a little weaker in it. Again, though, it's just my taste.

What I DON'T love is how what could have been subtext and what was already very interesting thematically became overt text, and in a manner that felt clunky and honestly a little sexist. I don't really hate that James feeds from peoples' inner thigh. It's a bit goofy to me, but it's kind of in service of the themes, but man--the rape did *not* have to happen. I don't mind this sort of thing in media at all, I sincerely think you should explore these sorts of topics and have them BE text some of the time, but it's like...suddenly overt and out of nowhere. Like it could've been handled with more nuance or more delicately, and I'm not even sure it needed to be so graphic in its description. IDK. Anyway it's also like, James was so hard to really care about or see as much of 'a threat' at this point in the novel because he loses completely all nuance. We're in our "so he's irredeemably, comic book villain evil" arc. Which is fine but dude where did the imposing guy from Miss Mary's story go. I think you can do both. Does this point make sense or do I sound insane. It's sort of, for me, like when Carter also just loses all nuance and is flattened into a cardboard villain. I enjoyed the back-and-forth at the beginning of the book--he's kind of a caring husband and father, he's stressed out by work, he's manipulative in a way, but the care may well be there--and that blurred line is so interesting to me. Then the back end happens and it just becomes, "Nah he's a fucking caricature". And I DO think it's part of the point--money changing him and all, and James 'infecting' the town--but it felt so comical. Stuff like that just unmoors me from the character writing. This sounds more critical than I actually felt while reading tbh like 99% of the way I was like "divorce his ass Patricia!!!!!1111!!!!" and was hoping James would just kill that dude so it's still entertaining we just could have had another level, you know?

Oh also like what the hell...James not having an actual POV backstory chapter? I don't think it's required by the genre but omg what do you mean we don't even really learn how he became a fucking vampire? Like they hand wave this a bit at the end saying Slick's going to become the way he is and that's how they pass it on but...seriously? LIKE it actually bugs me that vampirism in this world is passed on by...sex? Seriously? IDK something about moving away from the subtext of bloodsucking BEING slightly sexual (if not with hints of dubious consent) and just hammering the point home by making it blatantly about rape and sex is like...It does the job, sure, but...cmonnnnnnn.

Also also I kind of enjoy the large time skips but they also fuck the pacing up so bad in certain respects. I think the whole development and investment storyline makes way more sense WITH the time jumps, but it takes time away from important moments that could've been shown in more detail. This is a minor note though because I do like what ultimately came about from the investment plotline more than seeing Patricia coming back from the mental ward.

Okay that's all. I'll keep reading his books tho! Potato chip ass novel... ...more

Beau Adler liked Gabriel Noel's review of The Central Avenue Poetry Prize 2025:

The Central Avenue Poetry Prize 2025 by Beau Adler

" ARC given by NetGalley for Honest Review

A collection of poetry put together for the second annual Central Avenue Poetry Prize. I was a feeling a little disappointed with this collection as last years was much more robust and put together. I find the" Read more of this review »

Beau Adler and 1 other person liked Summer Connell's review of The Central Avenue Poetry Prize 2025:

"I really liked this collection! I loved being able to sample so many different poets in one spot. My favorite poems were:
- SOMETIMES THE BURNS ARE WORTH IT
- TENDER FLESH
- MEDUSA
- HRT IS ALCHEMY
- COCKTAIL QUEENS
- A NOTE ON RUIN
- SOMETIMES, I FEAR THE" Read more of this review »

Beau Adler rated a book liked it

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires
by Grady Hendrix (Goodreads Author)

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

3.5 stars! Grady Hendrix is so good at writing potato chip chapters. I binged the hell out of this one, too. It's those short, punchy chapters, man...they just keep you reading.

I liked this more than Witchcraft for Wayward Girls. I think having one 3.5 stars! Grady Hendrix is so good at writing potato chip chapters. I binged the hell out of this one, too. It's those short, punchy chapters, man...they just keep you reading.

I liked this more than Witchcraft for Wayward Girls. I think having one stable cast worked in its favour, even if some of them are underused (I really couldn't remember who Maryellen was by the end of the book...sorry girl). I loved Mrs. Greene and Grace so much honestly, even though I have Issues with how Mrs. Greene's story was handled as the only prominent Black woman in the book. But we'll get to that. Patricia was a pretty fun character to follow and I liked how much of a doer she was, as opposed to the girl in Witchcraft whose name I've forgotten already (sorry girl). Hendrix's writing shines in his vivid descriptions and sense of place; he sets such a clear tone in the setting, and ohh my god the part where Miss Mary is describing her childhood and the peach tree (iykyk)...riveting. Just absolutely spellbinding.

I'll say this, though, I don't think Grady Hendrix writes complex or nuanced characters so much as he writes archetypes with good dialogue. There is genuinely a lot--a LOT--I deeply enjoyed about this book, but I'm gonna go on my hater tirade *Spike BTVS voice* 'cuz that's what I dooo...

OK I THOUGHT I COULD BE TONGUE AND CHEEK WITH MY SPOILERS BUT IM NOT SO MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW THIS POINT!!!!!

So what's up with the Magical Negroes in Hendrix's work? Like okay, I do think, hands down, Mrs. Greene is just better written than Zinnia (and potentially Hagar) in Witchcraft. Hagar's plot was essentially JUST in service of the white girls, so at least Mrs. Greene had her own agency and goals (and a POV chapter!! Sorta. Like half of one and then another half). I was absolutely spellbound by her parts in the book (the rats and then the trailer and woods hello hello), but she kind of spends the climax doing diddly...? Like while Kitty was doing shit at the end I was kind of like okay...why is this another WW (white woman) POV chapter when Mrs. Greene is right there lmao. At least she takes over at the end but just for a paragraph. We just don't get enough of her even though she's so (seemingly?) pivotal. I saw some people say she'd be a better protag than Patricia which...yeah she'd be more efficient but then the whole book would be different so it's kind of a moot point--that said I do get the root of the sentiment. I think she's a really great character and a necessary addition to the cast it's just...man we are not doing enough with our Black women. You know. Moving on...

So I'm super nitpicky with my vampires. This point is mostly about my personal tastes and not a reflection on Hendrix's book, necessarily, but I know I'm not alone in genre and mythological expectations of vampires among readers. I can appreciate that Hendrix changed how his vampire feeds (I love the idea of basically putting your victim on dialysis by feeding from them), even though I'm such a stan for the classic Fangs Out thing. I also prefer a vamp with genuine sun aversion. I'm talking bursting out into flames, not just sparkling or getting a little weaker in it. Again, though, it's just my taste.

What I DON'T love is how what could have been subtext and what was already very interesting thematically became overt text, and in a manner that felt clunky and honestly a little sexist. I don't really hate that James feeds from peoples' inner thigh. It's a bit goofy to me, but it's kind of in service of the themes, but man--the rape did *not* have to happen. I don't mind this sort of thing in media at all, I sincerely think you should explore these sorts of topics and have them BE text some of the time, but it's like...suddenly overt and out of nowhere. Like it could've been handled with more nuance or more delicately, and I'm not even sure it needed to be so graphic in its description. IDK. Anyway it's also like, James was so hard to really care about or see as much of 'a threat' at this point in the novel because he loses completely all nuance. We're in our "so he's irredeemably, comic book villain evil" arc. Which is fine but dude where did the imposing guy from Miss Mary's story go. I think you can do both. Does this point make sense or do I sound insane. It's sort of, for me, like when Carter also just loses all nuance and is flattened into a cardboard villain. I enjoyed the back-and-forth at the beginning of the book--he's kind of a caring husband and father, he's stressed out by work, he's manipulative in a way, but the care may well be there--and that blurred line is so interesting to me. Then the back end happens and it just becomes, "Nah he's a fucking caricature". And I DO think it's part of the point--money changing him and all, and James 'infecting' the town--but it felt so comical. Stuff like that just unmoors me from the character writing. This sounds more critical than I actually felt while reading tbh like 99% of the way I was like "divorce his ass Patricia!!!!!1111!!!!" and was hoping James would just kill that dude so it's still entertaining we just could have had another level, you know?

Oh also like what the hell...James not having an actual POV backstory chapter? I don't think it's required by the genre but omg what do you mean we don't even really learn how he became a fucking vampire? Like they hand wave this a bit at the end saying Slick's going to become the way he is and that's how they pass it on but...seriously? LIKE it actually bugs me that vampirism in this world is passed on by...sex? Seriously? IDK something about moving away from the subtext of bloodsucking BEING slightly sexual (if not with hints of dubious consent) and just hammering the point home by making it blatantly about rape and sex is like...It does the job, sure, but...cmonnnnnnn.

Also also I kind of enjoy the large time skips but they also fuck the pacing up so bad in certain respects. I think the whole development and investment storyline makes way more sense WITH the time jumps, but it takes time away from important moments that could've been shown in more detail. This is a minor note though because I do like what ultimately came about from the investment plotline more than seeing Patricia coming back from the mental ward.

Okay that's all. I'll keep reading his books tho! Potato chip ass novel... ...more

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	Central Avenue Poetry Prize by Beau Adler (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Jillian Calahan (Goodreads Author) (Contributor) 4.61 avg rating — 41 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Central Avenue Poetry Prize 2025 4.14 avg rating — 28 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Central Avenue Poetry Prize 2026 4.33 avg rating — 3 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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