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Now, granted, this book seems to be criticized most for its length and lack of plot, but so far I’m highly entertained. It feels very gothic, and Shamus is vaguely threatening but also clearly horny, and the tension between the three is excellent. And as always the prose is so good in green with envy.

So very good. The political tensions are heating up.

Really good but so much narration/exposition. The bit about viewing a peacock and viewing something tiny and grotesque in its single eye is making sense as this story seems to be entirely about the grotesque reflections of small people. Really enjoying the mid century military milieu. Great characterization.

This reads like an overly intellectualized treatise on queer relationships in the context of social obligations (in the 40s). I don’t dislike the characters but the endless unrealistic dialogue is getting a bit old. There really doesn’t feel like there’s much of a spark between the two MCs. I did like the family understanding and acceptance of their relationship, though.

Maybe I just have a filthy mind but I need a bit more horniness between the two. Perhaps it a product of the time, or not wanting to offend, but Phillip is posing nude for Tim, and they’re skinny dipping, and it’s so ridiculously chaste. I don’t require smut, but I need some longing gazes or something like that.

Almost a third of the way through already. Such a soap opera. Our protagonist is a class A prick. I love him! 🤣

This book was released October 2024 and yet I can appreciate the author’s foresight in having a (fictional) new administration installing incompetent narcissistic possibly compromised politicians who look good on camera in charge of the intelligence apparatus.

Also, the kitchen scene with the lemon meringue pie was just 🔥 🥵

2/3 of the way through. I read Boyfriend Material but didn’t like it enough to check out Husband Material. This, though…

The prose is surprisingly good, the dynamic between the two is just lovely, and even though there’s not much of a plot, I’m still having a hard time putting this book down. Looking forward to forging ahead.

Picked this up at 3:30 am and I’m already a third through. So good. It’s gonna rip my heart out isn’t it? Lessons to remember: “You play it safe long enough,” he said, in a different tone, “and you’ll end up trapped in your own dirty body, forever and forever and forever—like me.”

So bizarre reading this book from an adult perspective. As they’re partying their way through Los Angeles I can’t help but wonder why no adults are invested in their lives (and the few adults we see are predatory). Still…despite the fact that there’s more foreshadowing than plot so far, I can’t put it down.

Still enjoying this. Julian’s parents are rather cartoonishly evil. You can feel the walls creeping in as they fantasize about how to commit murder.

Also very much a “Rope” vibe already. Hitchcockian indeed.

Tension galore! Adoring the chess metaphor. We can clearly see that Julian one-ups Paul at every turn, and in some ways sees him a worthy toy. Every moment in which Paul gets a small victory makes me cheer. Paul’s misery is palpable and that’s why he’s so ripe for the picking. Can’t wait until they screw already.

The setting is excellent, references galore. Love Paul’s working-class 2nd generation family.

Zipped through the first third in the matter of an hour. Having great fun. A close-door mystery with blackmail and sabotage and espionage and a silky and seductive MMC? Count me in.

He’s done it again. Dennis Lehane has captured and pulled me into his gritty crime-ridden Southie world. Loving the world building: can very much feel the social unrest and anger woven into the interactions between the characters. The characterization is fucking brilliant. And the prose is amazing as always. I’m loving how the protagonist of this story is a middle aged single mother with nothing to lose.

I stepped back and bent down to pick up the gun, and as I did, I saw her silver stiletto pull back right beside Vic’s head, then kick forward, tugging the last strands of muscle loose and sending the jaw bone skimming across the floor towards me. “Don’t worry,” she said, turning towards me, cool as ever. “We’ll find someone else for you to fuck.”

Hoooollllly shit. I love her.

Oohhhh. He’s about to go on the gambling ship 🫣

Fascinating all the early and mid century authors who worked in intelligence. She hasn’t even touched on the obvious ones (Greene, Le Carré, Fleming). Some of the plots of their stories sound fascinating. For example, midcentury CIA analyst and author Alice Sheldon, writing as James Tiptree, wrote about cyborg influencers that corporations use to sell goods. Prescient much?

I absolutely adore the building dread in this book. The increasingly suffocating feeling is very much in keeping with the genre. Also, I like how our MC knows she’s making bad decisions regarding Vic but that D is so good she can’t stay away 🤣. I love a good homme fatale.

So far so good. Wanna know who the gray-eyed man is, and why he’s so intent on finding Velma. Really enjoying Elliot Gould’s narration (extra cool that he’s played Marlowe in at least 2 movies)

“Let’s face it, he broke me because I was begging to be broke, his hand so hard on my shoulder, my shoulder so hard on the sofa, I couldn’t steer the Impala for a week without gasping for air.”

Damn girl, get it. I mean, clearly he’s a mistake, but get it anyway.

I’m already adoring the prose in this book.

Loving this. The idea of film monsters coming to life and attacking the person who created them is just so good. I’m finding the monsters genuinely scary (especially Mrs. Why 😱), and Misha’s dread is palpable.

A little annoyed that how there’s no tension about Leo meeting his academic requirements.

Enjoyed the smutty bit. I’m intrigued by the activities at the warehouse.

Shopping scene: I kind of want Leo to fight back more. He’s coming across as too wide eyed and innocent.

Getting good. Love the dream sequence.