Aric > Recent Status Updates

So far, feels like a combination of the "Welcome to Night Vale" podcast and the television show "The Prisoner". I am finding it hard to relate to any of the characters, however.

I was a bit surprised when someone from the publishing company emailed me seemingly out of the blue and asked if I wanted a copy. I do not recall requesting it online anywhere, so that is something that has piqued my curiosity.
I normally shy away from graphic adaptations of books. Why muck around with a writer's prose? However, I have not read this work by Chandler before, so I can approach this with fresh eyes.

I have been on a horror kick lately. No idea why.

Since I learned to read through comic books they will be at least a small interest to me. Alex Segura was not known to me at the time I saw this novel. The comic book relationship caught my attention although I do not often read what I guess can be called 'period pieces' since the story is set in the 1970's.
I found it a little slow-paced so far. It took a while for the murder that sparks things to occur.

Zoinks. This is the scariest book I have read in recent memory.

Dropping everything else since there is a new Charlie Parker novel out.

I originally picked up the book during my travels at some discount store but never got around to reading it. I recently discovered it was available to listen for free with my Audible membership....until I got halfway through it only to have Audible pull it from their Plus catalog without warning. A little warning would have been nice.
Fortunately it is on Hoopla...or maybe not so fortunately.

Switching between the Kindle book and the audiobook versions. The main narrator on the audiobook irritates me a little with his halting speaking style. It almost seems like it is being read by AI (or a bored Captain Kirk).
Fortunately, the individual short stories are read by other voice actors that seem to put some effort in their performances.

Currently replaying the audiobook while I am out walking around.

I started to read this limited series because of the author but I became more impressed by the artwork. The series is free to read if you pay for Prime but I would consider buying it if it gets released as a graphic novel.

Yes, the title is what got my attention.

The book contains two separate stories. Some would consider them novellas but the novellas seem long enough to be the equal of a lot of writer's novels in length.
The first one "The Sisters Strange" is reminiscent of most Charlie Parker novels which is a welcome return with the last two novels being a prequel or a story with Charlie Parker being a minor character with the focus being on his associates.

I am beginning to think Mr. Koontz uses some kind of formula for plotting his standalone novels. You got a main character effected by something in their childhood. You have a psychotic villain. Main character gets drawn to a geographical location. A quasi-government intelligence agency figures into the mix. I am just waiting for an unusually intelligent canine to be added.

I am not really sure how far I progressed. I have the new model Kindle Fire and it refuses to download synced audio on the Kindle app. I did manage to download it on their Audible app but that download up and disappeared while I was listening to it as I was out shopping.

Not really sure what percentage of it I am at. "Best New Horror" is finished and I am part way through the title story.
I started reading this shortly after it was released. I finished a few stories before setting it aside. With the release of the film adaptation of "The Black Phone", I decided to get around to reading the collection cover to cover.

I wanted a fairly short audiobook to listen to while out walking. I am waiting on the upcoming edition of John Connolly's Charlie Parker series.
In the meantime, I saw the movie. The plot is not different so far.

It has been a while since I read a Patrick Lee novel. He has kind of dropped off my radar as of late so I have been in no hurry to finish his first series.
Probably the easiest way I have to describe his work is as Stephen King combined with Tom Clancy.

Oh. Now I recall why I passed Mr. Green by. He so irritatingly repeats him self.
"Blah, blah, blah ....in the Nightside".
" Things are never what they seem...in the Nightside. "
"Past, present and future exist... In the Nightside."
"A proctologist needs to shove his whole arm in...in the Nightside."
Ack!!

Huh. That is interesting. The big bad as two polar opposite lackeys. One is a very congenial ax murderer. Revealing the other might be too much of a spoiler.

With one of the repercussions of his last adventure being wanted for the murder of a government official (he's innocent) and another the strain on his relationship with his girlfriend (not so innocent), Peter Ash is trying to live even more under the radar.
The observation of a man poorly concealing a rifle under his jacket while entering a crowded market impels him to get involved however.

Long lead-up.

I heard that this is being adapted for a Netflix movie so I figured I would give it a read.
So far....meh. Main character is over the top; alpha male killing machine that is seemingly the offspring of The Terminator and the Energizer Bunny.
World's Greatest Assassin but only kills those people that are really, really bad.
Can kill instantly with his bare hands and never misses with a firearm or knife.
Right...

Feels like if Lee Child and Dean Koontz collaborated on a book.

I don't know. I am an hour in and it's taking a while to get moving. So far it is just the self-destructive protagonist detailing how she imploded her life.
Not very escapist fiction for me.
It will be awhile before I make a dent in this book never mind finishing it. It's my "walking around" audio book and I don't foresee myself doing that for the next two days.