Rob Baker’s Reviews > IQ > Status Update

"The man had the shakes and was looking around like he'd lost a child at the county fair, his face sagging like Auntie May's basset hound, his eyes yellow and bloodshot from seeing too much of his own life.

Youngsters were staying away from crack. They'd seen too many crackheads wandering the streets all stank-ass nasty, groveling for change, and trying to sell you a toaster oven with the power cord cut off" (189).

"When Isaiah was in his teens, he worked for Harry Haldeman and wondered even then how the man could stay in a state of perpetual indignation" (121).

"Anthony was staring at a photograph of a seagull like it was flying away with his youth" (113).

"Cal felt like a Winnebago on a one-lane road, Bobby a Porsche Turbo weaving around behind him blasting the horn" (117).

"Dodson's eggs came out moist and fluffy. By then, the hashbrowns had a crust on them, the ham was still arm, the sourdough toast slathered with butter. He took a moment to admire the plate. 'Like the cover of a Denny's menu,' he said" (92-93).

"His attendance was so bad his history teacher said he should wear a visitor's badge. Homework was like a strange ritual they did in some foreign country where everybody was blond and wore wooden shoes" (57).

"Isaiah knew other girls who felt that way. Somehow believing a big booty was like owning real estate or having a college degree, something you could put on a job application" (15).

Yesterday was the always fun "Head to Half Price Books to Pick Out the Next Read" Day!

They didn't have a few titles that were on my mind, but I ended up pulling up the list of Anthony Award winners and found this previously unknown author/title that won Best First Novel in 2017.

Here's hoping.....