First up this week is memoir from an Australian author about growing up black in middle-class Australia. I would also like to add the author is a slam poetry champion and spoken word performer, and her book is out now. But before you go get it, read this post first.
The second rec… well. An anthology of work from some of the best writers around… and it grew out of a meme on Twitter. Yup. And the title just makes me laugh!
The third one, I’m torn. There are things I like, and one particular thing that makes me pause… so, who’s watched iZombie?
The fourth seems to encapsulate: behind every great man is a greater woman.
The fifth rec this week reminded me of an article I naturally can’t find, but a blogger was thought to be missing, but she wasn’t. Her fans just went nuts worrying about her. I’ll track down that article at some point, but that’s what caught my eye about this one: the power of social media.
The Hate Race: Just before writing this, I saw a bit on a current affairs program, The Project, here about Black Deaths in Custody. In it, the host Waleed Aly described the deaths of Aboriginal women in custody and our willingness to accept them. I am bringing this up because we like to think that we don’t have a racism problem, that it isn’t part of our culture, but it is. And this is Maxine Beneba Clarke experience of growing up in Australia.
What the #@&% Is That?: Yup, that’s the title! Apparently, a comic book artist Mike Mignola drew a monster and posted it on Twitter and everyone asked — you guessed it — What the #@&% Is That? And from that, this anthology began, in which every story has the line What the #@&% Is That? — whether it’s funny or horror or something else. I mean, look at some of the authors: Jonathan Maberry, Seanan McGuire, Christopher Golden, Alan Dean Foster (Be still my Star Trek heart).
Firewalk: Chris Roberson is the co-author of iZombie, the comic. Alright, so I tried watching the show and didn’t think much of it, but I haven’t tried reading the comics. But I have all that in my head when I look at this book, it should be something I am going GIMME at. It’s a supernatural crime thriller, with an FBI agent and cop — Izzie and Patrick respectively — working together to bring down a serial killer. But neither Patrick nor Izzie believe their case is actually over. And this is where it gets REALLY interesting: their backgrounds come into play. Izzie’s ancestors were voodoo priestesses who claimed to communicate with the dead and Patrick grew up with Polynesian tales of something supernatural lurking in his city. But then, the author throws in a drug angle, and the blurb promises all of this will tie in together with their pasts and the case that brought them together. I feel breathless just reading all that. Is the author wanting to do too much here? Or is this an author who can pull all this off? And should I start watching iZombie?
Lola: By all accounts the leader of the Brenshaw Six gang in LA is a guy called Garcia. In reality, it’s his girlfriend, Lola. Who is the one that gang needs to get them out of the middle of a violent mess involving drug cartels. She’s more ruthless, more intelligent and tougher than anyone else in the gang. AND, I adore her already. NODS.
Cut to the bone: A video of Ruby, a vlogger, is uploaded to the internet, showing her pleading for her life, which is when Kate Riley and her team of mostly female investigators are assigned to the case. Unfortunately or not, the blurb manages to throw in a hint of a romance with the a male member of her team, which it could have so done without. BOO. Because a woman who is a rising star has to have a man to bring her down to earth and relatable I guess. Did they expect bonus points for making him a multiracial character? … BUT despite all this, which I will desperately try to ignore, the story is about social media, about fans going hysterical because their Ruby is missing, and an investigation into the world sounds extremely promising. I also suspect and hope it’s a situation that’s rife for commentary on social media in general, yes?
Ahhh, I want real life to stop so I can read them ALL NOW. Nods.
I don’t think I’ve read a memoir so far, not sure if I would enjoy them. But I am trying to read more non-fiction lately. Anthologies can be great to discover new authors or read more by those you already know. I like to pick up an anthology now and then. Interesting and fun story how that anthology came to be.
I didn’t realize there was a book titled Lola. It’s always a bit weird to read a book where a character has the same name as you do. It does sound interesting though. Great list!
I haven’t read one either, but this one and another that really caught my interest this year and I find myself noting them more generally. And IA about anthologies, they are a great way to find new authors — they’re another one I need to start reading more of.
And LOLA, heh, yeah! But you have a very very cOOL namesake. Or is that the other way around? 🙂
I’ve not heard of any of these but I think I’m gonna have to grab “What the #@&% Is That?” It sure contains some great authors. Thanks for the head’s up!
And it has a killer title lol! I hope you like it Barb!
Ooh, Cut to the Bone looks so good. I’ve not heard of it before.
It was new to me too! Here’s hoping it’s good!
These are great and Cut to the Bone spoke to me…I shall add it!
Awesome! *high fives*
Ooh some of these sound really good. I’m curious about Firewalk, and I read all the i-Zombie comics which are quite good!
Oooh, really? I am of two minds about that one, so thrilled the comics are good!
I always love to see your book recs!!! Lola, Firewalk, and Cut to the Bone all sound great to me. I haven’t heard of any of these yet. 😀
All of these sound super intense!! The Hate Race intrigues me if I could stomach it!