reading material to get excited about

True reading, as the late Jorge Luis Borges once observed, is actually re-reading. This is a crucial part of the criteria I use when considering my list of favorite readings from the past year: not only how much I enjoyed reading it the first time, but more importantly, if it is among those select titles that I look forward to reading again. With that in mind, in no particular order:
 
THE CUT by George Pelecanos — This introduced a new series character and recalled the vigor missed in some recent stand-alone works.
 
HEADSTONE by Ken Bruen — To date, this is the darkest of the Jack Taylor series, just when you thought they couldn’t get any darker.
 
FUN & GAMES / HELL & GONE by Duane Swierczynski — I’m cheating a bit here with two titles in a single entry, but these two-thirds of Swierczynski’s madcap, relentlessly paced Charlie Hardie trilogy were undeniable delights.
 
A LITTLE TOO MUCH by John Shannon — Jack Liffey may be getting older, but his professional and private life shows no signs of easing up — nor does this excellent series by this unforgivably overlooked author.
 
THE OUTLAW ALBUM by Daniel Woodrell — Various criminal activities and the weight of family highlight this first collection of short fiction by the renowned novelist of WINTER’S BONE.
 
THE GENTLEMAN’S HOUR by Don Winslow — The combination of dark and light elements displayed so expertly in his standout SAVAGES actually has its basis in this DAWN PATROL sequel, finally published in the U.S. this past year.
 
A DROP OF THE HARD STUFF by Lawrence Block — This maestro of crime fiction can still move us as he proves in this recalling of Matt Scudder’s early years of hard-fought sobriety.
 
THE END OF EVERYTHING by Megan Abbott — Proves conclusively that Abbott, along with Laura Lippman, is one of the few crime-fiction authors bound for acclaim by mainstream literature critics and readers.
 
THE URBAN FANTASY ANTHOLOGY edited by Peter S. Beagle and Joe R. Lansdale — Perhaps the oddest editorial paring results in a collection of stories that is as surprisingly illustrative as it is entertaining in this highly misunderstood, but potent subgenre.

COWBOYS by Gary Phillips and Brian Hurtt — Demonstrates how a graphic novel can effectively and memorably present a complex and involving story when using the talents of one of crime fiction’s finest and most underrated authors, along with an artist who knows the cinematic potential of the medium. —Alan Cranis

Buy them at Amazon.
 

{ 0 comments }

Best Nonfiction 
A ROCKET IN MY POCKET, Max Decharne’s energetic, in-depth appreciation of rockabilly manages to cover the genre from both personal and historical angle. It roams from detailing one-shot curios like Jerry “The Phantom” Lott to excavating the genius of Charlie Feathers. That it spends time appreciating the Tav Falco and The Cramps is just icing on the BBQ. Superbly paced and deeply appreciative of the more eccentric side of the field, this book is all killer, no filler.

Also, given my interest in the oddball fringe sciences and forteana, there’s no time like now to mention the book I’m currently reading: Jeffrey J. Kripal’s MUTANTS & MYSTICS: SCIENCE FICTION, SUPERHERO COMICS, AND THE PARANORMAL. It spends a dozen pages on Philip K. Dick’s pink-beam experience, hops over to compare John Keel to Jack Kirby with uncanny insights, wanders about into psychedelic research and Ray Palmer’s connection to the UFO subculture while pondering on the connective tissue between paranormal and religious experiences and how they often are linked to creative genius (Dick, Barry Windsor-Smith, Grant Morrison and Alan Moore, to name just a few). I’ll be spending quality time with this beautifully designed tome, but it’s by far the most fascinating book on any subject I’ve had a chance to read this year.

Best Euro Comics
More than anything else, I read comic books and graphic novels this year. Among the many greats out this year, Luke Pearson’s delightful HILDA AND THE MIDNIGHT GIANT stands on the top of the heap. This large-size hardcover from Nobrow is, whether it sells a million copies or not, a rare case of an instant all-ages classic. If you enjoy Miyazaki-style whimsy and can find a copy, grab it.

Cinebook kept its pace of publishing an array of classic bandes-dessinees in affordable editions. THE EMPIRE OF A THOUSAND PLANETS by Jean-Claude Mezieres and Pierre Christin was one of the many highlights of the season, eclipsed only by the latest Blake & Mortimer adventure, GONDWANA SHRINE, (which may be the best episode yet in this 65-year old series!) from Yves Sante and Andre Juillard.

Fantagraphics continued its Jacques Tardi lineup, and I was particularly delighted by the proto-steampunk THE ARCTIC MARAUDER, although I think one should own every single book in the series. I was also happy to see some less well-known artists get their chance, and both SIBYL-ANNE VS. RATTICUS by R. Macherot and MURDER BY HIGH TIDE by Maurice Tilleux were wonderful surprises in the classic Franco-Belgian “bigfoot” style. Fantagraphics is quickly becoming the Criterion Collection of comics publishing.

Humanoids spearheaded its METAL HURLANT-inspired lineup with a reprint of THE COMPLETE INCAL by Moebius and Alexandro Jodorowsky, but the new Jodo-penned Western, BOUNCER, was almost equally wonderful. I couldn’t afford some of Humanoids’ ultra-deluxe reprints and am waiting for some trade-edition treats out next year.

Finally, Rebellion brought several classic 2000 AD books to the US market, including the JUDGE DREDD COMPLETE CASE FILES series. As wonderful as those were, I was taken off-guard by HONDO-CITY LAW which compiled numerous adventures set in the Japanese equivalent of Dredd’s Mega City. Despite having numerous different artists, the contents were uniformly great and give me enduring hope for the future of this long-standing UK publication.

All of these publishers, except for Fantagraphics, seem to be coming in under the radar in the U.S., and I’d urge you to seek out and investigate each and every one.

Best e-books
I’m biased. Go Blasted Heath. So sue me.

And the WORST of the year?
All the books I didn’t bother finishing. You know who you are. —JT Lindroos

Buy them at Amazon.

{ 1 comment }