Books Read, 2013

A quick scan of the books I read in 2013 (see list below) reveals an overindulgence in crime fiction, particularly Scottish crime fiction. This was not my plan. It just sort of happened. I blame it on my Kindle, which has become my platform of choice for self-indulgence and instant gratification.

I always keep my Kindle handy when I'm reading The New York Times Book Review.  This is my Sunday evening ritual, and I look forward to Marilyn Stasio's crime fiction column. I can usually find something I want to buy in Ms. Stasio's columns. With the Kindle, I can buy whatever  book I want  in a matter of seconds.  It's a lot simpler and faster than my old practice, a tedious ritual of cutting out reviews of books that interested me, storing them, and then retrieving them later and ordering hard copy books delivered by mail. 

Kindle books are also cheaper than print books. When you're a compulsive book buyer and reader facing unemployment, that's a consideration. I must exert cost control over my reading habit, so that it does not unhinge long-range financial plans. 

Fiction standouts in 2013 were Jenni Fagan's The Panopticon, Hilary Mantel's Bring up the Bodies and Peter May's Hebrides trilogy. Among non-fiction books, I was very impressed by James Carroll's Constantine's Sword: The Church and the Jews.  

And now, here is my complete list of books read in 2013 (F=fiction, N=non-fiction). 

May, Peter: The Blackhouse (F)

The first in the Hebrides series, this takes place on the Isle of Lewis. I rave about this one elsewhere in this blog (click here). 

Erdrich, Louise: The Round House (F)

Another “house” book (Roundhouse, Blackhouse... get it?), this is an excellent modern-day tale of reservation Indians.

Higgins, George: The Friends of Eddie Coyle (F)

Dennis Lehane named it one of the best Boston-themed thrillers. Well worth a read. 

Nesbo, Jo: Phantom (F)

This is a Norwegian thriller, but nowhere near the quality of those Swedish Girl with the Dragon Tattoo books. I’m not hard to please when it comes to this genre. But I found Phantom tedious, hard to believe and barely worth the effort of completing.  It's hard to find anything to like about any of the characters. 

This is the sixth (groan) in a series about Harry Hole (what a name -- is the author kidding?). Hole is an ex-detective with a substance abuse problem. Exiled from Oslo to Hong Kong, he returns to Norway to help out his ex-girlfriend and her drug-addicted son, who have run afoul of Russian drug dealers. Parts of the plot really strained credibility, such as the chapter where Harry Hole (???) suddenly produces, as if from nowhere, all the equipment and knowledge required to do an impromptu forensic examination of a crime scene that entirely resolves the plot. Even worse, Harry repeatedly responds “Mmm…” when people tell him things. That’s what I call sparking dialogue. Sorry, I need more believability, more characterization and better writing than this one offers.

St. Aubyn, Edward: Never Mind (F)

I read most of this on a long flight from Pittsburgh to Las Vegas. I never felt bored. Repulsed, yes, but not bored.

St. Aubyn, Edward: Bad News (F)

Even more depraved than Never Mind. This is the second in a series of four about Patrick Melrose. Did I read the next two, Some Hope and Mother’s Milk? Frankly, I cannot recall.

Mina, Denise: The End of the Wasp Season (F)
By one of my favorite Scottish authors. Very well done.  

Morgenstern, Erin: The Night Circus (F)
The magical theme seems to have been influenced by Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. There's a link between that book, which features The Raven King, and The Raven Boys mentioned below.

Kelly, Erin: The Poison Tree (F)

Excellent London atmosphere.

Sedgewick, Marcus: Midwinterblood (F)

Young adult fantasy, beautifully written. I read it in Louisville. I’ll buy more of his work.

Brown, Dan: The Lost Symbol (F)

I never would have bought this if I hadn't been bored in the Louisville airport. Not to my taste, but I finished it anyway.

Atkinson, Kate: Case Histories (F)

Excellent English crime fiction. Jason Brodie #1.

May, Peter: The Lewis Man (F)

The sequel to The Blackhouse and the second book in the Hebrides series. Discussed elsewhere in this blog (click here). 

May, Peter: The Chessmen(F)

Third in the Hebrides series, and a return to form for Mr. May.  It includes a subplot about a Celtic band with a girl singer, bringing to mind Karan Casey (of the Irish band Solas) and Karen Matheson (of the Scottish band Capercaillie). I pointed this out to the author on Twitter and, to my amazement, he responded. Turns out I was on target. I was ridiculously pleased with myself for carrying out my own bit of detective work.  

Rankin, Ian: Exit Music  (F)

Inspector Rebus faces retirement. How awful for him. Rankin's quite reliable. This one's another winner.

Mantel, Hilary: Bring up the Bodies (F)

The sequel to Wolf Hall, this is an outstanding historical novel. It's primarily concerned with Anne Boleyn's downfall as orchestrated by Thomas Cromwell. As one reviewer noted, this is familiar territory, but Mantel makes it compelling. Anne Boleyn's story is so sad that it led me to research her place of burial, which is within the Tower of London. I can't wait for the final book in the trilogy.

Moran, Caitlin: How to be a Woman (N)

My wife bought this for herself. Having a weakness for all things English, I read it. Surprisingly, I liked it. Very intelligent,  a super writer... and she’s from Wolverhampton. Sadly, now she wants to do for socialism what she did for feminism in this book.

Galbraith, Robert: The Cuckoo's Calling (F)

Well done, J.K. Rowling! I am filled with admiration for this woman. What she accomplished with the Harry Potter books was quite remarkable. Now she shows her versatility with a damned good crime novel. I read it during our trip to London, which is where it's set.  Unputdownable. 

Carroll, James: Constantine's Sword: The Church and the Jews  (N)

I finally finished this, after starting it several years ago and setting it aside. It lays bare the scope of anti-Semitism, particularly within the Catholic Church. This surprised me, particularly since the author is a former Catholic priest. A great deal of historical research and deep knowledge of theology went into this book. It must have taken years to produce. My one complaint: I could have done without the final chapters' prescription for reforming the Church. Not that I mind reform, but that's not what I came here to read about. 

Box, C.J.: The Highway(F)

Psychotic long-haul trucker stalks hookers that work the truck stops ("lot lizards," as they're referred to here). Not a bad book,  but it lacked something.  

Cleaves, Ann: Raven Black (F)

More Scottish crime fiction. First in the Shetland Quartet. Good, and my wife liked it too. In fact, this was the only book she read on my recommendation this year.

Stiefvater, Maggie: The Raven Boys (F)

Young adult fiction. High school girl's  friends seek ley lines to find the tomb of Owen Glendower. The girl, whose mother is the town psychic, resembles Rogue of the X-Men. She cannot allow herself to have a boyfriend, or even kiss a boy, because of a prophecy that she is destined to kill the love of her life. I'll read the sequel.

Blackwood, Nina; Goodman, Mark; Hunter, Alan; Quinn, Martha: VJ: The Unplugged Adventures of MTV's First Wave (N)

Hardly a book, this is an oral history put together by a professional from disjointed reminiscences by the four named above.  Goodman appears to be an arrogant a**hole; Quinn, a sweetheart (I always knew she was); and Blackwood, a neurotic kook. 

Fagan, Jenni: The Panopticon (F)

More Scottish fiction, and one of the best reads of the year. Disturbing and heartbreaking, it reminded me of White Oleander because of its theme of children in foster care. But it's much darker. 

Card, Orson Scott: Ender's Game (F)

A science fiction novel written in 1985. Seems to anticipate video game and Internet culture. May have been influenced by William Gibson's Neuromancer (1984). Card's aliens are giant insects (or buggers, as he refers to them). That in turn seems to have influenced the film version of Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers, which came years later.  

In the year ahead, I resolve to read more non-fiction. I'll do anything to stave off senility.