More Good Books Than Grains of Sand
lifetime book-lover who writes about - what else? - a variety of books.
Currently reading
Reading progress update: I've read 264 out of 418 pages.
a long time ago, i read and immensely enjoyed John Connolly's The Book of Lost Things (which i highly recommend if you're a fan of Neil Gaiman's Stardust, or of modern-day stories infused with fantasy and fairy tales), and Nocturnes, a collection of horror short stories. Connolly is a propulsive and magical writer who could make a list of ingredients seem fascinating and infused with magic and hint of doom. so after i'd exhausted myself of Connolly's two standalone books, i turned an inquisitive eye toward his Charlie Parker series, a long-running one even then that promised many hours of thoroughly transporting writing.
unfortunately, i was turned off by the many descriptions of the series as "dark." and this seemed to be an accurate description since the protagonist's family is murdered by a serial killer in one of the early books (i think - the basic facts are true but i'm not sure of the timeline). in any case, "dark" plus "murdered family" plus "serial killer" put me in the mind of that Brad Pitt thriller "Seven", so i reacted with all kinds of NO THANK YOUs. for the most part, i tend to like my "dark" with a smidgen of good humor, and light on the hopelessness and depression. (seriously, "Seven" gave me nightmares and i enjoy horror movies on a regular basis).
that's all to say that it's taken me all of seven years to finally pick up a Charlie Parker novel, and i am ever so happy that i have. i don't know about the other books (i will soon if my enjoyment of this installment is any indication), but The Wolf in Winter is plain supernatural thriller fun. i'm enjoying every page of it. it has reminded me all-to-clearly why i enjoyed Connolly's writing, and if the other books in the series are just as good, i won't be taking another seven year hiatus.
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