77 Shadow Street by Dean Koontz

Synopsis From Dust Jacket:

The Pendleton stands on the summit of Shadow Hill at the highest point of an old heartland city, a Golden Age palace built in the late 1800s as a tycoon's dream home.  Almost from the beginning, its grandeur has been scarred by episodes of madness, suicide, mass murder, and whispers of things far worse.  But since its rechristening in the 1970s as a luxury apartment building, the Pendleton has been at peace.  For it's fortunate residents - a successful songwriter and her young son, a disgraced ex-senator, a widowed attorney, and a driven money manager among them - the Pendleton's magnificent quarters are a sanctuary, it's dark past all but forgotten.

But now inexplicable shadows caper across walls, security cameras relay impossible images, phantom voices mutter in strange tongues, not-quite-human figures lurk in the basement, elevators plunge into unknown depths.  With each passing hour, a terrifying certainty grows: Whatever drove the Pendleton's past occupants to their unspeakable fates is at work again.  Soon, all those within it's boundaries will be engulfed by a deadly tide from which few have escaped. 

When do you give up on an author you used to love?  When do you finally say, enough is enough, their new stuff sucks, I'll stick to what I already love?  With Stephen King, it took reading Insomnia for me to get to that point.  The damn thing should have been marketed as a cure for the ailment.  I actually stopped reading Dean Koontz years ago.  I don't even remember which book(s) finally turned me off of his new stuff, but for whatever reason, I was never willing to totally give up.  I almost bought 77 Shadow Street when it first came out, but I kept putting it off.  It wasn't until the hardcover was less than $6 at Barnes & Noble, earlier last month, that I finally decided to give it a go.  I kinda want my money back.

I can never stress how much I wanted to love this book.  To start with, I'm a huge haunted house fan.  I want to like any book that can suck me into dark halls and claustrophobic rooms.  I can read The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, Hell House by Richard Matheson, Drawing Blood by Poppy Z. Brite, The Sentinel by Jeffrey Konvitz, Burnt Offerings by Robert Marasco, or Bedbugs by Ben H. Winters a bazillion times, and never be bored.  It's the whole reason I watched 666 Park Avenue, it sure wasn't for the acting.  Whether it's a book, movie, TV show, or something else; if it involved a haunted house, I'm there.  Hell, I've even lived in a haunted house, though it wasn't as exciting as the movies make it out to be.

On top of that, I used to love Dean Koontz's books when I was younger.  I still love a few of them; Watchers, Strangers, Phantoms, and Lightning being the ones that come to mind.  So put the two together, and it should have been a slam dunk.  Instead, it was a foul ball that hit the catcher in the face.  It was such an odd mishmash of nanotechnology, time travel, temporal portals, mad scientists, and the meaning of life.  It was disguised to look like a haunted house story, but it wasn't.  The plot was so convoluted, I'm still not sure on some of the things that happened.  Nor do I really think I care.  It felt as if the story was constructed by picking themes and events out of a hat, and stringing them together. The only redeeming quality was some of the characters, but there were so many of them, that the ones I liked weren't on screen long enough. Nor do you really have enough time to spend with them, to truly care about what happens to them.  The hero of the piece, though he may have some of the characteristics of some of his earlier heroes, he's never developed enough, not like what I expect from Koontz.

To answer my own question, I think I'm finally willing to admit defeat.  I will not be picking up any more of his new work.  Instead, if I need a Koontz fix, I'll go back to the books that I know I love.

Tacolicious by Sara Deseran

Synopsis From Front Cover:

Tacos may be the most universally love, happy-making food on Earth.  After all, who can say no to a juicy, spicy Chile Verde taco; a decadently deep-fried Baja-style fish taco; or a gloriously porky Carnitas taco? At Tacolicious, the San Francisco Bay Area's most popular Mexican restaurant, tacos are a way of life.  And now, in this hotly anticipated debut cookbook, co-owner Sara Deseran shares all of the retaurant's tortilla-wrapped secrets.  Whether your'e seeking quick and easy weeknight meals of inspiration for a fabulous fiesta, Tacolicious has you covered.  With recipes for showstopping salsa, crave-worthy snacks, cocktails and mocktails, and, of course, tacos galore, this festive collection is chock-full of real Mexican flavor - with a delicious California twist.

I adore tacos.  I don't think there is a more perfect food, well maybe the dumpling, but that's for another post.  The taco is such a simple concept, but it's so versatile  It can be as simple as what I grew up eating; store bought taco shells, seasoned ground beef, cheddar cheese, lettuce, onion, tomatoes, and sour cream.  My mom would put the hamburger and cheese into the shells, then pop them in the oven for a bit, just to let the cheese get a little melty.  Or it can be a culinary masterpiece, either way, I'll eat them.  Obviously, there was no way I wasn't looking forward to getting my hands on this book.

I'm one of those oddballs that will read a cookbook, cover to cover, before selecting something to try out.  I like to get a feel for the way the book flows, the stories behind the dishes, the history of the food, and it's always a plus when the author's personality shines through.  I got all of that with Tacolicious.  Reading this book made me sad that I don't live in San Francisco, though not enough to get me to move.  Once I was done with my initial read, it was time to cook.  Which, just after reading, is my favorite pastime.  It's such a good relaxation tool for me.

I love Chile Verde so it was pretty easy to figure out what I wanted to make first.  It's not something I've ever made before, I've never needed to.  I live on the side of town that is just a few minutes away from some of the best Mexican food in the state.  There are a ton of small, locally owned dives, that does some of the best Mexican I've had.  I've lived in California and Texas, and been into Mexico about a bazillion times, and I'll put what we got here, against any of those other places.

I'll admit, I was a little daunted at first.  It's not a long recipe, or one with a tone of ingredients, but it's one that I didn't want to screw up.  I didn't want to turn one of my favorite dishes, into something I wouldn't want to eat ever again.  I really hate cutting up meat, and I was not looking forward to it at all.  Thankfully, there is a new butcher shop in town, that sells locally raised meats, and they will prepare it for you as well.  So after one side trip, I was back home, ready to cook.

Once I got started, it was pretty simple, and the house quickly filled with an aroma that made my mouth water.  I'm not going to say that my first stab at this dish was as good as the version I could get at Tacoliscous, but it was pretty damn good.  The pork was perfectly tender, and so juicy.  I love the flavors of Chile Verde, and I think I've found a new favorite.

There is a recipe in here for fish tacos, another of my weaknesses, but I never like to fry at home.  I can't stand the smell it leaves behind.  There is also a recipe for tamales, and if I ever feel that ambitious, I'm giving it a go.  And the next time I feel like grilling some hot dogs, the bacon-wrapped hot dogs with jalapeno-cucumber relish, will be being consumed, along with a pitcher of Margarita picante.

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books, for this review.

Wordsmtihonia Radio: The 80s, Part Deux

I've had had the 80s on the brain lately.  If I'm not listening to music from the 40s and 50s, it's from the 80s.  I'm the same with movies, I tend to like a few decades, and with few exceptions, that's about all I watch.  So today, it's all about the 80s.  My listening has really been all over the place, not really sticking in one genre, rather more of an overall feel of the decade. 

For your listening pleasure, here are a few songs I've been listening to lately.

Lifeboat - 1944

Synopsis From Back Cover:

After their ship is sunk in the Atlantic by Germans, eight people are stranded in a lifeboat.  Their problems are further compounded when they pick up a ninth passenger - the Nazi captain from the U-boat that torpedoed them.

When someone asks me to name my favorite Hitchcock movie, there are a few that will run through my head, but every time I answer the same way, Lifeboat. Directed in 1944, two years after another favorite Suspicion, and one year before another, Spellbound, this is Hitchcock at his tension building best.

Putting these characters into a derelict lifeboat, in the middle of the Atlantic, it could have gone two ways.  The isolation could have been incredibly boring, Castaway anyone.  It could have been a bunch of people, bickering as they are waiting to be rescued.  Or the setting could have created such a closed in, claustrophobic feeling to the whole movie, keeping the tension ratcheted up the entire time.  And that is what Hitchcock managed to do.

There is nothing not perfect about this movie.  I even love Tallulah Bankhead in it, and I'm not normally a huge fan of hers.  She never seemed to take acting seriously, at least not in film.  Her performances always reminded me of someone going through the motions, not really into what they are doing.  It's how I imagine most fast food workers.  They don't like their jobs, maybe even hate them, but they need the money.  Acting seemed like a means to an end for her, not a real passion.  I'm not sure what changed for her in Lifeboat, but she knocks it out of the ballpark.  Her turn as Constance Porter, a rather jaded war correspondent, is her best work.  For the first time I was watching a woman who really enjoyed what she was doing, and she actually made me believe in the character.  It's like watching Madonna in Evita, some roles are made for a certain actress/actor, and Constance Porter was perfect for Tallulah Bankhead.

The real star of the movie, was the atmosphere and tension that Hitchcock built within that confined space.  It's the tension between the characters, the tension between the Allies and Germany, and even the tension among the Allies themselves, all at work, creating a powder keg situation.  The tension never lets up.  It has it's ebbs and flows, it's moments where calm seems to have descended, then Hitchcock ratchets it back up, culminating in a explosive ending.

Favorite Fictional Character --- Stingray

Ever since I was a kid, I've been a superhero geek.  Now I'm not one of those that would ever go to Comic-Con, or dress up like their favorite character.  I haven't touched a comic book in years, and most of the superhero movies don't do anything for me.  But there is a select group of heroes that I love.  I've loved them since I first stumbled up on them, and I will probably always love them.  Over the years I've highlighted only a few of them, Doctor Strange, Mandrake the Magician, and Northstar.  So in the month of September, I'm going to be posting on some of my other favorite superheroes.  Some of them will be familiar to a lot of you, others only if you grew up reading comic books.  And for those superhero fanatics who happen to stumble upon these posts, these are not character bios or in depth studies of their behaviors, these are simply posts about why I like them.

Born Walter Newell, the man who would become the costumed crime fighter, Stingray, started off as a famed oceanographer.  He is one of those men who got caught up in the adventuring game, purely by accident.  The U.S. government asked him to supervise the construction of a underwater city, and he quickly became friends with Namor, the Sub-Mariner.  When the government thought Namor was in league with terrorists, Dr. Newell, donned the Stingray costume to capture his friend.

Over the years he has worked with the Avengers on a needed basis, and even helped to house them in his underwater research lab when their mansion was destroyed.  He has helped beat back alien and terrestrial threats to the Earth, and shows almost undaunted courage in the face of danger.  Which, when you think about it, is pretty amazing.  He has no special powers and really no trained combat skills. He has to rely on his suit, which allows him to breath underwater, has a pretty cool propulsion system, gives him super strength while he is wearing it, and since his name is Stingray, it gives off controlled electric shocks.

If you knew the kid I was growing up, you would understand why I loved Stingray.  For years, all I wanted to be was an oceanographer.  I could think of no cooler career choice.  I even knew I wanted to go to school in Hawaii.  I'm not sure what weakened my resolve, but after a few years I focused on medicine, and we all know how that turned out.  And the idea of an ordinary guy, with no unique powers, putting himself out there to help others, it's something I admire and strive to emulate in my life.  Of course I'm not donning a costume and chasing down criminals, but there are so many ways you can positively influence the lives of others.

A Serving of Love by Andrew Grey

Synopsis From Publisher:

Sebastian Franklin has waited a long time to prove himself as front of the house manager at Cafe Belgie, but his first night in charge while Darryl, his boss, is on vacation is less than a success.  The restaurant is robbed at closing time, and the Good Samaritan who foiled the robber comes with his own complications.  Robert Fortier is the county's newest judge, and a reluctant one at that.  He is well aware that a public life is not always easy, especially when your personal life makes you the target of a media frenzy.  Still, Robert enjoys Sebastian's company, and Sebastian is never without a serving of happiness and flair for his favorite public figure.  But Sebastian is not without his issues either-- family chaos and an ex in trouble will put the pressure on as they struggle for even footing in this new romance.

Because I've read so many m/m romances since I got my NOOK, I could do a review a day, and still not get through all of them in a year.  I'm been kind of randomly picking one every once in a while, without any thought behind it.  That will change with this review.  A lot of the books I've been reading are part of a series, so I figured it would make sense if I were to review them in order, without jumping around on my NOOK.  Since the last book was A Taste of Love by Andrew Grey, it's time for A Serving of Love.

We actually met Sebastian in the previous book, and he was an okay guy.  A little immature at first, he quickly grew on me, and I ended up really enjoying him by the end.  Well in A Serving of Love, it's his time to shine, and boy does he.  What I find the most interesting about this kind of series, the type that sets up the next protagonist in the previous book, is how much the character changes once they are the center of attention.  What starts off as a well rounded, two dimensional, quickly becomes a fully fleshed out three dimensional character.  While I may have enjoyed Sebastian earlier, I loved him by the end of this one.

He's still a little immature, but he has such a stable head on his shoulders, and has more backbone in him than I would have thought at first.  He is fiercely loyal to his friends, even helping an ex that has hit rock bottom.  And when his current beau Robert gets into a pickle, Sebastian, along with Billy (one of the leads from the first book), jumps into the thick of things to fight back.  He fearless in his love, and fearless in his defense of those he considers his.  He is the type of man I would dearly love to have as a friend.

Robert, what can I say about the gentle giant.  First of all the man is tall, and when I mean tall, I mean tall.  I'm 6'2", and I would have to stand on my tippy-toes to kiss him.  I've only dated one guy that was that much taller than me, and I must admit, I rather liked it.  He also has such a steely sense of duty and honor.  He is the kind of guy that would give you the shirt of his back, and ask you if you needed anything else. In addition to the outing portion of his story, there is a side story line concerning his father, and I have to admit that at first I was sure about the way he handled it.  After rereading the book, I'm a little more understanding of the way it went down, and it makes sense with who Robert is.  And did I mention that until now, Robert was a virgin.

Together, I think the two of them are smoking hot, and compliment each other beautifully.  They create such a solid foundation for their relationship, and they deal with so many outside stresses, that I'm almost positive nothing could break them up.  I think I still like Darryl and Billy a bit more, and I'm always grateful for the page time they get in this, and the proceeding books.  And just to give you guys a hint, look for Sebastian's ex to have his own story, two books from now.

And by the way, and I'm pretty sure everyone else on the planet already knew what steak frites were, but it's not something I've ever heard of.  It's apparently considered the national dish of Belgium and France, but I have never, in my life, had fries with my steak.  I'm only bringing this up because it's the most popular dish at Cafe Belgie, and apparently the only thing Robert knows how to order when he goes there.  So one day, I'll have to try it.  I have no idea why, but the idea of eating fries with my steak, bugs me a bit.  Maybe if I can have it with sweet potato fries, it wouldn't weird me out so much.

Death by Hitchcock by Elissa D. Grodin

Synopsis From Back Cover:

Physics and film seemingly have few academic features in common.  However, when local sire Bunny Baldwin, a student in the Film Studies Department at Cushing College, is found strangled to death on opening night of the Hitchcock Film Festival, Physics professor Edwina Goodwin puts on her detecting hat.  Using her scientific sleuthing skills to assist her almost boyfriend Police Detective Will Tenney, the pair work together to investigate the campus murder.  Edwina wants to know -- why did the murderer tie a strip of film around the victim's head?  Why did the killer time the murder to coincide with the showing of the famous Hitchcock film Spellbound?  Was Bunny really killed by strangulation or did the unusual drugs found in her system suggest poisoning?  Why do all the suspects have a seemingly airtight alibi?

There are certainty sufficient suspects as Edwina quickly ascertains.  The head of the Film Studies Department was having a torrid and practically public affair with the victim.  His wife was apparently furious, but not enough to keep her from also engaging in sexual hanky panky.  The victim had stolen a screenplay written by her roommate, Mary, to secure a Hollywood agent.  Mary is out for payback.  A quirky older woman who uses plants and other natural remedies to cure various ailments followed the head of the department around like a moon-struck calf.  And, of course, there's the film department's boy savant who plays chess with Edwina and keeps her updated on the various players.

Can Edwina use her knowledge of physics to unlock the strange features of this most unusual crime?  When a second murder occurs, it looks like she may -- if the killer doesn't find her first.

There are mysteries that can pull me in by the intricate plots, that twist and turn as they play with my brain.  I can be riveted by a dashing lead detective who uses the tools and know-how at their disposal, allowing them to solve the murder with panache.  Others hook me with the setting, a dark foreboding mansion, or the rocky, wind swept coast.  There are even mysteries that I really enjoy, without ever really understanding the reasons.   There is nothing that really stands out about them, but as a whole, they work.

I'm not saying Death by Hitchcock fits that last profile, because I'm not convinced I really enjoyed it all that much.  At the same, I'm not saying I didn't like it.  To tell the truth, I'm really not sure what I'm saying.  I tend to love academic mysteries, and while this does occur on a college campus, I never really felt as if it belonged there, and only there.  It's the same issue I had with Blade of the Samurai by Susan Spann, while the setting was real, the mystery itself felt as if it could have been anywhere, at anytime.  Nothing really connected the two parts of the mystery for me.

At the same time, I really did like Edwina, though I'm a little perplexed by the need to give the character the same initials as the author.  I found her to be engaging, and I loved her relationship with Will.  They are characters I would like to spend more time with, even if the mystery itself doesn't really work for me.  I just didn't by the ending or the reasoning behind the killer's motive.  I'm not sure if it's because the killer's character wasn't developed enough for me, or if the solution, though scientific, seemed to be a bit of a stretch.

I loved Edwina and Will, and maybe that love was enough to get around my issues with the story, I'm not really sure yet.  I'm not willing to give up on this series just yet.  While the mystery didn't captivate me, it was solid enough, and it did give something for Edwina and Will to shine in.  I'm just going to have to see how the next works for me.

This was a free review copy provided by Kelly & Hall Book Publicity, for an honest review.