Canary in a Book Mart

Jen and I hit our local Barnes and Noble yesterday. I already have books to read, she has books.

Why go?

In part, it was just an excuse to get into arctic level air conditioning. Also -- we didn’t have anything mindless enough for our brain’s heat inspired very low level functioning.

Off we went.

We were poking around, basically grazing through the aisles -- me in sci fi (as usual), Jen in fiction and more. I tend to be more or less focused when looking for reading matter that serves as Reality Sidestepping mechanism. I don’t want to just escape the screaming temps -- I want to leave the planet or, at least, this version of it.

What did I end up with?

Year Zero by Rob Reid

The entire cosmos, they (aliens) tell him, has been hopelessly hooked on humanity’s music ever since “Year Zero” (1977 to us), when American pop songs first reached alien ears. This addiction has driven a vast intergalactic society to commit the biggest copyright violation since the Big Bang. The resulting fines and penalties have bankrupted the whole universe. We humans suddenly own everything—and the aliens are not amused.

Will it be escapist enough or filled with record industry argle bargle? Dunno but John Hodgeman gave it a big ol’ thumbs up.

Before Year Zero I’m into White Trash Zombie Apocalypse by Diana Rowland
Oh come ON it’s just the thing -- foul mouthed, strong, independent female lead and, undoubtedly, a happy ending. Also too...zombies. Great Beach Read! (if one lives on the beach is everything a beach read? even Shakespeare and Nietzsche?)

Here’s the thing, my go to author for the Here and Now Dodge-em used to be (wicked past tense here) Laurel Hamilton. Specifically her Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter and the Merry Gentry ('faerie' princess turned private investigator) series. The hero of each series is, again, a strong, individualistic, kick ass woman plus there’s fairies, werewolves, vampires and demons.

What’s not to love? Romance. Both series evolved into, essentially, bodice rippers with a large side of Story-of-O-with-a-Twist type sex. That’s all well and good I suppose but def NOT what I'm looking for.

I liked the big fight scenes, the mysteries and machinations, the other worldly, mythical/mystical beings. The S&M/B&D, the big love juggling of heartthrobs and spiritual mates for life (all of whom have great asses)? Eh. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz + annoying.

Gratuitous sunrise pic

What else? Jen handed me a book and asked ‘should I get this? Do you think it’ll be any good?’
‘Good’ defined as:

1) Will it make us laugh and is it witty versus slap stickingly funny?
2) Will it make us think/expand our minds but, ya know, not TOO overly much?

She does this a lot. I’m basically, a canary in the book mart for Jen. If I don’t fall asleep from colorless, moth-eaten prose, if I don’t experience premature book death (dropping the tome before I reach the hundredth page), if, upon finishing, I tell her ‘you MUST read this one next!,’ then it’s OK for her to read.

Alright, maybe I’m more of a literature taster. Wouldn’t want Jen to get a poisoned paperback.

So, what’s the book? When You Lie About Your Age the Terrorists Win by Carol Leifer. So far, I’ve just read the first two essays, so fab!