An interview with John Connolly on the Charlie Parker series. John talks about selective use of violence as a writer becomes more seasoned. He also discusses the plot of his new novel Burning Soul.
 Shoedog by George Pelecanos
Constantine is back in the USA after traveling around the world. He's picked up hitchhiking by an old guy named Polk heading for Florida. Constantine quickly becomes involved with a misfit group of thugs planning a big caper. His new buddy Polk owes money to an old army buddy turned ganster and has one last job to get him off his back. George Pelecanos writes charatcer rich, gritty crime fiction in this suspense thiller with an action packed climax. "For me to be able to live in the light and live in the world, I had to find a way that I was comfortable in the awful darkness that was in my head . . . It was the writing that saved me and saved my life." Ken Bruen Novelist  The Killing of the Tinkers by Ken Bruen
This is the second novel in the Jack Taylor series and one of my favorites. Jack's got two new clients and we're along for the ride. Someone is killing men from a group of Irish gypsies called the Tinkers and Jack's hired to live among them. He's given a place to live in with all expenses paid and starts looking for clues. At the same time someone is also killing Swans in a local park and Jack's hell bent on finding out who. Join Jack as he searches for answers and struggles with his own inner demons. Jack Taylor novels are sarcastic and gritty real page turning fun. This is the novel that hooked me on anything Ken Bruen. Give it a try and you'll be reading everything Ken Bruen too. If you haven't watch the show Breaking Bad (pilot preview) now is the time. The last season is out this summer and you have lots of catching up to do. Its jaw dropping crime fiction about a high school chemistry teacher who starts making and distributing Crystal Meth to pay for his lung cancer treatment. His partner Jesse Pinkman is one of his students who lead the selling and gets them involved with super nasty bad guys. The writing is awesome and it always keeps you guessing as the main character Walter White switches from self doubt to criminal mastermind.   Tower was a collaborative novel by Ken Bruen and Reed Farrell Coleman. Its a brilliant piece of storytelling told through the eyes of two friends. More crime mind candy... Go grab it, if you can find it. Here's an Interview with Reed Farrell Coleman discussing his writing process and working with Ken Bruen from 3,000 miles away.  I found this incredible video of Michael Connelly speaking about his beginnings, his writing process and how Harry Bosch was born. The audience asks some great questions. Michael is a extremely relaxed and well spoken. Its worth watching the whole video.
Michael Connelly: 2009 National Book Festival  Okay foodies this is your chance to catch an amazing food event. In case you haven't heard about it, Madison Square Park in NYC is having a food event with about twenty local restaurants. On a tiny speck of land at 24th Street and Broadway is the Madison Square Eats Event. It is crammed with hungry people willing to wait for tasty food. Everyone was extremely polite even though we were packed like sardines. I had a delicious dish from Ilili Lebanese and Mediterranean cuisine. It was roasted Brussels Sprouts with fig jam, mint yogurt, walnuts and red grapes. I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into but the combination was crazy good. Next I tried La Sonrisa Empanadas. I ordered one with beef and vegetables and the other was coconut curry chicken which was the star of the show. It was delicious, super hot and crunchy. I had a Mexican Coke which is made the old fashion way with can sugar instead of corn syrup. Wow! What a difference, ice cold, sweet and smooth without being overwhelmed by bubbles. The event is on until the end of May. Give yourself a big treat and go. Its overwhelming. One work of warning, when you get there just take a quick survey and hop on a line. I've never seen so many indecisive people. Enjoy the slide show below.  The Guards by Ken Bruen
This is one of my favorite novels and the one that got me started with Ken Bruen. The main character Jack Taylor is an ex-police officer who is a part time private detective and full time smart arse. Hanging out in local bars, drinking Jameson with Guinness and chain smoking cigarettes is his thing. Jack struggles with his inner demons to conquer alcoholism, drug abuse, depression and family dysfunction. I can't praise his writing style enough. Ken Bruen's brilliant dialogue left me feeling like Jack and I were old pals. This is Irish crime fiction at its best and Ken Bruen is the Grand Master. You might even learn something about Irish culture or how they feel about all the crappy weather.  Feast Day of Fools by James Lee Burke.
I recently read The Hackberry Holland Trilogy. In Feast Day of Fools, book #3, there were so many nasty groups of bad guys chasing each other that I started to feel bad for the least offensive of them. Similar to my empathy for the Corleone family, I found myself feeling bad for some and wanting the worst for others. You'll love this book, there's so much going you won't know who to cheer for. I was so caught up in the novel I couldn't do anything else but read it straight to the end. Don't tell anyone but I took a couple if days off to finish. |
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