Picks of the Week

PRIME, by Poppy Z. Brite

(originally posted on April 26, 2005)

I think Rickey and G-Man may be my favorite new fictional team -- they bicker and get into scrapes and various conflicts (including murder) but I'm utterly convinced by every nuance of their relationship. Brite does a great job creating characters who are colorful, interesting and best of all, cook so well you can practically taste the resulting dishes. Mmm. Must read more.

IN THE COMPANY OF CHEERFUL LADIES, by Alexander McCall Smith

(originally posted on April 26, 2005)

I've almost run out of things to say and praise to shower upon Precious Ramotswe and the series as a whole, but I'll add one more thing: the way that almost instantly, I fall under a spell, totally entranced by McCall Smith's ability to make the mundane fascinating and the ordinary extraordinary is a gift I so wish I could steal. But I can't, so I'll just sit back and enjoy.

MILK TREADING, by Nick Smith

(originally posted on April 27, 2005)

Julius Kyle was once a bestselling writer fending off throngs of fans. Now he's lost his muse and toils as a journalist and wonders where his life's headed. Then his best friend jumps out the window and Kyle gets embroiled in political intrigue, class warfare and searching for his next bowl of milk -- milk? Well yeah, Kyle's a cat. As are many of the characters in this surreal novel, unless they are the dogs they fight with. It's weird as hell but Smith smartly plays everything straight so why <I>wouldn't</I> we accept anthromorphic cats engaging in a hardboiled tale like this? Look out now for Smith's next novel, THE KITTY KILLER CULT, which is Kyle's "comeback" novel...