Slade House by David Mitchell

read by Thomas Judd and Tania Rodrigues

Brrrrrr! I Won’t say that I don’t read horror--but I am very choosy about what horror I read. As a tremendous fan of Cloud Atlas, though, I had to give this book a try--in spite of some trepidation after having found The Bone Clocks unreadable.

Yes, it’s a haunted house story--closer to a classic one than I expected from this author. Yes, the structure of the story is recursive, and will reward the reader who pays close attention (and will bore the reader who doesn’t)--a bit like Cloud Atlas in that respect, though Mitchell has become an even better writer since then and doesn’t, this time, tempt you to skip entire chapters. (Much. You definitely won’t retroactively wish you had, in any case.) And yes, it’s deliciously creepy.

How to Build a Girl by Caitlin Moran

read by Louise Brealey

I ended up keeping this book on my wish list for a really long time—close to a year, I think—because while initially it appealed to me, I started to have reservations about it and it got lower and lower on my list. Finally, though, I was in the mood for something a little nostalgic, even if it was British working-class crumbling-industrial-town nostalgia, after having gone through the end of the world with the Amish; so I went for it.

And actually it was really great. I’d say that Dolly totally reminded me of me at that age if it weren’t too embarrassing—oops, did I say that out loud? Of course, Dolly’s humiliations and triumphs are exaggerated in order to make them better reading. But it is, indeed, wonderfully amusing reading, especially her gleefully lusty enjoyment of life in general and of lust in particular. And her cultural touchstones—Blackadder, Blade Runner, and her blundering entry into the local Goth and indie music scenes—made my heart go pitter-pat.

Oh, and the reader was spot-on perfect. I can’t imagine this in anybody else’s voice.

In short: I am so glad I decided to read this book after all. I haven’t had so much fun cheering a character on in a long time.

When the English Fall by David Williams

read by Eric Michael Summerer

So, the narrator is an Amish man living not far from Philadelphia when a massive solar storm causes civilization to fail and the “English”--that’s us--to literally fall, as in, airplanes falling from the sky. Chaos ensues, and we get to see it from the Plain People’s point of view, which is really fascinating, as really, it’s only a matter of degree. To them, our entire civilization is horrifically chaotic anyhow.

This is a satisfying and oddly surprising apocalypse tale (I do love me a good apocalypse). If you liked Life As We Knew It, say, or the opening chapters of Earth Abides, you’ll enjoy the hell out of this. Why, yes, I am trying to tell you you should read this. If you love a good apocalypse. But too short! I didn’t want it to end when it did.

My one complaint: I’m not entirely happy with the way the daughter’s epilepsy, or “epilepsy,” was used as a plot device. Again, I can’t say more without spoilers, but… hrm. A little too convenient. But, yeah. Read this book.

The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell: Tales of a 6’ 4”, African American, Heterosexual, Cisgender, Left-Leaning, Asthmatic, Black and Proud Blerd, Mama’s Boy, Dad, And Stand-Up Comedian by W. Kamau Bell

read by the author

I was on a non-fiction kick but needed something not-tragic after Just Kids. Not exactly light reading--Mr. Bell never lets the reader get quite that comfortable--but he is definitely funny. (Plus I didn’t keep wondering who was going to die of AIDS or an overdose next.) Mr. Bell first came to my attention because of the incident at the Elmwood Cafe, and I’d been curious about him ever since, so this memoir seemed like a good way to satisfy my curiosity. As expected, he is funny and smart and doesn’t hold back and he made me question myself and wish we could go out for beers. A very enjoyable book and now I want to watch United Shades of America. When I can find time between episodes of Star Trek: Discovery and The Good Place.