"Last Night at the Lobster" by Stewart O'Nan

Ever have a job where despite things like lack of a decent wage or work that seemed to make you feel like a slave in some gulag, you couldn't help but enjoy the fact that at least you were surrounded by people you enjoyed (maybe even loved)?  Last Night at the Lobster chronicles one night in the lives of a bunch of people who feel that same way, the only difference is this night in particular is their last together as a team.

We open with Manny DeLeon, the protagonist and our viewpoint through which we experience this story, getting high on a crack pipe in his car before work.  With this introduction, as well as throughout the book, we learn that Manny isn't the best role model in the world outside of his job.  On the job, is another story, as we see Manny marshall the troops and endure walk-outs, no-shows, pushy customers, lingering feelings for a mistress he once had a fling with, and his own musings on just where the Hell this last night leaves him anyway.  Not to mention, he needs to find "the perfect gift" for his pregnant girlfriend and make sure nobody's cleaning the restaurant out of important things like alcohol or food.  As if his problems weren't numerous enough.

While the book is predominantly a somber drama, it does have its slight moments of humor.  For the most part, Last Night at the Lobster is a meditative drama that makes us think about how much of our personalities are because of our job, and vice versa.  Manny has an unshakable sense of duty to "the Lobster", but yet that type of loyalty is lacking in his personal life.  It seems as if he knows how to deal with the people in the Lobster more than he knows how to deal with them outside of it.  Also, the book takes advantage of a more real time approach by using all 160 pages to explore the entire narrative through line from one character's perspective through an entire double shift.  This leads to a more intimate story, and a more personally invested one that leaves you almost sad when the ending comes.  I for one wished the story was longer:  not because I was unsatisfied, but because I wanted to spend more time with Manny.

Last Night at the Lobster is a quick read that hits emotional highs and lows over the course of several hours of work.  It wastes no pages on preliminary exposition, allowing us to pick things up as they are mentioned; which is the Cherry on the story's sundae of organic storytelling.  Overall, it is one of the most reality based books I've ever read.  There are no short cuts, no oversights, and no easy endings.  Everything is earned, and in the end it is more endearing of a story for telling us the sad, somber truth than lying to us with a cookie cutter happy ending.

"Two Gentlemen of Lebowski" by Adam Bertocci

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the fine folks at Simon and Schuster, particularly my Publicity point of contact Jessica Abell. I'm not getting paid for this, I just do it out of the enjoyment of reading.

"Fuck it, Dude.  Let's go bowling." - Walter Sobchack

"The Big Lebowski", upon its initial release, was a dud.  For some reason the theatrical audiences of 1998 weren't ready for a "Film Noir meets Stoner Picture" mashup reminiscent of Elmore Leonard.  Considering Get Shorty was mildly successful years prior, one would assume that this could have been a bigger hit.  Both are criminally centered, both feature almost anti hero protagonists, and both had casts that were well equipped to pull off their respective roles.  The only difference was that everything about The Big Lebowski wasn't as big as it is today.  Now, it's an oft quoted work of filmic glory that featured Julianne Moore and Phillip Seymour Hoffman (before they were mostly Indie/Prestige Picture Players), Tara Reid (before she was in rehab), and Jeff Bridges (in a role that probably started the build-up to his comeback that would eventually come to fruition in Crazy Heart)...all before they moved on to bigger, better things.

"A pox upon't, Knave; let us play at ninepins." - Sir Walter of Poland

Archaic translation has been a pretty popular source of Internet Meme based humor as of late, mostly accompanied with the exaggerated visage of French painter Joseph Ducreux.  Much like this work's source material, archaic translation is basically finding humor in something that once existed (and whether the original artists like it or not) and discovering its previously undiscovered comedic weight.  Mostly been used for short form works, archaic translation hasn't really been used to its full comedic potential.  All that has changed thanks to Adam Bertocci's whip-smart work of academic laughter, "Two Gentlemen of Lebowski".

The Genesis of this project is just as interesting as the case of Bonnie Lebowski's disappearance.  "Two Gentlemen of Lebowski: A Most Excellent Comedie and Tragical Romance" hit the Internet and slowly began to build buzz, primarily through Facebook.  Through that, the author became another one of those "Internet Sensations".  Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, and Julianne Moore all had positive things to say about the project, and unlike the original telling of The Dude's Tale, Adam Bertocci's version started heading to bigger and better things right from the off.  (In no small part thanks to the cult following The Coen Brothers' original masterpiece had built.)  Audiences sold out most, if not all, of the limited performances of "Two Gentlemen of Lebowski: A Most Excellent Comedie and Tragical Romance". 

Sadly, after such success, some rights issues came up and forced the play off the Internet and off the stages.  (Nothing says irony like having the rights holders protesting your work of fiction based off of a film which, at first, was a loss leader for a major Hollywood studio.)  After cryptic status updates and teasing from Mr. Bertocci himself, the Knave had his day and Two Gentlemen of Lebowski: A Most Excellent Comedie and Tragical Romance was announced for publication.  After its uphill struggle, its long slog to glory, the world (or at least anyone with a review copy) has the finished product in front of it/them.  Was it worth the time and effort?  The short answer would be, "Yay, and verily!"

Two Gentlemen of Lebowski manages to successfully mash up Shakespearean literature with the Coen Brothers' sense of humor.  More than just a literal translation of the source material, Two Gentlemen transplants the story we've seen before into an era that (surprising to some) actually fits it quite well.  Vengeful thugs, powerful villains, protagonists versed in humor of a more ribald nature, the cold but pursuant love interest to our hero's quest...all done in the works of Shakespeare.  (Bonus Lit Geek Points: The Book is LITTERED with Shakespearean references, direct quotes, and lampoons from all of his "Greatest Hits".)  The basic plot is still the same, but slightly re-staged to fit the time period, which goes the extra mile in exceeding as an individual work instead of just a successful parody.  Even funnier, the book is laid out like the annotated versions of Shakespeare you'd remember from your school days.  Not since "America: The Book" or "I Am America (And So Can You)" have I gained so many laughs out of the footnotes!

This is a rare work that receives no qualms from me at all.  I honestly can't come up with a single thing I don't like about this book, save the fact that it should be openly produced on the stage for all to see.  (Seriously, Broadway...could you imagine the coin you'd bank with this being put on by the film's original cast?!  One show, one night, all the stars!  This is the easiest charity opportunity you've stumbled upon in years!)  It's a breezy read that makes for easy, single serving enjoyment; while at the same time being of deep enough detail that you could actually teach this side by side with actual Shakespeare plays in a Collegiate English course.  All of your favorite lines are here, all of your favorite moments are present...all that's different is it's much more dramatic, with flowery prose and an amped up laugh factor.  Two Gentlemen of Lebowski: A Most Excellent Comedie and Tragical Romance is a tale full of nihilism and apathy, told by a drifter, signifying that The Knave doth indeed abideth.

The Girl Who'll Have To Wait Upon My Shelf

So The Fall I was ready and willing to read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  A friend at work had recommended it, it sat in my closet since its release, and I love a good mystery; so with three reasons that are inarguable I decided I'd give it a go.  Unfortunately, I couldn't really get myself into it, which meant one of two things:

A.) I wasn't into the book and had wasted money on the trilogy.

B.) I had Reader's Block.

Without a doubt B is the answer I have to go with here, simply because after all of the books I've read I never really gave myself a proper reading break.  I've been dealing with weighty tomes of bloodsuckers, and to tackle what I hear is quite a dark and unforgiving series is not exactly the best idea at the time.  So, for a little while at least, my reading diet will consist of three things:  Whimsy, Comedy, and Comic Books.

Just because I've given myself a break doesn't mean I won't be reviewing anything.  As a matter of fact, you should expect reviews on The Walking Dead and Scott Pilgrim, as well as "I Hate Other People's Kids", "Spoiled Rotten America", and a Doctor Who book I've specially chosen for this time of year.  ("Forever Autumn".)  If that's not enough, I've been listening to two audiobooks recently that I'll also be throwing into the pot: Carrie Fisher's "Wishful Drinking" and Paul Shaffer's "We'll Be Here For The Rest Of Our Lives".  Both Unabridged, both read by their authors, and both infinitely entertianing. 

I'll eventually return to Lisbeth Salander at some point, but for now I feel as if I need some time to breath when it comes to Mysteries.  In the meantime, buy yourself a copy of The Fall: Book Two of the Strain Trilogy.  It's out in bookstores today, and I cannot stress the point enough that if you want quality modern vampire fiction, this is the series you've been waiting for.

"The Fall" by Guillermo Del Toro & Chuck Hogan

At last!  The first review for The Bookish Kind is here!  A further note, I've decided to do away with the ranking system for the ratings.  You're just going to have to read the review to find out if I liked it or not. :D 

Also, I'm just going to issue a SPOILER ALERT for anyone who hasn't read The Strain.

Pre-Order The Fall: Book Two of the Strain Trilogy.  No, seriously, pre-order it with that link I just  provided above this sentence.  While you're at it, you should probably purchase a copy of The Strain: Book One of The Strain Trilogy.  If you're a Horror fan, a Suspense fan, a Vampire fan, or even just a Good Book fan; you'll have no problems finishing these two books in short order and find yourself eager for The Night Eternal.  This probably (no, definitely) sounds like hyperbole cooked up to appease a corporate master, but in all honesty these books are addicting reads.

By the end of "The Strain", we found Eph Goodweather and his team of vampire defenders staring down the barrel of the gun that The Master had pointed at humanity's head.  The vampiric plague was starting to spread, and Mankind was poised at the edge.  In "The Fall", the stage is set right from the opening excerpt from Eph's journal:  By November, we're done for.  Proceeding into the main story, we find that two certain vampires are stalking the group and for two different reasons.  One is Eph's ex-wife Kelly, who is trying to claim her "Dear One"...their son, Zach.  The other is The Master, who is fixated with bad assed Intellectual/Vampire Hunter Abraham Setrakian, and intent on causing his demise.  As these personal stories play out, our heroes will bear witness to events that will set up the starting point for The Night Eternal.

This book is the Empire Strikes Back of the Trilogy, meaning that this is a dark thoroughfare to the end of the series, which itself is not guaranteed to be a happy ending.  After the initial entry's high Horror content, this second installment eases back on the disgusting/shocking factor and goes into Exposition/Setup mode.  Again, we're treated to the A and B Story format, alternating between the ensemble in the Present and Setrakian's past; and again we're treated to two stories that are equally intriguing.  We're given more detail involving Setrakian's past with some of the principal Vampires in the story, particularly Nazi Camp Commander turned Vampire Eichhorst (who pretty much serves as Abraham's arch rival, second only to The Master); and we're even given more background into Eldritch Palmer, the Millionaire aiding The Master's plans, and just how he became involved in this whole story in the first place.

That's not to say that the book doesn't have its fair share of blood and violence, in fact this book is packed with street fights between Vampires and Humans.  There is no shortage of action or destruction in this book, with the fight spilling into the streets and the proverbial big guns being fired off at every turn.  In fact this book is basically one big gang war between us and them.  Strangely enough though, as much violence and gore there is in this book, one of it's main themes is the power Love has over us.  We learn more about Setrakian's wife, we read about the birth of Zach, and we even see Nora start to crack under the pressure when trying to secure her mother, an Alzheimer's patient.  We see characters react out of nobility, out of duty, and out of genuine affection for one another.  It is this heroism and this emotionality that make the book's closing events all the more devastating.  Don't be fooled by the recurring theme of Love, this is still very much an Apocalypse story, and as such don't go in expecting to see the Sun shining through the clouds.  To be anything short of a gut punch would ruin the momentum of this series, and that is something I'm proud to say does not happen.

Once again, Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan both display their exemplary abilities as storytellers.  I found that while this book wasn't as thrilling as the first, it was still an easy, engrossing read that captivates attention and is rich in detail.  What's more, this isn't supposed to be a "thrilling" entry, at least if you follow the Trilogy Playbook.  Middle entries are the ones that stereotypically (and effectively) put the pieces into place for the Grand Finale.  The trick to writing a great Middle though is to recall the Beginning and hint heavily toward the End.  The Fall does both in spades, and also gives us a scenario that is so bleak and crushing, one can only wonder how the Hell the third entry is going to pan out.  By the end of The Fall, you will truly see Mankind on its knees.  How they rise up in The Night Eternal will ultimately be how we judge this series as a whole.  If they just keep things on course, it'll be an easy win.  But Del Toro and Hogan aren't the type of storytellers that settle for anything short of their all, and I predict/hope that the final installment will be the stuff of nightmares and literary victory.

P.S.  Just one last, brief gripe I have for Harper Collins.  What happened to the kick assed cover art from the back cover flap of The Strain?  You had two really neat looking covers that complimented my Hardcover of The Strain so well.  I was even set on buying a Hardcover to continue my collection.  (I'm that picky about my book collection.)  Any chance of doing a limited Hardcover run with the originally planned cover and going back to the original format for The Night Eternal?

A Big To-Do About Nothing

First off, thanks to everyone who voted in the Pilot Season polls...all four of you.  Seeing as the Pilot Season was met with a collective "Meh", and I grew tired of Solar (and pre-scheduled reading for the time), I've decided to scrap the Pilot Season. I'll still be reading The Passage and The Last Living Slut, but

That said, I do have the first book lined up to kick things off over here at The Bookish Kind.  You may remember me raving about its predecessor, seeing as it's second in a series and I've enthusiastically reviewed the first installment in the past.  So the new launch title for TBK is none other than...

Looks like I'm not done slaying vampires yet. 

The Pilot Season Results Show (and Run Off Election)

It was a close race (though some wouldn't see it as a race at all), but in the end Solar by Ian McEwan won the privilege of being the book to kick off The Bookish Kind's Pilot Season.  In a close second (mostly because my friend Jess cast her vote through Facebook chat just as the poll had closed), The Passage by Justin Cronin (which I eventually just went and bought, no thanks to Random House's Publicity Copy Runaround) will be the second to be read.

Here's where the run off election bit comes in though: The Last Living Slut and The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ are both tied up, leaving a contest for who should be in third place.  So for one day, I will be leaving a poll up for which book should be in Third.  Should this yield another tie (or no result at all), I will select a book as according to my own scheduling preference.  Last, and most certainly not least, Glenn Beck's latest fiction The Ludlum Impostor The Overton Window will be bringing up the rear in last place.  (C'mon people, it's Glenn Beck: America's favorite rodeo clown!  This is BOUND to be comedic gold.)

At the moment, I'm still finishing up Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter for Vamp-O-Rama over at Mr. Controversy, but as soon as that's wrapped, it's on to Solar.  Until then, keep reading.

The Pilot Season Selection Show (with the Review System Breakdown)

Hey everyone!  I'm still pulling everything together over here, and a crucial part of that process is, naturally, the selection of the first book to be reviewed here on The Bookish Kind.  I've narrowed it down to five candidates, complete with hyperlinks for review:

The Passage by Justin Cronin
The Last Living Slut: Born in Iran, Bred Backstage by Roxana Shirazi

The Overton Window by Glenn Beck

The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ by Philip Pullman

Solar by Ian McEwan

All five of these titles will make up The Bookish Kind's Pilot Season, but only you the readers will determine the order in which they are read.  So now, with your selection in mind, please vote for what you think should be the first review ever on The Bookish Kind.  I will close the poll a week from today, or whenever I feel a satisfactory result has been reached.

Second order of business, I will begin to rank the books I review with a Star Ranking System, so as to indicate the quality of the book.  This is partially because I'm going to attempt to qualify for the Amazon Vine program, which would qualify me for further review copies of books, just in case I strike out with the publisher.  The ranking system is broken down as follows:

* - Thank God It Was a Review Copy/Borrowed From a Friend
** - Worth a Library Rental (with light fines)
*** - Buy the Mass Market Paperback
**** - Buy the Paperback
***** - Buy the Hardcover

I will be grading on the following specifics:

- Plot
- Writing Style
- Cover Art/Illustrations
- Quality of Synopsis/Blurb

They will each get their own numerical score, that will be averaged and yield the final score which will correlate with the starred ranking system above.  A lot of ambition, I know; but it's time to get even more serious about this book reviewing thing, especially if I ever plan on writing a book.  This project will help me hone a critical eye and examine as many flaws in putting a book together as I can find, so that I may (hopefully) side step them.

Well, that's all out of me for now.  Until next time, vote in the poll and spread the site to all you think would be interested.  (Ok, one last question: how would you all feel about guest reviews culled from you, the readers?)

Best,
Mike