stalking data

Fan Fiction: A Mem-Noir: Inspired by True Events by Brent Spiner with Jeanne Darst

Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)

Genre: fiction

Review: Was Brent Spiner the target of a stalker who sent him threatening notes signed by his fictional character's fictional daugter Lal?  He might have been.  Did that result in an entanglement with an FBI agent and her personal-security-guard twin sister and all the other dramatic events that follow as he writes in this book?  Probably not.  Spiner isn't telling which parts of this book are "mem" and which are "noir," but no matter where the the line is, he's written a fun, madcap story.

The book will, of course, appeal mostly to Star Trek fans, which is not to say that it won't appeal to people who don't identify as Star Trek fans too (except, perhaps, the ST:TNG name-dropping).  Fans will be pleased to see that Spiner's writing chops are almost as strong as his acting chops, and non-fans will enjoy a zany mystery with a true noir feel.

FTC Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for this review.

the art of the lumberjack

The Great Glorious Goddamn of It All by Josh Ritter

Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)

Genre: historical fiction

Review: Weldon Applegate was 13 when he and his father moved to Cordelia, Idaho.  Weldon's father wants his son removed from the civilizing influences of starched collars and Sunday services, but still intends to honor his promise to Weldon's late mother not to go to work again as a lumberjack.  Instead, he will run the general store while Weldon makes friends around town, and some pocket change, as he delivers the local hooch to its various hiding places.

But when the near-mythical lumberjack Linden Laughlin comes to town, promising the elder Applegate that they can both make a fortune if they partner together to clear the Applegate family's "Lost Lot," Weldon's father can't resist.  Weldon looks back on the results of that fateful decision from his deathbed 80+ years later and gives the reader the benefit of his acerbic observations.

From the very first sentence, readers will be transported into the rough world of lumberjacks, with all its coarseness and danger.  Filled with boldly written, exaggerated characters, this lush, yet gritty tale will captivate readers who appreciate authentic dialogue and a strong sense of place.

FTC Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for this review.