BooksofJobe.com

Coastal Transmissions From an Oregon Transplant

book review

  • Crooks: A Novel About Crime and Family, by Lou Berney

    It’s not often that I read a book that makes me stop and think, “I don’t think I’ve seen a story told quite this way before.” Crooks marks the second time I’ve thought that about a book written by Lou Berney. The book spans six decades, telling the story of the Mercurios. We learn about… Read more

  • The Sisters Brothers—Patrick DeWitt [2011]

    It’s been said that the best gift you can give someone is something they wouldn’t buy for themselves. Taking that into consideration, receiving a Christmas gift in the form of Patrick DeWitt’s second novel, 2011’s The Sisters Brothers, is made all the better. I’m not a huge fan of Westerns—I’ve never even read any from… Read more

  • American Psycho by Brett Easton Ellis (1991) — If anyone needs me, I’ll just be in the shower until Halloween

    I’ve mentioned before my disdain for books that are slow going out of the gate. My patience is short if something doesn’t happen right away. If American Psycho’s reputation hadn’t preceded it, I may have given up on it as I read 40, 50, even 60 pages in and nothing of note had happened yet.… Read more

  • A Simple Plan by Scott Smith (1993) — I’ll Try Not to Gush

    Since I started reading a lot again a couple of years ago, I’ve read some pretty good books. Even a few really good books. But I hadn’t read one that really floored me, leaving me in awe of what a brilliant piece of work it was. Until now. A Simple Plan tells the story of… Read more

  • Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill (2007) : A Rock ‘n’ Roll Ghost Story

    Ghost stories tend to be hit or miss with me. A lot of times I don’t get into them, but if one manages to get its hooks in me, I’ll usually love it. Joe Hill managed to do the impossible and create one that’s smack dab in the middle of the road. Judas Coyne—not his… Read more

  • The Ruins by Scott Smith (2006): Making Vines with Pretty Red Flowers Absolutely Terrifying

    I’m scrapping my previous book review formula, The Quarterly Book Report. It made for posts that were too long (I felt), and forced me to condense my thoughts on a book down too far. From here on out, I’ll just drop a review randomly as I finish a book, capiche? I finished this book a… Read more

  • The BoJ Quarterly Book Report: Summer Edition

    I’m staying just about on pace for my new year’s resolution of reading a book a month. I got ahead at one point, but between running into a couple of books that were hard to make myself read and other stuff that made me not want to read at all, I slowed back down a… Read more