Savage Gerry - John Jantunen

It was the word 'apocalyptic' in the description of John Jantunen's new novel, Savage Gerry, that caught my eye. That and the somewhat different title....

What's it about? From ECW Press: ( My thoughts follow)

"A thrilling apocalyptic tale that rushes from the inside of a prison to a world that feels even more dangerous. The End couldn’t have come at a better time for Gerald Nichols.

Dubbed “Savage Gerry” by the media, Gerald Nichols became a folk hero after he shot the men who’d killed his wife and then fled into the northern wilds with his thirteen-year-old son, Evers. Five years after his capture, he’s serving three consecutive life sentences when the power mysteriously goes out at the prison. The guards flee, leaving the inmates to die, but Gerald’s given a last-minute reprieve by a jailbreak. Released into a mad world populated by murderous bands of biker gangs preying on scattered settlements of survivors, his only hope of ever reuniting with his son is to do what he swore he never would: become “Savage Gerry” all over again."

My Thoughts:

I loved having a Canadian take on an apocalypse. What happens when the nuclear power plants malfunctions? When the power fails? When there's a new drug guaranteed to thin the herd? When criminals are sent to mega prisons up north?  When the doors are opened...

Gerry is one of those who is released when The Sons of Adam MC takes down the walls. And what they want - is what they want. Power, anarchy and more. Savage Gerry has earned some respect for his crimes, but doesn't want to stick around to find out what The Sons going to do, so he heads out through the wilderness to try and find his son.

When we meet Gerry, we don't know the details of his background, his crimes and his purpose. As he moves forward, the details are slowly drawn. Initially I found him to be an anti hero, a deeply flawed persona. But my opinion changed with every new situation he found himself in - and his actions and reactions. He's not perfect, but...

Gentle readers, this one's definitely not for you. Violence abounds and the prose are visceral. Grit lit if you will. But it was impossible to put down. Will he make it? Find his son? Find redemption? This is perhaps the biggest piece of the plot - a man trying to make peace with what he's done and picking up the pieces to find the next chapter.

I had expected a bit more 'apocalypse'. It's there but just in the beginning stages. But, Mad Max and Rick Grimes would be right at home here.

I found this interview of John Jantunen that was really interesting. There's a bit of John in Gerry - some of his own story lives with Savage Gerry.

A decidedly different read for me - but one I quite enjoyed.

Misconduct of the Heart - Cordelia Strube

I've been looking forward to Cordelia Strube's forthcoming book, Misconduct of the Heart. (releases April 21)  The premise had intrigued me....

"Stevie, a recovering alcoholic and kitchen manager of Chappy’s, a small chain restaurant, is frantically trying to prevent the people around her from going supernova: her PTSD-suffering veteran son, her uproariously demented parents, the polyglot eccentrics who work in her kitchen, the blind geriatric dog she inherits, and a damaged five-year-old who landed on her doorstep and might just be her granddaughter."

I picked it last week, sat in the sun and turned the first page....and was immediately hooked by the first few chapters. The introduction to Stevie et al is rough, raw and yes, powerful. Inside Chappy's you'll find the walking wounded, the marginalized, the forgotten and largely dysfunctional cast. And I wondered where in the world would Strube take this story from such a grab ya by the throat introduction?

But that was my initial gut response. As I kept reading, I found my perception changed - I cared about what happened to Stevie, her family and co-workers. I wanted more for them. My own emotions ran the gamut - anger, sadness, outrage (gotta love corporate - not) but also on the flip side hope, love and yes, humour.

One of the Chappy workers regals the others with animal kingdom facts. The facts given relate directly to what is happening in the book at that time - very clever. Stevie's inner dialogue and thoughts will make you stop and think. There is much wisdom to be found in her thoughts and dialogue. And I would challenge you to think about this character's observation...

"Olivia has this theory we go through life not really seeing what's around us or really knowing who's around us. And because we're shit-scared of what we don't know, we close our eyes to stuff."

When I first started to read the book, it was like a train wreck that I couldn't stop staring at. But by the end? Yeah, I wanted to know these people. They're so, so.... well, so real, so well depicted. Just people doing the best they can in the situation they're in - bad and good. Each player has a tale to tell and I was interested in each and every one. But Stevie? She was one of the best characters I've met in a long time.

And yes, there are some really heavy situations. Gentle readers - this is no holds barred read, certain situations may be triggers for some.

Strube is a very, very talented wordsmith with a sharp eye for the human condition. I absolutely loved this book. Hands down one of my faves for 2020.

PS - I really started wondering about the behind the scenes at the restaurant. Makes you wonder how much is truth - and how much of that is fiction.

Bad Ideas - Missy Marston

I love being surprised by a book - not knowing where a story is going to go. Missy Marston's new novel Bad Ideas was just such a book. I was immediately caught up in the first few pages and ended up finishing the book in one sitting.

Bad Ideas is set in a fictional, small, run down town in Eastern Ontario in 1973.  Marston's detailed descriptions of time and place are excellent. Having lived in a few run down towns myself during that time period, I could easily picture the setting. And everyone knowing everyone's business.

It is twenty two year old Trudy that we meet first. She works in a factory, lives with her mother Claire and her young niece Mercy, and has not had sex in five years. I loved her voice and her attitude. And then - a stranger comes to town. A stranger who is planning an automobile stunt jump in Preston Mills. And that arrival sets off a chain of events.....

I initially thought Bad Ideas would be told from Trudy's view only. But each player is given a voice - seven in all. All with intersecting lives. All wanting something more from life than they have. And all have made or are making some choices that are bad ideas. My heart ached for them and that wanting. But it wasn't pity I felt for them. Each character is just getting on with life despite what it throws at them. Their stories are real and honest and told with both humour and pathos. I became invested in each one.

Marston gave me the ending I was hoping for. Or so I thought. She caught me flat footed in the last few pages. I had to go back and reread the last chapter again to let it sink in. Again, I really appreciated the not knowing, the unexpected and the unpredictability of Marston's tale.

Interspersed amongst narratives and paragraphs are 'Becauses' - one liners that mirror what is going on, hint at what's coming and more. They almost read like a short story within the story. "Because you can only do some things for so long."

I really like Marston's writing and will be happily waiting for her next book. Here's an excerpt of Bad Ideas.

The story of Ken "the Crazy Canuck' Carter's attempt to jump the St. Lawrence River in a rocket powered Lincoln Continental was Marston's inspiration for Bad Ideas. Now, I don't know if I saw Carter, but when Marston mentioned the Hell Drivers, it sparked a memory for me. I saw the Hell Drivers Stunt Show many, many years ago at the Western Fair in Ontario.

No Good Asking - Fran Kimmel

Fran Kimmel's latest novel, No Good Asking, is set during the week leading up to Christmas Day. The time frame - and the message - were perfect for December reading.

Retired RCMP Sergeant Eric Nyland and his family have moved back to his childhood home at his wife Ellie's instigation. This way, they can look after Walter - Eric's father who has dementia. And she feels it's a better place for their autistic son Sammy. Teenaged Daniel is not so sure about the move. But things have not gone as Ellie had envisioned - the marriage is limping along and the relocation hasn't accomplished what she envisioned. In her mind, having a perfect family Christmas is another chance to bring change.

But a 'perfect' Christmas is not in the cards. Eric rescues an eleven year old girl named Hannah from the drunken neighbour across the road. She's lived there a year and Eric had no idea there was a child in the house. With his background, Social Services asks the Nylands to keep her until a suitable foster family is found.

Kimmel's characterizations had my emotions running the gamut. I liked Eric - his sense of right and wrong and appreciated his attempts to 'fix' his marriage. Daniel's portrayal of a impulsive teen finding his own way in a new setting is well done. Sammy and his autistic behavior is spot on. As is Walter, with his mind everywhere but the present, unable to keep a firm grasp on the here and now. His dead wife Myrtle stills wield an influence over Ellie as there are traces and memories of her throughout the home. Ellie. Ellie was the most complicated and difficult character for me. I felt sympathy for her in the beginning as we learn a bit more about her marriage and history with Eric. But her present day behaviour - sharp, biting, dismissive and downright cruel had me turning against her. The cruelty is directed towards Hannah and that only exacerbated my feelings about Ellie. Hannah is a wounded child, desperately trying to blend into the woodwork and stay out of the way, avoiding angering anyone. But, she is the character who ends up making the most difference in this fractured family. How? You'll have to read the book to find out.

 Kimmel's writing felt so very real in both characters and situations. And I did break my own rule at one point - I just couldn't wait and flipped forward to see if a situation turned out the way I needed it to. (It did, thank goodness) Kimmel deftly explores family, love, loss, hope, redemption and more in No Good Asking. This was an unexpected gem of read for me. See for yourself - here's an excerpt of No Good Asking.

Waiting For The Man - Arjun Basu - Review AND Giveaway

Waiting for the Man is Arjun Basu's debut novel.

Joe is a New York copywriter. He's good at his job, fairly happy and his success has brought him material wealth. Until he starts daydreaming in meetings, floating away from the boardroom and watching himself from above. And then he starts dreaming at night as well. Dreaming of the Man. The Man who tells him to wait. To wait for him. "He had created a need I didn't know I had."

And Joe does just that. He sits on the stoop of his building day and night - waiting for further instructions. Others of course worry and wonder about him. Who is the Man? What has he said to Joe?  And without trying or wanting, Joe becomes news. Small at first, then growing exponentially.

Basu easily conveys Joe's sense of dissatisfaction and disillusionment. When I started Waiting For The Man, I could only read a few chapters at a time. Basu provides much food for thought through Joe's ruminations on society, life, familial relationships, the media, religion and much more. It's impossible to read some passages without stopping and looking at them in relation to your own life and circumstances.

But as I continued to read, I became caught up in Joe's waiting. I felt like one of the public, hooked on Joe's story, just waiting for the latest reports form the media crew following his every move.

I was initially confused when the book's narrative abruptly switched time and place in the first few chapters. And then I realized that we learn Joe's story from the beginning and the end in alternating chapters until all is revealed. Or is it? Do we ever find the answers or do we create them ourselves?

Interestingly, I found myself more caught up in the ideas that Joe presented, rather than Joe himself. I ended up feeling quite middle of the road about Joe, neither here nor there. For me, he was simply a vehicle for Basu's exploration of the search for meaning in our lives.

Basu has crafted an unsettling, thought provoking first novel, one sure to leave you taking a second look at many aspects of our society and our own lives. Read an excerpt of Waiting for the Man.

See what other bloggers on the ECW blog tour thought at: Words of Mystery, Buried in Print, A New Day,and bookgaga. And if you'd like to read Waiting For The Man, I have a copy to giveaway, courtesy of ECW Press. Simply leave a comment to be entered. US and Canada. Ends May 24/14.

"Arjun Basu is a writer and editor. In 2008, he published Squishy, a collection of short stories that was shortlisted for the ReLit Prize. His stories have been published in many literary journals, including Matrix and Joyland. He also writes 140-character short stories he calls Twisters on Twitter (@ArjunBasu), which have won him a Shorty Award, lots of press, and a worldwide following. Arjun lives in Montreal with his wife, son, and dog. You can find Arjun Basu on Facebook as well."

Death's Last Run - Robin Spano

Death's Last Run is the third installment in Robin Spano's series featuring undercover agent Clare Vengel, but is a first read of this author for me.

At twenty four years old, Clare has already worked undercover for the RCMP and is currently employed by the FBI. This time out, it's a joint case between the two agencies. Clare is sent to Whistler, BC where Sacha, the daughter of a US Senator, has committed suicide. Or has she? The Senator doesn't think so - and she has clout. So, it's Clare's job to infiltrate the local scene.

And infiltrate she does - Clare ends up with Sacha's roommate, her job and one of lovers. And more. Told by her handlers to not sample the local drugs, Clare goes right ahead.

This was my first introduction to this conflicted character. On the one hand, she wants to do a good job, but consistently bucks her superiors, taking risks that endanger both herself and the case. She desperately wants a secure relationship with her boyfriend Noah, but has no problem sleeping with suspects and calling it work. To be honest,  I'm not sure if I like her or not. But you don't have to like a protagonist to keep turning pages. And that I did.

Spano has done a great job bringing the underculture of Whistler to life and has populated her novel with colourful characters. Spano effectively switches points of view, telling the story through the eyes of the cop, the undercover agent and the suspects.  The plotting is inventive and multi-layered with lots of suspects to choose from. I did find it a bit hard to believe that the policing in Whistler - " Canada's most expensive playground" is so lackadaisical.

Spano has opened the door for Clare to go international - I'll be interested to see where she goes and who she becomes next. And what direction  Clare's personal life takes as well.

Heads up for gentle readers - sex and drug use included. Read an excerpt of Death's Last Run. You can find Robin Spano on Twitter.

Too Close to the Falls - Catherine Gildiner

Well, I took books with me on vacation, but for the most part they never got opened. Eeek! Thank goodness someone's been reading. Resident guest blogger Julia is back with here review of Too Close to the Falls by Catherine Gildiner.

"We are always told that truth is stranger than fiction. This book proves that statement again. Too Close to the Falls is a memoir, written by Catherine Gildiner, a psychologist living in Toronto. It is hard to believe than anyone could have had the childhood described in such vivid detail in this book – unless, of course, you think about your own childhood and realize we all have amazing stories to tell.

Catherine grew up with parents who encouraged her inquisitive mind, and found unique ways in which to harness her energy. From the age of four she worked in her father’s pharmacy. Mc. Gildiner relates her experiences through the eyes of that four-year old, and through the eyes of a much older, wiser, eight and nine-year old, re-examining the situations and beliefs of the four-year old. The stories are funny, and touching. We feel for Catherine as she learns some of the harder lessons of childhood.

The beauty of this book is that Ms. Gildiner is able to take the reader on a journey through her childhood, evoking memories of what it was like to be a child growing up in a confusing world. Catherine questions Catholicism and her role in a world ruled by Catholic absolutes. She asks questions about aboriginals and their place in her world. And who has not been in a situation where you felt “different” or did things in a way that was not the norm for your community? The stories about how Catherine and her mother ate out for every meal, and how Catherine consequently had no real idea of what a kitchen was for, are funny, but I also felt empathy for Catherine when she was criticized for her lifestyle.

This book will make you laugh, and it will tug at your heart. The writing is beautiful, and the story is compelling. This is one that I did not want to put down."

What a great review - thanks Julia!