The New Fall Season

Summer is over. Never mind the fact that it was 106 here in the lovely desert today, or that yesterday Wendy and I spent the afternoon lounging by the pool and discussing what life would be like if we sold our house, bought an RV and just rode the highways and byways of the goddamned US of A, meeting people along the way, solving crimes and doing favors for people. I imagined that at the close of each adventure I'd get all Stingray on people's asses -- One day, I'd say, I will ask you for a favor and you can't refuse it -- and then Wendy and I would roll off in our camper.

But anyway. How do I know summer is over? I'm starting to get all geeked up over fall books (which is opposed to being all angsted up over my own fall book). Here are a few I already have or have read parts of or have just ordered in a frenzied buying session on Amazon.

Big Lonesome by Jim Ruland. I think Gorsky Press puts out some cool, inexpensive and generally high quality books. I loved Born To Rock by Todd Taylor, was pretty fond of Barney's Crew by Sean Carswell (any book which has a story about the last days of Fulton County Stadium gets a thumbs up from me) and am looking forward to reading Ruland's collection of stories after catching a few previously in magazines.

Willful Creatures by Aimee Bender. (This book actually came out this week, but since literary fiction never actually comes out in summer -- or, well, that's the rumor -- I assume since school starts in the next week or two, publishers actually consider fall to begin on or about August 30th.) I'm a big fan of Aimee's and it's been too long between books for her. Judging by the glowing reviews it has already received, it looks like this one will be as well received as her debut.

Hope And Other Dangerous Pursuits by Laila Lalami. Better known around these parts as MoorishGirl, Lalami's debut is already garnering rave pre-reviews and, if anything, I at least owe her $22 for entertaining me every day while I procrastinate.

Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife by Mary Roach. I absolutely loved Stiff (even if last season's lame-ass shark jumping year of Six Feet Under nearly ruined my love of it by tying arguably the most inane storyline ever to the book itself...well, second most inane after the car jacking crack head episode) and can't wait to see what Roach digs up here. Then, I intend to have several conversations with Wendy's grandfather about religion, the afterlife, and why I will likely rot in hell forever.

Comments

[Clair Lamb]

Damn, Tod, did you get an advance copy of SPOOK? Where'd you get it? Can you hook a sister up? I need that book, I need it bad... I don't think I can wait until October.

[Kristy]

Willful Creatures by Aimee Bender is awesome. I own and read an ARC copy and....it's hotter than her prior skirt.

[angela]

Yes, Aimee's book is great. I have a galley and have read it twice and just interviewed her for Bookslut. You can look for that next month. I'm almost done with SIMPLIFY too and you MUST read it. MUST. Get your hands on a copy ASAP.

And yeah, MoorishGirl. I need to read her too. But Tod, I think one of the best stories in Aimee's collection is the END OF THE LINE. 6 inch Lilliputian man meets his worst nightmare--a normal size adult who purchases him as a pet. Gotta love the mind of Ms. Bender. Always fascinating.

Enjoy!

[daniel olivas]

hi tod. nice roundup. i just reviewed laila lalami's book:

http://rockslinga.blogspot.com/2005/08/guest-review-daniel-olivas.html

i suspect laila's debut will be garnering raves throughout this year. i also just finished jim ruland's collection...what fine, weird, powerful writing. i hope he gets the notice he deserves.