Book Review: Devils in the Confessional by Channing Cornwall

 

Devils in the Confessional is the third installment of the Western Sins trilogy written by Channing Cornwall, who happens to be my friend. In this, the final book in the western genre series, we meet up with Joseph Abernathy from the second book in the series Breathed out by God who is in a pickle in the freshly dug mining town of Opelance, Oregon in the late 1800s. The Coffin Killers, led by one mean smooth talkin' sumbitch by the name of Coffin Kain, have taken over the town in an effort to extort money from its citizens and its founder Benjamin Fink. In an effort to rid the town of these wretched curs Joseph Abernathy and three other men ride out one night to find the men he thinks can help, the saviors of Serenity Ridge, Isaac Teller, and Kemal Hajara from Breathed out by God as well. 

Isaac is still a God-fearing man who denounced violence after his harrowing adventures in the previous tale and Kemal isn't the fastest gun in the Northwest so they then turn to the two most dangerous hombres they know; none other than Cullen Travers and Sadie Warner, who bested the entire Faceless Ghosts gang in book one of the series Hell Came with Her. Joseph Abernathy brings these two groups together, along with Isaac's brother Jacob and a couple others from Opulence in an effort to bring peace back to the mining town where men and women are being held hostage by the Coffin Killers and the unwitting gold baron Benjamin Fink.

There is a bit of setting up before we get to the altercation that ensues by the end of the story but the setup is worth it for the background needed to understand the new characters and the new stakes involved. Everyone has something to gain and something to lose from their decisions and the lives of dozens of people hang in the balance. Isaac and Kemal want to go back to their wives and children at their cozy inn and look forward to a move up north where they can be free from the racism that plagues their culture. Cullen wants to feel useful again doing the only thing he knows how to do, killing and Sadie just wants to make sure Cullen doesn't die being the stubborn bastard she can't contain that he is. The people of Opulence want their share of the golden cow. Fink wants his riches. Coffin Kain wants his retirement money and to make a name as the baddest gunslinger. Will they get what they want or just what's coming for them? 

The author, Channing Cornwall, has crafted a compelling finale to the tale of the characters we fell in love with during the previous Western Sins books where the harsh realities of the lawless west are splattered against the walls of our minds' proverbial silver screen in great relief. This world is dark and cruel. Channing makes us hate the bad guys who are fucking horrible while making us love the good guys who are as noble as they come, even with their unrelenting flaws. While Devils in the Confessional has all the makings of a classic western tale it offers fresh struggles, suspenseful intrigue, and emotional depth. 

I highly recommend finishing off your western sin with a confession of your own! Let me try again: No preacher can save you from the western sins in this confessional! Or: Even God won't pardon these western sinners, no matter how much they confess. Fuckin' nailed it!

Get Channing's books here: Amazon.com

Read my Review of Hell Came with Her Here

Read my review of Breathed out by God Here

Read more book reviews at joesnotesblog.com! 

Book Review: The Acolyte by Nick Cutter

 

The Acolyte takes place in the dystopian city of New Bethlehem, a city much like modern-day New York or Chicago except that the governing body is controlled by a religious totalitarian regime that has made any deviation from Christian ethics a criminal offense. In order to combat crimes against the faith, they have created an enforcement agency with authority above all others. Jonah Murtag is one of these agents and he is 'The Acolyte' we follow throughout this terrifying tale of tyranny, treachery, and intrigue. 

Murtag is a devout follower of the faith and even turned his mother in for her sins when he was a child. She was sent to a center where part of her brain was removed rendering her with the intellect of a child. Murtag and his fellow acolytes spend their days cracking the skulls of those who dare to break the rules set forth by the ancient text of the Bible. Gays are sent to reconditioning centers or they are otherwise eliminated. Atheists are arrested, taken to prison, or beaten to death in the process. Muslims and Jews are allowed to live in ghettos to continue having a large workforce but their children are forced to adopt Christian ways and no one is allowed to practice or hold onto any non-Christian religious traditions, symbols, or relics.  Also, science is essentially gone as it provides a source of doubt and an alternative explanation to the word of God. 

One night Murtag is tasked with being the bodyguard of the daughter of the most important man in the city, The Prophet. The Prophet runs the city and his family is the shining light of all that is holy until one night, when a terrorist self explodes, killing The Prophet's daughter and almost killing Murtag and his fellow Acolyte Doe. Murtag's sins begin with his lust for Doe, the first female acolyte, who turns out to be much more than just another follower. As the investigation into the bombing begins more bombs start to go off around the city and as Murtag gets closer to the truth he gets farther from his faith. As his faith devolves his humanity starts to blossom as he indulges in acts of compassion as well as sins of the flesh. He acts as a microcosm of the impending destruction that engulfs the city around him. As the city is torn apart so is his mind and by the end, he becomes what the powerful fear the most; a committed believer. 

Nick Cutter writes in a very straightforward fashion with little in the way of colorful metaphors or long-winded internal diatribes. The chapters are short and continuous. The story is a relentless trek through a dark and dangerous realm full of the worst of what humans are capable of. It provides a stark example of how horrendous acts can be made justifiable with a strong enough belief in one's own righteousness. When power meets conviction anything is possible. This story is a huge allegory for the problems that come from religious dogma, totalitarian governments, and the inevitability of violent reactions to subjugation and tyranny. 

This is a good book if you can stomach some very gruesome depictions and macabre situations. There were a few moments where I was genuinely disturbed and a little put off. It is very pulpy and like a certain type of horror, it paints pictures in blood to a degree that may not be for some. I would recommend it to anyone interested in a quick read that packs a big irreverent punch. 

Book Review: The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton

 

I had almost zero expectations going into reading this book other than that Michael Crighton is a great writer and I enjoyed Congo a lot and I enjoyed the Jurassic Park movies. I could tell that it was about some kind of virus as the term "strain" usually means something bad and biological and there are lots of strains of viruses and viruses are on the mind of late. Based on the previous titles I was expecting some kind of action-adventure story but that is not what I found with this book. Instead, I was slowly taken on a cerebral journey through a subtle world of science fiction in a way that I haven't experienced before. 

The Andromeda Strain starts off in a small town where everyone but two people has died from a mysterious cause. Some of them have committed suicide while others choked to death and some had their blood solidify in their veins. The only survivors are a baby and an old man. The connection between the two unlikely survivors will become the key to understanding the solution to the problem. In an effort to understand this potential threat a covert government agency known as Project Wildfire is put into action. Project Wildfire was created for the purpose of preparing for the inevitable event that an alien lifeform, likely bacterial-sized, would end up on Earth and potentially cause a threat to humanity. Millions of dollars were allocated to the project which allowed for a state-of-the-art laboratory to be built in order to study and contain anything the potential threat had to offer. 

It turns out that something did hitch a ride on a government satellite and fell from space into the small town. The satellite is taken to the Project Wildfire facility and studied by the elite group of scientists selected for the project. From there it is up to the team of scientists to study this potentially life-ending strain of unknown life before it is too late. With nuclear protocols in place to destroy the town if needed, the facility if needed, and anything else, if needed, the scientists go to work around the clock to come up with a cure knowing that they will be left to die if they are contaminated by the unknown strain. 

Michael Crighton takes some of the most potentially boring material and makes it somehow extremely interesting. With historical fiction about the underworld of government activities adding to the intrigue and an immense sense of impending dread, the story is compelling without any of the typical action one is expecting. Scientific technologies and methods are the keys to saving humanity and are the real heroes here. Biochemistry, virology, biology, and physiology could easily bring boredom to a story but I found the writing made these technical things accessible and interesting. The story does seem a little slow at times but has good pacing that kept me interested throughout and by the end, I was on the edge of my seat for the climactic finale. 

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a more scientific mystery that is both thrilling and thoughtful. Michael Crighton put a lot of research into the science here and it shows. If you like biology, viruses, alien encounters, and government conspiracies this book is for you. With Covid 19 existing and permeating culture I am sure that this book might freak people out a little so if you have a hard time separating fact from fiction then this may not be the book for you but you probably won't admit it any way that so go ahead and read it. 

Read my Review of Congo:

 https://joesnotesblog.com/blog/book-review-congo-by-michael-crichton?rq=congo

Book Review: The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

 

This book sat on my shelf for quite a while and I was planning on letting it sit. My aunt gave it to me and I figured it was a book that was more suited to a 60-year-old woman. I thought it was some kind of spiritual journey biography or some kind of allegory for the ills of modern capitalism. I don't know why I thought this and I was very wrong. It is one of the most engaging fantasies I have ever read. It was a surprise to find out that it takes place in a fictional future where the earth has turned on its inhabitants by way of violent tectonic activities. Volcanoes, lava flows, earthquakes, and tsunamis are the real enemies to humanity and can take out an entire city with hundred's of thousands of inhabitants in a moment and every once in a while the earth becomes completely covered in ash forcing humans to hide and survive in the ancient ways outlined by rules called stonelore. 

The story follows three female protagonists, Damaya, Syenite, and Essun but before I explain who these characters are I need to explain what they are. They are all orogenes, or, the less polite term roggas. Orogenes are born with the ability to manipulate minerals. They are trained and employed to soothe the earth, stop earthquakes, prevent tsunamis, and help with engineering projects. They are feared and hated by normal people as the most powerful roggas can destroy cities and activate volcanoes. The only thing that can stop a rogga is a guardian, who is a person that can track down, nullify, and, if needed, kill a rogga. 

We meet a young girl named Damaya in a cold and damp barn where she has been imprisoned by her family who fears her newly discovered powers. She is then taken to Fulcrum, the orogene college, by a guardian. At Fulcrum, she learns how devious other children can be and how to harness her powers. She also meets a girl who introduces her to a secret that will be the key to fixing everything or destroying it all. 

We also follow Syenite, who is a Fulcrum Trained four-ringer orogene that is partnered with a ten-ring orogene named Alabaster for the purpose of learning, fulfilling Fulcrum contracts, and reproduction. Alabaster is the most powerful oregene in history and he is very likely insane. He and Syenite engage in unsatisfying coitus and getting on each other's nerves. On their travels, Syenite has to challenge her ideas of what an orogene is and what Fulcrum is really doing. As she learns of the harshness of the real world she also learns how powerful she can be and how Alabaster probably went crazy. 

Essun is you and you are Essun. At least the book says this. She is the main, main character and the book uses the term you to make sure that the narrator knows who they are.  She is also the mother of two rogga children, one who has been killed by her husband. He has taken the second child and disappeared. She is determined to find her child and kill her husband. Essun leaves her small village just as the world is ending due to a massive volcano that is covering the earth with ash starting the next season of death.  

I was so pleased to find what I found when I opened this book and started to read it. It is the only example of geology-based fantasy I have ever heard of. The tone is conversational and unpretentious making it very accessible. The story is both mature and playful. The chapters are long as shit. I usually try to finish a chapter if I start it but I often would stop mid-chapter just to go to bed or do something else. The Fifth Season offers a charming and suspenseful adventure in a world that is both relatable and foreign. I enjoyed the ride very much and recommend it to anyone interested in a world that is unique and dynamic. 

Book Review: The Giver by Lois Lowry

 

This book is not a book. It is an allegory. A parable. A quick philosophical pondering wrapped in narrative simplicity. The moral of the story is that when you seek safety and equality you give up on what makes life worth living. The movie Equilibrium is based on this same idea. Equilibrium is a very fun movie and stars Christian Bale. It is about a world where all emotions are repressed by a drug and all cultural items are outlawed. Books, art, and music are all banned and people live only for the work that the state provides. They live lives of colorless monotony but when Christian Bale is forced to kill his partner, who stopped taking his pills and begins to enjoy reading, he starts to question his assumptions. He stops taking his pills and starts to work for the resistance to stop the state's supply of pills to release people from the trance of emotionless slavery. 

The Giver is a children's version of this cautionary tale. It is about Jonas who, in his twelfth year, is given the honorable job of Receiver. During his training, he learns that the world he has lived in has been devoid of real emotional content and also there is no color. His community is completely controlled by scientific and political means to make everyone the same in order to rid life of any risk or inequality. As Jonas begins to see colors and feel emotions such as love, and hate, he also learns about death and finds out that members of his community are murdered for not fitting in and that is the only way out of that way of life. After about a year of training he and The Giver, the old man that holds all the memories of emotions and the reality of life and gives the memories to Jonas, devise a plan to force the community to regain possession of the memories by having Jonas run away to Elsewhere, a mythical place where life is as it used to be. 

The book was easy to read and not very long. I found it compelling for the majority of the story but I thought that the ending was lackluster. It takes a long time to create the world but ends somewhat abruptly and without much fanfare. The stakes of the decisions that Jonas makes are not quite fleshed out and so it doesn't seem as dramatic as it should be. There are sequels to the book that might go over the consequences of Jonas's actions. I suppose it does offer a good cliffhanger for what is to come but I'm not sure I care much about any of the other characters. 

I enjoyed this book and I think it is perfect for younger readers. It would be a good way to bring up critical thinking discussions in a class or household. I recommend this book and I might take time to read the sequels. 

Book Review: God Emperor of Dune by Frank Herbert

 

God Emperor of Dune is the fourth book in the Dune series by Frank Herbert and it takes a different track than the previous stories. Its predecessors were stories about a myriad of characters that were all vying for power. In this book, there is only one character with power and they have had it for over 3500 years. Leto II, son of Paul Muad Dib, has transformed into a mostly giant, mostly immortal sandworm that has only the face of the boy that became a god remaining. While there are other characters and we get to listen in on their endeavors the book has a much more singular vision than any of the books that came before. This is signified by the quotes that begin each chapter. In the previous books, the quotations were from a variety of sources and about a variety of topics but in God Emperor of Dune, all of the quotes are from Leto's lost journals that were obviously found by someone. No matter what occurs in the book it is all in relation to the God Emperor and this gives the book a more streamlined narrative that is easier to follow. 

The God Emperor has been in complete control of the known universe with his powers of foresight, his control over the supernatural spice melange, and his army of devoted female soldiers. At the beginning of the story, we find out that he has been continually resurrecting versions of his faithful military commander Duncan Idaho, who was turned into a Ghola, or clone, for the first time in the second book and by now has been recreated hundreds of times. Each one is slightly different than the last but all of them seem to develop fatal flaws that see them sabotaging their own survival but this iteration of Duncan seems different. More cunning, more patient, but equally disgruntled. 

Over the 3500 years, the God Emperor has been engaging in two major systems of control. One is a breeding program that selects for characteristics that he deems valuable and just so happens to favor his own family line of Atreides genetics. This breeding program allows him to continuously improve on the effectiveness of his minions, including his all-female army, the Fish Speakers, and his second-in-command Moneo, who was once a rebel but is now his most trusted aid. Moneo and his daughter Siona are both Atreides but Siona is the leader of the current rebellion and seeks the God Emperor's demise. Will she find out how to defeat the despotic God or will she be converted to his side like her father? 

The other form of control is through his militant religion that takes despotism to a new and terrifying level. He rules with sheer force and destroys those that offend him. His prescient vision allowed him to plan his attacks with brutally effective countermeasures and win aggressive strategic victories. Some of his subjects attempt to conceal their actions while feigning allegiance, while others simply comply to his every whim knowing he will see their treachery coming. Previously powerful families and factions are reduced to simple pawns of the Emperor and his rule is complete, or is it? Can a living god live forever or are there flaws to be exploited?

God Emperor of Dune is like previous entries in that its characters are drawn with elaborate detail and they come alive as we learn of their emotions, motives, and vulnerabilities. If you like Frank Herbert's writing then this does not stray from that form but it is different in that the intrigue comes from a central place that spreads outward instead of the peripheral power struggles in the past that all were leading toward an assumed central location. The God Emperor Leto II is that central location and has occupied that position for long enough to shape the rest of human history. The Golden Path is still his goal but his grasp on it is slipping. 

This entry might be my favorite so far and I really enjoyed the political and psychological philosophy it demonstrates. Eternal conflicts of power justified through moral reasoning and the way the powerful manipulate others to see their goals met are major themes in this book. How the powerful see themselves as above their subjects and how subjects always rebel against tyranny are lessons that this book illuminates. Human motivations can often be short-sighted but true wisdom comes from the vision to see the long game. If you are reading the Dune series then I think you will enjoy this book and I recommend the series in general. It is a sci-fi masterpiece so far and I can't wait to read the next one.  

Read my previous reviews of Dune books here:

Book Review: Dune by Frank Herbert

Book Review: Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert

Book Review: Children of Dune by Frank Herbert

Book Review: News of the World by Paulette Jiles

 

If I were to describe this book in one word that word would be "Heart". Paulette Jiles weaves a tale about two unlikely comrades, Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd and Johanna. At first glance, one might look at each of these characters as being weak, too old, too young; to be seen as potential victims in the wild world of the lawless turn-of-the-century frontier that we find them. Captain Kidd is an elderly man riding alone across the plains of Texas to read stories from newspapers, informing the locals of the going's on of faraway places. Johanna is a young girl who had spent the last four years as a captive/adopted child of the Kiowa Indian tribe. While she looks like the other white girls she is permanently changed by her captivity and considers herself Kiowa. Captain Kidd has taken on the job of taking Johanna back to her relatives in a town near San Antonio, which is a long journey from where they start. 

In The News of the World, we follow Captain Kidd and Johanna as they travel throughout the harsh plains of the southern Texas frontier. After the civil war and other numerous political changes, the land is not governed by any formal political party and so there are treacherous bandits, unofficial law enforcement, military enforcers, and natives to contend with. At first, Johanna is confused and angry about her new circumstances and wants to run away and go back to her Kiowa tribe but soon she begins to see the Captain as her Kontah, or Grandfather. He begins to teach her how to speak English and how to be "civilized" by using a fork and knife and wearing shoes. The Captain is reluctant at first as well but as he remembers his own daughters he commits himself to protect and take care of the young Johanna. 

As they make their way south toward San Antonio they stop at each town so that Captain Kidd can read the news to the locals. He makes sure to stay away from local politics as it can create unnecessary tension amongst the crowds. Instead, he reads stories about recent scientific discoveries, intrigue from foreign countries and makes sure to add in some light-hearted stories as well. For only a dime each the townspeople come to hear of the world and The Captain keeps their attention with his strong voice and carefully selected articles. While he is doing this Johanna is oftentimes giving hell to a sitter, trying to run away, or snatching chickens to eat. 

As the two continue on their path they find that they stronger together and as they get closer to each other they also get closer to when they will have to part. The Captain made a promise and he is a man of his word and that means that once they get to Johanna's uncle's farm that he must let her go. And so the real conflict shows itself. Will the two be reunited or is Johanna just another acquaintance passing through the Captain's long life? Read to find out. 

Because the two characters seem vulnerable set against such a harsh environment there is a constant sense of tension and suspense. Paulette Jiles writes with such elegance and fluidity that the reading experience is very enjoyable. The characters are vivid and relatable and there is never a dull moment. I laughed, I cried and I highly recommend this book. It is much more than a typical western. It is a story about the bond a parent feels for a child, how love can come from somewhere unexpected, and it is about hope. The author puts so much compassion, commitment, and love into this book that I fear they may have given away something of themself in the writing. We all benefit from this kind of story and its overflowing heart. 

Want to read another great western? Check out my review of Deadwood:

https://joesnotesblog.com/blog/book-review-deadwood-by-pete-dexter

Book Review: The Terminal List by Jack Carr

The Terminal List exemplifies the adage "write what you know" and the author Jack Carr apparently knows how to kill people. This becomes apparent as the protagonist, James Reece, goes on a rampage of revenge on the people that conspired to kill his platoon, his family, and his friends. James Reece employs a wide variety of military and insurgency tactics in order to surveil, trap, interrogate, and kill his enemies. These details are well developed and offer an insight into the world of modern combat, espionage, and terrorism. Whether he is using encrypted message systems, employing night vision optics, custom sniper rifles, or using disguises, James Reece is an unstoppable and ruthless operator. Also, he has a brain tumor, which doesn't help. 

The story here is not complicated or poetic. It reads like a typical action movie with straightforward good versus evil dichotomies. James has racked up a ton of favors from the perfect set of friends to help him exact his revenge. His life in the Navy Seal Teams has allowed him to meet just the right people to help him fund, plan, and execute his plans, including an insanely wealthy Mexican benefactor and a pilot that owes him her life. Without these people, he would not have gotten very far but thanks to them he can freely roam the USA and Mexico and make his enemies pay. 

The bad guys are equally stereotypical. They are politicians, lawyers, and corrupt leaders, and they all have personal vices that make them even worse. Womanizers, powerful sociopaths, master manipulators, and spineless lackeys make up the "bad guys" team and they have no redeemable qualities. They deserve to die so why not make it interesting? James Reece makes it interesting. 

 This is the first book Jack Carr has written and it suffers from another adage, "show don't tell". The author covers a ton of ground just saying what is happening and what has happened instead of allowing the reader to fill in the gaps by providing the subtle details that would lead the reader to realize a more vivid and deep world. I found the whole thing to be so typically action-oriented that from the very beginning I could predict what would happen, roughly speaking. This doesn't mean that I could predict the specifics but that the overall outcomes were unsurprising. The lack of character development and the excess of stereotypical personalities made it difficult to empathize and connect to the characters. It is just taken for granted that we should care about the good guys and hate the bad guys, which I found to be uninteresting. There were few points in which I was excited to get back to the book and went days without reading. 

That said, I really enjoyed the military details that added to the authenticity and helped create a realism that grounded the book. Specific details related to weapons, tools, strategies, and tactics are the reason to read this book. Like any good Bond movie or Jason Bourne movie, the act of putting yourself into the shoes of a highly trained, intelligent, and nearly unstoppable soldier is a lot of fun. I enjoyed the action of this book but didn't feel like it took sufficient advantage of the medium of literature. I think it is coming out as a movie and that will probably be a more satisfying way to enjoy this story. If you like military action thrillers and straightforward writing then you will like this book. Otherwise, wait for the movie or pick up something a little more literary, like Deadwood, which I just finished and found exceedingly compelling.

 

Book Review: Deadwood by Pete Dexter

 

Deadwood doesn't rely on the usual stereotypical western tropes. You won't find main street duels, stampedes, or bounty hunters, although there are quite a few prostitutes. Deadwood does tell a down-to-earth story about a man living in pre-industrial America who happens to be friends with the most famous western hero, Wild Bill Hickock. This book is not about Wild Bill Hickock though, it's about Charley Utter. Charley is a successful business-man who accompanies Wild Bill in the twilight of his fame and as they settle into the untamed town of Deadwood they meet a host of memorable characters. 

Characters like the Bottle Fiend, who is a soft-brain who has attempted suicide more time than anyone can remember. Or Al Swearingen, who runs the brothel with relentless venom and violence. Or Charley's nephew Malcolm Nash, who, after a traumatic experience, becomes a vengeful priest. Bullock, the apathetic sheriff. The Langrishe's own the theater and have their own secrets. And of course, there is Calamity Jane, who falls in love with Wild Bill, thinks she was sent by God to save people and shrieks like an eagle. 

The detailed characters in this book are the grounding force that brings this tale into vivid relief. Pete Dexter doesn't shy away from the dark humanity that is often brushed over, exaggerated, or otherwise idealized in many western stories. He also doesn't shy away from the complexities of love, lust, and infatuation that entangle real relationships. 

Through Charley Utter, we find that Deadwood is just a microcosm of any town where its inhabitants struggle to cooperate but somehow manage to survive, mostly. Personal prejudices, vices, and hopes are tested and weighed as characters balance their desires with the harsh realities of their environment, which illuminates the quintessential balance of human existence. As we fight to survive in the world we fight not only with the world and others but we must also fight with ourselves.  

The writing in this book is superb and while it isn't the most exciting book I have read I found it never the less enthralling. Deadwood is a meandering and methodical character study more than it is a typical western and I highly recommend it. 

Book Review: Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert

 

Frank Herbert is something else. While reading this book my mind is drawn and quartered a thousand times. It is pushed and pulled this way and that. I am like a child grasping for meaning, knowing it is there but just out of reach. On the edge of understanding, I sit, in awe of what might be on the other side. Comprehension, just out of reach and yet in the back of my mind, it has been there the whole time. The words are new but they make sense, like some dream that tries to incorporate elements that seem, at first, to be disconnected, only to discover later, maybe after a day or two of contemplation, that the meaning was there amidst the confusion. Then, he brings you back. Frank Herbert, the man that sent you down the rabbit hole is there holding your hand and makes everything clear. 

Dune Messiah is the second in the Dune series and it is a wonderful rollercoaster. One minute I'm trying to follow the story and figure out what is happening, what might happen, and then the next minute I'm lost in the jargon and intrigue of a world I barely know. The internal ruminations of the characters, the dialogue, and the world that Frank Herbert created is so thoroughly it's own that it is like turning on a documentary from an alien world at an alien time. As much as it is unfamiliar it is just familiar enough to cause a fury of excitement and suspense. The intrigue is palpable and enticing. It keeps you going and gives you hope. 

In this, the second story about the desert planet known as Dune, we take up the story of Paul Atreides, AKA Muad 'Dib AKA Usul, AKA the ruler of the known universe. The book starts about twelve years after the end of the first Dune book. We find that with the help of violence, religious ideology, his prescient sister Alia, his Fremen soldiers, and his monopoly over the invaluable resource known as melange, Paul has brought his form of justice and leadership to all. He is known by some as a god and by others as a devil. He is not unaware of this duality and is plagued by his own doubt about the legacy that he is creating. 

Paul tackles internal and external threats to his dynasty but with his powers of foresight, he seems to be one step ahead of his enemies. While he attempts to root out the spies in his midst he is also dealing with the matter of his succession plan. Chani, his concubine and true love, is pregnant and there are many who want to take advantage of her vulnerability and Paul's potential weakness toward her. He knows who to trust but he doesn't always know if he can trust himself and by the end, the true plot is revealed. Will Paul fall to the wiles of his enemies or will he continue his violent conquest? Read to find out! 

Read my review of the first book Dune here:

Book Review: Dune by Frank Herbert

Book Review: Anathema by Channing Cornwall

 Go to joesnotesblog.com for more!

Channing Cornwall's latest novel is another example of his diverse style and ability to span genres. From westerns to fantasy and now to Anathema, Channing continues to push the boundaries of what his readers should expect. Anathema straddles the line between the genres of horror and noir mystery where the world of the spiritual and profane are explored while nestled in the unnerving arms of dysfunctional family dynamics. 

Anathema takes place in the small town of Neskowin, Oregon in the early 20th century. The Galloway siblings are all grown up and reunite at the family estate to bury their father, whose sudden death becomes increasingly suspicious. This all occurs years after the suicide of their mother, Anna, who spent the last years of her life painting depictions of the nearby island of Anathema. The island's inhabitants are a mysterious group of religious zealots that only come to shore to recruit new members and have lost most of the color in their skin, which is not the oddest thing about them. 

The Galloway siblings are accompanied by a Chinese woman named Song that is convinced that a higher power is guiding them to the island to discover and deal with the supernatural occurrences that are plaguing the nearby village of Neskowin and the Galloway parents more directly.  In their pursuit of the truth of their parents' deaths, the Galloway siblings struggle with each other, as their personalities and lifestyles clash, as well as with the forces that brought them all together. 

I enjoyed this book and I appreciate Channing's take on a genre that I don't normally take to. His writing is a breeze to read and the pacing doesn't allow for dull excesses or boring exposition. The journey builds toward a climactic standoff that is both horrific and satisfying. I would say more but I don't want to give anything away. The fun is in the discovery of the truth. I recommend this book to anyone that likes the intrigue of mysterious deaths, ghostly apparitions, and unearthly realms. 

Get the book on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Anathema-Channing-H-Cornwall/dp/B08F6X4QFK

More reviews of Channing's other books:

https://jdgnotes541.blogspot.com/2016/12/book-review-hell-came-with-her-by.html

https://joesnotesblog.com/blog/book-review-the-world-carried-on-by-channing-cornwall

https://joesnotesblog.com/blog/book-review-breathed-out-by-god-by-channing-cornwall

Book Review: Odd Billy Todd by N.C. Reed

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A potential apocalyptic event is a common topic among my friends. What would cause it and what would we do in such a scenario can easily take up hours of conversation. As well as what kind of preparations we might make in reality and what is reasonable to actually do today based on the fact that it is an extremely unlikely thing to happen. This year has been no exception and with the rise of COVID and now, with the recent fires and terrible air quality the idea of survival preparedness is maybe not so far fetched. A few months ago my friend could not stop talking about Odd Billy Todd and so when I had the opportunity to get my hands on a copy, borrowed from my brother, I went into it with heightened anticipation.  

Billy Todd wakes up one day to find that a plague has wiped out 95 percent of the world's population in the span of about a week leaving him all alone in his small rural home town of Cedar Bend, Tennessee. He is uniquely capable of dealing with this situation as his family owns a farm near the town that is self-sustaining and Billy's parents taught him how to deal with life in such a way that would allow him to survive almost any scenario. His parents had died sometime before the plague but not before teaching him how to think like a conscientious and moral person. Billy's oddness only manifests itself in a few negative ways throughout the book but seems to really manifest itself as his odd way of knowing how to think ahead, plan things out and shoot better than almost anyone. He is a kind of Aspergian country hero. 

Soon enough he finds that there are other survivors including a woman who has had a crush on him since high school and his neighbors who have a farm nearby. Seemingly unfazed by their new circumstances Billy and the others work diligently to secure resources and plan for the coming desolation of post-apocalyptic life. With solar power, cows, pigs, and lots of guns they make their way through well enough on their own until they find that there is a nearby settlement where they can trade goods and socialize with other survivors. It is on the road to this place that we first meet the dark side of humanity as road pirates attempt to steal from them. This is also when we find out the Odd Billy Todd does not suffer dangerous fools. 

They meet up with others at the settlement and find some folks that they think might want to come back and live on what later is known as the Farms. People with skills and attitudes that cooperate and complement the others are brought in and soon the Farms become a small community. As this is happening Billy finds out that there are additional threats including a group that has taken over a train that is ransacking and killing those along the tracks it travels. Billy and the others work to prepare themselves for both the natural elements and human elements that threaten their lives. They raid nearby towns often in order to find supplies and food and this is where they end up meeting with both potential friends and certain foes. Foes are met with swift justice and friends are allowed to live at the Farms as long as they are willing to work and cooperate. 

All in all, this was a fun book to read. I enjoyed the attempt at taking the ideas of survival preparedness and other post-apocalyptic themes seriously and the way the author does not go the route of psychological drama or relationship melodrama as some of these types of stories do. Not that those are bad but this book is doing something different. It is like a fictional exercise in real-world considerations taken at face value. There are not a lot of metaphorical or abstract language here and everyone in it has their role to play. There are good guys and bad guys and that's about it. 

The author obviously knows quite a lot about the nuts and bolts of what he writes about as the details regarding the tools, engineering, weapons, and survival aspects are specific and deep. The vast majority of the book is about the somewhat mundane day to day life of people who have to fend for themselves. Fuel, clothing, food, and all other manners of day to day considerations are addressed and at times the story got a little repetitive if not boring. This is compared to the much more exciting and interesting parts that involve action and violence as Billy and his group protects themselves from those that would take from them what they worked hard to acquire. 

If you like guns and military strategy this book has a lot of fun post-apocalyptic style scenarios to enjoy. Unfortunately, the bad guys are not particularly well developed and the good guys are so superior that the stakes are not that high and there isn't a lot of nuance in the plot. The book is independently produced and this is the first book by the author so there is something to be desired in regards to editing and the writing can be a little clunky at times. This took me out of the story periodically but not enough to ruin the experience. The writing is straightforward but not boring or lacking in creativity. The book obviously holds traditional values such as hard work, self-reliance, swift justice for the wicked, and other conservative and somewhat Christian in nature as virtuous. This makes sense given its protagonists and setting and isn't preachy at all. Just some good ol'fashioned redneck fun. 

In conclusion, it is a little long in my opinion, and could have used some additional revisions and editing to polish it up. The addition of a well developed bad guy, as well as a more obvious reason to call Billy Odd, would have added a lot to the dynamics in my opinion but as an amateur writer, I appreciate this book for its rawness. I'm glad I read it and it will certainly spark more conversations among my friends.

Check out these other reviews for books about the end of the world:

Book Review: The World Carried On by Channing Cornwall

Book Review: The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Book Review: Comanche Moon by Larry McMurtry

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Comanche Moon is the second book in the Lonesome Dove series and continues the journey of  Texas Rangers Woodrow Call and Augustus McCrae as they try to tame the west from a dwindling but wildly fierce number of hostile Comanche tribesman. Buffalo Hump continues to lead his people against the encroaching caucasian intruders and we follow his story to the end, and his tale becomes a symbol of the weakening state of the once proud and free native peoples. We also meet Blue Duck, the main antagonist in Lonesome Dove, who is Buffalo Hump's half Comanche half Mexican son. Blue Duck never got along with his father and his disrespect for the old ways leads to him being cast out by his father. 

On the other side of the fence, we get to meet the incomparable Captain Inish Scull and the eccentric Famous Shoes. Famous shoes is a Kickapoo tracker who never rides a horse and yet somehow is always ahead of the Rangers he is tracking for. He leaves for days on end but always comes back with interesting information. He knows the land and helps Inish Scull when his exceptionally large horse is stolen by the infamous horse thief Kicking Wolf. Inish finds out how harsh the frontier really is when he finally finds out what happened to his horse. 

The book mainly focuses on the perspective of the Comanche people while forwarding the character-driven work he started in the previous entry. Call, McCrae, Pea Eye, Deets, Newt, and many more characters are all there and we finally get to see the evolution of Call's relationship with Maggie, the whore whose son Call won't claim. We also find out about what happens to Long Bill Coleman, who made his way through the torment of the death march in Dead Man's Walk, and Clara Forsythe, who Gus will always pine for. 

The Lonesome Dove Series is a must-read for fans of the western genre and Comanche Moon acts as a tribute to the transition from the old ways to the new. Everyone gets older and people die. No matter how much you want to cling to the past things change and you can either change too or fade away into history. The characters are treated and developed with care and respect and we see things from their respective perspectives. Everyone has their own motivations for what they do and no one's perfect. In summary, this book is fun, easy to read, well-paced, and well written and you should read it. 

*I haven't seen the movie based on it but I'm sure it makes a good companion to the book. 

Read my other reviews from Larry McMurtry Novels:

Dead Man's Walk

https://joesnotesblog.com/blog/book-review-dead-mans-walk-by-larry-mcmurtry?rq=mcmurtry%20

Lonesome Dove

https://joesnotesblog.com/blog/book-review-lonesome-dove-by-larry-mcmurtry?rq=mcmurtry

Book Review: The Road by Cormac McCarthy

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The Road is a different kind of novel. No chapters. No names. The bleak reality of its narrative is reflected in the minimalism found on each page. The reader is given scraps of information piece by piece, paragraph by paragraph, just as the characters are given scraps of food, safety, and happiness. The broken world on a broken page. This book is at times just a mundane explanation of actions and events without much action or flair and then, at times, there is a sudden shock of eloquent poetry underscoring the contradictory nature of the characters' existence. Alive in a dead world with only rare and fleeting expressions of beauty. Without chapters the book is like a world without clocks, one measures time differently. Putting the book down is like accepting the story untold so one just keeps reading. The formatting of this book is deep. 

The Road is about a man and his son in the post-apocalyptic world of nightmares. The climate is ashen and the sky is always gray. The few survivors roam around the mostly uninhabited landscapes of cities long destroyed by earthly cataclysms, fire, and brimstone, searching for cans of food that haven't turned rotten, and filtering the ash from dirty streams for water. A world where one can't trust if the next person down the road is a good guy or plans on raping and eating you and your children. A world where starvation and sickness are the norm and hope was replaced with sheer will a long time ago.

I'm not sure if this book lived up to the hype but it was very well written and mostly entertaining. It disposes of all pomp and executes directly. I went into it thinking it would be depressing and I am not interested in depressing myself but what I found was not depressing to me. It's a story about a heroic man attempting to keep his son safe. It's about love mostly. The Road is a love story really. Or an obligation story, What a person can do when driven to continue on living for the sake of their child. I recommend this book to anyone that wants a fast and enjoyable read. I cried a little at the end. 

I would recommend watching the movie as it is a faithful representation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94KcI0gLq1A

Book Review: The Daybreakers by Louis L'Amour

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You know you're into a book when after reading every few chapters you find yourself thinking, "That's so good," or "I really like this book." My internal commentary is always a good guide to whether or not I would recommend a book or would read more from the author and this book delivered the goods. This is the first Louis L'Amour book I have read even though I've known about the author for most of my life.

Louis L'Amour is one of the most prolific and popular American writers and while most of his titles feature the settling of the American frontier he has written historical fiction, science fiction, nonfiction, and poetry collections as well. Many of his novels are quite short and "The Daybreakers" is only 204 pages long which makes it a breeze to get through. This is just one in a series of books centered around The Sackets. The Sackets are a family from the blue mountains from which strong men a bred. In this installment, we learn about Tyrel and Orrin Sacket. These brothers leave their home in the mountains to join a group of cow rustlers. For the next few years, the boys meet new lifelong friends and find some lifelong enemies too.

As the Sacket brothers try to settle down and find a home for their mother in the open and wildlands of New Mexico they find out what kind of men they really are. They find that the world is full of immoral actors but they stay steadfast to their values to the constant chagrin of bad cowpokes. Tyrel is the mean one with a quickdraw that everyman would learn to fear and Orrin is the well-spoken rock that instills trust and loyalty wherever he goes. Both men are quintessential good guys and with their new friends, they find that taking on evil is worth the risks. The new world wants law and order and its men like the Sackets that will stop at nothing to make that happen. 

If you enjoy the Western genre then I can't imagine you wouldn't enjoy this book. I found myself wanting to get back to it time and time again until soon it was over and in a wonderfully Western way. I can see where writers such as Larry McMurtry must have gotten some inspiration and I'm glad that such good Western books are out there. I can't wait to get into more of Louis L'Amour's books. 

More Western Related Content:

https://joesnotesblog.com/search?q=western&f_collectionId=5b2b18fcf950b7ec24453185

Book Review: Touching the Void by Joe Simpson

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I was over at my brother's house last week and while waiting for some laundry we both sat reading. He was reading my copy of Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove and I decided to grab a book he had on the shelf and I just happened to pick the book that this review is about. I did not realize what I was getting myself into when I picked it up but two chapters later I was already hooked. I took it home and couldn't stop reading. 

Touching the Void by Joe Simpson is the true story about Joe Simpson and Simon Yates on their trip to the Peruvian Mountains in 1985 to climb the Siula Grande summit. After acclimatizing themselves to the high altitude at a base camp they made their way past lakes, moraines, a glacier and then up ice-cliffs, snow slopes, massive icicles and nearly impossible ridges where thousands of feet lay over the edge. Spoiler alert! They make it to the summit but all the trouble starts on the descent back down when Joe suddenly falls and breaks his leg. This would normally be a death sentence for a climber in that environment but what happens next is the most intense writing I have ever read. 

Joe Simpson is an experienced climber and takes the reader into the world of extreme mountaineering with a level of detail that only comes from someone who has been there and done that. Along with the specificity of the industry-specific language, Joe creates an intimate connection with the reader by revealing his innermost thoughts and emotions and his love of the sport and the environment is apparent as he describes the ups and downs of the ordeal. Even without knowing all the terms the book is easy to read and hard to put down with its beautiful prose. 

I have never read a book that elicited such emotions as this book. My heart raced as I read about their climb up treacherous mountainsides. I felt anxious when Joe and Simon dealt with the uncertainty of the sudden emergency of Joe breaking his leg. I became depressed and withdrawn as Joe struggled with internal and external tribulations and I wept when Joe finally makes it out. The fact that I knew that Joe would survive took nothing away from the emotional impact of the story and knowing it is a true story made it all the more impactful. Being written by the man who experienced it gives the book that much more punch. It is a must-read in my mind and I recommend it heartily to anyone interested in seeing what the human will is capable of. 

I haven't seen the movie but I found this Youtube of it. Honestly, I need a break from this content before diving back in to watch the movie, which I assume is a good adaptation. I would recommend reading the book first. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9GcNLGwgBo&t=300s

Book Review: Congo by Michael Crichton

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Congo is a science fiction novel written by Michael Crichton, the writer of the book Jurrasic park, that takes place primarily in the African jungle in the Congo region. It is written in an almost journalistic way taking the reader through different stages of the plot by breaking down dates, events and geographic locations into chapter sections. All along the way, historical and technological tangents are taken in an effort to create context and intrigue as to what surrounds the interactions that occur in the plot. Fictional accounts of previous expeditions to the Congo indicate the lack of successful attempts to study the region as well as the mysterious nature of its potential resources that might be used for the benefit of governmental interests. 

Crichton weaves a tale that bulges with detail allowing the reader to become immersed in two distinct worlds. The first world is the world of international competition related to technological advancement and the discovery and utilization of natural resources. Whether the histories offered by the author hover closer or farther from the truth the reader is given a manifest of contextual information regarding the state of technological advancements during the late 1970s in the worlds of computing, communications and weapons tech. We learn about the state of the art technologies that for the time would have seemed like far fetched sci-fi fiction but are now, in 2020, fairly accurate predictions of current and even surpassed realities. 

The second world that the author creatively elaborates on is the world of non-human language acquisition in the form of Amy the gorilla. Amy is a fictionalized version of other primates that scientists have tried to teach language to and more directly mirrors the actual gorilla Koko, which was a well-known gorilla that successfully learned American Sign Language from an animal psychologist named Francine Patterson. Koko and Patterson become famous in the late 1970s and Crichton takes their story and runs with it. Amy, the signing gorilla in the book, is cared for by Peter Elliot who takes the risk of joining a team put together by the Earth Resources Technology Services (ERTS) corporation in hopes of finding the place where Amy was born while the ERTS team is in the search for rare diamonds in the Congo. 

This is where the two worlds meet and Peter Elliot and Amy the gorilla find out that the company they just got involved with isn't exactly what they seem. They didn't know that the previous team sent to Congo, just a week before their expedition, was mysteriously murdered. They also didn't realize that they would be going into a war-torn African area where they had little to no support. Also, there is a volcano right next to their destination that seems like it might be ready to explode but, with the headstrong Karen Ross from the ERTS team and Munro the quick-witted travel guide/mercenary they make their way to the treacherous jungle in search of fortune and gorilla related answers. 

The book is very fun and full of action and adventure. It was also adapted to the silver screen in the 1995 movie by the same name. I remember the movie being very fun as well, if not a little cheesy, especially compared to today's movies. I recommend this book to anyone that wants a fast-paced jungle adventure with little in the way of subtext or deep philosophical complexities. It is a fun romp into a semi-realistic world that entices the imagination and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat until the end.

P.S. My favorite character was Amy the gorilla. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nj5G4GffWo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ihC6QHS_m0

Book Review: Dune by Frank Herbert

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"There would be tricks within tricks within tricks."

My friend recommended this book to me several times and I am very glad that I decided to take the suggestion. This book was a non-stop rollercoaster of intrigue, action, and suspense. From the very first chapter, the reader is thrown into a mysterious world where pieces to a massive puzzle are introduced through context while eluding simultaneously to a known future and an unknown present. The author introduces such puzzle pieces in a myriad of forms such as excerpts from unknown tomes that refer to unknown events, words that can only be contextualized to determine, and the names of people, cultures, and religions that will only make sense once the reader has delved deeper.

It is impossible to overstate the intricacy that exists in the text of Dune and it is difficult to explain the story without giving away what makes it so entertaining. Above and below the surface layer of the story there are layers of macro and micro examination and the interplay between layers as well. Everything in the universe of Dune is connected through thousands of years of interconnected human endeavors. Just like in real life the humans of Dune are in a constant race to manipulate the environments they occupy including both the ecology of planets and social dynamics of competing sects. Frank Herbert navigates these intricacies with a rigorous methodology that at no point takes away from the fun that the reader experiences in discovering the world through its players. 

We learn about Dune from its newest royal inhabitants and overlords led by Duke Leto Atreides. He is joined by his precocious teenage son Paul and his enchanting concubine Jessica. While these names may appear mundane I assure you Paul and Jessica are not to be trifled with. Paul's quick reflexes and Jessica's intelligence and cunning prove to be powerful assets. With political turmoil all around them and betrayal lurking around the next corner, Duke Leto is charged by his Emporer to take over the planet Dune and extract all the spice he can and the spice is nice. Mmmm spice!

Dune is an exercise in keen observation. As the book continues the reader sees into the mind of the highly trained Mentat assassins, seductively selective sorceresses and more. You notice every vocal tonal change indicating to you that someone is afraid or hiding something or straight-up lying. Words become codes and a couple of hand gestures can communicate an entire conversation. These are just some of the mysteries that exist in the cut-throat world of Dune.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in an epic adventure that explores both the internal world of the characters' thoughts as well as an in-depth external sci-fi world with a healthy dose of fantasy to round out the excitement. The only negative thing I could come up with is that while the vast majority of the story is unpredictable the ending was mostly expected, which doesn't take away from the enjoyment in the least. If anything it allows for a satisfying resolution that entices the reader to continue the saga with the next book which could be Dune Messiah although there are so many Dune stories one can get wrapped up the world forever. I will certainly be reading more of these novels and I hope that any movies or shows based on the Dune world do the story justice. 

Book Review: Breathed out By God by Channing Cornwall

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          All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.2 Timothy 3:16-17

Breathed out by God is Channing Cornwall's sixth novel and the second in a series following the book Hell Came With Her, whose characters show up in this entry but are not the main characters here. This new entry into the series shows a different side of the author. A side that is conflicted yet organized, and maybe, just a little preachy. 

The story is centered around Isaac Teller, an ex-preacher whose soul was shattered by a violent act, leaving his belief system naked and torn. In an effort to find God he embarks on a journey of self-discovery, all the while encountering increasingly difficult moral conundrums amid a cutthroat frontier Oregon landscape. Cora Reid is a reformed whore who hopes that Isaac might be the shepherd she needs to stay off her back and accompanies Isaac into the wild. They form an unlikely bond that borders on the romantic with Cora's playful banter creating a tension that tests Isaac's more puritanical ideals.   

Channing's uncompromising portrayal of a barbaric 19th century can be shocking at times as he does not shy away from taboo words and language. This just adds to the significance of the story as the author takes you into a world many would step on eggshells to navigate but he seems to find solid ground easily enough. The tale is so full of thoughtful moral challenges that heavy topics seem to be the order of the day and Channing rides waves of uncertainty deftly. Moral juxtapositions shift up and down on a see-saw of Western-style travel adventures consistently creating suspense, intrigue, and momentum. Where Hell Came With Her is about the unwavering drive for revenge, Breathed out by God is what happens when you slow down and start to question the world around you.

Breathed out by God delivers a moral rollercoaster with stints of steadfast resolve that offer a brief reprieve and I really enjoyed the ride. There is a bigger point to this book than that of a simple western with its duels and violence. Beliefs have the power to cripple the mind and bolster the heart.  But no matter how hard you try we learn that change is inevitable.

Channing is a friend of mine and I am very fond of his work. I can't wait for the next one.


Read my other reviews of Channing's books:

Hell Came With Her

The World Carried On