Ahh, as people of all ages return back to school and hit the books, we decided maybe we too should revisit our book reviews.
But first, we must apologize. We totally missed August’s book review because we were too busy eating cronuts and getting nominated for awards.
However, we’re back now and with some pretty great titles for you to choose from.
The Cuckoo’s Calling – Robert Galbraith (AKA J.K. Rowling)
We’re die-hard Harry Potter fans and were a little hesitant on picking this up solely because we’re advocating hard for her to write a few more books starring our favourite wizard and feared this wouldn’t be as good…But we loved it!
The plot follows Private Investigator Cormoran Strike as he investigates a supermodel’s suicide. Rowling is known for bringing her characters to life, and it’s no different in The Cuckoo’s Calling. Strike isn’t your average soldier-turned-detective (no, he isn’t a wizard) but he is a believable character with believable characteristics.
This is better then most crime novels we’ve come across and we know you’ll devour the well-developed novel in a few days.
I Wear the Black Hat: Grappling with Villains (Real and Imagined) – Chuck Klosterman
It’s not too far fetched to even suggest the Chuck Klosterman is one of the best ethicists and pop culture essayists of our time, but this time he’s gone over to the dark side. Kind of. His newest book is a collection of essays on bad guys, you know, the ones with the black hat and twirly moustache that tie damsels in distress to the train tracks? Per the usual Klosterman book, there is no shortage of dry humor, sports references, jabs at the Oakland Raiders as he tries to hammer home the central point of his argument. It touches on the subject of why we collectively despise certain characters and personalities, but then praise others, even those who are malicious or bad.
According to the National Post, I Wear the Black Hat “is less interested in unpacking the nature of villainy, but focuses more on how, where and why villains fit into our murals of popular culture.”
Serious and funny, we’re confident that you’ll be more than entertained with I Wear the Black Hat.
Between Man and Beast – Monte Reel
We have a confession to make. We tend to judge books by their covers. We can’t help it! Chances are if the book has a great picture or bright font, it’s going to catch our attention. Such is the case with Between Man and Beast, with that fierce gorilla and 19th-century font. Like, come on, a freakin’ gorilla is on the cover, what’s not to like?
The year is 1856, and Paul Du Challu is on the hunt to find a legendary and mythical beast (commonly known today as a gorilla). His timing couldn’t be more coincidental – when he returns home after three years in the jungles of West Africa, he’s plunged into Charles Darwin’s evolution debate. This is not your standard fiction book. The stories and correspondence are right out of the diaries and files of Paul himself in 1856.
We don’t want to give too much away but the book is a must-read for anyone who loves science, history and of course, gorillas.
What’s on your reading list this month? Let us know below or on Twitter and it may be on our list for next month’s reading list!
