Jim Thomsen Book Recommendations & Book Mentions

Jim Thomsen

I loved CITY ON FIRE by @donwinslow. For what’s on its cover as much as what’s inside. Its title is an apocalyptic fuck-you to the similarly titled book of a few years back that the New York-is-the-center-of-the-literary-universe crowd tried, and failed, to will into the canon. https://t.co/0mLtqlZqM0

Jim Thomsen

5 of 5 stars to Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia https://t.co/wVGa6qB4U5

Jim Thomsen

Finally finished THE DEVIL TAKES YOU HOME by @Gabino_Iglesias. One of those books that so overpowered me with double-barreled awesomeness that I’m not sure I can articulate it in a review. But I’ll make the effort, because reviews matter. Even if mine is merely: “Dayyyyyuuummmm.” https://t.co/Gvvk3YZaS5

Jim Thomsen

Reading a new novel that begs the question: Would you rather be the next Cormac McCarthy or the first you? Really tired of fervent BLOOD MERIDIAN fellation in other people’s stories.

Jim Thomsen

@CW_Blackwell @ConnerHabib Also: THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY, Amor Towles FAR BEYOND THE PALE, Daren Dean THE SWALLOWS, Lisa Lutz AMERICAN RUST, Philipp Meyer OHIO, Stephen Markley DARK ROADS, Chevy Stevens THE WILD, Owen Laukkanen LETTER PERFECT, Charles Crawford VERA VIOLET, Melissa Peterson

Jim Thomsen

That said, here are books I haven’t finished or haven’t yet reviewed but know I like: THE FIREBALLER, @writerstevens EVERYBODY KNOWS, @jordan_harper ROADS, @DarenDean1 FIND HIM, @JakeHinkson WINTER WORK, @DanFesperman REAL EASY, @marierutkoski (reading a third time) 2/4

Jim Thomsen

Also: CRY FOR A NICKEL, DIE FOR A DIME and SKIN FLICK, @WoodyHaut THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY AND SUSPENSE, @stephycha THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK, @JenniferHillier THE NIGHT SHIFT, Alex Finlay TOAD, Katherine Dunn MONEY THE HARD WAY, @davidtromblay OZARK DOGS, @elicranor 3/4

Jim Thomsen

@blacklionking73 I was wary of all the tribal drooling over Steph Cha’s YOUR HOUSE WILL PAY, because so much of the hype focused on representation and so little on what makes a story actually work, but damned if it didn’t knock it out of the park and then some. I can’t recommend it enough.

Jim Thomsen

@JulieChristineJ @MysteryTribune My belief is that you can have it both ways — be literary and unconventional — and still be a crime novel marketable to fans of that genre. Joanne Tompkins’ novel is a good example, and I urge you to try Elizabeth Wetmore’s VALENTINE to see what us truly possible. https://t.co/AQ2cBFEg9J

Jim Thomsen

I am leveled by the lameness of this line: “Doerr’s bald head, smooth face and crystal eyes make him look almost otherworldly, even driving in his Toyota pickup through the very real landscape of rural Idaho, pointing out deer and trying to spot a moose.” https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/16/books/anthony-doerr-cloud-cuckoo-land.html