3 More Book Bingo Books

Sylvie Cathrall, A Letter from the Lonesome Shore

For the “Author from Another Continent” square. The boringest possible choice for “another continent,” I know, as Cathrall is from England, but I read this on my mom’s recommendation and this was the only square it fit. It’s the second book in Cathrall’s Sunken Archive duology, whose first book was A Letter to the Luminous Deep, which I liked but didn’t love, and I felt much the same way about this one.

This second installment was a bit more lively than the first, which had a pretty overwhelming setup-to-payoff ratio and also earned my ire for nowhere indicating that it was the first in a series. In Lonesome Shore the setup’s mostly all been done, and it actually has a conclusion, so the pacing of the plot is much less uneven (though it does still feel like most of the actual events happen in the last 10%). The prose remains kinda overwrought and samey, the characters equal parts endearing and annoying. But the introduction of some new weirdos helps mix it up a bit and gives this book a sense of mystery and stakes that the first sort of lacked. There’s still a marked dearth of interpersonal conflict, which feels like a bit of a missed opportunity because the characters’ hearts are all so good. Let’s see that goodness given an actual workout!

Final note: One thing that this book and its predecessor made me hungry for is an epistolary novel that doesn’t rely on its correspondents’ photographic memories to tell a story that’s indistinguishable from a conventional narrative. Such a book would have lacunae for its reader to fill in, and writers with their own agendas, acknowledged or not, that inform what they choose to include, and what they omit. They’d misremember and forget things. It would be more of a challenge to read, but the obfuscation would paradoxically feel more honest than what the Sunken Archives books do.

John Scalzi, Starter Villain

For the “Humor” square. This was the library’s suggestion, not mine; for the most part I didn’t think this book was especially funny, or even that being funny was its primary goal. But it was another breezy, enjoyable rompEveryone calls John Scalzi books “romps” and I’m afraid I’m no exception. I’m sorry! The man writes romps!!!

of the sort typical of Scalzi. It didn’t make me think, or do anything that felt particularly new. It was just a fun, very well-plotted and -told story.

Weirdly, what I’m appreciating most about Scalzi right now, having read this and Zoë’s Tale recently, is his restraint and good judgment, at least in the prose. Starter Villain has talking cats, which in the hands of a less judicious writer might be overused, or cliché, or otherwise cringey.The dolphins straddle the line of self-indulgence a bit, but they don’t overstay their welcome.

Likewise telling Zoë’s Tale in first person, with a teenage girl as the POV character. But in both cases Scalzi does an admirable job of not giving in to stereotypes or telling the obvious jokes. In the same vein, Villain’s protagonist (haha) isn’t transformed by his circumstances into some kind of badass. Aside from keeping his composure in the face of hostility a bit better than I’d expect of a normal person—which I actually think is somewhat explained by his having been a journalist and a substitute teacher—he remains a fish out of water, dependent on his more experienced colleagues to cover for him. It’s refreshing! But it is possible that I’m just willing to cut Scalzi some slack, and not read too critically, because his books are just so damn likable.

David Baldacci, To Die For

For the “Buddy Read” square. I read this with my book club, which is entirely composed of men at least 20 years my senior, and like Starter Villain I couldn’t find any other bingo squares to put it in. Also like Starter Villain, this was a brisk, unchallenging read. But I found it much less likeable, and the prose ranged from serviceable down to clunky. The twisty, compelling plot was well put together, not that I’m particularly good at detecting plot holes, but the characters were two-dimensional and not very interesting. It was fine! I read the whole thing and enjoyed it well enough. But I don’t think I’ll be seeking out any Baldacci in the future.