Friday, August 29, 2008

A few more book recs

Here are some more mystery/crime novels you might enjoy reviewing:

The Evil That Men Do by Dave White is a PI thriller that reads like a Die Hard movie crossed with a classic hard-boiled noir novel

Deception's Daughter by Cordelia Biddle, a historical mystery set in 1840s Philadelphia

Savage Night by Allan Guthrie, one of the best new Scottish crime writers, blood phobia, blood lust, katana swords and severed heads in Edinburgh

The Black Tower by Louis Bayard, a historical mystery featuring the legendary French detective Vidocq taking down the bad guys in 1818 Paris

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Book Recommendations

If you are looking for a book to review for our class, here are some recommendations. Most of these authors are friends of mine and some may be visiting our class:

Severance Package by Duane Swierczynski, fast-paced thriller, cross between an office comedy, spies and a slasher flick. Author is a La Salle grad and a former editor of the Collegian.

Freezer Burn by DH Dublin (Jonathan McGoran), third book of a forensic series set in Philadelphia (think CSI: Philly)

Zombie CSU by Jonathan Maberry, actually a non-fiction book in which the author has interviewed doctors, police, homeland security and many more officials about what would happen if there really was a zombie attack. This book is a lot of fun.

Bad Moon Rising by Maberry, third book of a horror trilogy set in a small town (modeled after New Hope) near Philly.

Shadowbridge by Gregory Frost, fantasy/sci-fi novel. Check it out here.

Lord Tophet by Frost

Standing Still by Kelly Simmons, a dark literary novel about kidnapping.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Prof's lipogrammatic first post for Fall 08 Composition

Salutations to my pupils.

Your first tasks for this class:

1) 250 words on any past writing of yours in which you outdid or did vanquish all
prior trials OR 250 words on your worst writing task

2) 200-250 words on any topic that omits a symbol, fifth in actuality, of that ABC grouping of writing marks. To wit, you will carry off a task akin to this lipogrammatic book, although your work will contain only 200-250 words.

3) Look at handouts by CM and PD, columnists of Philly journals, and plan to talk about particular ways in which said authors did form said works and how CM and PD's work draws on urban Philly as inspiration.

4) Pick a book that you will form an opinion about for an upcoming class.

5) Pay your $10 instructional amount at bursar's or bookshop.

Hand in all work at our upcoming Monday class.