Review: Hail to the Chin: Further Confessions of a B Movie Actor

Hail to the Chin: Further Confessions of a B Movie Actor by Bruce Campbell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hail to the Chin: Further Confessions of a B Movie Actor by Bruce Campbell covers the 15 years since his first memoir, If Chins Could Kill. A lot has happened to Bruce in that time. He wrote another book, he made some more movies, and he starred in Burn Notice and Ash vs. Evil Dead! He also started attending conventions and bought a lavender farm in Oregon. Even though I read the book myself, I heard his voice the whole time. I appreciate that Bruce will just tell you like it is, so he didn't sugarcoat his feelings about certain projects. I love that he rides a bicycle and doesn't downplay the importance of his wife, Ida, to the life he has led. He also works very hard and doesn't suffer fools. I totally get that. At the same time, he is funny and also looking for a good time. Whatever he makes, I will be there for it even if it takes me a while to get around to reading or watching it. All Hail the Chin!

View all my reviews

Review: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI: How to Think About Artificial Intelligence—Before It's Too Late

The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI: How to Think About Artificial Intelligence—Before It's Too Late by Cory Doctorow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI: How to Think About Artificial Intelligence—Before It's Too Late by Cory Doctorow is required reading. You can't look anywhere today without Artificial Intelligence (AI) somehow being mentioned or being used. While AI can be a very useful tool, it can also be destructive. It is a complicated situation, but Doctorow writes in such an accessible way that you never feel like all the tech-speak is too over your head. I don't know that I share all of his opinions about the capabilities of AI. He was writing this in 2025 with the information we had at the time. I wonder if he would make any changes based on recent news of AI escaping sandboxes, colluding, and lying to avoid deletion. Still, if you are worried about AI or think it is the best thing since sliced bread, I encourage you to read this.

View all my reviews

Review: The Children

The Children by Melissa Albert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I often resist reading books that get a lot of hype or are being thrust at me from every angle because I am afraid that they will not live up to the promise. I will put them off for years until I've forgotten what all the fuss was about. So when The Children by Melissa Albert came off hold from the library, I thought about not checking it out. I'm glad I didn't do that. It is hard to describe how I feel about this book. The writing is excellent. There is a dark fantasy element that is a bit mysterious. There were times I wasn't sure exactly what was happening or about to happen. I absolutely did not see the end coming. This is the perfect read for Halloween season!

View all my reviews

Review: Obstetrix

Obstetrix by Naomi Kritzer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Obstetrix by Naomi Kritzer is a novella-length page turner! A radical religious group goes to extreme lengths to get care for their community, especially the population of pregnant women. The story is told from the point of view of the OB/GYN forced to help them. It's very tense. I also appreciated having a menopausal main character who is dealing with hot flashes in a crisis situation. Been there, done that, have the soaked nightgown. Very relatable! I won't give any more away but to say that if you like a thriller with religious cults, you should read this.

View all my reviews

Review: Paradox Inc.

Paradox Inc. by Forrest Brazeal
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Paradox Inc. by Forrest Brazeal from Ballantine Books via NetGalley. This book will be published January 5, 2027.

I wasn't sure what I would get when I agreed to read Paradox Inc. by Forrest Brazeal. First books can be a crap shoot. In this case, it was a good bet. First, there is a tiny flamingo on the cover. You have my attention. Next, this is written in an epistolary fashion. That is by far my favorite style of writing. I can't read my email inbox with any joy but give me a book written in any combination of emails, letters, news articles, blog posts, journal entries (you get the idea) and I will not be able to put it down. Then, tell me a story of how Tech Bros are going to ruin time travel for everyone. Make it a super dark story that is also absolutely hilarious so that I am not sure how to describe it to you without saying you will be thoroughly disturbed and also laugh out loud. Because while this is fiction, I feel like it could be true in the not-so-distant future. I also believe that Tech Bros will figure out a way to make it terrible just like they have done with the Internet and AI. Yes, I have strong opinions. Finally, I had to look up where Forrest Brazeal is from/lives. Not in a creepy stalker way, but as someone who grew up smack dab between Joliet and Kankakee, IL, I was momentarily unsettled when those places were mentioned. That doesn't happen often. Now that I live not too far from Madison, the mention of it as well made me wonder if my reading of this book was more than coincidental. Not to get all woo-woo, but it is a book about time travel. Highly recommend!

View all my reviews

Review: Everything Happens So Much: A Novel

Everything Happens So Much: A Novel by Andrew H. Murray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Everything Happens So Much: A Novel by Andrew H. Murray from Little, Brown and Company via NetGalley.  This book will be published around November 10, 2026.

Everything Happens So Much: A Novel by Andrew H. Murray is quite fun.  It takes place in a world that feels familiar but is definitely not ours.  In it, people have the opportunity to experience one of their many parallel lives in 15 minute increments by taking a potion, like a 5 hour energy drink, but not.  You can already see how this could become addictive.  The thing is, that isn't even the craziest part of this story.  I think it is best read if you don't know much more than that, but it is a real RIDE.  I felt like I was running through the book to find out how it ended.  I also laughed a lot because there are things included that are truly hilarious and also tip the cap to readers.  Read it for the fun of it.

View all my reviews

Review: The Cure's Disintegration

The Cure's Disintegration by Andi Harriman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Cure's Disintegration by Andi Harriman from Bloomsbury Academic via NetGalley.  This book will be published around October 15, 2026.

The Cure's Disintegration by Andi Harriman is part of the 33 1/3 series.  It focuses on one album and its place in music history.  In this case, Harriman chose to look at Disintegration through the lens of Charles Baudelaire's "Spleen."  I hadn't read Baudelaire, but I understand the sentiment.  I think of Disintegration like upbeat melancholy if you can have such a thing.  You might be sad, but you still want to dance around the room. Fans of The Cure will understand what I mean.  I find learning more about the behind-the-scenes of the album gives me an even greater appreciation of the music.  If you are a fan, you will want to read this when it comes out.  And then listen to Disintegration on repeat.

View all my reviews