Here's what I picked up:
I Am Not A Serial Killer by Dan Wells
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
I was happy to see that they had a small section reserved for banned books, in celebration of Banned Books Week. Four out of my five purchases came from this section. The other (I Am Not A Serial Killer) is a debut novel I found in the "serial killer" section.
In related news, those two textbooks I ordered were waiting for me when I got home. Of course the first thing I did was excitedly flip through one of them... only to see an actual full-color crime-scene photo complete with dead body and lots of blood. I wasn't prepared – I still had my shoes on and my purse over my shoulder. It's one thing to write about this stuff, and a whole other thing to actually see real-life murder. The victim – well, I won't describe it, but let me just say she died in a horrible, horrible way at the hands of someone who wanted to make damn sure she suffered. It just confirms what I've always suspected: no story we fiction writers invent could ever be more gruesome than real life.
And on that note, Happy Monday. What's everybody up to this week? Be sure to stop by Killer Chicks to see what we've got going on, and to share your weekly goals.
Those scenes of bloody, sadistic violence repeated over and over again are what deadens the souls and sensibilities of larger city police officers. It's either that consequence or the loss of one's sanity.
ReplyDeleteI worked for a time with child victims of abuse. That is why I do not read certain books or go to certain movies. Having survived WWII as a bomber pilot, James Stewart would never make a war movie for similar reasons.
Mankind is not very kind, Roland
I don't know how coroners do it. Crime scene photos are very disturbing! I can't imagine actually being there and seeing it in person.
ReplyDeleteGREAT books! And I'm so jealous you were in Portland! I keep pushing the Hubster to move there.
It seems strange that a title like I Am Not A Serial Killer is not on a banned list, but To Kill a Mockingbird is.
ReplyDeleteLook at your banned books. Yay!
ReplyDeleteI'm subbing at the high school today. They have a big display of banned books here, which made me so happy.
I couldn't look at those books. It will make you more realistic in your descriptions, but how hard to look at!
I am Not a Serial Killer is AWESOME! Oh and go check out his sequel just released, Mr. Monster.
ReplyDeleteMan, I LOVE Powell's. I could spend like forever there. You picked up some good ones! I love the new covers for the old classics. And, yup, real crime scene photos are so hard to look at.
ReplyDeleteTruth can be more gruesome than fiction, mos def. No matter how much corn syrup we see in Wes Craven films, the real deal is always more shocking because we know a life was ended at the scene of the crime.
ReplyDeleteRoland, you're so right. Mankind isn't very kind.
ReplyDeleteJennie, isn't Portland awesome? So laid back.
Adam, judging by the criteria for banned books, just about every adult book written these days could qualify! If this book sells as many copies as To Kill A Mockingbird, I'm sure it will be challenged.
Christauna, cool! Thanks for the recommendation!
Joann, if I lived in PDX I'd probably be in Powell's every day.
Milo, 'tis true.
Theresa, hope you had a good day subbing!
ReplyDelete