Bad Company (Not The Band)

Posted Feb 2, 2006 by Kevin Walker

Updated Feb 2, 2006 at 03:20 PM

Australian author Max Barry is a busy guy. The author of the acclaimed 2002 book Jennifer Government, a book that came with its own game, has released his latest novel, Company, which also takes on the issue of “corporate oppression.” In another words, some miserable people work at a white collar job - although there’s a mystery to solve, as well. Donuts figure into it, somehow. Honestly, I wish I had time to review this one, but time marches on. Here’s the cover:

Another highly-praised author - this time of the contemporary literature variety - is T. Cooper, who is about to release her second novel, Lipshitz Six, Or Two Angry Blondes, about an immigrant family who loses a child at Ellis Island. Later, the mother becomes convinced the child grew up to be Charles Lindberg. There’s also a connection established between rapper Eminem and Lindberg. Cooper’s a fascinating writer who is worth your attention, if your up for something new and challenging. And of course you are!

There’s always something new in the non-fiction stack, which is now separated into two huge towers on my desk. Today Shake That Brain by Joel Saltzman (about finding solutions to difficult problems) and Horse: How The Horse Has Shaped Civilization by J. Edward Chamberlin (about, um, how the horse has shaped civilization) look the most interesting. (Although in all honesty the one about the history of pornography seemed to catch the most attention from people walking by my desk, both male and female. But I’m going to leave you find that one on your own, this being a family-oriented sort of blog).

Although sometimes it’s sort of hard to separate the adult from the young adult and children’s. Imagine, if it’s not too much trouble, my reaction when I saw the book Sex Kittens and Horn Dawgs Fall In Love arrive at my desk. Hmm, I thought. However, right there on the press release that came with the book is the stamp “young adult readers,” and it turns out the book is about a group of 14 year olds who like to write poetry.

Yes, yes, I know. You can’t judge a book by its cover. Or its title, apparently.