THE ICE HARVEST (Scott Phillips) - April 24/08

This extremely brisk novel (it's so short it should almost be called a novella) takes a while to get going, but there's little doubt that it picks up some serious momentum as it progresses. The whole thing takes place in one night and Phillips' refreshingly spare prose complements the dark subject matter perfectly. And it's funny to note that the last few pages, in which Charlie starts to make his way out of town (and stops to help an old couple in a camper van), is surprisingly suspenseful because you just know something bad is going to happen to the character. Good stuff. ***1/2 out of ****

THE NIXIE'S SONG (Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black) - April 21/08

This first installment of the three-book Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles is as entertaining as one might've expected, though the family issues at the story's core are occasionally a little on the heavy-handed side. Still, it's hard not to get caught up in the adventure and the surprisingly grim finale (that mysterious black guy shows up and finishes off the giant with a machete) does leave one itching for the next installment. *** out of ****

PLAN B (Jonathan Tropper) - April 18/08

Jonathan Tropper's first novel, Plan B is an engaging yet overlong and plot-heavy effort revolving around a group of friends who kidnap their movie-star friend to help him kick his cocaine addiction. The book is rife with the kind of introspective elements that have come to define Tropper's work (ie "thirty... shit!"), but the author has also included plenty of story-related elements that are more than a little conventional and sporadically distracting. Still, this is a very effective first effort that does possess a number of relatable truths. *** out of ****

SIT, UBU, SIT (Gary David Goldberg) - April 9/08

This light-hearted and fast-paced (I breezed through it in about two days) autobiography is chock full of interesting stories and funny anecdotes. Goldberg devotes a lot of time to his successes (Family Ties, Spin City) but he also emphasizes his personal struggles, including his wife's near-death illness and his falling-out with Michael J. Fox. An exceedingly entertaining read. ***1/2 out of ****

BLASPHEMY (Douglas Preston) - April 2/08

This follow-up to Tyrannosaur Canyon is completely ridiculous yet pretty entertaining. Preston tends to go over board in the theological stuff, which was a little too out there for me to comfortably follow. But the twist at the end - the head scientist guy wanted to create his own Scientology-esque religion - was admittedly pretty nifty, and it's hard not to admire any book that so willingly portrays devout Christians into moronic sheep who'll kill at the drop of a hat (well, after they're told via e-mail that the Armageddon is coming). *** out of ****