i really don't know if any sff author will ever exceed extraordinary heights of tension POB achieves in it. it's a masterclass in simplicity--hole in the boat is such visceral simplicity. the reader is perfectly aware of the stakes at every moment. I only got thru bc I knew there were 15 more.

Cat's Cradle 1-3 by Jo Rioux (graphic novels)
Charming series of middle grade fantasy adventures about a "monster tamer" & her giant dumb monster dog. Resists the old D&D monsters=evil nonsense.

Kali by Daniel Freedman (graphic novel, pub 2022)
survivor of lesbian biker gang takes revenge against the rest her group after they vote to join the fascists(!?) & are accepted(!!). Competent & compelling but jesus fucking christ. why are comics like this. do better.

Desolation Island by Patrick O’Brian
Aubreyad #5. Every book is my favorite. Intense, terrifying chase in the southern seas, genuinely riveting and hard to read, buoyed by a great wealth of natural description and POB’s flawless prose. Incredible work.

After Hours at Dooryard Books by Cat Sebastian
Continues everything we loved in You Should Be So Lucky. A gay romance/slice of life for cozy haters. Rooted in Edmund White’s writing. Expertly observed and total fanfic genius. Really really great.

Yeah. Shitty but safe is a low bar. But jesus.

oh my god i had never read cat person before

i don’t know if you’re familiar with Nero Wolfe but it seemed to be very much a Nero Wolfe pastiche re: dialogue

Sorry, imprecise wording on my part! I think I’d say “not quite cozy” or “almost cozy”—you’re totally right about that kinda cozy kinda literary just generally weird and cool and beautifully gentle vibe of the book.

THERE YOU GO

louis that's the wrong way to get an explanation. you must confidently assert something incorrect, and then several thousand other more incorrect people will explain it to you at length

to me the real tokyo drift is chronic joint pain