Flashman by George MacDonald Fraser

This is the first of the series, but I'm endorsing each and every single one. Follow Fraser's titular cocky, cowardly cad Harry Flashman as he brags, swaggers, and (ultimately) runs away from most every war, struggle, revolution, and misadventure in the 19th-century. A quintessential antihero, you'll find yourself vociferously rooting for Flashy, the scoundrel, as he invariably does exactly the wrong thing. Each installment is a ripping good time, and you'll generally find yourself learning something (even if Flashman doesn't).

The City and the City by China Mieville

One of a tiny handful of books capable of breaking your brain (in the best possible way), one of my fervent wishes as a reader is to wipe away all recollection of this text so I could read it for the first time again. This is a murder mystery/police procedural, but also a brilliant piece of speculative fiction with an absolutely shattering Mobius strip of a surprise nestled at its heart, waiting for the reader to uncover it. Do yourself a favor and read this book. I'm imploring you.



This post was edited by BuckarooBanzai on May 28 2021 08:46am

The Prophets of Smoked Meat: A Journey Through Texas Barbecue by Daniel Vaughn

An authoritative, mouthwatering journey through famous as well as out-of-the-way barbecue spots across the state of Texas. Vaughn's text is an odyssey of traveling, searching, and eating. It includes plenty of pictures and serves as a reasonable guidebook to the must-stops as well as the don't-stops. There is absolutely no way to read this without developing a hankering for some brisket, but you'll also learn a good amount about the process and history behind this peculiar, particular, regional, wonderful cuisine (read this book, it deserves the term).

Shibumi by Trevanian

There's something about stories featuring polymath assassins with complicated pasts and even more complicated plots that always ends up drawing me in, and this is not even remotely an exception. Trevanian starts with Nicolai Hel, genius in every conceivable way and muse to the author's fascinating blend of satire, philosophy, and political intrigue. Hel becomes swiftly embroiled in a feud with the shadowy Mother Company, loves, loses, and serves as a genuinely layered protagonist. The title is explained as a state of effortless perfection of being, and it's best demonstrated by the existence of the novel itself.



This post was edited by BuckarooBanzai on May 30 2021 10:08am