Book Review: Skin Game by Jim Butcher

Skin Game is the 15th book in the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher.  If you have not read the Dreseden Files yet I cannot recommend them more.  They are sort of supernatural noir detective stories.  With a lot more explosions.  If that description appeals to you, stop in and I can fix you up with Storm Front, the first book.  You won't be disappointed.

Skin Game picks up where we left our hero, living at Demonreach and struggling to keep the mantle of Winter Knight under control.  He is still in service to Mab, with Molly as her new Winter Lady.  Harry is assigned a task from Mab.  He needs to help Nicodemus Archleone steal something that is heavily guarded and supernatural in nature.  As Harry has faced off against Nicodemus before, and decidedly depises him, you can see where this would be a problem.

I really enjoyed Skin Game for a variety of reasons.  It seems like Butcher is taking the story back to its origins.  There are appearances from Michael Carpenter, and his family.  Karin Murphy also plays a prominent role in this book, as does Butters.  Those are all characters that began this journey with Harry and in the case of Michael Carpenter, haven't been used much in an adventury sense recently.  Nicodemus is also one of the better Dresden villains, and is stronger than Harry, so he's always a challenge.  His single-minded quest for power at any cost makes him a fantastic adversary.

In addition to one fabulous adversary there are also some great ancillary characters including Hanna Ascher, a wizard who is extremely well-versed in fire magic.  There is also the Genoskwa, a giant bigfoot-like creature that eats goats whole and hates Harry at first sight.  Finally there is Goodman Grey, a shapeshifter who can change into people and animals of all sizes.

Skin Game is a wonderful addition to the Dresden Files pantheon, with interesting main and complementary characters.  The story line is tight, and there's a nice twist at the end that you won't see coming.  You can buy the first book in the Dresden Files new from us for $8.99+ tax, or Skin Game new for $22.95+tax.  All of the other volumes are available new and used from us at various prices.  I can't think of a better way to spend the summer than reading the Dresden Files.

I Don't Care How Many Bats I Have Tattooed on My Person, I Still Do Not Have to Read Dracula

It's kind of a mantra.  I struggle with this deep doubt of my worth as a bookseller, because I read almost exclusively for pleasure, and almost always out of the often shunned genres of: fantasy, young adult, and graphic novels.  I seldom find other things that call to me, but there is this tiny voice that whispers that I'm a bad person for refusing to read non-fiction, or even classic literature.  So I repeat to myself that I don't have to read Dracula.  My goth card will not be revoked if I don't.

Here's the thing.  In the second year after Borders closed, I pledged to read one classic a month for the entire year.  I kicked it off with the most bookseller friendly classic of all time; Fahrenheit 451.  We booksellers love the First Amendment.  Since Fahrenheit 451 is pretty much all about the power of books and not losing them to censorship, I really couldn't think of starting any place else right?

And then I hated it.  I finished it and was pleased with the ending, and was glad that I made it all the way through the book, but it took me almost three weeks to read.  I could read six Jim Butcher novels in that time, and not feel bogged down by a sense of moral obligation to pick up a book.

I kind of imagine this is how non-readers feel all the time.  "I'm not enjoying this, but if people see me holding this, they'll think I'm some sort of savvy intellectual type."  Make no mistake, I definitely felt intellectually superior to everyone walking around with Fifty Shades of Grey (that's when this experiment took place), but I wasn't a very happy reader.

So like 90% of the population, I guiltily abandoned my New Year's Resolution.  I then spent the next 49 weeks reading 83 additional books, including nearly everything Jim Butcher has written (hence the earlier math-those were not random numbers).

So, I learned a lesson.  Classics are not really my thing.  Most of the time I feel okay about it.  I have my handful of go to non-fiction books (I love you Simon Winchester), and I have my token regular fiction book (The Bean Trees).  I also have a trove of recommendations based on the 50 hours a week I spend selling books to other people ("What are the last three books you loved," isn't just to help you find your next favorite book.  It's also to help the person who has read it already.).  But there's this voice that whispers (usually after someone gives me a scornful "oh," sometimes with accompanying eyeroll, when I answer their inquiry as to what I read), that tells me to put on my big girl pants and read some literature.  It's typically not a very positive voice, so I have decided to continue to repeat my reader mantra: "I don't care how many bats I have tattooed on my person, I do not have to read Dracula", and I am a happy reader.

Well, after a week off from the blog, I can say with confidence that I have recovered from A Dance With Dragons. In the past two weeks I've read three books (well, two and a graphic novel) and they seemed to have cured my initial agony over the end of dance. The next 47 years till Winds of Winter comes out should do the rest.

Not all book experiences end quite as horribly as my dance one. Vickie ran out of Dresden Files again and decided since it would be about two years before another one came out that it would be a good idea to live vicariously through me.  I love Harry Dresden. I had forgotten how much I adored Harry. Even after meeting Mr. Butcher I didn't remember.  Grave Peril was so good. Except the part where I couldn't find my copy so Vickie lent me hers and that was terrifying. It is nigh impossible to keep a mass market paper back looking like new. Vickie managed it and returning that book in the same condition it was lent in was like when home ec teachers use to have you have egg babies. Wicked high stress.

I digress,  the point I was working my way (very slowly) toward was that I am happy to get lost in Harry Dresden's Chicago. It's well crafted. It also reminded me that even if I'm a little discontent with George I still like Westros and I'm going to be really sad when Ice and Fire is over. Both series have really fantastic, rich worlds. I love them almost as much as I love Damar (Robin Mckinley, read her, she's amazing.) Moral? Read more Jim Butcher and Winds of Winter might come out too soon for my tastes. Six years might be the right amount of time between George RR Martin books.

We haven't done anything super fun in the store the past couple of week. We've gotten a ton more new and used books in and we've been trying to get them all on the shelves. Among our new book acquisitions was Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. I've been told that it was really good. Steven Levitt mentions it in Super Freakonomics (the other book that healed my dragon wounds).  We also got in a beautiful book of photography called Daylight Noire, it's really pretty.

In used book news. Dante Club!!! Literary mystery, can't go wrong with that. Also, more RA Salvatore. The good new covers, not bad 80's ones.  If anyone needed a make over after the 80's it was Drizzt.

I think that pretty much sums up the past couple of weeks. It's been a little boring to be a bookseller of late.

Discontent Bookseller Rant...

It could have been an awesome week. Really it could have. Vicki and I stared the week by going to a Jim Butcher book signing. It was good times. Jim was wicked good people. He defaced my Dresden and my Alera and he answered fans super geek questions. In case you're wondering apparently Robert B. Parker is an amazing author and when Jim can't remember small details about The Dresden Files he checks Wikipedia because his fans are more neurotic than he is about the little stuff.

See, look at that me and Jim smiling. How could my literary week go awry?

I finished A Dance With Dragons today.  But Meg, you were so excited about Dance, how could that be a bad thing? 0-670-81364-8. 

That all I have to say about it.  

I'm going to need to find an awesome rebound book. Maybe Super Freakenomics. Nothing in there could possibly go wrong. Grumble and Rage. Although I would accept recommendations if you have something to soothe my wounds.

Moving on from my literary angst. 

We ordered more new books this week but we're having a bit of a problem diversifying. I'm a fantasy reader and Vicki reads lots of literature, so we keep ordering things we want to read. You guys should give us some ideas as to what you would like to read in the comments, that way you will have more options than Jim and George (they've been a recurring theme lately, I promise we do read other things). Terry Goodkind is coming out with a new book this month. This summer is really heavy on the big name sci fi releases.

We are also still trying to add a manga and graphic novels section to the store. If you are looking to rehome any titles in either of those genres, think of us please. We are also looking for some newer romance novels and current DVD releases. 

We sent out our first email newsletter this week, so don't forget to head over to our website to sign up to get news, coupons and other literary tid bits.

That's all I've got for now. I'm going to get back to cursing Mr. Martin and hopefully I will be less rage filled next week at this time.

Meg