Incomprehensible Vice

Thomas Pynchon is one of the most renowned writers of the post-60's era. With his new novel, Inherent Vice, the noted recluse looks to go back to the seventies, 1970 to be exact. His novel plays out like a sequel to the Coen Brothers 1997 film, The Big Lebowski, unlike that stoner film classic this book is completely unlikeable. Everything about this book is annoying and drives you insane, whether it's the characters names (such as, Doc Sportello, Shasta Hepworth and Bigfoot Bjornsen) or the million references to the counter culture and the sixties. The book is not all bad some of the side plots are very funny, whether it's a story about a cop/real estate salesman/adman/commercial actor named Bigfoot, or a story about a massage parlor where neo-nazis like to go to, to meet their boss named Mickey Wolfmann, nothing makes sense and everything is a joke as if Pynchon had attempted to mix Raymond Chandler and Saturday Night Live together. The story (if there really is one), deals with a hippie private investigator named Doc who is searching for his missing ex girlfriend named Shasta who may or may not have been kidnapped, inadvertently while pursuing his lady Doc is framed for murder of a nazi named Glen. How much this appeals to you depends on how much you can stomach, be warned the book is a slog.

As the Last of a Series, The Last Olympian, Doesn't Disappoint

The Last Olympian is the fifth and final book in the Percy Jackson series, written with warmth and wit by Rick Riordan. Riordan is the former writer of non fiction books about greek mythology. His love of greek mythology has pushed the series past other fantasy books, his novels are never dark and always fun-filled. Obviously gods like Athena, Zeus, Hades and Poseidon populate these books, but the real interesting thing is how Riordan intertwines his main character Percy, with the past exploits of such heroes as Theseus, Achilles and Hercules. All of the great greek characters and gods have been peppered throughout the series whether it's Medusa or Ares all of the characters have a modern edge that makes all the books worth reading, Ares is a biker, Poseidon wears Tommy Bahama, and most memorably is Hades with a very emo-take on his character. I advise this book to everyone because even though nothing will ever beat Riordan's first book of the series, The Lighting Thief, this is still a completely enjoyable fable.

Favorite Book of Summer: Darkly Dreaming Dexter

Darkly Dreaming Dexter is the story of a man named Dexter Morgan, a man who is a serial killer. Already the book may be turning you off, but read one page and you'll discover that as dark as the book is, it's still really enjoyable because of it's main character. Dexter is one of the most sharply drawn portraits of any character i've ever read about. He's nuts, but he's also hilarious. He's evil, but you don't have to worry because he only kills murderers. The smaller characters in the book don't matter because Dexter is the master of ceremonies and his character alone will keep your eyes glued to the text for hours and hours. Even though the ending falls flat, it won't matter because in Darkly Dreaming Dexter it's not the catch that matters; it's the chase.