(page 18) OCTOBER 2015
BEYOND BORDERS with mark lloyd
Borders went bankrupt? So what. That doesn’t stop former employee Mark Lloyd from finding out what’s the next hottest read.
Quicksand by Steve Toltz Aldo is a failing criminal entrepreneur who has a mountain of debt and the uncanny ability to land himself in bad situations. His best friend Liam is a failing cop and struggling writer. Then Liam gets the idea to base his next book on Liam's misfortunes.
The Comic Book Story of Beer: The World's Favorite Beverage from 7000 BC to Today's Craft Brewing Revolution by Johnathan Hennessey, Mike Smith, and Aaron McConell This is actually a graphic novel about the history of beer. Who doesn't need that?
meat and drink whiskey. They are probably the manliest group of gentlemen you will ever encounter.
T H E R E V E N A N T: A NOVEL OF REVENGE
BY MICHAEL PUNKE This is not a new book, but since it is about to be released as a movie starring the ever talented Leonardo DiCaprio and super hunky Tom Hardy, I thought I'd check it out. I mean, they'll both be sporting super manly lumberjack beards. Who doesn't like that?
Anyway, while scouting by himself, Hugh is mauled by a bear and is very near death. He has long gouges across his face, neck, and back. His scalp has literally been pulled from his skull and is hanging off of his head. If that image makes you queasy, this may not be the book for you. It goes into a way more graphic description of Hugh's wounds. The scalp thing is the worst.
The book is a novelization of the true story of Hugh Glass. In the 1820s, after being a pirate in the Caribbean for a while, he finds himself working for the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. These guys go out into the unexplored western territories and collect furs for months at a time.
Anyway, the group he is with needs to keep moving, but also does not want to leave Hugh. He is mostly unconscious, and they are sure he will die. They just want to make sure he gets a proper burial. The leader of the group decides to leave Hugh with two men. They have instructions to bury Hugh once he dies and then catch up with the group.
These are the kinds of guys you definitely want on your side in a knife fight. All they do is eat
John Fitzgerald and Jim Bridger volunteer for
the task. John is nothing but a criminal. The only reason he is on this expedition is because he is wanted in pretty much every major city and knows nobody will find him in the woods. Jim is only a teenager and this is his first expedition. What could go wrong? Jim does his best to patch up Hugh's wounds. He rubs sap in the gouges on his face and back. He puts his scalp back in place. But Hugh won't die, and after a few days John is getting nervous as they will have to catch up with the others. Then they see some Native Americans coming. They take all of Hugh's supplies, including his gun and knife, and take off. Yeah, you guys just messed up.
Have a book you want Mark to review? E-mail contact@605magazine.com