This is the first piece of writing I have read from Fredrik Backmam.

It will not be the last. Laughed out loud multiple times.

9.5 frying pans out of 10

A good premise, interesting antagonists, and solid climax. I’m just a little burnt out on Holly. Love the character, but need a break. And the last few paragraphs…a bit of a miss for me.

Overall a pretty good read, but has its problems.

5 saxophone solos out of 10

A terrific fill in of how Roland got from the horrors of Hambry to the Fall of Gilead and the slaughter at Jericho Hill.

9.5  bullets out of 10

Entertaining and engaging as always. Abercrombie’s books are always a morally ambiguous romp!

9 holy relics out of 10

A delightful read. Will be picking up the second book. 

8 shiny buttons out of 10

We need more Alpha Carl!!!

9 ocean fulls of crab spooge out of 10!

“In Pittsburgh, in 1966, twenty-four Black men from The Hill answered a call for help and in the process changed the world. They were sons and fathers, bookbinders, mechanics, orderlies. They were PARAMEDICS and they came from Freedom House. They did something truly remarkable, for that or any other time, and their story goes something like this…”

I learned about Freedom House from an episode of The Pitt. The true story of the world’s first paramedic unit, created by the creator of CPR, staffed by young, Black men who undertook over 300 hours of intense medical training to create Freedom House, and into doing, they created the template for EMS we depend so heavily on today…AND I HAD NEVER HEARD OF THEM.

I highly recommend this amazing, inspiring, and ultimately infuriating story. Highly, highly, highly recommend!

10 white jackets out of 10!

An absolutely brilliant book for ANY baseball fans!

9.5 boxes of peanuts and Cracker Jack out of 10

8.5 bottles of pink nail polish out of 10.

A truly excellent presidential biography. Bird’s style of writing is informative, complete, and totally accessible.

Carter’s presidency deserves a fresh look in our current insane political environment. The Republican shenanigans and even outright illegal activity they engaged in for the 1980 presidential race doesn’t get nearly the amount of attention is deserves.

Carter’s failure at re-election remains one of the saddest and most interesting what ifs in American presidential history.

9.5 Stolen debate binders and Logan Act violations out of 10