Hit Man by Lawrence Block

I didn't know until after I finished the book that each chapter was written and published originally as a standalone short story. My main criticism was going to be the lack of coherent plot or arc for Keller, but now it actually makes perfect sense. I like Keller a lot, and the isolated story format actually seems to make a lot of sense for the character. The nature of his work - and by extension, his life - is episodic. It's hard to envision a single job lasting the length of an entire book, just as it's difficult to see enough in common across multiple jobs to tie into a single novel-length plot. I'll be interested to read the other Keller books to see which direction they take.

Hope to Die by Lawrence Block

The murder mystery this time around is fairly weak, though the book is overall saved by the strength of its B plot. The death of Scudder's ex-wife and the challenges he has in relating to his sons are very compelling. I love this complexity and the absence of clear right and wrong answers. The rest of it was pretty dull. I don't buy Mick Ballou as babysitter for one minute, nor did TJ's involvement with the cousin ring true. The biggest strength of this series is the supporting cast, and they were seriously underused here.

Neither Here Nor There by Bill Bryson

Bryson continues to be hilarious. I enjoyed the pacing of this one better than the last, as each chapter was the length it deserved, rather than matching the column-length requirements of the publication where they first appeared. There are a few distinct images from this book that can still make me laugh out loud at the mere thought of them. I tried to re-tell one of the stories to a friend, and was gripped by hysterical laughter while trying to get through it, rending myself completely incomprehensible. I love a man who's not afraid to make himself look like an idiot for the entertainment of all and sundry.