The Mad and the Bad by Jean-Patrick Manchette There's nothing better than a new literary crush, and Manchette has won my dark heart. Lean and mean and delectably absurd, the brutal scenes had me guffawing. Julie, unwieldy and tough, fresh out of the mental hospital, might be my favorite antiheroine ever. I loved it so much I read it twice. Punk Rock Blitzkrieg: My Life As a Ramone by Marky Ramone I checked out Punk Rock Blitzkrieg after watching Marky Ramone spar Johnny Rotten during a very un-punk panel discussion. While his time as a Ramone was why I read it, my favorite chapters were about Richard Hell and the Voidoids and the NYC punk scene. But what truly knocked me out was his inspiring story about losing what matters most to find your higher self. Bonus: Hearing his NYC accent while reading adds a charming layer to his tales. All Things Violent by Nikki Dolson Staying true to the title, All Things Violent is a brutal, episodic novel featuring Laura, a crackerjack assassin w