All Seated on the Ground - by Connie Willis
It's nearly Christmas and the aliens have landed. Far from being a menace, however, or bringing greetings from another planet, the aliens are just standing there and scowling, with a look of "utter, withering disapproval," much like Meg's Aunt Judith, as a group of researchers from scientists to linguists to clergymen, politicians and an aroma expert try, unsuccessfully, to communicate with the aliens.
The only thing that seems to get through to the Altairans, as the authorities in Denver, where the aliens have landed, have named them, is certain music, especially Christmas carols. Journalist Meg and seventh grade girls choir teacher, Mr. Ledbetter, believe they have nearly figured out a way to communicate with the aliens, if they can just work out the details before the alien ship takes off or the aliens kill everyone on earth.
I am a big fan of Connie Willis and I enjoy these novellas of hers. Of course I read mine from the library. It has a nice holiday feel and I enjoyed everything about it.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Bad Monkeys by Matt Ruff
The story opens in the psychiatric ward of the Clark County Detention Center (Las Vegas, NV). Accused murderer, Jane Charlotte, explains to her psychiatrist that her alleged crime was authorized by a covert organization dedicated to crime prevention. Jane was an operative in the Department for the Final Disposition of Irredeemable Persons ("Bad Monkeys"), regularly dispatched to eliminated evildoers who eluded the justice system. Her life story revolves around this organization and its departments of Ubiquitous Intermittent Surveillance (Panopticon), Optimal Utilization of Resources and Personnel (Cost-Benefits), internal affairs (Malfeasance), and The Scary Clowns. She tells her story from childhood to date as her psychiatrist gently points out inconsistencies between her version and the official record.
The reader is left to question, "who is Jane Charlotte?" Ruff layers the story with basic questions of good vs. evil (characters named Wise, True, and Love all make appearances) as he leaves the reader with riddles upon riddles about the sarcastically funny Jane Charlotte.
This was a fun read. I was intrigued by the premis of the story of an underground group of assassins. But as the story progressed I started to question what was really going on. I was hoping it wasn't going to be one of those "it's all the dream". I almost didn't see the ending coming as this was a whirlwind tale with a high level of manic energy.
The story opens in the psychiatric ward of the Clark County Detention Center (Las Vegas, NV). Accused murderer, Jane Charlotte, explains to her psychiatrist that her alleged crime was authorized by a covert organization dedicated to crime prevention. Jane was an operative in the Department for the Final Disposition of Irredeemable Persons ("Bad Monkeys"), regularly dispatched to eliminated evildoers who eluded the justice system. Her life story revolves around this organization and its departments of Ubiquitous Intermittent Surveillance (Panopticon), Optimal Utilization of Resources and Personnel (Cost-Benefits), internal affairs (Malfeasance), and The Scary Clowns. She tells her story from childhood to date as her psychiatrist gently points out inconsistencies between her version and the official record.
The reader is left to question, "who is Jane Charlotte?" Ruff layers the story with basic questions of good vs. evil (characters named Wise, True, and Love all make appearances) as he leaves the reader with riddles upon riddles about the sarcastically funny Jane Charlotte.
This was a fun read. I was intrigued by the premis of the story of an underground group of assassins. But as the story progressed I started to question what was really going on. I was hoping it wasn't going to be one of those "it's all the dream". I almost didn't see the ending coming as this was a whirlwind tale with a high level of manic energy.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, twelve-year-old Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric girl and the owner of a small toy booth in the train station, Hugo’s undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message all come together.
Winner of the 2008 Caldecott award this 526 page book is a mixture of illustrations and text. Often 10-12 pages of only illustrations will flow into a few pages of text to further tell the story. It felt strange to read a Caldecott winner that was over 32 pages. The illustrations were lovely but I didn't really care for the story until about 2/3 way into it. I felt that everyone was such an unhappy person and would delibertly not tell the truth that it got annoying to me. But I do appreciate the detail the author gives to telling the story of how cinema got it's start in the world. That part was truely amazing.
Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, twelve-year-old Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric girl and the owner of a small toy booth in the train station, Hugo’s undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message all come together.
Winner of the 2008 Caldecott award this 526 page book is a mixture of illustrations and text. Often 10-12 pages of only illustrations will flow into a few pages of text to further tell the story. It felt strange to read a Caldecott winner that was over 32 pages. The illustrations were lovely but I didn't really care for the story until about 2/3 way into it. I felt that everyone was such an unhappy person and would delibertly not tell the truth that it got annoying to me. But I do appreciate the detail the author gives to telling the story of how cinema got it's start in the world. That part was truely amazing.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich
This is a "between-the-numbers" Stephanie Plum novel. We see the return of Diesel, introduced to us in Plum Lovin'.
It's St. Patrick's Day and there is a rainbow in the air. Grandma Mazur stumbles into a duffle bag full of money - lots of money. She thinks that it is lucky money and hers to keep. Let the good times roll. She is off to Atlantic City. But other people have claims on the money. The story has an interesting cast of characters including an ex-jockey who thinks that he is an invisible leprechaun (he is always lucky, but manages to fumble it away); of course there are Stephi, Lula, and Connie from the bailbonds office; Diesel appears from Stephi's past - another man in her life; a short guy hired by Grandma Mazur; the gangster Delvina; and a horse to add to the adventures and misadventures. Of course there is the money.
More of a novela than a full fledged novel it is still packed with laugh-out-loud moments. It's nice to have a mid-year book to help us make it until June when the newest installment comes out. So we'll see what comes out this summer. I guess we'll see Diesel in the mid-year books.
This is a "between-the-numbers" Stephanie Plum novel. We see the return of Diesel, introduced to us in Plum Lovin'.
It's St. Patrick's Day and there is a rainbow in the air. Grandma Mazur stumbles into a duffle bag full of money - lots of money. She thinks that it is lucky money and hers to keep. Let the good times roll. She is off to Atlantic City. But other people have claims on the money. The story has an interesting cast of characters including an ex-jockey who thinks that he is an invisible leprechaun (he is always lucky, but manages to fumble it away); of course there are Stephi, Lula, and Connie from the bailbonds office; Diesel appears from Stephi's past - another man in her life; a short guy hired by Grandma Mazur; the gangster Delvina; and a horse to add to the adventures and misadventures. Of course there is the money.
More of a novela than a full fledged novel it is still packed with laugh-out-loud moments. It's nice to have a mid-year book to help us make it until June when the newest installment comes out. So we'll see what comes out this summer. I guess we'll see Diesel in the mid-year books.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Always by Nicola Griffith
Aud Torvingen thriller
At the start of Griffith's intense third thriller to star Aud Torvingen (after The Blue Place and Stay), the stylish half-American, half-Norwegian lesbian ex-cop and self-defense teacher is still grieving over the shooting death of her lover, Julia, a year earlier. Also distraught over a recent violent incident involving one of her self-defense students, Aud welcomes the chance to leave Atlanta, accompanied by her friend, Matthew Dornan, to visit her ambassador mother, Else, in Seattle.
A film production company is leasing one of her warehouses, and after Aud is a victim of the various mishaps plaguing the group, she decides to take action. Now Aud's interest is personal—in more ways then one, since the female caterer working the set has caught her eye. Alternating chapters in current time with scenes from a self-defense class for women taught by Aud, Griffith controls the pacing with great style and nuance.
Adding romantic tension is Victoria "Kick" Kuiper, a caterer and former stuntwoman, to whom both Aud and Matthew are attracted. Aud's ace investigation reveals political and environmental chicanery, but more importantly, leads to a surprising lesson about love.
I think I tried to read one of the earlier books and not sure if it just didn't stick or not. I did skim the chapters that were more focused on her self-defense course as it got a bit repeative. But overall this was a book that was hard to put down. So I think I'll go back and try one of the earlier books to see how it works for me this time.
Aud Torvingen thriller
At the start of Griffith's intense third thriller to star Aud Torvingen (after The Blue Place and Stay), the stylish half-American, half-Norwegian lesbian ex-cop and self-defense teacher is still grieving over the shooting death of her lover, Julia, a year earlier. Also distraught over a recent violent incident involving one of her self-defense students, Aud welcomes the chance to leave Atlanta, accompanied by her friend, Matthew Dornan, to visit her ambassador mother, Else, in Seattle.
A film production company is leasing one of her warehouses, and after Aud is a victim of the various mishaps plaguing the group, she decides to take action. Now Aud's interest is personal—in more ways then one, since the female caterer working the set has caught her eye. Alternating chapters in current time with scenes from a self-defense class for women taught by Aud, Griffith controls the pacing with great style and nuance.
Adding romantic tension is Victoria "Kick" Kuiper, a caterer and former stuntwoman, to whom both Aud and Matthew are attracted. Aud's ace investigation reveals political and environmental chicanery, but more importantly, leads to a surprising lesson about love.
I think I tried to read one of the earlier books and not sure if it just didn't stick or not. I did skim the chapters that were more focused on her self-defense course as it got a bit repeative. But overall this was a book that was hard to put down. So I think I'll go back and try one of the earlier books to see how it works for me this time.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
D.A. by Connie Willis
Some high school kids would do anything to be an IASA space cadet, but not Theodora Baumgarten in Willis's cheerfully tongue-in-cheek SF novella. "There's no air, you're squashed into a ship the size of a juice can, and it takes years to get anywhere interesting. If you... aren't killed first by a meteor or a solar flare or a systems malfunction." But somehow, without submitting an application, Theodora is accepted to the Academy. Soon, she's green with space sickness aboard the Academy space station (named, appropriately enough, the Robert A. Heinlein), learning the ropes with a class of robust, gung-ho cadets. Getting out will require solving the mystery of how she got into the Academy in the first place, but it might have something to do with the annotation "D.A." in her station records.
This is a very short novella - maybe 50 pages including several full page illustrations by J.K. Potter. But I do love Connie Willis even in such a brief form. I do wish a longer novel would come out or do like Charles De Lint and publish her stories in a collection. I'm thankful I can find her books at the library as it would get expensive to purchase each one on it's own no matter how lovely they are. This was a fun read and I liked how she is writting for a younger audience as we need good science fiction for teens and tweens.
Some high school kids would do anything to be an IASA space cadet, but not Theodora Baumgarten in Willis's cheerfully tongue-in-cheek SF novella. "There's no air, you're squashed into a ship the size of a juice can, and it takes years to get anywhere interesting. If you... aren't killed first by a meteor or a solar flare or a systems malfunction." But somehow, without submitting an application, Theodora is accepted to the Academy. Soon, she's green with space sickness aboard the Academy space station (named, appropriately enough, the Robert A. Heinlein), learning the ropes with a class of robust, gung-ho cadets. Getting out will require solving the mystery of how she got into the Academy in the first place, but it might have something to do with the annotation "D.A." in her station records.
This is a very short novella - maybe 50 pages including several full page illustrations by J.K. Potter. But I do love Connie Willis even in such a brief form. I do wish a longer novel would come out or do like Charles De Lint and publish her stories in a collection. I'm thankful I can find her books at the library as it would get expensive to purchase each one on it's own no matter how lovely they are. This was a fun read and I liked how she is writting for a younger audience as we need good science fiction for teens and tweens.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
I Love you Beth Cooper by Larry Doyle
After concluding he has nothing to lose, geekazoid valedictorian Denis Cooverman declares, during his graduation speech, his love for Beth Cooper, the way hot chief cheerleader. He is amazed to discover Beth is not completely repulsed by his feelings for her, although her army boyfriend, Kevin, is enraged. Beth, implausibly, later shows up at Denis's graduation party with two interchangeable sidekicks, Cammy and Treece. The party comprises exactly two guests, Denis (aka "The Coove") and his possibly gay best friend, Rich. Once Denis and Rich recover from the shock of being in the presence of pretty girls, they attempt to party, but the awkward celebration is cut short when Kevin arrives with his bruiser friends. Denis and Co. make their first of what will be several escapes, the circumstances of each providing Denis with evidence that Beth isn't the flawless goddess he'd imagined her to be.
I read some reviews of this book and were intrigued. Once I saw the hysterical cover I was hooked. I laughed and squirmed a lot during this read. You can't help but laugh at some of the awkward moments the characters share and sometimes just squirm with the uncomfortableness of it all. But I really did enjoy it.
A
After concluding he has nothing to lose, geekazoid valedictorian Denis Cooverman declares, during his graduation speech, his love for Beth Cooper, the way hot chief cheerleader. He is amazed to discover Beth is not completely repulsed by his feelings for her, although her army boyfriend, Kevin, is enraged. Beth, implausibly, later shows up at Denis's graduation party with two interchangeable sidekicks, Cammy and Treece. The party comprises exactly two guests, Denis (aka "The Coove") and his possibly gay best friend, Rich. Once Denis and Rich recover from the shock of being in the presence of pretty girls, they attempt to party, but the awkward celebration is cut short when Kevin arrives with his bruiser friends. Denis and Co. make their first of what will be several escapes, the circumstances of each providing Denis with evidence that Beth isn't the flawless goddess he'd imagined her to be.
I read some reviews of this book and were intrigued. Once I saw the hysterical cover I was hooked. I laughed and squirmed a lot during this read. You can't help but laugh at some of the awkward moments the characters share and sometimes just squirm with the uncomfortableness of it all. But I really did enjoy it.
A
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Thursday Next : First Among Sequels by Jasper Fforde
Fifty-two year old, Thursday Next, is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. She is still madly in love with her writer husband, Landen Parke-Laine (who, fortunately, is fully restored after his two-year eradication by the fearsome Goliath Corporation) and their three children, one of whom may not really exist. The oldest, Friday, is sixteen, and he has turned out to be something of a slug who grunts, plays in a heavy metal band, and sleeps well into the day. Although Thursday pretends that she spends her time peddling and installing floor coverings for Acme Carpets, she is actually still very much involved in the Special Operations Network, working unofficially and under cover. She has never broken her strong ties to Jurisfiction, the policing agency within books, a job which earns her no money and is dangerous to boot. However, Thursday loves stories and she cannot resist using her considerable skills to help "maintain the continuity of the narrative within the pages of all the books ever written." Using her trusty Travelbook, she jumps into and out of the world of the printed word to hunt down malefactors.
Strange things have been happening lately. Thursday has a surreal conversation with her Uncle Mycroft, a brilliant inventor who has been dead for six years. He has no idea why he has reappeared as a ghost, but Thursday suspects that he has some unfinished business that involves her. Next, Thursday has to cope with two clones of herself who are cadets in training: one, Thursday 5, is a touchy-feely version who eats natural foods, believes in peace and love, and is so timid and nerdy that she is bound to get herself killed in short order. The other is a foul-mouthed, nasty, gun-toting version named Thursday 1-4, who is ruthless, violent, and intent on eradicating Thursday Next and taking her place. Looming over everyone in Jurisfiction is the specter of the dropping Outlander Reading Index. It seems that people in the real world (the Outland) no longer enjoy stories as they once did and the Bookworld is in danger of imminent collapse. This would be an incalculable loss for humankind.
Filled with all kinds of references to television and books it is always a treat to read the latest installment. Now I want to go back and re-read the first 4.
Fifty-two year old, Thursday Next, is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. She is still madly in love with her writer husband, Landen Parke-Laine (who, fortunately, is fully restored after his two-year eradication by the fearsome Goliath Corporation) and their three children, one of whom may not really exist. The oldest, Friday, is sixteen, and he has turned out to be something of a slug who grunts, plays in a heavy metal band, and sleeps well into the day. Although Thursday pretends that she spends her time peddling and installing floor coverings for Acme Carpets, she is actually still very much involved in the Special Operations Network, working unofficially and under cover. She has never broken her strong ties to Jurisfiction, the policing agency within books, a job which earns her no money and is dangerous to boot. However, Thursday loves stories and she cannot resist using her considerable skills to help "maintain the continuity of the narrative within the pages of all the books ever written." Using her trusty Travelbook, she jumps into and out of the world of the printed word to hunt down malefactors.
Strange things have been happening lately. Thursday has a surreal conversation with her Uncle Mycroft, a brilliant inventor who has been dead for six years. He has no idea why he has reappeared as a ghost, but Thursday suspects that he has some unfinished business that involves her. Next, Thursday has to cope with two clones of herself who are cadets in training: one, Thursday 5, is a touchy-feely version who eats natural foods, believes in peace and love, and is so timid and nerdy that she is bound to get herself killed in short order. The other is a foul-mouthed, nasty, gun-toting version named Thursday 1-4, who is ruthless, violent, and intent on eradicating Thursday Next and taking her place. Looming over everyone in Jurisfiction is the specter of the dropping Outlander Reading Index. It seems that people in the real world (the Outland) no longer enjoy stories as they once did and the Bookworld is in danger of imminent collapse. This would be an incalculable loss for humankind.
Filled with all kinds of references to television and books it is always a treat to read the latest installment. Now I want to go back and re-read the first 4.
Friday, January 04, 2008
Richard Matheson's I am Legend by Steve Niles & Elman Brown
An illustrated novel than a comic book adaptation of I am Legend. I was surprised by the amount of very long blocks of text with only a few panels. I now want to read the original to see how it compares.
The storyline is basically a terrible plague has decimated the world, and those who were unfortunate enough to survive have been transformed into blood-thirsty creatures of the night. Except, that is, for Robert Neville. He alone appears to be immune to this disease, but the grim irony is that now he is the outsider.
Most of the book is him trying to make sense of how this could happen. Plus he attempts to explain the legendary aspects of the vampire myth in scientific terms. His discovery of a bacterium, which he dubs vampiris, as the true source of vampirism. Although we only get pieces of the story regarding the outbreak of the vampiric plague, including a reference to bombings, it can easily be seen as the fruits of germ warfare. Neville even conjectures that the Black Death of the Middle Ages was caused by this same vampiris germ, and he extrapolates facts and ideas from that history in his attempts to understand why such defenses as garlic, crosses, and stakes driven into the heart actually are effective against the hordes of undead creatures menacing his own time. He studies academic texts and conducts experiments with the blood of these creatures, which is the means by which he identifies the bacterium. The essence of garlic has no effect on the germ when injected into a blood sample, which initially he is unable to explain, but he later is able to explain garlic's effectiveness. Less scientific tests lead him to conclude that crosses are only effective against "Christian" vampires; the cross has no meaning to for vampires who were once Jews and Moslems, but sacred symbols of those religions, such as the Torah and the Koran, do. All of these scientific tests and speculations are just fascinating.
Neville is essentially the last man on earth, and the loneliness of his situation is the central part of the story. Matheson is able to communicate Neville's emotional feelings vividly, making him very real. We gradually acquire the story of the deaths of Neville's wife and daughter, essentially experiencing the pain he goes through when these memories overcome him. We watch him drink himself into a stupor as each night finds him besieged in his fortified house, surrounded by vampires, including his old friend and neighbor, calling for him to come out. We watch him slowly lose his grip on sanity and come very close to giving up. Then, however, we watch him overcome his depression and courageously fight to live in the nightmare world he is trapped in. The scenes with the dog he finds are full of emotion and really gripped this reader. This is Neville's first contact with nonvampiric life, and his attempts to befriend and help the poor creature (at the same time finally finding a companion) touched me greatly and brought tears to my eyes. His eventual discovery of another human being like himself is also powerful and emotional, although to speak more about this aspect of the story is to risk giving something away to the future reader.
This is a story of one man overcoming all obstacles and fighting to defend his way of life and his very humanity. The novel deals with the human condition, the essential ingredient to effective horror writing. Neville struggles constantly with his doubts and fears, particularly as he commits acts that he would have condemned as barbarous in the time before the plague. His needs for companionship of any kind offer us a clear image of the inner soul of man. By the end of the story, he does indeed become legend, both in his world and in ours.
An illustrated novel than a comic book adaptation of I am Legend. I was surprised by the amount of very long blocks of text with only a few panels. I now want to read the original to see how it compares.
The storyline is basically a terrible plague has decimated the world, and those who were unfortunate enough to survive have been transformed into blood-thirsty creatures of the night. Except, that is, for Robert Neville. He alone appears to be immune to this disease, but the grim irony is that now he is the outsider.
Most of the book is him trying to make sense of how this could happen. Plus he attempts to explain the legendary aspects of the vampire myth in scientific terms. His discovery of a bacterium, which he dubs vampiris, as the true source of vampirism. Although we only get pieces of the story regarding the outbreak of the vampiric plague, including a reference to bombings, it can easily be seen as the fruits of germ warfare. Neville even conjectures that the Black Death of the Middle Ages was caused by this same vampiris germ, and he extrapolates facts and ideas from that history in his attempts to understand why such defenses as garlic, crosses, and stakes driven into the heart actually are effective against the hordes of undead creatures menacing his own time. He studies academic texts and conducts experiments with the blood of these creatures, which is the means by which he identifies the bacterium. The essence of garlic has no effect on the germ when injected into a blood sample, which initially he is unable to explain, but he later is able to explain garlic's effectiveness. Less scientific tests lead him to conclude that crosses are only effective against "Christian" vampires; the cross has no meaning to for vampires who were once Jews and Moslems, but sacred symbols of those religions, such as the Torah and the Koran, do. All of these scientific tests and speculations are just fascinating.
Neville is essentially the last man on earth, and the loneliness of his situation is the central part of the story. Matheson is able to communicate Neville's emotional feelings vividly, making him very real. We gradually acquire the story of the deaths of Neville's wife and daughter, essentially experiencing the pain he goes through when these memories overcome him. We watch him drink himself into a stupor as each night finds him besieged in his fortified house, surrounded by vampires, including his old friend and neighbor, calling for him to come out. We watch him slowly lose his grip on sanity and come very close to giving up. Then, however, we watch him overcome his depression and courageously fight to live in the nightmare world he is trapped in. The scenes with the dog he finds are full of emotion and really gripped this reader. This is Neville's first contact with nonvampiric life, and his attempts to befriend and help the poor creature (at the same time finally finding a companion) touched me greatly and brought tears to my eyes. His eventual discovery of another human being like himself is also powerful and emotional, although to speak more about this aspect of the story is to risk giving something away to the future reader.
This is a story of one man overcoming all obstacles and fighting to defend his way of life and his very humanity. The novel deals with the human condition, the essential ingredient to effective horror writing. Neville struggles constantly with his doubts and fears, particularly as he commits acts that he would have condemned as barbarous in the time before the plague. His needs for companionship of any kind offer us a clear image of the inner soul of man. By the end of the story, he does indeed become legend, both in his world and in ours.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Kissing Christmas Good-bye by M.C. Beaton
It's beginning to look as if the bloom has fallen off Agatha Raisin's obsessive love for her handsome ex-husband, James Lacey. Not that Agatha is about to admit to this. No. she's decided that her feelings if ennui are down to the lack of a really good investigation that she can sink her teeth into. So that when Agatha receives a letter from Phyllis Tamworthy who claims that someone in her family is trying to murder her. Agatha thinks that Phyllis Tamworthy may be a nutter, but something about the letter gives her pause. What if it is authentic? What if Phyllis Tamworthy is in real danger? With visions of Agatha Christie's "Hercule Poirot's Christmas" in mind (Christmas is after all round the corner), Agatha decides to take on the case.
In typical Agatha fashion her Christie-like visions come to nothing. Phyllis turns out to be penny-pinching bully to comes her children firmly under her thumb, while Phyllis' children seem to be so colourless and spineless a bunch, that Agatha has a hard time seeing any of them as potential killers. But when Phyllis drops dead after a truly awful tea, Agatha is sure that a very cunning murderer has struck. Quickly Agatha springs into action, determined to discover who murdered Phyllis, and no one, not the hostile police officers in charge of the case or Phyllis' equally hostile relatives or the twinge in her hip are going to stop her.
We see the addition of a new character, teenage Toni Gilmour, whose background is eerily akin to that of Agatha. Toni may be the anti-Agatha: young, beautiful, vivacious, charming and clever. Despite Agatha's occasional bursts of jealousy, the two women become friends as well as fellow detectives and Agatha's incredible generosity helping Toni softens the many hard edges she still exhibits.
The latest Agatha Raisin book is a reason to celebrate, so I saved this book to read on a my trip to San Diego. It is impossible to explain why I enjoy her books so much but I do. I cannot even remember who the murderer was but honestly that is not why I read them. I'm glad to see she might be moving past her obsession with James.
It's beginning to look as if the bloom has fallen off Agatha Raisin's obsessive love for her handsome ex-husband, James Lacey. Not that Agatha is about to admit to this. No. she's decided that her feelings if ennui are down to the lack of a really good investigation that she can sink her teeth into. So that when Agatha receives a letter from Phyllis Tamworthy who claims that someone in her family is trying to murder her. Agatha thinks that Phyllis Tamworthy may be a nutter, but something about the letter gives her pause. What if it is authentic? What if Phyllis Tamworthy is in real danger? With visions of Agatha Christie's "Hercule Poirot's Christmas" in mind (Christmas is after all round the corner), Agatha decides to take on the case.
In typical Agatha fashion her Christie-like visions come to nothing. Phyllis turns out to be penny-pinching bully to comes her children firmly under her thumb, while Phyllis' children seem to be so colourless and spineless a bunch, that Agatha has a hard time seeing any of them as potential killers. But when Phyllis drops dead after a truly awful tea, Agatha is sure that a very cunning murderer has struck. Quickly Agatha springs into action, determined to discover who murdered Phyllis, and no one, not the hostile police officers in charge of the case or Phyllis' equally hostile relatives or the twinge in her hip are going to stop her.
We see the addition of a new character, teenage Toni Gilmour, whose background is eerily akin to that of Agatha. Toni may be the anti-Agatha: young, beautiful, vivacious, charming and clever. Despite Agatha's occasional bursts of jealousy, the two women become friends as well as fellow detectives and Agatha's incredible generosity helping Toni softens the many hard edges she still exhibits.
The latest Agatha Raisin book is a reason to celebrate, so I saved this book to read on a my trip to San Diego. It is impossible to explain why I enjoy her books so much but I do. I cannot even remember who the murderer was but honestly that is not why I read them. I'm glad to see she might be moving past her obsession with James.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Past Perfect by Susan Isaacs
Former CIA analyst Katie Schottland receives a call from Lisa Golding, an old colleague who desperately needs her help. Katie, who was inexplicably fired from the agency some 15 years before, has since turned her experiences to profit, penning a successful cable-TV show based on her novel, Spy Games. But she remains clueless about the circumstances surrounding her termination. Lisa, it seems, knows all the devastating details and offers to offer them up in exchange for Katie's assistance. But can Katie, now ensconced in upper Manhattan, with a nice (if somewhat milquetoasty) husband and a 10-year-old son, leave behind her safe, comfortable life long enough to learn the truth?
Katie plunges back into the notes she smuggled out of the office. She seeks help from an old flame and another ex-agent (now a log-cabin recluse) who helps her trace three of Lisa's former charges at the CIA, East German asylum seekers transported to America and given new names. When two of them turn up dead within weeks of each other, Katie decides to give chase to locate the third before the woman becomes the next casualty.
Not a terribly fast read as I kept getting distracted by her whining about losing her job 15 years ago. I did enjoy her relationships with her family rather than her attemps at being a spy which she never was in the first place. This was my first attempt at reading her books and it does not really make me want to read more but I may down the road.
Former CIA analyst Katie Schottland receives a call from Lisa Golding, an old colleague who desperately needs her help. Katie, who was inexplicably fired from the agency some 15 years before, has since turned her experiences to profit, penning a successful cable-TV show based on her novel, Spy Games. But she remains clueless about the circumstances surrounding her termination. Lisa, it seems, knows all the devastating details and offers to offer them up in exchange for Katie's assistance. But can Katie, now ensconced in upper Manhattan, with a nice (if somewhat milquetoasty) husband and a 10-year-old son, leave behind her safe, comfortable life long enough to learn the truth?
Katie plunges back into the notes she smuggled out of the office. She seeks help from an old flame and another ex-agent (now a log-cabin recluse) who helps her trace three of Lisa's former charges at the CIA, East German asylum seekers transported to America and given new names. When two of them turn up dead within weeks of each other, Katie decides to give chase to locate the third before the woman becomes the next casualty.
Not a terribly fast read as I kept getting distracted by her whining about losing her job 15 years ago. I did enjoy her relationships with her family rather than her attemps at being a spy which she never was in the first place. This was my first attempt at reading her books and it does not really make me want to read more but I may down the road.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Cast a Cold Eye by Marjorie Eccles
Featuring detective Detective Chief Inspector Gil Mayo which I've watched on BBC America. Discovering the series was based on books I decided to try a few out as I quite enjoy the show.
Ambitious but troubled architect Clive Lethbridge throws a cocktail party at his country home outside Birmingham, England, to celebrate his prize-winning design for a holistic health center in Norway. The next day, an unknown person bashes his head.
When solid and sensitive Detective Chief Inspector Gil Mayo investigates, he learns that Lethbridge had many enemies. In addition, Clive's wife shows signs of involvement with Matt Royston, a famous TV and newspaper journalist collaborating with Clive on a book.
Not quite as dramatic as the TV series while taking the basic storyline really embelishes the characters for the show. Though the stories are not terribly complicated or difficult to figure out, I did enjoy reading it. Eccles has a subtle way about describing things and I'll try a few more out to see if they grow on me.
Bk 2: Death of a Good Woman
Bk 3: Requiem of a Dove
Bk 4: More Deaths than One
Bk 5: Late for this Parish
Bk 6: Company She Kept
Bk 7: Accidental Shroud
Bk 8: Death of Distinction
Bk 9: Species of Revenge
Bk 10: Killing me Softly
Bk 11: Superintendent's Daughter
Bk 12: Sunset Touch
Bk 13: Untimely Graves
Featuring detective Detective Chief Inspector Gil Mayo which I've watched on BBC America. Discovering the series was based on books I decided to try a few out as I quite enjoy the show.
Ambitious but troubled architect Clive Lethbridge throws a cocktail party at his country home outside Birmingham, England, to celebrate his prize-winning design for a holistic health center in Norway. The next day, an unknown person bashes his head.
When solid and sensitive Detective Chief Inspector Gil Mayo investigates, he learns that Lethbridge had many enemies. In addition, Clive's wife shows signs of involvement with Matt Royston, a famous TV and newspaper journalist collaborating with Clive on a book.
Not quite as dramatic as the TV series while taking the basic storyline really embelishes the characters for the show. Though the stories are not terribly complicated or difficult to figure out, I did enjoy reading it. Eccles has a subtle way about describing things and I'll try a few more out to see if they grow on me.
Bk 2: Death of a Good Woman
Bk 3: Requiem of a Dove
Bk 4: More Deaths than One
Bk 5: Late for this Parish
Bk 6: Company She Kept
Bk 7: Accidental Shroud
Bk 8: Death of Distinction
Bk 9: Species of Revenge
Bk 10: Killing me Softly
Bk 11: Superintendent's Daughter
Bk 12: Sunset Touch
Bk 13: Untimely Graves
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Seventy-Seven Steps by Christopher Fowler
3rd in the Bryant & May Mystery series
Set in 1973, we learn the details how the pair first joined Scotland Yard's Peculiar Crimes Unit. The murders Bryant and May investigate more than fit the unit's mission to handle cases outside the norm—an elderly lawyer is found poisoned in a hotel lobby, apparently from a snake bite, while other victims are killed by toxic makeup and a starved tiger. The odd sleuthing couple find that these terrifying crimes are all connected with the strange Whitstable family, whose Victorian patriarch founded a bizarre group called the Alliance of Eternal Light.
This interesting series has a much darker Sherlock Holmes feel as the pair deal with mysteries with supernatural aspects.
Bk 1: Full Dark House
Bk 2: Water Room
3rd in the Bryant & May Mystery series
Set in 1973, we learn the details how the pair first joined Scotland Yard's Peculiar Crimes Unit. The murders Bryant and May investigate more than fit the unit's mission to handle cases outside the norm—an elderly lawyer is found poisoned in a hotel lobby, apparently from a snake bite, while other victims are killed by toxic makeup and a starved tiger. The odd sleuthing couple find that these terrifying crimes are all connected with the strange Whitstable family, whose Victorian patriarch founded a bizarre group called the Alliance of Eternal Light.
This interesting series has a much darker Sherlock Holmes feel as the pair deal with mysteries with supernatural aspects.
Bk 1: Full Dark House
Bk 2: Water Room
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Not a Girl Detective by Susan Kandel
Cece Caruso Mystery series
Sequel to I Dreamed I Married Perry Mason
Writing biographies of dead mystery authors tends to land her in odd situations, and, as she researches Carolyn Keene, the fictitiously named author of the Nancy Drew books, she is drawn into the murder of a wealthy collector of series memorabilia. Cece has something that the killer wants; while trying to figure out what it is, she finds herself crossing paths with several people who stand to gain from the victim's death. The characters are deliciously drawn, the pace is snappy, and the plot twists and turns will keep mystery lovers satisfied. As entertaining as Cece and the other characters are, the icing on the cake is the depth of Kandel's research. Readers who enjoyed following the teen sleuth's adventures will appreciate the insight into the history of the Stratemeyer Syndicate, the organization responsible for producing numerous children's series. Kandel provides an informative glimpse into 1930s and 1940s book publishing, introducing Mildred Wirt Benson, the author of 22 of the first 25 Nancy Drews; Russell Tandy, the illustrator of the early covers; and Grace Horton, the professional model who was her face. The author blends fact and fiction with assurance, using these real people to set up a plot that ultimately involves Salvador Dali's art.
Books are great fun especially for fans of Nancy Drew or children's mysteries.
Cece Caruso Mystery series
Sequel to I Dreamed I Married Perry Mason
Writing biographies of dead mystery authors tends to land her in odd situations, and, as she researches Carolyn Keene, the fictitiously named author of the Nancy Drew books, she is drawn into the murder of a wealthy collector of series memorabilia. Cece has something that the killer wants; while trying to figure out what it is, she finds herself crossing paths with several people who stand to gain from the victim's death. The characters are deliciously drawn, the pace is snappy, and the plot twists and turns will keep mystery lovers satisfied. As entertaining as Cece and the other characters are, the icing on the cake is the depth of Kandel's research. Readers who enjoyed following the teen sleuth's adventures will appreciate the insight into the history of the Stratemeyer Syndicate, the organization responsible for producing numerous children's series. Kandel provides an informative glimpse into 1930s and 1940s book publishing, introducing Mildred Wirt Benson, the author of 22 of the first 25 Nancy Drews; Russell Tandy, the illustrator of the early covers; and Grace Horton, the professional model who was her face. The author blends fact and fiction with assurance, using these real people to set up a plot that ultimately involves Salvador Dali's art.
Books are great fun especially for fans of Nancy Drew or children's mysteries.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
Shopping addict and financial writer Becky Bloomwood works for Successful Savings, a second-rate trade magazine. Becky, for whom saving is a concept for other people, relieves the tedium of meaningless work with giddy sprees she can ill afford. As her debt grows ever more unmanageable, Becky's self-justifying obbligatos become ever more shrill, and her white lies turn steadily darker. In one self-delusional attempt to find a better paying job, she bolsters her resume with fluency in Finnish, only to come face to face with the CEO of the Bank of Helsinki. But when Becky gets her teeth into a real news story, she discovers her limits are far greater than she had imagined.
Meanwhile, perky flatmate Suze, the daughter of fabulously rich and indulgent parents, is little help, although she does fix Rebecca up with her equally wealthy cousin, Tarquin Cleath-Stuart. Dreaming wistfully of marrying money, Rebecca tries to impress the dull but sincere Tarquin by inventing a charity that provides violins for impoverished children in Mozambique—and is mortified when he immediately makes a donation of five thousand pounds, scribbling a cheque that she has to return. But there's another man in her future: handsome Luke Brandon, a financial genius who devised a fund-switching scheme that seems to have deprived her parents' neighbors—a well-meaning but slightly dotty old couple—of their nest egg.
My co-worker loves this series so I thought I would give it a try. Fun, but the characters really don't make me want to read more in the series. I would rather read Bridget Jones Diary books instead.
Shopping addict and financial writer Becky Bloomwood works for Successful Savings, a second-rate trade magazine. Becky, for whom saving is a concept for other people, relieves the tedium of meaningless work with giddy sprees she can ill afford. As her debt grows ever more unmanageable, Becky's self-justifying obbligatos become ever more shrill, and her white lies turn steadily darker. In one self-delusional attempt to find a better paying job, she bolsters her resume with fluency in Finnish, only to come face to face with the CEO of the Bank of Helsinki. But when Becky gets her teeth into a real news story, she discovers her limits are far greater than she had imagined.
Meanwhile, perky flatmate Suze, the daughter of fabulously rich and indulgent parents, is little help, although she does fix Rebecca up with her equally wealthy cousin, Tarquin Cleath-Stuart. Dreaming wistfully of marrying money, Rebecca tries to impress the dull but sincere Tarquin by inventing a charity that provides violins for impoverished children in Mozambique—and is mortified when he immediately makes a donation of five thousand pounds, scribbling a cheque that she has to return. But there's another man in her future: handsome Luke Brandon, a financial genius who devised a fund-switching scheme that seems to have deprived her parents' neighbors—a well-meaning but slightly dotty old couple—of their nest egg.
My co-worker loves this series so I thought I would give it a try. Fun, but the characters really don't make me want to read more in the series. I would rather read Bridget Jones Diary books instead.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Heartshot by Steven Havill
Septuagenarian undersheriff of Posadas County, N.M., Bill Gastner is widowed, his kids are grown and gone. A chronic insomniac, he rattles around his empty house, eats too much and smokes too much. The one thing he genuinely cares about is the little town of Posadas, New Mexico and its inhabitants. These days, he's worried that the newly elected Posadas sheriff has an agenda that includes pushing Bill towards early retirement and is understandably touchy about suggestions that he might be slowing down.
A Fourth of July town celebration turns to tragedy when a carful of teenagers speeds up to evade a police cruiser, loses control and goes over a cliff. While working the scene of the accident, Gastner and Posadas' lone detective, a female no less, Estelle Reyes, discover a package of drugs amongst the wreckage. How did it get there? Which one of the upstanding kids might have had something to do with drugs? Posadas is close enough to the Mexican border that Gastner is not surprised by the presence of drugs in his town, but thought he had a better understanding of the town's youth. Is he losing his touch?
The townspeople are naturally upset, accusations fly and one of the bereaved parents has bought a gun. When the Sheriff suggests putting a young unknown officer undercover in the high school, Gastner has no better idea and reluctantly agrees. The situation quickly deteriorates and another senseless death occurs. Gastner feels personally responsible, neglects his health in pursuit of answers and ultimately puts his own life on the line. We see him suffer from a mild heart attack during the investigation and his determination to see the case to the end, even if he doesn't make it.
I wasn't sure if I would like this book or the series as he seems like your stereotypical overweight police guy. I'm glad that I gave it more than a few chapters as it got quite good as it progressed. The author writes about a character who is very passionate about his town and the people who live there. It felt very believable, even though the ending was a bit out there. But a creative way to kill off people. I also appreciated that there was no romance between him and the only female detective on the force.
Now I want to read more and see how the character develops and hopefully makes some changes in his physical health. I'm glad that this is a big series so it gives me a chance to catch up.
Septuagenarian undersheriff of Posadas County, N.M., Bill Gastner is widowed, his kids are grown and gone. A chronic insomniac, he rattles around his empty house, eats too much and smokes too much. The one thing he genuinely cares about is the little town of Posadas, New Mexico and its inhabitants. These days, he's worried that the newly elected Posadas sheriff has an agenda that includes pushing Bill towards early retirement and is understandably touchy about suggestions that he might be slowing down.
A Fourth of July town celebration turns to tragedy when a carful of teenagers speeds up to evade a police cruiser, loses control and goes over a cliff. While working the scene of the accident, Gastner and Posadas' lone detective, a female no less, Estelle Reyes, discover a package of drugs amongst the wreckage. How did it get there? Which one of the upstanding kids might have had something to do with drugs? Posadas is close enough to the Mexican border that Gastner is not surprised by the presence of drugs in his town, but thought he had a better understanding of the town's youth. Is he losing his touch?
The townspeople are naturally upset, accusations fly and one of the bereaved parents has bought a gun. When the Sheriff suggests putting a young unknown officer undercover in the high school, Gastner has no better idea and reluctantly agrees. The situation quickly deteriorates and another senseless death occurs. Gastner feels personally responsible, neglects his health in pursuit of answers and ultimately puts his own life on the line. We see him suffer from a mild heart attack during the investigation and his determination to see the case to the end, even if he doesn't make it.
I wasn't sure if I would like this book or the series as he seems like your stereotypical overweight police guy. I'm glad that I gave it more than a few chapters as it got quite good as it progressed. The author writes about a character who is very passionate about his town and the people who live there. It felt very believable, even though the ending was a bit out there. But a creative way to kill off people. I also appreciated that there was no romance between him and the only female detective on the force.
Now I want to read more and see how the character develops and hopefully makes some changes in his physical health. I'm glad that this is a big series so it gives me a chance to catch up.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Bad News by Donald Westlake
John Dortmunder and his gang of lowlifes from the back room of the O.J. Bar and Grill. Andy Kelp, Tiny Bulcher and the Murches (Stan and Mom) join Dortmunder horn in on another crew's scam cheating two Native American tribes out of one-third of the take from a lucrative Indian casino in upstate New York. Fitzroy Guilderpost, mastermind of the con (and a memorable Westlake creation one hopes to see again), has enlisted Little Feather Redcorn, a Las Vegas card dealer and showgirl, to pose as the last living member of an extinct tribe with a claim to the casino. Unknown to the schemers, the casino managers have been cooking their books and will go to any length to avoid sharing the wealth. As the foes switch dead Indians from grave to grave, seeking to prove or deny Little Feather's tribal membership, Dortmunder plots an impossible and hilarious robbery using a blizzard as an accessory, and comes up with the usual mixed results.
Another hysterical addition to the Dortmunder collection of books. His books always make my day.
John Dortmunder and his gang of lowlifes from the back room of the O.J. Bar and Grill. Andy Kelp, Tiny Bulcher and the Murches (Stan and Mom) join Dortmunder horn in on another crew's scam cheating two Native American tribes out of one-third of the take from a lucrative Indian casino in upstate New York. Fitzroy Guilderpost, mastermind of the con (and a memorable Westlake creation one hopes to see again), has enlisted Little Feather Redcorn, a Las Vegas card dealer and showgirl, to pose as the last living member of an extinct tribe with a claim to the casino. Unknown to the schemers, the casino managers have been cooking their books and will go to any length to avoid sharing the wealth. As the foes switch dead Indians from grave to grave, seeking to prove or deny Little Feather's tribal membership, Dortmunder plots an impossible and hilarious robbery using a blizzard as an accessory, and comes up with the usual mixed results.
Another hysterical addition to the Dortmunder collection of books. His books always make my day.
Friday, July 06, 2007
Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich
Lucky #13 in this fun and hilarious series. This time around Stephanie is reunited with her two-timing lawyer ex-husband, Dickie Orr, while doing a favor for the mysterious, sexy Ranger. Noticing a recent photo of Dickie with her arch nemesis, Joyce Barnhardt, (aka fluzie he had an affair with while they were still married) and it looks like they are now dating. But when Dickie disappears from his house leaving behind only bloodstains and bullet holes, Plum becomes the main suspect in her ex-husband's disappearance; mainly because she attacked him in his office, again. But this time everyone thinks he has been murdered and Stephanie is prime suspect #1. Now Joyce is after Stephanie, especially when Dickie's unchanged will surfaces making Stephanie the heir to his estate, valued at over $40 million.
Determined to clear her name, Plum and her on-again off-again Trenton cop boyfriend, the irresistible Joe Morelli, uncover Dickie's ties to a shady group of men involved in everything from money laundering to drug running. And when Dickie's jilted business partners decide Stephanie holds the key to the $40 million they believe Dickie stole from them, she's in for a wild ride.
Grandma is still around going attending the various funeral viewings. Lola seems to have changed her hoing ways and is focused on one man - Tank! Thankfully we see nothing of Stephanie's sister and her family. They were really annoying me in the last few books. Some new parole violators, a taxidermist with a penchant for bombs to a grave-robbing tax man life is never dull in the burbs.
Lucky #13 in this fun and hilarious series. This time around Stephanie is reunited with her two-timing lawyer ex-husband, Dickie Orr, while doing a favor for the mysterious, sexy Ranger. Noticing a recent photo of Dickie with her arch nemesis, Joyce Barnhardt, (aka fluzie he had an affair with while they were still married) and it looks like they are now dating. But when Dickie disappears from his house leaving behind only bloodstains and bullet holes, Plum becomes the main suspect in her ex-husband's disappearance; mainly because she attacked him in his office, again. But this time everyone thinks he has been murdered and Stephanie is prime suspect #1. Now Joyce is after Stephanie, especially when Dickie's unchanged will surfaces making Stephanie the heir to his estate, valued at over $40 million.
Determined to clear her name, Plum and her on-again off-again Trenton cop boyfriend, the irresistible Joe Morelli, uncover Dickie's ties to a shady group of men involved in everything from money laundering to drug running. And when Dickie's jilted business partners decide Stephanie holds the key to the $40 million they believe Dickie stole from them, she's in for a wild ride.
Grandma is still around going attending the various funeral viewings. Lola seems to have changed her hoing ways and is focused on one man - Tank! Thankfully we see nothing of Stephanie's sister and her family. They were really annoying me in the last few books. Some new parole violators, a taxidermist with a penchant for bombs to a grave-robbing tax man life is never dull in the burbs.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Happy 4th of July!
Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Death meets the book thief, a 9-year-old girl named Liesel Meminger, when he comes to take her little brother, and she becomes an enduring force in his life, despite his efforts to resist her. As Death lingers at the burial, he watches the girl, who can't yet read, steal a gravedigger's instruction manual. Thus Liesel is touched first by Death, then by words, as if she knows she'll need their comfort during the hardships ahead.
And there are plenty to come. Liesel's father has already been carted off for being a communist and soon her mother disappears, too, leaving her in the care of foster parents: the accordion-playing, silver-eyed Hans Hubermann and his wife, Rosa, who has a face like "creased-up cardboard." Liesel's new family lives on the unfortunately named Himmel (Heaven) Street, in a small town on the outskirts of Munich populated by vivid characters: from the blond-haired boy who relates to Jesse Owens to the mayor's wife who hides from despair in her library. They are, for the most part, foul-spoken but good-hearted folks, some of whom have the strength to stand up to the Nazis in small but telling ways.
Stolen books form the spine of the story. Though Liesel's foster father realizes the subject matter isn't ideal, he uses "The Grave Digger's Handbook" to teach her to read. Reading opens new worlds to her; soon she is looking for other material for distraction. She rescues a book from a pile being burned by the Nazis, then begins stealing more books from the mayor's wife. After a Jewish fist-fighter hides behind a copy of Mein Kampf as he makes his way to the relative safety of the Hubermanns' basement, he then literally whitewashes the pages to create his own book for Liesel, which sustains her through her darkest times. Other books come in handy as diversions during bombing raids or hedges against grief. And it is the book she is writing herself that, ultimately, will save Liesel's life.
Death recounts all this mostly dispassionately -- you can tell he almost hates to be involved. His language is spare but evocative, and he's fond of emphasizing points with bold type and centered pronouncements. Death, like Liesel, has a way with words. And he recognizes them not only for the good they can do, but for the evil as well. What would Hitler have been, after all, without words? As this book reminds us, what would any of us be?
This book took me almost a week to read. I kept going back and re-reading passages. I didn't want the book to end and cried during the final chapters. It is a lovely thought provoking book. Wow.
Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Death meets the book thief, a 9-year-old girl named Liesel Meminger, when he comes to take her little brother, and she becomes an enduring force in his life, despite his efforts to resist her. As Death lingers at the burial, he watches the girl, who can't yet read, steal a gravedigger's instruction manual. Thus Liesel is touched first by Death, then by words, as if she knows she'll need their comfort during the hardships ahead.
And there are plenty to come. Liesel's father has already been carted off for being a communist and soon her mother disappears, too, leaving her in the care of foster parents: the accordion-playing, silver-eyed Hans Hubermann and his wife, Rosa, who has a face like "creased-up cardboard." Liesel's new family lives on the unfortunately named Himmel (Heaven) Street, in a small town on the outskirts of Munich populated by vivid characters: from the blond-haired boy who relates to Jesse Owens to the mayor's wife who hides from despair in her library. They are, for the most part, foul-spoken but good-hearted folks, some of whom have the strength to stand up to the Nazis in small but telling ways.
Stolen books form the spine of the story. Though Liesel's foster father realizes the subject matter isn't ideal, he uses "The Grave Digger's Handbook" to teach her to read. Reading opens new worlds to her; soon she is looking for other material for distraction. She rescues a book from a pile being burned by the Nazis, then begins stealing more books from the mayor's wife. After a Jewish fist-fighter hides behind a copy of Mein Kampf as he makes his way to the relative safety of the Hubermanns' basement, he then literally whitewashes the pages to create his own book for Liesel, which sustains her through her darkest times. Other books come in handy as diversions during bombing raids or hedges against grief. And it is the book she is writing herself that, ultimately, will save Liesel's life.
Death recounts all this mostly dispassionately -- you can tell he almost hates to be involved. His language is spare but evocative, and he's fond of emphasizing points with bold type and centered pronouncements. Death, like Liesel, has a way with words. And he recognizes them not only for the good they can do, but for the evil as well. What would Hitler have been, after all, without words? As this book reminds us, what would any of us be?
This book took me almost a week to read. I kept going back and re-reading passages. I didn't want the book to end and cried during the final chapters. It is a lovely thought provoking book. Wow.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum
This is a story of a man without a past, rescued from the Mediterranean Sea by some fishermen. He is very ill, and his body has suffered the impact of many bullets. The man is taken by the fishermen to a doctor in a nearby island, who helps him to recover physically and mentally. Our protagonist doesn't remember who he is, but with the help of the doctor he finds some clues he doesn't like too much. He only knows for certain some things, for instance that his face has been altered by plastic surgery, that he knows a lot about firearms and that he carried on him a microfilm that contains the code to an account of four million dollars.
In the Swiss bank where the account is he also finds a name: Jason Bourne. But... is he Jason Bourne?. He cannot remember, and if it were for quite a few people, he won't. From the moment he leaves the island onwards, our man without a past will be followed, and attacked. He doesn't understand why, but he reacts in order to stay alive. Add to this already interesting mixture a woman he takes as a hostage, Marie, a number of assasins (including the most famous assassin in the world, Carlos), and the possibility that he is an assassin. The main character will be hunted all throughout the book not only by the "bad guys", but also by the "good" ones (mainly agents from the USA Government).
You won't be able to stop reading this book, and you will find yourself asking aloud to nobody in particular "who on earth is this man?" and "what started this whole mess"?.
I read this back in the 1980's and with the movies coming out decided I should re-read and see if enjoyed it as much as I did back then. The only bad side is that the technology is obiously dated as who would have a piece of microfilm inserted under the skin when we have tiny microchips. Of course in 20 years that will seem dated. But I really enjoyed the ride and love the movies. I need to read the rest over the summer.
This is a story of a man without a past, rescued from the Mediterranean Sea by some fishermen. He is very ill, and his body has suffered the impact of many bullets. The man is taken by the fishermen to a doctor in a nearby island, who helps him to recover physically and mentally. Our protagonist doesn't remember who he is, but with the help of the doctor he finds some clues he doesn't like too much. He only knows for certain some things, for instance that his face has been altered by plastic surgery, that he knows a lot about firearms and that he carried on him a microfilm that contains the code to an account of four million dollars.
In the Swiss bank where the account is he also finds a name: Jason Bourne. But... is he Jason Bourne?. He cannot remember, and if it were for quite a few people, he won't. From the moment he leaves the island onwards, our man without a past will be followed, and attacked. He doesn't understand why, but he reacts in order to stay alive. Add to this already interesting mixture a woman he takes as a hostage, Marie, a number of assasins (including the most famous assassin in the world, Carlos), and the possibility that he is an assassin. The main character will be hunted all throughout the book not only by the "bad guys", but also by the "good" ones (mainly agents from the USA Government).
You won't be able to stop reading this book, and you will find yourself asking aloud to nobody in particular "who on earth is this man?" and "what started this whole mess"?.
I read this back in the 1980's and with the movies coming out decided I should re-read and see if enjoyed it as much as I did back then. The only bad side is that the technology is obiously dated as who would have a piece of microfilm inserted under the skin when we have tiny microchips. Of course in 20 years that will seem dated. But I really enjoyed the ride and love the movies. I need to read the rest over the summer.
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