Nemesis, by Jo Nesbø

Jo Nesbø. Nemesis. New York: Harper, 2009. 474 pages. ISBN 9780061655517.

This is my second novel by Jo Nesbø, and I am now a confirmed fan. The first one I read introduced me to Harry Hole, an alcoholic police detective based in Oslo, Norway. There are ten Harry Hole novels that have been translated into English so far; this one is the fourth in the series, but the third to be translated, after The Devil’s Star and Redbreast (which is the one that I already read).

In this novel, Harry is in a committed relationship with Rakel, who is currently in Russia trying to keep custody of her son Oleg, whose father is Russian. Harry is approached by a former girlfriend, and he is tempted to spend some time catching up with her. However, after an evening with Anna, he wakes up and can’t remember the previous evening at all, and when he finds out she’s been murdered, he realizes that he has to solve the murder or he may end up being implicated for it.

At the same time that all of this is going on there’s a series of bank robberies in which the teller is threatened with murder if the money isn’t handed over quickly enough. And Harry is also fighting with his old nemesis, Tom Waaler, whom Harry suspects of murdering his former partner Ellen. There are enough twists and turns in the plot of Nemesis to keep you wondering the whole time. Harry is a very sympathetic character who nevertheless makes serious mistakes, especially as regards to his consumption of alcohol.

Jo Nesbø is another excellent Scandinavian mystery/detective/thriller writer. I’m looking forward to reading more of his works. I recommend Nemesis to anyone who likes Stieg Larsson or Jussi Adler-Olsen.

Warlord, by Ted Bell

Ted Bell. Warlord. New York: William Morrow/HarperCollins, 2010. 532 pages. ISBN 9780061859298.

In addition to the children's books that Ted Bell writes (see Nick of Time, which I reviewed on April 20), he also writes adult thrillers starring spy Alexander Hawke. This is not the first Hawke novel, and it begins as Hawke is slowly sinking into an alcoholic depression after losing his lover to  murder the previous year. However, a call from Prince Charles brings him out of depression, and he gets himself back on track so that he can solve a decades-old mystery about who murdered Prince Charles' uncle, Lord Mountbatten, as well as who is threatening the royal family today.

Hawke brings in old friends and colleagues, some from the U.S., to try to solve this case. It appears that there is a tie to terrorism, both the "New IRA" and Al Qaeda, and a lot is at stake as they try to track down who might be responsible for past and present violence. The plotting is fast-paced, and the characters are interesting and well-developed. The only thing that I found a bit disquieting about this book was the use of real people as the targets and characters in the book, including Princess Diana, Princes Harry and William, and Queen Elizabeth. I don't know why I found that so disturbing, but I did; I could only think about what they would think about a book in which they are portrayed being shot or worse, just for some reader's entertainment. But that's a minor quibble; I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys contemporary thrillers.

Nick of Time, by Ted Bell

Ted Bell. Nick of Time. New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 2008. 419 pages. ISBN 9780312380687.

Nick of Time is an action-packed and fun middle-grade adventure story. The story begins in 1939 when Nick and his family are living on an island in the English Channel where his father, a World War I veteran, runs the lighthouse. Nick's father is engaged in spying on the movement of German ships and submarines, and reporting his findings to Winston Churchill, currently on the outs with the prevailing government in Great Britain. When his father's activities put his posting to the lighthouse at risk, he and Nick's mother must sail to England to plead their case. While they're away, Nick and his sister stumble across a treasure chest lost by ruthless pirates. Nick and his sister team up with other patriots to use the contents of the treasure chest, a time travel device, to save Nick's family as well as two children who were kidnapped five years earlier. Nick of Time is an enjoyable adventure that will keep the pages turning.

Gentlemen of the Road, by Michael Chabon

Michael Chabon. Gentlemen of the Road. New York: Ballantine Books, 2008. 206 pages. ISBN 9780345502070.

Zelikman and Amram are the two "gentlemen of the road" of the title. They are con men, staging mock fights to the death, and cleaning up on betting profits. After one such adventure they come across a young man who has been abducted from his family on the Black Sea, presumably in an attempt to protect him from warring factions at home. When his abductor/protector is killed, Zelikman and Amram decide to take him to his final destination, leading them into a fast-paced adventure.

My book club selected this book from a list of books that are being made into movies. At first I thought it was going to be a children's book, since it had large-ish type and included drawn illustrations with captions like many children's books do. But the level of violence is so high, against men, women, children, and animals, that it is clearly not intended to be a children's book. I may end up reading this again before my book club discusses it later this month, but I have to say that this wasn't one of my favorite Michael Chabon books. It's too short to care about any of the characters and it seems a little superficial. The writing is good, as is to be expected of Chabon, but I didn't see the point of the book. If he had lengthened the book and developed the characters more, it would have vastly improved the book for me. The movie is coming out in August, 2014, and I'm looking forward to seeing how they tell this story. I'm betting that they develop the characters a little better!

Divergent, by Veronica Roth

Veronica Roth. Divergent. New York: Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins, 2011. 487 pages. ISBN 9780062024039.

Beatrice lives in a world defined by the citizens' prevailing characteristics. There are five factions that include Abnegation (to which Beatrice and her family belong), Amity, Candor, Dauntless, and Erudite. At the age of 16 every citizen undergoes a personality test that predicts which faction they will most likely fit. Whatever the outcome of the test, however, each person has the right to choose their faction. Beatrice turns out to be an aberration in that she is a fit for not only Abnegation, but also Dauntless and Erudite. However, she follows her heart and chooses Dauntless, leaving her family and friends behind.

It turns out that Beatrice, or Tris as she's now known, is Divergent. The government doesn't recognize Divergents, and to be one is to live in danger. Tris has to hide her Divergent tendencies, and focus on passing the trials she must undergo to complete her Dauntless initiation. But trouble is looming, in some factions' plans for civil war. As Beatrice completes her Dauntless initiation she's faced with trying to protect her family and friends from the violence.

Divergent is the opening book of a series of three dystopian novels that address a corrupt, authoritarian government in a future world based in Chicago. I enjoyed the book, but not as much as the hype led me to believe that I would. I wonder if I'm nearing the end of my interest in YA post-apocalyptic dystopian fiction? I ran out of steam on vampires a few years ago, and now the dystopias feel like "been there, done that." Of course, since I'm a glutton for punishment, I'll probably read the rest of the trilogy, but I'll give myself a break first!

The Hundred-Foot Journey, by Richard C. Morais

Richard C. Morais. The Hundred-Foot Journey. New York: Scribner, 2011. 245 pages. ISBN 9781439165652.

Hassan Haji was born in India and grew up in a family of restaurateurs. His grandfather built the first restaurant, and his parents have carried on the family business. As Muslims, Hassan's family fell victim to anti-Muslim violence in the 1960s; Hassan's mother was killed and their restaurant burned to the ground. In response, Hassan's father sold their land and moved the whole family to London. The family's stay in London was short, and filled with sadness and depression. A fallout with extended family members inspire Hassan's father to pick up and tour the continent, and they finally settle down in Lumiere, a village in France, where the family buys a beautiful old house and establish an Indian restaurant.

It doesn't take long before Hassan's father begins to ruffle feathers in Lumiere, beginning with the owner of a classy French restaurant across the street. They begin to compete in the markets over who gets to buy the best produce and fish, and then they begin to bicker over noise and other issues. This culminates in a horrific accident that results in everyone coming to their senses, and Madame Mallory, the owner of the restaurant across the street, takes Hassan on as an apprentice. The rest of the novel tells how he became an accomplished chef and after moving to Paris, eventually opens his own restaurant.

I really enjoyed this story, along with the mix of cultures and descriptions of the cuisines and various dishes. This is a very accomplished first novel, although it isn't without a few loose ends that I would like to have seen tied up. For example, the accident that brings the neighbors together was a kitchen fire in which Hassan was badly burned, enough that he required skin grafts. However, after that scene, the fire or his injuries were never mentioned again. One wonders how his burns may have affected his life. Nevertheless, these are minor points; the book is captivating and well-written. I recommend it to anyone who likes contemporary fiction. It's been made into a movie starring Helen Mirren which is slated to come out in August 2014.

My Dear Rogue, edited by Katherine de Marne Werner

Katherine de Marne Werner, editor. My Dear Rogue: Sir Granville Bantock's Secret Romance that Influenced the Music of One of Britain's Greatest 20th Century Composers. Waitsfield, VT: Distinction Press, 2013. 329 pages. ISBN 9781937667108.

In 1936, Muriel Angus Mann met Sir Granville Bantock and commenced a relationship that lasted four years. Muriel was the 39-year old mother of three teenage daughters, and she was in the midst of a painful divorce. Granville was the 68-year old married father of four grown children, and not in the middle of a divorce. Highly energetic and charming, Granville began to court Muriel, meeting her family and promising her a future together.

Granville was a musician and music teacher who travelled the world conducting examinations for the Trinity College of Music in London. With their shared love of music, Granville and Muriel fell in love and corresponded faithfully for the next four years. Granville travelled to the United States a half dozen times during those years, conducting examinations up and down the Eastern seaboard and the Caribbean, and making time to meet with Muriel whenever he could. My Dear Rogue contains the letters that he wrote to Muriel during those years; unfortunately, her letters do not survive. Interspersed with his letters are some notes and commentary written by editor Werner's mother, Muriel's daughter Sis.

I found this book interesting as a study of the cultures and mores of the 1930s. The looming violence of World War II is always in the background, and in the end, prevents Muriel and Granville from meeting again. By 1940 Muriel has given up hope that they will ever marry, and she moves on to another relationship and marriage.

My Dear Rogue contains photographs taken of Granville and Muriel while visiting in South Carolina, as well as photos that Granville sent to Muriel of his travels around the world. It includes forewords written by two of Granville's grandchildren, as well as an afterword by a Bantock scholar. The afterword could have been better edited; I found numerous typographical errors in that section. Overall, though, this is an interesting story that evokes the time and society of 1930s South Carolina, with the shadow of the depression and European unrest always present.

Amidst the Shadows of Trees, by Miriam M. Brysk

Miriam M. Brysk. Amidst the Shadows of Trees: A Holocaust Child's Survival in the Partisans. East Stroudsburg, PA: Gihon River Press, 2013. 142 pages. ISBN 9780981990699.

Miriam Brysk escaped the Lida ghetto with her parents in 1942, joining Jewish and Polish partisans in forest brigades. Children and women were not generally welcome in the forests, but Miriam and her mother had a special status because Miriam's father was a surgeon whose skills were highly valued. In Amidst the Shadows of Trees, Miriam recounts how at the age of four, the German army invaded Poland and began to attack Warsaw, where she lived with her parents. They moved to Lida, which was in the Russian-occupied part of Poland, where they lived for the next three years. In 1941, though, the Germans attacked Russia, and Lida became a prison for them and many other Jews. As the violence escalated, it became apparent that they would need to leave Lida if they were to survive.

At the age of eight, living in the forest and hiding from Nazi soldiers, Miriam was issued her own pistol. She recounts those years with detachment, telling of the dangers that existed for unattached women and even girls such as her. Hunger was a constant, as was the cold, damp, and mosquitos, since their camp and hospital were located on an island in the middle of a swamp. In 1944, they were liberated by the Russian army, and their long trek to the United States began. Living at times in displaced persons camps in Russia, Hungary, Romania, and Italy, they were finally able to secure entry visas into the United States. Miriam's accounts tell of the difficulties catching up in school, since she had not been able to attend school at all in her life. Ultimately, she did very well for herself, earning a graduate degree and working as a scientist researching cancer therapies. She fought depression her whole life, finding strength in her family, her research, and her art. (One of her works is used as the cover illustration.)

I found this book interesting and inspiring. I recommend it to anyone interested in Holocaust or war memoirs.

Taking Root in Provence, by Anne-Marie Simons

Anne-Marie Simons. Taking Root in Provence. Waitsfield, VT: Distinction Press, 2011. 208 pages. ISBN 9780980217575.

Taking Root in Provence is a collection of short vignettes about the author's experiences settling in Provence and getting to know her new neighborhood and culture. Author Anne-Marie Simons retired with her husband, Oscar, and spent some time travelling before settling down in the town Aix-en-Provence, France. Simons writes about the weather, shopping, holidays, art, language, food, wine, and more. As I read through the short three to four page chapters, it occurred to me that they read like a series of blog posts, which indeed, they were originally.

While I enjoyed reading each of the short essays, I think they could have been better integrated into a narrative that tells Simons' story about moving to and living in Aix-en-Provence. For example, the chapters jump from one topic to another: spring, Easter, Cezanne, two chapters on language, the influx of Gypsies in spring, etc. Rather than publish all of the anecdotes jumbled together, it might have helped to have some transitions that tie the story together.

I was also slightly put off by the author's complete dismissal of contemporary French literature; she reported about one year's new publications, "Many of these books were written by sour-looking youngsters or by pseudo intellectuals who invite us to crawl into their beds and partake of their sex lives which, they seem to think, is really worth knowing about" (p. 30). Really, is that how you sum up the entire publishing output of your newly-adopted country? Another false note was Ms. Simons' reference to the "village idiot" (p. 130) in an anecdote about a small town she visited. I wonder why she wasn't able to come up with a better term than that one?

Nevertheless, Taking Root in Provence contains many pleasant, short essays about all aspects of life in the author's new environs. Aside from the two passages to which I objected above, I enjoyed reading about her new life and experiences. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys armchair travelling.

The Hyde Collection in Glens Falls, New York

Mike and I visited Glens Falls, New York this past Saturday. What brought us there was a chance to visit the Hyde Collection, an amazing private collection of European and American fine and decorative art.

Glens Falls is located about fifty miles north of Albany. It was a nice day for a drive, although rain was predicted for later in the afternoon. The Hyde Collection was created by Charlotte Pruyn Hyde, and her husband, Louis Fiske Hyde. It's housed in the family's mansion, one of three that were built on adjoining properties overlooking the Hudson River so that the Charlotte and her sisters could live near each other. Modern galleries have been added on to the mansion; these contain changing exhibits. When we visited there was a collection of Ansel Adams' early works, along with other early photography. There was also a collection of landscapes called "Winter Light: Selections from the Collection of Thomas Clark." This included about 20 paintings of winter scenes in which the light on snow and clouds was particularly interesting and beautiful. The permanent collection includes paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Picasso, Winslow Homer, Van Gogh, Thomas Eakins, Degas, and many more. It's amazing to see these painting displayed in such comfortable, homey settings. I particularly enjoyed seeing the furniture and other decorative works, much of which was imported from Europe.

We had worked up an appetite visiting the Hyde Collection, so on the recommendation of the receptionist we drove back to Glen Street to have lunch at the Gourmet Café. They offered a typical diner menu, and I settled for a Greek Steak salad and Mike had meatball sliders. One of the things that I haven't gotten used to here is the availability of alcohol in restaurants like this. Many small restaurants and diners offer a full bar, or at least wine and beer. Not what we were used to in Pennsylvania! Not that I'm complaining... However, since we were driving, and had plans for later, we decided to forgo alcohol for coffee and soda.

Next to the Gourmet Café was Poor Richard's antiques. It's a standard-sized storefront jam-packed with two floors of antiques. We had a nice time looking at the furniture, glassware, pottery, and other items. I was tempted by a pair of giraffe-shaped lamps, but resisted. We did end up buying a cat-shaped creamer and a turkey platter, something that I'd been on the lookout for.

I recommend a visit to Glens Falls and the Hyde Collection!

Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, by Ben Fountain

Ben Fountain. Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk. New York: Ecco/HarperCollins, 2012. 307 pages. ISBN 9780060885618.

Billy Lynn is on a whirlwind tour of the United States during a two-week leave from the Iraq War. He has survived a fierce battle that was filmed and widely televised, and now he has to survive the media storm during his leave. Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk tells the story of his last day in the U.S. before he's shipped back to the front. He's had his two-day visit with his family, and now has to spend his last day (Thanksgiving) participating in the halftime events of a Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears.

The day is full of photo ops and meet-and-greets, and the Bravo Squad members are the focus of everyone's attention. They meet the Cowboy's owners, the famous cheerleaders, and share (briefly) the halftime stage with Destiny's Child. Throughout the day they're bombarded with questions about the war and cheered on by the many supporters of the war. They're repeatedly asked to affirm the U.S.'s right to be fighting the war in Iraq, with many of their fans pointing to "nina leven" as the reason we're fighting there.

Because Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk was a finalist for the National Book Award, I had high expectations for it, and it didn't disappoint. The writing is very good and the characters are well-drawn. The book evokes strong emotion when Billy struggles with his indecision about returning to the war. One of his sisters is encouraging him to refuse to go back; her biggest fear is that he won't make it home again. While Billy is tempted by the fantasy of staying home, it's clear that this isn't really a possibility, as he would never leave his new family, the members of Bravo Squad. I recommend this book to anyone who likes contemporary fiction rooted in today's world events.

Williamstown, Massachusetts

Mike and I recently spent a Saturday in Williamstown, Massachusetts, a small, college town that's only 45 miles from our home in Albany. What drew us to Williamstown was the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, home of an excellent collection of European and American painting, sculpture, drawings, and decorative art from the Renaissance through the early 20th century.

Unfortunately, the museum is under renovation so only a small portion is currently open to the public. Three rooms of paintings, sculpture, and decorative items are on display at the Stone Hill Center, another building on the Clark Institute property (you have to drive past the main buildings and keep going up the hill where you will find the Center). However, even those three rooms showcased the excellence of this collection. From Renaissance paintings to works by Monet and Renoir, the collection includes a wide swath of European artists. American artists include John Singer Sargent, Frederic Remington, George Inness, and Mary Stevenson Cassatt. I look forward to visiting the Clark Institute again when the renovations are complete, after July 4. More information can be found at: http://www.clarkart.edu/.

The Williams College Museum of Art is also worth a visit. Current exhibitions include paintings and drawings by Monika Baer, a contemporary Berlin artist; and photography by Zanele Muholi, a South African photographer documenting the LGBT community in South Africa and other African countries. The permanent collection includes a few Greek, Roman, and Egyptian artifacts, as well as two large Assyrian wall panels. The Williams College Museum of Art is free and open to the public. More information can be found at: http://wcma.williams.edu/.

Williamstown also has an excellent independent book store. Water Street Books presents an attractive and comfortable atmosphere for browsing either the latest fiction or stimulating non-fiction. It has an inviting children's section, and also serves as the Williams College book store, so you can find school supplies, textbooks, and Williams College apparel there as well.

Mike and I are fond of antique stores, so we were happy to see an antique store in a small shopping center called "Shops at the Library". They have a nice collection of art deco bookends, although the price ranges were not in our ballpark ($350-$850). We're more in the under $30 range! More information can be found at: http://www.shopsatthelibrary.com/.

Finally, we stopped at the Sushi Thai Garden Restaurant and had a great lunch. Mike had a sushi lunch box, and I had my old standby: pad thai. Very nice! Check them out at: http://www.sushithaigarden.com/.

All in all, a great Saturday!

The World of the Bible, by Roberta L. Harris

Harris, Roberta L. The World of the Bible. London: Thames and Hudson, 1995. 192 pages. ISBN 0500050732.

I have long been interested in the archaeology and history of the ancient Mediterranean lands. The World of the Bible is an excellent introduction to the history of ancient Israel and Judah, and parts of what are now Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. Roberta Harris tells this story chronologically, describing the lands around ancient Israel and how they developed over the millennia.

Harris discusses the development of both Judaism and Christianity as religions and the growth of Israel and Judah as political entities. The many struggles with invaders from other lands, such as the Assyrians, Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks, Romans, Mongols, and Turks, are also discussed.

The only drawback is that this book is now 20 years old and there have been many developments in those years that clarified some of the issues Harris discussed (e.g., the size and extent of David's and Solomon's respective kingdoms).

 
One of this book's strengths is the significant number of illustrations, including photographs, drawings, diagrams, charts, etc., many of which are in color. They are particularly useful in helping the reader imagine the geography of the countryside or layout of a town or village. I recommend this book to anyone interested in ancient Mediterranean studies.

Never Tell a Lie, by Hallie Ephron

Ephron, Hallie. Never Tell a Lie. New York: William Morrow/HarperCollins, 2009. 271 pages. ISBN 9780061567155.

David and Ivy are a happily married couple who are expecting their first baby when they decide to hold a yard sale and sell off the items left behind in their Victorian home by the previous owner. One of their customers turns out to be someone they went to school with years ago, and Melinda convinces them to give her a tour of their house, in which she had played as a child. A few days later Melinda is reported missing, and the last known sighting of her was going into Ivy and David's house. Bloody clothes and a weapon are found by the police, and David is quickly arrested. As Ivy's due date rapidly approaches, she frantically tries to gather evidence to prove to the police that her husband's not involved in Melinda's disappearance. Or is he?

This is a suspenseful, fast-paced novel. While I didn't find all of the plot points entirely convincing, it was a good read. I recommend it to anyone who likes crime fiction and thrillers.

Night Watch, by Linda Fairstein

Fairstein, Linda. Night Watch. New York: Dutton, 2012. 402 pages. ISBN 9780525952633.

Alexandra Cooper, a Manhattan prosecutor, is involved with two unrelated cases in this fast-paced mystery. The book begins with Ms. Cooper on vacation with her boyfriend Luc in France, when a body is found in the small country village where he lives. The victim has been murdered, and is holding a souvenir from one of Luc's restaurants. Simultaneously, Mohammed Gil-Darsin, the head of the World Economic Bureau has been arrested for raping a hotel maid in New York, a plot line that follows closely on the real life events around Dominique Strauss-Kahn. Ms. Cooper rushes home to help with the rape case, but finds that the events in France have followed her home when a second murder victim is found, also with a souvenir from Luc's restaurant in his hand.

Night Watch is full of action-packed sequences, and has enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing throughout the book. I recommend it to anyone who likes crime fiction or thrillers.

Moonlight Mile, by Dennis Lehane

Lehane, Dennis. Moonlight Mile. New York: William Morrow/HarperCollins, 2010. 324 pages. ISBN 9780061836923.

For those of you who were fans of Dennis Lehane's Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro detective series, Moonlight Mile brings them back to wrap up one of his earliest plots, in Gone, Baby, Gone. Twelve years ago, Patrick was hired to find the kidnapped daughter of a local meth addict. Patrick's decision to return Amanda to her mother has haunted him ever since. In the meantime, the little girl has grown into a super smart and capable sixteen year old, still living with her hopeless mother and her mother's drug dealer boyfriend. Now we find that Amanda has gone missing again, and Patrick agrees to try to find her, leading him into a world of Russian mobsters and identity theft.

Patrick and Angela have married and have a four year old of their own. All of his decisions are made against the context of his new life and role as a father. He's trying to land a job with benefits so that he can better support his new family as Angela pursues a master's degree. He doesn't have a lot of wriggle room financially, and it's important for him to wrap up this investigation so that he can take on a full time job with a corporate security firm.

I found Moonlight Mile as compelling as the first five books in the series (published 1994-1999). As Patrick rethinks all of his decisions in Gone, Baby, Gone, readers can see how marriage and fatherhood have changed him, but without changing his core values. Of course, there's a lot of high-tension action and great dialogue. Gone, Baby, Gone was made into a movie by and starring Ben Affleck. It would be great to see more of the Kenzie/Gennaro books made into movies, including Moonlight Mile. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys detective and crime fiction.

The Boy in the Suitcase, by Lene Kaaberbøl and Agnete Friis

Kaaberbøl, Lene and Agnete Friis. The Boy in the Suitcase. New York: Soho, 2011. 313 pages. ISBN 9781569479810.

After writing children's fantasy for many years, Lene Kaaberbøl has turned her attention to writing adult crime novels. Partnering with Agnete Friis, she has created a compelling character in Nina Borg, a nurse who can't resist getting drawn into any circumstance in which she feels that women and children are being abused. In The Boy in the Suitcase, Nina is convinced by a friend to run an errand for her: pick up a suitcase from a train station locker. When Nina realizes that the suitcase contains a young boy, obviously drugged, she tries to track down her friend to find out what's going on. But Karin has been murdered, and Nina has to find out who's responsible, and protect the boy at the same time.

Convincingly plotted and expertly translated, this book kept me turning the pages until I finished. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys crime fiction and thrillers.

Murder in Pigalle, by Cara Black

Cara Black. Murder in Pigalle. New York: Soho Crime, 2014. 310 pages. ISBN 9781616952846.

Murder in Pigalle is the latest in a series of mysteries set in Paris with Private Investigator Aimée Leduc as the main character. Aimée and her partner usually investigate cyber crimes, but she's drawn into a criminal investigation when her friends ask her for help finding their daughter who has disappeared. Zazie, who's 13 years old, has been obsessed with a series of rapes that have taken place over the last six months. One of the victims was Zazie's friend Melanie, and Zazie is determined to find the perpetrator. As Aimée digs deeper into the circumstances of Zazie's disappearance, she uncovers evidence of a much broader conspiracy.

While I found Murder in Pigalle to be an amusing diversion, I don't think the writing is particularly strong. The book races along at a breakneck pace, with the characters running from one action-packed scene to the next. There is little reflection and there is almost no development of the characters or what makes them tick. The author drops in short French phrases and words throughout, which I found annoying after a while. Readers of this type of light mystery will likely enjoy this book, but I wouldn't particularly recommend it.

A Conspiracy of Faith, by Jussi Adler-Olsen

Jussi Adler-Olsen. A Conspiracy of Faith. New York: Penguin, 2013. 504 pages. ISBN 9780142180815.

A Conspiracy of Faith is the third book in Jussi Adler-Olsen's "Department Q" series. Adler-Olsen has been described as the Danish Stieg Larsson. Following on The Keeper of Lost Causes and The Absent One, A Conspiracy of Faith continues the story of Carl Mørck, leader of Department Q, a police unit that investigates cold cases.

A message in a bottle has turned up in Scotland. After sitting for years on a windowsill, it was opened by an investigator who quickly realizes that it is a real call for help. Who wrote the message, and when? After the language is identified as Danish, the message is returned to the Danish police for them to investigate as a potential violent crime. The many years have taken their toll on the quality of the paper and the message takes some time to decipher. It becomes apparent that the message describes the kidnapping of two brothers, one of whom wrote the message and feared for their lives. Each new word or phrase gives them another clue to follow. Soon, they realize that the kidnapper and killer may still be on the loose. Carl works with his assistants Assad, a Syrian immigrant, and Rose to track down the serial kidnapper and killer. In the meantime, Carl continues to fend off his estranged wife's demands, and to face his guilt over his former partner's condition. Hardy is paralyzed from the neck down after being shot in an operation in which Carl froze up from fear. Carl's romance with his therapist Mona continues, and Rose's "twin sister" Yrsa takes over Rose's responsibilities in Department Q when Rose walks out in a huff.

I've enjoyed all three of the books in this series. The characters are interesting, and each book gives us more insight into their personalities and history. There are mysteries around Assad's background in Syria, and Rose's relationship with her sister Yrsa. What is the truth about what happened with Carl and Hardy? Maybe the fourth book in the series will reveal all: The Purity of Vengeance is available now in hardcover. I would recommend this book and series to anyone who likes Scandinavian crime fiction.

Witch & Wizard, by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet

James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet. Witch & Wizard. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2009. 305 pages. ISBN 9780316074810.

Witch & Wizard is the first book in a series by prolific author James Patterson. Four have been published so far; in addition to this one there are Witch & Wizard: The Gift, Witch & Wizard: The Fire, and Witch & Wizard: The Kiss. Coming out in 2014 is Witch & Wizard: The Lost. This series continues Mr. Patterson's practice of co-authoring books with lesser known authors, allowing him to, for example, "write" and publish 13 books in 2013.

The book begins dramatically with one of the two main characters, Wisty (short for Wisteria), describing how she and her family came to be at the point of execution by the New Order (N.O.), the ruling government. Wisty and her brother Whit have been identified as the witch and wizard of the title. The N.O. has been rounding up everyone with special powers, putting them in jail, and conducting mass executions. Wisty breaks the narrative to tell us how they came to be in this predicament, leading the reader through their arrest, imprisonment, and breakout. They joined the "resistance", made up of teenagers like themselves, all the while looking for their parents, who were arrested as well.

Witch & Wizard is fast-paced and humorous. Although the themes of arrest, imprisonment, and execution are mature, the book is aimed at the middle school reader. I received an advance reading copy of this book at a BEA convention several years ago, and just now got around to reading it. I was looking for something light, and this book definitely fit the bill. It's entertaining and fun, and it's a quick read, but I wouldn't go so far as to recommend it to any of my friends who also like YA and children's literature.

Recent (and not so recent) films

American Hustle: I just saw this in January, but I'm pretty sure it's going to be my favorite movie this year. It was that good! Those of us of a certain age will remember the headlines in the news about this.

The Place Beyond the Pines: One thing I like about independent films is that they're unpredictable. This was filmed in nearby Schenectady, so there's a local connection. Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper are pretty amazing in this film.

Broadway Idiot: I'm a big fan of documentaries, and this one about the creation of a musical based on the Green Day album American Idiot is interesting and funny. It includes a lot of the rehearsal performances, including some of Billie Joe Armstrong's sessions.

Enough Said: It was great seeing James Gandolfini playing a different kind of role; otherwise I would always have thought of him as the violent Tony Soprano, or the thug from True Romance. I enjoyed seeing Julia Louis-Dreyfus in a different kind of (still kooky) role. Good acting; nice story.

Captain Phillips: My main question throughout this film was why didn't they have any weapons on board? Was it illegal for them to carry weapons through international waters? This film brought up close issues that have been in the news for years: the danger for ships travelling around the horn of Africa. Good acting on the part of Tom Hanks and others, and lots of suspense, even though I knew how it ended.

The Sessions: I know, everyone else saw this two years ago. This was one I missed in 2012, but I'm glad that I finally saw. It shows the sad story of Mark O'Brien, paralyzed by polio at the age of six, and his desire not to die a virgin. The acting is amazing, and the story moving.

Gandhi: I missed this film when it came out in 1982, but I'm glad I finally saw it. I enjoyed the film but I had a hard time at first getting past Ben Kingsley as Gandhi. Kingsley is a great actor, but why didn't they find an Indian actor to play the part? Still: great movie, great acting. (I still think E.T. should have won best film that year, though!)

Dallas Buyers Club: I could barely recognize Matthew McConaughey in this film; he lost so much weight for it. This is the story of a man with AIDS in 1985 who was given 30 days to live when he was diagnosed. He lived another seven years, actively importing experimental drugs into the U.S., and fighting with the FDA to be allowed to do so. Jared Leto does an amazing job playing a transgender man with a female gender identity. McConaughey's acting is also stellar.

Children of the Revolution, by Peter Robinson

Peter Robinson. Children of the Revolution (An Inspector Banks Novel). New York: William Morrow, 2014. 336 pages. ISBN 9780062240507.

Gavin Miller was a former college instructor who left work after being accused of inappropriate behavior towards a student. Since his dismissal he has been living in near poverty. Recently he told a friend that things were starting to look up for him, but within a week he turns up dead after falling from a bridge. Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks believes that he was murdered and begins digging into Miller's background to find out who might have motive to kill him. Banks' investigation includes both Miller's work at the university as well as his own experiences as a student 40 years previously, when he was friends with students in the Marxist movement. Perhaps one of them has something to hide?

This was my first mystery by Peter Robinson, although he's already published two dozen books. His characters are well-drawn and intriguing, and the plot moved along at a good pace. I enjoyed all of the pop culture musical references, and the contrast between the cultural knowledge of Banks and that of his younger colleagues. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys mysteries, especially those set in the English countryside.

This review is based on the galley; Children of the Revolution will come out in April 2014.

This is How You Lose Her, by Junot Diaz

Junot Diaz. This is How You Lose Her. New York: Riverhead Books, 2012. 217 pages. ISBN 9781594631771.

I heard Junot Diaz speak at a Book Expo America convention in 2012 about what inspired him to write this book. He spoke eloquently about the macho culture of Latino men that prevents them from admitting to or engaging in an emotional commitment to women. Boys aren't brought up to respect women, neither their mothers and sisters, nor their girlfriends or wives.

In This is How You Lose Her, he shows the reader how this culture can be toxic to one's life and loves. Each short story focuses on one relationship that is damaged beyond saving by mistreatment of feelings, and lack of respect. Most of the stories center around one character, Yunior, and his family. In spite of all of Yunior's mistakes and terrible decisions, it's hard not to root for him as he tries to navigate his way through life. There's an element of sadness that runs through all of the stories.

Diaz's earlier books include Drown and The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, which won the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award in 2008. I'll be putting his earlier books on my reading list! I recommend This is How You Lose Her to anyone who enjoys contemporary short fiction.

The Bible Unearthed, by Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman

Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman. The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of its Sacred Texts. New York: The Free Press, 2001. 385 pages. ISBN 0684869128.

The Bible Unearthed is a fascinating look at what archaeology can tell us about the historical reliability of the Hebrew Bible. The book is organized into three parts that discuss the Bible as history, the rise and fall of ancient Israel, and the rise of Judah as a state and its influence on the development of the biblical texts. Throughout the book, the authors use archaeological evidence in an attempt to determine what parts of the Bible are historically accurate and which parts cannot be proven to be so. They use evidence from other regions, such as Egyptian, Assyrian, and Babylonian inscriptions, to help date or provide other perspectives on the stories found in the Bible.

When this book was published, author Finkelstein was the director of t the Sonia and Marco Nadler Institute of Archaeology at Tel Aviv University, as well as director of the university's excavations at the Tel Megiddo archaeological site. Author Silberman was director of historical interpretation for the Ename Center for Public Archaeology and Heritage Presentation in Belgium. I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in ancient Near East history.

The David Story, by Robert Alter

Robert Alter, The David Story: A Translation with Commentary of 1 and 2 Samuel. New York: Norton, 1999. 410 pages. ISBN 0393048039.

This is a fascinating, annotated translation of 1 and 2 Samuel, as well as the first two chapters of 1 Kings. Robert Alter is a professor of Hebrew and Comparative literature at the University of California, Berkeley, and the author or translator of numerous books about the bible, biblical literature, modern Hebrew literature, and more.

In a lengthy note to the reader, Alter provides a thorough introduction to the David story, and describes his methodology. As source material, he used the Masoretic Text, which was "established by a school of grammarians and textual scholars in Tiberias sometime between the seventh and the tenth centuries C.E." (p. xxv). The oldest complete manuscript of this text is the Aleppo Codex, which dates to approximately 1000 C.E. Also used as a source is a fragmentary version of Samuel that was found at Qumran (part of the Dead Sea Scrolls cache). Finally, ancient translations of the Hebrew Bible, that date as far back as the third century B.C.E. are available; Alter uses these translations to resolve or clarify what appear to be inaccuracies or other problems with the Masoretic text.

Throughout the translation, Alter provides historical context and clarifies details that may be confusing to the lay reader. He also explains when and why he used different sources for particular translation details (e.g., selecting the ancient Greek translation over the much later Hebrew text). As someone who reads history for pleasure, but who is not a historian, I found his commentary to be incredibly helpful in understanding the text. I recommend The David Story to anyone who is interested in biblical history.

Gypsy Boy, by Mikey Walsh

Mikey Walsh, Gypsy Boy. New York: Thomas Dunne Books, St. Martin's Press, 2012. 278 pages. ISBN 9780312622084.

Compared with Running With Scissors, this book tells the story of Mikey Walsh (a pseudonym) who grew up in a Gypsy community in England. This harrowing tale describes the Gypsy culture and its emphasis on living apart from all others, whom they call Gorgias. Mikey's extended family had a tradition of bare-knuckle boxing, and his father tried to train Mikey to take part in this fighting tradition. He started Mikey's boxing training (gloves allowed for children) at the age of four; regularly punching and beating Mikey to develop his fighting skills. He forced Mikey to fight any and all challengers, which were many. Every time the family moved to a new area, their reputation for fighting would cause the local Gypsy boys to challenge Mikey.

Mikey's descriptions of his beatings are difficult to read; it's hard to imagine a society in which this kind of behavior is allowed and encouraged. In the end, at the age of 15 Mikey makes a friend who helps him escape the Gypsy community. On the run for years, he doesn't see his family again until he's 20. Mikey wrote this book using a pseudonym because of his fear that he and others would be endangered if he had written it under his own name. A second book, Gypsy Boy on the Run, was published in 2013.

 

The End of the Bronze Age, by Robert Drews

Robert Drews, The End of the Bronze Age: Changes in Warfare and the Catastrophe ca. 1200 B.C. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1993. 252 pages. ISBN 0691048118.

Sometime around 1200 B.C., many of the major cities in Greece, Anatolia, the Levant, and Eastern Mediterranean islands such as Crete and Cyprus, were sacked and burned, and subsequently abandoned. Theories abound as to what happened and why, including earthquakes, migrations, the development of iron technology, drought, systems collapse, and raiders. Author Drews postulates that most of these theories don't provide a satisfactory explanation for such a major and widespread upheaval. The closest one is the suggestion that raiders caused all of the destruction towards the end of the Bronze Age.

Drews proposes that the cities and kingdoms that thrived in the Bronze Age relied heavily on chariot warfare. Chariots were used primarily as moving platforms for archers; the chariot forces were supported by infantry. Towards the end of the Bronze Age, the development of longer swords swept through the Eastern Mediterranean, providing infantry forces with weapons that allowed them to prevail over chariot forces. It appears that they sacked and burned the cities, and probably took all the loot they could carry, along with the populations of the cities that hadn't managed to escape to the hills.

Drews discusses each of the earlier hypotheses in detail, demonstrating why each of them falls short in providing credible evidence. He follows that with chapters addressing chariot warfare, the use of foot soldiers in warfare, and changes in armor and other weaponry. His arguments are very convincing and he writes in an engaging style. One caveat: Drews includes quotations in French, German, Latin, and Italian without translations throughout the book. Classicists won’t have any trouble with this, but it might be challenging for the lay reader. I recommend this book to anyone interested in ancient history.

 

Brain on Fire, by Susannah Cahalan

Susannah Cahalan, Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness. New York: Free Press, 2012. 266 pages. ISBN 978451621372.

This is another book that I came across in my massive weeding project! I had heard someone speak about the book at the 2012 BEA convention, and brought a copy home to read. As I was sorting through my books trying to decide which ones to keep, I got drawn into Brain on Fire. I started out skimming, and before I knew it, half of the afternoon was gone!

Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness is a riveting story of a young woman who very quickly descended into what appeared to be a mental illness. Doctors who were brought in to consult conjectured about a wide variety of possible diagnoses. One doctor claimed that she was partying too much and not getting enough sleep, another hypothesized that she was bipolar. In the end, she was lucky enough to get a doctor on her case who was familiar with recent research showing that an inflammation caused by a uterine tumor could cause illnesses such as she was experiencing. While she didn’t prove to have the tumor which is commonly present with this illness, tests did in fact indicate that she had an inflammation of the right side of her brain, and she responded to the recommended treatment for this illness. Back on the job as a reporter for the New York Post, she wrote an article about her experience, which she later turned into this fascinating book.

As I mentioned, once I started this book, I couldn't stop reading it. It's a frightening story, showing us how quickly one’s life can be turned upside down by an illness that doctors are unfamiliar with. If she hadn’t been diagnosed in time, she could have died or been sentenced for life to an institution for the mentally ill. I recommend this book to anyone interested in scary, true life, medical dramas.

Neanderthal, by Paul Jordan

Paul Jordan, Neanderthal: Neanderthal Man and the Story of Human Origins. Phoenix Mill, U.K.: Sutton Publishing, 2000. 239 pages. ISBN 0750919345.

Written in an engaging, almost chatty style, Neanderthal is a good introduction to our understanding of Neanderthal man as of the date of publication (2000). It begins with the first discovery of a Neanderthal site and skeleton, in the Neander Valley in Germany, and goes on to describe many other Neanderthal finds.  Author Jordan shows the reader how Neanderthal man fits into the long evolution of modern man. He describes the environment of Neanderthal man, the state of his technology, and speculates on his way of life. He goes on to place Neanderthal man on the spectrum of evolution, describing hominid development before and after Neanderthal man. Jordan reminds us that Neanderthal man existed for over 100,000 years, whereas we have only been around for about a quarter of that time period!

Neanderthal has well over one hundred black and white illustrations and about two dozen color plates. I would have appreciated some maps to illustrate the many sites in which remains were found. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in early hominid and human development. It looks like it's not available in print right now, but there appears to be a Kindle edition available.

Paris: Then and Now, by Peter and Oriel Caine

Peter and Oriel Caine, Paris: Then and Now. San Diego, CA: Thunder Bay Press, 2003. 144 pages. ISBN 1592231365.

I found Paris: Then and Now in Ollie's Bargain Outlet, a store in State College, PA, that offers (among other items) a very small selection of books at bargain prices (this one was $3.99). It's a coffee table book that consists of photographs of most of the major sights in Paris. It juxtaposes older photographs on the left with a more recent photograph on the right. It's a really fun way to see how Paris has changed over the decades, and I enjoyed looking at photographs of many of the places that I visited during my one and only trip to Paris in 1979, when I was 15.

Each photograph in Paris: Then and Now includes a caption that describes a little something about the history of the site when the photograph was taken. The only odd thing that I noticed, and this isn't really a criticism, is that the older photographs are from a wide range of time periods. The older photograph of the Ministère de la Marine is from 1944, whereas the photograph of the Pont St. Michel is dated 1880. Presumably the contemporary photographs are all from the same time period, near the publication date of the book. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to take a historical tour through Paris. Beware, though; it will make you want to get your passport out!