Eduardo Halfon. The Polish Boxer. New York: Bellevue Literary Press, 2012. 188 pages. ISBN 9781934137536.
Eduardo Halfon's The Polish Boxer is a collection of short stories with the same main character throughout (also named Eduardo Halfon) that together form a short novel. The character Eduardo Halfon, like the author Eduardo Halfon, is a college professor of literature who lives in Guatemala, studied in the United States, and teaches in a Guatemalan University called Universidad Francisco Marroquin.
In "Distant" Halfon tracks down his star student, the only one who really gets literature, only to find that he had to drop out to support his family when his father died. "Twaining" describes Halfon's experiences at a small interdisciplinary conference on the topic of Mark Twain. In "Epistrophy" Halfon and his girlfriend meet a Serbian pianist named Milan Rakic who describes his half-gypsy parentage and deep-seated desire to be a gypsy musician. "White Smoke" describes his experience meeting two Israeli women in a bar in Guatemala. In "The Polish Boxer" Halfon shares his grandfather's story about his time in Auschwitz and how a man helped him to survive his "trial" by telling him what to say when he was interrogated. "Postcards" is a summary of the postcards sent to Halfon by the Serbian pianist Milan Rakic who writes repeatedly about gypsies and their culture. In "Ghosts" we see the beginnings of an obsession with Rakic, who has stopped sending postcards to Halfon. "The Pirouette" is an account of Halfon's trip to Belgrade to search unsuccessfully for Rakic. In "A Speech at Povoa" Halfon describes the conference in Portugal that he attended and from which he began his adventure searching for Rakic in Belgrade. The theme of the conference is "Literature Tears Through Reality," and this it seems is the theme of this collection of stories. "Sunsets" is about the death of Halfon's grandfather.
What is the reality as presented by Halfon? Are the stories real? What really happened and what didn't? Within the stories reality shifts as well. When he was a child Halfon's grandfather tells him that his tattooed identification number was his phone number, so he wouldn't forget it. Later he's told that the Polish boxer helped him survive Auschwitz. Even later he hears a different version of events.
I found Halfon's stories engaging and many-layered. In "Distant" he writes about the multiple meanings of short stories and that the reader must go beyond the surface meaning and search for additional meaning. Halfon's own stories seem to have many meanings and interpretations. Although I didn't appreciate each story in the collection equally ("Postcards" in particular was a little tedious), there is a lot to think about here, and this book would be especially good for a group discussion or a book club.
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Monday, October 6, 2014
The Drop, by Dennis Lehane
Dennis Lehane. The Drop. New York: William Morrow/HarperCollins, 2014. 207 pages. ISBN 9780062365446.
In Dennis Lehane's The Drop, a shy and lonely bartender named Bob finds an abused puppy in a trash barrel and decides to adopt it. He befriends Nadia, a woman from the neighborhood, who teaches him how to take care of the puppy. Bob lives by himself in the home he inherited from his parents. He works with his cousin Marv in a bar that Marv used to own but which has been taken over by Chechen mafia gangsters. One night the bar is robbed by two neighborhood losers, and it sets in motion a series of events that threaten Bob and Marv. On top of all of this, the original owner of the puppy is a sociopath who begins to stalk and harass Bob and Nadia.
All of this plays out very quickly in this short novel. Mr. Lehane packs a lot into just a few pages, and it left me wanting more. More character, more plot development, more description. I don't know if this spare treatment was intentional or just a byproduct of turning a screenplay into a novel, rather than vice versa. I enjoyed The Drop, but I read it in just a few hours. I hope that Mr. Lehane's next effort is a little more substantial.
In Dennis Lehane's The Drop, a shy and lonely bartender named Bob finds an abused puppy in a trash barrel and decides to adopt it. He befriends Nadia, a woman from the neighborhood, who teaches him how to take care of the puppy. Bob lives by himself in the home he inherited from his parents. He works with his cousin Marv in a bar that Marv used to own but which has been taken over by Chechen mafia gangsters. One night the bar is robbed by two neighborhood losers, and it sets in motion a series of events that threaten Bob and Marv. On top of all of this, the original owner of the puppy is a sociopath who begins to stalk and harass Bob and Nadia.
All of this plays out very quickly in this short novel. Mr. Lehane packs a lot into just a few pages, and it left me wanting more. More character, more plot development, more description. I don't know if this spare treatment was intentional or just a byproduct of turning a screenplay into a novel, rather than vice versa. I enjoyed The Drop, but I read it in just a few hours. I hope that Mr. Lehane's next effort is a little more substantial.
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Liesl & Po, by Lauren Oliver
Lauren Oliver. Liesl & Po. New York: HarperCollins, 2011. 307 pages. ISBN 9780062014511.
Liesl is an orphan who's been locked up in the attic by her evil stepmother who wants Liesl's substantial inheritance. Will is an alchemist's apprentice who makes a fateful mistake by delivering a box of magic to Liesl's home instead of the ashes of Liesl's father. The box of magic draws Po, a ghost, who helps Liesl escape the attic with the box of magic, which she believes contains her father's ashes, and which she intends to bury in the home they lived in when Liesl's mother was still alive.
Along the way they encounter and evade many obstructions, including a thief, the alchemist, the Lady Premiere (who wants the box of magic that was intended for her), the Lady Premiere's guard (who only wants to help Will, although Will doesn't know this), a policeman, and an interfering old lady.
Written for younger readers, Liesl & Po is an enjoyable fantasy with amusing characters. It deals with serious themes, including murder, greed, child abuse, hunger, loss, and sadness. It's illustrated throughout with pencil drawings that reminded me of The Invention of Hugo Cabret. I recommend Liesl & Po to anyone who enjoys ghost stories and adventures.
Liesl is an orphan who's been locked up in the attic by her evil stepmother who wants Liesl's substantial inheritance. Will is an alchemist's apprentice who makes a fateful mistake by delivering a box of magic to Liesl's home instead of the ashes of Liesl's father. The box of magic draws Po, a ghost, who helps Liesl escape the attic with the box of magic, which she believes contains her father's ashes, and which she intends to bury in the home they lived in when Liesl's mother was still alive.
Along the way they encounter and evade many obstructions, including a thief, the alchemist, the Lady Premiere (who wants the box of magic that was intended for her), the Lady Premiere's guard (who only wants to help Will, although Will doesn't know this), a policeman, and an interfering old lady.
Written for younger readers, Liesl & Po is an enjoyable fantasy with amusing characters. It deals with serious themes, including murder, greed, child abuse, hunger, loss, and sadness. It's illustrated throughout with pencil drawings that reminded me of The Invention of Hugo Cabret. I recommend Liesl & Po to anyone who enjoys ghost stories and adventures.
Saturday, October 4, 2014
Paranoia, by Joseph Finder
Joseph Finder. Paranoia. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2004. 424 pages. ISBN 0312319142.
In Joseph Finder's Paranoia, Adam Cassidy gets himself in a jam by authorizing a catered party for a friend's retirement. Using authorization codes that he wasn't authorized to use, he ends up costing the firm where he works $78,000. When he's called before his bosses the next morning, he expects to be fired, and he isn't unhappy with the prospects of being jobless. He's so unenthusiastic about working for a living that he makes an effort every day to do as little as possible.
Instead of being fired, though, he's first threatened with prosecution and imprisonment. After he's thoroughly frightened, he's offered a deal. He will apply for a job at his firm's biggest competitor, and then use his position to work as an industrial spy. Adam applies himself to a crash course in spy craft, gets the job, and begins to seek information that will help his original employer. Before long, however, he begins to be torn by his competing loyalties. He forms relationships at his new job with another employee, as well as with the owner, who becomes a father figure. He decides to break his connection with his former employers, but try to maintain his new status.
As much as I wanted to like this book, I was put off from the start. All thrillers rely on the reader to suspend disbelief, but this book's plot was so outrageous that I found it impossible to enjoy. Adam's quick rise in the new firm, his mastery of all the technology needed to conduct corporate espionage, and his manipulation of everyone around him were ridiculous.
I've enjoyed other books by Joseph Finder, but I can't recommend this one.
In Joseph Finder's Paranoia, Adam Cassidy gets himself in a jam by authorizing a catered party for a friend's retirement. Using authorization codes that he wasn't authorized to use, he ends up costing the firm where he works $78,000. When he's called before his bosses the next morning, he expects to be fired, and he isn't unhappy with the prospects of being jobless. He's so unenthusiastic about working for a living that he makes an effort every day to do as little as possible.
Instead of being fired, though, he's first threatened with prosecution and imprisonment. After he's thoroughly frightened, he's offered a deal. He will apply for a job at his firm's biggest competitor, and then use his position to work as an industrial spy. Adam applies himself to a crash course in spy craft, gets the job, and begins to seek information that will help his original employer. Before long, however, he begins to be torn by his competing loyalties. He forms relationships at his new job with another employee, as well as with the owner, who becomes a father figure. He decides to break his connection with his former employers, but try to maintain his new status.
As much as I wanted to like this book, I was put off from the start. All thrillers rely on the reader to suspend disbelief, but this book's plot was so outrageous that I found it impossible to enjoy. Adam's quick rise in the new firm, his mastery of all the technology needed to conduct corporate espionage, and his manipulation of everyone around him were ridiculous.
I've enjoyed other books by Joseph Finder, but I can't recommend this one.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Rooms, by Lauren Oliver
Lauren Oliver. Rooms. New York: Ecco/HarperCollins, 2014. 303 pages. ISBN 9780062354426.
I love a good ghost story, and Rooms doesn't disappoint. The Walkers, mother Caroline, daughter Minna, son Trenton, and Minna's daughter Amy return to their home for the first time after Caroline's ex-husband Richard died, 10 years after they divorced. They're an unhappy bunch; Caroline is an alcoholic; Minnie will sleep with any man who crosses her path, and 15-year old Trenton is contemplating suicide and still recovering from a car accident in which he almost died. Amy is the only one who seems content, although it's clear that in spite of their unhappiness, they still care about each other.
The house has its own secrets, including the ghosts of two past inhabitants. Trenton can hear bits of their conversations, perhaps because of his own near-death experience. When a third ghost joins them, Trenton is not only able to speak with her, but he can almost see her. As she tempts Trenton with the idea of joining her in death, each member of the family is confronted with their past and forced to view their own actions in a new light. Written in alternating chapters from both the individual ghosts' and family members' viewpoints, the story brings to light the sadness of lost love, unspoken feelings, and hidden secrets.
I like Oliver's writing; there are no wasted words. The plot moves along at a good pace and kept me engaged the whole time. There are a number of mysteries and subplots, but they never overwhelm the narrative. The characters are treated compassionately, and even when they behave badly, it's possible to empathize with them. I recommend Rooms to anyone who likes family, ghost, or mystery stories.
I love a good ghost story, and Rooms doesn't disappoint. The Walkers, mother Caroline, daughter Minna, son Trenton, and Minna's daughter Amy return to their home for the first time after Caroline's ex-husband Richard died, 10 years after they divorced. They're an unhappy bunch; Caroline is an alcoholic; Minnie will sleep with any man who crosses her path, and 15-year old Trenton is contemplating suicide and still recovering from a car accident in which he almost died. Amy is the only one who seems content, although it's clear that in spite of their unhappiness, they still care about each other.
The house has its own secrets, including the ghosts of two past inhabitants. Trenton can hear bits of their conversations, perhaps because of his own near-death experience. When a third ghost joins them, Trenton is not only able to speak with her, but he can almost see her. As she tempts Trenton with the idea of joining her in death, each member of the family is confronted with their past and forced to view their own actions in a new light. Written in alternating chapters from both the individual ghosts' and family members' viewpoints, the story brings to light the sadness of lost love, unspoken feelings, and hidden secrets.
I like Oliver's writing; there are no wasted words. The plot moves along at a good pace and kept me engaged the whole time. There are a number of mysteries and subplots, but they never overwhelm the narrative. The characters are treated compassionately, and even when they behave badly, it's possible to empathize with them. I recommend Rooms to anyone who likes family, ghost, or mystery stories.
Sunday, September 21, 2014
The Cuckoo's Calling, by Robert Galbraith
Robert Galbraith. The Cuckoo's Calling. New York: Little, Brown, & Company, 2013. 456 pages. ISBN 9780316206853.
The Cuckoo's Calling is J.K. Rowling's first book under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. Having read all of the Harry Potter books, I was curious to see how I would like her adult books. I have to say that I loved this book. It's very well-written and has fascinating characters.
The book begins with a temp services employee starting her first day at a new job: a detective agency run by Cormoran Strike. The temp, Robin Ellacott, is thrilled to be working at a detective agency because it's always been her secret fantasy. However, Cormoran is not doing well financially; he's deeply in debt, newly single and homeless (having been kicked out of the apartment he shared with his ex-fiancee), and having a generally hard time coping with everything. On Robin's first day, however, they are asked to investigate what is an apparent suicide; the victim's brother believes that it was murder and has compiled a lot of information that he deposits with Cormoran. As they begin to investigate, there are many twists and turns to the plot. Working together, Cormoran and Robin find the murderer and forge a working relationship that will take them forward into new adventures.
I liked everything about this book. The characters are well-developed with great skills but also flaws that make the interesting and vulnerable. The plot is intriguing and kept me interested throughout; it's paced well and never gets slow. The who-dunnit factor kept me wondering until near the end when the author dropped some pretty big hints. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys mysteries or thrillers. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series, The Silkworm, and I hope Rowling/Galbraith keeps on writing!
The Cuckoo's Calling is J.K. Rowling's first book under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. Having read all of the Harry Potter books, I was curious to see how I would like her adult books. I have to say that I loved this book. It's very well-written and has fascinating characters.
The book begins with a temp services employee starting her first day at a new job: a detective agency run by Cormoran Strike. The temp, Robin Ellacott, is thrilled to be working at a detective agency because it's always been her secret fantasy. However, Cormoran is not doing well financially; he's deeply in debt, newly single and homeless (having been kicked out of the apartment he shared with his ex-fiancee), and having a generally hard time coping with everything. On Robin's first day, however, they are asked to investigate what is an apparent suicide; the victim's brother believes that it was murder and has compiled a lot of information that he deposits with Cormoran. As they begin to investigate, there are many twists and turns to the plot. Working together, Cormoran and Robin find the murderer and forge a working relationship that will take them forward into new adventures.
I liked everything about this book. The characters are well-developed with great skills but also flaws that make the interesting and vulnerable. The plot is intriguing and kept me interested throughout; it's paced well and never gets slow. The who-dunnit factor kept me wondering until near the end when the author dropped some pretty big hints. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys mysteries or thrillers. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series, The Silkworm, and I hope Rowling/Galbraith keeps on writing!
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Two Trains Running, by Andrew Vachss
Andrew Vachss. Two Trains Running.
New York: Pantheon Books, 2005. 448 pages. ISBN 1400043816.
I heard Andrew Vachss give a lecture
at a luncheon that I attended in 2005. I was very impressed with his talk; it
was about his crime fiction and the types of crimes that he investigated in his
"real" jobs, working as an advocate for abused children. I bought his
book after the luncheon (signed "Rebecca -- for real -- Andrew
Vachss"). Unfortunately, it took me nine years to get around to reading
it, and in the end, I was disappointed by this book.
Breaking away from his series
fiction, Two Trains Running is a stand-alone novel that is set in a
fictional mid-west town in 1959. The main character is named Walker Dett; he's
a hit man hired by the local crime syndicate's boss, Royal Beaumont. Royal's
crime empire is being threatened by other crime organizations: the Italian
mafia, and Irish. Also threats to Royal’s interests are a rising black power
organization, rival teenage street gangs (the Hawks, the Gladiators, and the
Kings), a neo-Nazi organization, the FBI, and the local police force.
There are too many conflicting
groups and subplots in this book. It was impossible to keep up with all of the
twists, turns, and back stabbing going on. There are so many characters all
trying to screw each other that I ended up not caring about any of them. The
story got more fragmented toward the end, to the point where I'm not actually
sure what happened, and sadly, I don't care enough to try to figure it out. I
wouldn't recommend this book. I don't know what his other books are like, but
they must be fairly popular since he's published so many. Either way, I'm not
likely to try to find out, based on how disappointed I am with this one.
Friday, September 19, 2014
Think of a Number, by John Verdon
John Verdon. Think of a Number. New York: Crown, 2010. 418 pages. ISBN 9780307588920.
Think of a Number is John Verdon's first mystery thriller. I was immediately hooked by the premise, in which someone gets a letter in the mail, is asked to think of a number, and finds that exact number in a second sealed envelope. The letter writer implies that he or she knows something about the recipient's past, something shameful that they've done. One such recipient contacts retired police detective Dave Gurney for help in finding out who sent the letter and what they want. Mark Mellery is an old classmate of Dave's and hopes he can help him. When Mark turns up dead, Dave is hired as a consultant by the local police department and tries to track down the killer.
I really enjoyed this book. The writing is excellent and the characters are well-developed. The plot is intriguing and the mystery at its core kept me guessing all the way to the end. Dave is torn between the retirement lifestyle sought by his wife and his desire to do something useful other than garden and walk around the lake. I recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries and thrillers.
I have also read his second book, Shut Your Eyes Tight, which I liked very much, and I look forward to reading the other two in this series: Let the Devil Sleep, and Peter Pan Must Die.
Think of a Number is John Verdon's first mystery thriller. I was immediately hooked by the premise, in which someone gets a letter in the mail, is asked to think of a number, and finds that exact number in a second sealed envelope. The letter writer implies that he or she knows something about the recipient's past, something shameful that they've done. One such recipient contacts retired police detective Dave Gurney for help in finding out who sent the letter and what they want. Mark Mellery is an old classmate of Dave's and hopes he can help him. When Mark turns up dead, Dave is hired as a consultant by the local police department and tries to track down the killer.
I really enjoyed this book. The writing is excellent and the characters are well-developed. The plot is intriguing and the mystery at its core kept me guessing all the way to the end. Dave is torn between the retirement lifestyle sought by his wife and his desire to do something useful other than garden and walk around the lake. I recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries and thrillers.
I have also read his second book, Shut Your Eyes Tight, which I liked very much, and I look forward to reading the other two in this series: Let the Devil Sleep, and Peter Pan Must Die.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Last Snow, by Eric Van Lustbader
Eric Van Lustbader. Last Snow.
New York: Tom Doherty Associates, 2010. 414 pages. ISBN 9780765325150.
Last Snow is the second book in a series of thrillers based on Jack
McClure, a former ATF agent who now works as a close consultant to the
President. In Russia with the President and his family to attend a summit with
the Russian President, McClure is tasked with investigating the death of a
senator on the island of Capri, off the Italian coast. Prior to his trip to
Capri, the senator's last stop was an unscheduled trip to Kiev. McClure has the
President's plane at his disposal and plans to fly to Kiev to track down the
senator's last steps.
While I enjoy a good thriller,
sometimes they just go too far. This book has the most ludicrous plot of any
that I've ever read. Basically, the senator was killed by a group of exiled
Russian oil oligarchs in Ukraine because they knew the President would assign
McClure to investigate. This is all to get McClure in their clutches so that he
can help them with their goals: to keep Ukraine out of the hands of the Russian
President. Apparently, Ukraine (in this scenario) has a secret supply of
uranium that will be used for nuclear development by Russia, which is intending
to use the new U.S. accord as a cover and defense of their planned invasion of
Ukraine. Because McClure is dyslexic, he has the ability to picture all the
pieces of this puzzle together and come up with a solution, which is why he was
targeted for this operation. Meanwhile there is a group of U.S. businessmen who
are also after the uranium, double-crossing military men, and other folks
complicating the plot. It was almost impossible to keep everyone straight.
Even more ridiculous is the subplot
involving the President's daughter, who stows away on the President's plane and
follows McClure to Kiev. She's right smack in the middle of all the action, and
much of the plot and dialog addresses her teenage angst about what happened to
her in the first book of this series, First Daughter. It's all too much,
and I wouldn't recommend this book. In fact, I realized belatedly that I also
had First Daughter at home. Embarrassingly, I had Last Snow
shelved under V and First Daughter shelved under L in my home library.
And I'm a cataloger! Either way, I can't bring myself to read First Daughter
and it's going on my donation pile.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
The Deep Blue Sea
The Deep Blue Sea (2012), directed by Terence Davies, is a slow, atmospheric study of the self-destructive nature of betrayal and selfishness. Rachel Weisz plays Hester, trapped in a loving but passionless marriage to a an older man named William. She meets Freddie, a former RAF pilot who is boisterous and passionate, and she falls in love with him. When William overhears Hester's telephone conversation with Freddie and realizes that she's cheating on him, they separate and he tells her that he'll never give her a divorce. Hester moves in with Freddie and over the course of the next year they live together in a dingy flat in a run-down neighborhood.
The film begins with Hester's suicide attempt, and the rest of the story is told partly through flashbacks which show why she's so unhappy. When Freddie finds out that she attempted suicide he realizes that they'll never make each other happy and is determined to leave. Hester's husband tries to get her to return to the marriage, but she refuses, trying to explain to him what she found lacking in the marriage.
Hester is the toxic center to all the relationships in the film. She's married to an educated, cultured and well-off judge, who's kind and treats her well, but she doesn't find the passion she wants in the marriage. She leaves him for an uneducated, uncultured, and unsuccessful fun-loving guy, and she tries to change him into her husband. One particularly painful scene is when they go to a museum and she's trying to look at abstract paintings and he's making jokes about them. She refuses to laugh at his jokes and he storms off. She's unsufferable and it's hard to empathize with her throughout the film. As the film neared its ending I was caught up in anxiety, worrying that Freddie would succumb to her pleas and stay with her; lucky for him that he does not. The film implies throughout that Hester has to choose between these two men, but in reality, now that she's alone she might have the chance to meet someone that she can be happy with.
The Deep Blue Sea received positive reviews (79%) from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, but only 52% positive reviews by audiences. I can see why reviewers would like the film: the acting is good; it's very atmospheric; the soundtrack is also very good. I can also see why audiences were not as happy with the film: it's slow; there's little action; it's frustrating to watch the characters and their bad decisions. Perhaps the audiences were just as impatient with Hester as I was.
Overall, though, I enjoyed the film and would recommend it. It certainly gave my husband and me something to talk about!
The film begins with Hester's suicide attempt, and the rest of the story is told partly through flashbacks which show why she's so unhappy. When Freddie finds out that she attempted suicide he realizes that they'll never make each other happy and is determined to leave. Hester's husband tries to get her to return to the marriage, but she refuses, trying to explain to him what she found lacking in the marriage.
Hester is the toxic center to all the relationships in the film. She's married to an educated, cultured and well-off judge, who's kind and treats her well, but she doesn't find the passion she wants in the marriage. She leaves him for an uneducated, uncultured, and unsuccessful fun-loving guy, and she tries to change him into her husband. One particularly painful scene is when they go to a museum and she's trying to look at abstract paintings and he's making jokes about them. She refuses to laugh at his jokes and he storms off. She's unsufferable and it's hard to empathize with her throughout the film. As the film neared its ending I was caught up in anxiety, worrying that Freddie would succumb to her pleas and stay with her; lucky for him that he does not. The film implies throughout that Hester has to choose between these two men, but in reality, now that she's alone she might have the chance to meet someone that she can be happy with.
The Deep Blue Sea received positive reviews (79%) from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, but only 52% positive reviews by audiences. I can see why reviewers would like the film: the acting is good; it's very atmospheric; the soundtrack is also very good. I can also see why audiences were not as happy with the film: it's slow; there's little action; it's frustrating to watch the characters and their bad decisions. Perhaps the audiences were just as impatient with Hester as I was.
Overall, though, I enjoyed the film and would recommend it. It certainly gave my husband and me something to talk about!
Monday, September 1, 2014
The Target, by David Baldacci
David Baldacci. The Target. New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2014. 420 pages. ISBN 9781455521203.
Author of nearly 30 previous novels, David Baldacci has become a master at writing thrilling page turners. In this latest he brings together characters that have appeared in earlier books: Will Robie and Jessica Reel. Both employed by the CIA, Robie and Reel have been recovering from an earlier operation that left Robie with significant wounds and burn scars. The Director of Central Intelligence wants to punish them for going off-script in the earlier operation, but he also needs them for a highly-sensitive upcoming assignment. Before they can even begin their new operation, however, it becomes clear that the targets have caught on and they have to enter clean-up mode instead.
Baldacci focuses in North Korea in this timely thriller. Parallel stories are set in North Korea and focus on Chung-Cha Yie, whose purpose in life is the same as Robie and Reel's: to assassinate enemies of the state. Chung-Cha's history is told in detail: her family was sentenced to a concentration and work camp when she was a child, and she was raised there until she was granted release to begin her training and "career." Her price to get out of the concentration camp was that she had to kill her own family.
I found the portrayal of North Korea interesting. It reflects what we hear about North Korea in the news: the paranoia, the fear of saying the wrong thing, the lack of freedom, the hunger, and the poverty. One of Chung-Cha's rewards for completing an operation is that she is given an electric rice cooker, something (according to this book) that only elites within North Korea own.
Although the American operation against North Korea wasn't carried out, they are determined to avenge it and set in motion a plot to assassinate the wife and two children of the American president. Chung-Cha is assigned this task and given a team of operatives to help her plan and carry out the attack. I found this part of the book particularly incredible; I don't believe that it would have been anywhere near this easy for a group of assassins to infiltrate Nantucket, even on Halloween, which is when the attack is planned for. Nevertheless, the plot and action are fast-paced and the pages keep turning. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary thrillers with a geo-political theme.
Author of nearly 30 previous novels, David Baldacci has become a master at writing thrilling page turners. In this latest he brings together characters that have appeared in earlier books: Will Robie and Jessica Reel. Both employed by the CIA, Robie and Reel have been recovering from an earlier operation that left Robie with significant wounds and burn scars. The Director of Central Intelligence wants to punish them for going off-script in the earlier operation, but he also needs them for a highly-sensitive upcoming assignment. Before they can even begin their new operation, however, it becomes clear that the targets have caught on and they have to enter clean-up mode instead.
Baldacci focuses in North Korea in this timely thriller. Parallel stories are set in North Korea and focus on Chung-Cha Yie, whose purpose in life is the same as Robie and Reel's: to assassinate enemies of the state. Chung-Cha's history is told in detail: her family was sentenced to a concentration and work camp when she was a child, and she was raised there until she was granted release to begin her training and "career." Her price to get out of the concentration camp was that she had to kill her own family.
I found the portrayal of North Korea interesting. It reflects what we hear about North Korea in the news: the paranoia, the fear of saying the wrong thing, the lack of freedom, the hunger, and the poverty. One of Chung-Cha's rewards for completing an operation is that she is given an electric rice cooker, something (according to this book) that only elites within North Korea own.
Although the American operation against North Korea wasn't carried out, they are determined to avenge it and set in motion a plot to assassinate the wife and two children of the American president. Chung-Cha is assigned this task and given a team of operatives to help her plan and carry out the attack. I found this part of the book particularly incredible; I don't believe that it would have been anywhere near this easy for a group of assassins to infiltrate Nantucket, even on Halloween, which is when the attack is planned for. Nevertheless, the plot and action are fast-paced and the pages keep turning. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary thrillers with a geo-political theme.
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Orange is the New Black, by Piper Kerman
Piper Kerman. Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison. New York: Spiegel & Grau, 2011. 327 pages. ISBN 9780385523394.
Orange is the New Black: A Netflix Original Series.
I came to read this book after I watched the first two seasons of the Netflix television show based on this memoir by Piper Kerman. I had seen the book advertised everywhere (it was really hard to miss), but only watched Orange is the New Black when my husband and I finished Breaking Bad, and we were looking for something that we could watch together. I was hooked on the TV show after the first episode. I found the whole premise of the show to be fascinating. Years after committing a crime, Piper is indicted. By pleading guilty she gets a reduced sentence of 15 months, but it takes years to get to that point so after living with prison hanging over her head for many years, she finally has to turn herself in voluntarily for her sentence. Piper is assigned to a federal correctional facility in Danbury, Connecticut, a minimum security prison in which inmates aren't housed in cells, but in dorms.
Upon watching the show I immediately began to get caught up in drama related to the different inmates and their conflicts, as well as the conditions within the prison and the manner in which the guards and other correctional officers treat the inmates. Over the course of two seasons (13 episodes each, which we watched over the course of about 3-4 weeks), there are beatings, a drug overdose, romances between guards and inmates, lots of lesbian sex, and punishments doled out (such as being sent to solitary confinement). In spite of all this there is a lot of humor in the show, but it's the drama that keeps the viewer coming back.
After watching the first two seasons, and with Season 3 still 8-9 months away, I decided to read the book to see how different it was from the TV series. It's clear pretty early on that much of the TV show is completely fiction, aside from the broad outlines of the plot. The strength of the book lies in its ability to bring the inmates personal situations to life for the reader. Not much time is spent on the crimes the women committed to put them in jail, but most of them were for non-violent offences (or else they wouldn't have been in a minimum security prison). What becomes immediately apparent is the complete waste of time and resources that prison represents. After reading this book, I'm convinced that prison has no place in our society for non-violent criminals.
Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison is an excellent and fascinating memoir. It's well-written and impossible to put down. The author takes full responsibility for the choices that she made that landed her in prison; at the same time she makes clear how senseless the prison system has become in the U.S.
Orange is the New Black: A Netflix Original Series, although almost completely fictional, is an addictive and fascinating drama. The characters are well-developed and intriguing, there's a lot of action and suspense, and it's difficult to stop watching.
I recommend both the book and the television series.
Orange is the New Black: A Netflix Original Series.
I came to read this book after I watched the first two seasons of the Netflix television show based on this memoir by Piper Kerman. I had seen the book advertised everywhere (it was really hard to miss), but only watched Orange is the New Black when my husband and I finished Breaking Bad, and we were looking for something that we could watch together. I was hooked on the TV show after the first episode. I found the whole premise of the show to be fascinating. Years after committing a crime, Piper is indicted. By pleading guilty she gets a reduced sentence of 15 months, but it takes years to get to that point so after living with prison hanging over her head for many years, she finally has to turn herself in voluntarily for her sentence. Piper is assigned to a federal correctional facility in Danbury, Connecticut, a minimum security prison in which inmates aren't housed in cells, but in dorms.
Upon watching the show I immediately began to get caught up in drama related to the different inmates and their conflicts, as well as the conditions within the prison and the manner in which the guards and other correctional officers treat the inmates. Over the course of two seasons (13 episodes each, which we watched over the course of about 3-4 weeks), there are beatings, a drug overdose, romances between guards and inmates, lots of lesbian sex, and punishments doled out (such as being sent to solitary confinement). In spite of all this there is a lot of humor in the show, but it's the drama that keeps the viewer coming back.
After watching the first two seasons, and with Season 3 still 8-9 months away, I decided to read the book to see how different it was from the TV series. It's clear pretty early on that much of the TV show is completely fiction, aside from the broad outlines of the plot. The strength of the book lies in its ability to bring the inmates personal situations to life for the reader. Not much time is spent on the crimes the women committed to put them in jail, but most of them were for non-violent offences (or else they wouldn't have been in a minimum security prison). What becomes immediately apparent is the complete waste of time and resources that prison represents. After reading this book, I'm convinced that prison has no place in our society for non-violent criminals.
Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison is an excellent and fascinating memoir. It's well-written and impossible to put down. The author takes full responsibility for the choices that she made that landed her in prison; at the same time she makes clear how senseless the prison system has become in the U.S.
Orange is the New Black: A Netflix Original Series, although almost completely fictional, is an addictive and fascinating drama. The characters are well-developed and intriguing, there's a lot of action and suspense, and it's difficult to stop watching.
I recommend both the book and the television series.
Saturday, August 30, 2014
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, by Michael Chabon
Michael Chabon. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. New York: Random House, 2012. 684 pages. ISBN 9780812983586.
Friends and relatives have been recommending The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay to me for years. It won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2001, and after finally reading it, I can see why. It tells the story of two cousins: Josef Kavalier and Sammy Clay meet for the first time as teenagers and become business and artistic partners in the nascent comic book industry.
Josef was born in Czechoslovakia and managed to escape after Germany invaded the country in 1938. Sammy grew up in New York City, the product of a broken family, but who idolized his father, a circus strongman. With Josef's early art school training and Sammy's love of comics, they paired up to create a series of highly successful superhero comics. Josef saves his earnings to pay for his younger brother's passage to the U.S. When everything goes wrong for both Josef and Sammy on the eve of Pearl Harbor, Josef joins the army so that he can get his revenge by killing Germans.
There are many things to like about this book. The historical setting is fascinating and well-drawn. I enjoyed reading about the early history of the comic book industry. Josef and Sammy's friendship and love for each other. Josef's love for Rosa, and the tragedy that unfolds when he unknowingly leaves her after she becomes pregnant. Young Tommy, named after Josef's lost brother. All of these strands and more come together in a satisfying yet bittersweet climax. This is a long book, but I didn't want it to end. I would have enjoyed another volume following Tommy and describing what happens to Sammy over the years.
As usual, Michael Chabon has written a book that is rich with detail and his deep knowledge of both history and popular culture. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys 20th century American culture and history or comic books.
Friends and relatives have been recommending The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay to me for years. It won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2001, and after finally reading it, I can see why. It tells the story of two cousins: Josef Kavalier and Sammy Clay meet for the first time as teenagers and become business and artistic partners in the nascent comic book industry.
Josef was born in Czechoslovakia and managed to escape after Germany invaded the country in 1938. Sammy grew up in New York City, the product of a broken family, but who idolized his father, a circus strongman. With Josef's early art school training and Sammy's love of comics, they paired up to create a series of highly successful superhero comics. Josef saves his earnings to pay for his younger brother's passage to the U.S. When everything goes wrong for both Josef and Sammy on the eve of Pearl Harbor, Josef joins the army so that he can get his revenge by killing Germans.
There are many things to like about this book. The historical setting is fascinating and well-drawn. I enjoyed reading about the early history of the comic book industry. Josef and Sammy's friendship and love for each other. Josef's love for Rosa, and the tragedy that unfolds when he unknowingly leaves her after she becomes pregnant. Young Tommy, named after Josef's lost brother. All of these strands and more come together in a satisfying yet bittersweet climax. This is a long book, but I didn't want it to end. I would have enjoyed another volume following Tommy and describing what happens to Sammy over the years.
As usual, Michael Chabon has written a book that is rich with detail and his deep knowledge of both history and popular culture. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys 20th century American culture and history or comic books.
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Movie Review: The Invisible Woman
The Invisible Woman is about an affair that Charles Dickens had late in his life with a young actress named Ellen Ternan. Many years younger than Charles, she was 18 and he was 45 when they met. Charles made the decision to separate from his wife Catherine and spent the rest of his life with Ellen.
The film begins with Ellen in middle age reflecting back on her youth as a member of a troupe of actresses hired to perform in a stage play at Charles Dickens' home. Charles is immediately attracted to Ellen, and she's enamored of him as she's read all of his books and thinks highly of him as a writer and person. His wife is portrayed wonderfully by the actress Joanna Scanlan. It's impossible not to be moved by her performance and unhappy circumstances. Charles begins to pursue Ellen, winning her over in time. Her pregnancy is portrayed as well as her sadness when she loses the baby in infancy. Ultimately Charles purchases a home for her and promises to visit once or twice weekly. After his death she marries a much younger man and starts a family.
Directed by Ralph Fiennes, this film is very atmospheric and has very fine acting, including Fiennes as Charles Dickens himself, and Kristin Scott Thomas as Ellen's mother. It is, however, very slow moving and dark and I found it a little bit tedious at times. Checking Rotten Tomatoes I see that critics gave the movie a 76% positive rating, but viewers only gave it a 46% positive rating. I'm not sorry that I watched it, because I have more insight into Dickens than I had before, and as I already mentioned the acting is really very strong, but I can't really give it a strong recommendation either.
The film begins with Ellen in middle age reflecting back on her youth as a member of a troupe of actresses hired to perform in a stage play at Charles Dickens' home. Charles is immediately attracted to Ellen, and she's enamored of him as she's read all of his books and thinks highly of him as a writer and person. His wife is portrayed wonderfully by the actress Joanna Scanlan. It's impossible not to be moved by her performance and unhappy circumstances. Charles begins to pursue Ellen, winning her over in time. Her pregnancy is portrayed as well as her sadness when she loses the baby in infancy. Ultimately Charles purchases a home for her and promises to visit once or twice weekly. After his death she marries a much younger man and starts a family.
Directed by Ralph Fiennes, this film is very atmospheric and has very fine acting, including Fiennes as Charles Dickens himself, and Kristin Scott Thomas as Ellen's mother. It is, however, very slow moving and dark and I found it a little bit tedious at times. Checking Rotten Tomatoes I see that critics gave the movie a 76% positive rating, but viewers only gave it a 46% positive rating. I'm not sorry that I watched it, because I have more insight into Dickens than I had before, and as I already mentioned the acting is really very strong, but I can't really give it a strong recommendation either.
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
The Geographer's Library, by Jon Fasman
Jon Fasman. The Geographer's Library. New York: Penguin Books, 2005. 374 pages. ISBN 0143036629.
The Geographer's Library is about a young reporter, Paul Tomm, who stumbles across a story that could break him out of his small town local paper job and help him get a position with a major Boston newspaper. Jaan Puhapaev, a professor at Paul's alma mater, has been found dead in his home, and Paul has been asked to write his obituary for the local weekly paper. There is no evidence of foul play, but questions start to pile up leading Paul to dig deeper and deeper into Jaan's past. Along the way Paul meets Hannah, Jaan's neighbor and friend. While he begins to fall in love with Hannah, he is surprised by her vehement objections to his investigation into Jaan's life and activities.
The plot of The Geographer's Library toggles between the present and a variety of past events in which magic or occult objects are tracked down and acquired, by any means necessary. Who's collecting these objects? How did they come to be in Jaan's possession, and who has them now? How far will they go to keep the secret of these objects hidden away? As Paul investigates these questions he finds that he's not safe, and he has to decide how far he should take his investigations.
I found The Geographer's Library intriguing. There's a lot of action but the characters are well-developed and interesting. I recommend this book to anyone who likes historical mysteries like those of Dan Brown or Steve Berry.
The Geographer's Library is about a young reporter, Paul Tomm, who stumbles across a story that could break him out of his small town local paper job and help him get a position with a major Boston newspaper. Jaan Puhapaev, a professor at Paul's alma mater, has been found dead in his home, and Paul has been asked to write his obituary for the local weekly paper. There is no evidence of foul play, but questions start to pile up leading Paul to dig deeper and deeper into Jaan's past. Along the way Paul meets Hannah, Jaan's neighbor and friend. While he begins to fall in love with Hannah, he is surprised by her vehement objections to his investigation into Jaan's life and activities.
The plot of The Geographer's Library toggles between the present and a variety of past events in which magic or occult objects are tracked down and acquired, by any means necessary. Who's collecting these objects? How did they come to be in Jaan's possession, and who has them now? How far will they go to keep the secret of these objects hidden away? As Paul investigates these questions he finds that he's not safe, and he has to decide how far he should take his investigations.
I found The Geographer's Library intriguing. There's a lot of action but the characters are well-developed and interesting. I recommend this book to anyone who likes historical mysteries like those of Dan Brown or Steve Berry.
Monday, August 4, 2014
Come to Grief, by Dick Francis
Dick Francis. Come to Grief. London: Michael Joseph, 1995. 278 pages. ISBN 0718137531.
In Come to Grief, ex-jockey turned private investigator Sid Halley has accused one of his best friends of the horrific crime of mutilating a series of horses. His friend Ellis Quint is a popular television personality, and it's unthinkable that he could be responsible for such crimes. Nevertheless, all of the evidence points to Ellis. One of the horses that was harmed was owned by a young girl whom Sid befriends, and he is driven to find the sick criminal responsible. Sid can't talk to the media or anyone else about the evidence because the judge has imposed a gag order, and during the time leading up to the trial Sid is harrassed, ridiculed, and even hated for making his accusations.
Sid Halley has appeared in several of Dick Francis' books. He's stubborn and relentless in his pursuit of criminals. He has an extreme sense of justice and nothing will stand in his way. In this as in other appearances, he faces overwhelming odds and suffers great violence in pursuit of those who commit crimes. One caveat: when an author writes solely about crimes or violence that take place in the world of horses, it's inevitable that some of that violence is perpetrated against the horses themselves. I found some parts of this book hard to stomach as a series of horses were mutilated and then put down. Nevertheless, Come to Grief was impossible to put down, and I finished the whole book in one Saturday afternoon extended reading session.
In Come to Grief, ex-jockey turned private investigator Sid Halley has accused one of his best friends of the horrific crime of mutilating a series of horses. His friend Ellis Quint is a popular television personality, and it's unthinkable that he could be responsible for such crimes. Nevertheless, all of the evidence points to Ellis. One of the horses that was harmed was owned by a young girl whom Sid befriends, and he is driven to find the sick criminal responsible. Sid can't talk to the media or anyone else about the evidence because the judge has imposed a gag order, and during the time leading up to the trial Sid is harrassed, ridiculed, and even hated for making his accusations.
Sid Halley has appeared in several of Dick Francis' books. He's stubborn and relentless in his pursuit of criminals. He has an extreme sense of justice and nothing will stand in his way. In this as in other appearances, he faces overwhelming odds and suffers great violence in pursuit of those who commit crimes. One caveat: when an author writes solely about crimes or violence that take place in the world of horses, it's inevitable that some of that violence is perpetrated against the horses themselves. I found some parts of this book hard to stomach as a series of horses were mutilated and then put down. Nevertheless, Come to Grief was impossible to put down, and I finished the whole book in one Saturday afternoon extended reading session.
Thursday, July 24, 2014
The Silver Star, by Jeannette Walls
Jeannette Walls. The Silver Star. New York: Scribner, 2013. 269 pages. ISBN 9781451661545.
In The Silver Star, two young girls are abandoned by their mother, and have to fend for themselves. Bean is 12 years old, and her sister Liz is 15. Used to being left alone for a day or two, they aren't sure what to do when their mother fails to return after two weeks. Eventually a neighbor becomes suspicious and calls the police. Seeing a policeman at their front door after school one day leads the two girls to take a bus to Virginia to visit an uncle on the family estate.
Once they're in their hometown, they begin to learn what it's like to live in a small town where everyone knows everything about you and your family. Bean learns about her father and his failed romance with her mother. They decide to get summer jobs for spending money, but the man who hires them, Jerry Maddox, turns out to be a manipulative predator. After he attacks Liz in the back seat of a taxi, the girls are faced with a choice: brush everything under the rug like it never happened, or press charges against him. Taking the latter path turns out to have many consequences, both good and bad, and both girls learn many life lessons from the experience.
Having read Ms. Walls' memoir about growing up with unstable parents, The Glass Castle, I found it hard at first to separate her true life story from this fictional account of a young girl with a similarly unstable mother. Over time, however, I was able to set aside what I know of Ms. Walls' history and focus on this fictional narrative. I enjoyed reading this book, and found the characters intriguing and believable. The only criticism that I have is that some of the plot points seem to be a little too easy or coincidental. The resolution of the Jerry Maddox problem was perhaps too simple. Nevertheless, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed The Glass Castle, or who appreciates family dramas.
In The Silver Star, two young girls are abandoned by their mother, and have to fend for themselves. Bean is 12 years old, and her sister Liz is 15. Used to being left alone for a day or two, they aren't sure what to do when their mother fails to return after two weeks. Eventually a neighbor becomes suspicious and calls the police. Seeing a policeman at their front door after school one day leads the two girls to take a bus to Virginia to visit an uncle on the family estate.
Once they're in their hometown, they begin to learn what it's like to live in a small town where everyone knows everything about you and your family. Bean learns about her father and his failed romance with her mother. They decide to get summer jobs for spending money, but the man who hires them, Jerry Maddox, turns out to be a manipulative predator. After he attacks Liz in the back seat of a taxi, the girls are faced with a choice: brush everything under the rug like it never happened, or press charges against him. Taking the latter path turns out to have many consequences, both good and bad, and both girls learn many life lessons from the experience.
Having read Ms. Walls' memoir about growing up with unstable parents, The Glass Castle, I found it hard at first to separate her true life story from this fictional account of a young girl with a similarly unstable mother. Over time, however, I was able to set aside what I know of Ms. Walls' history and focus on this fictional narrative. I enjoyed reading this book, and found the characters intriguing and believable. The only criticism that I have is that some of the plot points seem to be a little too easy or coincidental. The resolution of the Jerry Maddox problem was perhaps too simple. Nevertheless, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed The Glass Castle, or who appreciates family dramas.
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Sutton, by J.R. Moehringer
J.R. Moehringer. Sutton. New York: Hyperion, 2012. 334 pages. ISBN 9781401323141.
Willie Sutton was one of the most famous bank robbers of the 20th century, but he has largely fallen from popular consciousness. Born in 1901, Willie began robbing jewelry stores at a young age, and then turned to robbing banks. Proud and insistent that he never killed anyone, he nevertheless spent more than half of his adult life behind bars. Not only was Willie Sutton famous for robbing banks, he was also notorious for escaping from prison, having escaped from both Sing Sing and Eastern Penitentiary, and having made many unsuccessful attempts to escape as well.
On Christmas Eve 1969 Willie was released after serving 18 years of a life sentence in Attica prison; his poor health convincing the governor that he had only a short time to live. He spent Christmas day with a reporter who had arranged for an exclusive interview with Sutton. Fooling everyone again, Willie managed to live another 10 years, finally dying in Florida in 1980.
In Sutton, Mr. Moehringer imagines what that Christmas day was like for Willie, travelling all around New York City visiting key locales in Willie's life story. They travel to the place where he met the love of his life, the first jewelry store that he robbed, places he lived, and more. At each location Willie remembers how his life unfolded and why he made the decisions that led to his life of crime and his many incarcerations.
Mr. Moehringer's writing is clear and engaging. The dialogue that he imagines for Willie and his peers seems authentic and natural. The stories that he creates to fill in Willie's narrative are believable. Sutton is well-written and compulsively readable. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
Willie Sutton was one of the most famous bank robbers of the 20th century, but he has largely fallen from popular consciousness. Born in 1901, Willie began robbing jewelry stores at a young age, and then turned to robbing banks. Proud and insistent that he never killed anyone, he nevertheless spent more than half of his adult life behind bars. Not only was Willie Sutton famous for robbing banks, he was also notorious for escaping from prison, having escaped from both Sing Sing and Eastern Penitentiary, and having made many unsuccessful attempts to escape as well.
On Christmas Eve 1969 Willie was released after serving 18 years of a life sentence in Attica prison; his poor health convincing the governor that he had only a short time to live. He spent Christmas day with a reporter who had arranged for an exclusive interview with Sutton. Fooling everyone again, Willie managed to live another 10 years, finally dying in Florida in 1980.
In Sutton, Mr. Moehringer imagines what that Christmas day was like for Willie, travelling all around New York City visiting key locales in Willie's life story. They travel to the place where he met the love of his life, the first jewelry store that he robbed, places he lived, and more. At each location Willie remembers how his life unfolded and why he made the decisions that led to his life of crime and his many incarcerations.
Mr. Moehringer's writing is clear and engaging. The dialogue that he imagines for Willie and his peers seems authentic and natural. The stories that he creates to fill in Willie's narrative are believable. Sutton is well-written and compulsively readable. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
The Queen of the Tearling, by Erika Johansen
Erika Johansen. The Queen of the Tearling. New York: HarperCollins, 2014. 434 pages. ISBN 9780062290366.
Kelsea Raleigh has been raised in seclusion by her adoptive parents, Carlin and Barty. Kelsea's mother, Queen Ellysa, ruled over the Kingdom of Tearling. She arranged for Kelsea to be taken away from the castle when she was an infant in an effort to protect her from the Red Queen of Mortmesne, who invaded the Tearling and subjugated it to an oppressive treaty by which the Tearling had to pay tribute to Mortmesne in the form of a monthly delivery of citizens that she used as slaves.
The book begins when Kelsea turns nineteen and it's determined that she is of age and can take over the rule of the Tearling from her uncle, who's served as Regent for many years. The Queen's guard accompanies her to the castle where she sees the injustice of the past 18 years and begins to make changes. Breaking a treaty with the Red Queen brings war and strife to the Tearling. Kelsea faces many challenges including someone in her own guard who has betrayed her. From the first page, this first novel by Erika Johansen kept me interested. I'm especially interested in the back story; it appears that the Tearling was founded by William Tear after "the Crossing". It was meant to be a utopian settlement with very little technology. The only science that Tear intended to have was medical technology, but their sophisticated equipment was destroyed in a shipwreck during the Crossing, so Tear's utopia didn't turn out as planned. It's well-written and fast-paced. The Queen of the Tearling is the first of a trilogy. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys modern fantasy.
Kelsea Raleigh has been raised in seclusion by her adoptive parents, Carlin and Barty. Kelsea's mother, Queen Ellysa, ruled over the Kingdom of Tearling. She arranged for Kelsea to be taken away from the castle when she was an infant in an effort to protect her from the Red Queen of Mortmesne, who invaded the Tearling and subjugated it to an oppressive treaty by which the Tearling had to pay tribute to Mortmesne in the form of a monthly delivery of citizens that she used as slaves.
The book begins when Kelsea turns nineteen and it's determined that she is of age and can take over the rule of the Tearling from her uncle, who's served as Regent for many years. The Queen's guard accompanies her to the castle where she sees the injustice of the past 18 years and begins to make changes. Breaking a treaty with the Red Queen brings war and strife to the Tearling. Kelsea faces many challenges including someone in her own guard who has betrayed her. From the first page, this first novel by Erika Johansen kept me interested. I'm especially interested in the back story; it appears that the Tearling was founded by William Tear after "the Crossing". It was meant to be a utopian settlement with very little technology. The only science that Tear intended to have was medical technology, but their sophisticated equipment was destroyed in a shipwreck during the Crossing, so Tear's utopia didn't turn out as planned. It's well-written and fast-paced. The Queen of the Tearling is the first of a trilogy. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys modern fantasy.
Friday, July 11, 2014
The Criminalist, by Eugene Izzi
Eugene Izzi. The Criminalist. New York: Avon Books, 1998. 341 pages. ISBN 0380975408.
Published two years after Eugene Izzi's untimely death, The Criminalist is a suspenseful mystery that explores the dynamics between three brothers who've been psychologically damaged by the violence inflicted on them by their father. It tells the story of Tom Moran, psychiatrist; Terry Moran, police officer; and Frank Moran, addict and vagrant. Twenty years ago Tom's wife was violently murdered, but her killer has never been found. Initially suspected, both Tom and Terry have suffered for many years from lingering suspicions, but they've affected Terry's career the most. Bitter from his past experiences, Terry hides from the police when a dead woman is found whose murder closely mirrors that of Tom's wife.
Detective Dominick DiGrazia and his new partner Janice Constantine try to untangle the threads that connect all of the characters involved in both murders. What is the role of DiGrazia's former partner, a detective who became obsessed with the earlier murder? Is the same person responsible for both murders?
This book kept me turning the pages until the very end. It's well-written and impossible to put down. It's a shame that this is Izzi's last book. I recommend this to anyone who likes detective stories with a lot of action.
Published two years after Eugene Izzi's untimely death, The Criminalist is a suspenseful mystery that explores the dynamics between three brothers who've been psychologically damaged by the violence inflicted on them by their father. It tells the story of Tom Moran, psychiatrist; Terry Moran, police officer; and Frank Moran, addict and vagrant. Twenty years ago Tom's wife was violently murdered, but her killer has never been found. Initially suspected, both Tom and Terry have suffered for many years from lingering suspicions, but they've affected Terry's career the most. Bitter from his past experiences, Terry hides from the police when a dead woman is found whose murder closely mirrors that of Tom's wife.
Detective Dominick DiGrazia and his new partner Janice Constantine try to untangle the threads that connect all of the characters involved in both murders. What is the role of DiGrazia's former partner, a detective who became obsessed with the earlier murder? Is the same person responsible for both murders?
This book kept me turning the pages until the very end. It's well-written and impossible to put down. It's a shame that this is Izzi's last book. I recommend this to anyone who likes detective stories with a lot of action.
Monday, July 7, 2014
Bones Never Lie, by Kathy Reichs
Kathy Reichs. Bones Never Lie. New York: Bantam Books, 2014. 334 pages. ISBN 9780345544018.
Kathy Reichs has published dozens of
books, many of them in her Temperance Brennan series, upon which the television
program Bones is based. Ms. Reichs was present at the 2014 Book Expo
America conference, and I was lucky enough to get a copy of her latest
Temperance Brennan novel there.
Bones Never Lie doesn't disappoint. A forensic anthropologist, Temperance
is invited to participate in an investigation into the murders of three young
girls in what appears to be a serial murder spree that started in Canada, moved
to Vermont, and then on to Charlotte, N.C., where Temperance spends much of her
time. She and her former partner Andrew Ryan had worked on what appears to be a
related case in Quebec. She has to fly to Costa Rica to try to bring him back after
he’s gone AWOL to grieve over the death of his daughter to a heroin overdose.
Temperance has to balance office
politics with a race against time to catch the serial killer before he or she strikes
again. Working with Skinny Slidell, a local detective, as well as detectives
from Vermont and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Temperance
and Ryan attempt to track down the killer who went off the grid ten years
previously. Fast paced and with loads of action, this book kept me turning the
pages until I finished. The only quibble that I have with this book is that the
dialogue is consistently nasty. I found the persistent sarcasm and just plain
meanness of the dialogue to be a little tiresome. Nevertheless, I recommend
this book to anyone who enjoys mysteries with a forensic science angle.
Saturday, July 5, 2014
We Were Liars, by E. Lockhart
E. Lockhart. We Were Liars. New York: Delacorte Press, 2014. 225 pages. ISBN 9780385741262.
In this short novel author E. Lockhart presents us with the case of Cady, a 17-year-old girl who's recovering from a traumatic accident that took place two years previously and left her with amnesia about the entire summer in which it occurred. The book pivots between the present day and the snippets of memory that come back to her as she returns to her wealthy family's vacation home on an island owned by her grandfather. During the four weeks that she is going to be on the island, will she be able to find the clues to help her remember what happened that summer?
Cady spends time with her mother and two aunts, assorted cousins and golden retrievers, and her grandfather. Unacknowledged tensions hover over everyone, but slowly Cady begins to remember disparate things that happened and led up to her accident and memory loss. She rekindles her romance from that summer, and prods her favorite cousins into giving her clues to the past. As the facts emerge it begins to be clear why she blocked those memories out.
This is a book about friendship, love, and families, and will appeal to a wide audience.
In this short novel author E. Lockhart presents us with the case of Cady, a 17-year-old girl who's recovering from a traumatic accident that took place two years previously and left her with amnesia about the entire summer in which it occurred. The book pivots between the present day and the snippets of memory that come back to her as she returns to her wealthy family's vacation home on an island owned by her grandfather. During the four weeks that she is going to be on the island, will she be able to find the clues to help her remember what happened that summer?
Cady spends time with her mother and two aunts, assorted cousins and golden retrievers, and her grandfather. Unacknowledged tensions hover over everyone, but slowly Cady begins to remember disparate things that happened and led up to her accident and memory loss. She rekindles her romance from that summer, and prods her favorite cousins into giving her clues to the past. As the facts emerge it begins to be clear why she blocked those memories out.
This is a book about friendship, love, and families, and will appeal to a wide audience.
Friday, July 4, 2014
The Good Sister, by Wendy Corsi Staub
Wendy Corsi Staub. The Good Sister. New York: Harper, 2013. 418 pages. ISBN 9780062222374.
In The Good Sister author Wendy Corsi Staub tells the story of Carley, a young girl who has been enduring significant bullying since she moved to a new school. To make matters worse, her best friend Nicki has dumped her, and a few months later Nicki kills herself. Reeling from her own difficulties at school and her friend's death, Carley is struggling to understand how this all came to be. She turns to a new-found friend, Angel, whom she met on an anti-bullying website. But is Angel the person she thinks she is?
Carley's mother Jen is also attempting to deal with Nicki's death. Carley has been good friends with Nicki's mother Debbie since elementary school and was close to Nicki as well. When Jen attends Nicki's wake, she comes face-to-face with her high school boyfriend, Mike, and begins to suspect that there's something between Mike and Debbie.
In the meantime, someone has come back to town to settle his mother's estate. He finds a journal kept by his older sister, Ruthie, who died in a car accident a long time ago. Reading the journal, he begins to understand that she was not only abused by their father but also bullied by her school mates. He's determined to exact revenge for her.
Ms. Staub pulls all of these disparate strands together in a fast-paced suspense novel that serves as a warning to everyone about the danger of relying too heavily on social media and electronic devices for our communication. Sometimes it's much better to just have a face-to-face conversation!
In The Good Sister author Wendy Corsi Staub tells the story of Carley, a young girl who has been enduring significant bullying since she moved to a new school. To make matters worse, her best friend Nicki has dumped her, and a few months later Nicki kills herself. Reeling from her own difficulties at school and her friend's death, Carley is struggling to understand how this all came to be. She turns to a new-found friend, Angel, whom she met on an anti-bullying website. But is Angel the person she thinks she is?
Carley's mother Jen is also attempting to deal with Nicki's death. Carley has been good friends with Nicki's mother Debbie since elementary school and was close to Nicki as well. When Jen attends Nicki's wake, she comes face-to-face with her high school boyfriend, Mike, and begins to suspect that there's something between Mike and Debbie.
In the meantime, someone has come back to town to settle his mother's estate. He finds a journal kept by his older sister, Ruthie, who died in a car accident a long time ago. Reading the journal, he begins to understand that she was not only abused by their father but also bullied by her school mates. He's determined to exact revenge for her.
Ms. Staub pulls all of these disparate strands together in a fast-paced suspense novel that serves as a warning to everyone about the danger of relying too heavily on social media and electronic devices for our communication. Sometimes it's much better to just have a face-to-face conversation!
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