by Erin Bow
This is a young adult book that I heard about when CBC interviewed its B.C. author. The story sounded interesting so I picked up a copy. The book was well written but I was shocked by the violence in the book-- people fear witches and burn them at the stake. A little girl is attacked and her hair is cut off and they try to cut off her ear. The main character is set on fire by someone who is afraid of her. I would really be careful about recommending this book for a young person.
The girl agrees to sell her soul to a witch/magician. In return, her cat get's the ability to talk. The cat ends up being quite an amusing aspect of the book.
I thought the story was okay but I felt it dragged on a bit until the conclusion. I think the story could have been edited down a bit.
Tuesday, 27 December 2011
Black Diamond
by Martin Walker
This is the story of Bruno, a police officer in the town of Saint Denis in the Dordognne region of France. This book attracted me because I have travelled in this area of France and really loved it.
The book was interesting because I had visited the area and could visualize or was familiar with some of the places he mentions in the book. However, the book was also a well written mystery story. It portrayed life in a small provincial town and the small town politics that occur. The story involves a number of attacks on vietnames and chinese establishments in the area. Are the towns getting caught up in inter gang rivalries? Plus, is someone interfering with truffle shipments -- this threatens the reputation for truffles that the region is so proud of. It was a quaint but entertaining story.
This is the story of Bruno, a police officer in the town of Saint Denis in the Dordognne region of France. This book attracted me because I have travelled in this area of France and really loved it.
The book was interesting because I had visited the area and could visualize or was familiar with some of the places he mentions in the book. However, the book was also a well written mystery story. It portrayed life in a small provincial town and the small town politics that occur. The story involves a number of attacks on vietnames and chinese establishments in the area. Are the towns getting caught up in inter gang rivalries? Plus, is someone interfering with truffle shipments -- this threatens the reputation for truffles that the region is so proud of. It was a quaint but entertaining story.
The Coroner's Lunch
by Colin Cotterill
This is the first book about a 70+ year old coroner in Laos, who becomes an amateur sleuth. The story is quite funny. The book makes fun of the communist government and officials in Laos. The coroner has a two helpers, a young nurse who longs to be his apprentice and a young boy who has Downs Syndrome. He also has a croney he consults with.
The story describes how he goes from being a bored, reluctant coroner who longs to retire but who keeps getting reminded that in a communist country there is no retirement. It shows how he works his way around the administration, avoiding what he doesn't want to to and getting what he wants in the end.
It was an entertaining read, very interesting because of the exotic local. I would certainly read other books in this series.
This is the first book about a 70+ year old coroner in Laos, who becomes an amateur sleuth. The story is quite funny. The book makes fun of the communist government and officials in Laos. The coroner has a two helpers, a young nurse who longs to be his apprentice and a young boy who has Downs Syndrome. He also has a croney he consults with.
The story describes how he goes from being a bored, reluctant coroner who longs to retire but who keeps getting reminded that in a communist country there is no retirement. It shows how he works his way around the administration, avoiding what he doesn't want to to and getting what he wants in the end.
It was an entertaining read, very interesting because of the exotic local. I would certainly read other books in this series.
Friday, 23 December 2011
Death Comes to Pemberley
by P.D. James
This is the latest book by the famous mystery author. It is a departure from her normal stories. It is written as a mystery sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. This could be a risky step, taking on a work by another famous author. However, James has done a wonderful job of capturing the language of Austen, the characters from the original book, and weaving a mystery tale out of the original story. I thought she did a wonderful job a representing life in England in Austen's time and reflecting the class consciousness of the characters. She brought in enough information from the original story but no too much and then she went on to embelish the tale. Interestingly, she has made Lizzie a little less angelic than Austen portrays her.
I was curious about the book and wondered if James would be able to pull it off and I would say she did a very admirable job!
This is the latest book by the famous mystery author. It is a departure from her normal stories. It is written as a mystery sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. This could be a risky step, taking on a work by another famous author. However, James has done a wonderful job of capturing the language of Austen, the characters from the original book, and weaving a mystery tale out of the original story. I thought she did a wonderful job a representing life in England in Austen's time and reflecting the class consciousness of the characters. She brought in enough information from the original story but no too much and then she went on to embelish the tale. Interestingly, she has made Lizzie a little less angelic than Austen portrays her.
I was curious about the book and wondered if James would be able to pull it off and I would say she did a very admirable job!
Sunday, 11 December 2011
Paris Vendetta
by Steve Berry
I bought this book thinking it was a mystery but it was really more of an action/thriller like the Da Vinci code and written in a similar style.
The story involves an ex-U.S. Justice Department agent who has settled for life as a bookseller in Copenhagen. He finds his life interrupted by a young American who breaks into his store followed by some people intent on killing him. The young man is a friend of the booksellers friend and sponsor so he sets off with the young man to the home of their joint friend. They find out that the Dane has killed two intruders, one of whom had killed his son.
The story then develops with two different people who are trying to track down the location of what they believe is a treasure left by Napoleon for his son. They are trying to decipher clues in coded text to determine the location of the stash. One of the people is a corsican whose family was wronged by Napoleon the other is an unscrupulous collector. The two people while they are competing to find the treasure are also developing a plot to distabilize the world and profit from the consequences. There are also conspiracy theorists involved in the story and double-crosses.
Of course, the Americans save the day, coming in to France and taking over the case to stop/interfere with terrorist attacks. This was an okay read but it is not my cup of tea, I like books that are more mysteries with analysis of clues and character rather than "shoot-em"/'blow-em-up" action.
I'm glad I bought this book on the discount table, wouldn't have wanted to pay full price for it!
I bought this book thinking it was a mystery but it was really more of an action/thriller like the Da Vinci code and written in a similar style.
The story involves an ex-U.S. Justice Department agent who has settled for life as a bookseller in Copenhagen. He finds his life interrupted by a young American who breaks into his store followed by some people intent on killing him. The young man is a friend of the booksellers friend and sponsor so he sets off with the young man to the home of their joint friend. They find out that the Dane has killed two intruders, one of whom had killed his son.
The story then develops with two different people who are trying to track down the location of what they believe is a treasure left by Napoleon for his son. They are trying to decipher clues in coded text to determine the location of the stash. One of the people is a corsican whose family was wronged by Napoleon the other is an unscrupulous collector. The two people while they are competing to find the treasure are also developing a plot to distabilize the world and profit from the consequences. There are also conspiracy theorists involved in the story and double-crosses.
Of course, the Americans save the day, coming in to France and taking over the case to stop/interfere with terrorist attacks. This was an okay read but it is not my cup of tea, I like books that are more mysteries with analysis of clues and character rather than "shoot-em"/'blow-em-up" action.
I'm glad I bought this book on the discount table, wouldn't have wanted to pay full price for it!
Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton: A Biography
by Edward Rice
This is the story of the life of the amazing adventurer and prolific author Richard Francis Burton. The book is well written, well researched and very interesting and tells the story of the life of an amazing man.
Burton was an incredible invididual, curious, intelligent and able to endure incredible hardships to see and experience the things that interested him. He was also very stubborn and free to express his true feelings and this alienated alot of people. His attitude caused him no end of difficutly getting the respect he deserved, postings he sought and support for his projects.
He reporedly learned more than 27 languages and dialects, kept detailed notes of most of his journeys, however, there are a couple of periods of his life that are shrouded in mystery and people speculate on what he was doing. There is also speculation that he may at times have been working as an undercover agent for the government, not just engaging on personal journeys.
He spent time in India and became a Hindu, then later became a Muslim and made a pilgrimmage to Mecca. He not only documented his journeys in copious detail including many of the sexual rights and practices of the cultures but he also translated many famous works including the Arabian Nights and Kama Sutra.
He suffered many illnesses and while on his quest to find the source of the Nile he was paralyzed and blind for a time, but her persevered and went on to experience many other hardships. It was incredible to hear about the hardships he endured and yet he kept going and was not deterred from further adventures and hardships.
In his later years he married a woman he loved and who adored him and they spent a number of wonderful years together, not always in the greatest conditions.
It was amazing that he did not get the support he needed for what he wanted to do. There was infighting in the East India Company and the military and it seems his enemies always seemed to be more powerful than his supporters. He never made it to a rank beyond Captain but he was eventually Knighted. However, he always struggled for money, never receiving posts that paid a decent amount and not receiving much of a pension.
Shockingly, his wife burned much of his notes, and writing upon his death. People speculated that she wanted to destroy the sexual/pornographic material but people wonder what else might have also been sacrificed to the flames.
Burton was an incredible, if difficult to deal with, individual. His life story is amazing and the book certainly does justice to him.
This is the story of the life of the amazing adventurer and prolific author Richard Francis Burton. The book is well written, well researched and very interesting and tells the story of the life of an amazing man.
Burton was an incredible invididual, curious, intelligent and able to endure incredible hardships to see and experience the things that interested him. He was also very stubborn and free to express his true feelings and this alienated alot of people. His attitude caused him no end of difficutly getting the respect he deserved, postings he sought and support for his projects.
He reporedly learned more than 27 languages and dialects, kept detailed notes of most of his journeys, however, there are a couple of periods of his life that are shrouded in mystery and people speculate on what he was doing. There is also speculation that he may at times have been working as an undercover agent for the government, not just engaging on personal journeys.
He spent time in India and became a Hindu, then later became a Muslim and made a pilgrimmage to Mecca. He not only documented his journeys in copious detail including many of the sexual rights and practices of the cultures but he also translated many famous works including the Arabian Nights and Kama Sutra.
He suffered many illnesses and while on his quest to find the source of the Nile he was paralyzed and blind for a time, but her persevered and went on to experience many other hardships. It was incredible to hear about the hardships he endured and yet he kept going and was not deterred from further adventures and hardships.
In his later years he married a woman he loved and who adored him and they spent a number of wonderful years together, not always in the greatest conditions.
It was amazing that he did not get the support he needed for what he wanted to do. There was infighting in the East India Company and the military and it seems his enemies always seemed to be more powerful than his supporters. He never made it to a rank beyond Captain but he was eventually Knighted. However, he always struggled for money, never receiving posts that paid a decent amount and not receiving much of a pension.
Shockingly, his wife burned much of his notes, and writing upon his death. People speculated that she wanted to destroy the sexual/pornographic material but people wonder what else might have also been sacrificed to the flames.
Burton was an incredible, if difficult to deal with, individual. His life story is amazing and the book certainly does justice to him.
Cain
by Jose Saramago.
Saramago is my second favourite author after Coetzee. This is his last book, published, posthumously.
His previous book about an elephant was a disappointment but this one certainly reflects his intelligence and wicked sense of humour.
The book is about Cain (of Cain and Abel). In this story Cain kills his brother and is sentenced to wander the earth by God. However, while he wanders, he doesn't just wander in space he also wanders through time to be present at other significant biblical events, Abraham and Isaac, Tower of Bable, Noah's ark, etc.
Saramago plays with the bible stories, for e.g. implying that there were other people on earth at the same time as Adam and Eve, which probably is more in line with the true development of homo sapiens.
The story is basically about Cain challenging God and his authority and decisions (unfair and irrational) and in the end it seems that Cain is able to outsmart God. I found it a clever and engaging story.
Saramago is my second favourite author after Coetzee. This is his last book, published, posthumously.
His previous book about an elephant was a disappointment but this one certainly reflects his intelligence and wicked sense of humour.
The book is about Cain (of Cain and Abel). In this story Cain kills his brother and is sentenced to wander the earth by God. However, while he wanders, he doesn't just wander in space he also wanders through time to be present at other significant biblical events, Abraham and Isaac, Tower of Bable, Noah's ark, etc.
Saramago plays with the bible stories, for e.g. implying that there were other people on earth at the same time as Adam and Eve, which probably is more in line with the true development of homo sapiens.
The story is basically about Cain challenging God and his authority and decisions (unfair and irrational) and in the end it seems that Cain is able to outsmart God. I found it a clever and engaging story.
Thursday, 17 November 2011
The Bookman's Promise
by John Dunning
This is a book in a series by John Dunning about a Rare Book Seller, Cliff Janeway, who gets involved in solving mysteries related to rare books.
In this, the third in a series, Janeway meets an old woman who has a copy of a book by Richard Francis Burton which is inscribed to a person she claims is her grandfather. She claims that her grandfather was a friend of Burton's and had many of his books, but that the collection was "stolen" from her family by unscrupulous booksellers. On her death bed she tells him he can have the book provided he promises to try to track down the other books that were in her father's collection.The old woman dies, another innocent woman is murdered as Cliff and a couple of female friends travel to Carolina to try to find proof of the old woman's claims.
The book was interesting but I found the part where the old woman is supposedly recalling her grandfather's narrative of his travels with Burton in Carolina, while under hypnosis, a bit long-winded.
Many characters get involved with Janeway and his partners, some are quite violent. Janeway disrupts several people's lives in his quest for the truth.
Bibliography
Bios
Fawn Brodie. The Devil Drives, 1967
Edward Rice. Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton, 1990
Mary S. Lovell. A Rage to Live,
Fiction
Illya Troyanov. Collector of Worlds, 2010
This is a book in a series by John Dunning about a Rare Book Seller, Cliff Janeway, who gets involved in solving mysteries related to rare books.
In this, the third in a series, Janeway meets an old woman who has a copy of a book by Richard Francis Burton which is inscribed to a person she claims is her grandfather. She claims that her grandfather was a friend of Burton's and had many of his books, but that the collection was "stolen" from her family by unscrupulous booksellers. On her death bed she tells him he can have the book provided he promises to try to track down the other books that were in her father's collection.The old woman dies, another innocent woman is murdered as Cliff and a couple of female friends travel to Carolina to try to find proof of the old woman's claims.
The book was interesting but I found the part where the old woman is supposedly recalling her grandfather's narrative of his travels with Burton in Carolina, while under hypnosis, a bit long-winded.
Many characters get involved with Janeway and his partners, some are quite violent. Janeway disrupts several people's lives in his quest for the truth.
Bibliography
Bios
Fawn Brodie. The Devil Drives, 1967
Edward Rice. Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton, 1990
Mary S. Lovell. A Rage to Live,
Fiction
Illya Troyanov. Collector of Worlds, 2010
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
The Man Who Loved Books Too Much
by Allison Hoover Bartlett
This is a true story about an American man who is a compulsive rare book thief. The author has interviewed the thief. She also interviews rare book sellers including one person who had the voluntary position of Head of Security for the ABAA (Antiquarian Booksellers Assoc. of America), who became obsessed with tracking down the thief and "bringing him to justice".
The story was interesting for the story of the thief and what fuelled his compulsion -- the need to be respected for his "class". He seemed to feel that it was okay to steal and hurt other people in order to try to create his collection. The author admits she had trouble trying to understand how his mind worked and how he rationalized his actions, for e.g. once he had sold an item he stole he no longer felt any responsibility regarding the theft.
The other part of the story, the bookseller's attempt to identify and capture the thief was also interesting as was the insight into the world or rare book sellers and collectors and what drives their passion. Thrre was also some discussion of some of the questionable operators and tactics utlilzed by less than honest people over the centuries.
It was interesting to read about why people can become so passionate about books and the different ways this passion is manifest. The author, like rare book collectors, is conviced of the physical appeal of a book to the reader/collector. However, current stats show that ebook sales are outstripping book sales so obviously not everyone, especially young people, are not as besotted with physical books -- is that something to be sad about? The author points out that many collectors don't even read the books they collect -- what's the point of that?? Just bragging rights? Flaunting your wealth? class? an investment? I would think that if I was collecting precious books I would want to be reading/savouring them. She also talks about the covers being the appeal factor. I agree with that, the one thing I don't like in ebooks is that you can't really appreciate the art of the covers. However, CD artwork replaced album covers and now i-tunes has totally eliminated covers.
I enjoyed the book, now I am off to read a mystery about a bookseller who investigates crimes re: rare books.
This is a true story about an American man who is a compulsive rare book thief. The author has interviewed the thief. She also interviews rare book sellers including one person who had the voluntary position of Head of Security for the ABAA (Antiquarian Booksellers Assoc. of America), who became obsessed with tracking down the thief and "bringing him to justice".
The story was interesting for the story of the thief and what fuelled his compulsion -- the need to be respected for his "class". He seemed to feel that it was okay to steal and hurt other people in order to try to create his collection. The author admits she had trouble trying to understand how his mind worked and how he rationalized his actions, for e.g. once he had sold an item he stole he no longer felt any responsibility regarding the theft.
The other part of the story, the bookseller's attempt to identify and capture the thief was also interesting as was the insight into the world or rare book sellers and collectors and what drives their passion. Thrre was also some discussion of some of the questionable operators and tactics utlilzed by less than honest people over the centuries.
It was interesting to read about why people can become so passionate about books and the different ways this passion is manifest. The author, like rare book collectors, is conviced of the physical appeal of a book to the reader/collector. However, current stats show that ebook sales are outstripping book sales so obviously not everyone, especially young people, are not as besotted with physical books -- is that something to be sad about? The author points out that many collectors don't even read the books they collect -- what's the point of that?? Just bragging rights? Flaunting your wealth? class? an investment? I would think that if I was collecting precious books I would want to be reading/savouring them. She also talks about the covers being the appeal factor. I agree with that, the one thing I don't like in ebooks is that you can't really appreciate the art of the covers. However, CD artwork replaced album covers and now i-tunes has totally eliminated covers.
I enjoyed the book, now I am off to read a mystery about a bookseller who investigates crimes re: rare books.
Saturday, 12 November 2011
Half-Blood Blues
by Esi Edugyan
This book just won the Giller Prize for 2011. It was one of the Booker shortlist also. I have now read 5 of the 6 shortlisted Booker titles this year.
This was an interesting book. I am not sure I consider it brilliant or as good as some of the other books I read this year. It's competition in the Giller included Ondaatje's Cat's Table and the Sister Brothers. I was glad the Sister Brothers didn't win as I didn't think much of that book. I did enjoy the Cat's Table and think that in my opinion it was a more complex book than this one.
However, having said the above I think the book was interesting. It is about some black jazz musicians, some American, one German, who are trying to follow their passion, making music, during the start of WW II in Germany and then in Paris. One of the characters, a young boy, a trunpet player, is considered a protege. The narrator of the story, is a bass player, who is jealous of the talent of the young trumpet player and the affection of a woman, Delilah, for the young boy.
The book jumps between the 1930's and 1990's. In the 30's time period the group is trying to record their music but the war makes this difficult, they do manage to record some tracks and the main character is able to sneak out a copy to America where the young trumpet player is acknowledged asd a genius. The tragedy is that the young man was arrested and sent to a concentration camp.
In the 1990's segment of the story, the bass player is returning to Germany with one of the other musicians to attend a festival tribute to Hiero, the genius. The main character then hears that the young man may not have died in the war and he has to face his guilt for contributing to what occurred to the young trumpeter.
The book does a fabulous job of giving a sense of what life was like in Germany and Paris as there were fears of war and then when the war actually arrived in France. She portrays the tension and hysteria very well. She also explores racial issues. Blacks went to Europe because they were "more accepted" there than in America but with the coming war blacks and Jews became targets, but having somewhat lighter skin could allow you to be mistaken for mediterranean. When the band makes it to Paris, it is the fact tha Hiero is German that causes problems, not that he is black. At one point one of the men is attacked in a crowd because it is assumed he is a Sengalese solider (brought to France to fight for France) who had gone AWOL. Did the narrator sabotage the trumpeter's escape because he wanted to ensure the band was able to record, or was it his jealousy of the young man and his talent that caused his actions? If you have passion that drives you, can you just walk away from it? The book leaves a lot unexplained...
This book just won the Giller Prize for 2011. It was one of the Booker shortlist also. I have now read 5 of the 6 shortlisted Booker titles this year.
This was an interesting book. I am not sure I consider it brilliant or as good as some of the other books I read this year. It's competition in the Giller included Ondaatje's Cat's Table and the Sister Brothers. I was glad the Sister Brothers didn't win as I didn't think much of that book. I did enjoy the Cat's Table and think that in my opinion it was a more complex book than this one.
However, having said the above I think the book was interesting. It is about some black jazz musicians, some American, one German, who are trying to follow their passion, making music, during the start of WW II in Germany and then in Paris. One of the characters, a young boy, a trunpet player, is considered a protege. The narrator of the story, is a bass player, who is jealous of the talent of the young trumpet player and the affection of a woman, Delilah, for the young boy.
The book jumps between the 1930's and 1990's. In the 30's time period the group is trying to record their music but the war makes this difficult, they do manage to record some tracks and the main character is able to sneak out a copy to America where the young trumpet player is acknowledged asd a genius. The tragedy is that the young man was arrested and sent to a concentration camp.
In the 1990's segment of the story, the bass player is returning to Germany with one of the other musicians to attend a festival tribute to Hiero, the genius. The main character then hears that the young man may not have died in the war and he has to face his guilt for contributing to what occurred to the young trumpeter.
The book does a fabulous job of giving a sense of what life was like in Germany and Paris as there were fears of war and then when the war actually arrived in France. She portrays the tension and hysteria very well. She also explores racial issues. Blacks went to Europe because they were "more accepted" there than in America but with the coming war blacks and Jews became targets, but having somewhat lighter skin could allow you to be mistaken for mediterranean. When the band makes it to Paris, it is the fact tha Hiero is German that causes problems, not that he is black. At one point one of the men is attacked in a crowd because it is assumed he is a Sengalese solider (brought to France to fight for France) who had gone AWOL. Did the narrator sabotage the trumpeter's escape because he wanted to ensure the band was able to record, or was it his jealousy of the young man and his talent that caused his actions? If you have passion that drives you, can you just walk away from it? The book leaves a lot unexplained...
Thursday, 10 November 2011
Mendel's Dwarf
by Simon Mawer
This is the second book I have read by this author. The other was The Glass Room.
Both books were very interesting and very powerful but I found this book devastating. It is one of those books that punches you in the gut, you don't really want to think about it after you have finished it because it is too upsetting. I finished it a few days ago but couldn't face writing about it yet. I would read, and in fact look forward to rereading The Glass Room sometime but I don' think I would ever read this again.
The story is about a dwarf, who happens to be a descendant of Gregor Mendel, the father of genetics.
The dwarf, Dr. Benedict Lambert becomes a geneticist and is working on identifying the gene that causes dwarfism. The book covers the two lives, Benedict's and Mendel's and the affection each man has for a particular woman. Mendel's genius is not realized in his life time, Benedict's life is discounted because he is a dwarf. Benedict befriends a women (a Librarian) he met as a young boy and then meets again at the university where he is teaching. The woman is the victim of spousal abuse. When she leaves her husband temporarily he invites her to stay with him. At first she agrees because she thinks he is safe. She does not realize he has designs on her sexually. They end up having sex and she gets pregnant but she aborts the fetus because her husband is sterile and also because she fears having a dwarf child.
Later she returns to her husband (WHY????) After going to maritial counselling it is suggested that the marriage could be saved if she had a child as she seems to want one. She proposes fertilization to her husband and asks Benedict if he will donate his sperm and select an egg that does not have the dwarf gene so that she will have a healthy baby. Her husband is under the impression that the child is from his sperm.
When the child is born the mother has an aneurism and is in a coma. The father realizes that the child has brown eyes and neither he nor his wife have brown eyes but Benedict has brown eyes. He had thought Benedict was "safe"! He is outraged and does the unthinkable.
It is amazing how the author sneaks up the "truth" on you throughout the book, people discount Benedict as a sexual being, as a potential partner and unwanted mutant; but for circus families, a "normal" child is undesirable. Benedict feels so isolated, misunderstood and ignored, it is tragic. And ironically, he thought he was so wise, knowing all about genetics and finding the answer to dwarfism; and he and his lover thoght they could trick the husband, not realizing that genetics would come to "bite him" again.
This is the second book I have read by this author. The other was The Glass Room.
Both books were very interesting and very powerful but I found this book devastating. It is one of those books that punches you in the gut, you don't really want to think about it after you have finished it because it is too upsetting. I finished it a few days ago but couldn't face writing about it yet. I would read, and in fact look forward to rereading The Glass Room sometime but I don' think I would ever read this again.
The story is about a dwarf, who happens to be a descendant of Gregor Mendel, the father of genetics.
The dwarf, Dr. Benedict Lambert becomes a geneticist and is working on identifying the gene that causes dwarfism. The book covers the two lives, Benedict's and Mendel's and the affection each man has for a particular woman. Mendel's genius is not realized in his life time, Benedict's life is discounted because he is a dwarf. Benedict befriends a women (a Librarian) he met as a young boy and then meets again at the university where he is teaching. The woman is the victim of spousal abuse. When she leaves her husband temporarily he invites her to stay with him. At first she agrees because she thinks he is safe. She does not realize he has designs on her sexually. They end up having sex and she gets pregnant but she aborts the fetus because her husband is sterile and also because she fears having a dwarf child.
Later she returns to her husband (WHY????) After going to maritial counselling it is suggested that the marriage could be saved if she had a child as she seems to want one. She proposes fertilization to her husband and asks Benedict if he will donate his sperm and select an egg that does not have the dwarf gene so that she will have a healthy baby. Her husband is under the impression that the child is from his sperm.
When the child is born the mother has an aneurism and is in a coma. The father realizes that the child has brown eyes and neither he nor his wife have brown eyes but Benedict has brown eyes. He had thought Benedict was "safe"! He is outraged and does the unthinkable.
It is amazing how the author sneaks up the "truth" on you throughout the book, people discount Benedict as a sexual being, as a potential partner and unwanted mutant; but for circus families, a "normal" child is undesirable. Benedict feels so isolated, misunderstood and ignored, it is tragic. And ironically, he thought he was so wise, knowing all about genetics and finding the answer to dwarfism; and he and his lover thoght they could trick the husband, not realizing that genetics would come to "bite him" again.
Friday, 4 November 2011
The Sense of an Ending
by Julian Barnes
This book just won the Booker Prize for 2011. It was an interesting, thought provoking but also frustrating book.
The book starts off with a sixty something retired man remembering his life as a young man and his friendship with three other young men, one of whom (Adrian) was consdidered brilliant and expected to excel. The man also recalls a short, painful relationship he had around the same time with a girl named Veronica. She was very mean and critical of him and treated him very badly. Later on Adrian and Veronica let him know that they are in a relationship. After that, the man learns that Adrian has committed suicide, giving a philosophical reason for his decision -- life is a gift you have not asked for, if you don't want it you don't have to accept it...
The man is recalling times with his friends and victory and discusses memories and whether they can be trusted (accurate?). He talks about his very ordinary, boring life inlcuding his marriage and divorce and seems to be apologizing for being so boring and unadventurous.
Then the man receives a notice advising him that he has been bequeathed 500 pounds and Adrian's diary.
He receives the money but not the diary. When he contacts Veronica to try to get the diary she is rude to him and only sends him a photocopy of one page of the diary with a strange formula and which ends with words like If Anothy (the main character).... She also inlcudes a letter, which Tony cannot recall writing, which wishes Adrian and Veronica an unhappy relationship and a child..... and he advises Adrian to check with Veronica's mother...
This prompts Anthony/Tony to try to meet Veronica and she does meet with him but is very rude every time they meet. The last time she drives him to a location and we see her meet some mentally challenged adults her call her Veronica. Tony for some stupid reason, despite how she has treated him in the past and now, starts to imagine he and Veronica in a relationship -- this is totally ludicrous. Why can't this guy learn to stand up for himself and be angry when he is treated shoddily!
Tony comes to believe that his "curse" had come true and feels guilty and what had and then worse when he realizes that Veronica is the handicapped boy's sister not mother.
This was a very interesting story, it makes you think about things one has done in the past and friendships and shows that we often want to reconnect with people to check with them as to their memories of shared events (like the character in Ondaatje's Cat's Table). However, I don't believe the character needs to feel guilty for what happended between Adrian, Veronica and her mother. They were adults and are responsible for their own actions. Adrian, rather than being the brilliant philosopher and genius took the coward's way out.
This book just won the Booker Prize for 2011. It was an interesting, thought provoking but also frustrating book.
The book starts off with a sixty something retired man remembering his life as a young man and his friendship with three other young men, one of whom (Adrian) was consdidered brilliant and expected to excel. The man also recalls a short, painful relationship he had around the same time with a girl named Veronica. She was very mean and critical of him and treated him very badly. Later on Adrian and Veronica let him know that they are in a relationship. After that, the man learns that Adrian has committed suicide, giving a philosophical reason for his decision -- life is a gift you have not asked for, if you don't want it you don't have to accept it...
The man is recalling times with his friends and victory and discusses memories and whether they can be trusted (accurate?). He talks about his very ordinary, boring life inlcuding his marriage and divorce and seems to be apologizing for being so boring and unadventurous.
Then the man receives a notice advising him that he has been bequeathed 500 pounds and Adrian's diary.
He receives the money but not the diary. When he contacts Veronica to try to get the diary she is rude to him and only sends him a photocopy of one page of the diary with a strange formula and which ends with words like If Anothy (the main character).... She also inlcudes a letter, which Tony cannot recall writing, which wishes Adrian and Veronica an unhappy relationship and a child..... and he advises Adrian to check with Veronica's mother...
This prompts Anthony/Tony to try to meet Veronica and she does meet with him but is very rude every time they meet. The last time she drives him to a location and we see her meet some mentally challenged adults her call her Veronica. Tony for some stupid reason, despite how she has treated him in the past and now, starts to imagine he and Veronica in a relationship -- this is totally ludicrous. Why can't this guy learn to stand up for himself and be angry when he is treated shoddily!
Tony comes to believe that his "curse" had come true and feels guilty and what had and then worse when he realizes that Veronica is the handicapped boy's sister not mother.
This was a very interesting story, it makes you think about things one has done in the past and friendships and shows that we often want to reconnect with people to check with them as to their memories of shared events (like the character in Ondaatje's Cat's Table). However, I don't believe the character needs to feel guilty for what happended between Adrian, Veronica and her mother. They were adults and are responsible for their own actions. Adrian, rather than being the brilliant philosopher and genius took the coward's way out.
Thursday, 3 November 2011
The Cat's Table
by Michael Ondaatje
I have heard that people either love or hate Ondaatje. I am in the "love him" category to some degree. I loved The English Patient and I liked The Skin of the Lion, and I thought Anil's Ghost was okay.
I enjoyed this, his newest book, it had, on the one hand, a fascinating story of a young boy's 21 day trip from Sri Lanka to England, leaving behind the country he knew and loved to join a mother he was not sure he would even recognize.
The first part of the story describes the voyage and the cast of unusual characters on the ship. Michael the main character makes friends with two other boys his age and they explore the ship and engage in hijinks, one act of which proves deadly to one of the characters. The boys prowl around the ship exploring all its recesses and often hide out in the lifeboats. They have the opportunity to observe and overhear things from this post. Another part of the story involves a criminal, being transported on the ship and only allowed on deck at night.
The people the boys meet, the things they observe, and the tragedies that occur on the ship change the boys and also Michael's cousin, who is also a passenger on the ship. They move from boyhood rather abruptly as a result of their experiences but are also haunted by what occurred, however, the main character seems to dismiss the events for a good part of his life and only seems to realize their importance later in life. The book leaves a lot of the aspects of what happened on the ship unclear, for e.g. did the pigeon lady actually shoot the police officer and if so why? Did the prisoner and his daughter survive their leap into the water? Did the cousin kill the undercover officer or was she tricked into thinking she did?
The second aspect of the story involves looking back on things that happended in the past to try to understand how they made you the person you have become. Even small things, that seem insignificant at the time, can have an impact or later be recognized as turning points in one's life.
I appreciated the book both for the story of the voyage and also for raising the issues that sometimes we long to reconnect with people who have touched our lives, if only briefly, to confirm our understanding of events and that people can come to a better understanding of themselves through pondering moments and encounters in the past and the influence they have had.
I have heard that people either love or hate Ondaatje. I am in the "love him" category to some degree. I loved The English Patient and I liked The Skin of the Lion, and I thought Anil's Ghost was okay.
I enjoyed this, his newest book, it had, on the one hand, a fascinating story of a young boy's 21 day trip from Sri Lanka to England, leaving behind the country he knew and loved to join a mother he was not sure he would even recognize.
The first part of the story describes the voyage and the cast of unusual characters on the ship. Michael the main character makes friends with two other boys his age and they explore the ship and engage in hijinks, one act of which proves deadly to one of the characters. The boys prowl around the ship exploring all its recesses and often hide out in the lifeboats. They have the opportunity to observe and overhear things from this post. Another part of the story involves a criminal, being transported on the ship and only allowed on deck at night.
The people the boys meet, the things they observe, and the tragedies that occur on the ship change the boys and also Michael's cousin, who is also a passenger on the ship. They move from boyhood rather abruptly as a result of their experiences but are also haunted by what occurred, however, the main character seems to dismiss the events for a good part of his life and only seems to realize their importance later in life. The book leaves a lot of the aspects of what happened on the ship unclear, for e.g. did the pigeon lady actually shoot the police officer and if so why? Did the prisoner and his daughter survive their leap into the water? Did the cousin kill the undercover officer or was she tricked into thinking she did?
The second aspect of the story involves looking back on things that happended in the past to try to understand how they made you the person you have become. Even small things, that seem insignificant at the time, can have an impact or later be recognized as turning points in one's life.
I appreciated the book both for the story of the voyage and also for raising the issues that sometimes we long to reconnect with people who have touched our lives, if only briefly, to confirm our understanding of events and that people can come to a better understanding of themselves through pondering moments and encounters in the past and the influence they have had.
Saturday, 29 October 2011
A Trick of the Light
by Louise Penny
This is another book in the Inspector Gamache mystery series, set in Three Pines, a small village in Quebec.
The Inspector has some "history" with this village, and not all of it is good. This time he is investigating the death of an unknown women in the garden of a local artist who has just had a party at her home to celebrate her solo show in Montreal.
He finds there is a lot of intrigue in the art world among artists and agents. It is not as noble a field as he expected.
The books are nice mild mysteries, not gruesome. The cast of characters in Three Pines add colour to the story as do a couple of other side plots. It almost seems that the town is comprised of misfits who have escaped the real world and found a home in Three Pines. The Inspector is too close to people who could be suspects in the murder and tips his toe over the line of conflict of interest on several occasions. The story includes references to things that occurred in previous stories.
I enjoy Penny's mysteries, they are a nice entertaining read. She really gives you the flavour of life in Quebec. The book kept you guessing as to whodunnit right to the end.
This is another book in the Inspector Gamache mystery series, set in Three Pines, a small village in Quebec.
The Inspector has some "history" with this village, and not all of it is good. This time he is investigating the death of an unknown women in the garden of a local artist who has just had a party at her home to celebrate her solo show in Montreal.
He finds there is a lot of intrigue in the art world among artists and agents. It is not as noble a field as he expected.
The books are nice mild mysteries, not gruesome. The cast of characters in Three Pines add colour to the story as do a couple of other side plots. It almost seems that the town is comprised of misfits who have escaped the real world and found a home in Three Pines. The Inspector is too close to people who could be suspects in the murder and tips his toe over the line of conflict of interest on several occasions. The story includes references to things that occurred in previous stories.
I enjoy Penny's mysteries, they are a nice entertaining read. She really gives you the flavour of life in Quebec. The book kept you guessing as to whodunnit right to the end.
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Sisters Brothers
by Patrick DeWitt
This is another of the shortlisted titles for this year's Booker Prize. It is also on other award lists. After all this attention I expected the book would be good, interesting, unusual....
Sadly, it was none of the above, in my opinion. The book is set in the United States during the time of the California gold rush. Two brothers, The Sisters brothers, two hired guns, are engaged to go and kill a man called Warm, but to obtain a formula from him first.
The story is about the brother's travels to California as they leave a trail of dead bodies along their way, and about how they decide to drop their contract killing to work with warm on his idea of how to locate gold.
The two brothers are quite different, one is a cold hearted killer with no redeeming qualities, the other brother is kind (giving hotel workers and prostitutes large tipms) and sentimental. Things don't turn out as the brothers hoped and they head home.... to live with their mother (really..... what a ludicrous ending!).
If like to read unusual books, books that play with time and history but this book was a disappointment.
I look forward to much better things with the other Booker titles which I hope to read soon.
This is another of the shortlisted titles for this year's Booker Prize. It is also on other award lists. After all this attention I expected the book would be good, interesting, unusual....
Sadly, it was none of the above, in my opinion. The book is set in the United States during the time of the California gold rush. Two brothers, The Sisters brothers, two hired guns, are engaged to go and kill a man called Warm, but to obtain a formula from him first.
The story is about the brother's travels to California as they leave a trail of dead bodies along their way, and about how they decide to drop their contract killing to work with warm on his idea of how to locate gold.
The two brothers are quite different, one is a cold hearted killer with no redeeming qualities, the other brother is kind (giving hotel workers and prostitutes large tipms) and sentimental. Things don't turn out as the brothers hoped and they head home.... to live with their mother (really..... what a ludicrous ending!).
If like to read unusual books, books that play with time and history but this book was a disappointment.
I look forward to much better things with the other Booker titles which I hope to read soon.
Saturday, 22 October 2011
Pigeon English
by Stephen Kelman
OMG! I thought the previous book I read, Jamrach's Menagerie, was brutal. The ending of this book also hits you in the gut.
The book is also one of the finalists for the Booker Prize and certainly deserves the honour. It is the story of a Ghanaian boy, Harri, who is living in England with his mother and sister. They escaped Ghana to get away from the situations there. They have left the father of the family, a baby daughter and grandmother in Ghana. They are hoping to bring them to England soon.
The boy (Harri) is living in a tenement building where there are a lot of gangs operating. They try to woo him into a life of crime but the boy keeps bumbling his way along, avoiding being initated into the dark side. He is revelling in discovering what first love is like. He has a pigeon that he is feeding and trying to befriend. The pigeon occasionally has something to say in the story.
A boy is killed in the neighbourhood and Harri and a friend decide that they will use the sleuthing techniques that the friend has learned by watching American crime shows to solve the murder. Sadly they come too close to the truth and Harri pays the price...
The book was sweet, poignant and very touching-- Harri's sense of wonder and curiousity were lovely and comical at tiimes. However the book also portrayed the violence and brutality that can exist in ghettos. Even the boys aunt and mother are involved with criminals (though in different ways).
I was really rooting for the young boy and was devastated by the ending of the book. Perhaps if the boy hadn't sacrificied his alligator "charm" for his baby sisters healthy recovery, he would have been protected... or would he?
OMG! I thought the previous book I read, Jamrach's Menagerie, was brutal. The ending of this book also hits you in the gut.
The book is also one of the finalists for the Booker Prize and certainly deserves the honour. It is the story of a Ghanaian boy, Harri, who is living in England with his mother and sister. They escaped Ghana to get away from the situations there. They have left the father of the family, a baby daughter and grandmother in Ghana. They are hoping to bring them to England soon.
The boy (Harri) is living in a tenement building where there are a lot of gangs operating. They try to woo him into a life of crime but the boy keeps bumbling his way along, avoiding being initated into the dark side. He is revelling in discovering what first love is like. He has a pigeon that he is feeding and trying to befriend. The pigeon occasionally has something to say in the story.
A boy is killed in the neighbourhood and Harri and a friend decide that they will use the sleuthing techniques that the friend has learned by watching American crime shows to solve the murder. Sadly they come too close to the truth and Harri pays the price...
The book was sweet, poignant and very touching-- Harri's sense of wonder and curiousity were lovely and comical at tiimes. However the book also portrayed the violence and brutality that can exist in ghettos. Even the boys aunt and mother are involved with criminals (though in different ways).
I was really rooting for the young boy and was devastated by the ending of the book. Perhaps if the boy hadn't sacrificied his alligator "charm" for his baby sisters healthy recovery, he would have been protected... or would he?
Thursday, 20 October 2011
Jamrach's Menagerie
by Carol Blair.
This is one of the books shortlisted for the Booker this year. It was an amazing story about a young British boy whose life first changes when he is attacked by a tiger -- and gets offered a job with the man who acquires wild animals and sells them. Then, when the boy is a teenager he signs on a trip with a whaling ship which is also seeking to capture a dragon on an island in Indonesia (a Komodo dragon from the description).
The book provides a detailed description of whaling, capturing the whale and harvesting the oil and meat from the whale. They do indeed succeed in capturing a dragon but one of the sailors lets the dragon loose on the ship. To save themselves the sailor have to toss the dragon overboard. The sailor who let the dragon free is a bit crazy (seeing images, etc.) is conviced that the ship is cursed for capturing the dragon and the ship is then plagued by many storms until it capsizes.
The author then goes on to describe in brutal detail what it is like to be afloat on the ocean for weeks. Most of the crew die during the time at sea but the boy is one of two who survive. He has to learn to live with the shock of his experience and the despair of (killing)/losing his best friend and the other men who had come to be his friends and the guilt for having survived.
This book was a very powerful story, I found it much more engaging than other books with similar themes, e.g. Life of Pi. I don't think I will forget this book or the images of the tragedy at sea for a long time. The author did an excelllent job at portraying London for lower class people in the late 1800's. The language was very beautiful and lyrical... e.g. when the dragon is about to charge them the protagonist describes it "The grass sang".
One reviewer, Robert Hough, comments about the book "Never mind not being able to put it down... there is a 100-page section in which you will not be able to breathe." He does not exaggerate!
This is one of the books shortlisted for the Booker this year. It was an amazing story about a young British boy whose life first changes when he is attacked by a tiger -- and gets offered a job with the man who acquires wild animals and sells them. Then, when the boy is a teenager he signs on a trip with a whaling ship which is also seeking to capture a dragon on an island in Indonesia (a Komodo dragon from the description).
The book provides a detailed description of whaling, capturing the whale and harvesting the oil and meat from the whale. They do indeed succeed in capturing a dragon but one of the sailors lets the dragon loose on the ship. To save themselves the sailor have to toss the dragon overboard. The sailor who let the dragon free is a bit crazy (seeing images, etc.) is conviced that the ship is cursed for capturing the dragon and the ship is then plagued by many storms until it capsizes.
The author then goes on to describe in brutal detail what it is like to be afloat on the ocean for weeks. Most of the crew die during the time at sea but the boy is one of two who survive. He has to learn to live with the shock of his experience and the despair of (killing)/losing his best friend and the other men who had come to be his friends and the guilt for having survived.
This book was a very powerful story, I found it much more engaging than other books with similar themes, e.g. Life of Pi. I don't think I will forget this book or the images of the tragedy at sea for a long time. The author did an excelllent job at portraying London for lower class people in the late 1800's. The language was very beautiful and lyrical... e.g. when the dragon is about to charge them the protagonist describes it "The grass sang".
One reviewer, Robert Hough, comments about the book "Never mind not being able to put it down... there is a 100-page section in which you will not be able to breathe." He does not exaggerate!
Monday, 17 October 2011
An Impartial Witness
by Charles Todd
Charles Todd is the name of a mother/son team who write a series of mysteries featuring Detective Ian Rutledge, who has returned from WWI a scarred man, haunted by the ghost of a soldier.
This book is the second in a new series by the pair. It is about a young nurse, Bess Crawford, who is serving at or near the front lines during WW I. She fancies herself an amateur sleuth much to the chagrine of her parents and Scotland Yard. Bess witnesses a scene at a railway station - a woman is weeping uncontrollably and her male companion seems disinterested in her distress. Bess then sees a newspaper article that states the woman was murdered. Bess is familiar with the woman's face because she had been nursing the woman's husband (a wounded soldier) and he had a picture of his wife pinned to his clothes.
Bess reports what she saw to the police and then gets involved in trying to figure out who murdered the woman and attacked other people who may have been associated with the woman. She is told to let the police do their work but is unable to stay out of it when she feels that the wrong person was arrested. The book does keep you in suspense until the end.
The story was interesting, especially the portrayal of wartime England. Bess is a feisty, independent minded person (somewhat modeled on Misss Marples I think). However, I prefer the Ian Rutledge series, I find this role as a real detective and his angst as he wrestles with his demons more interesting.
Charles Todd is the name of a mother/son team who write a series of mysteries featuring Detective Ian Rutledge, who has returned from WWI a scarred man, haunted by the ghost of a soldier.
This book is the second in a new series by the pair. It is about a young nurse, Bess Crawford, who is serving at or near the front lines during WW I. She fancies herself an amateur sleuth much to the chagrine of her parents and Scotland Yard. Bess witnesses a scene at a railway station - a woman is weeping uncontrollably and her male companion seems disinterested in her distress. Bess then sees a newspaper article that states the woman was murdered. Bess is familiar with the woman's face because she had been nursing the woman's husband (a wounded soldier) and he had a picture of his wife pinned to his clothes.
Bess reports what she saw to the police and then gets involved in trying to figure out who murdered the woman and attacked other people who may have been associated with the woman. She is told to let the police do their work but is unable to stay out of it when she feels that the wrong person was arrested. The book does keep you in suspense until the end.
The story was interesting, especially the portrayal of wartime England. Bess is a feisty, independent minded person (somewhat modeled on Misss Marples I think). However, I prefer the Ian Rutledge series, I find this role as a real detective and his angst as he wrestles with his demons more interesting.
Thursday, 13 October 2011
Night Circus
by Erin Morgenstern
This is a fascinating story about two magicians who each train a young person in their skills, with the intention that the two trainees will at some unspecified time compete "to the death". Years later the setting for their competition is an unusual circus, the Night Circus, which arrives without notice in towns around the world. The circus and the acts are all designed in shades of black and white. Instead of a circus tent with many circles within, the Night Circus consists of numerous tents which feature amazing sites and performances.
As the story develops, one of the competitors figures out who his competition is, the other competitor does not know who he is until much later.
The two original magicians are thwarted in their plans as the two apprentices fall in love and try to figure out how to avoid the conpetition.
The story is very engaging. I found aspects of the circus, many of which seemed to feed fantasies and experiences rather than entertainment, very interesting. In the book many people who attended the circus became "groupies" following the circus around the world. I can understand how the fantasy and creativity of the circus could hook people.
I found the main story line, with two people, who with no choice in the matter, are destined to be pawns in a competition by two egomaniacs interesting, while sad. But the two main characters were not the only ones whose lives were affected by this competition.
The story explored control, destiny, magic and freedom.
This is a fascinating story about two magicians who each train a young person in their skills, with the intention that the two trainees will at some unspecified time compete "to the death". Years later the setting for their competition is an unusual circus, the Night Circus, which arrives without notice in towns around the world. The circus and the acts are all designed in shades of black and white. Instead of a circus tent with many circles within, the Night Circus consists of numerous tents which feature amazing sites and performances.
As the story develops, one of the competitors figures out who his competition is, the other competitor does not know who he is until much later.
The two original magicians are thwarted in their plans as the two apprentices fall in love and try to figure out how to avoid the conpetition.
The story is very engaging. I found aspects of the circus, many of which seemed to feed fantasies and experiences rather than entertainment, very interesting. In the book many people who attended the circus became "groupies" following the circus around the world. I can understand how the fantasy and creativity of the circus could hook people.
I found the main story line, with two people, who with no choice in the matter, are destined to be pawns in a competition by two egomaniacs interesting, while sad. But the two main characters were not the only ones whose lives were affected by this competition.
The story explored control, destiny, magic and freedom.
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
The Lost Art of Gratitude
by Alexander McCall Smith
This book is another in McCall Smith's series about Isabel Dalhousie, the Editor of a Philosophy journal, who lives in Scotland.
I have really enjoyed McCall Smith's other books and series, e.g. La's Orchestra Saves the World, the No. 1 Ladies Dective Agency and the books in the Corduroy Mansion series but I really didn't enjoy this book..
I enjoy his books because of the eccentricity of his characters, which are portrayed in a very caring way. Most of the time you relate to and care about the characters because of their faults and peculiarities.
However, this character is self-centred, self-absorbed, unbelievably naive and unsympathetic. In this story she is very smug with her happy life. She is approached by a woman she hardly knows and asked to intervene with a man who is the father of her child, the result of an affair. The woman doesn't want her husband to learn the truth.
Isabel decides to intercede, what sense does that make? Then she finds out that the woman is not only using her but is actually doing things that threaten her own reputation. She should be incensed and challenge the woman. She does confront her but does so in a very passive way. For all her "philosophizing" about what it means to do right and be responsible for others and for the truth -- she does not act appropriately.
A very disappointing story, I won't ever read one of these again, I will stick to his other books.
This book is another in McCall Smith's series about Isabel Dalhousie, the Editor of a Philosophy journal, who lives in Scotland.
I have really enjoyed McCall Smith's other books and series, e.g. La's Orchestra Saves the World, the No. 1 Ladies Dective Agency and the books in the Corduroy Mansion series but I really didn't enjoy this book..
I enjoy his books because of the eccentricity of his characters, which are portrayed in a very caring way. Most of the time you relate to and care about the characters because of their faults and peculiarities.
However, this character is self-centred, self-absorbed, unbelievably naive and unsympathetic. In this story she is very smug with her happy life. She is approached by a woman she hardly knows and asked to intervene with a man who is the father of her child, the result of an affair. The woman doesn't want her husband to learn the truth.
Isabel decides to intercede, what sense does that make? Then she finds out that the woman is not only using her but is actually doing things that threaten her own reputation. She should be incensed and challenge the woman. She does confront her but does so in a very passive way. For all her "philosophizing" about what it means to do right and be responsible for others and for the truth -- she does not act appropriately.
A very disappointing story, I won't ever read one of these again, I will stick to his other books.
Map of Time
by Felix J. Palma
This is a story written by a Spanish author which has been translated into English. It starts with the story of a spoiled rich English man who is distraught because the woman he is passionately in love with, a prostitute, has been murdered by Jack the Ripper.
The young man goes to the scene of the crime, on the eighth anniversary of her death, planning to commit suicide. However, his cousin, who has been his partner in depravity arrives in time to save him, convincing hiim that he has a way that the young man can go back in time to kill Jack the Ripper before he can kill the girl (courtesy of H.G. Wells). The young man travels through time and saves her (or does he?).
Around the time that this is happening an man in London is offering people the opportunity to travel to the year 2000 to see a final battle between automatons and humans that will deide the fate of humanity.
HG Wells knows that the time travel show is a fraud but he doesn't reveal the fraud.
As the story proceeds there are several story lines in which people think they are interacting with people from another time and discussion about the implications of what would happen if people could go back and change the past.
It was an interesting story but at times I had to reread parts to keep straight what was going on.
This is a story written by a Spanish author which has been translated into English. It starts with the story of a spoiled rich English man who is distraught because the woman he is passionately in love with, a prostitute, has been murdered by Jack the Ripper.
The young man goes to the scene of the crime, on the eighth anniversary of her death, planning to commit suicide. However, his cousin, who has been his partner in depravity arrives in time to save him, convincing hiim that he has a way that the young man can go back in time to kill Jack the Ripper before he can kill the girl (courtesy of H.G. Wells). The young man travels through time and saves her (or does he?).
Around the time that this is happening an man in London is offering people the opportunity to travel to the year 2000 to see a final battle between automatons and humans that will deide the fate of humanity.
HG Wells knows that the time travel show is a fraud but he doesn't reveal the fraud.
As the story proceeds there are several story lines in which people think they are interacting with people from another time and discussion about the implications of what would happen if people could go back and change the past.
It was an interesting story but at times I had to reread parts to keep straight what was going on.
Always Kiss the Corspe on Whidby Island
by Sandy Frances Duncan & George Szanto.
As I recently moved to British Columbia, it is appropriate that my first book be a book set on the west coast.
This is the second book of a series about Private Eye's who work on the west coast islands (an interesting but not likely realistic premise). The story starts with a memorial service where, when the mother of the deceased goes to give her son a final kiss, insists the body is not that of her son-- because it doesn't look like him. Her son had a lot of facial hair, the corpse is clean shaven.
The family, a strong Greek Orthodox family, hires the PI's to investigate. They find friends who confirm that the body is indeed who it is supposed to be, however, they uncover something unsettling about the individual and the family wants to hide/deny the information at all costs. The family members want the investigation stopped even when it is suggested that the death might be the result of a murder rather than suicide. However, friends of the deceased then hire the investigators.
I found the book kept my interest until the end. I have to say that I really wasn't sure who might have done it until near the end of the book.
As I recently moved to British Columbia, it is appropriate that my first book be a book set on the west coast.
This is the second book of a series about Private Eye's who work on the west coast islands (an interesting but not likely realistic premise). The story starts with a memorial service where, when the mother of the deceased goes to give her son a final kiss, insists the body is not that of her son-- because it doesn't look like him. Her son had a lot of facial hair, the corpse is clean shaven.
The family, a strong Greek Orthodox family, hires the PI's to investigate. They find friends who confirm that the body is indeed who it is supposed to be, however, they uncover something unsettling about the individual and the family wants to hide/deny the information at all costs. The family members want the investigation stopped even when it is suggested that the death might be the result of a murder rather than suicide. However, friends of the deceased then hire the investigators.
I found the book kept my interest until the end. I have to say that I really wasn't sure who might have done it until near the end of the book.
My Favourite Books!
I have always been a precocious reader. I think this stems from the fact that my father would often pick my books for me when he took me to the library -- and he often chose books that were a bit beyond my ability... I became an advanced reader as a result.
Some of my all time favourite books include
Don Quixote by Cervantes
I just love the humour and satire in this book and of course feel great affection for the hapless hero.
Birds Without Wings by de Berniers
This book really impressed and inspired me with the gentle but powerful way that it demonstrated how irrational and unreasonable racism can be and how it can creep in slowly (if we do not confront it) and destroy a society. Another fascinating book on a similar topic is Glass Room by Mawer and a nonfiction book on the same theme, Reading Lolita in Tehran.
Bel Canto by Patchett
This was a book I couldn't put down. I loved the language and also the complexity of the story and the interaction between the captives and captors. I am intrigued by characters who are obsessed by something and found the main character very intriguing.
Wilderness by Harvey
This book was nominated for the Booker Prize a few years ago. It is one of the most fascinating and multi-layered books I have read in years. I ended up making notes about the book to try to comprehend the psychological and religious aspects of the story. I don't pretend to understand all the levels of the book.
My favourite author is Coetzee. I have read and been impressed with almost everything he has written. However, I must say I have not been as fond of his latest works.
Some of my all time favourite books include
Don Quixote by Cervantes
I just love the humour and satire in this book and of course feel great affection for the hapless hero.
Birds Without Wings by de Berniers
This book really impressed and inspired me with the gentle but powerful way that it demonstrated how irrational and unreasonable racism can be and how it can creep in slowly (if we do not confront it) and destroy a society. Another fascinating book on a similar topic is Glass Room by Mawer and a nonfiction book on the same theme, Reading Lolita in Tehran.
Bel Canto by Patchett
This was a book I couldn't put down. I loved the language and also the complexity of the story and the interaction between the captives and captors. I am intrigued by characters who are obsessed by something and found the main character very intriguing.
Wilderness by Harvey
This book was nominated for the Booker Prize a few years ago. It is one of the most fascinating and multi-layered books I have read in years. I ended up making notes about the book to try to comprehend the psychological and religious aspects of the story. I don't pretend to understand all the levels of the book.
My favourite author is Coetzee. I have read and been impressed with almost everything he has written. However, I must say I have not been as fond of his latest works.
My Reading Diary
I love to read! I want to use this blog to document my reading, to document my reactions to the books I have read, both good and bad. I have a preference for fiction, especially classics and mysteries. However, I often read nonfiction as a result of something tweaking my interest or curiosity in a fiction book.
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