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.
Saturday, 29 October 2011
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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