Tuesday Nights in 1980
by Molly Prentiss
Promising Debut! (1/6/2016)
I have mixed feelings about this book; the descriptions in the novel, of places, art, personalities, etc were compelling. I felt, like Lucy, like a newcomer, frightened, thrilled and in awe of the portrayal of the city. The mood and tone were perfectly conveyed, this author can write! On the other hand, the actual characters did not feel fully realized. The novel introduces us to characters, telling (vs showing) us that they are handsome, gawky, breathtakingly beautiful etc, but often she gives us the behavior way before the explanation. Why does a man-whore fall head over heels in love with THIS woman, I did not see what made her so special, so irresistible, until some tiny hints were dropped much later in the novel. Some events were so "coincidental" as to be unbelievable (how Lucy finds an apartment etc).
We meet interesting characters who drop out of the story and I found that frustrating.
It took me a while to get into this book, I never felt that I couldn't put it down, but it was still interesting as it brought me into the art world in NYC in the 1980s, an era I am a bit obsessed with. I see a lot of potential here, just wish the editor had addressed some issues.
Still well worth reading!
Fallen Land
by Taylor Brown
Gripping, Tense and Beautiful! (11/13/2015)
Two orphaned teens and a noble horse flee bounty hunters, renegades, the desperate, the displaced, the hungry, and a terrible prophecy. I love historical fiction, especially when I learn something new. This is a time/era/story I knew very little about, told in such a totally engrossing novel. Brilliant writing, not a single wasted word. The writing is reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy, and yet in many ways this is a more powerful read. The writing is more poetic and the characters are more engaging, fleshed out. It was very hard to put this book down as I fell in love with the three (yes, 3 - I loved Reiver!) characters on the run.
In the bleak landscape of this war ravished part country there is danger and horror at every stop and yet there is kindness and dignity as well. It is the first time I have read such a moving and devastating accounting of what this part of the South was like during this brutal war. It was hard not to imagine and cast the amazing movie this could be - but definitely read the book first!
The Book of Speculation
by Erika Swyler
Intriguing, Mesmerizing Mystery! (4/1/2015)
This is a fast paced debut novel that grabs the reader and takes them on a wild ride. A mystery, told with dual narratives alternating between Simon - a librarian in the present day, and Amos, a mute born in 1780, the story literally starts on the edge of a cliff. An antique book may hold the key to a family mystery and we follow along as secrets are revealed.
If reading about a traveling circus, a family curse, mermaids, an epic love story (or two), biblical storms, tattooed jugglers, antique books, libraries, tarot cards, family ancestry, the ocean, the 1700's - if any of this intrigues, then you will love this book. I could not put it down!
Swyler is a debut author and she has woven an intriguing tale with rich, quirky characters and brilliant descriptions. Her research shows and enhances the story. A magical read!
The Rabbit Back Literature Society
by Pasi Ilmari Jaaskelainen
Wasn't magical for me... (10/29/2014)
The premise of this novel, a young teacher being asked to join a writer's secret society, piqued my interest, and I settled down eagerly to read this book. I became nervous when I started to read about goblins, gnomes and elves, and things just got worse.
Our main character, Ella, is a recent grad, working as substitute teacher. She confiscates an altered edition of Crime and Punishment from a student, submits a short story to a local paper and finds herself simultaneously invited to join a select group of famous writers and drawn into a mystery.
For me the plot never held together, the characters were all unlikeable and the writing was oddly stilted. There were writing quirks that distracted - everyone was called by their full name, Ella's beautiful lips, nipples and defective ovaries were mentioned repeatedly, etc. There were so many questions that were raised and never answered, all of them relevant to the plot. There were jumps in time that were jolting. Ella's father, whom she seems to love and who we meet in what seems to be the late stages of Alzheimer's disease, injures himself and there is a lot of info, then suddenly we find out he is dead, and Ella seems to find this all rather annoying...?
Central to the novel is The Game, which members of The Society play in order to come up with new material for their novels. The rules and implementation are bizarre and cruel, and it would seem that a decent writer could find material so many other ways. There is a great deal a random violence in the book, lack of normal emotions of loved ones/friends toward one another, and it all just felt ugly.
There was one satisfying plot twist at the end of the novel that I really liked, but there were so many unanswered questions and unresolved issues that I found this to be a very annoying read. To me, this seemed like a great idea for novel that went very, very wrong!
The Book of Strange New Things: A Novel
by Michel Faber
Thought Provoking Not Really Sci-Fi! (9/7/2014)
I loved The Crimson, The Petal and the White, but this book is as different as two books could be! This is also a book I might not have picked up had I known what it was about - not a Sci-Fi fan, nor would the religion heavy theme have attracted me. Would have been my loss!
This insightful novel is the story of Peter, a minister with a past, who has been chosen to head to Oasis, and bring Christianity to the "Aliens". He leaves behind his beloved wife Bea.
This could have been a very predictable story - humans colonizing another planet, trying to force our values and religion on the inhabitants, wife left behind, big Corp monetizing the future etc, but in Faber's deft hands it is anything but cookie-cutter.
The reader experiences everything through Peter's eyes, and our impressions and judgements evolve as Peter's knowledge grows and his insight expands. Faber has statements to make in this novel, about religion, about what we are doing to our planet, about how we treat one another, etc, but he uses a subtle hand. The near-future Earth Faber gives us feels realistic, if not inevitable. It is the relationships that resonate the strongest in this book, there are many and they all feel very realistic rather than stereotypic.
Small quibble; I often felt the descriptions went on a bit too long and were sometimes too repetitious; the rain, the humidity, I get it! Apart from that, this was a brilliant, thought-provoking, creative novel that will stay with me for a while!
The Quick
by Lauren Owen
Victorian Gothic with a BIG Surprise! (4/13/2014)
It is best to read this book with no foreknowledge so try not to read reviews as they may spoil the "surprise"! I will not reveal it here, so proceed!
The books begins with young Charlotte and James, living in the family mansion, their mother dead, father away. Fairly neglected by the help, young Charlotte raises James until father dies and James is sent to boarding school and later Oxford, and Charlotte moves to a smaller cottage on the property to live with and later take care of, an aunt. Fast forward to James, graduated, living in London, attempting to write poetry. He rooms with a college friend and experiences London's high society lifestyle. And then he disappears. Cue the ominous music.
While I enjoyed this novel, I found it a bit frustrating. We get to know characters, and then they are gone. Pivotal characters are not always sufficiently realized, others that seem like they should be very important fizzle out. Characters make decisions that are out of character, again without explanation. The author seemed to spend a lot of time on certain set-ups that were never resolved - perhaps there is a sequel in the works?
Despite the issues I had with the book I found much to enjoy. The new author can really write. Her descriptions; of the sights, sounds and smells of London in the 1860s, of her cast of characters and their thoughts, fears and loves, are impressive. She is definitely a talent worth watching. The book often reads as if it was written in the 1860's; the language and tone are very accurate, giving the reader a true Gothic experience.
Fans of historical fiction and gothic novels will enjoy this book. There is an entire other genre of readers this book will appeal to... but that would spoil the "surprise"!!
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