TITLE: FINGER LICKIN' FIFTEEN
AUTHOR: JANET EVANOVICH
Pages: 312
Date: 28/07/2009
Grade: 4-
Details: no. 15 Stephanie Plum Mystery
Library
Another dive into the madness and mayhem that is Stephanie Plum's world.
It starts when Lula witnesses how two men chop the head of a celebrity chef who had come to Trenton to take part in a barbecue cook-off.
Next thing, the killers are after Lula, who in turn wants to capture the killers because there is a one million dollar reward. Lula decides to enter the cook-off thinking the killers will turn up there, and grandma Mazur joins in as Lula's assistant. The only problem is that neither of them knows anything about barbecuing, cue several cooking related disasters and explosions.
Stephanie, who has recently split from Morelli, is double jobbing. As well as her regular bonds work, she is also working for Ranger who is facing a breach of his security firm. Of course this leads to a lot of sexual tension, and jealousy from Morelli.
Of course, she can't help but be also involved in Lula's adventures, which results in fire bombs and exploding cars.
Although there was a lot of action and madness in this book, it was not as funny as it's prequel. Which is a shame, because for me the laughs are what make the series. The only character who made me crack an occasional smile was Stephanie's dad with his mutterings.
Still, it was an easy and fun read, and just what I needed while killing time in Drogheda hospital with Dermot.
TITLE: THE WOMEN
AUTHOR: T.C. BOYLE
Pages: 451
Date: 27/07/2009
Grade: 4-
Library
This book was well written and the story, a fictionalized version of Frank Lloyd Wright's life and the women in it, was fascinating.
But, and as the grade of 4- indicates there had to be a but, there were a few things that let the book down for me.
First of all, I don't know why the book had to be narrated by one of Lloyd Wright's apprentices, and one from Japan at that. This narrator was only present in the architect's life for a relatively short while, and had personal knowledge of only one of the women of the title (if he is a real person at all). So it is not as if personal observations by him shed more light on the goings on.
And, connected to this, the footnotes the book is littered with, made this a less than smooth read. Especially since a lot of the footnotes dealt with the narrator's life, feelings, observations, interpretations and experiences in America. For me these added nothing to the story. In fact, they distracted me from the main story.
Another thing that didn't work for me was that the story went backwards in time. So the book starts with Lloyd Wright's last relationship with Oglivanna, to be followed by the one with the mad woman who was Miriam. The last part of the book tells the story of Mamah and Kitty.
I'm sure T.C. Boyle had a good reason for wanting to tell this story backwards, but I can't imagine what that reason may have been. And although it may not be an issue for anyone already fully aware of the Lloyd Wright story, for me knowing the end of a part of a story before actually starting to read it, spoilt too much of it.
Still, this would be an interesting and well written book for anyone wanting to know more about Frank Lloyd Wright's personal life. Just don't expect to like the man very much by the time you finish reading.
TITLE: AN INCOMPLETE REVENGE
AUTHOR: JACQUELINE WINSPEAR
Pages: 340
Date: 24/07/2009
Grade: 5
Details: no. 5 Maisie Dobbs Mystery
Own
It is 1931 and Maisie Dobbs is asked to investigate what is going on in a small Kent village. For years now the place has been plagued by arson and other petty crimes, which have all gone unreported. It is up to Maisie to find out who is responsible and why nobody does anything about it.
It all appears to be connected to one night during World War I when a German zeppelin attacked the village. A night that left one whole family dead.
The villagers turn out to be very reluctant to speak of either the war time raid or the arson attacks since then. And with hop-picking season in progress,the village is filled with Londoners and gypsies, all adding tension to the situation.
With Maisie also facing a personal loss, she needs to bring resolution not only to the villagers, but also to her own life.
I absolutely adore Maisie Dobbs and this series of books.
Maisie for all her intuition and compassion is always a very real character with her fair share of weak points and faults.
The writing in these books is very well paced and beautiful. Such thought has gone into the construction of the sentences and the words used that these are not books to be raced through. This reader always wants to take her time and savour both the story and the way in which it was written.
TITLE: PRAYERS FOR SALE
AUTHOR: SANDRA DALLAS
Pages: 20/07/2009
Date: 20/07/2009
Grade: 5
Library
This is a most charming book and a heartwarming read, despite it being set in a cold and inhospitable location.
When Hennie Comfort first sees Nit Spindle she is 86 years old and has been living high up in the Rocky Mountains since before it was Colorado.
Nit is only 17 and has recently moved to Middle Swan with her husband after losing a baby girl. Now she is standing outside Hennie's house looking at a sign that says "Prayers for Sale."
Hennie never takes money for her prayers, but does invite the sad and scared looking girl in.
Soon, a deep friendship develops between the two women as Hettie introduces Nit to life in the town and shares stories with her.
Together the two women find healing, new opportunities and hope.
This was an inspiring and easy to read book. Maybe it all ended on a bit too much of a high, but I felt the two women deserved it, and found it very satisfying.
TITLE: PLAY DEAD
AUTHOR: RICHARD MONTANARI
Pages: 398
Date: 19/07/2009
Grade: 5
Details: no. 4 Kevin Byrne & Jessica Balzano Mystery
Own
I do love this series of books. Montanari writes wonderfully dark thrillers without getting too graphic when it comes to the actual violence while at the same time perfectly bringing across the horror of what's happening. His two main characters have from the start felt very real to me, and do so even more with every subsequent book. They both have their good and darker sides, and display very human and recognizable emotions and reactions.
The book starts with Byrne and Balzano starting work on a cold case involving the murder of a young runaway girl whose body was subsequently left to be found in a glass case. It isn't long though until the cold case turns very hot when more murdered young girls are found, all left in posed positions somewhere. And the murderer appears to be playing a game with the investigators, leaving them obscure clues to follow.
Soon, they are facing a race against time in an effort to prevent even more girls from losing their lives in the horrible game the murderer appears to be playing.
To the reader it's clear fairly early on in the book who the murderer is, something I usually dislike. However, in this book it didn't bother me. The investigation and the ultimate race, as well as a mysterious young woman where more then enough intrigue to keep me turning the pages.
I hope there will be more books in this series.
TITLE: THE UNICORN ROAD
AUTHOR: MARTIN DAVIES
Pages: 324
Date: 18/07/2009
Grade: 4.5
Library
It's funny how there may be months of years during which you don't come accross a certain subject in your novels, only for it to come up in two books in quick succession. In this cast it is the Cathars who, after having featured in THE BOOK OF LOVE, also make an appearance here. But, although the Cathars and their treasure do feature in this book, this is not their story.
Instead this is the story of a father, trying to piece together what has happened to his young son.
It has been years since Benedict, still only a boy, left with a famous scholar on an expedition to the East in search of mythical creatures. Since then, none of those who left on the expedition has been seen or heard from.
Now, the father waits on the coast of southern Spain, waiting for his son's return or news of his faith.
Through the stories the father hears as well as descriptions of the expedition itself, the reader learns more of the boy's journey, the people he travelled with and their histories as well as the mysterious peoples and customs of the East.
Set in the middle ages,this was a fascinating story with many layers and characters not being quite what they seemed. It was also a book that I only got to fully appreciate once I had finished the story.
TITLE: LETHAL LEGACY
AUTHOR: LINDA FAIRSTEIN
Pages: 367
Date: 17/07/2009
Grade: 5
Details: no. 11 Alexandra Cooper Mystery
Own
This mystery starts when Alexandra Cooper and Mike Chapman are called to the apartment of Tina Barr, who has been assaulted. Tina, however, flatly refuses to cooperate with them and runs away when she's transported to a hospital.
Within days Cooper and Chapman are back at the apartment, this time to deal with a murdered woman. The woman, however, isn't Tina Barr, who is still missing. The victim is clutching an old book, inlaid with jewels and obviously valuable. This clue leads the investigators to the New York Public Library where it turns out, Tina used to work. Here they are thrown into the world of valuable, rare old books and maps and dealing with people who would do anything to get their hands on these items.
Although this book did contain murders which were investigated, it didn't really read like a mystery. In many ways this book was an ode to books, history and libraries. Something I, who is a librarian and a lover of books with a keen interest in history, greatly appreciated. In fact, the further I got into the book, the less I cared about the actual murders and the more I wanted to know about the books.
As Linda Fairstein says in the acknowledgements: "Wherever you are, use your libraries and support them."
