It was good, the detective angle was interesting, but I'm not entirely happy about Wells's new-found squeamishness about killing. I don't think any of...moreIt was good, the detective angle was interesting, but I'm not entirely happy about Wells's new-found squeamishness about killing. I don't think any of the books in the series after the first one have captured the sheer awesomeness of The Faithful Spy, but Midnight House was good enough that I'll definitely pick up The Secret Soldier and any other John Wells books that come out.
I do wish Berenson would do a better job of keeping his own politics out of the stories, something he's usually good at but messed up in this one and the second, but every other spy fiction author does the same thing so I guess it just comes with the territory. Interesting to see a liberal slant in the story instead of the conservative one that usually accompanies spy thrillers.(less)
An amazing story with equally amazing prose. The narrative wandered a little too much for my tastes and I thought all the characters' penchants to wax...moreAn amazing story with equally amazing prose. The narrative wandered a little too much for my tastes and I thought all the characters' penchants to wax philosophical wasn't entirely believable, but overall I really enjoyed this book that deals with everything from war to human nature to the immigrant experience to the futility of marital affairs.(less)
I give it five stars keeping in mind the target audience--while I might see some flaws worth subtracting a star over as an adult, I think it would be...moreI give it five stars keeping in mind the target audience--while I might see some flaws worth subtracting a star over as an adult, I think it would be too nitpicky to hold a book that, right in its inside flap, declares it to be written for ages 9-12 up to the same standard as a Rushdie or something. Overall, it was a very good book. The "culture shock" of switching from one culture to another was handled extremely well and sometimes humorously, like when 12-year-old protagonist Seema's father discreetly advises her mother not to wear her good-luck swastika necklace to a dinner party. Being about as far away from the target audience as possible, I feel like I may not have gotten the full experience, but I still really enjoyed it. I definitely look forward to reading more by Kashmira Sheth!(less)
An absolutely amazing book. Sarita Mandanna has written a wonderful account of life in the late eighteen- and early nineteen-hundreds South India. I'l...moreAn absolutely amazing book. Sarita Mandanna has written a wonderful account of life in the late eighteen- and early nineteen-hundreds South India. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for her second book, if she writes one, I think she's on par with Rushdie, Lahiri, and the other great South Asian authors.(less)
I'd give this a four and a half if I could, but if I have to choose between 4 and 5 I'd say it deserves a 5. My only real issues are that it starts of...moreI'd give this a four and a half if I could, but if I have to choose between 4 and 5 I'd say it deserves a 5. My only real issues are that it starts off slow...real slow, and the ending is pretty weak, and not even in a "setting up for a sequel" kind of way; Collins just decided to spend the ending talking about...well, I don't want to give away even minor spoilers, so I'll just say she seems to intentionally ignore a few things that could have given the book proper closure in favor of an anticlimax. Everything in between was so amazing that I'm willing to overlook these faults, though, it's easily one of the best young adult books I've ever read...maybe even the best. Eagerly looking forward to the next two!(less)
Now that I've read all of her books I can say that Jhumpa Lahiri has never written anything that wasn't fantastic, and Unaccustomed Earth is no except...moreNow that I've read all of her books I can say that Jhumpa Lahiri has never written anything that wasn't fantastic, and Unaccustomed Earth is no exception.(less)
Lahiri might just be my favorite living author, and The Namesake certainly lives up to the extremely high expectations I had from reading Interpreter...moreLahiri might just be my favorite living author, and The Namesake certainly lives up to the extremely high expectations I had from reading Interpreter of Maladies.(less)
Dry, tedious, and filled with unlikable characters with the same voice and penchant for melodrama. I also never would have believed that a book less t...moreDry, tedious, and filled with unlikable characters with the same voice and penchant for melodrama. I also never would have believed that a book less than 150 pages could still be too long, but the story could have been told in half that, easily.(less)
A fun, humorous read tackling caste issues in India as an untouchable man cons his way into giving his son opportunity that his birth denied him, some...moreA fun, humorous read tackling caste issues in India as an untouchable man cons his way into giving his son opportunity that his birth denied him, somewhat like a less-dark, but no less angry, version of The White Tiger. Especially impressive considering it's a debut novel.(less)
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