What could be wrong with this book? The writing is very good, as one would expect from Richard Russo. The plot is barely there, but that isn’t an issu...moreWhat could be wrong with this book? The writing is very good, as one would expect from Richard Russo. The plot is barely there, but that isn’t an issue. The characters are vivid—and that’s the problem. Nearly to a man (or woman), the characters are unlikable, and they are so vividly drawn that the reader feels like they’re jumping off the page—unfortunately, because these are not characters with whom you’d ever want to interact in real life.
The protagonist is Jack, whose parents are so nasty, and so omnipresent, that perhaps it’s understandable that Jack himself is such a pain. His wife, Joy, seems set up to be the “good” character, but it’s hard to see how she and Jack managed to stay together for nearly 35 years, and when she dumps him while he’s dealing with the recent death of his father, she doesn’t exactly stake out the moral high ground.
There are moments of humor, and certainly there are some interesting observations about families and their continuing influences. But the book’s unrelenting negativity makes it a tough read, and by its end, I was just glad to be rid of its characters, once and for all. (less)
Oh, brother. Let's see if you've heard this before: Ireland as the mystical place where broken people can become whole again with the help of a pair o...moreOh, brother. Let's see if you've heard this before: Ireland as the mystical place where broken people can become whole again with the help of a pair of cute old Irish men, a studly young Irish man, a bad-guy, an out-of-touch Irish priest, and of course, the wiser-than-anyone-you'll-find-in-America Irish lacemakers. The story is predictable and dull, with no sense of how much time is passing, a wacky freak-out experience for the heroine that is simply passed off as the result of ghosts, and a resolution that is much too pat. It was a (very brief) diversion, hardly worth the trip to the library.(less)
The past returns to haunt one of the most intriguing characters in recent fiction, Lisbeth Kalander, in the second book in Stieg Larsson’s series. The...moreThe past returns to haunt one of the most intriguing characters in recent fiction, Lisbeth Kalander, in the second book in Stieg Larsson’s series. The story starts slowly, but for the last third of the book, the pages can’t turn fast enough. Brilliant yet socially inept, Kalander used her computer hacking skills to assist discredited journalist Mikael Blomqvist in his quest to restore his name and bring down the bad guys in “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” In “The Girl Who Played with Fire,” Blomqvist and the crew at Millennium magazine are about to publish another explosive exposé when all hell breaks loose. In the aftermath, Kalander has to fight for her freedom and her life, as events from the first book have implications for the second. Kalander has an interesting group of supporters who crop up and a bungling police squad searching for her, both of which come in handy. Along the way, her past is uncovered and her secrets revealed—sometimes even to her.
This book carries both the strengths and the weaknesses of its predecessor. Although the translation is occasionally clunky, especially in descriptive passages, the translator has done a fine job making the Swedish references accessible to the American reader. Unfortunately, there is a sameness to the Swedish names that is often confusing, especially as the pace picks up. The misogynistic tone intensifies in this book, almost unbearably at times. Kalander’s breast-enhancement surgery strikes an off note. And as fabulous as this heroine is, the last chapter or so of the book stretches credulity beyond the breaking point.
The fact that Stieg Larsson died immediately after delivering the three books in this series to the publisher means that he did not edit the manuscripts. This is painfully obvious partway through the book when a key sequence is unnecessarily repeated from a second viewpoint. The sad irony is that in the story, Mikael Blomqvist finds himself struggling as an editor in a similar position.
Still, the book provides rip-roaring action, gripping suspense, and characters whose flaws make them as interesting as they are frustrating. There is plenty left to resolve in “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest,” and the revelations of “The Girl Who Played with Fire” will leave Larsson fans anxious for more.(less)
The format of the book is complex, with the narration, Arthur's letters to Ruth, and Ruth's novel intertwined. I found myself looking forward to each...moreThe format of the book is complex, with the narration, Arthur's letters to Ruth, and Ruth's novel intertwined. I found myself looking forward to each section, but particularly to glimpses of Arthur, who even in his grief is a delight. His actions are odd but understandable; on the other hand, it's hard to believe the doctor's wife, who seems to have no friends to notice her absence or increasingly strange behavior and appearance. The book is thoroughly depressing, but the characters stuck with me for quite a while, even some of the minor but amusingly drawn visitors to Arthur's house, and I'm still trying to decide if the ending is happy or sad.(less)
You'll definitely need to take a shower after reading this one. On the other hand, you'll learn a lot of interesting sexual maneuvers without ever hav...moreYou'll definitely need to take a shower after reading this one. On the other hand, you'll learn a lot of interesting sexual maneuvers without ever having to break out the Kama Sutra. In addition, you'll never look at a historical reenactment site the same way again. The "hero," Victor Mancini, is a mess (at the end, in more ways than one), and there's a lot to think about here concerning identity, goodness, loyalty, parenthood, dying, Jesus, addiction, heroism, redemption, and, yes, sex--all in a novel that takes about three hours to read (unless, of course, you slow down a little during the many, many sex scenes). The satiric humor gives balance to the disgusting aspects of the book, but this is still not a story for the faint of heart. The self-loathing hero consistently chooses the wrong path, and reveals his long history of poor choices with flashbacks interspersed with the current action, leaving readers to muse on whether there can truly be a happy ending for Victor, or whether we even want there to be one.(less)
In the hands of a competent writer, this would have been a terrific book. The premise is intriguing, and the first section of the story, which alterna...moreIn the hands of a competent writer, this would have been a terrific book. The premise is intriguing, and the first section of the story, which alternates between 1942, when ten-year-old Sarah's is caught in the French roundup of Jews, and the present day, when journalist Julia Jarmond begins writing about that roundup, keeps the pages turning. But as soon as Sarah is offstage, we are stuck with annoying Julia, her jerk husband, her unrealistically mature daughter, and her haughty in-laws. Meanwhile, the author keeps hammering home the French wish to forget the entire incident, while using ridiculous coincidences to help Julia cross paths with Sarah and find the ending to her story, an ending that seems jarring given what led up to it. The last part of the book feels thoroughly contrived, and I was left with a strong sense of disappointment that the author was not able to do justice to Sarah's story.(less)
This is a book about the end of the world, and a book about sixth grade, and its achievement is that it interweaves these subjects so tightly that it...moreThis is a book about the end of the world, and a book about sixth grade, and its achievement is that it interweaves these subjects so tightly that it is hard to tell which is which. Scientists have announced that the revolution of the Earth has begun to slow by several minutes per day. Days and nights are stretched; crops and birds and the Earth's magnetic field are affected; people become divided between those who follow the government's agreement to keep to the 24-hour clock, and those "real timers" who follow the sun. But for sensitive 11-year-old Julia, this is just a melancholy backdrop for the pain and frustration of everyday not-quite-fitting-in preteen life. Julia and her family carry on despite the uncertainty; friends and neighbors come and go, as does a cute skateboarding crush. The book is sad, without being a tear-jerker: Both Earth's ecosystem and Julia's fall apart matter-of-factly in the aftermath of "the slowing," and the result is haunting and contemplative.(less)
Gretchen Rubin is another author who joins the fad of undertaking a cute project for a year, but she is totally without the charm of A. J. Jacobs or e...moreGretchen Rubin is another author who joins the fad of undertaking a cute project for a year, but she is totally without the charm of A. J. Jacobs or even Julie Powell. I kept hoping for something, anything, that would make me root for her. She did seem to try to be self-deprecating, but she clearly has no practice at it. This is a woman who is full of herself, and has no sense of how fortunate she is. The only likeable person here is Gretchen's husband, and she treats him so poorly that I want to kick her; he's funny, sweet, thoughtful, and all he wants to do is go to the gym once in a while.
Gretchen has two small children, yet one glaring omission in the book is any acknowledgment that there might be childcare involved in the project. Is she embarrassed? She is so concerned about how she looks to the world that I had little faith in her observations about her year and little interest in her happiness tips. I have my own tip for happiness: instead of reading this book, go for something more interesting, like "The Know-It-All" or "The Year of Living Biblically."(less)
In this first book of a trilogy, the aptly named John Wayne Cleaver is well aware that he has all the makings of a teenage serial killer, and he has t...moreIn this first book of a trilogy, the aptly named John Wayne Cleaver is well aware that he has all the makings of a teenage serial killer, and he has the good/bad fortune to explore his darker side while working in his family's mortuary. Fascinated by serial killers of the past, but knowing--intellectually, at least--that following in their footsteps would be a bad idea, he has made some very specific behavioral rules for himself, rules that keep him from spiraling out of control. But when a murder comes to light in John's small town, he cannot control his obsession with the case, as he struggles to identify the killer while keeping his own murderous impulses in check. Despite the dark topic, John is funny and charming, his dysfunctional family is loving in its own weird way, and the story's turn into fantasy fiction keeps the horror from being too real. (less)
The apple tree may be the best character in a sweet book, but that isn't to sell the other characters short. An easy but thoughtful read that had me w...moreThe apple tree may be the best character in a sweet book, but that isn't to sell the other characters short. An easy but thoughtful read that had me wishing that I lived near Evanelle so that I could see what she would bring me.(less)
For anyone who has dealt with dementia in the family, this portrait rings all too true. The author has increased the poignancy of the situation by mak...moreFor anyone who has dealt with dementia in the family, this portrait rings all too true. The author has increased the poignancy of the situation by making Alice just 50 years old, and at the peak of her academic career as a professor at Harvard University when she receives her Alzheimer's diagnosis. Her struggles with memory and basic tasks are detailed from Alice's point of view, which can be enlightening and thought-provoking. The story is touching and sad, yet the author manages to find some happiness for Alice in the simple joys she is able to experience. I was disappointed with the ease with which the doctors reached their diagnosis, and with the fact that Alice was so often left alone once her diagnosis was made. It seems like even a husband in denial would have taken some simple steps to make sure she was consistently safe. But ultimately, hope and happiness can be found in the relationship that Alice develops with her younger daughter, the daughter whose desire to be an actress changes from a point of stress between them to a place where they can meet as Alice's intellect fades.(less)
Nick's wife Amy goes missing on their fifth anniversary. Foul play is suspected. Nick is increasingly implicated in the disappearance. From there, som...moreNick's wife Amy goes missing on their fifth anniversary. Foul play is suspected. Nick is increasingly implicated in the disappearance. From there, some of the twists and turns were expected. Some were not. Sadly, it's hard to say too much more about it without spoiling the story for others. But the story is well crafted, the characters well depicted, and the ride well worth it. I haven't decided whether the last third of the book is consistent, or whether the ending sits right. But the fact that I'm still thinking about it speaks to the strength of the characters and story. And one thing is certain: psychos are very entertaining.(less)
For a bright girl, Tommie McCloud is pretty dense. When a letter arrives from a stranger after her father's death claiming that Tommie is her kidnappe...moreFor a bright girl, Tommie McCloud is pretty dense. When a letter arrives from a stranger after her father's death claiming that Tommie is her kidnapped daughter, she really should have put the pieces together a lot more quickly. Apparently she slept through her Ph.D. program in Psychology--worn out, no doubt, after her many successful years on the rodeo circuit. Happily, she has a former flame--ruggedly handsome, blah blah blah--who is conveniently in the security business and thus theoretically able to run protection for her while she figures out what's going on. Oh wait, that's a pretty good reason to play dumb, now isn't it? Dumb, though, is how quickly and easily Tommie's lifetime safety is ensured. If it could be made to happen now, couldn't it have been made to happen twenty years before? Oh well, logic isn't this book's strong suit. In fact, if it has a strong suit, I wasn't able to find it.(less)
"The Help" is a gorgeous book, with characters so real that you feel as though they're sipping coffee with you at your kitchen table. Told through the...more"The Help" is a gorgeous book, with characters so real that you feel as though they're sipping coffee with you at your kitchen table. Told through the eyes of two colored maids, Aibileen and Minny, and a young white woman, Miss Skeeter, this story of Jackson, Mississippi, captured just as the civil-rights movement is taking hold, sheds light on the intricate relationships between southern women of the time, black and white.
This is a woman's book: Men are husbands or fathers or brothers or sons or boyfriends, making cameo appearances, traveling and never home during the day. But that doesn't mean that they don't ring as true as their womenfolk. And those women! Even the minor characters are deftly portrayed, and the major ones--including Miss Hilly, who could easily have ended up a caricature--never strike a wrong note.
Though disturbing at times, particularly when actual historical events intrude, ultimately this is an uplifting book, with an ending that is satisfying both in its resolution of events and its open-endedness. Though we begin to miss the characters the minute the last word is read, we can construct our own happier endings for Minny, Aibileen, Miss Skeeter, Mae Mobley, Miss Celia, and all the other characters we have come to love, knowing that the world of limited opportunities in which they live is about to change dramatically.(less)
The difficulty I had with this book was in understanding, really understanding, why Paul, the narrator, is so determined to set up the book's central...moreThe difficulty I had with this book was in understanding, really understanding, why Paul, the narrator, is so determined to set up the book's central event, and why he even bothers with his father, who even in his final months makes Ty Cobb look like Mister Rogers. But setting that aside, this is a brief, enjoyable, thoughtful story of baseball, fathers and sons, and small towns. Calico Joe may be a fictional character, but his story is interwoven with real life to the extent that the book leaves one wondering what might have been, for Joe and the Cubs, had it not been for that jerk Warren Tracey.(less)
"Comfort Food" is a good read, no more and no less--a great choice for the beach or a plane trip. Its heroine, Gus Simpson, is a 50-ish Martha Stewart...more"Comfort Food" is a good read, no more and no less--a great choice for the beach or a plane trip. Its heroine, Gus Simpson, is a 50-ish Martha Stewart type with two feisty daughters, a neighbor who is reclusive for good reason, and a cooking show that is unexpectedly on the rocks. When Gus is forced by circumstances to take some risks, pulling her reluctant friends and family along with her, the results are entertaining, and the ending keeps things interesting with a few surprising twists. The book touches just enough on commitment, loss, control, friendship, and family to keep the book group talking, but there's no need for deep thought of you're not in the mood--you can just sit back and enjoy the action. One warning, though: keep a pile of snacks handy, because you are guaranteed to be salivating as you read the food descriptions in this book.(less)
The book starts out strong, with interesting (if sketchy) evidence to back up what most of us already know: success isn't just about intelligence or h...moreThe book starts out strong, with interesting (if sketchy) evidence to back up what most of us already know: success isn't just about intelligence or hard work or a certain mindset; it's also about being in the right place at the right time (or, in the case of hockey players, being born in the right month). It sails along, using individual cases to make broader points about "outliers," people or institutions that are inordinately successful. But right around the middle of the book, the soufflé falls. Was the author in a rush to finish the book before deadline? Did he fail to think through each chapter? Or was he in such a hurry to write the final chapter, about his own family, that he gave short shrift to the rest? Whatever ... this was half of a good book: the first several chapters are food for thought, and the last several are poorly argued filler.(less)
Knowing that the first two books were part of a trilogy, I was able to overlook the loose ends and inconsistencies that marred the plot, thinking that...moreKnowing that the first two books were part of a trilogy, I was able to overlook the loose ends and inconsistencies that marred the plot, thinking that they would be resolved in book three. Oh, well. As with the first two books, sloppy writing is tempered by rip-roaring action, but "The Death Cure" ends with confusion and questions. It is hard to believe that the arrival of a plague of this sort, no matter what the source, would result in the world that is depicted, or that the main character would make one of the key choices that he does. And where does the gasoline for vehicles, or food, or electricity, come from in a world so compromised? Finally, why was the last resort the last resort, rather than the first course of action? Disappointing.(less)
This novel is engaging but overly simple, and there are far too many coincidences to make it anything but frustrating. (The babysitter happens to be a...moreThis novel is engaging but overly simple, and there are far too many coincidences to make it anything but frustrating. (The babysitter happens to be a physical therapist? Really?) And do we really need to revisit the old canard about the blind person who can see more than the sighted? The scrapbook at the center of the mystery was contrived, and it was very hard to believe that the characters would have the scrapbook for months but fail to read it through to the end. This was a breezy beach read that tried to take itself much, much too seriously, with characters who, for the most part, deserved a swift kick in the pants.(less)
One doesn’t have to be a “dog person” to be touched by this gem of a book. Enzo, the narrator—who happens to be a dog—is near death, and in his final...moreOne doesn’t have to be a “dog person” to be touched by this gem of a book. Enzo, the narrator—who happens to be a dog—is near death, and in his final hours he reflects on his rich life with his beloved Denny, an aspiring race-car driver. Throughout their life together, Enzo shares in Denny’s triumphs and his many sorrows, and the bond between the two eventually expands to include Denny’s wife, Eve, and daughter, Zoe. When tragedy strikes, Enzo is a comfort and a help to all three. Enzo’s greatest longing is to be human, and he is (almost) certain that after death, his soul will return in man form. Meanwhile, his greatest frustration is to have only gestures (and, to his chagrin, no opposable thumbs) with which to communicate his complex thoughts and feelings. Still, he employs those gestures to great effect, at times using his “dogness” to express what humans cannot.
The book is beautifully written, with only a couple of minor quibbles. In a key scene, Enzo influences Denny with a series of gestures that, while both amusing and moving, also stretch belief for perhaps the only time in the book. Meanwhile, the author’s deft use of the racing theme for Enzo’s philosophizing is countered by a clunky use of a zebra metaphor for the inner beast. These quibbles do not seriously detract from this sweet and inspiring tale. As Enzo’s story spun to a close, I could not stop sobbing. By the final pages, even a reader who is not a “dog person” will unquestionably become an “Enzo person.” (less)
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