|
July 03
|
|
Terry
gave
 
to:
The Dead Hour: A Novel (Hardcover)
by Denise Mina
|
my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
|
| |
read in March, 2008
Terry said:
"Ack...I read this a while ago, felt "meh" about it and never bothered to add my review. So, I'm working off of memory, but the gist of my opinion was that while the characterization was good (if nothing new and nuanced), and the plot kept m...more
Ack...I read this a while ago, felt "meh" about it and never bothered to add my review. So, I'm working off of memory, but the gist of my opinion was that while the characterization was good (if nothing new and nuanced), and the plot kept moving (moderately fast), I was especially disappointed with the setting and description--this takes place in Scotland? Really? How would one know? Overall, Rankin just does everything better (well, except for the lack of closure, but I kinda dig that). ...less
"
|
|
Terry
gave
to:
Casino Royale (Paperback)
by Ian Fleming
bookshelves:
cdcs-young-adult
|
my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
|
| |
Terry said:
"I had never read any Ian Fleming, and it was about time, because I've certainly seen enough of the films (I love the Bond marathons come vacation time). I was surprised, though, at how good this novel actually is--another testament to popular fiction...more
I had never read any Ian Fleming, and it was about time, because I've certainly seen enough of the films (I love the Bond marathons come vacation time). I was surprised, though, at how good this novel actually is--another testament to popular fiction (this has been a good summer of Verne, Christie, and now Fleming). But beyond the fast-paced action, the interesting card game (baccarat, not poker; now I wanna try to play), and the spy mumbo-jumbo, it is the novel's love story between Bond and Vesper that pushes it further than your typical spy adventure. There is real pathos in their interaction, and real maturity...you just have to get to the end to gain a full understanding (or cheat and see the movie to get the basic idea). It's the final 25 pages that really make this book, and give it a rich complexity (Compare the end of the second-to-last chapter: "He closed the door softly and walked to his room with a full heart," with the last line of the book.) Ultimately, the romance is not without its problems (it really serves to define Bond's character), but the twists and turns within it make it like a real relationship with issues and difficulties. This part of the novel reminded me of Dorothy Sayers' Whose Body?--it is when the mystery stops, and the protagonist has war flashbacks that the novel enters into a realistic zone that many mystery novels do not bother getting to. In this novel, it is when the spying stops and Bond has sort-of retired, that the novel is most honest.
A word or two about the sexism--this novel, like Verne's, Christie's, etc.--has its dated elements. It is, without a doubt, a very masculine book, but this does not make it categorically bad. It is worthy of discussion, and of placing it in context (post-private eye genre). ...less
"
|
|
Terry
gave
to:
Runner (Hardcover)
by Carl Deuker
bookshelves:
cdcs-young-adult
|
my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
|
| |
read in June, 2008
Terry said:
"I think what disappointed me most about this novel is that it just didn't try very hard. Characterization, plot, setting...nothing feels complete, and many times it feels color-by-numbers, or worse, arbitrary (hmm..is arbitrary worse than color-by-nu...more
I think what disappointed me most about this novel is that it just didn't try very hard. Characterization, plot, setting...nothing feels complete, and many times it feels color-by-numbers, or worse, arbitrary (hmm..is arbitrary worse than color-by-numbers? Food for thought).
The young adult novel centers around Chance Taylor (yup, I should have known), who lives in poverty with his dad on their boat. Mom's gone, Chance is washing dishes, getting beaten up by bullies, etc. etc.--the stereotypical elements keep coming. Chance gets an offer to make more money being a gopher for drug-runners...who may or may not be terrorists! The novel is unclear about how exactly the two factions go together, but no matter, because there's also a love interest to distract (bore) the reader! Enter Melissa, daughter of the richest man in town, who, coincidentally used to be friends with Chance's dad in school...Alright, enough with the plot, seeing as how there's absolutely nothing this novel didn't suck out of a decade of after-school specials. Two (minor) things are worth pointing out as a final note, however--Chance and Melissa drink a lot of coffee; in fact, Chance seems only to eat muffins and drink coffee (he spends about 1/4 of the novel in a coffee shop, but hey, he is near Seattle. The author does switch up his order, too--sometimes it's a hot chocolate or a mocha or a croissant). Also, there's a RIDICULOUS plot twist near the end that you'll see coming, but think, "No, the author's not really going to do that...no, he couldn't...it's ludicrous!" And then he does.
Everything about this book just feels phony. If it's successful at all (and I know this review has been pretty savage), it is an easy read for struggling readers who need something that won't insult their intelligence. And, in some ways it doesn't--it does address big, real-life issues...just not realistically. Simple can really be done well, but this is simplistic.
...less
"
|
|
Terry
gave
to:
47 (Paperback)
by Walter Mosley
bookshelves:
cdcs-young-adult
|
my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
|
| |
read in June, 2008
Terry said:
"Just as bad as Runner by Carl Deuker, but in completely the opposite way--this novel aims high...but falls flat. Title refers to the number branded on a young slave, unnamed, who becomes a messiah for the enslaved and takes on a supernatural being. A...more
Just as bad as Runner by Carl Deuker, but in completely the opposite way--this novel aims high...but falls flat. Title refers to the number branded on a young slave, unnamed, who becomes a messiah for the enslaved and takes on a supernatural being. After an initial back-story that feels more educational than real (47's mom was slaveowner's wife's favorite slave--the slaveowner hates 47 but has promised to take care of him--real stuff, shunted off to the side), the protagonist meets a runaway slave named Tall John who has escaped to tell 47 of his destiny...to save the world fighting an alien creature. Yup, at this point the novel turns Sci-fi, and things fall apart. The novel just isn't Harry Potter; the Sci-fi element is undercooked and the plot begins to meander. In the end, the reader has no investment in the battle or, for that matter, any idea who or what the antagonist really is (a being named Wall is trying to get a hold of Tall John's Sun Ship to mine green ore; I swear the writing of the rest of the novel (the non-Sci-fi part) is much better). One really appreciates J.K. Rowling's ability to fully realize a completely new world, make it descriptive, realistic, and wondrous. Here the plot lands with a thud; it's as if there's a really good novel about these potentially interesting characters and the era of slavery trapped inside a Sci-fi plot, just to give the novel a forward motion (which doesn't really work). It would have been much more successful sticking with the characters of the time and their interactions. (For something that does pull off a period drama and fantasy/sci-fi, check out the TV show Carnivale).
At least this novel aims high, however, unlike Deuker's, which I read the same week. There are definitely points in which the writing turns didactic, but overall, had the plot taken a different turn, this could have been a good historical fiction character study....less
"
|
|
Terry
gave
to:
The Mysterious Island (Modern Library Classics)
by Jules Verne
bookshelves:
cdcs-young-adult
|
my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
|
| |
read in July, 2008
Terry said:
"I absolutely loved everything about this book (well, almost everything--not the racist portrayal of Neb--but it's somewhat understandable--an Uncle Tom's Cabin sort of thing in which Verne thinks he's not being racist. His opinion of colonialism is ...more
I absolutely loved everything about this book (well, almost everything--not the racist portrayal of Neb--but it's somewhat understandable--an Uncle Tom's Cabin sort of thing in which Verne thinks he's not being racist. His opinion of colonialism is also a bit muddled, but more progressive than say, Heart of Darkness.) Anyways, aside from those minor details, this book was amazing--part mystery story, part survival novel, part adventure...this book has it all! Verne was a master plotter, and the novel holds your interest in the way that a good TV Show (*cough* Lost--Verne is due some royalties) or Star Wars does. Star Wars/Star Trek are probably the best analogies because of the use of archetypes--the intellectual/scientist (Cyrus Smith); the rough-around-the-edges, shoot-first adventurer (with a big heart--Pencroff); the young boy (Harbert); the reporter who becomes a doctor (Gideon Spilett). The characters are always in service of the plot, but there is still weight to them--like Dickens, the reader feels it in the gut when a character gets injured and rejoices with each successful project. It's a real indication of his talent--like Dickens, the fact that Verne writes and writes and writes helps the reader identify with the characters, but there's something refreshing about reading about characters whose main quality is their nobility (think Star Wars), and something very genuine about it, too. Mix in a theme of atonement for some of the other characters and you get a handful of engaging, fascinating people...all without characterization being the focus (unlike, say, the novel Atonement, in which characterization is the focus and the characters aren't as engaging). All in all, the best book I've read in a while...just get ready for 720 odd pages. Still, if you're one of those people who really enjoy, say, Lost, you'll both like this novel and be amazed that J.J. Abrams basically stole the entire premise for his TV show!...less
"
|
|
February 23
|
|
Terry
gave
to:
American Born Chinese (Paperback)
by Gene Luen Yang
bookshelves:
cdcs-young-adult
|
my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
|
| |
read in February, 2008
Terry said:
"This took all of about an hour to read and was totally worth it. Three stories of quiet power unfurl--the Monkey King, who undertakes a quest for dominance after a slight by the gods; Jin Wang, the title character and one of a handful of Asian studen...more
This took all of about an hour to read and was totally worth it. Three stories of quiet power unfurl--the Monkey King, who undertakes a quest for dominance after a slight by the gods; Jin Wang, the title character and one of a handful of Asian students at his elementary school, trying to maneuver through bullies, love, and American culture; and Danny, a white teenager, and his Chinese cousin, Chin-kee, the embodiment of the racist Chinese stereotype. All three stories intersect in the climax, with one twist that is predictable (but powerful) and another that is completely unexpected.
This graphic novel is a page turner, with three stories of identity that are brilliantly plotted, paced, drawn, and scripted. There is no weak link--instead all flow seamlessly together to make a point that is both specific and that any reader can relate to. If I had to choose the best of the three, however, the half-dream, half-reality story of Danny and Chin-kee is masterful. The presentation and deconstruction of the stereotype is pitch-perfect. The whole time I knew what the author was up to, but his point has an amazing visual power with the way it is presented. (Deliberately vague here so as not to ruin anything.)
From the intimate story that allies the reader with the protagonists, but never makes the reader awkwardly uncomfortable (there are uncomfortable scenes, but in a good way; this is no Napoleon Dynamite) to the fantastical but real characters, this graphic novel is a great exploration of identity told through three exciting, and, more importantly, non-didactic, stories. Only quibble--the climax happens too fast; this is saved, however, by the quiet beauty of the ending--this is a novel that ends not in fireworks but in the importance of culture and a friendship. ...less
"
|
|
Terry
gave
to:
An Alchemy of Mind: The Marvel and Mystery of the Brain (Paperback)
by Diane Ackerman
|
my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
|
| |
read in February, 2008
Terry said:
"Proving once again that I am not the fastest reader of nonfiction, I finally finished An Alchemy of Mind three months after starting it. That said, however, Diane Ackerman is one of the best writers out there--her use of language is gorgeous. I can't...more
Proving once again that I am not the fastest reader of nonfiction, I finally finished An Alchemy of Mind three months after starting it. That said, however, Diane Ackerman is one of the best writers out there--her use of language is gorgeous. I can't think of another writer (Sylvia Plath, maybe) with such a gift for sensuous imagery and playful language (Atonement was an attempt, but comes across as forced and overwritten by comparison).
Ultimately, it is a love of language and interesting anecdotes--Einstein's brain, the author being seriously injured while bird-watching in Japan, a Steve Martin quip, the appreciation of Shakespeare, the discovery of the world's smallest lizard--that I took away from this book more than an over-arching message, beyond that the brain is complex and fascinating. Still, a worthwhile read, for both its style and content....less
"
|
|
Terry
gave
to:
Behind the Curtain: An Echo Falls Mystery (Book 2)
by Peter Abrahams
bookshelves:
cdcs-young-adult
|
my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
|
| |
read in February, 2008
Terry said:
"While not as good as the first one--way too much reiterating of the exposition (it's page 150 before all the old details are done being re-explained), and credibility being stretched thin (how many times are Ingrid's parents going to be late in picki...more
While not as good as the first one--way too much reiterating of the exposition (it's page 150 before all the old details are done being re-explained), and credibility being stretched thin (how many times are Ingrid's parents going to be late in picking her up? call DSS already!)--Behind the Curtain is still fun, fast-paced, and well-plotted. Number 2 in the series involves Ingrid escaping a kidnapper, no one believing she was actually kidnapped (she was reluctantly on her way to MathFest), her brother Ty involved in a steroid ring, and a cold new vice-president/soccer coach (Julia LeCaine--that last name says it all) who urges Ingrid to win at any cost...
While an editor needed to jump in and cut off the exposition and repeated info--what, are there so many series out there right now that publishing companies are getting nervous and demanding each series book stand on its own?--I love the fast-paced plotting, Ingrid's tough but also naive voice (think a younger Juno), and Abrahams' willingness to be rough around the edges, like life. There is a lack of condescension that is truly refreshing in his books. ...less
"
|
|
February 02
|
|
Terry
gave
to:
Down the Rabbit Hole: An Echo Falls Mystery (Book 1)
by Peter Abrahams
bookshelves:
cdcs-young-adult
|
my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
|
| |
read in January, 2008
Terry said:
"Stephen King was right--I couldn't put this book down! Next to Harry Potter, this is probably the best "young adult" lit I've read. I say that in quotes because, like Harry Potter, this book is so much more than a young adult novel. It's li...more
Stephen King was right--I couldn't put this book down! Next to Harry Potter, this is probably the best "young adult" lit I've read. I say that in quotes because, like Harry Potter, this book is so much more than a young adult novel. It's like a good film that works on multiple levels by not being condescending to the kid audience, but with enough hidden references for the adult one (and not obnoxiously done like in the latter Shrek movies; no, the references here are to icons like Ingrid Bergman, Gaslight, Babara Stanwyck, etc.). The plot of the book believably follows intrepid heroine Ingrid, an 8th grade student and star soccer player, who inadvertently gets involved in a murder after leaving the orthodontist's office on her own in order to get to soccer practice on time. She is helped getting to the field by an old woman (I so-wished her name was 'Cracked-Out' instead of Cracked-Up Katie, but a small quibble) who is killed right after helping Ingrid into a cab to get to practice. The book takes a turn toward Gaslight as the criminal becomes obvious (another small quibble). But the story becomes more about Ingrid's life and attempt to outwit the guilty party--a la the aforementioned Gaslight, or Rebecca or Shadow of a Doubt. This works because the characterization is fantastic: Grampy (Ingrid's grandfather who defiantly stands up to his own family and land developers and teaches Ingrid to drive and shoot), Ty (Ingrid's older brother, an up-and-coming star football player), Ingrid's workaholic mom, Ingrid's dad (caught between a rock and a hard place when his boss wants to develop his father-in-law's land), Joey (son of the police chief and principal love interest), and Nigel the dog (who Ingrid finds in the forest and then proceeds to follow her everywhere--I so wish my dogs would do that). All the characters are involving, no one a throwaway. It doesn't hurt either that they're in a crackerjack plot involving an evil math teacher, a play production of Alice in Wonderland, first love, a daring escape involving a waterfall, and a sheriff who is only half a step behind Ingrid. I can't recommend this book highly enough for people looking for realistic escapism....less
"
|
|
January 12
|
|
Terry
gave
to:
Atonement: A Novel (Paperback)
by Ian McEwan
|
my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
|
| |
read in December, 2007
Terry said:
"This is where a 2.5 star rating would be ideal. I am extremely ambivalent about this novel--first the pluses: the writing is gorgeous; McEwan has some of the best prose out there. Every line has meat to it, nothing is throwaway, and every visual is s...more
This is where a 2.5 star rating would be ideal. I am extremely ambivalent about this novel--first the pluses: the writing is gorgeous; McEwan has some of the best prose out there. Every line has meat to it, nothing is throwaway, and every visual is so vivid that the reader is transported to a specific time and place. Secondly, (what everyone praises the novel for), the commentary McEwan is making about the novel itself--the fact that it is written, that characters and plots are manipulated by the author, and how a real character emerges (eventually) while at the same a written story exists too. This is very difficult to write about without revealing anything about the plot, but as one reads the novel, it becomes clear what McEwan is trying to do. Finally, the references to other literature (including some of the best novels--Clarissa, Lolita--and novelists--Elizabeth Bowen is directly mentioned, Henry Green and Virginia Woolf are obvious influences) is fluid, never forced, and is done to showcase a love of literature.
At the same time, there are downsides to McEwan's endeavor--how to write a novel that is commenting on its obvious falsity (its construction as fiction), while at the same time trying to convey reality. This is perhaps an impossible task, and I'm left with the nagging feeling that the novel wants to have its cake and eat it too. The characters and situations are so obviously phony that it becomes distracting in the first part of the story. I was drawn in by the fantastic writing, but then found myself wanting to hurl the novel across the room at some of the ridiculous choices by both the characters and the novelist. Namely: 1) The main plot twist makes little realistic sense. Absolutely zero would fly in a mystery novel let alone real life; 2) The characters in the first part are boring aristocrats who we don't care about (check out a Henry Green novel; except in his novels, the reader continues to laugh at them, there is no attempt at emotional attachment); 3) The 'mystery's' solution is obvious to the reader before the crime even happens; 4) Briony (part 1) is an insufferable narrator (as kid narrators, To Kill a Mockingbird excluded, so often are); 5) The novelist's choice to name a sexually, precocious teenager 'Lola' (too obvious a reference). But these choices are meant to be ridiculous--reality is only supposed to set in in the epilogue. At the same time, I marveled at how real parts 2 (Robbie at war) and 3 (Briony as a nurse--some of the hospital scenes are the best I've ever read) seemed to be. Then the question became for me--if they seemed real because of the way the scenes were written (the gore again in the hospital), but could not have been real because the characters and overall plot of the Tallis family are so fake, isn't that cheating? I haven't reached a conclusion yet, but something is still bugging me about the conception of it. Ultimately I prefer novels that go the opposite route--Paul Auster's Oracle Night for example--that start out real and quickly become fake, or throw out the idea of a realistic, consistent plot entirely (only in the conclusion does David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas come together), rather than the never-ending 'is it real? is it fake?' push-and-pull of Atonement. ...less
"
|
