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June 24
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Matt
gave  to:
Elantris (Mass Market Paperback)
by
Brandon Sanderson
bookshelves:
currently-reading
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my rating:
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Matt said:
"I heard this guy was chosen to take over the late Robert Jordan's WHEEL OF TIME series, so I wanted to check out some of his work. I haven't read a WOT book for about 5 years, but still, very curious to see who was "good enough" to step in...more
I heard this guy was chosen to take over the late Robert Jordan's WHEEL OF TIME series, so I wanted to check out some of his work. I haven't read a WOT book for about 5 years, but still, very curious to see who was "good enough" to step into these massive shoes.
I am really torn on this book-- on the one hand, it's an interesting premise (what is going on in the city, etc.?), but on the other hand, the three person narration really suffers. The main story of the prince is rather engaging, although somewhat corny as he is a massively "perfect" character who has no flaws. His "wife" is a stereotypical "plucky" female fantasy character, who intends to save the realm with such brilliant advice like "well, why don't we PAY the serfs and they'll be happier!" Really? Good thing you told us, sweetheart. Lastly... the most boring and ridiculous character-- a priest sent to "convert" an entire country over to a new religion in three months. He is obviously a villain in the story, and his sidekick seems to be Gollum's cousin. ridiculously enough, we are told (NOT shown) that this guy is an ace converter of souls, and that after three days he has already won over massive crowds of followers. Again, really? I never bought any of this for a second. Sanderson could have saved this character by making him SYMPATHETIC and someone who could be (but feel we shouldn't be) rooting for. As is, I can't stand for his chapter to end (and unfortunately, he gets every third chapter).
Will continue, but am starting to groan more and more as time goes on.
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June 15
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Matt
gave to:
The Strain (Hardcover)
by
Guillermo Del Toro
bookshelves:
to-read
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my rating:
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June 14
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Matt
gave  to:
Child 44 (Hardcover)
by
Tom Rob Smith
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my rating:
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read in June, 2009
Matt said:
"Another day, another Soviet-era novel under my belt.
Like CITY OF THIEVES, CHILD 44 is a compelling read-- Smith seems to have a knack for plot and knowing how to keep the reader dangling on the end of the line. His dialog is stilted and ...more
Another day, another Soviet-era novel under my belt.
Like CITY OF THIEVES, CHILD 44 is a compelling read-- Smith seems to have a knack for plot and knowing how to keep the reader dangling on the end of the line. His dialog is stilted and awkward at best, but that plot just keeps rolling like a freight train towards a somewhat unsatisfying conclusion. Don't get me wrong-- it's not a terrible ending, but the resolution does smack of a bit of the deus ex machina and ends in a rather abrupt and somewhat unsatisfying fashion.
Let me also get right down into this-- CHILD 44 takes great heaping helpings of inspiration from Martin Cruz Smith's GORKY PARK, whether Tom Rob Smith (hmmm... three names, ending with Smith! Fishy! :)) acknowledges the debt or not (does he? I haven't bothered to do any research). Like GORKY PARK'S hero Arkady Renko, C44's Leo stumbles upon a murder that his employers don't want him to solve, spends lots of time being hounded by his own government, risks everything to solve the case, and is rewarded at the end for his troubles. In the end, I think Arkady Renko is definitely the much more three dimensional, interesting character of the two, and I've enjoyed all of his books to date. As for Tom Rob Smith's Leo... I guess the jury is still out. I haven't read THE SECRET SPEECH yet, but I look forward to it.
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Matt is on page 304 of 439 of Child 44
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June 13
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Matt
gave to:
City of Thieves (Hardcover)
by
David Benioff
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my rating:
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read in June, 2009
Matt said:
"I'm not going to bother getting into a summary of the book-- you can find that anywhere here. Instead, I thought I'd address my experience with reading the book, and perhaps offer an explanation for why I enjoyed myself as much as I did.
...more
I'm not going to bother getting into a summary of the book-- you can find that anywhere here. Instead, I thought I'd address my experience with reading the book, and perhaps offer an explanation for why I enjoyed myself as much as I did.
First, those people looking for an "authentic" representation of the siege of Leningrad need to move on. CITY OF THIEVES is, at its heart, an adventure story about two interestingly mismatched young characters. WWII and the siege serve as a backdrop, and there are interesting tidbits and horrific atrocities that stem from this setting, but that's all. I was perfectly fine with that, personally.
Second, Benioff has a history as a screenwriter, and this book reads very much like a screenplay. The plot is very "high concept" (two theieves given an impossible, yet somewhat silly task), the characters are somewhat shallow, but deep enough for us to care for what happens to them, the villains are villains with a capital V, the plot is somewhat episodic, and we're given a bitter-sweet "Hollywood" ending. Looking at other reviews, this seems to really bother some people. Not me, though-- The book is pure entertainment, and I couldn't care less. Enjoy it for what it is, and I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Lastly, I have to wonder how many of my fellow reviewers were born in convents or puritan enclaves. Yes, there are occasionally swear words and thoughts of sex. I hate to break it to you, but most seventeen and twenty year olds do tend to swear, and DO tend to think about sex occasionally. There's certainly nothing worse than you'd seen in a typical PG-13 or R rated film, and it never once bothered me or distracted me from following the plot.
All in all, a very enjoyable read.
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June 12
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Matt
gave  to:
Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography (Hardcover)
by
David Michaelis
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my rating:
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read in June, 2009
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May 11
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Matt
gave to:
Night Soldiers (Paperback)
by
Alan Furst
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my rating:
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Matt
gave to:
Wolves Eat Dogs (Paperback)
by
Martin Cruz Smith
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my rating:
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