Doug Lewars's Blog, page 2

Denison Avenue

Denison Avenue by Christina Wong

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


*** Possible Spoilers ***

Audio version. DNF at 50%.

I really should have known. This book was clearly marked with a warning label, but I was in a hurry and didn't read the blurb stating it had been a candidate for CBC's Canada Reads. Anything liked by the CBC is something I'll dislike and vice versa.

It starts off fine. An elderly lady is suddenly bereft of her husband of many years as the result of a hit-and-run accident. Somehow, she must make her way, alone without relatives. I can sympathize with this. However, the author is not writing about aging alone. This is a book about the so-called immigrant experience. We, the readers, are expected to feel outrage at the impatience of a doctor trying to explain the situation to someone who barely speaks English. Why, he wonders, hasn't she learned? This is a valid question as the protagonist has lived in Canada for at least forty, and more likely fifty years. However, the author would like us to believe the doctor heartless and being impatient with a poor immigrant. Basically, the author's central message in this book is that Canadians should be accommodating to new-comers, making it possible for them to retain their language and culture without difficulty.

No.

If one goes to a new country, one should learn the language and adopt the mainstream culture. If someone wishes to cling to their former language and culture they should turn around and go right back where they came from.

For something in the neighborhood of 50 years, Canadians have had multiculturism rammed down their throats starting with the policies of Pierre Trudeau and frankly a goodly number of people are sick of it. Would you like to know where culture clash comes from? It comes from Canadians being made to feel guilty about our language, culture and standard of living. It's time to say a resounding 'no' to these purveyors of wokism. Will this happen? Not very likely. One cannot turn back 50 years of ideological indoctrination overnight ... although they're trying to do just that in the United States, but I doubt they'll be successful in the long run. Perhaps we have to accept this as a new reality, but I'm certainly not going to read books whining about our lack of acceptance in some author's eyes. Frankly I don't recommend anyone else do so either.



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His Majesty's Dragon

His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


*** Possible Spoilers ***

This is an alternate history involving that part of the Napoleonic wars when France, allied with Spain, was threatening Britain. Eventually the French fleet sailed from Cadiz with a numerical superiority in terms of ships but Nelson sailed his fleet in two columns into the French fleet thereby gaining the advantage and winning the battle albeit losing his life in the process. Along with this actual history, the author adds an air corps of dragons.

I read this particular book because it is part of a reading list for a fantasy course I plan to take; however, while I enjoyed it, I'm not sure if it contributes much to the genre. It's basically a reworking of a boy-and-his-dog story with a dragon replacing the dog and a British sea captain replacing the boy. The bonding remains the same. There are plenty of dragon human bonding stories and Ann McCaffrey wrote a bunch of them. The only think really unique here is the alternate history and I suppose it's of interest but hardly unique insofar as plenty of authors have made use of the concept.

In any event I think the book is very enjoyable and well worth reading; however, I'm not convinced fantasy authors will learn a great deal from it.



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The Odyssey

The Odyssey by Homer

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


*** Possible Spoilers ***

Frankly this was pretty tough sledding. At least W.H.D Rouse, the translator, translated into prose. Having to slog through poetic language would have been brutal. This was written for a classic audience and I think most modern readers will find it painfully tedious. It is, however, well worth reading if you happen to write fantasy. In it you'll come across all sorts of minor deities which are not well known but which you might find useful.



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Kushiel's Dart

Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


*** Possible Spoilers ***

This is not a book I would have chosen to read having noted the two keywords 'romance' and 'erotica' in Goodreads; however, it is on the reading list of an online fantasy course I want to take so I winced and jumped right in. I was glad I did. I have doubts readers of either romance or erotica would care for it. Certainly, erotica exists but it is fairly low key and I believe readers of the genre prefer more explicit sex with lots of details. There is some but the author doesn't dwell on it. Likewise, from what I've heard, readers of romance do not like explicit violence. A hint of it is okay but actually having people battle one another is not encouraged. There is plenty of blood and gore in this one so readers of the above genres might want to find something else.

To some extent the book reminded me of Game of Thrones with various factions scheming to take over the kingdom; however, the book is written in first person which makes it next to impossible to flesh out the subplots. We learn about them through the protagonist, but I think I would preferred to have the various characters work them out themselves. Plus, there are a LOT of characters. Keeping them straight was rather a challenge. If you don't like complexity in books, I think you'd do well to avoid this one. In fact, the author used the term 'game of thrones' once during the book and I suspect she was saluting George R.R. Martin.

I found this particularly interesting because the author wove sex and religion together. The theme here is 'love who and how you will'. The protagonist is a masochist who enjoys physical abuse and is subject to a goodly amount of it. I think those individuals who consider themselves feminists, particularly radical feminists, would not care to read this.

For those who like fantasy along the lines of Game of Thrones and don't mind a bit ... well maybe a lot ... of BDSM I think you'll enjoy this. In addition, authors of fantasy can learn from it.



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Nosy Parker

Nosy Parker by Lesley Crewe

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


*** Possible Spoilers ***

This book is a cross between a slice-of-life and a coming-of-age story. The protagonist is charming if, perhaps, a bit more grownup than her years would suggest. I think it is worth reading. It starts off better than it ends but it was still enjoyable.



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The Once and Future King

The Once and Future King by T.H. White

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


*** Possible Spoilers ***

This is a fine retelling of the Arthur myth. In addition to putting Malory's poetry into prose and translating from the French to English, he adds considerable humor along the way making a very long read highly enjoyable. This is on the reading list for an online course i plan to take and I probably wouldn't have stumbled across it otherwise, but it was worth the time. The last book, The Book of Merlin wasn't as good as the rest. It was just the author philosophizing on war, justice and power. He doesn't come to any real conclusions, and I found this section a little tedious; nevertheless, the book as a whole is excellent and I recommend it to anyone who wants a detailed knowledge of Arthur and his knights.



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Expiration Date

Expiration Date by Tim Powers

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


*** Possible Spoilers ***

This was a pretty good book although a trifle confusing in some places. It was difficult to remember which villain was which. There were the ghosts and the ghost hunters. The latter it seemed wanted to eat the ghosts, but it seems eating ghosts is a little like taking drugs. Ultimately the craving increases. I think this book would be particularly entertaining for individuals living in Los Angeles because the author references any number of streets and, presumably real places. This is book 2 of a series but I'm not certain where the author came from nor where he is going with the plot. I read this as part of the reading list for a course on the fantasy genre.



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Daughter of the Moon Goddess

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


*** Possible Spoilers ***

I'm planning to take an online course on fantasy and this is on the reading list. Had it not been mandated this is not a book I would ever have selected. When choosing reading matter, the first thing I do - even before reading the blurb - is to check the keywords on Goodreads. If I see the dreaded warning label 'romance', or any of its variants, I move on to another book. In this case the warning was present but the book is required course reading.

To be fair, the author is a skilled wordsmith. She has a remarkable talent for describing lush gardens and rich imperial courts. Writers can learn something from the way she makes use of all five senses in her descriptive passages. In addition, she weaves a number of myths into her book. Unfortunately, this is still a romance novel hidden in a fantasy setting. I'd estimate 85 - 90% of the book is icky.

Even some readers of romance might shy away from this book because there are some rather violent scenes not generally present in modern romance novels. I cannot claim to be an expert on the subject seeing as I only read a romance novel about once every five years just to see what is happening in the genre, but it seems the authors I have read were careful to shy away from any sort of real bloodshed. During this story the protagonist suffers a number of injuries described in detail.

I will concede the book is well written but it is still a romance novel and I found it painfully cloying.



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Network Effect

Network Effect by Martha Wells

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


*** Possible Spoilers ***

This book had lots of action and held my interest from beginning to end. I'll certainly continue with the series but not right away if only because I had to put a 'hold' on #6 at my library so it may take a while for it to become available.



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Exit Strategy

Exit Strategy by Martha Wells

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


*** Possible Spoilers ***

Once again, lots of action, good pacing, an all round excellent book despite being a novella and very short.



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