Doug Lewars's Blog, page 23
October 23, 2023
The Talented Mr. Varg
The Talented Mr. Varg by Alexander McCall SmithMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
*** Possible Spoilers ***
If digressions frustrate you, stay away from this book. Alexander McCall Smith likes his narrative to ramble and this one wanders all over the place. Periodically even the protagonist wanders off along some obscure train of thought having little or nothing to do with much of anything and is recalled only by a remark made by either a colleague or someone he was talking to. If you're looking for action you won't find it here; nevertheless, this is McCall Smith at this finest. Either you like his style or you don't. Among the rambles are occasional small, quite gentle digs at bureaucracy, journalists and medical professionals. I found the book quite relaxing. I listened to the audio version and it made for pleasant company. I was a trifle disappointed but it was my own fault. I read 'Department of Sensitive Crimes' as Mr. Smith venturing into the realm of supernatural fiction along the lines of Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London but there is nothing out of the ordinary among these crimes. A better name might have been the Department of Miscellaneous Crimes or even Petty Crimes. Nothing big happens in these pages. If you aren't to particular about what is happening and like a nice relaxing read, you might enjoy this.
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October 20, 2023
The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp
The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp by Leonie SwannMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
*** Possible Spoilers ***
This book has the key-word of 'cosy mystery' and I think that's a mistake. In fact, I'd go so far as to say those looking for cosy mysteries should back away slowly and move on to something else. The author cuts far too close to the bone for the cosy mystery classification. Frankly I don't think I'd recommend this book to anyone under the age of 50. Do you REALLY want to face all the little aches and pains, the brain-fog, the confusion and general inconveniences of age when you're still young and healthy? The author does a superb job of conveying the limitations of old age. Yes there is a bit of cuteness in the book but reality bites and it does so in large mouthfuls between these pages. I would classify this book as more of a mystery combined with a psychological thriller as poor befuddles Agnes tries to cope with what is real and what is in her imagination, an imagination stoked by childhood trauma and years on a police force. Being off her medication and suffering from psychosis doesn't help her ability to think rationally.
The book is quite well paced and the author takes us down any number of rabbit holes as we move closer and closer to the murderer. I quite liked these characters possibly because I'm beginning to relate to them. I particularly enjoyed Edwina who lives almost entirely in her own little world utterly removed from reality.
If you're prepared to face the frustrations of old-age and enjoy psychological thrillers where you're never entirely sure what is, and isn't real, then jump in. You'll enjoy this book.
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October 19, 2023
Kundo Wakes Up
Kundo Wakes Up by Saad Z. HossainMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
*** Possible Spoilers ***
I found this to be a remarkably interesting book although the pacing was rather slow so if you like lots of action, you may want to try something else. The world-building is impressive and the various twists and turns in the plot held my interest. It's dystopian insofar as climate changed has largely destroyed a city. People manage as best they can and AI provides assistance although it acts violently towards the lower classes. Gaming has risen to something close to a cult and through a computer game one can reach the realm of magic. The book poses the interesting question, if you could live forever in a perfect unchanging world would you want to? Personally I might find it tempting but these characters had other ideas. In any event, the book provides a good story and permits the reader to thing. Although slow it was quite enjoyable and I would recommend it, just not to those who want lots of action.
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October 18, 2023
All Systems Red
All Systems Red by Martha WellsMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
*** Possible Spoilers ***
This is very short, more of a novella than a novel. it's not bad although I suspect I might have missed a YA keyword somewhere. The story revolved around a sentient robot who doesn't much like people. He is, however, a responsible robot and works hard to perform his job which is keeping a group of planetary assessors alive. Not everyone likes him. Not everyone trusts him.
The pacing is good and the story moves right along. If you want character arcs you'll find a bit of that here but they're pretty basic. If you want a nice short break and like action without too much introspection I think you'll enjoy it.
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October 16, 2023
The Anthology of Scottish Folk Tales
The Anthology of Scottish Folk Tales by Folk Tales AuthorsMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
*** Possible Spoilers ***
This is a pretty good collection of folk stories. In some, there's some dialect so I think text might have been better than the audio version but in only one story did I have such difficulty with the accent it was difficult to follow the plot. The rest were fine. If you like folk tales I think you'll enjoy this anthology.
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October 15, 2023
Magic Bites
Magic Bites by Ilona AndrewsMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
*** Possible Spoilers ***
I read this book out of pure curiosity. It was originally a graphic novel turned into a full-cast dramatization in audio format. Was it possible, I wondered, for them to somehow do a good job on the project. They did. It was remarkably effective. Basically the book is Sword and Sorcery set against a dystopian modern background. Magic comes in random waves, stays for a while, and then dissipates just as suddenly returning the world to technology. Sometimes electricity flows and lights work. Sometimes people are reduced to candles. For those who can use the magic, there are fey lanterns. Cars are unreliable. During periods of tech they work and then comes the magic and they stop. Many people have been reduced to using horses. For whatever reason, the magic seems to feed off building materials and most skyscrapers have collapsed. Such is the world envisioned by the author and it's an interesting one. The protagonist is basically a high-ranking magic user with a martial arts background and a sword. She's tough in a fight, doesn't like authority, and is a maverick working as a mercenary whose job it is to get rid of monsters. It seems along with the magic there are a great many monsters. The story moves right along from one danger to the next. There is a bit of soul searching which detracts slightly from the story but for the most part the author remains on tract and doesn't become maudlin. In addition, there is a bit of a romance but it conveniently fizzles before becoming overly boring. In short, this is a great story if you like plenty of action. If what you want is character development and deep introspection move on. You won't find it here. This is for those who like stories with an interesting plot and good pacing.
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October 14, 2023
Atlanta Noir
Atlanta Noir by Tayari JonesMy rating: 1 of 5 stars
*** Possible Spoilers ***
This book was recommended to my by an acquaintance. It appears my preference for books and hers are quite different. Until I read this I had no idea 'noir' was an actual genre. I'd heard the term but I thought it referred to a certain type of mystery novel made popular in the late 1940s and early 50s. It appears to have morphed into gritty realism which is all very well but I can pretty much go to any new site and encounter all the gritty realism I want. I kept reading because this is an anthology and there's always the possibility the next story by a different author will be better. Unfortunately each story, while different, was about as distasteful as the previous on. In addition, some of these authors didn't believe in endings. After writing for a while perhaps they got up to get something to eat and never returned. Then they simply published what they had and called it quits.
If you like gritty real life stories featuring the dregs of society and you don't mind the occasional story lacking an ending then this book is for you. Otherwise you would be best to look for something else.
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October 13, 2023
Noir
Noir by Christopher MooreMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
*** Possible Spoilers ***
The title is 'Noir' and technically Christopher Moore suggests he was planning a dark mystery novel of the sort common in the 1940s through 50s. However it seems he couldn't help himself and added considerable farce and humour to the story which is why I read his books. This is a romp through San Francisco set in 1947. If you're looking for strong character arcs or even relatable characters you won't find them here but if you enjoy a lighthearted take on pulp detective novels I think you'll enjoy this one.
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October 8, 2023
A Fate of Wrath & Flame
A Fate of Wrath & Flame by K.A. TuckerMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
*** Possible Spoilers ***
On the whole I enjoyed this book. The author provides the type of story which made me want to find out what happened next. That said, this book is not without its faults although what I regard as a fault, others may regard as a virtue.
This book is yet ANOTHER vampire story. Don't authors ever get tired of the same tired trope. Sure, vampires make perfectly good characters, but the rising heat, the sudden intake of breath, the perfect sculpted muscular body - you get the idea. This is as much a romance novel as it is a fantasy. I sometimes think Stephenie Meyer and Anne Rice cursed the genre. In any event there is a LOT of hot flushes and smoldering glances you need to wade through. That part was merely annoying. Then, of course there is the obligatory sex scene. I listened to the audio version of this book so it wasn't practical to just skip over it. I did, however, have to chuckle at one reviewer who complained she thought the book might be YA because it contained so little sex. Evidently that one is in it for the erotica and should probably stick to books labeled as such. For me, there was far too much heavy breathing and I had to wonder if the author was attempting to combine Fantasy with Chicklit.
What the author does and does well is world building. This is a complex society into which the protagonist is jettisoned. It's largely medieval with plenty of court intrigue. It's impossible to know who is supporting whom and what betrayals are likely to take place. It is highly structured with a vampiric nobility enslaving the peasants who have to work for their masters and on whom the master feed. Needless to say the protagonist and her lover, newly made king after his parents were assassinated, object strongly to this class system and we, the readers, are subject to a certain amount of preaching on the evils of such a hierarchy. Fortunately the intrigues and world building holds this thing together.
The ending is pretty bad. Since this is a series one can't expect a cut-and-dried ending but the author was determined to persuade readers to carry on with the series by ending in a cliff-hanger. I may read the next book ... someday ... maybe not.
If you like palace intrigue, competent world building and don't mind a cliff-hanging ending then I think you'll like this book. In addition if you like dark-eyed, well-muscled vampires who, being king, are quite wealthy you'll find that here. Finally if you like plenty of heavy breathing and heat pouring through one's body jump in. This book has all of those.
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October 1, 2023
Coyote Blue
Coyote Blue by Christopher MooreMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
*** Possible Spoilers ***
This was a pretty good book. The idea of someone living a comfortable, rather staid life becoming completely unsettled is fairly common; however using a trickster go to accomplish this is a bit of a twist. There wasn't quite as much humour as in some of Moore's books but it was there nonetheless. I found the happy ending a little too convenient but I suppose some sort of slight-of-hand on the part of the author was required. If you've ever read any of Carlos Castaned's mystical books I think you might get a chuckle from this story.
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