Doug Lewars's Blog, page 38

Razzmatazz

Razzmatazz by Christopher Moore

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


*** Possible Spoilers ***

This was an enjoyable book. Written loosely in the style of old-fashioned detective novels, it had lots of twists and turns. It's a period piece so some things such as jive talk may be a little unfamiliar to younger readers but it seems to fit in. The characters are interesting although perhaps not relatable but if you're looking for complex character arcs you won't find them. At the beginning is a disclaimer (trigger warning) cautioning the reader to expect actions and dialogue suited to the early part of the 20th century which some people will find objectionable. Because this is farce, don't expect all parts of the plot to make perfect sense. Just relax and enjoy the ride. I highly recommend it.



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Powder Burn

Powder Burn by Carl Hiaasen

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


*** Possible Spoilers ***

The best thing I can say about this book is that I've finished it. There were many times I considered DNFing the thing but pure dogged determination kept me going. I thought Carl Hiaasen was known for writing humour and, judging by some of the reviews, his other books are much better so I may give another one a try but this one was just awful. The characters were not believable and the protagonist less than likeable. There were too many contradictions. The main character starts off ridiculously naive and becomes fully street smart by the end of the book. I can accept the change but not in so short a period of time.

The ending wasn't terrible if a little far fetched but getting there was a slog and I don't recommend this one to anyone.



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Haunted on Bourbon Street

Haunted on Bourbon Street by Deanna Chase

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


*** Possible Spoilers ***

I thought this was going to be a comedy within the supernatural genre. It turned out to be a romance, possibly a rom-com but far more rom than com.

The protagonist is annoying, emotive and largely an airhead.

While I did laugh at some parts, I'm pretty certain those weren't intended to be funny by the author. They were a number of impassioned scenes filled with heaving breasts, erect nipples and burning kisses. I could never write erotica and keep a straight face.

Then ending wasn't bad. At least there was a climax other than the kind experienced by the passionate couple. During that section the pacing was well done.

If you like romances and a bit of supernatural excitement, by all means read this book but if you're looking for comedy or even a good supernatural thriller, forget it.





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Dark Lord: The Early Years

Dark Lord: The Early Years by Jamie Thomson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


*** Possible Spoilers ***

I got this book my mistake from the library. One 'if you liked that you'll like this' list pointed to it and it seemed like a good idea. I had no idea at the time it was a children's book. I didn't DNF it but after about the first 80 pages I skimmed a lot. I still think the basic idea is brilliant ... the execution not so much.

I don't recommend this one for adults.

I think a good target audience is boys 7 - 10, maybe 11 but kids grow up so fast these days I have doubts twelve-year-olds would be interested.

The idea of an eventual Dark Lord starting off life as a child seemed fascinating and humorous. In fact, the author catapults a mature Dark Lord into a human child's body following the loss of a battle in another world. What follows is a painfully over-the-top Stranger in a Strange Land although this one doesn't come close to matching Heinlein.

The positive things: The school principal and teachers are comedic stereotypes and I think youngsters will find them hilarious. Even adults might smile at some of the report-card comments. The blustering of the Dark Lord as he rails against his restrictions may also appeal to kids.

The author keeps the story moving and I think young children will enjoy it although some may find the notion of 'goth' a little confusing.





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The Last House on Needless Street

The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


*** Possible spoilers ***

This is a pretty good gothic/horror/psychodrama. it starts off painfully slow. I read one review suggesting things improved after the first three chapters. For me, it didn't improve until the 50% mark. I was tempted to DNF it but carried on and was glad I did. In fact, by the 75% mark it actually turned into a page turner.

You're dealing with an unreliable narrator so don't believe everything you read. Still, there's a good chance you'll be able to figure out some, possibly most of the ending but I doubt you'll get every twist and turn - and there are many.

If you can handle a slow start, then this one is worth reading. Don't expect to like the characters very much.



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Wicked Business

Wicked Business by Janet Evanovich

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


*** Possible Spoilers ***

If you're looking for an introspective psychological character study don't even bother opening this one. This is for those who enjoy fun. It's a bit of a mystery with a fantasy twist. Many characters have a bit of power not available to normal people but they don't seem to use it much. Basically it's a quest novel - a search for a stone with magical properties. The characters are quirky. The plot is fairly simple. However the pacing is great and the author keeps things moving nicely from scene to scene. It's a great read provided you're not looking for deep literature.



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Jane Darrowfield and the Madwoman Next Door

Jane Darrowfield and the Madwoman Next Door by Barbara Ross

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


*** Possible Spoilers ***

This mystery isn't quite in the classic 'whodunit' style but it's pretty close. In this case we have a missing person and the not-a-detective detective works her way through a series of suspects until she finds the bad guy. You, as the reader, get to follow along and draw your own conclusions as to who the criminal is.

The book is well-written and the pacing good. If you're looking for sophisticated character development or gritty realism take a pass on this one. On the other hand, if you like to relax in the shade with a book and maybe a drink of some sort, the author has the ability to hold your interest. It's not a page-turner. You can put it down and pick it up again, but it's enjoyable and a pleasant read.

One thing I enjoyed was the protagonist's business card which reads 'Professional Busybody'. You don't find that in many career listings.

One of two subplots is not resolved but I suspect the author has her eye to producing more books in this series and wants something to work with in the future. Likewise the ending is a little flat. True, Jane finds the bad guy but the motive is vague at best. I would suggest if you enjoy 'Murder She Wrote' episodes, there's a good chance you'll enjoy this book.



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Unseen City

Unseen City by Amy Shearn

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


*** Possible Spoilers **********

This book sort of grew on me. When I finished it yesterday I was thinking three stars, but having slept on it I moved it up to five. I liked it and the writing is excellent. It is not, however, for everyone, and I'm not one-hundred percent sure it was for me. I guess I had sort of a love-hate relationship with it and in the end I loved more than hated it.

This is not a page turner. If you like books with lots of action take a pass on this one. This is for sitting back, relaxing, reading a bit and then putting it down. It's quite easy to put down. Sometimes it's a little difficult to pick up. It's a ghost story but if you're looking for Ghost Busters humour or Steven King horror, you'll be disappointed. This book involves a ghost who just wants to be left alone, who doesn't want to haunt anyone, until people start tearing her house apart and then she gets a trifle miffed.

Like the book, I had a love-hate relationship with the protagonist. Meg is in her late-thirties or very early forties - I don't remember which - and her biological clock is ticking. This shouldn't bother her because she's long since made up her mind not to have children or become entangled in a relationship. However throughout the book she *constantly* second guesses herself in not only this but pretty much everything else.

She is an introvert who lives alone with her cat and works as a librarian in a part of a library where archives are stored. Mostly she's left to her own devices but occasionally has to help someone with some research which is how she becomes involved with a man looking for the background of an *unusual* house.

I can relate to her introversion. What I found annoying was her inability to adapt to even the slightest of inconveniences. In once scene she and her brother are invited to dinner at their parents' house. Yes, her mother is a bit pushy with respect to Meg producing a grandchild, but all she has to do is shrug and say something like 'not happening' and ignore everything that follows. Instead she goes into some sort of internal turmoil - a state she is frequently in throughout the book. That's her annoying side.

This is a good book for a warm, sunny afternoon sitting in the shade when you might read a few pages, close the book, close your eyes, relax for a bit and then read a little more. Such books are pleasant on occasion but I wouldn't want a steady diet of them.

I didn't like the ending. It seems a trend among modern authors not to conclude a story. In this case it's as if the author made a bunch of notes with respect to possible endings, couldn't decide, so just did a copy-and-paste of the entire list to the end of the book.

Given the various caveats above, if you happen to enjoy slow stories from time to time you might enjoy this one.




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Game On

Game On: Tempting Twenty-Eight by Janet Evanovich

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


*** Possible Spoilers ***

Janet Evanovich certainly dusted off all the characters in this one. Not only do we get the regulars but both Diesel and Wulf make an appearance. Plus in the final climax where Stephanie is in peril she's not rescued by the ones who normally rescue her. I was quite impressed. As always, the book is good fun although the author chose to ignore Stephanie's financial situation. She didn't get paid.

If you're looking for deep literary merit look elsewhere, if what you're seeking is a light read and good fun this is the one for you.



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Hate Story

Hate Story by Jeff Cottrill

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


*** Possible Spoilers ***

This book was very well written. The plot was interesting and the pacing first rate. If I'd had the time I might have read the entire book in a single sitting. Hate Story is the blackest of black humour. The author is satirizing both social media and people's obsession with it. He also satirizes the self-absorption and narcissism of a certain demographic although I'm not entirely certain he intended the latter.

For those looking for character arcs you won't find much. The protagonist grows a bit throughout the story but isn't much different at the end than the was at the beginning. Since this is a satire, the other characters are mostly two-dimensional place holders. Don't read this for insight into the human dilemma. Read it because it casts a light on a dark place in the internet and on those who inhabit it.

Having said that, be prepared to wince a little. The author is pretty clearly on the far left of the political spectrum. He ascribes anything he regards as right-wing to unsavory and unpleasant characters. Personally, I regard that as fair game. I've been known to do the same albeit from the opposite end of the spectrum. Likewise you'll encounter a good deal of exaggeration in the story. I consider that fair as well. It's a standard technique within satire and while I turned my nose up in a couple of places I was never so put off as to stop reading.

You may think you've stumbled over an editing oopsy in a couple of places but it's deliberate. It looks as if 'creep' has been misspelled as 'crepe' but he's done that for a reason which will be revealed as you read on.

For authors, Mr. Cottrill has accomplished something which can be difficult. He has a number of fictional online interactions and uses bold typeface to delineate them. Such interactions can easily take over a book but he achieves a balance which is worth observing.

In general I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It's a variation on a mystery novel but instead of trying to figure out who-done-it the protagonist is tasked with finding what was done.

One thing I recommend is to bypass the Bonus Section at the end. It is unrelated to the story and is just a silly satire on the publishing industry in general and a certain large demographic of readers. In my opinion it is a really bad idea to set out to insult people who may choose to read your book and the shots he takes are pretty cheap.



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