Books I Read in April 2023 (Part One)

With nine books to talk about, my complete book review post for April was running over 2K words, soI decided to split it into two parts, one today and the rest nextweek.

I also wanted totake a moment to comment on my reviews. First, as a reviewer, Iusually only give the sketchiest outline of the plot. Plot details are notwhat I’m looking for in a review – I’m looking for thereviewer's impression of, and opinions on, the book. And that’s what I attempt to give you; I focuson the parts of the story that I have opinions about; what worked forme in the story and what didn’t. To be honest, I find what didn’twork more interesting to write about than what did. Indeed, it seemsthat if I have nothing bad to say about a book, I might not say much at all, i.e. see my review of The Big Sleep – my “A”grade says it all. I guess that makes me more a critic than areviewer. 

However, I understand, and I’m sure you do as well, thatyou and everyone else are entitled to your own opinions. My opinion isno better than yours or anyone else’s. I know what I like and whatI don’t – and I have a feeling that my view may well be too narrow a view in general.Perhaps, as a writer, I tend to judge a book on how the craftis practiced at a level of detail that readers don't care about. In any event,just because I don’t like a book doesn’t make it a bad book.Indeed, I’m sure that all of the books I read enjoy good ratingsfrom readers, so don’t take my word as the last word. I mostlywrite my reviews to amuse myself, and hopefully you.

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas Translated by Lowell Bair  C

I hate to admit thatit’s taken me 73 years to get around to reading this book. In mydefense, I watched the 1974 movie, I think. What can I say? It’sthe classic story of historical fiction set in 1625 and follows thecareer of one D’Aragnan as he seeks to make his fortune as asoldier in the service of the King of France. He meets, challenges toduels, and subsequently makes friends with the three Muskteers,Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, in a fight with soldiers in the serviceof Cardinal Richelieu, the power behind the throne of Kind LouisXlll. It is a story filled with humor, daring do, and politicalintrigue for three quarters of the story. Then it becomes the storyof Milady de Winter, known as Milady, an evil temptress in the employof Cardinal Richelieu in England. I found this last quarter of thenovel tedious and unpleasant. It reduced my rating for the novel froma B to a C. I will just add that Cardinal Richelieu is my perfectexample of an antagonist in fiction – a great man working for acause that can be seen as worthy, just not from the view of theprotagonists.

The Lost Historyof 1914 Reconsidering the Year the Great War Began by Jack Beatty  DNF 22%

A history of eventsin Germany, Russia, Great Britain, etc. that if they had played outdifferently, might have prevented those countries from going to warin 1914, and thus, preventing World War One from happening, at leastas it played out in history. A good idea. Unfortunately, the approachBeatty took in explaining this premise was examining each of the countries in such a shotgunscattering of events, personalities, and background histories foreach significant event of that country that it made for a confusing mess of a book. I found itnearly impossible to follow, in that neither chronology or logicalstorytelling seemed to have been followed. Political histories arefull of people and positions, maneuvers and timelines, results andspeculations, which can be daunting, even if presented clearly.Beatty seemed to be striving for a popular history, featuringhistorical celebrities and incidents, but they are presented so haphazardly as toleave me confused, disheartened, and suspecting that the eventsdescribed were not, in fact, quite as pivotal as he suggests. Indeed that thewar was, in fact, preordained.

The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler  A

The classic PhilipMarlowe novel with the famous Bogart and Bacall movie based on it. The storyconcerns the two daughters of one very ancient but rich old man andblackmail. At least to begin with. As with all Chandler novels, things get very (if not too) intricate. Chandler is one of my heroes when it comes to writing. (Side note: I love the covers of this edition of Chandler's works. This is the ones I own.)

Treasure Islandby Robert Lewis Stevenson  B

It looks like I’mfinally getting around to read all those classic adventure stories thatI should’ve read decades ago. I’ve had this book on my shelvesfor decades. I may’ve picked it up to read to the kids when theywere young. Who knows? My copy was a small, 1946 edition printed forschools, I think, as it has art plus stills from the MGM movie withJackie Cooper and Wallace Berry (boy, did I draw those names out ofthe distant past). In the back there is a photo and bio of theauthor, short blurbs for his other books, a line drawing of the ship,and a glossary of nautical terms and well as “Topics for WrittenWork,” like “Tell in detail how Jim Hawkins spent the first 100pounds ($500) of his treasure.” There are 17 other topics to choosefrom if you don’t want to do that one. As for the story, heck, youknow it. I have Kidnapped on the shelf as well…

Kidnapped byRobert Lewis Stevenson  C

I did not care forthis story nearly as much as I did for Treasure Island. Ifound it rather tedious reading, in fact. Set in Scotland some yearsafter 1746 revolt against English rule, it tells a tale of a youngman who may, or may not, be entitled to a fortune under old Englishlaw as the only son of the oldest son. The estate, however, iscontrolled by his miserly uncle. The uncle tries several ways ofgetting rid of him, lastly by having him kidnapped to be sent across toAmerica as sold as a slave. A series of events prevents this, withthe ship coming to grief in the western islands of Scotland. The restof the story concerns a trek across the highlands of Scotland in thecompany of a wanted follower of Bonnie Prince Charles. A study ofhighland characters, thought the main characters failed to click withme. And it had a very strange ending. I had to look up an onlineversion just to make certain that my book wasn’t missing a page.

Next week: Out ofTime, by Dave Sinclair, Goliath, by Richer Turner, ABook of Truths by Ty Hutchinson, and The Black Tongued Thiefby Christopher Buehlman. Stay tuned!