Here's a thing. Of the 31 Donna Leon Brunetti books I've read so far, this is the first to disappoint. It's the story of an acquaintance from his chilHere's a thing. Of the 31 Donna Leon Brunetti books I've read so far, this is the first to disappoint. It's the story of an acquaintance from his childhood who comes to the Questura to ask Guido to investigate a family matter. It turns out that not everything is as it seems.
I kept getting lost in this book – as did Commissario Brunetti, to be fair. Donna Leon plots are often quite thin: the central mystery is padded out with extra scenes where Brunetti's relationships at work and at home are explored; the problems facing Venice; what the Brunetti family are reading; or food. There was a huge dearth of what Donna Leon herself refers to as 'arias' in the opera structure of her novels. The only real references to Venice involved travelling by boat from place to place. No food. Patta non-existent. Only Claudia Griffoni has a decent role as supporting actor.
There's another novel waiting to be read. Hopefully she'll be back on form with that....more
I'd actually seen an early draft of this book some years ago, but I re-read it for the purposes of a Goodreads review. Set in Spain and Ibiza in 2016,I'd actually seen an early draft of this book some years ago, but I re-read it for the purposes of a Goodreads review. Set in Spain and Ibiza in 2016, this book tells two parallel stories. The first is of Maria Dolores, an elderly woman who recounts her harrowing life story to a local priest. many years earlier in the Franco era, she suffered the murder of her lover, brutal rape by his enemy and the removal against her will of the child she was carrying. Forced into prostitution, she eventually becomes the concubine of a dubious businessman. Even then, she has to flee when she realises that the businessman is about to allow his associates to rape her if they choose. Eventually, she makes her way to Ibiza.
The other story follows a male nurse called Jimmy. He accidentally runs over a dog belonging to a local gang member. This is a lesser story which eventually tcomes to a climax at the end of the novel.
Russell really conveys the sense of being in Spain. Moreover, I thought the characters were really well painted, and the linking of Maria's story to the darker parts of Spain's past was spot on. The story of Maria Dolores was very good, but I felt the link to Jimmy's story was too tenuous given that they were supposed to be intertwined – the story flipped from one story to the other. I also felt that the details were too "medical": injuries and sensations read like a chart from the end of a hospital bed at times.
That apart, though, this book comes highly recommended. Maria Dolores is the star here.
It's all right. This is simply a yarn set around a forthcoming Scottish independence referendum featuring First Minister Susan Ward (a barely-concealeIt's all right. This is simply a yarn set around a forthcoming Scottish independence referendum featuring First Minister Susan Ward (a barely-concealed Nicola Sturgeon) mired in scandal, a murder of her former lover John Millar on its eve, MI5 and rumours of Russian involvement. Investigating are the inevitable rogue journalist and rogue detective. To be honest, I thought both the plot and the writing were pretty ordinary, but I've been reading some outstanding stuff lately and I might be setting the bar a bit high.
Unfortunately, I found myself reading this at a time when Nicola Sturgeon herself was under suspicion for some misappropriation of SNP funds, itself a deeply divisive topic, which made the book seem slightly out of sync with the times.
Patience is a journalist who clearly has lots of well-known friends prepared to give him nice reviews, but I'd prefer to reserve judgement until I've seen something else of his....more
Simply fantastic. Bonnie Garmus is appearing at the Edinburgh International Book Festival next month and I can't wait to see her in action.
From the ouSimply fantastic. Bonnie Garmus is appearing at the Edinburgh International Book Festival next month and I can't wait to see her in action.
From the outset, it's clear that Elizabeth Zott – even the name singles her out – is a one-off. Set in the 1950s, Lessons in Chemistry is the story of an exceptionally talented female chemist whose career has been blighted by sexism. Forced out her job in a research chemistry lab and with a child to support, she's left with little option other to take up an offer to host a daytime TV cookery programme.
She makes no concessions, and instead encourages her female viewers to think of food prep as chemistry. The programme producers are furious, but Zott is not the sort of woman to back down.
Despite the sad parts, it's a funny and largely uplifting novel, with many sub-plots. Go read....more
It's not often I give any book this poor a review, especially one I've completed. I did so for three reasons: first, it was a gift; second, I wanted tIt's not often I give any book this poor a review, especially one I've completed. I did so for three reasons: first, it was a gift; second, I wanted to find out what the twist was at the end; and third, because it was mercifully short. It was so disappointing that I might even have given it one star.
I can see why the book has been a massive bestseller in the US, but it wasn't to my taste at all. (view spoiler)[The plot of this book centres around the catastrophic sinking of a luxury yacht with the loss of all but a few survivors who make it onto a liferaft. Early on, they pick up another survivor from the sea who claims to be God, prompting some understandable scepticism amongst some of those on the liferaft. Gradually, one after another perishes, either from a lack of food & water, illness or shark attack. All of this is being recorded by 'Benji' in a notebook in the hope that his wife will eventually find it one day.
Meantime, on the nearest island, Montserrat, a strange character has apparently found this liferaft (empty by now) and the local police officer finds Benji's 'notebook'. The book switches back and forwards between "Land" and "Sea" as the policeman tries to figure out what happened to Benji and his fellow passengers on the yacht.
I found the solution preposterous and offensive in equal measure. The thrust of this book, it seems, is that God is in all of us. Whether or not that's true doesn't matter. It's not for Mitch Albom, or any other writer for that matter, to lecture readers like me on beliefs. They go for this sort of Christian stuff a lot on the other side of the Atlantic, but I read novels to escape. (hide spoiler)]...more
Every time you read one of Don Tassone’s books, you know who’s written it. There’s a quiet, reflective calm style, moral but not preachy, and with so Every time you read one of Don Tassone’s books, you know who’s written it. There’s a quiet, reflective calm style, moral but not preachy, and with so much unsaid left hanging in the air. It doesn’t really matter whether he’s writing a poem, short prose or a full-length novel.
Musings is an excellent little collection of 75 flash fiction pieces, divided into sections: Mystery, Discovery, Light and so on. I think I probably liked the Shadow section most.
I read a small paperback version, but if an ebook exists that would be good, too. Better, Tassone has a great reading voice à la Garrison Keillor, and an audiobook would be fun. Great as it is, though. ...more
Recently, I said that, if I had just one author's books to take to a desert island to read for the rest of my life, that author would be Donna Leon. IRecently, I said that, if I had just one author's books to take to a desert island to read for the rest of my life, that author would be Donna Leon. I read this directly after seeing the great woman herself in conversation with Val McDermid at an event run by an Edinburgh bookshop. During the evening, she referred more than once to Commissario Guido Brunetti's character, shedding light on its complexities through a couple of moments in one of the books. That book turned out to be Transient Desires.
I say every time I read a Brunetti novel that it's like a week's holiday in Venice. But this is a dark Venice, a Venice of racist, gender and homophobic prejudice(view spoiler)[, and of human trafficking (hide spoiler)]. Early on, there's a moment where Brunetti himself is forced to confront his own casual prejudices against southern Italians.
Plots in Brunetti books aren't usually as complex as this; more often, the novels consist of a thinnish main strand, decorated with set-piece interactions between Brunetti and his family, or with Patta, or Signorina Elettra, or one of the other officers. Here, they play little part, and the book has much less light relief as a result. Leon gives a dark subject the serious treatment it deserves....more
A slightly strange book. There are so many themes going on here – racism, homophobia, abuse of all sorts – that the plot rather swirls around in the eA slightly strange book. There are so many themes going on here – racism, homophobia, abuse of all sorts – that the plot rather swirls around in the ether. I'm not sure whether I was supposed to like Georgie, the Burrowhead DI trying to solve the deaths, attacks, vandalism and so on, but she was OK. The book begins with the discovery of the body of local psychiatrist, who happens to be gay and the lover of one of Georgie's junior colleagues, and thereafter became quite convoluted.
But it was OK, and I've decided I like books written in the present tense. There's a dark, atmospheric quality about the village: I never felt it was ever a bright sunny day.
Rules of Civility might still be the best book I've read this year, but The Trees is the funniest, for sure. Set in redneck Mississippi, the novel is Rules of Civility might still be the best book I've read this year, but The Trees is the funniest, for sure. Set in redneck Mississippi, the novel is notionally a detective story where visiting police – all black officers, I think – are left puzzling over a mysterious crime scene: a white, recently-deceased victim, in one corner of the room; a long-dead black man in the other corner – holding the white man's severed testicles in his hand. Despite the fact that black corpse has been dead for a long time, the locals decide that the "nigger" – Everett doesn't hold back on the racist dialogue for the rednecks – the locals assume the nameless black man is the killer.
One big tip for the reader: make sure you know who Emmett Till was.
There's a significant bodycount in this book, sometimes it's hard to keep track of the characters, and the ending creeps up on the reader quite suddenly. And although the book is laugh-out-loud funny in many places, at its core is a much darker, more serious, theme....more
I've had a couple of holidays on Lindisfarne and it's one of the most atmospheric, yet peaceful, places on Earth. I was given Holy Island as an inspirI've had a couple of holidays on Lindisfarne and it's one of the most atmospheric, yet peaceful, places on Earth. I was given Holy Island as an inspired present.
It's not clear at first what Ryan's back story is, but it becomes clearer as the book develops. For a religious island, it seems appropriate that Lesley Ross has created this book's plot around satanic rituals; this is about picking out the good guys from the villains.
A warning: this appears to be part of sequential series – read the books in the correct order. The edition I read contained the first chapter of the next one, but I avoided reading it....more
I've always been fascinated by Arthur Balfour. At school, I learned that he was the Conservative PM who lost in the 1906 landslide defeat to the LiberI've always been fascinated by Arthur Balfour. At school, I learned that he was the Conservative PM who lost in the 1906 landslide defeat to the Liberals; later, I learned that he was the Balfour of the 1917 'Balfour Declaration' where the western powers infamously directed the Jews to a homeland in Palestine.
He's also a past Captain of a golf club I'm a member of, and that prompted me to wonder what skills did this man possess that even put him into these positions of power in the first place. Unlike Trump, he wasn't especially rich, although he did have wealthy connections. I'd done a little research previously, but I decided that it was about time I made a conscious effort to find out. Ewen Green's Balfour, from the British Prime Ministers series, was an inexpensive way to begin.
I learned enough from this book about Balfour to feel I understood much better what he had to offer. Also, this was a Kindle edition, and to my surprise it "ended" 75% of the way through – the rest is references. That's good – the book is properly researched and referenced....more
Jeez... this was hard work, and I have the benefit that my understanding of Scots is sound enough that I barely had to check my understanding of any oJeez... this was hard work, and I have the benefit that my understanding of Scots is sound enough that I barely had to check my understanding of any of the words or phrases. Essentially, this epic poem looks at the state of Scotland, its society, attitudues and people in the 1920s when it was first published. But MacDiarmid's genius is that it's as relevant today as it ever was.
As a spokesman for the Scottish people, he's magnificent. The basic conceit – that a drunk man might be jabbering away to his two cronies while staring into a glass of whisky and seeing reflections all around – allows for the widest view. Starting with how Scots and the world see Burns, he covers the relationship with England, the Church, class – more or less everything. MacDiarmid is cynical throughout. There's even a very amusing section near the end that all Scottish sports fans will relate to:
Hauf his soul a Scot maun use Indulgin' in illusions, And half in gettin' rid o' them And comin' to conclusions Wi' the demoralisin' dearth O' onything worth while on Earth...
In other words, it's the hope that kills.
I docked a star because there are points when A Drunk Man is a bit racist, or sexist, but then again it's a poem of its time, a century ago. But it's a must-read for any Scot....more
This is the second Karen Pirie novel. Suddenly, she's "DI" Pirie, promoted after the events of The Distant Echo, and this time she's chasing down two This is the second Karen Pirie novel. Suddenly, she's "DI" Pirie, promoted after the events of The Distant Echo, and this time she's chasing down two parallel cold missing-person cases from the time of the Miners' Strike in the 1980s.
McDermid's plots are always good, and this one doesn't let the reader down. A former journalist, she likes to weave news events into her narrative. In the end, though, Val McDermid's villains are villains, and you're not invited to give them much understanding.
I like Pirie a lot. The character of the book version is similar to TV's Lauren Lyle, but physically, Lyle is a lot more glamourous!...more
I've read surprisingly little by Val McDermid, considering how many books she's churned out over the years. This is the third in the Karen Pirie serieI've read surprisingly little by Val McDermid, considering how many books she's churned out over the years. This is the third in the Karen Pirie series, but I've only read #1 and #3, so don't tell me what happens in #2. I've clearly missed something, though, because she'd jumped from being a DS to a DI in the course of the missing book. Also, I'd read the first book, The Distant Echo, before the TV series, but this I read after. I don't get the impression that Lauren Lyle – good though she is – looks anything like the Karen Pirie of the books.
McDermid is the master of the good yarn. This isn't deep, philosophical writing, these novels are simply page-turners, and none the worse for that. This one flits backwards and forwards into the former Yugoslavia, and I wonder if McDermid also "borrows" a lot of knowledge from her friends: in this case, the forensic anthropologist Sue Black, and the journalist Allan Little, who made his name reporting from Kosovo and so on.
Criticisms? There's a plot line that doesn't quite get tied up, and there's an unnecessary development at the end. But perhaps all will be revealed when I read the remaining books in the series....more
Given to me by a friend, Calum Kerr's The Girl in his Home is a clever little novella. The plot isn't complex. Central Do you know what? I loved this.
Given to me by a friend, Calum Kerr's The Girl in his Home is a clever little novella. The plot isn't complex. Central character Toby, intent on committing suicide, has decided to return to his childhood home where the happiest days of life were. He thinks the house is unoccupied, but just as he's about to blow his brains out, he's interrupted by Keira, a 13-yr-old at home playing truant from school.
The rest of the book is effectively a two-hander as Keira and Toby explore their own, and each others', woes. It turns out they have more in common than might have been expected.
Keira's the real star of this book. I'd be amazed if Kerr hasn't had a teenage daughter, say, or perhaps is a secondary school teacher: he understands teenage girls. She definitely bosses Toby, not the other way around.
I won't spoil the ending, but this book falls into a genre that seems to be very popular just now, and you'll easily be able to read it in a day. Kerr writes in a similar vein to Ohio's Don Tassone although Tassone's books are more progressively Christian in approach.
Treat yourself. Personally, I'd suggest the Kindle version....more
Miss Blaine's Prefect, the Olga Wojtas creation who time travels hither and yon, is at it again. Our Morningside Librarian extraordinaire is once moreMiss Blaine's Prefect, the Olga Wojtas creation who time travels hither and yon, is at it again. Our Morningside Librarian extraordinaire is once more sent back into history to solve a mystery by Miss Marcia Blaine, Founder of the Marcia Blaine School for Girls. Olga Wojtas's two previous Shona McMonagle books were bonkers, but this third adventure takes bonkerdom to a whole new level.
This time, Shona is sent back to sort out historical issues around the Shakespeare play Macbeth. Sent back to the 11th Century, she immediately lands in hot water (not a joke from the book although it might as well be) with the three witches, one of whom almost instantly turns her into a mouse by accident. There's a cat, more than one Thane, assorted other characters... but above all there's intensely Edinburgh humour coursing through the veins of this book. Expect nothing credible to happen, though.
To be honest, this Miss Blaine thing is a winning formula, a mother-lode seam of rich plots for the future. Brace yourself for an annual helping of laugh-a-page stuff like this. Olga's books don't take long to read. Incidentally, I've had a listen to an excerpt from the audiobook – she reads her material really well, too.
This book is great fun, and a great credit to Olga Wojtas, who herself seems to have (almost) recovered from being forced to attend the "real-life" Marcia Blaine School for Girls in Edinburgh. A good school takes centuries to develop its persona, so we have to allow at least another 500-600 years for it to mature fully....more
If Rules of Civility doesn't end up as the best book I read in 2023, I'll be amazed. I'd already read A Gentleman in Moscow, but this, Towles's first If Rules of Civility doesn't end up as the best book I read in 2023, I'll be amazed. I'd already read A Gentleman in Moscow, but this, Towles's first novel, is on a whole different level. The plot sees narrator and central character Katey Kontent prompted by a photography exhibition to reminisce on her life at the end of the 1930's, and the various people that shape her experiences.
The word stylish was invented for this novel. This is great writing in the manner of F. Scott Fitzgerald; the reader just wants to be in the same room as the characters all the time. I liked almost all of them: Kontent herself is feisty, from a humble background but with ambition to further her career, whereas the others are largely drawn from New York's high society. That contrast is what drives the pages to turn themselves.
I've read All That Remains: A Life in Death by the same author, but this is so much better. It's an organised, well-written description of the functioI've read All That Remains: A Life in Death by the same author, but this is so much better. It's an organised, well-written description of the functions, stengths and weaknesses of the human skeleton, interspersed with anecdotes, some of which are quite gory. Sue Black has been about.
I really felt I learned a lot from this book – much more so than from her first. Perhaps Sue Black learned a little from the experience of writing a successful first book.
If you plan on murdering someone and then cutting up the victim in order to dispose of the body, this is your first training manual. And if that's not enough, she cheerfully throws details of the exact process of your execution by hanging if you get caught....more
I was given this as a birthday present, by someone who found it as a recommended title in a bookshop. What she didn't realise was that The Mysterious I was given this as a birthday present, by someone who found it as a recommended title in a bookshop. What she didn't realise was that The Mysterious Benedict Society is actually intended as YA fiction, or aimed at even younger readers. I'd imagine the early Harry Potter books would fit the same genre.
The cnetral characters are four orphans tasked with solving a problem: they have no idea what the problem is, except that it's an urgent matter and they'll be in danger. Any more than that would be a spoiler.
The book's well-written. Of course you have to suspend belief for a bit, but that doesn't matter....more
This was a real disappointment to me. Not only did I receive it as a present, I also gave it to someone else as a present when it was first published This was a real disappointment to me. Not only did I receive it as a present, I also gave it to someone else as a present when it was first published in 2021. At the time, the book featured in the Edinburgh International Book Festival as one of four mysteries all due to be published on the same day – along with Mary Paulson-Ellis, the others will all well-known crime writers such as Val McDermid, Doug Johnstone and Mark Billingham.
This is just a novel, and one I found real difficulty getting into. This book is best described as an "identity mystery", and unsurprisingly I found it difficult to keep track of the different characters' names. After a while, I just lost interest.
Because it was a gift, I ploughed on to the end, but this book wasn't for me. An interesting note: there are hardly any male characters, and none of those few that appear are in any way positive. I suppose that means it might appeal to women more, but that wasn't my problem with it, it's just an observation....more
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