The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion
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Diary of a Small Fish
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Jan/Feb 2012 Group Read: Diary of a Small Fish
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I came to know Pete Morin through discussion threads on LinkedIn last year. This led me to purchase Diary of a Small Fish on my Kindle. I read and reviewed it on Amazon. It is a tale of a small time politico who becomes involved in a criminal prosecution led by a corrupt state's attorney who hopes to feather his own political cap. The protagonist, Paul Forte, is a smart-alec, affable, well-connected fellow whose main love in life is golf.
The book is set in Boston and its environs and has a Dennis Lehane vibe.
Morin is an attorney and his courtroom scenes resonate with authenticity. Forte also develops a torrid relationship along the way, which adds fire to the plot.
I would be interested to hear from Goodreadians about their take on the book.
Just got it, will start reading tonight!
L.H. wrote: "Just got it, will start reading tonight!"Cool. Let us know how it goes.
I'm about two-thirds through now. It's a good read, well-written and plotted. I find the protagonist, Paul Forte, utterly unsympathetic, a kind of bottom-feeding politico who thinks the world of backslapping good old boy political favortism is basically harmless. Seems evident by about page 100 that Pete wants this to be a sympathetic character and he just isn't.
So to me, so far, it's a three-star review. Worth the read, but somewhat unsettling in intent.
I finished the book last night. I must say that I'm not a lover of "legal" thrillers, so I was a bit bored by the paragraphs of explanations of the legal issues and the political connections.I did find the character of Paul Forte appealing and I enjoyed his "voice". I thought of him as a good, honest guy, even thought he bent some rules. I golf and I get the notion of reciprocity in lieu of paying as you go. Normally, you can't pay at a club you don't belong to, so you simply reciprocate by hosting at your own club.
I'm also not a "romance" novel reader and I liked the way Morin wrote about sex.
I'm not sure that this was a crime or thriller (certainly not a mystery). I do like reading books by little known authors, and I think this is a good offering from the world of PubIt authors.
I would also rate this 3 stars as L.H. did, but for different reasons! It was an OK read.
I rarely give up on books but simply could not get into this one. I prefer much more action in my mysteries and thrillers. Because I did not finish the book, I cannot fairly rate it. With so many amazing novels out there within this genre I was disappointed in this selection.
I finished reading this one a couple days ago. I quite enjoyed it - the protagonist, Paul Forte, was a likable fellow, and I found myself following his tale with interest and caring. I gave the book 4 stars and wrote a nice review, which I then accidentally deleted before saving...GRR! I am too tired to re-write it tonight, so will save it for another time.
Great debut novel, and I look forward to reading more from Pete Morin!
Thank you Stephen for leading the group read this month. The thread will remain open so you can continue the discussion.
Ok. Thanks, everyone for the comments.
The mark of a good writer is to show you a world you know nothing about, and make you care about that world and what happens in it, and to feel a part of it. I wouldn't have thought I'd be interested in party hacks and the dirty business of state politics, but the author shows us a decent man in a tough situation. Several tough situations, actually. And we care, because having a person like the main character Paul Forte in the world is a good thing. He lives well, plays a lot of golf, laughs a lot, learns to love, and treats people well, unless they go out of their way to mess with him. The book is about character, and why it is important. Paul Forte is a moral man, even when he swims in the dirty pools of favor-trading. He battles his demons, and helps others to do the same. The struggle is absorbing, and this book has heart and soul, a truckload of it. If you don't get a little teary-eyed at some of the events, you might be a Grinch.
The author is an authority on this world, or at least he makes us believe it. The differences in the Boston neighborhoods are sharply defined, the rivalries between groups are highlighted, and we see how it all comes together in the world around Boston. I feel like I know a lot more about the place I live because of this. I got absorbed in this book-- like I haven't in others for too long. I cheer at a new writer who can bring such a work to us. Bravo!
Pete Morin has given us a book that the NY publishers don't know what to do with, because it doesn't fit any of their narrow genre categories. It's simply a great book, and they don't know much about what good books are worth, or how to sell them. It's clear that things have changed when we can discover this story anyway and have the ability to enjoy it.
Stephen will be our discussion leader.
Thank you Stephen!