Daniel > Recent Status Updates

Amon's giving young Eddie Redmayne vibes. The prose is... doing something. All sorts of references and allusions going right over my head, I'm sure. Liking it so far though.

Of the 3 short stories, the Xmas one was the best, but Capote wasn't big on plot was he.

House of Flowers: Well, idk wtf the point of that was.

How the hell did someone read that and think, yeah, that's a movie. 🤔 (Never seen it. I assume they left out everything.) Nice font in this edition.

This is absolutely bonkers.

Not without its merits, but predictable, and damn was the racial stuff cringe.

Pretty much unfolding as expected at this point.

Narrator has just had the insight that his racism was preventing him from seeing the RACIST CONSPIRACY! 🤯

I have no idea what the main character's job is. He's an ensign, but there's no indication what his roll is. Is he naval intelligence? No idea. He's investigating suspected espionage on his own. He talks to the local police and the FBI, but seemingly informs no one in his own chain of command or military intelligence wtf he suspects or is up to. Also, we had a lull in the racism for a bit, but it's back.

Wow, lot of racism going on in that chapter, I wonder if it's part of the plot. I don't have high expectations for this. I love Macdonald, but his early books are crap. There are flickers of good prose here but there's a lot of overwriting too. But, this is the only book of his I have left to read, so here we go. 🤞

How is this so engaging when absolute nothing has happened? Also interesting, the narrator is a kind of art restoration something, but besides a little about the painting he's uncovering, the most extensive description we've gotten is the heating system in the church, and the lantern at the Stationmaster's house. I want more of Moon, but I don't think I'll get it. Too bad this isn't an mm novel.

So far nothing has happened, but absolutely marvelously written, and the narrator is very engaging. Sadly, NYRB has published it with such an astonishingly hideous cover that I've shelved the penguin version just to avoid seeing it.

hmmm

While RJB's prose is better than the average SFF writer for sure, I am so weary of these stupid scenes from some victim/villain/rando's POV he sticks in like he's Dan Fucking Brown, or some Marvel screenwriter. Ugh.

A wee bit anticlimactic at the end, but really fun overall. rtc

Master Maloney was no early bird. Larks who rose in his neighbourhood, rose alone. He did not get up with them. He was supposed to be at the office at nine o'clock. It was a point of honour with him, a sort of daily declaration of independence, never to put in an appearance before nine-thirty. -- This chapter brought to you by Mojo Jojo.

😁 gang wars and daring escapes

i joke about the lack of engagements, but this really is remarkable for a Wodehouse book. we get old timey slurs (i had to look one of them up), and people getting shot. i don't think I've read anything like this before from wodehouse

Halfway through a Wodehouse book and no one has even gotten engaged, what a bizarre experience. 🧐

Self, I said to myself, as I sat down to read and eyed this little volume, did you make the right choice? Do you feel a twinge of doubt as to your decision to undertake this tale tonight? Well, rest easy. Fortune favors you this Friday, no more satisfying selection could you find. Cozy Moments ahead.

I've read this, but I don't remember a thing.

thank fuck that's finally over

KJC burning up all her author points on this one. Depressing to think there's a whole nother volume. Not that I expect to be inclined to read it unless some amnesia sets in.

Will goes home with the wrong man again. I'd really rather read about Phoebe and Maisie at this point. Course Will's oblivious to what's going on there too. /eyeroll

well, the spy/action plot has picked up a bit.

So far I am having a hard time believing KJC can ever get me to care about this pair as a couple. Not particularly enjoying this so far.

Hmmm, not that it's bad, but this isn't hitting like my last few selections. Hopefully it picks up.

Damn, that's what 6 stars smells like.