Sunday, August 31, 2008

ZUGZWANG

TITLE: ZUGZWANG
AUTHOR: RONAN BENNETT
Date: 30/08/2008
Grade: 4
Details: Audio: 9 Cd's/9 hours
Narrator: Gordon Griffin
Library

It is 1914 in St. Petersburg, and the place is filled with unrest and violence.
Dr. Otto Spathmann is busy with his psycho-analitical practice when he suddenly finds the police has an interest in him and his daughter. An interest connected to two recent murders of men he didn't know.
Next thing he knows he's up to his neck in politics, in which he was never interested, and intrigue. And somehow several of his clients appear to be connected too, if it's unclear how. There is Anna Petrova, a beautiful woman troubled by nightmares, with whom Spattman falls in love, and there is Rosenthal, a brilliant but very troubled chess player on the eve of playing a very important tournament.
As Spattman plays a chess match with his friend, his own life turns into an intricate game of chess, with his own life depending on the outcome.
Zugzwang, apparently, is a chess term which I didn't get to understand completely, but appears to mean a losing position from which no come back is possible.

WHISTLEBLOWER

TITLE: WHISTLEBLOWER
AUTHOR: TESS GERRITSEN
Pages: 328
Date: 26/08/2008
Grade: 4-
Details: Stand-Alone
Library

This wasn't a bad book, but is was disappointing on several levels.
The first disappointment was that this isn't a new title, but rather the re-publication of a book from 1992. And that fact partly explains the second disappointment. Originally this book was published by Harlequin, which of course means that it wasn't so much a thriller, but rather romantic suspense. And, as far as that genre goes, I'm yet to find someone who can do it as well as Nora Roberts.
As for the story: Catherine Weaver is on her way to visit a friend when a man, Victor Holland, runs straight into the path of her car. Helping Holland to a hospital sets of a nightmare for Cathy, since now those who want to kill him, are also after her.
Cathy has to put her trust in a man who's story sounds mad, but who may be able to keep her alive. Standard fare, but enjoyable.

Monday, August 25, 2008

THE BROKEN WINDOW

TITLE: THE BROKEN WINDOW
AUTHOR: JEFFREY DEAVER
Pages: 414
Date: 25/08/2008
Grade: 5
Details: no. 8 Lincoln Rhyme Mystery
Own

Lincoln Rhyme is working on a transatlantic case when he receives a call from his cousin's wife. Arthur Rhyme, a cousin Lincoln has been estranged from for years, has been arrested for first degree murder, with tons of evidence that he must be guilty.
Reluctantly Lincoln and Amelia take a close look at the murder and the evidence and discover that the evidence must have been planted. But by whom, why and how? They also discover that this has happened before and other, probably innocent people, are in prison.
They soon discover that they are dealing with the ultimate case of identity theft. Someone who uses any sort of information about anyone for his own, disturbed, purposes. And he is just as willing and able to use his access to information against those who pursue him as he is using it against random people.
The Lincoln Rhyme books just never disappoint. They are thrilling, scary, make you think and are almost impossible to put down.
This book has, once again, made me think about all the information that is out there about all of us, and what somebody with access might use it for, a frightening idea.
Apparently, the next book in this series is due in 2010, which seems like a very long wait to me.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

THE DUST OF DEATH

TITLE: THE DUST OF DEATH
AUTHOR: PAUL CHARLES
Pages: 284
Date: 23/08/2008
Grade: 4
Details: an Inspector Starrett Mystery
Library

The bloodied body of Jimmy Moore, master carpenter, is found crucified in the Second Federation Church in Ramelton, County Donegal.
Inspector Starrett and his team soon discover that Moore was having an affair with the wife of the pastor of the church he was found in, and the same woman has now disappeared.
As the dig deeper, the Garda find that a lot of the relationships involving the people close to the murdered man were far from standard. But who's love life lead them to commit this murder?
Starrett find himself struggling with love, both old and new, as well, and that is one area of his life where his special sixth sense doesn't help him.
This was a nice find. A good mystery with interesting and convincing characters. I really hope this will turn out to be the first instalment in a new series.

Friday, August 22, 2008

THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY

TITLE: THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY
AUTHOR: MARY ANN SHAFFER
Pages: 21/08/2008
Date: 21/08/2008
Grade: 5+
Own

This was such a charming, well written and sweet book. I'm delighted I own a copy and will be able to go back to it whenever I feel like it. And the amazing thing is that this book is completely written in the form of letters, a format that would usually put me off, but turned out to be perfect for this story.
Juliet Ashton is a writer, living in London in 1946, when she receives a letter from a Mr. Dawsey Adams of Guernsey. The strike up a correspondence and when he mentions the Society of the title and the occupation by the Germans during WW II, Juliet's curiosity is piqued. Before long not only is she exchanging letters with several of Guernsey's inhabitants, but also planning a trip to the island to meet her new friends and learn more about Guernsey's recent past. A trip that will change Juliet's life in more ways then one.
It's such a shame that this author came to writing so late in her life and died shortly after the publication of this jewel of a book. Having said that, it's a blessing she lived long enough to write it. My life is richer for having read this book.

ECLIPSE

TITLE: ECLIPSE
AUTHOR: STEPHENIE MEYER
Pages: 628
Date: 19/08/2008
Grade: 4.5
Details: no. 3 Twilight novel
Library

Bella's life is getting more complicated by the day.
She is delighted to be reunited with Edward and the Cullens, but this reunion dramatically complicates her friendship with Jacob. And it's not just Jacob's feelings for her that are making things difficult. With Werewolves and Vampires being traditional enemies of each other, there is a real risk of an all out war.
And exactly how is Bella connected to the string of violent murders in Seattle?
To top it all off, graduation is approaching, and with it some very big and life changing decisions for Bella.
These books are consistently getting better, and it won't be long before I read the final instalment.

THE VISITOR

TITLE: THE VISITOR
AUTHOR: LEE CHILD
Pages: 502
Date: 17/08/2008
Grade: 4.5
Details: no. 4 Jack Reacher Novel
Library

After two former army career women are found murdered in their own homes in baths filled with green paint, FBI profilers come up with a description of the suspected killer. A description that correctly and completely describes Reacher.
In order to prove his innocence, Reacher is forced to work with the FBI. But working a case where even the cause of death is unknown, is very much an uphill struggle, and solving the case brings problems all of its own.
This was a Jack Reacher story as I've come to expect and love them. It didn't get a "5" score for two reasons; I was really hoping that the solution wouldn't turn out to be what it was, and I had part of the correct solution fairly early on.
Still, a very thrilling page turner.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

LOVE IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES

TITLE: LOVE IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES
AUTHOR: FRANK DEVLIN
Pages: 339
Date: 16/08/2008
Grade: 4
Details: Large Print edition
Library

I suppose you couldn't really call this book a mystery, since it's clear from page one, in fact from the very first sentence who is setting up the murders, if not committing them. Helen is a woman looking for love, and any man not living up to her expectations ends up paying the ultimate price.
Rose Burke is a homicide detective with quite a few personal issues, who eventually spots the link between the various single men, who all died in different ways. When she does, it's just a question of whether she will find Helen, and whether she will do so in time to prevent further bloodshed.
This was not a great read, but is was made worthwhile by the fact that it was hard for me to really dislike Helen, despite everything.

THE CLUB DUMAS

TITLE: THE CLUB DUMAS
AUTHOR: ARTURO PEREZ-REVERTE
Pages: 362
Date: 16008/2008
Grade: 4+
Own

Lucas Corso makes his living finding and acquiring rare editions of books and manuscripts for wealthy and unscrupulous clients.
When a wealthy bibliophile is found hanged, Corse is asked to investigate the authenticity of an apparently original manuscript of a chapter of Alexandre Dumas' Three Musketeers.
At the same time, he accepts a commission to find and investigate two copies of an old book, concerning devil worship.
Almost from the start, the two investigations appear connected, and what's more, they take on the characteristics of the famous Dumas story.
As reality and fiction appear to merge, it becomes unclear who is playing what role, and why.
This was a very intriguing and fascinating read, although I wasn't as surprised as I think the author intended me to be.
Two interesting quotes:
"Trained as an apprentice in Leyden (Holland) at the workshop of the "Elzevirs"
"A reader is the total of all he's read, in addition to all the films and television he's seen. To the information supplied by the author he'll always add his own. And that's where the danger lies: an excess of references caused you to create the wrong opponent, or an imaginary opponent. (...)
The information a book provides is an objective given. It may be presented by a malevolent author who wishes to mislead, but it is never false. It is the reader who makes the false reading."

Thursday, August 14, 2008

PIG ISLAND

TITLE: PIG ISLAND
AUTHOR: MO HAYDER
Pages: 309/494
Date: 13/08/2008
Grade: DNF
Library

Almost from page 1 I didn't like this book, and yet I kept on reading and hoping that I was wrong for 309 pages.
And I'm not entirely sure why this book didn't work for me. Something about the main character, I didn't like from the start. In fact, by page 309 I still didn't like any of the characters.
So, I gave up.
It wasn't even as if the book was hard to read, it just wasn't doing anything for me or to me.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

ODD THOMAS

TITLE: ODD THOMAS
AUTHOR: DEAN KOONTZ
Date: 13/08/2008
Grade: 5
Details: no. 1 Odd Thomas novel
Audio: 10 Cd's/11 hours 10 minutes
Narrator: Jeff Harding
Library

Odd Thomas, yes that really is his name, has, for lack of a better word, odd talents.
Although his talent as a fry cook is perfectly normal, his ability to see dead people, and to see bloodshed and disaster coming, aren't.
And, right now, all signs seem to indicate that an enormous disaster is about to visit the town of Pico Mundo, the place where Odd and his girlfriend, Stormy, call home.
What is more, Odd has only 24 hours to discover what form this disaster will take and where it will take place, if he wants to have any chance of preventing the looming death and destruction.
This was a wonderful book, much better than I expected it to be.
Odd is a wonderful character and narrator, and despite his special abilities, totally believable.
Although the story has some horrific qualities, it never felt like I was reading horror.
I'm really looking forward to the further adventures of Odd Thomas.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

FIRST AMONG SEQUELS

TITLE: FIRST AMONG SEQUELS
AUTHOR: JASPER FFORDE
Pages: 395
Date: 11/08/2008
Grade: 5-
Details: no. 5 Thursday Next Novel
Own

I don't know where to begin or how to summarize this book. So much is happening, there are so may apparently separate story-lines that nothing I could write here could do the book justice. So, rather then give an outline, I'll just give hints about some of the plots.
It's more then 10 years since the last book, and Landon and Thursday are parents to three children (or so it would appear).
Officially, Thursday now has a quiet job with Acme Carpets, while in reality she's still doing her old jobs, unbeknownst to Landon.
In a world of ever decreasing attention-spans, reading levels are continuously falling, and Thursday has to try and stop Pride and Prejudice from being turned into a vote-em-off reality book-show.
Someone has killed Sherlock Holmes and it appears that other main characters are being threatened.
Thursday's son, Friday, is destined to safe the world from destruction, but being a typical teenager can't be bothered to even get out of bed.
Thursday's uncle Mycroft appears as a ghost, but doesn't know why, and then there are the two extra Thursday's to deal with.
Weird, wonderful, ingenious and completely original. I am amazed how Fforde can create a world so very different from ours, yet fill it with very apt observations that do concern our real life.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

THE SUMMER OF SECRETS

TITLE: THE SUMMER OF SECRETS
AUTHOR: MARTINA REILLY
Pages: 484
Date: 09/08/2008
Grade: 4.5
Details: Large Print Edition
Library

Hope Gardner is after losing her 16th job in about 18 months when she decides to go travelling and try to figure out what she wants to do with her life.
However, shortly after take-off her plane gets engine trouble and crash-lands, with Hope being one of very few survivors.
When she gets out of hospital she discovers to her horror that her friends, Adam and Julie, are taking her back home to Dunport in Kerry, Ireland, to recuperate.
But Dunport is the last place where wants to go to as for her it is filled with bad memories and secrets. And so begins a summer filled with fear, pain, counselling and tears. But also a summer filled with insights that will ultimately lead to hope and a new perspective on life.
A good story, in fact, much better then I expected it to be.

NEW MOON

TITLE: NEW MOON
AUTHOR: STEPENIE MEYER
Pages: 563
Date: 07/08/2008
Grade: 4.5
Details: no. 2 Twilight Series
Library

Bella Swan is still deeply in love with Edward Cullen, and when he and is "family" decide to move away, it sends Bella's life into a tailspin.
After a few months of living in a daze, she partially emerges and tries to connect with people around her again, but life without her vampire leaves her with a huge hole in her chest.
The only person able to make Bella feel slightly normal is Jacob, a native American, obviously in love with Bella, but willing to be her friend. But Jacob has problems and secrets of his own that will affect Bella's life.
To top it all off, there are still those out there who would hurt Bella.
The main reason I like these books is that they are romantic without being sickening and tell about vampire's without being gorey. Stepenie Meyer certainly knows how to keep you turning the pages.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

ROODKAPJE

TITLE: ROODKAPJE (Little Red Riding Hood)
AUTHOR: UNNI LINDELL
Pages: 331
Date: 05/08/2008
Grade: 4
Own

Judith, Lisbeth and Carol Marner were raised by their grandmother. During their childhood, one of them was attacked by a man in a forest, something which irrevocable changed the course of her life.When she was 14 this girl killed a man for the first, but not for the last time.
Now the girls are grown women, but men remain dangerous and the killing necessary, and a new danger gets closer in the form of a retired policeman who is convinced that one of the sisters has to be the murderer. But which one?
"Nothing scared me before I went into the forest, but when I ran out of there, I was afraid of everything. There are a lot of perverted men in the world. There are also a few perverted women. I am one of them" (Translation from Dutch by me)
A fascinating book because you don't often read about female serial killers. It doesn't really matter that halfway through the book it becomes clear which sister is the guilty one. And despite the reader thinking all is clear and it's only a question of when and how she will be caught, the story still holds a few surprises. I'm just not sure that I liked all of those surprises