Midway through reading Harper's first novel, The Dry, I knew I would be a fan of hers. I thought that the Aaron Falk #2 installment, Force of Nature, Midway through reading Harper's first novel, The Dry, I knew I would be a fan of hers. I thought that the Aaron Falk #2 installment, Force of Nature, was very good but a slight step back from #1. When I heard that Harper's third novel would be walking away from the Falk series, I wasn't surprised or upset in the least. He was not a strong enough character to be a central figure in a series. His role in Force of Nature was ancillary, it could've been any investigator really.
The Lost Man was excellent. Up there with The Dry for me, though much less macabre and dark (I prefer stark and gritty fiction), and more of a family drama than I typically read. But the mystery whodunit was the prime modality of the novel and it was solid. Harper's writing, as always, is of high quality and the character development was superb. Like an onion, layers and layers are shed in all characters. Every bit of info she reveals plays a part in the story arc's reveal. The locale and setting (the remote Aussie Outback) made for vivid imagery that I will surely be thinking of for years to come. I highly recommend this book, but moreover Harper....more
Prose so simple, at times, and so ornate others, that all in all has a profound effect. The story was not fantastic, but nonetheless unforgettab4.5/5.
Prose so simple, at times, and so ornate others, that all in all has a profound effect. The story was not fantastic, but nonetheless unforgettable. Poignant, every page was ripe and meaningful to the overall effect.
You will reread pages for no other reason than to relive what you just digested. Again, nothing monumental in its plot or scope, there's just a je n'ais se quoi to it.
I love the generic element to this novel. You never know where or when it's set (though knowing the author it's likely South Africa) and the civilization is aptly and simply referred to as Empire. This story is a glimpse at the hypocrisy that civilizations are and exposes who's really civilized and who's not, who's the captor, tormentor, jailer, guard, authority and who's not. It can be read as a metaphor and lesson on so many fronts.
This is my first exposure to the Nobel Laureate JM Coetzee, and certainly will not be my last. A superb writer....more
I really enjoyed reading this, it certainly kept my attention and was a page-turner. The plot was unique, enough, and interesting to the point where II really enjoyed reading this, it certainly kept my attention and was a page-turner. The plot was unique, enough, and interesting to the point where I was often looking for holes in it... they're there, though less interesting than the story was so they're forgiven. The marketing comparisons of this being a cross between Cormac McCarthy and Stephen King are outrageously bad, though. Laughably bad. But nonetheless, I found this very entertaining and the writing was solid and well-thought-out. I would recommend this to others who aren't typically fans of horror or apocalyptic fiction... there's a stronger mystery tone to the novel than anything else. And because of this, the ending was a rather large letdown. It didn't fit the tone of the story on a number of planes.
Edit: Having seen the movie now, there are so many fundamental and minute differences from the book. The changes were all the wrong ones and the tone and concept is radically different. Despite a very strong cast, the movie was just poorly executed. It made me appreciate the book a little more....more
I haven't read this since I was really young, didn't really recall much to be honest, but I still enjoyed it. For me, though, it's the su3.5-4 stars.
I haven't read this since I was really young, didn't really recall much to be honest, but I still enjoyed it. For me, though, it's the suspense of what the lottery is and the last couple pages that makes the story... the writing is rather palpable and unassuming....more
The first in the Bayou Trilogy, these early crime novels of Woodrell's are a little surprising given his famed grasp on the Southern Gothic realm of gThe first in the Bayou Trilogy, these early crime novels of Woodrell's are a little surprising given his famed grasp on the Southern Gothic realm of genres. Typically, crime novels are page turners, and while the plot was decent, this was not a page turner for me mainly due to its floral writing and slower pace. Nonetheless, a very enjoyable read. I'll finish the trilogy, but I very much prefer Woodrell's style in Southern Gothic lit than crime fiction.
The writing is outstanding, because Woodrell is quite simply one of the greatest American writers I've been exposed to when it comes to prose. The characters are deep considering how little exposure the reader has to any one of them. Rene Shade is an ex-washed-up-boxer turned detective, who's a cop in the Bayou town in which he grew up and raised mischief. Shade's character development was on the shallow side for a main protagonist, especially in the crime fiction genre. Though I imagine this changes in books two and three, and being the novel is so short I hope one could treat the trilogy as one piece in that regard....more
Hart has become one of my favorite reads. Iron House makes the third novel of his I've read (Last Child and Down River being the first two) and I've pHart has become one of my favorite reads. Iron House makes the third novel of his I've read (Last Child and Down River being the first two) and I've purchased all his others.
The thing I like most about Hart and this book is that he reads like a page-turning mystery novel but with literature quality prose.
Iron House deftly blended the worlds of NYC organized crime and Blue Ridge Mountain backwoods, and immense poverty and wealth.
The characters were well-rounded and highly likeable (and despisable) and the plot was excellent. Had me guessing but like great mystery novels you can be close to the mark but there are lesser twists that you didn't see coming.
Wow. This was written in nineteen fucking fifty-two. This would pass as raw and inventive if published today... the easy comparison is that of Dexter,Wow. This was written in nineteen fucking fifty-two. This would pass as raw and inventive if published today... the easy comparison is that of Dexter, which obviously owes its dues to Thompson. I will surely be reading through all of his novels, I really enjoy his simple prose and stark, casual grittiness....more
How the fuck can this be someone's first novel? What an outstanding work! While Thomas Mullen's first, it is the third novel of his I've read. The firHow the fuck can this be someone's first novel? What an outstanding work! While Thomas Mullen's first, it is the third novel of his I've read. The first two being Darktown and Lightning Men of the Darktown Series. The Last Town On Earth puts Mullen into my favorite current writers, I cannot stress enough how excellent a writer he is. He does everything so well that it's hard to pinpoint what makes his style so enjoyable. At times I want to think of him as a poor man's version of so and so but really he's just an exceptional and unique voice.
Mullen's knack is historical fiction, and this story is set during WWI and the "Spanish" flu epidemic in the extremely remote western forests of Washington. The story follows individuals tied to a lumber mill town whose origins are socialist at heart and their decision to reverse quarantine their healthy town as the surrounding towns are ravished by influenza (something I've since learned may be the second largest epidemic in recorded history).
Avenues of nationalism, bigotry, socialism and unions, medical knowledge and the lack thereof, consequences to impossible scenarios, and the diversity of aptitudes on all these fronts meld together in this wonderful story that is equal parts historical fiction/ Gothic/ Bildungsroman/ social commentary, both modern and yesteryear.
This is one of the best novels I have ever read....more
I love Harper's style, it was immediate in the Dry, which is unique... picking up on a distinct voice so early in a writSomewhere between a 4 and 4.5.
I love Harper's style, it was immediate in the Dry, which is unique... picking up on a distinct voice so early in a writer's career. The Aaron Falk series is a little too much whodunit and a little too weak on the crime fiction for my typical taste but I really enjoy the reads so far. Falk as a character is kind of forgettable, but nonetheless likeable. This second installment he played a very small role, which is unique for a series centered on his character. I think that speaks to Harper's style and writing as it's what's the pull for me. Story wise, so far these two novels have been solid but nothing grand, yet I still have loved them.
My favorite part of Force of Nature was the alternating chapters between the near past hiking group and the present day investigation....more
This series has the potential to be something quite special, both Darktown and Lightning Men were outstanding. I enjoyed getting to know the main charThis series has the potential to be something quite special, both Darktown and Lightning Men were outstanding. I enjoyed getting to know the main characters in more depth in this installment and seeing little mentionings and storylines from Darktown become major plots in this book. Sometimes it's a little harder for me to to get immersed in period pieces, not being able to fully relate, but this historical novel is both educational and if not a little mirroring of today's sociopolitical climate. The Darktown Series is already one of my very favorite crime fiction series....more
What an excellent, engrossing debut. I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery, the storyline was quite good, but the writing as equally so. Harper lends a naWhat an excellent, engrossing debut. I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery, the storyline was quite good, but the writing as equally so. Harper lends a narrative that feels rather natural and yet inventive... I can't wait to see where Aaron Falk #2 goes....more
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