Given that this is the 6th book in the Gabriel Allon series, again it seems difficult to be too critical or to be able to recommend this particular inGiven that this is the 6th book in the Gabriel Allon series, again it seems difficult to be too critical or to be able to recommend this particular installment since one pretty much knows what you are getting yourself into when you open the book. The Messenger opens with a pretty spectacular terrorist attack (one that I felt somewhat guilty about reading on Christmas Eve) and from there, Silva globe-trot his Israeli super-spy on his typical course of revenge and winning one for the good guys (tho depending on your politics).
After the opening, the book wobbled just a bit, but things got back on track with the addition of a new character, an attractive female American operative, that gave this installment a good jolt of fresh blood, figuratively and at times in this universe, quite literally.
While this is no great work of literature, it was totally enjoyable, entertaining and fast read... so 4 stars within its genre. I will certainly be back for more adventures with the charismatic Allon....more
I have kind of a soft spot for this genre that NPR Books dubbed "tea biscuit lit." Having devoured volumes by Alexander McCall Smith, it's not a far sI have kind of a soft spot for this genre that NPR Books dubbed "tea biscuit lit." Having devoured volumes by Alexander McCall Smith, it's not a far stretch to think the characters in Helen Simonson's debut novel, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, revolving in the very same universe. Perfectly pleasant people, running up against some people and things in the not always always pleasant real world, but with things typically turning out quite pleasantly.
Most of the times I welcome this literary escape from reality, and while I found it to be initially quite charming, ultimately it wasn't enough to counteract a bad case of mid-December, pre-holiday crankiness and stress. While I remained smitten with the book's two leads, Major Pettigrew and Mrs. Ali, I found myself losing patience and interest with the many, many peripheral characters and sub-plots. Likewise, the pacing could be compared to the car driving style of the Major and the Mrs., at times a bit too slow and meandering (the hunt) or too heavy on the pedal (the action towards the end was a bit of jolt).
As with other books in this "tea biscuit lit" genre, there is all this sly humor (particularly love the sarcasm) and delightful philosophical waxing, words of wisdom/life advice. Despite these flaws, it is really hard not to like this book and I feel like a bit of Scrooge giving it only 3 stars, but 3 stars is "liked it," right?! ...more
I have such affection and nostalgia for the Tales of the City books and the subsequent mini-series so much so that when I was in NYC this fall, it wasI have such affection and nostalgia for the Tales of the City books and the subsequent mini-series so much so that when I was in NYC this fall, it was a no-brainer that I would see Laura Linney in a play just to see "Mary Ann" in-person. So when I opened the book (well, okay clicked onto the screen) and saw that Armistead Maupin had dedicated this volume to Linney, he pretty was going to have to do something abominable to make me not love this book. The book quickly took me back into the lives of these characters and their beloved city of San Francisco, it was like meeting up with old friends and not missing a beat.
Alas, we have all aged since the original books and while the characters are a wee bit older than myself, there was still a lot that I could personally relate to and there are a sprinkling of new characters to keep it fresh, though some(Michael's biz partner Jake and non-biz partner Ben) were first introduced in Maupin's first dip back into the Tales waters in Michael Tolliver Lives.
While he provides helpful reminders of the characters' histories, I can't imagine anyone jumping into this book and knowing what the heck is going on or getting any of it, particularly Maupin's penchant for happenstance/serendipity in connecting up everything some some way, some how. I am sure even some fans may feel like Maupin should have quit while he was ahead, but for me as long as he wants to write about these characters, I'll be reading.
This seems like kind of a useless review. However, you felt about The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, there is a pretty good chance that you'll feel the This seems like kind of a useless review. However, you felt about The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, there is a pretty good chance that you'll feel the same about this second installment in Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy. It has all the same intricacies of the first book: a fairly muddled mystery that takes its sweet old time to unravel in ways, that at least I, once again found difficult to anticipate.
What I liked most about Fire is that it was more Lisbeth Salander-centric. I believe Larsson has created one of the great characters in contemporary literature, so the more Lisbeth the better. Beyond that there is not much I would want to say about plot, though I wouldn't know where to start having just completed the 600+ pages.
Ratings-wise, I gave Tattoo 4.5 stars and rounded it up to 5. I think Fire is just as good, and in some ways better, but alas while I will still unofficially award it 4.5 stars, I will round it down to 4. The reasons? Having wow'd me with the first volume, this was lacking a freshness from the way Larsson tells a story to even things like the Swedish setting. Also, have to admit occasional, but brief lapses in momentum as Larsson just seems to complicate things for heck of it. Plus, while I love her, Lisbeth crosses the the line in super-human/heroine status perhaps just a tad too often. But overall still a winner in my eyes and I very much look forward, with some sadness, to the final installment....more
I had avoided Jamie Ford's Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet just because of the title alone, it seemed a bit too drippy even for a guy who isn'I had avoided Jamie Ford's Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet just because of the title alone, it seemed a bit too drippy even for a guy who isn't afraid to dip into alleged chick-lit every now and then. But recently it had been brought up by two trusted sources of mine and having been a staple on the Indie Bound bestseller list for eons now, I decided to give it a shot. I also felt a bit better going into it having discovered there was perhaps going to be some historical substance to it as it was the tale of immigrant life during WWII as well as the Japanese internment camps, which I will bashfully admit I was aware of but not highly knowledgeable about.
Tonally it was still a shaky tightrope walk that, at least for myself, managed to stay sentimental without becoming maudlin (which I fully expect it would be for others). But the engaging main characters of Henry and Keiko and this personal tale into this shameful chapter in American history largely made up for any of the largely forgive-able missteps especially for a debut novel (i.e., a largely stereotypical supporting cast, bit too carefully crafted unfolding of some plot points). In many ways, it is was comparable to The Help, a very palatable story against a historical backdrop that you really find yourself can not helping but love.... a definite crowd-pleaser....more
Having not read a true horror novel in quite some time, I'd figure I give The Strain despite experiencing a bit of vampire fatigue over the past year Having not read a true horror novel in quite some time, I'd figure I give The Strain despite experiencing a bit of vampire fatigue over the past year or so. But no worries, as the vampires that inhabit this first of three books by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan are not the romantic types ala Bill Comptom or Edward Cullen. These are true-blue killing machines who have no interest in human beings other than for food and to bring them over to their side.
Much to the authors credit, the book is much more than just horror. Before the vampires really come into play it is more of a medical thriller (think Michael Crichton) and there is also some historical flashbacks that (pardon the pun) flesh the story out more than I would have expected. Also, it is probably the creepiest book that I have read in some time, particularly the opening sequence of the book with the recently landed "dead" airplane and the early tales of the vampires "turning" their first victims.
That said, I did have a few issues with the book. Told as almost short stories within the novel, the turning of new vampires gets a bit repetitive, and yet while each is wonderfully creepy, after a half-dozen it slows down the overall momentum of the book. And while, of course, believability is suspended while reading supernatural stuff like this, I still have plausibility issues were peripheral characters falling victim so easily quickly, while the principals can escape time and time (and time) again. But then, of course, we need characters which alas is an inherent disadvantage of the first book in any sort of ongoing series.
Overall, I did enjoy this as something outside my usual reading box. I'll likely continue on with the series, though not with running out to get that next book right now enthusiasm. I'd give the book 3.5 stars, but will knock it back to 3 stars here on GoodReads....more
If my gradual immersion into Young Adult fiction continues to be as good as A.S. King's Please Ignore Vera Dietz, I may never read an Old Adult book aIf my gradual immersion into Young Adult fiction continues to be as good as A.S. King's Please Ignore Vera Dietz, I may never read an Old Adult book again. Though I have to admit grown up in apparently more innocent times (70s/80s), I am not sure I would want my own hypothetical/imaginary young adult reading a book, no matter how realistic it captures what I imagine to be what a young adult faces today, a book that deals with stuff like sex, drug (and alcohol), and rock 'n roll with a peppering of profanity. That said, I would not hesitate to recommend this to most of the adult readers I know.
Overall, I was impressed with the originality and intricacy of the book. King creates a fresh, hip, and confident protagonist in the title character, which is a bit of literary tightrope walk as she feels she is an outcast of sorts who just want to get through/survive high school as invisibly as possible (her mantra is the title of the book). But Vera is dealing with a lot more than high school drama, there living with her former-alcoholic dad, her absentee ex-stripper mother, and her recently deceased best-friend/future boyfriend Charlie who sells his underwear to make extra money and hopes to save his own mother from the hands of an abusive father. If that all seems a bit heavy, no worries as King still manages to make this razor sharp and funny as the novel slowly unfolds the circumstances surrounding Charlie's death and Vera's emergence from it, through her own eyes, past and present day, as well as several other major characters, including the town's hilltop Japanese pagoda! (I said it was original!).
So while she may prefer otherwise, if you are looking for something good, but a bit quirky and different to read I'd certainly ask you to please not ignore Vera Dietz....more
I tend to have had a pretty good track record with Man Booker nominees and while it didn't win this year's (2010) award, Emma Donoghue's Room appears I tend to have had a pretty good track record with Man Booker nominees and while it didn't win this year's (2010) award, Emma Donoghue's Room appears to be the early break-out hit among the short-listed nominees. The 'tend to have' should have been a clue that I really just don't see what all the fuss is about this novel. The premise, a young woman held captive in a room with a newly 5-year old son who has never seen the light of day, is certainly intriguing, and one that sets off all kinds of emotional reactions right from the start, but yet this book failed to engage me beyond how a story like this one would be eaten-up and spit out by the 24/7 news cycle.
I am surprised how many people have been able to get beyond Jack as the narrator. In one sentence he's grammatically messing up as one would expect of a 5-year old and in the next spewing out some college-entrance exam word, comprehending adult concepts, waxing philosophically, and having the ability to recall all the adult conversation around him verbatim. I believe the novel would have been far better served with an omniscient narrator.
While granted children are not a part of my day-to-day (or week or month, for that matter!) life, I also had a hard time believing a 5-year old would be capable of pulling off the actions that split this novel into two distinct parts (let alone, the uncharacteristic gullibility of the other adult). As such an innocent and heartbreaking narrator as Jack, I can understand why and how the book won over the hearts of readers, but for me the nagging narrative improbability of Room could never escape my head....more
I really don't know where to start in a "review" of Jonathan Franzen's Freedom. I liked it and I didn't like it. How's that for a start?! Having neverI really don't know where to start in a "review" of Jonathan Franzen's Freedom. I liked it and I didn't like it. How's that for a start?! Having never got around to The Corrections and as someone who spends most of his reading time with "literary fiction," I felt like I was missing out on its reigning king. Granted this meant I came into this book with some serious baggage, with both of Franzen's novels dubbed "novels of the decade" (if not the elusive "great American novel") and Franzen, through no fault of his own, entering the echelon of "authors of his generation" club. Not that all this is particularly a good thing as I have felt equally ambivalent about the his fellow club members like John Updike and Philip Roth. While there is a certain loftiness to their works, typically I have felt satisfied to have dipped my toe in their literary waters and move on.
Freedom is ambitious, I think no one will disagree with that. How successful one believes this ambition is debatable. I can certainly see why some folks call it a masterpiece (Oprah, I'm looking at you), while others are left scratching their heads. The characters that inhabit Freedom are not very likable, but while that's a tough hurdle for some to overcome, as long as the author makes them interesting that's fine with me and, for the most part, Franzen succeeds here. While this is basically an epic tale of American family over the past 40 years, it also tries to tackle big societal issues like the state of our country, the government, the environment, and as one would guess from the title, the many manifestations of freedom (there's a good book club discussion at every mention of the word!). Varying degrees of success here as at times these detours were quite insightful and intriguing, others times downright tedious, bloated, and/or pretentious. If I had one word, I would say the book (and I assume Franzen, in general) is intellectual - and whether that is your vibe or not may be all you need to know about whether you would like it or not.
I could ramble on more about my opinions, but I think it would all come back to my original statement: I liked it, I didn't like it. Though I will append it now by saying that I liked it enough. I do like ambitious works and I'd much rather read a book where the author swings for the literary fences, even if they don't always succeed. While I know this is no ringing endorsement, I feel as if Franzen succeeds enough here. Ratings-wise, and even allowing myself .5 star increments, I can't decide where this one lands... how about 3.75 stars and therefore the bump up to 4 stars here on GoodReads....more
I have a checkered past with Andre Agassi. Having been a fan of pro-tennis since I was a kid, I was intrigued with Agassi when he debuted on the tour I have a checkered past with Andre Agassi. Having been a fan of pro-tennis since I was a kid, I was intrigued with Agassi when he debuted on the tour (I'll even admit to owning a pair of those denim shorts), but somewhere along the way something went astray and it took to the last couple of years of his career for me to re-warm up to him. Contributing to that personal opinion decline was observing him "behind the scenes" when I dabbled as a tennis writer/photographer for in the mid-/late-1990s, which now we know was among his most troubled personal and professional times.
So while I went into this book with a somewhat rehab'd personal opinion of Agassi, by the end of it I found most of my warm and fuzzy feelings about him had come undone (and sadly even wife Steffi Graf also suffers some collateral damage). While I now better understand some of the reasons why Agassi was such a troubled soul, after getting out under the thumb of his father and banking tens of millions the "I hate tennis" mantra gets a bit insincere. During his press tour for this book, I sensed Agassi had somewhat of an epiphany about his life, but I really did not find it in these pages.
He said he wrote this book for his children and also speaks of "The Code of Respect" that each student of his charter school in Vegas commits to memory. But again, after reading page after page of Agassi calling linespeople some very nasty things, consistently petty and often mean-spirited stories about his fellow players, and gleefully courting (ha!) Steffi Graf one month after separating (not yet divorced) from first wife Brooke Shields... and not expressing much, if any, remorse or regret about his actions, other than blanket statements like "I made mistakes" or calling himself a contradiction, is all terribly convenient and left me a bit cold.
Agassi is indeed "open" in this book (though I would argue he does so in a selective manner), and while I can respect his on-court accomplishments and certainly his charitable contributions, in the end I did not find him to be a terribly like-able person. As far as separating the book from the man (is that possible?), while I raced through the book I still have yet to find a tennis memoir that successfully can recount a tennis match (something I struggled with during my years of tennis journalism). I also had high hopes for a more literary quality to it as it was ghostwritten by Pulitzer Prize winner J.R. Moehringer, whose own memoir, The Tender Bar, I so enjoyed but while a step up from some, it is still a fairly straight-up/standard tennis "autobiography."
I know folks are finding this memoir quite inspirational, revelatory, honest, but going into this knowing Agassi's story too well and from many different angles/perspectives, I had to take much of this book with the proverbial grain of salt....more
The Hunger Games sits onto two bookstore shelves that I typically do not read: young-adult and science fiction. But being the pop culture junkie that The Hunger Games sits onto two bookstore shelves that I typically do not read: young-adult and science fiction. But being the pop culture junkie that I am, my curiosity was piqued with the recent release of the final installment of Suzanne Collins' trilogy and the literary phenomenon it has come for apparently, as a famous circus says, children of all ages. I'll admit to being a bit gun-shy after the Twilight series, which suckered me in a similar fashion and while entertaining and page-turning left something to be desired in the quality of writing department (though credit to Meyer for improving along the way, IMHO).
But here, with The Hunger Games, I was instantly impressed with the fine writing, compulsively readable story (I had to finish it this morning, pre-7am!), and compelling main characters, though the mature themes explored in what is a pretty darn violent tale (think the reality show Survivor, but to the death... with children!) made me wonder why the target audience is 20+ years my junior. It makes me wonder if books like Huckleberry Finn and Catcher in the Rye would be considered YA if published today.
All this is not to say it is a perfect book. Katniss, our young and plucky heroine, has some way too convenient escapes on her way to the "you know how it has to end" ending and the book can not escape comparisons to that other tween literary sensation with the requisite angsty love triangle that I am sure has already spawned Team Peeta and Team Gale t-shirts. But the entertainment value of this rollicking read supersedes any minor quibbles. I'll give it 4.5 stars with a GoodReads bump to 5 stars. I realize this doesn't give me much wiggle room for the next two books, but oh well... and while I usually like to NOT rush through series, I have a hunch I'll be reaching for (well, downloading) them sooner rather than later. ...more
Having already read and enjoyed Eggers' previous work, Zeitoun was on my to-be-read list ever since it was published, but with all the 5th anniversaryHaving already read and enjoyed Eggers' previous work, Zeitoun was on my to-be-read list ever since it was published, but with all the 5th anniversary remembrances of of Hurricane Katrina it finally seemed to be the right book at the right time. While this personal account of Abdulrahman and Kathy Zeitoun certainly recalls all the horrors of Katrina, little did I know the even darker turns the book would take long after the levees broke.
The timeliness of reading this book right now (August 2010) extended far beyond the Katrina anniversary as the Zeitouns are Muslim Americans (Abdulrahman being Syrian born, Kathy born and raised in the U.S. and converted to Muslim) and certainly hit on the Islamophobia that only seems to be on the increase in this country since 9/11 and in recent news re: the near Ground Zero "mosque" controversy. Going into the book, given all television coverage (past and present), I was prepared for the tragedy of what happened to New Orleans and its residents, I wasn't so ready to see how deep the cracks are in this country's psyche and moral compass.
So a quite eye-opening book, which is still a bit surprising given that one would think many of us would have been sufficiently out-shocked by all the events surrounding Katrina. And not that I suspect those who fear Muslims would read this book, but this would certainly be a revelatory window into a quite typical, friendly, hard-working American family... who just happen to be Muslim. A family who embodies the spirit of this country far more than many of those the Zeitouns encountered under the guise of protecting and defending it. The spirit, strength, and optimism of the Zeitouns certainly save this from being a totally depressing read....more
I stumbled onto to Rock Paper Tiger after it was named one of the Top 10 Fiction Books So Far (for 2010) and coupled with (at the time) a nearly perfeI stumbled onto to Rock Paper Tiger after it was named one of the Top 10 Fiction Books So Far (for 2010) and coupled with (at the time) a nearly perfect 5-star average rating, plus having an interest in China since visiting Beijing for the 2008 Olympics, this thriller seemed right up my alley.
I will admit I like to blend into the crowd and can be influenced by the opinion of others, but during and after this one, I was kind of wondering if we had all read the same book. I will say it was very readable, averaging 50+ pages a day on it, but that is about all the good I can say about it. I was expecting a smart and complex thriller with a plucky heroine and found it to be simple and flat with a "That's it/all?" resolution. All this was not helped by our protagonist, Iraq war veteran Ellie Cooper, who I did not find particularly engaging or likable, though at least she was fleshed out enough for me to have an opinion about her versus the other cast of two-dimensional characters. While the book distinguishes itself a bit with its China locales, I just wish a bit less time was spent in Starbucks franchises.
No regrets about the time spent reading it (which again to Brackmann's credit wasn't much), but still left scratching my head over all the superlatives....more
I always say these Alexander McCall Smith books are review-proof, especially if you are on the 4th book of a series, as is the case with The Careful UI always say these Alexander McCall Smith books are review-proof, especially if you are on the 4th book of a series, as is the case with The Careful Use of Compliments. I had read the 3rd book earlier this year and had not intended to pick up this one quite yet, but I had just come off such a mentally taxing read that I really need the light and fluff of McCall Smith to do what I call a cleanse of my literary palette. Normally, I would have switched off with the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, but I was so surprised by the turn of events in Isabel Dalhousie's life at the end of The Right Attitude For Rain that I was anxious to see where things picked up.
I thought this was a quite good installment with one of the better "mysteries" of the series and was relieved that the series didn't "jumped the shark" as I fear it might have given the new character in the book. At the risk of being repetitive, I find these books to be reliably pleasant and a great diversion from more serious reading. In browsing reviews here, I saw the book called "meandering" and while it was meant as a negative criticism, I find it to be one of the strengths of the series and McCall Smith in general... a chance to slow down and enjoy the proverbial journey over the destination. ...more
It's going to take me awhile to process Gary Shteyngart's Super Sad True Love Story. While I was blown away by Shteyngart's dystopian near-future worlIt's going to take me awhile to process Gary Shteyngart's Super Sad True Love Story. While I was blown away by Shteyngart's dystopian near-future world, it mentally wore me down. The book provides no escape from the real-world political talking heads, continuing glum talk of the economy, an iPhone that is this close (insert finger pinching visual) being surgically attached to my hand, and the big capper, reading Super Sad on a Kindle. Let's just say it makes George Orwell's 1984 seem quaint and I found myself on several occasions feeling (wait for it) super sad. Yes, this is a razor-sharp, very funny satire, but man, it hit too close to home time and time again.
Besides the mental issues, I struggled with the love story part. While I was convinced that protagonist Lenny Abramov was convinced he was in love with young Korean Eunice Park, I was never on-board that the feelings were mutual. Ultimately, I came to my own conclusion that the relationship was a red herring, not the true love story of the title. While the one-way romance was sad, I grew more to think of it as Lenny's love for his homeland and immigrant parents, the United States, and society before it slipped away into a technology-fueled, "post-literate" world. Perhaps Eunice is even incapable of romantic love having only grown up in this "brave new world" where everything about everyone is publicly broadcast and privacy and freedom are virtually (ha!) non-existent.
A tough rating call here as vacillated between 3 and 4.5 stars from start to this post-/still processing time. I found much of it pure genius, but other times I could see Shtenygnart's wheels spinning, relentlessly flashy and self-indulgent and felt that I had had enough. While having a negative impact on my mood also seems to be a fair criticism, in retrospect, I have to credit the book, the written word (even on an e-ink screen!) for eliciting such an emotional response. So let's say 4 stars and recommending it on a case-by-case basis.
Oh, one more thing... by reading this review you are denying its existence and implying consent. ...more
I suspected The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks was going to be one of those "truth is stranger than fiction" books and that was certainly the case (I suspected The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks was going to be one of those "truth is stranger than fiction" books and that was certainly the case (and probably even more)! The first strange thing was wondering how this particular reader who, all modesty aside, thinks he is reasonably well-read and fairly intelligent never even heard of the name Henrietta Lacks before this book, let alone the contribution, both literal and figurative, that she has made to science and medicine. I found it to be a thoroughly fascinating book, not only making the potentially dry subject of medical research accessible but wrapping it in a patchwork quilt of history, race, poverty, ethics with a colorful cast of characters, including author Skloot, who ends up being a semi-major character in her own book (I take it more than she ever imagined at the start).
I can't really find any fault in this book, only perhaps Skloot's "Acknowledgments" section which claims "I do not have room to name all of you here," but then goes on and on (and on and on), so much so I would not have been surprised to have stumbled on my name with a thanks for reading the book. It's a blockbuster of a story and well-deserved "buzz" book that makes you feel part of this wave of people who are making Ms. Lacks immortal some place other than laboratory. I imagine this will only multiply upon the publication of the paperback and a planned Oprah/Alan Ball-produced HBO movie. That said, my gut just said 4 star rating, without quite being able to put a finger on why it is not a 5. But it is a book that deserves to be read and one that I would not hesitate recommending to anyone in my reading circle. ...more
There doesn't seem a whole lot original about One Day as readers following the lives of Emma and Dexter on the same day over the course of 20-ish yearThere doesn't seem a whole lot original about One Day as readers following the lives of Emma and Dexter on the same day over the course of 20-ish years. In fact, you can create a pretty good party game (for your next book club!) coming up with all the ways it is derivative: When Harry Met Sally, Same Time, Next Year, Nick Hornby novels, romantic comedy movies based on Nick Hornby novels starring Hugh Grant, Four Weddings and a Funeral, any Hugh Grant romantic comedy, any romantic comedy, etc., etc.
You get the point, but you know what... who cares?! I certainly did not and simply loved this book, experiencing every emotion in the book in this entertaining and engaging page-turner, even if I should have seen some stuff coming a mile away. I found it to be quite perceptive about relationships and pretty much life in general. It made me reflect on my own life and how it changed over the past 20 years (i.e. The 40-something me often wonders how that 22-year old version of himself picked up and moved across the country) with all the expected and unexpected turns.
With the recent paperback release of the book, it seems like this book has been everywhere and gaining "you have to got read this!" buzz/momentum and I jump on that bandwagon as I would recommend this fun/breezy book to a lot of folks in my circle, only excluding those who may fall into the minority of anti-romantic-comedy camp or those types who get all bunched-up panties over how all this significant stuff/life events could not possibly happen on the same exact day each year.
While my enjoyment level was 5 stars, it's still not this literary masterpiece and so familiar (but not), so a head+heart combo of a strong 4 stars for One Day....more
While I certainly enjoyed the book on its own merits, I found myself immediately comparing, mostly positively, vs. other novels... the coincidental (oWhile I certainly enjoyed the book on its own merits, I found myself immediately comparing, mostly positively, vs. other novels... the coincidental (or magical) intersecting of lives recalled Let The Great World Spin... the authentic ethnic voice and edge was quite reminiscent of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao... and the nostalgia factor of the 1980s and a very particular place (also from a non-white perspective) made me think of Sag Harbor. While I know that's not terribly helpful if you have not read those books, I'm guessing there is a good chance as all these books do seem to orbit in the same "Customers Who Bought This Also Bought..." universe.
Skyhorse brilliantly kicks things off with an author's note, recalling an episode for his youth that inspired, or perhaps more accurately haunted, him into writing this debut novel. The result is not only a love letter (though not often a pretty one) to his home, the ever-evolving Los Angeles neighborhood of Echo Park, but an attempt at some personal redemption. If that doesn't do it for you, it is hard not to be wow'd, particularly with the current contentiousness re: immigration, by the novel's opening line ("We slipped into this country like thieves, onto the land that once was ours.") as readers begin this journey of jumping in and out of the lives of the Mexican-Americans and American-Mexicans.
As for (mild) criticism, and with books/novels of this nature in general, a consistent quality from story to story is pretty much impossible to maintain. I thought many of the stories were truly great, while others were "good." As with Let The Great World Spin, a lot also rides on one's tolerance of happenstance, with Skyhorse tending to throw a twist at the end story/chapter. It's a bit of a literary tightrope walk and while I never felt he faltered, there were a few balance checks along the way. Lastly, since you don't have the full (or at least a more complete) picture until the end, this novel certainly would benefit from a re-reading, but who has time for that! But overall, a quite compelling and impressive debut....more
I was very much intrigued by the title and premise of this book of a girl who is a food psychic of sorts, not only to determine the origin of food ingI was very much intrigued by the title and premise of this book of a girl who is a food psychic of sorts, not only to determine the origin of food ingredients, but also "feel" the emotional state of the person who prepared the food. Young Rose Edelstein learns of this "gift" while eating the titular lemon cake, made by her mother, who yes was feeling particularly sad on that day. I happily accepted this premise and what the "magical realism" of book (genre?) and for most of the book was quite engaged in Rose's struggles to come to terms with her secret talent, all while uncovering secrets of many other folk along the way.
But (you knew that was coming!) the book totally crumbled in the end, though not with protagonist Rose, but the 'resolution' of the storyline regarding her troubled brother Joseph. I will try to keep this spoiler-free, and just say I found it to be far too jolting and certainly not consistent in the sensory "skills" sense of what we learn of some of Rose's other family members. Upon finishing, I immediately came to GoodReads to read reviews to see if I was alone in my "WTF?!" thoughts about this one. Gladly I was not to "get it," though there are plenty of glowing reviews to make me think otherwise. (Sidenote: Have to agree with other as well at the lack of quotation marks, made dialogue difficult to follow at times.)
All in all, loved the premise... enjoyed the characters... and found much of the story to be well-written, insightful, engaging... but to use a food analogy that have used before, but seems even more appropriate for this book, it was a beautiful looking souffle that collapsed the minute it came out of the oven.
2.5 stars, but will narrowly give it a bump-up to 3 stars for GoodReads....more
Resistance is futile. I started reading the "Twilight" series just to see what all the fuss was about, and while the first book had me scratching my hResistance is futile. I started reading the "Twilight" series just to see what all the fuss was about, and while the first book had me scratching my head wondering why, I still read the second book... and now am feeling fairly committed to finishing it up as I picked "Eclipse" as a secondary vacation read (which wasn't needed, so it ended up being a post-vacation read). Anyhow, the good news here is that I think Meyer has become a better writer with each book and with this one I even managed not being too annoyed with protagonist Bella, except maybe wondering why she isn't walking away from both the crazies that are trying to win her love. However, despite the improvements I still thought the book dragged on a bit too long. There were so many plot detours (a lot of back-story and flashbacks) that my enthusiasm had kind of waned by the time we reached the climactic showdown. I gave the first two books 3 stars, so while I am giving this one the same rating, in my unofficial 1/2 star "shelves," I'll give a bump to 3.5 for this one (all relative mind you) for overall improvement and, after finally seeing the first film, "getting" what mostly all the young girls who are the primary demographic for this series see in these books. Alas, as I tend to read the books just before the movie versions come out, it appears I won't be wrapping up the books until next year (2011)....more
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