An accomplished mystery that blends organically with its chosen setting, Child 44 is a genuinely gripping read.
My buddy-reader and I have our own littAn accomplished mystery that blends organically with its chosen setting, Child 44 is a genuinely gripping read.
My buddy-reader and I have our own little TBR, and this has been on it for at least a year. We finally started it in January of 2022 and were having amazing discussions about it... mainly because it's one of the few books where we haven't been grumpy about skill and style. Child 44 is well crafted, no debate, and that left us wide open to focus on the story itself.
But then Russia loudly took center stage as current real-life villains, and suddenly this historical suspense novel set in Stalin's Soviet Union felt like...too much. Not bad, just a doubling down of atrocity that made it hard to escape the realities of our world right now. So, we took a step back and moved on to rabidly judging the skill and style of Sanderson and set Child 44 aside.
I picked at it off and on, by myself, until the mystery got its feet under it and started gaining momentum.
There's been a string of children killed across a region, and MGB agent LEO Demidov begins making connections between the incidents. In a country where the state has decreed that its citizens are happy and murder doesn't exist, trying to catch a killer is more dangerous than you know.
Smith uses the setting expertly, highlighting the atmosphere of oppression, fear, and distrust while Leo must face his crisis of conscience. During a time when people had to turn on neighbours and even family to ensure their own survival, the book is an exciting exploration of which moral lines are uncrossable.
Also fascinating was the examination of Leo and Raisa's marriage and how it evolves.
There are a few logic leaps in the investigation, and the somewhat broadcasted 'twist' was far-fetched without a bit more supporting set-up, but overall this was really good. Well written, fast-moving, but with enough attention to the human side of things. I'd recommend this widely....more
When considering the aphoristic and oft-repeated writing advice 'write the book you want to read,' one of the hooks that I've rarely come across as weWhen considering the aphoristic and oft-repeated writing advice 'write the book you want to read,' one of the hooks that I've rarely come across as well-done is one of perspective: I love the idea of a story told from the eyes of a true side character. Not a sidekick or a right-hand or a chronicler, but an actual bit player in a larger storyline. This sounds a bit vague and potentially boring, I know, but I think it has dynamite potential in the right hands.
The longer I reflect on The Fencing Master, the more I feel like that's actually what I'm getting in this story, though somewhat unsatisfactorily.
At its strongest, this short novel is an intelligent character study. Don Jaime Astarloa is an accomplished swordmaster, an aging holdover from a time when that sort of fighting was essential. As warfare (and firearms) have evolved, Don Jaime has seen the skill (and art and philosophy) that he's spent his life passionately pursuing become less relevant, and demoted to the rank of sport. He clings to the ideals of his past, valuing the notions of an honour-filled life, and gets by trying to impart these ideologies to his fencing students. These rigid, gentlemanly practices keep him a step (or more) removed from the modern world; having lived the height of his passions at an earlier time, he has little concern for the political debate or romantic sighs of his peer group.
His sense of propriety and his remove mean that he is genuinely unaware when he becomes a player in a bigger story – though of course it all begins with a mysterious and beautiful woman asking to learn a difficult fencing move.
That's the interesting thing, though. Beyond the character study, the bulk of the actual plot happens off-page, to characters who are mostly on the fringes of the narrative. Don Jaime is a pawn, a dupe, a stepping stone. The story gets large in scope, but because our fencing master is so insular he himself doesn't pay much attention to any information that gets handed to him. In the end, he has to have everything straight out explained to him, and he still mostly only cares because his honour has been slighted.
In is an interesting stylistic choice, but leaves the plot feeling remarkably passive, and the bulk of the story slow.
On the flip side, Astorloa is an interesting man, and the story happens in 1860's Madrid, where political unrest is at a peak. Perez-Reverte is a lovely writer with a keen eye for observation, so this was a good read. Don Jaime just wasn't the dupe I was looking for....more
I tend to associate “beach read” with suspense/thriller novels, and I feel as though I need an equivalent term for the Urban Fantasy genre. I'm takingI tend to associate “beach read” with suspense/thriller novels, and I feel as though I need an equivalent term for the Urban Fantasy genre. I'm taking suggestions! For me they are those books that are exciting and gripping but ultimately ubiquitous. Not bad at all, just utterly forgettable.
With all that preamble, the good news about Strange Practice is that a few things elevated it just out of that category of entertainment for me:
-Greta Helsing is a doctor to the undead. This is a variation of the (fun but) common UF/detective riff that adds a fresh new flavour that I quite liked. I would gladly read a whole series of short novels just about the job itself, even without a dark sinister over-plot.
-Even though this book has a dark sinister over-plot, it seemed to me that Shaw made some effort, within the action, to show me who her characters are when they are at home. I could have done with more of it, but I felt like she worked it in fairly skillfully.
-Greta has potential, I think, but she has not hit her stride yet. Luckily and surprisingly, Strange Practice has an ensemble cast. The shifting points of view add interest and allow for an expanded view of Shaw's worldbuilding...
-...which I thought was pretty great. Digging deeper than your standard vampires, there is a ton of potential with all the creatures and the society that keeps them secret. And even with the vampires the author has created different 'types', which I thought was a nice touch.
Without doubt there are things that didn't impress me. Most frustrating were some unconvincing connecting threads in the story's big mystery. Nothing was polished quite as nicely as it could have been, and as I peruse other reviews I am identifying with much of the criticism.
After a bit of time away from it however, it is the fun stuff that stands out in my memory. That and a few surprising stylistic choices make me want to see how this trilogy plays out.
(still, this is a 'rounded up' rating. It's not quite a solid four stars on its own.)...more
“Soraya lived in the shadows of Golvahar so that her family would not live in hers.”
While I do have positive things to say about this 'girl in the t “Soraya lived in the shadows of Golvahar so that her family would not live in hers.”
While I do have positive things to say about this 'girl in the tower' fairy-tale remix, my own experience with Girl, Serpent, Thorn wasn't favourable.
There is a neat fusion of folklore influence in the story, and I particularly loved the Persian atmosphere and Iranian culture that contributed. I found myself wishing that we could spend more time with the setting and less time with the characters.
I myself couldn't really get behind everything required to set up Soraya's situation. She's been cursed from babyhood to be poisonous to the touch. And man, that sure sucks. Absolutely...but, she is also kept a secret and locked away for reasons which – the lovely melancholy of my featured quote up top aside – I could easily pick apart. At about the halfway point of the story we learn a truth that ultimately becomes Soraya's base of emotional crisis and conflict, and it felt so contrived that it actually made me angry. Unfortunately, this cast a shadow over everything else in the book for me.
I did like that the story tried to confound expectation. The foreshadowing and tension was pretty solid, so I could always tell when something was setting up to happen. I could even tell that it was going to twist away from easy predictions, but I was almost always surprised by how it did so. That's appreciable.
I guess overall there was just too much angst for reasons I couldn't buy into, so this wasn't awesome for me. My notes say that the rest of my book club liked it better than I did, so take my opinion with a grain of salt....more
(view spoiler)[ I can burn off the fable-laden 'deepness' and chaff to save anyone else this ridiculous read:
-Figure out what you wa
I didn't like this.
(view spoiler)[ I can burn off the fable-laden 'deepness' and chaff to save anyone else this ridiculous read:
-Figure out what you want and, like, kinda commit, yo. -But if you can't, don't worry, the Universe has got your back, Boo! It will totally conspire to make you achieve your goal even if that screws over everyone else. Annnnd -If you really want it bad enough: spout metaphysical nonsense and god will make you rich
There is some very pretty parable language in the telling of this tale. I'd like to believe that Coelho was aiming to warm people's spiritual fuzzy-wuzzies and inspire achievement, and I really hope it worked for the readers who appreciate this sort of thing.
I don't.
I found the whole thing trite, laughably materialistic, philosophically shallow, boring, and I hate sheep. Oh...and sexist? Jeepers. Don't even get me going on Fatima and her 'treasure' and her “...but above all, I'm a woman” bullshit. (hide spoiler)]
I really didn't like this.
(With many apologies to my fellow book clubbers - and anyone else - who did!)
This quote was alright, though: “Better still to be alone with one's books. They tell their incredible stories when you want to hear them.”...more
”I liked savouring every turn of phrase and dissecting the architecture of every sentence.”
It was comfortably exciting to melt back into Zafon's foggy ”I liked savouring every turn of phrase and dissecting the architecture of every sentence.”
It was comfortably exciting to melt back into Zafon's foggy post-war Barcelona, and back into the stacks at the Sempre and Son Bookstore.
Prisoner is the third book in the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series, and I ate up its yummy wordiness with as much glee as I did Shadow of the Wind and The Angel's Game.
Prisoner picks up chronologically where Shadow left off and, on the surface, it is very much Fermin's story. As he is easily my favourite character in the entire series I was delighted and intrigued to hear him relate a bit of his history from the time before Daniel met him.
Underlying Fermin's tale, the layers of story-work from the first two books are starting to really twine together. It is fascinating to learn how intricately the pieces fit.
Prisoner of Heaven is slender compared to the rest of the series. The language is still glorious, but Zafon lets a lot of the atmosphere rest on his vivid description from the previous books, so it felt like a fast read. It was notable that the writing could still be delicious without nearly as much gothic gooeyness. The melodrama, too, hummed at a slightly lower pitch. The romance in our main characters' lives are fairly established, though they still provide some impetus. There was still a solid amount of moral agonizing attached to it and other things, but it wasn't as essential to this tale.
Still present is the lingering shadow of challenging times, brought into focus by Fermin's recollections. Also still present is the warm dynamic between Daniel, his father, and Fermin. Still titillating is the sense of intrigue that seams to permeate Daniel's life. And still icing on an already delicious cake is the clear love of literature and the absolutely amazing Cemetery of Forgotten Books.
Interestingly, a dear friend started reading Shadow of the Wind while I was reading Prisoner.While he appreciated a great deal of it, he was really critical of the level of sexism in the book – so much so that he struggled to look past it to genuinely enjoy the story. Looking back at my review, I can see that I made no mention of it, so I checked my notes and, sure enough, they are peppered with eyerolls and grumbles at the casual, offhand objectification of women, their lack of agency, and their one-dimensional role in terms of romance. I was fascinated by the fact that somehow, in both of the previous two volumes, none of that seemed 'valid' criticism enough to make it into my reviews. He and I had a series of discussions surrounding that; about how conditioned we are to excuse certain habits in literature, and even ignore them completely at times; about how and why I give Fermin a full pass despite being the openly worst offender; about being able to accurately represent the male gaze without diminishing the character it is cast upon.
The conversation certainly affected my response to Prisoner of Heaven, as the female characters are just as poorly represented. Or, more accurately, the conversation made me less likely to shrug off the habitual offensiveness. One of Daniel's biggest motivators, early in the book, is what felt like a way-overboard jealousy response to finding a love letter in his wife's jacket pocket. He vomits, like actually, at the stress from it, but makes no attempt at communication with her. I found this (and his ensuing reactions) angering enough to tarnish my response to the positive parts of his character. Ultimately, the series of chats were great, and made me analyze my experience of problematic books on a deeper level, and I'm thankful for that.
Still, I am looking forward to the final volume in this series so much! I can't wait to see how everything comes together....more
A crafty misfit who gets by on her wits and never quite feels that she belongs accidentally summons a djinn and soon realizes that she is oh so very sA crafty misfit who gets by on her wits and never quite feels that she belongs accidentally summons a djinn and soon realizes that she is oh so very special herself. Now, though, the secret is out, and to protect herself and lay claim to her family's legacy, she must travel - with her alluringly surly Daeva companion – to the City of Brass.
I ultimately didn't care much for this book, but there's some good to be noted. By far the greatest strength is the (for me) exotically lush atmosphere. The setting descriptions were intricate and evocative, lending a vivid sense of space throughout. I also credit the author for the exuberance of detail, both practically and plot-wise.
The base elements of the story are solid and intriguing, but it just didn't work out for me. I had big issues with the pacing, the flip-floppy politics, the confusing representation of religion, the romance, and the overall motivations of pretty much everyone. I'm a fan of dynamic characters but these ones seemed so conflicted that none of them even knew what they wanted with any consistency. And the melodrama, my gawwd. There are so many exclamations that someone “would never!” (even when we clearly knew they would) or “would not dare!” that it seems that all of Djinn-City Daevabad spends all day yelling randomly heated denials at each other at dramatic intervals.
I could break this down into details; as a buddy-read, my notes are extensive. A lot of people seem to like this, though – and heck, there were elements that I appreciated too. I don't really want to tear down what I think was an earnest effort or discourage anyone else from giving it a go. I like to imagine that the issues self-correct as the series progresses, but I doubt I'll ever find out....more
While I happily delve into historical fiction on an occasionally regular basis and also enjoy some rousing Remarkably engaging, and remarkably bloody!
While I happily delve into historical fiction on an occasionally regular basis and also enjoy some rousing battles in the more speculative genres, I've never found historical military fiction to be particularly entertaining. This buddy-read turned out to be an outlier. I found Gates of Fire to be nuanced and thoughtfully appealing.
This is the battle of Thermopyle (think 300) recounted by Xeones – a servant of the Spartan army – to the invading Persian emperor Xerxes. Xeones is the only survivor found among the many Greek corpses after the notorious battle, and he is saved from death so that the Persians can get a better idea of the spirit behind the incredible valor and skill of the incredibly efficient Spartans. Xeones' perspective is an interesting one: after being driven from his own home and losing most of his family in a more localized territorial battle, the young boy Xeones ultimately chooses to place himself into servitude in Sparta for the opportunity to learn to fight and model himself after the renowned warriors of that land. His narrative spans many years prior to the big battle at the titular gates, and gives great context about the politics and fighting that precede it. Approaching the story from this angle is great for a reader like me, who is about as far away from a military mindset as a person can be. It also gives observational insight into Spartan ideologies that form the foundation of the unity of their brotherhood.
And ultimately that is what this book is about, though the battle at the Gates of Fire is given gruesome spotlight for the final third-ish of the story. It is about patriotic urges, the philosophies of heroics and fear, and the incredible bond that ties the defending army together. This is powerfully conveyed in Pressfield's writing. It is little wonder that this novel is cited as a favourite of many a Serviceman.
Overall, a moving book to read, though the field of battle is horrific and gory and sad. There are a few slow moments in the middle which still add to the characterizations that are vital for this story to be as affecting as it is.
Having stepped away from the immediate experience, I can feel myself start poking at it with my own ideals and questions and curiosities, but the writing is good, and the tale is both gripping and anthemic enough that I didn't stop to be my own objectionable and critical self while I was reading. I think that is a pretty strong achievement by the author.
If I allow myself to pick away at it in the back of my mind then an eventual reread might fare differently, but I really appreciated Gates of Fire and would absolutely recommend it to any fan of Historical War Fiction....more
Another fun entry in a series that has been consistently entertaining, though not uniformly satisfying.
Broken Homes is the fourth volume in the RiversAnother fun entry in a series that has been consistently entertaining, though not uniformly satisfying.
Broken Homes is the fourth volume in the Rivers of London story arc, and it does turn its focus solidly onto the overlaying “big picture,” which concerns the personified bodies of water and the dastardly Faceless Man. While I highly enjoyed it, I wasn't quite as drawn in as I was in Whispers Underground. The plot felt a bit meandering at times, maybe?
Aaronovitch seems to have refined his use of humour and it is kind of refreshing, though not quite as uproarious. The pop-culture references seem to be a bit toned down and integrated... another mixed blessing: I love all the nerdy head-nods, but the main story gets more attention when the gimmicks are used as tools instead of highlights. The more mature part of my reading brain appreciates this.
Although not fully surprised by the nutty developments at the end, I am incredibly curious to see where its all going to go!...more
A prettily written story of devotion and the bonds of non traditional love. A quick perusal of other reviews tells me I drew many more spiritual referA prettily written story of devotion and the bonds of non traditional love. A quick perusal of other reviews tells me I drew many more spiritual references from this short than the first-page reviewers did. I find this interesting, even given the title alone. I actually wish that I hadn’t read into it. As a non-religious person, I like the reading that everyone else got better. When I look at it from a friendship/romance/dedication perspective, I think it’s a beautiful little tale.
In a story this short, a summary becomes nearly a retelling, and Mondal did a lovely job on their own. It is worth the read, but the allegory I took it for keeps it from being too shiny, on a personal level. ...more
Review specifically for the Audiobook Edition My review of the story here
Compliments of and at the encouragement of Carol. I had an awesome time with tReview specifically for the Audiobook Edition My review of the story here
Compliments of and at the encouragement of Carol. I had an awesome time with this audiobook.
I listened to it immediately after physically reading my electronic copy, which was a unique experience; it's an odd thing contrasting my own inner interpretations of narrative/character voices with someone else's – especially when that person has more of the built-in characteristics than I do.
Kobna Holdbrook-Smith truly embodies the spirit and flavour of Aaronovitch's writing, but I suspect he would also be pretty outstanding reading the phonebook. He almost never actually sounds like he's reading, which is remarkably rare in my experience with audiobooks (so far I've only pegged Tim Gerard Reynolds as having the same talent), and his character voices are consistent, with a few of them being stand-out. His narration added a layer I didn't know I was missing in an already fantastic literary experience.
Thanks, Carol.! When I am ready for a full reread of the series I think I will do it on audio :D...more
“Holy paranormal activity, Nightingale – to the Jag mobile”
Oho. I am climbing fully on board for this river ride now! Whispers Underground was an ab
“Holy paranormal activity, Nightingale – to the Jag mobile”
Oho. I am climbing fully on board for this river ride now! Whispers Underground was an absolute hoot.
The third installment in this very British urban fantasy/police procedural hybrid has Peter Grant assigned to the Murder Squad in an investigation that will take him to some dark (and smelly) places.
I found the first two books of the Rivers of London series to be fun but somewhat inconsistently captivating, but in Whispers Underground most of the rough edges smoothed out and everything came together in satisfying cohesion.
I've always been impressed by the way Aaronovitch blends the two genres, but the way he approaches the procedural mystery is both particularly refreshing and, if I may borrow an -ism, an exercise in 'taking the piss':
“Not for them the detective's gut instinct or the intricate logical deductions of a sleuth savant. No, what the Met likes to do is throw a shitload of manpower at the problem and run down every single possible lead until it is exhausted, the murderer is caught, or the senior investigator dies of old age. As a result, murder investigations are conducted not by quirky Detective Inspectors with drink/relationship/mental problems but a bunch of frighteningly ambitious Detective Constables in the first mad flush of their careers.
Aaronovitch seems to be really hitting his stride for humour, too. His quippy narrative voice is uproarious but still leaves room for the story to flow unimpeded. Add to that a bunch of fanpeep service (including a Bill & Ted reference and a nod to Pratchett), the fact that Lesley is back in a starring role (after getting shafted last time around), a cast of support characters who are blossoming wonderfully and London itself commanding a role all its own, and this was just a ton of fun.
Whispers Underground ramps up my enjoyment of this series for sure, and I am excited to keep going. I actually followed my physical read of this book with a listen to the audio version, and I will shortly do a separate review, as it deserves its own bit of attention....more
A solid and delightful little cozy. Miss Marple takes a bit of a back seat while newlyweds Gwenda and Giles try to figure out what happened to GwennieA solid and delightful little cozy. Miss Marple takes a bit of a back seat while newlyweds Gwenda and Giles try to figure out what happened to Gwennie's step-mom Helen all those years ago.
Contains such gems as:
“I hope, thought Gwenda uneasily, that I'm not clairvoyant or anything...”
and
“ 'It really is very dangerous to believe people. I never have for years.'”
As always, it is Christie's succinct characterization that pleases me most. The mystery was certainly fair play, though I admit I got caught by a red herring near to the end. That's ok, though. I enjoy Agatha's victories nearly as much as I enjoy my own.
A note on chronology: I've always read Christie as I find her, in random titles picked up at book sales and second hand book stores, so I've paid little attention to the order in which they fall. This is touted as Miss Marple's last mystery, but it's clearly not...there is every indication that this particular case falls in the middle of her crime-solving activities, but the book itself was the last Marple published....more
Quietly and curiously engaging. Fifth Business is so observationally Human and, in effect, both impactive and entertaining. In my personal collection Quietly and curiously engaging. Fifth Business is so observationally Human and, in effect, both impactive and entertaining. In my personal collection of literary experiences, this is an intelligent and remarkable addition.
Serendipitously, another book has brought into my current focus the famous opening lines of David Copperfield by Charles Dickens and now my thoughts on Fifth Business have become entwined with it. David Copperfield, of course, opens thusly: Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show.”
Fifth Business, almost antithetically (though ultimately not so, we learn) starts with the supposition that our narrator, Dunstan Ramsay is NOT the hero of his own story. Indeed, the term 'Fifth Business' refers theatrically to the character in a story who is neither the hero nor villain, but is nonetheless essential as a facilitator for their stories: the best friend; the confidant; the advice giver; the buffoon...In his quest to present himself as such – or perhaps to protest that he is NOT – we follow Dunstan through nearly his entire life story. We begin in his childhood, enlist in WWI, keep care of a guilty responsibility, take residence as a professor in a boys' school, and travel the world in search of saints and magic. While essentially telling other peoples stories, Dunstan manages to have the sort of life that affects everyone around him, and is incredibly deep in discovery. Somewhat enigmatically, the tale is bookended on each side by a single dodged snowball.
Bah. The effect of that snowball on me, apparently, is a desire to dig out some sort of scholarly or analytical headgear, and to try and jam it on my pate no matter how ill-fitting it might be.
Enough of that nonsense. A true literary critic I am not.
But Fifth Business clearly invites a deep reading, and is entertaining and thought provoking in turn. There is a particularly beautiful and illuminating conversation between Dunny and Liesl towards the end that spoke deeply to me but is far too long to transcribe. (for my own reference, pg 220-227 of my own copy). Perhaps a bit boring by today's standards, there is a richness in this tale that rewards the thoughtful and patient. A quiet, Canadian delight.
Though this only book one in Deptford Trilogy, Fifth Business stands solidly on its own and can be considered a standalone. ...more
I struggled with the star rating on this one because when I was fully invested I found so much to like about Westside. My i some slight spoilers, maybe
I struggled with the star rating on this one because when I was fully invested I found so much to like about Westside. My immersion was spottier than I'd have liked, though, and a few outright frustrations keep me from fully endorsing it. That being said, overall I enjoyed this book.
Set in early 1900's Manhattan, it is a bit of a genre mash-up. Historical, yes. Fantasy, yes. Perhaps Historical Dark Fantasy? But it's a Mystery novel at its heart, with a grimy city and a flawed detective; Vice and greed are the biggest culprits, despite the weird horrors that cast shadows in this alter-world.
“A waiter sailed by and I relieved him of two highballs. I offered neither to my new friend. The white lights of Broadway shimmered through the gin like gasoline in gutter water.”
One might think that Akers is trying to do too much, but evocative descriptions really blend the genre crossing in a unique and admirable way. The walled-off Westside is strange with its overgrown trees and rushing waters. The curious state of decay and malfunction is fantastical, but fully lends itself to the gritty noire feel of a community regressed, unsafe and teetering on the brink of lawlessness.
A bit of grandiosity creeps into some of the interactions:
“ 'He was petulant, my husband, like a chocolate-stained child who stamps his foot and insists he hasn't been sneaking sweets.'”
“ 'The Seven Bloody Fists,' I said. 'He called us that because we were too broke to buy gloves.' Aiken twisted his hands into fists, and the ancient cracks in his knuckles glowed red. 'All winter, our hands were the color of a bad drunk's nose.'”
But these, too, are part of the charm. (And besides, who doesn't want to go through life tossing out descriptors like that? I do. I really do.)
Our main character Gilda – who solves tiny mysteries as a career (which is delightful) – is a potentially fascinating character study. She sticks to tiny mysteries because the pain of big problems has left her lost and alone and locked deep in her own pain. Her arc, and really the book itself, is encapsulated near the end:
“ 'But without the Copelands running back and forth between the two cities, the Westside will heal' 'Maybe. If it does, it will take some time before things are balanced out, and finding balance can be painful.' 'You're not the type who think things get better, are you?' 'Some situations are simply insane.'”
The book felt long. I'm not sure if it was longer than it needed to be, or just longer than I wanted. Perhaps it was long in the wrong places? There are certainly things I could have spent more time on, but there were stretches that dragged on where the action felt redundant. And for all its length, there were leaps of logic and too-easy conclusions that drew me out of things completely.
I'm looking forward to reading more by Akers. I feel like a bit of polish and experience will really sharpen his strengths. This is a notable debut, and I hope his craft grows along with his writing career....more
Oh my god this was ridiculous! Pointless! Surprisingly technical! Amazing!!
No big descriptors here. There are library police. A book theft. It’s drawnOh my god this was ridiculous! Pointless! Surprisingly technical! Amazing!!
No big descriptors here. There are library police. A book theft. It’s drawn brilliantly in a library. Only two books were menaced. And there is a phenomenal chase scene involving a card catalog that it is now my life goal to physically recreate.
I'm pretty sure this book is going to be one of my favourite reads of 2020. It is marvelously fun!
I actually only meant to peruse the first couple of I'm pretty sure this book is going to be one of my favourite reads of 2020. It is marvelously fun!
I actually only meant to peruse the first couple of chapters; 'books about books' is my theme for my book club picks, and I wanted to see how heavily The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep referenced other literature.
So much for my intentions!
Charley Sutherland has spent his life (often accidentally) pulling fictional characters out of their works and into the real world. Rob Sutherland has spent his life begrudgingly helping his younger brother put those characters back where they belong, and trying to keep the world from finding out about Charley's odd ability. Now, the brothers have discovered that someone else has the same skill, and not only is this mysteriously reader leaving a fictional mess in their wake, they seem to have some villainous plans in the works...
Holy doodle this was wonderful! I am in love with Jasper Fforde's books, which all kind of hinge on the idea that you can maybe read yourself into a book. The inverse idea – that you just might be able to bring your most favourite things out of literature and into your living room for tea – is equally fantastic.
The clear praise of reading, the obvious love of Story present in this work would have been enough to delight me. I've oodles of notes in my ebook that are just me fangirling Parry's love-letter to literature.
But on top of that, the Urban Fantasy blend of Wellington, New Zealand, and the Victoriana that comes spilling out of the fictional world is seamlessly whimsical; magical, even.
Annnnd on top of all that, there is this underlying reflection on brotherly love, family, displacement and belonging that is hugely relatable and heartwarming in its progression. This is a deeper experience than it first appears.
Now me – I really liked this book. A bunch. It seemed to speak directly to my own specific sense of wonder, and the same melody of this Ode to Reading has been soundtracking my own book love for years. My reaction to The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep is quite personal, is what I'm saying. I can totally see how it might not be the same for everyone (though I'd definitely suggest they give it a try!) There were one or two hiccups along the way, and it is possible that the pace might feel slow for those not digging the vibe as much as I was.
But me, I was caught right up. I enjoyed every minute. ...more
Michelle F
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