Again I find that reading a book about a locale that I know gets me interested very quickly. I live maybe 10 minutes from Newark and am familiar with Again I find that reading a book about a locale that I know gets me interested very quickly. I live maybe 10 minutes from Newark and am familiar with all the places mentioned. Many of the characters were recognizable despite their pseudonyms (it's a novel). I was surprised at how interesting the narrative was. To bed honest I expected a dud and it turned out to be a really enjoyable book...more
I don't give five stars unless a book is exceptional. I give four stars often, three is lukewarm and when it comes to two or one I probably couldn't fI don't give five stars unless a book is exceptional. I give four stars often, three is lukewarm and when it comes to two or one I probably couldn't finish it. This book is exceptional. It has characters that you grow to love (or hate) and it has drama, mystery and humor throughout It is fiction but it tells a very real story almost with the atmosphere of relating a fable. Do yourself a favor and read it.
I was prompted to read this after binge watching the HBO adaptation. I was engrossed by the series, by the production values and now, after reading thI was prompted to read this after binge watching the HBO adaptation. I was engrossed by the series, by the production values and now, after reading the book, how completely it adhered to the book. Both the book and the series give a realistic view of growing up in a poor working class area near Naples. The "Neopolitan Novels" continue on into adulthood and I'm hooked enough to follow on through the series. The HBO series BTW has annouced there will be a second season based on the second book. Of course I will watch that but by that time I will have read the second book, perhaps all four of the books. Ferrante is a reclusive author who makes no public appearances or any attempt to promote her writing. As always, when reading a book written in a language other than English, I wonder if I am losing something in the translation. I'm sure I am, but the the translation is excellent. ...more
Historical figures entwined in a fictional plot that builds to a suspenseful conclusion. Stage magic - one of my favorite subjects = plays a big role Historical figures entwined in a fictional plot that builds to a suspenseful conclusion. Stage magic - one of my favorite subjects = plays a big role and there are liberal doses of humor. All in all a good and satisfying read....more
Lawrence Block is a talented writer. He's a craftsman. I enjoyed this and will read more Block. My only gripe is that picking the killer seemed too eaLawrence Block is a talented writer. He's a craftsman. I enjoyed this and will read more Block. My only gripe is that picking the killer seemed too easy....more
Short and to the point. Like going to see a movie. Total entertainment. Tough guy stuff. What's not to like?Short and to the point. Like going to see a movie. Total entertainment. Tough guy stuff. What's not to like?...more
Loved it. Certain subjects, in this case stage magic, hold a lot of appeal for me and a good book about those subjects is going to be well received byLoved it. Certain subjects, in this case stage magic, hold a lot of appeal for me and a good book about those subjects is going to be well received by me. I loved the movie also, but this book is quite different in a lot of ways. It’s a great example of how a good screen writer can adopt and change the author’s ideas and emphasis and still come up with a good movie. BTW – I recall reading somewhere around the time that the movie came out that the term prestige , in the sense that it is used here, was coined by Christopher Priest in this novel. Magicians hadn’t been using the term. Since the movie magicians have adopted the term and it’s use is now common....more
I'm writing this short review probably 10 years after I read Underworld and fully intend to someday revisit and hopefully modify my three star review I'm writing this short review probably 10 years after I read Underworld and fully intend to someday revisit and hopefully modify my three star review upwards. I've seen a comment on a friends review about this NOT being the book to start reading DeLillo with. WELL...it was for me and I think the comment was very astute (Thank you -Krok Zero). Long story short is that the writing was impressive with long areas that held my interest but ultimately I couldn't connect it all together. the only other DeLillo I've read is Libra - which I loved. In both cases large parts of the books stayed with me and I've decided to work more DeLillo into my reading. K.D. recommends "Body Artist" so I'll probably be trying that one soon. ...more
Great novel on the JFK assassination. It presents itself very plausibly. It's not hard to believe that it could have happened this way. I'm sure many Great novel on the JFK assassination. It presents itself very plausibly. It's not hard to believe that it could have happened this way. I'm sure many of us recall that when Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested one of the first things he told the police was "I'm a patsy." The context in which DeLillo places this statement is striking and memorable....more
If I had to describe this book in one word, that word would be clever. Right from the start Palma gets you involved. A few things happen that don't quIf I had to describe this book in one word, that word would be clever. Right from the start Palma gets you involved. A few things happen that don't quite check with your recollection of history and you realize that you are in a slightly different timeline - an alternate universe if you want to use that phrase.
Palma teases us! I love time travel stories but for a long time I'm wondering when it will appear. When you think it's there it's not!. Most of the time. But when you really need it.....
This is an action movie in the form of a book. You’ve seen it all before. The formula is simple and all the familiar elements are here. There is a thrThis is an action movie in the form of a book. You’ve seen it all before. The formula is simple and all the familiar elements are here. There is a threat. In this case vampires, although it can be anything - an epidemic, earth is going to be hit by an asteroid, terrorists, killer clowns etc etc. There is a hero and a sidekick aware of the threat but working for an agency too stupid to understand the depth and seriousness of the threat. Maybe the agency has been corrupted by the evildoers. In any event the hero and sidekick have to go rogue in order to survive and fight the threat. Introduce a bunch of expendable characters who are there solely to die and throw in a few sublplots involving divorce, custody battles and other day to day scenarios to fill things out and you essentially have it. The ending is predicitable and opens the door for the sequels (this is a trilogy). No surprises here. I wanted to read something light and this surpassed my wildest expectations. If I had days free this would have been done in a few hours.
I expected more. Del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth was a great movie that worked on a number of levels. This is just cookie cutter formulaic disposable pop fiction. ...more
This is why we have five stars! A series of short (sometimes very short) vignettes. Little stories that create an alternate Oddysey. Sometimes there aThis is why we have five stars! A series of short (sometimes very short) vignettes. Little stories that create an alternate Oddysey. Sometimes there are several vesions of the same event. Odysseus’ homecoming or the fall of Troy, for just two examples, receive the multi vesion treatment. There is a humorous undercurrent to many of the stories. Much, but not all, is in the first person – be the voice that of Odysseus’s (usually the case) or the cyclops or another character. Mason’s writing is brilliant and flowing and quirky enough to remind me of Borges or Calvino. Borges’s The Immortals, in particular, comes to mind as do some of the very short pieces from The Book of Fantasy. ...more
This is the third book in a row with essentially the same plot - but what makes it worthwhile is the sideshow - The information on the arcane subjectsThis is the third book in a row with essentially the same plot - but what makes it worthwhile is the sideshow - The information on the arcane subjects that Dan Brown interweaves into the plot. It's like a broadway musical where the plot is just an excuse for the music....more
Excellent novel on the the Russian Revolution and the subsequent rise of Stalinism. The book poses the question of whether it was the ideals of the reExcellent novel on the the Russian Revolution and the subsequent rise of Stalinism. The book poses the question of whether it was the ideals of the revolution that were at fault or was it the people who implemented it. Interesting all the way through. Under my old rating system I would have given it five stars but I'm reserving five stars writing the caliber of Borges or Casares....more
Great book - but it's heavy. You have to pay attention. Probably it deserves a reread almost immediately - which I'm not going to do....but someday...Great book - but it's heavy. You have to pay attention. Probably it deserves a reread almost immediately - which I'm not going to do....but someday.... ...more
OK. Dragged in spots and there are product plugs, a trend that really bugs me. Straub has written better but I may continue to get his books now and tOK. Dragged in spots and there are product plugs, a trend that really bugs me. Straub has written better but I may continue to get his books now and then. ...more
I dunno....I got through it - it's not bad - I've read others by Kellerman that I think I enjoyed, but ......it didn't knock my socks off. Maybe I jusI dunno....I got through it - it's not bad - I've read others by Kellerman that I think I enjoyed, but ......it didn't knock my socks off. Maybe I just wasn't receptive to this type of book at this time. It took me almost a month to get through it. I'll try Kellerman again another time. ...more
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