An intriguing fresh voice but ultimately the book was too anecdotal and not enough novel to hold my attention. Characters float in and out of focus anAn intriguing fresh voice but ultimately the book was too anecdotal and not enough novel to hold my attention. Characters float in and out of focus and the whole is less then the sum of the tasty but disjointed parts. ...more
Compelling narration, especially Simon Vance. As a newbie to audiobooks, this was my first with more than one narrator, and it really worked with the Compelling narration, especially Simon Vance. As a newbie to audiobooks, this was my first with more than one narrator, and it really worked with the dual voices in this story.
I also loved the way King plunges us into the world of 1930s anthropology, when Malinowski's students covered the Pacific, each claiming their own tribe. The immersion into this world is abrupt and complete.
If I had a complaint though it's that the story winds up too soon. Perhaps I have been reading too many bloated books of late, but this was one I thought could have been longer. I wanted to know more of these characters and see more of their daily lives in New Guinea. More backstory, not just the very tantalizing hints we were given. Perhaps what I'm struggling with is that I found the love story the least interesting part. I think I was more interested in our three main characters as anthropologists, as strangers in a strange land, and would've happily read more about that, as well as about what brought them there. Nonetheless I will eagerly read another book of King's....more
A thoroughly enjoyable immersion in the decadence of living in southwest France. Great descriptions of food and wine and cooking. And fun characters. A thoroughly enjoyable immersion in the decadence of living in southwest France. Great descriptions of food and wine and cooking. And fun characters. If there is a flaw is that the mystery bites off a bit more than I can chew, it is probably not necessary to tackle all the evils of domestic and international relations in one book. And perhaps our hero is a bit too good to be true. That said I thoroughly enjoyed and will read another....more
Boring, unappealing storyline, ridiculous denouement, unlikable...and NOT scary. Plus we have to read Stephen King sex scenes which are always almost Boring, unappealing storyline, ridiculous denouement, unlikable...and NOT scary. Plus we have to read Stephen King sex scenes which are always almost unbearably icky. I should have quit recent King while I was ahead (Dr. Sleep).
King used to creep you out so easily. With the barest atmospheric touches. Now he tells tells tells us the Rev is evil, even when the case for it is thin (as it is until the end of the book).
Not good, and should be skipped (even, or perhaps especially, those who really like King's better books). ...more
A new look at a young Montalbano but without the freshness of story and richness of character that characterized the early Montalbano books. Very thinA new look at a young Montalbano but without the freshness of story and richness of character that characterized the early Montalbano books. Very thin and almost mechanical - Montalbano doesn't seem any younger than he does of late - seems phoned in by the Maestro. But hey - he's 89! I'll be lucky to be able to string a sentence together at that point!...more
Someone described this book as bringing a gun to a swordfight, and there is something in that: Here's Mantel, (finally deservedly) absurdly famous andSomeone described this book as bringing a gun to a swordfight, and there is something in that: Here's Mantel, (finally deservedly) absurdly famous and universally renowned for constructing an entire culture, world, century in those doorstopper tomes, writing little short stories about the dark,off-kilter corners of (usually) women's and girls' lives.
But don't worry, it works. These are great short stories, as perfect in miniature as Cromwell is in Tudor-supersize. I especially liked Harley Street and the title story, but the story of the anorexic sisters and also How Will I Know You? will haunt me for a good long time. ...more
A throughly enjoyable story, good characters and quite involving. Didn't have my teeth chattering or my sleep disturbed though. Don't know if I'm gettA throughly enjoyable story, good characters and quite involving. Didn't have my teeth chattering or my sleep disturbed though. Don't know if I'm getting older, or King is getting less scary. But I did find it a pleasure to read, and NOT unnecessarily bloated, so a pleasant surprise after some other late King work....more
True to form and formula, ripped from the headlines and all that, but I liked this one. A little bit of tenderness towards Livia and Mimi goes a long True to form and formula, ripped from the headlines and all that, but I liked this one. A little bit of tenderness towards Livia and Mimi goes a long way for me. ...more
Ever more gripping and heart wrenching. We march through the late 60's and 70's with our band of now-familiar characters, experiencing the "anni di piEver more gripping and heart wrenching. We march through the late 60's and 70's with our band of now-familiar characters, experiencing the "anni di piombo" when Italy was torn apart by political and social conflict, and horrific acts of violence on the left and the right. The women's movement, and sexual liberation are front and center too.
But what makes these books so great are the twin protagonists, two sides of the same coin perhaps, or perhaps one intermixed being. I am more and more fascinated by Elena, our oh-so-unreliable narrator, who seems a bit of an anxious milksop at times but is actually quite ruthless, self-centered and a master manipulator, even as she tells us repeatedly that it is Lila who is the brilliant, manipulative, "cattiva" one. Wouldn't it be amazing to read this same story through Lila's eyes?
The 4th one is in the mail...hope it comes quickly. ...more
Fluffy but thoroughly enjoyable. I felt like I'd been taxing my brain a lot lately, and this was the perfect antidote - fun characters, a "mystery", sFluffy but thoroughly enjoyable. I felt like I'd been taxing my brain a lot lately, and this was the perfect antidote - fun characters, a "mystery", some broad social satire, a cogent if well-trodden message, and a well-tied-up ending. Not "literary" writing, but smooth and pleasant - none of the popular fiction glitches that stick in your craw. Turned the pages with pleasure....more
While parts of this book were wry and funny, and the penultimate chapter from which the book draws its name is a perfect set piece, a paean to lonelinWhile parts of this book were wry and funny, and the penultimate chapter from which the book draws its name is a perfect set piece, a paean to loneliness in New York that is heartbreakingly lovely, I found the whole religious subplot boring and irksome.
While ostensibly about the Amelikites and the Ulms, the book is really a long meditation on Jewishness - it's all about people who want to be Jews and can't be, what it means to be an outsider looking in on what looks warm, familial and comfortingly traditional. In this obsessive worrying at this particular sore point - what is Jewishness, and in his utterly flat female characters, Ferris reminded me of some of the "great" modern American Jewish male writers whose works overall (with a few exceptions) leave me quite cold, such as Roth and Bellow (see also Howard Jacobson, not American, but obsessed and to me, boring). But at least it was fresh when they were doing it - Ferris's dentist seems recycled, almost retro, in his obsession with faith and belonging. I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's something very mid-20th century about Paul O'Rourke and his concerns.
I wasn't exactly sure where we'd read this tale before of a hero falling in love with a girl because he is in love with her family and doesn't really have one of his own, but it felt very familiar and like it had been done better before (the Patimkins in Goodbye Columbus (the one Roth book I wholeheartedly love) and the Finzi Continis, are two examples of proto-Plotzes,I guess).
And the plotting (as opposed to the atmosphere) is just sort of a mess.
That said, Ferris has some beautiful passages in here, and also some laugh out loud wit. I think he's growing into himself, and I'll continue to read him....more
This book struck me exactly right. I don't want to spoil, because I was a little bit spoiled from reading reviews, but this is an oddball story that sThis book struck me exactly right. I don't want to spoil, because I was a little bit spoiled from reading reviews, but this is an oddball story that still has great emotional resonance. It also will make you think again and anew about a difficult issue that I at least try not to think about. ...more
With a heavy heavy disclaimer that Joe O'Neill is an old and good friend, I will say that I am still making up my mind about this book, but there is mWith a heavy heavy disclaimer that Joe O'Neill is an old and good friend, I will say that I am still making up my mind about this book, but there is much that is seriously brilliant here. It is Bartleby for the 21st-century. Also undercurrents of Kafka, the stranger, and remains of the day. A lot to think about before bedtime!...more
Thought this was the best Ali Smith in a while. The mirroring device actually works, and there's a lot to love, especially in the Renaissance half. InThought this was the best Ali Smith in a while. The mirroring device actually works, and there's a lot to love, especially in the Renaissance half. In the modern half, Smith can't quite resist her fondness for overly clever punning repartee but it is still quite moving....more
Definitely a bit too long and a bit too complicated (I had to work pretty hard to keep all the pieces on track), but also very powerful, very moving aDefinitely a bit too long and a bit too complicated (I had to work pretty hard to keep all the pieces on track), but also very powerful, very moving and surprisingly fun as well (despite some ready for Tarantino scenes of graphic violence). A great female character as well (something James did brilliantly in his last book), amidst a satisfying host of distinct and rich voices. Also a heartbreaking (and in my case sorely needed) education in Jamaican history.
I'm a sucker for reggae, and Marley too, but I don't think you have to be to be fascinated and moved by this big juicy book. ...more
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