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(originally posted on February 10, 2005)
It's not my favorite McEwan -- I don't think there's quite enough story to elevate it above ENDURING LOVE and ATONEMENT -- but when I am so, so jealous of his writing style, it almost doesn't matter. Describing a "day in the life" of family man and neurosurgeon Henry Perowne, McEwan skillfully shows how internal and external conflict can build towards devastating consequences, even withing a single 24-hour period.
(originally posted on February 10, 2005)
There are some books that, as soon as you pick it up, you fall down a rabbit hole and stay there, slightly bruised and dazed and lost, bu joyful that you're there in the first place. Zafon's first novel for adults (and a publishing phenomenon everywhere) is a little cheesy, rather over-the-top, but why quibble when the story's so absorbing and the style so much fun? And as every time I had to leave it I grumbled inwardly, I know this book made a lasting impression.
(originally posted on February 6, 2005)
Others have dubbed Murray's new novel a "South American DA VINCI CODE," and while the adventure aspect is very entertaining, I most enjoyed the warm and complex relationships between bookseller Lola and her archeologist mother and her adversary (and former best friend) Yolanda. There's a little bit of everything -- suspense, romance, history and fast paced plot -- and it melds together very nicely.
(originally published on February 3, 2005)
Though he doesn't live there anymore, Lehane knows New York inside out, and lets this knowledge of the city's grimy underbelly and bar culture shine through in the second novel to feature bartender detective Brian McNulty. The plot's all right but this is really about character -- be it Brian and his ability and inability to help others and evaluate them objectively, or the city itself. If you like Lawrence Block's Scudder novels (espec the early and middle ones) this book's for you.
(originally published on February 3, 2005)
I'm glad I waited till some of the hype subsided so I could evaluate the book on its own merits, and was I ever glad I did. A sumptuously written tale of a man in the unique position to love a woman at three separate times in his life, the gimmick -- that he ages backwards -- is simply part of the fabric of the story instead of being the story itself. I didn't buy into everything, but Greer handles his material so sensitively that any flaws ceased to matter.
There's a good reason this book is the talk of the blogosphere at the moment: it's insanely good, wickedly funny and utterly memorable. Lewis Miner is the kind of guy we all ignored in high school (or if we were him, we still ignored him anyway) but he has his day in letters-from-hell to his alumni newsletter, documenting how his life went off rails that were never there in the first place. The protracted rant is difficult to pull off, but Lipsyte does -- and makes it his own.
Sometimes you need a holiday from serious reading, and Pace's debut chick lit novel about a frazzled art gallery employee forced to accompany a hot Young British Artist on a five month tour was just the tonic I needed. It's a "single girl in the city" with the requisite happy ending, but Pace has a great voice and a deft way with comedic scenes and conflict alike that I really enjoyed.
(Originally posted on January 30, 2005)
Look for more on this in a few days, but let's put it this way: Girard's second novel (but first under his real name) is exactly the kind of crime novel I want to write. There's a serial killer, an investigation, a resolution, but this book is all about character: development, conflict, and how people mate and relate, hurt and comfort each other. Why why WHY is this book out of print?
(originally posted on January 24, 2005)
Fabulous. Utterly. For some reason it took me forever to read, mostly because I didn't want this incredible story of adventure, doomed love and danger in Guatemala to end. It's been said, not just by me, that Harrington deserves to have a wider audience. So I'll say it again and add this: just read this book. Now.
(Originally posted on January 24, 2005)
I'll be getting to the second book in this double volume soon, same as Packer's backlist. As I said in my earlier post about it, Packer, aka Marijane Meaker, writes like a dream, and her prose holds up under contemporary scrutiny just fine. Never mind that this is a nervy piece of noir wrapped up in social drama.
