pontalba's 2011 Reading List

[julie]

Pontalba

You definitely make Malevil sound very good ! I may just have to hunt that one up at some point.

It probably isn't much like the TV show "Jericho" ? Not sure if you watched it or not,but I absolutely loved it . I have the dvd's and have about worn them out watching them.

Not sure exactly how you'd classify it ,if it were a book. Kind of like a "what if" our country was attacked in several major cities and many people are killed. It's about a small town in Kansas and how they try to survive during this critical time.

Thanks for mentioning another really good book to hunt for .

 

* I think I will ask Santie to please bring me a new bookshelf .

[pontalba]

As stated elsewhere, I finally finished 1Q84 the other day, phew!

Not that I didn't enjoy it, and no, it wasn't the length. Well, not the length itself. My problem with 1Q84 was the repetitive nature of his writing. Not just basic, identifying features of each and every character was constantly reiterated, but we practically got the whole story on each character every time a new section on them began. Which was quite often, shifting at first between the two main protagonists, then as peripheral characters entered the picture, their characteristics were enumerated.

 

I do not think that Murakami was drawing the story out, from what I've read of him, he writes by the seat of his pants, so to speak. He doesn't even know where the story is going, and outlines are verboten. Interesting method, but in this case it seems to have fostered the constant re-telling of things that were already well drilled into the reader.

 

All that said, I still gave it 4/5. He made me care deeply about the characters, and portrayed them so thoroughly and even sympathetically that I had to read to the end, in spite of frustration and annoyance. That, my friends, is a talented writer. One that deserves to be read, and possibly probably re-read.

 

It is basically a love story. An impossible love story. Heart rending, lovely and even humbling.

 

 

Ok, after all of the above, I needed a break from it all. I read two cozy mysteries in quick succession.

 

I Am Half Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley is the fourth installment in Flavia de Luce's journey to maturity, and to knowledge of her family history. The mystery of this book furthered all of that, and was quite satisfying.

 

Cat Telling Tales by Shirley Rousseau Murphy was the latest installment of the wonderful Joe Grey Mystery series. If you love cats, and I do, you'll love the talking, detecting and downright adorable Joe Grey and his lady Dulcie. New pals are brought in this book, and it's a neat little mystery to boot. Murphy knows cats, right down to their little pads.

[pontalba]

Odd Jobs, Portraits of Unusual Occupations by Nancy Rica Schiff was a purchase today at a local consignment store. I'd never have picked it without actually seeing the book. Verra strange occupations are available on this here planet. Condom testers, Potato Chip inspector, [crisps to you Brits! hee hee] Dog Sniffer, a Men's Room attendent that is a lady...the list goes on and on. Worth it for the pictures alone.

 

 

I just finished Hunter: A Thriller by Robert Bidinotto.

Often first novels in a series leave something to be desired, too much explaining of background details takes place, and not enough action.

 

That is not the case here. It is a true thriller from page one and continues to the very end. The author accomplishes what few first time authors are able. He shows, he doesn't tell. I appreciated that quality. Of course he is an accomplished newspaper man to begin with, but this is not written in a "reporter-style", it is a well developed novel, with rounded, well developed characters that I cared and worried about.

Edited December 20, 2011 by pontalba

[pontalba]

I finished The Scottish Prisoner last night, in only a little more than 24 hours. I'd almost like to start it all over again. Gabaldon has beautifully fleshed out a goodly chunk of the time Jamie spent as a parole in the Lake District. I'm not a follower of the Lord John series, although I have a couple here in the stack. I read what I believe is the first one, and was underwhelmed.

This one, I have to think because of Jamie's presence, is superior. Possibly now I may enjoy the rest of the Lord John series more in light of some developments regarding his character in this book. Gabaldon herself says that the Jamie/John mixture is about 50/50, and I believe that is accurate.

 

The story brings out more of Jamie's Irish connections, and tells more of the Irish/Scottish similarities. Things I, at least, was unaware of till now. The story carried me along, just as the original Outlander series does.

Highly Recommended.

[julie]

Pontalba

The Odd Jobs book sound quite interesting . Which job would you have picked out of the book if you had to choose one ?

[pontalba]

Weirdness prevails.

 

I can't find the book. We had a massive clear up a few days ago, and I have to think it was caught up in that, and "filed" somewhere that I can't locate.

I sat here at the computer and read it in about a half hour. I'm afraid only the most bizarre have stuck in my brain. hee hee

When I find it, I'll post an update.

 

In any event, I finished 1222 by Anne Holt last night, or rather early this morning. A cerebral mystery, there are murders, natch, and a wonderfully different detective. I'd say it is a sort of Agatha mystery, but better, possibly a cross between Ten Little Indians and The Orient Express.

 

This is, as far as I can tell, the 8th or so in this Norwegian series, and the first to be translated. So the detectives personal situation is "in transit". This book was obviously a turning point for her character. It stands alone quite well though, and I'll certainly buy more as they are translated. I've seen on Amazon that her first in the series seems to be coming out in English in June of 2012. I'll buy it, for sure!

[pontalba]

I've finished a few in the last several days.

 

Coroner's Journal by Louis Cataldie, M.D. is a true rendition of a man's life as a coroner for the State of Louisiana. The book was going to press when Hurricane Katrina slammed into the coast, so a sort of prologue was added by Dr. Cataldie regarding the God awful conditions at that time. This is only a small part of the book though. It chronicles, basically, man's constant inhumanity to his fellow man. The waste of it all, and possibly a little bit of hope. Dr. Cataldie attempts to bring some light to the subject, and manages this in a great conversational style that, in spite of the subject matter, manages to be breezy.

 

Next was The Killer Inside Me by Jim Thompson. Great. Noir. This is a must for any fans of noir, of unreliable narrators, and/or the human mind. Thompson's style is plain and direct, deceptively so, I might add. Written in 1952, it was ahead of it's time as far as the mechanics of a sociopath's mind.

 

Just finished The Death of Grass by John Christopher. A short and not sweet apocalyptic novel written in 1956 that has many elements of an old favorite of mine... The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham. Grass is however told more from the viewpoint of the character Coker (of Triffids).

 

Imagine of a disease killed all the grass, slowly over the continents, implacably moving on, evolving. The cover of the book compares it to The Lord of the Flies, but for my money the Triffid comparison is much closer.

A bit slow to start, but makes up for it later. Highly Recommended.

 

I wish I could remember where/who recommended Grass, but I'm sure glad they did!

[julie]

Hi Pontalba

I'm also reading Coroner's Journal . I have gotten sidetracked over the past couple of days, or would have been done with it by now. It is a very interesting book and very well written . The terrible destruction from Katrina seemed so much more awful ,hearing it from his viewpoint. I cannot even imagine how bad it must have been down there with the loss of lives and entire people's lifetime of possessions, and having to start over again with nothing .

[chesilbeach]

I wish I could remember where/who recommended Grass, but I'm sure glad they did!

 

I have it on my wishlist as well - I remember it was nominated in the reading circle one month, and I think it was by Raven. Good to hear you enjoyed it, I'll keep it on my wishlist!

[Roland Butter]

Jim Thompson is one of the very best noir writers, isn't he? The Grifters is one of my favourite crime stories of all - there's a film version which is quite well known, but the actual story beats it hands down.

[pontalba]

Hi Pontalba

I'm also reading Coroner's Journal . I have gotten sidetracked over the past couple of days, or would have been done with it by now. It is a very interesting book and very well written . The terrible destruction from Katrina seemed so much more awful ,hearing it from his viewpoint. I cannot even imagine how bad it must have been down there with the loss of lives and entire people's lifetime of possessions, and having to start over again with nothing .

 

Oh, I'm glad you're on it Julie, let me know how you like it. I do like his style, and I'd have to bet he has a load more stories he could tell.

 

I have it on my wishlist as well - I remember it was nominated in the reading circle one month, and I think it was by Raven. Good to hear you enjoyed it, I'll keep it on my wishlist!

 

That sounds familiar now that you mention a nomination. It caught my eye. I'll check it out.

 

Jim Thompson is one of the very best noir writers, isn't he? The Grifters is one of my favourite crime stories of all - there's a film version which is quite well known, but the actual story beats it hands down.

 

Definitely! Killer was my first Thompson, and certainly won't be my last. We went across the lake today, and only could stop at one book store, and they didn't have one Thompson!. No bookstores in the Mall we visited either! Amazing. So, I'm going to pop over to Amazon and see what they have. I seem to remember seeing the film Grifters many years ago, but have no real memory of it.

[pontalba]

Just under the wire for the year, I finished Graham Greene's The Quiet American. It's been hanging around here for several years, unread, unloved. No longer. I haven't seen a more succinctly phrased condemnation of the Vietnam War, or any war for that matter. The uselessness, the wastefulness, the downright shame of getting into what amounts to tribal disputes is highlighted by Greene's no nonsense prose.

[julie]

Hi Pontalba

finished Coroner's Journal. Really liked the book .It was told in an interesting way,but with such respect for the victims that he examined,no matter what their circumstances were . The hardest chapter was the one with the small kids who he autopsied .Wow, that would be so very hard .

Cataldie sounds like a very good hearted man .

[pontalba]

Hi Pontalba

finished Coroner's Journal. Really liked the book .It was told in an interesting way,but with such respect for the victims that he examined,no matter what their circumstances were . The hardest chapter was the one with the small kids who he autopsied .Wow, that would be so very hard .

Cataldie sounds like a very good hearted man .

Yes, I was truly impressed with the tact and respect he displayed in his writing, all the while not sacrificing the truth of the stories. I'm glad you liked it!