Posts Tagged ‘Book Reviews’
By Belynda, August 12th, 2009 in Other | No Comments
Tags: Book Reviews, chuck hogan, guillermo del toro, the strain, vampires
I’ve been on somewhat of a vamp-story kick lately.
I picked up Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan’s “The Strain” on Kindle a few weeks ago, and decided to spend 4th of July weekend on an air mattress with our new kitten catching up on my reading.
“The Strain” is a vampire horror-survival novel in the classic sense; Think “Outbreak” meets “28 Days Later”. If you’re looking for aristocratic vampires a la Anne Rice and Stephanie Meyer, better to look elsewhere.
The O-Positive:
“The Strain” feels a bit like a really-out-there episode of CSI, with the lab science nerds getting plenty of airplay, and the scientific (albeit sci-fi) elements of the infection being interesting enough to keep you reading. While the story remains true to some of the more ingrained elements of the vamp mythos (sleeping at night, sun-burning easily, wiggling into your thoughts with slippery telepathic ease) there are some new angles to the creatures. Without spoiling anything, the new “delivery method” and blood-sucking mechanics are enjoyable for what they are.
The narrative is interesting. POV bounces around a lot - to Eph, to shady bad guy, to original infected victims - but it never seems distracting or gimmicky. We get a broad view of what’s going on in the world as the vamps take over and people start getting nibbled.
The O-Brother:
While the story has a lot of interesting scientific elements, it gets into some rich-guy conspiracy and secret-order whisperings that are potentially lip-smacky, but never quite pan out in the end. I get that this is Part I of a trilogy, but if you want my other $20 you’re really going to give me a little bit more. We get some soggy backstory about the major-league vamps (called Ancients. Yawn.) We also get some really promising Bruce Campbell quirky hero vibes from main character Eph, but in the end I don’t find myself holding my fists to my heart and keening for the next installment to come out. I’ll still BUY the next one, just to see if the next one pulls it out of the fire, but based on what I’ve seen so far, I’m not particularly convinced that it will.
By Belynda, May 3rd, 2009 in Reviews | 2 Comments
Tags: Anointed, Book Reviews, Christ Corporation, Funny, nablopomo, Satan, Timmy Christ, Zachary Steele
First of all, a BIG thank you to Russ Marshalek for sending me an ARC of “Anointed”. He heard from the twitterverse that I was was a fan of Christopher Moore, and thought I might be interested in Zach Steele’s story of the man who would be Christ (or the corporate equivalent thereof). I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I must admit, I’m a hard sell for “comedy” books, and I hardly ever read fantasy; while I love Christopher Moore and Douglas Adams, sometimes I go into “funny” books, especially religious funny books, with one eyebrow safely raised. I tend to reserve judgement for a good forty or fifty pages, but Timmy Webb totally won me over. A classic anti-hero in the beginning, I soon found out that Timmy is the kind of Christ I’d follow around (if I did that sort of thing.)
“Anointed” was a romp, fast paced and witty, full of characters who you’ll enjoy getting to know. Better, they are characters that you feel you might already know. I’m an office-dweller by day, and without giving away too much (you’ll know it when you read it), Steele’s group of wacky apostles could fit right in at any of the cube-cities dotting the corporate landscape. The entire Christ Corporation crew in fact, bears an eerie resemblance to some of the companies I’ve worked for in the past.
Steele brings a lighthearted sense of fun to the story, and manages to make even his oft-maligned Ms. Morningstar endearing and essential. God is equally delightful, with a carefree voice that at times reminded me of the ultra-quirky King of All Cosmos from Katamari Damashi (I’m equally proud and ashamed that I can make such a nerdy comparison). These characters brought a great sense of whimsy to the read. I often found myself sitting in cold bathwater, giggling to myself, forgetting to get out of the tub. That’s a great sign, as there is no greater enemy to me that cold bath-water (just ask Ed)!
What I didn’t expect out of the book was some really gorgeous writing. Steele has all these razor-sharp witty retorts and observances, and then hits you with a description of a view or a sentiment that really showcases his writing talent. One line in particular, which I won’t spoil for you, just completely got me. I forgot for a moment that I was reading one of those “funny” books.
So, file my name under “Steele fan-girl”, put me on the email list for the next book, and go get yourself a copy of “Anointed”. You’ll love it.
By Belynda, February 22nd, 2009 in Reviews | 4 Comments
Tags: ARC books, Book Reviews, Chamberlain, Rose Variations
The Rose Variations by Marisha Chamberlain
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
“The Rose Variations” by Marisha Chamberlain came to me as an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) from the very awesome folks over at Soho Press. My sincere thanks to Soho for turning me on to this great first novel, and my congratulations to Marisha Chamberlain for a beautiful and consuming story. I read almost non-stop over three days, unable to part with it for long.
“The Rose Variations” follows the story of Rose MacGregor, the “Girl Composer” in residence at a St. Paul university in the 1970’s, fresh from her emancipation from a strained life back home in New Hampshire. During her years in St. Paul, we experience the highs and lows of Rose’s life, and the relationships that fill the new chapter of her life out in the world; We meet her co-workers Alan and Frances, her wild sister Natalie, addled best friend Ursula, and a host of friends and acquaintances who will have a profound effect on Rose, and on the reader. “The Rose Variations” is an intimate tale, filled with rich and complex characters, people that for all their faults you would want the chance to know in your own life.
Chamberlain acknowledges not just the instances of deep loneliness and new passion that fill our lives, but also the little storms, the near misses and might-have-beens, the triumphs and disappointments that steer our course. It is the intimate exploration of these small lives that makes this story and its characters so inviting, and makes the journey we take with Rose so compelling.
Chamberlain’s style has an earthy, tranquil appeal. She observes the world with a grounded insight, and describes it in delicious prose. The change of seasons serves to underscore the story, in the “boiling green springtime” of Rose’s arrival in Minnesota, the “flower-thickened sounds” of the summer countryside up north. Chamberlain marks the passage of time beautifully throughout the novel, immersing us in transient external and internal landscapes. Even more alluring than her eye for season and setting, Chamberlain possesses a talent for bringing fullness to her offbeat cast of characters. She has sympathy and affection for them, but even in this sympathy, the novel is not a collection of neatly packaged happy endings. Her aim is never truer than in the moments where she reminds us how crushingly unfair real life can be.
“The Rose Variations” is a beautiful first novel, one that will earn much praise and attention from critics and new fans. This fan for one is very much looking forward to Marisha Chamberlain’s future work.
By Belynda, February 7th, 2009 in Reviews | No Comments
Tags: Book Reviews, Fiction, Foer, Holocaust, Novel, Trachimbrod
Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
“Everything Is Illuminated: A Novel” by Jonathan Safran Foer
I had seen the movie version of “Everything is Illuminated” probably about five years ago- long enough ago to let the visuals of the movie fade so I could fully enjoy the book on its own merits. As is usually the case, the book was much better.
“Everything is Illuminated” is many things; At moments, it is laugh out loud funny (I couldn’t read it at lunch in work for fear of bursting out laughing at the table!). It shows us slices of life that prove we are not all so very different. It is at times irreverent, surprising, and heartwarming. Even the dog becomes a beloved character, in a way which does not usually occur in most stories.
It is also incredibly serious, unapologetic in its depiction of the war. It deals not only in the horror experienced at the time, but the war that all survivors carry with them for decades after. Jonathan, Grandfather, even Alex, were all in their own way, victims of that war. The holocaust claimed more victims than even history books will ever calculate.
The novel is faithful in its depiction of the real life of the war as well, the life in between the atrocities. The shtetl of Trachimbrod is a symbol of the reality experienced in every village that found itself under the thundering wheels of the Nazi war machine, facing the darkness by carrying on, marrying, loving, celebrating, keeping secrets, keeping traditions. Foer accomplishes something universal in anonymizing the people of Trachimbrod, giving them only so much identity to love, and just enough universality to make us understand that it could have been anyone, even us.
This is an incredible book, touching a wide range of the emotional spectrum, holding us to the end in a firm but careful grasp.
By Belynda, January 27th, 2009 in Reviews | No Comments
Tags: Book List, Book Reviews, Earring, Fiction, GoodReads
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
“Girl with a Pearl Earring” by Tracy Chevalier
The book was gorgeously written, very delicate and reserved, intimate in Griet’s understanding of the world. It is written in such a way that after holding one’s breath for chapters, the suspense is richly rewarded. Definitely a great read.
