This is my wrap-up post, just under the 31st deadline. I elected to read 6 chunkies and I read 6 chunkies!
My books were: (not in the order they were read)
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, 782 pg
A Conspiracy of Faith, 504 pg
The Sunne in Splendour, 971 pg
The Map of Time, 609 pg
The Little Friend, 555 pg
Sacred Games, 900 pg
Finally, I always enjoy reading challenges because they motivate me to do the reading I intend to do but is so easily put off, so Thank you and Happy New Year!
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell
This is my sixth and final selection for the Chunky Challenge and is it ever chunky at 782 pages.
I have to say that this is not my usual reading fare but I started it for the book club and decided to make it my last book for the challenge. I've read quite a few reviews at Shelfari and many people seem to love it. I wouldn't say I love it but it's very imaginative and has a lot of clever literary and historical allusions including footnotes which give the book the appearance of a well researched historical work.
The story revolves around England in the time of the Napoleonic wars and a fairy realm which people have forgotten about but is being revived through the efforts of (you guessed it) Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.
As we begin the book, Mr. Norrell is a fusty old gentleman who owns and studies virtually all the books on magic that exist in the British Isles. He convinces people that he is an actual practicing magician by making the stone figures of cathedrals sing. From there he moves into government to use his skills against the French. Before he is fully accepted as a magician by society though, he must raise a young woman from the dead and that requires cutting a deal with a rather unsavory fairy/demon. This sets a lot of the subsequent story in motion. Meanwhile, a young man, Jonathan Strange, comes to study with Mr. Norrell. He shows aptitude for magic and so he is accepted as an apprentice. Then there are two magicians working for the British government against Napoleon. There are long descriptions of warfare in Spain and the Netherlands and how magic is used to defeat the French. There are many tongue and cheek descriptions of fictitious history with actual historical figures. Finally, after many twists and turns, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell defeat the evil fairy but they have to pay a high price.
I think people who enjoy magic and fantasy will enjoy this book. I thought it could have been much shorter but the author probably didn't want to leave out any details. As I said, it's packed with asides and throwaways, some of which are quite funny but it requires patience to read.
I have to say that this is not my usual reading fare but I started it for the book club and decided to make it my last book for the challenge. I've read quite a few reviews at Shelfari and many people seem to love it. I wouldn't say I love it but it's very imaginative and has a lot of clever literary and historical allusions including footnotes which give the book the appearance of a well researched historical work.
The story revolves around England in the time of the Napoleonic wars and a fairy realm which people have forgotten about but is being revived through the efforts of (you guessed it) Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.
As we begin the book, Mr. Norrell is a fusty old gentleman who owns and studies virtually all the books on magic that exist in the British Isles. He convinces people that he is an actual practicing magician by making the stone figures of cathedrals sing. From there he moves into government to use his skills against the French. Before he is fully accepted as a magician by society though, he must raise a young woman from the dead and that requires cutting a deal with a rather unsavory fairy/demon. This sets a lot of the subsequent story in motion. Meanwhile, a young man, Jonathan Strange, comes to study with Mr. Norrell. He shows aptitude for magic and so he is accepted as an apprentice. Then there are two magicians working for the British government against Napoleon. There are long descriptions of warfare in Spain and the Netherlands and how magic is used to defeat the French. There are many tongue and cheek descriptions of fictitious history with actual historical figures. Finally, after many twists and turns, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell defeat the evil fairy but they have to pay a high price.
I think people who enjoy magic and fantasy will enjoy this book. I thought it could have been much shorter but the author probably didn't want to leave out any details. As I said, it's packed with asides and throwaways, some of which are quite funny but it requires patience to read.
Saturday, September 14, 2013
A Conspiracy of Faith by Jussi Adler-Olsen
A Conspiracy of Faith
This is the 3rd in the Department Q series by Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen. The 1st book, The Keeper of Lost Causes introduces us to Carl Morck, a seasoned detective who along with 2 colleagues has been a victim of a shooting. Morck survives but another officer is killed and the 3rd is rendered a paraplegic. Morck has been a bit of a difficult person to work with anyway and the upshot is that he is sent downstairs to the dungeon with a huge pile of cold cases and an odd assistant who is not who he appears to be. This book revolves around a vicious serial killer who targets isolated religious sects, kidnapping their children and demanding ransom for their safe return. I know the serial killer has been done to death! but the charm of the stories lies more with Morck and his team who manage to provide some humor to lighten the grim story.
I also like that the story is told from a variety of perspectives but the suspense is maintained. This is a quick read at 504 pages and I'm hoping there will be another book in the series.
This is the 3rd in the Department Q series by Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen. The 1st book, The Keeper of Lost Causes introduces us to Carl Morck, a seasoned detective who along with 2 colleagues has been a victim of a shooting. Morck survives but another officer is killed and the 3rd is rendered a paraplegic. Morck has been a bit of a difficult person to work with anyway and the upshot is that he is sent downstairs to the dungeon with a huge pile of cold cases and an odd assistant who is not who he appears to be. This book revolves around a vicious serial killer who targets isolated religious sects, kidnapping their children and demanding ransom for their safe return. I know the serial killer has been done to death! but the charm of the stories lies more with Morck and his team who manage to provide some humor to lighten the grim story.
I also like that the story is told from a variety of perspectives but the suspense is maintained. This is a quick read at 504 pages and I'm hoping there will be another book in the series.
The Sunne In Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman
The Sunne In Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman
This is another excellent historical fiction by Sharon Kay Penman. At 971 pages, it takes awhile to read but is engaging and for a book this length, very readable. The backdrop to the story is The War of the Roses, which for anyone who doesn't remember, was a war of succession fought between 2 branches of the Plantagenet dynasty founded by Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Penman has written extensively about Henry and Eleanor and their offspring in another series. The book begins with open rebellion by the Duke of York and his allies against King Henry VI who represents the Lancaster line. The Duke of York and his second son are killed in battle leaving the path clear for Edward and his brother Richard to continue the fight. Edward eventually triumphs and comes to power as Edward IV and of course Richard will come to power after his brother's death as the infamous Richard III. This part of the story constitutes Book I.
Book II considers the controversial marriage of Richard to Anne Neville, his cousin and childhood friend, who was a pawn of her ambitious and scheming father The Earl of Warwick aka the Kingmaker.
Book III covers Richard's role of governing the north of England for his brother and the growing tensions and conflicts inside the royal family which culminate in Edward having his youngest brother George executed.
Edward dies after a lifetime of excess and leaves his young son and heir in Richard's protection.
Book IV is about the aftermath of Edward's death, power struggles between Edward's widow and Richard, the disappearance of Edward's two young sons, the death of Richard in battle, and the victory of Henry Tudor.
This version of history is told from the perspective of Richard and contradicts the well-known "stereotypes" of Richard III from Shakespeare and Tudor historians. Penman is a revisionist of Richard and she makes some interesting points. The disappearance of Edward's sons remains a mystery still but Penman has some other culprits who may have had the boys murdered and she makes a case for them. Also, there seems to be no indication of Richard wanting to be king while his brother was alive. He was always loyal and followed Edward into combat many times and proved to be invaluable. Yet, once Edward dies, Richard was supposed to have killed his nephews to take the throne. This would have been in total opposition to the way he'd lived his whole life. Penman make a case for why Richard would have seized the throne for other reasons other than strictly personal ambition. Told from Richard's perspective this is a tragic story in which Richard loses everything and dies more a victim of betrayal than a villain. For anyone who enjoys historical fiction or English history this is a must read.
This is another excellent historical fiction by Sharon Kay Penman. At 971 pages, it takes awhile to read but is engaging and for a book this length, very readable. The backdrop to the story is The War of the Roses, which for anyone who doesn't remember, was a war of succession fought between 2 branches of the Plantagenet dynasty founded by Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Penman has written extensively about Henry and Eleanor and their offspring in another series. The book begins with open rebellion by the Duke of York and his allies against King Henry VI who represents the Lancaster line. The Duke of York and his second son are killed in battle leaving the path clear for Edward and his brother Richard to continue the fight. Edward eventually triumphs and comes to power as Edward IV and of course Richard will come to power after his brother's death as the infamous Richard III. This part of the story constitutes Book I.
Book II considers the controversial marriage of Richard to Anne Neville, his cousin and childhood friend, who was a pawn of her ambitious and scheming father The Earl of Warwick aka the Kingmaker.
Book III covers Richard's role of governing the north of England for his brother and the growing tensions and conflicts inside the royal family which culminate in Edward having his youngest brother George executed.
Edward dies after a lifetime of excess and leaves his young son and heir in Richard's protection.
Book IV is about the aftermath of Edward's death, power struggles between Edward's widow and Richard, the disappearance of Edward's two young sons, the death of Richard in battle, and the victory of Henry Tudor.
This version of history is told from the perspective of Richard and contradicts the well-known "stereotypes" of Richard III from Shakespeare and Tudor historians. Penman is a revisionist of Richard and she makes some interesting points. The disappearance of Edward's sons remains a mystery still but Penman has some other culprits who may have had the boys murdered and she makes a case for them. Also, there seems to be no indication of Richard wanting to be king while his brother was alive. He was always loyal and followed Edward into combat many times and proved to be invaluable. Yet, once Edward dies, Richard was supposed to have killed his nephews to take the throne. This would have been in total opposition to the way he'd lived his whole life. Penman make a case for why Richard would have seized the throne for other reasons other than strictly personal ambition. Told from Richard's perspective this is a tragic story in which Richard loses everything and dies more a victim of betrayal than a villain. For anyone who enjoys historical fiction or English history this is a must read.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Chunkster Challenge
My initial signup was done wrong, sorry. I'm going to read 6 chunksters and I've already reviewed 3.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
The Map of Time by Felix J. Palma
The Map of Time
This is my 3rd book for Chunkster Challenge and of course it's the book choice for the Chunky book club this month. Well, it's a difficult book to summarize or even describe. Basically, there's three main stories within the larger story of exploring the idea of time travel. It's not so much the nuts and bolts of time travel but more what would it mean for humans to have the ability to change the past as well as the future. On the one hand, it seems silly, on the other hand it is a valid philosophical discussion.
In this book, the author has chosen to take real historical figures and put them into imaginary situations which challenge our familiar concepts of time. The first part of the tale revolves around a man obsessed with a prostitute murdered by Jack the Ripper and his desire to save her from that murder. H.G. Wells, who plays a major part in the book, is introduced here and this part of the story is I thought a little more light-hearted, even though there are scenes of violence. The second part of the story involves a fantastic time travel hoax which I thought was quite imaginative and I was a little let down when the conspiracy was revealed. However, that did make the overall tale more authentic. The third part of the story was basically the unfolding or explanation of the intersection of the three story lines. I think this part was the most thoughtful.
I liked the book, perhaps, more than I thought I would. Normally, time travel would not draw me to a novel, but, this is a very original take and has literary illusions that sometimes reminded me of the Thursday Next books. Also, it's very readable so even though it's a chunkster, it's not a struggle to finish.
This is my 3rd book for Chunkster Challenge and of course it's the book choice for the Chunky book club this month. Well, it's a difficult book to summarize or even describe. Basically, there's three main stories within the larger story of exploring the idea of time travel. It's not so much the nuts and bolts of time travel but more what would it mean for humans to have the ability to change the past as well as the future. On the one hand, it seems silly, on the other hand it is a valid philosophical discussion.
In this book, the author has chosen to take real historical figures and put them into imaginary situations which challenge our familiar concepts of time. The first part of the tale revolves around a man obsessed with a prostitute murdered by Jack the Ripper and his desire to save her from that murder. H.G. Wells, who plays a major part in the book, is introduced here and this part of the story is I thought a little more light-hearted, even though there are scenes of violence. The second part of the story involves a fantastic time travel hoax which I thought was quite imaginative and I was a little let down when the conspiracy was revealed. However, that did make the overall tale more authentic. The third part of the story was basically the unfolding or explanation of the intersection of the three story lines. I think this part was the most thoughtful.
I liked the book, perhaps, more than I thought I would. Normally, time travel would not draw me to a novel, but, this is a very original take and has literary illusions that sometimes reminded me of the Thursday Next books. Also, it's very readable so even though it's a chunkster, it's not a struggle to finish.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
The Little Friend by Donna Tartt
At 555 pages, again, I was surprised I finished this book so quickly. It's a hard book to classify, it's part thriller, part childhood memoir, and part regional fiction. The story takes place in a small town in Mississippi during relatively modern times although there are certain elements that make me think it's not entirely modern, for instance, no cell phones are present. The main character is a 12 year old girl who's family has not really functioned since her older brother was found hanged from the tree in their yard when the girl (Harriet) was a baby. The mother has retreated since the death of her child, the father has moved to another city, and the girls, Harriet and her older sister are raised by their grandmother and maternal aunts. The summer that this book recounts, Harriet becomes obsessed with solving the mystery of her brother's murder which had never been solved. The book also explore the role of the black housekeeper/maid in the the southern family. Through the housekeeper, Ida, who the girls adore, Harriet develops the idea that a certain young man from a criminal family is the murderer. She sets out to get some kind of proof and also to punish him for the crime.
This decision leads her and her best friend, Hely, a boy, into some very dangerous situations and ultimately costs some people their lives. Some of the writing is very beautiful and unique. The descriptions of the almost tropical environment of Mississippi are part beauty and part horror. I found it an interesting and disturbing book and I recommend it to anyone who likes a creepy but not superficial tale.
This decision leads her and her best friend, Hely, a boy, into some very dangerous situations and ultimately costs some people their lives. Some of the writing is very beautiful and unique. The descriptions of the almost tropical environment of Mississippi are part beauty and part horror. I found it an interesting and disturbing book and I recommend it to anyone who likes a creepy but not superficial tale.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Sacred Games by Vikam Chandra
This is the first book this year for the Chunkster Challenge. At 900 pages, I was amazed I finished it in two weeks! Despite it's long length, it's very readable with an engaging plot or plots. It's a novel about contemporary India. Most of the novel takes place in Bombay but other parts of India as well as other parts of the world and other time periods are included. There is quite a collection of characters, as well, but the main character is Sartaj, a Sikh on the Mumbai police force. Following at a close second is Gaitonde, a powerful mobster in the Indian underworld. The bare bones of the book are: Sartaj gets an anonymous tipoff that Gaitonde can be found hiding out in a heavily fortified bomb shelter on Sartaj's turf. He is finally able to penetrate the shelter only to find Gaitonde and an unknown woman dead inside. Gaitonde has committed suicide but the woman has been murdered. With this as the starting point, the book proceeds to tell several stories; of how Gaitonde rose to power, of how Sartaj's mother's family suffered during partition of India, of an exploration of Hindu fundamentalism and the role of the Guru, and the striving out of obscurity and poverty that millions of Indians are engaged in today. Along the way, the author also explores Mumbai as a city-entity, terrorism threats, and the all pervasive corruption of Indian society. Parts are very disturbing but it's also filled with tenderness and caring between people even as tragedies occur. This book has a very Dickens feel and sympathy for its' characters even as their actions are despicable I recommend this book to anyone but especially to anyone who's interested in India.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Chunkster Challenge Wrap-up
Unfortunately, I did not finish my final book, boo hoo. However, I would like to sign up again for the challenge. I will have to let you know later at what level. Thanks.
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