[books 2008] various again
53. Faithless by Karin Slaughter
I read another of Slaughter's books shortly before I started blogging everything I read. I had mixed reactions to it - the mystery was seriously interesting, but the characters were all grade-A whiny victims who spent more time agonising about their love lives than solving the damn mystery.
This one's much better. The characters are still whiny victims, but their whiny victimness is kept to the side while they actually put some effort into solving the mystery, which is very good indeed. Additionally, the odd religious group (not quite a cult) that is involved is treated in a very fair way, not at all what one expects.
My comment about this series is still that it may be set in Georgia, but it is NOT "Southern Gothic". The aesthetic is purely Southern good-old-boy.
Again I'm glad it came from the library - compelling, but pretty disposable.
54. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling
Really liked this one too. May be turning into a Harry Potter Fan.
55. Steal This Vote: Dirty Elections and the Rotten History of Democracy in America by Andrew Gumbel
Another one that does what it says in the subtitle. I've always known in a vague way about black, and to a lesser extent, poor white disenfranchisement in the South in a period that includes my lifetime (!), but this was specific and graphic, and very angry-making. Also lots of specifics of the underhanded means both major parties in the US use to stop people voting.
Lots of really important stuff that everyone should know, but not many people seem to care about.
Go. Read. Now.
I had a more comprehensive review planned but my headache has gone nowhere & being upright is a chore. I may update in more detail when I feel better.
I read another of Slaughter's books shortly before I started blogging everything I read. I had mixed reactions to it - the mystery was seriously interesting, but the characters were all grade-A whiny victims who spent more time agonising about their love lives than solving the damn mystery.
This one's much better. The characters are still whiny victims, but their whiny victimness is kept to the side while they actually put some effort into solving the mystery, which is very good indeed. Additionally, the odd religious group (not quite a cult) that is involved is treated in a very fair way, not at all what one expects.
My comment about this series is still that it may be set in Georgia, but it is NOT "Southern Gothic". The aesthetic is purely Southern good-old-boy.
Again I'm glad it came from the library - compelling, but pretty disposable.
54. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling
Really liked this one too. May be turning into a Harry Potter Fan.
55. Steal This Vote: Dirty Elections and the Rotten History of Democracy in America by Andrew Gumbel
Another one that does what it says in the subtitle. I've always known in a vague way about black, and to a lesser extent, poor white disenfranchisement in the South in a period that includes my lifetime (!), but this was specific and graphic, and very angry-making. Also lots of specifics of the underhanded means both major parties in the US use to stop people voting.
Lots of really important stuff that everyone should know, but not many people seem to care about.
Go. Read. Now.
I had a more comprehensive review planned but my headache has gone nowhere & being upright is a chore. I may update in more detail when I feel better.