books 2009 // viii
Title: Murder on the Orient-Express by Agatha Christie [1933]
Series: Hercule Poirot.
Length: 221 pages.
Summary: Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train is surprisingly full for the time of the year, but by the morning it is one passenger fewer. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside. Isolated and with a killer in their midst, detective Hercule Poirot must identify the murderer -- in case he or she decides to strike again. [Source].
Review in 5 words or less: Captivating. Smart. Elegantly told. Brilliant characterization.
Personal Rating: ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ½ of 5.
Review: Lovely. Seriously, this review can be done pretty quickly as it suffices to say that - even more so than usual - it was a pleasure to read each single word.
The plot was masterfully executed, the characters intriguing and the deliverance brilliant as usual. As a little side note, I noticed that the plot was a tiny bit reminiscent of the Lindbergh-baby tragedy. Perhaps the book was partly inspired by it?
Links: official website, @ wikipedia.
Other books I've read by this author: The Moving Finger. After The Funeral (Funerals Are Fatal. The Clock. Nemesis.
Title: Sherlock Holmes - The Missing Years: The Adventures of the Great Detective in India and Tibet by Jamyang Norbu [India 1999]
Series: Sherlock Holmes.
Length: 311 pages.
Summary: In 1891, a horrified public learned that Sherlock Holmes-in a last deadly struggle with the archcriminal Professor Moriarty-had perished at the Reichenbach Falls in Switzerland. Two years later, popular demand made Sir Conan Doyle resurrect the great detective. Holmes informed a stunned Dr. Watson, "I traveled for two years in Tibet, therefore, and amused myself by visiting Llasa."
Nothing has been known of those missing years until Jamyang Norbu's discovery of the Mandala, a carefully wrapped package in a rusting tin box. When opened, the package reveals a Bengali scholar's own account of his travels with Holmes. The Mandala holds the key to a mystery and tells the story of Holmes in a landscape so fascinating, a game so intriguing, that it is impossible to resist. [Source].
Review in 5 words or less: Fascinating. Complex plot. Nice mix of Doyle's and Kipling's worlds. Unique approach but unfitting in my opinion.
Personal Rating: ◊ ◊ ½ of 5.
Review: Lately I re-discovered my fascination with Sherlock Holmes novels and it was a nice coincidence that this book combined that rekindled love with a fascination with India. In fact, the way India was described was nothing short of captivating - even if the glossary turned into a regular life-saver for me as I constantly had to look up the meaning of certain words or phrases. In fact, that did get a bit annoying after some time but on the other hand it gave the book a very unique flavor.
The story itself starts out great. It seems extremely well-researched and even though I personally wasn't too crazy about the way the narrator attempts to sell off the story as if it happened for real, that's something I can easily ignore in favor of the great atmosphere.
Something that I disliked, however, was the way the story turned a bit too political for my taste. I usually dislike getting political messages in my novels - no matter how well they may fit into the plot. Next to that I had some problems with the esoteric aspects that crept into the story in the second half. To my mind they don't fit with the character of Sherlock Holmes even though it's doubtlessly a unique and creative approach to the topic.
Overall it was a good read but with some aspects (as mentioned above) that really rubbed me the wrong way. I'm a bit ambiguous about the book.
Links: @ wikipedia
Other books I've read by this author: ---.
Title: The Crush by Sandra Brown [New York 2002]
Series: ---.
Length: 446 pages.
Summary: Notorious contract killer Ricky Lozada is on trial and Dr. Rennie Newton is on his jury. Bringing the same dedication she displays as a surgeon to this job, she delivers a verdict of not guilty-and discovers she has a new admirer. Days after Lozada's release, one of Rennie's professional rivals is brutally murdered. Although Lozada's dark shadow looms over the case, Rennie becomes the prime suspect ... while Lozada stalks her and grows more and more obsessed with having her. She forms an uneasy alliance with Wick Threadgill, a rogue detective with his own personal vendetta against Lozada. Wick has nothing to lose by confronting a hit man, who, like the prize scorpions he treasures, strikes so quickly Rennie may never see it coming. [Source].
Review in 5 words or less: Unrealisitc. Predictable. Boring characters and plot.
Personal Rating: ◊ of 5.
Review: Let's start with the positive part: It was way better than Hello, Darkness and doubtlessly has an interesting premise.
However, unfortunately that's about it with the positive aspects that I could find. In my opinion the book is unrealistic enough to be distracting and as this doesn't seem to be intentional or isn't even presented in a somewhat charming manner, the plot got more and more annoying as I proceeded.
The main protagonist, Rennie, is once again stunningly gorgeous, perfect, faultless and painfully boring. In fact, so is the male lead, Wick who acts downright stupid, so that I couldn't stop asking myself why the man hasn't been fired long ago.
In short, this book was the final drop that made me beg my friend to stop asking me to read Sandra Brown, so we can discuss it. There's just nothing to discuss. The book is plain bad or rather it's just very, very far away from my taste in books.
Links: official website, @ wikipedia
Other books I've read by this author: Hello, Darkness.
Title: Death in Disguise by Caroline Graham [London 1992]
Series: Chief Inspector Barnaby part 03.
Length: 447 pages.
Summary: The Lodge of the Golden Windhorse has provided the citizens of Compton Dando with splendid fodder for gossip, prompting speculation of arcane rituals and bizarre sexual practices. But with the murder of the commune's leaders, the rumor-mill goes into overdrive. It's the most exciting thing to happen in Compton Dando since three boys burned down the bus shelter. In trying to solve those murders, Chief Inspector Barnaby is less excited than exasperated. The residents of the Windhorse commune may have been seeking the simple life, but they re all concealing complicated pasts - or past lives. [Source].
Review in 5 words or less: Very drawn out. Witty. Nice characterization and style.
Personal Rating: ◊ ◊ ◊ of 5.
Review: I'm a bit torn about this. There is a very looooong exposition until we finally get to the point but once the book gets going it's really good. I really like the humorous style of narration and there were several times I found myself laughing out loud. Another big positive point is the character of Chief Inspector Barnaby. This is what I'm looking for in a well-rounded character. So mostly I'd say it's a witty book with great characterization but veeeery drawn out.
Links: official website, @ wikipedia
Other books I've read by this author: ---.
Title: Bridget Jones - The Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding [London 1999]
Series: Bridget Jones part 02.
Length: 443 pages.
Summary: Lurching from the cappuccino bars of Notting Hill to the blissed-out shores of Thailand, everyone's favorite Singleton Bridget Jones begins her search for The Truth in spite of pathetically unevolved men, insane dating theories, and Smug Married advice. She experiences a zeitgeist-esque Spiritual Epiphany somewhere between the pages of How to Find the Love You Want Without Seeking It (can self-help books really help self?), protective custody, and a lightly chilled Chardonnay. [Source].
Review in 5 words or less: Charming. Crazy. A bit manic. Fun. Light-hearted.
Personal Rating: ◊ ◊ ◊ of 5.
Review: I can't say I expected too much from this book apart from a little fun. And that is pretty much what I got from it: Ir was a nice, superficial but highly amusing read. It was relaxing and hilarious and Bridget, this crazy caricature of a slightly insane, obsessed woman, amused me to no end.
I liked it. Perfect stuff when you're looking for a light, funny, relaxing read you can enjoy with your brain turned off.
Links: official website, @ wikipedia
Other books I've read by this author: ---.
Title: Falling Angels by Tracy Chevalier [London 2001]
Series: ---.
Length: 382 pages
Summary: January 1901. Queen Victoria is one day dead; two families visit their respective family graves to mourn, and two girls meet, become friends, and bring their relatives together in unexpected ways. As in her first novel, Girl with a Pearl Earring, Chevalier excels at capturing subtle social nuances and setting historical scenes. Key among the characters who narrate parts of the story is beautiful and frustrated Kitty Coleman, who, as the times shift from Victorian to modern, embraces the change with a bid for personal freedom. Her secrets and lies have disastrous consequences. [Source].
Review in 5 words or less: Captivating. Poetic style. Amazing atmosphere. Melancholic.
Personal Rating: ◊ ◊ ◊ ½ of 5.
Review: I think the correct word for Chevalier's style is 'captivating'. Somehow her books tend to pull me in and I can't put them down until I finished them. She has this ability to create a whole world that doesn't let you go until the story is over.
In Falling Angels there have been several themes that stayed with me - most of all the women's movement and the realization that just a little over a century ago, women were forced to fight for their rights to do 'ordinary' things such as vote. Somehow the realization that achieving the right for such an everyday-thing took such great struggles really shook me up. And I do realize that this isn't even the main point of the story.
Anyway, Chevalier weaves an incredible atmosphere and as usual delivers fascinating, well-rounded characters and an intricate plot. I liked this, even though it left me feeling a wee bit melancholic.
Links: official website, @ wikipedia
Other books I've read by this author: The Lady And The Unicorn.
Title: I Am Legend & 10 Selected Short-Stories by Richard Matheson [New York 1995]
Series: ---.
Length: 398 pages.
Summary: Robert Neville is the last living man on Earth...but he is not alone. Every other man, woman, and child on Earth has become a vampire, and they are all hungry for Neville's blood.
By day, he is the hunter, stalking the sleeping undead through the abandoned ruins of civilization. By night, he barricades himself in his home and prays for dawn.
How long can one man survive in a world of vampires? [Source].
Review in 5 words or less: Surprising. Gritty. Scary. Scary. Scary ;)
Personal Rating: ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ½ of 5.
Review: Before I picked up this book, I've never even heard of Matheson, much less read any of his short stories. I'd heard about the film 'I am legend' but somehow managed to remain ignorant of the plot, so that it was really a fit of boredom that prompted me to pick up this book.
Well, thank goodness for boredom, because Matheson's style is incredible. His stories are written in a scary but smart way and I just loved the twist at the end of 'I am legend'. In fact, I feel like in his stories, he takes the reader's expectations and finds a way to twist them around and give you a completely new point of view you never considered before. A bit like taking something familiar and shedding a new light on it.
So basically I have to admit that I really like his style. It's surprising, clever, scary and stays with you for a long time after you finished reading his stories.
Links: @ wikipedia
Other books I've read by this author: ---.
Title: Needful Things by Steven King [New York 1991]
Series: ---.
Length: 767 pages.
Summary: In Castle Rock, Maine, Leland Gaunt is a stranger. He runs a shop called Needful Things, where there's something for everyone-and a price for everyone, too. For Gaunt, the pleasure of doing business lies in seeing how much people will pay for their most secret desires. When two townspeople oppose him, it becomes an epic clash of good vs. Evil. [Source].
Review in 5 words or less: Amazing atmosphere. A bit long-winded. Great pacing at the end. Good read.
Personal Rating: ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ of 5.
Review: This one reminded me a lot of It or Salem's Lot in the way that it all happens in a small town (Castle Rock), as it often does in King's novels. In fact, you could say this is one of his typical novels and as usual he manages to get my attention (and appreciation of his skill) by taking a normal, ordinary little thing and ever so slowly turning it into a nightmare - not by having big, scary monsters invade the Earth or anything like that, but rather by exposing the 'evil' potential within normal people.
Once again King shows he's a master of creating an incredible atmosphere - first of everyday life in an idyllic small town and then twisting it until it's hardly recognizable. Who would have thought that 'a few harmless pranks' as requested by Mr. Gaunt can go such a long way?
If you're a fan of horror novels based on a complex plot and human nature rather than scary monsters from outer space (though those can be fun, too, of course) then this is the book for you. Not as brilliant as It or Dreamcatcher for instance, but really good in its own way.
Links: official website, @ wikipedia
Other books I've read by this author: Salem's Lot. Firestarter. Pet Sematary. It. Dreamcatcher. From a Buick 8. Under the Dome.
Title: The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris [New York 1998]
Series: Hannibal Lecter.
Length: 382 pages.
Summary: As part of the search for a serial murderer nicknames "Buffalo Bill," FBI trainee Clarice Starling is given an assignment. She must visit a man confined to a high-security facility for the criminally insane and interview him.
That man, Dr. Hannibal Lecter, is a former psychiatrist with unusual tastes and an intense curiosity about the darker corners of the mind. His intimate understanding of the killer and of Clarice herself form the core of The Silence of the Lambs. [Source].
Review in 5 words or less: Classic. Smart. Complex characters and plot. Worth reading.
Personal Rating: ◊ ◊ ◊ of 5.
Review: I first read this book about a decade ago and I remember that back then it was one of the first ones of its kind (meaning: dealing with a character like Lecter or capturing a criminally insane murderer) I'd ever heard of. Needless to say that I was torn between fascination and being a tiny bit grossed out.
Years passed and once again I picked up this book out of a mixture of curiosity and boredom. Once again I found myself captivated by the plot and the characters, so that I can say without a doubt that this book deserves its status as a classic. It's well-written, fast-paced, clever, but every now and then a bit too gross for my taste.
Links: official website, @ wikipedia
Other books I've read by this author: Red Dragon. Hannibal.
Title: The Coins of Judas by Scott McBain [London 2001]
Series: ---.
Length: 516 pages.
Summary: For thirty pieces of silver, Judas committed the most famous betrayal in history. Thirty coins which gave their possessor such a power for evil that it could only be resisted by the greatest saint, Peter. Twenty-five of the pieces have been safely gathered and kept safe in the sacred tomb of St Peter in the Vatican. But what became of the remaining five coins? Paul, a brilliant criminal psychologist, has been responsible for an accused murderer being released. Meeting the man later, he fears the consequences of his mistake, but is distracted by an unusually attractive visitor. And the first coin appears. Paul's path to evil, the choices and the temptations on the way are brilliantly portrayed. The Church, led by the formidable Cardinal Benelli, knows of the evil performed by previous holders of the coins, such as Diocletion, but none was as terrifying as the conjunction of the hapless Paul and, through him, the rise, once more, of the Magus. [Source].
Review in 5 words or less: Fast-paced. Action-oriented. Nice read but not spectacular.
Personal Rating: ◊ ◊ ½ of 5.
Review: A fascinating premise (which is why I picked up the book in the first place) which is well-executed. The characters are maybe a bit one-dimensional but the pacing more than makes up for it. It's really a good read but somehow didn't leave a lasting impression on me. I read it. I enjoyed it and forgot the details, so despite the intriguing premise I'd rate this as mediocre.
Links: @ wikipedia
Other books I've read by this author: ---.