My newest book reviews -- check 'em out!
I am still catching up with overdue book reviews from 4 or more years ago, so keep checking back often, as lots and lots more books will be added.
Fearless: Trust (#11)
Author: Francine Pascal
Category: Young Adult
Published: 2000
Review Date: December 18, 2004
Plot: Heather, Sam, and Ed go through tough relationship changes. Gaia spends time with family. Ella takes her stalking to a new, more menacing level.
Review: Tom proves himself useful a couple times, but Ella begins to show that she's not such a hot undercover agent herself. Gaia showed surprising naďveté, but this may be because she's allowing herself to open up again. Sam is wholly unappealing now. Blech. Very suspenseful story with lots of action, not just the usual attacking or being attacked by strangers in the park.
Fearless: Liar (#10)
Author: Francine Pascal
Category: Young Adult
Published: 2000
Review Date: December 18, 2004
Plot: Ed prepares for his sister's engagement party and ends up spending more time with Heather. Loki tests Ella and she fails. Heather's sister ends up in the hospital. Ella becomes a giant stalker.
Review: Tom proved that spies (or doctors, or whatever) shouldn't get involved in their relatives' cases because they can't see straight. Although he still comes off as the worst spy in the world, although George is rather dim for not picking up on something being terribly wrong between Gaia and Ella. Sam really began to lose his appeal for me in this book. Once again Ed shone in the book.
Fearless: Blood (#9)
Author: Francine Pascal
Category: Young Adult
Published: 2000
Review Date: December 18, 2004
Plot: Gaia is out to kill the person she blames for the death of someone she cares about.
Review: Ed shines in this book, while Tom and George vie for Worst Spy Ever award. I think I like the story more within the context of the entire series than the individual book alone, but it tackles the important topic of grief while carrying the saga of Gaia forward.
Fearless: Heat (#8)
Author: Francine Pascal
Category: Young Adult
Published: 2000
Review Date: December 10, 2004
Plot: It's coming up to New Year's and Gaia is more introspective about herself, her past, and her friendships, and also becomes more relaxed and happy. Loki observes this and disapproves.
Review: The editing had some problems in this book, most noticeably in the section where Mary is searching for info about Gaia's mother's death on the internet. In the previous book no fire was mentioned, and after Mary locates an article about Katia Moore's death the book even *says* that Gaia didn't mention her house burning down, so what caused Mary to use "fire" as a keyword? Ella made things really weird in a rather predictable way, and Zolov revealed that he is more aware of what's going on than Gaia or Sam suspected, which is nice.
Fearless: Rebel (#7)
Author: Francine Pascal
Category: Young Adult
Published: 2000
Review Date: December 10, 2004
Plot: It's Christmastime and Mary and Ed introduce Gaia to the game of truth or dare, which opens up old wounds and causes the friends to enter into unusual situations. Mary is harrassed by her dealer. Loki decides Mary could ruin his plans for Gaia.
Review: I'm kinda in agreement with Loki that Gaia isn't acting herself because of her friendship with Mary. The trio's (Gaia, Ed, Mary) friendship is becoming more solidified. How many times can Gaia sneak into Sam's dorm before the guard becomes wise to her tricks? It could become a leetle bit tired if it keeps happening. One interesting thing to note is that several of the characters started saying, "Jesus" when they were irritated, which didn't really happen before this book and didn't happen in the book directly afterwards. Was this an odd sort of reminder about the true meaning of Christmas, or just a coincidence?
Fearless: Payback (#6)
Author: Francine Pascal
Category: Young Adult
Published: 2000
Review Date: December 6, 2004
Plot: When Gaia is invited to a party and she convinces her friends to attend, none of them knew they would be getting so involved in a dark part of their school's culture. Meanwhile Heather tries to deal with being without Sam, and this also does not end well.
Review: This is the first book where I've really felt for Heather. She became a real person in this story. Mary and Ed continue to evolve, as does Gaia. This book also deals with important issues that are too often swept under the carpet - underage alcohol use, date rape, and rape.
Fearless: Kiss (#5)
Author: Francine Pascal
Category: Young Adult
Published: 2000
Review Date: December 6, 2004
Plot: It's the day before Thanksgiving, and Ed is off to spend the holiday with his grandparents, Sam intends to spend Thanksgiving with Heather's family, and Ella launches an evil plan that leaves Gaia without anywhere to spend Thanksgiving. Mary shows up, and Gaia learns more than Mary expected her to find out.
Review: This is a perfect tension-around-the-holidays-in-NYC-with-Gaia tale. It makes most other people's holidays look calm in comparison. Seeing into the family lives of the various characters was fun, and my favorite part was Sam making mashed potatoes for Heather's family.
The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 2: The Seeing Stone
Authors: Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black
Category: Pre-Adolescent Fantasy
Published: 2003
Review Date: December 6, 2004
Plot: Simon's cat goes missing, and when he goes off in search of it, he is kidnapped by goblins. Jared and Mallory go into the forest to rescue him.
Review: This is a very quick book, all taking place in one night. The story expands to introduce us to other types of fae, of varying degrees of friendliness and/or menace, and it's an exciting read.
Furies of Calderon, Book One of the Codex Alera
Author: Jim Butcher
Category: Fantasy
Published: October 2004
Review Date: November 28, 2004
Plot: In a world where most of the people bond with elementals called furies, which give them magical abilities, a 15-year-old boy named Tavi is fury-less. While herding sheep for his uncle, he encounters a creature reared by the barbarian Marat, who haven't entered Tavi's Valley for some time. While Tavi is going to pass on word of this incursion, a young woman named Amara comes to the Valley seeking information about a possible rebellion against the First Lord of Alera. Tavi and Amara set out together on a journey to save their home and land.
Review: This is a well-crafted fantasy world. The story has tiny bits of predictibility but the characters and the story itself are so wonderful I didn't mind the instances in which my thoughts about the plot came true. The story built up slowly - but not too slowly - and then carried me through to the end. I cannot wait until the next book.
The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1: The Field Guide
Authors: Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black
Category: Pre-Adolescent Fantasy
Published: 2003
Review Date: November 28, 2004
Plot: Mallory, Simon, and Jared Grace move with their mother into a large, Victorian mansion. The very first day Jared hears strange sounds in the walls, and convinces his siblings to investigate. They discover a hidden home, a secret room, and a book that reveals a world they thought only belonged to fairy tales.
Review: This is an awesome book, and a quick read. I was sad to discover that the series is only intended to be 5 books long, as that seems much too short. The family is like a real family, with squabbling siblings and children who are misunderstood by their parents.
Artemis Fowl
Author: Eoin Colfer
Category: Young Adult Fantasy
Published: 2001
Review Date: November 28, 2004
Plot: Artemis Fowl, from the long line of Fowls, is twelve, rich, a genius, and a criminal mastermind. His latest plan involves kidnapping a fairy and exchanging him or her for a ransom of gold ingots. Even his loyal bodyguard, Butler, has doubts about this scheme, but Artemis goes ahead with it - and discovers that the faeries are more difficult to handle than he expected.
Review: The entire fairy world is delightful, and I loved the various fairy characters. I was not, however, too keen on Artemis, Butler, or Juliet, and I was hoping for their downfall. There is some graphic violence near the end, so I would not recommend it for readers younger than 13.
Fearless: Twisted (#4)
Author: Francine Pascal
Category: Young Adult
Published: 2000
Review Date: November 26, 2004
Plot: A serial murderer has turned Gaia's favorite park into his hunting ground. Gaia is asked out for a date by a new boy at school, David. Ed decides to let Gaia know how he really feels.
Review: This book successfully unites the story arc involving Gaia's family and the mystery of her background with her life at school and with her foster parents. There is a lot of humor, especially involving Sam and Ed, as well as thriller-type action centering around Gaia's hunt for the serial murderer, not to mention a perfect description of a first date.
Fearless: Run (#3)
Author: Francine Pascal
Category: Young Adult
Published: 1999
Review Date: November 26, 2004
Plot: Sam has been kidnapped and the kidnappers are putting Gaia through a string of tests. If Gaia fails the tests, Sam will die.
Review: This is much stronger than the previous book, Sam. Gaia is forced to do horrible things to help Sam, and her friendship with Ed really begins to work as a force in her life. Her rivalry with Heather is funny and sad, and while we as readers hate Heather, we begin to understand her a little bit more as well.
Fearless: Sam (#2)
Author: Francine Pascal
Category: Young Adult
Published: 1999
Review Date: November 26, 2004
Plot: With CJ determined to kill Gaia, Gaia decides that she needs to do something before she dies - have sex with Sam.
Review Date: The whole theme of this novel was weak. Of course teenagers' hormones run wild, but Gaia who has never even been kissed decides to have sex with Sam just because she's afraid to die before she's had sex? I just don't buy it. While safe sex is spoken about a lot, the fact that sex does not equal love is only communicated briefly in a manner that is easy to miss. Also, after having read the books after this one, the theme of Sam seems even weaker, as the whole needing-sex-before-death issue and how Gaia went about getting it barely figures the following books. Ed and his emotional rollercoaster were the best part of this book, as I found it easier to sympathize with him than with Gaia, Sam, or even Heather.
Fearless: Fearless (#1)
Author: Francine Pascal
Category: Young Adult
Published: 1999
Review Date: November 21, 2004
Plot: Gaia Moore was new to New York City, not happy with her foster parents, and bored with school. She enjoyed spending time in the park with her unusual group of friends, playing chess, or baiting muggers so that she could teach them a lesson. When a group of Neo-Nazis begin targeting the people who spend time in the park, Gaia decides to take them out.
Review: This is a solid beginning to the series. The characters are introduced in interesting ways, and so far my favorite is Ed. One characteristic of the series is to have a word, a few words, or a sentence printed larger than the rest of the text. I'm not sure what purpose this serves, but I find it rather distracting.
The Swallows of Kabul
Author: Yasmina Khadra (pseudonym for Mohammed Moulessehoul)
Translated from the French by: John Cullen
Category: Fiction
Published: 2004 (US), 2002 (France as Les Hirondelles de Kaboul)
Review Date: November 6, 2004
Plot: In Kabul during the reign of the Taliban, there are two couples - Atiq, who works as a jailer, and his sickly wife Musarrat, and unemployed Mohsen and his beautiful wife Zunaira, who was a teacher. When Mohsen becomes involved in the stoning of a woman, it sets these four on a course that will change them all.
Review: It seemed like the book was taking place in an Arab country rather than Afghanistan, but it is a beautiful and poetic story mixed with the horror of life under the Taliban. Although the story lacked an Afghan feel, at least to me, in the long run this did not detract from the story at all.
Cry Dance
Author: Kirk Mitchell
Category: Mystery
Published: March 1999
Review Date: November 6, 2004
Plot: When the body of a woman is discovered on the land of the Havasupai Nation, Bureau of Indian Affairs Investigator Emmet Quanah Parker and FBI Special Agent Anna Turnipseed are assigned to investigate. They come from very different backgrounds and, while Parker is very experienced as an investigator, Anna is new and feels that Parker does not have faith in her abilities.
Review: This is an excellent book, deftly showing some of the diversity among Native American peoples and their cultures, and contrasting Anna and Parker culturally, personally, and professionally. The two make a good team, and the mystery is satisfying.
Murder Walks the Plank
Author: Carolyn Hart
Category: Mystery
Published: 2004
Review Date: November 6, 2004
Plot: Annie organizes a murder-mystery cruise which is destined to be a success - until one of the guests falls overboard and ends up in a coma. Annie is sure that someone attempted to murder Pamela, but Max and the acting police chief disagree. Annie begins to investigate with the assistance of Emma, Henny, and Laurel.
Review: Okay, how many times have Max and/or the current police chief failed to believe what Annie says just because she's emotional and then it turns out she was right? Just how stupid are Max and the current (or former!) police chief?!? Besides wanting to smack Max and that silly Billy around, I enjoyed the book.
A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book the Second: The Reptile Room
Author: Lemony Snicket
Category: Young Adult/Pre-Adolescent
Published: 1999
Review Date: November 6, 2004
Plot: The Baudelaire orphans go to live with their distant relative, Uncle Monty, who is a herpetologist. They are very happy in his care until their sinister enemy appears....
Review: The short respite from unhappiness makes this book a winner, because it sharply shows how sad it is when the children's hopes are dashed.
Solaris
Author: Stanislaw Lem
Translated from the French by: Joanna Kilmartin and Steve Cox
Category: Science Fiction
Published: 1961
Review Date: November 6, 2004
Plot: Kris Kelvin arrives at the space station of the planet Solaris, a water world which has been an enigma to scientists for generations, and discovers that his colleagues are plagued by corporeal versions of people from their memories. When he meets his own newly corporealized memory-version of his wife, he finds himself unable to ignore the problem of these Phi creatures, much as he would like to ignore it.
Review: A bit dry in parts, but much better than either the Russian or American movies, and it makes a lot more sense (and helped me to understand the movie versions!). This book was originally published in Polish, so I found it curious that the translation was from a French version - this may have contributed to its dryness of the book, but I am sure a little bit of the original was lost through the chain translation.
A Place of Hiding
Author: Elizabeth George
Category: Mystery
Published: 2003
Review Date: October 29, 2004
Plot: On the island of Guernsey, wealthy and charismatic Guy Brouard is murdered, and one of Deborah's old friends is arrested. Deborah and Simon St. James head off to the island to help China River clear her name.
Review: This is a mostly Tommy-less and totally Barbara-less book, but the extra insight into Deborah and Simon makes up for that. The characters and their hopes and dreams are well-written, and the mystery's solution is surprising.
Bloody Shame
Author: Carolina Garcia-Aguilera
Category: Mystery
Published: 1997
Review Date: October 15, 2004
Plot: Lupe investigates the death of a childhood friend and discovers that she didn't know her friend as well as she thought. The investigation takes her to a jewelry store and the family that runs it, where secrets among the members of the family may destroy their relationship.
Review: I was somewhat disappointed in this book, but it was more because of how Lupe behaved (drinking too much, doing drugs, etc.) than in the mystery itself. Also, after reading a couple of the other books in the series, I'm really tired of the gorgeous and sexy Cuban princess theme. You're hot. We get it.
The Last Kashmiri Rose
Author: Barbara Cleverly
Category: Mystery
Published: 2001 (UK), 2002 (USA)
Review Date: October 15, 2004
Plot: In colonial India in 1922, Scotland Yard inspector Joe Sandilands is asked by the acting governor of Bengal and his fetching niece, Nancy Drummond, to investigate the apparent suicide of one of Nancy's friends. Joe sets off to Bengal and discovers that this is not the first mysterious death of an officer's wife, and he searches for connections between the deaths.
Review: This is a delightful mystery with touches of romance and humor. It appears that in the following books in the series Joe moves on to other areas of the world, which is a shame because the characters are so much fun, but I am sure the characters in the following books are just as fun to read about. The manner in which Joe becomes acquainted with the suspects and others who can provide more information about the murders is often tinged with humor, and the story really brings colonial India to life.
Spirit Sickness
Author: Kirk Mitchell
Category: Mystery
Published: 2000
Review Date: October 15, 2004
Plot: In the second book in the series about BIA Investigator Parker and FBI Special Agent Turnipseed, the partners investigate the double homicide of a Navajo tribal policeman and his wife. This is Turnipseed's first case since the previous novel, and she is very close to quitting the FBI. Parker balances the investigation with trying to ensure that Turnipseed, who is a promising new agent, doesn't forego a career in which she could be successful.
Review: After reading many of Tony Hillerman's books (Hillerman is even mentioned in Spirit Sickness!), it was interesting to see the Navajo reservation and culture through another writer's eyes. The story is just as fascinating and it was also interesting to see the differences between different groups of Navajo on the Big Rez. A very good followup to Cry Dance.
Ancient Ones
Author: Kirk Mitchell
Category: Mystery
Published: 2001
Review Date: October 15, 2004
Plot: Parker and Turnipseed are sent to witness the examination of some ancient bones found in Oregon, bones which provoke a controversy because they are Caucasian and older than any other bones found yet in North America. As tensions heat up between various groups on and around the reservation, and people begin disappearing or are found dead, Parker and Turnipseed's role in the investigation changes.
Review: Mitchell truly writes excellent books which educate the reader about various Native American nations, examine with gentleness and sensitivity how a former victim of abuse deals with her pain and how this also affects her partner, and which tell a great mystery. As always there is some humor and a lot of realism - Parker and Turnipseed have issues they need to deal with, but their work keeps interrupting them.
Dear Old Dead
Author: Jane Haddam
Category: Mystery
Published: 1994
Review Date: October 15, 2004
Plot: In a part of Harlem comparable to a war zone like Beirut, a very rich and pompous newspaper owner named Charles van Straadt is found dead in an office at the health-care center which he funds. Gregor Demarkian is called in by the Archdiocese of New York to investigate the murder.
Review: This is another wonderful Gregor Demarkian mystery, but it is mostly absent of all the Armenian community contact I became used to with the last Haddam book I read (Bleeding Hearts), and even Bennis is barely in it. However, this leaves even more room to explore the fascinating characters Demarkian meets in New York City - Dr. Michael Pride who is something like a saint, or possibly a demon; Julie the former teenage prostitute; Sister Augie who dresses not at all like a nun but very much gives off the authority of one; van Straadt's grandchildren who are all very different from one another. For people who live in or have visited New York City, there are little notes about the city and businesses/buildings within in that make the setting real to the reader.
The Calcutta Chromosome
Author: Amitav Ghosh
Category: Fiction
Published: 1995
Review Date: October 15, 2004
Plot: A data analyst named Antar is working at home with his computer Ava going through inventories, bored with his work and waiting for retirement. Then Ava comes across a fragment of an ID card from someone Antar used to know. Despite wanting to end work for the day, Antar begins working on reconstructing the ID card and tracking down as much information about how and where the card was found as possible. The story then takes us backward in time to find out about the person on the card and how he came to be lost.
Review: This is a beautiful, rich story, mixing futuristic elements of a New York City in the near future with historical narratives of scientists in the late 1800s in India and other characters throughout the 1900s in India and the United States. The mystery deepens with each passing chapter, and at the end I felt like there could be more, but it was a very satisfying book.
The Web
Author: Jonathan Kellerman
Category: Mystery
Published: February 1996
Review Date: July 30, 2004
Plot: Alex Delaware and Robin go to the remote Micronesian island of Aruk so that Alex may assist a scientist, Dr. Moreland, in sorting his files and in possibly co-authoring a book, while Robin rests from a wrist injury. Almost immediately their vacation in paradise turns sour - their fellow guests are unpleasant, the doctor with whom Alex is working is mysterious, and the island community is slowly crumbling. Dr. Moreland is hiding something, but teases Alex with clues, and Alex begins the search for the truth to what is happening on the island.
Review: A lush setting, with vivid descriptions of the people and town. This is a very different book from the first book in the series (When the Bough Breaks), but it is equally fascinating.
A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book the Fourth: The Miserable Mill
Author: Lemony Snicket
Category: Young Adult/Pre-Adolescent
Published: 2000
Plot: The Baudelaires are sent to another foster home, this time in the care of a man who runs a lumber mill. Much to the horror of the orphans and pretty much everyone else around them, they are put to work at the mill, which is truly a miserable place. They also find themselves in danger from Count Olaf, who tries a new and not very convincing disguise.
Review: This book changes things around a little bit. Their setting makes them miserable long before Count Olaf does. As usual the adults are either mean or ineffectual, but the person who tries to help them here comes off a little bit better than the useless adults in the other books.
A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book the Fifth: The Austere Academy
Author: Lemony Snicket
Category: Young Adult/Pre-Adolescent
Published: 2000
Review Date: April 16, 2004
Plot: The Baudelaires are enrolled in a boarding school which is run by an untalented violinist Vice Principal and two very boring teachers. Although the Vice Principal's rules make them miserable, the Baudelaires make a couple of friends, but any happiness they might have found is ruined yet again by Count Olaf.
Review: This is a very quick read, and it's nice because it's different from the usual formula in which the orphans are placed with a guardian who then turns out to be totally unsuitable and unhelpful. The setting allows the children to interact with other children as well, and we meet some characters who are important in the books afterwards.
When the Bough Breaks
Author: Jonathan Kellerman
Category: Mystery
Published: 1985
Review Date: April 9, 2004
Plot: Dr. Alex Delaware retired from his pediatric psychology practice after a particularly harrowing case, but his friend and policeman Milo Sturgis requests Alex's help with a child in a murder investigation. Despite himself, Alex becomes involved in the case and cares about the little girl, and when the bureaucracy tries to shut the case down, Alex and Milo continue investigating the case on their own.
Review: This is an excellent book, with a satisfying mystery and realistic characters. It's also a wonderful time portal back into the Eighties, the quality of which readers do not get from books written currently in that time period.
A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book the Third: The Wide Window
Author: Lemony Snicket
Category: Young Adult/Pre-Adolescent
Published: 2000
Review Date: March 30, 2004
Plot: The Baudelaire children are sent to live with their Aunt Josephine, who lives in a house overlooking a lake. Their new guardian loves grammar but is afraid of just about everything else and this results in some misery for the children. As usual, the one person the children truly fear shows up and makes their lives even worse.
Review: Lemony Snicket is in top form with this volume. It could serve as the perfect parable to tell parents/guardians who put their own needs above those of the children they are supposed to protect.
Death on the River Walk
Author: Carolyn Hart
Category: Mystery
Published: 1999
Review Date: March 12, 2004
Plot: Henrie O is asked by an old friend to check on the friend's granddaughter, who failed to make it to their weekly internet chat. Henrie O sets out for San Antonio, TX, and discovers that the granddaughter, Iris Chavez, is indeed missing, but she's getting mixed signals from Iris's coworkers and boyfriend. As Henrie investigates, she also finds that there is a secret at the gallery in which Iris works, and it could ruin the reputation of the gallery.
Review: I like the fact that each Henrie O mystery which I've read so far take place in different settings, and that there are such rich backgrounds in each one. Nevertheless, there was something that I didn't quite like about this book, because it took me so long to read it. I don't know what it was - maybe the way Henrie O interacted with the various Garza family members, or maybe it was Iris. It was still an interesting mystery and is worth reading.
Spiced to Death: A Culinary Mystery
Author: Peter King
Category: Mystery
Published: 1997
Review Date: February 13, 2004
Plot: The Gourmet Detective crosses the Pond to assist his old acquaintance Don Renshaw in verifying a centuries-lost spice called Ko Feng. When the spice disappears and then his friend is murdered, the Gourmet sets out in assisting the police in locating the spice and finding the murderer.
Review: This is a fun mystery, very detailed, and if the reader is familiar with New York City it's a real treat. There are minor flaws - it is stated that Armenia isn't an independent country, when by the time the book was published (and I would assume taking place, as there was no indication of date) it had been free for at least 6 years, there is a misprint in a mention of murder victims in a conversation with Gabriella near the end, and more importantly there are so many suspects it is difficult to remember them all. One of the nice things in the book is the ethnic diversity within, unfortunately too many of the characters were stereotyped. The details about food are interesting, and the book is a view into a world of foodies that I never knew existed.
The Tree People
Author: Naomi M. Stokes
Category: Mystery
Published: 1995
Review Date: February 10, 2004
Plot: Around the area of Lake Quinault in Washington State, tensions were on the rise as loggers faced opposition from environmentalists and they rushed to finish their logging jobs. Although the logging company is trying to follow the rules set down by the Quinault Nation, they unwittingly break a centuries-old rule which unleashes a demonic force upon the people in the area. The tribal sheriff for the Quinault Nation, Jordan Tidewater, and her twin brother Paul Prefontaine, the local chief of police, search for the answers as to what has caused so much disaster to come upon them and their friends.
Review: *spoilery!* Once finished reading this book, the idea that logging is bad for the world in the long run will be so thoroughly pounded into your head that it may be difficult to remember much else about the story. This theme was laid on a wee bit too thick, in everything from "quotes" from characters within the story to ruminations from just about each character about the pros and cons of logging. Another flaw was that too much time was spent on the character of Hannah. Supposedly she and her husband were deeply in love, but all they seemed to have in common was sex. All this character seemed to think about was sex. When her husband is dead, immediately she sets about finding a replacement. If this had been dealt with to a lesser degree or if she and her husband had had a relationship that didn't seem to focus soly on sex, I might have had more sympathy for this character, but instead she began to disgust me, and I felt bad for her husband and for Paul. On the other hand, overall this is a very interesting book which never drags so much that it becomes boring. It was a nice change to read a mystery which deals with the "supernatural", although I would be interested to know how Quinault people would react to this novel.
Stillness in Bethlehem
Author: Jane Haddam
Category: Mystery
Published: 1992
Review Date: January 27, 2004
Plot: Former FBI agent Gregor Demarkian plans to take Father Tibor Kasparian and Bennis Hannaford to Bethlehem, Vermont for a vacation and to enjoy the Nativity play that the town enacts every year. Much to Gregor's chagrin, the owner of the local newspaper has been running a series of articles all about Gregor, so he is an instant celebrity in the small town. The sheriff asks Gregor for his opinion on the recent shooting deaths of two women from the town - deaths which the state police ascribed to hunting accidents.
Review: This was a very complicated mystery with several storylines and many characters. What was different about this mystery from most others that I have read was that once the solution is revealed, I could think back on the rest of the story and it was very clear how that had been the answer although there were plenty of other possibilities.
L Is for Lawless
Author: Sue Grafton
Category: Mystery
Published: 1995
Review Date: January 27, 2004
Plot: As a favor to her landlord, Kinsey Millhone agrees to help some neighbors locate evidence that their grandfather was in the military during World War II. This search touches off a series of events from which Kinsey repeatedly tries to extract herself, but she ends up becoming more and more entangled with the participants, much to her regret.
Review: This is one of my favorite Kinsey Millhone mysteries, as the subplots blend well with the main plot, and the story is comical with plenty of action and also has quite a few tender moments.
Angel: City Of
Author: Nancy Holder
Based on the Teleplay by: David Greenwalt and Joss Whedon
Category: Horror
Published: 1999
Review Date: January 1, 2004
Plot: A vampire named Angel moves to Los Angeles to put distance between himself and the girl he loves. He becomes acquainted with an Irish half-demon named Doyle who claims he comes from The Powers That Be, and Doyle has a mission for Angel.
Review: If this book had only been a novelization of the premiere episode of Angel: The Series, it would have been wonderful. Unfortunately the author uses the opportunity to flashback to every Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV episode possible. The flashbacks are so numerous that they break the momentum of the main storyline and bury it, especially towards the end of the book. To make matters worse, the author fleshes out the flashbacks with extra incidents or information which invariably turns out to be wrong according to information that was later revealed in Angel: The Series and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, so if these flashbacks and additional information were intended to inform people who had not watched BtVS previously, these flashbacks will only serve to confuse the new fan of Buffy and Angel. For instance, Nancy Holder uses Angelus as the name for Angel before he was turned into a vampire - we know now that his human name was Liam. She also makes a point of how Spike was born a low-class Cockney - we know that he was not of the lower classes and the Cockney accent was something he affected after he became a vampire. Another large section of the book goes on and on about how Spike and Drusilla hadn't seen Angel between 1898 and 1956 - something we know now to be untrue. In addition to this, Spike and Dru were present in Romania when Angel was cursed by the Gypsies, while in this book they are absent. Also, although most flashbacks which took place in a BtVS episode are exactly as they were onscreen, in one strange instance - the flashback in which Jenny Calendar is killed by Angel - the author has Angel walk away from her dead body in the school, whereas watchers of the TV series know that Angel took Jenny's body and arranged a scene in Giles's apartment with Jenny. This is just about the only thing that Nancy Holder does *not* include as a flashback. Even the "Romanian" proverb included at the beginning of one of the chapters is problematic - it is in Romany, a Gypsy or Rom language, but not in Romanian, as might be assumed from the book. Although it was admirable to try to give more of a background to Angelus, it backfired in a big way, and the introduction of Spike and Drusilla could have been saved for a later book which actually includes Spike and Dru in the main storyline.
Meena: Heroine of Afghanistan
Author: Melody Ermachild Chavis
Category: Biography
Published: August 2003
Review Date: October 3, 2003
Synopsis: Meena was a law student in Kabul in the 1970s who gave up her studies to focus on women's rights. She founded the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) and ended up losing her life because of her fight for women's rights, freedom, and democracy in Afghanistan.
Review: This was a much-needed book, as there is not much information about Meena to be found. Meena should be well-known around the world, as her life and dedication to her causes is inspirational. This book also gives a lot of detail about political developments inside Afghanistan from the time of the last king, Zahir Shah, through the period of Russian invasion in the 1980s. Just a minor item of interest: I noticed that Chingiz Aitmatov was referred to in this book as a Russian author - he is Kyrgyz, not Russian. I believe the author made the common mistake of using Russian as a synonym for "Soviet." Other than that, the book is excellent, and I hope that with time an even more detailed biography could be written about Meena.
Website: For more information about RAWA, please visit their website.
My Forbidden Face
Author: Latifa and Shékéba Hachemi
Translated by: Linda Coverdale
Category: Biography/History
Published: 2001
Review Date: October 3, 2003
Synopsis: Latifa (this is a pseudonym, chosen to protect Latifa's identity) was only sixteen when the Taliban took control of Kabul, Afghanistan in 1996. Abruptly her dreams and most of her life came to a halt as she and her family had to adjust for the ultra-strict rules the Taliban imposed. This book was written based on Latifa's diaries, and was published shortly after the Taliban lost control of Kabul in November 2001.
Review: As one of the first books widely published which detail Afghan women's lives during the past couple decades of war, this is a very good introduction. Latifa and her family had, unlike most Afghans, lives that could be considered middle class in the West - all of them were educated, they lived in an apartment in Kabul, they owned pets, had regular meals, and a relatively good income, so they are an easy family to relate to for strangers to Afghan history and culture. Each member of Latifa's family is affected by the ongoing war in Afghanistan, even before the Taliban come to power and effectively make Latifa, her sister, and her mother prisoners in their home. One brother was a mujahedeen and emigrated to Russia, a sister was married and living in Pakistan, another sister was a stewardess for Aryana Airlines until the Taliban decreed that women could not work, and so on. There is some bias towards General Massoud, and one should also be aware that while Latifa's family was relatively well off until the Taliban came into power, this was not the case for the vast majority of Afghans (and Latifa herself was aware of this fact).
Engaged to Die
Author: Carolyn Hart
Category: Mystery
Published: 2003
Review Date: October 3, 2003
Plot: Annie and Max attend a party at a local art gallery, during which the gallery owner Virginia Neville plans to announce her engagement to a young artist named Jake O'Neill. As usual when Annie and Max attend a party, someone is murdered, and this time Annie's shop assistant Chloe is the main suspect.
Review: Carolyn Hart has really settled into her writing style now and all of the characters seem more balanced, with the exception of the newer addition of Chloe who comes off as rather whiny and dumb. One of the best things about the Death on Demand series is that old characters appear again - not necessarily in ever book, but rather when it would be natural for them to show up again. The nicest touch in this book is Annie's jealousy over Max being chosen as a deputy.
Deadly Valentine
Author: Carolyn G. Hart
Category: Mystery
Published: September 1990
Review Date: October 3, 2003
Plot: Annie and Max have barely moved into their newly built home before another murder takes place on Broward's Rock. Annie does not like or trust her neighbor, who has her eyes on Max, but unfortunately Annie, Max, and Laurel have to attend Sydney's Valentine's Day party. When Sydney turns up murdered, suspects abound, and Laurel is one of them!
Plot: This mystery nicely combines Annie and Max's new setting with a murder. As usual, the book is mostly good with one character going overboard (this time it's Laurel). Laurel is so frustratingly spacey in this story that it's mindboggling, but otherwise the book is exciting and funny.
Southern Ghost
Author: Carolyn G. Hart
Category: Mystery
Published: July 1992
Review Date: September 12, 2003
Plot: Max's client disappears in Chastain and Police Chief Wells is convinced that Max did something to her. Miss Dora hires Annie and Max to investigate what really happened May 9, 1970, as this is the key to locating Max's client, Courtney Kimball. Unfortunately Miss Dora's relatives, the Tarrants, are more than displeased that Max and Annie are looking into their pasts, and only at Miss Dora's insistence do they cooperate.
Review: Overall this is a solid mystery, very interesting. The only annoying thing was that Annie and Max were inspired to locate Courtney because she was so beautiful, as if ugly or plain people don't deserve to be found.
Norstrilia
Author: Cordwainer Smith
Category: Science Fiction
Published: 2002 (parts previously published as The Planet Buyer in 1964 and The Underpeople in 1968)
Review Date: Sep. 7, 2003
Plot: Thousands of years into the future, on the universe's wealthiest planet, which is named Norstrilia, young Rod McBan is due to inherit one of the best landholdings on the planet. He is, however, a telepathic cripple, and his enemies sought to use this against him. On the advice of his friend the computer, he sets out on a wild plan to become the richest man in the universe, and now he must really outwit all of his enemies.
Review: Cordwainer Smith (born Paul Linebarger) was a fascinating author who unfortunately died far too soon and has since been largely forgotten. The majority of his writing is made up of short stories, and Norstrilia is the only full-length novel about his futuristic society. His short stories, most of which are about this society, and Norstrilia are often interwoven and build upon one another. Smith's stories usually have an unusual humor about them, and this book is no different. This book explores serious issues and takes them further into his universe in unexpected directions.
Moving Pictures
Author: Terry Pratchett
Category: SF/Fantasy
Published: 1990
Review Date: Sep. 7, 2003
Plot: A new magic is discovered on Discworld - the magic of the silver screen. People, animals, trolls, and other creatures are drawn to the city of Holy Wood to become part of the moving picture biz. However, the wizards at Unseen University can tell that something is wrong with the world as it currently is, and over in Holy Wood some of the actors and other inhabitants of the city begin to investigate the secrets of the city.
Review: This is a very Discworldian vision of Hollywood and a delightful tribute to the early times of Hollywood and the film industry. The new characters of Victor, Ginger, and Gaspode are fun, and the more familiar characters, Cut-Me-Own-Throat Dibbler, the Librarian, and so on, are fun to read about again.
Reaper Man
Author: Terry Pratchett
Category: SF/Fantasy
Published: 1991
Review Date: Sep. 7, 2003
Plot: Death begins to make his bosses uneasy when he develops a bit of a personality. He is summarily let go to make his own way in the world until his timer runs out. While Death is off enjoying his life, chaos begins to develop. Without Death there is too much life, and the world is getting more out of control than usual.
Review: As always, Death is a delightful character and this is my favorite Terry Pratchett book so far. It is consistently funny with tiny bits of tenderness sprinkled throughout.
A Caress of Twilight
Author: Laurell K. Hamilton
Category: Horror
Published: 2002
Review Date: Sep. 7, 2003
Plot: The race to produce a child continues, and this book takes place fully in California. Meredith works on a case that involves the fae.
Review: While Hamilton's Anita Blake series goes downhill, the Meredith Gentry series is slightly going uphill. There is more of a plotline in this book than in the first one, but still not enough. A lot of the sex is gratuitous, still, and could have been edited out. Now the fae around Merry are about as annoying as a pack of Richards and Jean-Claudes circa Narcissus in Chains would be.
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
Author: Alexander McCall Smith
Category: Mystery
African Country: (this is part of a project I'm planning) Botswana
Published: 1998
Review Date: July 28, 2003
Plot: Precious Ramotswe decides to use her inheritance to set up a detective agency in Gaborone, Botswana and tackles many varied cases, all the while researching the case of a missing boy.
Review: This is a delightful book and I was instantly drawn into the land of Botswana with its mixture of cultures, religions, and nationalities. Mma Ramotswe is funny, and kind, and strong, and she makes an amazing detective. Her friends, relatives, and clients reflect the society of Botswana as it was yesterday and is today, and show how universal the joys and sorrows that people around the world face are. I have said before that I would love to meet Martin Cruz Smith's Arkady Renko and Stuart M. Kaminsky's Porfiry Rostnikov, and to this list I would add Mma Ramotswe.
The Shaman Sings
Author: James D. Doss
Category: Mystery
Published: 1994
Review Date: February 7, 2003
Plot: Omens appear to Ute shaman Daisy Perika and a shepherd from the area, warning them that the Dark One is at work. When Priscilla Song, a brilliant physics graduate student at a Colorado university, is murdered, Chief Scott Parris must unravel the mystery with the assistance of his friend, journalist Anne Foster, and Daisy. This mystery is not as simple as it first seems, and Parris must sort through the many motives for murder and find out who has been the tool of the dark forces at work.
Review: This story has amazingly realistic characters (a gossipy professor, an inept policemen, a police chief struggling to come to terms with the past, a journalist who dreams of becoming famous, a grumpy hermit, and a shaman who wants to enjoy the years she has left) and situations. The violent parts bring the horror and terror to life and I actually found them nauseating because they seemed so real.
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Other Book Reviews
My older book reviews are separated into categories:
New! There are some new pages added for specific authors, because I have read so many of their books, and also for some books series which are written by multiple authors. These pages are:
Kage Baker
Patricia Cornwell
Diane Mott Davidson
Carolina Garcia-Aguilera
Elizabeth George
Carolyn G. Hart
Tony Hillerman
Stuart M. Kaminsky
Anne Perry
Terry Pratchett
Naomi Ragen
Martin Cruz Smith
Buffy the Vampire Slayer books
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Last updated on 18 December 2004 Saturday at 9:56 AM EST
