When some style of writing becomes attractive, every author apparently thinks she/he can master that style. Case in point: remember “Angels and Demons” and “Da Vinci Code” by Dan Brown? Sure! Now, try to remember that style of writing, all those looking for treasures and paintings and all those master pieces and those histories, religions, background stories and information the characters were talking about?! OK, there are a couple of authors who do a great job with a mystery thriller and lots and lots of history, philosophy, and art lessons… well, they are masters, but my recent reads were not written by these masters (unfortunately!).
“The Illumination” a novel by Karen Tintori and Jill Gregory was about a charm necklace found in Iraq and all the people who were looking for it. An American reporter finds it and sends it to her sister an archeologist and there is a trail of death following the foot steps of Natalie from New York to Israel where she is looking for the history of the necklace…
Well, aside from all the blunders and errors in the story, the authors were not able to convey excitement, danger or cruelty very well, the narrative was boring and all the characters had the same voice…ah, and the history lessons were very boring!
The other book, “Caravaggio’s Angel” by Ruth Brandon was even worse. The story is about three paintings and their history and an art curator who wishes to exhibit all three…
The author’s description of paintings and … well, basically; her overall narrative was dry, unimaginative and un-art-like! Which art specialist likes a painting because the angel is sexy?!!! Come on!
Now, let’s talk about good books. Had listen to Boris Akunin fourth book of Fandorin series “The Death of Achilles” on audio and it took two days! I can read much faster! Anyway, the book was great and the reading good although it shattered my picture of some of the characters…
Else? The first book of Dark swan series “Storm Born” was great. I totally heart all Ms. Mead’s work! A half fey half human shaman, Eugenie; is going after an abducted teenage girl into otherworld and finds a lot more! She learns some secrets about her past, finds two sexy powerful suitors and a lot of power! A great book and I can not wait for the second one!
We went to see the “Inkheart” last night and liked it a lot. I kept thinking if I could read characters out of the books whom I like to bring into the real world and if I could go into the stories which books I like to travel into… some very pleasant and unpleasant picks!
Hey that’s just like real life!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Adventurous reading!
Have finished “Spooky Plum” and liked it. I’m not saying Plum series is great but it is sweet and uncomplicated.
Then have started “Night huntress” (Sisters of the Moon, Book 5) by Yasmine Galenorn. I’m reading it very slowly!
I read another of Elizabeth Boyle books. “It takes a Hero” was the fourth book of Danvers family series, in which after the war with France; Rafe the half Spanish Danvers brother is working as a private investigator and looking for a murderer and an author! Miss Tate the author of Ms. Darby series has more important secrets than her identity. Why should she care the debutants of London are refusing to get married and are in mourning for the hero of her books when a villain is killing people from her past. Enter Rafe Danvers and all her problems take a nose dive!
Else: yeah, “Uncommon Reader” by Alan Bennett was a novella about when Queen of England finds the joys of reading! Hey, we’ve all been there and blew up our obligations to finish the wonderful book we’ve been reading, right?! What I liked about the book was how the queen started adding her life experiences to her reading summaries and how she regretted not reading books sooner and losing the opportunity of talking with a lot of interesting people.
Ooh, and also I’m reading “The Turkish Gambit” by Boris Akunin. It is the third book of Erast Fandorin series and quite full of war and spies and adventures!
Then have started “Night huntress” (Sisters of the Moon, Book 5) by Yasmine Galenorn. I’m reading it very slowly!
I read another of Elizabeth Boyle books. “It takes a Hero” was the fourth book of Danvers family series, in which after the war with France; Rafe the half Spanish Danvers brother is working as a private investigator and looking for a murderer and an author! Miss Tate the author of Ms. Darby series has more important secrets than her identity. Why should she care the debutants of London are refusing to get married and are in mourning for the hero of her books when a villain is killing people from her past. Enter Rafe Danvers and all her problems take a nose dive!
Else: yeah, “Uncommon Reader” by Alan Bennett was a novella about when Queen of England finds the joys of reading! Hey, we’ve all been there and blew up our obligations to finish the wonderful book we’ve been reading, right?! What I liked about the book was how the queen started adding her life experiences to her reading summaries and how she regretted not reading books sooner and losing the opportunity of talking with a lot of interesting people.
Ooh, and also I’m reading “The Turkish Gambit” by Boris Akunin. It is the third book of Erast Fandorin series and quite full of war and spies and adventures!
Monday, January 19, 2009
My Boris Akunin phase
He is my favorite this week or this past couple of weeks. Anyway, I’ve been reading his Erast Fandorin series: “The Winter Queen” is the first book. It is 1876 and 19 years old Erast -in his third week in Criminal Investigation Division- is given his first case, a simple suicide. But as the observant young officer starts collecting details for his report his curiosity is aroused and his acute observations prove the case much more complicated. It is also Erast’s love story, how he meets his sweetheart and what will follow. I loved the book but the finale left me very very sad. It was unfair… I know, I know, Erast has to grow and harden but like that?!! So unfair so heartbreaking… OK, the second book is “Murder on The Leviathan”. When Erast is send to Japan as a diplomat, in 1878 on a ship going from France to Calcutta; he encounters a Parisian detective looking for a murderer. Eleven people were killed in a mansion in Paris, a golden statue of Shiva and a silk scarf were stolen. Now on board of Leviathan, Detective Gauche has Erast and ten other people under suspicion and Erast is helping him find the killer.
I have the third and fourth books on hold and the fifth is “Special Assignments” containing two novellas. In first one “The Jack of Spades”, Erast is trying to find a charlatan and con man who has tricked people and stolen thousands and thousands of rubles. Also Erast finds and train Anisii as his very loyal assistant. It is a humorous story with lots of twists and cons! In the second novella “The Decorator”, Erast and Anisii and the whole Moscow are facing a horrible terror in the shape of Jack the Ripper or Ivan the Ripper… Yes, a couple of months after those horrible murders in London; the mutilated bodies of women starts to turn up in Moscow right when Tsar is coming to visit. This story has successful but sad ending.
What I like most about Akunin’s writing is his power of story telling. You never get bored reading his scenes and I guess we should thank Andrew Bromfield for his great translations of Akunin’s work. You get to hear two very distinctive and different voices in Sister Pelagia series and in Erast Fandorin series. The style of narration is completely different and shows the mastery of both writer and translator. Although some of the mysteries are not original, the plots are mesmerizing and fascinating and some times humorous. This two series have been two of the best I’ve read in past few months.
I have the third and fourth books on hold and the fifth is “Special Assignments” containing two novellas. In first one “The Jack of Spades”, Erast is trying to find a charlatan and con man who has tricked people and stolen thousands and thousands of rubles. Also Erast finds and train Anisii as his very loyal assistant. It is a humorous story with lots of twists and cons! In the second novella “The Decorator”, Erast and Anisii and the whole Moscow are facing a horrible terror in the shape of Jack the Ripper or Ivan the Ripper… Yes, a couple of months after those horrible murders in London; the mutilated bodies of women starts to turn up in Moscow right when Tsar is coming to visit. This story has successful but sad ending.
What I like most about Akunin’s writing is his power of story telling. You never get bored reading his scenes and I guess we should thank Andrew Bromfield for his great translations of Akunin’s work. You get to hear two very distinctive and different voices in Sister Pelagia series and in Erast Fandorin series. The style of narration is completely different and shows the mastery of both writer and translator. Although some of the mysteries are not original, the plots are mesmerizing and fascinating and some times humorous. This two series have been two of the best I’ve read in past few months.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
More romance, less work!
I have been reading a little romance but also had two books half finished. I got to finish the “Sister Pelagia and the white bulldog” by Boris Akunin and really enjoyed it. His funny old fashion type of story telling narrative in Sister Pelagia series has me quite impatient for the third book of the series whenever it will be out (Aug 11th, apparently).
Else? Yeah, the romances! I said good romance books are hard to find and here is the proof:
“Just like heaven” by Barbara Bretton was very bland. A priest (not catholic, thank heaven!) and a workaholic business woman meet under unusual circumstances and fall for each other. The book had a great start but 1/3 into the story and I started feeling bored. (Grade: 3/10)
“Just desserts” also by Barbara Bretton was much better and I can grade it 5/10. Nothing special though, good people are good and helpful and the bad one is bad from the start. An ageing rock star is looking for her lost daughter (which is a divorced mother of a teenager) with the help of his gorgeous lawyer.
“A wedding in Paris” by Barbara Bretton, Marie Ferrarella and Cindi Myers. Out of three novellas you would expect a good one, right?! Non! Well the third one “Picture Perfect” was better than others in my opinion.
But the last two novels by my currently favorite romance writer were great. “Stealing the Bride” by Elizabeth Boyle was the third book of Danvers family series. This is the story of Lord Templeton (Temple to his friends) and Lady Diana and how for 11 years they play cat and mouse until Temple finally accepts his heart and is persuaded to marry Diana. Good story, a little long maybe but Ms. Boyle wrapped it quite well. Also Temple is not as interesting as her other heroes in my opinion. I like Mad Jake better, ooh and Sedgwick and that duke Felicity was in love with… they were much more interesting than Temple. He is kind of cowardly if you ask me!
“His mistress by Morning” also by Elizabeth Boyle was great. This is the story of first Marlowe son, Sebastian Viscount Trent and Charlotte (a wallflower) and Milton’s ring! Read it, it is great!
Am also reading “Spooky Plum” by Janet Evanovich and loving it. Her humor is simplistic and great for times when you just want to relax and don’t think and kinda go with the flow!
Else? Yeah, the romances! I said good romance books are hard to find and here is the proof:
“Just like heaven” by Barbara Bretton was very bland. A priest (not catholic, thank heaven!) and a workaholic business woman meet under unusual circumstances and fall for each other. The book had a great start but 1/3 into the story and I started feeling bored. (Grade: 3/10)
“Just desserts” also by Barbara Bretton was much better and I can grade it 5/10. Nothing special though, good people are good and helpful and the bad one is bad from the start. An ageing rock star is looking for her lost daughter (which is a divorced mother of a teenager) with the help of his gorgeous lawyer.
“A wedding in Paris” by Barbara Bretton, Marie Ferrarella and Cindi Myers. Out of three novellas you would expect a good one, right?! Non! Well the third one “Picture Perfect” was better than others in my opinion.
But the last two novels by my currently favorite romance writer were great. “Stealing the Bride” by Elizabeth Boyle was the third book of Danvers family series. This is the story of Lord Templeton (Temple to his friends) and Lady Diana and how for 11 years they play cat and mouse until Temple finally accepts his heart and is persuaded to marry Diana. Good story, a little long maybe but Ms. Boyle wrapped it quite well. Also Temple is not as interesting as her other heroes in my opinion. I like Mad Jake better, ooh and Sedgwick and that duke Felicity was in love with… they were much more interesting than Temple. He is kind of cowardly if you ask me!
“His mistress by Morning” also by Elizabeth Boyle was great. This is the story of first Marlowe son, Sebastian Viscount Trent and Charlotte (a wallflower) and Milton’s ring! Read it, it is great!
Am also reading “Spooky Plum” by Janet Evanovich and loving it. Her humor is simplistic and great for times when you just want to relax and don’t think and kinda go with the flow!
Friday, January 9, 2009
“Stealing Athena”
“Stealing Athena” is by Karen Essex and I needed a whole day after finishing it to collect my thoughts and start writing.
The story is about Lord and Lady Elgin ambassadors to the Ottoman Empire and collectors of Greek art. It starts with Lord Elgin obsession with Athens Acropolis and his greed in collecting marble statues and sending them back to England. The only problem is he doesn’t have the necessary founds to do so and that’s where Mary comes in. She is beautiful and has a great fortune. So Elgin marries her but poor girl thinks it is for love. It is also the story of Aspasia the mistress of Pericles the most powerful man of Athens and the one building the great pantheon for the Goddess Athena. As years passes we read the happenings in both women lives, the dangerous pregnancies Mary goes through and how she begs her husband to have no more children and how he ignores her. His disfiguring disease and his pressure for more money and his imprisonment in France. How Aspasia becomes a great intellectual figures in Athens society and what dangers she faces.
At the end both women go through trails: Lord Elgin sues Mary for adultery and divorce, hoping to get more money out of her and her parents and Aspasia’s enemies sue her for improper behavior and her power over Athens’s governor. But while Mary’s legal husband (a 19th century gentleman and aristocrat) does his best to destroy her name and reputation in society, Aspasia’s lover defends her and respects her openly. Why? She was a foreigner and a powerless courtesan in Athens. Pericles valued her for her wisdom, for her brain and for her heart. He loved her. On the other hand, Lord Elgin never loved Mary despite all her wonderful qualities, her cleverness, her love and all the hardship she went through for his sake.
One should ask which man was more civilized, a 19th century count or a general from two thousand years earlier. Which one was more human, more respectful? Dare we conclude that these two millennia added nothing to the fairness and purity of human heart?
You can see why the book had me quite shaken, don’t you?!
The story is about Lord and Lady Elgin ambassadors to the Ottoman Empire and collectors of Greek art. It starts with Lord Elgin obsession with Athens Acropolis and his greed in collecting marble statues and sending them back to England. The only problem is he doesn’t have the necessary founds to do so and that’s where Mary comes in. She is beautiful and has a great fortune. So Elgin marries her but poor girl thinks it is for love. It is also the story of Aspasia the mistress of Pericles the most powerful man of Athens and the one building the great pantheon for the Goddess Athena. As years passes we read the happenings in both women lives, the dangerous pregnancies Mary goes through and how she begs her husband to have no more children and how he ignores her. His disfiguring disease and his pressure for more money and his imprisonment in France. How Aspasia becomes a great intellectual figures in Athens society and what dangers she faces.
At the end both women go through trails: Lord Elgin sues Mary for adultery and divorce, hoping to get more money out of her and her parents and Aspasia’s enemies sue her for improper behavior and her power over Athens’s governor. But while Mary’s legal husband (a 19th century gentleman and aristocrat) does his best to destroy her name and reputation in society, Aspasia’s lover defends her and respects her openly. Why? She was a foreigner and a powerless courtesan in Athens. Pericles valued her for her wisdom, for her brain and for her heart. He loved her. On the other hand, Lord Elgin never loved Mary despite all her wonderful qualities, her cleverness, her love and all the hardship she went through for his sake.
One should ask which man was more civilized, a 19th century count or a general from two thousand years earlier. Which one was more human, more respectful? Dare we conclude that these two millennia added nothing to the fairness and purity of human heart?
You can see why the book had me quite shaken, don’t you?!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Good Romance is hard to come by, grab it when you find it!
Ok, I know I’ve said it time and again, I don’t like romances, you all know it, right? Now I have a confession to make: I have been enjoying Elizabeth Boyle novels way too much! The thing is these are not some sexed up badly written stories with cheesy plots, no they are not! These books have great dialogs and lots of funny twists. Even the secondary (and tertiary!) characters are well developed and real.
Anyway as it is always with my finding a new author or series, this time -again- I started with Ms. Boyle’s latest book, “Tempted by the night”. But after that I read “Love letters from a duke” which had Felicity Langley and her sister Tally and their cousin Pippin as main characters. As it happens most of the characters appearing in this book had been acting center roles in Ms. Boyle’s other books. I think it all started with “Something about Emmaline” when Lord Alexander Sedgwick is inventing a wife for himself named Emmaline. What he didn’t think about was Emmaline actually turning up in his London house. His best friend is Lord John Tremont (or mad Jake) who has his own book “This rake of mine”. It is in this book that we encounter Langley sisters for the first time and Felicity starts matchmaking. Here is Elizabeth Boyle's website with her different series and characters:
http://www.elizabethboyle.com/books/main.html
I am so waiting for the next book of Marlowe series (still no mention of it in the website) and for April to read Tally’s story from Bachelor chronicles.
There is also a book of three novellas “Hero, come back” which has the “Matchmaker’s bargain” by Elizabeth Boyle in it but I have to say this one was not as good as her other stories.
Anyway I put hold on three more of her books (the Danvers family series) which I know I will enjoy as much.
Anyway as it is always with my finding a new author or series, this time -again- I started with Ms. Boyle’s latest book, “Tempted by the night”. But after that I read “Love letters from a duke” which had Felicity Langley and her sister Tally and their cousin Pippin as main characters. As it happens most of the characters appearing in this book had been acting center roles in Ms. Boyle’s other books. I think it all started with “Something about Emmaline” when Lord Alexander Sedgwick is inventing a wife for himself named Emmaline. What he didn’t think about was Emmaline actually turning up in his London house. His best friend is Lord John Tremont (or mad Jake) who has his own book “This rake of mine”. It is in this book that we encounter Langley sisters for the first time and Felicity starts matchmaking. Here is Elizabeth Boyle's website with her different series and characters:
http://www.elizabethboyle.com/books/main.html
I am so waiting for the next book of Marlowe series (still no mention of it in the website) and for April to read Tally’s story from Bachelor chronicles.
There is also a book of three novellas “Hero, come back” which has the “Matchmaker’s bargain” by Elizabeth Boyle in it but I have to say this one was not as good as her other stories.
Anyway I put hold on three more of her books (the Danvers family series) which I know I will enjoy as much.
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