There are very few people with any knowledge of literature who have not heard of the character Sherlock Holmes. Beloved by readers for over a century,There are very few people with any knowledge of literature who have not heard of the character Sherlock Holmes. Beloved by readers for over a century, Conan Doyle crafted a pompous and overly confident detective that always seems to be on the trail of even the cleverest criminals. But this review is not about Sherlock Holmes. It is about the man who is responsible for influencing the creator of this character. His name is Auguste Dupin, a Frenchman. This detective created by Edgar Allan Poe appears in only three short stories but these stories really pack a punch and offer a very satisfying introduction to the detective fiction genre.
Poe’s writing here is complex. Although these stories appear short they should be read slowly and require a little more concentration as usual because these stories (Murders in the Rue Morgue, Mystery of Marie Roget, and the Purloined Letter) feature very little action and are more of a discussion of the science of deductive reasoning. Although this is not for everybody, I believe Poe really shows off his literary genius here and can take credit for creating the entire mystery genre. ...more
Robert Louis Stevenson, most well know for the famous Jekyll & Hide, has crafted a creepy, atmospheric, and elegantly written short story about grave Robert Louis Stevenson, most well know for the famous Jekyll & Hide, has crafted a creepy, atmospheric, and elegantly written short story about grave robbery. This entertaining story contains only one real flaw which is that it leads to a rather disappointing ending. ...more
This short novel is one of the pioneers of espionage fiction. The plot follows an undercover London policeman who infiltrates a ring of underground anThis short novel is one of the pioneers of espionage fiction. The plot follows an undercover London policeman who infiltrates a ring of underground anarchists. Great writing, some action, and many surprises make this is a somewhat decent read. Not essential but it is a nice alternative to the plethora of WW2 & cold war spy thrillers that are from more well-known authors. ...more
When I was a kid, I always wanted a time machine. I wanted to be Michael J. Fox and hop into a 1982 DeLorean and travel back to 1955. Well, I no longeWhen I was a kid, I always wanted a time machine. I wanted to be Michael J. Fox and hop into a 1982 DeLorean and travel back to 1955. Well, I no longer want to be Michael J. Fox and DeLorean’s have been out of production since the 80’s but my love of time travel stories has always remained. That’s the main reason I read Stephen King’s new book, 11/22/63. I couldn’t help but be reminded of the similarities of both the 1985 film and this novel by the master of horror.
The beginning of both stories shares a similar thread. A younger man meets an older wiser man who has a time machine. Older man explains to younger man how the time machine works. The younger man thinks about what he wants to change in the past and begins a quest to accomplish that task. That is when the similarities end. Remember, this is a Stephen King book. Even though this book lacks many of the scares and creepiness that most of his books are known for, this book still has all of the violence, profanity, and tension that will still give this book an R rating. After all, the plot revolves one of the most horrific and tragic moments in America’s history. This book is serious stuff.
Well, you may wonder, did I like 11/22/63? Yes, I did. Stephen King is a master of metaphors. Although his prose is easy and can be read quickly, his descriptions of people and actions are vivid and colorful. The plot itself is fascinating and actually very informative about Lee Harvey Oswald and the events that led up to the Kennedy assassination. The book, even though it is a work of fiction, still provides a somewhat morbidly entertaining analysis of Oswald’s motives and puts many of the conspiracy theories to the test about what really transpired on that day that changed history forever. It also presents many interesting theories about what would happen to America if that assassination was prevented.
Although 11/22/63 was thoroughly enjoyable book it still had its shortcomings. The biggest problem, obvious at first glance at the gigantic size of this tree killer and strengthened upon reading the 1000+ pages, was that, in my opinion, this book was about 200 pages too long. There is an entire section of the middle of the book that slowed the pacing of the story where I began to wonder if the main character forgot his quest. I think this book may have paced better if the main character, Jake, did not go so far back in time. If he had went back to 1961 instead of 1958, then Stephen King would not have needed to fill up so much time waiting for assassination day. Another problem with this book which presents a huge unanswered question is why. Why would someone, given the opportunity to travel back in time to 1958, want to change history? Why put yourself in that danger? Can you really change the past? Is it worth even trying? This question is never really answered but perhaps that it is not really that important. If Jake didn’t have anything to do in 1958, there would be no story to tell.
Despite the shortcomings of this book, I think it is worth reading. Anybody who loves Stephen King, or is interested in the JFK assassination will enjoy this book. Does it live up to King’s classics, such as the Shining? Probably not but I am not that well read up on Stephen King. Perhaps his diehard fans may be better able to answer that question. ...more
I’ve been spying on (pun intended) Alan Furst’s delicious looking WW2 noir fiction for quite some time now. The front covers with the old black and whI’ve been spying on (pun intended) Alan Furst’s delicious looking WW2 noir fiction for quite some time now. The front covers with the old black and white photographs of dark alleys and stairwells of old Europe look irresistible to me. It instantly reminds me of the classic black & white Noir film, the Third Man, which is one of my favorite films.
This new book, Mission to Paris, is the twelfth in Furst’s Night Soldiers series which all follow separate plots concerning different characters and setting before or after World War II. Yet, after doing a little research on the author, I discovered that none of his books really appear to be superior to the others. Everybody seems to have their own favorite so I wasn’t quite sure where to start. To my luck, Mission to Paris was released just as I was preparing to enter Alan Furst’s world of dark alleys, Nazis, and chilling suspense.
After finishing Mission to Paris, I thought that Furst’s new additional to Night Soldiers was a pretty good read. Is it a classic? Well, no. I believe that all of his novels will have a similar feel and, over time will seem to blend together. But did I enjoy it? Yes, very much so. I can’t wait to return to the Night Solders world. I believe Furst is so well researched on the topic that he makes the characters, the settings, and the suspense very believable. This author has a talent for drawing the reader into the tension of one of the most uncertain periods in modern history. ...more
Horror fiction. A genre that does not nearly get all the credit that it deserves. A genre dominated by Stephen King and Dean Koontz. A genre that has Horror fiction. A genre that does not nearly get all the credit that it deserves. A genre dominated by Stephen King and Dean Koontz. A genre that has so much to offer but much of it is marginalized by these two famous authors. Granted, King and Koontz have written some pretty frightening and powerful stories that are beloved by millions of readers. But outside of the works of these two bestselling authors, not much is known to mainstream readers. This is unfortunate. There was, in fact, a time when The Shining or Carrie didn’t exist. What spine chilling stories did readers devour before they read about haunted hotels and child killing clowns? Even Stephen King would admit that his stories probably would not exist if it were not for horror fiction pioneers such as this man, Algernon Blackwood.
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This book, The Empty House and other stories, is a collection of 10 ghost stories that was first published in the early 1900s and is now in the public domain. Out of the 10 I would say that at least 7 are very good stories. One of the interesting characteristics is that a particular character, a man by the name of Shorthouse, is featured as the main character but in vastly different settings. Whether the story unfolds in a remote cottage in the wilderness of Quebec, or a haunted house in Long Island, Algernon Blackwood, like Lovecraft, is a master of descriptive writing conveying moods of dread and suspense. It is unfortunate that this collection is not more well-known. Blackwood’s short story, The Willows, seems to be the only story from this author that really gets any attention. It is absent here but I believe that the 10 stories featured in the collection are equally worth reading. Give this book a shot. After the second story, The Haunted Island, I just could not put it down. Maybe you will too. ...more
Another well written Lovecraft tale in the Cthulhu mythos. In my opinion, it doesn't live up to At the Mountains of Madness but a pretty good read nonAnother well written Lovecraft tale in the Cthulhu mythos. In my opinion, it doesn't live up to At the Mountains of Madness but a pretty good read nonetheless....more
The more that I read Victorian literature the more I am convinced that back in those days it was all about authors showing off. The educated public whThe more that I read Victorian literature the more I am convinced that back in those days it was all about authors showing off. The educated public who could actually read and write were in much smaller proportion to the whole society than today. These people wanted to spend their hard earned shillings on something that was truly worth their time and money. The thought of watching television or films to fill people’s downtime would not appear until another half century or so. So what did people do to entertain them and fill their time when they weren’t working? They read BIG ASS books.
Books such as Bleak House, Middlemarch, Vanity Fair, and this monstrosity, The Way We Live Now, were all (and still are) enormously popular. All hailed as masterpieces, all over 800 pages long, all demanding more time and attention than your overly possessive girlfriend. Yet these books still are read today from cover to cover and are placed prominently on all bookstore shelves.
My next question for you is this. Is reading a BIG ASS book such as The Way We Live Now, really worth my time and attention? Or am I better off turning on the television and watching reality TV which is obviously less difficult, no less time consuming, and requires significantly less brain power? My answer is simple. I believe that a book such as TWWLN is worth the time and effort. We read these old BIG ASS books because they take us to a long bygone time free from reality television, iPhones, and emails. They keep our minds sharp and words plentiful. They explore human imagination and they simultaneously entertain us. And they do so for what seems to be an eternity.
But what about TWWLN? How does this book, Trollope’s most famous novel, stand out as an absorbing read in its own right? Well, the first thing that I have to say about this is that Trollope’s writing here is about as good as it gets in the English language. Trollope, like his peers Collins and Dickens, is a master wordsmith. He can take an ordinary sentence and turn it into something clever and delicious. The second thing, which concerns plotting, is that this book is very average. The central plot concerning a Ponzi scheme initiated by a notorious French swindler among the aristocrat class of Victorian London was in itself groundbreaking and original. However, the various subplots which incorporate love triangles galore and the tedious drama and woes of marrying for money seem a little tired. Obviously, this book, written as a social commentary, dwelled upon these themes because they were the concerns of the time. My only issue with this is that these themes, like much of Victorian literature, follows too much in the footsteps of Jane Austin and doesn’t really add anything too imaginative to the genre. Also, I believe the love triangles were a little too numerous and various characters could have been removed to enhance the pacing of the novel.
Regardless of some of the flaws of this novel, I believe that TWWLN was a thoroughly enjoyable read and contained some of the most interesting and lifelike characters in all of literature. Trollope was known for his consistency so I will continue to explore his work. With over 40 novels written by his pen, there is a lot of ground to cover. Yet, TWWLN, has satisfied my current desire to read Trollope. At least for now. ...more
This spy novel was a pleasant surprise. Waiting for Sunrise takes place at the opening of WWI between 1913 and 1915 in Vienna, Geneva, and London. It This spy novel was a pleasant surprise. Waiting for Sunrise takes place at the opening of WWI between 1913 and 1915 in Vienna, Geneva, and London. It follows a young British actor named Lysander Rief who is wrongly accused of rape in his travels to Vienna to seek treatments for a sexual dysfunction. As a result, he flees the country and returns home and enlists in the war effort. He is recruited as a spy to locate a mole in the British war office and is caught up in an exciting counter-espionage plot.
The real treat of this novel is William Boyd’s writing. This author has a gift for storytelling. His prose is elegant and enthralling. Highly recommended. ...more
The Willows is the most suspenseful 50 pages I have ever read. This ghost story about two men canoeing down the Danube River really struck a nerve in The Willows is the most suspenseful 50 pages I have ever read. This ghost story about two men canoeing down the Danube River really struck a nerve in me because it really hits upon the heart of man’s fear. It conveys the same sense of dread and distress that every person has experienced at some point in their lives. Whether it is taking a wrong turn into a bad neighborhood, a noise in your house that wakes you in the middle of the night, or that strange shadow you see when you are alone in a parking lot at night. This story contains that same emotion of apprehension that everyone feels when they are somewhere that they do not belong or in a situation that just does not seem right. The Willows is that uneasy situation and it is told in a way that sucks the reader into the tension and makes them want to run away and never look back....more
This is the second Eric Ambler book I have read after A Coffin for Dimitrios. Although not as classic as Dimitrios, it still is a pretty entertaining This is the second Eric Ambler book I have read after A Coffin for Dimitrios. Although not as classic as Dimitrios, it still is a pretty entertaining spy story. The plot follows an ordinary Hungarian man on vacation at a beach resort in the south of France. From the opening sentence the reader is instantly drawn into the story as the protagonist announcing that he was placed under arrest by the French police. The police confiscate his camera film and discover that there are 10 photographs containing images of restricted French military sites among the rest of his vacation photos of lizards. Why are these photos on his roll of film? Who took those pictures? How did they get access to his camera? Why? The French authorities have given him a week to answer these questions or else he will be deported. The protagonist is met with a race against time to answer these questions in this fast paced and exciting thriller. ...more
This classic of French literature is a simple story of a woman who marries an unambitious and complacent doctor and falls into a life that is lovelessThis classic of French literature is a simple story of a woman who marries an unambitious and complacent doctor and falls into a life that is loveless, lonely, and boring. Emma has constant fantasies of a better life. A life that is exciting, romantic, and meaningful. She dreams of other men that she meets. She dreams of living in the fast paced city of Paris. She dreams of leaving the dull life as a doctor’s wife behind forever. This woman then suppresses her guilt and disregards the immorality of her thoughts and acts upon them. As a result, this woman, viewed as either reckless or naïve, risks putting her family and entire reputation at stake to fulfill her desires.
The true art of this story is Flaubert’s descriptions of Emma’s emotions. This book lacks much of the action of other books and focuses more on the feelings of the main character. It has been said that Gustave was a perfectionist in his writing and spent hours or sometimes days finding the right word to convey these feelings. He would spend a week at a time just trying to write one page. The author was clearly a quality over quantity type of guy. His painstaking efforts paid off because he has crafted a novel that explores many human flaws and emotions that still exist today. Flaubert portrayed a grim depiction of adultery that was both daring and scandalous. It provoked an outcry of protest when it was released and brought many qualities of human nature that have been suppressed and censored in modern society to light.
Madame Bovary is a book that is either loved or hated, whether it is read by a reader who lives a fulfilling life or one who always longing for more excitement and is unsatisfied in their current relationships. This book is all about Emma’s thoughts and actions. Either she will be sympathized by those who can identify with her feelings or she will be viewed as selfish and unlikable to those who find this type of woman repulsive. Overall, I thought this was a well written and elegant piece of literature. Highly recommended. ...more
This short anti-war novel, The Quiet American, is one of Graham Greene’s “entertainment” novels as apposed to his more “literary” efforts. This is actThis short anti-war novel, The Quiet American, is one of Graham Greene’s “entertainment” novels as apposed to his more “literary” efforts. This is actually the first of Graham’s novels that I have actually read. It is set in Indo-China in the mid-1950s in the early days of the country’s conflict between the French and Communist Vietcong. At the center of the story is a love triangle between an experienced British reporter, a younger American activist, and a young Vietnamese stripper. Surrounding this love story is a vivid depiction of both the beauty and the intense suffering that the Vietnamese had experienced that eventually exploded into one of the bloodiest wars of the twentieth century. In fact, this love story can actually been seen as a metaphor for the struggle of control between the colonial powers and the Vietnamese people which ultimately leaves the innocent as the true victims. An emotional novel that is both elegant and simple that still is relevant in today’s troubled world. ...more
Prison Life in Siberia. It is a phrase synonymous with misery and suffering. Below zero temperatures. Hard labor. Isolation. Physical punishment. It iPrison Life in Siberia. It is a phrase synonymous with misery and suffering. Below zero temperatures. Hard labor. Isolation. Physical punishment. It is everything that reminds me of how fortunate I am to be reading Dostoyevsky’s semi-autobiographical work instead of actually living it. It paints an image of prison life that is a hundred times more primitive than many of the lazy country club prisons of today’s western world. Just how bad was it in 19th century Siberia? My curiosity found this novel irresistible. I just had to find out what this lifestyle was in a bygone time in a country that has had a very troubled and complicated past. I was ready to enter the House of the Dead.
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In 1849, Fyodor Dostoyevsky was accused of reading and distributing several banned works of literature and subsequently sentenced to prison by the Russian government to four years hard labor in Siberia followed by mandatory military service. During this time the writer experienced unendurable hardship. His experience of this period inspired him to write a work of fiction that brought this previously unknown world to light. After his release from prison he penned a work that would become the first work that would describe in vivid detail the horrors of his four excruciatingly long years in the awful Siberian prison.
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Dostoyevsky portrays a very realistic and expressive account of his earliest impressions of entering prison life. He introduces the fictional narrator of Alexander Petrovitch, who classifies himself as a “gentleman of the noble class” of Russians much like Dostoyevsky himself. The author touches upon many different aspects of life in the prison. He describes the work schedule, the food, the living conditions, the punishment, the sick hospital all with distinct detail.
A very large focus of Fyodor’s narrative is his examination of the Russian character. It is unclear if any of the other prisoners described are based on actual convicts that Dostoyevsky knew during his incarceration. However, he provides a very interesting account of the attitudes and behaviors of several characters who have adapted to life of punishment and isolation.
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Overall, Dostoyevsky has written one of his most personal and realistic works that is definitely worth reading. It is among some of his shorter works and gets passed up for his four elephants, Crime and Punishment, Brothers Karamazov, The Idiot, and Demons. However, this work should not be ignored. It has excellent writing and is recommended for anyone interested in this unusual and primitive world. ...more
A quick fun read for Sherlock fans. This story is lighter in tone in that it isn't a murder mystery but deals more with blackmail. A quick fun read for Sherlock fans. This story is lighter in tone in that it isn't a murder mystery but deals more with blackmail. ...more
The Stranger is a book that I had a really difficult time deciding whether or not I liked it. It was totally unlike anything I’ve read before. Short, The Stranger is a book that I had a really difficult time deciding whether or not I liked it. It was totally unlike anything I’ve read before. Short, dull sentences fill most of the pages of this book. The story itself is equally as simple. An insensitive and detached man loses a mother, and then kills an Arab for no good reason. What we learn from this man’s experiences is that nothing in life really matters. We live, we commit actions, we are judged by others, and then we die at some point. The end.
Am I missing something? According to other readers I am. They claim that this book is not about good writing. Nor is it about the short and simple plot. It is about the meaning behind these sentences. It is about the ideas about life that this character experiences throughout his ordeal of establishing himself as a convicted murderer. Ok, I understand this. I could spend about twice the length of this book trying to analyze every sentence. But in the end, what is the message that this author is trying to convey? That life is meaningless? Maybe, or maybe not. I may still be pondering this up until the moment the guillotine falls. ...more
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