A House for Mr. Biswas: A Novel (Vintage International) by V.S. Naipaul [Amazon, Kindle, $11.99]
A very engaging novel, full of characters and led by an anti-hero. This is a detailed view of a culture I know little to nothing about, and the oddness of it all was riveting.
Definitely recommend.
The Dagger in the Desk: Bonus: Ghost Guide & Preview of The Hollow Boy (Lockwood & Co.) by Jonathan Stroud [Amazon, Kindle, Free]
A novelette from the Lockwood & Co series, taking place between Book 2 and Book 3. Not a lot here, just a mini-mystery that doesn’t add much to the overarching story, except that we get a little of how the talking skull is working with the narrator.
I’m glad to see that Book 3 is out.
Bleak House by Charles Dickens [Kindle, Amazon, Free]
Not my favorite Dickens. Every once in a while, my interest would wane, and I would be on the verge of giving it up, when something would catch my eye, and I would keep reading.
At over 1000 pages, this seemed to go on forever.
But, there are a few interesting characters, most of them probably the most self-centered in literature.
I would only recommend if you are a Dickens completionist.
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell [Amazon, Kindle, $11.99]
Actually, I read this before Station Eleven, book log #17. As I mentioned in that log, the two both have a slow reveal of multiple interconnecting storylines.
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It has a fugue pattern, changing from story to story, and then returning to the stories in reverse order in the latter half of the book. I really enjoyed the first part of the fugue, but was less enthused about the return trip. I’m not sure why. The storylines were all interesting.
Glad I read it, though. Great characters, great writing.
52 Books/Year Update: 18 books, 10 weeks. 1.8 ratio, targeting > 1.0.
In Hornby style, here’s what’s on deck:
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel [Kindle, Amazon, $11.99]
This was recommended by my friend Curt, who always gives good recs. This book was no exception.
One might describe it as a pre-and-post-apocalyptic novel, but that does it a disservice. It’s really just a riveting story, well told. Jumping back and forth in time, the characters stories come out in tantalizing small chunks. In a way, it reminds me of Cloud Atlas‘ slow reveal.
Just a very engaging novel, without too much focus on the apocalyptic background, but just enough to get in some interesting insights on the effects of the event.
Hell’s Super (Circles in Hell Book 1) by Mark Cain [Amazon, Kindle]
I have no idea why I bought this book. Maybe it was a “If you liked X, you might like this!” kind of thing on Amazon. Possibly because I like Scott Meyer, they directed me to this other whimsical, science fiction-y, self-published author.
And for some reason, I bought the whole four-book series. Possibly because it was $11 for all four. To paraphrase Dennis Miller, if they’d really wanted to screw me, they could’ve given me 5 books for $11.
A lot of the reviews on Amazon are 5 stars. I guess the author has a lot of friends.
The book is amateurish, and not particularly clever. Most of the characters are famous people, which is kind of a pet peeve of mine. There is a romance that is incredibly one dimensional. The story has no stakes, no tension. I don’t understand the protagonist’s motivations. Nothing matters in Hell, and nothing matters to the reader.
I’m guessing that Mark Cain is a pseudonym. Mark of Cain. Get it? That’s what this book is like.
Fall of the Core: Netcast Zero by Ryk Brown
On my Amazon Wish List, I had noted that this was recommended by my friend Curt on 6/20/2015. I don’t remember him recommending it… but if I wrote it, it’s probably true. I need to check with him.
This is very much a short story, and from reviews and descriptions, it seems to be a pre-quel sort of short story for a longer series. Set several hundred years from now, this is a computer virus/real virus scenario. I’m guessing the virus lays the groundwork for the rest of the series.
It was fine. There was nothing particularly striking about the book. The writing was of middling quality for a sci-fi book. Maybe I shouldn’t judge the series based on this pre-quel? Need to check with Curt on that.
The Master of Formalities by Scott Meyer [Amazon, Kindle]
I actually read this before Book Log #11 (also by Scott Meyer), and I liked it much more than the other work. This was a tight science fiction novel, which follows the “Master of Formalities”, an aid to the King and Queen of a planet that has been at war for generations. The MoFs on every world serve as diplomats of a sort, maintaining the traditions and, well, formalities of interaction between and within planetary governments.
It sounds odd, but it’s a really enjoyable premise executed quite well. Scott Meyer, in my mind, has joined the ranks of Terry Pratchett and Christopher Moore in terms of providing interesting and witty books that provide some candy for the mind, with a dose of thoughtful world building.
Highly recommend.
The Authorities by Scott Meyer [Amazon, Kindle]
From the author of the webcomic Basic Instructions and the delightful Magic 2.0 series of books comes a fine… detective novel? It follows a police officer hired by a wealthy philanthropist who is assembling a private sector crime solving task force.
This was a fine novel, and like all of Scott Meyer’s stuff, it’s very witty and readable. It’s not my favorite of his, though. I feel like he’s setting up a series here, and there’s more to be developed. I guess I’ll wait to see how it continues, if it does.
Lafayette in the Somewhat United States by Sarah Vowell [Kindle, Amazon]
I love me some Sarah Vowell. She can do no wrong.
No one else tells history in such an engaging and entertaining way.
I told my kids the story of how America almost didn’t happen because of a bad production of The Barber of Seville. And the kids go, why don’t they tell those stories in history class?! And I’m like, I KNOW RIGHT?
Read all the Sarah Vowell you can.