Horrible horrible horrible, particularly the first two. Trust me, I'm not saying this just for effect. They take 'dark' to a whole new level - like stHorrible horrible horrible, particularly the first two. Trust me, I'm not saying this just for effect. They take 'dark' to a whole new level - like staring down into a bottomless pit. Yet absolutely brilliant, more of a review later (maybe) once I've recuperated....more
The Gods of Gotham was great so wanted to try Faye again. Pretty gutsy for a debut don’t you think? To take on Sherlock Holmes and pit him against JacThe Gods of Gotham was great so wanted to try Faye again. Pretty gutsy for a debut don’t you think? To take on Sherlock Holmes and pit him against Jack the Ripper, had to read it just to see if she'd pull it off - she did. Obviously did her homework, it’s pretty fabulous, with Faye’s strength again her mastery of dialect. The Sherlock characters are faithfully rendered plus she’s thrown in Mary Ann Monk, an enchanting gin-swilling tart who “proves herself to be a woman of extraordinary fortitude”. You've got the gothic moody flavour of 1880’s London with the Ripper adding a deliciously disturbing and suitably gruesome layer. It’s suspenseful and well paced, even the Ripper’s true identity came off believable. Most of all I loved the dialog, the bantering between Holmes & Watson, & Holmes little tiffs with his landlady Mrs. Hudson with her “studied dignity & silent cynicism.” He’s your classic cerebral Holmes, brilliant and flawed, coldly precise with that “air of self-importance about him which tries the patience of his few friends” but reworked, a subtle interjection of slightly more fragility & humanity “Though I had never seen Sherlock Holmes so determined, I had also never seen him so at sea.” – liked it.
Cons: To slow a build, you’re a third of the way in before it hooks you – but then it doesn’t let go:) Meanderings: My 3rd ripper novel, I know I’m not alone but I’m questioning the fixation. How many more times do these poor women have to die for my entertainment? This keeps up I may seek counseling…
Holmes shrugged. “The irregularity of the baseline, as well as the downward-slanting script, indicate he is moody and unpredictable. His ts are determined, his rs intelligent, and the confidence in his capitals is troubling.”...more
Everybody’s either neurotic or unlikeable or both. The dialog is brilliant, the humour ironic, deadpan and dry – don’t look for belly laughs. This’ll Everybody’s either neurotic or unlikeable or both. The dialog is brilliant, the humour ironic, deadpan and dry – don’t look for belly laughs. This’ll work for anyone who still hankers for the good old days, the exhilaration of hittin’ the road in a beat up clunker held together with coat hangers and a prayer, destination a big fat question mark. For anyone who’s ever been dumped and figured out life goes on. For anyone who appreciates it’s all about the journey. I loved its honesty, its anti-climactic ending. Ray Midge is a self-depreciating Arkansas redneck on a quest to get back his stolen Gran Torino and his cheating wife. Heads for Belize hooking up with an assortment of misfits and losers, most notable a con-artist by the name of Dr. Re Symes who’s hit the skids. “The kind of people I know now don’t have barbecues, Mama. They stand up alone at nights in small rooms and eat cold weenies. My so-called friends are bums. Many of them are nothing but rats. Some of them can even move their ears. They’re wife-beaters and window peepers and night crawlers and dope fiends. They peer up from cracks in the floor with their small red eyes and watch for chances.”
Back to Ray he's hard to pigeon hole, interesting - original. Passionless in an oblivious, oddly endearing way with his “weekly embraces.” So earnest and A for effort, but it's like he's adopted this philosophical resignation to failure. Guess it makes sense that Ray’s wife left him, explains why Ray never cast blame her way - personally I'd peg him a keeper:) “Then I saw the answer. I’m slow but sure. I had read things and heard many songs about people being poleaxed by love and brought quivering to their knees and I thought it was just something people said. And now here it was, true love. She was in love with that monkey! I was amazed but I couldn’t really hold it against her.” Meanderings: Convinced losing that car hurt Ray more than losing his wife, bit of an eureka moment for me. In my 20’s I was into muscle cars, a '67 Mustang GT-Fastback (view spoiler)[302 with duel exhaust, shift kit, racing cam, and the prettiest chromed spoke hubcaps you ever did see (hide spoiler)] my pride and joy. Stolen around the same time I lost my man to another girl – devastating. Looking back I can barely remember his name but that Mustang? Still pining…such is love.
Cons: No getting around it, parts are politically incorrect. A bit dated as well but not annoying so....more
3 ½ stars rounded up to 4. Years ago my Canadian niece landed a summer job (how'd she do that - some places will hire anybody) as a tour guide at the 3 ½ stars rounded up to 4. Years ago my Canadian niece landed a summer job (how'd she do that - some places will hire anybody) as a tour guide at the Tower. To this day get a few cocktails in her and she’ll regale you (much to the annoyance of her husband) with stories of hanging out with Beefeaters. She adored them - so when I saw this I just HAD to read it. It backs her up - Beefeaters do have their own private pub where they pursue their favorite pastimes – hard drinking, tourist bashing and playing monopoly into the wee hours. Picked this up looking for something original and amusing - didn't disappoint- I'm pegging it realistic fiction. I know, I know, but it's my review...A story of everyday people who happen to have unusual jobs all dealing with life's challenges in admittedly odd ways (hey, whatever works) without ever losing their admirable British stoicism. Julia Stuart juggles a ton of storylines and characters (prepare to pay attention) skillfully, I ended up empathizing with most of them despite how WEIRD they were. Balthazar is a Beefeater assigned and ill-prepared for the duty of caring for a menagerie of exotic animals. "Out of the deathly silence came the mournful wail of the solitary wandering albatross that mated for life.” That it failed to settle broke my heart while the instructions “Remember to keep the lovebirds separated. They hate each other …”cracked me up. See the books like that, an admirable blend of melancholic drama & humour. His wife Hebe works for London Underground’s Lost Property office, actually preferred her stories to Balthazar’s. Heads up, this is more than light fare. There’s a theme of loss woven throughout, with Hebe & Balthazar the loss of their son - a lesson on how we must learn to allow each other to deal with it in our own time and in our own way. Put me in mind of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry – if you liked that I suspect you’ll like this as well. Cons: While you’ll pick up interesting historical tidbits about The Tower I was expecting more about it’s famous ravens. So many fascinating stories surround these mystical birds yet they were barely touched on- huh (: Humour bite: “Your mother is in India trying to find herself. God help her when she does”...more
Minute I saw Jim Kay’s cover illustration I knew I’d read this. Edgy, his use of rapid, almost angry slashing strokes and a palette of grey capturing Minute I saw Jim Kay’s cover illustration I knew I’d read this. Edgy, his use of rapid, almost angry slashing strokes and a palette of grey capturing the tone that permeates this novel to perfection. Young adult but read it anyway, only takes a few hours and does what the best fables do, speaks to all ages. It never lets up from this hook of an opening line “The monster showed up just after midnight. As they do.” In the category of contemporary fairy tales I’m putting this right up there with Coraline– and I’m nuts about Neil Gaimen. I envied Conor his monsters; how useful it would be to distill your fears into something palatable that you could then face head on. While this story deals with bullying and Conor’s terror of losing his mother, just insert your own personal demons. We all wrestle with accepting things beyond our control, maybe Conor’s monsters can teach you a few tricks. It’s dark but it’s also hopeful - he comes out the other side. I’ll never outgrow fairytales, especially those with a lesson or a moral. “There is not always a good guy. Nor is there always a bad one. Most people are somewhere in between.” Admire their clarity – sometimes need the obvious spelt out. In this one the monster tells three tales, each is ponder worthy:) Good twist that the fourth is left for Conor to tell. Cons: I dislike having my guts wrenched, thought the author went a little overboard pulling the old heartstrings. Unfair I know considering the tough subjects it tackles. So I’m knocking off a 1/2 a star and rounding it to 5. It's worthy.
“You do not write your life with words” the monster said. “You write it with actions. What you think is not important. It is only important what you do.” ...more
“I eagerly crack open the book and can feel myself getting smarter as I turn the first few pages. At first, even though it is really depressing, this “I eagerly crack open the book and can feel myself getting smarter as I turn the first few pages. At first, even though it is really depressing, this book excites me because it deals with mental health the arts, a subject I am very interested in.”
Do you consider yourself an eclectic reader? Willing to broaden your horizons, now and then explore one of those slightly obscure but much-admired novels? On top of that do you find it next to impossible to abandon a book? Well try this one on for size...From his wingchair at an ‘artistic’ party in Vienna an aging writer reflects back on his life, and mentally assassinates the character of every person (himself included) in the room. The party’s focus shifts between discussing an actress who has recently hung herself and the pompous guest of honour, a stage actor from ‘the Burgtheater’. And that’s it – prepare yourself for some serious navel-gazing, a nonstop monologue that's tediously repetitive, dripping venom & oozing contempt.
“But the novel is nothing but a trick. I will not be quoting Hemingway Bernhard anytime soon, nor will I ever read another one of his books”
I’ve never struggled so hard to finish a book so why did I bother? Bragging rights at parties! Hey Matthew Quick’s just a flash in the pan, how about that Bernhard? Sorry. The richness of the characters, his biting satire, his masterful scene setting – you are IN Vienna - just brilliant. And I did like the ending. When all is said and done, it is a novel I'll never forget, poker burned into my psyche. Similar to how I feel about Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” – Yes I admire it and no I don’t like it. Bernhard is a brilliant writer – sucked me right into that wingchair.
“And if he were still alive, I would write him a letter right now and threaten to strangle him dead with my bare hands just for being so glum.”
Florence (Lefty)
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