Boyne is a great writer, no question, but this was a little too dark for me. Shady underworld thugs that make people bleed kind of dark. I enjoyed WatBoyne is a great writer, no question, but this was a little too dark for me. Shady underworld thugs that make people bleed kind of dark. I enjoyed Water more, but it's still a Boyne book....more
I haven't given a book in this series yet five stars and I really wanted it to be this one. It's not that I'm not enjoying the series, I am, it may beI haven't given a book in this series yet five stars and I really wanted it to be this one. It's not that I'm not enjoying the series, I am, it may be the best series I've read, but each individual volume seems to be not as good as the whole. It's still very good, just not perfect. In this latest very good installment, the longest by far at 395 pages, Rios himself is involved in the murder and must clear his name to get out of it. The book starts very well, vividly depicting the Forest Lawn cemetery in the Hollywood Hills, I've been there and this book brought back my visit in crisp detail I appreciated. The plot keeps you guessing and races along, but I really like Rios' investigator, Freeman Vidor. In this book he appears only once, his name is mentioned on page 284, and that's it. When you have a cast of elaborately drawn characters to pull from, not using them seems wasteful. I remember while reading the book thinking the plot was teetering on the edge of being too much, and then the book went on for another 100 pages. There's a lot woven in to an already overly complex plot and keeping track of who's who or the 35 dead ends faced in trying to catch them grows slightly tiresome. Overall I still really enjoy the series and look forward to the final book. I noticed two errors: - on page 310 "Ode asked through a mouthful of pastrami" should be Odell. - on page 323 "Florentino It was the same..." should have a period between the sentences.
Merged review:
I haven't given a book in this series yet five stars and I really wanted it to be this one. It's not that I'm not enjoying the series, I am, it may be the best series I've read, but each individual volume seems to be not as good as the whole. It's still very good, just not perfect. In this latest very good installment, the longest by far at 395 pages, Rios himself is involved in the murder and must clear his name to get out of it. The book starts very well, vividly depicting the Forest Lawn cemetery in the Hollywood Hills, I've been there and this book brought back my visit in crisp detail I appreciated. The plot keeps you guessing and races along, but I really like Rios' investigator, Freeman Vidor. In this book he appears only once, his name is mentioned on page 284, and that's it. When you have a cast of elaborately drawn characters to pull from, not using them seems wasteful. I remember while reading the book thinking the plot was teetering on the edge of being too much, and then the book went on for another 100 pages. There's a lot woven in to an already overly complex plot and keeping track of who's who or the 35 dead ends faced in trying to catch them grows slightly tiresome. Overall I still really enjoy the series and look forward to the final book. I noticed two errors: - on page 310 "Ode asked through a mouthful of pastrami" should be Odell. - on page 323 "Florentino It was the same..." should have a period between the sentences....more
I agree, the best of the series so far. It's nice to step back into Henry Rios' shoes and life, I liked seeing the investigator again and Josh. I knew wI agree, the best of the series so far. It's nice to step back into Henry Rios' shoes and life, I liked seeing the investigator again and Josh. I knew who did it, there are very few able bodied suspects capable of committing the crime, and I related more to Henry than to the kid he's protecting, I don't know that the character was fully fleshed out. An enjoyable outing in the series.
Merged review:
I agree, the best of the series so far. It's nice to step back into Henry Rios' shoes and life, I liked seeing the investigator again and Josh. I knew who did it, there are very few able bodied suspects capable of committing the crime, and I related more to Henry than to the kid he's protecting, I don't know that the character was fully fleshed out. An enjoyable outing in the series....more
What I like about Boyne is he's a chameleon. He can write anything and do it well. Historical fiction, satire, family drama, short stories. But this cWhat I like about Boyne is he's a chameleon. He can write anything and do it well. Historical fiction, satire, family drama, short stories. But this collection is really Hodge Podge. Some okay, some totally skippable. For example, the one story that starts with a wolf assuming human form? That's a no. Ultimately this book is all over the map. It needed some focus. And that last story is terrible....more
Is it just me or are these books getting worse? This one was really depressing, the mystery played out with unlikeable characters against a back-drop oIs it just me or are these books getting worse? This one was really depressing, the mystery played out with unlikeable characters against a back-drop of past regrets and impending death. Usually this company is really good at proof-reading but I noticed three errors here, Goon instead of go on and retried beans among them. Nava continues to impress with his vocabulary, putting both "pulchritude" and "moue" on the same page in one instance. The book was just too sad.
Merged review:
Is it just me or are these books getting worse? This one was really depressing, the mystery played out with unlikeable characters against a back-drop of past regrets and impending death. Usually this company is really good at proof-reading but I noticed three errors here, Goon instead of go on and retried beans among them. Nava continues to impress with his vocabulary, putting both "pulchritude" and "moue" on the same page in one instance. The book was just too sad....more
I used to be younger. Did I used to be stronger? There was a time I could read books about homophobia and AIDS and still sleep at night. That time hasI used to be younger. Did I used to be stronger? There was a time I could read books about homophobia and AIDS and still sleep at night. That time has passed. This book was very hard to read. I had to set it down for periods of time. I'm reminded of the show Vicious where Ian McKellan says: At least they don't haul us off in police vans anymore. That's nice. It's hard for me to remember that time period. I remember once being asked to give a talk about growing up gay in a small town in the early 1990's. I almost couldn't do it. The gulf between then and now is too big, too vast. We have gone so far I can no longer see the other side. I used to be younger. The colour has faded from my hair and I cannot walk without supports. But also I am in my home with my son and husband, living without fear of someone breaking our windows. I go on, and many could not. This book is for them....more
Wow. So lucky to be able to share a part of this remarkable woman's life and her beautiful family. She writes so well, was so emotional and welcoming Wow. So lucky to be able to share a part of this remarkable woman's life and her beautiful family. She writes so well, was so emotional and welcoming in her style, the whole story felt like a hug. I am very grateful it was written and I was able to read it. Thank you....more
Realistic complex characters and a rip-roaring plot that doesn't let off the gas. I finished it in a day, don't remember when that happened last. GreaRealistic complex characters and a rip-roaring plot that doesn't let off the gas. I finished it in a day, don't remember when that happened last. Great book....more
Hard to rate. The first 200 pages where nothing happens could have been cut. The book focuses on theme and style over substance. I did finally get intHard to rate. The first 200 pages where nothing happens could have been cut. The book focuses on theme and style over substance. I did finally get into it but then the ending was vague and unsatisfying. Overall as spotty as a leopard....more
It's fine. Too highfalutin. It got dry in the middle and kind of stayed that way.It's fine. Too highfalutin. It got dry in the middle and kind of stayed that way....more
Wow! This is I think the most harrowing book I've ever read. Totally recommend. It took me a while to read it, the injustice on every page was so staggWow! This is I think the most harrowing book I've ever read. Totally recommend. It took me a while to read it, the injustice on every page was so staggering I sometimes read through my fingers, not wanting to see what was going to happen. The story moves from homelessness, to the foster care system, to being gay before the internet and trying to figure it out. If I could say anything, I want a sequel. Great book....more
The best book I read this year, the best book I have read in a decade. The Irish Jonathan Franzen, minus the misogyny. The world is hurtling toward enThe best book I read this year, the best book I have read in a decade. The Irish Jonathan Franzen, minus the misogyny. The world is hurtling toward environmental disaster and we are unable, literally, to take our foot off the gas. The book shows the power of forward momentum, and redefines the novel along the way So much to say, so much to think about, but Stephen Cox gave the best review: In a review of Andrew H. Miller’s On Not Being Someone Else for the Times Literary Supplement, Daisy Hildyard describes individuals as being ‘fixed, like eight billion Miss Havishams, in particular points in our own personal histories. As a collective we are so obsessed with possibility that we are unable to be present.’ This rings true in The Bee Sting, which shows its characters reflecting on specific moments in their personal histories and wondering whether it was then that it all started to go wrong. The book reminds us, in vivid detail, that unravelling lives are often the consequence of numerous happenings and decisions rather than one isolated point in time....more
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