Book reviews
Mar. 15th, 2004 02:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lathanyI have nothing helpful or upbeat to say on life issues so I'm writing book reviews instead.
TheHattedOne gave me The Shipping News when I was in hospital, two days after giving birth. Some days ago I finally relocated it.
The Shipping News is very much a life story. The main character, Quoyle, is not a typical protagonist primarily because he isn't a particularly intelligent or perceptive man. In fact, I can't recall another book off the top of my head which has a main character who isn't smart (or, at least, cunning) or intuitive. Not that he doesn't have his moments (such as insisting that his Tough Baby ship story goes in), but they certainly aren't obvious characteristics. I really enjoyed following the story from such a different pair of eyes than other authors provide.
Additionally, his family are beautifully sketched out. It is easy to believe that the man Quoyle describes as his father is the same man described by Nolan later in the book. The family, the house, the town (Killick-Claw) and the newspaper office all ring true. I particularly liked his daughter Bunny and the way in which she attacks a teacher because the teacher has humiliated her (Down's Syndrome) friend Herry.
The only downside to the book is that there is no real plot to it. There is a murder, but it is largely irrelevant to the characters (and there is no real doubt about murderer or motive). Instead the reader has to make-do with a gentle life story.
Overall : enjoyable, but plotless.
The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency was a Christmas present. By strange co-incidence, also from TheHattedOne.
This book combines two main themes, mystery solving in a vaguely Agatha Christie manner and description of Botswana from an author who obviously loves the country. The mysteries were varied and interesting as was the country. In fact, the highest praise I could give the latter part is that I was somewhat drawn to the idea of visiting it (and I'm not a traveller in general).
The protagonist is a lady named Precious Ramotswe who instantly brought to mind Grace Nichols' The Fat Black Woman Goes Shopping. She is smart, independent, resourceful and original although occasionally lacking in empathy. I enjoyed following her story, thought many of her detective methods were original, and realised that I would find her scarily determined in real life !
Faults ? Again, the book is lacking any sort of overall plot. Precious Ramotswe's life is interesting, but I felt I had just read a set of short stories about her (and her clients) and still wanted a Big Plot.
Fortunately there are two sequels out there, so I may get what I want.
Overall : Preludy.
And as for Slinky Malinki...
Slinky Malinki
was blacker than black,
a stalking and lurking
adventurous cat.
OK, I admit it, it's a board book for toddlers. I think![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
secretrebel mentioned it to me and I bought it for Ryan and Bea.
Lovely pictures, lovely story. It is poetry and it is fun. Overall it reminds me a lot of Macavity: The Mystery Cat, but with illustrations. The ending is a little moralising, but at least it still rhymes.
Overall : Better than Cock-A-Moo-Moo.
Happy to lend any and all of the above.
TheHattedOne gave me The Shipping News when I was in hospital, two days after giving birth. Some days ago I finally relocated it.
The Shipping News is very much a life story. The main character, Quoyle, is not a typical protagonist primarily because he isn't a particularly intelligent or perceptive man. In fact, I can't recall another book off the top of my head which has a main character who isn't smart (or, at least, cunning) or intuitive. Not that he doesn't have his moments (such as insisting that his Tough Baby ship story goes in), but they certainly aren't obvious characteristics. I really enjoyed following the story from such a different pair of eyes than other authors provide.
Additionally, his family are beautifully sketched out. It is easy to believe that the man Quoyle describes as his father is the same man described by Nolan later in the book. The family, the house, the town (Killick-Claw) and the newspaper office all ring true. I particularly liked his daughter Bunny and the way in which she attacks a teacher because the teacher has humiliated her (Down's Syndrome) friend Herry.
The only downside to the book is that there is no real plot to it. There is a murder, but it is largely irrelevant to the characters (and there is no real doubt about murderer or motive). Instead the reader has to make-do with a gentle life story.
Overall : enjoyable, but plotless.
The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency was a Christmas present. By strange co-incidence, also from TheHattedOne.
This book combines two main themes, mystery solving in a vaguely Agatha Christie manner and description of Botswana from an author who obviously loves the country. The mysteries were varied and interesting as was the country. In fact, the highest praise I could give the latter part is that I was somewhat drawn to the idea of visiting it (and I'm not a traveller in general).
The protagonist is a lady named Precious Ramotswe who instantly brought to mind Grace Nichols' The Fat Black Woman Goes Shopping. She is smart, independent, resourceful and original although occasionally lacking in empathy. I enjoyed following her story, thought many of her detective methods were original, and realised that I would find her scarily determined in real life !
Faults ? Again, the book is lacking any sort of overall plot. Precious Ramotswe's life is interesting, but I felt I had just read a set of short stories about her (and her clients) and still wanted a Big Plot.
Fortunately there are two sequels out there, so I may get what I want.
Overall : Preludy.
And as for Slinky Malinki...
was blacker than black,
a stalking and lurking
adventurous cat.
OK, I admit it, it's a board book for toddlers. I think
secretrebel mentioned it to me and I bought it for Ryan and Bea.Lovely pictures, lovely story. It is poetry and it is fun. Overall it reminds me a lot of Macavity: The Mystery Cat, but with illustrations. The ending is a little moralising, but at least it still rhymes.
Overall : Better than Cock-A-Moo-Moo.
Happy to lend any and all of the above.
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no subject
Date: 2004-03-15 07:26 am (UTC)The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency: I recently bought myself a copy of this randomly in Borders as it was on sale and looked cool. I haven't got around to reading it yet. I may now do so now that you have reminded me about it. :)