Archive for Fiction and Literature
March 30, 2008 at 11:59 pm · Filed under Book Reviews, Favourite Books, Fiction and Literature, Mystery and Suspense, World Literature
43. Sparkling Cyanide by Agatha Christie (Mystery) 288 p.
This novel, like several others written by Agatha Christie over her long career, was actually expanded from a short story. Yellow Iris first appeared in the Strand Magazine in July of 1937, and has since been published in two collections: The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories and Problem at Pollensa Bay. As I actually own both of these, it’s not surprising that I recognized the basic plot of Sparkling Cyanide right away: a year after the death of his wife, George Barton arranges a dinner at the same restaurant, and with the same guests, as on the night his wife supposedly committed suicide.
Thankfully, in writing this novel, Christie did more than just flesh out Yellow Iris. Although some of the characters are the same, new ones have been added, and the solution to the mystery is quite different. Hercule Poirot was cut from the story, and instead the investigation is carried out by a Chief Inspector Kemp and by Colonel Race, who had previously appeared in three other novels (alone in The Man in the Brown Suit, and alongside Poirot in Cards on the Table and Death on the Nile.)
Sparkling Cyanide is divided into three parts, a format I think worked remarkably well. In the first section, each of the six dinner guests in turn remembers the past: the events of that one night, their relationships with the late Rosemary Barton, and their various motives for murdering her. In the second section, George Barton arranges and holds another dinner party with the same guests: his secretary Ruth, Rosemary’s younger sister Iris, Iris’s boyfriend Anthony, and a well-known political couple, Stephen and Sandra Farraday. Barton has received several anonymous letters which say that Rosemary killed herself, and so he intends to set a trap for the guilty party during the dinner. Instead, he himself drinks a glass of champagne laced with cyanide. In the third section, Colonel Race and Chief Inspector Kemp investigate the two deaths, but they’re hampered by the evidence of several independent witnesses, which seems to suggest the no one at the table could have committed the crime.
I am pleased to say that I never had the slightest idea who the murdered was, or even how the murder was committed. Christie was also at her best with the characters, all of whom are interesting, although not necessarily likable or sympathetic. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this story, and I was surprised and satisfied by the solution. After all these years, I never imagined there was such a gem among those of Christie’s works I hadn’t read. To think I wasn’t sure the Anything Agatha Challenge would be worth joining for a Christie fan(atic) like myself!
Pages read: 11,984
Tags: 50 Book Challenge 2008, 888 Challenge, Agatha Christie, Anything Agatha Challenge
March 30, 2008 at 6:14 pm · Filed under Book Reviews, Favourite Books, Fiction and Literature, Mystery and Suspense, World Literature
42. Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie (Mystery) 272 p.
This is my first read for the Anything Agatha Challenge, and the first of the six Christie detective novels I’ve never read. Unfortunately, although it’s true this book was new to me, the story wasn’t, since I’d already seen A&E’s 2-hour version. Still, even though I remembered how the murder was committed, I didn’t remember any of the surrounding details.
Murder in Mesopotamia is narrated by Amy Leatheran, a trained hospital nurse. Through a series of events, she finds herself at a dig in Iraq, taking care of Mrs. Leidner, the charming and beautiful wife of a prominent archaeologist. Mrs. Leidner is very nervous and jumpy, and although no one takes her fears very seriously, it soon seems they were justified: Mrs. Leidner is murdered. Local police welcome the help of Hercule Poirot, passing through on his way to Baghdad.
The case is an interesting one, and Nurse Leatheran is an engaging narrator. Another character, Dr. Reilly, describes her writing style as “vigorous, individual and entirely apposite,” and it’s true. Christie also takes the opportunity to make little jokes with her fans, as Miss Leatheran makes observations about Poirot that are funny if you know the truth about him. I also liked the little details of her reactions to archaeology, and her comments about some of the other characters.
I think the real test of quality for any mystery novel is the re-read. Of course, it’s true to a degree for pretty much every book, but more so in the mystery genre. I would never count any mystery novel as a success unless I can fully enjoy it even when I already know the solution. Murder in Mesopotamia passes that test, perhaps not with flying colours, but well enough that I’ll count it among some of my favourite Poirot novels.
Pages read: 11,696
Tags: 50 Book Challenge 2008, 888 Challenge, Agatha Christie, Anything Agatha Challenge, Poirot, What's in a Name?
February 25, 2008 at 6:06 pm · Filed under Book Reviews, Fiction and Literature, World Literature, Young Adult Literature
21. Swimming in the Monsoon Sea by Shyam Selvadurai (YA) 274 p.
Amrith is a kind, sheltered fourteen-year-old living in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Raised by his mother’s childhood friend, Auntie Bundle, and her husband, Uncle Lucky, after his parents’ deaths, he has no blood relations of his own, and no close friends. That changes when his Canadian cousin Niresh arrives for a visit, and the two boys become close.
As usual, Shyam Selvadurai draws a wonderful portrait of Sri Lanka, this time of Colombo in August, 1980. Amrith is a very charming character, polite and intelligent.
I bought an ARC of this book without realizing it. It’s the first time I’ve ever read one, so I was pleased to discover only a few errors, mostly missing words and a few mistaken words (like “whetted” for “vetted”.)
I’ve always enjoyed Shyam Selvadurai’s writing, so I wasn’t surprised to find myself absorbed in Swimming in the Monsoon Sea. It was Selvadurai’s first young adult novel, though, and it’s nice to see that he made the transition from adult to YA fiction without any signs of difficulty.
Pages read: 6,472
Tags: 50 Book Challenge 2008, Shyam Selvadurai, What's in a Name?, World Lit Challenge II
October 24, 2007 at 1:32 pm · Filed under Book Reviews, Favourite Books, Fiction and Literature, World Literature
109. Night of Many Dreams by Gail Tsukiyama (Fiction) 288 p.
I always enjoy Gail Tsukiyama’s books, so it’s not surprise that I liked this one. Her novels tend to follow individuals or families through many years, as this one does. In this case, the main characters are Joan and Emma, the two children of a wealthy Hong Kong businessman and his society wife. World War II and the Japanese occupation change the family’s fortunes, but they always manage to get by. Emma goes to school in America, while Joan begins a career in Chinese cinema. Through it all, they have the support of the older women in the household.
If you’re going to try any of Tsukiyama’s books, this isn’t a bad place to start, although the duology of Women of the Silk and The Language of Threads is probably her best work.
Books read: 109
Pages read: 32,412
Tags: 50 Book Challenge 2007, Gail Tsukiyama
October 24, 2007 at 1:31 pm · Filed under Book Reviews, Favourite Books, Fiction and Literature, World Literature
108. Chocolat by Joanne Harris (Fiction) 242 p.
World Lit Challenge: France
Most people have probably seen the movie, but although the basic plot is somewhat the same, the entire tone of the story was changed, while many of the characters and events were cut. It’s entirely understandable, since I’m not sure the book as it is would make a very good movie, especially a Hollywood movie. Both the book and the movie are good, but very different.
Vianne Rocher and her little girl, Anouk, arrive in the small French village of Lansquenet just before Mardi Gras. Vianne opens her chocolate shop, La Celeste Praline, just in time for Lent. Much to the dismay of Lansquenet’s priest, it is a success, and the unwed, atheist Vianne becomes popular with the villagers—much more popular than the Father himself.
I really liked the book. The two first-person perspectives, those of Vianne and the priest, are a perfect way to tell the story. They see things so differently that it isn’t the slightest bit boring to read about the same events twice over. Joanne Harris has a real talent for characterization: her likeable and unlikeable characters and equally fascinating, and she makes many of them endearing without sentimentalizing them.
I’ll have to re-watch the movie soon, and see how it compares. Plus, Johnny Depp!
Books read: 108
Pages read: 32,124
Tags: 50 Book Challenge 2007, Joanna Harris, World Lit Challenge
October 8, 2007 at 6:44 pm · Filed under Book Reviews, Fiction and Literature
102. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (Fiction) 494 p.
I had forgotten just how immensely readable this novel is. Despite the fact that I’ve read it several times before, I found it hard to put down. Not only the plot but Brontë writing grabs you and won’t let go until the very last page, which is quite unusual—I don’t think many books containing such startlingly unexpected events remain fresh and interesting even after the reader knows what’s going to happen. Jane Eyre is a classic for more than one reason.
I don’t have much else to say about the book, except that Jane herself is one of the most sympathetic and likable narrators I’ve ever come across. She paints very faithful pictures of her own character and those of everyone around her, and her moral courage manages to be inspiring and admirable (something that, say, Fanny Price never manages, much as I love her—perhaps because it doesn’t cost her as much.)
Books read: 102
Pages read: 30,428
Tags: 50 Book Challenge 2007, Charlotte Brontë
September 22, 2007 at 10:57 pm · Filed under Book Reviews, Fiction and Literature, Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror
100. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (Science Fiction) 244 p.
Sci-fi Classics Challenge
Course reading: The Novel
Whew! I really had to force myself to finish this. It’s been a long time since I read this, but not long enough—I remembered it well enough that there was no suspense whatsoever, but not well enough to skim any of it. Still, it’s done, and I must admit that it’s an interesting book to study in an English course, even though I didn’t get much pleasure from reading it.
I don’t want to discourage anyone from reading it, however. Frankenstein is a classic, and deservedly so. It’s quite a fascinating tale, and very different from the expectations I had based on what I’d heard about the story. The most important thing, which many people know but often forget, is that Frankenstein is the scientist, not the monster—the being Frankenstein creates has no name, and although the being gets the chance to tell his own story, the book revolves very much around Victor Frankenstein himself.
Probably my least favourite element of the novel was Frankenstein’s personality, in particular an aspect he shares with the being: they’re both such drama queens! Frankenstein moans constantly about how wretched he is, while the being can’t shut up about his own wickedness and despair. I also found that there were so many coincidences in the text that they intruded on the narrative.
I did enjoy the book to a certain extent, and I’m glad read it—but I’ll be equally glad never to read it again.
Books read: 100/100 (100%)
Pages read: 29,634/30,000 (99%)
Tags: 50 Book Challenge 2007, Sci-Fi Classics Challenge
September 8, 2007 at 10:28 pm · Filed under Book Reviews, Favourite Books, Fiction and Literature, World Literature
98. I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak (Fiction) 357 p.
World Lit Challenge: Australia
Ed Kennedy is nineteen years old. When he’s not earning a living as an underage cabdriver, he’s spending time with his best friends Marv, Ritchie, and Audrey, or his dog, the Doorman. After he stops a bank robbery, he receives a playing card in the mail: the ace of diamonds. On it are written three addresses. Ed begins to realize that he has been chosen to deliver messages to the people at those addresses—and that it’s up to him to figure out what messages these people need to hear.
I am in love with this book. I am in love with Markus Zusak. I will read The Book Thief as soon as I can get my hands on a copy.
Ed isn’t at all the kind of character I could imagine myself liking, at least not at first glance, but he’s incredibly endearing, and he really grows on you. He lives a life nothing like mine, but his ability to appreciate love and beauty (sounds stickily sentimental, but I can’t think of any better way to put it) lets me connect with him.
The Book Thief is the Zusak book everyone recommends, and I’m dying to read it, but someone recommended I Am the Messenger to me for my world lit challenge. I was lucky enough to find it used a few days ago, and it was worth every penny.
Books read: 98/100 (98%)
Pages read: 29,305/30,000 (98%)
Two books or 695 pages to go! (Although I have 50 or 60 books left to read for various challenges this year.)
Tags: 50 Book Challenge 2007, Markus Zusak, World Lit Challenge
September 7, 2007 at 11:39 pm · Filed under Book Reviews, Favourite Books, Fiction and Literature, World Literature
97. Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits by Laila Lalami (Fiction) 186 p.
World Lit Challenge: Morocco
From the back cover:
For reasons as different as the lives they are leaving behind, four Muslims illegally cross the Strait of Gibraltar in an inflatable boat headed for Spain. What has driven these men and women to risk their lives? And will the rewards prove to be worth the danger?
(There’s something strange about the use of the word “Muslims” in that blurb, since the chief thing the four have in common is that they are Moroccan, not that they are Muslim.)
While in search of world literature for my challenge, I came across a recommendation for this book. Although I didn’t immediately order it from the bookstore, I was intrigued enough by the description and the attractive cover to check out Laila Lalami’s blog, as well as some of her articles. She’s an intelligent, articulate writer (and one who writes often about African and Asian authors and novels, for those interested in world lit.) Although great articles do not necessarily indicate a talent for writing fiction, I was intrigued enough to order her debut novel.
I’m so glad I did.
Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits is divided into three sections; anyone who has read Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus will be familiar with the structure. The novel’s prologue opens on an inflatable raft in the Strait of Gibraltar, where thirty-odd people, mostly adult Moroccans, are hoping to make the 14-kilometre crossing without attracting the attention of the Spanish coast guard. If caught, they will be arrested and deported, returning to Morocco 20,000 dirhams poorer. If they remain free, they will have the chance to start from nothing in Spain, but with better prospects than they would have had at home.
Part I goes back and follows the four main characters as events in their lives begin to lead them to attempt the crossing. A woman with an abusive husband, a young man with a wife and parents to support, a young woman involved in an Islamic fundamentalist group, and a man whose degree in English language and literature have left him unqualified for any of the few jobs available. Part II follows the same people after the trip, showing the changes it has made in their lives. Since the characters are united only by the trip itself, the book reads a bit like a book of short stories, albeit one more unified than most.
Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits did what all good fiction does for me: it took me out of my life and dropped me into someone else’s, and not only for the few hours I spent reading it. Laila Lalami has created characters who will stay with me. She has also given me some insight into the culture and the socio-economic situation in Morocco today.
Lalami’s prose is straightforward but graceful. I particularly liked the way her characters would (briefly) explain things the reader already knew, but which it would be natural for a narrator to expand on. It made their accounts seem more natural, rather than tailored to fit the format of the book. It was a lovely touch to an already excellent work of fiction.
I hope to see lots more from Laila Lalami, although at the moment this is her only published novel.
Books read: 97/100 (97%)
Pages read: 28,948/30,000 (96%)
Tags: 50 Book Challenge 2007, Laila Lalami, World Lit Challenge
September 7, 2007 at 10:12 am · Filed under Book Reviews, Fiction and Literature, World Literature
95. I Think of You by Ahdaf Soueif (Fiction, Short Story Collection) 182 p.
World Lit Challenge: Egypt
I Think of You is a collection of nine short stories by Egyptian author Ahdaf Soueif. I’d heard good things about one of her novels, The Map of Love, so I bought this collection to see if I liked her writing. I do. I’m not sure that the short story is her ideal medium, although that could be my own preferences at work.
I like my short stories to be reasonably complete and contained, while Soueif’s stories are fleeting slices of life. She offers brief glimpses into other lives, other worlds, but never gives the reader all the information about the situations in which her narrators find themselves. This isn’t a fault, but it means that she’ll never be one of my very favourite short story writers.
All Soueif’s protagonists are women: a child with nightmares, a Muslim teenager trying to fit in at a school in England in the 1960’s, a woman returning to her former husband’s home. Failed marriages, failed love affairs; I Think of You is a book of love stories only in the broadest sense. The best word for the emotional tone linking the stories is “melancholy”. I enjoyed all of the stories; the only one I was ambivalent about was Melody, which features a strangely emotionless narrator, but even still, it was well-written and had some very good stuff in it.
Books read: 95/100 (95%)
Pages read: 28,505/30,000 (95%)
Besides being the author of The Map of Love, Soueif is also the translator of Mourid Barghouti’s I Saw Ramallah, which is likewise on my TBR shelf. I’ve never read anything translated by an author whose fiction I’ve read, but Soueif’s light, clear prose makes me look forward to the experience.
Tags: 50 Book Challenge 2007, Ahdaf Soueif, World Lit Challenge
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