Bus Books to the Rescue

As one might have noticed, I've not really reviewed anything for over a year despite my post in September stating all that would change. Turns out 2014 wasn't a particularly good year for writing. As we're now well into 2015, it's time to get stuck in.

Having said that, I haven't actually read much so far this year as two women in my life are expecting new family members in the next few months, and I've committed to large stitching projects for them both. This takes up a great deal of my time, but I've found I can squeeze in a few chapters during each morning's bus commute and even sometimes on the way home. It's not ideal as it's difficult to really dive in, but, as is oft said, 'better than a poke in the eye'.

A good short-ish commute Bus Book ought to be interesting enough that the reader can tune out other passengers. Ideally the book would either have short chapters or contain a decent number of chapter breaks, and in my case, it shouldn't be a romance, too dark, too intense, and shouldn't be so funny that I annoy others with my laughing. Generally, when in doubt, I'll grab a mystery as they typically fit the brief. However, my last selection Hell or High Water promised these, but turned out to be quite different.

The catalyst is a mystery, but the story is far more complex. It delves into the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, race and gender relations in New Orleans, and family struggles. I quite enjoyed the author's ability to describe life for the inhabitants of pre and post Katrina New Orleans and how poor management of defences and subsequent resources led to prisoners of major crimes (i.e. murderers and sex offenders) being set free and never recaptured as they managed to find a way to live off-grid.

In using a strong, vocal, protagonist who tells-it-like-it-is, and who isn't afraid of confrontation, particularly in situations where there are flagrant inequalities, injustices, and a lack of fair play. The tension and frustration that the main character experiences are palpable to the reader. In this, Castro should be commended.

The problem, is that the novel is sold as a mystery, but truly it's a fiction with an underlying mystery that doesn't get much attention. While I did manage to correctly predict 'who done it', the ending was a surprise; one that I'm not completely on board with. As a result, all the wonderful work the author put in, and the investment the reader makes in the character and her story were completely undone by one short scene.

I'm not sure this book would suit everyone. It's a bit noir, a lot of description, and slow on mystery resolving. However, if the reader is into finding out more about deeper localised cultural issues and race relations then I'd recommend it. As for a Bus Book, it's okay, but I found I sometimes couldn't read it first thing in the morning, was a bit too dark for the start of a day.

Rating: 3 beignets out of 5

Long time coming

Turns out I've either read or listened to 67 books so far this year. I've reviewed a grand total of 1.

Some may wonder at that, but I'll be honest, it was beginning to feel like a chore. So, I stopped requesting books, and tried to catch up on my own desired reading. I also discovered that my library offers mp3 audiobooks, that I can download and listen to at work or wherever it suits. Admittedly, this has introduced me to books I'd not normally read. It also made me realise that some books are truly only meant to be read (but understand that this not possible for everyone, so applaud that so many are available).

In the past few weeks I've been thinking that I do miss reviewing books, so I'm going to start again. However, I'm not guaranteeing that all the books I encounter will be reviewed, but I reckon I'll write a bit about some of the 66 I've neglected.

d~

Getting Your Curiosity Mojo Flowing

At the beginning of some presentations at work, on of the Vice-Presidents, the one who initiated the projects, gave a bit of a talk and mentioned a couple/few books. One of these The Power Of Why by Amanda Lang caught my attention. As someone who is big on testing out potential scenarios on new programs 'what ifs' really, I liked the notion of asking why. They're similar questions, but Lang's is more about general discovery and at which point, or why we stop asking why. Since I often am told not to worry about the what ifs, I found that being encouraged to read a book about why would probably help me with my own troubles.

Turns out I'm right, but probably for the wrong reasons. I approach it in a way that should be more like asking why. Nonetheless, enough about me and more about this great book. Through some self-discovery, Lang realises that preventing ourselves from asking why at any level of our lives, but particularly in business, is posing more limits on what is possible than any other thing. She suggests that we are constantly needing to, in post-modern parlance, control/alt/delete and restart thinking from scratch. This ensures more well rounded responses, and seeing how what we do affects us and others, but from a different perspective.

In the first 150 pages I simply read. However, something she wrote must have triggered something, because suddenly I had a stack of blue sticky notes and whenever a 'why' about something regarding a process our company uses popped up, I'd write it down. The VP is going to be a bit surprised when I give him the sticky note filled book back tomorrow.

The point that Lang strongly makes though, and every example she provides supports it, is that we do really need to reconnect with our inner child, not only to have fun in our lives, but so that we can reduce the number of limitations we've set for ourselves without actually realising it. That by not limiting ourselves, we open up to a lot more of what's 'out there'.

One thing she did conclude is that often, we are best at fixing or creating things when we don't know anything about that thing. Successes breed in ignorance. So, if you're looking to fix something that you've no business fixing, don't stop yourself! Try to fix it, because all those who wanted to fix/create it before you, and know about that thing, are likely to have set limits. You on the other hand, don't even know you're meant to limit yourself. So have at it. In my opinion, the best advice ever.

I never thought I'd say this about a non-fiction business type book, but here we go: 5 out of 5 eurekas.

War In Afghanistan And The Art Of Honour

It's no secret that Afghanistan has probably been the one place in the world where there is always conflict within its borders and from without. Yet, no one, either within or without has been able to find a way to give the land peace. Steven Pressfield's The Afghan Campaign demonstrates this through the eyes of a young soldier joining the fight, while making it clear that this is a modern allegory.

Matthias follows in his brothers' footsteps and joins Alexander's army. When he arrives, he is told that he's unlikely to fight for very long, that likely it would all be over by the end of the season. Three years later, Alexander makes his way toward India, but leaves behind one third of his forces, most of whom are married to an Afghan woman, simply because he could not trust the peace of that land.

Written in the first person, we see Matthias struggling with notions of right and wrong, morality and justice. Mostly though, he struggles with honour and how it is perceived in vastly different ways by the Afghans, the military decision makers, philosophers, poets, authors and his mates. The author clearly shows how war changes the meanings of everything, by just about everyone.

I doubt anyone would disagree that war changes a person, full stop. But Pressfield is using Matthias to help explain to people with loved one in conflict, what goes on in the minds of a combatant and that each has a different point of no return. A moment where something so significant happens that the individual cannot see themselves going back to a life such as the one they had prior to war. It serves to help those not at war to understand just what it takes to make a person shut down emotionally and to some degree, intellectually.

Some might be a bit put off by some of the more modern sounding words and terms, but for those that aren't bothered by this so much, and who enjoy military fiction, I expect this might be a good fit. There is minimal swearing, and it's used to good effect - meaning, not gratuitous.

I would rate this book at more than 3 yaboos (out of 5) but I don't know if I'd go so far as to give it 3.5. As a reader of a lot of military fiction and non-fiction, little of this was new. So in that sense it was a really good story, but it didn't awe me. This is unlikely to be the experience of all readers.

Taking on 2014

I ended 2013 with over a dozen books to review, some of which I'd read in May. I decided not to review them because it wouldn't be fair. The memory isn't as good as it used to be and some of them paled in comparison to others I read afterward.

I have resolved to do better this year and am hoping to review books within a week of reading them. With any luck, it'll work.

I leave you with a couple reader type things happening in 2014:

The 50 Book Pledge
Canada Reads

The Music Of War

When I was in highschool we were encouraged to read Canadian authors, and in those days it seemed like there were only four: Margaret Atwood, Alice Munroe, Margaret Laurence, and Pierre Burton. No doubt there were others, but I didn't really know who they were and truth be told, I didn't do much to enlighten myself. Something tells me that I wasn't the only one ignorant of my own country's numerous authors, as in 2002 the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) inaugurated a new annual event - Canada Reads. For the 2014 version, the process began with the public voting for up to 10 books from a list of 40 (though I'm not certain where the 40 come from) and this list is whittled down to the top ten, whereby the public got to vote again for the top books. Of these, 5 are selected and a few months later they are each defended by a Canadian public personality/celebrity. The public then votes 'off' one of the books per week, until there is a winner. I became familiar with Canada Reads only a few years ago, while at University where I didn't have time for pleasure reading. This time though, I've decided to participate and in the first round I voted for nine: one a professor at Uni had loaned me to read over summer break; two I already had on my list to read; and the other six were books I'd never heard of but appealed to me. Of those nine, only one made it to the top five. This review is about one of the two I had already wanted to read.

Set during the Siege of Sarajevo in 1992, Steven Galloway's Cellist of Sarajevo was inspired by a cellist who played a particular piece at the same time, everyday for twenty-two days after a building was mortared killing twenty-two people. The story itself is about the meaning behind this action and how news of it spread in the streets by people who were attempting to get a food and water while doing their best to avoid being shot at. It shows the difficulty of individual movement, the need for compassion even while so very difficult to give, and the internal battles each individual must face daily simply to exist.

This isn't a love story amid the detritus of war, nor is it a survivor's tale. It is about honouring those who are killed without real cause. It is allegorical of what is still going on today. How bombs fall to make a point, but kill those who would rather just get on with their day - peaceably. What I particularly like about this novel is how different types of violence are portrayed. Everyone understands the physical violence that comes from war, but there are other types of violence, structural, daily and political - all of these are woven into the tale, through the few characters described, and how they push through it, either by acceptance or rejecting it.

While this story is set during a siege, I would not call it a war story in the sense that war is described. This isn't a military tale, it is the story of those besieged and attempting to live another day. Therefore, I recommend this for anyone interested in both military fiction and literature. I give this book 4 dogs crossing the street out of 5.

Serious Comedy

Occasionally as readers we stumble across a work that we can't put down despite how it picks away at the deepest parts of our being and pinpoints the spots where we are most sensitive. This becomes doubly so when considering that the reader selected the book for two reasons: she enjoyed the author's prior novel; and the author is a comedienne. There's no argument that comedy often identifies uncomfortable truths about ourselves and we learn to laugh through it, but one should not expect that just because a comedienne wrote a book, that novel is going to be humorous.

In Oh Dear Silvia, Dawn French explores how family, friends and employees cope and adapt to the loss of someone who was, decidedly, a force of nature in their lives. Silvia Shute is in a coma, and the reasons why she is that state and how it effects those around her is slowly revealed throughout the novel. The story exposes loves and hates, successes and disappointments, as well as the subtle sacrifices one makes to prevent loved ones from coming to the worst of harms.

If, as a reader, you are expecting 'French and Saunders'or 'The Vicar of Dibley' type comedy, then you're in for a disappointment. That isn't to say there aren't any witty or funny scenes, expressions, or characters. Just that it is not a 'humour' book per sé . If you're seeking a book that is brilliant for its own merit then this might be a great fit, especially if you've no fear of crying. The realities of how differently each individual reacts to the loss of a loved one, even if temporary, is brilliantly achieved and written.

I suppose that I'd describe this book as one that ensnares the reader's emotions long before she realises they should even ensure an escape route or has time to lock them away. Perhaps this will scare some potential readers off, which is not my goal. I reckon everyone should read it, but not everyone will like it. It's probably one of those books one has to be open to reading, rather than a question of taste.

For the sheer pleasure of the encounter I give this book 5 beech trees out of 5.

The Struggle Of Joining In Late

Long, long ago (pre-world wide web) I read a book that I enjoyed immensely. It was an epic novel called Stonehenge. I liked it so much that over the years I purchased most of the author's other works, but did not read any of them until about five years ago when another one off entitled Azincourt was published. I've no idea why I didn't crack open any of Bernard Cornwell's other books even though they decorated the better part of one shelf. This year, an online book group that I belong two offered up three of the books as options: one being the aforementioned megaliths; and the other two the first book in a series. All three won for their respective months, forcing me to finally crack some spines (figuratively speaking, we don't literally crack spines - ever). The first was the much loved beginnings of Uhtred of Bebbanburg - The Last Kingdom.

There were high expectations for this novel, as most people I know who have read it not only love the series, but feel a personal attachment to the protagonist Uhtred. Many of these individuals weren't particularly fond of Azincourt, whereas I quite liked that work. However, I hadn't the years of reading Cornwell's other series, so perhaps that affected my opinion. I had no real expectation or points of comparison since I'd only ever read his epic, not his shorter novels.

As it turns out, I don't love Uhtred as others do. I don't dislike him either. I didn't really feel much empathy toward him, or any of the other characters for that matter. This might have more to do with having only read the first book, while those who are fond of the main character have the benefit of having read the entire series. Perhaps that is why they are very enthusiastic in their encouragement to get stuck in - because as a whole it's a fab series. That isn't to say that I didn't enjoy the book; I did. It was a well laid out tale of a young man who must face the changes around him and make decisions to ensure his survival regardless of how incongruous those choices may affect his own personal moral and ethical codes.

Despite my indifference to Uhtred, I do very much enjoy Cornwell's ability to transport the reader through time and place. When an author details a landscape and era in such a way that evoke the grittiness of fear, war, and politics while simultaneously allowing a waft of sea air to punch through the pungent scents of sweat and death, then you know you have a book worthy of your time. The power struggles between Danes and English is clearly the focus, the secondary and equally dangerous battle between church and traditional worship appear to be explored only marginally. However, I expect that in the end, this will be the glue that keeps the series moving along. With the advantage of nearly a thousand years, we know that the ultimate battle between church and state is ever present and dominant throughout.

Not only because I own the rest of the books in the series, but because of genuine interest, I will read the next installment. Perhaps, given more time to woo me, I might even learn to like Uhtred as more than just a device that moves the story along. Therefore, I give the book 3.5 burning ships out of 5.

Don't Send The Zamboni Out Just Yet

Every once in a while we stumble across something that allows us to wrap ourselves in the warm comfort of our own lived histories. While the title of Sean Kelly's book Metal On Ice: Tales From Canada's Hard Rock And Heavy Metal Heroes seems to contradict the notions of warmth and comfort, the content, at least for me, was a time-machine back to the body-heat filled bars and taverns of the 80s and the comfort of music that assuaged my daily struggles as a teen. For various reasons my experiences differed (and still differ) from Mr. Kelly's but I noticed a commonality in our approach to the music scene of the day; and in the Canadian scene more specifically.

Despite the brevity of the book, it accomplishes two things: telling the story and explaining the experience of being a fan of metal music in Canada; and recounting the complexities of being a Canadian musician and the additional struggles of Canadian 'Metal' bands. Through interviews with many of the musicians of the day (many still playing in one form or another), Kelly paints a picture of the inception of the Metal scene to its demise with the onset of the Seattle grunge movement. But he does more than that. He details the complications of travelling from one venue to another in a lightly populated, yet enormous landmass filled with mountains, water features, and for all intents and purposes, highways that amount to not much more than glorified horse trails and goat paths. He explores the bizarre phenomenon where many Canadian bands were, sadly, appreciated more in Europe than on their home soil, and the difficulty in 'making it' by gaining the illusive (and decidedly ruinous) record contracts, especially in the United States.

What struck me most though was that despite the distance of time and the effects of the overall experiences these musicians had, every single one of them where laughing when telling their stories. This is evidenced by Kelly's meticulous us of '[laughing]' throughout the text. It occurred to me, that if a non-Canadian were to pick this book up, this is what they'd walk away knowing that - Canadians quintessentially like to laugh about their experiences, and they love to laugh when they tell stories, no matter the hardships involved.

When I first was told that I'd won a copy of the book on Twitter (Thanks Dundurn Press) I knew instinctively this was about metal bands playing in hockey arenas. However, now I'm thinking Kelly was quite clever in his choice of words by evoking a secondary meaning, that not only do Metal bands play on ice, but that while other music fads come and go, the Metal scene is biding it's time, and is 'on ice'. In other words, simply in a holding pattern, and with a little time, we'll be hearing it all fresh again, in our arenas and bars.

As always for the rating enthusiasts: I give this 4.5 rock horns of out 5.

Sacré bleu! J'en ai deux

While I'm not generally overly picky about subject matter or genre, there are times when I do have certain expectations, particularly with historical fictions. One of those expectations is that whatever historical information is known to us should not be altered much. I understand that in a fiction there are things that would simply drag a story, or make it less readable. I know that the compression of time is often necessary and I can accept that and other minor changes provided the author explains why. I guess it's my little test as to the credibility of an author? Or perhaps I simply dislike lies and mistruths? Who knows. The point is, that there are some authors who are known to play a little fast and loose with history and I've been hesitant to lay down hard earned cash. I am told that one such author is Conn Iggulden.

In my case, what Mr. Iggulden is also up against is that his two first big series are of eras I'm probably the least interested in, so I never felt all that bad about not exploring his books, they were never a subject I had to worry that friends and family would buy for me. However, his newest series is approaching an era that I'm familiar with, or that I'm at least somewhat knowledgeable in. The Wars of the Roses is not in itself a history I know a great deal about, but I do have some knowledge of the political and social challenges and issues of the medieval period. I may get a little confused about this John or that Richard, but am aware of the jostling for power by different royal houses in England and the Continent. As a result I thought that I'd give both Stormbird, the first of a series about the Wars of the Roses and Mr. Iggulden a try, to which occurred a rare event.

Despite having won nothing in over a year at Goodreads, I still tried my luck whenever a book of interest presented itself and I was fortunate enough to be selected. I received the advanced readers copy, read it and set it aside while I mulled over a review. About a week or so later, another copy of the same advanced readers copy (from the very same publisher) arrived at my door - a gift from Chapters/Indigo because of my longstanding membership as a loyalty card holder. I wasn't even aware that the Chapters/Indigo did that sort of thing. Either way, the message was clear; I was ready for Conn Iggulden and the Wars of the Roses and apparently they were ready for me.

The novel begins with how the two houses are related and carries on with why the Lancastrians and the Yorks became divided and out-maneuvered each other for power. The added conflicts with the French and the peasants was, in my opinion, rather well done. There was one small anachronism near the beginning that made me wonder at the author's intent for historical accuracy, something he did not address in his notes, and that was the use of the expression 'Bloody hell'. For all intents, this term was not in use for another two hundred years when it became synonymous with Mary Tudor's reign and her brutal reaction to Protestantism. I then felt that Mr. Iggulden was secretly just trying to find a way to fit in 'Sacré bleu!' and could only do so through the whole bloody hell bit. Neither reappears after that wee scene.

All in all, I quite liked the book. The size is large, as is the font and the language is uncomplicated but not simple. While it seems like a massive book the stories flow nicely and kept me intrigued. I also found myself wanting to know more about many of the characters, while others I came to dislike very much. I do admit to not understanding the inclusion of the Jew's story, unless there is some deeper meaning later, but within this story I found it superfluous at best. Having said that, I will definitely read the next installment.

For the ratings buffs: I give this 3.5 rose coquettes out of 5.

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Consolidation Completed(ish), Or Back In The Game

I have finally gotten around to consolidating the reviews that I could locate. One might ask themselves why there is a huge gab between mid-July and relatively recently. The answer is manifold, but essentially it comes down to not having been inspired to write reviews for the books I'd read. I still intend to write them, but I was in a bit of a writing funk. Not to mention that I was conflicted in some cases as to which blog to put them in. Add to that my disenchantment with Goodreads where I had at some point intended to be the only place I would add reviews. All of that aside, this blog will be where I house all my reviews, regardless of genre, method of acquisition and the rest.

The other reason there is such a huge gap is that I felt a little pressured to meet reading deadlines and the more deadlines I missed the less I felt like reading. Thus when I made the decision to start this blog, I also decided that I would no longer allow myself to be pressured into reading a book. I'll read whatever I feel like (yup, I'm one of those - emotional readers), when I feel like it. So, you won't be seeing an 'on the deck' type feature, because I failed every time I set one of those up. I'd read something like five books before I ever got to that one I'd promised. Then I'd have to hold off on the other reviews...meh, you probably really don't care about the process, so I'll drop it.

Needless to say, the reviews will appear when they appear, which may not be the order they were read and hopefully I won't go months between each. I can state that in the next week or so, I plan on hitting the backlog and hope to have some interesting opinions to share. Likely there will also be an interesting story or two about how I came to possess certain novels.

Planting Science

Living in an urban area with virtually no useable green-space to speak of, I'm always looking for ways to incorporate Nature's bounty in my life, whether as a medicinal aid or in the kitchen. So, I was delighted when fortune smiled down and Goodreads selected me as a Firstread winner for a copy of The Sweetness Of A Simple Life: Tips For Healthier, Happier And Kinder Living Gleaned From The Science And Wisdom Of Nature by Dianna Beresford-Kroeger.

Coming from a family whose livelihood was sustained through heavy industry and auto manufacturing, there was little time to teach us kids how to cultivate anything from nature. My paternal grandfather had a small patch of garden for he and my gran, and one summer my parents did attempt to grow some food for the winter. We were blessed with an over-abundance of string beans and a handful of tomatoes but the rest just didn't materialise. When my grandfather died some thirty years ago, there was no one left to teach us how to grow our own food.

Beresford-Kroeger doesn't teach anyone how to grow a garden. What she does is explain the importance of reaching out to Nature for the things we need and she backs it up with science. She offers information about how some plants can help prevent or combat the ailments brought on by industrial and urban pollutants. There are tips and advice on the types of plants that improve our state of mind just by their scent, or that give one's pets an opportunity to play and relax. These tips do; however, make one believe that anyone can develop a green-thumb.

The best thing about this diminutive book is that it's written in easy to understand language. There are no pie-charts or graphs, no unpronounceable words, no awkwardly formulated theories and conclusions. None of the chapters, with the exception of perhaps one, exceeds five pages, and the explanations include everyday uses. While not all of the suggestions are possible for everyone, the author clearly points out the few things that can be achieved on an apartment balcony or a window sill, and also recommends tree and plant combinations for larger green-spaces (though this is only realised as one progresses through the book).

I truly think that this very easy to read book should be in all homes, even if for no other reason than to be able to understand how many chemicals with fewer benefits we have that replace the things that Nature offers to us if we bother to work for it. I do offer one small caveat - Beresford-Kroeger is not afraid of tossing in some bits of sarcasm about our consumption and dependence of unnecessarily manufactured goods.

I give this book 4.5 root cellars out of 5.

A Hill, A Hill; My Country For A Hill

Reading Westerns is something I have enjoyed since I've been able to read in English. I can't really pin down the whys and whatfors, but I reckon it has a lot do with a forthrightness in the human interaction. With animals too. Over the past year or so I've been immersed in historical fiction primarily set in Europe with the exception of one Western that I had to read to fulfill a challenge. That book reminded me of my love for stories where there were big skies, open plains and honest living, even if that living was violent.

Upon lamenting about the lack of good new Westerns, it was recommended that I read about the American Civil War (ACW). That perhaps I'd find a similar texture and may satiate my need for a purging of modern conveniences. I didn't know where to begin, so I picked up a book by Bernard Cornwell, which I will review at a later date, since I'm familiar with the author. I was told, while good, one needed to read the pre-eminent of all ACW fiction, The Killer Angels by the late Michael Shaara.

I wasn't certain what to expect from this Pulitzer Prize winning novel that's nearly as old as I. First, I've never read a Pulitzer winning novel before. Second, prior to the aforementioned Cornwell novel, I'd never read about a modern battle set prior to WWII. Third, those books about modern battles were all non-fiction. I understand now that I'd set the bar awfully low for Shaara's book, but now it's set the standard - apologies to all other ACW authors.

I had thought George R.R. Martin brilliant regarding how he named chapters depending on which character's point of view (POV) he intended for that particular part of the tale. I now know that this was a device used by Shaara long before Martin's epic series. I am told that Jeff Shaara (Michael's son) continues in this vein with the flanking prequel and sequel - someone please correct me if this is an erroneous statement.

Being able to see the battle and stories unfold from each individual's perspective, which are based on journals, notes and historical documents, is perhaps the most interesting way of truly understanding a soldier's motives. The push and pull of personal opinion, training, beliefs systems and having to follow orders deftly details the complex nature of war and why one chooses not only to fight, but how they decide on a side.

It is a fallacy to assume that all Southerners fought for the Confederacy and the right to own slaves whilst the Northerners were all abolitionist Unionists. War, particularly Civil War is never that simple. Shaara writes a balanced and beautifully nuanced tale of men who must knowingly lead others to their deaths for a 'cause'. That there are differing opinions on what the cause is matters not in the end. They are all both hero and rebel.

While I admit my own grammar to be questionable, even I was able to find a crapload or grammatical issues in this novel. A small criticism really because I didn't actually notice until I was nearly three hundred pages in. This is the sort of thing that decides for me if a book is brilliant. When punctuation and sentence structures that should make me want to pull my hair out don't. This book deserves all the accolades it gets, because even language fails to get in its way.

As a lover of maps, I applaud the author's inclusion of the multitude of maps to aid the reader in understanding troop movement and landscape. This is a gift, one that many other authors may want to consider when writing a fiction that includes battles. The author can see a field in his mind's eye, perhaps some readers with the luxury of being able to visit a field can do so as well, but the rest of us are left bereft. Shaara knew how to bring that final element to his readers and it is greatly appreciated.

I hate ratings, but am told they are important, thus I capitulate: 4.5 rebel yells out of 5

The Great Consolidation

I had this idea that I would compartmentalise my book blogging and created a few blogs for different things. Books that I won I would write about on Blog W and historical fictions on Blog H, Mysteries on Blog M, and Contemporary ones on Blog C. Until I won some books that fit more than one.

Why not post them all up on one place you ask. Initially I did, on Goodreads; however, with a changing of the guard there I am no longer pre-disposed to publish anything that might be used without my knowledge, so I've been slowly deleting them from there. Hence this blog.

Then while doing something requiring little cerebral power - the dishes - I realised that I could simply pool all my previous blog posts onto one blog. One that uses none of the blog 'characters' that I'd used before. A blog where I feel a sense of freedom and no pressure from anyone. So, this one won out.

Any blog posts or reviews that date prior to 22 September 2013, and this post, are from other blogs that I'm either in the process of shutting down, or have already done so. I may also include reviews I did for University, but I've not completely decided on that since some are quite long and are written anthropologically. We'll see.

Insurrection - Robyn Young

Scotland. A land where until the 19th century discussions about conflict were more likely to begin with the word 'when' than 'if'. I am always astonished by the discovery of more medieval documents that surface revealing links to the Scottish Wars of Independence. Generally, they do not come out of Scotland, but occasionally they do. It is with those rare archival finds that personages like William Wallace were re-discovered and interest in others such Robert the Bruce came about. As a king, Bruce was not completely lost to the bogs of memory, but we really know very little. On the other hand, when there is little information, the landscape becomes fallow, and fallow fields eventually yield better crops.

Insurrection is the first instalment in the trilogy about Robert the Bruce, and begins elsewhere, in France and the fertile fantasising of the future English King Edward (Longshanks). He identifies with the mythical Arthur through Monmouth's prophecies and sets a course for the domination of the English Isles. Then we meet Robert who accidentally encounters a healer/witch who weaves fortunes onto an oak tree. Two men, two prophecies, two kingdoms and Young weaves a tale that incorporates of all of this along with the known histories. There is no secret as to how the basic story plays out. It is in the way the story is told that matters here.

I am not generally opposed to the invention of a secret society of knights to make a story move along, but I really didn't see the inclusion of one in this novel as helpful. I understand why it was done, to establish friendships which lead to the inevitable catalyst that will define a sense of betrayal; however, I felt it tenuous here. Never will I believe that someone's desire for a throne will be superseded by peer pressure. I'm usually pretty flexible when it comes to understanding human motivations, but not on this point. Few get more than one opportunity to be king, assisting in reducing the possibility of that ever happening just is not something I will every buy. I was, though grudgingly, willing to accept the idea of the Knights of the Dragon, until Robert's complicity in the destruction of his own future rule. To me, the story was so implausible as to be nearly farcical that it dropped me completely out of the book. It's a credit to the author's superb writing up to then that I continued reading.

With the exception of the inclusion of the Knights of the Dragon and related storyline I was quite taken by the story. I enjoy how the tale of the spider was turned into something fare more intriguing with the inclusion of Affraig. I also quite liked the portrayal of the Bruce family's animosity toward the Comyns, the tension is palpable and the distrust deep seeded. Young Robert's tumultuous relationship with his father truly helps to understand his character as does the relationship with his grand-father. Though that one far warmer and understanding.

There is no question here that Robyn Young can write, and well. Some might say a bit wordy at times, but I like that sort of thing, so I didn't get that feeling too often or for very long. Her vivid battle descriptions are wonderful, though I like my warriors a little more gritty, but hers fit the style of her writing. Again, it's this staying true to her tale that makes someone very familiar with this period accept, or not even notice the little things. I am set to read the next instalment soon, and am looking forward to it as I really do want to there to be another good story about this period and these people.

Review originally appeared on the now defunct Paternoster Row Legacy blog.

Letters From Skye - Jessica Brockmole

Epistolaries are stories told through letters. They are also the means by which, if ever the e-mail system ever falls apart, people will be able to quickly learn how to communicate in writing. The art and skill of writing 'snail mail' is slowly eroding and there may come a time when people no longer know how to write to others in fewer than 150 or so characters. While texts, short emails and social media are good for the quick and immediate, they sacrifice our ability to savour words, to hold what we can of another in our hands and comes without a particular scent. I recently shed a tear when I saw a blog about people who write emails that are considered too long or wordy.

Brockmole begins her novel by having a Scottish poet receive her first fan letter from an American college student. They continue to communicate through letters despite numerous changes in their lives that include marriage, loves, loss, family matters, and two World Wars. We learn about each of the characters' quirks and strengths, their sense of fashion and deepest desires. They help each other work through fears, and the trust developed works as a strong curative for when misunderstandings are finally explained. This is a problem; hurts are easily set aside, deceptions ignored and their results tacitly accepted, and the story becomes less believable.

The author does deviate from the epistolary model to reveal certain key moments. This is unfortunate, as these appear closer to the end suggesting that the author ran out of ideas as to how to make it work, writing herself into a corner so to speak. These are few and while they do not detract the reader completely from the story they begin to add to the lack of believability. However, I can see where for some readers it might not be a big thing as by the time they occur, the reader might be far too invested in the characters and the story itself to really matter.

Perhaps I'm wrong, but I think that for people who are reading this as an historical romance, it probably works very well. For those reading this as an epistolary novel, probably less so as there are some obvious problems. The success of this novel may depend greatly on how it is marketed.

I received this from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review first appeared on the now defunct Paternoster Row Legacy blog.

Hannibal: Fields Of Blood ~ Ben Kane

Having stubbornly ignored most Roman historical fiction until recently I find myself playing catch-up with a chariot-load of tremendously good authors. One such author is Ben Kane, whose first Hannibal instalment won me over enough that I've since bought several books from his other series. Noticing that the second instalment of the Hannibal series was available from the publisher via Netgalley I threw caution to the wind and applied for it, never thinking they'd let me have a go. I'm quite happy to report, I was wrong; they decided to honour me with a copy. Huzzah for me!

Fields of Blood picks up just a couple weeks from where Enemy of Rome left off. The two male protagonists are still working toward trying to impress the leadership, and Aurelia is still trying to fight for her independence. Of course, in a world where the worth of a decision has more to do with how many are affected adversely than the minor success it might have engendered, neither of the three young people has an easy time of it.

In the first instalment Hanno the Carthaginian came into his own; in this one we really get a sense of Quintus's growth and abilities. No longer seeking to please his father, Quintus matures into his own man, capable and self-aware. Aurelia learns tough lessons when she speaks before thinking, while Hanno discovers things about his family he finds disconcerting. Each experience dangers they probably never thought they ever need to face and their not even on the battlefield yet.

The battles scenes are the superior part of this novel. There were battle scenes included in the first novel of the series, but the ones in this book far exceed those. There is a real sense that Ben Kane has worked this through in his mind for a long time, that he has strategized every moment, even those of participants never once mentioned in the book. It is obvious that the battle of Cannae is a part of history that he is passionate about as the descriptions jump right off the page in colour, depth and scale. Because he's poured so much into the battles of this book, he will be hard-pressed to outdo himself in the final instalment of the trilogy. However, I expect he would say that he's up to the challenge.

I had enjoyed Enemy of Rome, but Fields of Blood is a stronger book on all levels and I don't want to wait for An Island Aflame, which I envision to be stronger yet.

Review originally appeared on the now defunct Paternoster Row Legacy blog.

The Stockholm Octavo ~ Karen Engelmann

What do a collection of fans, a tarot spread. Freemasons, and revolutionary Europe have in common? True love of course.

This novel is a first person narrative from a young-ish man who must find himself a wife lest he lose his position as a Sekretaire - an exciseman. Emil Larsson supplements his income by conducting under-the-table deals with smugglers and gambling. The answer to all his troubles arrives when he is offered an opportunity to have an Octavo read by the owner of his preferred gambling house. The Octavo - a tarot spread that does not answer one's question, rather it helps to identify the 7 individual who will affect the answer through their involvement in the questioner's life.

Life is never easy, and while Emil searches for the 7 individuals who will control his fate, the nobility is in fear of spreading revolutions, while the Swedish king is contemplating a more democratic approach to government. Thus begin conflicting conspiracies disguised by fans and scarves, but who ends up the winner is never truly certain, and Emil only cares about finding himself the perfect partner.

Credit is due to the author for weaving the use of fans to communicate, the concept of a Divine Geometry, news of revolutions as a fabric for love. This alone provides for an intriguing tale, however I did find that the initial set up for the story - an investigation seemed to be lost in their midst. I found it a bit difficult to separate the 'investigator' Emil from the 'participant' Emil. As a result, I often had to put the book down and over think the chapters I'd just read. This isn't to say that it's a bad book. On the contrary, I think it's a wonderful story, but one that requires the reader to be significantly more engaged than they might wish.

Having said that, if the reader is seeking an intricate fiction regarding King Gustav III of Sweden's death, then this should appeal. As noted above, the approach with the tarot is less about future divination than it is a catalyst for inspiration and motivation, rather than prophesising the future.

I will admit that I was also quite happy to see the octavo drawings included as I could not visualise them on my own. I had some vague idea, but to keep track of eight cards, who they represent for each of the octavos discussed simply would have been messy without the added support. Greedy as it might sound, it would have also been nice to have been able to see Cassiopeia as well as I still do not understand the shape. I never was any good at geometry.

Review originally appeared on the now defunct Paternoster Row Legacy blog.

The Tudor Conspiracy ~ C.W. Gortner

I expect that few could argue that Henry VIII's extensive efforts for a male heir did nothing for the stability of England upon his son's passing. This along with notions that women could not possibly make good leaders affected politics in Europe on nearly the same scale as William the Bastard's conquest of the isle. Only instead of having the nobility marry off their daughters to strengthen ties, the continental Kings were looking to their sons to impress a Queen long enough that she would give her hand and eventually the reins to her country. Ultimately, women proved themselves up to the task by maintaining power but at great sacrifice.

In the second instalment of his Spymaster Chronicles, Gortner has the wizened Prescott returning to Mary's court in hopes of saving Elizabeth from making a foolish move against her sister. With a palace filled with suspicious (and suspicious looking) Spaniards, attractive noble women, and the murder of a friend conspiring to distract him from his task, Prescott's biggest challenge is still his boss, the independent-minded Elizabeth.

As Prescott works toward his goal, the reader is reacquainted with some of the characters in the previous novel including the Dudleys, the dangers of court life as well as those lingering beyond the palace gates, and is introduced to a whole new host of powerful decision makers, spies and ways to torture and kill them. In the previous novel I sometimes felt a little out of the story - that it was perhaps not descriptive enough, or that I just couldn't envision what Gortner was trying to paint for the reader. I'm pleased to say that this time, I could see the River Thames iced over and hear the galloping of horses.

While I had no problem conceptualising a spy novel in Tudor England, I wasn't sure how this historical James Bond could gain access to the Royal courts again. The author had created an entry in the last novel that I had not thought of, but I do not see how he will accomplish it next time. As a result of this clever ploy, I am looking forward to seeing what mess Gortner has Bess drop Prescott into and how the poor spy manages to extricate himself.

Review originally appeared on the now defunct Paternoster Row Legacy blog.

Robert B. Parker's Ironhorse ~ Robert Knott

Whenever my mates or family members are handed a box of second-hand books they set aside the westerns for me. Apparently, I am the only person they (and I) know who reads them. They were the first historical fictions that I'd ever read and I'm still drawn to the wild, expansive scenery and experiencing the growth of settlements into, villages, into towns which finally become cities. The thing that truly intrigues me most are notions of, and distinctions between law and justice, and how neither is really down to an agreed set of moral or ethical values.

Robert B. Parker wrote two series that I enjoyed tremendously; Spencer and Virgil Cole & Everett Hitch. The former is a hardboiled gumshoe in Boston, the latter, a western series with two no-nonsense characters charged with keeping law and order. When Parker died in 2010 and his completed forth instalment was published posthumously I assumed that Virgil and Everett had been written off into the sunset. However, Robert Knott who co-wrote the film adaptation of the first book in this series Appaloosa was enlisted by the Parker family to carry the torch.

Sometimes I feel as though when an author has left this mortal coil, his or her characters have as well. However, there are some good examples of where another is able to capture the essence of the those characters and the late authors' phrasing, intent and drama. Robert Knott falls within this group. I was worried that Cole and Hitch would change, become more verbose or more super-human, but Knott gratefully kept the two as sensible and contained as the late Parker had.

Deciding to return home via train, giving their horses a rest, the two protagonists unexpectedly find themselves defending the passengers against a gang of robbers mid-heist. The main problem is that these robbers happen to be former nemeses of Coles' who've all joined forces, including Bloody Bob Brandice who was thought to have been killed by Cole twelve years before. As they seek out the miscreants, they discover the magnitude of damage the theft would cause for the future of country and who it would empower all the while Cole works through his domestic troubles.

Virgil and Everett's relationship is still relaxed even with the odd tense moment. Their complete trust in each other and the knowledge of each other's skills and weaknesses is still powerful and times quite comical, as they have always been. The seemingly casual attitude toward danger also has not changed. My only criticism is the lack of times Cole defers to Hitch regarding word selection during a banter with a 'baddie'. I had always found those moments realistic, an example of how when focused on some particular task, the mind might not be able to process what it should already know. I do hope that this is not the end of Virgil and Everett, and would not hesitate to read another should Knott pen it.

Review originally appeared on the now defunct Paternoster Row Legacy blog.