So many books . . .

On Chesil Beach is a short story about one young couple’s disastrous wedding night. It is the 1960s in England, and Edward and Florence have just tied the knot. In their honeymoon hotel room they’re both nervous, but for very different reasons.

I didn’t find the story entirely believable, especially for the time period. I couldn’t imagine a young couple not talking about any of these things, or even recognizing that there might be a problem! They also didn’t seem to really know each other as intimately as a couple in such a situation should. I had a hard time sympathizing as I was kind of irritated with the absurd level of non-communication.

Rating: 3/5 Further reading: McEwan's homepage Ian McEwan (wiki)

Next in line to be executed for murder, Yelena is instead offered a chance to live – only by accepting the potentially lethal position as official food taster for the Commander of Ixia. Rather than face a more certain death, she opts for the only slightly less dangerous choice and begins her position recognition training under the tutelage of Valek, the Commander’s Second. She’s a quick study, but it becomes clear early on that someone is trying to get rid of her.

Although I enjoyed it, this book didn’t quite live up to the potential I thought the premise held. I still intend to read the sequel, though.

Rating: 3/5 Further reading: Snyder's homepage

 

Lord John Grey, a minor character from Gabaldon’s Outlander novels, stars in this collection of short stories and novellas and is provided with various mysteries to solve. As usual, the stories are enjoyable, although at some point the thought occurred that an oddly disproportionate number of the people LJ encounters, both women and men, seem to want him. In the third story, I was worried that Ms. Gabaldon intended to kill him off. I’ve grown fond of Lord John, but I can’t help but wonder if he’ll ever find true happiness in love.

Rating: 4/5 Further reading: Gabaldon's homepage Diana Gabaldon (wiki)

On a quest to escort the orphaned New Formorians (children born with wings) back to the land of their ancestors, Brighid, a centaur huntress, discovers a complication she hadn’t anticipated: her quest companion, the warrior Cuchulainn, needs her help as well. Still grieving from the death of his love, it’s begun to threaten his soul.

I enjoyed this series’ first book, Elphame’s Choice, reasonably well, so I thought I’d give this one a try. Unfortunately, it’s too predictable and not especially satisfying. I think I’m through with P.C. Cast.

Rating: 2/5 Further reading: Cast's homepage P. C. Cast (wiki)

Working as a live-in personal assistant for an author, Laura is awakened one night by the sound of someone breaking into their hotel suite. When she yells for help, the masked burglar kisses her to keep her quiet, then leaves. Who is he and what was he looking for?

Laura is a pretty but empty-headed, naïve and self-deprecating – the most annoying kind of heroine(?). I picked this up because Madeleine Ker is the pseudonym of one of my favorite authors, Marius Gabriel. It was my first foray into graphic novels in which the book is read back to front, which made for an interesting experience but took some getting used to. Disappointingly, it confirmed my suspicion that pulp romance written by a talented author is still empty, unfulfilling, pulp romance, even when “printed in flirty pink ink!”

Rating: 2/5 Further reading: Marius Gabriel (wiki)

 

The Original Sin is an amazing family saga spanning three generations of women, beginning in Spain during the Spanish Civil War and climaxing in 1970s Arizona. It is a tale of family secrets, tragedy, war, passion, obsession, addiction, kidnapping, love, money, shame and redemption. This is the book that made me a Marius Gabriel fan. The first time I read it, in my late teens 10+ years ago, it utterly blew me away. This time around, too, I didn’t want it to end. It’s a shame that Mr. Gabriel is no longer writing novels.

Rating: 5/5 Further reading: Marius Gabriel (wiki)

 

Lamb is an entertaining, tongue-in-cheek depiction of the life of Jesus, as told through the eyes of his best friend Levi (Biff). More than merely a retelling, it fills in the missing years of Jesus’ life between birth and messiahhood. Who knew he’d spent time studying in India and China? All your favorite Holy Family members, disciples and apostles make appearances, including Mary Magdalene (Maggie). It didn't quite live up to my lofty expectations -- i.e. I didn't fall out of bed laughing -- but great fun for anyone with a sense of humor, regardless of beliefs.

Rating: 3/5 Further reading: Moore's homepage Christopher Moore (wiki)

 

Girl in Hyacinth Blue is a series of vignettes chronicling the reverse history of a fictional Vermeer painting by the same name. Vreeland’s colorful portraits of Dutch life, from the wealthy to the poorest peasants, spanning several hundred years, are fascinating. I wouldn’t have minded delving further into each of the tales, and the only other thing that could have improved the book was if the painting, which plays a silent, starring role in each of the stories, really existed.

Rating: 3/5 Further reading: Vreeland's homepage

 

In this slim volume, Marjane Satrapi gives us a peek into intimate conversations among Iranian women today. Her poignant drawings illustrate that, despite having to dress and conduct themselves conservatively outside the home, these women gossip and discuss sex in humorous, frank, and occasionally crude language with the best of them. Great fun!

Satrapi’s Persepolis books are also wonderful.

Rating: 4/5 Further reading: Marjane Satrapi (wiki)

In Maus, Art Spiegelman illustrates his father Vladek’s story -- of growing up as a Jew in Poland, persecuted and eventually captured and sent to Auschwitz during WWII. While portraying tragedy, Maus also manages to have a certain amount of beauty and humor, due partly to the various types of characters being rendered as different animals (e.g. Jews are drawn as mice, Germans as cats, Poles as pigs, etc.). Whenever Vladek and his wife attempt to pass as Poles, they are charmingly drawn wearing pig masks. The scenes portraying Art’s relationship with his father are touching and feel very authentic. I’m looking forward to reading Maus II.

Rating: 5/5 Further reading: Art Spiegelman (wiki)