Review: 7/10 by Steven Buechler
Toby: A Man on 1 September, 2010 - 02:48 A great read. A story of a man who falls from grace but in the process learns what is really important in life. Has excellent moments of humour, saddness, heart ache and foolishness. | ||
Review: 8/10 by Debbie
Department of Temporal Adjustment by Veronica R. Tabares on 29 July, 2010 - 00:34 Mother of three young girls, Vanessa also took on a coarse load of classes as an Archeology student at the local University. Having the need to use the lab in the basement of the University for late night study sessions was not unusual. For this curious women who had a certain sense of right and wrong, a strange humming noise coming from the janitors closet and the strange comings and goings of large groups of people, especially these oddly clad people, just couldn’t be ignored. Once the janitors closet was opened, things were different then she expected. There were no mops and brooms, only a large white laboratory that she had never, in her three years at Washington University known existed. As the scientists approached her and started telling her that she had stumbled into a time portal and been transported into the very, very distant future she came to understand that she had an important roll in creating the future that they knew and with that information they had to send her back to her own time without the memories of being them and the future events. The memory blocking process that they used created some unusual side effects that left Vanessa wondering if she was losing her mind. Unfortunately the memory blocks did not prevent the curios mind from stumbling again and again through the portal. How fun that was, I wish I had been able to sit and read more at one time. This book and the main character Vanessa in particular had such a fun sense of humor, a great theory on life, love and raising children. The way Vanessa can get herself sidetracked by random thoughts was funny and seemed like such a natural order to things. Absolutely loved Becca (oldest daughter) who was cute, creative and resourceful, Tony (the husband) seems to be straight out of a dream and Erica (Vanessa’s lab partner) who was gullible enough to fall for some of Vanessa’s practical jokes, yet had the sense of humor to laugh in the end. While the story line had the unusual quirks of the memory blocking side effects, the end result was very predictable but still fun to get to. The authors writing style makes this an easy read even at 336 pages and would be appropriate for anyone who likes a cute, quirky adventure. | ||
Review: 5/10 by David P
Survivors: The A-bombed Trees of Hiroshima on 15 July, 2010 - 13:44 Peace Memorial Park is the literal and figurative heart of Hiroshima, as I was privileged to learn over the course of a four-year stay in the city. During many a busy lunch hour, I would cycle downtown from the translation agency where I was working, grab a takeout sandwich or bento box from one of the innumerable coffee shops in Kamiya-cho, and then head across the river to the leafy shade of the park. The stark, skeletal Genbaku Dome (A-bomb Dome, see over), which dominates the square closest to the business district, inevitably leaves first-time visitors feeling awkward and intimidated. But like all incomprehensible truths, the structure eventually reaches a truce with the subconscious, even taking on a kind of comforting stillness, particularly when muted by the vibrant greens of spring and summer foliage. Indeed the park as a whole seems to radiate a defiant calm, as if the beauty of the landscaping and the bustle of the sidewalk cafes are meant to assert that life goes on despite periods of unimaginable anarchy and suffering. This green oasis, at what was once the hypocenter of an atomic blast, is the most visible sign of the city’s renaissance as a vibrant and forward-looking center, and a force for peace in the midst of the turbulence of 21st century politics. But it is not the only reminder of the tenacious spirit of life in Hiroshima. Less well-known outside of neighborhood boroughs are the scores of “survivors” dotting the metropolitan landscape. These treasured trees, shrubs, and groves date from before the atomic bombing on August 6th 1945. For whatever reason, they were spared from annihilation, and are now carefully tended by the schools, homes, temples, and shrines entrusted by fate with their care. I don’t remember the first time that my wife and I stumbled across one of these living legacies, but I do know that they quickly took on a very personal meaning. Timing undoubtedly played a part: Mandy had recently lived through a cancer scare, and found in their endurance and vitality a tangible metaphor for hope. But identifying them and learning their stories also became a fascinating challenge for us, given her background in environmental science, mine in translation, and our collective interest in photography. It was quickly obvious that very little documentation was available on these trees. There were no maps in English detailing locations or histories, and in many cases, their historical importance was indicated by only the briefest of plaques in Japanese. The “tree hunt” thus became an engaging weekend hobby, taking us from one end of the city to another, season after season, eventually year after year, as we talked with priests and housewives and many others, gathering stories and pictures. The fruits of these efforts are presented here, and it is my hope that they provide the reader with a sense of the inspiration that is life in Hiroshima. | ||
Review: 8/10 by classkris
Highly Recommended on 11 July, 2010 - 00:49 MRSKRIS:Mrs. Hrebin, a fourth grade teacher at my last school, left this book on my desk with a note that said, "Read this." I'm so glad I did! This book combines many of the things I love: teaching, puzzles, Vermeer's portraits, and fascinating think-outside-the-box students. What would you do if you became caught up in a mystery that seemed dangerous, but which also seemed to be calling your name? | ||
Review: 6/10 by Jennifer C
‘There’s nothing to be scared about.’ on 7 July, 2010 - 17:02 David Harwood is a small town journalist, looking forward to a day at an amusement park with his wife Jan and their four year old son Ethan. But this is not going to be the enjoyable visit David was planning for. First Ethan goes missing briefly, and then Jan disappears. David reports Jan’s disappearance but there is no verifiable evidence that she was ever at the park. Is David attempting to cover up a murder? The more David searches, the less he realises he knows about Jan. Just before Jan disappears, David gets a lead on a story about a controversial development on the outskirts of his town. The only problem is that his paper isn’t interested in publishing the story, even though it would revive flagging sales. Can this somehow be related to Jan’s disappearance? What is the truth, and where is Jan? I found some elements of the story easy to predict and piece together. But by then I was caught up in David’s search for the truth. Perhaps the most striking aspect of this story is the reminder that even innocuous everyday actions can be interpreted in different ways that can make good guys look bad. And the bad guys? They’re mostly unbelievable. Jennifer Cameron-Smith | ||
Review: 8/10 by sse60209
Amusing on 5 July, 2010 - 11:34 In a humorous way the author states that men do not like "nice girls" but rather prefer "bitches". Though the title may seem vague and provocative, the word she is attempting to describe as "bitch" is actually nothing nears its derogitory meaning. Rather, she describes that a "nice girl" is someone whom has no self worth, self respect and does not beat to her own drums. On the other hand, a "bitch" is a strong, independent women, knows what she stands for and not afraid to be different. | ||
Review: 9/10 by Jennifer C
‘He flew in a light plane and he flew alone.’ on 2 July, 2010 - 16:18 The novel opens in 1973, just before President Allende is overthrown by Augusto Pinochet. In Concepción, a group of left-leaning idealists discuss Pablo Neruda and Che Guevera. Members of this group include both the novel’s unnamed narrator and the enigmatic Alberto Ruiz-Tagle, a little known poet who is attractive to women and viewed with suspicion by men. After the coup, Ruiz-Tagle is revealed as a Pinochet supporter. He has German heritage, and his name is Carlos Weider. He is also a murderer who eliminates opponents of the junta. Weider is the central character in this novel, but the unnamed narrator and other characters demonstrate a complex interplay between politics, history and literature. The brutal events depicted underscore both the cruelty of the regime and the ambivalence of literature. ‘The increasingly distant stars.’ This is a novel that can be read in one sitting, as I did, but I do not believe that it can be fully absorbed in one reading. I am not looking forward to re-reading it, but I think I will need to. I became engrossed in some of the stark contrasts in imagery which pervade the novel. Weider skywriting in his old Messerschmitt over Concepción seems particularly appropriate: whether the words he chose were timeless, the delivery guaranteed their ephemerality. Contrast this, though, with the scatological references as the new literature is created. Not subtle, but very effective. This is my least favorite of the three Roberto Bolaño novels I’ve read so far, but I’m hooked. Jennifer Cameron-Smith | ||
Review: 9/10 by Jennifer C
‘But only I know the story, the real story.’ on 1 July, 2010 - 14:33 This novel is narrated in the first person by the ill and ageing Father Sebastian Urrutia Lacroix over the course of a single evening. Father Urrutia believes that he is dying, and in a feverish monologue, with a not entirely reliable memory, he revisits some of the crucial events of his life as a Chilean priest, member of Opus Dei, a literary critic and a mediocre poet. ‘Words emerging from one dream and entering another.’ In his delirium, Father Urrutia sees various characters, both real and imaginary, as monsters. Monsters they may be, many of them, in life as well as in fiction. As Father Urrutia’s monologue ranges from Opus Dei to falconry, to private lessons on Marxism for General Augusto Pinochet, the ‘wizened youth’ reminds him of his shortcomings. And during this long night, while we hear Father Urrutia’s ‘confession’ and feel his need to find himself without blame in the events he describes, the imagery signals differently. If the ‘wizened youth’ represents both dormant conscience and repressed consciousness, then it is not a burden for Father Urrutia to bear alone. ‘One has a moral obligation to take responsibility for one’s actions, and that includes one’s words and silences...’ The Chilean literary establishment is also complicit: how else can a house used by those with literary aspirations double as a torture centre? This may be satire, but it is highly disturbing as well. ‘.. a white shirt as immaculate as my hopes..’ I am currently reading my way through Roberto Bolaño’s work. This novel was first published in 2000, and was the first of Bolaño’s novels to be published in English (in 2003). Jennifer Cameron-Smith | ||
Review: 6/10 by Jennifer C
‘Does a man need a reason to pursue justice?’ on 1 July, 2010 - 13:07 Evan Waller has built a fortune through his willingness to buy and sell anything to anyone. In the present, his activities have drawn the attention of the enigmatic Shaw (introduced in The Whole Truth) and the shadowy organisation he represents. At the same time, Waller’s past has been investigated by a secret vigilante group based in the UK and their agent, Reggie Campion is also seeking him. Independently of each other, and for very different reasons, Shaw and Campion arrive in a small village in Provence in pursuit of Waller. Both Shaw and Campion are encumbered by their pasts and while the Campion story is covered in this novel, relevant aspects of the Shaw story are in ‘The Whole Truth’. While you don’t need to have read ‘The Whole Truth’ to follow this story, the character of Shaw and his reactions will make more sense if you have. This is fast-paced, not always believable fiction. There are some detailed scenes of torture and violence, which are not for the squeamish. These scenes serve to paint a detailed picture of the bad guys involved, just in case a reader needs additional reinforcement. Overall, while I found this an interesting page-turning escapist read I didn’t enjoy it as much as ‘The Whole Truth’. Jennifer Cameron-Smith | ||
Review: 7/10 by Jennifer C
‘It was turning into a no win situation for him.’ on 26 June, 2010 - 16:57 David Fox, an ambitious young lawyer with a large Denver law firm, appears to have everything going for him. David’s career is flourishing, his beautiful girl friend – Ellen - is the granddaughter of the law firm’s founder, and he is in line for partnership. But when David begins investigating a lawsuit against the Denver City Ballet Company, he finds that one of the respected partners in the law firm is involved in wrongdoing. Threatened with blackmail over a sexual indiscretion, but unwilling to compromise his professional standards, David goes to work for a rival firm. Ellen, now David’s wife, is caught between her loyalty to her grandfather and her love for David. She seeks psychotherapy and forms a relationship which threatens to destroy both her sense of self and her relationship with David. Professional misconduct, ethical standards, blackmail and poor personal choices each play a part in this story. But is it all about revenge? I have mixed feelings about this novel. I didn’t find either Ellen or David particularly likeable, and couldn’t always understand some of their choices. To some extent I think that the characters in this novel were dwarfed by the actions in which they were involved. However, while this impacted on my view of the characters and appreciation of their stories, it didn’t detract from the way in which Mr Vaughn highlighted the tensions between private feelings and professional considerations, and the consequences of both. Jennifer Cameron-Smith |
