Reviews
I've been reading a LOT lately, and have found some phenomenal books. These are the top picks.
Dry Salvages, CR Kiernan: I just read this a few months ago, but I recommended it to my bookclub and read it again with them. It was even better the second time. She commands suspense, narrative, dialog... her sci-fi plot is seamless and believable with strong science in it... Excellent and fast read. I wish it were longer. So glad to see that she's writing The Dinosaurs of Mars, which I hope will fall along this vien. I think she is the best contemporary sci fi writer. 5 stars
Smilla's Sense of Snow, Peter Hoeg: I saw this movie years ago and enjoyed it, picked up the book on a whim because I was in a hurry and in need of a fiction fix. I have never been this pleasantly surprised. The story is so strong. For the first 2/3s of the book, I am in love with and want to be Smilla, and found myself amazed at a man who could write a woman like this. (In the last 1/3 of the book, I felt she was obviously a woman written by a man... and also the action gets a little frenetic and her motives harder to believe and follow, but it still holds together.) Again, the science in this novel, along with the greenlandic native elements, really makes it come alive. Never read a murder mystery this interesting before. The writing was SO TIGHT. 4.5 stars - I will seek out his other works and read them all. Dude has some *insights*. Danish people must be cool.
Fiasco, by Thomas Ricks: This is highly engaging, although it causes rage (fair warning). He gives a lot of unverified or unattributed information, citing military leaders who cannot be revealed, which sort of deflates the integrity of the information... But since he is preaching to the converted, I am willing to believe. This book put the final nail in the coffin of my dying belief in the US democratic process. And why isn't this headline news? God fucking dammit. 3 stars - worth reading, good starting point for discussion
Mayflower is some excellent historical non-fiction about a portion of American history with which I am only familiar in the fiction realm. The Last of the Mohicans comes from this set of historical facts. Gives a comprehensive look at the way we stole the US from its native inhabitants and the paradigms the whiteys brought over with them. Lots of interesting info about the founding fathers and their religious backgrounds. 4 stars - read this if you enjoy US history or non-fiction
Right now, I'm reading The Way The Crow Flies, by Ann-Marie MacDonald. I'm about 1/6 thru it. Gotta say, this book is blowing my hair back. The world she creates is so comprehensive and real. I have a feeling I will also seek out her other works.
Dry Salvages, CR Kiernan: I just read this a few months ago, but I recommended it to my bookclub and read it again with them. It was even better the second time. She commands suspense, narrative, dialog... her sci-fi plot is seamless and believable with strong science in it... Excellent and fast read. I wish it were longer. So glad to see that she's writing The Dinosaurs of Mars, which I hope will fall along this vien. I think she is the best contemporary sci fi writer. 5 stars
Smilla's Sense of Snow, Peter Hoeg: I saw this movie years ago and enjoyed it, picked up the book on a whim because I was in a hurry and in need of a fiction fix. I have never been this pleasantly surprised. The story is so strong. For the first 2/3s of the book, I am in love with and want to be Smilla, and found myself amazed at a man who could write a woman like this. (In the last 1/3 of the book, I felt she was obviously a woman written by a man... and also the action gets a little frenetic and her motives harder to believe and follow, but it still holds together.) Again, the science in this novel, along with the greenlandic native elements, really makes it come alive. Never read a murder mystery this interesting before. The writing was SO TIGHT. 4.5 stars - I will seek out his other works and read them all. Dude has some *insights*. Danish people must be cool.
Fiasco, by Thomas Ricks: This is highly engaging, although it causes rage (fair warning). He gives a lot of unverified or unattributed information, citing military leaders who cannot be revealed, which sort of deflates the integrity of the information... But since he is preaching to the converted, I am willing to believe. This book put the final nail in the coffin of my dying belief in the US democratic process. And why isn't this headline news? God fucking dammit. 3 stars - worth reading, good starting point for discussion
Mayflower is some excellent historical non-fiction about a portion of American history with which I am only familiar in the fiction realm. The Last of the Mohicans comes from this set of historical facts. Gives a comprehensive look at the way we stole the US from its native inhabitants and the paradigms the whiteys brought over with them. Lots of interesting info about the founding fathers and their religious backgrounds. 4 stars - read this if you enjoy US history or non-fiction
Right now, I'm reading The Way The Crow Flies, by Ann-Marie MacDonald. I'm about 1/6 thru it. Gotta say, this book is blowing my hair back. The world she creates is so comprehensive and real. I have a feeling I will also seek out her other works.