There are those times in life when all your energy goes to just keeping the metaphorical water from getting above one’s head. This is one of those times.
I’m going on hitaus. 52 in 52 continues, but everything else is coming to a halt. I simply don’t have the brainspace or desire to write much of anything lately. Hell, I haven’t even seen The Dark Knight yet. That should give you a clue about how bad things have gotten.
However, the good news is I took action to reduce the stress, so while it may take a bit of time to take effect, things should get better soon.
See you then.
-K
Tags: Site News
Author: Raymond Chandler
Pages: 234
Year Published: 1939
The Big Sleep, Raymond Chandler’s first novel, introduces us to one of the most famous detectives in fiction, Phillip Marlowe. Marlow is hired to find out who is trying to blackmail the daughter of his rich client and in the process uncovers a nest of pornography, money and murder. Marlowe has to navigate his way through a maze of deception, which ultimately winds up leading him to an unlikely end of the case.
Chandler, along with Dashiel Hammett, is one of the masters of the “noir” detective story. His writing style has been emulated in everything from fantasy novels to William Gibson’s Neuromancer. It’s so iconic, it often winds up in parody of the genre as well.
The story itself is not bad, although The Maltese Falcon is better. It’s the way the story is told that is the real gem. Tight writing with wonderful metaphor and, what must have been in the 1940’s scandalous descriptions of a seedy underworld make reading the book a pleasure.
A cornerstone of the “noir” subgenre, The Big Sleep is still a wonderful book and highly recommended.
Other participants in the “52 in 52″ meme who reviewed books recently include:
- Jeremy reviews Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother.
- Jamie reviews Mort by Terry Pratchett.
- Heliologue reviews Oliver Sack’s Musicophilia: Stories of Music and the Brain.
-K
Tags: 52 in 52, books, mystery, noir
Author: Naomi Novik
Pages: 384
Year Published: 2006
While the premise of His Majesty’s Dragon is rather simple: what if dragons were used as an “air force,” during the Napoleonic Wars, Naomi’s Novik’s execution of the concept is wonderfully entertaining.
The story begins with the capture of a dragon egg from a French frigate by a British warship captained by William Laurence. That incident proves to change his fortunes when, upon hatching, the dragon chooses him as his “handler,” a bond between dragon and human that is essential. What follows next is Laurence’s adventures as he works his way through the Aerial Corps’ training and his first engagements in battle with his dragon, Temeraire.
Interestingly enough, although the book is set during the Regency and the characters (especially Laurence) seem to delight in speaking with rigid formality, I found the book quite easy to read. Novik keeps the story moving while at the same time she gives her character’s depth through dramatizing them, rather than describing them.
On the whole, I can thoroughly recommend His Majesty’s Dragon. A good adventure story with a rather novel concept, it’s perfect for an afternoon’s read.
Other participants in the “52 in 52″ meme who reviewed books recently include:
- Jeremy reviews Diablo Cody’s Candy Girl.
- Jamie reviews Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett.
- Heliologue reviews Mark Haddon’s A Spot of Bother.
-K
Tags: 52 in 52, alternate history, books, fantasy
I’ve pondered this before, but in this month’s The Atlantic is a great article entitled “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” that is well worth the read. The topic, of course, is the Internet’s gradual erosion of our ability to concentrate. I’ve heard Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com refer to it as “information snacking.”
I find myself agreeing with a lot written in the article, but I can find comfort that I’m apparently not the only one who is experiencing this phenomenon. Now to find a way to reverse it and still be able to do my job.
-K
Tags: internet
Author: Ian Flemming
Pages: 272
Year Published: 1957
In From Russia With Love, his fifth outing, British Secret Service agent James Bond finds himself the target of a Soviet assassination plot, all the while attempting to courier one of the prized “Spektor” cryptographic machines out of Turkey and back to the United Kingdom.
This fifth novel is a resurgence for Fleming. While elements of the formula still exist, even the structure of the novel diverges wildly from previous installments. Bond doesn’t even appear for the first third of the book, which is used to establish not only the plot, but the motivations and players. It also introduces us to Tatiana Romanova, the “bait” to be used in order to lure Bond along with the cryptographic machine.
What evolves is a much tighter and focused novel than Diamonds Are Forever. As Bond willingly “succumbs” to the bait and allows the trap to unfold, the tension and action begin to escalate. Gone are the multi-page descriptions of meals and scenes in which almost nothing happens. Even minor characters are given some depth, even if they only appear for a scene. Even Bond has become much more complicated than any of his film personae, except for Craig’s portrayal in Casino Royale.
From Russia With Love is a fine book on its own and one of the best Flemming novels I’ve read so far. For any fan of James Bond, it’s highly recommended. As an aside, apparently it was also the only fictional work to appear on a list of “top ten” books that JFK enjoyed. Of course, we all know by now that JFK appreciated quality.
Other participants in the “52 in 52″ meme who reviewed books recently include:
- Jeremy reviews David Gilmour’s The Film Club: A Memoir.
- Jamie reviews Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy.
- Heliologue reviews Brian Jacques’ Salamandastron.
-K
Tags: 52 in 52, books, james bond
