Category: Books

Genre:  Novel

Grade B+

Notable People:   Donna Tartt

Title: Goldfinch

 

Review: compelling third novel from Tartt, this is mammoth book- scanning decades in the life of young man who loses his mother in a terrorist attack at a major NY art museum. Cast adrift through a variety of life circumstances- his ultimate bedrock is the infamous 16^th century Dutch Master painting he inadvertently took away from the rubble and then has it become his grounded touchstone to his beloved mother. Set alternately in the antiques world  of New York and the dream-to-get- rich environs of Las Vegas  it is a fascinating study of hope and despair. A worthwhile, but VERY long and sometimes difficult read.

Genre:  Novel

Grade A-

Notable People:   Philip Kerr

Title: A Quiet Flame

 

Review: another in a long line of quality books I’ve read in last year that takes place in Berlin in the dark days of the Nazi emergence. This is part of as series by this gifted writer about Bernie Gunther, a Berlin detective genius trying to survive despite his anti-Nazi sentiment. The book moves flawlessly back and forth between his experiences in the late 30s in Berlin and in 1950 after his escape to Argentina- hunted as a war criminal despite being forced into SS duty during the war. The man is a walking ball of guilt and regret and determined to tie the atrocities of the very corrupt Peron regime with unsolved pre-war Berlin atrocities. The portrayals of some of the most heinous war criminals hiding out in Buenos Aires along with the ruthless Peron government are chilling. Gunther remains a man for all seasons despite it all, and no happy endings likely in sight-paying the price for his time and place. A bunch more of these to look forward to. A very quick and quality read.

Genre: Novel

Grade A

Notable People: Martin Walker

Title: Bruno- Chief of Police

Review: C’est Magnifique!!!! Absolutely loved this first in a series of “Bruno” novels set in the south of France. Bruno is the chief in the tiny hamlet of St. Denis in the Perigord-Dordogne region in the southwest of France. His classic small town life is disrupted by a heinous murder which leads to all kinds of strange twists and curves. We have French characters of the finest resort, meals we all dream of, Nazis, Arab emigrants, chateaus. the famous Lascaux caves and of course, les romances…all too good to be true….a wonderful read for the sun and sand (happened to read on sojourn in the Keys). Wonderful, wonderful! I

Genre: Novel

Grade A
Notable People: Mitch Albom
Title: The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto

Review: I absolutely loved this beautiful book. Albom has become quite the writer since he wrote Tuesdays with Morrie. An amazing story of a young orphaned musician in Spain who goes on to become a Rock music legend and leads a mega- mysterious life- all told through the narrative of the ethereal voice of music itself. Frankie is the Forrest Gump of the music genre- interacting with musical legends from the 50s until now- Django Reinhardt, Duke Ellington, Jimi Hendrix, Tony Bennett, The Stones, Roger McGuinn…on and on (did I mention the extraordinary story involving Hank Williams?). What a magnificent and touching story-everyone should read this book- one I read in short intervals; the more to savor all its glory. Just beautiful!

Genre: Novel

Grade: B+

Notable People: James Lee Burke

Title: Creole Bell

Review: Being a serial reader, I have been on a renewed Burke kick. This one is a yin and yang. I do think Burke is one of the pre-eminent writers of our time in the “mystery” genre, but has become somewhat repetitive in later years. This is the 19th in the Dave Robicheaux series (I already reviewed the 20th not too long ago) and is back in his beloved Iberia Parrish, outside of New Orleans. His powers of description remain unparalleled and his stories are humdingers…but the sheer amount of symbolic meandering and philosophical/moral rants has become a negative diversion. The books have also taken on a bit too much of sheer unbelievability. So, A+ for the level of writing, and a B for the rest. If you are interested in exploring Burke, go back to his earlier Robicheaux novels (Neon Rain, Black Cherry Blues). when he was more of a flat out great storyteller and avoid the constant ramblings on the Vietnam experience and the nature of evil.

Genre: Novel

Grade: B+

Notable People: James Lee Burke

Title: Light of the World

Review: Burke has gone a bit over the deep-end. In this, the umpteenth in the Dave Robicheaux crime series, he has moved from the Louisiana Bayou to the Bitterroot mountains of Montana-which corresponds to his own geographical re-location. Ostensibly, Dave and Clete and their families are spending the summer in Montana with a legendary activist writer friend. Needless to say, chaos follows and finds them. The book seems more far fetched than his even his usual and his long diatribes on the nature of evil, biblical exploration and the Vietnam experience take more of the book than the actual story. All that said, Burke is wonderful writer and has developed these great characters over the last 30 years. His descriptive powers of place are also among the best. It’s a thrill ride with a lot of lulls for rumination- but definitely worth the read.

Genre: Novel

Grade: B+

Notable People: Robert Galbraith

Title: Silkworm

Review: The second novel of three published by JK Rowling (Harry Potter) under the pen name of Galbraith, it is another extremely well written book. Galbraith/Rowling is the real deal as a writer, and these Cormoran Strike mysteries are quite the reads. Strike is a one legged gruff Afghanistan amputee living and working his private dick gig in the heart of London. The books are very descriptive and the mysteries pretty complicated. And, awful lot of red herrings. Strikes’ character is quite an enigma and well thought out and written. This is another good installment, but I found the last quarter of it dragged (the books are almost 500 pages to begin with). Still, a good read by a great writer.

Stu’s Reviews

Genre: Novel

Grade: B+/B
Notable People: Jim Harrison
Title: The Big Seven

Review: First thing is, as you may know, I am a huge fan of Jim Harrison. In addition, to an extraordinary legacy of great fiction, he has been a master of the short story collection in recent years. His prose is that of the great legends of the craft. That all said, his recent novels have been a bit tiring with an almost absurd Hemingway-like focus of conquering nature, living the good fight, traumatic aging and conquering younger woman. This is the second is a series he started a few years ago, featuring the retired Upper Peninsula police detective, Sunderson. Sunderson is having hard time living without his ex-wife and turns this into an endless reflection on loss and endless sexual pursuit that tends to drift across the country. The cases to be solved are secondary-it’s certainly not a detective novel-almost a parody of one. The “Big Seven” refers to the seven deadly sins, to which Sunderson wants to add an eight. Harrison remains a great writer and these novels showcase his aging humor, but I long for the more serious novels which left you moved in many ways. Good-not great

Genre: Novel

Grade: B+ (B)
Notable People: Elizabeth Tallent
Title: Mendocino Fire

Review: This is an interesting set of stories/novellas by this California writer/academic that are alternately set in California and Iowa. they roughly trace the life path of a college professor (clearly the author) through a series of romantic entanglements, life changes and family crisis. Very-very well written but somewhat obtuse and quite esoteric at times. You almost have to have gone to grad school to keep up. If you’re willing to struggle a bit with her intellectualism, there is some vivid material here. Hard to rate this one…so I took the easy way out with a range

Genre: Novel

Grade: A-

Notable People: Jim Harrison

Title: The English Major

Review –As I’ve noted before, in my opinion Jim Harrison is probably our greatest living American writer- so he starts with an “A” in my book. That said, this one is not one of his best novels, though still phenomenally well written. Like all is books- it is clearly a variation of his story taking place in his friendly confines of most Northern Michigan (Deb Hodges will note that part is set in Harbor Springs!). Sixty year old man loses his wife, his dog and his farm and sets out to visit each state- re-naming the states and their state birds along the way. He also tries to fulfill his 50 year old sexual fantasies while attempting to stay out of the modern world (he flushes at least three cell phones down the toilet). Maybe this character hits close to home!!!Harrison has gotten more humorous in his later stages, which may or may not be a plus. A delightful read, though not in the same class as Legends of the Fall or Dalva.