Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
This is Rowling's first book written for adults. I had received reports from others who were in the middle of reading it when I first picked up the book. Some reports were positive and some were negative so I was eager to see for myself.
This is a story of the people who live in a small village that is next to a town. The "casual vacancy" is a formal term to describe a situation when someone on the community council of the village dies. In the first chapter, a man dies. As the story progresses we learn more about what kind of man he was and why his death is so pivotal in this community.
During the course of the story we get to hear the thoughts of most of the characters. This gives us an interesting perspective in what seems to be a study of human nature. In many ways we get to see that those people who think they are the backbone of the community are really the ones with the least to offer. Those that think they are but a small, and even worthless, part of the community actually have the most to give.
There is another plot line within the book that follows the goals of the dead man. This thread follows the reality of a 16 year old girl who lives in a run-down neighborhood, "The Fields", on the edge of the village boundaries. Many people within the village believe that The Fields should be part of the town rather than the village so that the poor and disadvantaged that live there can stop polluting the quiet peaceful atmosphere of the village. Others believe that the people of the village should be of help to those in The Fields so that they can change the circumstances of their lives.
I liked this book. I disagree with my friends who said they felt like Rowling just stuck in swear words and vulgar scenes just to make it an adult book. I felt that these all seemed appropriate for the characters. I feel like it was an adult book from beginning to end because it was so much a study of human nature and not entertainment like the young-adult cross over books are. This was not a page turner for me but I did become more engaged in the characters and wonder what would happen next and would so and so redeem their worth as a human being. It took until almost half-way through the book to get engaged so if you are trying to read it and find it slow, keep at it. It is worth the read.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Friday, October 5, 2012
The Winter of the World
The Winter of the World - Book 2 of the Century Trilogy by Ken Follett
This book takes us from 1933 through 1949. Once again, we are following five families from Wales, England, America, Germany and Russia.
I have decided that in a book such as this where we know the historical outcomes, a novelization of the scenario becomes that much more tense and anticipatory. I was just waiting to see which characters would be part of famous scenes and who would survive and who wouldn't.
This is the kind of book that is hard to put down and I would have loved to just been able to read non-stop. As it was, I had a couple very busy weeks and couldn't read as much as I liked. It took me 16 days to read the 940 pages of this book. I feel like starting all over again because it was so engaging.
Follett has created some very rich and real characters in this trilogy. By having most of his characters placed in a political position in the first book, he was able to keep them in a position of action or knowledge as the First and then the Second World War unfolded. There was a review on Amazon that someone was complaining that it wasn't plausible that all these people could meet and connect the way they do in the book. I disagree. I think that the circle of people in charge is not a very large one and the idea that a Senator and his son could encounter someone in the Red Army Intelligence community during a summit in World War II is completely believable. Also, this is a work of fiction so there are certain conveniences that the readers just need to go with.
I love this series and I think I'll need to re-read Fall of Giants and then Winter of the World again just before Book 3 is released.
On a side note, October is banned books month so your next book should be one that has been banned. Tomorrow ends the official Banned Books Week but check out the website www.bannedbooksweek.org for a list of books to choose from. I found I have read plenty. How about you?
This book takes us from 1933 through 1949. Once again, we are following five families from Wales, England, America, Germany and Russia.
I have decided that in a book such as this where we know the historical outcomes, a novelization of the scenario becomes that much more tense and anticipatory. I was just waiting to see which characters would be part of famous scenes and who would survive and who wouldn't.
This is the kind of book that is hard to put down and I would have loved to just been able to read non-stop. As it was, I had a couple very busy weeks and couldn't read as much as I liked. It took me 16 days to read the 940 pages of this book. I feel like starting all over again because it was so engaging.
Follett has created some very rich and real characters in this trilogy. By having most of his characters placed in a political position in the first book, he was able to keep them in a position of action or knowledge as the First and then the Second World War unfolded. There was a review on Amazon that someone was complaining that it wasn't plausible that all these people could meet and connect the way they do in the book. I disagree. I think that the circle of people in charge is not a very large one and the idea that a Senator and his son could encounter someone in the Red Army Intelligence community during a summit in World War II is completely believable. Also, this is a work of fiction so there are certain conveniences that the readers just need to go with.
I love this series and I think I'll need to re-read Fall of Giants and then Winter of the World again just before Book 3 is released.
On a side note, October is banned books month so your next book should be one that has been banned. Tomorrow ends the official Banned Books Week but check out the website www.bannedbooksweek.org for a list of books to choose from. I found I have read plenty. How about you?
The Hound of Rowan
The Hound of Rowan: Book 1 of the Tapestry Series by Henry H Neff
According to Amazon, the book is for ages 8 and up. I'd guess it is for ages 8-11. It is a little more detailed than I think a younger reader can engage in but it is too simplistic for 12 and up.
Our hero is Max McDaniels. He is a regular boy living in the suburbs of Chicago with his father who is in advertising. Max' mother disappeared a few years earlier.
I am going to read this book to my 6 1/2 year old and see how he likes it.
I kept waiting for the author to develop ideas and characters more but it never happened. The concept of the tapestry was not developed or explained with regard to its importance or even just the impact that it had on Max. The dreams that Max has of the Hound of Rowan are not well connected to legend so I'm still waiting to see if that resolves itself further. The connection that Max has with his "best friend" David Menlo is not believable. Max and David just happen to be roommates but I never got the impression that they were fast friends - just convenient ones.
This book feels like it wants to be Harry Potter but it falls short in many ways. Unless my son loves the story and wants to continue, I won't be reading any more of the series.
According to Amazon, the book is for ages 8 and up. I'd guess it is for ages 8-11. It is a little more detailed than I think a younger reader can engage in but it is too simplistic for 12 and up.
Our hero is Max McDaniels. He is a regular boy living in the suburbs of Chicago with his father who is in advertising. Max' mother disappeared a few years earlier.
I am going to read this book to my 6 1/2 year old and see how he likes it.
I kept waiting for the author to develop ideas and characters more but it never happened. The concept of the tapestry was not developed or explained with regard to its importance or even just the impact that it had on Max. The dreams that Max has of the Hound of Rowan are not well connected to legend so I'm still waiting to see if that resolves itself further. The connection that Max has with his "best friend" David Menlo is not believable. Max and David just happen to be roommates but I never got the impression that they were fast friends - just convenient ones.
This book feels like it wants to be Harry Potter but it falls short in many ways. Unless my son loves the story and wants to continue, I won't be reading any more of the series.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)