I have recently written a novel about life in England during the Second World War. I felt some concern before I tackled this theme — the War...
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The somewhat jerky pace of the book comes to abrupt and chilling coherence in the last ten pages, when DeLillo finally turns to portraying what the moment of impact must have been like. At that point the experience of reading the first two hundred pages comes close to seeming worthwhile.
I find I am a little exasperated that other equally worthy treatments of 9/11 have been ignored in the hoopla surrounding FALLING MAN. I refer other readers to Jess Walter's THE ZERO, S J Rozan's ABSENT FRIENDS, and Laila Halaby's ONCE IN A PROMISED LAND.
As writers of every stripe respond to that day, we will reap a rich heritage of worthwhile reading. Other authors have paved the way, let's not ignore them!
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(10 of 19 readers found this comment helpful)
Let's see - anthropomorphic bears; atomic cold fusion involving a strain of cucumbers; a theme park recreating the WW One Battle of the Somme; a psychopathic gingerbread man; outsourcing the tooth fairy; porridge and honey regulated as controlled substances; a car which has uncanny things in common with the portrait of Dorian Gray; planning a wedding and trying to decide which Greek god properly belongs on the guest list; Mrs. Danvers (the characterization enacted by Anna Massey) lately of Manderley working as a government investigator; and characters who know perfectly well they are in a book and discuss which plot device to use next.
As with other books preceding this one, Fforde manages to present a decent police procedural in spite of it all.
A lot of fun!
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(7 of 12 readers found this comment helpful)
Indridason has been publishing his series set in Reykavik Iceland, and (duh!) written in Icelandic, for several years. Recently English translations have become available and readers who delight in noir have a huge treat waiting.
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(5 of 10 readers found this comment helpful)
Very engrossing, and chilling at times. By seeking the answer to the fate of six members of his extended family, Mendelsohn presents an intriguing commentary on family tensions and the twists of history.
Not easy going by any means, but still very readable.
One of the best books of 2006.
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(9 of 16 readers found this comment helpful)
At once an engrossing crime story with truths drawn from front pages worldwide, and a deeply satisfying character study of a man at the crossroads, LIFELESS will hold you captive until the last page.
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(4 of 10 readers found this comment helpful)
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A R Pickett has commented on (7) products.
Falling Man: A Novel by Don DeLillo
A R Pickett, June 28, 2007
The somewhat jerky pace of the book comes to abrupt and chilling coherence in the last ten pages, when DeLillo finally turns to portraying what the moment of impact must have been like. At that point the experience of reading the first two hundred pages comes close to seeming worthwhile.I find I am a little exasperated that other equally worthy treatments of 9/11 have been ignored in the hoopla surrounding FALLING MAN. I refer other readers to Jess Walter's THE ZERO, S J Rozan's ABSENT FRIENDS, and Laila Halaby's ONCE IN A PROMISED LAND.
As writers of every stripe respond to that day, we will reap a rich heritage of worthwhile reading. Other authors have paved the way, let's not ignore them!
(10 of 19 readers found this comment helpful)
The Fourth Bear: A Nursery Crime (Nursery Crime) by Jasper Fforde
A R Pickett, December 22, 2006
Let's see - anthropomorphic bears; atomic cold fusion involving a strain of cucumbers; a theme park recreating the WW One Battle of the Somme; a psychopathic gingerbread man; outsourcing the tooth fairy; porridge and honey regulated as controlled substances; a car which has uncanny things in common with the portrait of Dorian Gray; planning a wedding and trying to decide which Greek god properly belongs on the guest list; Mrs. Danvers (the characterization enacted by Anna Massey) lately of Manderley working as a government investigator; and characters who know perfectly well they are in a book and discuss which plot device to use next.As with other books preceding this one, Fforde manages to present a decent police procedural in spite of it all.
A lot of fun!
(7 of 12 readers found this comment helpful)
Silence of the Grave by Arnaldur Indridason
A R Pickett, December 1, 2006
Indridason has been publishing his series set in Reykavik Iceland, and (duh!) written in Icelandic, for several years. Recently English translations have become available and readers who delight in noir have a huge treat waiting.(5 of 10 readers found this comment helpful)
The Lost: A Search for Six of Six Million by Daniel Mendelsohn
A R Pickett, December 1, 2006
Very engrossing, and chilling at times. By seeking the answer to the fate of six members of his extended family, Mendelsohn presents an intriguing commentary on family tensions and the twists of history.Not easy going by any means, but still very readable.
One of the best books of 2006.
(9 of 16 readers found this comment helpful)
Lifeless by by Mark Billingham
A R Pickett, October 16, 2006
At once an engrossing crime story with truths drawn from front pages worldwide, and a deeply satisfying character study of a man at the crossroads, LIFELESS will hold you captive until the last page.(4 of 10 readers found this comment helpful)
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