Stephen Dau's The Book of Jonas is a marvelous, lyrical debut that examines the effects of war on everyone involved. Dau weaves together the stories...
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This is a great historical fiction for young adults. It is about the 1917 Halifax Explosion that was both devestating and deadly to thousands of people. I really enjoy how the author uses the concept of time creases to transport her characters back in time. I would also reccomend two other books on historical fiction; Shadows of Disaster by the same author, Cathy Beveridge, as well as Winds of L'Acadie by Lois Donovan.
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(5 of 7 readers found this comment helpful)
An enjoyable read with a satisfying ending. I liked "hanging out" with the characters and learned a lot about the Acadians and the devastating deportation.
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(5 of 10 readers found this comment helpful)
Two separate murder investigations decades apart with only the most (seemingly) tenuous of threads connecting the two -- has Peter Robinson bitten off more than he can chew with this latest DCI Banks mystery novel? I don't think so (and I'm not just being a loyal fan here), in dpite of some rather lukewarm praise that PIECE OF MY HEART has garnered. Of course it is true that the book did take a while to take off and become totally engaging; ultimately, however the book did prove to be a very absorbing, satisfying and fascinating read. PIECE OF MY HEART involves two very different murder inquiries -- one taking place in 1969 where a young girl is found brutally murdered at a rock 'n' roll concert in Yorkshire, and one taking place decades later, in the present where a music journalist is found murdered in his holiday cottage. The two murders investigations are conducted separately, with DCI Banks and his team unaware of the connection (although the reader is) until about two-thirds through the book. And this, for mystery readers used to a more fast paced and straightforward unfolding of events, can be the source of some frustration. And truth to tell, it did take far longer than usual for me to finish PIECE OF MY HEART. But what I found myself appreciating and becoming increasingly fascinated with was the manner in which Peter Robinson juxtaposed these two very different murder investigations, highlighting the different ways in which the two inquiries were carried out and the different personalities involved. And while it does take a while for the suspense to build and give one that breathless, heady feeling, the author has, as usual, done a rather brilliant job of evoking the atmosphere and tone of the two time periods involved. All in all, PIECE OF MY HEART proved to be a very satisfying and pleasurable read: the pacing was spot on, the language finely nuanced, and the storyline intriguing. And I think that PIECE OF MY HEART richly deserves its star rating.
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(6 of 12 readers found this comment helpful)
While some people look to the coming solstice, lenthening day-light hours, etc as an indicator that summer is here, for me the real sign is the realisation that there is a new Marcus Dididus Falco for me to enjoy. And what a treat SEE DELPHI AND DIE was too! Full of wit, charm and dark humour, and simply chockful of eccentric and colourful characters, SEE DELPHI AND DIE kept me happily entertained from beginning to end. Mystery-wise, the plot does take a while to get moving, which is a tad disapointing; however Lindsey Davies still manges to deliver nevertheless and fans will not feel the lack. A very diverting read!!
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(3 of 6 readers found this comment helpful)
The reception for Nicci French's latest thriller, CATCH ME WHEN I FALL has been somewhat lukewarm at certain websites; and truth to tell, I can almost understand this. While well written, compelling and completely engrossing (I read it in one sitting), this novel doesn't really fit in with previous Nicci French novels. Nicci French is well known for writing taut, highly suspenseful reads, and CATHC ME WHEN I FALL is not all that edge-of-your-seat suspenseful. And fans not ready to for this departure in style may be disappointed. However, I have to wonder, disappointed though one may be, why so much of the plot was revealed in the trade reviews? This was not well done in my opinion.
About two-thirds of the novel is written from Holly's point-of-view, and the author does a fantastic job of conveying Holly's franticness, her anger, her frustrations and her fear -- we're drawn into Holly's messy world and feel sympathetic towards her (well at least I was) even as we're repelled. The sense of mounting urgency, fear and regret that Holly feels about her actions and what they have cost her is masterfully portrayed. The last bit of the novel is seen through Holly's best friend and coworker's eyes, Meg. And it is in this section, as Meg races to save Holly, that the suspense is really felt. All in all, even though CATCH ME WHEN I FALL is not the usual Nicci French fare, the book was still a good read. So that if you're looking for a well written, urban-London novel that is absorbing and engrossing, you'll definitely enjoy CATCH ME WHEN I FALL.
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(3 of 5 readers found this comment helpful)
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Sheila has commented on (17) products.
Chaos in Halifax by Cathy Beveridge
Sheila, June 3, 2007
This is a great historical fiction for young adults. It is about the 1917 Halifax Explosion that was both devestating and deadly to thousands of people. I really enjoy how the author uses the concept of time creases to transport her characters back in time. I would also reccomend two other books on historical fiction; Shadows of Disaster by the same author, Cathy Beveridge, as well as Winds of L'Acadie by Lois Donovan.(5 of 7 readers found this comment helpful)
Winds of L'Acadie by Lois Donovan
Sheila, May 28, 2007
An enjoyable read with a satisfying ending. I liked "hanging out" with the characters and learned a lot about the Acadians and the devastating deportation.(5 of 10 readers found this comment helpful)
Piece of My Heart: A Novel of Suspense by Peter Robinson
Sheila, June 17, 2006
Two separate murder investigations decades apart with only the most (seemingly) tenuous of threads connecting the two -- has Peter Robinson bitten off more than he can chew with this latest DCI Banks mystery novel? I don't think so (and I'm not just being a loyal fan here), in dpite of some rather lukewarm praise that PIECE OF MY HEART has garnered. Of course it is true that the book did take a while to take off and become totally engaging; ultimately, however the book did prove to be a very absorbing, satisfying and fascinating read. PIECE OF MY HEART involves two very different murder inquiries -- one taking place in 1969 where a young girl is found brutally murdered at a rock 'n' roll concert in Yorkshire, and one taking place decades later, in the present where a music journalist is found murdered in his holiday cottage. The two murders investigations are conducted separately, with DCI Banks and his team unaware of the connection (although the reader is) until about two-thirds through the book. And this, for mystery readers used to a more fast paced and straightforward unfolding of events, can be the source of some frustration. And truth to tell, it did take far longer than usual for me to finish PIECE OF MY HEART. But what I found myself appreciating and becoming increasingly fascinated with was the manner in which Peter Robinson juxtaposed these two very different murder investigations, highlighting the different ways in which the two inquiries were carried out and the different personalities involved. And while it does take a while for the suspense to build and give one that breathless, heady feeling, the author has, as usual, done a rather brilliant job of evoking the atmosphere and tone of the two time periods involved. All in all, PIECE OF MY HEART proved to be a very satisfying and pleasurable read: the pacing was spot on, the language finely nuanced, and the storyline intriguing. And I think that PIECE OF MY HEART richly deserves its star rating.(6 of 12 readers found this comment helpful)
See Delphi and Die (Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries) by Lindsey Davis
Sheila, June 6, 2006
While some people look to the coming solstice, lenthening day-light hours, etc as an indicator that summer is here, for me the real sign is the realisation that there is a new Marcus Dididus Falco for me to enjoy. And what a treat SEE DELPHI AND DIE was too! Full of wit, charm and dark humour, and simply chockful of eccentric and colourful characters, SEE DELPHI AND DIE kept me happily entertained from beginning to end. Mystery-wise, the plot does take a while to get moving, which is a tad disapointing; however Lindsey Davies still manges to deliver nevertheless and fans will not feel the lack. A very diverting read!!(3 of 6 readers found this comment helpful)
Catch Me When I Fall by Nicci French
Sheila, June 2, 2006
The reception for Nicci French's latest thriller, CATCH ME WHEN I FALL has been somewhat lukewarm at certain websites; and truth to tell, I can almost understand this. While well written, compelling and completely engrossing (I read it in one sitting), this novel doesn't really fit in with previous Nicci French novels. Nicci French is well known for writing taut, highly suspenseful reads, and CATHC ME WHEN I FALL is not all that edge-of-your-seat suspenseful. And fans not ready to for this departure in style may be disappointed. However, I have to wonder, disappointed though one may be, why so much of the plot was revealed in the trade reviews? This was not well done in my opinion.About two-thirds of the novel is written from Holly's point-of-view, and the author does a fantastic job of conveying Holly's franticness, her anger, her frustrations and her fear -- we're drawn into Holly's messy world and feel sympathetic towards her (well at least I was) even as we're repelled. The sense of mounting urgency, fear and regret that Holly feels about her actions and what they have cost her is masterfully portrayed. The last bit of the novel is seen through Holly's best friend and coworker's eyes, Meg. And it is in this section, as Meg races to save Holly, that the suspense is really felt. All in all, even though CATCH ME WHEN I FALL is not the usual Nicci French fare, the book was still a good read. So that if you're looking for a well written, urban-London novel that is absorbing and engrossing, you'll definitely enjoy CATCH ME WHEN I FALL.
(3 of 5 readers found this comment helpful)
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