Leni Zumas's writing crackles. Her books are sharp, bleak, funny, and possibly dangerous. When her collection of short stories, Farewell Navigator,...
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Napoleon’s Gambit was the perfect combination of naval history and time travelling adventure. As a fan of both H.G. Wells and Patrick O’ Brien, it was of particular interest to me. The combination of these genres resulted in a very unique reading experience.
The book was a very quick and enjoyable read. It is definitely a page turner. I often found myself engrossed in the story to the point that I forgot my surroundings. I particularly enjoyed the last half of the book where Josh Rick is in 1813 and educating these prominent historical characters about the nuances of modern technology. The battle scene at the end was excellent. You really did get the feel of the chaos and brutality of battle. The one aspect of this book that I did not like was the romantic relationship between Josh and Ses. I perhaps wouldn’t have minded the relationship so much if Ses had been a more likeable character. She just seemed too pretty, too perfect, too intelligent. This, however, was not enough to detract from my enjoyment of the book. The historical characters of Captain Lord Thomas Cochrane and Dr. James Guthrie were excellent additions to the story. I almost forgot that they were historical characters. They fit into the story seamlessly.
This book requires a basic knowledge of historical events and nautical terms but Goldman's website has plenty of helpful glossaries and maps.
To tell you the truth when I first picked up this book I was sure I was not going to like it. I found myself pleasantly surprised. “The Misadventures of Oliver Booth” presents a witty and sarcastic portrait of a desperate social climber.
Oliver Booth seems to be an amalgam of all the pesky, ambitious and abrasive social climbers and hangers on that Desmond surely has come into contact with. Oliver is obese, foul smelling, and petulant. He is not a character most people want to find themselves seated across from at dinner. He runs an antique shop filled with overpriced Mexican reproductions of Louis XIV. He hoodwinks a poor, sensible French waiter named Bernard into working at his antique shop. He demands first class treatment and throws a fit worthy of a petulant four year old girl in a toy shop. He is also one of the most engaging characters I have ever come across. I could not put this book down once I started reading. I was waiting to see what kind of situation Oliver got himself into next. He is not a character you will like. If you meet a person like Oliver, your faith in the general goodness of humanity will be greatly diminished.
Desmond’s writing style is also one of this book. He is witty and sarcastic. His writing will draw you into this zany and wacky tale. You will get to the end of the book and not know how you got there. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a good laugh.
This book is not my usual fare. I never like modern chick lit. I usually skip over books like this when in the bookstore. I am so glad that I was chosen to receive this book because I would be missing such a gem of a book because of my own prejudice. The Professors Wives’ Club is one of the most engaging and entertaining books I have ever read.
Mary, Ashleigh, Sofia and Hannah are some of the most interesting characters I have ever encountered. The minute I began reading, I was completely invested in their lives and relationships. I felt I could identify with something in each and every one of them even though I have very little in common with any of them. These women could have easily developed into realm of the “annoying female character” (overly perfect, super-woman complex or weak-willed, dependent, water-works) without a writer as skilled at weaving a plot as Rendell. Her writing is crisp. She captures each woman’s voice perfectly and weaves their stories together seamlessly.
The fact that the book centers around the world of academia was also a strong draw for me. The internal politics and conflicts of University life are especially interesting to me because I went to a university in New York where internal protests and strikes were a familiar and almost everyday occurrence. Rendell displays the internal conflicts and tensions very accurately.
Once I started the book, I could not put it down. This is not your typical chick lit book to use for easy reading on vacation. This book will distract you and get you so embroiled in the story, you will spend your vacation inside reading the book. I absolutely love this book. I will be anxiously awaiting Rendell’s next book which comes out in 2009.
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bibliophile23 has commented on (3) products.
Napoleon's Gambit: Sailing Through History to Commit the Perfect Crime by Eric Goldman
bibliophile23, April 13, 2009
Napoleon’s Gambit was the perfect combination of naval history and time travelling adventure. As a fan of both H.G. Wells and Patrick O’ Brien, it was of particular interest to me. The combination of these genres resulted in a very unique reading experience.The book was a very quick and enjoyable read. It is definitely a page turner. I often found myself engrossed in the story to the point that I forgot my surroundings. I particularly enjoyed the last half of the book where Josh Rick is in 1813 and educating these prominent historical characters about the nuances of modern technology. The battle scene at the end was excellent. You really did get the feel of the chaos and brutality of battle. The one aspect of this book that I did not like was the romantic relationship between Josh and Ses. I perhaps wouldn’t have minded the relationship so much if Ses had been a more likeable character. She just seemed too pretty, too perfect, too intelligent. This, however, was not enough to detract from my enjoyment of the book. The historical characters of Captain Lord Thomas Cochrane and Dr. James Guthrie were excellent additions to the story. I almost forgot that they were historical characters. They fit into the story seamlessly.
This book requires a basic knowledge of historical events and nautical terms but Goldman's website has plenty of helpful glossaries and maps.
The Misadventures of Oliver Booth: Life in the Lap of Luxury by David Desmond
bibliophile23, April 13, 2009
To tell you the truth when I first picked up this book I was sure I was not going to like it. I found myself pleasantly surprised. “The Misadventures of Oliver Booth” presents a witty and sarcastic portrait of a desperate social climber.Oliver Booth seems to be an amalgam of all the pesky, ambitious and abrasive social climbers and hangers on that Desmond surely has come into contact with. Oliver is obese, foul smelling, and petulant. He is not a character most people want to find themselves seated across from at dinner. He runs an antique shop filled with overpriced Mexican reproductions of Louis XIV. He hoodwinks a poor, sensible French waiter named Bernard into working at his antique shop. He demands first class treatment and throws a fit worthy of a petulant four year old girl in a toy shop. He is also one of the most engaging characters I have ever come across. I could not put this book down once I started reading. I was waiting to see what kind of situation Oliver got himself into next. He is not a character you will like. If you meet a person like Oliver, your faith in the general goodness of humanity will be greatly diminished.
Desmond’s writing style is also one of this book. He is witty and sarcastic. His writing will draw you into this zany and wacky tale. You will get to the end of the book and not know how you got there. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a good laugh.
The Professors' Wives' Club by Joanne Rendell
bibliophile23, April 13, 2009
This book is not my usual fare. I never like modern chick lit. I usually skip over books like this when in the bookstore. I am so glad that I was chosen to receive this book because I would be missing such a gem of a book because of my own prejudice. The Professors Wives’ Club is one of the most engaging and entertaining books I have ever read.Mary, Ashleigh, Sofia and Hannah are some of the most interesting characters I have ever encountered. The minute I began reading, I was completely invested in their lives and relationships. I felt I could identify with something in each and every one of them even though I have very little in common with any of them. These women could have easily developed into realm of the “annoying female character” (overly perfect, super-woman complex or weak-willed, dependent, water-works) without a writer as skilled at weaving a plot as Rendell. Her writing is crisp. She captures each woman’s voice perfectly and weaves their stories together seamlessly.
The fact that the book centers around the world of academia was also a strong draw for me. The internal politics and conflicts of University life are especially interesting to me because I went to a university in New York where internal protests and strikes were a familiar and almost everyday occurrence. Rendell displays the internal conflicts and tensions very accurately.
Once I started the book, I could not put it down. This is not your typical chick lit book to use for easy reading on vacation. This book will distract you and get you so embroiled in the story, you will spend your vacation inside reading the book. I absolutely love this book. I will be anxiously awaiting Rendell’s next book which comes out in 2009.