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Powell's Staff:
Five Book Friday: In Memoriam
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Every year, the booksellers at Powell’s submit their Top Fives: their five favorite books that were released in 2023. It’s a list that, when put together, shows just how varied and interesting the book tastes of Powell’s booksellers are. I highly recommend digging into the recommendations — we would never lead you astray — but today...
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Brontez Purnell:
Powell’s Q&A: Brontez Purnell, author of ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt’
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Rachael P.:
Starter Pack: Where to Begin with Ursula K. Le Guin
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Customer Comments
Sheila has commented on (14) products
See Delphi & Die Marcus Didius Falco
by
Lindsey Davis
Sheila
, June 06, 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!!
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Catch Me When I Fall
by
Nicci French
Sheila
, June 02, 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.
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What Angels Fear
by
C S Harris
Sheila
, June 02, 2006
I can only say that I'm looking forward to the next installment in this series (if there is one, that is) -- it could go in several different directions, but I'm hoping that the author will keep Sebastian in England no matter what. I thoroughly enjoyed WHAT ANGELS FEAR and would heartily recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical mystery novels that possess a clever and engrossing plot that is full of interesting and vivid period details, and characters that engage. Also, the almost relentless pacing lent an air of immediacy and tension to novel, and gave it that edge-of-your-seat feeling and made the book practically unputdownable. WHAT ANGELS FEAR brought to mind historical novels by authors such as Bernard Cornwell and Alexander Dumas; I was completely hooked from the very first page, and found the book hard to put down. All in all, an excellent read.
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Pms Murder
by
Laura Levine
Sheila
, June 02, 2006
I really like Laura Levine's Jaine Austen series, and read them not so much for the mysteries as for her wonderfully entertaining writing style. This series, and this book for that matter, is to be enjoyed for it's quips, asides and hilarious yet (sometimes) embarrassing situations that Jaine generally finds herself in. The mystery subplot is sometimes on the ultra-light side, as it was with this particular installment, THE PMS MURDER; and how Jaine finally figures out who the murderer is (and how the novel is tied up) does almost beggar belief. But all those wonderful bits involving Jaine's cat, her parents and her job interviews for the bank job had me laughing out loud. And this is what made THE PMS MURDER a wonderfully enjoyable and fun read for me, and what (in spite of its light mystery plot) earned it a 4 star recommendation.
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Shamus In The Green Room Cece Caruso
by
Susan Kandel
Sheila
, May 31, 2006
The plot for SHAMUS IN THE GREEN ROOM was an interesting one: was the dead woman Maren or wasn't she? Had she committed suicide, or hadn't she? And what was everyone trying so hard to hide? And while all these interesting plot twists made for a rather interesting and absorbing read, I still rather missed the sparkling vibrancy that had so coloured the author's first book, I DREAMED I MARRIED PERRY MASON. Also, I have to admit that Cece's behaviour had me shaking my head in disbelief at times. Here's a woman who's rather savy and yet, in this particular installment, she seems to have lost her natural sense of self preservation. Over and over again, Cece would voice her belief that whoever she was talking to might be a killer -- and often, they'd be in some secluded spot and alone to top it all! How intelligent was that? I don't really like my detective heroines to be that foolish, and Cece's silliness really detracted from much of my reading pleasure. Still, SHAMUS IN THE GREEN ROOM did possess enough plot twists and intrigue to keep me and any Hammett fan happy -- even if SHAMUS IN THE GREEN ROOM was more of a cozy than a hard-boiled mystery novel. Fairly fast paced and with some rather humorous and ironic observations, plus some rather interesting historical/biographical notes about Hollywood and certain personalities (esp Hammett), SHAMUS IN THE GREEN ROOM was an enjoyable and satisfying book, and proved to be the ultimate relaxing weekend read.
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Palace Tiger
by
Barbara Cleverly
Sheila
, May 30, 2006
THE PALACE TIGER is yet another thrilling and suspenseful installment in the Joseph Sandliands mystery series that demands that one finish the book in one go. So that even though I'm not an absolute fan of the series (it is difficult to be a real fan when Cleverly's portrayals of the Indians tends to fall along stereotypical lines: they're either unscrupulous and always smiling or else they're really foolish and always smiling), honesty compels me to admit that Ms. Cleverly knows how to write a good, riveting read that will keep you happily engrossed till the very last page. Complete with a cast of fascintating characters, vivid imagery, atmosphere and an absorbing and intriguing storyline, THE PALACE TIGER was a riveting read from beginning to end. But I have to admit, even though I did enjoy THE PALACE TIGER to being thankful that Barbara Cleverly's next Joseph Sandilands mystery novel will take place in England. Perhaps now I will be able to enjoy this series without reservations!
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Tomb Of The Golden Bird
by
Elizabeth Peters
Sheila
, May 30, 2006
Mystery-wise, I'd say that THE TOMB OF THE GOLDEN BIRD rates about 3 stars. The plot is not that perplexing and took a long while to gather steam and become compelling (and that ending was just not very satisfying). On the other hand, this was a very well written book, full of warmth, wit and humour. It was nice to read about Amelia and Emerson and their extended families (even if I got a little tired of Elizabeth Peters' continual rhapsodising about the good looks of Emerson, Ramses, Nefret) again. Which makes me wonder about the neat manner in which everything is tied up at the end of the book -- what does this mean for the series? Also nicely done was how Elizabeth Peters incorporated the historical (the Carnovon-Carter discovery of Tutankhamon's tomb) and political happenings (the Egyptian nationalists fight for autonomy) of 1922 into her novel, using them a backdrop for the trouble the Emersons suddenly find themselves in. Ms Peters' attention to fine detail is flawless as is her skill in vividly bringing scenes and landscapes to life. So that even though this was not all that suspenseful, it was, nevertheless, a very engrossing and enjoyable 3 1/2 star read.
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Mark Of The Lion Jade Del Cameron
by
Suzanne Midd Arruda
Sheila
, May 29, 2006
Rich in period atmosphere and with a very interesting storyline, MARK OF THE LION turned out to be quite the absorbing read. And what made the book really absorbing was the charismatic character of the chief protagonist, Jade del Cameron. Intelligent, determined and quite courageous, Jade is the kind of heroine detective that is bound to win the approval and hearts of many mystery buffs. And even though I grew a little tired of reading about Jade's striking good looks and her flashing green eyes every few paragraphs or so, such was the storyline that I quickly shelved my irritation to the back of my consciousness. Other than that, all I will say (and all I actually need to note) is that this was a well executed novel that had a very clever and intriguing plot, that was written with appropriately vivid and colourful imagery, and that possessed a remarkably intelligent heroine with gumption. All in all a very good read, and I'm looking forward eagerly to the next Jade del Cameron installment.
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Lady Raised High Novel Of Anne Boleyn
by
Laurien Gardner
Sheila
, May 29, 2006
While I found the first installment in this new series about Henry VIII of England's wives, THE SPANISH BRIDE, absorbing and compelling, I have to admit that the same cannot be said of the second installment in the series, A LADY RAISED HIGH. Although well written and with some really good historical detail, A LADY RAISED HIGH failed to really satisfy mainly because the main protagonist of the piece, Frances Pierce, failed to truly engage. Estrella de Montoya, the chief protagonist of THE SPANISH BRIDE was a much more intelligent and clear minded and level headed character (and thus more interesting to me anyway) than Frances who seemed completely oblivious to everything that was going on around her. And her blind adulation and failure to comprehend fully what was going on really tried my patience for much of the book! All in all, A LADY RAISED HIGH was a well written book -- nothing earth-shatteringly new was added or revealed in this story of Anne Boleyn's rise and fall, but it was a well executed and vividly rendered re-telling anyway. Laurien Gardner handled her subject matter and the historical bits very well. Unfortunately for my reading pleasure, however, I found the character of Frances far too frustrating for be engaging. But perhaps someone not as finicky as I would enjoy it far more than I did.
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Long Shadow
by
Charles Todd
Sheila
, May 29, 2006
What I liked most about A LONG SHADOW was the atmosphere -- the bleak, gray and brown landscape that enveloped the village of Dudlington, as well as the menacing shadow of Frith Wood -- both authors did a wonderful job of incorporating these into the tone and mood of the book. And how wonderfully this little village contrasted with the colourful and jolly London dinner party that Rutledge and sister attend when the book opens! That was really setting up a study on contrasts! Also well done was how the characters, both secondary and primary were vividly portrayed -- these were characters that were so alive in their flaws and virtues, that they simply leaped off the pages and came alive for all to appreciate. And while the pacing of A LONG SHADOW was a little sedate at first as Rutledge struggled to figure out the motive behind the assault on the police constable, such was the skill that was employed that one hardly ever noticeed this. But the pace did gather momentum as the plot thickened, and the tension also mounted quite palpably as Rutledge gathered himself to confront both the murderer and his stalker. So that even though there weren't that many shocking plot twists and turns, the suspense and intrigue was still there for all to enjoy and savour. All in all, I enjoyed this book thoroughly, and in spite of my doubts about Hamish, am definitely looking forward to the next Ian Rutledge/Hamish mystery novel.
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Mr Darcys Daughters
by
Elizabeth Aston
Sheila
, May 29, 2006
The problem I had with MR. DARCY'S DAUGHTERS was in that I found it hard to believe that Darcy and Elizabeth would have allowed their two of their daughters to grow up to be later day versions of Lydia and Kitty (Elizabeth's sisters from PRIDE AND PREJUDICE). That they could have had a sanctimonious and peevish daughter was somewhat believable if not palatable. But I refused to swallow that those empty headed, little heedless man-mad rattles could have been Elizabeth's and Darcy's daughters! Perhaps I'm not being broadminded enough about this, but I somehow doubt that. The other negative (in my opinion anyway) about this book was that it did read like a retelling of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE and a not very interesting one at that. Unlike her later books which dealt with spousal abuse (THE EXPLOITS AND ADVENTURES OF MISS ALETHEA DARCY) and the attempts of a woman with little money and without the security of a good name could earn her own living ("THE TRUE DARCY SPIRIT), this book seemed to be about nothing much except the getting of husbands for the sisters. I had rather expected a little more than that. So that all in all, I would not recommend this Elizabeth Aston novel as a must read.
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Through A Glass Darkly Guido Brunetti
by
Donna Leon
Sheila
, May 29, 2006
As with all of Donna Leon's Brunetti mystery books, "Through A Glass Darkly" was a very vivid, atmospheric and finely nuanced novel. So, if you're loking for a good, well written book to read you won't go very wrong in picking up this book. However, this is not, unfortunately, one of Leon's more stellar efforts either. The haunting, engaging and softly edgy installments that one had come to expect ("Death at La Fenice," "Death in a Strange Country," "The Death of Faith," etc) is absent here. The pacing is more sedate as Brunetti finds himself interviewing characters about Del Cal and the probable toxic dumping. And while Brunetti's sympathies are very obviously aroused by the unfortunate night watchman, there is also a slight sense of ambivalence and noninvolvement from Brunetti that I have never sensed before in previous installments. However, in spite of these small disappointments, I will own that I finished the book in one sitting and that I did enjoy it nevertheless. (One of the best bits in the novel is when Chiara, Brunetti's daughter, helps him make sense of the night watchman's notes.) All in all, not a bad read, esp if you're a fan of the series. If this is your first foray into the series, however, I'd suggest picking up earlier mysteries (all available in paperback), before picking up this particular installment.
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Sun Storm
by
Asa Larsson
Sheila
, May 29, 2006
I was absolutely riveted by "Sun Storm" -- once I started it I simply couldn't put it down. True, the storyline is a much used one and fans of Val McDermid will find few surprises here; what I enjoyed, though, was the author's engaging and sympathetic portrayal of the novel's chief protagonist, Rebecka, and the two diligent and intelligent police officers assigned to the case (Inspectors Anna-Maria Mella & Sven-Erik Stalnacke), as well as the wonderful manner in which the author layered the tension and kept the suspense going at a fairly high level. Asa Larsson's crisp prose style (or indeed the translator's, Marlaine Delgargy, efforts) also went a long way towards making "Sun Storm" a truly absorbing and engaging read. All in all, this is an author and series to be on the lookout for!
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Thorn
by
Vena Cork
Sheila
, May 29, 2006
"Thorn" proved to be quite the page turner: it was suspenseful and gripping and full of riveting plot twists. I thought that Vena Cork did a rather masterful job of portraying the grief and sense of loss that Rosa, Danny and Anna felt, making the characters accessible and engaging. The manner in which she layered the suspense, building on the tension with each plot twist was wonderfully done as well. All in all, this was a terrific debut novel, worth sitting up and taking notice of. It was absorbing and compelling and possessed coloured the kind of dark, menacing atmosphere you want your mystery novel to have. Definitely an unputdownable Note: the plot synopsis posted is actually for Cork's second novel, THE FINE ART OF DYING.
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