One Bear's Opinion -- Book Review

Blood and Circuses by Kerry Greenwood

Blood and Circuses is the sixth book in Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher series.  I was introduced to this series by one of my housemates and I am so glad I was.  It's a fun series full of great, friendly characters and interesting situational plots.  It's also a great help for me because the series takes place in and around Melbourne and it's been helpful fitting the different areas of the city together for me; and since many of the landmarks are still where they were it's a big help.

There were two plots that seemed disconnected at first glance, but since most authors don't put trivial details in the books, I knew the two plots had to be connected in some way.  I was on the trail of the wrong murderer for most of the book, but I had the overall villain pegged from his introduction.

As this is the sixth book in the series, I a familiar with most of the recurring characters, and I missed them in this adventure.  Sometimes it's nice for new characters to come into the series, but I hope that the series does not fall into the trap of introducing main character's long-time friends only to never see them again.  It's frustrating to meet and get involved in characters only for them never to be mentioned again.  I am sure at some point, the series will have to go the way of all mysteries series and either start killing off beloved characters or introducing new ones only to be the victims/murderers.  It's a hazard of reading a mystery series, I suppose.

Like the previous Phryne Fisher adventures, this is an easy read, and definitely worth the time spent.  The best series are a collection of stand alone books that flow together as visits with old friends and the Phryne Fisher series is shaping up to be that kind of series.  I do not know how it will go when I get to the twentieth book in the series, but I am looking forward to finding out.

*** Special note:

It may be difficult to find this series in the US.  I know I have never seen it on bookstore shelves.  I know the series is available for Kindle, so if you have an e-book device you may have better luck than readers of old-fashioned paper books.  But even if you have to search for it, it is well worth the time and effort.  There are so many great authors who never make it to the shelves in American bookstores.

One Bear's Opinion:  Four Cups of Cocoa with Marshmallows and Ginger Biscuits

Happy Reading Everyone,

Oliver

One Bear's Opinion -- Book Review

Life, the Universe, and Everything by Douglas Adams

This was another book we read aloud as part of Story-time.  My housemate has been reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series for his contribution to Story-time.  It makes an interesting juxtaposition to the books my other housemate chooses.

I have never really been a fan of science fiction, whether true science fiction or fantasy.  But I do enjoy Douglas Adams' books.  I doubt I would have ever picked them up on my own, but they are great for sharing.  This is the continuation of the story begun in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, though it can stand alone if you have not read, or do not care to read the others in the series.  I think it is better to read the entire series, but then I find that with almost everything.  And as with all series, some of the books are better than others.

I find Douglas Adams' style very similar to Jasper Fforde's style, though in all honesty, it should be the other way around.  I was introduced to Jasper Fforde before Douglas Adams, so I think of the influence in the reverse order.  I find that Adams' suffers from the same problem Fforde does, in that many of the names of places, people and things were not necessarily envisioned to be read aloud.  I also find that illustrations would be helpful in some cases, or at the very least a map of the galaxy as Adams imagined it printed on the end papers of the book.  I found myself wondering what the places looked like in the author's mind, and got a bit lost with all the zipping about here, there, and everywhere.  But then, I find that illustrations are almost never unwelcome.

I like Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect and would enjoy having them over to dinner, but in the middle of this book, I begin to wonder if their life will ever settle down to a simple routine again.  I became quite nervous and impatient for Arthur who just seems to me to want to scream at anyone in control "Stop the World, I want to get off!"  But poor Arthur just gets drawn up into another inexplicable and too farfetched to be believed adventure.  This was a fun adventure, but it seemed trying for Arthur nonetheless.   I wonder if the end of the series will bring some peace for Arthur, or will he continue to be drug on one crazy adventure after another? (If you know, please do not tell me, I'd like to find out for myself.)

I have enjoyed the series, and would say if you have to read science fiction books, these are great ones to read.  They don't get too bogged down in the reality of space travel or the science involved.  They make sense in the world the they have established, and everything is fine.  They are fun reads, and great for sharing.  The series will not make me a convert to science fiction and I doubt I will re-read any of the series on my own, but I am glad my housemate shared them with us.

One Bear's Opinion:  Four Cups of Cocoa with Marshmallows

Happy Reading Everyone, 
Oliver

One Bear's Opinion -- Book Review

Waiting for Gertrude:  A Graveyard Gothic by Bill Richardson

I had read this book before and enjoyed it very much, but this time my housemates shared the book with each other and us, the Bears, during their weekend Story-Time.  Each of them has a book they read aloud to everyone.  It's a fun thing to do, and a nice way to end a busy week -- and it serves as a way my bibliophile housemate can share her love of reading with everyone else.  She never fails to select interesting, and very different books to share.

Waiting for Gertrude is a fantasy book, set in Paris' Père Lachaise Cemetery.  The characters, with one exception, are cats.  Many of those cats are "translations:"  cats who are the re-embodiment of famous people buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery.  From Alice B. Toklas to Isadora Duncan, from Oscar Wilde to Jim Morrison it's a veritable Who's Who of tourist stops in the Cemetery.  The basic plot of the story is that Alice B. Toklas is waiting for her long-time love, Gertrude Stein to be translated to her four-foot form so that Miss Toklas' afterlife can be as complete as her previous life.

It's a fun book, full of interesting characters, who share some of the personalities of their two-legged forms, but are completely different at the same time.  It's great for sharing, the grande finale is a great scene -- a frenzy of activity and emotion.

All in all, I highly recommend this book, and if you can share it aloud with people you love, so much the better.  I would caution that you not partake in any of Miss Toklas' specialties while you read this book as you may overlook some of the best parts.

One Bear's Opinion:  Five Cups of Cocoa with Marshmallows

Happy Reading Everyone,

Oliver