A Burial at Sea by Charles Finch
Charles Lenox is back! And I could not be happier. An East in Murder was such a disappointment, I was really not sure I wanted to read A Burial at Sea. But I am so glad I did.
The story was good, with lots of action and plot twists and turns. Like Lenox, I was on the wrong trail for most of the book. I enjoyed going down the wrong path and finally discovering the murderer with the rest of the ship's officers. I knew I could rule out several people from the start, but the red herrings were very convincing and that only made the adventure more thrilling. I was very tempted to stay up late to finish the book when I was five chapters away, but I could not keep my eyes open any longer, and I knew that I wanted to be alert for the dénouement.
I wasn't thrilled with the spy sub-plot, as it could have been a plot all on its own. That part of the novel was not as flushed out or as complete as I had hoped. But all in all it was a great adventure.
I wish the author/publisher had thought to include a diagram of the ship and a chart for converting ship's bells and watches to a twelve- or twenty-four hour clock, if only for the reference value. I realize the author did a great deal of research for the book, but that does not mean his readers did the same amount. Most confirmed land-lubbers are not as familiar with ship's areas, customs or traditions.
The minor plot deserving a better spotlight, and the fact that reference materials would have been helpful, aside this was still a great adventure with Charles Lenox. I am back to eagerly anticipating the next one.
One Bear's Opinion: Five Cups of Strong Earl Grey Tea with a Plate of Ginger Biscuits and Candied Orange Peel
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Sunday, March 24, 2013
One Bear's Opinion -- Short Story Review
"An East End Murder" by Charles Finch
This short story is only available as an e-book, which is all right with me, as I prefer to use my e-reader. (It's easier to turn the pages by pressing a button than it is to turn the pages when you have no thumbs.) But at the same time, I know there is something inexplicably special about holding an actual book in your hands. My housemate prefers paper books to e-books, but will read her favorite series as e-books if that is all that is available.
I was excited to read the short story, and began it within hours of finishing the previous Charles Lenox novel, A Stranger in Mayfair. Everything I had seen indicated that this short story was chronologically between A Stranger in Mayfair and the next-in-series A Burial at Sea. I am not so sure about that, because during the current part of the story, Charles speaks to someone who indicates his orders have come from a character that died in an earlier novel. I can forgive that oversight, but it did make me wonder as to where the author intended the story to fall chronologically.
Beyond the chronological issues, I was disappointed by the story because it seemed as though there was only the idea of a story there, and not the completion of one. Each time Charles went off with an idea, it seemed that the author got stuck at the door. The description was lacking, as was the development. The story moved, but it was a quick outline of what happened, not a true re-telling of the tale. That was good enough for Charles' rememberings in the cab on the way somewhere, but it was disappointing for the readers who had not lived the experience as Charles had. Charles could jump from one interview to the next easily because he was there and participated in them. The readers did not have that luxury, so the story moved too quickly and too cryptically. It's a great mystery, and a good story, it just needed to be flushed out a bit more.
Aside from my complaints with the story itself, I had a complaint with the e-book version. More than half of the download was preview chapters of the next-in-series novel, A Burial at Sea. This was a serious disappointment and I felt cheated out of a great adventure. I know this a publisher decision and not the author's, but it still felt deceptive to me. I paid for a short story, and I got half a story and an advertisement for the next book.
One Bear's Opinion: One Disappointing Cup of Gas Station Coffee and a Stale Danish
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
This short story is only available as an e-book, which is all right with me, as I prefer to use my e-reader. (It's easier to turn the pages by pressing a button than it is to turn the pages when you have no thumbs.) But at the same time, I know there is something inexplicably special about holding an actual book in your hands. My housemate prefers paper books to e-books, but will read her favorite series as e-books if that is all that is available.
I was excited to read the short story, and began it within hours of finishing the previous Charles Lenox novel, A Stranger in Mayfair. Everything I had seen indicated that this short story was chronologically between A Stranger in Mayfair and the next-in-series A Burial at Sea. I am not so sure about that, because during the current part of the story, Charles speaks to someone who indicates his orders have come from a character that died in an earlier novel. I can forgive that oversight, but it did make me wonder as to where the author intended the story to fall chronologically.
Beyond the chronological issues, I was disappointed by the story because it seemed as though there was only the idea of a story there, and not the completion of one. Each time Charles went off with an idea, it seemed that the author got stuck at the door. The description was lacking, as was the development. The story moved, but it was a quick outline of what happened, not a true re-telling of the tale. That was good enough for Charles' rememberings in the cab on the way somewhere, but it was disappointing for the readers who had not lived the experience as Charles had. Charles could jump from one interview to the next easily because he was there and participated in them. The readers did not have that luxury, so the story moved too quickly and too cryptically. It's a great mystery, and a good story, it just needed to be flushed out a bit more.
Aside from my complaints with the story itself, I had a complaint with the e-book version. More than half of the download was preview chapters of the next-in-series novel, A Burial at Sea. This was a serious disappointment and I felt cheated out of a great adventure. I know this a publisher decision and not the author's, but it still felt deceptive to me. I paid for a short story, and I got half a story and an advertisement for the next book.
One Bear's Opinion: One Disappointing Cup of Gas Station Coffee and a Stale Danish
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
One Bear's Opinion -- Book Review
A Stranger in Mayfair by Charles Finch
Charles Lenox is a great friend. I knew this after the first mystery in the series. Sometimes you can just tell characters will become great friends. And the characters that populate these mysteries are those types of characters.
This book was a great friendly visit, the kind you want to keep going even after your friend has to head back to their home. This was the kind of visit you enjoy thoroughly, because it was a real visit with friends. There was an element of real life in it. Charles had real worries, real concerns, real disappointments, and real joys in this book.
The mystery in this installment seemed to take a backseat to Charles beginning his role as a Member of Parliament, but that was perfectly acceptable in the plot. The mystery was there because it is a mystery series. I had the murderer pegged early on, and picked up on some of the obvious clues that both Charles and Dallington appeared to have missed. But that was okay, because even though the mystery was in the end, a simple case, it was not the focus of the book. The way the overarching story for the series had developed, this volume needed to be more about Charles and how he would manage his roles than it needed to be an exciting mystery.
I enjoyed the story and the book. I am excited to read the next adventure. I hope it will be a fulfilling visit with friends.
One Bear's Opinion: Four Cups of Really Nice Tea with Cakes
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
Charles Lenox is a great friend. I knew this after the first mystery in the series. Sometimes you can just tell characters will become great friends. And the characters that populate these mysteries are those types of characters.
This book was a great friendly visit, the kind you want to keep going even after your friend has to head back to their home. This was the kind of visit you enjoy thoroughly, because it was a real visit with friends. There was an element of real life in it. Charles had real worries, real concerns, real disappointments, and real joys in this book.
The mystery in this installment seemed to take a backseat to Charles beginning his role as a Member of Parliament, but that was perfectly acceptable in the plot. The mystery was there because it is a mystery series. I had the murderer pegged early on, and picked up on some of the obvious clues that both Charles and Dallington appeared to have missed. But that was okay, because even though the mystery was in the end, a simple case, it was not the focus of the book. The way the overarching story for the series had developed, this volume needed to be more about Charles and how he would manage his roles than it needed to be an exciting mystery.
I enjoyed the story and the book. I am excited to read the next adventure. I hope it will be a fulfilling visit with friends.
One Bear's Opinion: Four Cups of Really Nice Tea with Cakes
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
Sunday, March 17, 2013
One Bear's Opinion -- Book Review
Raisins and Almonds by Kerry Greenwood
This is the ninth book in author Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher series. I was very excited to read this book, and not only because the title made it sound like it might be full of yummy treats. I was disappointed on that front, for while there were some treats mentioned, the title actually refers to a traditional Jewish lullaby that features prominently in the story.
On the surface, the story appeared to be a simple murder mystery, but as with the best mystery novels, digging deeper the plot became much more complicated. The book is set between the wars, when the Zionist Movement (campaign for an independent Jewish State) was gaining much support. The Zionist Movement is a complicated issue, that to this day, some 90 years after the time of the story, has not been satisfactorily settled. To no-one's surprise, Raisins and Almonds does not propose a solution to the issue, but the Movement, like the title song is central to the mystery.
The book mystery centers around a group of Jews in post-WWI Melbourne, and that is quite interesting to me. Before moving to Melbourne, I lived in New Orleans, a city known for its acceptance and absorption of immigrant cultures. Basically, New Orleans takes any and all reasons for celebration and opens and expands them to everyone in the city at the moment. Jewish celebrations are woven into the fabric of the city as much as Christian and pagan celebrations. New Orleans is not multi-cultural, it is pan-cultural. If you have a reason to celebrate, the city will celebrate with you. I knew the High Holy Days and understand the traditions almost as well as I understood the Christian ones that were celebrated in my own household.
Because I lived in an area that exposed me to so many cultures, I am interested in how those same cultures and traditions translated and are celebrated in other places. As far as I can tell, Melbourne embraces many cultures, but the celebrations tend to be more isolated, kept to areas specific for the culture in question. New Orleans does not have a Chinatown or a Greektown, everyone and every culture is everywhere. I miss that feeling of a true melting pot. I was very interested to discover, even by means of a fictional glimpse, the Jewish experience in Melbourne. I was not disappointed, and Phryne being a Gentile, provided a perfect excuse for the explanatory discussions and history lesson.
The mystery itself was quite well crafted. I was on the wrong track for much of the book. But the bigger story for me was the history lesson. The book was an entertaining look at the history, as well as including a quick lesson in alchemy and chemistry. Information-wise, it's a busy book. If you are not as interested in the history as I am, it may be a dry and slogging read. Even if you skim those bits, the book is an entertaining story. It's the kind of book that is perfect for a long plane ride, or any time you may find yourself waiting. It is very easy to pick up and put down again without needing to re-read any of the story.
I strongly encourage everyone I meet to check out the Phryne Fisher series. They are the perfect mix of history and fun.
One Bear's Opinion: Four Cups of Tea with Kosher Treats
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
This is the ninth book in author Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher series. I was very excited to read this book, and not only because the title made it sound like it might be full of yummy treats. I was disappointed on that front, for while there were some treats mentioned, the title actually refers to a traditional Jewish lullaby that features prominently in the story.
On the surface, the story appeared to be a simple murder mystery, but as with the best mystery novels, digging deeper the plot became much more complicated. The book is set between the wars, when the Zionist Movement (campaign for an independent Jewish State) was gaining much support. The Zionist Movement is a complicated issue, that to this day, some 90 years after the time of the story, has not been satisfactorily settled. To no-one's surprise, Raisins and Almonds does not propose a solution to the issue, but the Movement, like the title song is central to the mystery.
The book mystery centers around a group of Jews in post-WWI Melbourne, and that is quite interesting to me. Before moving to Melbourne, I lived in New Orleans, a city known for its acceptance and absorption of immigrant cultures. Basically, New Orleans takes any and all reasons for celebration and opens and expands them to everyone in the city at the moment. Jewish celebrations are woven into the fabric of the city as much as Christian and pagan celebrations. New Orleans is not multi-cultural, it is pan-cultural. If you have a reason to celebrate, the city will celebrate with you. I knew the High Holy Days and understand the traditions almost as well as I understood the Christian ones that were celebrated in my own household.
Because I lived in an area that exposed me to so many cultures, I am interested in how those same cultures and traditions translated and are celebrated in other places. As far as I can tell, Melbourne embraces many cultures, but the celebrations tend to be more isolated, kept to areas specific for the culture in question. New Orleans does not have a Chinatown or a Greektown, everyone and every culture is everywhere. I miss that feeling of a true melting pot. I was very interested to discover, even by means of a fictional glimpse, the Jewish experience in Melbourne. I was not disappointed, and Phryne being a Gentile, provided a perfect excuse for the explanatory discussions and history lesson.
The mystery itself was quite well crafted. I was on the wrong track for much of the book. But the bigger story for me was the history lesson. The book was an entertaining look at the history, as well as including a quick lesson in alchemy and chemistry. Information-wise, it's a busy book. If you are not as interested in the history as I am, it may be a dry and slogging read. Even if you skim those bits, the book is an entertaining story. It's the kind of book that is perfect for a long plane ride, or any time you may find yourself waiting. It is very easy to pick up and put down again without needing to re-read any of the story.
I strongly encourage everyone I meet to check out the Phryne Fisher series. They are the perfect mix of history and fun.
One Bear's Opinion: Four Cups of Tea with Kosher Treats
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
Thursday, March 7, 2013
One Bear's Opinion -- Book Review
The Treacherous Teddy by John J. Lamb
I'll admit it, my housemate saw this book in a bargain bin and bought the book because she thought I would enjoy it. She's nice like that.
I really wanted to like this book. My housemate bought it because she thought I would enjoy it, and I wanted to make it a worthwhile purchase. But the truth is I was disappointed in the book. Like her, I anticipated bears would have a bigger, more important role in the plot. As it turns out, the bears were a hobby for the investigators and were relegated to a background filler plot point. This made me unreasonably sad. I finished the book, but I was still upset by the lack of friendly bears and bears who were book characters. Obviously the author knows a great deal about collectible bears, but I know more about being a bear. And I know that bears want much more than to be dolls on display, and have much more to offer than serving as a repository for mohair and fabric scraps. Bears are important and could have helped solve the mystery. It's not like there is not a precedent for animals helping out humans in other mystery series. Yes, I know many people look at bears as inanimate objects at worst and children's toys at best, but I am positive there is a way to work the bears into more of a starring role.
If the author had put as much thought into making the bears more integral characters as he had in working the puns into the dialogue and story line it would have been a very different novel, and perhaps I would have enjoyed it more. The mystery itself was quite interesting, and took me some time to figure out. That part of the plot was well-crafted, complete with red herrings and wild goose chases. I was surprised with the final solution of the whodunit aspect, because I was completely going after another suspect, though by the time the characters figure it out, it's as plain as day for the readers. Unfortunately the relatively good mystery could not make up for the disappointment as to the non-starring role of the bears and the overuse of forced puns.
In looking up the author's other works, I found that this was the last book of the series, though it was not originally planned as such. Apparently, the author's publisher did not renew an order for further books after sales figures on the books included in the original contract were less than desired. After reading this book, I can't say I am surprised. I am sorry for the author, because he probably put a great deal of work and effort into this book and the others in the series. But the only work that showed in the final book was the dropping of prominent artisan bear makers' names and forcing a plot around bad puns. That is not enough to keep readers coming back for more.
I do wish the author well in his future endeavors, and would like to say that I am available for interviews if he needs help working bears in as characters in future projects.
One Bear's Opinion: One Warmish Cup of Powdered Hot Cocoa with No Marshmallows
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
I'll admit it, my housemate saw this book in a bargain bin and bought the book because she thought I would enjoy it. She's nice like that.
I really wanted to like this book. My housemate bought it because she thought I would enjoy it, and I wanted to make it a worthwhile purchase. But the truth is I was disappointed in the book. Like her, I anticipated bears would have a bigger, more important role in the plot. As it turns out, the bears were a hobby for the investigators and were relegated to a background filler plot point. This made me unreasonably sad. I finished the book, but I was still upset by the lack of friendly bears and bears who were book characters. Obviously the author knows a great deal about collectible bears, but I know more about being a bear. And I know that bears want much more than to be dolls on display, and have much more to offer than serving as a repository for mohair and fabric scraps. Bears are important and could have helped solve the mystery. It's not like there is not a precedent for animals helping out humans in other mystery series. Yes, I know many people look at bears as inanimate objects at worst and children's toys at best, but I am positive there is a way to work the bears into more of a starring role.
If the author had put as much thought into making the bears more integral characters as he had in working the puns into the dialogue and story line it would have been a very different novel, and perhaps I would have enjoyed it more. The mystery itself was quite interesting, and took me some time to figure out. That part of the plot was well-crafted, complete with red herrings and wild goose chases. I was surprised with the final solution of the whodunit aspect, because I was completely going after another suspect, though by the time the characters figure it out, it's as plain as day for the readers. Unfortunately the relatively good mystery could not make up for the disappointment as to the non-starring role of the bears and the overuse of forced puns.
In looking up the author's other works, I found that this was the last book of the series, though it was not originally planned as such. Apparently, the author's publisher did not renew an order for further books after sales figures on the books included in the original contract were less than desired. After reading this book, I can't say I am surprised. I am sorry for the author, because he probably put a great deal of work and effort into this book and the others in the series. But the only work that showed in the final book was the dropping of prominent artisan bear makers' names and forcing a plot around bad puns. That is not enough to keep readers coming back for more.
I do wish the author well in his future endeavors, and would like to say that I am available for interviews if he needs help working bears in as characters in future projects.
One Bear's Opinion: One Warmish Cup of Powdered Hot Cocoa with No Marshmallows
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
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