Tell No One by Harlan Coben

Tell No One by Harlan Coben
Thriller

This book was my first experience with Coben and I really enjoyed it. The first chapter grabs you and its hard to put the book down thereafter.

Eight years after his wife was murdered by a serial killer, Beck gets a weird email describing things that only his wife would know. He does as the email says and finds himself staring into a web cam with his wife walking through the streets. Can it really be her? Beck starts to untangle a web of lies and murder and gets in a lot of trouble along the way. This isn't so much a mystery as it is a thriller, which is a genre I've grown to really enjoy. Just when you think you have it figured all out, Coben throws you for another twist! I'm looking forward to reading another Coben book.

First Line: "There should have been a dark whisper in the wind."

Rating:

(4/5)

The Book Thief

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Fiction/Literature

The Book Thief is a unique book in many ways. It is the story of an illiterate, poverty-stricken young German girl during WWII. The story is narrated by Death: not a callous, frightening Death but a caring over-worked Death. Leisel Meminger is the Book Thief. She steals her first book at her brother's funeral. Her foster father teaches her to read and therein fosters a love of books and words. Liesel steals books from Nazi Book burnings and the mayor's wife's library.

Leisel's foster family hides a Jew in their basement. Max opens up Liesel's world even further by writing books for her.

Zusak writes about the dangerous times of Nazi Germany. The concentration camps, the Nazi youth movement and the fervour of the times is depicted very well. Zusak develops the characters so well the readers can feel the emotion through the pages.

Another unique feature is the manner in which the chapters are written. They are vignettes of life.

I loved the book and the way it was written.

First Line: "First the colors."

Rating:

(4.5/5)

The Secret Scroll

The Secret Scroll by Ronald Cutler
Mystery

Josh Cohan, an American Archaeologist, is on sabbatical in Israel after suffering professional disappointment. Following his instincts about a recurring dream, he discovers an antique scroll. Not willing to trust anyone he photographs it and then belatedly submits it to the Israeli Antiquities Authority (IAA). Josh believes the scroll to be written by Jesus Christ.

The Guardians, a violent Christian hate group thousands of years old, are anxious to obtain the scroll at any cost. The Guardians wish to dominate the world with their brand of evil. Who on the IAA is feeding the Guardians with information?

Josh joins with the IAA and their brilliant team of theologians and archaeologists to uncover the secrets of the scroll. While doing so, he falls in love with the beautiful daughter of one of the team members. This places her squarely in the face of all the danger. Will he be able to 'keep the girl' and the scroll?

Not only is there the mystery and intrigue, there is also a spiritual level to this book. One is led to think about Jesus as an individual and wonder about 'What If'. What if Jesus never ascended? What if the historical place is really not that spot? This book is one of the most well researched books I have ever read

First Line: "Josh Cohan was feeling spiritually heightened."

Rating:

(4.0/5)

The Double by Jose Saramago

The Double by Jose Saramago
Fiction/Literature

Since I read Blindness by Jose Saramago, I have been on the lookout for more of his works. Blindness is one of my favourite books and one that I think everyone should read at some point in their life. These works are translated from Portuguese and Saramago has a Nobel prize for his literary works.

Tertuliano Maximo Afonso is a history teacher with depression. In hopes of making him feel better, his colleague recommends a comedic movie. Afonso rents this movie, doesn't think too highly of it, and goes to sleep. In the middle of the night, he wakes up with an odd feeling. The movie is playing on his tv and someone that looks exactly like him is acting as the hotel receptionist in the movie. These two don't just look like each other - they are identical. Even their voice is exactly the same. Afonso sets to find out who this man is. When he finally tracks him down, the two engage in a tale of bitterness, revenge, happiness, and finding out who they really are.

True to Saramago style, the novel is written with very few paragraphs and periods. All conversations are separated only by a comma. It takes a while to get into this and is difficult to read at first, but don't let this stop you from finishing any of Saramago's works!

While I felt that part of the books had been dragged out a bit - for example, there were too many conversations with "common sense" - all that was completely forgiven by the incredible ending! One doesn't really expect twists except in mystery novels, so I was completely shocked by this one! Wow! One of the best-ended books I've ever read!

First Line: "The man who has just come into the shop to rent a video bears on his identity card a most unusual name, a name with a classical flavor that time has staled, neither more nor less than Tertuliano Maximo Afonso."

Rating:

(4.5/5)

The Pact

The Pact by Jodi Picoult
Literature

This is a typical Jodi Picoult book. A controversial subject is explored and a twist is introduced at the end.

The Golds and Hartes have lived side by side for years and their children have grown up together. Chris and Emily were destined to be soul mates. When a call from the hospital comes in the middle of the night, everyone is surprised. Emily is dead from a gunshot wound and Chris says they had a suicide pact. But the gun is from Chris' father's gun collection and forensics points to something other than suicide.

The book alternately portrays Chris and Emily growing up with scenes of the present. The idyllic past is interlaced with the anguish of the present. Picoult shows how each family member copes with the other family and the grief shared by all.

This book explores the idea of how well we know our children and how strong the bonds of friendship are. Picoult has once again written a book which had me reading well after the lights should have been out

First Line: "There was nothing left to say"

Rating:

(4.0/5)

The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier

The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier
Historical Fiction

Chevalier takes us into the artisan world of painters and weavers to describe a set of tapestries commissioned by the Le Viste family. The painter, Nicholas, convinces Le Viste to switch from battle tapestries to those following the story of the lady and the unicorn, which is a sensual story. The tapestries exist in real life but Chevalier makes up a story to envision how they were created.
Meanwhile, Nicholas tries to seduce every woman he meets, including Le Viste's daughter. He considers himself quite the charmer and his ways don't change when he is sent to Belgium to help the weavers.

The story is told from different characters' viewpoints - everyone from Nicholas, to Le Viste's daughter, to members of the weaver's family. Even with the switches in narration, the story is smooth and makes sense. It's easy to connect with the characters and wonder what will happen to them.

I was intrigued enough after finishing the book to go look up what the tapestries actually look like. If you do the same, make sure you find the picture where they are all hung up in the same room! It's quite something!

First Line: "The messenger said I was to come at once."

Rating:

(4.5/5)

Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code

Artemis Fowl:The Eternity Code by Eoin Colfer
Teen Literature

I do so enjoy Artemis and his plans. Artemis is showing off his fairy technology to Spiro, an equally evil businessman. Spiro turns the tables and steals the device and shoots Butler. Artemis tricks the fairies into coming to his rescue and reviving Butler. The whole fairy universe is in jeopardy because of this. What ensues is a plan only boy genius Artemis could have come up with.

We see Holly, Foaly and his ingenious devices, Mulch Diggums, Butler and his niece Juliet. This is a fast-paced adventure which ends with a mind wipe of Artemis. I can't wait to see if he overcomes this small setback.

First Line: "For the past two years my business enterprises have thrived without parental interference"

Rating:

(4.0/5)

Still Life

Still Life by Louise Penny
Mystery

Three Pines is a quaint country village in Quebec. On Thanksgiving Sunday Jane is found dead with what appears an arrow wound. Is this a hunter's mistake or a homicide? Surely in this village where everyone knows everyone else no one is capable of murder.

Armande Gamache is sent to investigate and slowly all the people have to give up their secrets. This village is a microcosm of society. There are the gay restaurateurs, the old cranky matron, the librarian and other various eccentrics. Is the murderer one of these or the greedy niece

I found the author caught the feeling of the Quebec village very well. This was a very enjoyable read

First Line: "Miss Jane Neal met her maker in the early morning mist of Thanksgiving Sunday"

Rating:

(4.0/5)

Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk

Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk
Fiction

Tender Branson is a member of a Creedish religion that, when the "Deliverance" happens and all the members still living in the commune kill themselves, is considered a cult. Creeds have been taught that once the deliverance happens, they are to kill themselves. However Tender doesn't feel like killing himself. He's not happy, but he's not sad either. He just exists, cleaning and giving etiquette lessons to a rich family.

The story is essentially Tender dictating his life story into the black box of an airplane he has hijacked. There is no one left on board, as Tender has seen to it that everyone is safe. We learn about Fertility, Tender's friend who can see into the future, and Adam, Tender's brother who was expected to be dead. After some suspicious suicides, Tender becomes a celebrity for being the last remaining member of the Creedish cult.

There's a bit of a social commentary on celebrities in this book, but it's not at all preach-ish. Palahniuk mocks celebrities through Tender's stories and it is pretty entertaining.

Adding to the intrigue of this book is the fact that the chapters and pages count down rather than up. But the best part of the book is when you're done and you take it all in. The end of the book is complete, yet left completely up to the reader and his/her imagination on what happened. Does Tender live or die? There are some clues dropped throughout the whole book that could lead you either way. If you visit Palahniuk's site, he gives his interpretation.

While I didn't find the overall plot gripping, I was googling this book when I was done because the ending didn't sit well with me. And when I realized that it wasn't meant to sit well with the reader, I was really intrigued. How often is it that a twist in the book comes after the book is finished?? It takes talent for a writer to pull that off.

First Line: "Testing, testing. One, two, three."

Rating:

(4/5)