Lucifer's Shadow by David Hewson

Lucifer's Shadow by David Hewson
Mystery

Lucifer's Shadow follows two parallel stories that take place about 250+ years apart. The 1733 story follows Lorenzo Scacchi, a printer's apprentice, in the time of Vivaldi. Lorenzo and a young Jewish woman put their necks on the line to play and write music. Something that, ironically, they would have no troubles doing in the time period of the later story. That story involves Daniel, an Englishman brought to Venice by Scacchi to help "sort a library". Of course, nothing of the sort happens and Daniel follow in Lorenzo's footsteps very closely, but in a different era.
I loved the effect of the parallel stories, and even though they were very close, I didn't find myself getting bored by other story because the characters were very real. The descriptions were also fantastic. I have never been to Venice (or anywhere in Italy) but the book helped me paint a great picture.
There were plenty of twists and turns. Some that I never expected, which puts the book up a couple notches in my mind because usually I can figure out what is going to happen before it actually does.
However, there are some completely unrealistic aspects of the book. A violin picked up out of a coffin after 10 years of being underground would be warped, and the strings would be brittle. Of all places in the world to play a stringed instrument, I imagine that Venice would be very troublesome because of the water, which would create constant problems with tuning.
Overall, quite an enjoyable mystery!

Rating:

(4/5)

Hostile Makeover

Hostile Makeover by Wendy Wax
Romance

A Pure fluff book! Shelley Schwartz is a Jewish princess. She is spoiled but now wants to turn her life around. Shelley has disappointed her father time and time again. Her father turns the agency which is her birthright over to Ross. Shelley now has to really work to show her worth. She actually turns the worst clients into money-makers. At the same time enter Miriam, Shelley's mother, the quintessential Jewish mother, busybody and matchmaker. Finally there is Ross. Sparks flies,tempers fly, need I say anything more?

Rating:

(3.4.5/5)

Cover of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Revealed

We don't usually report on book news here, but seeing as how I've already pre-ordered my Harry Potter book (and I'm sure many of you have), the first news story I clicked on today was regarding this!

So here you go,


The British/Canadian cover is the main one. The American cover is the top right and the adult cover is the bottom right.
(Taken from http://inhome.rediff.com/movies/2007/mar/28harry.htm)

To see them a bit better, Coming Soon has large pictures, specifically of the American cover.

The Canadian/British one looks more exciting (albeit, a little weird. Are they coming out of the Stargate?), and it's the book I'll be getting!

Wow!!!

I was following some links we've been getting hits off recently and discovered that we have been nominated for a Litty Award! It's for blogs that talk book news/reviews. We made it to the 35 cut off!!

Go check out Book Chronical and see our nominations as well as other cool lit-inspired blogs.

The Thirteenth Tale

Th Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Non-Genre

This is an exceptional story. The writing is wonderful with prose so good you can feel yourself there. There is always that something extra in a story that is so well written.
This story is about a biographer finally writing the true story of a profilic and beloved author, Vida Winter. Winter had given out numerous accounts of herself in the past but never the 'real deal'. This story unfolds chapter after enchanting chapter with a little bit more revealed each time. I must admit I never saw the ending coming and still have trouble believing something like this could happen. The book interweaves twins throughout. Setterfield writes about the powerful connections of twins. Sometimes overdoing it a bit. This is the only minor flaw in a story so captivating.

Rating:

(4.5/5)

The White

The White by Deborah Larsen
Historical Fiction

This is an interesting story of a young girl who is captured by the Shawnees during an Indian raid. I found Mary to be devoid of much emotion. Mary seems to have been so traumatized by her experience that she at first doesn't speak or laugh and then just seems to go through the motions. She blames her father for his inaction at the time of the raid but suffers the same inaction several times during the book. Although the descriptions of Indian life and Mary's assimilation into it is fascinating, I found some of it hard to believe. I do not think the Indians would be worried about the slave girl's emotions. Also it is hard to believe that the whites would just leave Mary alone after they found out about her. Larsen does portray the Indians as a caring spiritual community.

Rating:

(4.0/5)

An Ordinary Man by Paul Rusesabagina

An Ordinary Man by Paul Rusesabagina
Non-Fiction

Don't let the title fool you, Paul Rusesabagina is no Ordinary Man. The inspiration behind the movie Hotel Rwanda, Rusesabagina comes out with his autobiography to give you a richer view of his life, Rwanda, and what happened inside of the luxurious Hotel Milles Collines that saved the lives of over 1,200 Tutsis during the Rwandan genocide.
Rusesabagina grew up on the side of a hill - like all Rwandan children do since the Rwandan geography is formed of valleys and peaks - to a banana farmer. A modest upbringing, Rusesabagina dreamed of moving to the city. He quit his education of becoming a priest so he could do just that. Yet as Paul brings the reader closer and closer to what happened during the genocide, it is amazing how every step of Paul's life seemed to carve out his future so that he would be a saviour to the Tutsi's hiding in his hotel.
Paul believes that words can stop violence and he shows just how true that is in this story. Drawing on all of his past - including living in a farm, going through some of priest-school, and operating 2 hotels in the Kigali region - Paul somehow manages to save the imminent slaughter of the Tutsis that have found refuge in his hotel. How exactly this happened is unbelievable. There was nothing stopping the Hutu supporters from barging into the hotel and killing everyone inside. Yet somehow, through the grace of god (though Paul admits, he's lapsed in his religious ways due to the genocide, and who can blame him?), and Paul's quick wit, they all manage to survive.
Paul does not hold back in his disdain for those who never came to help. He is disgusted with the UN, and specifically Kofi Anann, who told the UN in Rwanda not to do anything. He is disgusted at how the USA would not call the acts a genocide so that they would not have to do anything about it.
And while he describes the genocide, it is with utmost respect for the dead. Without being graphic, Paul paints a picture that still makes your stomach turn simply due to the magnitude of the horror.
This is a story that everyone should read. Paul is a hero, or as he would like you to say it, he did his job, but he did it damn well. Can Paul's story teach us to never again let humanity commit these horrible acts? Probably not. But it can make each of us slightly more aware of what is going on in the world.
I don't think I've ever given a book a review of 5/5 on this blog before. So here you go - my very first 5/5 review!

Rating:

(5/5)

Immortal in Death by JD Robb

Immortal in Death by JD Robb
Mystery

This is another pretty good book from Robb. As usual, the chemistry between Even and Roarke is palpable. It's pretty juicy! The mystery itself wasn't as well pieced together as her previous two. I didn't really feel that the clues were leading up to who the murderer was until Roarke started questioning around about it.
One thing that really did bother me though was that once again Eve was kidnapped by the murderer. That happened in the last book too. Why!?!? How often does this happen in real life? Next to never. Why can't she just come up with a brilliant way to nail the murderer without them having to completely come clean to her after they kidnap her. I mean, give me a break!!
Sadly, there wasn't much in terms of future-oriented stuff that I caught onto in this book like I have in her previous books.

Rating:

(3.5/5)

The History of Love

the History of Love by Nicole Krauss
Non-Genre

I do not give up on many books but this is one I just could not get into. It is very confusing with the different narratives. Also by page 120 the stories still weren't connected. There are too many books I would rather be reading

Rating:

(2.0/5)

Sleepyhead

Sleepyhead by Mark Billingham
Mystery

This book is about catching a person who unintentionally murders people instead of putting them in 'locked-in' syndrome, where they can think but are paralysed. Allison was a true brave soul who tried to communicate and the reader can really relate to her as the only living victim. I also felt the detective was arrogant and there seemed to be several parts of the story not fully explained. We got a snippet of his past but were left hanging and wondering about the rest. ****SPOILER**** Also as Thorne had saved Anne's daughter and herself why was the ending with regards to her and Thorne so unsatisfactory. The reader does not get the feeling they are really involved romantically. Why the murderer was so concerned with Thorne is an absolute mystery. I too guessed the murderer. Not a very satisfying mystery but the concept is interesting

Rating:

(3.5/5)

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Non-genre/Fiction

This book is Setterfield's debut novel, and quite a magical one at that. The Thirteenth Tale explores the life of famous novelist Vida Winter. Winter has worked with many different biographers before and given each one of them a different tale about her history. Once she gets sick, however, she selects Margaret Lea to come write her real biography. Margaret wonders why she, an amateur who has only written about dead people, has been selected by one of the most famous novelists in the world.
The relationship between the two character is at time strained but it eventually blossoms into respect and friendship. Margaret herself has some life issues to work out. A secret she found out when she was young has changed everything for her. The relationship with her mother is strained. I didn't feel like I quite understood the relationship when I was reading the book. Infact I thought that Margaret was avoiding her mother until I was specifically told otherwise in the book. It would have been nice to get that a little clearer towards the beginning of the novel.
Looking back on the book, the plot line was fairly complicated. But Setterfield gives you just enough information for you to be able to figure things out on your own, if you're smart enough! I love the way she very slowly peels back the layers until the truth is exposed underneath.
Some of the desciptions given in the book are fantastic! I think my very favourite was when Margaret was at Miss Winter's house and looking out the window when it started to rain and her face started to melt with the rain. It was such a great description of something that you see all the time but never really pay attention to.
I would definately recommend this book and will be looking out for Setterfield's next book.

Rating:

(4.5/5)

The Concrete Blonde

The Concrete Blonde by Michael Connelly
Mystery

From the Publisher
The Dollmaker was the name of the serial killer who had stalked Los Angeles ruthlessly, leaving grisly calling cards on the faces of his female victims. Now with a single faultless shot, Detective Harry Bosch thinks he has ended the city''s nightmare.But the dead man''s widow is suing Harry and the LAPD for killing the wrong man-- an accusation that rings terrifyingly true when a new victim is discovered with the Dollmaker''s macabre signature.So for the second time, Harry must hunt down a death-dealer who is very much alive, before he strikes again. It''s a blood-tracked quest that will take Harry from the hard edges of the L.A. night to the last place he ever wanted to go-- the darkness of his own heart

I loved this book in the Harry Bosch series best so far. One feels that the trial is going so wrong and Harry's lawyer really doesn't care about anything. Sylvia, Harry's girlfriend is a great additional character. One that is so right for Bosch. Harry tries to find the other murderer and finds himeself going after one wrong person after another. Connelly is very adept at making the reader feel this person is the killer. Harry's persistence and vulnerability are the keystones of the book

Rating:

(4.0/5)