Detective Robicheaux, a Vietnam Veteran, tells us that he thought he would never again have to ‘witness the wide-scale suffering of innocent civilians, nor the betrayal and abandonment of our countrymen when they needed us most – but that was before Katrina’. I thought those were very strong lines, and with Chapter Two opening with the drug addicted Father Jude LeBlanc and his troubles, I thought I was in for a meaty read. However Father Jude falls off the map, and although he is mentioned throughout the storyline, he really has no relevance to the plot.
Robicheaux is called in to investigate the shooting murder of two black looters in the wake of Katrina, however he finds that Bertrand Melancon, one of the surviving looters, is embroiled in a cat and mouse game with the gangster owner of a house he has burgled and an insurance agent whose daughter he once raped. Add to the mix an alcoholic bail bondsman, a psychopath with his own agenda (and a vendetta against Robicheaux’s adopted daughter Alafair), blood diamonds and counterfeit money it all starts to get a bit laborious.
We are given some idea of the devastation wrought by the hurricane but the story could have been written without it. If you are going to set it during such a momentous event, it should be utilized to its full potential. Unfortunately, this was a long winded story, with an unrealistic ending that was reminiscent of early TV shows where the characters laugh merrily at some comment or another at the end of the show. If it had been real life I’m sure Alafair would have been a blubbering mess.
The final summary chapter was a poor attempt to tie up loose ends, and that sort of summary belongs only to the end of movies depicting real life people as a ‘where are they now’ update in my opinion.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - F Scott Fitzgerald
A short story with a big theme.
Benjamin Button ages in reverse, when he is born he is an 80 year old man. Benjamin achieves much in his life-time, marriage, children, and the army and is successful in business but he is not emotionally fulfilled.
When Benjamin is 18 (he looks around 50) he meets a ‘younger woman’ even though she is exactly the same age. Hildegarde is attracted to Benjamin because he appears to be an older man representing stability. As Benjamin ages and looks younger he no longer finds the ‘older’ aging Hildegarde attractive and goes dancing and seeks more stimulating activities. This represents the familiar ‘mid-life crisis’ which Benjamin can get away with because he looks younger.
Although written at the turn of the century, the theme still reflects our attitudes towards age and aging. Very humorous and interesting, but untimately very sad
Benjamin Button ages in reverse, when he is born he is an 80 year old man. Benjamin achieves much in his life-time, marriage, children, and the army and is successful in business but he is not emotionally fulfilled.
When Benjamin is 18 (he looks around 50) he meets a ‘younger woman’ even though she is exactly the same age. Hildegarde is attracted to Benjamin because he appears to be an older man representing stability. As Benjamin ages and looks younger he no longer finds the ‘older’ aging Hildegarde attractive and goes dancing and seeks more stimulating activities. This represents the familiar ‘mid-life crisis’ which Benjamin can get away with because he looks younger.
Although written at the turn of the century, the theme still reflects our attitudes towards age and aging. Very humorous and interesting, but untimately very sad
The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
Originally to be titled Trimalchio, Gold-Hatted Gatsby and even Under the Red White and Blue, the Great Gatsby is ranked second in the Modern Library’s list of the 100 Best Novels of the 20th Century.
Set during the Jazz Age, and centering on the new monied mysterious Jay Gatsby, his temporary neighbour (and our narrator Nick Carraway) and the old monied Daisy and Tom Buchanan, we are given an insight into the lives and loves of the idle frivolous rich.
Gatsby’s mansion is always full of visitors and guests, he holds the most elaborate parties but for the most part seems very unsure of himself and when he is murdered no-one but Nick, Gatsby’s elderly father, and one unknown party guest attend his funeral.
Gatsby has lived his life with the aim of rekindling his unlikely relationship with Daisy, which ended when he was sent to war. Daisy’s husband Tom is having an affair with the wife of a local garage owner, and has had many obvious affairs in the past. This relationship web becomes destructive and when it all falls apart and results in three deaths, Daisy and Tom retreat “back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made…..”
The sad morale to this story is that money can’t buy you happiness. For all his wealth and generosity, barely anyone who attended Gatsby’s parties had ever met him or knew who he was. For those that did know him, he was made up of rumour, gossip and innuendo. Gatsby hid his low class upbringing from Daisy as he was ashamed, and denied who he really was to the point of changing his name (from James ‘Jimmy’ Gatz). Yet at the end of the day the family he denied (his father), and his new friend Nick were the only ones who really cared and attended his funeral.
Set during the Jazz Age, and centering on the new monied mysterious Jay Gatsby, his temporary neighbour (and our narrator Nick Carraway) and the old monied Daisy and Tom Buchanan, we are given an insight into the lives and loves of the idle frivolous rich.
Gatsby’s mansion is always full of visitors and guests, he holds the most elaborate parties but for the most part seems very unsure of himself and when he is murdered no-one but Nick, Gatsby’s elderly father, and one unknown party guest attend his funeral.
Gatsby has lived his life with the aim of rekindling his unlikely relationship with Daisy, which ended when he was sent to war. Daisy’s husband Tom is having an affair with the wife of a local garage owner, and has had many obvious affairs in the past. This relationship web becomes destructive and when it all falls apart and results in three deaths, Daisy and Tom retreat “back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made…..”
The sad morale to this story is that money can’t buy you happiness. For all his wealth and generosity, barely anyone who attended Gatsby’s parties had ever met him or knew who he was. For those that did know him, he was made up of rumour, gossip and innuendo. Gatsby hid his low class upbringing from Daisy as he was ashamed, and denied who he really was to the point of changing his name (from James ‘Jimmy’ Gatz). Yet at the end of the day the family he denied (his father), and his new friend Nick were the only ones who really cared and attended his funeral.
Metamorphosis - Franz Kaftka
A rather alarming story about the hard working Gregor who wakes up one morning to find that he has transformed into a large insect of the beetle variety. This is a cause of consternation to himself and his family as they need him to go to work because they are solely reliant on his salary.
Gregor’s sister at first takes time to leave food and water for him and to change his room around so that he may scuttle about unhindered, although she is very wary of him. But as the days and weeks go by and the family realise they must take their financial situation into their own hands Gregor is neglected, and as his insectile instincts begin to take over he becomes feared. Finally, unable to accommodate his new feeding habits he eventually starves to death.
There are some rather disgusting moments, one being when Gregor first transforms and needs to unlock the door to his room with his mandibles and obviously does some damage as he notices dark fluid dripping over the key!
The end of this novel is almost prophetic as when Kafka contracted Tuberculosis (the medical profession had no knowledge of intravenous feeding back then) due to a raging sore throat he died from starvation.
The theme progression brings to mind how I felt about An American Werewolf in London. It is darkly humorous to begin with, but becomes very profound and very sad. It’s a story you need to read a few times to fully appreciate its brilliance.
Gregor’s sister at first takes time to leave food and water for him and to change his room around so that he may scuttle about unhindered, although she is very wary of him. But as the days and weeks go by and the family realise they must take their financial situation into their own hands Gregor is neglected, and as his insectile instincts begin to take over he becomes feared. Finally, unable to accommodate his new feeding habits he eventually starves to death.
There are some rather disgusting moments, one being when Gregor first transforms and needs to unlock the door to his room with his mandibles and obviously does some damage as he notices dark fluid dripping over the key!
The end of this novel is almost prophetic as when Kafka contracted Tuberculosis (the medical profession had no knowledge of intravenous feeding back then) due to a raging sore throat he died from starvation.
The theme progression brings to mind how I felt about An American Werewolf in London. It is darkly humorous to begin with, but becomes very profound and very sad. It’s a story you need to read a few times to fully appreciate its brilliance.
I'm Not Scared - Niccolo Ammaniti
Loosely based on a true story of a Milan kidnapping, this novel is set in a 1978 Italy when the kidnapping of children from wealthy Northern families hit a peak.
Set in the wheat fields of the South, in a tiny hamlet ironically named Aqua Traverse, the story centres around eleven year old Michele and his friends. Although socially isolated in their hamlet, they all play together, ride their bikes, argue, do dares and pay forfeits.
Coming last in a race, Michele is dared to enter, and explore, an abandoned farm house that is hidden behind a large hill. What he finds there will change his life and how he views his small community forever.
As a small child Michele’s mother had warned him of the bogey man, but the bogey man turned out to be his father and other adults in the village.
There are many stories about childhood and the loss of innocence, but how Niccolo captures the child’s view of the world and friendships is spot on, and the story drives along to a frightening climax. This is one of those books that inspires you to reminisce about your own childhood feelings, and you can’t put it down.
Io Non Ho Paura was filmed in 2003 by Gabriele Salvatores and was purchased by 32 countries after it’s showing at the Berlin Film Festival.
Set in the wheat fields of the South, in a tiny hamlet ironically named Aqua Traverse, the story centres around eleven year old Michele and his friends. Although socially isolated in their hamlet, they all play together, ride their bikes, argue, do dares and pay forfeits.
Coming last in a race, Michele is dared to enter, and explore, an abandoned farm house that is hidden behind a large hill. What he finds there will change his life and how he views his small community forever.
As a small child Michele’s mother had warned him of the bogey man, but the bogey man turned out to be his father and other adults in the village.
There are many stories about childhood and the loss of innocence, but how Niccolo captures the child’s view of the world and friendships is spot on, and the story drives along to a frightening climax. This is one of those books that inspires you to reminisce about your own childhood feelings, and you can’t put it down.
Io Non Ho Paura was filmed in 2003 by Gabriele Salvatores and was purchased by 32 countries after it’s showing at the Berlin Film Festival.
Life Expectency - Dean Koontz
If you liked ‘Odd Thomas’, then this book is for you. Instead of a Fry Cook we have Jimmy Tock, a baker. Instead of being able to see the dead, we have a prediction for five terrible days in Jimmy’s life.
Jimmy Tock is under siege by deranged clowns and aerialists from a circus that first came into town the day he was born. He has his ‘five terrible days’ listed on the back of a circus pass and prepares as best he can to overcome each event with the help and love of his beloved extended family.
Total rubbish but enormous fun, very much written tongue in cheek, it becomes almost philosophical towards the end about what we should make of our lives and not what we should expect life to give us.
I imagine that Dean Koontz is a very warm person because it oozes from his writing. I really enjoyed it for the light read I was expecting.
Jimmy Tock is under siege by deranged clowns and aerialists from a circus that first came into town the day he was born. He has his ‘five terrible days’ listed on the back of a circus pass and prepares as best he can to overcome each event with the help and love of his beloved extended family.
Total rubbish but enormous fun, very much written tongue in cheek, it becomes almost philosophical towards the end about what we should make of our lives and not what we should expect life to give us.
I imagine that Dean Koontz is a very warm person because it oozes from his writing. I really enjoyed it for the light read I was expecting.
Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
A slapstick comedy about bumbling commanding officers, Yossarian’s desire to live and Milo’s attempts to profit from the war via M&M Enterprises.
The slaptstick is broken up by the recurring memory of the death of Snowden. All Yossarian can do to help him is say ‘There There” as the morphine has been taken by M&M Enterprises and all he is left with is Aspirin.
Mission limits are constantly being raised, morale is low as when they are close to going home the missions are raised again.
Yossarian relies on a fake pain in his liver to go to hospital and hopefully be sent home. “There was a much lower death rate inside the hospital than outside the hospital and a much healthier death rate”.
The language works today, not outmoded. It was reviewed as being shouted on to the page and being repetitive but I see this as adding to the slaptstick. It’s wacky but dark.
I wonder what real life experiences influenced this book? There were some good characterizations of bad management/command.
Highlights were: The forms letters – sent out complete, not edited to suit!
Inflation devices in the Mae Wests gone as they were used in Milo’s mess hall for soda streams!
Nately’s whore is reminiscent of the Pink Panther’s Cato.
There are Catch 22’s or paradoxes throughout the whole novel. The story told from various view points ie The injury to Major De Coverley’s eye, is later told by the old man in the brothel who had thrown the rose which injured the Colonel’s eye.
It is very clever. I loved it, it will be in my top 10 favourites.
The slaptstick is broken up by the recurring memory of the death of Snowden. All Yossarian can do to help him is say ‘There There” as the morphine has been taken by M&M Enterprises and all he is left with is Aspirin.
Mission limits are constantly being raised, morale is low as when they are close to going home the missions are raised again.
Yossarian relies on a fake pain in his liver to go to hospital and hopefully be sent home. “There was a much lower death rate inside the hospital than outside the hospital and a much healthier death rate”.
The language works today, not outmoded. It was reviewed as being shouted on to the page and being repetitive but I see this as adding to the slaptstick. It’s wacky but dark.
I wonder what real life experiences influenced this book? There were some good characterizations of bad management/command.
Highlights were: The forms letters – sent out complete, not edited to suit!
Inflation devices in the Mae Wests gone as they were used in Milo’s mess hall for soda streams!
Nately’s whore is reminiscent of the Pink Panther’s Cato.
There are Catch 22’s or paradoxes throughout the whole novel. The story told from various view points ie The injury to Major De Coverley’s eye, is later told by the old man in the brothel who had thrown the rose which injured the Colonel’s eye.
It is very clever. I loved it, it will be in my top 10 favourites.
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