Our Lady of Pain (2008) - Elena Forbes
I got an ARC of this one from the Amazon Vine program (which you should check out). In a dark, secluded part of London's Holland Park, art dealer Rachel Tenison's body is found frozen, naked and bound with duct tape. Detectives Mark Tartaglia and Sam(antha) Donovan have few clues about the murder and even fewer about Rachel Tenison's strangely secret private life. But the case is eerily similar to another murder committed only a year before.
I enjoy fast-paced crime fiction, especially police procedurals that track one or more detectives attempting to solve strange or unusual crimes with very few clues. Our Lady of Pain succeeds as a fast-paced mystery/crime novel, but I found myself disappointed in the book for many reasons:
I wish more had been made of the London setting. The story could have taken place in any metropolitan (or even smaller, for that matter) city, but I felt the author could have done more to make the city a more integral part of the novel, especially Holland Park, where the body is discovered.
The shifting points of view didn't bother me as much as the amount of melodrama connected with several of the characters. Sure, it's important to know what the characters are thinking and feeling, but many of their inner personal thoughts felt unfocused and unnecessary to the story. Many of the minor characters seem to appear as window-dressing, only to serve the functional purposes of a scene, then exit.
I was surprised by the ending, yet found it rather implausible based on the events in the first half of the book. Ultimately, I was disappointed.
Running Blind (2000) - Lee Child
I read the first few of Lee Child's Jack Reacher novels when they first appeared years ago, but hadn't read one in quite awhile until lately. You can count on a Jack Reacher novel to have at least a few scenes where Jack kicks butt, and this one did, but unfortunately, that was about as entertaining as it got. You can read the Amazon synopsis; I won't go into it here. The entire plot was completely implausible and by the time I got to the ending, the wheels had come flying off. A huge disappointment.
Brave New World (1932) - Aldous Huxley
Neil Postman was right: Orwell's 1984 doesn't adequately describe where we are now, but Brave New World does. Boy, does it ever. I hadn't read this novel since I was in the ninth grade, which was....well, let's say a long time ago. If you've never read it, do so. Then take a look around you and see who comes closer to hitting the target: Orwell or Huxley.
Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow (NF YA 2005) - Susan Campbell Bartoletti
A great read, but not only for the YA audience. I listened to the book on audio, so I can't speak for the photos. From what I've heard, the entire package is excellent. A Newbery Honor Book.
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle (2008) - David Wroblewski
So do you believe the hype? Just how much do you need to know about Hamlet to understand Wroblewski's debut novel? Well, I haven't read Hamlet (yet), but I do think the novel is quite good. Too long? Yes. Overwritten? Maybe. Effective? Yes. I wasn't completely convinced or satisfied with the ending, but thought it was a good read. I would suggest that you go into the book with as little information as possible, thus I am disclosing little here. If you've read it, let me know what you think. Whatever you think, it will be interesting to see what Wroblewski does next.
Healing for a Broken World: Christian Perspectives on Public Policy (NF 2008) - Steve Monsma
Read this one for a Sunday school class last quarter. Monsma covers a lot of ground, asking what should Christians do about several public policy issues such as poverty, genocide, global AIDS, global warming, terrorism, etc. Monsma contradicts himself at a few points and seems to either lack or fail to provide relevant scriptural references to back up some statements, but the book is a great starting point for good discussion. Definitely worth your time.
Out Stealing Horses (2007) - Per Petterson
I really enjoyed this quiet, little book from Norwegian writer Petterson (translated by Anne Born). Trond Sander is a man nearing 70 who lives in self-imposed isolation, contemplating the entire scope of his life. He happens upon a childhood friend and begins rethinking the events of 1948, the last year he spent with his father. If you're looking for a page-turner, forget it, but if you're in the mood for a quiet, reflective novel with plenty of power, check it out.
Eighth Grade Bites: The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, Book 1 (YA 2007) - Heather Brewer
I was helping select some books for Teen Reads Week and ran across this title. I really wasn't expecting much, but was pleasantly surprised by Vladimir Tod and his predicament: Vlad's parents died when he was eleven, three years before this story begins. Since his father was a vampire and his mom was human, Vlad exhibits only some of the common vampire characteristics: he can go out during daylight, but he still needs to drink blood, supplied by his aunt Nellie, who just happens to be a nurse! Sounds lame, but the book is full of humor, action and a sensitive look at adolescence.
The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism (NF 2008) - Timothy Keller
Tim Keller isn't going to beat you over the head with his Bible and he isn't going to beg you to become a Christian, but he is going to address your questions/statements about Christianity head-on, such as "How could a good God allow suffering?" and "The Church is responsible for so much injustice" and "How can a loving God send people to hell?" and much more. He fields questions like these all the time at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan. Highly recommended.
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