Reading
Over the last couple of weeks I’ve read 4 novels (O YAY back to novel reading, my first love.)
I’m continuing my Walter Mosley education with KNOWN TO EVIL, the second Leonid McGill novel. He’s (the author) has moved from character relevations to procedure fiction but still his writing is fast and the surprises are good.
Since I watched all the Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries, I felt I should maybe read them a bit. Kerry Greenwood’s DEATH BY WATER isn’t the first in the series (which unfortunately my library doesn’t have; that would be COCAINE BLUES.) I’m reading a previously developed set of characters, Phryne and Dot, doing what they do. Not as quippy as the tv series but I think perhaps more clever in the details.
Thomas Olde Heuvelt’s HEX was okay. The situation and set up was classical horror and I loved that. There was much character depth and angst and I loved that. I think the motivation switch at the end and the ending itself didn’t lose me exactly but didn’t leave me with a zing. Satisfying but not the greatest read ever.
Colleen McCullough died a couple years ago. Notoriously the local paper ran an insulting obit for her. I just found a novel by her that I hadn’t read, BITTERSWEET, published in 2013. It’s an Australian, depression-era version of LITTLE WOMEN. No where near as treacly. And ‘Beth’ doesn’t die. I mentioned Colleen McCullough to a friend and nutshell described TIM (her first novel, I believe) as ‘middle-aged woman falls for a gorgeous young mentally handicapped man’ and my friend called that rapey. And ya know… Something about TIM always bothered me. The novels goes in-depth about consent and age etc (Tim’s of age; the protag is older and has a lot of doubt.) But you gotta think in terms of older men marrying young women and no one bats and eyelash. So… not sure. Anyway, this novel, BITTERSWEET, feels a bit rushed and too easy but still a fun romance type novel read.
NEXT on my tbr list and going to work with me today is THE BONE CLOCKS by David Mitchell. I’m still working on KING LEOPOLD’S GHOSTS but I don’t really want that level of depression right now.
jude-marie green 