Monday, April 28, 2014

Five Days at Memorial - Sheri Fink


In a nutshell

This book opens by describing the events that took place at Memorial Hospital in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina, highlighting in particular the challenges that staffed face due to loss of power and rising flood waters.  Fink highlights the decisions that staff made regarding patient care and how these decisions would follow some of the nurses and doctors after Katrina.  In particular, Fink looks at the issue of euthanasia and its place in disaster response.  The second half of the book follows the investigation into potentially hastened deaths at Memorial and whether the medical professionals involved should be held responsible.  

Did I like it?

I wanted to like this book more than I did.  I expected it to be an amazing account of the events and to some extent it was, but there were so many characters that I found myself constantly trying to remember who was who.  This had the effect of "taking me out of the book" and hence, I never became immersed in the experiences of these doctors and nurses.  I do wonder if this book would have been better if I had read it in hard copy where I could easily have referred back to the list of characters.  Perhaps the Kindle is to blame for my reaction?  At any rate, while I didn't dislike the book, it failed to have the same impact as other non-fiction books (e.g., Spillover, Kinglake 350).

Will you like it?

If you find ethical dilemmas interesting, you may find the debate about euthanasia to be of interest.  I think, however, there are better books written about disaster response (e.g., the aforementioned Kinglake 350).

What else happened while I was reading this book?

Easter came and went.  We went on some amazing hikes.  Went heavy on the kids movies: Lego and The Muppet sequel.  The former was amazing, while the latter was just passable.


Sunday, April 13, 2014

Strangle Hold by Richard Rotenberg


In a nutshell

This book is part of a series that follows investigations being carried out by members of the Toronto justice system.  In his fourth book, Rotenberg turns the tables on one of the cops. Head of the homicide unit, Ari Greene finds himself accused of murder when the woman with whom he was having an affair is brutally murdered.  The story follows Greene as he tries to clear his name.  One of the things that I enjoy about Rotenberg's books is that he tells the story from a range of perspectives.  It keeps things fresh and interesting.

Did I like it?

Strangle Hold finds itself in the enviable position of following the much condemened (by me) The Secret History.  This may have coloured my reacation, but I really loved it.  The characters are becoming familiar to me by this point (#4 in the series) and they are all very engaging.  Moreover, Toronto itself is a character in the books and I enjoy reading about the familiar scenery (brings me back to Canada for a wee while).  The book also managed to surprise me.  I didn't find the ending to be in any way predictable, which is pretty important in a murder mystery.  This was the second book that I read over my holiday and this one did the trick.  It was the perfect holiday read and I raced through it in a day.

Will you like it?

Those who enjoy murder mysteries with a legal twist will have fun with this book.  Rotenberg is a solid writer and his character development is improving with each novel in the series.

What else happened while I was reading this book?

Hung out in Waikanae at the beach with Leo and the dogs, while enjoying a delicious breakfast from the Old Beach Bakery.  Saw and enjoyed the Dallas Buyers Club that evening.  Oh, and had a delicious lunch on a cool old school bus at Te Horo.  

Newton and the Counterfeiter by Thomas Levenson


In a nutshell

This is a book that I've been wanting to read for quite a long time. I've had it on my Kindle for ages, and finally got around to reading it while on holiday. This book is about a period of history that I never knew about Isaac Newton; the time in his life when he was Warden of the Royal Mint in England. During his tenure at the Mint, he managed to take a public service entity that was pretty much haemorrhaging money and turn it around with the speed and efficiency that you would expect from someone of his drive and genius. During this time, he also took on a part of the job he originally tried to shirk off (going after coiners), and turned into one of the best anti-counterfeiting deterrents the mint has ever seen.

Did I like it?

I loved this book! Not only did I learn a great deal about Newton during a his tenure at the mint, a time in his life I knew almost nothing prior to this book, but this book also got into some fascinating detail about who Newton was, and what made him tick. Just as Einstein's contemporaries were visionaries in Physics, Newton was rubbing elbows with some of the best thinkers of his time: Halley, Hooke, Harrison, Leibniz and many others. I also learned that Newton wasn't the kind of guy you wanted to piss off; as William Chaloner found out in due course with his counterfeiting.

...Isaac Newton was a total badass!

Will you like it?

If you want to get into a bit of seedy history and learn about the late, great Isaac Newton, as well as learn a great deal about how our current financial system was like just a few years back, then this book is totally for you.

What else happened while I was reading this book

I had started this book before I went on holiday, but while reading it, we took a 10 day holiday to the Hawkes Bay and Waikanae. The weather was pure crap for most of the trip, but I did manage to read quite a lot of this book while seated in a hanging wicker basket chair...ahhhh, luxury!

The Secret History by Donna Tartt


In a nutshell

Tartt explores the events that lead up to a group of friends killing a fellow friend (she explores some of the aftermath as well).  Set at an elite Vermont college, the author tells it from the perspective of a new member of the group. 

Did I like it?

Not at all!  I found the characters unbearable (even the murder victim).  Everyone was so pretentious and self-involved that it was impossible to relate to any of the characters.  I expected to love this as I thought Gold Finch was great.  However, this really missed the mark for me.  I certainly resented that this was my holiday read - what a dud (a chore to finish).

Will you like it?

If you don't mind a slow burning mystery and don't find it necessary to relate to the characters in a meaningful way, you may enjoy this book.  I'm in the minority of people who disliked this book, so clearly it does have something to offer many. 

What else happened while I was reading this book?

Took a holiday in the Hawke's Bay where we found the best coffee of our lives at Box Expresso in Clive. 

A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny


In a nutshell

Detective Gamache of Penny's Three Pines series returns to investigate a murder in this small town.  Clara is a key player in the Three Pines universe and this book opens with her art show, followed quickly by a murder victim being found in her back yard. The novel then moves off in a a direction that you'd expect for a murder mystery.  Despite being a fairly traditional murder mystery, this book was interesting in that some of the gloss is coming off the characters.  You start to see, for example, the challenges that Gamache faces in interacting with someone who he wrongly accused of murder in an earlier book.

Did I like it?
As always, I love Louise Penny and as mentioned above, I am really enjoying the increasing complexity of the characters and their relationships.  An event that was set up in an earlier book continues to have fallout for the police officers involved.  It is compelling to see Beauvoir struggle and become more human to readers as a result.

Will you like it?

If you like a fairly typical (but not mundane) murder mystery with an engaging cast of characters, you'll love it.  

What else happened while I was reading this book?

Sounds lame...but being able to read this book outside while overlooking Wellington harbour was a total highlight.

You - Nuala Ní Chonchúir


In a nutshell

A beautifully written story set in Dublin that tells the story of a 10-year old girl during a few traumatic months where she loses some key people in her life.  Through the eyes of this girl, you come to understand her community and how she perceives the related people and events.

Did I like it?

This book really appealed to me.  The author's writing style was beautiful, almost poetic.  It was written entirely in the second person, which was actually quite cool.

Will you like it?

If you enjoy books written from the perspective of child protaganists, you should quite like this one.  The central character is fantastic and you can really relate to her plight.

The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton


In a nutshell

Catton writes a tale of murder and intrigue that takes place on the South Island of New Zealand (primarily in Hokitika, but also in Dunedin).  The story is told through the eyes of 12+ individuals who have some knowledge that will inform the mystery.

Did I like it?

Catton is a very technically adept writer.  For me, however, I was not able to form an emotional connection with anyone in the book and therefore did not enjoy it as much as I would have liked.  Also, I did feel like 800+ pages was a bit long for the story she chose to tell.  

Will you like it?

Fans of literary fiction may like this one.  If you want a more traditional murder-mystery that is  a real page turner, this may not be the one for you.

What else happened while I was reading this book?

We enjoyed the best bits of summer with hikes on the weekend and walks home from work on weekdays.