The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

In a nutshell

The book opens with the death of one of the local council members.  The remainder of this book explores the repercussions of his death both for the council, and the larger community.  It explores the fallout from a large number of perspectives.

Did I like it?

It was fine.  The beginning reminded me of Downton Abbey in that I was having to sort out the names and roles of many characters.  Getting all that straight took about 100 pages!!  I found the book a bit disjointed in that it was told by no fewer than 12 characters (possibly more).  This was a bit cumbersome in the middle section and almost had me abandoning the book as I couldn't see how the story could progress with so many voices.  I persevered and in the end, while I didn't love it, I didn't think it deserved the harsh criticism it received.  It was simply a middle of the road book. 

Will you like it?

Do you enjoy a character driven novel told from multiple perspectives?  Do you like reading about infighting (and all other sorts of fighting)?  If so, this may be the book for you.  It's not upbeat, but Rowling's writing style helps pull the reader along.

What else happened while I was reading this book?

We had an earthquake (6.2) - but no real damage.  Ate our first corn on the cob of the year (love you summer).  Took my annual tumble while running, with scrapes and bruises to show for it (sigh).  Leo found a hedgehog in our driveway (awesome).

Picking the Perfect Holiday Read

There is no task I take quite so seriously as selecting a book to take with me on holiday.  There are a number of criteria it must fit and it is only the rare book that traverses them all (see State of Wonder by Ann Patchett as the perfect example).  The book must be highly readable and must take me into a completely different world.  It should have some depth (I can't abide chick lit any more).  There must be likeable characters as I want to take a vacation with people I enjoy.  An odd but also important point relates to size; the book should be compact and lightweight, particularly if I'm flying (obviously this criteria will diminish in importance as I rely more on my e-reader).  It is with some embarrassment that I must admit a critical error that I once made was choosing a book only by its size.  While My Name is Mary Sutter is a perfectly adequate book, it was not engaging to the point of not wanting to put it down.  It was a bit of a slog and a mistake that I've learned from.  My next big holiday read and one that I hope will stand up is The Secret History by Donna Tartt.

In the Woods - Tana French

In a nutshell

This book has an interesting take on the detective genre, which may be why it picked up a heap of awards when it was published in 2008.  The lead character/detective was one of three children who were victims of a horrific crime.   He escaped, but the other two have been missing ever since.  Flash forward twenty or so years and the detective is investigating a crime in the small community where the original crime took place.  Inevitably, it is a mystery after all, potential links between the past and present start to appear.

Did I like it?

I found myself really enjoying this book.  It managed to surprise me, which is always refreshing.  Tana French also has a pretty good sense of humour, so this helped to lighten the darker tone.  While the detective was the brooding type, he also was adept at  self deprecation, which somehow made him more appealing.  The supporting characters and the setting were also well drawn out, helping to build an "immersive" community.  All in all, a good book that has encouraged me to pick up Tana French's subsequent murder mysteries.

Will you like it?

If you enjoy a good murder mystery, this one will appeal as it has all the elements of a great one.  An interest in Ireland will also help you generate interest in this book.

What else happened while I was reading this book?

Went to see Jack Ryan: Shadow Recurit (not too bad - entertaining but forgettable).  Made an amazing new salad  of black beans, avocado, and roasted carrots (thank-you New York Times).  Celebrated Wellington Anniversary over the long weekend.  A tropical cyclone headed our way.

Winter of the World - Ken Follett

Follett's capacity to create a world that immerses its readers in both the characters and settings is amazing. Winter of the World follows on from his earlier success with Fall of Giants.  In Winter of the World, Follett takes readers through the Great Depression and World War Two.  Interestingly, the main characters in this book are the children of the characters from Fall of Giants.  I enjoyed seeing the characters evolve from impulsive and sometimes shallow young adults into (mostly) mature and thoughtful adults.  While the era is dark, you still find yourself want to get wrapped up in Follett's world.  He takes you into compelling times, events and places, including: The Manhattan Project, Stalinist Russia, Hitler's Germany, the Spanish Civil War, and follows the ascent of Churchill.  It's a page turner with substance!  Recommended!!

A friend suggested this book to me and I've since recommended it to others.  The reactions are always fantastic -- it would seem to have universal appeal.  5/5 Stars

Forgotten - Catherine McKenzie

Amid some great books that I read over the Christmas holidays was Forgotten by Catherine Mackenzie.  It tells the story of a lawyer who goes to Africa after her mother dies only to become trapped there after a natural disaster.  When she finally returns home, she finds that she has been declared deceased.  The book then follows the challenges she faces after finding this out.  Conceptually, this sounds really interesting.  However, its exploration of this issue is quite shallow and the main character is unbearably self-centered.  On the plus side, it is an easy read. 2/5 Stars.

Mister Roger and Me - Marie-Renée Lavoie, Wayne Grady (Translator)

This book won the French version of Canada Reads and I can certainly see why.  At its core, it's a coming of age story.  Helen (or Joe as she prefers to be called) is a young girl growing up in a tough area of Montreal.  The author uses this device to touch on issues related to growing up poor, but also on the effects of changing mental health policies.  The characters are unique and interesting and while the story itself is quite bleak, Lavoie's tone keeps some levity in place.  A book well worth reading for its many nuances. 5-Stars.

Human Bobby - Gabe Rotter

This book has an interesting concept.  It tells the story of a man who had gone from being a doctor/husband/father to being a homeless person over the course of a couple of years.  Gradually, as the story moves on, the reader begins to learn what has happened to this man who had a life with such promise and Rotter does surprise.  My quibble with this book and it's a personal taste thing was the language.  It was peppered with slang that just grated on me after a while (though ultimately necessary for the plot device).  Nonetheless, it was a compelling book that I think many people would quite enjoy. 2-Stars.