Pillars of the Earth

Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett (1989)

It starts with a hanging, and a curse, and builder who wants to work on a cathedral. Then a baby is abandoned and brought to a monastery. An earl's son is spurned in marriage and takes revenge. Over the course of almost 1000 pages, these lives are woven together with many others throughout a civil war and the rise and fall of Kingsbridge and Shiring in England during the 1100s. There is so much plot here I won't even attempt to recount it.

Despite its daunting size, this isn't a difficult novel. It reads like domestic fiction, a very different experience from The Game of Kings, for example. Although there's a lot of political maneuvering, Follett does a good job of explaining it all simply and clearly. I didn't need to look up any history to understand what was going on. It's quite seamless and fits neatly into the narrative of the story.

The real strength of this novel is in the characters. Prior Philip was orphaned as a child and brought to live in a monastery. A man of God, Philip nevertheless has his faults and must remind himself to keep his pride in check. Philip is smart - some called him sly - and very good at manipulating situations to work out in his favor, but also to benefit others as well, thus making everyone happy. Philip really wants to do what is right, and is especially fair-minded and just when compared to the corrupt clergy surrounding him.

There are a couple of villains in the story, but my favorite was William Hamleigh, the spurned groom who took revenge on his intended wife's family by usurping the earldom from her father. He's the worst kind of brute (his favorite game is "stoning the cat") and he spends most of his life raping, pillaging, and robbing at every opportunity. His cruelty stems from his fear of being laughed at behind his back, and his terrified of hell, ironic given the number and severity of crimes he commits despite his fear.

I don't know if this was intentional, but the main female characters led unconventional lives. Ellen, the wife of Tom, master builder of the cathedral, spent a lot of her life living in the forest and was thought to be a witch. Aliena, the intended bride of William, became a shrewd businesswoman who avoided romance. Even Tom's daughter Martha preferred to remain single, an unusual choice. But I suppose that's what makes the novel so compelling.

Since the backdrop is the construction of a cathedral, there's a lot of information about architecture woven into the story. At times I found it hard to envision exactly what was being described, but I got the important points which were primarily concerned with the development of different styles of architecture and solving various problems in bringing the builder's vision to life.

It's a rather fascinating time period, what with the violence and savagery and horrid treatment of women. Not to mention the civil war and the uncertainty of who would win the throne. People were so helpless in controlling the circumstances of their own lives, and it was crushing to see how their security was pulled out from under them over and over again. If you want to spend some time with a book, reading a long story arc spanning decades of the characters' lives, this would be a good choice.

Born Wicked

Born Wicked (The Cahill Witch Chronicles #1) by Jessica Spotswood, narrated by Nicole Sudhaus (2012)

Ever since their mother died, Cate has felt a responsibility to take care of her sisters. This proves especially difficult because they are ruled over by the Brotherhood, an oppressive group who seek out and persecute women for the least offense. Cate and her sisters are in great danger if anyone finds out about them because all three of them are witches. Tension mounts when Cate finds her mother's diary and learns of an ominous prophecy. On top of that she is nearing her birthday and will soon have to choose the path of her life, either marriage or joining the Sisterhood. A decision which at first seemed so clear, is becoming more and more difficult to make.

I always feel like it's easier to talk about why I dislike a certain book than why I like it, but in this case I absolutely understand why I loved this book.

As is probably clear to anyone who reads this blog or has ever talked to me about books, I have a soft spot for historical fiction. If it takes place in New England, all the better. But this isn't the New England with which we are familiar, nor is it the world we know. The Western US is colonized by Indo-China, the South under Spanish rule. When Cate and her peers talk about freedom they long for Dubai where women can vote and wear trousers. It's historical AND a dystopia!

I think what makes this book a better pick for me than some paranormals, like The Gathering Storm, is that although it includes paranormal elements they aren't the focus of the story. Obviously, there wouldn't be a story if Cate and her sisters weren't witches, but not many spells are cast during the novel - it's more about the way witches (and all women, when you really get down to it) are persecuted in this society.

Another thing I loved about this book was that Cate didn't exhibit those annoying qualities that plague so many young protagonists. For instance, she wasn't artificially stupid or naive to further the plot, and though there were times when I felt she should tell her sisters secrets she was hiding for seemingly no reason, she didn't hold out for long. Just when I thought she was beginning to act a little bone-headed, she would come through for me.

The narrator on the audio version had a great reading voice and added emotion without melodrama. Combined with the relative simplicity of the writing, this was a good audio pick!

Since this is the first in a series, things didn't wrap up tidily the way I wanted them to, which is why I'm not a writer. (I'm telling you, my books would be SO boring because I wouldn't let the villains be horrible enough nor would I keep the love interests apart for long.) I am only upset that I read this when it was so new. Honestly, I had no idea I'd like it this much and want to read the next books in the series. Now I have to wait until February for the (unfortunately titled) sequel, Star Cursed.

Bad Little Falls

Bad Little Falls by Paul Doiron (2012)

Game warden Mike Bowditch has clearly displeased his superiors, and finds himself transferred to "the unpeopled hinterlands of Washington County." During a snowstorm Mike is called to a residence where a local couple is trying to save a half-frozen man who claims his friend is still out in the storm. What appears to simply be an accident soon turns into a murder investigation. Mike, who apparently doesn't learn from his mistakes, ends up involved with the sister of the murder suspect, a young mother of a strange little boy. Meanwhile, someone is playing nasty tricks on Mike, seemingly trying to send him a warning message to mind his own business.

I wanted to try Paul Doiron again after listening to The Poacher's Son on audio, and when I heard that his new novel takes place in Machias, Maine I knew I had to read it. Bowditch describes the area as "a place known for its epidemic drug abuse, multigenerational unemployment, and long tradition of violent poaching" but it's also the place where I grew up. My town is not far away from Machias (and was mentioned a few times in the novel), but it was so small that Machias is where we had to go for any supplies other than basic groceries. So I know the area. Doiron apparently does too.

As with his first novel, he expertly captures the feel of rural Maine, making his characters and situations seem genuine. He doesn't live in Washington County as far as I know, but he's clearly spent some time there. Details like the McDonald's "Cafe" and the very tall mailbox with the "Air Mail" sign are not made up. He also included an Indian doctor at the Machias hospital, noting how out of place he was. There are, in fact, one or two doctors from far-flung countries working at that hospital. I'm always afraid of getting a tourist's-eye view in books set in Maine, but Paul Doiron knows the real thing.

Although the unusual and well-drawn setting make this novel stand out, it's also a good story. The plot was complex enough to easily hold my interest, and if the solution to the crime wasn't a complete shock, it was still a satisfying conclusion with small surprises along the way. The characters were varied, three-dimensional, and entertaining.

I like Mike Bowditch. I like his sense of justice and his need to set things right. He's as weak as any human being though, and manages to muck things up for himself just a bit now and then, but in a believable way that's easy to sympathize with. His empathy for others, and self-deprecating sense of humor make him both more realistic and appealing. You just can't help but root for him.

The Gathering Storm

The Gathering Storm (The Katerina Trilogy #1) by Robin Bridges (2012)

In 1880s Russia, a young duchess named Katiya tries to hide her secret power: she can raise the dead. But what she really wants to do is become a doctor so she can help the living. Unfortunately, this isn't in the cards for a young lady like her and she is forced to dress up and attend balls so she can find someone to marry. At the elite Smolny Institute one of her classmates is Elena, whose family members all have frightening powers. Even worse, Elena's brother Danilo is interested in Katiya and reels her in with his otherworldly charm. Katiya soon realizes there is much more at stake than her choice of a husband.

I had a couple of problems with this novel. First, I found it difficult to keep track of the characters because they all had titles, and it got confusing when someone was only referred to as "the grand duke," for instance. Also, the spelling of the names "Katiya" and Dariya" were odd, as they are usually spelled and pronounced "Katya" and "Darya." But those are fairly minor annoyances.

More importantly, I struggled to understand Katiya's motivations and fears sometimes. She could be downright dull-witted. She didn't want to speak of vampires or supernatural occurrences for fear she wouldn't be believed - and didn't believe in her mother's seances and tarot - yet there was a Dark Court and Light Court which each included faeries and that seemed to be totally accepted by everyone. Eventually I just accepted these strange inconsistencies and moved on.

As the story went on, Katiya would learn that she couldn't trust someone, but then later expect them to help her. Even more frustrating was when a particular Terrible Event happened and Katiya was all "Gah! We must run and tell the tsar immediately!" and then other things happened and life went on and she seemed to forget about it. Then Danilo, who had been present at the Terrible Event, said to Katiya "Hey, this Terrible Event happened" and she cried "The tsar! He must be warned!" Did these two characters completely forget they were together when the Terrible Event happened? Were they smoking crack afterward? I don't know how else to explain this.

But for the most part, I was able to look past these problems and get pretty engrossed in the story. What is most appealing is the setting, and lots of cool details were included, like the fact that it was fashionable during that period in Russia to speak French, something I learned while studying Russian in college. Russia in winter - as it is described here - really lends itself to a story with otherworldly elements. The paranormal somehow fits in quite well with that particular time and place.

Most of the book takes place during the winter and there are sleighs and ice skating and opulent furs and sparkling snow - and I know damn well it's actually freezing and miserable because I grew up in Maine, which is almost as bad - but this book made it sound exquisite and charming. The wonderful Christmas Eve scene with Katiya's family included descriptions of decorating the Christmas tree and eating mushroom soup and blini and sweet almond cakes and rice and tea from the samovar and warmed cherry brandy and I want to go to Russia immediately!

I also liked Katiya, despite the fact that she was a slow learner. She was determined to study medicine no matter what everyone around her wanted, and was willing to remain single all her life to do so. Amusingly, her distaste for domestic life rivaled - even exceeded - her distaste for the much-larger problems she faced. At one point she says, "I did not want to be a necromancer. I did not want to be killed by vampires. And I most certainly did not want to be stuck in a loveless marriage with nothing to do all day but change dresses and take tea with other bored women." I hear you, Katiya!

Since I've always found Russia so appealing and fascinating I just can't tell if this would have the same pull for others, but I think it might. Just don't focus on the inconsistencies I mentioned above, if possible, and let yourself be engrossed in the story. The Gathering Storm is the first in a trilogy and it is likely that I will read the next one when it comes out. This series holds promise.

Dead Until Dark

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris (2001), narrated by Johanna Parker

Sookie Stackhouse is a cocktail waitress in a small town in Louisiana, and she has a troubling "disability": she can read minds. You'd think this would be a great power to have but on the contrary it can be downright aggravating, not to mention that it makes dating pretty much impossible.

In her world, vampires are real and through the development of synthetic blood they are now able to come out of hiding and try to become part of mainstream society. When a friendly vampire named Bill moves to town, single Sookie realizes she can't read his mind and becomes pretty smitten with him. But when local waitresses start turning up dead, blame is aimed at vampires and suddenly everything gets complicated for Sookie.

It took me a long time to make the connection between this series and the TV version, True Blood. These books look so light and fluffy from the covers but the TV show is neither, filled with violence and hateful, angry vampire sex. I couldn't even watch an entire episode of the show because it was so unpleasant, but the book has a very different tone. There's still murder and there are still "fang-bangers," vampire groupies who enjoy being bitten, but there's also humor and romance and Southern charm.

I picked this up because a co-worker recommended it when I told her the sort of book I listen to on audio. The narrator was great, getting just the right tone to capture the humor. I'm no expert on Southern accents and have no idea what a genuine one sounds like for that part of Louisiana, but the narrator's accent wasn't over-the-top as they can sometimes be.

This was a fun blend of humor, romance, and mystery. Even if you're turned off by True Blood, as I was, this may be a great choice.

The Dog Stars

The Dog Stars by Peter Heller (2012)

After sickness has wiped out most of the population, Hig lives in an airplane hanger with his old dog Jasper. His wife died, seven months pregnant, of the flu several years ago. Later came a "blood sickness" and there are still survivors, including a small settlement that Hig occasionally visits in his old Cessna. Mostly he sticks to himself, socializing only with his neighbor Bangley.

The atmosphere of the novel is one of loneliness, at least for the first half. Hig has little interaction with other people, just living day by day, not knowing what the future holds. He muses, "Would I stand on a train platform and wait for a train that hasn't come for months? Maybe. Sometimes this whole thing feels just like that."

The distinct narrative style is characterized by many sentence fragments, keeping the pace slow, but not in a bad way. Hig explains that two straight weeks of fever had "cooked my brains." His thoughts can be scattered and unfocused, but they are illuminating.

My only small complaint is that the dialogue can be difficult. Without quotation marks it's always a little confusing and mostly he used other means to convey speech, but the few conversations between more than two people were hard to follow. It was also sometimes hard to tell if Hig was thinking something or speaking out loud, but it was hard for him to tell as well, as used as he was to being alone and talking to himself.

I've always loved a good post-apocalyptic novel, and this is indeed a very good post-apocalyptic novel. Not as bleak as The Road or as difficult as Riddley Walker, it embodied some of the best aspects of this kind of writing, without the nightmares and with a bit more hope. The ending left me wondering if there would be sequel. As much as I'm tired of series right now, for this I would welcome a follow-up.

Big Ray

Big Ray by Michael Kimball (2012)

Ray's defining characteristics were his size and his temper. When his son Daniel first learns of his father's death, he is relieved. But clearly Daniel has a lot of unresolved and conflicting feelings, as revealed in the many brief passages that make up this slim volume.

His father's death permeates everything, and is worthy of mention regardless of what the narrator is doing or thinking about. The writing style is simple and straightforward, in brief sentences that pack emotional punches one after the other.

Daniel has a few good memories of his father, but most of them are bad, many of the worst held back until late in the book. But they inform his behavior towards his father, who he ignores in the last months before his death. Big Ray would call Daniel's house and leave messages every day, some more coherent than others, until Daniel and his wife considered changing their phone number to avoid him. I don't think Daniel feels very guilty about this, nor do I think he should.

Not that he didn't feel sympathy for his father. Indeed, Daniel considered how his father must have been influenced by his own childhood. It also occurred to him how much his father must have hated being reminded of how fat he was every time someone called him Big Ray. He certainly must feel pity when he says "I don't know if my father ever realized he was having an unhappy life."

Though fewer than 200 pages, a lifetime is summarized and conveyed in prose which, though not emotional itself, certainly evokes emotion. I highlighted many passages in my ebook copy, and went back and reread many pages. This isn't a plot-driven novel destined for popularity, but rather a quiet narrative that will stick in its (probably few) readers' minds long after they've finished.

I keep thinking of Daniel's description of the stench of death that permeated his father's apartment: "It was difficult to get away from my father whether he was alive or dead." It's quite apparent that thoughts of his father continue to follow Daniel, just as this book will continue to haunt you after you've read it.

My review copy is courtesy of NetGalley. Big Ray will be published in September.