Book Mini-Reviews: 3 Novels
Summer is fast approaching, and that's prime novel-reading season. I've read three novels in the past month or so, something of a record for me, and wanted to share some observations in case you're getting summer book-buying fever. (Note: There are no plot spoilers in these mini-reviews.)
The Blue Star - Tony Earley
A review copy of this book arrived, unsolicited, on my doorstep in late February. I knew nothing about it or its author, and the jacket blurb telling me that the writer was also responsible for Jim the Boy did little to work up my enthusiasm for the thin volume. I finally threw it in a suitcase and determined to work my way through it during a trip, more out of a sense of obligation than anything else...and ended up kicking myself for ignoring one of the more delightful books I've had the pleasure to read in a long time.
There's nothing particularly dramatic or edgy about The Blue Star, which is set in a small North Carolina town during the run-up to America's entrance into WWII. Tony Earley has crafted a character-driven novel that's beguiling in its simplicity, and soothing in its pace. If you're a fan of Jan Karon's trillion-selling Mittford series, I think you'll find The Blue Star has the same ambiance. I recommend it highly for a stress-free warm weather indulgence.
The Good Guy - Dean Koontz
Koontz's novel is almost a year old, and so all of his fans have already read it. But if you don't fall into that category, and you're looking for an edge-of-the-seat "action/suspense" novel that grabs hold and doesn't let go, you won't be disappointed in this one.
Koontz creates one of the most creepily competent bad guys since Hannibal Lector, and pits him against an enigmatic-but-just-as-competent – are you ready? – good guy. The result is not art, but it's a perfect poolside page-turner.
Blasphemy - Douglas Preston
Then we come to this waste of paper by another well-known creative type who seems to be just phoning it in. Preston has authored (or co-authored along with Lincoln Child) some very good novels, but this isn't one of them. He's pulled in every stereotypical character and every lame plot twist you can imagine and concocted a big mess. My advice is to avoid it like the plague. Try Tyrannosaur Canyon if you want some of the same characters in a better setting.
That's a bummer. I like Douglas Preston usually. Also read his books with Lincoln Child.
Posted by: Rach at May 3, 2008 06:09 PMJohn, my wife bought Velocity in paperback tonight at Barnes & Noble. We'll see if she agrees with your assessment.
Rachel, I think you'd be quite disappointed with Blasphemy. But you probably figured that out from the review. ;-)
Posted by: Eric at May 3, 2008 09:27 PMI generally like Dean Koontz's stuff, even though I suspect his spiritual worldview and mine would tend to be at... odds. (Sorry, it was there and I just had to swing at it. I do enjoy the Odd Thomas character.)
He seems to have fallen in love with the pre-climax of late, where a chapter or five in advance of the big showdown he writes something along the lines of "I wish my last conversation with John had been something more meaningful than a question about eggs." It's an interesting device, and occasionally works for me, but I dislike it more often than I approve.
Posted by: Bret at May 5, 2008 12:21 PMBret, this is my first experience with Koontz. I don't read many novels. But I do know that my wife has been very fond of Odd Thomas, too.
Posted by: Eric at May 6, 2008 06:48 AMAbout the publisher
Random Abbye photos...
Random Thursday: Friday Edition
Worst Customer Service Ever?
Texas Bike Builder Gets Big-Time Publicity
Book Review (Sort of): "Blue Like Jazz"
Book Mini-Reviews: 3 Novels
Random Thursday
Leibovitz Phones It In
The Incompetent Temporary Bachelor Chronicles: Vol. I
Al Jazeera visits Midland
Neighborhood Killdeer
My Wife is a Squirrel Mule
Local Company Celebrates Centennial
Random Thursday
Apple's 2nd Quarter Financial Conference Call
The Neighborhood:
West Texas Blogs:
[Midland unless otherwise indicated]
Other Texas Blogs:
The Business:
The Church:
The World:
Totally agree on The Good Guy. I Also read 'Velocity' and found it frustrating, and not delivering. The Darkest Evening of the Year had very interesting characters and creepy premise, but (spoiler) the ending just blew suspension of disbelief all out of the water and into smithereens.
Posted by: John C at May 2, 2008 08:07 AM