The Fall by Simon Mawer: Simon Mawer has given us a good novel, just not a great one.
It can be electrifying and dizzying at one point and then detached and mired in its
characters' own lack of inertia the next. A more even novel would have been received
better, but The Fall is still an enjoyable read that will leave you guessing the truth
until the very end.
December 6 by Martin Cruz Smith: December 6 is a novel that succeeds on many levels. It's
an education into the mindset and culture of pre-war Japan. It's an indictment of those
beating the drums of war behind their own self-righteousness. Best of all, it's a great
story, and the description of Harry's predicament is peeled back layer by layer, and by
the end we've come to understand and sympathize with him completely. There's a bit of
Harry in all of us, trying to do the right thing while taking advantage of the situation
at the same time.
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The Diviners by Rick Moody: There are those who will probably enjoy this book more than I
did. Those who know the people and industries satirized here or are part of that big city
madness to make money, be seen at the right events, and profit at your adversary's
mistakes. Perhaps more of those "aha" moments ring true to those intimately
involved with them. For me, though, The Diviners was a disappointment on a promising
premise that never played out to my satisfaction.
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His Illegal Self by Peter Carey: His Illegal Self is not an easy story to read, and it's
tedious at times waiting for any sense of hope to come to its characters' lives. It's the
characters that are the highlight of this novel, though, and Peter Carey's expert handling
of their relationships and emotions that binds it all together in a flurry of emotions
that buffets the reader as well.
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Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris: It's sentences like that grab
your attention with his off-kilter way of telling about his life that makes you want to
find out what it's all about. Fortunately, David Sedaris continues to deliver on the
promise with more interesting, funny, and thought-provoking parts of his life. Dress Your
Family in Corduroy and Denim is a welcome addition to his private literary genre and a
gift to the world that can always use more laughter. My time spent with David Sedaris
passed too quickly, but this is a book that can be read again when a dose of laughter is
needed. If you haven't read any of his work before, this is a fine place to start. If
you're a fan of David Sedaris, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim is one you must
read.
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The Ghost by Robert Harris: Following Robert Harris' own explanation, The Ghost feels
true. His characters act like we believe politicians would, and his intrigue and secrets,
while surprising within the story, are unsurprising in the world of political theater
where the ends often justify the means. While Adam Lang is not Tony Blair, Harris' outrage
at recent history hits the nail on the head. The Ghost rises above political thriller to
an eye-opening examination of the recent past and current issues. Whatever literary or
political points he meant to score with The Ghost, Robert Harris has done so in both a
thought-provoking and entertaining way.
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Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips: Despite a few bumps along the way and some mean,
pernicious behavior of the gods, Gods Behaving Badly eventually rescues itself from the
traps it must avoid. When it tends to get repetitious or too over the top, Marie Phillips
guides it back to a scene or setting that highlights human foibles or insights, and the
novel is back on the road to being an entertaining read. Once Neil and Alice are confident
enough to take over the novel, it glides full of humor to its immortal conclusion. Gods
Behaving Badly is an original concept wrapped around a familiar theme, and the combination
of the unique setting, absurd and lecherous as it is, with a sweet love story makes it a
successful debut novel for Marie Phillips. While you can't necessarily count on the gods
to do the right thing, reading Gods Behaving Badly is a safe bet for any reader.
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Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer: If you only read perfect
novels, then there would be very few books to read at all. Extremely Loud and Incredibly
Close can be uplifting and soul searing at different times. With the horrors and wounds of
the 9/11 attacks still fresh, this novel may hit too close to home for some people. By the
end of this book, how that awful day happened for all members of Oskar's family is known,
and beyond the pain lies hope, and Oskar is not as alone as he thinks he is. Oskar
Schell's story is one to cherish, and perhaps that metaphor for the lost innocence of the
world is one we all ought to acknowledge and embrace.
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