Breakdown

I couldn't do it. I bought two books yesterday. I had a coupon. I got free shipping.

Still. The shame.

Anyway, here's what I got.




The Suicide Collectors
David Oppegaard











Drood
Dan Simmons












Have you read these? Any thoughts?

Not-so-darling Jim

Darling Jim
Christian Moerk

This reading resolution is like a noose around my mother[EXPLETIVE] neck. I feel suffocated, cramped, unable to continue.

Thankfully, the cure to my suffering arrived in the mail last week, in the form of an ARC from LibraryThing. This novel, Darling Jim, is due to be published in April.

The story begins in the small Irish town of Malahide. When a simple-minded postman uncovers the dead-for-days body of Moira Hegarty, a larger mystery is unearthed, and Moira's violent murder soon takes a backseat to the other victims found upstairs: two emaciated young women whose wounds and shackles indicate that Moira had held them captive for quite some time.

Malahide, a town small enough to make keeping secrets nearly impossible, is shocked that they were unaware of Moira's "guests." Even more shocking: the victims were Moira's nieces. Police conclude that the two young women died during a futile escape attempt. While such a conclusion answers the how, it does little to address the why. Most townsfolk cannot believe it possible to commit such an atrocity, but they chalk it up to Moira's increasing religious fanaticism and general oddball behavior.

The horrific event is well on its way to becoming a bad memory when Niall, a lowly postal clerk who dreams of becoming a cartoonist graphic artist, finds an undelivered package from Fiona Walsh, one of the murdered girls. Torn between his duty to turn such a package over to the police and his curiosity to open it for himself, Niall does what any good Irish lad would do -- he opens it. Inside, he finds Fiona's diary, an account of the damned.

Beginning to read, Niall is soon drawn into a greater mystery still, involving Jim, a charismatic storyteller who charms and invades the lives of Fiona and her entire family. As Niall reads on, we too are drawn into the mystery, and the result is a captivating, thrilling read that warns audiences against falling for the glitz of fantasy.

Darling Jim's ending was satisfactory, if a bit too clean, but I enjoyed it. I just have one question: How in the hell does one pronounce Aoife?

In a nutshell: Fast-paced and captivating, Darling Jim weaves a seductive tale that keeps readers enthralled until the very last page.

Bibliolatry Scale: 4.5 out of 6 stars

Sunday Sonnet

IF THE ROSE COULD SPEAK
Hjalmar Hjorth Boyesen


Within the rose I found a trembling tear,
Close curtained in a gloom of crimson night
By tender petals from the outer light,
I plucked the flower and held it to my ear,
And thought within its fervid breast to hear
A smothered heart-beat throbbing soft and low.
I heard its busy life-blood gently flow,
Now far away and now so strangely near.
Ah, thought I, if these silent lips of flame
Could be unsealed and fling into the air
Their woe, their passion, and in speech proclaim
Their warm intoxication of despair;--
Then would I give the rose into thy hand;
Thou couldst its voice, beloved, not withstand.

We have a winner!

My Aberrations giveaway ended last night, and the winner is Ikkinlala! Congratulations!

(Thanks to Random.org for the randomness.)

Ikkinlala, send me your mailing address and I'll see to it that your copy of Aberrations reaches you soon!

As flies to wanton boys are we

Fool
Christopher Moore

The next title of my reading resolution is also my newest review for Pajiba.

This time, I've read Fool, the latest by Christopher Moore. Long-time readers of Bibliolatry may remember my first encounter with Moore, the excruciatingly painful Fluke. Ah, good times.

Anyway, the good news is that Fool is way better than Fluke. You can read my full review here.

In a nutshell: I didn't hate it, but I'm still not a fan. Sorry, dude.

Bibliolatry Scale: 3.5 out of 6 stars

Reading Resolution: February Update

Well folks, Month the Second of my 2009 Reading Resolution has ended. Whereas I exceeded my expectations in January, February has been a bit of a bummer.

We've been doing renovations here at the Bibliolatry Manor, and I've been in a reading funk. Those are my excuses. Ugh. Let's hope for a better March.

Here is my tally for February. Links go to my posts.

Titles read in February 2009:

Collins, The Moonstone
Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love
Hill, 20th Century Ghosts
Millhauser, Dangerous Laughter
Moody, Right Livelihoods
Przekop, Aberrations


TITLES READ IN FEBRUARY: 6

CURRENT PROGRESS: 17/88

Sunday Sonnet

THE FRAILTY OF MAN'S LIFE
by Philip Ayres


The life we strive to lengthen out,
Is like a feather rais'd from ground,
Awhile in air 'tis tost about,
And almost lost as soon as found;

If it continue long in sight,
'Tis sometimes high and sometimes low,
Yet proudly aims a tow'ring flight,
To make the more conspicuous show.

The air with ease its weight sustains,
Since 'tis by Nature light, and frail;
Seldom in quiet state remains,
For troops of dangers it assail.

And after various conflicts with its foes,
It drops to Earth, the Earth from whence it rose.