Return to Rakhat: the Children of God read-along

Children of God
Mary Doria Russell

A few months ago, I read a little novel called The Sparrow. I was floored. Amazed. Awestruck. Then, I learned that Heather and Florinda were hosting a readalong of Children of God in August. I waited with breathless anticipation. Tenterhooks were involved. Finally, August arrived.

I cracked open the book, eager to see how Sandoz was faring. How was he making out with his wonky, yet badass, hands? Was he still a damaged, broken puppy? And what would Life after Rakhat be like for him? And even more importantly, would Children of God live up to its predecessor?

I needed answers, and I needed them fast.

Sandoz, for his part, manages as best he can, given the circumstances. Unfortunately, I wanted more of him than Children of God had to offer. Then again, the worst has already happened to him, so there isn't, as other reviewers have noted, a great sense of urgency in the novel. I was also disappointed that Children of God is more political and focuses substantially on life on Rakhat. As such, I wasn't as entranced by the story. While I tore through The Sparrow, I found myself taking longer to read Children of God.

The Sparrow was suspenseful in ways this novel wasn't. Also, the moods of the novels were very different. Ironically, one of the discussion questions (I didn't want to post too many for fear of spoilers) reads:

Which book is "darker"? (According to the author, most people like the second book better even though they say it has a darker feeling to it.)

I find myself thinking about this question long after I should have answered it. To be fair, I find them equally dark, although the darkness in each is different. I found the darkness of The Sparrow compelling, but found the darkness of Children of God oppressive.

All of this is not to say it isn't a good novel -- it is. Without the spectre of its predecessor looming over it, Children of God is a solid work. The Sparrow blew my mind, though, and it's hard work overcoming that.

In a nutshell: While I may have enjoyed The Sparrow more, Children of God is an admirable follow-up that gives everyone, both Sandoz and readers, closure. And thanks again to Heather and Florinda!

Bibliolatry Scale: 4 out of 6 stars

FTCBS: Personal copy

The Summer of Sookie continues

Dead to the World
Charlaine Harris

Okay, y'all, you said Book 4 would be good, and it was. But it was sooo bad, too. Charlaine Harris, I'm shaking my fist at you.

Let's see. Sookie's just finished wrasslin with the werewolves in Book 3, so now it's on to another superbad baddy. This time, it's witches! (Highlight for small spoiler, I mean it's not gonna ruin the book or anything.)

So, anyway, Sookie's driving home and bam! Naked Eric everywhere. Clearly, this is headed in a good direction. And he's all memory-less (and therefore nice and sweet-like). OKAY!

Basically, Sookie's gotta make things right by going up against the aforementioned, not-really-spoilery baddy(ies). Which she does. While Eric hides in her house. So far, so good.

And it would have been absolutely perfect had it not been for the sheer laughability of it. Sookie is good at prompting second-hand embarrassment (even she admits she isn't the savviest of wits) and her awkwardness delayed me from finishing one particular scene. (We're talking a couple paragraphs. That took me two days. She's just so damn awkward, that Sookie. I mean, at one point Suckie [typo, but it stays] says -- in all seriousness -- "I could tell that flicked his Bic." Really? You really thought that? NO YOU DIDN'T.)



Damn you Charlaine Harris, laughing all the way to the mothereffing bank!

Bizarrely, however, I liked this book all the better in spite of -- or perhaps thanks to -- its absurdity. I just can't quit you, Sookie! See you in Book 5!

In a nutshell: ERIIIIIIIIIIIIICC

Bibliolatry Scale: 5 out of 6 stars

FTCBS: personal kindle download!

In case you're interested: Book 1, Book 2, Book 3

Spoiler free: Mockingjay!

Mockingjay
Suzanne Collins

So, the odds were ever in my favor when I learned that the kindle edition of Mockingjay was released at the same time as the "real" version. Woohoo! I could join in with the rest of the fangirls (and boys) and find out how this sitch would play out.

Don't worry, I won't spoil nothin.

So, spoiler free, eh? Okay, I can do this. Collins has achieved the nearly impossible: she has ended her trilogy satisfactorily, without weaseling out of anything painful, and yet somehow still giving her characters the ending they deserve.

At times, I was a little eye-rolley at the continued melodrama of Katniss' love triangle, but Collins anticipates such feelings, as one character snarkily remarks on Katniss' constant boy problems. Also, there are a few places where things get reaallll convenient, but that's part of the fun, too.

Still, the ending was perfect, and the final line? Absolute perfection. Erase any fears you may have that Mockingjay will disappoint. It won't.

What else needs to be said? If you're a fan of The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, you simply must read Mockingjay. And if you're not a fan, well...what's wrong with you?

In a nutshell: Ultimately, the trilogy ends well -- but not too well -- for those we have come to love since reading The Hunger Games.

Bibliolatry Scale: 5 out of 6 stars

FTCBS: personal Kindle edition...awwwww, yeah

Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell

Falling Angel
William Hjortsberg

Where do you search for a guy who was never there to begin with?

Private detective Harry Angel ponders this very question as he searches for his quarry, who has disappeared under peculiar circumstances. Hired by the mysterious Louis Cyphre to find a missing crooner, Johnny Favorite, Angel's search soon takes him to the seedy underbelly of the city and introduces him to the dark world of voodoo devil worship. It isn't long before Angel finds himself irrevocably entangled in these dark events.

I first heard of this novel when Carlos Ruiz Zafon listed his top 10 20th-century gothic novels. He said Falling Angel is "the best mystery thriller ever written. It has the classic elements of a Chandler novel combined with the solid tradition of the 1970s supernatural thrillers .... The writing, plotting and characterisation are superb." He ended his blurb by adding, "This is a hard title to find, but do yourself a favour and go looking." He wasn't kidding.

The harder I looked for this book, the more I wanted to read it. Struck out on Amazon (unless I wanted to pay over 40 bucks for a copy). No luck at the library. I finally ordered a used copy from the UK (thanks, guys). Then, the waiting began.

My book arrived in the late afternoon; a few hours later, I had fully devoured it. Zafon was spot on when he said the plotting is superb; the story hooks you immediately and doesn't relent until you've finished the final page.

In a nutshell: A gripping mystery with a nice dash of horror, Falling Angel is a must for those looking for a gritty, atmospheric read.

Bibliolatry Scale: 4 out of 6 stars

FTCBS: Mine, but only because not a single library in my state carried the book. WTF, library system??? W.T.F?!?

RR10: July

Another un-spectacular month. Let's recap.


Flynn, Gillian. Dark Places
Harris, Charlaine. Club Dead
Mieville, China. Kraken
Pushkin, Alexander. Eugene Onegin

Sigh.


RESOLUTION TITLES = 0 (9/80)

NON-RESOLUTION TITLES = 4

TOTAL READ IN JULY 2010 = 4

TOTAL READ IN 2010 = 39