A Haunting ...of sorts

For a number of reasons, I have not posted a new review for a while.  I'm delighted that this one marks my return.  Bellman & Black is the perfect read for Fall and getting into the Halloween spirit.   I think it may be a great read for spring or summer as well.

The story revolves around William Belllman, a man generously gifted by life.  He is handsome, happily married, and the father of a small and loving brood of bright children.  He is particularly gifted at the business of business and devotes most of his prodigious energy to it.  He eventually becomes the successful owner of a cloth mill.

There is a small problem, however.  William, as a lad, killed a rook with his slingshot. He didn't really mean to do it.  He was just testing his prowess.  But kill it he did, and the reader understands that he will have to atone for that one day.

And a time of tragedy ensues...William nearly loses everything he loves.  In a moment of despair, he makes a strange bargain with a mysterious man whom he sees only on his darkest days.  The results seem positive:  a child is saved, and an idea for a very successful business is born.   But both are won at a terrible cost.

And like Poe's Raven, that rook comes rap, rap, rapping....

Bellman & Black is hypnotic...moody, atmospheric, and lyrical.  The author, Diane Setterfield  (The Thirteenth Tale), perfectly evokes both time and place. The elaborate funeral rites of Victorian England are a perfect setting for a mystery.   Setterfield  builds the suspense so finely that I was surprised at the tension in my body once I became aware of it.  Everything seems to be going well, yet the rooks are never far from our thoughts.  The author reminds us of the link between the birds and man through little lessons she provides at the end of the three Parts.  The imagery is superb:  the doleful black of the rooks is echoed everywhere, even in hair color.   And throughout, Williams' surname somberly tolls...

Hardcover, 336 pages

Expected publication: November 5th 2013 by Atria/Emily Bestler Books 

Tigerlily's Orchids

It can be argued, and many people do, that British author Ruth Rendell is one of the most influential writers of mysteries and police procedurals of the past 30 years. She is the creator of the iconic Inspector Wexford, featured in more than 25 novels. Ms. Rendell is famous for her elegant prose, her social conscience, and most importantly, her keen insight into people. It’s been said that she and her friend P.D. James “upgraded the genre of the whodunit into the whydunit”. As a result of her unique blend of skills, she is the recipient of the most coveted awards for mystery writers. She has also been awarded the C.B.E. or Commander of the British Empire for her work.

Tigerlily’s Orchids is a splendid example of Ms. Rendell’s work. The story takes place in a London apartment building. I was reminded a little of Alfred Hitchcock’s movie Rear Window, with the reader as L.B. Jeffries observing his neighbors as their eccentricities are revealed.

This is a story of secrets, as most stories are. Some are heartbreaking: One is Olwen, whose only goal in life is to be able to drink as much gin as she wants until she dies. Some are perverse: the caretaker who desperately hides his unholy longing. Some are mysterious: who is the beautiful Asian girl hidden in the house across the street? We have old lovers who may or may not remember each other, a not-so-secret affair, a young thief, and the sighing of unrequited love. Finally, we have a murder.

Rendell offers us a fascinating, and sometimes humorous glimpse into the minds of her characters. Of course, each thinks that his or her actions, no matter how rotten, are completely justifiable, and the process by which they absolve themselves can be amusing. One example is Sophia, who goes from buying gin for Olwen at a carrying charge of ₤10.00 per trip to steadily emptying her pension account. She begins by blaming Olwen for being out of touch and ends by blaming her roommates for having boyfriends.

Complex, darkly ironic, and elegantly plotted, Tigerlily’s Orchids proves that at 81, Ruth Rendell continues to ensnare us in her spell.

Tigerlily’s Orchids by Ruth Rendell (Scribner $26.00 Hardcover,
9780385668880, June 14, 2011)

Published with permission of Shelf Awareness

MEET EINSTEIN by Mariela Kleiner and Illus. by Viviana Garofoli

Special Children's Edition:  I don't often review children's books, but our friends at JKS Communications were kind enough to send me a copy of MEET EINSTEIN, and I had to share my comments.  Since I'm fortunate to have adorable nieces who enjoy bedtime stories,  I have been stunned at the craftsmanship of a good children's book. And there are a lot of good ones out there.   The breezy wit, the humour, and  the ability to enchant in just a few short pages is a skill I so envy , and it's accompanied by incredible art.  It's a slim little gift every time.  And people like to think children's book writing is easy. Tut tut.

Now I'm the one demanding a new story at bedtime when I visit my girls.
 
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hThis book is a success on so many levels; it’s hard to list them all. First, it’s difficult to imagine that the age group targeted (2-4 years) would care who Einstein is, much less want to meet him. But the book explains that everyone is really a scientist. Everyone who asks questions, that is. And have you ever met a child, who, as soon as they could speak, did not begin to ask questions?  "Why” has to be the favorite word in any toddler’s vocabulary.

The story behind this book is charming. This is the debut children’s book publication for the author, Mariela Kleiner. She allowed her 2-year old daughter to choose a “grown up book” for a bedtime story, and Hailey chose Einstein’s Relativity. (Um, wow.) To make the book a little more accessible to her daughter, Ms. Kleiner wrote Meet Einstein.

Mercifully, Meet Einstein stays away from the Theory of Relativity, and focuses on light and gravity. (I can't believe I just wrote that sentence.)  The author talks about the different colors of light, and why things fall to the ground every time. The book ends with some cool questions for parents to ask their budding scientists, which is a great conversation starter. Plus, there are some interesting things to know about Einstein, and ends with some fascinating scientific facts. It’s almost like a baby book club reader’s guide.

And the illustrations are a delight! The illustrator, Viviana Garofoli, has illustrated over 20 children’s books in addition to other projects. And she brings such a sense of fun to the topic of science. Of course, the curiously- coifed Einstein contributes a lot, but Ms. Garofoli adds an adorable dog as a sidekick, and some very helpful frogs. And of course, we see the children all over the world who are learning about light and gravity along with us. I liked the end papers that defined all of the scientific tools and how they are used.

I hope this is the beginning of a series (“Meet Leonardo”, “Meet Madame Curie”, etc.). This is the perfect introduction to science. Not only does it introduce science before it becomes a scary topic, it makes science easy to understand, makes it fun, and makes it accessible. Also, it may present a good point for us grown-ups to keep in mind:  children aren’t really trying to drive us mad with their questions. They are just scientists in training.

Author: Mariela Kleiner
Illustrator: Viviana Garofoli
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Meet Books, LLC (March 1, 2011)
ISBN-13: 978-0615389738

At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson

One of the most appealing qualities a person can possess is curiosity, and Bill Bryson has it by the bucketful. Which of course, makes him one of the most delightful and insightful writers around. Not only is Mr. Bryson insatiably curious, but he draws us in through his enthusiasm, his wit, and the pure beauty of his writing. Not since discovering P.G. Wodehouse during my freshman year of high school have I laughed out loud simply at the way a writer rubbed two words together.

In his latest outing, Mr. Bryson has given us the entire history of private life, without ever leaving the 150 year old rectory he calls home located in Norfolk, England. Moving from room to room in his house and discussing the contents, the development of its purpose, the architecture, the servants, the lighting, the furnishings, and the people who used the room, we learn about the development of the heart of a people: the homes of the people who live there.

One of the gifts of the book is its many small segues. One never knows where Bill Bryson will take you, but it’s always an amazing ride. One such example is the Nursery. The discussion of the nursery involves a look at infant mortality, child labor laws, domestic missionary work and the reforms of the Poor Laws, children’s place in society (even the wealthy ones), public schools and Charles Darwin.

And then there is the humor. In a typical passage describing Clergymen who made significant contributions to history, Bryson writes:

"In Dorset, the perkily named Octavius Pickard-Cambridge became the world’s leading authority on spiders while his contemporary the Reverend William Shepherd wrote a history of dirty jokes. John Clayton of Yorkshire gave the first practical demonstration of gas lighting. The Reverend George Garrett, of Manchester, invented the submarine. Adam Buddle, a botanist vicar in Essex, was the eponymous inspiration for the flowering buddleia. The Revered John Mackenzie Bacon of Berkshire was a pioneering hot air balloonist and the father of aerial photography. Sabine Baring-Gould wrote the hymn “Onward, Christian Solders” and, more unexpectedly, the first novel to feature a werewolf. The Revered Robert Stephen Hawker of Cornwall wrote poetry of distinction and was much admired by Longfellow and Tennyson, though he slightly alarmed his parishioners by wearing a pink fez and passing much of his life under the powerfully serene influence of opium."

If The New York Review of Books had a Sexiest Man Alive issue, Bill Bryson would be on the cover every year.

Many readers are familiar with Bill Bryson through his earlier works: A Walk in the Woods, In a Sunburned Country, The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid. For them, a new book by Bryson is always a cause for celebration. A chance to spend a few hours in the company of this charming guide is an opportunity to be savored.

Publisher: Doubleday (October 5, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-0767919388

Buy This Book:  http://doubleday.knopfdoubleday.com/

A Small Death in the Great Glen by A.D. Scott

A Small Death in the Great Glen is the debut title by A.D. Scott, and I am eagerly awaiting the follow up to be released next summer. The story is set in the Highlands of Scotland in 1956. It’s already intriguing from an American point of view: the accents, the atmosphere, and the customs. Then we have a great cast of characters, many of them working at the weekly gazette of the small village all of them live in: Joanne Ross, the battered wife; McAllister, editor and keeper of secrets; Rob Mclean, eager young investigative reporter; Travelers; runaway Polish exiles; expatriate Italians; priests and policemen; gossips; and rogue politicians.

Of equal weight, are time and place. The setting is so beautifully detailed and lovingly drawn that it is a character in itself: the gray stones of the village, the vast sweeps of the glens. And a small village in Scotland in post war 50’s: the missing young men, the damaged ones that returned, the dour conservatism, the importance of music, the sly Celtic charm.

When a small boy is murdered, the staff of the paper becomes involved in an investigation to uncover the murderer, each for his own reasons. Ancient superstitions and modern prejudices as well as greed and corruption all interfere with finding the truth. But along the way, the characters, especially Joanne and McAllister, find out what they are made of, and what is critically important to them. Their pasts, their present, and what they want from the future finally become clear as they work to right the wrong done to a small boy.

Ms. Scott creates a colorful, fascinating world and a suspenseful story. Richly developed characters, and a tautly plotted adventure make this novel hard to put down. I am anxiously awaiting the next installment in the series (and I do hope it’s a series). Ms. Scott is to be congratulated. I find it difficult to believe this is a debut novel. It has the feel of a very seasoned writer. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

Publisher: Atria; Original edition (August 3, 2010)
ISBN-10: 1439154937
ISBN-13: 978-1439154939

The Whisperers by John Connolly

Charlie Parker is one of my favorite characters. Mysterious and melancholy, he is surrounded by violence, yet not violent himself. Otherworldly, and haunted by his past, he can be funny and irreverent.  His friends are both lethal and loyal.

For those unfamiliar with Charlie, his back story is this: an ex NYC cop, now a private detective living in Maine. His wife and young daughter were killed some years ago in a gruesome way while he was out getting drunk. Nothing new so far.  Charlie tracked down, and killed the murderer, and discovered a gift for ridding the world of a particular breed of serial killer. Along the way he has acquired the friendship of Angel, a scruffy ex-thief, and Louis, an elegant and deadly hit man, who are partners in crime and in life. The exchanges between Louis and Angel are often hilarious, and occasionally, heartbreakingly sweet. They are unswervingly loyal to Charlie, and their intercession often saves Charlie’s life. Louis’ marksmanship and flair for drama reminds me of Harlan Coben’s Win Lockwood, in the Myron Bolitar series. Recently, Charlie has fallen in love with Rachel, and has had another daughter named Sam. Rachel can’t take the violence that surrounds Charlie and has taken Sam and moved to Vermont, leaving Charlie bereft and alone.

This may seem like typical detective drama so far, but Connolly has added another layer to Charlie’s story. When I say Charlie is haunted by his past, I mean literally haunted. His murdered wife and daughter appear to him and others. And Charlie, through his investigations, comes to understand that he is a little different than other people. We don’t quite know how yet, but the figures he battles aren’t quite human, and he is followed around by characters that aren’t quite human either. One, The Collector, so named because he takes a souvenir from those he rids the world of, sees himself as “ridding the world of evil”, yet one feels as if he will one day be a threat to Charlie, even though they have an uneasy peace for now.

In The Whisperers, Charlie is again battling unseen foes. A group of soldiers has brought antiquities home from Iraq that they are selling to help each other with medical expenses. One of the antiquities is a Pandora-like box that contains a power causing them to commit suicide. "The Collector" ( from a previous  case) makes an appearance, as well as the rather gruesome "Herod". Particularly interesting is the insight into the soldier’s hardships once they returned from Iraq. Tired of empty promises, abandoned by the government they served, the soldiers are forced to band together to survive in a country that has forgotten them, and the promises made to them.  Crimes are committed in the name of compassion, blending the ethcal lines.  iParticularly good was the therapist’s conversation with Charlie about his own Post-Traumatic Stress and the affect it has had on his own life. Connolly  A unique blend of crime fiction and the supernatural, Connolly creates an eerie world and a tormented hero who battles inner and outer demons. 
Publisher: Atria; 1 edition (July 13, 2010)
ISBN-10: 143916519X
ISBN-13: 978-1439165195

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter

One of the great pleasures of this year is discovering a few authors I haven’t read before. Tom Franklin is one of these. I can’t believe I somehow overlooked this writer. He is everything one hopes for in a writer, especially a Southern writer: an unerring ear for dialogue, compassion, a poetic sense of the absurd, and courage. Above all courage. The power of this little book just stunned me.

The story is just heartbreaking. An awkward little boy, dorky and friendless, meets a black boy and they become uneasy friends. Later, the boy lands a date with the sexiest girl in high school. He is the last person to see her alive. Her body is never found and the lonely little boy grows into a lonely man, a pariah in his small, southern town. Treated with so much contempt that he is grateful when a creepy little admirer, who is sure he murdered the girl, starts hanging around Not much of a friend, but a friend.

Now it’s twenty years later, and Larry the loner, and Silas the black man, who is now the local constable, cross paths again when another girl goes missing. And Larry is the first person who is suspected. Betrayal, old secrets, friendship and the simple needs of the human heart are all laid bare as the story of what happened twenty years ago emerges. The story is both brutal and unutterably sad, as a sad as a wasted life. Larry has accepted his lot with such stoicism, the same uncritical acceptance of his father’s sadistic cruelty towards him, or the other children’s unthinking mockery, or Silas’ betrayal. The only innocent in the story is the most harshly treated, as is so often the case in Southern literature.

Tom Franklin is one of the few writers I know that can so perfectly capture a true Southern accent (Rick Bragg anyone?). As a Southerner, I know. And he is dead on. It’s not the Scarlett O’Hara Antebellum Southern. This is true redneck cracker-speak. And it’s essential to these narrow-minded; small-town; easily-led; prejudiced; malevolent hicks. And at the same time, there is great poetry in this book. Franklin creates a perfect sense of time and atmosphere.

Beautifully written, cleverly plotted, Mr. Franklin shows us again why writing is an art, not a science. I highly recommend Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter. The redemption at the conclusion of the book is all the sweeter for the outrage one feels at the harm done Larry. The book has a lot to say about the way we treat those on the outskirts of life, and our prejudices. The message is a good one, and delivered by a master.

Publisher: William Morrow (October 5, 2010)
IBSN-13: 978-0060594664

Buy This Book http://www.harpercollins.com/authors/19243/Tom_Franklin/index.aspx