Review: Romantic Misadventure - a point and click quest for love

Now, Kit Lovelace, I have been an avid Twitter follower and reader of his column whilst searching for love. And while I was at my height of following and this book appeared in the e-book realm I downloaded it - BUT, alas I completely forgot about it, but now I have read it and huzzah!!

First off, the format is stonking. Back to the good old days of the quest book, I loved a quest book in my youth. BUT you don't have to go back and fore flicking between pages. You just select the link and go! BRILLS.

It was great to be reminded of the most amusing but brave, and slightly daft mission KLL went on with his column to find love. It was great to be back on that weird mission and it was great as well to be back with KLL's writing style which I do really really enjoy. It is like the most eloquent stream of consciousness I have ever encountered, but still slightly mad ;-)

If you haven't come across this chap and his escapades, it's worth reading this and embracing it. Great fun :-)

Happy Reading

BG

Review: The Erl King

Publisher: Atlantic Books

 

 

WEIRDLY I was reading this book at the same time as one of the newbie colleagues in the office and we just happened to discover that each other were reading it...such fun.

So, we are with one man, one very strange man who lives a very secluded life and, to me anyway, always seems to be on the edge of doing something really inappropriate in the world.

I found the initial parts of the book really difficult to read and to want to read because of Abel's relationship with children. It was more the what might happen than the what was happening that put me off it on many occasions. But, when we came to the sinister writings, I found myself more at ease with the book as Abel's ways were more easily explained, dealt with and well, understandable. One got more of an insight into him, what makes him work and why he is like he is. There is almost a certain naivety about him.

The sections of the book that were written in the usual 3rd person style when we first enter the war were interesting more than anything else. It was interesting to watch Abel from the outside once more, especially with a better insight in to him and his ways. Also, it was interesting to look at the world of fascism and how people dealt with and developed it. But, the return to the sinister writings was welcomed.

I really don't know what I make of this book. It's truly individual partly because of its topic, partly because of how it is constructed and partly Abel as a character. Even now I still wonder/think about how I feel about him and this book, am I sorry for him? Am I scared of him? Is it a bit of both?

Definitely a book that lingers

BG

Review: Red Country

Publisher: Gollancz

 

I have never before read a JA book and I really don't know why! People have raved at me about them, and I've always fancied picking one up.

 

Red Country puts us in a fictional wild west type place and from the start I loved the fact that we were in the wild west but with a dark fantasy edge to it too. From the offing I also loved two characters, Shy and Lamb. These two will be your friends for life and they really give the book its heart, soul and balls.

 

I think without Shy and her being as a whole I wouldn't have enjoyed this book half so much. BUT, I think without Lamb the novel wouldn't have had its many layers, its turmoil and its altogether grit. Appreciate these two!!!!

 

The story is fast paced and full of action page on page on page. But, it's in no way rushed and this was a concern for me at the start when I realised I was half way in and there was still so much to do when it came to the book's main quest. I think that getting everything done but answering all questions and leaving no stone unturned in what is a relatively short number of pages shows how skilled JA is.

 

The novel isn't all cow boys, bandits and ghools though. It has its own share of romance, heartbreak and sadness which makes this more than a western romp. Also, the violence is a bit more intense too. Intense, but not gratuitous. AND finally, there is some politics be it town wide, country wide or even bandit group wide and again, this gave the book some depth and wider context.

 

A stonking read that really did take me by surprise. I'm now going to try and get my hands on some more JA!

 

Thanks!

 BG

Review: The Somnambulist and the Psychic Thief

Publisher: Jo Fletcher

 

First off, I will admit, I had to ask what a somnambulist is....I asked my Mum in fact as I was with her when I was reading it a few weeks ago. Now I know! WHOOPIE.

 

So, we are in Victorian London, Di needs a new life and Jasper needs a partner, woo hoo - match made in heaven!

 

Firstly, the story is great, it's fun, it's intriguing and it's got clout. It's not just a case of a nice little Victorian detective story, there are more bits of intrigue and layers as the characters have pasts and relationships already standing. This, I enjoy.

 

The characters themselves are a good mix - some are complete caricatures for this type of novel. The bad guy could have had a twiddly moustache, Jasper is your typical bumbling man who wants a purpose and the Italian psychic could not have been more Italian. But Di is refreshing. She's a strong, confident woman of the day who is not afraid to get what she wants and bloody well do what she wants too. GO DI! And Mrs Jesperson - well, you will love her and if you don't I will be VERY disappointed.

 

If you are a fan of this type of novel you will not be disappointed. For an American LT really has captured Victorian Britain. Her style in writing and language is also very fitting for the characters and time period she is trying to capture. It's got a touch of the Conan-Doyles about it too.

 



I will be keeping out an eye for the further adventures of these two...I do however hope that not everything will be based around the paranormal as the novelty was nice here, but it could all become a bit one trick pony!

Happy Reading

BG