October 4, 2009
The Butcher of Smithfield by Susanna Gregory
Susanna Gregory is a prolific writer, researcher and academic and I wish I had known that fact before embarking on The Butcher because it would have overcome a difficulty I had with the book which lessened my enjoyment.
The novel gives an extremely accurate snapshot of life in Reformation London, but the descriptions of life in those distant times did not ring true to me and set up an interesting question of what makes historic detail realistic. Robert Harris achieves the effect remarkably well, but I suspect that his knowledge of Roman times was sufficient to be convincing but does not have the depth of Gregory’s. Historically accurate detail needs to be brought alive to the reader and this is best done by drawing subtle parallels with contemporary life.
The London of protagonist Chaloner’s adventure is completely lawless and venturing anywhere during the hours of darkness is extremely hazardous; murders go unpunished and gangs rule the day. Chaloner goes without food for days, without pay for months and never pays his landlord, and this, with all the other detail in the book, is absolutely accurate, but it is a world so far removed from the present that it is scarcely believable. I also struggled with the narrative which revolved around the murder of a news monger and a roving band of vial players.
30 September, 2009
Burdett writes with great authority about Bangkok, and so he should, as he has spent a good deal of time there and in Hong Kong where he worked as a lawyer. He also well understands and likes the Thai people, their police force and their Buddhist philosophy. The sense of place delivered by Burdett is very strong, so good in fact that I feel as if I now know Bangkok without having visited.
The title Bangkok 8 refers to the police district where the action takes place and the section that police office Detective Sonchai, the main character, belongs to. It is a complicated tale in which the Thai sex trade plays a major part, and if you have ever been curious as to how the industry works you will find this novel most instructive.
Burdett takes an old theme of east meets west and gives it a contemporary twist when FBI agent Kimberley Jones, a farang, falls for Detective Sonchai and makes her feelings known in the liberated atmosphere of Bangkok.
This is a very competent piece of crime thriller writing, with many unexpected turns in the plot, and what I consider to be a good ending — and for some of the characters, perhaps all the characters, a happy one.
30 September, 2009
This novel tells the tale of the destruction of Pompeii by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, and I enjoyed it a great deal. There is a lot of advice around about the rights and wrongs of writing, and a frequent caution is not to let your research show, in other words don’t put in lots of interesting facts just because you enjoyed your own research.
This a wonderful exception; right from the beginning Robert Harris tells the reader a great deal about Roman life and the system of aqueducts that made the lives of the rich so enjoyable, and why the baths were such an important part of the Romans’ social life, both practically and symbolically.
A good story teller, Harris uses common issues that we easily recognise today; the class struggle, property speculation and the squandering of natural resources, to bring out the flavour of the time. Pliny the younger appears in the novel and his first-hand description of the eruption adds to the feeling of authenticity.
His description of the eruption which takes place over several days is ambitious in its scope and for me it worked well, particularly as it illustrated that the variety of human reactions to disasters has not changed.
June 4, 2008
The written word is an important way to communicate and for most people being able to put ideas and proposals down on paper is a useful skill. Over the years I have had plenty of opportunity to do that and I have also done some scribbling in the background.
This has not only made me appreciate what real writers do, but also added a flourish to my copy writing.
I have recently completed The Pool, a novel conceived one summer while sitting by the hotel swimming pool as a story for baby-boomers in reflective mood. If you would be interested in knowing more and reading an excerpt from The Pool then click here.
January 14, 2010
Authors Review Index
A black comedy centred around an assassin with no trace of a conscience
Silence of the Grave By Arnaldur Indridason
A powerful murder mystery from this Icelandic crime writer
Looking Good Dead By Peter James
You might be better off taking this advice
A great sci-fi adventure which was the inspiration for the Star Wars phenomenon
Here lies Arthur By Philip Reeve
Thoroughly enjoyable historical fantasy, especially for grown-ups who like a good tale
Elixir of Death By Bernard Knight
Shedding some light on the dark ages, Knight explores some less well known aspects of this often neglected period
Fandom of the Operator By Robert Rankin
A black comedic romp with a light touch and a great feel for period
The Butcher of Smithfield by Susanna Gregory
Chaloner's third exploit
Burdett writes with great authority about Bangkok
The tale of the destruction of Pompeii
The sequel to The Long Firm
Jake Arnott’s first novel
Extremely loud and incredibly close by Jonathan Safran Foer
An eight year old boy’s search for his father
State of fear by Michael Crichton
In State of Fear Crichton takes on the global warming movement
A Rebus novel
Praying for Sleep by Jeffery Deaver
Praying for Sleep is one of his earlier novels