catching up on Connelly

Posted on October 21, 2010 by pagesofjulia

So I got home from work last night, and the Husband was out, so I got on the couch with my “new” Michael Connelly: A Darkness More Than Night. With his newest release, The Reversal, on its way to me (delivery estimate is today!), I was excited to get caught up. Darkness was the very last of his novels that I had never read. What fun.

(Darkness was published in 2001 and is not new. I have a liking for the series out of order, though.)

I’ve been excited, over the years, to see the serial characters I’ve come to know and love (Bosch, McEvoy, Haller, Rachel and Eleanor, even Cassie Black and Thelma the parole officer) come into contact with one another. It makes Connelly’s world so much more real to see them pass as ships in the night. It’s not like he created a group at the start and kept them together. It really is as if they’re all part of a larger, complex system, and they meet, perhaps only tangentially, and diverge just like we do in our real world. Also, I appreciate that Connelly changes things up, updates his characters, and keeps things very real and human for me. For example, I confess I came to a point where I felt that Bosch was becoming a little bit of a type, or a caricature: the lone, self-destructive, hard-drinking, isolated, good-hearted, authority-battling, etc. police detective. But just as I recognized this concern, Connelly recognized it too, and made Bosch a fuller, more complex and human character. We get into his personal relationships; or, we get a different character’s perspective for a book or two, and see Bosch through someone else’s eyes than his own. So, I continue to be a real fan.

In Darkness, Terry McCaleb from Blood Work returns for another unofficial investigation, and finds the fingers pointing towards Harry Bosch himself. Again we see Bosch through eyes other than his own, while the majority of Connelly’s novels are seen from Bosch’s perspective. It’s every bit what I expect from Connelly: fast-paced, suspenseful, edge-of-the-seat action with surprises, plot twists, and a touch of very human love, along with glimpses into the depths of human goodness and depravity, and some appreciation of art along the way. (Most often we learn about jazz, Bosch’s passion; here we look at some classic paintings. I love a novel that inspires nonfiction research, as this one did for me.) I would say it’s “typical” Connelly, but don’t be confused by the negative connotation there, one of the same-old. Rather, “typical” Connelly is intended as high praise. I read this book straight through before bed – no need for a bookmark – and stayed up too late consequently, but it was worth it, as always.

All this just has me all the more excited for The Reversal, in which Bosch and Haller team up! I can’t wait. After today, I’m on vacation til next Wednesday the 27th, so don’t expect to hear from me; I’m taking The Reversal on vacay with me if it shows up in time (hope hope!), along with the Fagles translation of Homer’s Odyssey on audio, read by Ian McKellen, for the drive. Good times!

See you back here next week. Thanks for following. Go get some Connelly!

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finished HeLa.

Posted on October 18, 2010 by pagesofjulia

Wow. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks really got me interested and taught me so much; and it was such an easy read, for something so educational. 🙂 When I finished the book I spent some time perusing the acknowledgements and notes, just out of regret that it was over. I am relieved to say that there is some measure of peace achieved in the end. It’s not a particularly happy or upbeat story; it’s very serious stuff. But there are some hopeful moments in the final wrap-up.

I count it in author Skloot’s favor that I became involved in her life as well as those of Deborah and the other Lackses we come to know. These people matter, and I know and care about some medical issues I had not bothered about before reading this book. I think this should be required reading for everyone, in the category of Knowing About Your World. Thank you KD for prompting my interest!

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finally, meet Henrietta Lacks

Posted on October 16, 2010 by pagesofjulia

What an amazing story. First, let me admit that I was perhaps a little wary of beginning this one because I feared it might be “heavy” (science-y, tech-y). But after a pleasant day pre-riding tomorrow’s race course with friends in perfect weather, I got brave and settled into it while the Husband worked on a bike in the garage.

I began with “A Few Words About This Book” and was enthralled in just a few sentences. Nothing about this story is dry or overly science-y. In the prologue I learned of the personal connection between author Rebecca Skloot and the story of Henrietta Lacks. This is too human to be heavy.

I’ll back up. In case you don’t know, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a work of nonfiction, addressing the case of a Southern black woman whose cells were harvested without her knowledge shortly before a mysteriously aggressive cancer took her life just past the age of 30, leaving 5 small children to be raised by an enormous family of Lackses and friends. This family didn’t find out about the use of her cells for more than 20 years, during which time they were reproduced in numbers greater than can be contemplated. Henrietta’s cells have played an important and often the decisive role in innumerable medical and scientific advances: the polio vaccine, chemotherapy, genetic research, in vitro fertilization and the effects of the atom bomb. All of this without any attempt to inform her family, get consent, or discover their feelings; and without any compensation. While industries are birthed and men become rich,  the Lackses continue in the same culture that Henrietta’s parents knew, living in their forefather’s slave quarters and farming tobacco. Today’s Lackses are ill-equipped to even understand the story of Henrietta’s cells, and no one has bothered to try to explain it to them.

As soon as I started reading I was engrossed. Again, the author, Skloot, has a personal relationship to the story, and necessarily forms personal relationships with the modern-day players in the course of her research. I learn a surprising amount of science without feeling intellectually exercised, and it almost reads like a work of suspense; the pages keep turning; I’m anxious to hear the next bit of dialog. Human interactions with Henrietta’s relatives are interspersed with the science (which in itself is interspersed with the human stories of those players), and the thing just rolls along building momentum.

I had to tear myself away to write this entry for you. I find this to be an outrageous (as in, outrage-inducing) and educational story, and I recommend it. Skloot’s skills as a writer are commendable. I hope you’ll join me as I open a cold Avery IPA (just one, I’m racing tomorrow) and get back in it.

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Friday

Posted on October 15, 2010 by pagesofjulia

Well this has been a heck of a day! I’ve been intimately connected with my IT guy all day, for one thing (thanks Wes) and that’s just the beginning. But at least my library patrons have been pleasant all day.

I was looking forward to lunchtime today, not just for the usual reason 🙂 but because I was interested to see what would happen with poor Justin, and whodunit? in Murder Past Due! Congrats to author James for getting me involved. The whole thing ended in what I consider to be a very Agatha Christie scenario: all the players in one room, with the Poirot-character asking increasingly perplexing questions in a crescendo of uncovered secrets, ending with the perpetrator very unwisely spilling all of his/her secrets and all the details of the crime, even the ones unnecessary to confession. There was a bit of a twist, of course, since librarian Charlie has been our cozy amateur detective all along, and the policewoman takes over at the end; but it was still satisfactory and adequately surprising. (The hints build towards the end, which I think is slightly less satisfying than an all-out oh-my-goodness surprise crook, but still.) I was sad that it was over; I was becoming a fan of our Southern-small-town characters and want to know them better. But, this is the beginning of a new series, we’re told, so I guess I’ll be back! While not the most serious or life-changing book I’ve read lately, it was entertaining and I don’t regret my time.

Soon it’s off to the house for some sweet rest before off to the races all weekend! Next weekend I’m taking a vacation that involves some racing as well as some live music and some just-for-fun riding, but I also hope it’ll involve some reading!! as I’m getting behind. (For one thing, I still have yet to start Henrietta Lacks which I really did intend to readalong with Kristi; but I think she’s very busy and thus a slow-ish reader too, so maybe there’s hope.)

Today, by the way, marks six months at my new job here at the Patient Family Library. It’s been rewarding and I’m glad to be of service. Here’s to more of the same, er, better.

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current book mystery

Posted on October 14, 2010 by pagesofjulia

So I’m still working on Murder Past Due, by Miranda James.

First, about the author: Miranda James is a pseudonym for Dean James, Associate Director of Collection Development at the HAM-TMC Library (that’s the Houston Academy of Medicine – Texas Medical Center, whew), and he’s general manager at Murder by the Book, a local bookstore. Since I work in a library in the Texas Med Center too, we’re neighbors; he’s also a fellow alum of the University of North Texas Library & Information Sciences program. Aren’t you surprised he hasn’t come by to meet me yet? Maybe after I write about his book. Maybe if I say nice things. 🙂

Really, I am enjoying it. It’s decidedly a “cozy” mystery: our amateur detective hero is a retiring and kindly man, and a librarian (if you can believe it); his Maine coon cat, Diesel, who has been mentioned here before, adds a warm fuzzy note, almost literally. It’s a comfortable and, well, cozy story. I have to admit that compared to the last few book-related mysteries I’ve read, it’s more believable and realistic; more of a mystery novel, if you will, and less a novelty. I’m engaged in the story. I make my way happily along on my lunch breaks, all the while mourning over the stack of books piling literally up around me as I go about my daily routine… not enough time to read, as usual.

I haven’t even started Henrietta Lacks. The new Connelly isn’t here yet but you can bet that’ll move to the top of the stack! Also I finally came across a copy of A Darkness More Than Night the other day – the final Connelly novel that I haven’t read. So that’s in the stack, but I have some time to let that one rest, seeing as how it was first published in 2001! I’m racing my mountain bike this weekend and the next… pretty busy in general, in fact, also with the readers’ advisory class I’m taking right now and loving by the way. Be patient with me, forgiving reader, and I’ll keep you up to date as I move along. As I tell my patrons here at the library, there are too many good books in the world for anyone to read them all. But I do my best.

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more book mystery books.

Posted on October 8, 2010 by pagesofjulia

Just finished Untitled: A Booklover’s Mystery, by Julie Kaewert, and only to find out at the end that it’s the third in a series… oh well. I’m actually completely unfazed by the concept of reading a series out of order; I’ve done all of Michael Connelly’s out of order, gasp, and enjoyed them thoroughly. At any rate…

Untitled was enjoyable. It was a brisk little read (well, it took me a while because I only read it on lunch breaks!) and would fit into the category of “cozy” mysteries, because it was more cute than bloody. Not that there isn’t a fair amount of injury; our hero Alex Plumtree is a veritable pincushion and, like the Terminator, keeps getting up and keeping on. But it’s not graphic in the least.

Set in England, Alex is a printer in the family business, along with his brother, Max. Alex is lucky enough to be planning a wedding with Sarah, a beautiful (on the inside and out) American. The brothers discover an ancient and rare book in the family library – one of its kind, in fact, and only rumored to exist in a few bookish circles. This particular book, though, turns out to have ramifications in international relations from the 15th century all the way up through the present, and in Alex’s personal life. First he is initiated into some very elite circles of bibliophiles, and then things get really alarming; more than one powerful party seems to want Alex’s book and isn’t going to let Alex stand in its way. Thus the pincushion.

The storyline twisted and turned enough to wear me out a bit; but you won’t guess what’s coming too many times. It was a “cute” read; Alex strikes me as a touch goofy and overly impressed by titles and family history, but then he is British after all. It kept me entertained! I won’t seek out more of the Booklover’s series but I would pick one up if it crossed my desk.

 

And… what crossed my desk today is By Hook or By Book, by D.R. Meredith. The front reads, “a mystery reading group is being strung along by a killer…” …right up my alley! So that’s up next when I finish Murder Past Due which I have just started.

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Another readalong.

Posted on October 8, 2010 by pagesofjulia

I’ve decided to join my friend Kristi in reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot. Various blurbs about this book tell me that it is the (nonfiction) story of a poor Southern tobacco farmer whose cells were harvested by doctors without her consent. These cells played important roles in a huge number of scientific and medical advances, but Henrietta’s children didn’t find out about it for several decades, and have never been compensated, nor have their wishes been considered.

Please join Kristi and I in reading Henrietta Lacks and let us know what you think!

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end of Reilly

Posted on October 4, 2010 by pagesofjulia

Well! What can I say? I want to comment on all the elements that Reilly fit into the crash-bang wowza ending to this book. But that would be to spoil. Really it was crash-bang from page 1 all the way through page 534. Would make a great movie, if you could pull off the special effects, which I guess we can these days. Our hero, Scarecrow, even likened his experiences to a video game towards the end, which I find apt. Fuzzy warm creatures saving lives; mutated evil giant eating-you-alive creatures; double- and triple-crossers; I wish I could tell you more, but suffice it to say that this was one of the less believable stories I’ve read lately, and definitely wishes it were in Hollywood. Oh, and a certain person’s survival of a certain set of circumstances strains credulity. Not entirely un-enjoyable, but suspension of disbelief is required in quantity.

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Nice to meet you, reader.

Posted on October 4, 2010 by pagesofjulia

I’ve always been a big reader. I ate books up as a kid; I used to get in trouble for having a reading light on way past lights-out, so I could get further into my chapter books. I read at the table; I read while I eat. I LOVE to read; I love a good book; it’s why I became a librarian! Now I’m working at MD Anderson Cancer Center as the Patient/Family Librarian; this means I help provide leisure reading to patients and their families, who often end up with quite a bit of time on their hands.

Now, as a lifelong reader I’ve spent a lot of time on “serious” reading, including classics and nonfiction. But my current library patrons lean towards fiction, and “light” or genre fiction at that, for the most part. And besides, since I finished grad school in December 09, I’ve been leaning towards the light stuff myself. So my most recent fascination is with murder mysteries – long a favorite genre. I’m finally just about caught up on Michael Connelly – there remains only one novel I haven’t read, but I haven’t read any of his nonfiction yet. While reading a biographical blurb on him I discovered that Raymond Chandler was an early inspiration, so I picked him up next, and I can definitely see the relationship. Elizabeth George, James Lee Burker, and Martha Grimes are a couple of favorites as well.

But my latest side-interest is in mysteries related to BOOKS or libraries. first I found The Case of the Missing Books by Ian Sansom; it was fun and funny, really very silly but enjoyable; and I’m now involved in Untitled: a Booklover’s Mystery by Julie Kaewert. It’s back on the shelf for the moment while I immerse myself in books for my readers’ advisory class (more on that in a moment). Next up is Murder Past Due by Miranda James.

So today is the start of my readers’ advisory class (hereby, RA class). It’s taught by a BIG name in the field, Joyce Saricks, author of the textbook used in my grad school RA class, and of course of the text used in this class as well. So that’s exciting. We were given four genre books to read (only had to read one but of course I went for all four!): romance, The Viscount Who Loved Me, Julia Quinn. mystery, The Bootlegger’s Daughter, Margaret Maron. scifi, Ender’s Game, Orson Scott Card. action/adventure, Ice Station, Matthew Reilly.

I’ve read very little romance but they seem harmless. I was happy to tackle the Viscount (no pun intended, ha). I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Honestly, it’s not so appealing that I’m going to pick up another romance novel any time soon unless someone insists upon it; but I was surprised at it nonetheless. The characters were cute, if predictable, and I was invested in the plot pretty quickly. I was giggling all along; I have a bad feeling that I was laughing at the book as much as with it, but that works for me too. It’s still entertainment. I really enjoyed The Bootlegger’s Daughter; the characters were fairly real, and diverse, and the small town life drawn by Maron was believable and interesting. I really enjoyed the people, and there was enough sexual tension to be a side entertainment, while not at all taking over (and there was no sex at all in the end, just tension). I’ll be looking for Maron again! Next came Ender’s Game, and here was the real surprise. Even a non-sci-fi-reader like myself recognized the title and author as important in the genre. I loved this book! The fast-paced action drew me along; the characters were surprisingly human and conflicted, not just vehicles for science nerdiness; I really cared what happened. I stayed up til almost 1am, sick, trying to finish (finally had to give up, but eagerly awoke to finish the next morning). I was thoroughly surprised by the surprise towards the end! Very enjoyable. Full credit to Mr. Card.

Now I’m into Ice Station, and it is decidedly fast-paced as well. (In fact, that’s an attribute shared by these 4 books selected for my RA class.) I’m a fan of nonstop action, although some of the tech-y bits are a little contrived: “Please, Ms. Smith, would you demonstrate that again and explain it more fully even though it’s not the least bit necessary to decide my next action? The audience would appreciate it.” That’s ok, I’m forgiving, and I’m enjoying the book. I must say it REALLY reminds me of Dan Brown’s Deception Point, but I point out: Ice Station came out first! Take that, Dan Brown. I’m about halfway through Reilly at the moment, but so far I prefer him over the famous Brown, too.

I’ll keep you posted on Ice Station and anything else I can manage to fit in! Thanks for saying hello!

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