Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Allan Quartermain

Africa was the “dark continent” for much of the 19th Century and because of that captured the imagination of the English reading public. Haggard knew that and capitalized on it with his books set in various parts of the real Africa and then devolving into the mythical regions.

Allan Quartermain is a sequel to “King Solomon’s Mines” and has adventure at its core. Rather than seeking riches Quartermain is bent on recapturing the feelings and flavor of his life in Africa. His son has died so there is no reason for him to remain in England when the call of Africa is so strong.

If you wish to read more of my comments on this book, as well as comments on 64 other books then you can find all of them in "Book Blogs," available on Amazon in either softcover or digital:
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Saturday, May 22, 2010

Faceless Killers

Henning Mankell created a character that Kenneth Branagh has made his own in the “Wallender” series on PBS. In this first Wallender crime novel, the spare technique Mankell uses gave rise to the PBS Wallender. As you read through the book you can see the bits and pieces that Branagh and the writers chose to flesh out the TV Kurt Wallender.

If you wish to read more of my comments on this book, as well as comments on 64 other books then you can find all of them in "Book Blogs," available on Amazon in either softcover or digital:
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Sunday, May 16, 2010

The Girl Who Played With Fire


Stieg Larsson opens the sewer in the prolog with a sadistic sexual scene that features unnamed characters. From there he digs through the pit and into the black hole. In that hole he introduces Lisbeth Salander a woman who appears to be whatever others’ perceptions deem her to be. On the contrary she is someone unto herself with a photographic memory, above and beyond computer skills, wealth secreted in various locations, and an intense desire for revenge.

If you wish to read more of my comments on this book, as well as comments on 64 other books then you can find all of them in "Book Blogs," available on Amazon in either softcover or digital:
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Saturday, April 17, 2010

Treasure of Khan

A reviewer once wrote that if nothing else I could write like Clive Cussler. He no doubt thought it was a slam (being from New England as he was), but I thought it was medium high praise.

I used to read Cussler’s work many years ago and with a certain trepidation I picked up a remainder copy of Treasure of Khan, written by Clive and his son.

If you wish to read more of my comments on this book, as well as comments on 64 other books then you can find all of them in "Book Blogs," available on Amazon in either softcover or digital:
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Sunday, March 21, 2010

King Solomon's Mines

When H. Rider Haggard titled this book “King Solomon’s Mines” he could have easily called it “Allen Quartermain” one of three main characters in the story. Allen Quartermain was to have his own title of his own book but that was after he’d survived the adventure in this tale.

Almost like Ishmael in “Moby Dick” Quartermain was at loose ends when he was introduced to the other two characters in the story. He’d been a hunter of some note in Africa but becoming a bit tired of safari he nonetheless signed up for a trek that would almost be the end of him.

If you wish to read more of my comments on this book, as well as comments on 64 other books then you can find all of them in "Book Blogs," available on Amazon in either softcover or digital:
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Saturday, March 6, 2010

The God Delusion

Richard Dawkins chose this title well for his discussion of what most people call “God.” He makes a clear distinction between the Deity that provides comfort to a person in need and the Supreme Being that is the result of belief in a creator responsible for the universe we inhabit.

If you wish to read more of my comments on this book, as well as comments on 64 other books then you can find all of them in "Book Blogs," available on Amazon in either softcover or digital:
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Sunday, January 24, 2010

She

H. Rider Haggard knew Africa and he knew how to tell a story. She is set in Africa although it begins in London. A mysterious iron box contains something that must await the 25th birthday of a man (Leo) who has been given to the guardianship of one of the ugliest men in the world (Holly), a man so unattractive that a woman who attempted to have a relationship said of them “If I am beauty then who are you?” meaning that he was indeed the beast.

When Leo reaches his 25th year Holly and he set off to find out whether the mystery contained in the iron box was a fantasy, a hoax or a reality.

If you wish to read more of my comments on this book, as well as comments on 64 other books then you can find all of them in "Book Blogs," available on Amazon in either softcover or digital:
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