Looking for Jack

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Through the Looking Glass

What do you get when you cross a penchant for chess with a fertile, but bizarre imagination? Why, Through the Looking Glass, of course. Lewis Carroll’s fascination with chess is quite apparent in the reading of this supposed children’s tale. Not only are the chess pieces abundantly in evidence (Red and White Queens, and knights that have a tough time sitting their steeds) but so are the moves across the board to make the transformation from a pawn to a queen.

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:
https://www.amazon.com/Book-Blogs-William-Behr-Mueller/dp/1479375446/ref=sr_1_25?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1479445121&sr=1-25&keywords=william+behr+mueller

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Allan Quartermain

Africa was the “dark continent” for much of the 19^th 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.