I know it's not the end of the month quite yet but I won't be completing any more books before the end of the month... at least I don't think I will be. :0)
So here we go, first some stats and then a review of my reading challenges.
General Stats
Aug 2018
General Info Aug Total
Books Read - 10 81
Pages Read - 3000 26100
Pages Breakdown
< 250 4 27
250 - 350 2 23
351 - 450 4 18
> 450 13
Ratings
5 - star 1 5
4 - star 6 48
3 - star 3 27
2 - star 1
Gender
Female 3 25
Male 7 36
Genres
Fiction 2 16
Mystery 6 47
SciFi 1 12
Non-Fic 2
Classics 1 2
Poetry 2
Top 3 Books
"I've read a few books by Josephine Tey. The others have been part of her Inspector Alan Grant Series. Brat Farrar is one of two standalone mysteries by Tey. It was also turned into a TV mini-series and a movie.
I will readily admit that I had an inkling about part of the book when I was fairly shortly into it and this turned out to be correct. However, having said that, it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book at all.
Brat Farrar, an orphan, left England at a young age and traveled through France and the US until as he neared the age of 21, he returned to England. Alex Loding sees him by chance in London and realizes that he looks remarkably like Patrick Ashby, who committed suicide as a young boy after a tragic accident which killed his parents. The Ashby's live in Westover County and run an estate that makes its money breeding horses. Simon Ashby, Patrick's younger twin stands to inherit the estate on achieving his 21st birthday. Alex Lodings' proposal is that Brat should turn up at the Ashby estate and claim the inheritance and for his efforts, Alex would receive a monthly allowance from Brat.
Brat allows himself to be persuaded and after training on Patrick's life and that of the family, he introduces himself to the family solicitors to be identified as the true heir.
I won't get into the story anymore except to say that all goes well, and Brat is welcomed into the family as the long lost prodigy. There are of course mixed feelings, especially those of Simon who now loses the inheritance.
The story is an evenly paced work of fiction as we follow Brat through his introductions and new life with the Ashbys. They are wonderful characters, especially Aunt Bea, who has run the estate while Simon, now Brat, grew to the appropriate age to take over. And also, the lovely Eleanor, oldest of the sisters, who trains horses and welcomes Brat.
At times I wondered how this would work out, waiting patiently for some action. But, you know, it wasn't necessary. The story reminded me of watching one of those thoughtful, excellent movies on TCM, the classics, enjoying the characters and the story. Of course, Brat's taking over of the life of Patrick has consequences and it's a joy to see how everything is resolved.
An excellent novel and enjoyable mystery, one of those little surprising gems (5 stars)"
"I've seen the movie based on the book, that being Blade Runner, many times and always enjoy. For some reason, even though I find Philip K. Dick a fascinating science fiction writer, I've not picked up Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? before. It might be one of those things about not wanting to ruin the movie by reading the book, or something like that. Anyway, a couple of years back, I saw a new edition at one of my favorite book stores in Victoria and picked up a copy. And this year it was chosen for me as one of my Challenge reads. And for that I'm glad.
The story follows the basic plot line of the movie. Rick Dekkard is a bounty hunter for the San Francisco PD, paid to hunt down and 'retire' escaped androids. The story is set in a future where the world was almost by a World War. Many people have emigrated to the Moon and Mars and other planets. Few remain behind. Some, known as chicken heads, don't have the mental abilities to emigrate, due to the effects of the dust from the World War. Others just don't want to.
A group of androids, the Nexus 6 version, escape from Mars and come to San Francisco. Dekkard is given the assignment to find and retire them after his partner is almost killed by one. So that is the gist of the story.
Other elements only hinted at in the movie play much bigger roles in the book. The desire to have 'real' pets as most animals were killed in the world. People keep them on their roof tops. Dekkard is only able to afford an electric sheep and craves a real animal as he hopes it will help his marriage. Yes, he is married in the book. The other main character, John Isidore, a chicken head, works for a company that builds and repairs electric animals. There is also the interesting dichotomy between the Buster Friendly TV program that blasts out all day long on TV and also radio and Mercerism, an emotional linkage between millions of people.
All in all it's a unique story, quite fascinating. Dick can leave you feeling cold with his stories, I find, but as ths story progresses and comes to the end, it did provide an emotional satisfaction. Well worth reading if you've not explored the Science Fiction of Philip K. Dick. (4 stars)"
"Slicky Boys by Martin Limón is the 2nd book in the Bascom and Sueno mystery series. The first book was Jade Lady Burning. George Sueno and his partner, Ernie Bascom are Cpls in the 8th Armies CID organization. They spend a lot of time in Seoul's red light district, partly investigating black marketing and other crimes, but also, they just like the place.
A young woman asks them to deliver a message to her boyfriend, a British soldier who is part of the UN militaries honor guard. This message unfortunately results in the soldier being murdered. Feeling a responsibility for this, Sueno and Bascom take on the investigation. The two play fast and loose sometimes with the law. They sometimes work with the local Korean National Police. They often rile their boss, the Top Sgt in the CID with their methods.
The story is told mainly from Sueno's perspective as he is the more thoughtful of the two. He has made the effort to learn the Korean language and he respects the locals. Ernie Bascom is his wild partner, loves drinking, sex, tearing things apart... that sort of thing. Sueno asks questions and when answers are not forth coming, Ernie steps in.
The murder leads to others. We are introduced to the Korean Slicky Boys, the organized underworld of Korea, dealing in the black market, stealing and selling US items. We meet Herbalist So, the king of the Slicky Boys, always seeming to be one step ahead of the crime fighting duo.
There is another wild card in this, a mysterious serial killer, who might be an American soldier. He is a constant threat throughout the story and we do get sneak peeks at him as the story develops.
At times the story is quite far-fetched, but at the same time, it's tense, exciting and portrays a fascinating cultural conflict; that of the South Koreans and their American allies. The story moves along at an excellent pace and draws you in totally. It's a well-crafted, page turner and well worth trying. I'm looking forward to finding a copy of the 3rd book, Buddha's Money. (4 stars)"
12 + 4 Challenge (completed 13)
1. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick
New Series (completed 21)
2. A Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow (Kate Shugak #1)
3. Laidlaw by William McIlvanney (Jack Laidlaw #1)
Ongoing Series (completed 17)
4. Slicky Boys by Martin Limon (Sueno and Bascom #2)
5. The Moor by Laurie R. King (Mary Russell #4)
Decades Challenge (completed 16)
6. Bear Island by Alistair MacLean (70)
7. Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey (49)
8. The Fall of the House of Usher and other writings by Edgar Allen Poe (mid-1800's)
Canadian Content (completed 14)
9. A Siege of Bitterns by Steve Burrows
10. Seaweed on Ice by Stanley Evans
Sep Books
Currently Reading
1. Anthony Trollope - Can You Forgive Her? (12 + 4 Challenge)
2. Hans Helmut Kirst - Last Stop Camp 7 (Decades Challenge)
3. Peter James - Looking Good Dead (Ongoing Challenge)
4. Jason Matthews - Red Sparrow (New Series)
In the Mill
"What happened to Daisy Harker on December 2,1955? That was the date she had seen on the tombstone and yet she was still alive. The name on the grave was hers but whose was the body?
Regardless of the lives that would be shattered by the truth, her implacable search for a single day in her past leads back through a maelstrom of hatred and remorse to the single catastrophic fact that underlies a lifetime of deception."
"Andrew "Ender" Wiggin thinks he is playing computer simulated war games; he is, in fact, engaged in something far more desperate. The result of genetic experimentation, Ender may be the military genius Earth desperately needs in a war against an alien enemy seeking to destroy all human life. The only way to find out is to throw Ender into ever harsher training, to chip away and find the diamond inside, or destroy him utterly. Ender Wiggin is six years old when it begins. He will grow up fast.
But Ender is not the only result of the experiment. The war with the Buggers has been raging for a hundred years, and the quest for the perfect general has been underway almost as long. Ender's two older siblings, Peter and Valentine, are every bit as unusual as he is, but in very different ways. While Peter was too uncontrollably violent, Valentine very nearly lacks the capability for violence altogether. Neither was found suitable for the military's purpose. But they are driven by their jealousy of Ender, and by their inbred drive for power. Peter seeks to control the political process, to become a ruler. Valentine's abilities turn more toward the subtle control of the beliefs of commoner and elite alike, through powerfully convincing essays. Hiding their youth and identities behind the anonymity of the computer networks, these two begin working together to shape the destiny of Earth-an Earth that has no future at all if their brother Ender fails."
"The idyllic university town of St. Andrews has become home to the most vicious serial killer Britain has ever known. Striking during heavy rain, choosing only victims who abuse women, 'The Stabber' has Detective Inspector Andy Gilchrist and his team baffled."
Well, there you go, another month almost finished. Looking forward to September. Enjoy your Labour Day weekend, if you celebrate.
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