New Books, A Reading Update and the Science Fiction Novel - Jose Saramago

Had a nice walk this morning. It's nice that it's getting lighter a bit earlier every day. I won't need to use my head lamp much more. Last night we had our first BBQ of the year; the burgers were quite good if I do say so myself.

I finished a book today and got two in the mail. I'll update those, provide my review and also let you know what book is next in line. Then I'll take a look at the Sci-Fi novel; this book fits kind of into the Dystopic Future sub-genre.

New Books

1. Greenwitch by Susan Cooper (Dark is Rising #3).











"Simon, Jane, and Barney, enlisted by their mysterious great-uncle, arrive in a small coastal town to recover a priceless golden grail stolen by the forces of evil -- Dark. They are not at first aware of the strange powers of another boy brought to help, Will Stanton -- nor of the sinister significance of the Greenwitch, an image of leaves and branches that for centuries has been cast into the sea for good luck in fishing and harvest. Their search for the grail sets into motion a series of disturbing, sometimes dangerous events that, at their climax, bring forth a gift that, for a time at least, will keep the Dark from rising."

2. Fires of London by Janice Law (Francis Bacon #1).











"A killer takes refuge in the blacked-out streets of wartime London, upending the world of one of Britain’s greatest painters in this chilling and captivating re-imagining of the life of Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon walks the streets of World War II London, employed as a warden for the ARP to keep watch for activities that might tip off the Axis powers. Before the war, Bacon had traveled to Berlin and Paris picking up snatches of culture from a succession of middle-aged men charmed by his young face. Known for his flamboyant personal life and expensive taste, Bacon has returned home to live with his former nanny—who’s also his biggest collector—in a cramped bohemian apartment. But one night, death intrudes on his after-hours paradise. When a young man is found dead in the park, his head smashed in, Bacon and the rest of London’s demimonde realize that they have much more to fear than the faraway scream of war."

 Just Finished

1. Stopover: Tokyo by John P. Marquand (Mr. Moto #6).

"Stopover: Tokyo is the 6th and final book in John P. Marquand's Mr. Moto spy series. I have enjoyed all of the previous books, some more than others of course. This might have been my least favorite of the bunch. Basically because it seemed to take so long to actually get going. It was still an interesting story, maybe a bit more thoughtful than the others.

The story focuses on 2 American spies, Jack Rhyce and Ruth Bogart, heading to Japan to help an agent in Tokyo discover a Russian agent working there with the assistance of possible American traitors. Jack's boss has information that the Russians might attempt an assassination in Tokyo to make the Americans look bad. There search is to find Big Ben, the link to the Russian agent.

On their journey the two meet a Japanese student who gives them the card for Mr. Moto. They also meet an American in Wake who they suspect might be Big Ben. A lot of time is the development of their relationship, whether they will quit the Agency when this operation is finished.

Things begin to move quicker when they arrive in Tokyo. They are met by Mr. Moto, who they think might be a spy. They take a trip to the mountains to meet their contact, Bob Gibson and things begin to move even quicker. The last half of the book has more action; with the two beginning to work with Mr. Moto. I definitely found the 2nd half of the story much more interesting.

I'm glad that I read this series. It's interesting to see the spy world and to see both sides of the picture. This story is set just after WWII when Japan is an ally of the US. The spy work was also interesting enough and the descriptions of Japanese culture just after the war was well described. All in all it was a satisfying story and I'm glad that I explored Marquand's Moto books. (3.5 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. Summertime All The Cats Are Bored by Philippe Georget (Inspector Sebag #1).










"It’s the middle of a long hot summer on the French Mediterranean shore and the town is teeming with tourists. Sebag and Molina, two tired cops who are being slowly devoured by dull routine and family worries, deal with the day’s misdemeanors and petty complaints at the Perpignan police headquarters. But then a young Dutch woman is found murdered on a beach at Argelès, and another disappears without a trace in the alleys of the city. Is it a serial killer obsessed with Dutch women? Maybe. The media senses fresh meat and moves in for the feeding frenzy.

Out of the blue, Inspector Gilles Sebag finds himself thrust into the middle of a diabolical game. In order to focus on the matter at hand, he will have to put aside his cares, forget his suspicions about his wife’s unfaithfulness, ignore his heart murmur, and get over his existential angst. But there is more to this case than anyone suspects."

The Science Fiction Novel - Jose Saramago

Jose Saramago

Portuguese author, Saramago,  was born in Portugal in 1922 and died in Spain in 2010. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1998. I hesitated to put him in the Sci-Fi genre but the one story that I have read did make me think it fit in the dystopic future sub-genre, sort of a take on the Day of the Triffids, without the Triffids. I have only read one of Saramago's books and that is the one I will highlight.

1. Blindness (1995).











"I'm not sure what I think of this book. It was definitely very engrossing and at times disturbing. An interesting concept, everybody, but, as far as we know, one person turns blind over a period of time. The first persons to turn blind are quarantined in an insane asylum, this is the starting point of the story, told mostly from the perspective of the eye doctor's wife, she who doesn't go blind. How these people cope with being isolated from the rest of the city/ world is the main thrust of the story. There are many disturbing scenes; the filth they live in, the one group that tries to exert its authority, withholding food, the abuse of the women. At times the translation, or maybe the method of story - telling irritated me; the use of long run-on sentences. But ultimately, the story held my attention, reminded me somewhat of Day of the Triffids, except in this story all are blind. It's worth reading and judging for yourself; a solid 3.5 - 4 stars."

The complete listing of Saramago's books is available at this link.