It's only 5 degrees C outside today, but still bright and fresh. Jo and I might go for a drive this afternoon. In book news, I received a book in the mail yesterday. I also finished a book. I'll do the normal things; synopses for new book and next book I'm reading and then my review. Then I'll continue with my ongoing look at my favorite authors.
New Book
"Richard Sharpe and the defence of the Tormes, August 1812
It is the summer of 1812 and Richard Sharpe, newly recovered from the wound he received in the fighting at Salamanca, is given an easy duty; to guard a Commissary Officer posted to an obscure Spanish fort where there are some captured French muskets to repair. But unknown to the British, the French are planning a lightning raid across the River Tormes, and they reckon the obscure Spanish fort, which guards an ancient bridge across the river, will be lightly guarded. Sharpe is in for a fight."Just Finished
"I enjoyed Bone House, author Betsy Tobin's first book very much. It's a fascinating Gothic work of fiction.
The story is set in England during Elizabethan England. It starts with the death of local prostitute, larger than life Dora. She leaves behind a large, slow-witted son, Long Boy, whose care is assumed by by the narrator, a young chambermaid at the local manor (I don't know that she's ever named) and her mother, the village midwife. When Dora's body is stolen from her grave, it starts an investigation by the magistrate, with suspicions of witchcraft and even devil worship.
It's a fascinating story where we see the growth of the chambermaid's character as she tries to find out happened to Dora and also to protect her mother. What are her ties to the Great House? Who is this portrait artist who has arrived from the Continent and what is his interest in Dora? The story moves along at a nice pace and gradually and effectively ties the various characters and actions together. The ending is ultimately quite satisfying with a couple of surprising twists and turns. I enjoyed it very much, an excellent debut. (4 stars)"
Currently Reading
"The fourteen stories in this brilliant collection show Alice Munro coming home to southwestern Ontario, with Toronto looming on the horizon. Even “To Reach Japan,” where a Vancouver mother takes her young daughter across the country by train, ends in Toronto. On that journey, different kinds of passion produce surprises, both on the journey and at its end.
The range of storytellers is astonishing, as we hear the young voices of women recalling their teenage years and the equally convincing voice of an old woman fighting Alzheimer’s. Margaret Atwood once shrewdly noted that “pushing the sexual boundaries is distinctly thrilling for many a Munro woman,” and very few of these stories deal with men and women in sedate, conventional domestic settings.
Munro admirers will see that these stories are shorter than many in her recent collections, but they have all the sharpness, accessibility, and power of her earlier work, and they are—as always—full of “real” people. The final four works (“not quite stories”) bring the author home, literally. She writes: “I believe they are the first and last—and the closest—things I have to say about my own life.”"
 |
| Graham Greene |
Henry Graham Greene was an English author. He was born in Hertfordshire in 1904 and spent his final years in Switzerland, dying there in 1991. Back in the day, my university years and later on, I read a few of his books. A personal favorite was Our Man in Havana. After awhile I stopped checking out his books, but since I moved to the Valley in 2001, I've begun exploring his works again, especially his earliest books and I do like his writing style and story telling. I've read 11 of his works since then. I'll highlight the most recent 6 in this look.
"I've been exploring more of Graham Greene's work the past few years and I enjoy his writing very much. This book is the second of his non-fiction works that I've read. Written originally in 1939, the story follows Greene as he explores Mexico, especially the Chiapas and Tabasco regions, in the wake of the destruction of the Catholic churches and teachings by the Mexican rulers. At the time of this visit, the Mexican government is also in the process of nationalizing the petroleum industry, making life uncomfortable for gringos. Greene travels through a primitive, backward region by plane and donkey. I enjoy his observations of the people and life and admire his spirit. I found the memoir kind of lost its way as he came to the end and headed back to England, but overall found the story quite interesting. (3.5 stars)"
"The Man Within was Graham Greene's first published work, published in 1929 when he was 25 years old. Over the past couple of years, I've begun to explore his writing more and more; both his fiction and non-fiction. It was interesting to finally get a copy of his first book and see how it all started.
The story revolves around an English smuggler, who wanting to get out of the 'business', turns in his crewmates with an anonymous letter to the police. In the struggle to arrest the smugglers, one of the police is killed. Andrews, who was the person who turned in the smugglers, goes on the run to escape from the others. He is a self-professed coward, who in his escape, comes across a hut on the Sussex moors and meets a woman who will change his life. He is encouraged to give evidence against his comrades, an act that might have disastrous consequences.
I quite liked this story. It took a few pages to get into the flow, but it became a story I couldn't put down. Unlike Greene's later work, which acquired a finesse in his writing style, this story was very raw, emotional. Andrews is an introspective person, filled with self-loathing for his life style, his cowardice, but who falls in love deeply with Elizabeth, and who wants to change for her. The story moves quickly, building in tension; it's definitely difficult to put down as you get into the flow. Excellent first story. I've got a number of Greene's other books still on my bookshelves and look forward to continuing my exploration with his writing. (4 stars)"
"A Gun for Sale was Graham Greene's 7th novel, published originally in 1936. I've been slowly going through his books, especially his earlier works and he's become a favorite of mine. I can see inspirations for books like Brighton Rock in this book. In fact, it was his next published work.
The story is about Raven, a gun for hire, is sent to kill a foreign war minister. He is paid with stolen money, which makes him the subject of a police investigation by Scotland Yard (who don't know about his assassination). The officer in charge, Inspector Mather, is engaged to Anne, an aspiring actress about to go to Nottwich for a job in a panto show. Coincidentally, the man, Davis / Cholomondeley (he does go by various names) who paid Raven is on the train and being followed by Raven who wants to exact revenge for how he was tricked.
An undercurrent throughout the story is the ominous threat of war, partly due to the assassination, which is causing stress and mistrust within Europe.
The story is a string of coincidences; Anne is kidnapped by Raven as he tries to avoid the police; Anne goes to dinner with Davis and has her life threatened; Mather is assigned the case of trying to track down Raven; etc. It sounds convoluted but the story is presented in a straight-forward manner, tying up many aspects of the coincidences and making for an entertaining, interesting, tense story. The characters are well-crafted and you do get a good sense of who they are and why they are. All in all, a most enjoyable story. (4 stars)"
"I've read a number of Graham Greene's novels the past few years and have enjoyed exploring his unique brand of story-telling. He's become one of my favorite authors. Loser Takes All, published originally in 1955, was a neat little gem. It would have been perfect as one of those movies you watch on TCM. In fact, checking it out I noticed that it was turned into a movie in 1956.
Basically, Bertram, an accountant at a firm in London and is about to marry for the 2nd time. He and fiancé, Cary, will be married and then plan to celebrate their honeymoon in Bournemouth. This is turned topsy - turvy when his boss, nicknamed gom - the Grand Old Man, calls Bertram (or Bertrand as he mistakenly calls him) up to his office. Bertram sorts out a minor accounting problem and during their follow-on conversation, he offers instead to have Bertram and Cary a trip to Monte Carlo, a wedding with the Mayor and then a trip on his yacht.
GOM, in reality Mr. Dreuther, doesn't show up on time, the wedding takes place, and Bertram discovers the joy of gambling at the casino, winning with his system. The effect on his marriage is the crux of the story. I won't get into any more of the plot but suffice it to say that it moves along nicely, and resolves very satisfactorily. Greene shows his skill at weaving an interesting, fun story that ultimately leaves you totally satisfied. He really can write about anything, dramatic or humorous or heavy or light. Check out his work (4 stars)"
"I've been enjoying the books of English author Graham Greene. It's a Battlefield, originally published in 1934, was Greene's 3rd published novel. The story centers a number of characters trying to get Jim Drover, a Communist bus-driver's, sentence commuted from the death penalty to imprisonment for 18 years. Drover killed a police officer who was attempting to strike Drover's wife during a Communist demonstration. Drover has been found guilty and been sentenced to death.
The story follows the police Assistant commissioner, new to his job, who is exploring his recommendation about whether to suggest the commutation to the Home Secretary. There is also Mr. Surrogate a Communist economist trying to persuade a wealthy friend to do her best to get the sentence commuted. Surrogate also had personal relations with Kay, Drover's sister-in-law, who wants to help but also just wants to enjoy herself. There is Conrad Drover, Jim Drover's brother, who loves his brothers wife and is filled with self-rage. There is Drover's wife, Milly, lost without her husband, trying to do anything to save her husband.
These are the main characters and the story jumps from one to another, their interactions and their own personal lives and issues. It's an interesting, well-written story. In some ways it leaves as many questions unanswered as answered and the final incident is quite unique. I enjoy Greene's stories and each is different in its own right. (4 stars)"
6. England Made Me (1935). (The photo is at the top with the first book highlighted)
"England Made Me was the 4th novel by Graham Greene, originally published in 1935. Anthony Farrant comes back from lying and cheating his way through the Far East and Middle East, returning to meet his twin sister, Kate, who works for a Swedish businessman, Eric Krogh.
Anthony has grifted through his life, living from hand to mouth. His sister wants him to settle in Sweden, promising him a job with Krogh. Krogh is a crook himself, wheeling and dealing in stocks as he tries to advance his empire in the US. Anthony takes a job as a sort of body guard, but doesn't really want it.
He meets an English girl on holiday with her parents and is torn between staying with his sister and going back to England to be closer to Lou.. Also in the mix is an English reporter, an expat living in Sweden, trying to make a living getting stories about Krogh.
It's an interesting wandering type story, moving from one character to another. As Anthony begins to discover more and more the type of person Krogh is, he has to decide on a course of action. This will lead to the climatic ending. Greene isn't necessarily an easy author to read but his stories are always unique and different. I've been enjoying my exploration of his works (4 stars)"
So there you go. The complete listing of Greene's novels can be found at this link.
Now I've an impatient doggie scratching my leg telling me he wants to go for a walk. So see you later. Read a good book!
No comments:
Post a Comment