Inferno by Dan Brown

If you haven't read a Dan Brown book yet, DO IT. He's the author of The DaVinci Code, Angels and Demons, and Symbols, among others. His books are fast-paced thrillers with great suspense, unique plot twists, and believable characters. While his books are fiction, he writes so well that you often think you're reading non-fiction and, in the process, become just as scared as the characters in the books are. I actually had some nightmares about the Black Death, overpopulation, airborn viruses, and the plague mask while reading this book over the past 3 weeks.

Inferno is Brown's latest book and it's been a while since I've read one of his books, so I forgot how fun they are to read. They will never win any literary awards of course, but that doesn't mean they're not intriguing or intelligent. This novel reads like a fiction with the pace and thrill of any great suspense writer, but because he uses history, art, geography, and literature that is real, you occasionally forget that it's just a story. This novel is about Harvard University professor of symbology (Is that actually a thing?) Dr. Robert Langdon, a recurring character in many of Brown's books, who awakens in a hospital in Florence not knowing where he is or what has happened in the past 36 hours.

He is quickly the target of an assassin, the World Health Organization, the Italian police, and his own American government who are all trying to kill him, or so he thinks. He is whisked away by Dr. Sienna Brooks, who helps him uncover his past 36 hours. This discovery leads to a complicated and deadly plan that an insane scientist, Dr. Bertrand Zobrist, has created to help rid the world of its overcrowding. Using Dante Alighieri's famous epic poem The Divine Comedy where Dante details the underworld, the devil, and the "inferno", the deepest and most disturbing level of hell, Langdon must decipher clues which bring him through Florence, Venice, and Istanbul, where he and Brooks are trying to stop Zobrist's deadly plague from being released into the world.

While running from location to location to unlock the secrets and avoid capture from the assassins, Langdon quickly learns that he cannot trust anyone around him, that his amnesia has created serious dangers for his life and that of every human being on earth, and that his world has been turned upside down and inside out in a manner of hours.

You will love the thrills, cliff hangers, and shocks that his book has to offer. The 600 pages will zip by and you will be jonesing for more. It's a good book and a fun read!

Half-Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan

Half-Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan is such a unique book that you must read it! Set in WW2 Nazi Germany and Nazi-occupied France and in the 1990s in the USA and Poland, this historical fiction novel tells the tale of Sid Griffiths, a jazz bass player. Sid and his fellow players Heironymous (Heiro) Falk, Chip Jones, and Ernst, along with a their friend Delilah, must hide their jazz playing in Germany because Hitler has outlawed it. They eventually flee Germany hoping to find a better life in Paris, France. Unfortunately, Nazis invade Paris a few years later and their lives are in turmoil again. Escaping Paris becomes their only hope of survival, but it proves to be quite difficult. Heiro is captured by the Nazis and sent to a concentration camp.

Flash-forward 60 years and Chip visits Sid, still his best friend, and pleads with him to go to Poland to see a documentary about Heiro, their former band member and friend. Sid reluctantly agrees and during the film, Chip reveals that it is Sid's fault for Heiro's capture. Sid is infuriated and storms away, leaving the audience to wonder if Sid really is responsible or not. The book continues to switch between the two time periods and we learn about their lives, their struggles, their loves, their losses, and their music.

We also learn that Heiro may actually be alive, despite his friends thinking he's been dead for decades. Chip convinces Sid to travel to Poland with him to try to find Heiro. Whether or not Heiro is alive is the mystery of the novel which I will not spoil for you. Along this journey, however, the men reveal more and more about their pasts and secrets are revealed, secrets neither men can hide from any longer.

As a huge fan of WW2 historical fictions, I knew I would enjoy this book. I learned so much and didn't realize how badly jazz musicians were treated. I did know that black Germans - or any black person for that matter - were rounded up by the Nazis and most were killed. But this novel provided a new perspective on this rather delicate and under-represented topic. We tend to focus only on the Jews who were killed, but there were any other races and cultures that were targeted by the disgusting antics of the Nazis.

This book is a very challenging read, however, because of its unique language style. The book is told from Sid's perspective and Sid speaks as did most of his fellow black musicians, with unusual slang, improper grammar, and many errors. Sometimes, as a result, I had to reread paragraphs to grasp what was happening. As an English teacher, it's always difficult to read text that is not correctly written. But this language style is necessary to understand the character and the world in which he lives. This language style helps to make the novel more authentic and immersive.

I can easily see why this novel made it to the Booker Prize finalists. It's educational, humorous, heart-breaking, mysterious, and captivating. You should certainly read it!

Nutshell by Ian McEwan

Wow, what a great read! Nutshell by Ian McEwan is such a unique and captivating story. You MUST read this novel. I've never read a book from the perspective of a fetus. This fetus who is, of course, unnamed throughout the entire book, is doing his best to stop his mother and her lover from murdering his father. So, this book is basically a suspense thriller because we follow this baby as he tries to comprehend why his mother wants his father dead. We hear his mother's and father's voices through him, so we understand their perspectives too.

This book is set in London, England, one of my favourite settings. Some of my favourite mystery novels are set in London. I'm not sure if it's the British authors who are so great or if it's the unique setting on London, with its rain, history, sophisticated language, delicious food, and revered royalty that intrigues me so. I only spent two days in London but I am so interested in this city. I also love the dry British humour and wit that I can so easily relate to.

I won't give away any of the relevant plot details because I can't bare to spoil this book for you at all. You must read it on your own to see just how thrilling it is. Instead, I will give you some of the questions the audience tries to answer with this baby: Why does Trudy, the pregnant mother, and her lover (another secret I will not reveal) want John, the father dead? How do they plan to kill John? Will they succeed in their plan? What happens to them if they succeed or if they don't succeed? How can the baby possibly do anything to stop them? Are Trudy and her lover evil or do they have reason to kill John? Is John evil? If Trudy and John are having a child together, why are they not a couple?

Ian McEwan is such a brilliant writer! He writes so fluidly with more allusions than anyone I've ever read. There are references to literary works, history, mythology, films and television, mathematical concepts, science, journalism, wars, and a thousand other things. The author integrates so many of these references so seemingly and with such ease. I am in awe of his writing! Occassionally, I fancy myself a good writer (though I've never written anything longer than a short novella), but I am nothing compared to McEwan. In fact, even my favourite authors are nothing compared to him. McEwan should be more recognized and applauded. He is a genius! I must read more of his work!

Well, this blog certainly isn't one of my best reviews at all because I am providing so few details. But I just don't want to spoil anything. I want you to read this book and discover its brilliance for yourself. Enjoy! 

Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts

In my Grade 12 University English class, we have a novel study unit and students are permitted to choose from a selection of 10-15 teacher-approved books. Students peruse the books, rank their top three choices and list the peers with whom they'd like to work for this unit. This year, I added Where the Heart Is to the list of books and it was chosen by a group. The trouble is ... I hadn't read it myself! I've been meaning to read it for a while but when I've offered in the past, it's never been chosen by students, so I always put it aside for other books. But last month, in advance of the unit's beginning, I knew I had to read it before the students write essays and complete presentations on it. The other student selections, which include some great books like The Book of Negroes, The Catcher in the Rye, Room, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and The Handmaid's Tale, are books I've read and love so I was in the clear there.

Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts is a fictional piece set in a small town in Oklahoma, USA where Novalee Nation, a self-proclaimed white trash 17 year old, is left literally barefoot and pregnant in a Wal-Mart by her redneck, no-good boyfriend, the deadbeat father of her baby. While traveling to California with Willy Jack to make a good life and live in a house, as Novalee dreams and has never experienced herself, that is not on wheels, she asks Willy to stop because Novalee, 7 months pregnant, desperately has to pee. Willy Jack begrudgingly complies by stopping at a Wal-Mart and he then drives away while she's inside.

Novalee, who is terribly afraid of the number 7, has only $7.77 left when she realizes that Willy Jack has abandoned her. In her desperation and homelessness, Novalee finds some very interesting ways to survive, such as secretly living in the Wal-Mart and eventually giving birth to her daughter there.

Like many small towns, there are some very kind souls, characters who are endearing and loving, who take in Novalee as family and give her a better life. Sister Husband gives Novalee a home and looks after her daughter while Novalee works, Lexi Coop and her children become extended family to Novalee, and Forney Hull opens Novalee's eyes to the world of books, knowledge, and unconditional love. Novalee finds herself at home in this new town and we follow her and her new friends' lives.

I read this book very quickly and not because I had to for my students, but because I wanted to. I had difficulty putting it down many nights and often read well past my standard 10 pm bedtime. So, I obviously highly recommend Where the Heart Is. However, I do need to forewarn you: There are some serious tragedies that occur in this novel. They are some exceedingly violent and horrific scenes too, some involving children. It was so shocking and unexpected that I had difficulty sleeping one night after one particularly gruesome scene. I thought this book would be primarily warm and fuzzy, but it is not. Most of the main characters whom you grow to love so easily experience real traumas.

What makes this book so compelling and "read-able" is that the characters deal with these tragedies in real and authentic ways. While I dislike the scenes and I especially dislike how quickly and unexpectedly they occur with the author writing rather cavalierly about them, I do appreciate that the responses of the characters are true to human nature and humans' unbelievable capacity for resiliency.

I rate this book 4/5 because it's funny, tragic, sweet, sad, compelling, and unique. But, I don't like the way the author presents these tragedies, often at the end of the chapter with few details provided until much later. I also could have done without the narration moving from Novalee to Willy Jack. While I understand the role Willy Jack plays in the novel, I would have preferred that the author didn't devote whole chapters to his miserable life and awful personality. What happens to Willy Jack is really not meaningful to me at all.

The day I started reading this book, I saw its movie on TV. I didn't watch it because I hate watching movies about books before I've read the book. So, I am hoping to watch the film this week or next to compare the novel and film. We'll see if it hols up to the book...

Book image: By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31711120

Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut is considered a classic American literature science fiction novel. I've heard about it for years and knew it was a book I had to read, according to the literary gurus who spout off about the must-read books to be a well-rounded person. Many of these must-read books are books that I too believe everyone should read. Many of these must-read books, like To Kill a Mockingbird, Lord of the Flies, The Catcher in the Rye, Brave New World, and Shakespeare's plays, are certainly powerful literary forces that must be read by any adult who wishes to call him/herself an educated and worldly intellect. I must say that I do not think that Slaughterhouse Five should be in the same category or held in the same regard as the aforementioned pieces of life-changing literature.

Don't misunderstand me. Slaughterhouse Five is a good book. Vonnegut's writing is brilliant and unique. He's both witty and serious at the same time. He writes with deep clarity about some truly disturbing moments in World War II. I just don't see why this novel is so revered. It's good, but I don't think it's great or life-changing. I am always hesitant to pick up a "classic" American writer's work because they are often over-inflated and overly admired. Surprisingly, as an English teacher, I don't particularly like Ernest Hemingway, another one of America's great writers. I find these Great American Writers are pompous and it shows through in their writing.

Nevertheless, this novel is worth the read because the story is interesting and unique. I certainly have not read a book like this one ever. It's quite strange and I can appreciate the author's creativity and brilliance. His writing is both lyrical and satirical.

This novel is centered on the life of Billy Pilgram who travels through time and the universe, living an oddly compelling and strangely sad life. Pilgram's life is described by a narrator who is detached and objective about Billy's travels. This narrator describes the horrors of WWII, civilian casualties, and debilitating bombings, particularly the horrific bombing of Dresden, Germany. Billy also travels through time from past to present to future reliving moments in his life, including his death, several times. Billy also travels from Earth to the distant planet of Tralfamadore where he is held captive by the Tralfamadorians with a beautiful model in a zoo where they are encouraged to procreate so the Tralfamdorians can study their behaviours and mating patterns.

As a fan of WWII historical fiction, I enjoyed learning about the bombing of Dresden, something with which I was rather unfamiliar. However, as someone who generally doesn't like science-fiction novels, I could have done without the travels to Tralfamadore, because it really didn't advance the plot or provide any entertainment for me. The time traveling, though, was actually interesting and captivating because we see bits and pieces of events and then return to them much later, making the novel more suspenseful. What I didn't like, however, was that the narrator would describe a person or event and then tell his audience that this character would die or that person would do such-and-such. So, we would learn about a person's fate early on, but only learn later what actually happened to the character to create that fate. I really don't like when authors give away pertinent details too early. I appreciate foreshadowing, but I don't appreciate blatant spoilers.

I am rating this book 3.5/5. I like it but I don't love it. I'm glad I read it and I do highly recommend it, but I will quickly forget it because it didn't leave a lasting impression on me. I will probably forget it quickly since it didn't impact me or change my life in any way.

Brother by David Chariandy

I purchased Brother by David Chariandy for my husband for Christmas because I was listening to CBC Radio's "Q" with Tom Power one morning in November. Power had a guest describing the best books to buy for Christmas gifts. This book was listed as the number one book to buy for anyone of any age and perference. So, I bought it, my husband read it, and when he finished, I read it too.

The author is Canadian and the book is set in Scarborough in the 1980s and 1990s, during a dangerous and tumultuous time. The narrator, Michael, recounts his youth with his immigrant mother from Trinidad and his older brother Francis who, at heart, is kind, loving, and smart, but gets mixed up with the wrong crowd, so to speak. At the start of the book, an old friend from Michael's childhood, Aisha, has returned to the old neighbourhood for her father's funeral. Her visit brings back several memories for Michael, many of which, he has tried to quash in his adulthood.

We learn quickly that Michael and Francis' hard working, stern, determined mother has not been well since Francis' death. What we don't know is what is wrong with her or how Francis dies. The book flashes between past and present with vivid descriptions of Michael and Francis' lives growing up in poverty in a gang-filled neighbourhood. Their area is typical of lower socio-economic areas in which drugs, gangs, crime, violence, and guns prevail. The setting is true of this area and time, making the novel a historical fiction.

Michael, a broken, lonely man in his adulthood, works tirelessly to care for his mother and forget his tragic past. Both Francis and Michael are highly believable characters to whom
any reader can easily relate. Francis' mother is also a compelling character, someone with whom all mothers can empathize because she loves her children fiercely, works long hours to support them, does her best to protect them, and is broken when she loses her eldest son. She is trapped by her setting because she cannot afford to move to a safer neighbourhood and yet she knows that it is this setting that creates problems for her children.

Michael is a complex character, at once perceptive and insightful, he is also socially inept and awkward. He tries so hard to fit in with the tough ganstas, but does a pitiful job. He cannot seem to break the barrier of being cool like his naturally slick, talented, attractive, witty, cool brother. Francis easily makes friends, is comfortable in his own skin, and finds his passion in rap and hip hop music, dreaming of making it big. When an opportunity to show off their musical talents arises, Francis and his best friend Jelly try out. What happens at this talent show competition brings us to the climax of the novel and the discovery of exactly how Francis dies.

Because Canadian authors bring a unique Canadian-ness (with a mixture of wit, realism, humbleness, compassion, and kindness), I always recommend reading them. As such, I do recommend Brother. Its writing is intellectual and vivid, its characters are completely real, and its plot is captivating. Long-listed for the Canadian Giller Prize, Brother certainly deserves praise and acclaim. Read it!

The Rooster Bar by John Grisham

I received John Grisham's newest novel The Rooster Bar from my husband as a Christmas present. I received a few other books for Christmas so I didn't get to it right away. But I started it in early February when I started teaching my new semester. When I teach Grade 11 University English, I often write blog reviews of the books I'm reading as a way to model this type of writing to my students who are required to do so for each of the books they read in Lockerby's independent reading program (IRP).

The Rooster Bar is about three law students from Foggy Bottom Law School, a terribly run school with horrible teachers who accept unqualified students and graduate everyone, despite their low scores. Students from Foggy Bottom rarely pass the bar exam and most never find meaningful work as well-paid lawyers.

Mark, Todd, and Zola are third year students who are set to graduate in a few months. However, over the Christmas holidays, they experience a tragic loss of one of their dear friends, and this grief overcomes they, not allowing them to function well. Their friend also uncovered a pretty dark secret about the law school and its proprietors, making these three much less willing to return to the school they hate.

They all owe around $200,000 in student loans and know they will not be able to pay it off quickly. As a result, they devise a plan to skip out of law school and practice law on their own, without actual law licenses. Zola is also working furiously to save her parents and brother from deportation because they are illegal immigrants in America.

I am a huge John Grisham fan; his first book A Time to Kill is one of my all-time favourite books, and as English teacher, my favourites list is pretty long. For a book to make my Top 10 list, it must be great. If you're new to Grisham, please read A Time to Kill before any others! Then watch the film because it's also great! Please do NOT start with this book. While this book is okay, it's not nearly as great as his earlier works. I'm not sure if he's spitting out books too quickly now that he's so famous, because his last few books have been mediocre and his first 10 or so were fantastic.

What I dislike about this book is that these three students make terrible choice after terrible choice and really fail to see their own stupidity. I had a hard time feeling any empathy for these characters because I was so annoyed by them. They are not characters with whom I could easily identify. In their illegal practices, they also negatively impact a lot of innocent lives, something I find morally reprehensible.

However, the book is still appealing because these three students ban together to protect one another at all costs. They are fiercely loyal to each other and they actually do manage to scam some bad people too. I recommend reading this book if you're looking for a lighter read as I found it a bit predictable at time.

I give this book a 3/5 stars and recommend it with caution, only if you're familiar with Grisham. As I said, if you're new to him, read his books from the 90s, not his more recent works.