Susan Hated Literature

Author: Laurell K. Hamilton

Although the title of this review page refers to the entire series I haven’t actually read them all, I have, however, read 5 in the past week. Guess I’ll have to comment on just them.
[EDIT- have since read many more, so the review continues in Part II]

If I had to summarise these books I would by saying that they are chick-horror. Light reading like chick-lit books, bits of horror thrown in, but in reality they are more about the protagonist than the horrors she faces. Unlike horror stories by King etc where it is more a story of how the evil/monster is defeated, or what havoc they cause. Hamilton does address these issues, but there is also a strong emphasis on Anita Blake and her life.

That isn’t a bad thing per se, I’d probably make similar comments about Kelley Armstrong’s Otherworld series. But I don’t rate this series of books as high as Armstrong’s. For one thing the characters are not as well drawn. They come into the story to hurry the plot along, then fade away without comment when their job is played, often without a mention again.

And then there is the issue of the Nikes.
Every chapter, it seems, features the fact that Anita wears Nikes. Sometimes they are white (not a good idea to wear to crime scenes), sometimes they are black, they often seem to have blue swooshes. But really, I couldn’t give a damn. It’d be fine by me if Hamilton had mentioned it once or twice, then, if she wanted to say look my hero wears footwear suitable for running and fighting, she could say runners, or sneakers. Whatever the generic term is in the US. But OMG by the end of The Killing Dance I was ready to scream when I saw Nike in the type.

Overall though these books are very readable. They move quickly, and the plot kept my interest and I came to understand (I think) Anita’s motivations. And I will probably read the others in the series, either from the library or if on special offer though, I won’t be shelling out full price to buy them.

Related posts

• No related posts.

ISBN: 0002259524 DDC: 823.914
Author: Clive Barker

A YA book, but like many not overly so.
Barker has created an interesting world but I found that the whole story was overshadowed by the ending. But that is only because I didn’t realise that it was book 1 of a series.

The characters and world that Barker introduces us to is quite fantastic, in both senses of the word
The main character, Candy Quackenbrush (isn’t that a great name), lives in the small boring Chickentown. As you may have guessed from the town’s name, it revolves around chickens, in particular the slaughtering and processing of chickens.
Once she meets with John Mischief, and his seven brothers (all of who’s heads are attached to his body), her life begins to change and she travels across the sea of Izabella; the grass. Once she arrives in Abarat we are introduced to a fantastic land made up of 24 islands, each representing an hour of the day; and another island which is the mysterious 25th hour.

The wonderful story is brought to life by the magnificent illustrations in the book. And if you take a look at the spine of the book you will notice that the title can be read from top to bottom, or bottom to top. Or at least with the version I read it could be

Related posts

• No related posts.

Author: Glen Duncan
ISBN: 0743220137 DDC: 823.914

Now this is a truly fantastic book. The basic premise is that God offers the Devil one last chance. If Lucifer can live one month without sin then he will get into heaven when he dies. Does Lucifer take up the offer?

Well of course he does, but not so he can be redeemed but so he can have some fun. Mainly sex, drugs and the movie-business.
This is a very funny book, that manages to also be very emotionally effecting, but very unsentimental.

The prose is absolutely wonderful, in a way a sort of stream of consciousness but also a collection of stories abut different times in history. I loved the way everything seemed so much “more” when Lucifer experienced it, like that Kavanagh poem Advent: How if we are denied something then we appreciate it all the more.

Related posts

• No related posts.

Author: Terry Goodkind
ISBN: 0575073756 DDC: 813.54
Book 7 in the Sword of Truth series

A very wierd book, imo. Almost nothing at all about Richard, instead it is all about his half-sister Jenn.

I have such an ambivalent attitude towards this series. I quite enjoy reading them but the political and philosophical meaning behind the stories is almost the exact opposite of everything I would believe in.
In Wizard’s First Rule for example the basic premise was that people are stupid. That mob rule always wins out, and by being able to manipulate that you can guide people into believing almost anything.

There is also an entire book about how democracy doesn’t work, another about the evils of socialism, especially communism, and how Richard becoming a tyrant is good for the people. That he will guide them in the right direction and protect the lands by eliminating pointless discussions.

And yet despite the fact that I often end up shaking my head at what lies underneath the stories I do enjoy the books, although I have no idea why, because to be honest the prose itself isn’t all that great, the plots are pedestrian and the character laughable.

Related posts

• No related posts.

Author: Michael Moore
ISBN: 0141011904 DDC: 973.929

A good read, if a little scary at time. In a way it is unreal, like watching a parania TV show, and maybe that is why this sort of thing is ignored. We don’t really believe things are as bad as this books makes the out. Or if we do believe, we don’t want to. Ignore it and it will go away.

But there are a couple of problems with the book. I found the tone to be all wrong. It is too jokey to be taken seriously, and I don’t mean humourous but too stupid. He tries to point out problems and offers jokey solutions but the issues aren’t really that funny, so the jokes often fall a little flat. eg notion of converting protestants to catholics in NI.

The book is also a little too black and white. The Republicans (or is it the Democrats, I can’t tell them apart. Bush’s party) are evil and proud of it, while the others are also evil, they simply pretend they aren’t. Everyone who is evil is evil through and through, and everyone who is good must agree with everything that Moore believes is right. One of the issues tat he uses to tell the good people apart from the bad is that of abortion. And wherever you stand on that issue I think that you have to consider people who oppose you as having certain valid points to raise. After all if one believes that a life begins at the second of fertilisation then obviously one could never sanction destroying it. If however one believes that life is only life after a certain point in time, then the morning after pill, for example is certainly not murder of any sort.

Real life is too complex for easy answers, but I think that is what Moore is looking for in this book. A nice way to solve the problems of the world. It ain’t that simple, and never will be.

Despite those quibbles I would recommend this book as a wake-up call, as some of the points raised are very very valid. It is a little too “your’re either with us or against us”

Related posts

• No related posts.