Susan Hated Literature

ISBN: 1841492531
DDC: 823.92
The First Parrish Plessis Book
Author: Marriane De Pierres

First line:
If Jamon Mondo touched me one more time I’d kill him.

I almost wish I hadn’t finish this book. I was on the verge of tossing it around two thirds in, but figured I’d read this far might as well see how it ends. But the final third is actually quite good. Not sure if it is enough to make up for the first part, But now I am a little curious about the next books in the series.

When we first meet Parrish she is low on the pecking order, a bodyguard-come-unwilling companion to a local gang leader. And in this is a dystopian Australia of the future if you go against the gang leaders without backup you end up dead. And most likely after a spell of torture.

So when Parrish runs into Dark and Sto she thinks that maybe by using them she can get in with the Cabal, and maybe get away from Jamon. But things are not what they seem, and Parrish soon finds herself in deeper than she could ever have believed.

The basic story itself is vaguely interesting. But the writing isn’t. First person narration often results in supporting characters lacking depth and, well character, but in this book Parrish herself isn’t all that interesting or believable. A fairly typical wise-cracking, but scared underneath it all heroine. There is also a fair amount of future slang that seems clunky and forced.

But, over halfway through and the book seems to shift a gear. Almost as though everything in this book is simply setting the scene. Letting the reader get to know the Tert and Viva. Letting us see how things worked, and then suddenly introducing another plot element that really doesn’t seem to fit with everything that has gone before.

From then on it is readable, and even enjoyable. The question is, is this what the other books or like? Or will they return to the dull story-telling-by-numbers of the previous chapters.

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It started off a lovely sunny day here today. Started off, so you can tell it didn’t stay that way. But look at that blue sky around the Spike, that was this morning so it was

And as I look out the window now it seems okay. Not fantastic, but it is March. In ireland. So I’m not surprised.

But on my way home it bucketed down. And typical, it was a day I didn’t get the bus as I had expenditure forms to drop off at another building, and once there I figured I’d walk on. Its only a 35 min. walk see.

Ach, while I was walking it started to rain. And by the time I was half way home bhí mé fliuch, fliuch go craiceann.^[1] I was a little annoyed at the rain at first. But by the time I was on Abbey St. I was quite enjoying walking in the rain. Haven’t done that in ages, and I knew I was heading home and could get dry and cosy. If I’d've been on my way to work it would have been a whole different story.

I’m reading this book at the moment, Nylon Angel and it isn’t very good. As a matter of fact it is a bit crap. But I think I’ll try to finish it anyways. If I haven’t by tomorrow I’ll toss it. There is one on my shelves about set in Florence, during the time of the De Medicis that might prove interesting.

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John McGahern died yesterday. For those who haven’t heard of him, he was an Irish author. Born in Leitrim, he became a teacher. After the publication of his book The Dark he was forced to leave teaching, as the Board of Management didn’t want the author of a banned book teaching.

The book he is probably most famous for is Amongst Women, which was made into a TV series in the late 90’s. As well as several novels, McGahern also wrote short stories and plays. Last year he published Memoir, which, as you may have guessed was his memoirs.

Its strange, I’ve never actually read any of McGahern’s work. I always meant to, and we’ve always had his books around the house at home, but somehow I never got around to it^[1] but at the same time McGahern has been such a famous author that I feel I have read his works.

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