Search This Blog

Saturday, January 29, 2022

Letter From the Dead by Jack Gatland, The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles, and Cohen's MacBeth

Some January books.  Already a month behind.   

from description:  Recently blacklisted from the police for punching a priest on live TV (long story), D.I Declan Walsh is one step away from quitting the force for good - and privately investigating the mysterious death of his father, Chief Superintendent Patrick Walsh, who died shortly after writing a tell-all memoir of his time on the force.

Despite his problems, when his father's old friend DCI Alex Monroe offers Declan a place on his recently formed cold case squad, made up of "officers who are too valuable to lose," but who have had some kind of problems within the force--Declan accepts.

Known as "The Last Chance Saloon," the new squad has an ensemble of characters that create loyalty in a reader.  The kind of team that keeps me intrigued and eager to read more about them.

Victoria Davies died when pushed off a roof in 2001, and her husband Michael was convicted.  Two decades later, a letter is discovered that casts doubt on the earlier conviction of Victoria's husband and adds some powerful men to the suspect list.

Complex and complicated, and I don't usually use both terms in describing a plot, but this was a Gordian Knot (maybe a net of Gordian Knots) of threads and connections.  As the team attempts to ply through all the implications of the new suspects, each member of the team begins developing into a three-dimensional personality.  One lead after another untangles in the team's investigation of a twenty year old murder.

Letter to the Dead was a great introduction to the New Year.  So much so that I read books 1-8 in quick succession!

Hooded Man Publ.
Mystery/Thriller.  Print length:  334 pages.


The Lincoln Highway was a surprise for me.  I'd seen positive reviews, but had not read them because the book was on my list.  When I finally got to it (audio book), much of the plot was a surprise for me.  

I certainly enjoyed it and got a lot of chores done while listening: Because it was long--16 hours of listening.

The Lincoln Highway is a sort of "hero's journey" 
as young Billy reads Professor Abernathe's Compendium of Heroes, Adventurers, and Other Intrepid Travelers on the road trip he and his older brother Emmett set out on.  There is a definite Joseph Campbell vibe (Professor Abacus Abernathe) as The Lincoln Highway is a picaresque novel with shifting points of view and the much abbreviated stories/myths in Professor Abernathe's book.  

In a hero's quest, the hero is supposed to be changed, and Emmett certainly has experiences that have changed him, but does he bring back something to his community?  Maybe--if that community is Billy and perhaps Sally, who will have fresh hope in California.  At any rate, I like books that reimagine myths and archetypes, often turning them on their heads.

The last section of the book takes a rather abrupt turn in tone; it has been set up, but still seems sudden. The conclusion was ambiguous, and I still can't decide what Emmett intended.  I was not disappointed because I've not read A Gentleman in Moscow or The Rules of Civility the books most often associated with Towles, but I did have mixed feelings about some things.

Viking. 2021.  print length:  564 pages; audio 16 hours, 39 minutes.
----------
Joel Cohen's The Tragedy of MacBeth was a big disappoint for me.  I'd looked forward to it and to the performances of Denzel and McDormand, but the entire film felt like Cohen's effort to be original and artistic--and the nuances and language of Shakespeare were less important than Cohen's need to be innovative. 

Frustrated with the lack of emotion and passion in the actors (due to Cohen's direction?),  I still looked forward to Malcolm's testing of MacDuff's sincerity in Act IV, scene III.  I love that speech in which Malcolm claims to be worse than MacBeth in order to determine if MacDuff wants him to return to Scotland to meet the same fate as his father had at MacBeth's hands.  It wasn't there.  Skipped.  Absent.

And MacDuff's reaction to hearing about the deaths of his wife and children?  Must have taken an effort to make that speech bland and without genuine grief.

My daughter liked it; I didn't like it at all.  Maybe it would make Shakespeare more appealing to some because of the famous actors, but hopefully they will see a better production in the future.  Rant concluded. 

21 comments:

  1. I just finished The Lincoln Highway yesterday as a combo: print/audio. I loved the audio voices and my favorite character was Billy - what a charming whiz kid. Sally never worked for me - her voice in the audio and I just thought she wasn't a much needed character. I still rated this 4.5/5 stars - no review yet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I thought the audio was great for The Lincoln Highway, and I was completely there with the boys. I agree about Sally; she didn't come off as genuine or necessary--except her longing for a fresh start. But I'm remain uncertain about what Emmett intended at the end. There was no question about the hole in that boat.

      Anyway, for me it was a rather a delicious adventure with unexpected turns. :)

      Delete
  2. My book group is reading The Lincoln Highway later this year, so I won't start until this summer so it's fresh in mind. I have the print edition and really can't wait to start since I adored A Gentleman in Moscow (read it twice) and enjoyed The Rules of Civility. Maybe I'll try a read/listen combo since it sounds like the audio production is so well done. Thanks for the spoiler-free review!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Lincoln Highway audio was well done, and a combo read/listen might be a good idea. It will be a great book for book group discussions! I look forward to reading A Gentleman in Moscow this year. :)

      Delete
  3. I'm sorry to hear that Cohen's take on MacBeth did not work. I had looked forward to it but...maybe not.

    I enjoyed The Lincoln Highway. Of course, I read it rather than listened to it. That might make a difference in one's perception of it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cohen's MacBeth didn't work for me, but it did for most people. It is worth seeing for several reasons and the witches were certainly innovative. There are so many versions of the play, and it is fun to see how differently it can be staged.

      I liked The Lincoln Highway, but now I need to read A Gentleman in Moscow, which seems to be everyone's favorite!

      Delete
  4. Letter From the Dead sounds like the perfect cup of tea for me. I'm adding it to my Need-to-Read list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you'll like it, Cathy! I really like the characters and the intricate plot twists.

      Delete
  5. The first book captures my attention when I read your take on the characters.
    A film with Denzel, alas I am weak to see any of his flaws, I look forward to watching.
    Thank you for mire great reviews

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You should see Cohen's version of Macbeth. My problem is that he concentrated on things other than the language and its beauty and intensity. And cut important speeches or had them almost mumbled. :( He also made certain no one could miss his symbolism of windows and birds, etc. as if the audience couldn't pick up them without being hammered over the head. Nevertheless, it is fascinating to see how different directors have visualized the play. :)

      Delete
  6. The Gatland book looks like something I'd like. Thanks!

    I like my Shakespeare adaptations to be heavier on the Shakespeare than on the adaptation ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really enjoyed the Gatland series!
      :) There are so many odd and original adaptations of MacBeth, but yes, I prefer the words to take precedence. Not all interesting versions use Shakespeare's language, some are modern adaptations in modern language and situations, and they are interesting for other reasons. One version that I'd like to see at some point is Throne of Blood with a Japanese samurai urged on by his wife, using plot ideas, but not Shakespeare's setting or language.

      Delete
  7. That whole 'Last Chance Saloon' squad in Letter From the Dead totally makes me want to read that one! It sounds like a very fun series. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Letter from the Dead was a winner for me, and I couldn't resist following the team through the series. :)

      Delete
  8. I enjoyed The Lincoln Highway as a read/listen combination, but thought it could have used some editing. I wish Towles had either done more with Sally or left her out entirely. Rules of Civility is my favorite of his three novels, but the Count (A Gentleman in Moscow) is one of the most memorable characters I've come across.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was long! And I agree about Sally, her role was either too little or too much. I now have to read both Rules of Civility and A Gentleman in Moscow!

      Delete
  9. It's starting to look as if every reader I know has read The Lincoln Highway but me now. I do have a copy, but I've been slowed down a bit by the mixed reaction almost everyone is having to the novel. I haven't read Towles at all yet despite his reputation as an excellent writer, and I really need to fix that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I liked The Lincoln Highway. Some people thought it was too long, but that didn't bother me. It probably could have used some editing, and yet, the prose was really good. The road trip, the use of myth, the intriguing characters all had my full attention. For some reason I didn't read Towles' first two books, but now I want want to, especially as the bloggers we know have liked those better.

      Delete
  10. Glad to read your review of The Lincoln Highway. I had wondered about the book. I liked the concept of the hero's journey road trip. Thanks for the review.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really enjoyed The Lincoln Highway, Teresa. A most unusual road trip!

      Delete
  11. It's the characters---smart, unconcerned about a lot of the petty things most people worry about---that I love about The Lincoln Highway and Amor Towles' other books.

    ReplyDelete