The Angel's Game

Zafon, Carlos Ruiz. The Angel's Game.

Evidently many were eagerly awaiting this novel's translation into English. By the author of Shadow of the Wind, The Angel's Game is both a stand-alone novel and a prequel/sequel/parallel universe/or something. Since I had not read The Shadow of the Wind, I read this advanced reader's copy as a stand-alone. It has taken me a long time to get around to this review.

Initially, I thought I'd love it. The prose is lyrical, smart, and often witty. My only quarrel with the translator is that there are many phrases that are contemporary and the novel is set in Barcelona in the twenties and thirties. Nevertheless, the prose flows, the descriptions of Barcelona are vivid, the gothic elements are, at first, quite suspenseful.

My initial hopes for the novel did not hold up. The gothic elements lost suspense, the characters were, for the most part, not too likable. I did like some of the minor characters, but David, the narrator and main character, became less and less likable. Not that you hated him, but more like...who cares, you dimwit.

His relationship with Christina was always so nebulous and undeveloped that his love/obsession was a bit puzzling. Isabella was much more 3 dimensional, alive, vibrant.

The novel was too long to maintain the suspense, there were frequent build-ups, but they kind of sizzled out. The last of the book was full of murders that just seemed unnecessary and strangely, kind of boring. Conclusion? Ahhh, none...because it is a prequel/sequel/parallel universe or something.

Reviews of the novel that I found were mostly positive, although several of Zafon's fans were disappointed. Here are some opinions at GoodReads. Note all the stars. In spite of the excellent prose, I would give it only 1 star, but again, I'm in the minority. Nice cover, though.

This one was not for me. Really.

Fiction. Mystery/Gothic/Supernatural. 2009. 370 pages.

What's Up with This New Trend?

How do you feel about the new trend of putting a bunch of requirements on a give-away offer--or saying you get more than one entry if you add a link, twitter, post on face book, add a widget, AND blah, blah, blah?

I'm more than willing to add a link or share offers, etc. but the self-aggrandizement and merchandising aspect of all these "qualifications" annoys me. I find this more and more on both book and craft blogs, but maybe I'm alone in my curmudgeonly feelings.

I found this wonderful link to Book Seer (you enter a book you've read, and it gives you a suggestion about what to read next) on Cathy's blog, Kittling: Books. She had lots of interesting links today, but this is the one I'm going to play with right now.

Yeah, yeah. I need to review books, but just don't feel like it. Maybe later.

Journals and Embroidery

I ordered another journal from Iliana and can't wait to write on these creamy pages! Beautiful, isn't it? The birdies feel right at home in my garden. You can visit her Etsy Shop, Bookgirl's Studio, and browse through some of her beautiful handmade journals.

(click pictures to enlarge)

I've finished my latest embroidered tee shirt and am playing with designs on linen. I draw the design with a water soluble pen, then keep adding on as I go.Details from other tee shirts and embroidered pieces from the last month.Books? I've got a bunch of yoga books that I've finished and need to review. One advanced reader's copy to review and several more to read. I've begun and discarded several library books that turned out to be mistakes.

World Made by Hand

Kunstler, James Howard. World Made by Hand.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I enjoy post-apocalyptic novels and imagining how civilized society would cope with the loss of the technology we take for granted. Forget about computers, telephones, television, and our instant communication and entertainment luxuries and think about water and electricity. Neither of these would be automatically available with the turn of a tap or flip of the switch.

Kunstler imagines a world that has learned to cope (as best it can) with the loss of technology in the aftermath of several rather vague disasters including bombings, loss of access to oil, financial and governmental collapse, and a deadly flu pandemic (oddly enough, called the Mexican Flu).

The small town of Union Grove in upstate New York is one of the isolated communities trying to function after having lost most of their conveniences and a high per centage of their population. The protagonist, Robert Earle seems pretty well-adjusted to the state of things, although even he misses the occasional cold beer.

When a group called the New Faith order arrives in town, Robert and Union Grove must begin further adjustments. Here is where the novel becomes unpredictable (in several ways). Brother Jobe, the leader of the New Faith group, throws several wrenches into the town's ways of thinking and doing things. In spite of his namesake, the original Job, Brother Jobe doesn't seem to be suffering any more, and actually, considerably less, than any other survivor.

In addition to the fact that the New Faith people add an unpredictable factor into the events, there is an unpredictable aspect or atmosphere in the feel of the novel. Initially, Brother Jobe's arrival feels ominous, adding a sense of dread. Then there is an almost comical feel to the presence of the group and its members. At times, the group seems perfectly normal. This ominous/normal emotional charge moves back and forth about the kind of changes the group represents for the citizens of Union Grove.

Although I was a little nitpicky about some of the post-apocalyptic details, the first of the book was pretty interesting. However, toward the end, things got downright weird. Some supernatural stuff kind of crept in without ever being explained. It was as if Kunstler was going somewhere with several strange events, and then decided to leave them hanging.

Many of the characters, especially the women, had little development, and the novel's direction never seemed quite clear to me. Quite a few events, characters, and situations were introduced without attempt at resolution:

-why the emphasis on the young woman accompanying Brother Jobe when he arrived in town, to have her appear only once more and without emphasis?
-why did Brother Jobe feel Bullock was a dangerous man?
-why was Bullock's industry so questionable? (he seemed the one most capable of building a future, but the author appears to frown on him)
-both Bullock and Brother Jobe are leaders, does the author favor Brother Jobe?
-what the heck with the bee hive analogy?--boy, was that left hanging!
-and the prophecy?
-why was the treatment of Loren so brutal and of Robert so mild?
-what about the mystery of Brother Jobe and the jail cell?
-Bridget and Jane Ann?

There was never a point that I wanted to put the book down, but there was never a point that I didn't have questions. None of them were answered.

I'm glad I read the book because it has provided several days of pondering, not only about what was going on in the novel, but about the adjustments society would have to make to survive if society's infrastructure collapsed. Not just the physical difficulties of food and water and basic survival, but in social organization, how would isolated societies function?

In many ways, this was a pretty positive look at the future, at least in comparison to The Road, Alas, Babylon, Lucifer's Hammer, and I, Legend.

I could have sworn I read something about this novel on one of the blogs I visit frequently, but I couldn't find it.

Do you have a favorite post-apocalytic novel?

Other Reviews: Where There's a Will..., Reading Is My Superpower, Sublime Oblivion, Fizzy Thoughts, The Indextrious Reader

Fiction. Futuristic/Post-Apocalypse. 2008. 317 pages.

A Stopover in Venice (addendum)

Walker, Kathryn. A Stopover in Venice.

Cornelia, on tour with her musician husband, decides she has had enough, and impulsively, steps off the train en route to his next venue. Alone in Venice and caught between despair over her unhappy marriage and anger at her husband, Cornelia gets a room at the Hotel Gritti Palace.

After a long rest, she decides to take advantage of the time to explore the city. In her wanderings, she discovers some boys harassing a small dog. Cornelia rescues the tiny Chihuahua, names him Leo, and forms an immediate and strong bond. He lifts her spirit and her courage, and she imagines him hers, smuggling him into the hotel. Leo then accompanies Cornelia on her perambulations through Venice.

Until, that is, a stranger accosts her in the street asking about the dog. Leo, he explains, belongs to an elderly contessa who is heartbroken by his loss. Cornelia, while devastated at having to give up her companion, returns Leo to the delighted contessa. As events transpire, the contessa invites Cornelia to spend the night, and further adventures ensue.

Matteo, a restorationist, has been working on a fresco discovered under modern plaster that may have been painted by a famous master of the early 16th century. Here begins a parallel narrative concerning the painter and the fresco, involving Cornelia, Matteo, and the contessa as they research the painter, the house itself, and a convent.

Restoration becomes a mystery, an investigation, a motif--but is Cornelia restored to herself?
---------addendum------

Interesting -- Just discovered (after Nancy & Nicole tried to pin me down on an opinion of the novel) that the novel may be a Roman a` clef. Check out this article about who the famous musician husband really is!

Other Reviews: The Preppy Yogini and Read Around the World

Fiction. Historical mystery. 2008. 306 pages.

Wasting Away...

not in Margaritaville, however. Although a nice, cooling sip of Margarita would be appreciated in this heat! Well, yes, I mean more than a sip, but "sitting on a bar stool in a cool, dim bar and swilling Margarita's" didn't sound as good.

I've been doing a lot of very little lately. A little this and a little that in a pretty apathetic way. Reading some, embroidering tee shirts, less and less in the garden, etc.

I've continued my yoga studies, though. Currently reading Yoga for Wellness, Yoga for Body, Breath, and Mind and other books on my reading list. I find myself contemplating a statement about a posture or its benefits and then picking up other books for comparison. I'm really hoping some of this is beginning to take root in my brain.

Some fiction, too. I've still got to review A Stopover in Venice and A World Made by Hand.

The latter has given me some pause over the last few days as it was kind of peculiar toward the end, and I find myself wondering what I really thought about it. Does that happen to you? You read and enjoy a book while in the process, but when finished, you aren't really sure what you think?

Evaluating a book is often difficult, and the same book can mean different things at different times. On the whole, I love post-apocalyptic, dystopic society books. They are terrifying, but always make me wonder how far back in time society would be thrust if the entire infrastructure fell (or was blasted) away.

For the same reason that I loved Robinson Crusoe as a child, I enjoy thinking of the ways modern mankind would adjust to a society left with only medieval technology. What alternative futures could result from reversals in nature and/or human foolishness?

Cecilian Vespers

Emery, Anne. Cecilian Vespers.

Set in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the novel is the fourth to feature lawyer Monty Collins and his friend Fr. Brennan Burke. Father Burke is the head of a school for traditional church music, the Schola Cantorum Sancta Bernadetta, and the students include both church and lay participants, not all of whom are in favor of tradition. When a well-known German monk is murdered, there are plenty of suspects who either have no alibi or give misleading information.

Although another monk confesses, Monty and Fr. Burke believe the confession to be false and must continue their investigation.

What is most interesting about this mystery is all the information about Vatican II, the subsequent changes in Church positions and policies, and the often intense feelings that remain on both sides of that aisle. Not being Catholic, I found the information about Vatican II fascinating and informative.

I've not read any of the previous novels featuring Monty Collins and Father Burke so I don't know how this one compares, but several complication from the previous novels appear to thread their way through this one.

Fiction. Mystery. 2009. 300 pages.

For Glory

Lee, Elizabeth. For Glory.

Lyle Hudson is a former English teacher and a professional gambler. Nice juxtaposition, eh? Lyle is also fifty, still attractive, and interesting.

There are two mysteries involved in the novel, but neither comes across very well. Elisabeth Lee is good at detail, but there is far too much detail and far too little suspense in either mystery. Nor did either mystery appear truly credible...

I liked Lyle and her aunts, but the plot lines were frequently lost (almost forgotten) and when rediscovered, were disappointing.

Fiction. Mystery. 2006. 333 pages.

Yoga Anatomy

Kaminoff, Leslie. Yoga Anatomy: Your Illustrated Guide to Postures, Movements, and Breathing Techniques.

Yes, this is one of those books that I began months ago and have been reading on and off while reading others -- including the other books for my self-challenge, the fantasy books for Carl's Once Upon a Time Challenge, and many Advanced Reader's Copies.

One of the things I really liked about this book is the pronunciation guide to the Sanskrit names of various asanas and information about the meaning of the terms. Each pose is illustrated with an anatomical guide to the muscles that are in action, which is really interesting and gives insight into the actual workings of the body in the poses.

There is also information about joint and limb action for each pose, the challenges to the respiratory system in different poses and how to use the breath to make the most of the posture, obstacles, cautions, and variations.

The information is pretty technical (which is one reason it took so long to get through it), but it makes an excellent reference tool. I was glad this book was on the reading list as I already owned a copy and had been using it.

When I started taking classes with Marcia, some of the information became more pertinent, as Marcia goes more in depth about the asanas we practice in class.

Nonfiction. Yoga. 2007. 217 pages.

The Heart of Yoga

Desikachar, T.K.V. The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice.

Desikachar is the son of Sri T Krshnamacharya, which is recommendation enough for many who are interested in yoga. Krshnmacharya, one of the most respected yoga teachers of his time, insisted that yoga practice must be tailored to the individual, not the other way around.

Beautifully written (and translated), The Heart of Yoga provides insight and understanding into the practice and purpose of yoga. Easy to read and easy to understand, Desikachar provides information about the history and philosophy of yoga, Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, the purpose of asanas, the importance of breath and movement, how to link asanas and why, and more.

It is not a book of poses and how to perform them, but a source of understanding more about the various poses, the difference between dynamic and static poses, the importance of taking into account the individual when designing a series of poses.

The individual takes precedence -- always. Perfect form in an asana does not mean that the pose is providing the service it should, and those who are less limber, less strong can modify poses to improve themselves physically and mentally. The yoga that Desikachar describes is not "fitness yoga" in the sense of intense exercise and beautiful bodies, but movements and philosophy that can benefit anyone and lead to improvements in health and well-being.

Excellent.

Nonfiction. Yoga. 1995. 242 pages.

The Language of Bees

King, Laurie R. The Language of Bees.

I always enjoy the Mary Russell/ Sherlock Holmes series. After a long period of time away from England, Mary and Holmes return home to a small mystery about the disappearance of a hive of bees. This mystery is followed by a much more pressing one when Holmes' son Damian Adler (ah, yes, remember Irene?) arrives seeking help in locating his missing wife and child.

This is only Mary's second meeting with Damian, a bohemian and talented surrealist painter, and the fact that the first was when he was accused of murder, doesn't ease her mind. His past and his paintings are disturbing, and Mary remains somewhat skeptical about the man Damian has become.

The entire Holmes clan becomes involved in the search for the missing mother and child. Holmes, Mary, and Mycroft each have a niche to fill and each works in different avenues toward the same goal. Things become darker with the realization that a religious cult is involved and that several deaths at ancient monuments seem to be linked.

As usual, an entertaining adventure, although I found the amount of time spent on the plane ride a distraction that slowed down the plot at a point the action should have been moving more quickly. Another quibble is the lack of conclusion. I'm not unhappy to have the prospect of continued characters and/or issues that are not fully resolved, but the conclusion seemed abrupt and a bit of a cliff hanger.

Other reviews: A Striped Armchair and Books & Other Thoughts.

Fiction. Mystery, Historical fiction. 2009. 433 pages.

Atlas of Unknowns

James, Tania. Atlas of Unknowns.

I really liked this ARC, a debut novel by Tania James, and certainly hope to hear more from this gifted author.

The story is of a Christian Indian family: Melvin, who raises his two young daughters after his wife's death; Ammachi, the grandmother; Linno, the elder daughter and talented artist; Anju, the younger daughter and scholar. There are many more fascinating and well-developed minor characters who add interest and spice to the novel, but the essential story involves family relationships.

James' language is beautiful and descriptive, never over-elaborate, and often deceptively simple. I love this scene of Melvin, with Linno riding sidesaddle on his bicycle, on the way to a shop:

"They bump along between paddy fields that, in stillness, reflect the sky's blue with such clarity that grass seems to spring from liquid sky. At the water's edge, a medley of palms bends low, each falling in love with its likeness, while webs of light spangle the dark undersides of the leaves."

The calm simplicity of the author's style works so beautifully with the complexity of the characters, their relationships, and the situations in which they find themselves. The setting begins and ends in India, but a good portion of the novel also takes place in New York as we follow Anju, who wins a scholarship to a school in America.

The novel also explores immigration: the Indians who wish to come to America, the difficulties involved in doing so, and the Indian community in New York.

James has created some wonderful characters, even her minor characters come off the page so well as to make the reader feel their impact. They feel real.

Atlas of Unknowns - Tania James - Final Spot from Khushi Films on Vimeo.

I highly recommend this one. Has anyone else read it? Let me know, and I'll post a link to your review.

Fiction. 2009. 319 pages.

Bones to Ashes

Reichs, Kathy. Bones to Ashes.

I enjoy Reichs' Temperance Brennan novels. This tenth novel in the series deals with a mystery that may connect with the forensic anthropologist's personal life.

When the skeleton of a young girl is discovered, Temperance feels a strong connection and begins remembering her childhood friend Evangeline, who disappeared at 15. The unidentified skeleton may be connected to Detective Ryan's cases involving missing and murdered young girls.

As usual, Reichs' deftly involves history, smoothly incorporating historical information into the narrative. This time, since the skeleton is discovered in Acadia, we get some background into le Grand Dérangement that evicted the Acadians from their homeland and information about the leper colony that was established in New Brunswick.

Temperance's personal life is in upheaval at the moment, and the possibility of discovering what happened to her friend becomes imperative.

I really enjoyed the role of sergent-enqueteur Hippolyte Gallant and the contrast between Temperance and Harry, her younger sister, who makes another appearance.

Reichs' novels are always a little dark in tone, but as well as enjoying the mysteries, I always learn a little something.

Fiction. Mystery/forensic science. 2007. 388 pages.

This and That

Several months ago, Cathy at Kittling: Books asked if I would share some pictures of my blogging space for her Scene of the Blog feature. I sent her a couple of pictures.

Since then, I've been reading and enjoying some of the Scenes from other bloggers. Don't we all enjoy having a peek at the places other bloggers work in? Yesterday she posted such a nice post about both of my blogs!

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Yesterday, my books arrived from Amazon, and I'm both excited and intimidated by these new additions to my Yoga Library.

I've begun Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice by Desikachar and like both his writing style and his philosophy.

I already owned Yoga Anatomy and have just recently finished it. I've been reading it for several months now, alternating between Yoga Anatomy and Yoga as Medicine, which I still haven't quite finished.

I also need to review Atlas of Unknowns by Tania James an advanced reader's copy that I really enjoyed, Bones to Ashes by Kathy Reichs, and The Language of Bees by Laurie R. King.

Ahem, and I also need to finish quite a few books that I've begun and put aside for a while.

Silent on the Moor

Raybourn, Deanna. Silent on the Moor.

The third in Raybourn's series about Lady Julia Grey.

I have to admit that the cover nearly prevented me from checking the book out. A poor choice, I think. The earlier covers were excellent, and the series is popular so there was no need for the change in style. I would never have read the first novel if the cover had been in this vein.

Oh, well, having read the first two in the series, I bit my tongue and bagged the book.

I did enjoy it, of course. The first book was the best, partly because of that wonderful opening sentence, but this was a nice bit of mystery to occupy an empty evening. The immediacy of the first novel is not present in this one, and I'm a little tired of the Heathcliff image with Nicholas Brisbane--although it fit in perfectly with the setting in the Yorkshire moors.

Hopefully, the next in the series will see Brisbane begin to grow out of his petulance and to exhibit a bit more humor. I'd like to see Brisbane and Lady Julia more as partners than contestants; this possibility is implied in the conclusion, but the relationship will never run perfectly smooth.

And will there be more of Portia and Jane? This series has a number of interesting minor characters who deserve more time.

Raybourn writes light historic mysteries that make for enjoyable reading.

Fiction. Historic novel/Mystery. 2009 465 pages.

I've not been keeping up with either blog lately. Haven't even been online much, but I'm trying to do better.

The garden and yoga have been calling me more than reading lately, and both reading and blogging have been taking a back seat. I do have several books to review and have several in progress, but I'm moving more slowly.

Iliana recently asked what music I listen to when doing yoga. Here are CDs I listen to--for both yoga and meditation: Deuter: A Spiritual Healing, Yoga Rhythm by Soul Food, Prem by Snatam Kaur, Grace by Snatam Kaur, and Tai Chi: Music for Relaxation.

I love the music on Shiva Ray's DVD's. She uses various artists including Sivakumar, John DeKadt, Layne Redmond, and Tumbara. I'd like to have Yoga Rhythms.

At yoga this morning, Marcia had a wonderful CD, but I've forgotten the name of it. And this is something new-- I've branched out in my yoga practice (The Vigorous Mind self-challenge) and have been taking some lessons from another studio from teachers of Iyengar, Hatha, and Viniyoga.

This has been a good experience and has inspired me to attend a Hatha Yoga Intensive in Austin this summer. Hope I'll have the opportunity to meet Iliana while I'm there!

When I began my self-challenge in January, one of the goals was to go deeper into my yoga studies...which I have been doing in reading. I would never have believed, however, that I would go so far as to attend classes from 8 AM-5:30 PM, five days a week for a month. Sometimes things just fall together.

The Four Corners of the Sky

Malone, Michael. The Four Corners of the Sky.

Another Advanced Reader's Copy and Blog Tour book, The Four Corners of the Sky was all over the place. There were so many digressions that it was difficult to find the main plot (despite it being mentioned many times, keeping track of it wasn't easy).

Annie, a Navy jet pilot, was left with her aunt on her seventh birthday by her con artist father Jack. After having been absent from her life for years, Jack calls home asking that Annie fly the airplane he left her to St. Louis. He is dying, and he is in trouble with some dangerous characters.

The book is long and convoluted, moving back and forth from past to present and from character to character. Although there were a couple of characters I liked, the narrative has no since of continuity. While Annie and Jack would logically seem to be the most important characters, they are the least developed-- which has an odd effect on the novel as a whole.

The plot is complicated, but not necessarily complex, and the novel lacks an overall cohesiveness. Plenty of symbols (i.e. Annie's last name is Peregrine) and lots of quotes from movies and from Shakespeare, but they seem overdone, an indulgence. The quotes aren't there in an allusive fashion, as kind of an inside message to those who are widely read, but are fully explained in a pedantic manner.

I did like Raffy, Sam, Clark, and Georgette, but Annie and Jack and Daniel Hart never filled out. I'm not sure how to categorize this novel as it contained elements of several genres: mystery, suspense, romance... None are fully realized.

I fear this is another book where my opinion may be in the minority.

Michael Malone has written ten novels and has won the Edgar, the O. Henry, the Writers Guild Award, and the Emmy.

Other reviews: favorable - Grace's Book Blog and less favorable - At Home with Books.

Fiction. 2009. 544 pages.

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Ford, Jamie. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.

I looked forward to reading this ARC; both the title and the cover are enticing. The internment of Japanese citizens during WWII is a fascinating topic, and one that I've been interested in since reading Jeanne Wakatsuki's memoir, Farewell to Manzanar several years ago.

While the book provided a pleasant read, it did not measure up to my expectations. For the most part, I liked the characters, and the portions of the book that deal with the initial prejudice against and persecution of the Japanese are compelling...and terribly sad.

The scenes of Japanese-Americans burning photos, keepsakes, kimonos, and precious items that might connect them with Japan and thereby justify the seizure of their homes and property are particularly moving, and sadly, didn't prevent their eventual round-up and confinement.

Overall, however, the novel didn't quite coalesce. I'm afraid this is another book where my opinion will be in the minority...

Other reviews Two Kids and Tired, Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'?,

Fiction. Historical fiction. 2009. 285 pages.
--------------------------------------------------
More on the internment of Japanese Americans:

The documentary The Cats of Mirakatani, the story of artist Jimmy Mirakatani's internment and the subsequent effects on his life gives some fascinating information about the internment process. I really enjoyed this documentary.

Farewell to Manzanar, Jeanne Wakatsuki's memoir, describes life in the Manzanar camp, the indignities suffered, and the attempts to make life as "normal" as possible. YA.
Added to my TBR list:

Novels:

When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka.
Another look at life in the camps and the inevitable and lasting consequences even after being released.

Tall Grass by Sandra Dallas.
Based on a camp in Colorado, the is described as "part mystery, part historical fiction, part coming-of-age story."

Nonfiction:

Looking Like the Enemy: My Story of Imprisonment in Japanese American Internment Camps by Mary Matsuda Gruenewald.
"In this eloquent memoir, she describes both the day-to-day and the dramatic turning points of this profound injustice: what is was like to face an indefinite sentence in crowded, primitive camps; the struggle for survival and dignity; and the strength gained from learning what she was capable of and could do to sustain her family."

Only What We Could Carry edited by Lawson Fusao Inada.
"The editor of this unusual anthology has drawn from a wealth of material: poetry, prose, biography, news accounts, formal government declarations, letters, and autobiography along with photographs, sketches, and cartoons that reflect the tragedy of the internment. Taken as a whole, it conveys the deep anguish felt by Japanese who defined themselves as citizens of the United States and yet lost their rights as citizens during a time of national fear."

Genesis

Beckett, Bernard. Genesis.


Original, unusual, unpredictable. Beckett's Genesis is a very short novel of ideas, of philosophy, of neuroscience (think Daniel Dennet, Gerald Edelman, Neural Darwinism, Conscious Robots).

I mentioned in an earlier post that I was reading Steven Pinker's How the Mind Works. His opening chapter examines the limits of AI, artificial intelligence, or thinking robots, and it was one of those neat little coincidences that having just finished that chapter, I picked up Genesis, an unexpected Advanced Reader's Copy that arrived that day.

In a distant future, Anax, a young history student, is applying for admission to The Academy (an exclusive order of philosophers/rulers similar to what Plato imagined) and is undergoing an examination.

The narrative consists largely of questions and answers as in the defense of a doctoral thesis. Anax's area of expertise is myth and the young rebel Adam Forde, but the examiners have her respond to questions about Plato and his Republic, the Great War, and other background events in the 21st century before leading her to her topic of interest.

Anax has spent 3 years preparing for this examination, aided by her tutor Pericles. She knows her stuff, but her interpretations differ from the norm concerning Adam Forde and the robot, Art.

What makes us human? What if robots began to self-evolve? An intriguing book that combines beautifully with all of the "brain" nonfiction I've been reading lately. While it may not appeal to everyone, I found this tiny novel immensely provocative , the surprising twist, unexpected.

Fiction. Science Fiction/dystopia/utopia. 2006. 150 pages.

Fault Line

Eisler, Barry. Fault Line.

When Alex Treven discovers a client has been murdered in an apparent drug deal gone wrong, he is uneasy for a several reasons, not least because he expected his work with the inventor of a new encryption program to help Alex make partner at his law firm. When the patent examiner reviewing the program dies of apparently natural causes and information about the encryption program review disappears, Alex is even more unsettled. Then he survives an attack in his own home.

Time to call in estranged brother Ben, a military assassin (conveniently), who comes to the rescue. The brothers' estrangement is a result of an event when Ben was in high school, and the back story is interspersed with current events. This attempt at psychological explanations doesn't really succeed.

The third character: a beautiful Iranian American lawyer. Alex is attracted to her; Ben distrusts her.

Fast-paced where the back story doesn't interfere, Fault Line is a quick read. Author Barry Eisler spent 3 years as a covert operative for the CIA and lists some sources about "military liason elements," the NSA domestic spy program, warrant less eavesdropping, cryptovirology, etc. at the back of the book.

The characters don't really come off the page despite the author's attempt to give them some complexity and the pacing is uneven. A simplistic thriller, but a kind of fun way to spend an evening.

A more positive review: Nicole at Linus' Blanket
Fiction. Suspense/Adventure. 2009. 302 pages.