Sunday Salon: reading tour

Two weeks ago, I wrote for Sunday Salon about starting The Pool of Unease by Catherine Sampson. I finished that book a few days afterwards, finding it a compelling and well-told story. It is the third book in a series, but distinct from the previous two in that a large part of the action takes place in China, where the author herself now lives. And although I've read as many news and analysis articles about China as anyone else, so could be said to be broadly aware of the "issues" in that country as the rest of the world sees them, I was struck by how much more involved one feels by reading a good novel compared with a dry, factual account. There are three main Chinese characters in the book: they are vividly portrayed, more so than the series regulars, in fact, and I now feel much more emotional connection with -- maybe I should write "emotional inkling about" what it must be like being a citizen of that country, leading a life there.

Next was the long-awaited (by me) The Woods by Harlan Coben, just out in paperback in the UK. As I predicted, I thoroughly enjoyed this racy, tense thriller, which is a standalone, though featuring several characters who appear in other books by this author. I was anticipating that the solution to the conundrum would be convoluted and far-fetched, as this is an area where Coben (in common with many other detective/thriller fiction authors) tends to fall down. But although I guessed some aspects of the outcome, and some of the others don't bear too much scrutiny, the denouement worked pretty well, I'd say. Harlen Coben is a bestselling author who is improving rather than coasting: good for him.

Gallows Lane by Brian McGilloway (in proof) was next - as short as its predecessor (Borderlands) - it is lean and very readable, although lacking that additional touch of magic that made Borderlands exceptional. But compared with Meltdown, by Martin Baker, my next title, it is genius. Meltdown is such a load of badly written hokum that I really regretted wasting my time reading it.

I've completed one more book since then, The Redbreast by Jo Nesbo, much admired by Euro Crime aficionados. This book is a solid (i.e. long) book, and after 100 pages I almost gave up. But I was glad I didn't, because I soon became so absorbed in it that I couldn't put it down. This author "gets" emotion, so I enjoyed very much the character study of Harry Hole and his colleagues, and was dreadfully saddened by the death that affects him so much in this and even more in the next book, The Devil's Star -- which I have already read because Nesbo's books are being published in translation out of order, for reasons unknown to me, but crazy, whatever they are. I half want to read The Devil's Star again, knowing what I do now about events preceding it. But I probably shan't, because both books are long, and the crime plots too complicated and unconvincing (although Nesbo's light on Norway and Norwegians' behaviour during the Second World War is fascinating, and probably uncomfortable for many of his countrymen to read). I'm very much looking forward to Nemesis, soon to be published in the UK.

Finally, I started The Cipher Garden by Martin Edwards the other day. I'm enjoying it so far, a few chapters in. I smiled at Miranda's comments when her train was (allegedly) delayed at Crewe, making her late to return home to her partner Daniel. She says "The guard says we may be stuck for a couple of hours, God knows why.....Wrong kind of sunshine I expect". The other day I read in the Times that exactly this excuse was given in Wales to account for train problems - something about unseasonal sunshine causing unanticipated passenger demand. A few pages later, another character opines that he doesn't trust league tables because he is a supporter of Carlisle United. I think I'm going to like this book (as I happen to live with someone with just this affliction). 

Comments

[Ann Darnton]

I haven't read any Coben, so maybe "The Woods' as a stand alone would be a good place to start. What do you think?

[Literary Feline]

*scurrying to get a piece of paper and pencil to copy down the titles you mention*

I have seen Jo Nesbo's name pop up here and there and will definitely have to check that author out.

I have only had one experience with Harlan Coben so far, and I enjoyed the book I read by him quite a bit. It is good to hear that he is improving as a writer still.

I hope you have a great week.

[Maxine]

Thank you, both! Yes, Ann, I think The Woods would be a good Coben to start with. "Tell No One" is pretty good too -- there is a recent movie based on the book, in French. I think the movie actually works better than the book, which is very unusual -- somehow the slightly daft reasoning at the end worked better in the French milieu than in the American one!

[Doreen]

Harlan Coben is a local author here. He often incorporates descriptions of real places. It is fun to recognize them as part of a novel.

I've read at least 5 of his books but have never caught up to one of his book signings. I just picked up The Innocent this weekend. I haven't read The Woods yet but now I'll put it on the list.

[VWXYNot?]

Have you read Wild Swans, by Jung Chang? Not the world's best written book, but incredibly interesting. It's the story of the author, her mother and her grandmother and what each generation went through in China. Definitely worth reading.

[Maxine]

I haven't read Wild Swans, but it is definitely on my list.

[Kerrie Smith]

The AFL (Australian Football League) season starts tonight! Believe me, it is an affliction - reduces your reading time - but I'm addicted!

[Maxine]

Hmm- sounds a bit like "24", Kerrie.