Okay, Okay, Here's My Book Reviews
Since September more than a few readers of this blog asked why I had not posted a piece on my best summer reads. Since that was by far my most popular post of 2010 (yes it did get more hits than my post on the Indalex case), I guess I know where your priorities lie. I must meet the demands of my audience. I have to admit I stuck to fairly light fare for most of the summer, but I did read a few things in the crime/detective/thriller genre that you may like.
Red on Red by Edward Conlon – This first novel of Conlon’s, a working NYC detective (albeit a Harvard educated one), is narrated by a somewhat morose and conflicted NYC detective, dealing with a couple of related murders and complicated relationships with his partner (on whom he’s been asked to spy by internal affairs) and his spouse, his father – well just about everyone really. It’s more about the relationships than solving the crimes. Red on red refers to criminal on criminal crimes, but allegorically in the novel refers to the narrator’s betrayal (at least initially) of his partner (and his spouse, his father - well just about everyone really). The characters were well drawn and the writing more literate than the typical detective fare.
Started Early, Took My Dog by Kate Atkinson – This is a novel that begins with the ultimate impulse purchase. A retired female police office buys a 6 year old girl from her drug addict, prostitute mother after seeing mom treat the girl’s mother roughly at the mall at which she now works as a security guard. The subsequent murder of the girl’s mother complicates things needless to say. (Someone else takes the dog.) Kate Atkinson has been one of my favourite writers since I read Case Histories many years ago. She’s funny, moving, creative and never boring.
The Black Madonna by Peter Millar – My husband Doug brought this book up to the cottage for me on a Friday night and by the time he said “I bought you a book” on Saturday afternoon, I had already read it. Yes, it’s a fast read, but a good one. It’s a bit like The Da Vince Code but written by someone with an actual vocabulary and literary skill. You get a tour of Europe and a history lesson along with the fun.
I also finally got around to reading The Big Short by Michael Lewis, which I thought was a great read as well. Are derivatives lawyers allowed to like that book?
Feel free to post a comment with your own reading recommendations.
