The Road - Reviewed

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


It seems that I'm very much out of the majority in my opinion of this novel. It came recommended, and I had high hopes. This was also my first McCarthy novel, and it will be my last.

The Road is short, which is why I finished it despite my many misgivings. Even to those who adore it, is one long black trudge through a devastated world. We never know why all the animals and plants have died, only that the unnamed boy and unnamed man are traveling through what had once been North America.

This is the darkest book I have ever read. I usually reserve such exposure to bleakness in my non-fiction reading. Why would I subject myself to it in novel form, when it simply comes from the mind of one author? It is rife with cannibalism, including such an awful scene toward the end that I wish I could unread (I won't even describe it here, it was that disturbing to me). I don't know why this novel was written, nor why it is so beloved.

While I do appreciate some of the writing style, much of it was distracting. How can McCarthy be lauded for his 'sparse prose,' and yet deliver a quote like this:

“Ten thousand dreams ensepulchred within their crozzled hearts.”

That's prose, but it is anything but sparse.

I wish I hadn't read this book, and I would never recommend it.

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Conqueror: A Novel of Kublai Kahn - Reviewed

Conqueror: A Novel Of Kublai Khan by Conn Iggulden

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I read the Advanced Reading Copy, received through Goodread's giveaways program, so I will not comment on formatting or syntax, since any issues there will be cleaned up come the final version.



This is book five in the Conqueror series, and it picks up where Empire of Silver left off. My review for book five is very similar to book four, the series is only getting better. Iggulden does a superb job of breathing life into the likes of Guyuk, Batu, and, of course, Kublai. That he can make these leaders of such a brutal people so sympathetic is amazing. His prose is never over-wrought, and his dialogue never stilted. He takes some liberties with the historical record, but not enough to warp your understanding of this era of history. Quite the contrary, you'll emerge on the other side of having read this book (and its predecessors) very much enriched.



This is what historical fiction (and least of the militaristic type) is all about. Highly recommended.



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The Lost Goddess - Reviewed

The Lost Goddess by Tom Knox

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy through Goodreads' giveaways program. I'll refrain from any commentary on the formatting or syntax, since it is an unproofed copy and will inevitably change shape come publication.

As the book description outlines, The Lost Goddess takes Julia Kerrigan, an archaeologist working in France, and Jake Thurby, a photographer in Southeast Asia, through a harrowing journey of ancient mysteries, genocide, and murder. It is a thriller, fast-paced, and grim. It is dark, very dark, both in tone and content. In many ways it is an answer to Dan Brown's novels, this one tying together ancient Angkor Wat mysteries with modern Khmer Rouge atrocities. But this time religion isn't on trial. Rather, Communism, specifically Communism as practiced in Asia, is.

For me the book came to a proper surprise ending. I didn't predict how much of it turned out. Given the tone and themes of the novel, the ending(s) seemed appropriate and were very thought provoking.

Perhaps Knox's greatest strength, aside from his in-depth research into the history of the cave paintings in France and the ancient civilization of Angkor Wat, is his ability to sit the reader in the setting. Knox has obviously traveled the places he describes, and it shines through in every sentence. I could picture the standing stones in France, feel the waters of the Mekong, and appreciate the majesty of China's remote Himalaya regions.

My only reservation with recommending this book is its very dark themes, gruesome scenes, and sexual content. It's a shame really, because such content (though it could have been much worse) limits Knox's audience. Regardless, I intend to read his other novels (and I'm a bit of a prude).

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Empire of the Summer Moon - Reviewed

Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History by S.C. Gwynne

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is one of those books that will stick with you. I consider myself fairly well versed in US history, yet this book breathed life into an era I never really knew existed. The tale of the rise and fall of the Comanches alone is mesmerizing and compelling, but it is the tales of the individuals involved that make this work stand out.

Gwynne does an amazing job of bringing the Plains to life. Fans of Nathaniel Philbrick, Joseph Ellis, etc., need to read this book. I'll never look at the Great Plains, the Texas Rangers, or the mustang the same.



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Unbroken - Reviewed

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


It's hard to say you enjoyed a book that is as grim as this one can be in parts, so let's say I found it enthralling. As a biographer, Laura Hillenbrand does an amazing job of telling Louis Zamerini's life story. As a subject, Zamperini is hard to rival. This tale is both horrifying and inspiring. It'll give you a new appreciation of the war efforts in the Pacific, and for the triumph of forgiveness. Highly recommended, but only if you're prepared for grimness.

Heaven's Reach - Reviewed

Heaven's Reach by David Brin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


David Brin delivers in this last novel of the Uplift Storm Trilogy. The hard science of Brin's world is much more in affect in this novel than in the previous two, and we're introduced to a few new characters. But it picks up exactly where Infinity's Shore dropped off. Though each subplot is tied off nicely, we never spend any time on Jijo, which was my favorite part of the novels. That's the main reason behind my 4-star rating, that little bit of disappointment.



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Going Postal - Reviewed

Going Postal by Terry Pratchett

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This was my first foray into Pratchett's writing. I'm glad I made it. Not only is Pratchett's writing thoroughly engaging, but it's hilarious too. The characters are impressive and completely sympathetic. Though this novel is one of his Disc World series, I didn't need any back story to enjoy it. Highly recommended.



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Self-Editing for Fiction Writers - Reviewed

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How to Edit Yourself Into Print by Renni Browne

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is one of the best writing helps I've read in a long time. Getting insight on fiction writing from the other side of table, not as a writer or a reader, but as an editor, is invaluable. I highly recommend this to all fiction writers. It's a fast read.



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