Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips is a comedic adventure involving London, Greek Gods, the underworld, and an unlikely hero.
Having lost the vast majority of their powers, the Greek gods are now forced to spend their lives in a run-down house in London, taking small odd jobs to make ends meet (Artemis walks dogs, Aphrodite is a phone-sex operator, Dionysus runs a rave club etc). Into this mix is dropped Alice a unassuming house cleaner, and Neil, an engineer who is in love with Alice.
The book is really good. Funny without being slapstick, Good characterization of both Down-on-their-luck gods and the mortals involved with them. They story arc is interesting, but this is at its heart a character piece, the plot more a way to show amusing vignettes of how the different gods act and how the mortals react to the situations.
I recomend this book to anyone who wants a fun, romantic-ish comedy/adventure, with a touch of classical greek mythology.
Christopher Moore writes some pretty fun books. I am unfortunately reading them out of order, but So far I have polished off The stupidest Angel and Practical Demonkeeping and I am working on The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove After that I think I will move on to his Vampire books.
These books are comedies, with a big helping of science-fiction or fantasy thrown in. Sometimes Zombies attack the small town of Pine Cove, sometimes it is an invisible demon, and other times a Godzilla-like sea-monster. The point is the small, quiet tourist town of pine cove has a lot of bad things happen there.
The books take a look at how the varied citizens of the town deal with these happenings, mostly dealing with the problem in their own skewed way.
These books are at the heart character pieces, Moore having populated the town with a large rouges gallery of oddballs (for example Howard, owner of H.P's Cafe, that serves such dishes as Shub-Nigguraths Dark Yolks of the Wood, or eggs benedict up to normal people).
The books are a fun light read, perfect for a road trip or day on the beach.
Rhet Butler's People
McCaig, Donald
New York : St. Martin's Press, 2007.
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Was it strictly necessary to our understanding of Gone With the Wind's dashing hero to flesh out his backstory, replay famous GWTW scenes from his perspective, and crank the plot past the original's astringent denouement? Perhaps not, but it's still a fun ride. In this authorized reimagining, Rhett, disowned son of a cruel South Carolina planter, is still a jauntily worldwise charmer, roguish but kind; Scarlett is still feisty, manipulative and neurotic; and the air of besieged decorum is slightly racier. (Rhett: "My dear, you have jam at the corner of your mouth." Scarlett: "Lick it off.") But it says much about the author's sure feel for Margaret Mitchell's magnetic protagonists that they still beguile us. McCaig (Jacob's Ladder) broadens the canvas, giving Rhett new dueling and blockade-running adventures and adding intriguing characters like Confederate cavalier-turned-Klansman Andrew Ravanel, a rancid version of Ashley Wilkes who romances Rhett's sister Rosemary. He paints a richer, darker panorama of a Civil War-era South where poor whites seethe with resentment and slavery and racism are brutal facts of life that an instinctive gentleman like Rhett can work around but not openly challenge. McCaig thus imparts a Faulknerian tone to the saga that sharpens Mitchell's critique of Southern nostalgia without losing the epic sweep and romantic pathos. The result is an engrossing update of GWTW that fans of the original will definitely give a damn about. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review from Publishers Weekly Review
Akhenaten: Dweller in Truth
Mahfouz, Naguib.
New York: Anchor Books, 2000, c1998. .
Nobel-winning Egyptian novelist Mahfouz (The Cairo Trilogy) appropriates, to wonderful effect, the craft of the biographer in these 14 elegant fictional testimonies on the brief but dazzling reign of the "heretic" pharaoh Akhenaten and his enigmatic queen, Nefertiti. First published in Arabic in 1985, newly translated into English, the narrative comprises many subjective versions of the early religious zealot Akhenaten's rule. Twenty years after the end of his reign, witnesses, royalty and relatives recount their stories to a young nobleman's son, Meriamun, who professes a passion for unearthing the truth. The particulars of Akhenaten's reign are unquestioned: the son of the great pharaoh Amenhotep III and Queen Tiye, Akhenaten is a sickly, irreverent and spiritually inclined young man who ascends the throne when his brother dies. Inspired by religious visions, Akhenaten scorns Egypt's traditional pantheism and declares his devotion to the One and Only God. When his fervor leads him to decree that his religion shall be Egypt's creed, the pharaoh offends the all-powerful priests and invites civil dissension and foreign invasion. Eventually, he dies alone in his deserted city. Some of the narrators remain sympathetic to Akhenaten, including the heartbroken former royal sculptor Bek, who designed the shining new city of Aketaten. The High Priest of Amun, on the other hand, bitterly rues the era of the "mad king," while Ay, father of Nefertiti and former counselor to Akhenaten, diplomatically vacillates. The record culminates with Nefertiti's impassioned confession, though intentionally readers are left wondering: Which point of view are we supposed to believe? The making of history, like fiction, dwells in its infinite ramifications, and Mahfouz, ever the masterly stylist, accomplishes his lesson flawlessly.
Review from Publishers Weekly
Marked Man
Lashner, William.
New York: HarperCollins, c2006.
Starred Review. The sixth Victor Carl novel from former Philadelphia lawyer Lashner (Fatal Flaw) explores the process of redemption for lost souls. Carl is a hapless defense attorney just trying to pay the rent on his apartment and the lease on his office photocopier when he stumbles onto a case that might transform his life—or kill him in the process. This latest work revolves around rectifying past indiscretions, whether it's a Rembrandt stolen 28 years ago or last night's drunken escapade that resulted in a gleaming new tattoo. Carl's ability to negotiate a deal outside the courtroom will determine the fate of several lives, including his own. Lashner, who could be considered an East Coast version of Michael Connelly, fills his narrative with frenzied plot twists, lovable characters, and a sharp wit. He paints the deeply flawed Carl as a pitiable figure trying to find his role in a nihilistic world and searching for a way to change his life for the better. Oddly, the answer lies within his new tattoo. Highly recommended for most fiction collections.
Review from Library Journal -- Ken Bolton
For commuters, we have the book on cd.
After Dark
Murakami, Haruki.
Toronto: Bond Street Books, c2007.
Summary: A short, sleek novel of encounters set in Tokyo during the witching hours between midnight and dawn. At its center are two sisters - Eri, a fashion model slumbering her way into oblivion, and Mari, a young student soon led from solitary reading at an anonymous Denny's toward people whose lives are radically alien to her own: a jazz trombonist who claims they've met before, a burly female "love hotel" manager and her maid staff, and a Chinese prostitute savagely brutalized by a businessman. - Book Jacket.
Invisible Prey
Sandford, John.
New York: Penguin Group, c2007.
The 17th novel to feature Minneapolis detective Lucas Davenport has him running dual investigations: a politically sensitive case regarding a state senator and his alleged child molestation, and the murder of a rich elderly widow and her maid. The murder takes up the majority of the book. The widow lived in a mansion filled with antiques, so initially robbery is considered a motive even though both victims were viciously beaten to death. However, it looks like little was taken until a teenage relative of the maid reports that he thinks some 'old' things are missing. So instead of a smash and grab gone wrong, it begins to look like an expert art heist. Connections begin to be made to other similar cases.
We've had lots of people question this series being in General fiction rather than Mystery but there's not a lot of mystery. A third of the way in, you know who the killers are but the suspense of the book is in watching the police try to figure it out. The killers keep on killing, which leaves clues to follow. There is some attempt at framing other suspects but the police work it out in the end. This is somewhat slower than other novels with fewer gory details but still good. New minor characters were introduced while Davenport's main sidekicks are on other assignments. The secondary plot seemed to be mostly filler and trying to connect them felt very strained.
For commuters, we have the abridged and unabridged book on cd.
Love Walked In
De los Santos, Marisa.
New York: Plume, [2006], c2005.
This story is told from the alternating perspectives (chapters) of Cornelia and Clare. We're introduced to Cornelia, who's dating a man that looks like Cary Grant. This is important to her as she's all about style and sophistication. (Un)fortunately as she's realizing she also requires substance, Clare walks in.
Clare is Martin's estranged daughter. She's been having a rough time with her bipolar mother, who has vanished into the night. Martin doesn't know what to do with her so turns to Cornelia. Around the same time, her brother-in-law/best friend Teo shows up but doesn't get to tell her why before he finds out about Clare. As a doctor and all around nice guy, he stays to help out since Martin has to leave town on a business trip.
Won't give away more of the story except to say that the relationship between Cornelia and Clare develops. We find out more of the history of Cornelia and an old friend, Mrs. Goldberg. Mrs. Goldberg has died and left her house and its treasures to Cornelia, "the daughter of [her] heart". A love of old things and their stories is revealed and passed on to a new generation.
This is a fantastic book. I loved this book so much I wanted everyone to read it once I had. That impulse doesn't move me very much. There's a lot of fast-paced dialogue and old movie references (Philadelphia Story) which are personal favourites of mine. It was sort of sappy but I loved Cornelia's character so much. Apparentally Sarah Jessica Parker has optioned the move rights and I look forward to seeing this on the big screen.
Mermaid Chair
Kidd, Sue Monk.
New York: Viking Penguin, 2005.
Summary: Set on the fictional Egret Island in South Carolina, the story centres on Jessie. She's come home to take care of her eccentric mother, but finds herself drawn to Brother Thomas, a Benedictine monk while her psychiatrist husband Hugh is at home waiting her return. Various women of the island round out the cast of characters. In the monastery, there is an actual Mermaid Chair -- a beautiful and mysterious chair carved with mermaids and dedicated to a saint who was supposedly a mermaid...
Review submitted by Anthea
Excellent. Beautiful prose. The story of a woman trying to find "her voice": "to belong to herself" rather than trying to complete herself with someone else.
Review submitted by Dey
Nicely written - good symbols of the sea.
Review submitted by Book Club Member
Sue Monk Kidd's books are all about relationships. I loved this book because I like her style of writing. I didn't think it was as well written or as good a story as The Secret Life of Bees.
Review submitted by Book Club Member
I felt that Ms. Monk Kidd is a gifted writer, it flows so beatifully. Now I would love to visit the Carolinas and wander around the reedy areas, wave at the turtles and alligators.
The Sunday List of Dreams
Radish, Kris.
New York: Bantam Dell, c2007.
Divorced nurse Connie Nixon has just retired. Now it's time to tackle her list. She's rewritten the wishlist forty-eight times. Every Sunday, she makes time for herself to add, subtract or tweak items on her list of dreams. Now that she's retired, it's time to get into gear and get the house ready to sell and start to make her dreams come true. The cleaning process reveals a deep dark secret about an estranged daughter -- she's the part owner of a sex toy shop in New York City. One of the most important items on her list was to reconnect with this daughter, so Connie gets on a plane to visit Jessica.
Connie appears when Jessica needs a mother the most. The business is expanding and she's trying to organize fifty things at once and feeling the pressure. The two start a journey back towards one another and end with Connie working for her daughter. Her age, attitude and previous career draw other middle-aged women to her without the usual embarrassment about battery operated devices. Along the way, Connie ticks off items on her list and realizes that it's never too late to pursue your dreams.
I picked up the book because I'm an inveterate list maker. I haven't tried a list of dreams though and that is something that I will take away from this book. Not my usual style and it wasn't the best book ever but some of the themes of mother/daughter relationships and putting your dreams and goals into print did inspire me to follow them through.
Listen to a podcast of Kris Radish talking about her book.