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Tuesday May 31, 2011
Books in May
- Nemesis and Alexandria Linsey Davis [read by
Christian
Rodska]
Lots of fun, and delightfully read by my hands-down favourite narrator.
In Alexandria, the Falco family go on a jaunt to Egypt to provide Davis with a chance to poke fun at libraries and academia. It's an enjoyable book, but - although the author often uses this technique to provide new interest in the way of a foreign backdrop for her novels, I always feel that Falco is never truly on top form except on home territory in Rome.
Nemesis sees him back in Rome although there is an extensive swampy excursion. Here the novelty is provided perhaps by the crime story rather than the surroundings, where the concept of an ancient Roman serial killer is explored. - Kissing Christmas Goodbye M C Beaton
Surprisingly little to do with Christmas (it puts in an appearance towards
the end). Agatha spends her time planning for the great event, but meanwhile
gest involved with a rather unpleasant family business - o - and there's
a murder. Or perhaps not.
Agatha dreams of that perfect Christmas - yet another concept I can equate to - and yet despite the preparations and the lifestyle books, it can never quite be perfect. The reason? that (however perfect one is oneself..) those around you are not the perfect stuff of daydreams. And despite her obsessive imaginings, by the time her great love James turns up to kiss her under the mistletoe, Agatha discovers that he does not stir her emotions to complete that picture of perfection.
And you know what? She discovers that she's having a great time anyway.
If there is a link between these novels, it is that they both have major/peripheral
characters where I find it hard to put the flesh on the bones. In the
Falco series it's Anacrites. He is presented as Falco's sworn enemy, though
somehow that enmity lacks conviction for me. On occasion we have almost
been given an insight into a deeper character and then it's whipped away
and replaced by Falco's continued assertions about Anacrites low character.
With Agatha, it's James Lacey, and maybe this one is somehow more understandable
as we most often see James through Agatha's obsessed eyes. Mrs Bloxham
provides an apparently objective view, though of course she is very biased
against him in her concern for Agatha's welfare.
Perhaps as these are both enjoyable light-hearted mystery series and I
am simply trying to read too much into them!
Posted by Christina at 10:58 AM. Category: Books of the Month
