By Eoin Colfer

The Short Take:

Colfer picks up where the late Douglas Adams’ left his popular series, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. For a huge Adams fan like me, this is very dangerous territory. I almost hate to admit that Colfer largely won me over. Honest.

Why?

Colfer’s own Artemis Fowl series (aimed primarily at young adult readers) has it’s own sense of the absurd, so one can see why Adams’ widow and daughter asked him to continue the Hitchhiker series. Though I’m not so sure there was any reason to continue: Adams’ last book had a very final feeling to it. Still, the deed is done.

While Colfer doesn’t have quite the twisted wit of the late Adams (”The ships hung in the sky in much the same way as bricks don’t.” — Adams), but he does have an incredible imagination and peppers this “part six of three” with a wide range of bizarre creatures, cultures, and unexpected happenings. He is also quite sly with the names he gives random characters.

More important, Colfer stays true to the underlying theme of the Hitchhiker series of probability and improbability, the main characters continue to behave just as they should, and you still wonder what new craziness each turn of the page will bring.

So, don’t panic. After all, if we can’t have Adams on our planet any more, it is nice to have Colfer.

A Little Plot:

If you’ve never read any Adams, this is going to make no sense to you whatsoever. Sorry. (But it is kind of your fault for not reading Adams.)

The Vogons, who destroyed Earth at the beginning of the very first Hitchhiker, are intent on destroying Earth in every parallel universe as well as eliminating any stray humans in the galaxy. A reunited Arthur Dent, Trillian, Ford Prefect, and Random are on the next Earth to meet its doom when Zaphod Beeblebrox appears to rescue them.

Unfortunately the rescuer winds up needing rescuing. This gives rise to various deals being made that involve contacting the god Thor, transporting our refugees to a hidden colony of humans, ending the life of an immortal, and evading the hot-in-pursuit Vogons.

And that’s just the beginning. But that’s all you’re getting here.

There’s quite a website connected to this book that you might enjoy if you click here.

By Nancy Mauro

The Short Take:

There’s a lot going on in this compelling and chilling novel. Immensely readable, with a primary focus on the troubled marriage of its two protagonists, the plot embraces a wide variety of sometimes bizarre situations. A vein of violence  – repressed and overt — courses throughout. It’s disturbing. That’s what makes it good.

Why?

That introduction was the hardest I’ve ever had to write, simply because Mauro’s first novel is so different. You think you’re in familiar reading territory — the troubled urban marriage. Then she sweeps you right down the rabbit hole into a looking glass world shaped by century old bones, a voluble pervert, townspeople that belong in a Stephen King book, and a shocker of an ad campaign for cheap jeans.

It sounds crazy but somehow Mauro makes it all work. In fact, as you are reading, it all seems completely logical. It’s only after you put the book down that you ask, “What the heck was that?” And then start really thinking about how the disparate elements relate to each other and to the floundering marriage of Lily and Duncan.

Ultimately it all comes down to human communication and its inherent inadequacies. Mauro’s Lily and Duncan spend so much time listening to their inner voices and looking for hidden meanings in the other’s words they’ve become emotionally paralyzed. Every other element ties into this problem of communication. As bizarre and disturbing as parts of this novel are, they all coalesce around this central theme.

A Little Plot:

Ad man Duncan and his dissertation-focused wife plan a summer where she stays in her family’s inherited country manor with Duncan coming up weekends. They both suspect this is the beginning of the end of their relationship. On their first drive up, a wild boar crashes into their car setting off a series of events that colors their relationship with each other as well as their summer neighbors.

Add to this the unearthing of human bones in the overgrown garden, Lily’s interest in the adventures of a local pervert, and Duncan’s development of a fantastic advertising campaign that could revitalize his career. Yes, there’s a lot going on in this novel.

But that’s all you’re getting here. If you want more, go to Mauro’s really great website by clicking here. It’s worth the visit. Just like her book is worth reading… and thinking about afterwards.

By Richard Dawkins

The Short Take:

Dawkins lays out all the evidence for evolution — from molecular genetics to poor body design to plate tectonics and more — in one easy-to-read and entertaining book. Even if you think you understand the process, Dawkins will enlighten you further.

Why?

I tried to approach this book as a sceptic. From that viewpoint, the first chapter is rather irritating: Dawkins can be downright snarky at times. He has no patience for those he calls “history deniers.” But once he got past his complaining, things really picked up and I quickly became engrossed in the depth, breadth, and clearness of the evidence he presented.

I’ve read a fair amount of popular paleontology books over the years and still learned (relearned?) new things from this book about atomic numbers, isotopes, and radioactive half lives; embryo development; and plate tectonics. Dawkins also included fascinating facts about different creatures from dugongs to koalas.

I can’t imagine any non-evolutionist reading this book and coming away with anything less than severe doubts about previous beliefs. Unfortunately, I suspect that due to Dawkins’ most recent and hugely successful book, The God Delusion, he won’t reach many of the people he purports to be writing for. Well, at least the rest of us can enjoy this work.

Even I approached this book with some trepidation, as a huge fan of the late Stephen Jay Gould. Gould didn’t quite agree with certain aspects of Dawkins gene-centric approach to evolution. I needn’t have worried, there was no Gould bashing. This book focuses on what is well known and accepted, not on the subtleties of their minor disagreements.

If you have any interest in evolution, this book is for you. It clearly demonstrates, as Darwin famously said, “There is grandeur in this view of life.”

Lee Child seems to make women swoon. Why is that?

There are probably hundreds of mystery and thriller writers I have never read — many of them quite well known. Lee Child was one of them until I went to a book reading by Steve Berry and overheard a group of women talking about different writers. Someone mentioned Lee Child’s name and — in unison — every woman in that group went, “Lee Child! Oooh!”

That got my attention.

Now that my ears were perked to his name, I noticed that same reaction from women again and again. I had to read for myself.

Jack Reacher is Lee Child’s recurring character, and he certainly strikes me as a man’s man, not a woman’s fantasy. He’s a rolling stone, with no possessions other than the clothes he wears and a folding toothbrush. A loner by nature, he inevitably gets ensnarled in some evil activity and must use his wits and formidable physical skills to fight for survival — for himself and the inevitable other victim(s).

Blood is spilled. Often copious quantities. He has sex, which he appreciates but not enough to hang around for more. He is uncontainable and untamable.

So why do women find him so darn attractive? And his creator Lee Child by association (Lee Child’s cover picture looks a lot like his description of Jack Reacher. Accident? I think not!)?

Lee Child writes a good thriller — his language, pacing, and story structure are all strong. Especially for this genre. But I would think the aloofness of Jack Reacher and the bloodiness of his (always for good) actions would limit his appeal, not strengthen it.

Then I remembered Clint Eastwood and his movies from the High Plains Drifter era. Jack Reacher is very much a modern interpretation. I didn’t get why women liked Eastwood then and I don’t get why they like Lee Child now. But I watched those movies because they were good entertainment. And while I will never swoon, I will read every Jack Reacher book that Lee Child turns out.

By Irene Sabatine

The Short Take:

The main characters in Sabatini’s first novel feel completely real — as confused, conflicted, and multi-faceted as anybody in real life. The fact that her story weaves around an inter-racial couple amid the transformation of Rhodesia into Zimbabwe and the rise of Mugabe simply makes it even more fascinating. I must admit I cried at the end — for the love as well as the pain. Everyone should read this book.

Why?

This book is so much like real life. At first it took some getting used to — you’re just dropped right in and must get to know characters and their “roles” through discovery more than exposition. The dialogue can sometimes read like, “Yes. No. Wait.” But that’s how people really talk as they try to sort out what they really want to say. It all adds to this book’s exceptional believability.

Sabatini’s own life, in large respect, parallels that of her central character, Lindiwe Bishop. However, according to her, Lindiwe’s relationship with a white, largely “racialistic” young man (Ian McKenzie) is based on a “what if” not an actual experience (check out the her website link at the end to learn more).

I guess some people might call this a romance, though it certainly doesn’t unfold like one. It is filled with hesitations, foreboding, insecurities, and frustrations — just like real life. I believe Sabatini uses the core relationship as a tool to portray the complex relationships and feelings between white, black, colored, and Indian in her homeland. Both Ian and Lindiwe evolve — sometimes in surprising ways — as Zimbabwe transforms. A diverse supporting cast serves mainly to reflect these changes and the good and bad they bring.

I particularly loved the way this novel was so clear-eyed about the disappointment, fear, and prejudice — as well as the goodness — found in people of every shade. I am so glad I read this book. It gave me a new degree of understanding as well as taking me on a wonderful journey.

A Little Plot:

Next door to 15 year-old Lindiwe, a white woman is burned to death. Her teenage stepson is accused but finally released, though not exactly exonerated. One day he offers Lindiwe a ride. This is the very tentative beginning of their relationship. However, finding one’s soul mate in the worst possible person for their place and time is not something either seems anxious to pursue. Their connection doesn’t grow by romantic stealth. It is companionship that grows into friendship based on better mutual understanding.

Yet, both still have secrets and both have fears. As people would say: It’s complicated. Frankly, that’s what makes it so great to read.

For more about Irene Sabatini and her book, click here. It has some footage from a book signing that I think you’ll find particularly interesting.

The Short Take:

The screen actually looks like paper. It even has a matte look. Wow.

Why?

I’ve been intrigued by the idea of the Kindle, Amazon’s proprietary, computerized version of a book — actually a lot of books stored in one very light-weight package. But I really couldn’t imagine liking it. After all, my biggest irritation with laptops is that the screens are pretty much impossible to see outside except on the dreariest of days — and who wants to be outside then?

Plus the only way to try one out is to know somebody who has a Kindle or actually buy one from Amazon. Unfortunately, most people I know aren’t anxious to trade in the feel and smell of real books for some cold and possibly complicated alternative.

Then I went to the Pink Palace Craft Fair where Dorothy Northern, an exceptionally talented jewelry creator, graciously let me play with her Kindle.

I’m not sure about love, but it was definitely extreme like at first sight.

The screen was a shocker. It looked like ink on paper. Truly. And you can easily change the type size if you forget your glasses. Dorothy assured me the battery power was good enough to easily last through a trans-Atlantic flight. And she mentioned how just before she was leaving for a holiday, she decided to down load more guide books and maps, and bam, it was done.

Yep. This baby works independently. No computer needed, though you can transfer Kindle books to your computer if you want to. It doesn’t require a wi-fi hot spot and there are no connection or service fees. It holds a whole lot of books, too — claims 1500. And it was unbelievably light. Lighter than a lot of paperbacks.

To repay Dorothy’s good deed in letting me play with her Kindle, I encourage you to visit her website by clicking here.

And, if you dismissed it before, give that Kindle a second thought. Because there’s one additional advantage Amazon doesn’t seem to be promoting: no one will judge you by the cover of the book you are reading. Trash or treasure, it all looks the same to them.

By Richard Castle (not)

The Short Take:

This taut, engaging little mystery is what Richard Castle might have written if he were a real person and not the fictional lead character on the ABC series Castle. It was the same witty patter and gallows humor you find on that show. Best of all, it’s surprisingly good.

Why?

Let’s leave aside this book’s pedigree for a minute and treat it as a free-standing entity. It’s fast paced, fun to read, and the mystery holds up under scrutiny. Really. It’s certainly not literature for the ages, but few mysteries really are. Since it is lightly larded with current cultural references, it’s clear the author(s) just want to entertain you right now. And he/she/they succeed.

Now for the provenance of this book, in case my opening statement confused. There is a TV show called Castle. The main character is a mystery writer named Richard Castle. In the TV show he is tailing a female NYC detective as research for his next book. Heat Wave is that next book. There’s something about the pure audacity of this effort that cracks me up. The actor’s picture is even on the back cover as the author.

So, who really wrote this short, sassy detective mystery? Well, 15 minutes googling was not enough to find out. I encountered speculation it might be James Patterson or Stephen J. Cannell (who both provided book blurbs and have appeared on the TV show). I suspect the show’s actual writers deserve the honors, however.

A Little Plot:

A real estate maven falls or is pushed from his posh Manhattan apartment. Turns out anything and everything could be the cause: extra-marital affairs, major business problems, gambling debts. Detective Nikki Heat and her team chase down suspects while  celebrity journalist Jameson Rook (catch the last name) tags along to research a magazine article.

Crimes and clues accumulate. Heat and Rook irritate and attract each other. The plot is just twisty enough to keep you from being sure you’re right if you think you have it figured.

Oh, and I watched every episode of this show last season, so I can attest this is not a rehash. And the book really is for sale. The whole thing just makes me smile — a little foolishly.

Let me make this crystal clear: Jasper Fforde does not write science fiction. He writes highly amusing mystery books to delight people who love to read. And they take place in an alternative universe set in the 1980s.

In his alternative universe, literary creations like Miss Havisham, Heathcliff, and Falstaff have lives beyond the characters they play in books and plays. In fact, sometimes they enter the physical world, and vice versa. Sound confusing? Just accept it as fact, like knowing what a television does without having a clue as to how that is possible.

I strongly suggest starting with the first of his Thursday Next series (The Eyre Affair), because like all worlds Fforde’s universe becomes increasingly and hysterically more complex the more you learn about it. The more familiar you are with classic literature, the more “inside” jokes you will enjoy. But even if some of these sweep by you unnoticed (I sadly have a shabby classic literature history), there is still much to enjoy.

Thurday Next is a detective — a Literary Detective with SpecOps, which is where the mystery plots come in. She has a pet dodo, a disppeared husband (in every sense of the word), and a propensity for winding up in trouble in every investigation she undertakes. Her first involves finding Jane Eyre — some rascal has stolen Miss Eyre from her book and the world is aghast.

Fforde also has another mystery series that focuses on detectives in the Nursery Crime Division (The Big Over Easy is the first in that series). You don’t need to read any of the Thursday Next books to enjoy these and there’s no huge reason to read them in order, either. To give you an idea of what you’re in for — Humpty Dumpty is the focus of a murder investigation in the first one.

His Shades of Grey, which is scheduled for release in December, 2010, takes another tack entirely. I can’t wait to see what new ingenious insanity Fforde has ready to dish out next.

If you’re uncertain about whether Jasper Fforde is for you, take a trip to his website by clicking here. Personally, I feel nothing but glee anytme I open the cover to one of his books.

I just finished The Lost Symbol, and once more Dan Brown has pushed my use of Google into overdrive. I kept paper and pen with me while reading just to write down the things I felt driven to learn more about — there are 19 items on the list, ranging from art works to fields of science. One thing for sure, Brown sure expands my knowledge of arcane subjects.

This is no review, by the way. What’s the point? But I did find a great article about Brown and his books in the UKs Telegraph that you might want to visit by clicking here. Among other observations, it shares his writing secrets, some of which are the same things that irritate certain critics.

The Lost Symbol is far less likely to draw the ire of the Catholic Church. I’m not so sure how the Masons will feel about it. The US Capitol Building and Washington Monument can expect tourism boosts, not that they need the publicity. Expect to see parasite books in the immediate future about Masons as well as the buildings and imagery of Washington, D.C. Expect some people to immediately call for the removal of certain public artworks that no one even paid attention to before.

Did I like the book? Anything that sends me in search of more information is a winner for me. So, yes.

Will you like it? If you liked The Da Vinci Code I can’t imagine why not.

‘Nuf said.