Really enjoyed this action packed book focused on the world of art forgery. The pacing worked well and the characters were built out quite well for this kind of book. Indeed, I found myself wishing I could go to museum and experience fantastic art in person. Unfortunately, Covid precludes that. But, at least I'm thinking about growing my own collection of art to accompany the books. In the end, this literary thriller was an easy read that was just what I was looking for. It didn't change how I look people, but it did make me smile.

Please pardon my negative tone, I just found this book to be rather problematic. For the first third of this book, I was really enjoying it. The author did an excellent job of drawing out a few characters. The main character was developed well and resonated for me. But come about page 75 or 80, it all fell apart for me. My problems came in four main categories...

A.) The author's writing of dialogue left a lot to be desired. Professor Chandra was really interesting to me until he started opening his mouth. There is no way a Cambridge professor who is line for the Nobel Prize would sound like the way he is written.

B.) The actions of the characters often seem unbelievable. The author did not get me to a point where I believed that Professor Chandra would be responsive to the teachings at Esalen. There was a disconnect for me. I understood the professor who is forever disappointed in his life and work and buries himself in his work. The desperation around trying to reconnect with your children felt so real. But, that couldn't take to me to a place where I believed this elitist professor would open up in such an odd way.This was true with other characters as well and resulted in a big lose of credibility in my mind.

C.) In the end, I was not sure what the author was trying to do. If this were intended to be a story about the difficulties of a family torn apart trying to make sense, it was mediocre, but passable. If it were a story about the power of meditation and spiritualism, show more as it seems to be, then I am even more disappointed. Some of my favorite authors have written archetypal characters to make a broader point. But, there wasn't a strong enough point to make that work here.

D.) Lastly, the meditation and group work scenes were quite bad for me. Without them, this story would rate a star or two higher. These were supposed to be central to the book. But, the idea that these absurdly superficial conversations masquerading as "deep" would result in big change just makes me roll my eyes. I am sure breakthroughs have occurred in the types of sessions mentioned, but they way they are drawn up here makes me cringe. It felt like exactly the kind of experience that everyone thinks is transformative, but that changes no one.

In the end, it all just seemed pithy and easy.

Anyway, I didn't hate this book. I actually quite enjoyed some of the bits about dealing with your exes and what impact parents have on their children. I would love to see this author dig into more of that space. There is some great writing around the interactions with the Professor's children.

I really wish I could have liked this more. But, for me, I found it to be a less than convincing story that was told through hollow characters and was both too vague and too narrow. show less

One of the best books I have read this year. At once a gripping mystery and also an exploration of power and race. The characters rang very true to me. Caren's family drama is particularly well drawn. It is complex and we are left without complete resolution. This is how these things really work. I need more of these stories that paint the grey around the current state of race relations. Particularly in the South, there is so much history and complexity. But, there are also everyday lives. I love how this walks the line between the two. It is not a screed and yet the lessons are clearly there. Really, compelling work that is also very readable and enjoyable.

I found this to be one of the strongest books in the series. Warshawski always seem to push too hard, but here it is quite compelling. Especially in a #MeToo world, it is important to remember that these stories have been going on forever. Further, we are becoming more and more aware that power operates in its own sphere and looks down on the rest of us. In the end, despite the continued believability problems with Vic, this was really enjoyable.

A return to form in many ways. I have missed this Spenser. Really wrapped me up in a way the recent ones haven't as much. Really do enjoy these characters.

Typical Spenser. Parker was still not his best, but very enjoyable nonetheless. The Vegas setting was an interesting twist and the look into mob life was intriguing. Left me sated, but vaguely wishing for more.

Not my favorite Spenser to be honest. Felt Parker was reaching with the first person narration from the victim's perspective. No doubt after 22 books he was getting a bit bored, but this bit of experimentation didn't work as well. Plus, the depiction of the inner city doesn't hold up well. Anyway, still enjoyable, but far from his best.

Absolutely delightful! This is one of the most fun books I have read in years. Mind you I will not walk away having learned a lot, but I don't need that from every book. Indeed, I believe that writing humor is amongst the most difficult things an author can do. This walks that tightrope of humor and caring about the characters enough that you really want to know what happens.

I don't want to give too much away, but the historical adventures were just so superbly constructed. I was left smiling to myself for an hour after I put down the book.

The main character was also fascinating to me. I could so easily have disliked him and his detachment from everything. But, instead, I found myself rooting for him and enjoying him more and more.

This follows in the fine tradition of P.G. Wodehouse and Evelyn Waugh and is well worth the time if you need something a little lighter. I personally still prefer Waugh because his humor contains a bit more depth. But, I'm hopeful to hear more from Jonasson soon!

This is a darker than normal entry into the Spenser series that is still enjoyable. I’m always happiest to see Hawk and Spenser working together. But, you could just feel everyone getting ground down over the course of this addition. It read much more as a noir. This was an interesting experiment, but Spenser didn’t really feel at home in this dismal new world. Then again, we all need a reminder of how terrible the world can be at times...

A disappointing addition to a series that seems to have lost some of its fizz. I have long enjoyed the Reacher series, but the last couple have not really grabbed me. This story had almost no suspense with the conclusion a forgone conclusion for about the last 300 pages. The conflict was not particularly well fleshed out and the traditional farcical elements are even more unbelievable. In the end, I also just didn't care about the characters. I think it may be time to let Reacher walk off into the sunset...

This buoyant little volume has left me smiling in a way few books have. Anna Gavalda has such a light touch in this little lesson about the power of taking a break. This a meditation on the enduring relationships of siblings and the complexity of our extended families.

In the end, this is really about how we all need to take time for ourselves. There is a recurring refrain in our society about self-care. I don't always love the way it is portrayed, but there is no doubt that taking time for yourself is of vital importance.

While you shouldn't expect any massive revelations in this, Gavalda has done a quite good job of illuminating the deceptively simple concepts of family and vacation. In the end, this results in a book that is quiet, but very enjoyable. The lessons will likely stick with me much longer than most.

It's hard to say what makes me so happy about this series. But whenever I spend time with Spencer, I wind up really enjoying it. The dialogue is just magnificent. Yes, the storylines are not the most complex and there is an air of unreality about the whole thing...

But, each Spencer novel serves as a bit of a bit of a repreive. I know the world doesn't work the way it does in these novels. People aren't this principled and good doesn't win most of the time. But, when I've finished with something dense and dark, I often need a reminder that good exists and can win. Spenser is about the best there is for that.

Paper Doll was perhaps not as complex as some of his other stories. But, I did find the human emotions around the several families destroyed in the story very real. It also stands as a simplistic, but truthful, look at how people hide from the truth and recreate themselves out of trauma.

It's not going to change your life, but it might make you smile and find a bit of hope. It did for me...

Every time I come back to Mahfouz I am happy that I did. The way he tells stories is so compelling. It is a unique mixture of traditional storytelling and more modern European writing. This combination makes every story feel a little more epic. This works particularly well in a story as grand as Khufu's.

While it is worth noting that the story itself does not line up with much of what we know of the time, but the experiences and feeling of the era rings truer than I expected. The story is simple, but there is real feeling that comes through. Even the somewhat grandiose verbiage doesn't override the truth of feelings present.

The stories of fate and mortality are quite tangible and lasting. Khufu's attempt to overcome the fates is very believable and still devastating.

I will say that I'm not as sure about how the women are written in this story. They don't seem as full as the male characters do. The princess in particular is quite disappointing. Further, the writing can be a bit stale and dense.

But, in the end, the payoff is well worth it. It's truly remarkable that this was his first novel.

I am always interested in reading the seminal texts of a genre. So, while this was a bit outside my normal purview, I was excited to take it on.

On the whole, I quite enjoyed it. However, I must say I'm at a bit of a lose as to why it is such an iconic tome. From what I understand, the virtual reality type world of the "Metaverse" is what most people find so fascinating. I suppose I understand that. This in some way sets the tone for Ready Player One and even some of what we are seeing the real world these days.

However, the characters never really drew me in. They felt stilted and a bit unbelievable. But, this wasn't a character driven book.

The biggest problem for me was really the main conflict and how language played into it. I was quite surprised by the religious implications that were so prevalent later in the book. Having my B.A. in Religion made all of it feel as farfetched as any standard Robert Ludlum novel. I found myself just rolling my eyes for large portions.

To sum up, it is well worth the read, but I'm not sure I'd recommend it to many folks. It reads like a thriller with some interesting thought experiments. The "Metaverse" in particular stands up as an interesting vision of the future. (The nature of governance by franchise was also quite compelling and interesting.) But, the characters and main conflict all felt quite far-fetched.

Fantastic. Shattering. The complexities of a marriage have seldom been explored in such depth and with such perceptiveness. While the topic was quite depressing. The writing was compulsively readable. Even though it does not have a traditional narrative structure, I found the story pulling me along. I wanted to know what was going to happen.

The inventiveness of the structure is quite compelling. I am not usually a fan of creative structuring. However, it was quite well utilized here. Our mind does not work linearly and this echoed that. It felt like how I recall past events. Some parts stand out well. Others are hazy and there are external ideas connected to many of these memories.

I find I tend to wind up unintentionally reading several books with similar themes close together. This and Days of Abandonment by Elena Ferrante cover similar terrain. They are both exceptional works. This was perhaps less angry, but it no less disturbing. They are both well worth reading.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the publisher for review.

This was pretty standard fare for Reacher. I have to confess that I have not enjoyed his most recent adventures as much. They still have close to the same level of tension, but there seem to be fewer twists and turns. In this book, I saw the conclusion a mile away and I don't usually try to figure it out. Also, there hasn't been much development in his character recently. Perhaps this is too much to ask, but this book seemed tailor made to allow us to see how he was when he dealt with a previous case versus now. He also shows a small amount of fear that could have been expanded on.

All that being said, I still found this a very fun read. I definitely group this as a guilty pleasure. I sometimes am uncomfortable with myself enjoying it but I find it much more palatable than the more patriotic (and conservative) thrillers. This particular Reacher, while not the best, was still suspenseful enough to have me drive through the last few pages. While being nothing special, this is still a good easy escapist read. I wouldn't recommend it over the earlier Reachers but its better than some of the most recent. I'd ask Mr. Child to bring back a bit more complexity and suspense. But this newer Reacher is comfortable and perhaps that is what reading thrillers is really about.

Recommended for thriller readers.

Wonderful. A dark, depressing trip to the mysterious city of Marseilles. The city is a character here and is wonderfully drawn. The complexities of this ultimate melting pot are revealed in riveting detail. The conflicts inherent in such a situation are made plain. However, what makes this so special is that Izzo has as captured the vibrancy as well. Despite the difficult nature of the story, I now want to spend time in Marseilles.

While this is technically crime fiction, I think this is also literature. The depth of feeling that Izzo can generate equals anything found in the best literary fiction. On the back of the book, there is a quote from the Le Monde review saying we are "bound to cry sooner or later." It is truly amazing how many times Izzo took me do the very edge or what I can take. My heart was breaking for Montale. I found myself having strong feelings for even the minor characters. This is part of Izzo's genius. He can paint vibrant pictures with very few words. His sentence structures are so simple and yet portray such complexity.

The story itself is so dark and so many people we care about are hurt. But we are given just enough positives to make it all worthwhile. Montale is someone we can't help but to invest in. Even though he is beat up so many times, you have to keep rooting for him.

While I am a Francophile, and so predisposed to like this kind of thing, I would recommend this to anyone interested in crime fiction or European literature in general. Yes show more this is crime fiction, but it I would prefer to think of it as literary fiction in which crime is used to create an environment to more fully reveal the complexity of the characters and society present. show less

I just loved this book. It has just about everything I want from a mystery. The story is tense and taut with little superfluous writing. The character development is phenomenal. Carl is one of the best characters I have read about in quite a while. He is tormented like many other Scandinavian detectives recently. But something about him makes him more enjoyable to read. Assad is an excellent addition and their relationship is quite fun.

While the crime and Carl's back story are both quite dark, the book is very enjoyable. I can't say much more than that I enjoyed it greatly and I think any other mystery fan will too. The only downside is having to wait for new installments in the series to come out now that I am hooked.

Lauren Beukes has written a very exciting new book. I do not read much science fiction and this was well worth the excursion into uncharted territory. The plot is gripping and the stylistic choices of the author do a good job of reinforcing the story. Very little is explained straight out, but the way she answers our questions slowly over the course of the whole book is very well done. It could have easily have frustrated me and resulted in me losing interest in the book. Instead, I was left wanting to know more and more.

Part of what drew me in so quickly was the strength of the main character, Zinzi. She has a quite compelling backstory and she feels very real. I want to follow her adventures and can't help but hope that she and her sloth do well. The characters that Beukes has surrounded her with are equally compelling and real. They are not quite as well fleshed out as Zinzi, but each rings of truth.

These characters are present within a world that for all its differences is strangely familiar. What makes these differences work for me is the way they echo situations that are present in our world. The animalling of perpetrators of crimes is little different from how felons and members of certain other racial and socioeconomic classes are weighed down. This is a compelling way to look at societal problems.

However, perhaps the most important thing I can say about this books is that I enjoyed it on every level. It is both a fun, tense thriller and a story that delves into show more the complexities of several societal problems. I would recommend this book to just about anyone and am giving it as a gift this Christmas. show less

Interesting read. It was rather hard to make myself finish it, but I really appreciated the experience. Stylistically it was very well done. But, in the end, this idea would have been better suited to a short story. It makes me wonder if the author doesn't appreciate the the power that a short story can hold. The power of this story comes from the shock factor. This wears down as the pages go by. The story could have been significantly enhanced with a degree more subtlety which a short story would have required.

At the bottom, the character was just barely believable (again this could been better in a short story). The story became weaker as it went on and in the end the message was left wanting. The author clearly wanted to make a statement about the arrogance and folly of the financial industry. This is a message I was welcoming. However, the flaws in the storytelling meant that this message was lost. Instead the book read as a tale of the disintegration of one man. The broader meaning was lost because he failed to make the broader connection.

All in all, this was probably the most disappointed I've been by a book in a while. Europa Edition has consistently produced quality books. However, this must go down as one of their misses. I won't be recommending this to anyone except if they wish to see what happens when a writers tries to make a novel out of a short story (and fails).

The owner of my local bookstore recommended this series to me. I had been avoiding starting this series. There is always a certain apprehension when I start new series. My favorites (Camilleri, Leon, Cara Black, Hillerman, etc.) have served me so well. However, I needed to find something new.

I can happily report that Johnson has now been placed on that list favorites. In his debut he has created an unforgettable cast of characters. The story was gripping and left me wondering right up to the end. The intelligence of the writing is quite refreshing and the dialogue is very fun. In particular, the friendship between Longmire and Henry Standing Bear is very convincing. I have not read many books in which male friendship is presented better.

One of the reasons I am reluctant to read new mysteries is because they are often written from a political and ethical perspective that I find difficult to stomach. I think it is very important for a mystery to humanize the victim and perpetrator. I think mysteries should have a lead character who has a deep ethical core, who feels conflicted when the complexities of the situation become clear. Additionally, I want mysteries that take me to places I've never been before, physically and culturally. This checked all the boxes for me. Longmire is a flawed man, but he is completely human. He is exactly the kind of person I would like to get to know and respect. Further, I would want him to respect me.

I highly recommend this to anyone who likes show more westerns or mysteries. I eagerly anticipate reading the rest of the series. show less

A brilliant book. Technically it is close to perfect. But the depth of feeling is what makes it so powerful. It was a very simple story. Yet, as the characters drift towards the inevitable finale that is revealed to begin the story, it is difficult not feel the pain of the lead characters. The utter loneliness they experience is palpable. The representation of repressed feelings is utterly compelling. As is the destruction that such a situation leads to.

The sadness of the tale is made even more important by the fact that the conclusion is made inevitable because of the societal pressures that each character faces. Mary faces pressure from her familial past, her husband, her friends and everyone else she meets. Her disintegration had a devastating effect on me because it felt so believable. This is not to say she is a likable character. Rather, she is so compelling because she is so real.

The depiction of the dual subjugation of both women and blacks in Southern Africa during the mid-20th century is wrenching. I would like to think we have changed greatly since this time. However, I don't think I really believe it. One of the greatest strengths of this book was expressing the way that racism exists in the minds of whites. This perspective allows us to better understand how even though the institutional situation may have changed, this dangerous and damaging mindset can still be present. It can grow and fester in any situation.

The number of big subjects tackled in such a show more small is quite amazing. It touches on the role of women in society, marriage, racism, classism, colonialism, mental illness and more. I think this book is essential reading for almost everyone. It is not at all an easy read. There is no lightness to make the emotional blows more tolerable. But I have a certain appreciation for authors who can write without sugar coating the situation. So READ THIS BOOK, but do so without expecting much reprieve. show less

I was very disappointed by this book. Foreign based mysteries are among my favorite reads and I was thus excited to receive a copy of this to review. By the end, I was struggling with whether the book deserved any of my attention. The writing is mediocre. The narration shifts too often and is sloppily done. The characters are not well drawn and they wind up generating little emotional response.

However, the biggest problems for me were the moral failings of the detective that were treated with disturbing flippancy. First, a suspect that the detective, who theoretically prizes his gut instinct, thinks probably did not commit the crime is locked up without being charged for several days. During this time the suspect is subjected to light 24 hours a day and is kept in handcuffs the entire time. This is tantamount to torture. Yet, there is never even a whiff of discussion that this might be wrong. In the end this character dies in prison and yet the detective feels no remorse for putting him in that situation. He has no qualms about the fact he has dispensed the death penalty upon this man.

Secondly, and more damningly, the detective's second in command attempts to rape a woman. The response to this is anger that the investigation may have been compromised. This is despicable. The police officer should be arrested and brought up on charges but this is never even contemplated. These failings of the detective make me question the standing of the author. How can he think that he show more has created a character that we want to invest in when this character reacts to rape in this way? This is a police officer, the very people intended to protect us. Rape victims is being systematically marginalized by certain parts of our society. It should never be discussed flippantly or without deep compassion. In this case rape has been decriminalized and turned into merely a potential procedural sticking point. I wish to tell Gerald Jay that this is unacceptable.

The plot itself was far fetched even by Ludlumesque standards. There are many great French detectives but they are let down here. Maigret and Adamsberg would find Jay's detective ill-imagined and immoral. I would not recommend this to anyone and am disappointed to hear another volume is already in the works. show less

Somewhat simplistic and almost a fable but also resonant. There was a recent discussion that the Booker Prize was putting too much emphasis on readability. This book, having won the Booker, is immensely readable. But at the same time it is absolutely deserving of the prize. Its discussions of cruelty, family, and corruption are complex and worthwhile. The writing is very good and the images conjured are very compelling. It is interesting because this is the third of four books in a row I have read that have a first person narration. This has been particularly interesting because some of the positives as well as the limitations of the technique have been displayed. This was a particularly good use of that type of narration and I would recommend it to most people.

Shattering. This is a piercing vision of the life of a young woman in the stuffy mid century days. To this day we all continue to struggle with questions of purpose as our culture further separates itself from true necessities. While I am not personally dealing with the issues that the young protagonist is dealing with, the writing rings true. The tragic story of Sylvia Plath gives the story extra weight. Her writing is stylistically wonderful. It is not an easy subject to take on and her writing allows a glimpse of a little discussed world. It is often considered a subject too touchy to discuss. But works like this help us understand the ways that our society continues to result in higher and higher rates of depression and suicide. It is a must read.

As can probably be seen from my books, I am obsessed with Africa. This book was one that had been on my list for a long time and I was not disappointed. While the writing was not great and there probably could have been some better editing, the overall effect was comprehensive. The perspective of those of us outside of Africa is often scarred by the violence we see so often reported. This book in many ways reenforces the idea that this kind of stuff only happens in Africa. However, this is not the fault of the author but rather the ridiculous mindsets of the mercenaries. These individuals are microcosms of way that Africa is viewed as a blank slate for the Global North to write the narratives they wish to. The arrogance is mind boggling.

This was a book I was really looking forward to. Unfortunately, I wound up being very disappointed. It turned out to be a polemic that I struggled mightily to get through. The argument being presented is one I agree with and yet it is ultimately boring to read such an unbalanced viewpoint. It reads more as an angry man complaining than a thoughtful examination of the issues. I quite wanted to like it but found it disappointing.

I should preface this whole review by saying that I am a huge fan of both Paris and France. Perhaps I am just jealous of their intellectual heritage. This fascination no doubt factors into how much I enjoyed this book and Commissaire Adamsberg. Though, Adamsberg and Danglard are compelling in and of themselves. The idiosyncrasies they display were enough to leave me smiling again and again. The story is relatively short and the mystery is as much about carrying the characters forward. This is not to say that the crimes are not interesting. Adamsberg is a bit undefined in this book, but that is to be expected in the first of the series. I think that it is most important that Vargas creates in her readers a connection with the characters.

Mysteries are an excellent way of exploring other cultures. The Parisian culture is worth a great amount of exploration. The characters add complexity and depth that make this well worth reading. I would recommend this to almost anyone.

I started this because I was looking for an author that was a)similar to Lee Child and b)not someone who seemed to be drifting too far to the right. It turned out that this was a hit on both levels. As with Lee Child and Robert Ludlum, Eisler does not present his heroes as protecting the government and this is much more appealing to me. This most likely just mirrors my personal feeling in regards to the use of force in support of governmental institutions. I don't particularly like the idea of supporting a character who is an assassin, like John Rain, however I find it tolerable when the character is not driven by ideology. My intention is not for this to be a political statement but merely to try and pinpoint some of the reason I enjoyed this book.

In terms of writing the book flows very well though it is largely predictable. There was a recent article that showed that people enjoy books more when they know the ending and it definitely did not hinder my enjoyment here. I'm not sure you want to read this kind of book too many times in a row but it is an excellent example of this type of book. Some people have disliked the amount that the story is impacted by the location (Tokyo). I really do think the setting is vital and it is a compelling addition from my perspective. Overall I just highly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to most people who have enjoyed the character Jack Reacher or the books of Robert Ludlum.

I really enjoyed this book. Oil is a massive story on every part of the globe but perhaps nowhere is it as relatively important as in Sub-Saharan Africa. The problems of this part of the world have been documented on many fronts. The extraction of oil increasing here the oppurtonity for hope and disaster are escalated. Ghazvinian does a enviable job of showing the diversity that exists across this vast area and myriad problems that have erupted. The mess in the Niger Delta is fairly common news but the vast reserves of Angola and Gabon are less discussed but no less complex and difficult. It is hard to say the exact role that oil has had in destabilizing many of these areas but it certainly has a role. To claim that Nigeria would function significantly better without its oil economy would seem to be a bold statement.

I found Ghazvinian's discussion of "rentier" to be very compelling and enlightening. These countries have degenerated to the point where to call them a sovereign state is questionable. If a government is funded solely by investment in extractive industries and not actually by the collective will of the population can we even distinguish that as entity worthy of statehood? When I told a co-worker that there was speculation that oil was going to start flowing out of his native county, Ethiopia, he responded simply, "That means there will be another war."

However, for all the hardships brought by the manipulation of these countries by the oil comapnies and their show more own governments, I still feel hopeful for oil to be a player in development. Personally, I feel the only way to achieve permanent economic stability is to develop a system focused on producing something. In the meantime, oil provides an income that if invested wisely can help develop something along these lines. I am not naive enough to even expect 5 percent of the income to used wisely at the moment. However, where was that 5 percent coming from before? I think the ability of a country to begin to wean itself off aid as its primary income is very important. This book was really quite good and I highly recommend it. show less