Monday, May 27, 2019

Novel Glimpses (10) Martian Chronicles, Florence and Giles, Good Omens, Behind Closed Doors


Novel Glimpses is a feature I created for mini-reviews. The only difference from my full reviews is I will include my Goodreads rating. Feel free to participate. Just be sure to credit me and link back if you do. (Clicking the book title will take you to the book's page on Goodreads.)

Yes! This feature is back from a long hiatus. Last time I posted one of these was in 2012! Since I don't have much time for lengthy reviews these days, this will probably be the course I will take regularly. Plus, I'm reading more, which is a positive thing, but the more I read, the less I want to write a long write-up.



The Martina Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
My Goodreads rating: 5 stars

I remember reading this when I was a girl, but I really didn't remember too much about it. Not surprising since that was probably over 35 years ago. I enjoy Bradbury's books because there is always a message. In this book, the message I gleaned was that humans aren't happy unless they're conquering and destroying. We arrive on Mars to the detriment of the Martians who currently inhabit the planet. The Martians try to stop our arrivals, but it's no use...we're relentless. My absolute favorite chapter was April 2036: Usher II. This was a masterful and fun variation on Poe's famous story, The Fall of the House of Usher.

Note: This was my Classics Club Spin 20 selection.



Florence and Giles by John Harding
My Goodreads rating: 5 stars

One of my favorite Henry James stories is The Turn of the Screw. The Times (London) review of this book stated: "Imagine The Turn of the Screw reworked by Edgar Allan Poe." So true! This was a truly Gothic novel. Very creepy and atmospheric. The main character, the little girl, Florence is forbidden to read (because girls don't need to read, according to her uncle) and so she finds inventive ways to get her hands on the books in the library. This, and her tenacity, endeared Florence to me. Another thing about Florence was her invention of her own language. She tells the story with an assortment of odd vocabulary which I thought added a certain charm to the story. This is quite a creepy mystery, bordering on horror, but in a Gothic sense, as I mentioned before. I could not hardly put this down and was thrilled by the big twist at the end. 


Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
My Goodreads rating: 4 stars

I love Pratchett's wit. Add Neil Gaiman to the mix and you have a winner? So, why not five stars, you ask? Well, I probably would have enjoyed this more if I could have listened to the The BBC Radio 4 dramatisation, or read the print book. However, I did find it entertaining, and of course, I wanted to read it before the new series debuts on Amazon Prime. Now I will definitely be prepared. Looking forward to seeing what Michael Sheen and David Tennant do with their roles.


Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris
My Goodreads rating: 5 stars

I listened to this on audio and I think it's the fastest I've ever listened to a book. I was riveted...and sickened, and very angry. I've heard many say they just didn't find it believable. Anyone who has ever been the victim of domestic abuse, whether physical, emotional, or both, will believe it. This is why I reacted so viscerally. The hopelessly trapped state in which Grace found herself was truly frightening. Another note on the believability of it all; this man had lots of money, he was a lawyer, and he was connected. It's very plausible he could have done what he did. Couple this with the manipulation and how else was Grace to act. An excellent debut novel. I look forward to more from this author.




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2 comments:

Thank you for visiting and taking the time to comment. It means so much.

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  1. I end up doing more mini reviews than regular reviews. It's hard to sit down and crank out the long reviews. Glad you will be getting more reviews done! I'm reading The Golden Compass right now and hope to get those cranked out in time for the new mini series. And I've got Good Omens on my nightstand to dive in as well! Can't wait.

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  2. Congratulations on finishing your spin. I'm glad to see you liked it so much, that it has held up over time.

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