Manga Bookshelf

Discussion, Resources, Roundtables, & Reviews

Books

The Ersatz Elevator by Lemony Snicket: A

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From the back cover:
Dear Reader,

If you have just picked up this book, then it is not too late to put it back down. Like the previous books in A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS, there is nothing to be found in these pages but misery, despair, and discomfort, and you still have time to choose something else to read.

Within the chapters of this story, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire encounter a darkened staircase, a red herring, some friends in a dire situation, three mysterious initials, a liar with an evil scheme, a secret passageway, and parsley soda.

I have sworn to write down these tales of the Baudelaire orphans so the general public will know each terrible thing that has happened to them, but if you decide to read something else instead, you will save yourself from a heapful of horror and woe.

With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket

Review:
I am happy to report that I liked this every bit as much as The Austere Academy, and that my fears about repetitive plots have been assuaged.

We are truly in the throes of an arc here, and on top of that, another mystery concerning the Baudelaire mansion itself is introduced and even more clues about the mysterious Beatrice are sprinkled into the storyline.

One really oughtn’t judge this series based on the first few books alone. Keep going and your diligence will be rewarded.

Enter a Murderer by Ngaio Marsh: C-

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From the back cover:
The crime was committed on stage at the Unicorn Theatre, when an unloaded gun fired a very real bullet. The victim was Arthur Surbanadier, an actor clawing his way to stardom using blackmail victims. The stage was set for one of Chief Detective Inspector Alleyn’s most baffling cases…

Review:
I think I need a new rating for laughably bad. I simply must quote the bit that literally made me crack up. It doesn’t reveal the identities of the speakers, but you should stop reading now if you’re concerned about spoilers.

She took a step towards him, looked into his eyes, and smiled. In a moment he had her close-held in his arms. “What’s this?” he said roughly. “I know you’re everything I most deplore—and yet—look at this. Shall I kiss you?”
“Why not?”
“Every reason why not.”
“How strangely you look at me. As if you were examining my face inch by inch.”
He released her suddenly. “Please go,” he said.

Bwahaha. It still amuses me.

The mystery itself is neither particularly bad nor particularly good. I could’ve done with less of Nigel Bathgate’s angst about an old acquaintance’s involvement and his propensity to interrupt and/or overhear suspicious conversations. After a time, it seems no new evidence is gathered and it’s just a lot of histrionics. The conclusion is a little unsatisfying, as well, and I wonder if an aspect of the solution really agrees with what had been established early on, but I don’t care enough to go back and verify.

The main flaw is unchanged from the first book to feature Inspector Alleyn—I just can’t get a handle on his personality. Is he truly breezy, flip, uncaring, rather unprofessional, and capricious? At times, his actions bely these impressions and I just have no idea which is right. Is he supposed to be a mysterious and unpredictable person, or is this just bad writing?

The question of whether to continue the series might appear to be a no-brainer, except that I keep reading that the later stories are an improvement. The library has all but two (many unabridged and narrated by James Saxon, who was excellent here despite the material, and whose voice reminds me of Vivian Stanshall), so I suppose I might as well. Besides, it’s kind of fun to award a lousy grade every now and then.

The Austere Academy by Lemony Snicket: A

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From the back cover:
Dear Reader,

If you are looking for a story about cheerful youngsters spending a jolly time at boarding school, look elsewhere. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are intelligent and resourceful children, and you might expect that they would do very well at school. Don’t. For the Baudelaires, school turns out to be another miserable episode in their unlucky lives.

Truth be told, within the chapters that make up this dreadful story, the children will face snapping crabs, strict punishments, dripping fungus, comprehensive exams, violin recitals, S.O.R.E., and the metric system.

It is my solemn duty to stay up all night researching and writing the history of these three hapless youngsters, but you may be more comfortable getting a good night’s sleep. In that case, you should probably choose some other book.

With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket

Review:
There are similarities between the plot of this book and the last, and I thoroughly despised the head of the school, Vice Principal Nero, but I’d still rate this as the best of the series so far.

It was good to see the Baudelaires try a different tactic when they recognized Olaf, as it reduced the number of scenes in which the adult authority figure du jour is being excruciatingly obtuse. And I quite liked the Quagmire triplets, as well. I hope we see more of them.

What I most liked, however, was the ending. All of the books have a cliffhangery ending, mostly concerning what unfortunate events will next befall the Baudelaires, but this one is special. It really feels like this might be the start of an arc of some kind. Lemony Snicket’s personal snippets are getting more interesting, as well, and might actually figure in to the overall plot before we’re done.

The Miserable Mill by Lemony Snicket: A

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From the back cover:
Dear Reader,

I hope, for your sake, that you have not chosen to read this book because you are in the mood for a pleasant experience. If this is the case, I advise you to put this book down instantaneously, because of all the books describing the unhappy lives of the Baudelaire orphans, The Miserable Mill might be the unhappiest yet. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are sent to Paltryville to work in a lumbermill, and they find disaster and misfortune lurking behind every log.

The pages of this book, I’m sorry to inform you, contain such unpleasantries as a giant pincher machine, a bad casserole, a man with a cloud of smoke where his head should be, a hypnotist, a terrible accident resulting in injury, and coupons.

I have promised to write down the entire history of these three poor children, but you haven’t, so if you prefer stories that are more heartwarming, please feel free to make another selection.

With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket

Review:
This one made me giggle before I even opened it. Why? Coupons. :)

This is also a very big improvement over The Wide Window. Hooray for variation! There were many switcheroos this time around that I greatly appreciated, but shan’t enumerate, a word which here means “blather on about spoilerifically,” because that would be mean.

Suffice it to say that this story is great, good enough for me to overlook some extreme silliness concerning the properties of gum, and that I am now especially looking forward to the next one, which is about boarding school.

The Wide Window by Lemony Snicket: B+

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From the back cover:
Dear Reader,

If you have not read anything about the Baudelaire orphans, then before you read even one more sentence, you should know this: Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are kindhearted and quick-witted, but their lives, I am sorry to say, are filled with bad luck and misery. All of the stories about these three children are unhappy and wretched, and the one you are holding may be the worst of them all.

If you haven’t got the stomach for a story that includes a hurricane, a signaling device, hungry leeches, cold cucumber soup, a horrible villain, and a doll named Pretty Penny, then this book will probably fill you with despair.

I will continue to record these tragic tales, for that is what I do. You, however, should decide for yourself whether you can possibly endure this miserable story.

With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket

Review:
The plot of this book is essentially the same as The Reptile Room, though I did not like it as well as that book. Once I paused in my reading, I actually had trouble working up the desire to continue.

To successfully employ a plot formula, one should treat it as a template. A story structure or framework upon which new ideas may be secured, and which might actually inspire creativity by forcing one to find ways to innovate while maintaining the essential pattern. So far, this series doesn’t do that. Maybe it’s too early to expect significant variation, but I’d like to see some soon.

Once I got back into the story, I did enjoy the conclusion, especially the sequence where everyone is going “bluh,” Sunny’s use of a couple actual words, and the moral offered in the final few pages. Bonus points for trying to drill in the concept of “it’s” versus “its,” as well.

The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket: A

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From the back cover:
Dear Reader,

If you have picked up this book with the hope of finding a simple and cheery tale, I’m afraid you have picked up the wrong book altogether. The story may seem cheery at first, when the Baudelaire children spend time in the company of some interesting reptiles and a giddy uncle, but don’t be fooled. If you know anything at all about the unlucky Baudelaire children, you already know that even pleasant events lead down the same road to misery.

In fact, within the pages you now hold in your hands, the three siblings endure a car accident, a terrible odor, a deadly serpent, a long knife, a large brass reading lamp, and the reappearance of a person they’d hoped never to see again.

I am bound to record these tragic events, but you are free to put this book back on the shelf and seek something lighter.

With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket

Review:
I found this to be a big improvement over the first book. I didn’t get my wish for a villain with more depth, but he did come across as more menacing this time, at least. This book was also more amusing, eliciting grins, a giggle, and a few snerks. My favorite snerkworthy moment was when Sunny’s cry of “Ackroid!” was translated as meaning “Roger!”

So, more menace, more humor, and also.. more sorrow. The ending here is truly sad, and all the kids are very endearing in their response, but I’m developing a soft spot for emotional Klaus. Of course, I appreciate Violet’s level-headed resourcefulness, and I have to praise writing that can make a super-chomping infant character not incredibly annoying, but Klaus is the one who really needs a hug.

Really, the only negative is that I seriously want to throttle Mr. Poe a large amount of the time. Which I guess is the point.

The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket: A-

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From the back cover:
Dear Reader,

I’m sorry to say that the book you are holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children. Even though they are charming and clever, the Baudelaire siblings lead lives filled with misery and woe. From the very first page of this book when the children are at the beach and receive terrible news, continuing on through the entire story, disaster lurks at their heels. One might say they are magnets for misfortune.

In this short book alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, and cold porridge for breakfast.

It is my sad duty to write down these unpleasant tales, but there is nothing stopping you from putting this book down at once and reading something happy, if you prefer that sort of thing.

With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket

Review:
There’s a lot of charm in this little book, and the few flaws I can find with it (evil-plan-proclaiming villain, obvious plot points…) probably are largely because I am not its intended audience. I liked the characterization of the two elder Baudelaire children quite a lot, especially that they are sensible thinkers.

Much has been mentioned about the style of writing in these books. I vacillate between appreciating the use and defining of possibly unfamiliar vocabulary for children and finding these interruptions irritating for getting in the way of the narrative. I do wonder if kids will have slightly incorrect ideas of what these words mean, in the way they are explained as regarding the action of the plot.

I have managed to remain completely unspoiled about this series, so I have no idea what to expect as I proceed. I shall confine my hopes to a villain with a little more depth.

The Murder Room by P. D. James: B+

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From the front flap:
The Dupayne, a small private museum on the edge of London’s Hampstead Heath devoted to the interwar years 1919-39, is in turmoil. The trustees—the three children of the museum founder, old Max Dupayne—are bitterly at odds over whether it should be closed. Then one of them is brutally murdered, and what seemed to be no more than a family dispute erupts into horror. For even as Commander Adam Dalgliesh and his team investigate the first killing, a second corpse is discovered. Clearly, someone at the Dupayne is prepared to kill, and kill again.

The case is fraught with danger and complexity from the outset, not least because of the range of possible suspects—and victims. And still more sinister, the murders appear to echo the notorious crimes of the past featured in one of the museum’s most popular galleries, the Murder Room.

Review:
Despite containing my absolute favorite of all the characters Dalgliesh has encountered in his investigations, The Murder Room was a bit of a disappointment after the previous two books, which were both excellent. I’m not sure exactly what about it failed to engage. True, it features another “institution on the verge of closure,” but it it isn’t derivative. It’s a quick read with a solid story and, as I mentioned, it includes Tally Clutton, who is an awesome character. She reminds me of my Grandma and what I might be like as an older woman.

Maybe it’s the fact that, for the first time, I actually had sussed out the identity of the culprit and found it surprisingly easy to do because of one rather glaring clue. Or perhaps it was all the telling without showing going on regarding Dalgliesh’s personal life. It isn’t that it was implausible, but it wasn’t presented in a way that had me fully convinced.

Commodore Hornblower by C. S. Forester: A-

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From the back cover:
The incomparable Horatio Hornblower has been designated commodore of his own squadron of ships, led by the two-decker Nonsuch and bound for the Baltic. It is 1812, and Hornblower has been ordered to do anything and everything possible, diplomatically and militarily, to protect the Baltic trade and to stop the spread of Napoleon’s empire into Sweden and Russia. Though he has set sail a hero, one misstep may ruin his chances of ever becoming an admiral. Hostile armies, seductive Russian royalty, nautical perils such as ice-bound bays, assassins in the imperial palace—Hornblower must conquer all before he can return home, as his instructions are to sacrifice every man and ship under his command rather than surrender ground to Napoleon.

Review:
Many things about this book were great. Hornblower’s personality has undergone some gradual changes since we last saw him, and the differences are handled with skill. One doesn’t feel that one’s being hit over the head with it, and he certainly continues to be as self-conscious and internally conflicted as ever. I also really liked the Baltic setting, the multitude of clever ideas Hornblower comes up with and executes, and many of the supporting characters introduced, particularly Lieutenant Mound, who takes up emulating Hornblower’s mannerisms and is at once competent and endearing.

However, I have to take issue with a few things. Firstly, there are two instances where Hornblower suffers a prolonged bout of stupidity, first where he can’t identify a sound and later when he fails to realize another man’s intentions, which just came across as really out of character. Secondly, it is strongly implied that Hornblower did something for which he, judging from behavior in the past, should have had raging guilt and regret but apparently does not.

While these flaws were certainly annoying, the story was strong enough to overcome them, and I ultimately enjoyed it very much.

Death in Holy Orders by P. D. James: A

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From the back cover:
On the East Anglican seacoast a small theological college hangs precariously on an eroding shoreline and an equally precarious future. Then, the body of a student is found buried in the sand, and the boy’s influential father demands that Scotland Yard investigate. Adam Dalgliesh, the son of a parson, once spent happy summers at the school. A detective who loves poetry, a man who has known loss and discovery, Dalgliesh is the perfect candidate to look for the truth in a remote, rarified community of the faithful—and the frightened. For when one death leads to another, Dalgliesh finds himself steeped in a world of good and evil, of stifled passions and hidden pasts, where someone has cause not just to commit one crime, but to begin an unholy order of murder…

Review:
Every so often, there’s a book in this series where Dalgliesh goes off on holiday to Suffolk or some other coastal surroundings and does a bit of unofficial investigating. Although his subordinates are well-defined and interesting characters, I do tend to prefer the books that feature more of his point-of-view, so it shouldn’t be surprising that I liked this one very much.

Having read so many books by P. D. James, it’s impossible not to spot the familiar tropes that appear in her stories. Sometimes I wonder if these elements are tossed into a hat and withdrawn at random. Most notably here are the secluded coastal community (like in The Black Tower) and the institution threatened with possible closure or substantial and unwelcome change (Original Sin). It’s a little irritating, but the result is so satisfying that it’s hard to be strongly annoyed by it. There are certainly enough variations to keep anything from being predictable.

The plot is very tidily structured, with revelations coming about logically and frequently enough that there aren’t any lulls. With the extra bits of introspection into Dalgliesh’s personality and not quite so much focus on random potential suspects, I think this would be a very good place to start for someone interested in getting into the series and getting to know its main character.

A Stitch in Time by Andrew J. Robinson: B

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From the back cover:
For nearly a decade Garak has longed for just one thing—to go home. Exiled on a space station, surrounded by aliens who loathe and distrust him, going back to Cardassia has been Garak’s one dream. Now, finally, he is home. But home is a world whose landscape is filled with death and destruction. Desperation and dust are constant companions and luxury is a glass of clean water and a warm place to sleep.

Ironically, it is a letter from one of the aliens on that space station, Dr. Julian Bashir, that inspires Garak to look at the fabric of his life. Elim Garak has been a student, a gardener, a spy, an exile, a tailor, even a liberator. It is a life that was charted by the forces of Cardassian society with very little understanding of the person, and even less compassion.

But it is the tailor that understands who Elim Garak was, and what he could be. It is the tailor who sees the ruined fabric of Cardassia, and who knows how to bring this ravaged society back together. This is strange, because a tailor is the one thing Garak never wanted to be. But it is the tailor whom both Cardassia and Elim Garak need. It is the tailor who can put the pieces together, who can take a stitch in time.

Review:
I haven’t much experience in the realm of Star Trek novels, but this strikes me as a particularly ambitious one. It succeeds in some areas, not so much in others, but ultimately offers a generally plausible background for Garak, filling in some of the questions about his past, his character, and his outlook. Some of the subplots were a little clunky; I think one existed only so Garak could give another story about a shuttle incident discussed on the show.

I liked best the parts about his school and the eventual consequences of relationships forged there. The author avoided having Garak meet characters from the series while in school, giving him original characters as important influences and factors in his life, which I appreciated. How all these things tie in with his position as DS9’s “plain and simple tailor” was also pretty neat.

The not so great… Some of Garak’s school exploits are a little bit twinky, such as learning valuable Wilderness (always capitalized) skills from a lizard. No, really. Also, sometimes the writing got to be rather repetitive, like Robinson found a favorite word to describe something and kept reusing it over and over (example: sartorial).

All things considered, I waffle regarding actually giving it a recommendation. To a select audience, perhaps, and one who has recently seen all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and is therefore more likely to understand/remember the various references.

Sweet Sixteen Princess by Meg Cabot: B+

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From the inside flap:
Mia doesn’t always have the best luck with parties, so even though it’s her sweet sixteenth, she doesn’t want a birthday bash. As usual, Grandmere has other ideas, and thinks a reality TV special is just the thing in order to celebrate royally. The whole scheme smacks of Lilly’s doing—Lilly, whose own TV show is still only limited to local cable viewers.

Will Mia be able to stop Grandmere’s plan? Will her friends ever forgive her if she does stop it, since it involves all of them taking the royal jet to Genovia for an extravaganza the likes of which would turn even Paris Hilton green with envy? Why can’t Mia get what she really wants: an evening alone with Michael?

With a little luck, this sweet sixteen princess might just get her wish—a birthday that’s royally romantic.

Review:
What a crazy long description for a book this dinky!

This book was really cute. It’s a small little episode in their lives, and really makes me see the potential for this as a TV show (in which Disney plays no part). Mia continues to display maturity, particularly regarding some of her actions towards Lilly, so yay for that. I really liked the last few pages, especially a possible romantic pairing that is hinted at. I’d love to see that come to fruition in the next installment. Not that either of the characters involved are particularly well-developed, but still.

My one very nitpicky gripe is that Mia twice mentions that Malfoy and Snape wear capes. The only mention of capes I could find is that fur ones are part of the Durmstrang uniform.

If you like the series, you’ll like this.

A Certain Justice by P. D. James: A

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Book description:
Venetia Aldridge is a criminal lawyer of large talents and small personal charm, working at a venerable London firm. As she tries to save a young lower-class tough who is accused of murdering his prostitute aunt, it is revealed that she is in a position to ruin a number of professional lives, and is of precisely the temperament to do it. When she is found dead—discovered in her locked chambers in a particularly gruesome tableau—Dalgliesh guides his staff through the interviews that unweave the tangled web of multiple deceit and mixed motive.

Review:
This was the best P. D. James I have read in a long time. I’m actually kind of hard-pressed to think of which was last this good. A Taste for Death, perhaps? It had a flawed but admirable victim, just the right amount of small little clues that one forgets until the end when they suddenly make sense, a mystery that one didn’t even know was a mystery ’til it was solved, much more Dalgliesh point-of-view than her last effort, and some new character types that reminded me a lot of Ruth Rendell’s A Sight for Sore Eyes (in a good way). On top of that, there’s thoughtful commentary on the English justice system and the burden of proof.

I would even consider giving the book an A+ were it not for the fact that there are a few obvious similarities to Original Sin, the book immediately preceding this one in the series. Some peculiarities about the condition of the body, the speculation it provokes, the method to narrow time of death, and one character’s possible motive all have parallels in the earlier work. They are used to much better effect here, however, and are not so crucial as to render the entire novel in any way derivative.

Although there are references to some backstory with Dalgliesh and his team, I think this would do alright as a stand-alone, and exhibits some of James’ finest storytelling.

The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie: B

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From the back cover:
“For God’s sake, come!” Unfortunately, by the time Hercule Poirot received Monsieur Renauld’s urgent plea, the millionaire was already dead—stabbed in the back, lying in a freshly dug grave on the golf course of his adjoining Merlinville estate. There’s no lack of suspects: his wife, whose dagger served as the weapon; his embittered son, who would have killed for independence; and his mistress, who refused to be ignored—and each felt deserving of the dead man’s fortune. The police think they’ve found the culprit. Poirot has his doubts. A second murder proves him right.

Review:
The most applicable adjective I seem to be able to apply to this book is—diverting. It’s clever, certainly, but it lacked depth to me. Perhaps I’ve been spoiled by too much James, and a mere difference in style becomes almost a disappointment.

There were a few points in the tale that I found to be obvious, one that was telegraphed from the start, and another that I began to put together about ten pages before Poirot finally bludgeoned Hastings over the head with it. Hastings himself is a little smackworthy at times, and I wonder if the reader is really supposed to be misled into believing his theories, when he so clearly neglects to factor in crucial bits.

I did not, however, work out all the details, nor the actual perpetrator of the crime. Fans of twists and turns galore will appreciate the conclusion. All in all, the mystery is decent, Poirot is fastidious and both irritating and ingenious, and Hastings needs to take multiple cold showers.

Sunshine by Robin McKinley: B

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From the back cover:
There are places in the world where darkness rules, where it’s unwise to walk. But there hadn’t been any trouble out at the lake for years, and Sunshine just needed a spot where she could be alone with her thoughts. Vampires never entered her mind.

Until they found her…

Review:
I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about this book, since there’s two sides to every point I could make about it. The world Sunshine inhabits was created gradually and pretty thoroughly, and still has a lot of potential for further exploration. However, this was mostly accomplished by tangents in the narration, which could get a little baffling at times and often created paragraphs between one line of a conversation and the next. The characters were generally interesting, though I found some supporting characters (the SOF folk) to be rather indistinguishable. The narration was often quite amusing, but I disliked the random scene where Sunshine refers to her genitalia with the most disgusting word on the planet for same.

Plotting was a little disjointed, too, and I thought the supposed climax was not very climactic. Some elements were never fully explained (perhaps owing to limitations of Sunshine’s own understanding) and sometimes the story would jump ahead to reference something that the reader had not actually seen take place. You’d be reading along about something she’d discovered, and then go, “Wait. When?” and do a bit of flipping and find that it didn’t happen “on camera,” as it were. I was also very frustrated by certain things that she didn’t just ask about, some of which she proceeded to fret over at length. If she had at least thought about and discarded the notion of further inquiry, I’d have been mollified.

The book isn’t bad. If a sequel came out, I would probably read it. But I wouldn’t buy it.