Sunday, August 29, 2010

Monsters of men - Patrick Ness


The third of the Chaos Walking trilogy brings to a conclusion the conflict between the three groups that are vying for control of the 'new world'. We hear for the first time the 'noise' of the indigenous inhabitants, the 'spackle'. Todd and Viola continue to support the opposing forces of the Mayor Prentiss and Mistress Coyle in the hope that they can bring a negotiated peace with the three parties. Mankind's hunger for power and inability to bargain with integrity are key thematic concerns.
Fast-paced and unpredictable - I didn't want to it down until I'd finished.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Tom Robb Smith : Child 44 & The secret speech


These two have been on my shelf for a little while - but really enjoyed both books.

Crime fiction set against a background of Stalinist and post-Stalinist Russia - a fascinating look at the mentality that 'convinced' the Soviet people that they had a 'perfect' society.

Child 44 -
how can there be a serial killer at work when there is no crime in this 'new Russia'? Leo, a Chekha agent grapples with this reality. For his efforts he (and his wife) is exiled to the outer regions of the state. With the assistance of the local militia (who are highly suspicious of an ex-agent) he works to solve the case.

The secret speech deals with Russia after Stalin's death and Kruschev's 'secret speech' denouncing all past actions of the secret police - putting agents like Leo at high risk. The close up look at a Siberian Gulag (prison camp) seems very real.

As an ex-history teacher I found both books kept my interest - both with their storyline and the social commentary - on the communist revolution, the state orphanges and 'welfare' system and the total fear of authority in particular.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Patrick Ness - The ask and the answer


Finally got round to reading the second instalment in the 'Chaos walking' series.
Action packed from the first chapter - pretty riveting reading. The parallels to historical events are very clear - segregation and branding (banding) - have clear links to racial cleansing of the not too distant past.
The bond between Todd and Viola is believable as are the lengths they go to in order to survive.
The underlying question of moral responsibility in a time of war, makes for a very thought provoking book - for a mature junior reader.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Let the right one in - John Ajvide Lindqvist


Mmmm - a vampire story - bleak and yet with some redemption - that leaves the Twilight saga for dead (for adults anyway). Modern day themes are interwoven with the ageless tale of the cult of the vampire.
A fascinating read - the movie must be scary!
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