War is, well, you know what, a truism hauntingly and vividly portrayed in Sadie Jones’ novel, Small Wars. We find in the title itself a reference not only to the small wars engaged by the British after WWII but also the small wars fought internally by the soldiers and those who love them. In this story set in 1956 Cyprus amid the conflicts between the British Empire and the Cypriots fighting for freedom, Jones encapsulates post traumatic stress syndrome, showing rather than telling us its dramatic and painful effects. Hal is a good man, an honorable man and a respected commander. As the conflicts in Cyprus escalate, he finds himself caught in a crisis of conscience, horrified by the violence and brutality that accompany war and bound by his sense of duty and decency. In his increasing inability to cope, he withdraws from his wife Clara, ...
Category Archives: Lisa
Less than Dead
Quick! Pop quiz! Ready? Define “forensic entomology” and write a short paragraph discussing its possible use in contemporary fiction. Go! Stumped? Yeah, me too, until I picked up Tim Downs’ bug man novels featuring, you guessed it, a forensic entomologist, Nick Polchak. Unsure what forensic entomology entails? It’s the study of insects and their, um, interaction with dead bodies. Yeah, really. As a premise for a novel it’s unusual to be sure but in the case of the Bug Man books it’s not only unusual, it’s both interesting and entertaining. In Less than Dead, Nick travels to Virginia to uncover the secrets behind some strange remains found on the property of a wealthy U.S. senator making a bid for the White House. From the publisher’s description: Dogs have long been man's best friend, but the Bug Man's friend is a rare breed . . . the cadaver dog. All ...
Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart
So, evidently there is no shortage of Jane Austen inspired media. Here in this space we’ve covered everything from Cassandra and Jane, a novelization of the relationship between Jane and her sister, to Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, which, really, defies summarization. Some staunch Jane-ites may disagree but I enjoy them all. To me, it’s evidence of the timelessness of dear Jane’s words and wit. A few months ago I reviewed (and thoroughly enjoyed) Jane Austen Ruined My Life (linked to my review). Author Beth Patillo continues to exemplify her evident love and admiration for all things Jane with her follow up novel, Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart. From the publisher’s description: Claire Prescott is a sensible woman who believes in facts and figures, not fairy tales. But when she agrees to present a paper to a summer symposium at Oxford on her ...
The Year in Review(s)
CARRIE It's been an interesting year of life for me, and my reading time has sort of fluctuated a great deal. However, there have been a lot memorable reading moments scattered throughout the year. It's hard to narrow down just one or two reads that really stood out from the rest but if I had to mention two books that I just really appreciated spending time with in 2009 it would be Choosing Gratitude and, (I doubt you'll find this surprising) the third book in the Mysterious Benedict Society (click on the titles to read my reviews). I hear of people camping out in and around bookstores waiting for new releases and I have to admit I find that kind of silly. However, if I had the opportunity to camp out over The Mysterious Benedict Society, I would have. Both of these books provided their own unique experience and ...
Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters
Y’all know of my deep and abiding love for all things Austen so when granted opportunity to read and review Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, well, I was both eager and a little unsure. I mean, sea monsters? Really? Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters follows up on the (strange? unexpected?) popularity of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, also published by Quirk Classics. Both novels expand the story of the original plot and characters; in Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters sisters Ellinor and Marianne are not only thwarted in love they must also face the dangers of giant lobsters, vicious octopi and other sea monsters. From Marianne’s admiration of Willoughby’s fine form in his diving suit to Elinor’s stirring the shark cartilege soup for breakfast, author Ben Winters pervades all parts of the story with some sea related aspect, often in ...
The Lost Books: Lunatic and Elyon
My oldest son, 15 years old, is an avid reader. He and I both read (and devoured) Ted Dekker’s Circle series (Black, Red, and White) and he and I would both eagerly and enthusiastically recommend it. My son, however, has taken his fascination with the Circle even further by reading (and devouring) Dekker’s Lost Books series, a companion to our beloved Circle. Imagine his excitement in being offered the two most recent books in exchange for a guest post here at 5 Minutes for Books! Let’s put it this way: I didn’t have to talk him into it. Our thanks to Thomas Nelson for graciously providing him the opportunity! Here’s his review of Lunatic and Elyon, books 5 and 6 in the Lost Books series: In the last two books in The Lost Books Series, Ted Dekker takes the intensity ...
Bundle of Trouble
What do you get when you combine those hazy first weeks as a new mom with a puzzling “cozy” murder mystery (which I found out means that the "action" takes place "offscreen")? Lots of fun, that’s what. Diana Orgain’s novel Bundle of Trouble (A Maternal Instincts Mystery) combines both and delivers an entertaining read that is equally complex and amusing. The novel opens with the birth of Kate’s new daughter Laurie. Just before Laurie’s arrival, Kate and her husband receive a mysterious phone call about a body being pulled from San Francisco Bay and the possible connection to her missing brother in law. Kate soon finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation that grows more complicated as the body count rises. Paralleling Kate’s increased involvement in the case is her adjustment to motherhood—a totally realistic, at times humorous, depiction, I might add. Bundle of Trouble ...
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Jennifer Donovan
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