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Still Midnight by Denise Mina – Book Review

Jun 102013

Still Midnight by Denise Mina
Published by Reagan Arthur/Back Bay Books, an imprint of Hachette

It is an unprofessional kidnapping. A teenage girl gets her hand blown off, an old man – the wrong man – is taken. Do the kidnappers even have the right house in the quiet Glasgow suburb? At first it seems quite possible to Detective Inspector Alex Morrow that this whole thing is a mistake, although that doesn’t exactly help get the elderly hostage back. This is a case that gets to Morrow, this family disrupted in the area where she grew up. In order to solve it, Morrow has to revisit some of the people from her past and, in doing so, perhaps put her entire job at risk.

Still Midnight has one of those openings that leaves you going, “huh, what now?” The first 30 pages or so are a bit slow for exactly that reason, as the reader tries to figure out exactly what is going on. Once everything becomes clear, though, Still Midnight becomes an exceptionally engaging book. First, there is the mystery; clearly there is something happening that is not quite what it seems. In addition, Morrow herself is a fascinating character. She is sick with loss and a need to prove herself while also hiding her past.

I ended up really loving Still Midnight, and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series, The Wasp Season. If you’ve read Still Midnight, we are discussing it on June 11th, 2013 on Nicole’s blog.

For more information, please see the publisher’s page.
Source: Publisher.

BOOK CLUB – The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker

May 212013

5256159881 7ba9c432e6 m picture Welcome to BOOK CLUB, which I run with co-conspirator Nicole from Linus’s Blanket. Today we will be chatting about The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker, from Harper Books. For those of you reading this post, please remember that this discussion may contain spoilers.

Here is the synopsis of the book I wrote for my review:

A golem and a jinni walk into New York City at the turn of the century. Okay, well, the Jinni doesn’t actually walk, he arrives in a copper flask that has held oil for longer than anyone can remember. The Golem, though, she walks. She walks right off the ship that carried her from Europe and right along the bottom of the harbor. Oh, and also this isn’t a joke, but Helene Wecker’s lovely and magical story about late 19th century immigration, identity, and just a little magic.

I may be updating this post with new questions and ideas over the course of the day.

thegolemandthejinni zps5ee999d6 picture Here we go…

First off, what were your general impressions of the book?
Is this a book you would have read had you not been reading it for a book club?
What did you think about the relationships between Chava and Rabbi Meyer/Ahmad and Arbeely?
Why do you think Wecker chose to write about mystical creatures immigrating to the United States (if not exactly willingly) at the turn of the century? Do you think she achieved her goal?
Any other questions? Anything else you want to discuss?

Copies of The Golem and the Jinni were provided by Harper Books in order to facilitate this discussion.

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker – Book Review

May 202013

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
Published by Harper Books, an imprint of HarperCollins

A golem and a jinni walk into New York City at the turn of the century. Okay, well, the Jinni doesn’t actually walk, he arrives in a copper flask that has held oil for longer than anyone can remember. The Golem, though, she walks. She walks right off the ship that carried her from Europe and right along the bottom of the harbor. Oh, and also this isn’t a joke, but Helene Wecker’s lovely and magical story about late 19th century immigration, identity, and just a little magic.

YOU GUYS. SO GOOD.

Really, I found everything about The Golem and the Jinni just fabulous. Both the Golem and the Jinni were astoundingly realistic, especially considering they are mythical creatures. What is particularly well done with their characterization is the fact that their concerns are at the same time unique to a golem (or a jinni), but also contain threads that would make their problems easy to relate to for we non-magical beings. Wecker’s turn-of-the-century Jewish and Syrian immigrant communities are also vividly drawn and compelling, making The Golem and the Jinni a real treat for lovers of historical fiction.

The Golem and the Jinni is one of the very rare books that I wish was longer, so that I might continue to dwell within its pages. Very highly recommended.

Source: Publisher.
Learn more about The Golem and the Jinni on the publisher’s website

BOOK CLUB Reads Alex Morrow

May 152013

This summer, BOOK CLUB is going serial. We’ll be reading Denise Mina’s Alex Morrow books, a mystery series set in Scotland – tartan noir.

stillmidnight zps71523b4c picture waspseason zpsaaa89b2f picture godsandbeasts zpsfeeb9f79 picture

bookclubreads zpsad8d8629 picture Here are the dates and times of discussion. Titles lead to Indiebound where you can read the descriptions:

Still Midnight - June 11th – Linus’s Blanket

The End of the Wasp Season – July 9th – Devourer of Books (here!)

Gods and Beasts – August 13th – Linus’s Blanket

Twitter chat: TBD

We have ten copies of Still Midnight to give away today, courtesy of Hachette Book Group. All three books are already out so copies can be purchased or obtained through your local library. Winners of the second book will be drawn first from among those who participate in the first book discussion (whether they won the first book or obtained it on their own). If more than 10 people participate, the winners will be drawn randomly; if fewer than 10 people participate, we may hold a giveaway for the remaining copies.

In order to enter for the first book, readers with a US mailing address can fill out the form below by noon Eastern on Monday, May 20th.

BOOK CLUB Giveaway – The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker

Apr 252013

This year we’ve been changing up BOOK CLUB. Gone are the rigid dates, where we announce books on the X Tuesday of the month, discuss them on the Y Tuesday, alternating whose blog the discussion happens on. Instead, Nicole and I will be co-hosting BOOK CLUBs as we find books that we are just dying to discuss with everyone. The next book in our semi-new format is going to be Helene Wecker’s The Golem and the Jinni from Harper Books. Here is the publisher’s description:

An immigrant tale that combines elements of Jewish and Arab folk mythology, Helene Wecker’s dazzling debut novel tells the story of two supernatural creatures who arrive separately in New York in 1899.

Chava is a golem, a creature made of clay, brought to life to by a disgraced rabbi who dabbles in dark Kabbalistic magic. When her master-the husband who commissioned her-dies at sea on the voyage from Poland, she is unmoored and adrift as the ship arrives in New York harbor in 1899.

Ahmad is a jinni, a being of fire, born in the ancient Syrian desert. Trapped in an old copper flask by a Bedouin wizard centuries ago, he is released accidentally by a tinsmith in a Lower Manhattan shop. Though he is no longer imprisoned, Ahmad is not entirely free-an unbreakable band of iron around his wrist binds him to the physical world.

Overwhelmed by the incessant longing and fears of the humans around her, the cautious and tentative Chava-imbued with extraordinary physical strength-fears losing control and inflicting harm. Baptized by the tinsmith who makes him his apprentice, the handsome and capricious Ahmad-an entity of inquisitive intelligence and carefree pleasure-chafes at monotony and human dullness. Like their immigrant neighbors, the Golem and the Jinni struggle to make their way in this strange new place while masking the supernatural origins that could destroy them.

5256159881 7ba9c432e6 m picture Part of the new book club will include reaching out to more readers. We are now giving away books with the understanding with publishers that there will be a readerly discussion. If you are a blogger and review the book, great! If you are not a blogger, but review the book on LibraryThing or GoodReads, or talk it up on Twitter, wonderful! All we really want, though, is for you to commit to come and discuss it with us.

We will be discussing The Golem and the Jinni on my blog on Tuesday, May 21st. If you would like to be entered to win one of our ten copies (US mailing addresses only, please), please fill out the form below by 11:59 pm Eastern on Monday, April 29th. Your address WILL be required to win (but will not be used by us for anything but getting your book to you) because we want to get these books to you with quick turn around.

The Golem and the Jinni is available for sale now, so even if you don’t win the book from us, we’d love for you to buy a copy or grab it from the library and join us to discuss it.

BOOK CLUB – The Liars’ Gospel by Naomi Alderman

Apr 092013

5256159881 7ba9c432e6 m picture Welcome to BOOK CLUB, which I run with co-conspirator Nicole from Linus’s Blanket. Today we will be chatting about The Liars’ Gospel by Naomi Alderman, from Little, Brown. For those of you reading this post, please remember that this discussion may contain spoilers.

Here is the synopsis of the book I wrote for my review:

It has been a year since Yehoshuah, the man who would later be known throughout the world as Jesus, was crucified by the Romans. His death has changed many of those who came in contact with him during his relatively short life, but perhaps not exactly in the way that one might think.

The Liars’ Gospel is not a religious book. In fact, it really isn’t even about Jesus, either the historical figure or the religious one. The real heart of the novel is the political situation of Roman-occupied Judea. Yehoshuah’s mother, who effectively not seen her son since he began his ministry, finds herself harboring a fugitive whose town attempted to make a stand against the Romans. Ichuda finds himself lost in more ways than one – not only has he lost what faith he once had, but he has left Judea and is assumed by all there to be dead. The High Priest of the Temple, Caiaphas, admits that he is essentially a collaborator, but justifies his actions by telling himself that he simply wishes to keep peace. Finally is Bar-Avo, the man who was in mail at the same time as Yehoshuah and escaped only by manipulating Pilate and sealing Yehoshuah’s fate.

theliarsgospel zps381d74d3 picture If you plan on participating in today’s BOOK CLUB, please consider subscribing to comments at the bottom of the page (please use the TOP subscription option, the second option will subscribe you only to replies of your own comments). I will be updating this post with new questions and ideas over the course of the day.

Here we go…

First off, what were your general impressions of the book?
Is this a book you would have read had you not been reading it for a book club?
Which of the four perspectives did you you like the best?
Did you find the format an effective way to tell this story?
What, if anything, did The Liars’ Gospel change about the way you see Yehoshuah/Jesus’s story?
Any other questions? Anything else you want to discuss?

Copies of The Liars’ Gospel were provided by Little, Brown in order to facilitate this discussion.

The Liars’ Gospel by Naomi Alderman – Book Review

Apr 082013

theliarsgospel zps381d74d3 picture The Liars’ Gospel by Naomi Alderman
Published by Little, Brown, an imprint of Hachette

It has been a year since Yehoshuah, the man who would later be known throughout the world as Jesus, was crucified by the Romans. His death has changed many of those who came in contact with him during his relatively short life, but perhaps not exactly in the way that one might think.

The Liars’ Gospel is not a religious book. In fact, it really isn’t even about Jesus, either the historical figure or the religious one. The real heart of the novel is the political situation of Roman-occupied Judea. Yehoshuah’s mother, who effectively not seen her son since he began his ministry, finds herself harboring a fugitive whose town attempted to make a stand against the Romans. Ichuda finds himself lost in more ways than one – not only has he lost what faith he once had, but he has left Judea and is assumed by all there to be dead. The High Priest of the Temple, Caiaphas, admits that he is essentially a collaborator, but justifies his actions by telling himself that he simply wishes to keep peace. Finally is Bar-Avo, the man who was in mail at the same time as Yehoshuah and escaped only by manipulating Pilate and sealing Yehoshuah’s fate.

Told in four chapters, from the four points of view, The Liars’ Gospel is almost more a series of linked novellas than a proper novel, but it does not suffer from this format. By seeing 1st century AD life from the point of view of a mother, a former believer, a priest, and a freedom fighter, the reader begins to see just how oppressive the Roman rule of Judea may have been. This was a troubled period, and The Liars’ Gospel is full of the massacres of an occupying army attempting to subjugate a devoted people.

The Liars’ Gospel is crafted beautifully, a completely engrossing read that I found myself unable to put down. Very highly recommended.

Buy this book from:
Powells | Indiebound*

Source: Publisher, for BOOK CLUB.
* These links are all affiliate links. If you buy your book here I’ll make a very small amount of money that goes towards hosting, giveaways, etc.

BOOK CLUB Giveaway – The Liars’ Gospel by Naomi Alderman

Feb 262013

theliarsgospel zps381d74d3 picture We’re changing up BOOK CLUB. Gone are the rigid dates, where we announce books on the X Tuesday of the month, discuss them on the Y Tuesday, alternating whose blog the discussion happens on. Instead, Nicole and I will be co-hosting BOOK CLUBs as we find books that we are just dying to discuss with everyone. The third book in our semi-new format is going to be Naomi Alderman’s The Liars’ Gospel from Little, Brown and Company. Here is the publisher’s description:

This is the story of Yehoshuah, who wandered Roman-occupied Judea giving sermons and healing the sick. Now, a year after his death, four people tell their stories. His mother grieves, his friend Iehuda loses his faith, the High Priest of the Temple tries to keep the peace, and a rebel named Bar-Avo strives to bring that peace tumbling down.

It was a time of political power-play and brutal tyranny. Men and women took to the streets to protest. Dictators put them down with iron force. In the midst of it all, one inconsequential preacher died. And either something miraculous happened, or someone lied.

Viscerally powerful in its depictions of the period – massacres and riots, animal sacrifice and human betrayal – The Liars’ Gospel makes the oldest story entirely new.

We will be discussing The Liars’ Gospel on my blog on Tuesday, April 9th. If you would like to be entered to win one of our ten copies (US mailing addresses only, please), please fill out the form below by 11:59 pm Eastern on Tuesday, March 5th. Your address WILL be required to win (but will not be used by us for anything but getting your book to you) because we want to get these books to you with quick turn around.

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BOOK CLUB Giveaway – The Promise of Stardust by Priscille Sibley

Jan 082013

thepromiseofstardust picture We’re changing up BOOK CLUB. Gone are the rigid dates, where we announce books on the X Tuesday of the month, discuss them on the Y Tuesday, alternating whose blog the discussion happens on. Instead, Nicole and I will be co-hosting BOOK CLUBs as we find books that we are just dying to discuss with everyone. The second book in our semi-new format is going to be Priscille Sibley’s debut novel The Promise of Stardust from William Morrow Paperbacks. Here is, in part, the publisher’s description:

Matt Beaulieu has loved Elle McClure since he was two years old. Now married and expecting their first child, Elle suffers a fatal accident. To keep the baby alive, Matt goes against his wife’s wishes and keeps his wife on life support. But Matt’s mother thinks that Elle should be euthanized, and she’s ready to fight for what she believes is the right thing.

We will be discussing The Promise of Stardust on Tuesday, February 12th. If you would like to be entered to win one of our ten copies (US mailing addresses only, please), please fill out the form below by 11:59 pm Eastern on Thursday, January 10th. Your address WILL be required to win (but will not be used by us for anything but getting your book to you) because we want to get these books to you with quick turn around.

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BOOK CLUB – The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe

Nov 132012

5256159881 7ba9c432e6 m picture Welcome to BOOK CLUB, which I run with co-conspirator Nicole from Linus’s Blanket. Today we will be chatting about The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe, from Knopf. For those of you reading this post, please remember that this discussion may contain spoilers.

Here is the synopsis of the book I wrote for my review:

For as long as he can remember, Will Schwalbe’s mother has been almost a super-human figure. She was Harvard’s first female director of admissions, then later the founding director of International Rescue Committee’s Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children. Nothing could slow Mary Anne Schwalbe down, except stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Even cancer didn’t slow Will’s mother down as much as it would most people. Still, though, there were those periods of enforced rest, the doctor appointments, the chemotherapy treatments. Will is lucky enough to have the flexibility and proximity to attend many of his mother’s appointments with her. When they are together, the conversation frequently defaults to the same thing it has throughout their lives: books.

The End of Your Life Book Club is as much – or more – about Mary Anne’s life with and death from cancer than about the books that the two read together. It is a chronicle of the last months of her life, a testament to her strength, and Will’s coming to terms with the way his family’s life will be forever changed./blockquote>

endofyourlife picture

If you plan on participating in today’s BOOK CLUB, please consider subscribing to comments at the bottom of the page (please use the TOP subscription option, the second option will subscribe you only to replies of your own comments). I will be updating this post with new questions and ideas over the course of the day.

Here we go…

First off, what were your general impressions of the book?
Is this a book you would have read had you not been reading it for a book club?
Were you able to connect with the Schwalbes and their loss?
Had you read any of the books that Will and his mother read? Do you think this affected your enjoyment of/connection to The End of Your Life Book Club in any way?
Did the frame of the books and the book club work well for you as a way to access Will and Mary Anne’s story?
What do you think of Will’s revelation that he had basically had his mother’s name wrong his entire life?
Any other questions? Anything else you want to discuss?

12 copies of The End of Your Life Book Club were provided by Knopft in order to facilitate this discussion. Below are reviews from some of this conversation’s participants:

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