Review: Sad Cypress

Sad Cypress by Agatha Christie

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This was the best Agatha Christie I've read yet (I'm maybe through 25%?). A fabulous mystery and a delightful read. I enjoyed the unusual format quite a bit as well (story, Poirot investigation, then court case).



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Review: Black Swan Green

Black Swan Green by David Mitchell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This was a very vivid snapshot of a year in a 13 year old's life. Reading this really did bring back what it felt like to be in middle school - all of the fears, emotional highs and lows, thought patterns, relationships with siblings, petty concerns (that seem enormous!), etc. I feel very attached to Jason Taylor and was very sorry to say goodbye to him as I finished this novel today.

David Mitchell has done a wonderful job; the writing is superb and utterly engaging. I would highly recommend this lovely coming of age story.



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Review: Madeleine is Sleeping

Madeleine is Sleeping by Sarah Shun-lien Bynum

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



After finishing Madeleine is Sleeping, I felt like I'd been privy to someone else's dream. Not everything made sense or connected, but there was a lovely flow of ideas and words. It's the kind of book you need to reread, perhaps twice.

I would suggest Jeanette Winterson and Jesse Ball as related authors if you like this style of work, specifically Sexing the Cherry by Jeanette Winterson and The Way Through Doors by Jesse Ball. Winterson and Ball have more concrete imagery and connections, and I feel are more satisfying to read overall.



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Review: The Pillars of the Earth

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

My rating: 1 of 5 stars



I read exactly 100 pages of this book and that is ALL I will give it. Although several people have recommended it to me, and usually Oprah's picks are at least decent reads, the writing is awful.

"Soul-mate," "hot body," etc. I'm all for good sex in a book, but make it believable? And sexy?

Overall, the writing is clumsy and the characters stock, boring, and quite forgettable. If you were swept off your feet by The Davinci Code and that sort of pop-culture rubbish, you'll probably like it.





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