Book Reviews Blog

This page only shows books that have a review. By default in date order of reading with newest at top

Saturday 1st July 2023

Summary :
Dystopian post-deluvian future based on genetic engneering

Reviewed by rogerco, on 01 Jul 2023

Review Summary :
Somewhat disturbing, although perhaps not as likely as when it was written

Somewhat Disturbing

What could possibly go wrong (with genetic engineering). Interestingly the virus/pandemic that actually wiped out the human population (aside from Jimmy/Snowman perhaps) was a deliberate act by Crake taking it upon himself to play god (from the best possible rational motives). How does this relate to our recent/current experiences with mass vaccination and a rising excess death rate - we will find out.

The story is quite compelling, starting in the (storyline) present and exploring what went wrong through Snowman's dreams and memories of life before the event horizon. In litearal terms it is a somewhat unllikely tale (and since it was written in 2003 things aren'tturning out quite like that) but in liiterary terms as a metaphor  for what is actually happening it is a bit disturbing. 

The figure of the lone survivor trying to make sense of it all is as clear as the example of Pete Postlethwaite in Age of Stupid - in both cases because we can imagine that waypoint doesn't mean that it is inevitable, but in both cases it is compelling because it is a believable extrapolation from what we see aroud us.

Overal it was better than The Handmaiden's Tale as a read - maybe because it was easier to identify with the lead character. The ambiguity at the end (did he pul the trigger) is enough to make me likely to read the next in the trilogy. 




Sunday 18th June 2023

The Mortal Sickness

Lydmouth #2

Author : Andrew Taylor

Summary :
Everyday village murder mystery

Reviewed by rogerco, on 18 Jun 2023

Review Summary :
Simple and quite well told but the milieu is unconvincing

A bit Midsommer Murders-ery

Filled with tropes of 1950s English village life (is Lydmouth a large village or a small town - and given its name where is the sea?) and a fairly unconvncing plot. Some of the characters are entertaining (the reporter and the detective) but others are somewhat overdrawn (the mad woman and the laird) or just weak (the vicar and his wife).




Thursday 1st June 2023

Summary :
Young woman escapes from life in Oklahoma and is given an indian baby on the way - they end up in Arizona

Reviewed by Roger CO, on 01 Jun 2023

Review Summary :
Social realism of the Southern States

Nice slice of flyover life

Shit happens and you just get on with it. A story of resilience in the face of everyday life




Monday 29th May 2023

Original Language: Polish mins

The Rabbit Factor

Author : Antti Tuomainen

Summary :
Mathematician looses job in insurance and inherits an amusement park

Rated by Roger CO, on 29 May 2023

Review Summary :
Comedy and gangsters with a bemused statistician



Monday 22nd May 2023

Moving Pictures

Discworld 10

Author : Terry Pratchett

Summary :
Riffing on Holywood and celebrity culture

Rated by Roger CO, on 22 May 2023