Fictionophile

40 DIY projects to improve your home library

Fictionophile — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:13:33 +0000

See these great tips to to make your home library really feel like a sanctuary. http://www.accreditedonlinecolleges.com/blog/2011/40-fabulous-diy-projects-to-improve-your-home-library/

Reading fiction a waste of time?

Fictionophile — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:34:11 +0000

If you have ever felt guilty about reading fiction when you (or your loved ones) think your time could be better spent – then vindication can be found in the blog of Anne Kreamer. Her article maintains that fiction-reading nourishes empathy in the reader.
An excerpt from her blog post states:
“Over the past decade, academic researchers such as Oatley and Raymond Mar from York University have gathered data indicating that fiction-reading activates neuronal pathways in the brain that measurably help the reader better understand real human emotion — improving his or her overall social skillfulness.”

Read “The business case for reading novels“.

“Red means run” by Brad Smith

Fictionophile — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:55:02 +0000

Brad Smith’s latest thriller “Red means run” set in rural upstate New York, exhibits good, sound story-telling and introduces a new and compelling protagonist. The title is from a lyric from “Powderfinger”, an old Neil Young song. The subtitle, ‘a Virgil Cain mystery’ ensured that every time I picked up the novel I found myself humming the classic Joan Baez tune “The night they drove old Dixie down”. Like the Virgil Cain(e) of the song this Virgil was not afraid of hard work and seemed to live by the words “take what you need and leave the rest”. The adjectives I would best use to describe him are admirable and honourable.

The beginning of the novel (which is needed to set up the story) was for me a bit disappointing–mostly I think because the character introduced in the beginning, Mickey Dupree was an unlikeable chap. An unscrupulous criminal attorney and avid golfer, he does not engender sympathy or regret when he is killed off at the end of the first chapter.

The second chapter introduces us to Virgil Cain and from there on I was hooked, turning the pages as one might gobble down a great Christmas dinner.

An over-zealous (and not very bright) cop arrests Virgil for murdering Dupree. The strong, silent type, Virgil takes his arrest very stoically while I as the reader was outraged on his behalf. His character comes across as being honest and compassionate and the reader just knows that it is impossible for him to have murdered anyone. When Virgil realizes that the police seem satisfied that they have their man, he knows that he must find out who did murder Dupree so as to exonerate himself. Of course in order to do that he must escape custody…

Virgil’s friend Mary, a septuagenarian veterinarian was a highly moral character that I hope returns in subsequent novels. Mary, like Virgil, has her head screwed on straight and knows the meaning of loyalty and friendship. She, along with the female homicide detective Claire Marchand are the only two allies that Virgil has. Gorgeous and very clever, Claire was the perfect foil for a man as highly principled as Virgil. Filled with suspense, horses, a ‘salt of the earth’, honorable protagonist and just a touch of romance ensures that “Red means run” will appeal to anyone who has ever enjoyed a Dick Francis novel. Be prepared to find yourself reading well into the wee hours… I eagerly await the second book in the series, “Crow’s Landing“.

Keeping track

Fictionophile — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:26:39 +0000

Are you one of those avid readers who keeps track of their reading?

I’ve always wanted to be, but sadly, like most of my New Year’s resolutions, the record keeping seems to vanish after the first month or so.

This year, once again, I aim to keep track of the books I’ve read. I want to know how many books I read over the course of the year; and, more importantly I want to have a reminder of how well I liked the books and record the things I liked most or least about the author’s writing style.

I wish I had a past record to peruse, but alas, no such record exists.

Do YOU keep track?

Wonderful news for mystery lovers and those who appreciate classic fiction!

Fictionophile — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:47:35 +0000

In a marvelous, thrilling re-creation of the world of Pride and Prejudice, P.D. James fuses her lifelong passion for the work of Jane Austen with her own great talent for writing crime fiction.

Yes… P.D. James! She explains her decision to write the novel in this Telegraph interview. For the 91-year-old crime novelist, best known for her police procedural mystery series featuring British policeman Adam Dalgliesh, “Death Comes to Pemberley” combines two personal passions.

View a wonderful video interview on the Faber website.

“I have to apologize to Jane Austen for involving her beloved Elizabeth in a murder investigation, but this fusion of my two enthusiasms — for the novels of Jane Austen and for writing detective stories — has given me great pleasure which I hope will be shared by my readers,” James said in a recent statement.

“Death comes to Pemberley” is coming soon to the fiction shelves and is also available in ebook format. The London Evening Standard review of the novel is available.

As a life-long fan of P.D. James and Jane Austin, this news comes like a wonderful gift wrapped in festive paper.

The novel takes place roughly six years after the marriage of Darcy and Elizabeth. They are now the parents of two boys. In the process of hosting an autumn ball, an uninvited guest arrives and proclaims that her husband has been murdered. The result is that Pemberley’s peaceful tranquility is threatened by past sins and old misunderstandings…

I haven’t had the pleasure of reading it yet, but just know that I’m sure to enjoy it.
What a wonderful early Christmas gift.

“Little girl lost” by Brian McGilloway

Fictionophile — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 01:10:28 +0000

If you are looking for a good solid police procedural with a lot of atmosphere this is the novel for you. The protagonist, Lucy Black is a young policewoman who comes from a family of police officers. The book is set in Derry, Northern Ireland in winter, and reading it you can almost feel the cold. A city with memories of being in the midst of the ‘troubles’, it is in the borderlands where much of the worst fighting took place.
The story begins with DS Black receiving a call to the woods near her home where there has been a reported sighting of a girl. Knowing that in the snow and cold, the girl should be found immediately already puts Lucy in a quandary. In order to respond to the call she must leave her father alone. As he is suffering from dementia and it is too early for his ‘carer’ to arrive, she has to make a difficult decision. That is one of the things I liked best about this novel. It immediately causes the reader to form a rapport with the characters. The characters are well developed and the descriptions were written with knowledge and flair.
Believing that the girl who was sighted is the daughter of a wealthy local businessman, a teenager who they have been looking for, the police are disappointed that the girl Lucy finds is much younger. She is wearing only pyjamas and will not speak. After forensic testing, they find that her pyjamas are covered with blood spatter and that the blood is not her own…
So begins the story of three lost girls. The missing teen, the young mute Alice, and Lucy herself who identifies with them both.
Over time is becomes apparent that the ‘missing’ teen and the ‘found girl’ are in some way linked. But how?
Brian McGilloway writes of his native Northern Ireland with consumate skill. This is a sound police procedural mystery with elements of corruption and avarice that is contained in the best thrillers.
The book worked satisfactorily as a ‘stand-alone’ novel, but… I personally would love to see Lucy Black and her co-workers return in another novel. I guess others agree as the author has been approached for a TV series based on Lucy Black’s character and he now plans to create a series.
Famous for his Inspector Devlin series of novels, his move to creating a female protagonist was a brave one, but one which to this reader’s mind, was a wise decision.

“The little stranger” by Sarah Waters

Fictionophile — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:09:17 +0000

Cloaked in atmosphere, as any historical novel should be, “The little stranger” by Sarah Waters lived up to it’s stellar reputation. Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize it is more than a ghost story — more than a historical novel, it is a literary work of merit. The best-selling novelist Stephen King is quoted on the back cover as saying “The best book I read this year”.
I sheepishly admit that the cover was what attracted me to the novel at first.
Set in post-war England, a time of shortages and managing with little, a time of both psychological and literal recovery from the devastation of WWII. The novel features as protagonist, a single, middle-aged doctor in rural Warwickshire.
Set during a time when making house calls was the norm for a family physician, Dr. Faraday is called out to the local manor house, Hundreds Hall. Once the showplace of the village, it is now neglected and dilapitated. The family that have lived there for centuries have fallen on hard times and their once plentiful servants have dwindled to a live-in house-maid and a daily woman.
It is to the house-maid that the doctor is called. When he arrives he finds that there is nothing really wrong physically with the girl, but she tells him she is uncomfortable living in the big house and wants to leave her employ there. He reprimands her, but keeps her secret as long as she remains at her post. Following this house call, Dr. Faraday becomes acquainted with the other members of the household. The dignified and elegant mother, Mrs. Ayres, her son Roderick who was injured in the war and now runs the family’s farm as well as tends to the family’s finances, and the daughter, Caroline… plain and without airs, whose life is a constant struggle, yet seems to be the glue that keeps the family together.
Enmeshed in the affairs of the family over time, Dr. Faraday is witness to the family’s increasing misfortune. Roderick seems to think that there is a malevolent force in the house who means him ill. Dr. Faraday, a man of science, believes Roderick to be under extreme stress and not fully recovered from his time serving his country.
“The little stranger” is set in a time when there was a distinct and impassable divide between the social classes and Sarah Waters aptly describes the social mores and customs of the time period. Her physical description of Hundreds Hall and the people who inhabit it transport the reader with it’s ambiance. Hundreds Hall is such a huge part of the plot that it is almost like a character in it’s own right. Anyone who likes a ‘haunted house’ story will enjoy this novel, though calling it a haunted house story does it an injustice. Not frightening, but insidious in it’s eeriness, it will keep you turning pages with some trepidation. That being said, the novel is not recommended for those frustrated by ambiguity…

“The hanging shed” by Gordon Ferris

Fictionophile — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 02:31:34 +0000

I work as a library cataloguer so see countless books everyday. So… it stands to reason that this is where I find the books I want to read next. Not this time.
I belong to a social networking site called ‘CrimeSpace‘, a place where readers and writers of crime fiction meet. I saw a book recommended by one of MY favourite authors, Shirley Wells. Anything she recommends I am willing to try. I wasn’t disappointed!

"The hanging shed" by Gordon Ferris

“The hanging shed” is the first novel I’ve read by Gordon Ferris. Set in post-war Glasgow, Scotland, the overall tone is dark, with overtones of noir.

Douglas Brodie is a battle weary WWII veteran and ex-cop who takes up journalism after the war. He lives alone in war-torn London with his bottle of whiskey. That is until he receives a telephone call from a childhood friend back home in Glasgow. Hugh Donovan is in prison awaiting the death penalty. He asks Brodie if he will come to visit him and help to prove his innocence.

Brodie’s return to Glasgow brings back painful memories of first love and betrayal. Hugh Donovan stole his girl Fiona. He has never forgiven him. But war changes people and no one is more changed than Hugh Donovan. He was shot down and was terribly burned and disfigured. The once handsome man is now nothing more than a memory. He lives in constant pain and people find it difficult to look at him. Brodie cannot forget Hugh’s betrayal but despite himself he finds that the case against Hugh is full of holes…

Brodie meets with Hugh’s lawyer and together they set about trying to appeal Hugh’s case before his date with the gallows. Samantha Donovan is a workaholic with little in the way of social life. She invites Brodie to stay at her house whilst he investigates the case and a deep friendship develops between them.

They soon discover that Hugh was set up to take the fall for someone else. But who? The story is much more grisly and multi-layered than even they could have imagined! Can they save Hugh in time? Innocent people are being killed and Brodie finds that he must again revert to his army training to hunt the villains and defend himself and Sam.

By turns reminiscent of writers such as Ian Rankin and Dick Francis, this is a story with a very strong protagonist who is admirable and flawed in equal measure. The characterization is strong and the novel aptly portrays the dark side of the human psyche. The setting of gritty post-war Glasgow combined with contrasting beautiful vistas of the Arran Islands makes for interesting fare. Brodie and Sam are a pair that I would like to meet again between the pages of a novel.

Thanks Gordon Ferris for a great read. Thanks Shirley Wells for the recommendation!

“Shadow” by Karin Alvtegen

Fictionophile — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 00:11:16 +0000

The single most positive aspect of this novel is the beautifully written prose. The words seem to speak directly to the reader in a heart-touching and sometimes heart-wrenching way.
I’ll admit this is one of those novels where the cover art drew me in. Who can resist an adorable little boy?
Then I read the blurb at the back which told me that this little boy was abandoned and was somehow connected to the death thirty five years later of a 92 year old woman who had books in her freezer upon her death… That was enough to capture the attention of any bibliophile. Too old to be the boy’s mother, how could this woman be connected to him?
The novel was a mystery, but not written in the traditional way. In fact the reader does not really know what the crime(s) were until close to the end of the book. When the circumstances are revealed it left me both disturbed and profoundly moved.
Set in Stockholm, the novel followed the life and family of Axel Ragnerfeldt, a famous and Nobel Prize winning novelist. (the author of the books in the freezer). The novel poses the question: How much is glory and fame really worth, when counted in the suffering of the people closest to you? His family were portrayed with such depth and empathy that the reader felt their hopelessness. The claustrophobic family ties, mysterious disappearances and dark secrets surrounding a man shrouded in myth were portrayed with an honesty and brutality that spoke of deep understanding. The theme of how the sins of the fathers are visited upon their children is not a new one, but Alvtegen’s prose brought the theme home to me like no other book ever has. “No matter whether your action is evil or good, it spreads like rings on the water. Over vast expanses it will travel, finding ever new paths. That is why your influence is infinite, and also your guilt.”

“Shadow” is the first novel I’ve read by Karin Alvtegen and I will read as many more as I can get hold of. That being said, this novel was not exactly uplifting. In fact I would go as far as to say that anyone suffering from seasonal affective disorder should not read this book in the winter. The overall tone was bleak and melancholy. To quote the novel’s description on the author’s website, “her darkest and most complex thriller to date, in which the disturbing truth of a sick family is gradually and mercilessly laid bare. ” Highly recommended.

My Sony Reader: things I learned the hard way

Fictionophile — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 13:59:32 +0000

More and more people are joining the community of ebook readers. I had a doctor’s appointment last week and witnessed three different people reading with ereaders in the waiting room! Their size and portability is a great feature. I received one from my husband for Christmas 2009. Although it has many advantages and good features it is not all that user friendly. So…. to that end I have compiled a list of things about the Sony Reader Touch PRS-600 that I have learned the hard way.
1. Never load two different file formats during the same session.
If you are loading .pdf files and then .epub files, the sync process will freeze! Your best bet is to load .pdf tiles — end the session — start a new session then load your .epub files. (Apparently this is a known ‘bug’ of the reader.
2. You MUST NEVER move your ebook files after you have entered them in the Sony Library software!
The software won’t be able to find them if you do this. I made the mistake of downloading my ebooks to my desktop, loading them in the software, then creating a folder for them named ‘My eBooks’ and putting them in it. The reader wouldn’t sync because it didn’t know where they were. You have to download them, put them where you are always going to keep them and THEN and only then load them into your Sony Library software.
3. To create collections use the + sign at the bottom left page of the Sony Library software. I stupidly thought that there would be a way to do this via the top word options. ONLY the plus sign can create a collection name. You can imagine how frustrating this was to me as a library cataloguer! Once you have created your collection and named it, you simply drag and drop your titles into it.
4. Learn how to change file extensions!
I purchased a DVD of ebooks from the U.K. on eBay. They came with files ending with .epu and the Sony Library software would not recognize them. I had to learn how to change the file extension to .epub before I could use them. Be wary when you do this. Changing file extensions can make the file unstable. You must be sure that the files are of similar type. .epu to .epub or .rtf to .txt etc.

Instructions for changing file extensions:
Step 1. View the file you wish to change. You’ll notice that the file does not appear to have an extension. This is because Windows is set to hide extension names.
Step 2. Go to organize > Folder and Search Options, then click the View tab. Uncheck the box titled “Hide extensions for known file types.”
Step 3. Click OK or Apply. Now you should be able to see the file extension.
Step 4. Right-click the file name and select Rename For example if the files appears as True blue.epu rename it as True blue.epub
Now your file should be accepted by the Sony Library software.

Once you get the hang of how your eReader works, you will have countless hours of enjoyment. Be patient, you’ll get there…