Hello Mr. Kertes,
I have just finished reading your new novel, Gratitude, and I must admit I am extremely impressed. Gratitude has made a deep impression on me about the many deportations of Hungarian Jews. It also amazed me that many of the characters and stories in the novel are based on the actual experiences of your grandparents' family and friends. Some of these events include the near-death experience that Marta has in the gas chamber at Auschwitz, and the daring rescue that Paul attempts in order to save his family from deportation. You've also painted an image of the injustice and madness of the time. An example would be Lili's village, Tolgy, which is cleared out entirely by the Germans without warning. Lili is orphaned in that short stretch of time, and must now learn how to survive by herself. After meeting the Beck family, however, Lili becomes their principal breadwinner. Also, the many injustices that Zoli captures in his pictures also provide additional atmosphere to that dark period in history. Eventually, Zoli is deported himself, which leads to his wife-to-be, Rozsi, to commit suicide. The decision to kill certain characters also contributes to the plot. Unfortunately, Gratitude does not have a fairy-tale ending, which I think is important. Over half a million Jews were deported from Hungary during the Second World War. Very few families escaped entirely intact. It was a reality of the time that family members would simply vanish without a trace, such as Zoli and Raoul Wallenberg. Families such as the Becks had to learn to cope with these disappearances. All in all, I think that Gratitude is an extremely thought-provoking and well written book. It is important that people hear of this time in human history, and I think that you have done an excellent job of portraying it.
Sincerely,
Oliver Jones
Monday, April 21, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Oryx and Crake
Oryx and Crake, by Margaret Atwood, is a novel that revolves around a man called Snowman. Snowman is the sole human survivor of an apocalyptic event that has wiped out mankind. The world has now become a wasteland through which all manner of genetically modified creatures roam. With the exception of Snowman, the only humanoid beings left are a group of genetically modified humans that Snowman calls "Crakers". As Snowman recounts his experiences, we begin to understand the history behind his dystopian society.
Margaret Atwood has done several things well in the novel. The first is her use of flashbacks. Most of the story is told through a series of flashbacks that Snowman has. These flashbacks cover Snowman's entire life, from his earliest years right up to the present. While Snowman's real name is revealed as Jimmy, the flashbacks are written is such a way that while Snowman and Jimmy are one and the same, we percieve them as two different people. Another element of the writing that worked well in the novel is Atwood's portrayal of society. Society in the early 21st century is controlled by powerful healthcare corporations which are in constant competition with each other. A privileged few work for these corporations and live in "compounds" which isolate them from the rest of society. This creates a sort of ignorance for so called, "compound kids" like Jimmy, who don't truly understand how the rest of society functions. For example, there are rumors that float around the compounds about "packs" of underpriveledged kids in the cities getting together to play loud music, drink, and copulate. While this sounds unbelievable
to Jimmy, it is not unlike the teenage culture of today, adding an element of authenticity to Oryx and Crake.
While I thought that several elements of Oryx and Crake worked well in the novel, my main source of disappointment in the novel stems from the inconclusive narrative. While Atwood describes the the downfall of humanity and Jimmy's part in it quite well, there are many loose ends that are never tied up. For example, we are never given much information regarding the time between Jimmy's friend Crake's childhood and his maturation as the leader of one of the largest health compounds in the world. Crake is also haunted by some event in his childhood, but we are never told what. While this mystery is effective to a certain degree, there are simply too many unfinished side-stories left at the conclusion of the novel. This disappointed me because the rest of the novel was so well-written that I wanted to know more background information about the various characters. However, this information was never given, leaving me with many unanswered questions.
One of the best examples of descriptive writing in the novel is throughout p. 354-368, where Crake explains to Jimmy how he plans to break the cycle of human conflict and save the human race from inevitable destruction. Crake is so smart that he has not only discovered the source of many of the problems plaguing humanity, but he has also found a way to solve them. Jimmy believes that Crake plans to do this through the use of a prophylactic pill called the Blysspluss pill, and the integration of his genetically modified humans into normal society, where they will fix the remaining problems. In reality, however, Crake creates a hostile bioform and distributes it through the Blysspluss pills, thereby wiping out humanity in a matter of weeks and leaving his genetically modified humans to repopulate the planet. This passage appealed to me because many of the problems that Crake discovers are real issues which could probably be solved by Crake's super pill and genetically modified humans. This realism made the story much more interesting, since it touched on issues which are very relevent to today's world.
The second example of descriptive writing that appealed to me was Snowman's return to the RejoovenEsense compound several weeks after the disaster (p. 274-275). Atwood does a fantastic job of giving a sense of emptiness and loneliness to the whole scene, which sets the atmosphere perfectly. This desolate atmosphere gave a great sense of loss to the whole setting, which made the reading much more enjoyable.
Margaret Atwood has done several things well in the novel. The first is her use of flashbacks. Most of the story is told through a series of flashbacks that Snowman has. These flashbacks cover Snowman's entire life, from his earliest years right up to the present. While Snowman's real name is revealed as Jimmy, the flashbacks are written is such a way that while Snowman and Jimmy are one and the same, we percieve them as two different people. Another element of the writing that worked well in the novel is Atwood's portrayal of society. Society in the early 21st century is controlled by powerful healthcare corporations which are in constant competition with each other. A privileged few work for these corporations and live in "compounds" which isolate them from the rest of society. This creates a sort of ignorance for so called, "compound kids" like Jimmy, who don't truly understand how the rest of society functions. For example, there are rumors that float around the compounds about "packs" of underpriveledged kids in the cities getting together to play loud music, drink, and copulate. While this sounds unbelievable
to Jimmy, it is not unlike the teenage culture of today, adding an element of authenticity to Oryx and Crake.
While I thought that several elements of Oryx and Crake worked well in the novel, my main source of disappointment in the novel stems from the inconclusive narrative. While Atwood describes the the downfall of humanity and Jimmy's part in it quite well, there are many loose ends that are never tied up. For example, we are never given much information regarding the time between Jimmy's friend Crake's childhood and his maturation as the leader of one of the largest health compounds in the world. Crake is also haunted by some event in his childhood, but we are never told what. While this mystery is effective to a certain degree, there are simply too many unfinished side-stories left at the conclusion of the novel. This disappointed me because the rest of the novel was so well-written that I wanted to know more background information about the various characters. However, this information was never given, leaving me with many unanswered questions.
One of the best examples of descriptive writing in the novel is throughout p. 354-368, where Crake explains to Jimmy how he plans to break the cycle of human conflict and save the human race from inevitable destruction. Crake is so smart that he has not only discovered the source of many of the problems plaguing humanity, but he has also found a way to solve them. Jimmy believes that Crake plans to do this through the use of a prophylactic pill called the Blysspluss pill, and the integration of his genetically modified humans into normal society, where they will fix the remaining problems. In reality, however, Crake creates a hostile bioform and distributes it through the Blysspluss pills, thereby wiping out humanity in a matter of weeks and leaving his genetically modified humans to repopulate the planet. This passage appealed to me because many of the problems that Crake discovers are real issues which could probably be solved by Crake's super pill and genetically modified humans. This realism made the story much more interesting, since it touched on issues which are very relevent to today's world.
The second example of descriptive writing that appealed to me was Snowman's return to the RejoovenEsense compound several weeks after the disaster (p. 274-275). Atwood does a fantastic job of giving a sense of emptiness and loneliness to the whole scene, which sets the atmosphere perfectly. This desolate atmosphere gave a great sense of loss to the whole setting, which made the reading much more enjoyable.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Ysabel Character Quotations
"Ned, I really wanted to show you this place. It is seriously cool. And it may tie in to the stuff we've been finding."
This quotation contributes to Kate development as a character in Ysabel. As this quotation reveals, Kate is extremely interested and passionate about the historical sites that surround Aix-en-Provence. She often does research on them and has accumulated quite a wealth of knowledge that deals with many of these sites. It is largely due to her knowledge of local myth and geography that Ned is able to discover the location of Ysabel before Cadell and Phelan. This quotation also helps to show Ysabel's influence over Kate before Melanie unwittingly replaces her as the body that will hold Ysabel's soul.
"It matters when we love."
This quotation is part of a conversation between Ned and Cadell. Ned is furious that Ysabel has taken control of Melanie's body and demands to know how he is tied into this ancient story. Cadell responds by asking about Ned's relationship with Melanie. When Ned asks how his friendship with Melanie matters, Cadell responds with the earlier quotation. This quotation shows Cadell's respect for love and his longing for Ysabel. He loves her, and yet he cannot find her, which makes him suffer. This love of Ysabel is his main driving force throughout the novel.
"I believe I see. An ending, love? Past due, must we say?"
Phelan is also looking for Ysabel. He, as well as Cadell, is in love with her. The thing that differentiates Phelan from Cadell, however, is the fact that he has become tired of the cycle that he must endure. For more than two thousand years Phelan and Cadell have fought for Ysabel's love. The outcome is different every time, but all three are repeatedly reincarnated to resume their love triangle. While he still loves Ysabel beyond what words can express, Phelan has grown tired of his repeated reincarnation and wishes that the cycle could be ended. Near the end of the novel, Ned's intervention in the cycle finally gives Phelan the chance to rest that he has longed for. He is grateful to Ned for this action, though he still regrets losing Ysabel.
"Yesterday you entered a space I've been in for some time. When it happened I became aware of it, of you, from where I was. The family thing, I guess."
Ned's Aunt Kim is similar to Ned in many ways. This quotation reveals that she has the same gift that he does, though this gift is never explained in detail. Kim has had past experiences involving her gifts that are never elaborated on during the events of Ysabel. We do know, however, that this gift has been present in Ned's family for several generations. We later learn that this is because he is a descendant from one of Ysabel's relationship with either Cadell or Phelan. This ties Ned and his aunt to the events of this cycle, whether they like it or not.
" A friend of the woman you took. And nephew of the other one. The on who matters."
This quotation shows how Ned develops as the events of Ysabel unfold. At the beginning of the novel, Ned has no idea about the story that he has stumbled into. However, as he discovers more about his own family's history and the history of this ancient love triangle, he begins to understand how he fits into the grand scheme of things. This understanding only increases his drive to save Melanie from becoming Ysabel completely.
This quotation contributes to Kate development as a character in Ysabel. As this quotation reveals, Kate is extremely interested and passionate about the historical sites that surround Aix-en-Provence. She often does research on them and has accumulated quite a wealth of knowledge that deals with many of these sites. It is largely due to her knowledge of local myth and geography that Ned is able to discover the location of Ysabel before Cadell and Phelan. This quotation also helps to show Ysabel's influence over Kate before Melanie unwittingly replaces her as the body that will hold Ysabel's soul.
"It matters when we love."
This quotation is part of a conversation between Ned and Cadell. Ned is furious that Ysabel has taken control of Melanie's body and demands to know how he is tied into this ancient story. Cadell responds by asking about Ned's relationship with Melanie. When Ned asks how his friendship with Melanie matters, Cadell responds with the earlier quotation. This quotation shows Cadell's respect for love and his longing for Ysabel. He loves her, and yet he cannot find her, which makes him suffer. This love of Ysabel is his main driving force throughout the novel.
"I believe I see. An ending, love? Past due, must we say?"
Phelan is also looking for Ysabel. He, as well as Cadell, is in love with her. The thing that differentiates Phelan from Cadell, however, is the fact that he has become tired of the cycle that he must endure. For more than two thousand years Phelan and Cadell have fought for Ysabel's love. The outcome is different every time, but all three are repeatedly reincarnated to resume their love triangle. While he still loves Ysabel beyond what words can express, Phelan has grown tired of his repeated reincarnation and wishes that the cycle could be ended. Near the end of the novel, Ned's intervention in the cycle finally gives Phelan the chance to rest that he has longed for. He is grateful to Ned for this action, though he still regrets losing Ysabel.
"Yesterday you entered a space I've been in for some time. When it happened I became aware of it, of you, from where I was. The family thing, I guess."
Ned's Aunt Kim is similar to Ned in many ways. This quotation reveals that she has the same gift that he does, though this gift is never explained in detail. Kim has had past experiences involving her gifts that are never elaborated on during the events of Ysabel. We do know, however, that this gift has been present in Ned's family for several generations. We later learn that this is because he is a descendant from one of Ysabel's relationship with either Cadell or Phelan. This ties Ned and his aunt to the events of this cycle, whether they like it or not.
" A friend of the woman you took. And nephew of the other one. The on who matters."
This quotation shows how Ned develops as the events of Ysabel unfold. At the beginning of the novel, Ned has no idea about the story that he has stumbled into. However, as he discovers more about his own family's history and the history of this ancient love triangle, he begins to understand how he fits into the grand scheme of things. This understanding only increases his drive to save Melanie from becoming Ysabel completely.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Ysabel Fan Letter
Dear Mr. Kay,
I have just finished reading your latest novel, Ysabel, and I must say I'm very impressed. The novel is very well thought out and is very compelling. The use of real archaeological sites and locations gives the novel a sense of authenticity while still keeping an element of fantasy. I found all of the characters very engrossing. The most engaging of these characters are Phelan, Cadell, and Ysabel. The sense of mystery that surrounds them really draws the reader into the story. Having said this, I wish that you had delved a little deeper into the story of these three characters. We are hardly given any information about them other than Phelan and Cadell are constantly resurrected to fight for Ysabel, whom they both love. Also, many times throughout the novel Ned's aunt refers to the history of Ned's family. We are told that certain member's of Ned's mother's family have been gifted with the "second sight", but we are never told what the second sight consists of or how it pertains to Ned's role in the events of Ysabel. Ned's aunt also has this unusual gift, and both she and her husband hint at some kind of secret knowledge. Ned's aunt threatens Cadell with the name "Cenwin", and Ned's uncle exchanges threats with a long-dead druid in a long-forgotten language. This isn't to say that the mystery does not build suspense, but more background information would definitely help to give the book a more linear storyline, which would engage more readers.
Another thing that I loved about Ysabel was the witty dialogue between all the characters. All the sarcastic comments really made the book enjoyable to read and relieved the tension created by some of the more dramatic scenes. The so-called "ringtone war" between Ned and Melanie was very entertaining to follow. Other elements of humour, such as Ned's constant needling of Kate about her roommate, Marie-Chantal, and the sarcastic comments that Ned's aunt and uncle trade constantly are also very engaging.
I was already a fan of your fantasy novels, such as the Fionavar Tapestry series, but I found that the themes expressed in Ysabel enthralled me and compelled me to read further. I hope that many books like it will follow.
Sincerely,
Oliver Jones
I have just finished reading your latest novel, Ysabel, and I must say I'm very impressed. The novel is very well thought out and is very compelling. The use of real archaeological sites and locations gives the novel a sense of authenticity while still keeping an element of fantasy. I found all of the characters very engrossing. The most engaging of these characters are Phelan, Cadell, and Ysabel. The sense of mystery that surrounds them really draws the reader into the story. Having said this, I wish that you had delved a little deeper into the story of these three characters. We are hardly given any information about them other than Phelan and Cadell are constantly resurrected to fight for Ysabel, whom they both love. Also, many times throughout the novel Ned's aunt refers to the history of Ned's family. We are told that certain member's of Ned's mother's family have been gifted with the "second sight", but we are never told what the second sight consists of or how it pertains to Ned's role in the events of Ysabel. Ned's aunt also has this unusual gift, and both she and her husband hint at some kind of secret knowledge. Ned's aunt threatens Cadell with the name "Cenwin", and Ned's uncle exchanges threats with a long-dead druid in a long-forgotten language. This isn't to say that the mystery does not build suspense, but more background information would definitely help to give the book a more linear storyline, which would engage more readers.
Another thing that I loved about Ysabel was the witty dialogue between all the characters. All the sarcastic comments really made the book enjoyable to read and relieved the tension created by some of the more dramatic scenes. The so-called "ringtone war" between Ned and Melanie was very entertaining to follow. Other elements of humour, such as Ned's constant needling of Kate about her roommate, Marie-Chantal, and the sarcastic comments that Ned's aunt and uncle trade constantly are also very engaging.
I was already a fan of your fantasy novels, such as the Fionavar Tapestry series, but I found that the themes expressed in Ysabel enthralled me and compelled me to read further. I hope that many books like it will follow.
Sincerely,
Oliver Jones
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
In the Place of Last Things
"We better get back maybe.
All right. I'll see you when I get home.
What are you talking about?
We'll set everything right and be happy. We'll all be converted. The skies will all be promising.
What the hell? You're worse now than when you left.
I've come all the way back and then some, Skidder. I feel fine."
This excerpt reveals something of Russ' character. In the beginning of Micheal Helm's novel, In the Place of Last Things, Russ is angry and frustrated at the death of his father. This frustration makes him lash out at many of his only friends, changing their attitude towards him. Russ is especially hostile towards Skidder, whom he treats with indifference and distain. After Russ' journey, however, his attitude towards other people changes. He begins to understand that his friends want to support him, but he is pushing them away by isolating himself. He also begins to help others that attempted to support him. He does this by redistributing the $50 000 American dollars that he takes in Jack Marks' place under the guise that it was in Mike's will. In this way he is reddeeming himself in his own eyes for his failure to carry out his father's final wishes.
"The Virgin that Marks had stolen from the bus driver had been tacked to the wall above the bed. The story had not been told in the spirit of relinquishment or redress. Marks didn't even seem to care if Russ believed him. Of course he didn't care. He placed no value on anyone else's faith, not of any kind."
This excerpt reveals something about Jack Marks' character. Jack is a deceitful and manipulative person who doesn't care about anyone except himself. He is not ashamed of creating an image to draw young women towards him. This can be seen in the attraction that Lea feels for him. Jack met Lea by pretending to be cured because of his Christian faith. It is revealed later in the novel that Jack habitually seduces unsuspecting Christian girls. This behaviour shows his uncaring attitude towards others. He uses other people only to his own advantage and then discards them when they are no longer useful. Lea is a perfect example of this. Once Jack had gotten all he needed from Lea, he left suddenly and without explanation, with no intention of returning.
"I got to start over here. You're right. I got lucky. It's hard to get over being so lucky."
This excerpt reveals something about Tara Harding's character. Tara is Russ' former lover and colleague during his brief teaching career in Toronto. Tara is a caring individual who is more interested in helping others than her own advancement. After she attempts unsuccessfully to help John Overstreet's estranged wife Beth, Tara severs her ties with Russ and begins a new life in Vancouver. Here she meets Beth's father, William, and endeavors to create a family history that she can mail to Beth after William's death. Tara feels guilty in her success at establishing a new life for herself, even after she convinced Russ to pass John Overstreet, who was failing Russ' course. She feels that other people deserve a chance to start their lives over and that she does not deserve this chance. This guilt leads her to help others less fortunate than her.
"She smiled in her unshakeable faith. It was the first moment in which Russ realized she was, in truth, a little dangerous."
This excerpt reveals something about Lea Bollins' character. Lea is the teenage daughter of Grant Bollins, one of the late Mike Littlebury's friends. Lea is a devoted Christian and strongly believes in her faith. She falls in love with Jack Marks and believes that she is pregnant with his baby. She asks Russ to travel to El Paso, Texas to find Jack and deliver the news of her pregnancy to him. When Russ tries to explain to her the reality that Jack has skipped town and is not coming back, she merely laughs and says that she "knows" Jack will return. She believes that it is God's will that Jack and She be together, and that Russ is the messenger of God's will. This unshakeable faith is the basis for Russ' entire journey, as she and Skidder steal Russ' truck and leave to find Jack. Russ spends a sizeable part of the novel chasing them. After he has caught up with Lea, Russ agrees to speak to Jack. Lea's single-minded religious drive has a large influence on Russ and leads him to question his own faith.
"I'm seeing the tumour. I close my eyes and I see it. It's the size of a grapefruit but I imagine it shrinking. Grapefruit, orange, golf ball, a little pebble, then a speck of dust washed away in the blood. I see it shrinking every day and every night."
This excerpt reveals something about Mike Littlebury's character. Mike dies from a terminal illness in the beginning of the novel. His character develops through some of the many flashbacks that Russ has throughout the novel. Mike has a strong faith in God that he wishes Russ shared. He does not have the education that Russ does, and his faith often brings him into conflict with Russ' logical and scientific outlook on the world. Mike believes that he can heal himself through his faith, while Russ' refuses to believe this is possible. Before his conversion, Mike was a violent individual, but his faith changed him into a totally different person.
All right. I'll see you when I get home.
What are you talking about?
We'll set everything right and be happy. We'll all be converted. The skies will all be promising.
What the hell? You're worse now than when you left.
I've come all the way back and then some, Skidder. I feel fine."
This excerpt reveals something of Russ' character. In the beginning of Micheal Helm's novel, In the Place of Last Things, Russ is angry and frustrated at the death of his father. This frustration makes him lash out at many of his only friends, changing their attitude towards him. Russ is especially hostile towards Skidder, whom he treats with indifference and distain. After Russ' journey, however, his attitude towards other people changes. He begins to understand that his friends want to support him, but he is pushing them away by isolating himself. He also begins to help others that attempted to support him. He does this by redistributing the $50 000 American dollars that he takes in Jack Marks' place under the guise that it was in Mike's will. In this way he is reddeeming himself in his own eyes for his failure to carry out his father's final wishes.
"The Virgin that Marks had stolen from the bus driver had been tacked to the wall above the bed. The story had not been told in the spirit of relinquishment or redress. Marks didn't even seem to care if Russ believed him. Of course he didn't care. He placed no value on anyone else's faith, not of any kind."
This excerpt reveals something about Jack Marks' character. Jack is a deceitful and manipulative person who doesn't care about anyone except himself. He is not ashamed of creating an image to draw young women towards him. This can be seen in the attraction that Lea feels for him. Jack met Lea by pretending to be cured because of his Christian faith. It is revealed later in the novel that Jack habitually seduces unsuspecting Christian girls. This behaviour shows his uncaring attitude towards others. He uses other people only to his own advantage and then discards them when they are no longer useful. Lea is a perfect example of this. Once Jack had gotten all he needed from Lea, he left suddenly and without explanation, with no intention of returning.
"I got to start over here. You're right. I got lucky. It's hard to get over being so lucky."
This excerpt reveals something about Tara Harding's character. Tara is Russ' former lover and colleague during his brief teaching career in Toronto. Tara is a caring individual who is more interested in helping others than her own advancement. After she attempts unsuccessfully to help John Overstreet's estranged wife Beth, Tara severs her ties with Russ and begins a new life in Vancouver. Here she meets Beth's father, William, and endeavors to create a family history that she can mail to Beth after William's death. Tara feels guilty in her success at establishing a new life for herself, even after she convinced Russ to pass John Overstreet, who was failing Russ' course. She feels that other people deserve a chance to start their lives over and that she does not deserve this chance. This guilt leads her to help others less fortunate than her.
"She smiled in her unshakeable faith. It was the first moment in which Russ realized she was, in truth, a little dangerous."
This excerpt reveals something about Lea Bollins' character. Lea is the teenage daughter of Grant Bollins, one of the late Mike Littlebury's friends. Lea is a devoted Christian and strongly believes in her faith. She falls in love with Jack Marks and believes that she is pregnant with his baby. She asks Russ to travel to El Paso, Texas to find Jack and deliver the news of her pregnancy to him. When Russ tries to explain to her the reality that Jack has skipped town and is not coming back, she merely laughs and says that she "knows" Jack will return. She believes that it is God's will that Jack and She be together, and that Russ is the messenger of God's will. This unshakeable faith is the basis for Russ' entire journey, as she and Skidder steal Russ' truck and leave to find Jack. Russ spends a sizeable part of the novel chasing them. After he has caught up with Lea, Russ agrees to speak to Jack. Lea's single-minded religious drive has a large influence on Russ and leads him to question his own faith.
"I'm seeing the tumour. I close my eyes and I see it. It's the size of a grapefruit but I imagine it shrinking. Grapefruit, orange, golf ball, a little pebble, then a speck of dust washed away in the blood. I see it shrinking every day and every night."
This excerpt reveals something about Mike Littlebury's character. Mike dies from a terminal illness in the beginning of the novel. His character develops through some of the many flashbacks that Russ has throughout the novel. Mike has a strong faith in God that he wishes Russ shared. He does not have the education that Russ does, and his faith often brings him into conflict with Russ' logical and scientific outlook on the world. Mike believes that he can heal himself through his faith, while Russ' refuses to believe this is possible. Before his conversion, Mike was a violent individual, but his faith changed him into a totally different person.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Islandbridge
Islandbridge is one of seven Matt Minogue crime fiction books written by John Brady. The book begins with an Irish Guard officer named Declan Kelly witnessing a double murder outside a Dublin nightclub in the 1980's. He is then abducted by crime kingpin Jimmy Rynn and his hotheaded son. Rynn offers Declan his life, but is very cryptic about what he wants in return. Several months later, Declan receives a large sum of money from Rynn, who asks for nothing in return. Another month or two after that, Rynn's son is shot and killed. Declan goes to the funeral, and later receives a call from Rynn, who's angry that he showed up at the funeral. Rynn then asks Declan to find the phone number and address of a woman named Lorraine Smith. Declan then meets Rynn and refuses to do his dirty work for him. Rynn then threatens Declan's new wife and unborn child, and storms out of the bar. Declan hurries out to warn his wife, but he is killed by a car driven by one of Rynn's hired guns. The story then fast-forwards to 2005, where we find Garda detective Matt Minogue and his partner Tommy Malone investigating the suspicious death of a guard officer named Emmett Codon from a suspected drug overdose. Malone manages to revive the cold case when he finds an former drug addict nicknamed Frank Lawless who has new information on the case. Lawless tells Minogue and Malone that Codon was in fact giving inside information about the Irish Guards to criminals in exchange for money. Several days later, Lawless is found murdered in his apartment. Malone becomes determined to find Codon's killer, and begins to seek out a girl that he believes was affiliated with Codon. This leads them to a foreign man known only as George. George escapes from Minogue and Malone and later attempts to gun down Malone on a busy Dublin street. During these events the story is switching between Minogue and Declan Kelly's widow, Eimear, who has now changed her name to Maura and has married Minogue's boss, James Kilmartin. She is also working as an informant to Rynn, who still dominates the criminal underworld in Ireland. Near the end of the novel, Minogue is called over to Kilmartin's house, where Kilmartin reveals that his wife told him that she had been working for Rynn for several years. Kilmartin also shows Minogue photos of George, who was killed by Rynn. The novel ends with Rynn and Maura's arrest, and Minogue taking a well-deserved vacation.
John Brady does a good job of capturing the emotions of the several main characters in Islandbridge. The first part of the book, which covers the story from Declan Kelly's perspective, is especially well written. John Brady really succeeds in creating a sense of fear and suspence when Declan is abducted by Rynn. However, after Declan's death, the writing begins to go downhill. The plot is not exactly linear, with time periods switching from the 1990s to the present day, often suddenly and without warning. Character motives are also difficult to follow. For example, it is clear that Maura is working for Rynn, but her motives for working for him are never revealed. In reality, it would seem more plausible that she should hate him for the death of her first husband. There are also large gaps in time between the chapters.This also contributes to the confusion of the reader regarding the storyline. Finally, the rapid conclusion makes the ending quite weak. All of the novel's events can be summed up in the final thirty pages.
One quotation that appealed to me in this novel was when Minogue and Malone were questioning a waitress at a bar about a man they were looking for. The waitress was not of much help and sent them away, even though she had hinted that she knew more than she was letting on. Minogue reflected on this afterwards. "I meant how a citizen can say that to a Guard, she might help. If it suits her." This quotation piqued my interest and got me thinking about how the respect for police has decreased greatly over the years. Another was a line that Rynn told Maura after he had dropped off one of her payments for information. "Whatever else you can say about me, I keep my word, don't I." This quotation also got me thinking about the twisted sense of honour that Rynn has. He fancies himself a businessman, but in reality he's only a common criminal.
John Brady does a good job of capturing the emotions of the several main characters in Islandbridge. The first part of the book, which covers the story from Declan Kelly's perspective, is especially well written. John Brady really succeeds in creating a sense of fear and suspence when Declan is abducted by Rynn. However, after Declan's death, the writing begins to go downhill. The plot is not exactly linear, with time periods switching from the 1990s to the present day, often suddenly and without warning. Character motives are also difficult to follow. For example, it is clear that Maura is working for Rynn, but her motives for working for him are never revealed. In reality, it would seem more plausible that she should hate him for the death of her first husband. There are also large gaps in time between the chapters.This also contributes to the confusion of the reader regarding the storyline. Finally, the rapid conclusion makes the ending quite weak. All of the novel's events can be summed up in the final thirty pages.
One quotation that appealed to me in this novel was when Minogue and Malone were questioning a waitress at a bar about a man they were looking for. The waitress was not of much help and sent them away, even though she had hinted that she knew more than she was letting on. Minogue reflected on this afterwards. "I meant how a citizen can say that to a Guard, she might help. If it suits her." This quotation piqued my interest and got me thinking about how the respect for police has decreased greatly over the years. Another was a line that Rynn told Maura after he had dropped off one of her payments for information. "Whatever else you can say about me, I keep my word, don't I." This quotation also got me thinking about the twisted sense of honour that Rynn has. He fancies himself a businessman, but in reality he's only a common criminal.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Miles: The Autobiography
The book that I’ve read for my second blog report was called Miles: The Autobiography. The book is an autobiography written by the famous trumpet player Miles Davis. In this book, Miles talks about his life, his music, and all of the famous jazz musicians that he has played with over the years. In this book, Miles talks about his heroin addiction, and the many other problems that he has confronted during his musical career. This autobiography begins with Miles earliest memory, which is a small blue flame jumping off a gas stove. Miles then begins to describe his relationship with his parents and how he first became interested in playing the trumpet. Miles then talks about his first professional gig, and how he met Charlie “Bird” Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. Miles’ relationship with Charlie Parker is especially complex. Miles respects his playing, but as Bird’s heroin addiction worsens, he begins to move away from Bird’s band, and begins to start his own solo career. Miles then starts up his own working band, which many famous jazz players have passed through over the years. Miles also describes many of the famous jazz clubs in the world, such as Milton’s Playhouse, the Blackhawk, and Birdland. Miles then begins to describe his heroin addiction in earnest, from when he first became addicted while in Billy Eckstine’s band, up to when he finally kicked his habit “cold turkey” more than four years later. After he kicked his habit, Miles returned to New York and experienced one of the greatest periods of musical creativity in his life. Eventually, Miles becomes sick of the racism shown to him by white critics, and he decides to stop playing trumpet altogether. During this five year silence, Miles becomes extremely depressed. He also experiences problems with his addiction to cocaine and alcohol. Eventually he breaks out of his depression, and begins to play his trumpet again. By this time, jazz is a dying style of music, so Miles re-invents his image and begins to play a more modern style of jazz/funk. The book ends with Miles career still rolling along, although he is over sixty by the time the book ends.
One of the most interesting facets of this book is that since it is an autobiography, it is written in Miles’ own hand. If you read the afterword of the book, you will find that initially many critics canned the book because of Miles’ use of language. However, this style of writing is what gives the book its character. The language adds a sense of intimacy to the book. While you are reading it really seems that Miles is speaking to you personally about his life, and not just to a general audience. His honesty regarding his addiction to heroin is also refreshing. Many men would not speak as honestly about their addiction as Miles does. He recounts many of the disgraceful things that he had to do to support his habit and his many attempt to rid himself of his addiction. He eventually managed to defeat his addiction by locking himself in the two-storey guest house of his father’s farm and staying there for eight days straight while he was suffering withdrawal symptoms.
The way that Miles describes his withdrawal symptoms are very lifelike. He compares his withdrawal symptoms to many things in this particular quote, “It was a feeling like arthritis, or a real bad case of the flu, only worse. The feeling is indescribable. All of your joints get sore and stiff, but you can’t touch them because if you do you’ll scream. So nobody can give you a massage. It’s the kind of hurt that I later experienced after an operation, when I had a hip replacement. It’s a raw kind of feeling that you can’t stop. You feel like you could die and if somebody could guarantee that you would die in two seconds, then you would take it.” This quote appealed to me because I admire Miles’ determination to rid himself of his heroin addiction. I think that it takes an amazingly strong person to simply stop using such an addictive drug altogether. Because of this quote, you can also imagine how difficult it must have been for him to stop. Another quote that appealed to me was when Miles described how he once knocked out his best friend Max Roach because Max tried to attack him while he was addicted to heroin. Miles said that, “That wasn’t the real Max Roach screaming in that club at me, just like it wasn’t the real Miles Davis who had been a junkie all them years. Drugs was talking for Max and so when I hit him like I did, I didn’t feel like I was hitting the real Max that I knew. But that shit hurt me real bad, real bad, and I went home and cried like a baby in Frances’s arms that night, all night.” This experience is an excellent example of how people act differently when under the influence of drugs. I think that it’s important that people realize how easily drugs can ruin the relationship between the user and his or her friends and family. Max never held it against Miles, and he later managed to beat his addiction by following Miles’ example.
One of the most interesting facets of this book is that since it is an autobiography, it is written in Miles’ own hand. If you read the afterword of the book, you will find that initially many critics canned the book because of Miles’ use of language. However, this style of writing is what gives the book its character. The language adds a sense of intimacy to the book. While you are reading it really seems that Miles is speaking to you personally about his life, and not just to a general audience. His honesty regarding his addiction to heroin is also refreshing. Many men would not speak as honestly about their addiction as Miles does. He recounts many of the disgraceful things that he had to do to support his habit and his many attempt to rid himself of his addiction. He eventually managed to defeat his addiction by locking himself in the two-storey guest house of his father’s farm and staying there for eight days straight while he was suffering withdrawal symptoms.
The way that Miles describes his withdrawal symptoms are very lifelike. He compares his withdrawal symptoms to many things in this particular quote, “It was a feeling like arthritis, or a real bad case of the flu, only worse. The feeling is indescribable. All of your joints get sore and stiff, but you can’t touch them because if you do you’ll scream. So nobody can give you a massage. It’s the kind of hurt that I later experienced after an operation, when I had a hip replacement. It’s a raw kind of feeling that you can’t stop. You feel like you could die and if somebody could guarantee that you would die in two seconds, then you would take it.” This quote appealed to me because I admire Miles’ determination to rid himself of his heroin addiction. I think that it takes an amazingly strong person to simply stop using such an addictive drug altogether. Because of this quote, you can also imagine how difficult it must have been for him to stop. Another quote that appealed to me was when Miles described how he once knocked out his best friend Max Roach because Max tried to attack him while he was addicted to heroin. Miles said that, “That wasn’t the real Max Roach screaming in that club at me, just like it wasn’t the real Miles Davis who had been a junkie all them years. Drugs was talking for Max and so when I hit him like I did, I didn’t feel like I was hitting the real Max that I knew. But that shit hurt me real bad, real bad, and I went home and cried like a baby in Frances’s arms that night, all night.” This experience is an excellent example of how people act differently when under the influence of drugs. I think that it’s important that people realize how easily drugs can ruin the relationship between the user and his or her friends and family. Max never held it against Miles, and he later managed to beat his addiction by following Miles’ example.
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