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Reviews by William E. (Honolulu, HI)

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Sacre Bleu
Sacre Bleu: A Comedy d'Art
by Christopher Moore
19th Century French Art Through a Black Hole (2/15/2012)
What a ride. If you like Moore and you are fascinated by late 19th Century French do I have a book for you! What happens when a French painter trained by Pissaro teams up with Henri Toulouse Lautrec on trying to figure out the power of the color blue used in paintings and …more
The Darkening Field
The Darkening Field: A Novel
by William Ryan
Life With Stalin (11/3/2011)
Interesting read for the description of life with Stalin. The story was not much of a mystery. The characters were fairly stereotypical. If one happens to be interested in the particular period in Russia under Stalin, it is a good read. For mystery readers not so much....
The Orphan Master's Son
The Orphan Master's Son: A Novel
by Adam Johnson
Life in the Greatest Nation in the World (10/19/2011)
....or so Dear Leader proclaims. The book describes grim life in North Korea. That as a backdrop, the story of Jun Do is a picaresque fable of identity and life shifting. I found the juxtaposition of the grim reality of life and the theatrical lives a bit jarring. The book …more
The Night Circus
The Night Circus: A Novel
by Erin Morgenstern
Salammbo Move Over (7/15/2011)
And I thought that Flaubert could write sensual prose as a counterpoint to his journalistic style. I found the book a great read. The book is a major achievement for nothing else than the cinematic descriptive evocations of places, characters, etc. Loved it.
The Trinity Six
The Trinity Six
by Charles Cumming
A Good Read Trinity Six (2/1/2011)
I have always been interested in the in the espionage of the "five" and so I found the book informative as to the individuals involved originally. Although it began slowly, the book became more compelling as it developed. I recommend the book to anyone interested in the …more
Charles Jessold, Considered as a Murderer
Charles Jessold, Considered as a Murderer
by Wesley Stace
Obfuscation Lives (12/14/2010)
I thought that it would be an interesting read devoted to art music of the late 19th and early 20th century with a mystery thrown in. How could you lose? The book is a parallel to an actual murder by the composer Carlo Gesualdo; an interesting premise. For me the book bogs …more
City of Tranquil Light
City of Tranquil Light: A Novel
by Bo Caldwell
City of Tranquil Light not so Tranquil (9/6/2010)
The book is hardly tranquil in its portrayal of the tumultuous years of China in the 20th Century. The remarkable relationship of Will and Katherine is juxtaposed against the hue and cry of China, I found very effective. The novel is also a great history lesson of the …more
Await Your Reply
Await Your Reply
by Dan Chaon
Await Your Reply (7/16/2009)
I found the book not engaging. I wanted to like the book but found that it meandered with disparate characters that were not involving. I was disappointed as I had liked the writer's early works and felt that this was a let down.
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    Dream Count
    by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
    A searing new novel from the bestselling author of Americanah and We Should All Be Feminists, exploring four women's desires.
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