Review: No Longer at Ease

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No Longer at EaseChinua Achebe, No Longer at Ease

This novel, published in 1960, follows the fortunes of Obi Okonkwo, a young Nigerian man who was educated in England and has now returned to work in the Nigerian civil service. In the first chapter, it is revealed that Obi is on trial for accepting a bribe; subsequent chapters go back in time to explain how this situation came about. When Obi first comes back from England, he is idealistic and relatively innocent. When he sees the widespread bribery and corruption in the Nigerian government, he is disgusted and indignantly refuses the first bribe offered to him. However, he soon finds himself caught between several conflicting responsibilities. A group of prominent members of his hometown financed his education, and he is obligated to pay back the money they invested in him. His impoverished family also needs money, especially when his mother falls ill. And all of Nigerian society expects him to maintain a certain standard of living now that he has a profitable government job. Obi’s predicament mirrors the problems of Nigeria as a whole, as it struggles to achieve independence and find its own identity.

I had to read Achebe’s Things Fall Apart several times in school, and while I started out disliking it, I eventually warmed up to it. This book is a sequel of sorts, as Obi is the grandson of Okonkwo from Things Fall Apart, and some of the same themes are present. Both books deal with the interaction of European and Nigerian culture in a very nuanced way, showing both the positive and negative consequences of such interaction. And in both books, the protagonist is caught in an untenable position between the old ways and the new. Obi is a Nigerian through and through, but his English education makes him something of an alien among his own people. He deplores the Nigerian custom of bribing government officials but recognizes the role the British ruling class has played in this corruption. The novel is ultimately about Nigeria’s identity crisis as well as Obi’s, as the country moves toward independence. The novel’s ending leaves the question open: how can Nigeria move forward from the negative aspects of its past while still retaining what is good?

2014 TBR Pile Challenge Wrap-up

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2014 TBR Pile Challenge

At the beginning of last year, I signed up for the 2014 TBR Pile Challenge at Bookish, which asked participants to read books they owned prior to the beginning of 2014. The challenge itself kind of petered out, but I continued to document the books I read from my own shelves. I had originally aimed for 21-30 books, so I’m happy I managed to surpass that goal! Here’s what I read from my TBR pile in 2014, along with the date I acquired each book:

1. Mary Miley — The Impersonator (11/10/13)
2. Julia Quinn — Just Like Heaven (1/1/13)
3. Chris Wooding — Retribution Falls (9/3/11)
4. Emma Newman — Between Two Thorns (4/1/13)
5. Susanna Kearsley — The Shadowy Horses (1/20/13)
6. Charlotte Mosley, ed. — The Letters of Nancy Mitford and Evelyn Waugh (10/22/11)
7. Sarra Manning — Unsticky (12/16/13)
8. Lois McMaster Bujold — Young Miles (12/4/13)
9. Georgette Heyer — The Spanish Bride (4/12/08)
10. P.G. Wodehouse — The World of Jeeves (4/23/10)
11. Caprice Crane — With a Little Luck (8/20/11)
12. Hannah March — The Complaint of the Dove (10/9/13)
13. Frank Baker — Miss Hargreaves (4/8/11)
14. Polly Shulman — The Grimm Legacy (4/20/13)
15. Anne Sexton — Transformations (9/3/11)
16. Sharon Kay Penman — The Sunne in Splendour (8/8/06)
17. Juliet Marillier — Blade of Fortriu (4/28/13)
18. Michael Innes — Death at the President’s Lodging (9/29/13)
19. Elizabeth Wein — Rose Under Fire (9/21/13)
20. E.F. Benson — Mrs. Ames (8/6/13)
21. Ben Macintyre — Double Cross: The True Story of the D-Day Spies (6/15/13)
22. M.M. Kaye — Death in the Andamans (6/24/13)
23. Tana French — In the Woods (8/16/10)
24. Georgette Heyer — A Blunt Instrument (4/21/11)
25. Julie James — Love Irresistibly (4/8/13)
26. Richard Stark — The Hunter (9/29/12)
27. Christopher Morley — The Haunted Bookshop (4/28/13)
28. D.E. Stevenson — The Young Clementina (7/4/13)
29. Charlotte Mosley, ed. — In Tearing Haste: Letters Between Deborah Devonshire and Patrick Leigh Fermor (4/28/13)
30. A.A. Milne — The Red House Mystery (4/13/13)
31. Sara Gruen — Water for Elephants (3/16/11)
32. Karin Lowachee — The Gaslight Dogs (5/30/10)
33. Carlos Ruiz Zafón — The Shadow of the Wind (10/2/10)
34. Ada Leverson — Love’s Shadow (9/25/11)
35. Shusaku Endo — Silence (4/28/13)
36. Kate Lord Brown — The Beauty Chorus (4/2/12)
37. Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett — Good Omens (1/14/10)
38. Norton Juster — The Phantom Tollbooth (7/28/11)
39. Rachel Ferguson — The Brontës Went to Woolworths (10/2/10)
40. Ben H. Winters — The Last Policeman (9/28/13)
41. D.E. Stevenson — Mrs. Tim of the Regiment (3/16/11)
42. Kate Ross — The Devil in Music (4/23/10)
43. Connie Willis — Miracle and Other Christmas Stories (3/14/12)

For more information about any of the books, check out the Review Index page! Did anyone else do this or a similar challenge? How many of your own books did you manage to read this year?

Review: The Little Prince

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Little Prince, TheAntoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince (trans. Katherine Woods)

After trying to review this book in my usual way, I’ve given it up as a lost cause. So I will just say that this classic children’s fable about a stranded pilot and a little boy from another planet is a wonderful read, for adults as well as for children. It’s full of allegories and lessons for attentive readers, from the folly of greed to the power of friendship. I’m sorry I never read this as a child, but I still found it incredibly touching and moving — the perfect book for a winter’s evening!

Review: The Twelve Clues of Christmas

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Twelve Clues of Christmas, TheRhys Bowen, The Twelve Clues of Christmas

‘Tis the season to be jolly, but Lady Georgiana Rannoch is anticipating a bleak, joyless Christmas at her brother’s estate in Scotland. Her sister-in-law Fig has made it abundantly clear that Georgie is an unwelcome burden, so Georgie begins to search for a way to escape for the holidays. Finally, the perfect solution lands in her lap: she is offered a job as social hostess for a large house party at an English country estate. Georgie jumps at the chance to get away from Fig (and make a little money in the process), especially when she learns that her mother will also be staying in the neighborhood. When Georgie arrives at the estate, she discovers that her employer is trying to stage the perfect English Christmas for a diverse group of paying guests. But the seemingly idyllic country village is soon plagued by a string of suspicious deaths. All of them appear to be accidents, but Georgie suspects that they could be murders. But what do the dead people have in common, and who in the village would be clever and ruthless enough to kill them?

I enjoyed this latest installment of the Royal Spyness series. It has all the fluffy fun of previous books, but the mystery is a bit more substantial compared to some of Georgie’s earlier adventures. I’ve always liked the series for its frothy tone and historical trappings, especially Georgie’s run-ins with real historial figures (for example, Noel Coward makes an appearance in this book!). But historically, the mystery plots themselves have been relatively weak. This one was more complex, with several different plot threads that all tied together in the end. Georgie’s personal life also progresses a bit in this installment, as she and Darcy finally profess their love for each other and begin to talk about marriage. I always want more Darcy in these books…he seems to come in for the sole purpose of ruthlessly kissing Georgie in corridors, but there are hints that he’s also involved in some sort of espionage. I’d love him to marry Georgie and take her along on his adventures! The series seems due for some sort of shake-up, and I’m interested to see whether the status quo will change in future installments.

Top Ten Tuesday: All I want for Christmas is BOOKS!

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Top 10 TuesdayI’ve found that there’s a strange paradox about being a book lover at Christmas. I should be the easiest person in the world to shop for — when in doubt, just buy me a book! But somehow I never seem to get books for Christmas. Maybe one or two volumes will find their way under the tree, but that’s about it! I think it’s because my loved ones aren’t sure what I already have, and they’re scared to take the risk. Can’t say I blame them, frankly! So here are ten books I’d love for Santa to bring me, in no particular order:

1. Carol Berg, The Daemon Prism — This is the third book in a series whose first two installments I already own. Gotta complete the set!

2. Caryl Brahms & S.J. Simon, Don’t, Mr. Disraeli! — I loved No Bed for Bacon, a hilarious send-up of the Elizabethan era by these two authors, so I can only imagine how much fun their take on Victoriana would be!

3. Mark Bittman, How to Cook Everything — I admit with shame that I don’t really know how to cook. There are a few dishes I know how to make, but honestly, it’s easier to just eat out or make something really easy, like a sandwich or pasta. I think one of my goals for 2015 will be to cook more often and try some new recipes.

4. P.G. Wodehouse, Something Fresh — I adore Wodehouse’s brand of humor and have read a lot of the Jeeves short stories, but I haven’t tried any Blandings Castle books yet.

5. Intisar Khanani, Thorn — I stumbled upon this book the other day and was immediately enchanted by the cover. Also, it’s a retelling of the Goose Girl fairy tale, and I do love me some fairy tale retellings!

6. Jill Paton Walsh, A Presumption of Death — I’ve been collecting the Lord Peter Wimsey books for several years now, and I finally have all of the original Sayers novels. Now I can start grabbing the Jill Paton Walsh books too!

7. Angela Thirkell, High Rising — I’ve decided that I really like 20th-century British female authors, and this book looks right up my alley.

8. Diana Wynne Jones, Deep Secret — I REALLY need to read some more Diana Wynne Jones!

9. Robin McKinley, Shadows — Even though this wasn’t my favorite McKinley novel, I feel a strong need to own all her books.

10. Any of the Belknap annotated editions of Jane Austen — They’re just so pretty!

What books are you hoping to receive this Christmas?

Review: Mrs. Tim of the Regiment

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Mrs. Tim of the RegimentD.E. Stevenson, Mrs. Tim of the Regiment

This novel purports to be the diary of Hester Christie, a young army wife who must juggle her responsibilities to her family, to the regiment, and to the society in which she lives. Lively and popular, Hester has many demands on her time, including mandatory socializing with several disagreeable officers’ wives. But her perpetually busy life becomes even more chaotic when her husband, Tim, is transferred to a regiment in Scotland. Hester is sorry to leave but tries to make the best of it, although it means she will be lonely and friendless while Tim is busy with army duties. However, she soon makes a few friends and is even invited to spend time in the country with one of them. In these beautiful surroundings, with congenial company, Hester becomes more reconciled to her new life — and finds plenty of ways to occupy her time, including assisting several young lovers. Little does she realize, of course, that one of the men she meets is interested in her!

When I want a light, charming comfort read, D.E. Stevenson always fits the bill, and this book is no exception. It’s an interesting mixture of slice-of-life with comedy of manners, as Hester can’t help poking fun at some of her less congenial acquaintances. I thoroughly enjoyed her narrative voice and found her a very likeable character. The biggest flaw in the book, in my opinion, is her husband Tim. He’s not “on page” terribly often, and while it’s obvious that Hester loves him very much, she also can’t help noticing his little foibles. So I was a bit lukewarm on their relationship, especially when Hester’s other suitor, Major Morley, is so much more interesting! Morley actually plays a fairly large role in the book, as he is Tim’s fellow officer and ends up visiting Hester’s hostess in the Scottish countryside. He has an air of cynicism but is also quite sweet to Hester, and I couldn’t help wishing that she was single (and less oblivious) so that they could get together! But aside from that, I enjoyed the book and would be interested in reading the sequels, though I think they might be out of print now.

Top Ten Tuesday: Best of the best

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Top 10 TuesdayAs Christmas approaches and the end of 2014 draws near, it’s time for the mother of all Top Ten Tuesdays — our ten favorite books of the entire year! Here are mine, in the order in which I read them:

1. Chris Wooding, Retribution Falls — I was very pleasantly surprised by this sci-fi novel, which I’d picked up several years ago when Borders was going out of business. With its anti-hero airship captain and a ragtag crew of misfits, it reminded me strongly of “Firefly,” and that can only be a good thing!

2. Lois Lowry, The Giver — I somehow never read this book as a child, but even as an adult I really loved it! Lowry does such an amazing job of slowly peeling back the layers of the seemingly utopian Community to reveal the darkness underneath.

3. Hannah March, The Complaint of the Dove — One of my very favorite genres is the historical mystery, and this book is set in the Georgian era (pre-Regency), which is fairly unique in fiction. I enjoyed the period details and the writing style, and I’m excited that there are several more books in the series to enjoy! (Also, Hannah March is a pen name for Jude Morgan, whose books I previously read and really liked.)

4. B.J. Novak, One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories — I’m not normally a big fan of short stories, but these are SO short that they’re laser-focused on one joke or idea. They’re very funny and very dark, and I highly recommend them!

5. Morgan Matson, Since You’ve Been Gone — When I read this back in May, I thought to myself, “This is the perfect summer read!” It’s about a shy girl whose outgoing, confident best friend inspires her to come out of her shell. There’s adventure and drama and a very sweet romance, and I loved the portrayal of female friendship. If you like YA contemporary novels, this is a must-read!

6. Caryl Brahms & S.J. Simon, No Bed for Bacon — Fans of Shakespeare or the Elizabethan era simply HAVE to read this hilarious book! It’s basically a parody of everything you learned in history class about this time period…you’ll never see so many (hysterical) jokes about non-standard spelling!

7. Maria Semple, Where’d You Go, Bernadette — Usually I don’t like books about dysfunctional families, especially when they’re also bestsellers. But I’m really glad I tried this book, because I ended up devouring it! Bernadette can be an annoying character at times, but she’s self-aware enough to KNOW she’s annoying, so I was able to overlook it. Also, the satire of her privileged Seattle life is deliciously clever and biting.

8. Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett, Good Omens — I really seem to have a lot of comedy on my list this year! This is, dare I say, the funniest book about the Apocalypse you’ll ever read. Both of these authors are so brilliant, and I look forward to reading a lot more of them in the future!

9. Maggie Stiefvater, Blue Lily, Lily Blue — This third book in the Raven Cycle might be my favorite one yet, as Blue and the boys get closer than ever to finding Owen Glendower. The stage is sent for some huge stuff to go down in the next (and last) book…and if Blue and Gansey don’t kiss already, I will not be held responsible for my actions!

10. Graeme Simsion, The Rosie Project — Sometimes you just need a good romantic comedy to lift your spirits, and this one charmed me immediately. Narrator Don Tillman is immediately likable and funny, and I really rooted for him as he encountered a wealth of new experiences thanks to Rosie, the girl who seems totally wrong for him but may be absolutely right.

So, what were your favorite books of the year? I look forward to adding a lot more titles to my must-read list!

Review: Trust Me on This

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Trust Me on ThisJennifer Crusie, Trust Me on This

Reporter Dennie Banks has just stumbled upon a story that could make her career: A renowned professor and marriage expert is about to get a divorce. Dennie learns that the professor will be attending a popular literature conference, so Dennie gets herself a ticket also, hoping to meet the professor there and pitch her story. Meanwhile, Alec Prentice is a government agent specializing in fraud prevention. Currently he’s on the trail of Brian Bond, a con man who’s been running a real estate scam for years. Alec learns that Bond will be at the same conference looking for his next victim, so Alec goes undercover to catch him in the act. Bond always works with a woman, so when Alec walks into the hotel bar and sees him talking to a beautiful brunette, he assumes that she’s Bond’s partner. Of course, the woman is actually Dennie, who was merely making polite chitchat with Bond. As both Alec and Dennie try to focus on their missions, they become increasingly distracted by their mutual attraction. But will their career ambitions get in the way of romance?

I’ve read and enjoyed some of Crusie’s books in the past, and this one was billed as a screwball comedy, so I was hoping to like it a lot more than I did. There’s nothing particularly wrong with the book, but there’s just nothing original or interesting about it either. I couldn’t really relate to Alec or Dennie, both perfect physical specimens whose intelligence is frequently mentioned but never actually shown. Their relationship seems to be based entirely on physical attraction, and neither character really changes in the course of the novel. The “comedy” aspect of the book also fell very flat to me; frankly, the witty banter just wasn’t that witty. The basic plot is fun and might make a decent movie, but it’s too flimsy to sustain an entire novel. I suppose the novel does touch on some deeper themes, such as the potential conflict between career ambitions and romantic relationships, but it doesn’t really say anything innovative about the issue. Overall, even as a fan of romantic comedies, I’d say skip this one.