Quick read, good book. I read a lot of "literary" fiction, and some classics, so it took me a couple of pages to get used to Kopelman's style--which is casual, as if he was sitting at a bar telling you the story, instead of writing it down. I picked it up not just because of the dog aspect (I was hoping it would be a bit like Marley and Me) but also because of Iraq. It gives an unusual perspective on the war, because it's not political--you see glimpses of Fallujah, Baghdad, and desert, but only in how those places affect Kopelman and his attempts to keep Lava. So, thumbs up for this one.
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Saturday, February 10, 2007
#4: Anybody Out There?, Marian Keyes
I had the strangest start with this book -- I thought it was going to be a continuation of The Other Side of the Story, which I read in 2004. I was a little fuzzy on the plot details, but I remembered that one of the girls lived in New York, and--more importantly--that I'd liked it. So basically, I started out confused, and it took me about 60 pages to realize this was a completely unrelated book.
I enjoyed it, though it was my least favorite of the three of Marian Keyes' that I've read (Angels was stellar). It was an interesting book, because you start out not knowing what's really happened, the same as the protagonist, Anna. By about page 130, you, the reader, have figured it out, and just as soon as you start wondering how long it's going to take Anna, boom, it's revealed and Keyes moves the plot on. That happened a couple of times.
As I said, it was entertaining, but I felt just sort of ho-hum about the ending. Not swept away by a greater understanding of anything. Yah, yah, I know, it's just chick-lit.
Before ending this post though, I do have to point out an error (one that cracks me up when I see it, especially in advertisements): Anna and her husband Aidan go to Mexico for Christmas, and take a beginner's scuba-diving course. Things go wrong with Anna's regulator, so she shoots up to the surface (major no-no). "I kicked past a surprised shoal of clown fish, praying to break the surface." (p. 130). So, what's the mistake? Anyone? Bueller?
If I could turn this text upside down I would. Alas. Answer: There are no clown fish in North America. Period. They also don't live in shoals -- they're territorial, and live with their mate. One tried to bite my camera string when I got too close in Egypt once. Aggressive little suckers, but extremely cute!
Up Next: From Baghdad, with Love, by Jay Kopelman
I enjoyed it, though it was my least favorite of the three of Marian Keyes' that I've read (Angels was stellar). It was an interesting book, because you start out not knowing what's really happened, the same as the protagonist, Anna. By about page 130, you, the reader, have figured it out, and just as soon as you start wondering how long it's going to take Anna, boom, it's revealed and Keyes moves the plot on. That happened a couple of times.
As I said, it was entertaining, but I felt just sort of ho-hum about the ending. Not swept away by a greater understanding of anything. Yah, yah, I know, it's just chick-lit.
Before ending this post though, I do have to point out an error (one that cracks me up when I see it, especially in advertisements): Anna and her husband Aidan go to Mexico for Christmas, and take a beginner's scuba-diving course. Things go wrong with Anna's regulator, so she shoots up to the surface (major no-no). "I kicked past a surprised shoal of clown fish, praying to break the surface." (p. 130). So, what's the mistake? Anyone? Bueller?
If I could turn this text upside down I would. Alas. Answer: There are no clown fish in North America. Period. They also don't live in shoals -- they're territorial, and live with their mate. One tried to bite my camera string when I got too close in Egypt once. Aggressive little suckers, but extremely cute!
Up Next: From Baghdad, with Love, by Jay Kopelman
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