That Went Fast . . . Perhaps Too Fast

I finished Sixkill by Robert B. Parker before I even got around to my review of Evanovich's novel. Now my timing is going to be all mucked up.

When you go into one of these novels you have to expect that it will be fast and easy and fun. This was all three. So if I look at the author's intent I give him a 10 out of 10. Sadly, it pushed absolutely no boundaries. You get what you get and you don't throw a fit.

I'm running out of first person genre mysteries to read though.

At least the last line is nicely prosaic.

WHEN I GOT BACK to Boston I changed into sweats, put some clean clothes and a shaving kit in a gym bag, and went down to the Harbor Health Club. I lifted weights. I hit the speed bag. I hit the heavy bag until the sweat was all over me and soaking through my shirt. Then I went to the steam room and sat for a long time. When I came out, I showered and shaved and put on my clean clothes. 

It was still raining when I came out of the club. But it seemed to me that it was getting a little lighter in the west. Over Cambridge. Where Susan lived. 

After the rain lifted, the world would probably seem as freshly washed as I was. The cleanliness was almost certainly illusory, or at best short-lasting. But life is mostly metaphor, anyway. 

I got in my car and drove west.

Parker, Robert B. - Sixkill

Been Awhile

I love the way his cynicism for life drips through even in the first sentence.

IT WAS SPRING. The vernal equinox had done whatever it was it did, and the late March air drifting in through the open window in my office was soft even though it wasn’t really warm yet. Spring training was under way in full tiresomeness, and opening day was two weeks off.

Parker, Robert B. - Sixkill 

Been awhile since I read a Robert B. Parker book. I think the last one I read was Hugger Mugger and I remember my grandfather looking at it and saying "sounds like its about an overzealous prostitute." What I'm trying to do here is overwhelm myself with first person genre mysteries. It helps me get in the right frame of mind for my own book. Pretty soon I'll be out of this phase and I can get to some other types of books.

Hot Money . . . Never Knew It Existed

I thought I had read all the Dick Francis books. I'm so glad I was wrong. Lately, as I reread them, I naturally find them less than original, less fun to read. It's so nice to find one I didn't know existed and recapture that fun and esteem that comes from reading a book like Hot Money.

It's a typical Dick Francis novel. A mild-mannered protagonist who is forced into helping someone out of a jam inspired by a murder, usually involving a strange or estranged family and always involving horse racing. Nothing new to see here, except I really liked it. I guess the newness came from finding it in the first place.

The last lines are also typical, the main character has gone through an adventure and grown, usually spiritually and closer to a loved one, but ultimately he is the same person who started the novel.

“Did you notice I’d taken the golden dolphin and the amethyst tree and so on out of the wall and put them in the sitting room?” he asked casually. 

“Yes, I did.” 

“I sold the gold too.” 

I glanced at him. He looked quizzically back. 

“The price rose sharply this year, as I thought it would. I took the profit. There’s nothing in the wall now except spiders and dust.” 

“Never mind.” 

“I’m leaving the clause in the will, though.” 

The family had been curious about his leaving me the piece of wire, and he’d refused to explain.

 “I’ll buy more gold, and sell it. Buy and sell. Forward and backward. One of these days”— his blue eyes gleamed—“ you may win on the nod.”

Francis, Dick - Hot Money

First Line at the Moment

Back to an old standard.

Lately, I've been spending a lot of time rolling on the ground with men who thing a stiffy represents personal growth. 

Hard Eight - Janet Evanovich

So, it's not "It was the best of times. It was the worst of times." but right now it's exactly what I need right now to help me get to the end of my own (somewhat fatuous and one dimensional) novel.

Yet Another Taker

Hot on the heels of Mom's Thumb Reviews (see here) comes this one from Hong Konger Laura Besley (here).

Miss Besley, who also read my first novel, Toe the Line (here), says of this one:

On the Edge is almost two books for the price of one: present Joe and past Joe.

and

These two threads of the story are cleverly woven together and feed into the ever-building climax at the end. 

And finally, this . . . my favorite part:

Overall this is an enjoyable thriller and is recommended for people who enjoy murder mysteries.

I'll take that. Didn't get a five star review on Goodreads, but five star equals "It was amazing." Four star equates to "Really liked it." I'll take it and use that missing fifth star as motivation to finish Vapor Trail.

Lastly

Savvy readers of this blog know that I compile a list of "last lines" (see here) as a counter-punch to my first lines (see here) compendium. Secondly, it helps me remember which books I've read and what I thought about them. That being said, today's latest addition is below.

I sighed and went into the bedroom to phone. I had two calls to make. The first to Al Georgio, telling that estimable man that no, I would not marry him. The second to Jack Smack, telling that flighty tap dancer that yes, I would move in with him. 

You can be logical about other people’s lives, but never about your own.

Sanders, Lawrence - The Eighth Commandment

It's a slight twist at the end. I expected the protagonist to choose Al. It's fun to see that she didn't.

As I said before (see here) I love Lawrence Sanders' McNally mysteries and I am loving reading his older material even more. There's more seriousness, more gravitas, and the stories are more fleshed out. This was the first I've read of his where he got into the mind of a femme and I have to say I think he did it quite well. I wish he had written more.

Next First Line

This is a new one for me. I thought I had read all of Dick Francis' work, . . . nope . . . looks like I missed one.

I intensely disliked my father's fifth wife, but not to the point of murder.

Dick Francis -  Hot Money

Based on the comments, it looks like this is out of print, so thank goodness for the ole Kindle.

Readers might also note that I've reading a lot of first person, genre mystries. I'm trying to get the mindset right for finishing up Vapor Trail, my third novel. I wouldn't call it "writer's block" so much as "writer's ennui." It works though. The more of the style I read the more I think, "Hey, I can do this. I can knock this out."

Still, glad to be reading something new at the same time.

A First

Some books and authors just resonate with me immediately (see other first lines here). Lawrence Sanders is a reseonater apparently. I'm surprised I'm compelled tor read on, but I am.

MEN TREAT ME WITH amusement, women with sympathy. My name is Mary Lou Bateson, but the nickname “Dunk” followed me from Des Moines to New York City. I am almost six-two— in my bare feet. When I wear heels, I loom— or so a man once told me. 

“Don’t worry about it, Dunk,” Daddy advised. “People look up to you.”

That will give you an idea of his quirky sense of humor.

Sanders, Lawrence - The Eighth Commandment

I'm Big Into Flowcharts . . . But . . .

I write a lot of flowcharts for work, and I understand their abilities and the need, but this one . . . not a huge fan of the style, but I love the outcomes (see here).

I'm sorry I can't properly reference where I got it, I found it on a reddit site and I can't refind it. I'll let the title speak for itself, but I was surprised by how many of the books I've actually read! A more pleasant surprise, there are still a lot more to be read.

My favorite, Vernor Vinge (see here) is on the far right side of the chart, right near my other favorite, Asimov (here for more).

Well worth a click see (here) if you're a sci-fi or fantasy reader.

King Rat no King

Having written my own first novel (here) . . . and seen how much better (even marginally) my second novel is compared to that first one . . . its good to see that other novelist's first also screamed "FIRST TIME NOVEL!"

By no means am I equating myself to James Clavell, but King Rat, although good, was nowhere near the mind blowing epic that Shogun was (you can see my review of Shogun here) then again Tai Pan wasn't as good as Shogun either. King Rat was not only not as good as Shogun, but it had all the hallmarks of being a first novel. Somewhat clunky, plot lines that got lost, the feeling of "wow . . . it would have been better had he done such and such rather than that."

That being said, it was still quite good. It reminded me of Catch-22 in many ways, but with far more heart. The ending was tragic to read, and the come-uppance by the main character interesting. I love the foil he used, it reminded me in that way of The Great Gatsby. But there was alot that Clavell left on the table. 

The last line? A tad trite. He describes what happens to the rat breeding program.

And Adam ruled, for he was the King. Until the day his will to be King deserted him. Then he died, food for a stronger. And the strongest was always the King, not by strength alone, but King by cunning and luck and strength together. Among the rats. 

Clavell, James - King Rat