The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

Title: The Woman in White
Author: Wilkie Collins
Genre: Mystery, suspense, classic
Published: 1859
Source: Personal Copy
Read for: R.I.P. VII, A Classics Challenge, Back to the Classics Challenge, Chunkster Challenge, The Classics Club

On his way to a new job as a drawing master, Walter Hartright comes across a mysterious woman dressed only in white, in desperate need of his help. Little does he know that the mysterious woman is connected with his new situation for work, or how the circumstances will reveal to him a new life of love, conspiracy, and mystery.

I knew nothing about The Woman in White going into it except that it was some kind of thriller, and that most people who had read it thoroughly enjoyed it. After reading it, I think it is best to know very little about it because there are several plot twists and surprising revelations, so I am going to keep this review somewhat short and vague to avoid spoiling this book for anyone else.

The first thing I noticed was that Wilkie Collins is exceptionally good at painting the quirks and foibles of his characters. There is an air of sarcasm and wit in his writing, especially about his most ridiculous characters. The three I most enjoyed were Mr. Fairlie, a hypochondriac who can't bear to have his convenience disturbed, Count Fosco, a simpering, excessively sentimental man with many secrets, and Marian Halcombe, who is an extremely capable woman for literature of that time. I had to laugh at the first description of Marian, who is apparently the original "but-her-face" -- the narrator (at that point in the story -- it switches several times) describes her elegant, beautiful figure as he first meets her, and his shock when she turns around -- "the lady was ugly!" Despite her apparent lack of attractiveness, in her face at least, she is one of the strongest characters, and my only irritation was that her beautiful and weak-willed younger sister is more admired and loved than she is (although I detected an element of sarcasm in this from Collins as well). I also loved Mr. Fairlie's narrative voice -- he is so obnoxious and selfish, but in print it becomes hilarious. Here are his observations on tears, which made me laugh out loud (although I read it to my husband and he didn't find it nearly as humorous, so we'll see what you all think of it) --

Except when the refining process of Art judiciously removes from them all resemblance to Nature, I distinctly object to tears. Tears are scientifically described as a Secretion. I can understand that a secretion may be healthy or unhealthy, but I cannot see the interest of a secretion from a sentimental point of view. Perhaps my own secretions being all wrong together, I am a little prejudiced on the subject.

Priceless.

One thing I also appreciated about the novel was that every thing was spelled out in the end. We are led through several twists and turns of plot, but in the end, every question is satisfied. I am always so annoyed by loose ends being left at the end of a novel, and I loved that I could depend on Collins to answer all my questions.

There are several interesting plot turns in the novel. Because of the amount of detail, at times they can be guessed, simply because we are given so much evidence about everything, but for the most part I still found myself being surprised and enjoyed trying to put together the information on my own before the veil was lifted and everything was revealed.

The Woman in White was definitely a fun read. While it was certainly dated as far as women's rights are concerned, I loved the development of the characters and will be reading more of Collins' work.

4 stars

Warnings: Mild violence

A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Title: A Study in Scarlet
Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Genre: Mystery, classic
Published: 1887, originally
Source: Personal copy
Read for: R.I.P. VII, A Classics Challenge, The Classics Club

A Study in Scarlet introduces us to Sherlock Holmes, the quirky, deducing amateur detective who can assimilate any evidence into an excellent solution. In this book he meets Dr. Watson, who like him is looking for someone to share accommodations, and drags him along to solve the mystery of a man found dead, surrounded by blood (including the German word for "Revenge" written on the wall in blood) and yet not wounded himself.

I was very excited at the beginning of A Study in Scarlet. In the past I have only read short stories about Sherlock Holmes, and I loved the increased level of detail and depth in the story. I also loved getting to see more of the background behind Sherlock and Watson's relationship. Watson's first impressions of Sherlock were priceless, as were the details of Watson getting used to living with someone of Sherlock's odd and enigmatic personality.

Things became a little odd when the story reverted to the background behind the crime, otherwise known as the "Mormon" section. Reading the book as if it were just a fiction, it was interesting enough, but it was difficult for me to ignore the glaring errors and generalizations made about my religion. The story in and of itself was enjoyable, but do bear in mind that the story is meant to be thrilling, and that great liberties are taken with the historical facts. I'm not going to go through the whole book and point out all the untrue details because this is a book review, but if you have questions feel free to email me (my contact info is on the About Me page).

Other than the irritation there, the characters were delightful and the story held my interest. It is a short novella, easily read in a few hours, but it held more depth than the shorter Sherlock stories I have enjoyed in the past. It was exciting to be introduced to Sherlock and Watson and get background on their relationship. It definitely has me ready to read more of the longer Sherlock Holmes stories.

3.5 stars

Warnings: Violence

Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James

Title: Death Comes to Pemberley
Author: P.D. James
Genre: Historical fiction, mystery, spin-off
Publisher: Knopf, 2011
Source: Library
Read for: Fun

It is the evening before the Darcy's annual ball in honor of Mr. Darcy's mother, Anne. Everything is going well, with the Bingleys in the house for a visit and a potential romance in the air for Georgiana -- until someone rides into the estate shouting about gunshots and a wounded man. The main suspect is none other than Darcy's enemy and brother-in-law, Wickham. As the case goes to trial, the question is raised -- who is the murderer, and will the Darcys' reputations forever be besmirched?

I was pretty excited to read Death Comes to Pemberley. Regular readers of this blog know that I really enjoy spin-offs (to an extent -- you won't see a review of 50 Shades of Grey here), as well as Jane Austen. I've actually never read anything that goes beyond the story of Pride and Prejudice -- I've read books with the plot in other settings and time periods, but never any sequels or prequels. I was excited to see what P.D. James would do with the beloved characters created by Jane Austen. However, I found Death Comes to Pemberley to be a weak and slow-paced novel.

The first issue I had was the pacing. The descriptions were interminable and plodding. I enjoy many books that are slowly paced -- I like Jane Austen and the subtleties that exist in the books that she has written. However, the mimicry of her style did not work when not paired with her genius. I think P.D. James did well in imitating the style of Jane Austen, but the content was not up to par, which resulted in a pace that was far too slow.

I also took issue with the characterization. I didn't want to fall into the trap of disliking the story just because the characters were not exactly how I would picture Jane Austen's beloved cast of Pride and Prejudice -- but I must say I didn't think the way they were portrayed was how Jane Austen would have cast them. Elizabeth was mainly in the background, and frankly discusses the fact that Darcy's money was a primary motivation in her marriage to Darcy. She also bemoans the fact that they didn't have a romantic courtship. Really? I appreciate that perhaps P.D. James was trying to do something unique, but I thought these deviations were not in character with the original characters.

I did think the mystery was interesting, although somewhat predictable. I don't read many mysteries, because I think it is hard to find a good balance between a solution that is completely obscure and one that is too predictable, but I think Death Comes to Pemberley did fairly well with this. I also thought that, while some of the characters were not consistent with their inspirations from Pride and Prejudice, Wickham's future was very believable and consistent with his original character. I thought James was insightful into his personality. I also enjoyed the little connections to Jane Austen's other works. I'd never before considered the idea that Austen's characters were contemporaries in different parts of England and that they could have had acquaintances in common.

Overall, while Death Comes to Pemberley had an intriguing premise, the execution was lacking for me. It is clear that P.D. James is a talented writer, but this novel was a miss for me.

2 stars

Warnings: Some violence, talk of affairs

Book to Movie: Sherlock Holmes 2: A Game of Shadows

You may or may not have been subjected to my gushing when the first Sherlock Holmes movie came out. I absolutely loved it. In fact, I consider it to be one of my favorite movies. So I was very excited when the second movie was released. My husband and I are cheapskates (read: still in college) so we waited for it to hit the dollar movie, but we were definitely anticipating something wonderful when we headed into the crowded theater on Saturday night.

There are a few significant differences in what I came in with when I went to this second Sherlock Holmes movie. First of all, I had high expectations. I loved the first film, and I fully expected to love the sequel. Secondly, before I saw the first film, I had not read any Sherlock Holmes stories. Now, I've read two different volumes, so I have literary expectations as well.

While the film was enjoyable, it didn't live up to the first in my mind. Bear in mind that I do not even begin to pretend to be a film critic; I don't know anything about lighting or sets or cinematography or anything. I only know what I find appealing. So, if you are a film critic, please realize I am aware that my assessments are not in line with film theory. End of disclaimer.

Here are the things that disappointed me: (Spoilers are present, but you will be warned before they appear)

1. I'm not quite sure how to state this. The mood of the first film was really consistent -- dark, dreary, mysterious London. Everything seemed to mesh well together and the atmosphere was perfect. In the second film, we are a bit all-over-the-place -- Sherlock's house, a cabaret, a wedding, a train ride, all over Europe -- the mood seemed to be changing all the time. I guess I just enjoyed the mood in the first one so much I am a bit disappointed it wasn't finished.

2. I felt as if there was a bit too much slapstick in this film. In other words, the pony-riding scene (and a little bit the cross-dressing scene) just about killed me. I know that Sherlock's idiosyncratic personality definitely allows for some humor, but I prefer it a bit more subtle. It seemed as if whomever makes those decisions was trying too hard for a laugh in this case. Granted, I haven't read all of the Sherlock stories and there could be literary evidence for these scenes, in which case I would forgive them.

3. ***SPOILER*** The end, when Sherlock turns out to be alive. I thought the scene was well done, but I don't think it would have really happened. In the story when he tumbles down the cliff with Moriarty (it's a cliff in the book), I had the impression that it was the end, that he'd finally met his match, not that he'd almost met his match but was going to dramatically reappear afterward. I think they probably want to make another film out of it, but it bothers me because it is so drastically off of the stories. The majority of both films are different from the books, but they at least stay true to the general concept. Sherlock coming back to life seems completely off.

However, there were of course some things I enjoyed. I love Watson and Sherlock's relationship. I also absolutely adore Mary, Watson's wife. While she isn't thoroughly in on and the action, she is definitely spunky and manages to get in some great moments. And ***SPOILER*** I thought everything with Irene Adler was extremely well done. Despite the fact that she is only slightly present in the stories, I loved her in the films, with her complicated relationship with Sherlock and her duplicitousness. I was sad to see her go, but I thought the way Sherlock handled it, verbalizing nothing but clearly still experiencing pain, was portrayed really well.

So in short -- it is a good movie, enjoyable, but I'm glad I only saw it in the dollar theater. I don't plan on seeing it again, while I have my own copy of the first movie that I tend to watch over and over. If a third movie does come out, I will see it, but I will grumble.

Book to Movie: The Ruby in the Smoke

A few weeks ago, my husband and I were trying to think of something to do on a Friday night. I mentioned that I'd checked out a movie from the library and he just looked at me and said, "It's one of your BBC book-to-film movies, isn't it?" Um... yes? Do I even watch anything else anymore?

Anyway, I was very excited to notice a mention of The Ruby in the Smoke on a blog that I forgotten now (I'm sorry that I forgot you, by the way, because I am very grateful that I came across your post). His Dark Materials, another trilogy by Phillip Pullman, is collectively my second favorite book, and I read the Sally Lockhart trilogy by Phillip Pullman soon afterward and loved it almost as much. (There is also a companion book which is even better -- The Tin Princess). I read these books over and over again, at least three times, but I hadn't thought of them in years.

Because it had been so long since these books had even crossed my mind, the opening scenes of The Ruby in the Smoke were pure magic for me. They brought me back ten years into one of my favorite books. When Jim came on the screen, I just about died -- he is one of my biggest literary crushes of all time, and seeing him speaking and moving on the screen instead of just in my mind was unbelievable, especially when he was in a scene with Adelaide, the little girl he promises to protect.

When I get outside of my personal nostalgic bias towards this story, the movie itself was only mediocre. It is a spare 90 minutes long, and while this was good for the pacing and the action, it did nothing for the character development. So much happens in this story that all the attention is given to the action. And while the story is a nice, exciting mystery, complete with opium, dazzling rubies, not one but TWO handsome men and a murderous middle-aged crone with no teeth who buries little girls in her yard, the real allure for me was always the characters and how much I loved them. I enjoyed the hour and a half I spent watching the movie, but if I hadn't already been in love with and invested in the characters and story, I think it would have been a weak effort. So overall, if you already love this story, you'll have fun with the movie. If not, read the book, and then we'll talk.

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

Title: Rebecca
Author: Daphne Du Maurier
Genre: Classic, romance, mystery, suspense
Publisher: Avon, 1938
Source: Borrowed from my sister
Read for: Fun, reread

Mrs. de Winter has fallen in love abroad, been swept off her feet by the widower Maxim de Winter. After a perfect honeymoon, he brings her home to Manderley, his sprawling, elegant estate, and Mrs. de Winter falls in love with it. However, as the days pass at Manderley, Mrs. de Winter feels the presence of Maxim's first wife, Rebecca, from the organization of the desk to the untouched west wing where she used to sleep. Will Rebecca's legacy -- or her devoted friend and housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers -- destroy Mrs. de Winter's happiness?

I've mentioned before on this blog that I read Rebecca first in the eighth grade, when we were given a choice of about six books and we read them like a little book club. I was drawn in by the romantic cover and name, and I remember enjoying (and being shocked) by the story. A few years later, when my sister read the book in school, she decided it was her favorite book and bought a copy. While I remembered the barest details of the plot, I couldn't remember much about the book except that I had enjoyed it, so I decided to reread it. I have been planning on rereading it for about six or seven years now, and I've finally gotten to it.

One thing that stood out to me on this rereading, something that may have escaped me when I read it at thirteen, is the abundant and descriptive language. Du Maurier is not sparing with her words, but in this case it gives a strong sense of atmosphere that pervaded me entirely while I was reading the book. I could vividly picture the morning room at Manderley, the eerily preserved west wing, the abandoned cottage by the sea. Like Mrs. de Winter, surrounded by the ghost of Rebecca in her home, I had a strong sense of her character, her personality, even though she is never actually living in the book.

The story itself is also compelling, despite its slow, languid pace. It revels in descriptions and details, but it places them conveniently, in a way that tantalizes and arouses questions in suspicions. While the story is slowly paced rather than snapping and thrilling, every word is well-placed. I don't feel that the language is superfluous; it simply paints a more complete picture.

Another aspect of the novel that I'm certain I wasn't aware of the first time I read it is its connection with Jane Eyre. Reading the book with that perspective in mind gave it new depth to me. I could definitely see the connection between Maxim and Mr. Rochester (and it begs the question -- whose act is more despicable?). The connection with Jane and our lovely nameless narrator is less obvious -- while they are both "plain and little," with no money or family to speak of, Jane is plucky and moral whereas our lovely nameless narrator does whatever her dear Maxim does. If you really want to get into those comparisons, Raych has done a magnificent job, and I refer you to her post about it.

So overall? Thoroughly satisfying reread. If I could sum up Rebecca in one hyphenated word, it would be well-crafted. Every detail was thought of, every scene played out with painstaking surety, leading to the devastating climax, which was depressing in more than just one way -- it was also depressing to know I will never be able to write like that. Oh well, at least I can read it.

4.5 stars

Warnings: Vague allusions to scandal, homicide

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

Title: The Historian
Author: Elizabeth Kostova
Genre: Historical fiction, mystery, horror
Publisher: Little, Brown, and Company, 2005
Source: Borrowed from Kathryn
Read for: R.I.P. VI

Motherless protagonist-girl-with-no-name (way to pull a Rebecca, here, Ms. Kostova) and her diplomat father live happily in Amsterdam. They share the same passion for books and history, and as the girl grows up, he begins including her in his trips to the great cities of Europe. However, one day she finds a mysterious, ancient book hidden away at the top of her father's shelves, and when she asks her father about it, he only reveals the story in terse, frightened fragments. This story has affected all of the girl's family, and it leads to a monster who is all too historical and real -- Vlad Drakulya, the Impaler.

Before I launch into review-mode, can I just give a quick kudos to Stainless Steel Droppings for hosting such an incredible challenge? I am sad to see it end tonight on All Hallows' Eve (although to be honest, there are four more books in my stack and I am fully intending on finishing them all this year, even though the season will have passed). Evidently I love creepiness, something I never really knew about myself before. Anyway, on to the actual point of this post...

The Historian is a beast -- 638 pages of small print and heavy drama. Therefore, it is highly impressive to me that Kostova is able to hold the thread of narrative so masterfully straight through the pages. She layers three different stories -- that of the girl, her father, and her father's graduate school advisor, Professor Rossi -- revealing clues about Dracula and his connection one dangling filament at a time. I think this is in large part due to her lovely writing. She manages to be minutely detailed without (for the most part) letting the narrative drag. Certain writers (Erin Morgenstern and Diane Setterfield come immediately to mind because their works are the most recent that I've read possessing this quality) use a style that is descriptive yet fluid, wordy in a pleasing sense rather than a choking one. Kostova also falls into this category.

The story itself is also genuinely thrilling most of the time. True to its name, woven into the plot are numerous historical facts, and much of the narrative revolves around research, finding new information about Dracula as clues to the whereabouts of his tomb. In general, I enjoyed this. It was interesting to learn about the middle ages, about the geography of conquests and the rituals of small Eastern European villages. The folk music in particular interested me, although obviously I couldn't hear it -- I spent the better part of a year slaving (and I do mean slaving) over this Bartok piece, the second of "Two Roumanian Dances." (And trust me, it was no picnic for my family to listen to me play this every day. My husband runs from the room screaming when I play it now). (Also, this isn't me. Just some fabulous youtuber, who plays much better than I do).

However, occasionally the history got a bit thick for my taste. While I was the one person in my study abroad group to actually enjoy the Cluny museum in Paris (focus on medieval artifacts), sometimes the constant talk about documents and dates left me slightly confused. However, in general it was fascinating and interesting.

Like the inclusion of so much history, for the most part the plot was stellar but in a few instances failed to impress. This incarnation of Vlad Dracula was amazing. He is frightening, he is suave, he is unrelentingly bookish -- as one character said, "I almost like him" -- but at the same time he is so evil that the sentences describing him elicited real shudders from me. The events leading up to meeting with the actual character are equally chilling, causing me to think twice before entering a dark room and look behind me when I walked down the street. However, some of the events were a bit repetitious and felt contrived. The first time someone was found murdered after trying to find books about Dracula, I was shocked. The second time, concerned. After that, it became predictable. Hmm, they are looking at an ancient document about Dracula and a creepy man is staring at them. I wonder if anyone is going to die...? However, in general it was well done. I was fascinated in the characters' travels through Eastern Europe and absorbed in the relationships between the characters, individuals who formed close friendships and romances throughout the book.

If you are looking for a light, easy read, don't look for it here. However, if you are interested in a creepy, intellectual read that you will walk away from with new knowledge about the middle ages (and a few nightmares, most likely), this is the book for you. And if you are a fan of big books and excellent writing, you will probably love it even more.

4 stars

Warnings: Violence, scary

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Title: The Thirteenth Tale
Author: Diane Setterfield
Genre: Literary fiction, contemporary fiction, mystery
Publisher: Atria Books, 2006
Source: Borrowed from my sister-in-law
Read for: R.I.P. VI Challenge

Margaret Lea lurks around her father's used bookshop, immersed in dusty classics (the older, the better) and writing short works on obscure authors. When popular, contemporary author Vida Winter contacts her, requesting that she write her biography, Margaret is shocked for two reasons: first of all, she has never read anything by Winter (written too recently), and second of all, Vida Winter is known for inventing multiple stories about her past, none of them true. What Margaret doesn't realize is that when she accepts this request, she will not only learn the truth about Vida Winter's life, but the truth about her own as well.

I've had a surprisingly fantastic run of books lately. I guess I should read more creepy books, since most of what I am reading is for the R.I.P. VI challenge. The Thirteenth Tale was a sophisticated, enthralling read that left me eager to find out both Vida and Margaret's stories and in raptures over the beautifully constructed sentences.

Let's start with those sentences, shall we? Setterfield's writing style is just what I like. She is lavish with details, giving a full and beautiful picture of each scene, and yet sharp and witty, preventing the plot from being bogged down. The story is written from Margaret's perspective, and I loved her almost immediately - quirky, bookish, and decidedly charming. She seems to slam her finger on sensations I've grasped at but never fully been able to describe. For example.

All day I struggled with the sensation of stray wisps of one world seeping through the cracks of another. Do you know the feeling when you start reading a new book before the membrane of the last one has had time to close behind you? You leave the previous book with ideas and themes -- characters even -- caught in the fibers of your clothes, and when you open the new book they are still with you. 

Loved that.

The plot as well did not disappoint me, and was revealed in tantalizing little fragments that left me desperate for more time to read. Ms. Winter's tale is a bizarre and ghostly one, complete with broken taboos and spooky red-haired children. As Margaret teases and untangles this tale thread by thread, ghosts tend to make appearances, giving not only Margaret but me as well a jump and an accelerated heart rate. The "great reveal" at the end was a shock to me -- I had certainly not been able to unravel the mystery on my own. And while we are aware of Margaret's private sorrow for most of the story, the exact nature of that sorrow is also revealed more explicitly -- and meaningfully -- at the end of the story, leaving us with a satisfying and poignant ending.

This book also had the bonus factor of being centered around bookish and literary people (and therefore, people that I adored and identified with). One of the most priceless scenes occurs when Margaret falls ill, and the doctor asks her, in (pretty much) all seriousness, if she is a reader of the Brontes and Jane Austen, and if she does, in fact, read them over and over. When she nods, he prescribes her this: "Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes. Take ten pages a day, twice a day, until end of course." So if my heart hadn't been won already, it certainly would have been won by that prescription. I think we all need a doctor like that.

I think this contemporary novel has special appeal for classics readers -- readers who crave depth and beautiful language with their moving stories and lovable characters. This is the perfect read for a fall or winter day with a blanket, a cup of something hot, and several uninterrupted hours. You won't regret it.

4.5 stars

Warnings: Domestic abuse, brief sensuality and innuendo, disturbing themes

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

Title: The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
Author: Arthur Conan Doyle
Genre: Classic, mystery
Publisher: (This version) Penguin, 2011
Source: NetGalley
Read for: Review, R.I.P Challenge

Sherlock Holmes is truly a name that needs no introduction, but I do briefly want to explain this version. It is meant to correlate with the film coming out in December (anyone out there as excited as I am?). The first film was based on The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, a similar volume containing short stories of Holmes' and Watson's adventures, and I am under the impression that this release contains the inspiration for the new film. It has a significant story about Professor Moriarty, so I'm guessing that is the case. Regardless, I loved the first movie and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (I'm still hoping to make use of my plan to be Irene Adler for Halloween one of these years) and I as excited to read Memoirs.

Dorky Holmes. 

One thing I immediately noticed is that the Sherlock Holmes of Memoirs is much saltier than the Holmes of Adventures. It may just be my memory, but in Adventures, he is milder - still
obsessive, still inhumanly intelligent, but a little more believable as the icon of Sherlock Holmes I always pictured as a child (you know, funny hat, mustache, spectacles, a little dopey). However, the Sherlock Holmes of Memoirs is much more akin to the character pictured in the first film  - a boxer, addicted to cocaine, living in filth when he can't find a case, and, overall, rather alluring. We also find out more details from Holmes' personal life in Memoirs - we have the opportunity to read his first case, before his friendship with Watson began, and are also introduced to a family member. We see Holmes a bit more vulnerable than perhaps we've seen him before (although I should concede that Adventures begins with Holmes being bested by Irene Adler, definitely a vulnerable spot for him). In any case, I enjoyed the characterization of Holmes much more in this book - I feel like he is more developed as a character. And I was happy to see that the filmmakers weren't just taking liberties and making Holmes more appealing - he really does have the traits he is given in the films.

Awesome Holmes. 

The stories themselves left me with mixed feelings. I'm not generally a mystery lover - it is one of the few genres I tend to avoid (although I'm planning on giving Jasper Fforde a try next year). The Sherlock Holmes books are among the few mysteries that I read, and it is because I enjoy Holmes and Watson's personalities more than anything. Stories that did stand out to me were "The Musgrave Ritual" because it was creepy and unique, "The Greek Interpreter" due to the family member we were introduced to and the awesome interplay between Holmes and his relative, and "The Final Problem," because it related to Moriarty. While not all the stories stood out to me, they were all well-written and interesting. It's always fascinating to see how Holmes finds his solutions - occasionally I can pick them out, but in general it isn't until his logic unveils the secret that I can understand how he solved the problem. It would be interesting to have known Arthur Conan Doyle - I wonder if he puzzled things out the same as Holmes.

So overall - an enjoyable addition to the Sherlock Holmes books. By no means my favorite book of all time, but certainly enjoyable, and I can't wait for the movie to come out.

3.5 stars

Warnings: Unlawful behavior. Obviously.

YA Friday: A Tale of Two Castles by Gail Carson Levine

Title: A Tale of Two Castles

Author: Gail Carson Levine

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Mystery

Publisher: Harper Collins, 2011

Source: NetGalley

Elodie is excited to leave her home for Two Castles to find an apprenticeship. She has always dreamed of being a mansioner (basically an actress/troubadour) and can't wait to become an apprentice and learn her trade. However, when she arrives in Two Castles, things are a bit different than she expected. She becomes the unlikely assistant to a dragon and must solve a mystery to save one (or both) rulers of the two castles.

First, let me say that I adore Gail Carson Levine. I haven't read everything she's written (I've mostly read things she published before 2001 or so) but when I was younger her books absolutely enchanted me. (That was not an intentional pun). Enchanted was hilarious and captivating, The Two Princesses of Bamarre was my favorite book for years, and even Levine's non-magical book, Dave at Night, was an excellent read. She is the first author that I ever heard speak, and one of the reasons I wanted to start writing again - after her presentation, I felt the urge that I had ignored since high school. So you could say I have pretty high expectations.

While A Tale of Two Castles was definitely a fun read, it didn't quite meet my expectations for a Gail Carson Levine book. It seemed a bit more scattered to me. In the books I have read by Levine, the characters always have a very definite purpose. Ella is trying to overcome her curse. Addie is trying to save her sister's life. Elodie is trying to become a mansioner... and not displease Masteress Meenore... and save Jonty Um... and figure out who is a whited sepulcher... etc. She has a lot more going on. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it led to the story to feel all-over-the-place. Elodie is trying to deal with so many different issues and she is distrustful of everyone. The plot wasn't necessarily poorly constructed, but it wasn't as well constructed as Levine's other works.

This book may not have meshed as well for me also because it is a (very slight) retelling of Puss in Boots, a fairy tale I am not at all familiar with. All I know is that it involves a cat. I didn't realize this was the case until I saw it on Levine's website. She even says that she doesn't expect everyone to get the connection, but once I did, the story made a bit more sense to me.

Still, despite my slight disappointment with the book, it was exciting. I was late off my break twice because I wanted to find out what happened next. I felt sympathy for Elodie - I wanted things to work out for her. I was curious about the solution to the mystery - because everyone looks suspicious, it really is difficult to know who was guilty (I don't want to give too much detail on the crime because it happens towards the middle of the book). This is a decent read. It is entertaining. However, I've seen Levine do much better.

3 stars

The Lost Symbol

I thought this was an interesting cover - I'd never seen it before. Anyway...

I listened to The Lost Symbol on CD, something I don't normally do. I have a horror of "missing something" and so I usually prefer to keep my stories in print. When I do listen on CD, I tend to push the back button multiple times in case I missed something. But my then-fiance was embarking on a 12 hour drive alone and I was worried about him staying awake, so I got him something to keep his eyes opened. Because I have an hour-both-ways drive every week, I decided to give this book a try.

The premise: Robert Langdon of the Micky Mouse watch and tweed jacket has been called to give a last minute lecture in Washington D.C. by his mentor, the eminent Mason Peter Solomon. When he arrives, he is thrust into an unexpected (but is it really? This is Dan Brown) quest to decipher clues to protect an ancient secret.

Honestly, with this book I got exactly what I expected. It followed the Dan Brown formula to a T. (To be fair, I haven't read any of his books that are not about Robert Langdon. Those may actually have a different plot). We have a mysterious villain, several puzzle pieces that could only be deciphered by a master of symbology (enter Langdon) and an intelligent woman to help him along the way. One thing I've noticed about the Langdon books that I appreciate is that there is always a huge wrenching twist at the end where you realize, this person is not who I thought they were! It's typical of Dan Brown (I can think of this exact twist in all three Langdon books, arriving at approximately the same point in each book) but it is still fun to realize you've been fooled. In some ways I got what I was looking for. My mind was entertained while I drove. The tension built up, and I was occasionally late as I waited a couple of minutes in the car once I got to my destination at the end of the hour commute.

However, (and I believe this is the main complaint with Brown's other books) outrageous claims are made that, instead of adding to the enjoyment of the mystery, weaken the credibility. The main thing I'm thinking about here is "breathable liquid." Also, the "noetic science" thing drove me up a wall a little as well. I'm not denying that the brain has untapped potential and that we don't know more than we do know. I don't believe that the mind is a simple manifestation of cortical firing. However, I don't know if I believe that the pineal gland is the seat of the mind. Kathryn Solomon describes a study where they study yogis' brains and note that the pineal gland secretes a waxy substance that somehow empowers them. I don't know if this is true. I would imagine that Dan Brown has really encountered this study - most of his "outrageous claims" do have some tie to the real world. But I don't know if the study itself is actually relevant. The idea of the pineal gland as the seat of interactions between spiritual mind and biological brain comes from Descartes, who believed that "animal spirits" directed the brain through the pineal gland. So it seems that the yogi-pineal gland connection is rooted in philosophy, not science. Anyway, I'll get off that neuro soapbox now.

One more thing before I end. While I was listening to this book, I ended up walking home from class behind a girl talking on her cell phone. She was talking about The Lost Symbol so I found myself listening. She started ranting about how she was so angry because everything built up to this climax and then there were twenty more pages at the end "that I like, didn't even read I was so mad." There is a lot more calm-down time at the end of The Lost Symbol than the other Langdon books, but I actually thought it was pretty interesting, although at times annoying (re: pineal gland discussion). So if you expect all action from Brown, bear in mind that this book is a little more contemplative than the other two Langdon books.

So, overall...

Accessibility/readability - It was very easy to follow and listen.

Aesthetics/literary merit - 2. It wasn't poorly written or anything (as far as I could tell from listening) but aesthetics was definitely not the point here.

Plot - 3. It was fine. It held my interest.

Characters - 1.5. There really isn't any character development here, although Brown does mark them with idiosyncrasies (my favorite is Langdon's Mickey Mouse watch). The .5 is because the villain is honestly a pretty good villain, even though he behaves in a too typical manner with no surprises.

Personal experience: 2.5. I got what I was looking for - a little entertainment on a boring drive. I probably wouldn't recommend this book unless you really love Dan Brown or need an easy read.

Overall: 2