"Specters," by J. M. Dillard

FM's rating:

1. Premise 7

2. Prose 7

3. Plot 7

4. Characters 7

5. Overall 7

Comments (optional – but try to keep it under 3000 words!)

Sevens across the board indicate a pretty balanced good-to-mediocre book.  No outstanding features, but no embarrassingly bad aspects either.  Worth the effort to read, not necessarily worth recommending.

Here’s the line-up for May!

“The Robber Bride,” by Margaret Atwood [5/2]

“Do Unto Others,” by Jeff Abbott [5/9]

“Salem Falls,” by Jodi Picoult [5/16]

“Rabbit, Run,” by John Updike [5/23]

“Murder on the Orient Express,” by Agatha Christie [5/30]

"Vineland," by Thomas Pynchon

FM's rating:

1. Premise 6

2. Prose 8

3. Plot 4

4. Characters 6

5. Overall 6

Comments (optional – but try to keep it under 3000 words!)

Thomas Pynchon is one of those authors who write so well their books ought to be great.  (Classic example: James Joyce.) Subsequently, the “experts” tell us they are.  Here, he’s trying to be cutting edge, modern and unique.  For some readers maybe he succeeds, but for me it comes off as rather pretentious and the result is a spectacular non-success.  He is so intent on running the plotline through an aesthetic Cuisinart that it never gains any traction.  A pity.

Here’s the May line-up: 

“The Robber Bride,” by Margaret Atwood [5/2]

“Do Unto Others,” by Jeff Abbott [5/9]

“Salem Falls,” by Jodi Picoult [5/16]

“Rabbit, Run,” by John Updike [5/23]

“Murder on the Orient Express,” by Agatha Christie [5/30]

 

"Midnight Crossroad," by Charlaine Harris

FM's rating:

1. Premise 9

2. Prose 8
3. Plot 7
4. Characters 8
5. Overall 8

Comments (optional – but try to keep it under 3000 words!)

Charlaine Harris has become my favorite female author; immensely entertaining, even when not at top form.  An “8” from me means “very good,” but not quite measuring up to excellent.  Still, a lot of fun!

"The City," by Dean Koontz

FM's rating:

1. Premise 7

2. Prose 8
3. Plot 8
4. Characters 9
5. Overall 8

Comments (optional - but try to keep it under 3000 words!)

It's hard to be objective about a writer's latest effort when you have already read 70 or so of his books, but this one is not in his top 10 percent.  Still, his style remains fresh, very readable, and full of surprising quirks!  When I rate a book an 8, that means "very good" and I would recommend it to anyone.