“Midnight’s Children,” by Salman Rushdie

Atif Khan’s ratings:

1.      Premise 8

2.      Prose 9

3.      Plot 8

4.      Characters 9.5

5.      Overall 8.5

As I'm from India and the story is based in India and Pakistan, for me it was like listening the history by some kid who lives in fantasy because most of the historical facts which were given, were true. That's why if its name wasn't "Midnight's Children", it could be "History in Fantasy". The way "Salman Rushdie" described the historical facts and connected it with the story of Saleem, Amina and Aziz was mind blowing. But I was disappointed at once where I thought he'd meet his sister at somewhere end in the story, but it didn't happen. Overall I liked the book.

FM's ratings:

1.      Premise 7

2.      Prose 10

3.      Plot 7

4.      Characters 8

5.    Overall 8

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

The prose here is as good as prose gets.  Absolutely brilliant.  And that, presumably, is the chief reason why this book won the Booker Prize in 1981 and the Booker of Bookers in 1993.  Many of us have read at least one book that we loved, or at least were impressed with, that we struggled mightily to get through.  When I was young, “The Lord of the Rings” was one of the examples of that for me.  (Yes, it was actually 3 long books, but should be read as one work.)  “Midnight’s Children” was a struggle for me as well.  This was only 589 pages of mostly long, not-quite-rambling paragraphs and little dialog, though the content was captivating.  But it is also one of those books in which the Premise is essentially a biography (autobiography in first person) of a fictional character.  To me, that is no premise at all.  The 30 chapters were like 30 short stories that continued the thread of “the life and times of Saleem Sinai.”  Beautiful wrought – tediously paced.  So the plot gets a low score from me as well; though a “7” is relatively high, reflecting an appreciation for plot devices that very ingeniously tie the various episodes together.  Does this book deserve awards, prizes, accolades, in my opinion?  Definitely.  But I did feel like I was reading a book that was “good for me” in the way that eating Brussels sprouts is good for me, even if I have to choke down an entire plateful!

Here’s the February line-up!

“The Dog Who Came In From the Cold,” by Alexander McCall Smith [2-4-17]

“We Have Always Lived in the Castle,” by Shirley Jackson [2-11-17]

“Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie She’s Dead,” by Christiana Miller [2-18-17]

“Blade Runner 2: The Edge of Human,” by K. W. Jeter [2-25-17]

(As always, if there are any books you’d like to recommend for next month, please do so.  Also, if you have already read one on our previous lists, you are invited to send your ratings and or comments for that book!)

“The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner ,” by Stephenie Meyer

FM's ratings:

1.      Premise 8

2.      Prose 9

3.      Plot 8

4.      Characters 9

5.      Overall 8

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

If you didn’t like Meyer’s “Twilight” books, you might like this tie-in a little better.  Personally, I was very impressed with the series, though they weren’t exactly aimed at a man in his fifties.  The writing was panned for being too juvenile, the critics apparently unaware that it was told in first person by…a juvenile, duh.  I thought the prose captured the thoughts and feelings of the character, Bella, perfectly; and this book captures the thoughts and feelings of another young lady, Bree.  The love interest in this book was played down considerably compared to the series, albeit partly due to lack of space.  The most interesting aspect of this novel is the fact that it fills in the background of a major event in the series and then ties it together at the end by depicting the identical sequence of scenes in the previous work – and this was executed very well.  I suspect that if this novella – almost long enough to be considered a novel – had sold as well as the author had hoped, there would have been more like it.  The brevity may have short-circuited that plan, or the marketing dollars might not have been forthcoming, who knows.  A better approach might have been a true spin-off, with characters from the original series going off on a whole new storyline.  Whatever the case, I for one would like to see more dark fantasy from this talented writer, whose sci-fi foray, “The Host” didn’t work as well, largely due to the plot bogging down of its own weight.

Here’s the February line-up!

“The Dog Who Came In From the Cold,” by Alexander McCall Smith [2-4-17]

“We Have Always Lived in the Castle,” by Shirley Jackson [2-11-17]

“Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie She’s Dead,” by Christiana Miller [2-18-17]

“Blade Runner 2: The Edge of Human,” by K. W. Jeter [2-25-17]

(As always, if there are any books you’d like to recommend for next month, please do so.  Also, if you have already read one on our previous lists, you are invited to send your ratings and or comments for that book!)

“The Assembler of Parts,” by Raoul Wientzen

Michelle King’s ratings:

1.      Premise 8

2.      Prose 5

3.      Plot 6

4.      Characters 5

5.      Overall 4

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

I honestly struggled with this book a lot. The author is extremely descriptive, which I usually enjoy, but it felt unnecessary at times. It does have a very different point of view so I would give the premise an 8. Because of the often over descriptive writing I give the prose a 5. Plot I give a 6. Characters a 5. And overall a 4. It is a book that will bring up a lot of discussion but it didn't captivate my attention nor hold my interest. I enjoyed the idea but I feel the execution struggled. I'm sorry this isn't a very positive review, but I wanted to be truthful.  

FM's ratings:

          1. Premise 9
          2. Prose 6
          3. Plot 8
          4. Characters 7
          5. Overall 7

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

I like the premise of this book quite a lot, despite the somewhat overbearing religious tones.  I think Michelle is exactly on point about the prose being un-captivating.  The writing wasn’t sloppy or amateurish or confusing in any way; but rather “clinical” perhaps – as if written by a medical practitioner of some kind.  Which, of course, it was.  I think the author tried to escape that tone, but didn’t quite do so for me, though I expect many to disagree.  What we do get here is a very clear look at how being born with physical deformities, or being the parent of such a person, can be difficult in ways most of us don’t readily perceive.  The perspective of the special needs child, from the inside looking out, is nicely communicated here.  As a side bonus, the effect that alcoholism can have on extended family is viewed in a remarkably sensitive way, as well.  This book definitely has its merits; but it just falls a little short of being recommended by me.

“An Ice Cold Grave,” by Charlaine Harris

Kolby MacLennan’s ratings:

1.      Premise 8

2.      Prose 6

3.      Plot 7

4.      Characters 7

5.      Overall 7

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

The third book in the Harper Connelly series brings our protagonist on the case of a serial killer.  It keeps the flow of the previous novels but increases the suspense.  The prose is short and simple and easy to read, which is perfect for these fast reads.  The characters are interesting and Harper’s and Tolliver’s relationship continues to grow throughout this novel.  Harper’s self-pity helps define her character but does become grating during flashbacks, though the flashbacks help define the story over the course of the four novels.

FM’s ratings:

1.      Premise 9

2.      Prose 9

3.      Plot 8

4.      Characters 10

5.      Overall 9

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

Each series by Charlaine Harris is wonderful (though I have to admit, I haven’t read any of the Aurora Teagarden books yet – saving them for last!) but I have a special affinity for her darker ones, the Lily Bard Mysteries and the Harper Connelly Mysteries, of which this book is the third.  Interesting is the timing in this series of the first sex scene; a little more than halfway through third book out of four.  I usually dislike sex scenes in novels.  Not because I’m prudish – far from it – but because they seem like unnecessary baggage that doesn’t add anything to the plot.  The magnificent J. D. Robb novels about Eve Dallas always include a sex scene or two or three with her husband, and although they don’t detract, they certainly don’t add much.  A play-by-play of who sticks what where is about as interesting as a play-by-play of a golf tournament.  I can sort of see why some people might like to watch – but reading about it??  I just don’t get it.  (And the fact that there is an entire genre dedicated to it is absolutely absurd to me!)  But here, we have a situation where the couple have been raised as brother and sister – even though there is no common blood line, both having two completely different parents – and have been traveling together for years around the country, working together, each afraid that the other might be weirded out if they discover they love the other one.  The breakthrough scene is beautifully rendered, and the resulting sex scene is beautiful as a result.  I find myself so drawn in by this series that I might actually re-read them all someday.  I don’t think any other series can make that claim on me – this one just really hits a nerve.