Book Review : "Twilight" (S. Meyer)

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVED IT! I just loved it and love it and loved it! I actually saw the movie before reading the book (sorry, never happened before!). Basically THE story to be read at the moment. Got it in my thoughts since seeing some preview of the second movie of the sequel "New Moon".

You who do not like vampire nor varewolve, beware! (you may still read this review AND the book as it IS worth it!).

Story starts when Bella, 17, moves to her father in Forks and yes, high-school's boring, but NOT when you have the Cullens family in the neighbourhood. Vampires drinking only animal blood (in other word "Vegetarian Vampires"), the Cullens are called the "Cold Ones" in older legends from the Indian reservation close to Forks. Of course the young heroin fall in love with the Vampire Edward (Soooooooooooooo lovely both IN the book and in the movie!). Forbidden love of course, which makes the WHOLE story so much better to read. The action is there constantely, from page one to the final one. When the tracker vampire James get to smell Bella, he just cannot give her up and will be chasing her (and be chased by Edward) until, well sorry to say it, he is caught and die (Japp! vampires DO die).

Basically the story is bewitching, could not let the book go. Had it read in the bus to/from work, before sleeping, during any little break allowing me to read (name it!). Cannot remember a book I became so addicted too (well actually might be compared on the "addiction point of view" to the second volume of Stieg Larsson, see my review below). Of course, I might mention that I just love stories with vampires. not the bloody and gore ones, but the one of this kind : )
The way Meyer writes, the way she describes feelings, landscapes, situation... hard to master better than she did.
The whole story about the editing/publishing of the book makes it also think about twice: How do publishing houses do their job? Rejecting this fabulous story must be on the long list of regrets of several publishing houses!
The part I still need to understand is why Edward (the vampire) needs to repeat again and again that he and Bella should not be together. The forbidden fruit is so temptating. The author spends a bit too much time on this. A bit too much when you actually read the book almost all at once. So you remember the wording of previous chapter, by memory. Bella could have been a bit less shallow for my taste (I rightly fell for the vampire-clan, so...). This might also be a bit disturbed by the fact I saw the movie before the book.
Have to comment shortly the movie then: Great approach of the book. Have rarely seen a movie covering so well a book. Really. And the choice of actors was great. (Once again, fan of the Vampire clan!). Some of the book descriptions were therefore not having so much depth in my head as I had the movie image in the back of it!

This wonderful piece of science-fiction-fantasy made my days (and nights!). Meyers proves herself being a great storyteller and I thank her for that. Might have been a bit disturbed by having seen the characters in the movie. But I am encline to say that they were perfectly chosen for it. One point I actually found interesting is the fact that vampires were able to go under the sun light. The only little catch is that they do sparkle then, like diamonds. This change a bit my view of this kind (as well as the BBC serie "Only Human") did. I would have like Meyers to skip some of her description about "love me love me not", between Bella and Edward. OR making it a deeper search and description of their feelings (rather than repeating "you should not love me" "well I may do but we a re not right to each other"...). Still when you put apart this, the story is still a great fantasy.

So long, would recommend it for any age. Try to skip the film before the book. Had just to devore the sequel "New Moon after this (less than four days, with most of my nights - closed curtains...just in case!). Relaxing, tempting, exciting, adorable, transcending... even with few flows, it makes it great!
For this first volume of Stephenie Meyer sequel I would give a strong 9 out of 10. Have already finished the second volume and cannot WAIT to acquire the third and fourth. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

Book Review : "Debout les morts" (F. Vargas)

Once again, she did it! I cannot understand this inconsistency in her writing. Or it is definitely that I am picking the wrong order for her book to read! This one is a real winner. The story is light and charming, captivating the reader from the first page to (almost) the last one.

Story in brief: A tree appears in the garden of an Opera singer. No one seems to understand how it came there during the night. The house in front get inhabited by three - no, four- interesting guys (who happened to appear in "Un peu plus loin sur la droite" - see my review below). Then it is a long and intriguing story about the stramge disparition of the Opera singer, her niece appearing, a husband less than bothered by his missing wife, a friend-tenant of a restaurant with piano and singing talents... without forgetting the three evangelists and a retired police inspector.

Seriously, could you do better? I was astonished really by the shorteness of the story and still all the intrigue, keeping its secret until the final pages. I adored to read about the three+one characters who are appearing in other books from Vargas. Always good to read how the whole thing started! Love the description. Sometimes it is a bit too long when Vargas try to describe the thoughts and talking of some of the evangelists (either during the medieval age or the first WW). I felt a bit lost and have to say that it was a bit too long now and then. She could have cut it short! But apart from that, great book, great intrigue. Difficult to get it straight (I mean the solution to the riddle) but Vargas leaves actually some ideas now and then to make it feasible!
A bit too quick denouement for my taste, but still keeping the story well done.

I recommend this book with a strong 7 out of 10. Mostly due to the "unbalance" delivery among all Vargas books ; )
A

Book Review : "L'homme aux cercles bleus" (F. Vargas)

Where should I start? At the moment, reading helps to get other ideas in my mind, help to escape the cruel reality of life and help to enjoy a bit more travel to/from work (rain rain rain, when will you ever stop?!). From my trip to France I came back with loads of books, among others several from F. Vargas (see previous reviews from this author). This book was read in original language (French) with a title "The man with blue circles". Once again, catchy title! Which made me chose it to be read first.

In Paris start to pop up blue circles surrounding simple objects from daily life, abandoned on the street, with a little text: "Victor, bad lot, what are you doing out?" (Well sounds much better in French actually!). Easy to guess that sooner or later those small things will left their place to a body. And here it comes, and once again the superintendent Adamsberg is there to find the murderer.

Sorry, you know now he will find eventually what happened with those bodies (Oops! Yes, several bodies it is). I cannot understand that F. Vargas was writing this book after I read "A little more on the right". The story is long to start, the action is definitely not breath taking, the affair of Adamsberg and the little "chérie" Camille has no place in the whole story ... Briefly it felt that the author needed to fill in the pages. The chapters are looooong, the intrigue is confusing, the characters not that attaching, well a good book if you have problems to sleep. Yes, really.
Disappoinment to the highest level. The outcome is absolutely not worth the time spent on the reading of all the other pages.

One positive thing is to read about the story of Adamsberg (which has popped up in other books I already read). Quite nice to understand how he got in Paris and bla bla bla. But it feels a bit cliché with the second in command drinking from 3 in the afternoon and unable to look at corpse, the stranger happening to be the mum of the affair-lady... well, a bit too much in one bag.

I am not recommending at all this book, which I am only proud of having read until the end. Not worth buying, if you really want to give it a try, borrow it from a friend or at the library. I give it a 4 out of 10 (for the surroundings in the book, the intrigue which could have been good and sometimes is - i.e. a few pages are indeed really good but unfortunately lost in the mass of the others!). I'll start another one for ensuring not to have bought the other Vargas in vain!!! My wonder is if Vargas is actually writing unconsistently good and bad at the same time (see previous reviews as well). Let's see... you will definitely hear from me about this soon!

Book Review : "La prophétie des Andes" // "The Celestine Prophecy" (J. Redfield)

This one was different. No crime scene, no warrior, no princess to be saved. Return to the basics: what do you learn from your experiences and do you believe in coincidences. The author drives us through a breath-taking journey throughout the book (which I read in French, by the way, but might be worth finding the original version as some ideas seem to have been translated a bit quick...). The narrator is in the middle of a personal crisis when a long time friend take contact with him after years of silence to discuss her recent discovery: a manuscript dated 600B.C. discovered in Peru which intriguingly the Peruvian government (and Church) try to any price to destroy.
The narrator will start a journey from the U.S: to Peru in the search for this manuscript. The recent translation of the manuscript seem to threaten politics and clerical powers. From the beginning of the book to the final page an intensive race to discover the contents of the manuscript is started. The narrator will get to learn and experience one by one the "Insights" described in the manuscript, starting by the fact that people can create coincidence and need to live to a higher level of spirituality. The manuscript described 9 insights (the 9th to be discovered) which have to be experienced and understood one by one.
Throughout the journey the narrator will meet people "by coincidence" and finally understand that one can create one's own coincidence (as a response to one's past life and choices).

The book is written as a novel and easy read. The nine insights are of diverse difficulty to understand and reproduced (yes, I tried to see the energy between my fingers during a few minutes, but unfortunately I did not succeed as the narrator of the book). This spiritual journey deals with energy, ethic, culture, social contact and relations... Well all what is needed to make a good Earth and life. As written above, the action is never stopping (I felt a bit tired now and then by the looooooong chapters, as being a person wanting/liking more shorter chapters or at least looooong chapters with parts in them). It does start a reflection on who you are, where you are going, why are you here and now, where will you go.

Based on spiritual search, the author describe a quest towards the energy interactions and how to generate such energy. The descriptions are well-done and makes the reader (or at least me!) wanting to look for more. However and despite the interest in the quest, I found all the happenings coming too quick and coincidence for coincidence, they do appear a bit too overrated. The narrator meets people (ok, with that!) but the coincidences are that each person he met is at the "insight" he needs to learn... Speak about coincidence!!! I would have liked to have the story taking a bit longer in order to assimilate the purpose and depth of the Insights, rather than having to check back in the book "what was the 4th Insight about already?". The speed of the novel is both pro & cons of the story. All happens way too fast (for my taste!)

I recommend this book and give it a 6.5/7 out of 10 (mainly due to the speed of the action. Otherwise it would have been an 8)! I will sart soon the following book (still in French!)

So get this book and start working on your energy! The Earth might find a savior in every one of us if we focus towards the same accomplishment...

Book Review : "Across the Nightingale Floor" (L. Hearn)

First book of the Trilogy "Tale of the Otori". The story takes place in the medieval Japan but not so much that it is actually changed from part to part. The main character Tomasu is saved from a certain death by Lord Shigeru Otori, warlord who is loved by the people of the land. The oppression of the wild Lord Iida is not helping their feeling. Tomasu will become Shigeru adopted son, reminding this latter one of his brother dead in a terrible battle.
Well so far so good, sounds like a normal nice tale. What about adding to this special powers that Tomasu (which name is changed to Takeo) is developping, like extreme developed sense of hearing, the arrival of a Master from a secret People calling themselves the Tribe and requesting Takeo to be bring back to them. Takeo's powers are increasing (becoming invisible, being a two place at once, art skills...), all to become the greatest assassin that his "people" from the Tribe are asking for. But his destiny is linked to the Otori and a plan to assassinate the Great Iida is put in place...

No, you won't read more about this tale. Greatly written, the suspens is constant, the characters well-described and really you want to be there. Now and then the action tends to be a bit slow (or was it my brain and all what my life went through recently?!?!?). Anyway, I recommend it strongly for the magic, love, revenge and suspense as described by the Independent on Sunday reviews. However if you are searching for sex, well, disappointment will be there (depending on your expectations ; ) Indeed the story between Takeo and the beautiful Kaede, so impossible to become true, so true to become real, will keep you alert (or at least it did to me!), with beautiful description of feeling and impossible love.
I adore litterally the story of the "nightingale floor", floor made of wood whiche makes noise each time you walk on it, so that the Great warlords can sleep in peace (as they would hear if any one is coming to them... smart isn't it?!?!? Me who is always complaining about our wooden floor at home which creaks so much!!! Well, I am no Warlady!)

I am starting the second part of this trilogy of the Otori (have been searching for the three books for the past two years as not being able to get all of them at once!). I would give this first part a strong 7.5/10 and recommend it to anyone searching for escape from our crazy world!

Book Review : "Un peu plus loin sur la droite" (F. Vargas)

Ok, now I found back the fun of reading Vargas. After a bit disappointment with "Those who are about to die salute you" (See previous book review), I jump (literally) to the next book. "A bit more on the right" sounded quite fun actually for a title (therefore my acquisition!). After reading s few pages I regretted a bit my purchase as I was expecting Adamsberg. BUT BUT BUT the suspense is SOOOOOO great, I found my purchase being a great investment!
A recently dismissed inspector (Kehlweiler or "The German")makes a new exciting discovery in a little piece of bone found on a tree in Paris. The action brings him miles away from there where a clear strange story has happened.
Yes, I won't say no more. This book is ingeniously written, drive you crazy so that you cannot leave it until finished. The author drops now and then some hints, and the help provided to Kehlweiler in the figures of Saints is just great. You fall attached to them and really appreciate their participation to the action. Sometimes it feels that real life could never be this way. And indeed it is not real life, it is pure action-fantasy-polar-roman. The intrigue is followed as a red line throughout the book and F.Vargas does a great job in using short/relatively short chapters, keeping us/me/the reader on the edge.

As you notice, I am not too keen this time in giving much more details. This book is just to be read! I strongly recommend it with a strong 8.5/9 out of 10. The other books will follow, hopefully being cast in the same mould. Just enjoy!

Book Review : "Ceux qui vont mourir te saluent" (F. Vargas)

Have finished this book a while ago actually. But the review is coming a bit late. Now good/bad excuse for it. Here it comes: "Those who are about to die salute You" (in English):A sketch signed Michel Angelo appear on the market. A recognised connoisseur suspects it comes from the archives of the Vatican (Rome). He is suddenly murdered during a pagan party outdoors in Rome. First in line for the suspect, his son and his two special friends. The trio always presents themselves as three Roman emperors. Add to this a still young and attractive widow with secrets and a cardinal sharing part of those secrets... You get it : a well-written crime novel from Fred Vargas.

After one third of the book, the story sounded quite "déjà vu" (or "déjà lu" : ) Indeed I bought this book in February while waiting for my fligth in Paris and after starting it (back home then) I made a break and search in my library: Here it was the very examplar borrowed to my youngest sister! So you may say that this book is not quite something to remember. Indeed the story is a bit long and the end well if you think of it, you may have guessed some of it at half the book. Still I liked the written style, but a bit disappointed after the breath-taking "Have Mercy of Us All". The trio-vira is a bit superficial, the intrigue -still great- could have been a bit longer to end, so the final result is definitely not on the same level of other masterpieces of Fred Vargas.

So my recommendation is: Well take it for what it is. It may be read quick or slow. . If I recall well it is one of the first novel she wrote and you can see that her style has evolved considerably since (Good for us!). Read it for the fun (but follow it by another Fred Vargas in the Adamsberg's serie). An overall 6/10.