Through Wolf’s Eyes

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Oops, I did it again. That is, I started reading a series before the last one is published… I picked Through Wolf’s Eyes up at Outlands (very dangerous store to walk into by the Oslo Central Station), because it looked somewhat intriguing. And it was. So I got Wolf’s Head, Wolf’s Heart and The Dragon of Despair as well, which I’ve now finished. The next book seems to be due out in hardcover in November. Why do I never learn. Oh well, luckily these aren’t so good that it will be a major heartache to have to wait (all major heartaches being currently reserved for Harry Potter and not much energy left over).

Don’t get me wrong, they’re not bad (if they were I wouldn’t have read three in quick succession, would I?). The main character, Firekeeper, has been raised by wolves and as such thinks of herself as one. I’m sure this is not a particularly original springboard for a fantasy novel, but Lindskold makes it work and I’m not complaining. In fact, one of the things that fascinated me in the first book was the conflict between the behaviour Firekeeper expects (the wolf-like) and the one people tend to display. This, naturally, gets less focus as the series continues and Firekeeper becomes more used to humans, and to a certain extent I suppose that’s why my interest vaned a bit towards the end of the third book. Which does not mean I’m not looking forward to book four. I just think I might actually be able to wait for the paperback…

Tears of the Giraffe – and so on

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During the trip to Scotland I found Tears of the Giraffe, Morality for Beautiful Girls and The Kalahari Typing School for Men on sale. Considering how much I enjoyed The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, I did not hesitate in aquiring them, and they were all finished by the time we came home. Just like No. 1 the three following books simply fly by, despite having a distinctly relaxed and unhurried feel. I don’t know how Alexander McCall Smith does it, if you figure it out, please tell me.

Notes from a Small Island

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It’s not been that long since I last read Notes from a Small Island, but I suddenly got the urge to reread and decided that it would be a good idea to do so when I could look forward to setting foot in Britain within a few weeks. Reading this sort of book at other times will just make me profoundly «homesick».

There’s not much to say that I haven’t said already. I love this book. I want Bill Bryson to go back and spend more time in Scotland. After that he could tackle larger parts of Wales. This would make me very happy indeed. As it is, I will have to be content with quoting:

Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realised what it was that I loved about Britain – which is to say, all of it. Every last bit of it, good and bad – Marmite, village fêtes, country lanes, people saying ‘mustn’t grumble’ and ‘I’m terribly sorry but’, people apologizing to me when I conk them with a careless elbow, milk in bottles, beans on toast, haymaking in June, stinging nettles, seaside piers, Ordnance Survey maps, crumpets, hot-water bottles as a necessity, drizzly Sundays – every bit of it.

One Small Footprint

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So, One Small Footprint down, Spinning like a Peerie to go, and then I’ll be done with Molly Weir. I’m still finding it strangely compelling – that is, I’m still finding it compelling and still finding it strange that I find it compelling.

If anyone should happen to come across Molly Weir’s cookery book, I’d be very happy to take it off your hands.

Kane, Abel and the Prodigal Daughter

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So, it turned out Linda had Kane and Abel, so I didn’t need the library after all. I haven’t actually read Kane and Abel before, as such, I’ve heard it as audiobook instead. Anyway, it’s a gripping story, quite as gripping the second time around. I followed it by a reread of The Prodigal Daughter, logically enough, as it’s a sequel of sorts (though it can be read separately, I would highly recommend reading Kane and Abel first, as reading them in the «wrong» order will spoil the first for you to some extent – as the main gist of the story is repeated summarily, though from a slightly different point of view).

Mild spoilers follow…
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Travels with a Tangerine – Tim Mackintosh-Smith

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A very different sort of travelogue compared with the ones I normally read, Tim Mackintosh-Smith’s Travels with a Tangerine had me variously fascinated, spellbound and laughing out loud. The focus on a world quite foreign to me and also the temporal confusion resulting from the change, or mostly lack thereof, between Ibn Battutah’s time and ours made this a very refreshing read. As a bonus, the author has a wonderfully dry sense of humour and a gift for understatement. Quite definitely one to recommend.

Used & Rare and Slightly Chipped

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I suddenly got the urge to read some books-about-books, and so I reread Used and Rare and Slightly Chipped by Lawrence and Nancy Goldstone. One reviewer called the first book «A Year in Provence for book-collectors», which is not far off. The Goldstone’s become book collectors (as in people who buy specific editions of books rather than people who own lots of paperbacks) by accident, so to say, and the two books chronicle their initiation into this strange new world. Now, to me, of course, pretty much everything to do with books holds a fascination that will make me suffer through even the driest language. However, with the Goldstones we are spared that predicament, as the prose carries you along in the most admirable manner. If you are a beginner at the book-collecting game yourself you can learn alongside the authors, but even if you’ve been at it for a while you’re likely to learn something new – and at the very least you can have a good chuckle at mishaps and anecdotes.

First Among Equals

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I thought I might as well get on with this Archer reread, and since I’ve only read First Among Equals once before I figured it was due its turn. It’s all good. I want to read Kane and Abel next, but have discovered that I don’t own a copy. I might just check if the library can help me on this one…

Stepping into the Spotlight

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So, I finished Molly Weir’s Stepping into the Spotlight and Walking into the Lyons Den and wanted to start the sixth book, but suddenly realised I’ve somehow messed up and I haven’t got the sixth book after all – it’s called One Small Footprint – and that Spinning like a Peerie – which is the next one I have – is actually the seventh book. It’s not as if I couldn’t skip a book – there’s no plot-lines to give away, after all, but I think I prefer to wait until One Small Footprint (duly ordered from ABE) arrives. When reading about someone’s life and career it’s nice to get things in the proper order, after all.

Well, back to Stepping into the Spotlight and Walking into the Lyons Den… All I really wanted to say was they’re every bit as delightful as the initial trilogy, and I’m still impressed at how interesting Weir makes reading about radio shows I’ve never heard of before and other acting accomplishments of an actor I hadn’t even heard of before I happened upon Shoes were for Sunday.

As the Crow Flies

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There is a bit of an Archer reread going on. At least I’ve just finished As the Crow Flies for, I think, the fourth time, and I think I will probably start on First Among Equals pretty soon. As the Crow Flies is possibly my favourite Archer book. It’s the poor boy done good motif, of course, as Charlie Trumper makes his way from working at his grandfather’s barrow in the Whitechapel market to retiring as chairman of «the biggest barrow in the world», a Harrods-like department store in Chelsea as the reader shouts «Good for you!». However, it’s also Archer’s customary ability to make the wheelings and dealings of business’ and politics’ tactics seem fascinating.

I might have mentioned before the complete suspension of disbelief that goes with loving to reread books. It is this quality which makes it possible to find Pride & Prejudice exciting at the 20th rereading («Will they really get it together this time, too?»), and it’s an ability I’d be loath to lose. However, in some cases it’s more of a curse, as with As the Crow Flies where, no matter how well I remember the details, there is one death in the novel which is equally devastating at every reading. In fact, it gets worse once you know it’s coming, as you feel there ought to be some way for you to prevent it – a timely phone call to one of the main characters, for example.

Consider yourself warned. Don’t let it stop you reading the book, however, as it really is very good.