Blackout (audiobook) by Connie Willis

Be prepared - this is only half the story

Published in 2010.
18 hours, 44 minutes
Read by Katherine Kellgren

Connie Willis continues her on again/off again time travel series with Blackout, a book about time travelling historians from mid 21st century Oxford who are visiting World War II England. Katherine Kellgren does a fantastic job of nailing the great variety of English accents and the one American accent as well as the male voices.

Time travel has become routine for these historians - they have teams to help prepare them for their jumps into the past, including clothing, paperwork and implants to help them with accents. They are also able to learn vast amounts of information by way of sleep learning, which can be helpful for memorizing such things as every location of a V-1 attack or what time all of the air raids happened during the Blitz. But, the routine of time travel belies a deeper problem - that of "slippage".  The trips back and forth are becoming less and less accurate. They used to be able to pinpoint the placement of historians down to the minute but now they can be off by hours, days and even weeks. Some have a theory that, despite assurances to the contrary, this is evidence that the historians are actually changing history bit by incremental bit.

St. Paul's Cathedral, rising above the smoke and flames 
of a firebomb attack on December 29, 1940. The 
adjacent neighborhoods burned but St. Paul's was saved. 
This photo became a symbol of London surviving 
these attacks.

Blackout is both science fiction and historical fiction, if one can do that. All of the main characters are historians from the future, but the great majority of the story is set in World War II England. There are 5 main plotlines. One features an historian working with evacuee children from London in the English countryside. Another features an historian who is sent to interview participants in the Dunkirk evacuation. A third historian is researching the Blitz - the German air raids on London during the Battle of Britain. There are two orphan stories about the V-1 Buzz Bomb attacks and Patton's in 1944 and Patton's Ghost Army in the D-Day invasion.

I called the last two "orphan stories" because they have no seeming connection with the rest of the story (except that one of the historians is in both 1940 and 1944). That is because Blackout is actually the first part of a single book that Willis had planned called All Clear. But the book became so long that it was split into two parts by her publisher. Willis makes it clear on her website that it should be considered one continuous book Blackout-All Clear. Well, that's great, but I have looked at the audiobook over and over again and I can find no reference to another book (All Clear) coming out, the fact that this is the first half of a single book or anything to indicate that Blackout is anything but a stand alone novel. Frankly, it never occurred to me that this 18 hour, 56 minute audiobook would only be the first half of a single novel. This is a pet peeve of mine - publishers not telling readers that the book is the first of a trilogy (or in this case, a duology) or is actually the book in the middle of a series of books. How hard it is to add that little bit of printing to a cover?

Connie Willis

I found the descriptions of World War II England to be wonderful - gritty but not maudlin. They are detailed enough that this history teacher found himself immersed in another world, along with the time travelling historians. The description of the evacuation at Dunkirk was as fine a bit of action writing as I have run across, especially for a book that is mostly about the mundane details of everyday life during a war of terror against the civilian population of England (as if air raids and torpedo bombs dropped on parachutes so as to maximize their damage can be mundane!).

I've already ordered All Clear.  When I've listened to all 23 hours of it I'll let you know...

I rate this book 5 stars out of 5.

This audiobook can be found on Amazon.com here: Blackout.

Reviewed on Feburary 6, 2011.

See my review of All Clear by clicking here.

Void Moon by Michael Connelly

Originally published in 1999.

In Void Moon Connelly takes a break from the Harry Bosch stories and introduces a new character, a professional thief named Cassie Black. Black is sexy, smart and very good at picking locks. Currently, she is on parole in Los Angeles working at a high end car dealership where her specialty is selling cars to up and coming script writers. Black was convicted for being involved in the crime that caused the death of her partner in crime (and in romance) several years earlier in Las Vegas (apparently states can exchange parole cases which is how she ended up in L.A.)

Black's specialty was robbing high rollers in Vegas casinos, usually in their rooms while they slept. She has been contacted to do one last job with a big payoff by an old colleague and, of course, things go wrong. Soon enough, the Vegas underworld is after Black and mayhem and destruction are on her tail.


Michael Connelly

It would be a spoiler to tell you why Black needs the money and even more so to tell you her true intentions for the money. Suffice to say, Black's intentions are not all that honorable (in fact, they are horrible) and I found myself in the rare position of reading a Connelly book and not really rooting for the "good guy". Well, that's because there are bad guys and worse guys in this book. Some may say, well that's the way life is. That may be so, but I find myself not really getting into the story. I can't identify with anyone.

All of the characteristics of a good Connelly story are there - action, intrigue, good character development, interesting bad guys. But, I found myself waying the various cost/benefit analyses wondering which bad guy should win and hoping for a moment in which they could all take themselves out without hurting any innocent bystanders.

You can find this book at Amazon.com here: Void Moon by Michael Connelly.

I rate this book 3 stars out of 5.

Reviewed on February 5, 2011.

Defiant Joy: The Remarkable Life & Impact of G.K. Chesterton by Kevin Belmonte

A great introduction to a terrifically important writer

Published in 2011 by Thomas Nelson.

For most people, including this reviewer, C.S. Lewis was the gateway to G.K. Chesterton. Lewis, of course, is famous for being THE Christian apologist for his generation - a man who did not believe but then, after his conversion, was able to voice the thoughts and beliefs for millions with such landmark books as Mere Christianity. When I found out that it was the writings of G.K. Chesterton that helped to convert Lewis I had to start to looking into Chesterton (fortunately I have a Kindle - they have more than 2 dozen Chesterton books and essays for free, so I was able to get my feet wet in the ocean of writing that Chesterton produced without any worries).

That being said, I am a relative newbie to Chesterton so this biography was a welcome addition to my on again off again studies of the man.

Rather than give a blow by blow book report of this biography, I'll outline its general strengths and weaknesses.

Strengths:

-Good coverage of Chesterton's early life, including his early education. Like so many geniuses, he was indifferent to his studies and gave little indication that he would be celebrated throughout the English-speaking world for his written works.

-The book is fantastic at covering his intellectual life. All of his most important works are covered - the biggest ones with individual chapters. His relationships with other authors are discussed throughout the book. We learn about his prolific books, his play, his novels, his literary criticisms and his essays. Sadly, almost nothing is mentioned about his columns and work with newspapers and magazines.

G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936)

-Belmonte makes extensive use of quotes. He often lets Chesterton speak for himself and that is a good thing because Chesterton is extremely well-spoken.

-Chesterton's larger than life personality, good humor and charm are discussed throughout the book. Belmonte does a good job of using quotations from other sources, such as fellow authors or newspaper interviews to tell us about him.

Weaknesses:

-Belmonte tells us almost nothing about Chesterton's personal life after Chesterton's becomes a successful author. The focus shifts to his writing and its impact and only rarely shifts back. I can only think of four times: when he became gravely ill, when his brother died in World War I, his trip to the United States and his death. I would have appreciated more about Chesterton the man in this biography.

To sum up, Belmonte's biography of Chesterton gave this beginning Chesterton scholar a better foundation to build upon. Solidly done.

Due to some crazy federal regulation, I am required to inform all readers that I received this biography free of charge from Thomas Nelson's BookSneeze program. However, the thoughts and opinions expressed above are my actual thoughts and opinions because I tell it to you straight.

I rate this biography 4 stars out of 5.

This book can be found on Amazon.com here: Defiant Joy: The Remarkable Life & Impact of G.K. Chesterton by Kevin Belmonte.

Reviewed on February 4, 2011.

Pest Control by Bill Fitzhugh

Entertaining, but not his best work.

Originally published in 1996.

Fitzhugh specializes in filling his books with absurd characters in absurd situations. This is my third Fitzhugh book and I have to rank it in second. It is funny, but at times his characterization of New Yorkers as oblivious and callous to the violence that can be inherent in that city is even a bit much for me.

The premise of Pest Control is that a down and out exterminator who has come up with an entirely new way to control pests is confused for a professional hit man - a top level hitman. Soon, other top level hit men are swarming after the exterminator in an effort to eliminate the newest "star" in the hit man world.

The overall premise is funny but the book somehow fails to hit the high level of promise that this reader anticipated. That said, this would be a heck of a good movie if you get the right actors involved.

If you've never read a Fitzhugh novel, I'd recommend Cross Dressing to start with instead.

I rate this book 4 stars out of 5.

This book can be found on Amazon.com here: Pest Control.

Reviewed on April 4, 2005.

Codes of Betrayal (audiobook) by Dorothy Uhnak

What's the point? There's better stuff out there.

Published by DH Audio in 1997
Read by Bruce Weitz

Codes of Betrayal is about betrayal (thus, the title) and family and it ultimately left this listener (I heard it as an audiobook, narrated by Bruce Weitz of 'Hill Street Blues' fame) wondering what the point of the novel was. Nick O'Hara, our protagonist and NYPD detective, is upset when he discovers that his grandfather on his mother's side ordered the killing of his father when he was a boy and was obliquely responsible for the death of his son in a gangland dispute.

So, Nick goes after his grandfather by becoming a spy in the family organization. Along the way, he betrays his own wife and breaks his relationship with his father's brother - his only blood relative he trusts. So, while avenging part of his family he ends up screwing up the rest of his family.

So, when I finished this dark novel I had to wonder, "What was the point?" If you like to watch a man self-destruct - this is your book.

Bruce Weitz

Not my favorite piece of literature.

I rate this book 2 stars out of 5. It can be found on Amazon.com here: Codes of Betrayal by Dorothy Uhnak.

Reviewed April 4, 2005

Charles Kuralt's Summer (audiobook) by Charles Kuralt

For fans of Kuralt, this will be a treat!

Originally published by Audioworks in 1997
Read by the author, Charles Kuralt
Duration: 1 hour, 9 minutes
Abridged

I hadn't thought about Charles Kuralt for years - until I ran into Charles Kuralt's Summer. Kuralt pulls summer-based items from his reports from CBS News and reminds us (this listener anyway) that we've missed his folksy approach on the reporting on everyday life in America since his passing a few years ago.

Kuralt lays it on a bit thick from time to time but he avoids being too schmaltzy as he reports to us about Maypole dances in Minnesota and tubin' down the Apple River in Wisconsin. The best reports are on side two, where he focuses on the Fourth of July. He travels to Gettysburg and Independence Hall, New York City and Brazil and takes us along for an emotional ride.

Although he takes a lot of his audio from his actual television reports, only once or twice did this listener feel that he was missing something by not actually seeing the pictures.

Charles Kuralt (1934-1997)

The link above is for the cassette version of the audiobook but Amazon sells it as a digital download too.

I rate this audiobook 4 stars out of 5.

This audiobook can be found on Amazon.com here: Charles Kuralt's Summer.

Reviewed on March 29, 2005.

Bland Ambition: From Adams to Quayle - the Cranks, Criminals, Tax Cheats and Golfers Who Made it to Vice President by Steve Tally

An irreverent look at the vice presidency

Published in 1992.

In Bland Ambition: From Adams to Quayle - the Cranks, Criminals, Tax Cheats and Golfers Who Made it to Vice President, Steve Tally looks at America's vice presidents and gives us the inside scoop on each of these men's foibles and character flaws. The chapters are short and sweet and hilarious!

Tally introduces us to Vice Presidents who assumed that they were really assistant presidents, vice presidents who never really showed up to work, vice presidents who showed up to work but really shouldn't have bothered and vice presidents who never really grasped the idea that they were supposed to work with their presidents to get things passed through the Congress.

For the research paper writers out there, Tally's work would be inappropriate to use as the main source of your information, but it would make a fantastic book to add that little bit of extra to make your paper more interesting to read!

This was truly an enjoyable read. I borrowed mine from the library but I'm adding it to my wish list because I want to have a copy of my own!

I rate this book 5 stars out of 5.

Reviewed on May 18, 2005