Phyllis

During a recent vacation to New Mexico, I saw Tony Hillerman's books at just about every single gift shop and anywhere selling books. After thoroughly enjoying all the wonderful sights of New Mexico, I thought I'd like to go there again from home.

Well, whoopsie doodles, I picked up the fourth book in Tony Hillman's detective series (“The People of Darkness”) because it was the oldest one available at the library. And I'd neglected my phone at home and couldn't look up the proper order. Or ask a librarian.

After thoroughly enjoying that book, in my typical completist/OCD fashion, went back to the beginning of the series to “The Blessing Way.” To be fair, I was distracted by both a close family member's health issue and a busy time at work. Which is why I perhaps had a harder time getting through this book and not necessarily the book own merits or demerits.

I really enjoyed the beginning, but then the story seemed a little convoluted, bogged down (or at least to my distracted mind), and seemed not to make a ton sense. I shall move along with this series to make it past #4 and see if the magic continues.

Hm. I just finished “My Brilliant Friend,” and while I thought it was somewhat entertaining, I am at a loss as to understand how this novel is as great as major reviewers and other readers think it is. I found it just okay. Perhaps, a 2.4. Honestly, the best thing about the book was the relationship between Elena and Lila. Who didn't have that best friend growing up who made everything brighter, but who you also competed with a bit? The ebbs and flows of each girl's day-to-day successes were very realistic; it has been suggested that the novels are autobiographical, although the author's true identity remain a mystery. However, the author doesn't do a very good job of characterizing others in the book other than Lila and Elena; the other characters seemed like placeholders, which, perhaps, they were intended to be given Elena's inability to really fit in anywhere.

I also liked the descriptions of the lower middle class neighborhood filled with gossip and jealousy, where the world is small and close-knit. The author does manage to evoke life in the neighborhood and how amazing it is to visit Ischia or other parts of Naples.

The writing is also just okay. It's not bad, but it isn't anything special, and I don't think that is to do with the novel I read being a translation from Italian. This book seems most suited to the young adult category and is better than a lot of recent releases in that genre, but I can't find don't see the genius of it. After I reached the halfway point, the rest of the book was a bit of a slog. The “twist” at the end of the novel didn't compel me to continue the series; in a rather uncharacteristic move, I read summaries from reviews containing spoilers to learn what happens in the three sequels and I feel okay about it.

A very interesting book, indeed. This is the third novel by Kazuo Ishiguro that I've read and I can say that he is a 4 star author. He finds a way to speak in different voices about very different circumstances, while continuing to explore certain themes. Although each of the three books I've read (“[b:The Remains of the Day 28921 The Remains of the Day Kazuo Ishiguro https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327128714s/28921.jpg 3333111]” and “[b:Never Let Me Go 6334 Never Let Me Go Kazuo Ishiguro https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1353048590s/6334.jpg 1499998]”) are about memory and wistfulness, there is much more to be found. One theme that Mr. Ishiguro explores again in this novel is being an outsider, which is an autobiographical theme (he was born in Japan, but grew up in England). We follow the story through the eyes of Axl and Beatrice, an elderly couple that isn't allowed to use a candle in their room at night. As we progress through the story, we learn why that may be the case; perhaps the village remembered Axl's failed role in brokering peace between the Saxons and Britons at some level? Wistan, Edwin, and Gawain are all warriors who are now on their own, protecting or searching without the aid of other compatriots. Even the dragon is an outsider, although Merlin's enchantment gives her the power to prevent war from breaking out betwen the Saxons and Britons. The boatman is always alone, ferrying people whose time on Earth has drawn to a close. All of these people are somewhat disconnected from others, although each of them can be warm and gentle. I really liked that the story comes through several voices, not just Axl and Beatrice. In fact, I enjoyed hearing from Gawain, and would have liked to hear from him just a bit more. While the polite, courtly cadence of the characters in “The Buried Giant” are different from those of his other novels, they seem suited to this post-Arthurian world, in which memories are obscured by the dragon's mist. It is not only the elderly that experience this mist; it is something that all ages encounter. Could this mist be an allegory to the technology mist so many of us live in in which we must check our cell phones constantly and pacify ourselves with vines and Youtube videos as opposed to engaging in conversation with the people across the table from us? Or, if you're not attuned to engaging in war with other tribes, are you enshrouded by mist?Most touching was the ending of the novel, at least in my opinion. I sort of expected the couple to end as they did, separated by the boatman.So, why did I only give “The Buried Giant” 3 stars? Because it's an entertaining novel and, I think, appropriately paced, although some readers expected a much faster, “Game of Thrones” pace. This world covered by the dragon's mist doesn't move quickly and all isn't supposed to be clear.