The Star Online: Lifestyle: Bookshelf
The Star Online: Lifestyle: Bookshelf |
| Posted: 15 Mar 2013 01:34 AM PDT Newton's Fire IF you are a fan of Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, then Newton's Fire will be your cup of tea. Historian Luke Hayward is at an all-time low point in his life after having been black-balled from academia for some supposedly ill-judged opinions. So when a friend offers him a job that would require Luke to delve deeper into the subject of his career, Sir Isaac Newton, he quickly accepts. But when he discovers some hidden Newton papers alluding to an ancient conspiracy, Luke's life takes a turn for the worse, as he finds himself accused of murder and on the run not only from the police but a mysterious global organisation. Luke now has to uncover a secret that survived the Great Fire of London and lies buried beneath major historical sites like St Paul's Cathedral and the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. Also, after it is militant Jewish priest Avram Kohen who wants to spark a worldwide holy war and rebuild old Jerusalem. And Kohen has the backing of powerful men from around the globe on his side. The story weaves through Sir Issac's real history and includes his friendships with the great Englishmen of his era the likes of Sir Christopher Wren and John Evelyn; author Will Adams adds further authenticity by basing his premise on the fact that Newton did indeed make a prediction about Armageddon occurring in 2060 and was fascinated by the occult. Architecture fans will also discover fascinating facts about the origins of certain significant British monuments. Another discovery those who aren't familiar with Newton will make is that the great thinker is believed to have been autistic – and Adams deals with the subject compassionately in this novel. The plot interweaves pricelessly rich British history with fictional additions, all the while solving mind-bending puzzles and codes. While it might seem similar to Da Vinci's Code, Newton's Fire differs in how it jumps straight into the action; Brown's story took a while to get going, if you remember. Also, I feel Luke and the woman who ends up helping him, Rachel, are more realistic and believable characters. Both are good Samaritans trying to help people but who find themselves pushed to the fringes of their chosen careers in the process. The research is well done, with details of Newton's lesser-known history at the Royal Mint explained as well as his obsession with alchemy. There are a number of twists in this story rich with history, which they make you want to get to the end as soon as possible to find out how it all turns out. In other words, Newton's Fire is one good read that will make you want to burn through it as soon as possible. (Sorry, couldn't resist the pun!) |
| Posted: 15 Mar 2013 01:32 AM PDT A young adult novel takes on a subject that affects all ages. Lovely, Dark And Deep WHETHER it is a story about the sole survivor of a three-car pile up or an article about a man who was too ill to go to his office in the World Trade Center on Sept 11, 2001, do you wonder what goes through a person's mind at having escaped such situations? Do they feel gratitude or disbelief? Or do they feel guilty at being spared when others weren't? In the young adult novel Lovely, Dark And Deep, we are introduced to Wren. Through her eyes we witness just how debilitating survivor's guilt can be. Our story starts with Mamie, or Wren as she now calls herself, having left Mamie behind in her "old life", reminiscing about the events that have brought her to where she is in this point in her life, the events being a breakup with her boyfriend and his subsequent death in a car accident that she survived. The reason for Wren's guilt is not apparent at first, you just know she somehow feels responsible when she says "be careful what you wish for". Her mode of coping with his death involves hiding out in her father's art studio in the woods instead of heading off to college as originally planned. Friends, family, and anyone else for that matter, are farthest from her mind as she gradually retreats further and further into her own thoughts. Unlike so many other books where boy meets girl at some point in chapter three, in Lovely, Dark And Deep, Wren meets Cal very early on. A relationship is the last thing Wren wants but something about Cal intrigues her, not the least being the fact that he seems to have secrets. She tries to push him away like she does with everyone else, but even she knows that her attempts to do so are failing. I like stories written in the first person, as I like to put myself in the protagonist's shoes and feel what he or she is feeling in order to understand motives. Unfortunately, even the first person narrative in this book couldn't help me. I very much wanted to like Wren, or at least understand the pain she was going through, but I simply could not get over her selfishness at times. There were so many people trying to help her out, both by being overly involved as well as by giving her space that I couldn't actually tell what she wanted. Perhaps it is a credit to the author that she has provided a very clear insight into the mind of a person going through severe depression, and this confusion is true to life. Although everyone copes with grief differently, the author didn't try to make light of the heavy topic she was writing about. While it wasn't the best choice for me, perhaps someone who has gone through a similar situation or has coped with grief the same way the main character does will find a friend in Wren or, at the very least, understand her better. One of the things that bothers me most in many young adult novels is the lack of parental involvement, and this lack stands out like a sore thumb in this book. I am not sure what sort of parent would leave their child unattended, especially one who has dealt with a horrific situation and is clearly suffering from depression. I know that watching a potentially suicidal person 24/7 is impossible, but it seems to me that most of the time, Wren is either by herself or under the care of someone unrelated such as her father's art student. Cal seemed to be left to his own devices as well, though I won't tell you why I thought this was a bad idea lest I spoil the story for you. One thing that is great about this book is its cover. I have a tendency to be drawn to beautiful covers that convey some sort of meaning or at least reflect the story, and this one did so very well. The cover perfectly captures Wren's loneliness and despair and is probably one of the better covers I've seen in a while. While the book didn't do much for me, I do salute the author for taking on a very difficult topic, one that clearly affects people of all ages, and putting it into perspective. It may not have worked for me, but hopefully someone will see him/herself in Wren and learn from her mistakes. |
| Posted: 15 Mar 2013 01:29 AM PDT The Vanishing Point LOSING a child is every parent's worst nightmare and that is exactly what happens to Stephanie Harker on her way to an idyllic holiday with her son when five-year-old Jimmy is kidnapped from a busy airport. When the FBI begins investigating the crime, it becomes apparent that Jimmy and Stephanie aren't exactly a normal family. British author Val McDermid leaves her usual subjects of twisted serial killers and tortured detectives (she writes the Tony Hill series, which has been made into the Wire In The Blood TV series) and steps into a family drama. Of course, this being McDermid, the drama comes wrapped in a thriller involving celebrities and murders. God: A Story Of Revelation IN his latest work, the New York Times bestselling author Deepak Chopra takes his readers on a journey to discover the evolution of God. He focuses on the lives of 10 historical prophets, saints, mystics and martyrs whom he believes were touched by a higher power, and how humans have a constantly changing perspective on divinity and God. Chopra also reveals the defining moments of some of the world's most influential sages and uncovers the universal lessons of the true nature of God. The Honey Queen EVERY town is not what it seems to be – that's what Australia-raised Lillie discovers when she comes to Ireland in search of long lost family and ends up in the small town of Redstone, where the locals stop to chat with one another and the cafes are always buzzing with activities. Francesca and Peggy are two members of the jovial Redstone community. The latter has a sunny disposition on everything in life, even when going through menopause, while Peggy is a free spirited woman approaching her 30s who recently achieved her dream of opening a knitting shop. As Lillie settles in, though, she realises that the picturesque town is not all quite it seems. The Forgotten ARMY Special Agent John Puller is back to catch the baddies. In this second book, the combat veteran becomes involved in a case close to home when his aunt is found dead in the coastal Florida town of Paradise. The local police have ruled the death an accident, but Puller is suspicious as his father received a letter from the victim – sent just before she died – that talks about mysterious goings-on at night in the town. When Puller arrives in Paradise and begins poking around, he finds himself battling unknown conspirators who seem willing to go to extreme lengths to keep the truth about the town hidden. |
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