August books

[myrna-nora.livejournal.com]

August: 4
2010: 41



Venetia (1958) - Georgette Heyer

When Venetia Lanyon meets rakish Lord Damerel, her well-ordered life is turned upside down. She embarks upon a relationship with him that scandalizes and horrifies the whole community. Has she found her soul-mate, or is she playing with fire?

Every time I think I've got Heyer figured out, I come across an unfamiliar plot twist. True, I can usually spot the couple who will eventually "live happily ever after" (if the back cover description hasn't already given it away) but its how the story twists along, that makes Heyer so awesome. The audio book is read by Richard Armitage. I loved the story and the reading, but it's a pity it was abridged. I felt the loss of the missing parts towards the end of the story. Oh, well, it's short so I listened to it twice.


Finding Nouf (published in the UK as The Night of the Mi'raj) (2008) - Zoe Ferraris

Nayir is a devout Muslim and desert guide. Katya works as a lab technician in the coroner's office. In a place where the genders are segregated outside of their families, they cross paths when they both begin to investigate the death of sixteen-year-old Nouf.

Re-Read. When I found out there was a sequel about to be published, I dug out my recording of the BBC Radio audio book. I've heard that there are all sorts of little nitpicks about times and locations if you really know the country, but the setting and the culture (modern-day Saudi Arabia) is what I found most fascinating.


City of Veils (2010) - Zoe Ferraris

The sequel to Finding Nouf. The body of a brutally beaten burqa-clad woman is found on the beach in Jeddah. Forensic scientist Katya Hijazi calls upon Bedouin guide Nayir Sharqi to help her investigate.

My love for the two main characters brought me back for more. The story feels more ambitious than the first. The focus shifts between at least four different main characters, as opposed to the two of the first novel. I'm wondering if abridgment would have improved this. With more details and this being a second novel, I'm getting more nitpick-y, myself. She recycles a character name, and it's only her second book. The introductions of the characters felt awkward even though I was already familiar with two of them. Either the author or myself is confused over terminology. She used the term burqa liberally, when I think the more precise niqāb (face veil) would have made sense. However, by the second half I liked the story, but not quite as well as the first book. Caution, there is some strong language.


Catching Fire (2009) - Suzanne Collins

There are rumors of rebellion amongst the districts, and Katniss, to her horror, is the face of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

Re-read. I speed read my way through this in anticipation of the third, and final, novel in the series.