Cornwell and Mooney

I have read Patricia Cornwell's "Predator". It is a book that keeps you on your toes, but so many unbelievable things. The money that has to be available to keep everyone going although explained by Lucy's software prowess is a stretch at best. And the next book has to be on its way to tell us what happens to the various characters. It is a shame that so much of the interesting forensics that was in the early books in missing. The focus is so tight around the characters. I'm not sure that resurrecting Benton was a such a good idea (is this like the resurrection of Sherlock Holmes - "back by popular demand"?). Chris Mooney's book is also a stretch, you have to believe that computers can do anything. But maybe it is science fiction - looking forward to what can come. Paranoia about no private life anymore. It bothers me, but doesn't seem to touch many other souls on the planet. There are touches of integrity and "right and wrong" in both books. Sometimes I wonder if that is where we are going to find these values in the future. Quality is getting pushed aside by high-powered advertising in all too many areas. You can pay obscene sums for a bed, but will you really get a better night's rest? Expensive, high-tech kitchens are sold, but who cooks anymore? Someone said the other day - the less we do something the more interesting it becomes in the media - cooking shows, do-it-yourself renovations. Does it fill empty spaces?

Something got lost (Chicago and Memphis)

I originally posted this on Saturday, February 4, 2006. But sometimes unexpected things happen in cyberspace. I don't know why and it would take to much energy to figure out why - so I'll just re-post my musings on Chicago and Memphis:

I've been in Chicago twice this week. First only as a jumping off place for Fannie Flagg's latest feel-good novel - Redbird Christmas. Most of the book takes place, as usual for FF, in the south - Lost River, Alabama. Not much to say, but it did make me feel good. Sometimes reading the predictable is soothing. The next visit to Chicago is in "Fire Sale" by Sara Paretsky. Pretty much just another in the long series about V.I. Warshawski. They are always a good read, but don't always leave a lasting impression. The contrast between the two books is naturally great, the violence in Paretsky's novel is sometimes excessive.
The stop in Memphis was not a literary trip, but a musical sojourn. Went to see Louise Hoffsten on Thursday evening. Enjoyed it a great deal. I always forget how great live music, being able to feel the rhythm. The local newspaper wasn't impressed - but that's not why most of us go to a concert. The sub-optimal part was the sorry attempt to make like a music pub. A concert set-up would probably have been better for all - but all those middle aged people could feel like they were at the rock concerts of their youth (or that they wish they had been at). That was catty. I enjoyed the evening and I thought the best part after the music was drinking beer after the crowd had left.

Arthur and George

The church shown to the right seems a place of rest and repose. But it is the scene of some rather disquieting events. Julien Barnes retells the story of Arthur Conan Doyle and George Edalji in his latest nove Arthur & George. The book is not only a great read, but leaves you with lots of things to think about. Conan Doyle was most certainly an interesting character. Sherlock Holmes in attitude, but rather more Watson in mental capacity. Actually there are lots of interesting things in the book that give a background to development of modern forensics, such as chains of evidence and proper documentation of evidence. Also the possibility of an appeal probably became a part of the legal system partly because of this case. The contrast between the flamboyant Arthur and the modest George is quite striking. By telling the story switching from one to the other is effective given this contrast. I really recommend this book, especially for Conan Doyle fans.
Just finished Linda Fairstein's latest Alex Cooper story. Pretty much the same recipe as usual. They must have released the paperback and the hardcover at the same time. Why do so many main characters in detective novels seem to have an unlimited supply of money and lots of lovely places to live?

I want to recomment a great blog - PostSecrets. Try it - funny, heart-breaking, silly, and so true.
http://postsecret.blogspot.com/