The Fury

By John Farris
For Christmas I got a whole pile of books by some new authors to try. In addition, I did get Stephen King’s new book (11-22-63), but I thought I should hold off on that one and give somebody new a try. I can’t wait to read it, but I must say I couldn’t have made a better choice on a book (series) to read.
This book revolves around Gillian Bellaver and Robin Sandza. These two teens are spiritual twins (meant to be siblings, until an umbilical strangling forced Robin to transfer to a new body) who possess a number of paranormal abilities. Gillian is the daughter of a wealthy family, living in New York City. Following an incident at a skating rink, Gillian soon becomes very ill. This illness seems to augment her psychic abilities, and is soon having episodes of precognition and astral travel. Robin also possesses similar abilities, expressed initially by his communication (and sedation) of a troubled child with Autism. Robin is soon pursued by a covert government agency known as MORG. He is ultimately captured, and imprisoned in an effort to harness his psi-abilities. At this point, Robin’s father (also a government agent) Peter begins searching for his son. We delve deeper into Gillian’s expanding powers, and the relationship between her and Robin. The book was filled with action, and I was dying to find out what would happen next. Ultimately, the ending was more succinct than I would prefer. But it was still satisfying, regardless. As an added bonus, the author revisited the characters since the late seventies and wrote three companion novels.
I enjoyed the author’s writing style, and felt that the strength of this novel was the fact that he didn’t overdo the paranormal “science.” By focusing more on the conflict of Peter, and Robin’s distress at the MORG agency, he kept the novel from becoming one of pseudoscience and pure fantasy. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
As a side note, this book was made into a movie in the Seventies with Kirk Douglas. While the movie was ok, it’s practically a completely different story from the book. There are enough parallels to recognize the source, but otherwise I’d take the book over the movie any day.
Rating: 4/5 Bunsen Burners
Up Next: The Fury and the Terror.

Sleepeasy

By T. M. Wright
I picked this book up at a used book store in Virginia mostly because the cover contained an endorsement for the author by Stephen King. How can I go wrong with “T.M. Wright is a rare and blazing talent,” I thought?
This book is somewhat difficult to review. I guess it’s because there was a bit of it that really appealed to me (for some reason), and also there were a few things I didn’t like. It is also very different from anything I have read before. The book centers around Harry Briggs, who has died and finds himself in a new place. He arrives in Silver Lake looking for his wife. The afterlife is populated by the creations of the dead. Everyone who has died is given a certain area, and is allowed complete freedom to create their own world to “live” in. Harry soon discovers that his subconscious has created a murderer, troubling both the new realm and our plane of existence. Harry spends the book searching for his wife, and the criminal he is responsible for creating. We are given insight into “the afterlife” present in this book, and also visit the earthly realm. The book introduces some interesting ideas, and is well executed by sticking within the defined parameters. Simply put: it doesn’t contradict itself or venture further (theoretically) than is tolerable. Characters are reasonably developed, and unnecessary characters are simply forgotten. This is something I’m not typically used to, but the author omitted characters satisfactorily.
The story was certainly not engrossing, but I was definitely intrigued by the way it was presented. I find it rather difficult to give this book a concise review, because it is hard to articulate how I felt reading it. It wasn’t what I would call a “page turner,” and given the subject matter was different from anything else I’ve ever read. I commend Wright for his writing, and his style certainly appealed to me. Overall, the story was not completely engrossing, but definitely interesting enough to read and be moderately satisfied with the ending.
Rating: 3.5/5 Bunsen Burners
Up Next: The Fury by John Farris

Under the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy

by Frances Mayes

I must confess I have always had a bit of a crush on Italy and everything Italian. I love the language, the country, the culture, the food, etc. If I could pick anywhere to take my husband on a trip, it would be Italy in a heartbeat. After hearing about this book and the movie, I figured it was my time to read it.

This story is a true account of how Mayes takes a chance and decides to renovate a house in Tuscany named Bramasole. It needs a lot of work and most of the beginning of the book is about the renovation and the workers she meets along her journey. The author does not make Bramasole her permanent home, only an escape, as she splits her time between Italy and San Francisco. As she discovers this new foreign country, she takes her audience along for the ride. She allows us to visualize the beauty in the environment, the olive trees, the stone structures, the history, and the culture. It is easy to get lost in her descriptions and imagine such a wonderful place. After only a short time period, it is obvious Mayes' heart lies in Tuscany.

This story does involve some key characters. They include: Mayes, her husband Ed, and some secondary characters: the workers, some friends, and her daughter. While characters are introduced, they are not the focus of this book. They are merely a small part of it. This was a new change for me, because so many of the books I'm used to revolve around the development and story of it's characters. This book tends to focus more (if you couldn't tell) on the setting and small memories Mayes has of her experiences in this new country. Mayes, a poet, allows you to see the Tuscan countryside, the local people, the markets and her beautiful house.

Mayes truly makes readers apart of Italy as you read her book. She uses Italian words many times, she speaks often about the locations she visits, and she describes the rich and delicious food. She even includes many recipes in the book! (I cannot WAIT to try them!!) You feel as if you are discovering all this with her.

My critiques of this book are this: Mayes occasionally came across as "snobbish". I started to dislike the way Mayes contradicted herself when it came to money. She would say that her and her husband were tight monetarily due to paying for the renovations (you have a house in Italy AND San Francisco...?) but she would continue to talk about how many pairs of shoes she purchased at the market to feed her obsession or the new renovations projects she added on. It was also obvious (after some of her older memories) that her childhood was a privileged one-so I felt I didn't need to be reminded of the cook her family had on hand as many times as I was. While I understand this is a memoir, so she is writing freely - this was one part of the author's memories, I could have done without.

If you are looking for a character driven book, you will be disappointed. It is not a guide to Italy either. I hear it is NOTHING like the movie. It is simply a woman finding her way through a new adventure in her life, in a new country, and you're invited for the ride. Sit back and enjoy her creative writing and the wonderful descriptions of a beautiful country.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Up Next: Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor by Stephanie Barron

I'm Dreaming of a Black Christmas

by Lewis Black
I received this book last year for Christmas, but was unable to read it at the time because I came down with the flu hardcore. I thought that this would be the perfect time to read this since I missed my chance last year.
I will begin my review by stating what I expected from this book. I am a big Lewis Black fan, and watch his specials and listen to his cds. When I opened this book, what I anticipated was a mocking analysis of Christmas traditions, compulsive and obligatory holiday spending, and other aspects of the holiday season. However, what I did not expect was Black’s introspection into his own personal life.
I’m going to start with the introspection provided by Mr. Black. As I read through the book, I couldn’t help but think of the Tragic Clown. So often with comedians, the humor and laughter they provide is a front to the pain and suffering within. Comedians such as John Belushi, Chris Farley, and Richard Jeni are classic examples of people who were successful comedians battling their own internal conflicts. Prior to reading this book, I would have never placed Lewis Black in this category. After reading this book, I began to feel sorry for him and realize the pain that he carries within. He discussed his marriage, and the child he was father to (which his wife had lied to him about being his) and the loneliness he feels during holidays. It is clear that Lewis Black has regrets about his life which are haunting him as he ages. He further digests why he is living the life he lives and if there is any other way things could have turned out.
For the meat of the book, he dissects our traditions of overindulgence (in food and possessions) during the holiday season. He also gives thorough description to his typical holiday activities that he (as a Jew) participates in. It was interesting to hear a little bit about his personal life, the friends he visits and some of the traditions he participates in. His humor was sharp, as expected, but at the same time I wasn’t really blown away by anything new.
Overall I thought this was a decent read, and I probably would rate this book a bit higher if I had tempered my expectations a little bit. His observations and rants were classic Lewis Black, but I think the end of the book was my favorite part. The last pages deal with his part in the USO tour. Being someone who is very outspoken against the war in Iraq, it was very interesting to hear about his participation and get his perspective from the whole thing. This part was very genuine and meaningful.
Rating: 2.5/5 Bunsen Burners
Up Next: Sleepeasy by T.M. Wright

Pack of Two: The Intricate Bond Between People and Dogs

by Caroline Knapp

I received this book from a friend of mine for Christmas. As I began reading through it on that morning, I already knew I was going to get a lot out of reading it.

From the first chapter, I related to the author in a way that only a person who truly loves dogs can. While I do not share the same life experiences of the author, I still found her journey mirrored much of my own experiences living with my dog, Risa.

While this book is about how, through her dog, the author learned to find meaning in her life after losing both parents and giving up alcohol; it focuses more on her relationship with the dog, Lucille, than the particular hardships of going sober. The author does delve into the difficulty she had forming relationships with other people and how her dog helped her discover how to survive and relate to others without the use of alcohol. But, for the most part, this book is about her dog.

The author's relationship with Lucille is a very strong one and one I understood completely from the get go. Caroline doesn't simply own a dog. She's not just a dog lover. Her relationship with Lucille is far more intimate. A more honest relationship than what she could ever have with another human being.

This book is full of anecdotal evidence and stories about how the author and others feel about their dogs. However, the tales are also backed up by scientific facts by some of the top minds in their field. A lot of time is spent discussing how we, as humans, can open up and truly be ourselves around dogs. How living with a dog brings out both the best and the worst in us. Why we have this sort of changing relationship with dogs (the way we see and utilize dogs is constantly changing). And, most importantly, the type of relationship a dog allows us to have with them that would be taboo between humans.

If you are the type of person who bonds closely with animals, you will likely learn a lot more about the whys of this type of relationship. You'll also easily relate to how the author feels when she talks to many of her friends regarding her dog--they think she's crazy. If you are one of the people who can't relate to someone being so enamored with their dog, I think this book would give you some insight into why those relationships are so powerful and why so many people have them.

My only complaint with this book is the author's belief in dominance in regards to dog training. This is something I feel is unnecessary when it comes to training our dogs and also tends to lead to conflict between us rather than a tight bond. However, it did not color my opinion of the book and I still really, really enjoyed it.

I give this book 4.5 out of 5 wheeks.