Angelology - Danielle Trussoni

Sister Evangeline was just a girl when her care was entrusted to the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration.  Now at twenty-three, she discovers a 1943 correspondence between the convent’s late mother superior and the famous philanthropist Abigail Rockefeller that plunges her into a secret history stretching back a millennium: an ancient conflict between the Society of Angelologists and the monstrously beautiful descendants of angels and humans, the Nephilim.  Blending biblical lore, the Miltonic fall of the Rebel Angels, the apocryphal book of Enoch, and the myth of Orpheus, Angelology is a Luminous, riveting tale of ordinary people caught up in a battle that will determine the fate of the world. (Back cover synopsis)

I read this book about a month ago.  So a researcher named Verlaine wants to get into the library of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, which is famed for its collection of everything related to angels.  Why?  Because he works for Percival Grigori, a Nephilim who is dying and desperately looking for information leading to a cure for the mysterious disease plaguing him and others of his kind.   Verlaine then meets the lovely Sister Evangeline, and the two begin a search into some pertinent letters of a strange nature related to a certain “discovery” made in 1943.  Thus begins the sometimes adventuresome, sometimes mysterious, a little bit thrilling, and quite intriguing tale of Evangeline’s family history, their relationship with the angelologists, and the war that has been waged against the Nephilim since the time of Noah’s Ark. 

I quite liked this book – there were plenty of well-developed allusions to the Bible, mythologies, world history, and at the same time it gave the possibility of the presence of angels some credence however fantastical.  Very interesting, I thought.  The imagery was well-done; I could quite easily imagine for myself what these Nephilim looked like, their power, their mystique, and so on.   The novel was nicely paced, too, in my opinion.  It’s not unlike reading The Da Vinci Code, that kind of feeling.  Not really the type that gets you hanging at the edge of your seat, no, but enough to intrigue you and hold you and keep you reading.  The thing is, once it was revealed that Evangeline’s grandmother had an affair with Grigori, well it all got predictable from there.  Another thing, the Watchers (fallen angels held prisoner in some cave somewhere in Europe) was a frustration for me.  They were just left there, like abandoned puppies.  I kind of wished the author gave that particular aspect of the story some more development.  One good thing, though, was the ending.  It was kind of hanging but in a good way.  I felt like I could be free to imagine my own conclusion; quite nicely executed, and I’m glad it wasn’t given a candy-coated fairy-tale happy ending.  That would have been really corny.  I wouldn’t call this book a favourite though it was a pretty good read; but if you’re interested in something with an element of angelic fantasy, mystery, detective thrill, history, and mythology, this story might prove worthwhile.

Visit the author's website.

The Lies of Locke Lamora - Scott Lynch

An orphan’s life is harsh – and often short – in the mysterious island city of Camorr.  But young Locke Lamora dodges death and slavery, becoming a thief under the tutelage of a gifted con artist.  As leader of the band of light-fingered brothers known as the Gentleman Bastards, Locke is soon infamous, fooling even the underworld’s most feared ruler.  But in the shadows lurks someone still more ambitious and deadly.  Faced with a bloody coup that threatens to destroy everyone and everything that holds meaning in his mercenary life, Locke vows to beat the enemy at his own game – or die trying… (Book jacket)

Last night I finished reading The Lies of Locke Lamora and I must be allowed to rave.  Scott Lynch delivered such a wonderful kind of magic with this book.  It’s the kind of story that just sweeps you off your feet and takes you on a thrill-laden adventure you just wish you couldn’t come back from.  I never wanted this book to end.

Set in the city/country of Camorr, where the poor resort to whatever desperate means to beat hunger, cold, and find some means to thrive; and the rich live quite literally in gilded towers, the world of The Lies of Locke Lamora has to be one of the most well-conceived, empathic, most adventure-ripe settings I’ve ever encountered.  It is a world that, for all the fantastical elements that make it seem far-removed from our own, is brutally honest and unapologetically stark in its vivid portrayal of human truth.  You can practically smell the stink of the slums and the sweat of the toiling working class right along with seeing the glow and reflected glory of the elite’s glass towers, the shine of their gold. 

The main plot of the novel dwells on the painful and tragic clash between Locke’s Gentleman Bastards and the forces of a mysterious, vengeful foe called the Gray King.  Locke and his band of skilled and audacious con artists are on a big heist when the Gray King suddenly comes into the picture, compelling Locke to be his accomplice in a mad scheme or else.  It would have been easy for Locke and his crew to deal with this guy, but the Gray King had a malignant and terrible ace up his sleeve – a Bondsmage.  Possessing indescribable magical abilities, the Bondsmage made short work of all the Gentleman Bastards’ efforts to resist or fight back.  With him in the Gray King’s employ as well as a crew of seasoned bruisers, assassins, alchemists, and shark-fighting gladiators, Locke and his friends suffered the most horrific, most tragic consequence.  Locke finds himself bereft of almost everything he held dear, and soon begins a desperate campaign for absolute revenge even if it meant he must pay for it with his own life.

Interspersed among the chapters comprising the central plot of the novel are “interludes” where little by little the history of Locke and his companions are revealed.  Where did they come from, how they all met, who taught them the skills required for them to ply their “trade”, and what were the experiences that brought them together and turned them into a unit as close-knit as any family tied by blood – all these and more are illuminated, rendering you further and further absorbed into their lives.  As a reader I felt so close to them I could just imagine the sound of their voices and footfalls.  I felt so much for them, that it hit me doubly hard when things started to turn bad.  And then I really couldn’t stop turning the pages anymore.  Not knowing immediately what would happen next was plainly unthinkable.  The book just took me by a death-grip and pulled and pushed me to the very end.  Spectacular kind of compulsion, this, that only a good story can deliver.  My eyes felt so sore by the time I finished the book, deep into the dead of night.  I think I might have tried not to blink.   

I loved all the characters, even the bad guys (they were such utterly despicable hell-spawns… perfect), but I developed a soft spot for Locke.  He was a splendid thing.  In spite of being a profligate thief, a shameless liar, and a (somewhat unintentional) killer, he still maintained his own particular brand of innocence and naiveté.  I could just imagine him swagger through town all self-assured and witness his deft mummery.  A rakish leader he might be, but he also deeply cared for his family the way a rough but loving elder brother would.  And then, just like any loving brother would, he turned coldly unforgiving and merciless to those who sought to harm his family.  Relentless in his pursuit for vengeance, his ruthlessness can only be matched by none other than that of his enemy, the Gray King. 

This book was just lent to me by a good friend, but I swear by all that’s holy (or unholy) I will grab myself a copy as soon as I spot it, as well as all of the sequels (I think there are two by now) so that I may re-read at my leisure.  This is just the kind of book that I cherish – one that lets me escape into another world without ever leaving my seat (actually in my case, bed).  How is it possible to get an adrenaline rush while lying down and cuddling with a book?  Well, when the book happens to be something like this.  

Scott Lynch Website 

Silver Linings Playbook

One of the most interesting movies I’ve come across recently, its story revolves around Pat, who suffers from bipolar disorder.  He was admitted into a mental facility for treatment after nearly beating to death his wife’s lover after he caught them in the act to the background of ‘Ma Cherie Amour’ which happens to be his wedding song.  Whew that was a mouthful.    So, Pat checks out of the loony bin enlightened, positive, and out to find the silver lining in everything.  He sets for himself the goal of reconciling with his wife.  In the process of trying to get his life back, his not-quite stable relationship with his parents, his brother, and his friends are revealed little by little.  He and his parents try to walk the delicate balance of being a family again and dealing with Pat’s condition.  In an effort to establish contact with his wife (who has a restraining order against him), he goes to dinner at her friend’s home and that is where he meets Tiffany.  Now Tiffany is a piece of work.  Widowed at a young age, depressed, and slightly crazy herself, she has a reputation for sleeping around and having many unsavoury relationships with men.  After that dinner, she propositions Pat, he refuses, and thus begins their quirky friendship.  More things happen (football games, tantrums, bets, promises, superstitions, etc.) and the happily ever after soon hangs upon the result of a dance competition.  Like I said before, this story is very interesting.  I loved it to bits.

I really liked Bradley Cooper as Pat.  You just felt for the guy – he just wanted to get a second chance and be happy.  But it was Jennifer Lawrence who gave the most noteworthy wonderful performance – assuredly deserving of the award she received.  Tiffany was like a bomb onscreen.  She was just big and all over the place and you couldn’t look away from her.  Lawrence gave the character ample amounts of guts and nerve and vulnerability – it was just awfully raw and very refreshing, even in spite of all the f**k words and other such colourful expletives.   What surprised me was that Robert De Niro did not win for his supporting role.  He was brilliant!  I loved all the scenes where he was there, and my heart just bled for him, the darling man.   Oh well, I’m sure the winner was just as good if not better.  But for me, De Niro was simply awesome.   Alternately heart-wrenching, laugh-out-loud-inducing, and thought-provoking, if you haven’t seen this movie yet, you should. 

Silver Linings Playbook Official Trailer

The Foundation Series - Isaac Asimov

I experienced these five books through audio.  I listened to them as I was working on my latest cross-stitch project (The Kiss).  I have been dreaming of getting my hands on these books since high school (that was a long time ago) when I began to fall in love with sci-fi and fantasy.  Of course the first name in sci-fi is Isaac Asimov.  In the realm of sci-fi and fantasy (indeed, in all Literature) the man is a GOD.  Unfortunately I never did get a hold of them (so many destitute hours spent scouring second-hand books for a complete set because I couldn’t afford them brand new) and I despaired of ever acquiring the whole series.  Then through the miracle of modern technology, I got myself the audiobooks.  Hallelujah!   In this blog post I will not give you a summary of these books anymore since there are any number of synopses and summaries available elsewhere online (I know how terribly lazy that sounds but what the heck), so allow me to simply share some of my thoughts as I journeyed through this most spectacular and legendary series.

What I admired most about the whole thing was the continuity of the story.  Each ‘segment’ wherein the events of the series unfold was supposed to be centuries and light years apart, and yet it all seemed to make sense that the events were still related to each other and affected one another in profound ways.  It was just a hell of an IMAGINATION that put all of it together in such a plausible, believable set-up.   The cohesiveness astounded me.   The fact that it all melded and made startling sense attested to Asimov’s skill at construction.  And it wasn’t just that.   The characters were alive and human, with human strengths and equally human failings.  You learned lessons from them and they made you think on yourself and your life and how you deal with other people just as human as you.  It made you ponder deeply about the world and why we are here; why we struggle so hard for unnameable unseen things, and why we want to be free to live our lives as both individuals and as a society.  I am awed by how deeply and how clearly Asimov understood human nature and human struggle.  I wonder how long the author took to come up with ways to put all of it together.  But then, he was a genius.  It probably took all of five minutes.

I loved the voice of Larry McKeever.  He gave the story such life and the characters distinct personalities.  As I listened to him narrate and dramatize, I could almost see the story unfold with my own eyes.  Nothing, but nothing beats a great story told by a great story-teller.  Through his voice the series was given thrill, mystery, drama, and even comedy at times.  He pulled you in and didn’t let you go until the last word.   Listening to him was an absolute pleasure. 

Altogether I listened to five books: Foundation, Foundation and Empire, Second Foundation, Foundation’s Edge, and Foundation and Earth.  While I found most every character engaging and interesting, I had a few favorites here and there.  First was Hari Seldon (of course!) – the Godfather of the Foundation, the Big Daddy, the Mover and Shaker.  He came up with the science of psychohistory, which predicted the future by looking at the trends of mass motions.  At the beginning of Foundation, he predicted the inevitable downfall of the Empire and the virtual collapse of human society on a galactic scale.  Thus began the events that enabled Seldon to set up the Foundation in order to save mankind from itself – an effort that will take thousands of years to reach full circle.  Second favorite character was Bayta Darrell (Foundation and Empire).  I love these strong, intelligent women with enough heart to temper their coolness.  She was the one who prevented the Mule (major baddie) from discovering the location of the Second Foundation, thus saving the galaxy from the tyrannical rule of a slightly deranged megalomaniac with some extraordinarily impressive mutant abilities.   Third favorite was Golan Trevize (Foundation’s Edge, Foundation and Earth), who staunchly refused the idea of all the galaxy becoming a “unified mind” or “a unified organism” where all its constituents are constantly aware and connected to each other.  In other words, he didn’t like the idea of eventually wiping out individuality.   Even though “unification” has it’s obvious advantages, he persisted on fighting against the idea, going around the galaxy to find an explanation for this dilemma, and trying to stand up for the individuality that he believed made people “human.”  Did he find the answers he desperately searched for?  Did Hari Seldon manage to save the world?  I leave it to you to discover for yourself, and I wish you as much fun in the journey as I had.  

More information about The Foundation Series.

Shelter from the Storm - Bob Dylan

I was in another lifetime one of toil and blood

When blackness was a virtue and the road was full of mud

I come in from the wilderness a creature void of form

"Come in" she said

"I'll give you shelter from the storm".

And if I pass this way again you can rest assured

I'll always do my best for her on that I give my word

In a world of steel-eyed death and men who are fighting to be warm

"Come in" she said

"I'll give you shelter from the storm".

Not a word was spoke between us there was no risk involved

Nothing up to that point had even been resolved

Try imagining a place where it's always safe and warm

"Come in" she said

"I'll give you shelter from the storm".

I was burned out from exhaustion buried in the hail

Poisoned in the bushes and blown out on the trail

Hunted like a crocodile ravaged in the corn

"Come in" she said

"I'll give you shelter from the storm".

Suddenly I turned around and she was standing there

With silver bracelets on her wrists and flowers in her hair

She walked up to me so gracefully and took my crown of thorns

"Come in" she said

"I'll give you shelter from the storm".

Now the bonds are broken but they can be retied

By one more journey to the woods the house where spirits hide

It’s a never ending battle for a piece that’s always torn

"Come in" she said

"I'll give you shelter from the storm".

Well the deputy walks on hard nails and the preacher rides a mount

But nothing really matters much it's doom alone that counts

And the one-eyed undertaker he blows a futile horn

"Come in" she said

"I'll give you shelter from the storm".

I've heard newborn babies wailing like a mourning dove

And old men with broken teeth stranded without love

Do I understand your question man is it hopeless and forlorn

"Come in" she said

"I'll give you shelter from the storm".

Now there's a wall between us something there's been lost

I took too much for granted got my signals crossed

Just to think that it all began on an uneventful morn

"Come in" she said

"I'll give you shelter from the storm".

In a little hilltop village they gambled for my clothes

I bargained for salvation and they gave me a lethal dose

I offered up my innocence and got repaid with scorn

"Come in" she said

"I'll give you shelter from the storm".

Well I'm living in a foreign country but I'm bound to cross the line

Beauty walks a razor's edge someday I'll make it mine

If I could only turn back the clock to when God and her were born

"Come in" she said

"I'll give you shelter from the storm".

Sprout (2012)

This is a very high school story, if there ever was one.   I decided to give it a try so as to give myself a break from all the other things I’ve been on to lately that tended to be more on the serious, psychological, and dark-themed persuasion.  I’d say it was cute, if you liked this kind of high school candy.  I’m sure many out there would like it.

Souhei, along with two other people, end up as boarders in Miku’s home.  Things get awkward at first – Miku wasn’t really willing to let strangers invade her cushy home-life.  But then soon enough she develops a crush on Souhei and thinks of him as her “fated person.”  Problem is, Souhei has a girlfriend, Miyuki.  Miku, while not exactly popular in school, finds herself creating an awkward friendship with Miyuki, who gets bullied and gossiped about.  And then there’s Hayato, Souhei’s best friend, who ends up falling for Miku.  It’s a four-way street from there.  The story goes through the motions of showing the awkwardness of youth, naivete, first love, and heartbreak through a dewy summer-themed lens to the background song Betty’s a Bombshell by Grouplove.  I rather liked this song.  As to the series, the pace was good – thirty minute episodes, so it went quite fast and didn’t get too boring.  The thing is, the actors (except perhaps for the Souhei kid) came off as stiff, cold, and awkward; as if they didn’t feel quite comfortable with their roles.  But come to think of it, given the themes, they were supposed to look awkward and uncomfortable, being teens trying to figure things out by trial and error, yes?  Oh well.   Anyway, it wasn’t all that bad.  It’s good for something light and cute, if that’s what you’re after.  Enjoy! 

Empire - Orson Scott Card

Another Orson Scott Card book that had been waiting for my attention for quite some time now, I finally picked Empire up.  I must say it’s entirely different from the other books I’ve read by the same author – rather surprisingly so.  It’s about a group of American soldiers trying to prevent an American civil war, all the while not really knowing whether they are being manipulated by a very clever, ambitious dictator-wannabe in such a way that in the end everything will fall perfectly into place so that he may take complete control of America. 

 This book followed in the wake of September 11, and I have to say it carried a sense of paranoia all throughout the story.  Mr. Card did however, give a rather lengthy explanation for his reasons to write such a story at the end of the novel.  I will not dwell on that – the politics behind terrorism and civil wars and dictatorships, and so on – I would much rather take the story as I see it.  It’s a very interesting and engaging story after all. 

So Reuben Malich is a brilliant soldier.  From the outset he’s given this all-around-good-guy heroic image.  He seems to have everything and he’s on the way to the top.  And of course someone like him has to be set up for a downfall by the bad guys – in this case Averell Torrent, our ambitious little baddie who thinks himself a Roman Emperor in the making.  Reuben along with Cole, his trusty sidekick, almost but not quite succeed in foiling an attempt to assassinate the President of the USA.  From there begins the many trials and tribulations that Reuben and Cole must go through to get to the truth of what’s really happening in the White House.  Conspiracies galore; left wing vs. right wing factions; a hostile takeover of New York City by weird walking tanks, and so on and so forth, in the center of which is Reuben.  And then Reuben is murdered.  Just like that.  I almost cried!  I couldn’t believe it.  Right smack in the middle of the story the hero dies.  I must admit that throughout the rest of the novel I was hoping that Reuben would pop back out somewhere, that he really planned to fake his own murder, etc.  But he didn’t.  He died.  So it’s up to Cole, Reuben’s wife, and Reuben’s loyal group of soldier-brothers to save the day.  In the end, Averell Torrent is the uncontested President of the USA.  What the hell?!  But the book was quite a statement – it clearly reveals Orson Scott Card’s opinion of governments, wars, religion, heroism, family, and friendship.  I rather think he’s an idealist who’s a bit frustrated by the way things aren’t going in the ideal fashion.

Anyway, it’s good.  I couldn’t let go of the book.  The characters were interesting and the conspiracies were intricate.  The pace was really tight and exciting and you just want to know what they’re going to do next, whether the conspiracy will be revealed or not, who’s really the bad guy, or is the bad guy not so bad after all?   It got to the point where it’s frustrating and I just wanted to skip the remaining pages between where I was and the last page of the story to peek at the ending (I try to never do this with any book – peek at the ending, I mean.).  This is quite a novel experience for me because even though you wouldn’t really call this a politics-themed story, it did have a healthy dose of government jargon and politics involved, which I usually dislike reading about (I read Primary Colors  a couple of years ago and I really didn’t like it one bit, sorry.).  I just hate politics, local or foreign.  Politicians to me are all the same rotten banana, all out to line their own pockets with the honest money the common people shed their blood and sweat for, all the while spouting public service and for the good of the people  yadda, yadda.  But anyway, I actually liked this book.  It was exciting and thrilling and interesting all the way.  So even though the theme didn’t appeal much to me, I’m still glad I gave it a try.  It might be a while, though, before I willingly pick up another similarly themed story.  Better be careful.