What's Robert Been Reading & Watching?

Full Dark, No Stars
by Stephen King

A very entertaining ghost story with mostly engaging characters. The author does vividly describe the settings throughout the novel, and relates in his afterword the genesis of the story and its basis from the real surroundings of his youth. You will definitely want to visit the luxury hotel described in the book. As the story comes to its denouement, the suspense is driven by the winds of the storms that occur and these are depicted with a remarkable craft by the author. I am definitely interested in reading other books by this author and await his newest book due in the early part of 2011, with a sneak preview at the end of this book. His style is very much like Michael Connelly's but Kortya's writing is unique stylistically, with a sharp sparseness that actually does not lack in rich detail or emotion. At times it is a bit difficult to follow what the author presents as the true source of the "ghost" and its chain of creation and occurrences within the story, and the book is a tad bit on the long side. You definitely want to spend good chunks of time reading to keep with the pace and suspense of the story. Well worth the effort.

In My Father’s House
by
E. Lynn Harris

Three renowned African -American authors present novellas paying homage to E. Lynn Harris and what his talents and generosity of spirit and resources brought to the literary, social, and educational communities that he touched.

Previously I had only been familiar with the B-Boy books of author James Earl Hardy but found Terrance Dean’s and Stanley Bennett Clay’s contributions to this collection equally pleasurable experiences that make me want to read additional works by them.

First in the set is Terrance Dean’s “The Intern” about Chase Kennedy, a television exec that is mostly married to his job, but soon finds himself in a deeply romantic relationship with hot new summer intern Quincy Thornberry. A twist at the end of this story makes for great intrigue and raises possibilities for further contemplation of these characters and the desire to read more.

Second is James Earl Hardy’s “Is It Still Jood to Ya?” which takes the reader back to the world of Raheim and his former romantic partner Little Bit/Mitchell. I have always enjoyed Hardy’s B-Boy books and his characters, and this is a great chapter in their story. I definitely need to go and read the sixth book in the series which I haven’t read yet. But here in “… Jood …” Raheim and Mitchell reunite and their passions re-ignite making for a great reading experience. The second half of the novella is presented as a script from a radio talk show interview with Raheim and Mitchell reflecting on their lives, relationship, careers and the African American communities and the changes that have abounded. There is much to reflect on and be entertained with in this novella.

Last in the collection is Stanley Bennett Clay’s “House of John,” which presents photographer Jesse Templeton III, who is recovering from the abrupt end of his relationship with an actor whom he discovered en flagrante with another man. Jesse is invited to join a group of men travelling to the Dominican Republic to partake in the pleasures of a private house where the food and drink flow freely and local men are available for pleasurable enjoyment. After joining in the frivolity for a few days, Jesse takes a break and goes off to explore the environs for photo shoots. When he finds himself drawn to the beauty of a young native Davide, he wants to capture his beauty on film. But Davide also captures Jesse’s heart. Clay’s descriptive passages of the Republic are quite vivid taking the reader into the beauties of the cultures and environs and his prose is quite strong and engaging.

Each story also has some bold, frank scenes of sexuality that are enticing and delectable. Each author also presents a short essay on what E. Lynn Harris meant to them in their lives and in their writing. Each story also incorporates E. Lynn Harris appearances in the stories that honor him with charm and grace.

Less Than Zero was the debut novel from Bret Easton Ellis, who stirred controversy with his later novel, American Psycho. In Zero, Ellis presents a group of well-to-do teenagers in 1980s’ Los Angeles as they explore drugs, sex and violence. The story is told through the eyes and mind of Clay who acts more as an observer rather than a participant in the actions and events that occurred. What Ellis’ greatest achievement to me in this book are his incredibly vibrant descriptive passages of the hot, dry Santa Ana winds and their effect on L.A. and his characters. Though brief and stark, Less Than Zero is quite engaging.

And now 25 years after its publication, Ellis revisits the characters in his newest novel, Imperial Bedrooms. In the very first pages of this new book, narrator Clay addresses the differences between the earlier book and a film that was adapted from the book. Ellis is quite cute with this bit and it works well to set the stage for centering this story on Julian, one of Clay’s closest friends from his youth. Clay apparently is able to overcome his addictions to approach a more successful adult life though questionably running an escort service of ill-repute. Most of Imperial Bedrooms is spent working through the mystery of Julian’s eventual decline and death. Ellis also presents some explicit scenes of sex and violence that add a twist to the tale that adds a surprise for one of the characters. Unfortunately what is lacking here is what could have been an interesting element, the character of Los Angeles as it has changed in the past 25 years, and how Clay, escaping from a previously disastrous relationship and life in New York City. Ellis’ presentation of L.A. in Less Than Zero plays such an important role in the story and it would have been an equally strong element to carry forth in his revisit to these characters and their world.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson is the collaborative effort of two young adult fiction writers, John Green and David Levithan, and tells the story of two young teens from the Chicago area who have the same name, Will Grayson. Each is exploring his sexual identity and experiences of being a young teen and the first grasps at love and relationships.

Each auther writes alternating chapters and handles one of the Will Graysons; Green’s chapters are the odd numbered and follow the straight Will Grayson and his friends including a flamboyant and intriguing character known as Tiny, who is anything but – a former football player known for his large wall of a physique and who is now is exploring his largesse as an openly gay young man.

Levithan’s even-numbered chapters follow the other Will Grayon, who is gay and currently exploring a developing relationship via a teen chatroom. A surprise twits to this relationship rocks this Will Grayson's world and comes quite unexpectedly. Levithan demonstrates a remarkable storytelling skill in pulling this off.

The Will Graysons meet and become friends and their worlds and friends become interwoven in what is one of the liveliest, most humorous and entertaining young adult books that I have every read. This would make a great read for anyone at the beach this summer and offers much for young adult readers to contemplate with each other and adults about teen sexuality, romance and acceptance of those different from ourselves. A great pleasurable experience.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is the first of a trilogy of novels by deceased Swedish writer Steig Larsson, the third of which has just recently been released in the U.S. The first book starts off as a darkly toned character study of financial news correspondent Mikael Blomkvist and private investigative consultant Lisbeth Salander, who is one of the most intriguing young female characters in modern literature. The story is woven with immense amounts of deftly presented detailed both in characterization and descriptive passages of the numerous settings in the story.

Salander is an exruciatingly private person, very slight of build, reserved but remarkably resourceful, intelligent and intensely motivated once she takes on a task. She has a strong sense of what is right and will go to any means to exact a vengeful justice, if necessary, as she does with an attorney who is responsible for her business affairs and well-being. He considers her a nothing nebbish, childlike waif with no sensibilities and subsequently sexually abuses her. Her vengeance is deliberately detailed and carried out with determined zeal..

Blomkvist has been found guilty of slandering a corporate giant, and tucking his tail, escapes to a small Swedish village at the request of another corporate giant to investigate the decades-old disappearance of his beloved niece. As part of his investigation, Blomkvist obtains the skills of Salander to aid him in his investigation of the disappearance.

About halfway through this first volume, the engaging character study abruptly becomes a fast-paced suspense/thriller as sordid family secrets and sexuality come to light. I felt a bit cheated but this abrupt change, but was nonetheless engaged and intrigued by the storyline as it unfolded. I suspect a good deal of the Swedish idiom and flavor may have been lost in translation, as there are times when some American colloquialisms are used and seem ill fitted to the text. I am intrigued enough by the characters, particularly Salander to want to continue with the series, but not necessarily as a next read.

Blockade Billy
by
Stephen King

Little Bee
by Chris Cleave

Little Bee is a magnificent reading experience. While I did find it a bit of struggle to believe that narrator Little Bee is only 16 years old, her voice is rich and full of wisdom with a sharp eye for seeing the things in life that so many of us pass by or neglect to take in. The second narrator Sarah is an equally rich voice as she reveals her own search for a truer and deeper sense of herself. These two women meet on a beach in Little Bee's native Nigeria under circumstances that create a startling, frightening bond between these two women that greatly affects and changes their lives and the lives of Sarah's family. At first, Little Bee's narrative was a bit of a struggle but as Sarah's narrative alternates with Little Bee's and their stories unfold, the reader is drawn into their stories and lives and their experiences offer much to contemplate about where one finds oneself in life and where one wants to be. Greatly affecting in emotional strengths. By the end of the book, this reader was captivated by both of these women and the genesis of their development. This story will stay with you...I guarantee it.

The Many Deaths of the Firefly Brothers
by Thomas Mullen

An incredibly deliberate and well crafted tale set in the depression midwest and follows the escapades of the Fireson brothers, Jason and Whit, rogue bankrobbers. Defying the odds, the brothers manage to escape the authorities, both local and federal, in repeated shootouts. Or do they? The brothers commit to complete one final as they make attempts to complete one final "endeavor" that will allow them to escape and set up a new life. Waiting on the sidelines to learn about the Fireson brothers are their mother, brother, Whit's wife and toddler, and Jason's girlfriend, Darcy, whom Jason held briefly as getaway cover after one of their early bank robberies. Smoothly and deliberately paced, with great depictions of the banks, the hideouts and the breadlines and moods of the depression, Mullen weaves a complex tale of family and secrets and truths withheld. I only wished that Darcy, Jason's girlfriend, an intriguing character had been as finely drawn as the brothers Fireson. One of the most thoroughly satisfying and fulfilling reading experiences I have had in quite some time.

Horns
by Joe Hill

A very strong second novel from Hill. This tells the story of the complex friendship and romantic entanglements of three high school friends. Ignatius Perrish wakes up after a night of drunken debauchery to find that he has grown a set of devilish horns. These horns have the capacity to allow Ig to hear the true desires of those he comes in contact. He learns how almost everyone he knows including his family believe he is responsible for the brutal rape and death of his longtime girlfriend, Merrin. Add to the mix, best friend to both Ig and Merrin in high school. Only has secrets of mischief and longings for Merrin. Elements of the thoroughly fascinating read may prove controversial to some. Certainly the male voices here are fully developed, but I wished we had been given a less sexist and more fully developed picture of Merrin.

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