A classic Jeffrey Archer title, originally written in 1977 with Ted Kennedy in the title role. When events in the senator's life made such a circumstance extremely unlikely, Archer rewrote the book with his protagonist from "The Prodigal Daughter", Florentyna Kane. I have never read the original version (I'm not sure if it's possible to find it anymore) but I love this one. Part political thriller, part mystery, part romance, this is Archer at his storytelling best.
Author: Jeffrey Archer
Potentially objectionable content: Some language, sex and violence
Monday, January 26, 2015
Book #29: "A Quiver Full of Arrows"
First, a bit of housekeeping. Though my books are alphabetized (and thus, read) without regard to any article that begins the title, it's awkward to write them that way. So though this title technically starts with an A, it's shelved under Q. Clear as mud? Okay.
Jeffrey Archer is never a bad writer, but I am not wild about his short stories, particularly in this volume. In fact, there was one story I didn't even remember reading (possibly because it was about cricket, which I am firmly convinced no American can ever really understand, but I barely get football, so what do I know?) There is at least one story that I did like-"The First Miracle", about Pontius Pilate as a child. Probably not worth buying on the sake of that one alone, though.
Author: Jeffrey Archer
Potentially objectionable content: Some language and sex references
Jeffrey Archer is never a bad writer, but I am not wild about his short stories, particularly in this volume. In fact, there was one story I didn't even remember reading (possibly because it was about cricket, which I am firmly convinced no American can ever really understand, but I barely get football, so what do I know?) There is at least one story that I did like-"The First Miracle", about Pontius Pilate as a child. Probably not worth buying on the sake of that one alone, though.
Author: Jeffrey Archer
Potentially objectionable content: Some language and sex references
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Book #28: "The Sins of the Father"
I only own the first two of this series in hard copy-the other two I got on my Nook last summer when we were headed to our family reunion. But EVERY SINGLE ONE of them ends with a terrible cliffhanger, and this one is particularly gut-wrenching. That's it. For real, this time-no more series until all the books are out.
Potentially objectionable content: See above.
Author: Jeffrey Archer
Potentially objectionable content: See above.
Book #27: "Only Time Will Tell"
Back during my brief college experience, I had developed a deep and intense dislike of waiting for the next book in a series to be released (Harry Potter and The Work and the Glory were largely responsible) and had thus sworn that I would never again start a series until it was completed. This firm resolve lasted until a roommate gave me a Christmas gift-the first book in a series I really wanted to read. I intended to take it home and give it to my mother, but in case you haven't noticed already, I have a serious book addiction.
So I have made this vow several times since, with varying levels of success-and by that I mean I was able to go months or even years without starting a new series, and then something would come along and ruin it. In this instance, I didn't know it was going to be a series, because I'd never seen Jeffrey Archer do that before. And believe me, I was INCREDIBLY annoyed when I got to the end and realized it. Vow broken again.
Anyway, enough about my issues. The books address a theme Archer is fond of, namely: do the circumstances of our birth dictate who we will be? And based on the way he deals with it (in this book and others) I'm going to say he thinks...yes. And no. Being born to privilege doesn't make you a good person, anymore than being born without it makes you a bad one-in fact, it would sometimes seem that exactly the opposite is true, especially in Archer's works.
But what he really likes to explore is the small decisions that shape our lives and make us who we are. And though the decisions made by others can change our lives for good or for ill, it is really how we react to our circumstances that makes us who we are.
Author: Jeffrey Archer
Potentially objectionable content: Some language, some sex, some intense sequences
So I have made this vow several times since, with varying levels of success-and by that I mean I was able to go months or even years without starting a new series, and then something would come along and ruin it. In this instance, I didn't know it was going to be a series, because I'd never seen Jeffrey Archer do that before. And believe me, I was INCREDIBLY annoyed when I got to the end and realized it. Vow broken again.
Anyway, enough about my issues. The books address a theme Archer is fond of, namely: do the circumstances of our birth dictate who we will be? And based on the way he deals with it (in this book and others) I'm going to say he thinks...yes. And no. Being born to privilege doesn't make you a good person, anymore than being born without it makes you a bad one-in fact, it would sometimes seem that exactly the opposite is true, especially in Archer's works.
But what he really likes to explore is the small decisions that shape our lives and make us who we are. And though the decisions made by others can change our lives for good or for ill, it is really how we react to our circumstances that makes us who we are.
Author: Jeffrey Archer
Potentially objectionable content: Some language, some sex, some intense sequences
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Big things coming
Okay, so I still haven't caught up. But I will. Thanks to my favorite just-younger brother, I now have a brand-new laptop. I thought about naming it Lappy 486 but, since it weighs in at much less than 42 pounds and has a battery life much longer than one-half of ten minutes (I think-I have't tested it yet), I have decided to name it Watson. Watson the Third. So soon...very soon...we shall be all caught up and reading again.
Friday, October 31, 2014
Book #26: "As the Crow Flies"
I'm fairly sure this is the first Jeffrey Archer book I ever read, probably because I was bugging my mother (yet again) for something new to read. It's also one of my favorites of his, with one of the best literary villains ever written.
I wish to take a moment here to talk about an endless debate my sister and I have, regarding the best Disney villain. Her vote is for Scar, since he kills his own brother and tries to kill his nephew so he can be the king. And while I agree that's reprehensible, it also makes a twisted kind of sense. He wanted something; he removed the obstacles to getting it; he got it. You don't condone his method, but you can't really fault his logic. My pick, on the other hand, employs a veritable army of minions for more than fifteen years, commits a couple of felonies and ultimately ends up dead because...she wasn't invited to a party. That's a whole different level of evil.
And while it says nothing good about me that I prefer my antagonists to be both brilliant and unhinged, I...don't actually care that much. Particularly when said antagonist just will not (or possibly cannot) let it go, already. Because inevitably, they're brought down by their own insanity, and it's very satisfying.
Also, a word about this author: his books all have some minor but weird errors. It's usually a number or a peripheral character's name that changes from chapter to chapter, and it makes me wonder who edits the manuscripts and why they don't notice. If I ever have the chance to meet him, you better believe I'll ask him.
Author: Jeffrey Archer
Potentially objectionable content: Language, some sex references, and war scenes
I wish to take a moment here to talk about an endless debate my sister and I have, regarding the best Disney villain. Her vote is for Scar, since he kills his own brother and tries to kill his nephew so he can be the king. And while I agree that's reprehensible, it also makes a twisted kind of sense. He wanted something; he removed the obstacles to getting it; he got it. You don't condone his method, but you can't really fault his logic. My pick, on the other hand, employs a veritable army of minions for more than fifteen years, commits a couple of felonies and ultimately ends up dead because...she wasn't invited to a party. That's a whole different level of evil.
And while it says nothing good about me that I prefer my antagonists to be both brilliant and unhinged, I...don't actually care that much. Particularly when said antagonist just will not (or possibly cannot) let it go, already. Because inevitably, they're brought down by their own insanity, and it's very satisfying.
Also, a word about this author: his books all have some minor but weird errors. It's usually a number or a peripheral character's name that changes from chapter to chapter, and it makes me wonder who edits the manuscripts and why they don't notice. If I ever have the chance to meet him, you better believe I'll ask him.
Author: Jeffrey Archer
Potentially objectionable content: Language, some sex references, and war scenes
Where Were We?
Lost in backlog hell, that's where. My ability to get books read far exceeds my motivation to write about them, my enormous enthusiasm for this project notwithstanding. Add to that a family reunion, the creation of my first-ever Primary program (and the considerable stress experienced thereby!), and finding a book I just couldn't make myself read (more on that later on) and...well, it just fell apart. All of it.
But I'm back! And I have brought many books and, naturally, my thoughts about them. So without further ado...
But I'm back! And I have brought many books and, naturally, my thoughts about them. So without further ado...
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