Something thrillery: Joel Dicker – La Disparition de Stephanie Mailer
On the opening day of the theater festival of 1994, the mayor of Orphea, his family and a jogger were assassinated. A team of young detectives, Jesse Rosenberg and Derek Scott are assigned to the case. They soon connect the dots and the murderer is arrested, their swiftness being rewarded by the police.
Twenty years later, Stephanie Mailer, an investigative journalist, is convinced that they got the wrong person. She warns Jesse Rosenberg. He’s a police captain now in New York, one good-bye party away from retirement. He tries to dismiss her claims, but he can’t shake off a simple fact: what if they omitted something during the investigation?
Before his questions are answered, Stephanie vanishes. Her apartment is set on fire. When she’s found dead, Rosenberg realizes she was onto something more than an investigative piece, something that could solve the murders once and for all.
I consider this a “middle tier thriller” because Dicker’s style is a cross between contemporary fiction and thriller. He uses mysteries as a pretext to write stories. His writing is precious, while dealing with contemporary issues. I appreciated the way in which oftentimes the narration moves away from the central case, towards the stories of the characters. Through his writing we see humanity in all its beauty and/or cruelty. There are several points of view from which the story is told, which allows for different angles. The new hire of the Orphea Police describes sexism in the police force. A troubled teenager illustrates how hard it is to figure out who you are when you’re at war with your parents and your talent. The father of said troubled child shows the struggle a working parent, when juggling a demanding job and
a slowly disintegrating family.
What I didn’t like was that the windows into the lives of some characters were well made, but the weight of their stories carried onto what was meant to be a murder mystery. These things are quick and intense. With storytelling he changes the rhythm considerably. The story was slow here and there and eyebrows were raised in exasperation when the action dragged, but it wasn’t unbearable. I would have done the ending a lot sooner, and prepared for it in advance accordingly, but then again, I’m looking at the book from outside in, I’m not the author, who takes all decisions in advance. But for a long commute or a lazy read on the beach, it’s perfectly good ! 🙂
The title is in French cause I appreciate him in the original language, but you can find this book in translation as well. My fave from him remains “Le livre des Baltimore” (also available in translation and worth checking out)
Something historical: Ken Follet – Fall of Giants (or any other of his books, but on a kindle)
The book listed here was so long I had to write not one, but two reviews to fit my full feelings on it. Plus, the first editions that I’ve seen are massive, which always deterred me from buying them. Until I got a Kindle. I embarked on a journey of gargantuan proportions: reading a full novel of 800+ pages in less than 100 years. I managed, and found out just what a good storyteller Follet is. If you like family sagas, with grand historical backgrounds, he’s your guy. The narration flows gently and easily, there aren’t stiff passages and there’s plenty of dialogue. The story lines are easy to follow. Each chapter is told from a character’s point of view, which makes the narration intimate. He’s major on social themes such as poverty, women’s suffrage, workers rights, bridging the gap between social classes, allowing people from the lower class into politics, love and marriage, family, rank, personal duty versus duty towards the State etc.
I intend to read the other two books that are part of this trilogy because the story set in the first one and the description of the second are on point. If I were to choose something historical, I would definitely pick something like this! Plus, they are easy to find in flea markets, if you’re into that.
Another worthy mention from this author is The Pillars of the Earth, which is set in Medieval times and a recommendation from my boyfriend. Whatever he recommends, guys, it’s great ! From other authors, I would pick something from the Outlander saga by Diana Gabaldon or The Poldark Saga by Winston Graham.
Something lighthearted: Can You Keep a Secret by Sophie Kinsella (and other worthy mentions)
Me and Sophie Kinsella go back a long time. If I want something light, entertaining and well put together in the chick lit realm, this is where I like to hang. This book is one of my faves of all times. I’ve reread it about 8 times, I know bits of it by heart and if it falls into my lap, I’ll definitely read half of it without even noticing.
Imagine you take a flight and suddenly turbulence shakes your plane hard enough you start praying for dear life. For Emma Corrigan, that’s the last drop towards a complete meltdown. Whom other to confess your secrets to than the stranger besides you? Juicy secrets, from how you feed your boss’s plant with orange juice cause you hate her to how you fake it in bed to not hurt your boyfriend’s feelings. Everything comes out: love, family, friends. After all, you’ll be dead the next day, amirite? And while talking about bottled up feelings is great, imagine finding out on Monday morning that the person who knows your deepest secrets is your new boss! Yeah, I’d wish to be dead too!
The situational humor in this is absolutely divine, I laugh out loud at some passages still, even though I read it a couple times already. Bottom line is: confessing your secrets is scary, but also liberating. What comes out of it is both surprising and enlightening.
If you just want a good story, not the critical weight, there you go, you’re welcome, you’ll laugh a lot and gasp a lotter.
Other worthy mentions are The Undomestic Goddess, Twenties Girl and I’ve got your number. I haven’t read a Sophie Kinsella novel in years, so I don’t know much about the newer ones. Might find these easily in bargain bins in bookstores, though.
Something smart: Atomic Habits by James Clear
Those of you who cannot disconnect fully and need something challenging to read even on holiday might enjoy just how interesting this book is. Habits are the new productivity tool, but James Clear illustrates an idea as old as time with precious nuggets of experience: the key to achieving anything is baby steps and increasing practice as you go along.
That should mean something from someone who went from barely walking after a severe injury to a baseball athlete. I, for one, know that I tend to get overwhelmed by the amount of work and time that needs to go into completing ambitious goals. I don’t set fixed goals. It’s not about that. It can be as little as wanting to read more; he gives you practical tips and tricks that wire your brain towards improving, rather than selling the idea of instant success. If you’re triggered by those January goals you haven’t checked yet, but you’re opened towards an alternative approach to improvement, this is the book for you. It won’t tick them off the list, but it can help implement little changes that by next January would take you closer to what you want. Plus a little less frustrated and a bit more satisfied with your own achievements.
I think it’s a great choice for a holiday because a) no work in sight that can distract you, b) mind is more relaxed after the extra sleep and less stress and c) a better rested mind is more receptive to absorbing new ideas.
Something funny : The Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish
If you can, listen to it. The author narrates it and does all the voice acting, it’s the best book I’ve listened to so far. It’s an emotional rollercoaster. She experienced more in her life than most people ever will, but she got out of everything with a smile on her face. And willpower: the will to survive, the will to thrive, the will to belong. She never complained. From childhood in foster care to homelessness and making it in comedy, this book got me cry-laughing, then tearing up, then wanting to hug her so hard. She’s dignified, doesn’t need all that, but I would do it anyways, because her personality rhymes with mine and although her life was way more random, I find that she speaks to your heart, whomever you are and where you came from. She recently was a guest on Letterman’s show on Netflix. It’s a great primer if you want to pick this up.
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