recently read

I've been reading a lot lately-- mainly because it's cold out and when it's cold, all I want to do is hunker down with a good book. And my Kindle makes everything SO. MUCH. EASIER.

I started The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells a little big after Christmas, and just never really had the time to finish it. I'm a big, big fan of Wells' work-- you've probably read The Time Machine, or The Island of Doctor Moreau? Anyway, this one didn't disappoint. When I first told Zach I was reading it, he was incredulous as to why I'd have even the least bit of interest in it, but that was because he thought I meant Invisible Man instead.

Haha, BIG difference!

I'd recommend this to anyone who appreciates a well written Science Fiction novel-- after all, Wells is the 'Father of Science Fiction.' It's really, really good. I've got War of the Worlds and The Island of Doctor Moreau on my Kindle in waiting.

The first novel I finished this year was Who Censored Roger Rabbit? I had been wanting to read this book for a while, since I love the Disney movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit that is loosely based on this novel. It's certainly not a kiddy book, at all. In fact, I would say it's anything but. The themes are definitely for the more mature reader, and the way that Gary Wolf deals with the social commentary is extremely clever. I'd jump at the chance to annotate this in a lit class- I think you could find a hundred different things to talk about that would lead to a thousand more.

WCRR? deals with much more complex issues and a much deeper case than you would expect if you've seen the film. The story itself is an intricate murder mystery, featuring perpetually drunk Private Detective Eddie Valiant, and the doppelganger of the late Roger Rabbit, who pushes Eddie to solve the crime before he falls apart roughly two days after Roger proper created him. Of course, Jessica Rabbit is featured, as is Baby Herman.

It was much better written, much more cleverly planned and much more elegantly executed than I expected this novel to be. Highly entertaining, really smart and to my mind, unpredictable.

I ran across Who P-p-p-plugged Roger Rabbit? after searching for a Kindle copy of the aforementioned WCRR? I was unaware that there was a second novel, and if you've read (or have any idea of the plot) the first novel, you'd be pretty aware that there isn't any room for a sequel of any kind. And yet, here it is.

WPRR? is written more as a tie in to the film, rather than a sequel to the first novel. It deals more heavily with actual players in Hollywood, actual films, actors and producers. Through the course of the novel, we encounter Vivien Leigh, Carole Lombard, David Selznick and Clark Gable-- who actually plays a pretty big role in the story. Jessica and Roger's marital problems are again an issue in this novel, but I will say, their ending is much happier.

I found it really entertaining, despite the fact that the novel is without a doubt much cruder and not as well written as the first. I even finished this one faster than the first, and I think my borderline obsessive love of classic films really egged me on. They mention classics like The Thin Man and Gone with the Wind (a driving force behind the novel, truly!) and includes things like Gable's marriage to Lombard. I liked the old Hollywood history that was woven into the story, and liked that while the story was a bit goofy at points (I found again perpetually drunk Eddie's sudden insights a bit hard to believe) it was enjoyable.

I wouldn't recommend this one to everyone- I've already told Zach he should read the first, but maybe not the second. He's not got my interest in 1930's-esque Hollywood, so I don't think there'd be a lot in the story to keep him reading. But worth a read, in my book! Ah ah ah.



And THAT is what I've finished so far in 2011. I'm about 40% of the way through Water for Elephants right now. I had a hard time getting INTO the book- I really don't like old Jacob at all, and since he's heavily featured at the beginning of the book, it took me a little pushing to get into the story. Once we get into the story with Jacob and the circus, though, I've found it a lot easier to read.

I still really don't care for the author's method of laying out the novel at all, her writing is a bit choppy for my taste and I don't care for some of the literary devices she's used, but in general, at least now I've found it readable.



{all images from amazon.com}