reading (The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency)

I finished this a while back, but have been too busy to get around to writing about it. I didn't know what to expect with this book, but since so many people I know has read it, I guess I expected something. But I must admit, I just didn't get it. Maybe that's because I just didn't get it or maybe that's because it just isn't there.

This book strikes me as one very deliberately written to amuse and delight a target audience. Alas, I do not believe I am in the target audience. I certainly like some of the phrasing. But the main character felt more like Pandering than Precious. As in pandering to the audience. The plot, well, the woemantic progression doesn't get interrupted by things like investigation or any other bit of plot really.

It feels like Smith was trying to tackle too many things and ended up with a contrived, preachy feel and a meandering, though not pleasantly meandering, journey to the end of the book.

20. Alexander McCall Smith "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency"

reading (Lucky You)

I finished "Lucky You" in three days I think. It was a welcome balm after "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency". Maybe I'm just too cynical for sweet books. You might be able to find two more different novels, but it would be a challenge.

"Lucky You" certainly isn't an intellectual growth exercise. It's a farce complete with Mary Sue characters and way impossible plot. I should mention, I really liked that there wasn't a young woman throwing herself at an old guy in this one. You can pick out the romatic leads really quickly, as usual, but I like that the secondary romantic couples don't turn out the way you'd expect them to.

Hiaasen does seem to have to have his evil couplet: bad guy, bad dumb guy. In this one they wade right across the void between farce and absurd, lacking the coherence of other Hiaasen villians. The similarity between Cosmo Lavish and the primitive member of the evil couplet in Hiaasen's books is striking. If you read Making Money and this book in succession it really is weird.

21. Carl Hiaasen "Lucky You"

reading(Building Stone Walls)

I finished "Building Stone Walls" last week. At just over 100 pages, this isn't a detailed work on all the ins and outs of every aspect of wall building. It does provide an overview, some specific pointers, and some specific suggestions on tools. It's easy to read and has numerous illustrations. I do wish a bit more time was spent on the shaping of stones and perhaps a bit less on the oddities: special walls and furniture. Overall, a well laid out little book.

This won't really get you to the point you can build a stone wall, but it might give you the inspiration and knowledge you need to go out and start learning by picking up and placing stones. Fitting, because that seems like the author's intent.

22. John Vivian "Building Stone Walls"