17,18/50: Lee, Swarup

Last of the books I read for 50books_poc in 2009. I started the challenge in April, so I'd definitely like to hit 25 by then. Advance warning that if you liked Slumdog Millionaire (the book - I haven't seen the film) you should probably avoid this review.

( Chang-Rae Lee, Native Speaker. )

( Vikas Swarup, Slumdog millionaire (original title Q and A, contains spoilers). )

Almost there

One more post after this, and that's all of 2009. I've also been using this to get used to sitting down in front of the computer each night and writing something, which does seem to be working, and which I hope to continue with.

( Richard Morgan, Black Man (“Thirteen” in the US). )

( Rafael Sabotini, Captain Blood. )

Stieg Larsson, The girl with the dragon tattoo
Stieg Larsson, The girl who played with fire
Stieg Larsson, The girl who kicked the hornet’s nest

Three excellent thrillers. I read them over a long weekend within which I also ran a half-marathon and then promptly lent them out to everyone, so details are now somewhat hazy. Basically, though, the series goes from a more standard serial killer plot in the first to an exposé of corrupt government/politics at the country level, and does so with a tight plot and intriguing characters, not to mention a refreshingly mature and fluid approach to relationships and sexuality, which is possibly the whole translated from the Swedish thing (also, good use of cell phones and other technology). It's also very much from a feminist point of view - the original Swedish title of the first one is "Men Who Hate Women" - as well as a more general activist one. Both Salander and Blomqvist are great, and it's a shame these three will be all we'll get (allowing for rumours about a fourth manuscript currently being argued over by the now-deceased author's partner and his family).