Journal 2

 

1/19/2001

Bloodsport by Dick Francis (reread)

               For some reason I did not like this Francis novel.  I didn’t like so much that this time I didn’t finish.  Maybe it has to do with the main character and the quasi romantic relationship he has with a girl, and she is a girl, half his age.  Also the plot seems choppy., disconnect.  Something not quite right about, something that is right with the rest of his books.  Must be with he main character and the other characters.  Hard to say what it is.

 

1/21/2001

A Free Man of Color  by Barbara Hambly

                A good novel with pretty of twists and turns.  It is nice to have protagonist who is in his forties. The twist of Augsuts being born a woman was well done.

               What was especially good was the that Hambly does not shy away from race issues in the novel.  There is no good shining white person in armor.  The closest is Shaw who does Help Ben, but who is still willing to arrest Ben if it comes down to it.  The sympathy characters in the novel are all outsiders.

               Hannibal is the only truly sympathetic white character but he is of a lower social class.

               Madeline herself is sympathic but she dos not free Judith.  Augustus is less sympathetic than Shaw and Hannibal because of his marriage to Madeline and therefore owns slaves.  Ben himself does not seem to see Hannibal as white because although he is unsure whether or not he hates whites  he does not seem to include Hannibal in the white grouping.  One is unsure where Shaw will be placed, one presumes the mass grouping.

               Hambly does also dwell on the role of women in society.  Madeline and Augustus being two of the major players in this regard – but also the courtesans and Ben’s own family.

               One does wonder what exactly the replatipship between Hannibal and Minou is.  Is it really her protector’s child? It would be wonderful if it wasn’t.

               Also at the end one does understand Ben’s mother at least a little.

 

1/21/2001

The Celtic Crusades: The Iron Lance  by Stephen R. Lawhead

               Somewhat predictable book.  Plus the age of the narrator does not make sense.  Married at the age of 15 in Victorian England does not like something a boy of his social standing would be doing.  Plus, considering the age of the bride.

               It is a bit of a turn off.

               Noticed the lack of a date at the epilogue.

               Interesting how childbirth is juxtaposed with the battle.  Childbirth being seen as less violent of the wo.  More natural but less painful?  Also Regina’s mother dies three days before her grandchild is born and then one.

               A lot of holes in the plot in regards to tone.  Bad and good are too clearly defined.

 

1/24/2001

The Djinn in the Nightingale’s Eye  by A. S. Byatt

 

“The Glass Coffin”

               Good retelling of the story if somewhat lacking in characterization.

 

“Gode’s Story”

               I like how the sailor is portray as more curse than the Miller’s daughter.

 

“The Story of the Eldest Princess”

               Still like this one as much as the first time.  [Note: this story was the first work I ever read by Byatt.  I fell completely in love with her writing.  As an eldest daughter, I got so tired of the youngest always doing everything.  Byatt got that.]  It is so nice to read a story where the two elder siblings do something.

 

“Dragon’s Breath”

 

“The Djinn in the Nightingale’s Eye”

               More of appearance versus reality.  Gillian wants the appearance of youth not the actuality of what.            

               Gillian’s life begin to gain importance as she tell her story to the djinn.