"Forest Gate"

I think it is interesting that my review of "Forest Gate" follows my review of "Serpent Gate" but having "gate" in both titles is where the similarity ends. I picked up "Forest Gate," Peter Akinti's first novel, on the "best bets" shelf at my library. It really is a "modern" book and I wondered as the "Jolie-Pitts" were referenced what someone will make of this book 20 or 30 years down the road. Will they know who the "Jolie-Pitts" are?

Author Peter Akinti, of Nigerian ancestry, was raised in Forest Gate, London, so I have made the assumption that, as a black man himself, he knows the difficulties of growing up there. It is an area of London where poverty seems to be handed down from generation to generation and there is a hopelessness among black men -- especially those who want to find a way out.

The story itself centers around three main characters: Ashvin and his sister, Meina, who have come to London from their home in Somalia after their parents were murdered. Mr. Larry Bloom, a white friend of their father's, arranges their passage to England, their entry into the country, and provides support for them to live in a flat on their own in Forest Gate where they attend school.

James Morrison also hails from Forest Gate where all his older brothers are involved in crime and his mother is a crack addict. His father, who is dead, had a girlfriend with a daughter who is a half-sister to James. James wants a way out of Forest Gate and the family crime business.

After James and Ashvin become friends, they make a pact to kill themselves together. However, Ashvin dies while James is only injured. As he is recovering, Meina comes to visit him and a close relationship develops between them. What they discover about each other and the world together, is a true coming of age novel. They both have a lot of loss to face in their young lives and Mr. Bloom is there for both of them as Meina knew he would be.

The book also includes an original essay by the author and reading it helped me understand how he could have come to write a book with such rich detail about life in Forest Gate and what it is like to be a black male in London where racial disparity exists. In his essay, Akinti states: "The British idea of multiculturalism is in fact a dangerous myth. In London, different races may live on top of one another, but we remain separate and often alienated communities."

This book was not particularly a quick read for me but certainly thought-provoking. If you decide to read it, I suggest you start with Akinti's essay (on page 187 of my paperback copy). It's entitled "Forest Of A Thousand Demons" and I believe it is a good prelude to the novel he's written.

pazt

"Date Night"

I picked up a few DVD's at the library for this long holiday weekend - not that our life changes much because the banks and post offices are closed on Monday for President's Day! Tonight we watched "Date NIght" with Steve Carell, Tina Fey and Mark Wahlberg. Tina and Steve play a married couple whose life consists of 2 working parents, two kids and a household to maintain. While the husband of one of their friends confides to Steve's character that he and his wife are divorcing and asks him to keep it a secret, his wife is confiding the same info to Tina's character. As they ponder what might have happened in that "perfect" relationship, each begin to think of how they might prevent that happening to them. Steve's character decides to take his wife into the city for a nice dinner and make date night a little more special than usual. When they show up late at an exclusive restaurant and learn that reservations are made at least a month in advance, they decide to wait in the bar and hope that a table opens up. When the hostess comes through the bar calling a couple's name and doesn't receive a reply after several attempts, Steve tells her they're that couple and they are seated for dinner. That's when the fun begins as midway through dinner a couple of guys show up wanting to speak to them outside. These two are after the blackmailing couple who originally made the reservation and they won't believe that Steve and Tina aren't that couple. This is the start of a more exciting date night than they'd ever expected and, in the end, it does add a little spice to their life but first there are some twists, turns, and evasions along the way. Although it's not quite as hilarious as the movie trailers led me to believe, it's a fun movie and this couple (the Fosters) also begin to look at what's really important! Enjoy!

pazt

"Curse of the Spellmans" by Lisa Lutz

Lisa Lutz has done it again in her sequel to "The Spellman Files." Private Investigator Isabel (Izzy) Spellman returns with her wacky family to provide more entertainment. As I try to read these books in bed, I'm shaking the bed with laughter. Fortunately, I have an understanding spouse who attempts (reasonably well it seems) to sleep through my late night reading. Once again Izzy jumps to some erroneous conclusions while trying to solve a mystery but she's lucky to have Police Inspector Henry Stone and her younger sister, Rae, to get her back on track.

Good News! The first book is being adapted as a movie by Paramount Pictures. I can hardly wait to see the Spellmans on the big screen!

In the meantime, I have some other books to read to prepare for the August meeting of my book club. Since I'm leading the discussion, I will have to wait to read "Revenge of the Spellmans!"

pazt

"Game Over" -- a Detective Inspector Bill Slider Mystery

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles has done it again with a new Detective Inspector Bill Slider mystery - kept me entertained and wishing for more. I think she only has one other book written in this series that I haven't read so I'm hoping she's busy writing another one!

In the middle of solving a high profile murder that, for once, the major case squad does not want to take away from him to solve themselves, Slider has his hands full. With his boss and his whole department behind him, he sets out to solve the case while trying to thwart the attempts of a crazed escaped convict threatening violence against him and his family. This English whodunit gets my vote!

pazt

"Death of a Gossip"

This "whodunit" by M. C. Beaton is set in the wilds of Scotland where a diverse group have gathered to attend a fishing school. When one of the guests is murdered, the local village constable, Hamish MacBeth, is deemed not experienced enough to investigate the case so Detective Chief Inspector Blair along with two assistants arrive to solve the murder. In the meantime, despite being told by Blair to stay out of the case, MacBeth quietly does his own investigation to successfully find the murderer. He has a little help from Priscilla Halburton-Smythe, the daughter of a local landowner who is not at all pleased at the interest the local constable is showing in his daughter.

This is the first in a series of Hamish MacBeth mysteries (Copyright 1985) written by Marion Chesney (an author of historical romances) writing under the pseudonym M. C. Beaton. There appear to be 27 Hamish MacBeth books. I found a paperback copy of this book at my local library and it has a label on the outside which states, "The condition of this book may not be typical of ....Libraries quality. New copies of this out of print title are not available."

Initially, I had difficulty following all the characters and had to paper clip the Cast of Characters list at the start of the book so I could refer back to it often. Otherwise, it was a quick and fun read and I'm looking for the next book in the series.

pazt

"Harte's Desire"

This novel by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles is a departure from her Detective Bill Slider series which I fell in love with last year. This story centers on two neighbors, Polly and Ginnie, and their ever so different lifestyles. When American media mogul, Simon Harte, moves into their neighborhood, their lives are turned upside-down! It's about deception in marriage and other relationships and how adding an outsider to the equation has the potential to change everything! Although it was an enjoyable read, I have to admit I still prefer the Bill Slider series.

pazt

"Steinbeck's Ghost"

"Steinbeck's Ghost" by Lewis Buzbee is another book I recently read. Although I located it browsing through the teen section of my library, I'd recommend it for anyone.

Travis Williams moves with his parents a few blocks away to a new subdivision but the change in his life is so drastic that he might as well have moved to the moon. He makes a new friend but his parents are always at work and he misses the family closeness they used to share in their old home and neighborhood and their regular visits to the library.

Without telling his parents Travis begins to return to the old neighborhood to visit the library and discovers the library, in John Steinbeck's home town with his statute out front, is going to close for lack of funding. A wise librarian helps him see that circumstances can be changed if you work towards a solution and he becomes involved with the committee working to save the library. As a result, his life and his friend and his family's lives are all changed -- for the better, I think. He also develops some strong friendships that span across the generations.

Interwoven in the story are the books Travis loves at the library -- the ones he's read over and over and he becomes involved in chasing down "ghosts" -- stories behind the stories written by John Steinbeck. There's a little mystery to be solved and an introduction to a lot of books I have yet to read!

pazt

"HeartSick"

04/01/10

I recently read "HeartSick" by Chelsea Cain, an author who grew up in Bellingham, WA. (Her web site: www.chelseacain.com.) This book is about a female serial killer and I wouldn't recommend it for the faint of heart because, if you don't like graphic details, this book isn't for you. However, it's called an "addictive read" by Tess Gerritsen and I agree because I didn't want to put it down until I'd finished it. Although there are many strong supporting characters, the main focus is on Portland cop, Archie Sheridan, and Gretchen Lowell, the serial killer he put behind bars, but can't quite put out of his life. Woven throughout the book are relationships between parents and children, lovers, husbands and wives as well as friendships and the positive aspects of stonrg, supportive friendships -- those people who will be there for you no matter what -- the friends we all hope to share our life.