The Case of the Fiery Fingers

by Erle Stanley Gardner

{ 1951 }

The Romgi and I saw this Perry Mason episode quite a while before I read the book – how completely different! Even the titular “fiery fingers” refer to something else. I absolutely loved reading this, my first Perry Mason book. More to come! Definitely recommended, if you can get your hands on some old copies!

Little Bee

by Chris Cleave

{ 2008 | Sceptre | 368 pgs }

I bought this on the Kindle because of its inviting blurb: “We don’t want to tell you too much about this book. It is a truly special story and we don’t want to spoil it.”

I’m going to spoil it for you.

This is a story about an orphan Nigerian refugee girl and a British couple. It isn’t so much tragic as just plain depressing. The storytelling is interesting – it alternates narration from the Nigerian girl (Little Bee) and the British wife, unfolding the plot from end to beginning. Unfortunately, the British wife was so extremely unlikeable that I never felt the proper pity or sympathy for her.

I think the book was meant to make you feel indignant, or sad about the way things are, or motivated to make a difference in the world, but all I really felt was depressed. I understand that in real life, people aren’t easily categorized as good or bad. But in a book I think you need to have at least one character that you can admire or even connect to!

As a side note, the book was originally called The Other Hand, which is a much, much better title for the story. I can’t imagine why they changed it. They ought to have asked me my opinion first.

Well, my opinion is to skip this one. There are plenty of books to make you feel guilty for being privileged, and a lot of them are better stories with better writing than Little Bee.

The Host

by Stephenie Meyer

{ 2008 | Little, Brown and Company | 619 pgs }

You may recall that I admitted to reading the Twilight series and even (gasp) to enjoying it. I know, we all have faults. Let’s move past that. I don’t think anyone should read Twilight now because The Host is such an infinitely better book.

All I knew about The Host was that “It’s about aliens.” This is somewhat comparable to being told that Watership Down “is about rabbits.” Well, okay. That doesn’t really say anything, you know? Here’s how I would summarize it: while the premise of the book is that an alien race, which requires host bodies in order to live, has come to earth and taken over human bodies; but of course, the story isn’t so one-dimensional. In fact, it’s a rich, complex story, which the author has described as something along the lines of “science fiction for people who don’t like science fiction.” I’ve got nothing against science fiction, myself, but I think she’s right on with that description. It never felt like I was reading about bodysnatchers.

Aside from the fascinating story line, the book is one I’d recommend because the writing is great. I know Stephenie Meyer has been a heavily criticized author. But I thought she had really ingenious story ideas here and wrote them wonderfully. I’m going to ask you to trust me a little here and try reading The Host, even if you’re anti-Twilight. I don’t think this is similar, but it is superior. I just wish it had gotten more acclaim.

P.S. Katie, do you want your copy of The Host back now…?