Terrapin

Title: Terrapin
Author: T. M. Doran
Ages: 15 and up

I am very conflicted in my opinions of this book.  On the surface Terrapin was a mediocre mystery story with (mostly) dislikable characters.  However, after I read it I felt like there must have been something about the book that I was missing.  After all anyone could see that the mystery part of the story was nothing remarkable and there was nothing special about the plot.  I started to reflect on what the author might have been trying to convey behind the pretense of a murder mystery.  I came to the conclusion that Doran was trying to provoke the reader to think about where their actions and decisions can lead them and that some choices are unrepeatable.  I'm sure there is way more significant philosophical meanings to this book that I didn't get.  (Why is the book called Terrapin anyway?)  The main character, Dennis Cole, is an interesting character only because I never liked him.  He is boring and apathetic about mostly everything.  You do see the change in character in the end.  I wished that the author would let the reader have more of a glimpse of the new and improved Dennis Cole before closing the book.  There was so much darkness in the book and so little light that I felt like I deserved it.  Dennis Cole's father was a better character because it's what he says and does that leads Dennis to choose to do the right thing in the end.  I'm planning to re-read this book as soon as I have more time (which might be never).  I didn't enjoy this book as I would any other mystery book, but it did get me thinking.  I'm reading another of T. M. Doran's books called Toward the Gleam and so far I like it a lot better than this Terrapin.  Look for an upcoming review on it.

Content Advisory: A lot of cursing.  Pretty much anything except the f-word.  Some of the characters undergo marital strife and one of the characters is hinted at to have had an affair.  Lots of violence (it's a murder mystery after all).  Some of the ways in which people die are pretty gruesome and the explanations of them are a sometimes in-depth. 

Murder On the Orient Express

Title: Murder on the Orient Express
Author: Agatha Christie
Ages: 13 and up

The mystery genre has always been one of my favorites and Agatha Christie has always been one of my favorite authors in that genre.  This was my first experience of Poirot the Belgian detective and I was less than impressed.  I love Christie's Tommy and Tuppence books for a lot of reasons, one being because their characters are extremely believable and often very funny.  After Tommy and Tuppence, Poirot seemed monotonous and unexciting.  I know that a lot of mystery fans are reading this with their mouths agape with shock, but I didn't see the brilliance of Poirot, nor do I ever think I will.  Besides the character of  Poirot, the story was fine.  There was little action, but the story seemed to fair well without it.  The other characters on the train were captivating, somewhat realistic, and sometimes scandalous.  In short, they were everything Christie intended them to be.  The one part of the book that I will give Christie praise for was her fantastic ending.  Christie had me guessing up to the climatic ending (she usually always does).   However, I was disappointed at the Poirot's reaction and decision at the end.  That incident at the end was exactly why I think, to put it nicely, Poirot is a spineless sap.  I know I'm a loner in my Poirot bashing views, but I have reasons and I hope Poirot isn't as dull and boring in his other books as he was in this one.  It was an interesting and entertaining book, but not a must read. 

Content Advisory:  Mild cursing such as d**m and h**l.  Some comments made by passengers on the train are mildly inappropriate.  One incident with Dr. Constantine is also inappropriate.

David Copperfield

Title: David Copperfield
Author: Charles Dickens
Ages: 15 and up

There's not much I can say in the face of such a novel.  In the first place, it's huge; a monstrous 721 pages.  Secondly, it is a classic, so anything I'm going to say will back that up.  Dickens proves himself time and time again to be one of the most brilliant and prolific writers of the 18th century.  (On my list, he ranks up top with Jane Austen.)  One of my favorite things about his writings are the numerous and unforgettable characters.  Even though Dickens wrote many books with many characters in them, he still produces characters that are as similar to each other as hot is to cold.  Both Mr. Micawber and Uriah Heep are so unforgettable, but yet so different.  Dickens' characters are always complex and believable.  His side plots are enthralling as twist and wind throughout the book completing the thoughts and ideas he is trying to convey as an author.  Another asset of the book is the staunch moral overtone.  Dickens may have had a mistress during his life, but you will never find him insinuating that adultery is acceptable.  Thievery, deception, and malevolence all play parts in his writings, but all by the antagonists.  When such vices are used by good characters, they are used with devastating results both to themselves and to everyone around them.  A very good book that I will recommend to anyone.

Content Advisory: Minor curses such as d**n.  An adulterous affair is hinted at, but it comes to nothing.  One of the female characters in the book is seduced and runs away with a man.