Tag: booknerd

The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown

When you read a Dan Brown novel you know exactly what you are going to get. Is it high brow? No. Is it a Dostoyevsky level of human condition? No. Is it thrilling and keeps the pages turning? YES!

This book is no different, our favourite Professor Aquaman is with his “girlfriend”, a beautiful, smart scientist in Prague while she delivers a speech prior to publishing a new book that can change the World on how consciousness is misunderstood. But forces at play wish to keep her quiet and her book un-published. What follows is a day of adventure, danger, violence and a lot of science that goes over this readers. When I got to the end I was surprised that the timeline was only 24 hours!

It was fun for what it was, the best character in the book is probably Prague itself. That is what I enjoy most about DB novels, he really opens up the culture or history of a place to people like myself who know very little and it encourages one to do their own research like for example The Devil’s Bible or Prague Castle and the Door With Seven Locks.

The plot was enjoyable for what it was and a few twists and reveals caught me out. Very cleverly done, some bits far fetched but it a suspension of belief that you make for the sake of entertainment. I found this book better than Origin but it’s not quite at Inferno or Angels & Demons for me.

There isn’t really a true villain in the book except for perhaps Finch and his organisation, there’s lots of grey characters and even the Golem is just delivering justice and is justified in its actions.

And given this little quote from the book

Langdon flashed on the opening line to one of his favourite novels. It is said that in death, all things become clear.

it seems one of Robert Langdon’s favourite books is Digital Fortress by …. Dan Brown.

Goodnight Tokyo by Atsuhiro Yoshida

I am now well and truly back into Japanese translated books. I bought this one a while ago and really what attracted me to it was the cover. Both the book and audiobook have beautiful covers (see above and below).

The book is very engaging and follows a Tokyo taxi driver and his clients, the stories are all intertwined with people who all flit across each others stories. The atmosphere is very good and I enjoy the cast of characters and their stories. The problem is I would want more, more depth to the stories and book.

Kojiki: The Birth of Japan by Kazumi Wilds

Creation of the World but the Japanese/Shinto version.

I admit I bought the wrong book and this was not what I was expecting but it was a nice surprise to read it and I did enjoy it. It follows the creation mythology of Japan with the spirits. Very beautifully illustrated but at 32 pages long very short too -something I didn’t pay attention to.

For what it was I enjoyed it. It was nice to read the author/artists note too on the meaning of the Kojiki to them and how it relates to the place where they live and their life. Same with the process behind the illustrations in book.

I do intend on buying the comprehensive translation by Basil Hall Chamberlain to delve deeper into the subject

The Devil’s Flute Murders by Seishi Yokomizo

Its been a while since I read one of Seishi Yokomizo’s Detective Kosuke Kindaichi novels and I fancied catching up on the series with a new one due to be released this coming week.

This read was a great one and very readable and flows nicely. It was an interesting case involving a family and a locked room murder and the devilish apparition of an already dead family member. The plot was very cunning and I didn’t guess the culprit. There is a bit of incest in the plot which was a surprise and may be a trigger for some.

Though these are old books they aren’t dated and are very readable and enjoyable. I have the next one ready to read. The Little Sparrow Murders.