Happy Birthday Dad

Well firstly it's my Dad's birthday today. He has hit the grand old age of 77!!

I'll pop in for dinner tonight with Mum & Dad. I could, of course, take them out for dinner but Dad will be far happier staying at home. He doesn't like eating out. Unlike me!!

Another garden tick this morning.... a chaffinch! So captivated was I that I forgot to shave and didn't realise until I had pulled out of the drive and looked in the rear view mirror!!

Finished a bottle of Tesco's Finest Gavi. £5 *** very drinkable!!

and some books I have read.

Elizabeth George - With no one as witness - ***
Synposis from Amazon
"Number One best-seller Elizabeth George creates a serial killer for the first time, setting the globally popular Inspector Lynley his most shocking case yet. When the Metropolitan Police fail to realise a serial killer is at work, London ignites over the fact that the killer's victims are young black and mixed race boys. Institutionalised racism is claimed by the community's activists and tabloids alike. Acting Superintendent Thomas Lynley is given the case, and his Scotland Yard task force is soon handling more killings and a looming tragedy. Elizabeth George brings to the familiar subject of the serial killer freshness and clarity of vision that provide illuminating insight into the psychological complexity of the tortured criminal mind. She does so within a richly textured, thrillingly suspenseful narrative that defies any reader to predict its outcome. Nor does she neglect our favourite characters, whose private lives provide an engrossing counterpoint to their professional duties."

One of the criticisms of the Lynley novels is American George's anachronistic treatment of Scotland Yard. This is Britian in the 21st century and local forces don't call in the yard anymore. What can't be faulted is her narrative drive, she forces the story on leaving the reader desperate to find out what happened next. All the trademarks are here, confrontation with authority, will Havers get her rank back but it all feels a little stretched. I reckon you could lose 70-100 pages and make this a better book.

George does end the book with big changes for the main character meaning I'll want to read the next installment.

Anyone who has watched the TV series and read the books will know that the actress playing Havers is too attractive!

Charles De Lint - The Dreaming Place - ***
"A young woman locked in rage yet seeking magic, Ash is drawn into a wondrous Otherworld of totems and dryads, living tarots and mystic charms. At the same time, Ash's cousin Nina is stalked by an Otherworld demon-a manitou who can force her mind and soul into the bodies of beasts. Ash must find the strength to overcome her own anger, learn the full power of magic, and save Nina before she becomes the manitou's weapon, turning the faerie realm into an arctic wasteland. De Lint fans will relish this urban and otherworldly fantasy, partially set in the author's trademark Newford"

This is the first "Newford" novel, its 134 pages long and written for the young adult market. The language isn't particularly dumbed down but unlike his adult novel it doesn't quite "work". Why? I think the problem is the length, the story can't quite make up its mind whether its a novel or a short story. As such the pacing seems off, at one moment he is establishing the characters for a slow build and then we are off on the adventure. Unusual these days saying that a book would have been better off being longer however I think the characters needed time to establish themselves. Still it provided an enjoyable few hours.