'Alif the Unseen' by G. Willow Wilson

Alif the Unseen, G. Willow Wilson (4.0)

I am happy to say I was surprised and delighted by this book.  Sometimes stories from present day that delve into fantasy can lose their way, but this one holds its own and I felt comfortable sliding between the known and the unknown.  The main story line is about a young hacker in present day Iran (likely during the Arab spring timeframe).  We see him as he falls in love, deals with ‘The Hand’ (the government on-line oppressor of young rebellious hackers), and as he generally struggles with his family situation.  What really makes this book special is the overlay of another world, based on the ancient Arabic belief in genies that parallels and intersects Alif’s life.  The characters he meets are fantastical and interesting.  The theories of religion and the world workings that they espouse are magical.  Stories of good and evil are ubiquitous throughout history, so it is refreshing to read one that takes old concepts, interweaves them with new technology and all with interesting characters who possess varying degrees of ‘bad’ and ‘good’.  I agree with previous comments that this book is partly ‘Golden Compass’ and partly any Neal Stephenson book.  I can see similarities and love both. 

'The Black Count' by Tom Reiss

The Black Count, Tom Reiss (3.0)

This book has been on several ‘Best Non-Fiction of 2012’ lists, and for good reason.  It is the quite surprising tale of Alex Dumas, the father of Alexandre Dumas, the writer of ‘The Three Musketeers’ and ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’.  He was a ½ black and ½ white man who became a General during the French revolution.  I found some remarkable points in the book:  how a man with a slave mother and fugitive French nobleman father could go from a Caribbean island to Paris and see less racism than his ¼ black son did 30 years later.  Also how little was known about this man and how much digging and research Mr. Reiss had to do to find his story, surprising given his amazing actions during the post revolution skirmishes in Italy and Egypt.  I liked how the author drew many comparisons of Alex Dumas’s life with those of his son’s most famous characters.  My only complaint is that I believe much of the amazing points were told in the prologues (there are two – one set in 1806 and one n 2007) that some of the consequent detailed story was a bit boring.  Since his story is not well known, more of the surprises could have been delayed to build more suspense.

'Wolf Hall' by Hilary Mantel

Wolf Hall, Hilary Mantel (3.0)

This book managed to divide our book club rather dramatically. Several people wanted to like it, but found it difficult to follow and not interesting enough to finish; while others really enjoyed this alternate voice of a much read era.  We agreed the writing style was awkward (very difficult to understand who is talking) and the multitude of characters coming in and out was daunting.  The timeframe covers Henry VIII’s first two marriages.  What is unique is that it’s told from the point of view of Thomas Cromwell, the non-royal confidant of Henry whom many considered a political mastermind. Hilary Mantel writes historical fiction with meticulous attention to facts and takes virtually no liberties with the plot or characters.  One element of the book that I found the most interesting was the additional information behind the split with the Catholic Church.  Most books I’ve read tend to focus on King Henry’s desire to divorce as the impetus for the split, but this book fills in feelings and actions towards the Church by more everyday people. This was cleverly done, as Cromwell was a commoner by birth who becomes very powerful and is shown to have one leg in each side of society so both perspectives could be told.  If you are familiar with the players and don’t mind the language, this book offers a refreshingly new view on this time in history.  If not, you should definitely pass on it!

'Information Cloud' by Peter James West

Information Cloud, Peter James West (2.0)

As most of you know, I am always looking for new and innovative Science Fiction stories. This came to me from someone who had seen my review of the Star Wars Trilogy. In the spirit of new Sci-Fi, I liked that it had two very innovative ideas (which I will not spoil here as they are only revealed at the very end of the book). One issue I had was that other aspects felt less surprising and more mundane. I would have liked to see Mr. West take more chances and reach farther with regards to new technologies. Oddly, I was never quite clear how far in the future this tale was set and where it takes place. Most of the weaponry and computer systems were too close to things I can easily imagine (and have actually seen) being worked on today in various advanced R&D centers.  The main military conflict in the book centers around a group called the Kamari, who seem to be invading or attacking the first characters you meet. For some time I believed the Kamari were aliens, (given it is Sci-Fi and with a name like ‘the Kamari’, can you blame me?). While the first contact implies they are humanoid, I still thought they were off-worldly, given their weaponry and means of transport. It wasn’t till almost the end of the book that I realized they were a radical group, which was a bit of a let down.

'The Art of Fielding' by Chad Harbach

The Art of Fielding, Chad Harbach (4.0)

I will admit, I am not a big fan of baseball. Had I paid closer attention to the title of this book, I may not have added it to my list. Luckily I had heard good yet vague comments about it.  While it is a story with baseball as it’s setting, it turned into much more.  The characters were slightly flawed but very likable and relatable, more so than in many books.  I first thought the plot was making me quickly turn the pages, but now I believe it was a somewhat fanatical desire to see what happens to the five main characters.  The basic story follows a young man as he goes to a small liberal arts college in Wisconsin.  He is spotted in high school by a college sophomore who recognizes his remarkable talent as a shortstop.  We follow his progress and meet others at the school that become important to him. My only complaint is that I believe he acted a bit out of character towards the end and some of the situations felt a bit forced, maybe to possibly add drama and angst between characters? Otherwise, it was a very compelling book to read.