RIP II Wrap-Up

RIP II Wrap-Up time! Oh, boy, did I have fun. I don't know what it is about spooky and atmospheric books in the fall, but once I got into the mindset (it didn't feel quite right, at first, since it was still very hot outside), I really had a blast. Huge thanks to Carl for hosting the RIP, again! It's my favorite challenge.

I chose Peril the First, but I decided in advance to be flexible and read anything that I felt qualified for the challenge; and, as always, I did stray from the original stacks a bit. After reading four full-length novels, I was still in the mood for more and ended up reading a total of 8 books - 7 novels, 1 book of short stories. Full reviews can be read by clicking on the links. Here's what I read for the RIP II:

1. Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank - An classic apocalyptic tale. A riveting tale of survival and also a fascinating look into the 1950's, as the story was set during the time period during which it was written.

2. Ghost Walk by Heather Graham - A man and a woman who talk to ghosts, a couple of murders, and a few plot holes. Entertaining, but not great writing.

3. Ghost Eye by Marion Dane Bauer - Popcorn, a forgetful cat with one blue eye and one gold, realizes that he can see ghosts with one eye. Cute children's story - not scary but fun; the author has a great sense of humor.

4. The Poseidon Adventure by Paul Gallico - Read for the atmosphere; the only truly frightening scene was that in which the boat flipped upside-down. Considered ditching this one.

5. M is for Magic by Neil Gaiman - Short stories, shamelessly marketed to children. "Chivalry" was my favorite. Some were great, some so-so. All were rather adult.

6. Twilight by Stephanie Meyer - The hopelessly romantic opening of a pleasingly tame YA vampire series (at least, so far). Excellent atmosphere and one rocking scary hunt scene.

7. The House on the Strand by Daphne du Maurier - A time travel story in which a drug sends the men who drink it back to the 14th century but the side effects prove dangerous. Sometimes confusing (too many similar names) but gripping. I loved the historical scenes, in particular.

8. A Break with Charity by Ann Rinaldi - Another Young Adult novel, this time a reflection upon the Salem Witch Trials. Very quick reading and the author's notes explain why she chose the point of view used.

Of the RIP books I read, only one was extremely disappointing: The Poseidon Adventure. Twilight pleasantly surprised me; I will definitely continue the series and am glad that the idea of yet another RIP book lured me into purchasing it. Du Maurier has only disappointed me once (I believe I've read 6 of her novels, now) and The House on the Strand now ranks well up there amongst my favorites. Nothing beats Rebecca, but I really enjoyed being transported back in time. I'm a fan of apocalyptic novels, but I think Alas, Babylon has just become my new favorite; I thought the author had a surprisingly good grip on the aftermath of disaster. We experienced some of what he described, after Katrina roared through, and it was easy to set aside any doubts and immerse myself in the atmosphere. M is for Magic, Ghost Eye and Ghost Walk were all average reads - no regrets, but also not books that I'll go around pointing out to friends. And, I will definitely read more historical fiction by Ann Rinaldi. A Break with Charity was a pretty comfortable read, in spite of the setting.

All in all, the RIP II was a very satisfying challenge experience and I sincerely hope Carl will continue to host it annually!!

A Break with Charity by Ann Rinaldi - RIP #8

A Break with Charity by Ann Rinaldi
Copyright 1992
Harcourt YA fiction
298 pages, incl. author's note and bibliography

What led you to pick up this book? I was in the mood for a quick read that still qualified for the RIP and A Break with Charity was at the top of my stacks, having just recently arrived.

Summarize the plot but don't give away the ending. Susanna English desires to join the circle of girls meeting at the local parsonage in Salem Village. But, she's considered an outsider, due to her family's wealth and status. When she discovers that the girls are accusing local Salem residents of witchcraft as a game, Susanna determines that she must share what she knows about the circle. But, when one of the girls tells Susanna that her family will be "called out" as witches if she tells the truth, Susanna is frightened. Will she share her knowledge and stop the madness? Or must she remain silent to save the lives of those she loves?

What did you like most about the book? I liked the fact that Susanna and her family were sensible about the witchcraft hysteria - they knew their own minds and planned for the possibility of having to escape. I also liked the way this story was told - from a suitable distance and as a recollection of past events.

What did you think of the main character? I liked Susanna. She was young and impressionable, but she had a good head on her shoulders. Her greatest concern was always her family.

Thoughts about the plot: I couldn't help but compare A Break with Charity to Susannah Morrow, another book about the Salem Witch Trials that I read earlier in the year. Both had their merits, but I became weary of all the God-is-out-to-get-us, the guilt, the preaching and the detailed descriptions of what happened to the accusers (all that twitching and squealing) in Susannah Morrow. I liked the fact that the protagonist was not in the center of the events, but more of an observer in A Break with Charity - it was not enjoyable to me to experience crawling into the head of someone who allowed herself to become deluded (as in Susannah Morrow); and, I also found that A Break with Charity was easier to believe. The author's notes explain why she chose that particular "distant" perspective. While I think there must be a theoretical aspect to any work of fiction pertaining to the witch trials (nobody really knows whether diseased grain caused delusions and fits or the girls made the entire thing up), it certainly seemed like Rinaldi did a thorough research job.

Share some quotes from the book.

Susanna's thoughts about what it means to be a Puritan:

The Puritan code leaves no room for those who manifest oddities or weaknesses of nature. The Puritan virtues are very plain. They are hard work, cleanliness, orderliness of mind and manner, perseverance, courage, piety, a knowledge of one's sins, a desire for forgiveness, hatred for the Devil and all his works, obedience to the clergy, and impatience with heathens.
Heathens, of course, are Baptists, Quakers, and all other manner of miserable heretics.

Share a favorite scene from the book: I liked the chapter about "four creatures" who helped Susanna offload the charitable donations she hadn't found the time to distribute.

In general: I think I'd rather read a factual account of the Salem Witch Trials than a fictional one. I liked the author's choice to unfold the story in a more distant way, with a character who was not one of those stricken (or pretending to be so) by "visions" and I found the book an interesting, very quick and believable fictional telling of the story. It's truly disturbing and creepy to realize that it's very possible that those little girls were merely playing a game and that people were so stern in their religious beliefs that they took the visions seriously and put to death many innocent people for no reason at all. Anything about the Salem Witch Trials is definitely a great choice for the RIP. It's a horrifying piece of American history, no matter how it's portrayed.

4/5 - Written with good flow, making the book a very quick read. Although the writing is a bit simplistic, I didn't have trouble suspending my disbelief in the fictional aspect. There were times that I thought the author was attempting to use her story to give a history lesson; in other words, it felt a bit forced. But, part of the point of reading historical fiction is to learn about the events, to visualize them as they unfolded. I think the author did a very good job of that and I appreciated her obvious efforts to tell the story with as much historical accuracy as possible.

The House on the Strand by Daphne du Maurier - RIP #7

The House on the Strand by Daphne du Maurier
Copyright 1969
Avon Fiction
336 pages

What led you to pick up this book? It's been on my stacks for about a year, on hold for the RIP Challenge. I originally snatched up a copy because I enjoy the author's writing.

Summarize the plot but don't give away the ending. Richard and Magnus have been fast friends since Richard's university years, when Magnus was his professor. Now, having recently left his job in London, Richard is spending the summer in Magnus's house in Cornwall. When Magnus asks him to participate in a time-travel experiment, Richard willingly ingests the time-travel formula in order to determine whether Magnus's journeys in time were hallucination or reality. But, there are dangerous side-effects to the drug and Richard's trips back to the 14th century become increasingly addictive as he takes interest in the lives of those he's observed and enjoys his escapes into the drama of medieval England.

What did you like most about the book? My favorite parts were the historical scenes that Richard observed during his time travel. The 14th century was full of drama - murder, plague, intrigue, illicit affairs . . . the story du Maurier wove about the earlier time period was absolutely engrossing and I could certainly understand why Richard wanted to keep returning to that fascinating world. I also liked the way she wrapped up the medieval storyline, so that it felt complete and one was not left hanging, wondering what became of those characters.

What did you think of the main character? He was okay - not unpleasant, but he was really negative about his wife and step-sons. However, he was a character in the midst of an upheaval and his frustrations made sense. They fed well into his urge to continue traveling, even after some very serious side effects would have stopped most people from drinking more of the time-travel potion.

Thoughts about the plot: I'm tossing this in because I think it's relevant . . . this book is based on the concept that time travel could occur via the ingestion of a chemical formula that effects the brain, opening up pathways to stored memories passed on in a person's genetic makeup. I found this far-fetched, in many ways. First of all, both men traveled to the same place and time; it made no sense that two people who are unrelated would have the same historical memories embedded in their brains, even if such a concept was plausible. The second problem I had with that concept would give away too much of the plot, if mentioned, but I never quite let go of my doubts. Still, I enjoyed the story enough that I was willing to try to fight my reluctance to believe such events could occur.

Share some quotes from the book.

When Richard takes his stepsons out to keep them busy:

The rain petered out about four, giving place to a lustreless sky and a pallid, constipated sun, but this was enough for the boys, who rushed on to the Town Quay and demanded to be waterborne. Anything to please, and postpone the moment of return, so I hired a small boat, powered by an outboard engine, and we chug-chugged up and down the harbour, the boys snatching at passing flotsam as we bobbed about, all of us soaked to the skin.

When Richard's wife, Vita, invites over friends and the visiting couple get a little drunk and start behaving inappropriately (but Richard refuses to join in):

"Talk to me, Dick," said Diana, so close that I had to turn my head sideways like a ventriloquist's doll. "I want to know all about your brilliant friend Professor Lane."

"A detailed account of his work?" I asked. "There was a very informative article about certain aspects of it in the Biochemical Journal a few years ago. I've probably got a copy in the flat in London. You must read it some time."

Share a favorite scene from the book: When a character in the book dies unexpectedly, an inquest is held. I assume this is a very British process, bringing together the coroner and people who knew the deceased to determine the cause of death. In one scene, Richard gets the past and present confused and begins to prattle about the fact that it was snowing and that must have caused trouble. The story takes place in the summer, so there was no snow in the present time period and Richard has to do some quick talking to explain away his mistake, then another person backs him up. The whole inquest process was fascinating and I loved the way the second man backed up Richard's story, off the cuff, as well as the inquest's conclusion: Death by Misadventure. What a great way to describe an accidental death!

In general: I love du Maurier's writing style and found that The House on the Strand lived up to my expectations. As implausible as the chemically-induced time travel concept seemed, I was completely swept away by the medieval scenes and found myself looking forward to them. I also enjoyed the way Richard sought out connections (the remains of old homes and historical information about them) between the past and present. Du Maurier did a pretty good job of balancing past and present storylines, adding tension in the present via the dangerous side-effects of the drug while inserting believable drama and detail in the medieval scenes. I did have trouble distinguishing all of the characters and did a lot of flipping back to the family tree in the front of the book, but eventually they became clearer. I still found myself wishing the author hadn't created a story with two characters by the name of Joanna, an Oliver and an Otto, etc. It was very difficult to figure out who everyone was, until well into the book.

4/5 - Very good. While I wouldn't call this my favorite du Maurier book, it was an excellent escapist read: well-written, often suspenseful and eventually quite gripping. The atmosphere was brilliantly rendered and made The House on the Strand an excellent RIP read.

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer - RIP #6

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
Copyright 2005
Little, Brown (YA fiction)
498 pages

What led you to pick up this book? Many, many positive recommendations, but I was particularly influenced by Andi and Heather (followed by gushing praise from our car rider, who just finished New Moon). After waffling for quite a while, I bought the book rather impulsively. It's perfect for the RIP II Challenge.

Summarize the plot but don't give away the ending. Teenage Bella moves from Phoenix to live with her father in the Pacific Northwest. New to the small town and the daughter of the chief of police, Bella's arrival is much-anticipated and she quickly draws friends and admirers. But, she is transfixed by the Cullen family, particularly Edward. As she gets to know Edward and becomes close to him, she discovers that he and his family members are vampires. Bella falls in love with Edward and he with her, but there is danger in their proximity. He loves her, but can he overcome his natural instincts in order to be near her?

What did you like most about the book? I like the fact that it's not at all gory or violent. There are tense moments, but it's really a love story more than a vampire tale.

What did you think of the characters? I loved them! Bella is a little cagey but witty and interesting. Edward is the kind of male character that women fall in love with - sensitive, handsome, sexy.

Share a favorite scene from the book: My favorite part of the book was actually the scary part, when a vampire from another coven is hunting Bella.

In general: I was very, very pleasantly surprised by the content of Twilight. It was one of the most age-appropriate young adult books I've read in a while - no explicit s*x in thought or action (even the implication in inner monologue and dialogue is written appropriately), no gory violence. But at the same time, the author took her characters seriously. She didn't diminish Bella's feelings. Twilight is a softer, kinder vampire story than most, with a hero who is dangerous to the heroine but incredibly sensitive and tender. It was hopelessly romantic and genuinely emotional (in a good way), suspenseful without the evil feel of similar stories. It was also very unique, in many ways. And, I thought it was easy to connect with the characters and root for them. The only complaint I have is the length; I believe it could have been much shorter without losing impact. And, yet, I didn't mind the length; I didn't find myself drifting off or bored.

4.5/5 -Very, very good. I set my other books aside, for the last two days, I was so swept away. Definitely a great escape, a fun read, and a book I'd actually like to revisit. I'm glad I bought this one.

M is for Magic by Neil Gaiman - RIP #5

M is for Magic by Neil Gaiman
Copyright 2007
HarperCollins fiction/short stories
250 pages
Allegedly for children (watch her pull out her soapbox)

What led you to pick up this book? I snatched this one while I was browsing the library. It was added to my wish list after reading an RIP II review.

Summarize the plot but don't give away the ending. The book is a collection of short stories marketed to children - very tacky of HarperCollins, if you ask me, as I think most of them are really very adult. My guess is that the publisher is trying to ride the coattails of the "national bestselling" book Coraline.

What did you like most about the book? I'm not going to describe all of the stories, merely because I'm short on time, but instead speak in generalities. I really enjoyed Gaiman's ability to take a simple tale and add some unique qualities to it. Characters were easy to visualize, whether likable or revolting (or in between). Far and away my favorite story is "Chivalry", the tale of a woman who finds the Holy Grail in a charity shop and buys it for 30 pence. A knight then shows up to attempt to recover the Holy Grail and keeps returning with interesting offers. I just loved that story!

What did you think of the characters? I like the fact that characters were so well-drawn. I think that's what makes his stories seem rather plausible, imaginative or fantastic as they may be. One thing I loved about "Chivalry" was the elderly woman. She was wise and funny. I adored the way she dealt with the knight, her casual mode of speech, the way she put the knight to work and left the reader hanging a bit, before her decision whether or not to trade the Holy Grail for whatever he was offering.

Share some quotes from the book.

Mrs. Whitaker peered at the sword. "It must be very sharp," she said, after a while.
"It can slice a falling hair in twain. Nay, it could slice a sunbeam," said Galaad, proudly.
"Well, then, maybe you ought to put it away," said Mrs. Whitaker.
"Don't you want it?" Galaad seemed disappointed.
"No, thank you," said Mrs. Whitaker. It occurred to her that her late husband, Henry, would have quite liked it. He would have hung it on the wall in his study next to the stuffed carp he had caught in Scotland, and pointed it out to visitors.
Galaad rewrapped the oiled leather around the sword Balmung and tied it up with white cord.
He sat there, disconsolate.
Mrs. Whitaker made him some cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches for the journey back and wrapped them in greaseproof paper. She gave him an apple for Grizell. He seemed very pleased with both gifts.

--from "Chivalry"

Quotes that baffled me, considering that the book is being marketed to children:

I was working in London, doing A & R for one of the major record companies. I was commuting into London by train most days, coming back some evenings.

--from "Troll Bridge"

"Effete bitch," he muttered beneath his breath. Still, it was reassuring to see other council members here. He wondered if any of them knew anything he didn't.

--from "How to Sell the Ponti Bridge"

Share a favorite scene from the book: I love the scene in "Chivalry" when Mrs. Whitaker's friend, Mrs. Greenburg, comes for her weekly visit and Mrs. Whitaker very casually tells her (upon inquiry) that the shiny cup on her mantle is the Holy Grail . . . to which Mrs. Greenburg replies that her son has a similar cup he won in a swimming tournament, but it has his name on the side.

I also really like the ending scene in "Sunbird," which is unfortunately a spoiler. I found "Sunbird" also was oddly adult, about a group of epicureans who have run out of unique things to taste. But, it's a great story.

In general: When I check out or buy a book from the children's or young adult section, I do so intending to read something light and geared for a younger crowd. In that way, I was very much put off by this collection of stories. It irritated me no end that they were written for a more mature audience. I loved the illustrations and enjoyed about half of the stories. Some of them simply left me cold, but that's typical for short story collections. It's a rare anthology that contains stories I would consider consistently high-caliber. I can't say enough that I simply do not think this book is for children.

3/5 - Average. It took me a while to get through this one and I was in no way overwhelmed with adoration for his writing. So far, Neil Gaiman is an author I feel lukewarm about. I thought "Chivalry" was exceptionally fun reading and there were elements of each story that I really liked. But, I'm still reserving judgment on the author till I've read Neverwhere.

The Poseidon Adventure by Paul Gallico - RIP #4

The Poseidon Adventure by Paul Gallico
Copyright 1969
Penguin fiction
347 pages

What led you to pick up this book? I found a copy for $1 and waaaay back in the 1970's, I enjoyed the movie. Plus, the cover is a grabber. The poppets were transfixed.

Summarize the plot but don't give away the ending. When a cruise ship and freight hauler is flipped upside-down, a small group of passengers decide that in order to have a chance at survival they must climb to the ship's hull.

What did you like most about the book? The one truly frightening scene - right near the beginning - when the ship is hit by a large wave and turns over.

What did you think of the main character? This particular book had a cast of characters and the author did a lot of what writers call "head-hopping", moving from one character's viewpoint to another. I have to admit that, upon reflection, I didn't truly like any of them.

Share some quotes from the book.

When Scott (whose part was played by Gene Hackman in the original movie version) was trying to convince the passengers around him to climb upward, rather than just awaiting their fate:

Scott said, 'I have. Do you know the cause of death of most people who are either lost, shipwrecked or drowned in inhospitable country?'
'Panic,' Muller volunteered.
'No,' said Scott, 'apathy. Doing nothing, just plain quitting - giving up. The statistics show it. The records indicate that the mere action of keeping busy, trying to do something keeps people alive.'

Share a favorite scene from the book: Hmm, I already mentioned my favorite scene, so I'll tell you about the scene that made me want to throw the book against the wall. When a young member of the group disappears, his teenage sister, Susan, splits off to look for her brother and is raped in the corridor. The rapist is a young man from the crew and he splutters about thinking she was a stewardess (as if that makes a difference), panics and runs away. Before he leaves, Susan actually tries to stop him, saying it's okay and that she won't tell a soul. Oh, please!!!! I know a mere two people who have been raped; both attempted suicide and one succeeded. The one who did not succeed in taking her own life has continued to battle with depression and anger for over 40 years. I nearly gave up on the book because it made me furious the way the author diminished Susan's feelings. The only reason I continued was that, by that point, I'd made the decision to just get the book over with.

In general: The book was a huge disappointment. The characters were unlikable, vicious, bigoted, chauvinistic or wimps. Instead of banding together and cooperating fully to save their hides, they bickered and criticized each other. I could have read the first few chapters, enjoyed the one frightening scene and then quit and I would have been far better off.

2/5 - Don't waste your time.

Ghost Eye by Marion Dane Bauer - RIP #3

Ghost Eye by Marion Dane Bauer
Copyright 1992
Apple Fiction (children's)
82 pages

What led you to pick up this book? The spooky cover and description; this book was a library sale find.

Summarize the plot but don't give away the ending. Purrloom Popcorn traveled around the country as a prize-winning show cat after his elderly owner, Lydia, became unable to care for him; and, he was perfectly happy on the show circuit. Then, one day, Popcorn was suddenly sent "home", where a lonely little girl tried to become his friend. Annoyed Popcorn descended a staircase to escape, only to discover that he could see ghosts through his one blue eye - and there were many ghosts in the old house.

What did you like most about the book? The ending. The book sounded spooky, but it was really quite a sweet story with a touching ending. I also loved the author's sense of humor. Popcorn would think something on the order of, "I'm off to Pittsburgh," one minute and then, "Just point the way to Knoxville," followed by, "Which way to Des Moines?" I loved that.

What did you think of the main character? He was haughty and annoying, but he was, after all, a cat. He took some getting used to.

Share some quotes from the book. I didn't mark any quotes. The book is very short and probably more qualified to be called a "short story" because of its size. Simplistic writing geared to a younger audience made it a fast read that I gobbled in the car, whilst waiting for kiddo.

Share a favorite scene from the book: The scene in which Popcorn's elderly owner has returned as a ghost and Popcorn - who has a very short memory - abruptly recalls her name. It's a very tender moment.

In general: It's a sweet story, but I found the cat's strange name somewhat distracting and his attitude just a little annoying. But, it's a quick read and the ending is lovely. I was smiling when I closed the book. As it turned out, the author had a cat by that name. I'd really like to ask her how on earth she came up with such a strange name. Maybe it's a show-cat thing.

3/5 - Cute story, not outstanding but a fun little read.

Ghost Walk by Heather Graham - RIP #2

Ghost Walk by Heather Graham
Copyright 2005
Mira Fiction
393 pages

What led you to pick up this book? A friend sent it to me, last year, and I thought the book would make a good read for the RIP II Challenge.

Summarize the plot but don't give away the ending. When Nikki DuMonde sees a bum in the street and gives him $20, she has no idea he'll soon be dead and that his ghost will return to ask for help. And, when her friend Andy dies in exactly the same way and Nikki sees her ghost as well, her friends aren't so certain she's totally sane. But, Nikki's sure that the two deaths are connected and is determined to figure out why. Brent Blackhawk is the only person who truly believes her; he's a paranormal investigator who has been called to New Orleans to seek out a killer. He sees ghosts and communicates with them. When Nikki and Brent get together to solve a murder, ghosts talk and sparks fly.

What did you like most about the book? Things keep happening. Oddly, I liked the concept of people who can talk to ghosts better than the way it was written, but Graham kept the story moving well; it's very entertaining. I also thought she did an excellent job of using the setting, New Orleans, almost as a character in and of itself.

What did you think of the main character? I liked her; nothing in particular about her stands out in my mind, but she was a nice character.

Share some quotes from the book.

This is about Brent Blackhawk, a character who was part-Lakota (either 1/8 or 1/4 - can't remember) but whose looks were so distinctive that most people assumed he was 100% Native American. I think it jumped out at me because of the recent reading of Raising Ourselves by Velma Wallis; it's the only quote I marked.

Growing up with a Lakota heritage had taught him a lot about bitterness and chips on the shoulder, but the past was just that - the past - and now people needed to focus on entering the twenty-first century, reaping the rewards of progress and technology, without losing sight of a heritage that was something precious, something to be preserved.

Share a favorite scene from the book: Brent Blackhawk had a ghost friend he occasionally visited in a graveyard. While I found that the "talking to ghosts" scenes were far-fetched (like sitting around with anyone else, having a chat), there was a cute scene in which that particular ghost was acting a bit impish.

In general: The book was not the slightest bit scary and there were some glaring plot holes, but I found it entertaining enough to overlook what I disliked and just chug on through. Graham is not a skilled writer, but she can weave an interesting story.

3.5/5 - Great setting used well, interesting storyline (although poorly crafted and with some plot holes), entertaining enough to overlook its flaws. If you can't tolerate the occasional inconsistency, skip this one.

Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank - RIP #1

Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank
Copyright 1959
Harper Perennial fiction
323 pages

Alas, Babylon is the tale of what could have happened if the Cold War between the United States and the U.S.S.R. in the 1950's had suddenly become a true nuclear holocaust. The book has become a classic of apocalyptic fiction, so there's a good bit of extra information in the "Modern Classics" printing shown in the image above - a foreword by science fiction author David Brin, a preface, a bio of the book's author, Pat Frank, plus a second afterward section that goes into further detail about the author's life and other works of the time period. I read them all and found every detail interesting. Nothing bored me or made me roll my eyes (just so you know).

I didn't know a lot about Alas, Babylon, apart from the fact that it was apocalyptic, going into the book. What surprised me most is that it's firmly entrenched in the time period. Instead of setting the book in the future, the author's goal was apparently to show what would happen "right now" (and the copyright date is 1959, so "now" was the late 50's) if the Cold War was to escalate into a third world war. The result is a fascinating look not only into the what-if of a potential nuclear war, but also into the time period in which the book was set. I think the book was worth the time spent reading, if only for a good view of the lifestyle, values and prejudices in small-town Florida in the 1950's. There are some sentiments similar to those we often see expressed, today:

"I keep the library open Saturdays. That's my only chance to get the young ones. Evenings and Sundays, they're paralyzed by TV."

Of course, the difference is that the television paralysis goes on 24 hours a day, now. Anyone remember the days when Sunday night was a special TV evening, thanks to "The Wonderful World of Disney"? And, Saturday mornings were cartoon time, but the moment "The Wide World of Sports" came on, Saturday TV was over for children? I'm not sure if those particular shows were on in 1959, but I do remember that television for children remained limited to within certain hours until the advent of The Disney Channel and all those other content-specific channels that have now been around for an entire generation's viewing.

Back to the book . . . The entire story takes place in a small town in central Florida. About the first 90 pages or so serve as the set-up, during which the reader meets the protagonist, Randy Bragg, his brother, his sister-in-law, neighbors, girlfriend and a few townspeople. Randy is a kind and basically good person who lives in a small section of the sprawling Bragg family home. His brother, Mark, is a military man and has expressed some concern about the potential of a nuclear war. To this end, the brothers have chosen words from a section of the book of Revelation in the King James Bible as the signal to indicate when danger is imminent. Mark signals the danger and sends his family to stay with Randy. And, within a short time, the bombs begin landing.

Here is where the book becomes gripping. As bombs fall and mushroom clouds sprout, radio chatter is limited to military use and the citizens are left in the dark, unsure (apart from the obvious) what exactly is happening. When the closest large city is hit, the source of power generation in tiny Fort Repose is lost. Fortunately, Randy has already begun collecting supplies and has a good start when the bombs begin to hit. So the protagonist is the most prepared of all the characters in the novel. The local doctor also helps stock Randy with medical supplies after the beginning of the war. As the fact that Fort Repose - if not the entire United States - has been thrown back in time by the loss of electricity, gas, radio, batteries, phone service and currency becomes obvious, the citizens begin to adapt.

At the beginning of the book, Randy is a little on the lazy side. He sits around in his pajamas and is just a bit of a lost soul. I loved this quote by his girlfriend:

"This place is no good for you, Randy. The air is like soup and the people are like noodles. You're vegetating. I don't want a vegetable. I want a man."

Of course, then the women end up serving the men tea cooked over the fire and a few other uncomfortable facts of life in the Fifties - chiefly a strong racial prejudice - are described. Annoying and shocking as they can be, the book is unflinchingly honest about life in that time period. The author also did a pretty stunning job of describing the effects of being thrown backwards in time. Some of us have, unfortunately, experienced that sudden isolation as power, telephone, cellular phone and radio service disappeared after Hurricane Katrina hit. It was every bit as upsetting and strange as Frank described. To this day, I don't think a lot of people realize that we actually had no idea how widespread the damage was for nearly 24 hours - contact with the outside world was that thoroughly cut off, grocery stores and citizens lost their entire refrigerated and frozen stock, dry foods and water disappeared as soon as the stores reopened, people fought over gas for generators. I can tell you that the book is realistic to the experience in many ways.

While I personally thought the reasoning for the nuclear war was extremely weak and there were a few things the author overlooked - bicycles, for example, I thought should have become a highly coveted possession and I wondered why nobody mentioned trying to harness the power of the nearby river, wind or sun as power sources - I thought Alas, Babylon was, overall, a spectacular look at what life could end up like in the event of widespread nuclear disaster. And, of course, it does serve as an excellent peek into history.

4/5 - clear writing, excellent story with only a few noticeable flaws and definitely deserving of its classic status in my humble opinion.

This is my first completed book for the RIP II Challenge.

Next up: reviews of Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin and Raising Ourselves: A Gwich'in Coming of Age Story from the Yukon River by Velma Wallis. I may make those mini-reviews - we'll see.

We're now in the mid- to upper-80's, but the daylight hours are comfortable enough (before the warmest part of the day hits) that I need to limit my computer time in order to get some major outdoor work accomplished. So, I may just dip in to write reviews and post occasionally, for the next few weeks. I'll apologize in advance, in case I'm unable to do much blog-hopping. We have to take advantage of decent weather while we've got it.

Later, bookish people!

Bookfool, feeling invigorated by the cooler air

The RIP, Take Two

I'm not typically a creepy-book reader, as I'm prone to nightmares, but I thoroughly enjoyed curling up with atmospheric novels during last year's RIP (Readers Imbibing Peril) Challenge. Since last year's challenge ended, the special shelf of creepy, atmospheric or frightening books I've been setting aside has become very, very heavy. I'm pretty sure I heard wood groaning in relief as I lifted the books to photograph them. And, then the floor complained, but . . . oh, well. Must make stacks - can't let the toes get used to not having books fall on them.

So . . . It's almost time!! Wahoo! Carl's RIP II starts on the 1st of September!

There's no way I'll get them all read, (you'll say, "No kidding" when you see the photos) but that's all right. Peril the First suits my needs, nicely. The goal is to read four scary books. My stacks are so large that I'll have plenty of leeway. I'm not going to choose four specific books - I'll just attempt to read at least four and any others I manage will be bonus reads.

Stack #1, complete with not-so-sinister black cat with white trim, Miss Spooky:

The House on the Strand - Daphne du Maurier
I, Robot - Isaac Asimov
Poison Study - Maria V. Snyder
Ghost Walk - Heather Graham
The Mirror - Marlys Millhiser
Alas, Babylon - Pat Frank
Dark Sister - Graham Joyce
The Lottery - Shirley Jackson

As if that pile isn't enough to choose from, I have a second stack. Poppet and Simone kindly posed with Stack #2:

Haunted Heartland - Beth Scott and Michael Norman
The Husband - Dean Koontz
Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman
The Harp and the Grey Rose - Charles de Lint
The Poseidon Adventure - Paul Gallico
Our Man in Havana - Graham Greene
Stardust - Neil Gaiman
Haunted Castles of the World - Charles A. Coulombe

Enbiggening the photo is bound to make you feel terrific about the cleanliness of your own home. I had no idea that white door had become so filthy. I'll be scrubbing, after I finish this post. Miss Spooky only allowed me one shot before walking on, but it seems to have worked pretty well.

I have no idea which books I'll end up reading, although I took a sneak peek into Haunted Castles of the World and the image of Anne Boleyn roaming around the White Tower with her head under her arm creeped me out enough that I went back to my regularly scheduled reading.

Speaking of which, I am now three book reviews behind. Again. And, it's an hour till kiddo pick-up time. If necessary, I'll do another quickie triple review post. I've finished:

Blizzard by George Stone
Fever, 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson, and
Monkey Love by Brenda Scott Royce

Not sure what I'm going to read next. Decisions, decisions. Castles of the World actually just arrived, a few days ago, from Paperback Swap. Other arrivals:

I Could Never Be So Lucky Again by Gen. James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle (war memoir)
The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd (a library sale purchase)
Visible Spirits by Steve Yarbrough (Southern Lit - library reject)

I think that's it, but I've got several winging their way to me, so I'll be dogging the mailman. I'm totally out of advanced readers. That's kind of a strange feeling.

Off to nibble and scrub. Happy Reading!