Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Tinkers by Paul Harding

As George Crosby lay dying at home surrounded by his family, his life flashed randomly in his mind. He remembered growing up in the harsh New England winters, with his father Howard being an epileptic salesman. George's mother Kathleen never spoke of Howard's seizures which were very traumatic for their children to witness, especially the one at Christmas dinner. Howard made a fateful decision when he realized that his wife was going to send him to an asylum.
Harding, the recipient of the 2010 Pulitzer for fiction, wrote Tinkers in a non-linear progression. It depicted the lives of three generations, George as a clock-repairer, Howard the father and George's grandfather. At times the story was hard to follow, especially the parts about the mechanics inside a clock. But Harding wrote lyrically about nature and the human psyche. It is a thought provoking novel.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Eye of the Red Tsar by Sam Eastland

Pekkala was once the most trusted secret agent of Tsar Nicholas Romanov. But now, a decade after the execution of the Tsar and his family, Pekkala is Prisoner 4745-P in a desolate Siberian prison camp. He is released from prison and given a mission he can't resist: find out who really killed the Romanovs and locate the rumored survivor of the assassination. This is a great thriller!