Whether you like James Hynes’ novel Next depends on whether or not you like the book’s unconventional ending. I loved this book up until the last 50 pages. Hynes creates a wonderful character in Kevin Quinn, a 50-year-old editor of an academic journal based at the University of Michigan. Kevin is going through a mid-life crisis and impulsively applies for a job in Austin, TX. The novel describes Kevin’s day from the flight from Ann Arbor to Kevin waiting anxiously for the interview to begin. But, what happens before that–all the soul searching, the analysis of every meaningful relationship in his life–makes Kevin’s story searingly personal. And, funny. Hynes holds nothing back. You get Kevin’s sexual history in intimate detail. That’s why I found the ending a massive cop-out. Hynes’ takes us (and Kevin) to the precipice, but short-circuits the build-up he spent 250 pages developing. I liked James Hynes’ Publish and Perish, The Lecturer’s Tale, and Kings of Infinite Space. Some reviewers are going to proclaim the ending to Next as “bold” but I’m proclaiming it “disappointing.” GRADE: B-

I read Steig Larsson’s The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo a couple years ago and came away annoyed. The novel explores the past of a Swedish industrialist obsessed with a girl who went missing in 1964. The industrialist hires Mikael Blomkvist (played in the movie by Michael Nyqvist), an investigative journalist about to be sent to prison for libeling a financier. Much of the book follows Blomkvist’s detailed investigation. The movie compresses this. What makes the book unusual, and the movie compelling, is the character of Lisbeth Salander (played superbly by Noomi Rapace), a Goth Pippi Longstocking. Lisbeth works for a security firm, but becomes interested in Blomkvist’s investigation. She’s the best hacker in Sweden. Together, Blomkvist and Salander peel back the lies and delusions surrounding the missing girl and discover a horrifying series of murders. The movie captures the graphic sex and brutality of these crimes. Director Niels Arden Oplev follows the convoluted plot of the book, but the movie never drags. The Hollywood version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo will sanitize the depictions of these murders. The book annoyed me because of the gaffs in plotting and character. But there’s no denying the power of Larsson’s storytelling. Steig Larsson died as the book was published. He left two other manuscripts: The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest. I’ll be reading and reviewing those novels, too. But, for now, I enthusiastically recommend the movie version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Noomi Rapace is Oscar-worthy. GRADE: A

Soul Music lit up my life in the Sixties. The Four Tops, the Temptations, Smoky Robinson, the Supremes, and dozens of other Motown artists made up my personal soundtrack in those years. But, Soul Music went away, the magic was gone. The closest thing in the next decade was Disco. And that soon faded, too. Once in a while, an R&B artist emerged who was soulful: Luther Vandross leaps to mind. Now, in the 21st Century, Soul Music seems to be making a mild comeback. It started with the ill-fated Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black and continued with Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings’ 100 Days, 100 Nights in 2007. Now we have I Learned the Hard Way and you have to pinch yourself to make sure it’s not 1965 again while you’re listening to it. Sharon Jones knows how to sing soul songs and the Dap-Kings know how to play Motown music. If you’re a fan of this musical genre, you’ll love this CD! GRADE: A-
TRACK LIST
1. The Game Gets Old
2. I Learned the Hard Way
3. Better Things
4. Give It Back
5. Money
6. The Reason
7. Window Shopping
8. She Ain’t a Child No More
9. I’ll Still Be True
10. Without a Heart
11. If You Call
12. Mama Don’t Like My Man

Conspirata is the sequel to Imperium which I reviewed a couple days ago in this blog. Marcus Tullius Cicero rules as consul of Rome, but he’s immediately confronted by the murder of a young boy whose throat was cut and whose organs had been removed from his body. Cicero immediately realizes this a ritual murder done as a sacrifice. This ritual murder investigation leads to a large conspiracy to seize power and destroy the Roman republic. Harris captures the political scheming and the tangled electoral relationships among Rome’s power brokers. I hope Harris continues Cicero’s story. Once again, this is historical fiction written masterfully. GRADE: A-

Carter Dickson/John Dickson Carr’s clever The Curse of the Bronze Lamp is the third and last of Art Scott’s recommended “impossible crimes” mysteries. This all started a month ago when I reviewed John Dickson Carr’s The Three Coffins (The Hollow Man) for FORGOTTEN BOOKS. Art argued that The Crooked Hinge, The Judas Window, and The Curse of the Bronze Lamp were superior to the convoluted The Three Coffins. To summarize: I loved The Crooked Hinge and The Judas Window. The Curse of the Bronze Lamp concerns the disappearance of archeologist Helen Loring. Lady Helen had been threatened that she would be “turned into dust” if she brought the sacred Bronze Lamp from Egypt to England. And, as soon as Helen Loring set foot in her home, Severn Hall, she disappeared! Of course, Sir Henry Merrivale is on the scene to solve the mystery. The Curse of the Bronze Lamp is the weakest of Art’s recommended books. I figured out what was going on in short order. But the plot is clever and there are a few surprises. If you’re a devotee of “impossible crime” mysteries, The Curse of the Bronze Lamp will delight you.

Robert Harris presents Marcus Tullius Cicero as a young lawyer on the make in Imperium. The story is told by Cicero’s slave, Tiro, who invented a short-hand system that provided invaluable in legal and political situations. Cicero, without money or family connections, manages to climb the Roman bureaucracy through his brilliant skills at rhetoric and speaking. Harris captures the intrigue of the Roman Senate and the corruption of the political process. If you enjoyed I, Claudius, you’ll find this fictional biography very satisfying. Harris has done his research and insists “Although Imperium is a novel, the majority of events it describes did actually happen; the remainder at could have happened; and nothing, I hope (a hostage to fortune, this), demonstrably did not happen.” This is excellent historical fiction! GRADE: B+

Last night, Diane and I went to a concert featuring GRAMMY Award-winning Chanticleer, the only full-time classical vocal ensemble in the U. S. Over its 22-year history their interpretation of vocal literature, from Renaissance to jazz, and from gospel to Christmas carols is legendary. With its seamless blend of twelve male voices, ranging from countertenor to bass, Chanticleer is known as “an orchestra of voices.” Since 1994, Chanticleer has been recording exclusively for Teldec Classics International, with 22 recordings to its credit. If these guys show up in your neighborhood, you need to hear their joyous music. I liked their Doo-Wop version of “Summertime.”

FUNKY MIDNIGHT MOVER – THE ATLANTIC STUDIO RECORDINGS (1962-1978) captures legendary soul singer Wilson Pickett’s career in a 6 CD collection. FUNKY MIDNIGHT MOVER includes all of Wilson Pickett’s originally issued recordings for Atlantic Records, as well a full CD of rare and previously unreleased recordings. This set’s 154 tracks include all 35 of the Pickett’s R&B smashes – including five #1 hits – from “In The Midnight Hour,” his first hit for Atlantic Records, to 1973’s “International Playboy,” his last chart entry for that label. A 92-page book with rare photos and comprehensive liner notes includes intros by Jerry Wexler who produced several of Wilson Pickett’s albums. If you’re a fan of the “Wicked Pickett” this is a must-buy! GRADE: A

David vs. Goliath. You’ll hear this comparison plenty of times leading up to the tip-off of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship tonight. Little Butler University taking on mighty Duke! In the Final Four games Butler struggled against Michigan State, pulling out a 2-point win while Duke cruised over West Virginia by 21 points. Most commentators predict Duke will crush Butler. But, I think it will be a closer game than most people think. Maybe Cinderella has one more bit of magic left to show us…