Wulf's Book Reviews

We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida My rating: 2 of 5 stars “ We'll Prescribe You a Cat ” by Syou Ishida is a peculiar attempt at blending magical realism and episodic storytelling, but one that ultimately veers off course. While on the surface it shares superficial similarities with “ The Travelling Cat Chronicles ”, the comparison hardly holds due to the stark differences in execution and tone. Unfortunately, “We’ll Prescribe You a Cat” leans heavily into clichés, offering overdoses of preachy content and saccharine lessons that come across as formulaic and forced. The novel presents a range of short vignettes, promising to deliver moments of heartfelt connection between humans and their feline counterparts. However, the episodic nature makes each chapter feel disconnected and shallow. Rather than a cohesive story, the book presents a series of almost obligatory moral lessons, which feel more esoteric than engaging. The subtlety I hoped for is utterly missin...

Angels Flight by Michael Connelly My rating: 5 of 5 stars While I’m writing this, it’s the 4th of May 2024. It still feels weird to live in a world without Paul Auster in it. When I went to bed on the 30th of April, he was still there. On the morning of the 1st of May, when I opened the New York Times app on my phone, a black-and-white picture of Paul Auster gave it away. I had known he was fighting cancer but I thought he had time… Time for more novels - after all, his novels have been present in my life for decades, most of my life. Auster’s novels were never easy to read but they were worth the effort. Why am I prefacing a review of “ Angels Flight ” with that? First and foremost, I’m writing these reviews for myself. They add to my enjoyment of the novel discussed and they also serve as a reminder of them, and who I was when I read them. Of course, I’m also writing them for you, dear reader, and I love it when you like them (so, hit that button right now, what are yo...

Trunk Music by Michael Connelly » “Still the same old Bosch. Your way or the highway.” « In this instalment, Bosch is back from his involuntary leave and investigates a case of the eponymous “trunk music” - a murdered man in the trunk of his own car. Bosch himself is pretty much as he always was but around him, things changed: His lieutenant, Pounds, is on another kind of involuntary and permanent “leave” and was replaced by Grace Billets. Bosch: » I’d heard that you didn’t have any actual time on a homicide table while you were coming up,” he said to her. Billets: “That’s true. My only job as an actual detective was working sexual crimes in Valley Bureau.” Bosch: “Well, for what it’s worth, I would have assigned things just the way you just did.” Billets: “But did it annoy you that I did it instead of you?” Bosch thought a moment. Bosch: “I’ll get over it.” « I liked this exchange - which is indicative of their entire relationship in this book - because, yes, he’s still “sa...

The Last Coyote by Michael Connelly My rating: 5 of 5 stars From Sartre to Connelly : Last year, at a meeting, a colleague told me she had found my website and mentioned how diverse my reading was. I guess she was right. (Hi, Barbara!) I came from an exhausting read and needed something to just plain enjoy, to read-wallow in, and to indulge in - and “ The Last Coyote ” was pretty much the perfect book for that. Harry, on leave for attacking his superior, Pounds, makes it his mission to finally solve his mother’s murder. Most of the people from back then, the 60s, are dead and/or unwilling to talk. The rest are still among the high-and-mighty and Bosch doesn’t play nice with the latter kind of person. Harry also attends mandatory counselling sessions with a therapist. I really liked this part of the narration on many levels: In 1997, getting professional help and allowing others to help was still not entirely normalised. Maybe not quite stigmatised anymore, people, espec...

The Case of the Left-Handed Lady by Nancy Springer My rating: 3 of 5 stars I read “ The Case of the Left-Handed Lady ” to see if Nancy Springer's Enola Holmes series would improve with the second instalment. When I came upon » Chapter the First «, though, I had an inkling about how this review would read because just like the ridiculous chapter titles, this is The Case of Even More of the Same that Didn’t Work for Me the First Time Either : Springer’s writing style still resembles that of a middle-grade school teacher who wants to provide material for her pupils. She still taints the legacy of Holmes; here in a discussion with Mycroft who states… » The only rational way to reform her into some semblance of decent young womanhood!” interrupts the older brother with asperity. “You, of all people, should see the logic – ” « To which Springer let’s Sherlock Holmes answer: “Logic is not everything.” and Mycroft rightly replies: “Certainly this is the first time I have ...

The Concrete Blonde by Michael Connelly My rating: 5 of 5 stars » “I didn’t know, Sylvia,” he said. “I hoped.” « I didn’t know either but had hoped for a good Bosch novel and got even more than I expected. In Michael Connelly ’s “ The Concrete Blonde ” we’re revisiting Harry’s “white whale” case, which is, of course, “The Dollmaker”’s. Harry shot that guy in self-defence four years ago but it left an ugly stain on his already rather grey vest. Harry was de facto demoted and at the time of the “Concrete Blonde” he’s being sued over that shooting when another body is found that has all the marks of a Dollmaker victim… What ensues from this point on is part courtroom drama but, to a much larger extent, a very suspenseful, exciting and smart police procedural which managed to fool me at every turn. As always, Harry investigates this at high stakes and takes great risk and, thus, we sometimes cross over into the realm of thrillers which is a very welcome aspect here. As impli...

Amongst Our Weapons by Ben Aaronovitch My rating: 2 of 5 stars Finally! I’m free of this book! I used to really like this world and its rather unique inhabitants as well as the stories Ben Aaronovitch so expertly told us. This time around, though, I was bored by the lacklustre story at the centre of “ Amongst Our Weapons ”: An “Angel of Death” is killing the owners of some obscure rings with Lesley being on the hunt for said rings. Peter does his best to prevent further deaths. Through 80% of this instalment in the series, I only read it in bed because it served as a perfect sleeping drug. The abysmal pacing, being told about Beverly’s pregnancy (mostly referred to as “the bulge” which felt derogatory even though it most certainly wasn’t meant like that), quite a few encounters with the culprit but hardly any progress until the very end - it all made for a veritable snoozefest. Nightingale is mostly around and yet feels strangely absent - he doesn’t have much of a role at...

The New York Trilogy: City of Glass, Ghosts, the Locked Room by Paul Auster My rating: 5 of 5 stars I think I must have been about 18 when my older brother gave me Paul Auster's “ The New York Trilogy ” as a gift for my birthday. I started reading it - and hated it! I couldn’t get into it, couldn’t get a grip on it. I put it back into my bookshelf and forgot about it for a few years. It fell again into my hands (quite literally!) when I reorganised my shelves and I decided to give it another chance. This time around, though, I just read and suspended judgement. I won’t lie to you: I had similar difficulties as before but this time I kept reading. And, somehow, things started falling into place… With accepting that Auster employs a unique kind of storytelling came understanding and respect for his masterful writing. Ultimately, I became completely engrossed in the three interconnected novels that make up this trilogy. The first novel, "City of Glass", sets the tone for t...

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman My rating: 4 of 5 stars I’ve recently reread Neil Gaiman's "Neverwhere" and it exceeded my expectations from when I read it first years ago. It took me on a thrilling and rather surreal journey through the fictitious underworld of London. From the very beginning, Gaiman drew me in with his vivid descriptions of the bustling city and the mundane world of Richard Mayhew, the protagonist. The storyline takes an unexpected turn when Richard helps an injured young woman and becomes immersed in a dangerous and supernatural world. The plot is full of twists and turns, making it impossible to predict what will happen next. The world-building in "Neverwhere" is nothing short of remarkable. Gaiman's imagination brings to life the vivid and fantastical setting of “London Below”, a parallel universe that exists beneath the streets of London. He creates a fascinating and complex society of outcasts who are living in the shadows and forgotten co...

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman My rating: 4 of 5 stars I’ve recently reread Neil Gaiman's "Neverwhere" and it exceeded my expectations from when I read it first years ago. It took me on a thrilling and rather surreal journey through the fictitious underworld of London. From the very beginning, Gaiman drew me in with his vivid descriptions of the bustling city and the mundane world of Richard Mayhew, the protagonist. The storyline takes an unexpected turn when Richard helps an injured young woman and becomes immersed in a dangerous and supernatural world. The plot is full of twists and turns, making it impossible to predict what will happen next. The world-building in "Neverwhere" is nothing short of remarkable. Gaiman's imagination brings to life the vivid and fantastical setting of “London Below”, a parallel universe that exists beneath the streets of London. He creates a fascinating and complex society of outcasts who are living in the shadows and forgotten co...

Gardens by Benedict Jacka My rating: 3 of 5 stars Hm… This was the grimdark version of an Alex Verus novella, I’d say. There were some rather brutal scenes and the protagonists became ever more unlikeable with the lacklustre story progressing. Worst of all, though, one major character from the series becomes less likeable due to their actions in this novella. That actually made me slightly sad and I will pretend this novella doesn’t exist and this series really ended with “ Risen ”. Still, my Stockholm syndrome says I have to award three stars out of five. ;) Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam View all my reviews https://turing.mailstation.de/gardens-alex-verus-12-1-by-benedict-jacka/?feed_id=1682&_unique_id=63dfd17c19d09

Favours by Benedict Jacka My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is a short story told from Sonder’s perspective, primarily featuring him and Caldera. Alex is only mentioned in passing. Nevertheless, this short story definitely makes you feel right at home back in the Verus universe. I never really liked either Sonder or Caldera and both their behaviours here just firmly cement this antipathy. Sonder is opportunistic and primarily worries about his future, whereas Caldera takes out her frustration on both Sonder and Anne whom the former pressures into service. Knowing the events in ” Risen ” I was able to mentally lean back and enjoy the show. Four out of five stars for a surprisingly good story. View all my reviews https://turing.mailstation.de/favours-alex-verus-6-1-by-benedict-jacka/?feed_id=1653&_unique_id=63d949bfe9e13

" Was im Verborgenen ruht " von Elizabeth George Ein Krimi, der durch den stümperhaften (wiederholten) Versuch der Autorin, eine wichtige Botschaft zu vermitteln, entgleist. Ich war früher ein großer Fan der Inspector-Lynley-Krimis von Elizabeth George, da sie immer spannend, aufregend, interessant, ernsthaft und manchmal auch unaufdringlich Gedanken zu gesellschaftlichen Themen vermittelten. Der Krimi stand aber immer an erster Stelle. Das hat in den ersten 12 Büchern dieser Reihe sehr gut funktioniert. In Buch 13 jedoch ließ George eine wichtige Figur sterben und nutzte Buch 14, um die Hintergründe dieses Mordes zu erforschen - und brachte damit die gesamte Serie zum Entgleisen. Seit jenem Buch sind die meisten von Georges "Krimis" eigentlich ausgedehnte soziale Kommentare, wobei der eigentliche Krimi und die polizeilichen Vorgänge nur eine Nebenrolle spielen. Sozialkommentare sind in Ordnung und können einen Krimi tatsächlich bereichern und s...

Kummer aller Art by Mariana Leky My rating: 5 of 5 stars Stellt Euch doch mal ein zartes, luftiges Zitronen-Mousse vor. Ihr nehmt einen Löffel davon und es ist die perfekte Mischung aus feiner Süße und milder Säure. Die Mousse zergeht Euch förmlich auf der Zunge und viel zu schnell seht Ihr betroffen, das Schälchen leer und viel Genuß noch offen… » Sonjas Vater hatte in seiner Rede zu ihrer Hochzeit gesagt, er kenne niemanden, der so schwer Abschied nehmen könne wie Sonja – als Kind, erzählte er, habe sich Sonja manchmal sogar von Leergut nur unter Tränen trennen können. « So zumindest erging es mir bei der Lektüre von Mariana Lekys “ Kummer aller Art ”. Es handelt sich um eine Sammlung von Kolumnen der Autorin, die im Gegensatz zum Titel zwar auch voller großer und kleiner Kümmernisse stecken, häufig aber auch von Alltagsszenen berichten, die gar nicht notwendigerweise den Kummer in den Vordergrund rücken. » Zu unser aller Bestürzung hat sich Ulrich die Haare gefärbt. Er sieht ...

Heroic Hearts by Jim Butcher My rating: 5 of 5 stars » “You came for me first,” she said. “Not the pizza.” « I’m exclusively referring to Jim Butcher’s short story “Little Things” from the “ Heroic Hearts ” anthology. This is simply because I only got it to read that one story - and it was worth it. Told from the viewpoint of “ Major General Toot-Toot Minimus, sprite in service to Sir Harry Dresden […] and captain of his personal guard ”, this is set pretty much immediately after the events of “ Battle Ground ”… An attempt on Harry’s life is made and Toot-Toot valiantly takes charge! I’ve like the little folk from the very beginning and now they finally and very much deservedly get their very own story. Five out of five stars for a highly amusing short story from the Dresden universe . Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam View all my reviews https://turing.mailstation.de/little-things-by-jim-butcher-from-heroic-hearts-by-jim-butcher/?feed_id=1076&_unique_id=636295edcd1aa

Something to Hide by Elizabeth George My rating: 2 of 5 stars A mystery and police procedural derailed by the author’s stumbling (repeated) attempt at conveying an important message I used to be a huge fan of the Inspector Lynley mysteries by Elizabeth George as they were always suspenseful, exciting, interesting, serious and, sometimes, unobtrusively presented ideas about social issues as well. The mystery always came first, though. This worked very well for the first 12 books in this series. In book 13, though, George killed off an important character and used book 14 to explore what led to this murder - and derailed the entire series. Since that book, most of George’s “mysteries” are actually prolonged social commentaries with the actual mystery and police procedural parts playing a “supporting role” only. Social commentary is fine and can actually add to and even improve a mystery. However, it takes a special sensitivity and caution in order to integrate it “seamlessly” int...

Foxes for Christmas by Ben Aaronovitch My rating: 4 of 5 stars Truly just a "moment" but a nice, kind and amusing one. View all my reviews Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam https://turing.mailstation.de/foxes-for-christmas-by-ben-aaronovitch/?feed_id=791&_unique_id=63234c694bde5

The Law by Jim Butcher My rating: 4 of 5 stars » Between my hex and the otso’s, bad things were going to happen. « Phew… After book-long battles, drawn-out, long-winded end-of-the-world scenarios in the last few books, we’re back to Harry Dresden, Resident Wizard but also Private Investigator of and in Chicago respectively. This is a short novella in which Harry gets hired to get someone to end a frivolous lawsuit. While this is a long string of delivering and receiving favours, it’s much more like the Harry Dresden of old - funny, good-natured, self-deprecating. I hope this is an indication of things to come! Four stars out of five. Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam View all my reviews https://turing.mailstation.de/the-law-the-dresden-files-17-5-by-jim-butcher/?feed_id=229&_unique_id=62ca0a5150bac