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mellomorissa's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
mg_in_md_'s review against another edition
4.0
The fifth installment of the Dr. Siri series was another enjoyable read. Another unique story, this one deals with the Hmong people, kidnapping, and the intricacies of Lao society. It also continues with the coup story from the previous book...so definitely worth reading those two in order. The dry humor, imaginative story lines, and quirky characters make this series one to seek out.
sil_the_lobster's review against another edition
4.0
What a delightful read, or rather: listen. I have five or six of the Dr Siri audiobooks, and I have them in German. Usually, when a book's original language is English, I read the original, not the translation, but one of Germany's finest actors reads the Dr Siri novels - Jan Josef Liefers -, and what a treat it is to listen to him breathe life into the characters!
Enough's been said about the story so there's no need to repeat all that. Let me just say that this is another enjoyable story about the adventures of Dr Siri Paiboun, and again, it entwines touches of the otherworld with his witty pragmatism. And at the same time, the formidable nurse Dtui is being pulled in an adventure with very worldly villains... so it's one book with two mysteries. Two for the price of one :-)
I love how the Dr Siri series pulls me into a world I'd known nothing about, and how Cotterill manages to entwine tricky subjects (i.e. the Hmong discrimination) into the story - he teaches you and makes you think and still enjoy reading.
So if you're into sleuthing and into exploring "foreign" places (as opposed to the usual sleuth story settings), I highly recommend meeting Dr Siri. Careful, though, this one's the 5th novel in the series and although the stories themselves can be read as stand-alone it helps to read them in order, or the character development / the dynamics between the main characters might become confusing.
Enough's been said about the story so there's no need to repeat all that. Let me just say that this is another enjoyable story about the adventures of Dr Siri Paiboun, and again, it entwines touches of the otherworld with his witty pragmatism. And at the same time, the formidable nurse Dtui is being pulled in an adventure with very worldly villains... so it's one book with two mysteries. Two for the price of one :-)
I love how the Dr Siri series pulls me into a world I'd known nothing about, and how Cotterill manages to entwine tricky subjects (i.e. the Hmong discrimination) into the story - he teaches you and makes you think and still enjoy reading.
So if you're into sleuthing and into exploring "foreign" places (as opposed to the usual sleuth story settings), I highly recommend meeting Dr Siri. Careful, though, this one's the 5th novel in the series and although the stories themselves can be read as stand-alone it helps to read them in order, or the character development / the dynamics between the main characters might become confusing.
metchap's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jimmacsyr's review against another edition
4.0
Another enjoyable and fun installment. It’s serious side lies in the topic of the Hmong, which the author introduces in his prologue.
.
.
kcfromaustcrime's review against another edition
3.0
Anybody who hasn't indulged in the Dr Siri series by Colin Cotterill could be forgiven for wondering what on earth is going on with CURSE OF THE POGO STICK. Booby-trapped corpses and reluctant coroners might be reasonably expected in crime fiction, but Hmong villagers needing exorcism by a thousand-year-old shaman who shares the aforementioned coroner's body? Understandably a "What the" moment.
Whilst the spiritual (supernatural) component of CURSE OF THE POGO STICK is considerably stronger than the earlier books, the series has been building the unlikely scenario of Dr Siri and his intrepid band of assistants - Nurse Dtui, Mr Geung and now Madame Daeng, for a number of books now. Of course, the unlikely scenario probably relates mostly to western readers, as there's something intrinsically Laotian about these books. Not only are all the characters set within an environment which is beautifully drawn, the Laotian way of life and thinking is demonstrated in a way that makes it feel very real.
Laos is almost as much a character in these books as the people mind you. Whilst CURSE OF THE POGO STICK is set partially in Vientiane, Dr Siri spends more of his time held in a village in the mountains, deep in the countryside, in threatened Hmong territory. Whilst this book does have Nurse Dtui and Madame Daeng involved in why somebody would send a booby-trapped corpse to the mortuary, a lot of time is spent with the Hmong and with Dr Siri.
Perhaps it is this aspect that could make this book less attractive to fans of the series or as an introduction point for newcomers, as there is, alongside a considerably stronger spiritual component, a hefty dose of social commentary - with the Hmong being one of the most threatened groups of people within Laotian society. Having said that, this reader has been a from the first book fan of this series, and CURSE OF THE POGO STICK appealed just as much as the other books. Whilst not normally a fan of the supernatural, with Dr Siri, I have developed a considerably higher tolerance factor. Possibly because the author delivers these components of all the books as less of the supernatural, and more a long-held cultural belief system that is fundamental to these people's lives. Social commentary, on the other hand, is one of my very favourite things, and learning some of the hazards and problems that the Hmong experience made time spent with Dr Siri both educational and entertaining.
Perhaps if you are new to this series, it may be better to start a little earlier. Get to know Dr Siri and his band of supporters from the beginning, and you will be able to follow their story as the author relaxes into what seems to this reader, at least, to be a very Laotian way of telling a story.
Previous books in the series are:
* The Coroner's Lunch
* Thirty-Three Teeth
* Disco for the Departed
* Anarchy and Old Dogs
Whilst the spiritual (supernatural) component of CURSE OF THE POGO STICK is considerably stronger than the earlier books, the series has been building the unlikely scenario of Dr Siri and his intrepid band of assistants - Nurse Dtui, Mr Geung and now Madame Daeng, for a number of books now. Of course, the unlikely scenario probably relates mostly to western readers, as there's something intrinsically Laotian about these books. Not only are all the characters set within an environment which is beautifully drawn, the Laotian way of life and thinking is demonstrated in a way that makes it feel very real.
Laos is almost as much a character in these books as the people mind you. Whilst CURSE OF THE POGO STICK is set partially in Vientiane, Dr Siri spends more of his time held in a village in the mountains, deep in the countryside, in threatened Hmong territory. Whilst this book does have Nurse Dtui and Madame Daeng involved in why somebody would send a booby-trapped corpse to the mortuary, a lot of time is spent with the Hmong and with Dr Siri.
Perhaps it is this aspect that could make this book less attractive to fans of the series or as an introduction point for newcomers, as there is, alongside a considerably stronger spiritual component, a hefty dose of social commentary - with the Hmong being one of the most threatened groups of people within Laotian society. Having said that, this reader has been a from the first book fan of this series, and CURSE OF THE POGO STICK appealed just as much as the other books. Whilst not normally a fan of the supernatural, with Dr Siri, I have developed a considerably higher tolerance factor. Possibly because the author delivers these components of all the books as less of the supernatural, and more a long-held cultural belief system that is fundamental to these people's lives. Social commentary, on the other hand, is one of my very favourite things, and learning some of the hazards and problems that the Hmong experience made time spent with Dr Siri both educational and entertaining.
Perhaps if you are new to this series, it may be better to start a little earlier. Get to know Dr Siri and his band of supporters from the beginning, and you will be able to follow their story as the author relaxes into what seems to this reader, at least, to be a very Laotian way of telling a story.
Previous books in the series are:
* The Coroner's Lunch
* Thirty-Three Teeth
* Disco for the Departed
* Anarchy and Old Dogs
leslielu67's review against another edition
4.0
I don't know anything about Laos or the Hmong; this was my first introduction but as it was #5 in the series, I look forward to starting at the beginning and also getting a map out. Will have to do some quick wiki research too for background. Audio reader a little stiff, but that also worked well on the dry jokes.
lavoiture's review against another edition
4.0
I just love this series. I think this was the weakest, and I think Cotterill keeps slipping in certain cultural references that I have a hard time believing--like Dtui being reminded of Junior Scrabble by a sign? Really? But overall, still a great book. Dr. Siri is at the top of my list of literary characters I want to hang out with.
eastofthesunwestofthemoon's review against another edition
4.0
Another great continuation of the Dr. Siri Paiboun series - this one splits the cast and has two mysteries going on in different locales. Cotterill continues to make me chuckle and even laugh out loud with the understated sarcastic commentary mostly from Dr. Siri himself. The eerie, shamanistic elements continue in this volume, and are quite nicely juxtaposed with the doctor's scientific and more atheistic approach to explaining the world.
elysahenegar's review against another edition
4.0
This 5th book in Cotterill's Dr. Siri Paiboun series felt oddly reminiscent, at least in one of its two major plot threads, of Marvel's Iron Fist. As a villan, "the Lizard" looks just like the evil foe "the Hand" in Marvel's series. Cotterill's strategy with regard to the plot gives us room to explore the relationships between and personalities among his secondary characters, who are a vivid delight in all the books, as well as the chance to consider the plight of the Hmong in Laos. As has been consistent in the series, the book delivers significance with humor. Start at the beginning and read them all!