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3.36 AVERAGE
3.36 AVERAGE
Strong writing. My interest in the mystery waxed and waned.
I had to keep reminding myself it was in Ireland. Didn't have
much of a feeling of place. Liked Quirke, the main character
who pursued resolution of the mystery.
I had to keep reminding myself it was in Ireland. Didn't have
much of a feeling of place. Liked Quirke, the main character
who pursued resolution of the mystery.
[b:The Silver Swan|1701041|The Silver Swan (Quirke, #2)|Benjamin Black|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1312045857l/1701041._SY75_.jpg|2657007]. First off, the writing is top notch for a mystery. Good character development with the starring characters in the mystery and just enough more development of recurring characters with enough left out that one can look forward to the next book.
While a little less globally woven together than Christine Falls, Banville, er, I mean Ben Black, writes painfully well, so it's still top of genre. Perfectly paced, and somehow sexually charged without being cheap and smutty. Look forward to slowly enjoying all the in the Quirke series.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
These books are written in a foreboding tone. Even though you know it’ll be ok at the end, you also somehow know it won’t be right. Very dark and moody but such interesting plots.
Pretty satisfying read, though my previous comments about Black still hold true. And this one is based on an awful lot of coincidences... But I like the way that the author is developing Quirke's character.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Dark dark dark. Menacing, depressing, disturbing. Crippled with ennui and despair. And yet, the prose is sublime. It's not about the plot, or even about the characters, which are normally my two requirements for a novel. It's about the atmosphere and the creation of setting and mood and these elements are incomparable. This novel drips with atmosphere and sometimes that's all you need.
Solid noir outing from John Banville's alter ego. (Why the different names? I don't know.) Second in a so-far trilogy about Quirke, a pathologist in 1950s Dublin with aspirations to set wrongs right, with the fatal flaw that his intentions create unexpected difficulties for himself and those he most values. Gorgeous scenery: Banville/Black nails the feel of mid-century Dublin, with all its seams and smoke.
Less convoluted plot than the first in the series but less tension as well. Still a good read for the bath and a lazy day.
Quirke is on the wagon, except for a once-weekly drink when he goes out to lunch with his daughter Phoebe, and he's finding it more and more difficult. In fact, he's starting to wonder if maybe he is an alcoholic. But anyway, despite that being present throughout, it's not the predominant theme. The predominant theme is, of course, death.
What I like about Quirke is that he's a flawed character, but likeable (no, not a likeable rogue - that's very different). He bumbles along, gets things wrong and sometimes gets things right, and keeps the reader involved in the story. We also have others' points-of-view for large portions of the book, so are given good depth into the whole.
Oh yes, and I really like the ending of this one.
What I like about Quirke is that he's a flawed character, but likeable (no, not a likeable rogue - that's very different). He bumbles along, gets things wrong and sometimes gets things right, and keeps the reader involved in the story. We also have others' points-of-view for large portions of the book, so are given good depth into the whole.
Oh yes, and I really like the ending of this one.