BOOK REVIEW ; KL NOIR

Title : KL Noir

Author : various

Taste of some local scene. 

One day I was discussing my crime fiction class to my friend, and as usual I get so hyped up trying to deliver a decent enough reproduction of the class' discussions. One thing led to another, and he offered to lend me his book titled KL Noir. For that I thank you, Syuk. 

I normally detest reading short stories. Might stem from the recurring memories of my mediocre jabs into writing while in school. Maybe.

I read this book in hope of a real noir fiction I expected it to be. Turns out that the stories were more fantasy and sci-fi than I wanted it to be. I know that one of the tenets of noir fiction (narrator as a grey area person) was drummed in hard by these authors, which I applaud. The most disappointing thing was the way they portray the fine line between surreal and reality. Reading the 2 novels I have for class before this, I can feel myself immersed in the role of the narrator, and I felt as strongly as how the character feels in the storyline. In these stories, I felt somehow detached, like I was looking over from afar, watching the events unfold while I am safe in my coccoon. Which should not be the case as I know my KL more than I know Harlem or Idaho, no?

I must also say reading them reminds me of my essays a long time ago. Obviously I wasn't as good as these people, but some sentiments stirred memories.  Too many big words, no strength in flow. 

Withstanding the lash of criticism from amateur me for this book branding itself as noir fiction, there are some of the stories that I suggest you guys check out. They bring out the dark side of humanity that is local to Malaysians. 

I will like to recommend this book as a dark phantasma-ish tome to whoever that likes the genre.

Link below is a paper on tenets of noir fiction.

http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/8142/8/08_chapter%205.pdf

My two cents. 

Rating : 5/10

BOOK REVIEW ; THE REAL COOL KILLERS

Title : The Real Cool Killers

Author : Chester Himes

My second (and better) crime fiction book for class. 

Himes writes from Harlem, a colored neighbourhood where crime happens at a daily basis. The existence of whites in the area arose suspicion and hatred (note: this is the early years after Civil War), which led to an inevitable occurence that happens in a crime novel; crime. 

Galen, a twisted white was shot while running away from a herd of people. The question for the police department is; who shot him? The blacks? The Arabs? The police?

What about the motive? Why does a respected businessman has to be killed? 

Oh well. It is such a simple book, I love how it flows. 

But the end is unexpected.

As usual. 

After discussion in class, I like to point out one of the biggest idea that we talked about ; how this crime serves as a mask to cover up the real problem Himes wanted to address which is the racial discrimination among Americans back then. 

Rating : 9/10

BOOK REVIEW; RED HARVEST

Title : Red Harvest

Author : Dashiell Hammett

Hold onto you breath, as I present you the masterpiece of noir fiction!!

Meh. 

I mean, Raymond Chandler (noir fiction champion) obviously adores Hammett. But that doesn't mean we have to agree 100%. Or maybe i haven't quite acquire the taste for noir books. 

Yes, I am taking another English course. Crime Fiction. Hence, Hammett...

Background layout so as to not confuse you why I am so amateur in commenting about the book (one might argue I really am still amateur and yes I agree, you caught me). 

So noir fiction differs from the detective fiction in the sense that it is not as clear cut and the detective doesn't necessarily be innocent like Holmes or Poirot that we usually read about. This is why it is called noir, which means black in French, which signifies that the story will be somewhat twisted and goes against the lines of the normal genre fiction type of books. So you get the gist of it.

Red Harvest is about a detective from the Continental Detective Agency, called to Personville by someone who was murdered right from the start. The Op (detective) sets to clear Personville/Poisonville of its corruption and gangs and basically make the city clean again. What makes him noir is that he pitches the big bosses of town against each other as means to effectively clean Poisonville. While all this is going on there will be multiple dozens of characters to confuse you and yes, multiple murders to make this novel more different than our ol' friend, detective fiction. 

Yes, it is harder to keep track of characters (mind, I read a lot of action novels, I know this) and yes, it's storyline makes me annoyed and feeling like murdering someone (oh no, effects of the murdering!) but it is a good book, nonetheless. 

If you want cobwebs to be intricate, might as well embroil yourself with Hammett. 

Rating : 8/10 

I must remind readers that ratings are totally biased towards my feelings. 

BOOK REVIEW ; JACKDAWS

Title : Jackdaws

Author : Ken Follett

First Follett book. And it was rewarding. 

Picture a week before D-day in occupied France. A team code named Bollinger from the French Resistance had failed in a mission that can cripple the entire German army stationed in France. As the Allied forces prepare for the invasion, German troops under Rommel had to use all their wits to prepare to fight back. Communications was key. The heart of it was Reims; which the Bollinger circuit had wanted to sabotage. 

In London, SOE knew this failed attempt was their best bet. So they sent in the Jackdaws. Code named Jackdaws, 6 women in disguise will try to finish what Bollinger had started. 

Good book. Will have more Folletts in the future!

PS : I knew I read about pip emma and ack emma somewhere. Thanks for the refresher. 

Rating : 10/10 

BOOK REVIEW ; FROG MUSIC

Title : Frog Music

Author : Emma Donoghue

Received the book via Goodreads First Reads. And I was a happy girl. 

Took Frog Music with me for my West Coast trip, so I was happy for the background to be historical San Francisco! Emma Donoghue writes eloquently in a fashion I rarely have read before. I love how sexily thrilling she turns a mystery in, what with the rich profusion of personas and intermingling feelings smashed in a compact and simple storyline. I also love the "going against norms" characters at that period which gives an extra kick to the plot. Some might see the language as provocative, but I must say, brilliant, Emma. Simply brilliant.

Rating ; 10/10 because why not? 

PS : It will be out in the market April 1,2014. 

BOOK REVIEW ; JEFFERSON KEY

Title : Jefferson Key

Author : Steve Berry

Get ready, historical fiction fans!

I will list out the points of interest first. 

Honest Abe. Thomas Jefferson. Andrew Jackson. James Garfield. Andrew Johnson. George Washington. John F Kennedy. William McKinley. Theodore Roosevelt. Ronald Reagan. 

Civil War. American Revolution. Spanish-US War. 

Pirates @ privateers! Captain Kidd, Blackbeard, Jolly Roger. 

Jefferson's key and cipher. For the lost Letters of Marque from the Congress. 

Mentions of Masons, Templars, Greeks, Egyptians. 

Okay.

Intrigued enough?

Read it! 

Rating : 10/10

BOOK TO MOVIE ; MYSTIC RIVER

I was intrigued. Not too much because of the book, but for the intepretation of the psycho. 

So I watched it. Quite a while ago. Right after reading the book. And it was quite spot on. The neighbourhood was something different (oh well I imagined a suburb-y feeling but got the Jersey dose) but it sticks to the facts of the book. And it was worth watching. Micro scrutiny of a community. 

I have to watch many more book adaptations.