(reposted from Dirty Little Secret)

The Reincarnationist, by M.J. Rose, is a suspense novel that encompasses historical fiction, romance and mystery into one exciting story. The novel mainly focuses on Josh Ryder, a former photojournalist whose life has been turned upside down by memories of someone else’s life. No matter how you feel about reincarnation you can’t help but be pulled into the story.

As I was reading it, I was reminded of how I felt while I was reading The Da Vinci Code. I was so pulled in by the plot that I didn’t notice (until much later) that the characters were a bit two-dimensional. While I think the characters in The Reincarnationist had more depth than those in The Da Vinci Code, I didn’t even contemplate their lack of complexity until I was writing this review.

I simply can’t remember much about them, but I do recall all of the thrilling twists and turns of the plot. I also loved how much history I learned while reading. The book made me curious enough to do some research into the historical periods mentioned, which I have only been inspired to do with a few other books (North and South way back in high school and the Anne Perry mysteries series, for example). I was also very intrigued by the reincarnation aspect of the book. I’ve not thought much about reincarnation but the characters’ explanations are so accessible and fascinating that I’ve been inspired to research that as well.

I’m going to recommend this book to my book club, and not simply because most of them are history dorks like I am. The Reincarnationist never failed to hold my interest. The plot was complex and crossed genres with ease. The characters, if a little thin, were (generally) likable. I’m so glad MotherTalk let me review this book. I probably never would have picked it up on my own, but I certainly enjoyed it.

The Reincarnationist

I’ve had to take a break from reading Alison Weir. Not that her work isn’t fabulous, but I’m starting to zone out on Tudor dynasty details. So I’ve paused in the middle of Elizabeth I and started a new mystery.

Elizabeth George is a British mystery writer (what is it with me and British writers?) whose characters are so well-written that I feel like I could go to London and meet them. This is the second book I’ve read by her and it was all I could do to make myself go to bed last night. I stayed up so late that I didn’t even fold all the laundry. While many of her books seem to include the same characters, I wouldn’t call them a series. Each one stands very well alone. Also, series mysteries (much as I love them) rely on your love of the characters to propel them while George’s plots are so intricate they remind me of Alison Weir.

Elizabeth George’s Mysteries

The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, was my book club’s June selection. It was one of those books I never would have read unless forced. In my youth I read a lot of classical literature and many “great works” of fiction. Ever notice how most of those books are somewhat depressing? Or extraordinarily depressing ? Me too. I’ve avoided most of this deep fiction as an adult. I like books to be an escape and a pleasure.

I will admit that <span style=”font-style: italic;”>The Kite Runner</span> was an escape. I read it in one LONG sitting, completely transported into the lives of the characters. I was enveloped in a completely foreign culture, yet I completely understood the characters. The writing was masterful. I could easily see the settings and hear the characters. The plot was compelling and convincing.

The book left me with a sadness and anger that still hasn’t dissipated. It made me forever grateful to be an American citizen and forever disgusted with my fellow humans. It humanized the Middle East in a way that CNN never has. It is a very powerful book on every level.

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Khalid Hosseini is a wonderful storyteller. His prose is detailed without being boring and his characters are very richly drawn. I loved this book more than The Kite Runner, even though I found it more painful to read. I liked the protagonists more. That means a lot to me when I read.

This book also made me a lot more curious about Afghan culture and history. As I read about Pashtos and Tajeks I felt like I missed out on so much of the world. I am so ignorant about that area of the world, about their history and cultures and poets. Even though I was a history major at a decent university, I only had to take one non-Western history class. I took Japanese history because it was at a convenient time. I know nothing of the world between the Ural Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.

Anyway, A Thousand Splendid Suns is an amazing book. Sometimes I still think of the characters, as if they were real people. Real people that have been through things I can’t even imagine. Someone said to me, about the book, “Oh, it’s such a soap opera!”

Soap opera?

Desperate Housewives is a soap opera. The things that happen in Hosseini’s books REALLY happen. All too often. And the brilliant way Hosseini writes pretty much negates the whole soap opera thing.

I initially grabbed this novel for two reasons: I’d read some positive reviews of it and it was prominently displayed at the library. I read a disproportionate number of books that are prominently displayed at the library – the kiddos don’t give me a lot of time to peruse the stacks. I was surprised that the library’s copy hadn’t been snatched up already. Thrilled with my library luck, I started reading it a few days later.

Beginner’s Greek reads like somewhat literary chick lit. Except it was written by James Collins – which is not a pseudonym or the curse of a woman whose parents really wanted a boy. But despite being written by a man, the book is chick lit. And I like good chick lit – I love Helen Fielding, Jennifer Wiener and Jane Green. And I’m not sure I would put Collins with that group.

Not that the book wasn’t well – written; it was. I liked the characters but I didn’t believe them. Much as I enjoyed following the plot and grasping the relationships amongst the characters, it just didn’t seem real. Even though the story was long and filled with setting and scene details, even though none of the characters seemed shallow or cariacatured, I just didn’t believe in their behavior. And it’s not as if middle-class, white, thirty-something Jersey-ites are exactly foreign to me. Yet I believed in the characters in John Burdett’s Bangkok Haunts more. With Beginner’s Greek I felt like I was missing huge chunks of the story. And even though there were lots of well-place flashbacks, I still didn’t understand all the character’s motivations and feelings. Especially when in the context of the novel they were so hyper-self-aware.

But I don’t want to be unduly harsh. I did enjoy the book.  And I may be especially sensitive to characters these days since I’ve read a bunch of memoirs recently. But the truth is when I’m in the mood for literary chick lit, I’m going to look for Jennifer Wiener, not James Collins.

Have you read the book? What do you think about Chick Lit?