Guilty Pleasures—The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold

A world where the five gods toy with human lives to manifest their wishes. A country where the royal family is cursed with illness, infertility, and depravity. A palace full of danger, intrigue, and deadly power struggles. A strong-willed princess in need of an advisor clever enough to teach and protect her. A man beaten and broken by betrayal and years of galley slavery. Put them all together, give them to Lois McMaster Bujold, and she’ll spin a splendid yarn.

Caz, after years at the oars, wanted nothing more than three warm meals a day, a dry place to sleep, and a quiet position in the kitchen or stables of his former patroness. How could that simple desire turn into a nightmare of danger and deceit under the eyes of his former betrayers? Every event in Caz’s life leads him inexorably toward his position as secretary, tutor, and later ambassador for the princess of the medieval kingdom of Chalion. Bujold wastes no characters, scenes or details, and as the story unfolds, you’ll begin to see just how each event and character—the betrayal and the galleys, a gold coin, and a suborned soldier, for example—play an important part in this hero’s journey.

So many good books, so little time, and yet I find myself rereading Bujold’s books, both her Chalion series and her science fiction Vorkosigan series. What do I like about her books? Her smart, honorable characters, clever dialogue, subtle (and not so subtle) humor, excellent plot development, and inventive, meticulously drawn worlds. Her books are just plain fun to read.

Bujold, no slouch in the SF world, has won five Hugos, three Nebulas, and two Locus Awards for her science fiction novels and short stories. The Curse of Chalion won the SF Site’s Reader's Choice, Best Books of 2001 award and was a nominee for the Hugo Award for Best Novel of 2002. It also won the Mythopoeic Award 2002 for Adult Literature and was nominated for the 2002 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel.

If you prefer sci-fi to fantasy, try the first book in the Miles Vorkosigan series: The Warrior’s Apprentice. You will not be disappointed with either series.

Reviewed by Anne Shirako, Reference Librarian, Ukiah Branch, Mendocino County Library, 463-4493

Originally published in the Ukiah Daily Journal, 01/17/2013. Reprinted by permission 

The Potter's Field : An Inspector Montalbano Mystery by Andrea Camilleri, translated by Stephen Sartarelli.

The Potter’s Field is the thirteenth book in Camilleri’s mystery series and sure to please friends of the Inspector Montalbano TV series (also available through our catalog). More than just mysteries, Camilleri’s books feature strong, finely developed characters, a wry sense of humor, fascinating plot twists and a backdrop of Sicilian culture and cuisine.

In The Potter’s Field, Inspector Montalbano is feeling his age and is diffident about his abilities, yet he’s still quite able to work a crime scene, manipulate both police officers and annoying newsmen, and puzzle through cryptic Mafia messages to find the killers.

One of my favorite characters in this book is Dolores Alfano, the femme fatale who mesmerizes every man who sees her. “Montalbano was spellbound as he listened to her. She had a bedroom voice. There was no other way to define it. She might say only ‘hello,’ and immediately one imagined rumpled blankets, pillows on the floor, and sweat-dampened sheets smelling of cinnamon….” Alfano charms and obfuscates, but she proves to be no match for Montalbano.

Camilleri enjoys, nay, revels in language. For example, Montalbano’s argument with his superior officer ends this way: “‘Ah, I feel so insulted and humiliated! You’re accusing me of an act – no, indeed, a crime that if true, would warrant severe punishment! As if I were a common idiot or gambler!’… The inspector inwardly congratulated himself. He had managed to utter a statement using only titles of novels by Dostoyevsky.” Wait, what? Ok, now I see it: Crime and Punishment, The Idiot, and Gambler. Nice touch, Camilleri.

Will I read another Camilleri mystery? You betcha, but I think I will go back to the beginning, The Shape of Water. As much as I enjoyed The Potter’s Field, I’d like to start on the first page in this ongoing series—that way I can get a more complete introduction to Montalbano, his lieutenants Mimi and Fazio,  the comic fool, Catarella, and their Sicilian police department. It would be fun to see the inspector at his youngest and most confident as well.

Highly recommended in either book or DVD format.

Reviewed by Anne Shirako, Reference Librarian, Ukiah, 463-4493,  01/13