Andy Vargas Vargas itibaren Kirovo, Kazakistan itibaren Kirovo, Kazakistan

An entertaining romp through a post-apocolyptic railway covered landscape. China Mieville remains a force, whatever he sets his mind and pen to.

Interesting short story collection. I thought that it would be more about the Vietnam war, but still good. Mostly about the life of Vietnamese in Louisiana post-war, and had some interesting cultural details. A quick read, and it made me feel cultured.

I really enjoyed Notes on a Scandal and was impressed with Heller's ability to make one understand the mind of the main character (the description by the main character of a young body). I was intrigued with the set-up of this novel--a william kunstler like character and his family. I found myself at many points comparing it in my mind to Zadie Smith's On Beauty. Both On Beauty and The Believers were filled with characters I didn't like much less care about. Both felt completely unreal--the authors seemed to push the plot and the characters along--it didn't seem as if either novel was unfolding in a natural way. On the other hand I stayed up until 2am so I could finish it all in one sitting.