Deleted itibaren Burnley, Burnley, Lancashire BB10 2AR, Velká Británie itibaren Burnley, Burnley, Lancashire BB10 2AR, Velká Británie

I am constantly in awe of Hammett's uncanny ability to weave a plot involving multiple characters, very few of whom are telling the truth, to keep all their private thoughts hidden and yet make the whole thing work with the use of little more than dialogue. And then to do this within the space of barely 200 pages, including humour, fun and a pair of characters so well rounded that they transferred to the silver screen without a hitch. Extraordinary. Mr. Hammett, I bow to your genius. And somebody get me a whisky.

Simon Winchester is always a joy, but here he turns his research talents and pleasant prose to a great task. He paints the historical backdrop against which the great supervolcano at Krakatau exploded, and shares witness accounts and scientific explanations of the disastrous aftermath. Some of the tectonic background and history of science was review for me, but we aren't all nerdy ex-geology majors, and we all can skim things if we are. As ever, Winchester digs up hilarious connections and details, as well as giving us a vivid picture of a time (and, here, place) lost forever.

Story set in a small town near Yellowstone Park where the ranchers are angry about recent reintroduction of wolves. 16 year old KJ finds herself unwittingly in the middle of the controversy. I enjoyed the story for the most part, and found the setting interesting--makes me want to visit Yellowstone again.

I just didn't like this book. Too long, disorganized, too many characters....

A ghost writer, impersonating a ghost writer, haunted by the death in his arms of a woman he hardly knew, he is a mystery man to the woman's family, and yet he hangs around trying to learn more about them. Long, long scenes with long, long sentences ... not a beach read, but something tackled with focus is rewarding and thought provoking. So far, I love the politician, striving to be remembered and seeking to do so by hiring a ghost writer to write him memorable speechs.