The Brave - Nicholas Evans

I've been waiting a long time for Nicholas Evans to release a new novel and finally here it is. The Brave spans three generations as family relationships are shattered and mended in another fine, albiet short example of why Nicholas Evans is such an acclaimed writer.

When a novel skips between time-frames with every other chapter I generally get annoyed as ultimately I fall in love with one context or plotline more than the other. In this novel however, I was hooked on what was happening to Tommy as a nine year old just as much as I wanted to know more about his life when 50.

Evans always manages to weave deep and detailed character profiles within his novels and this is no exception, I feel that Evans spends maybe too much time on developing Tommy when his other characters, particularly Diana are so interesting and gripping. Tommy is the protagonist I know, he just didn't interest me as much as Cal or Diana did.

I liked the way this novel was able to incorporate so many themes. Cowboys & Indians, 1960's Hollywood glamour, the horrors of an English boarding school and the atrocities of modern warfare. Each is touched on and intertwined within the main story of love, family and bravery.

The novel has the feeling that a lot more could have been included or drawn out, Evans certainly sums and wraps up nicely, all strings tied, it just didn't have the emotional depth and the ability to make you late for work or miss-that-important-girls-night-out-so-you-can-read-it vibe. When I read The Smoke Jumper, another of Evans's books nothing else mattered except turning the next page. I put The Brave down way too easily.

Still a beautifully written book though.

The Brave - Nicholas Evans

Appaloosa

I read Appaloosa, by Robert B. Parker as part of the Librarian's Reading Challenge. This involves reading one book a month that is outside my comfort zone. Being a western, finishing this book was well and truly outside that zone and a total challenge for me.

The story follows two lawmen, Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch, who are hired as the Marshall and the Deputy of a small 19th Century town. This town has been overrun by a corrupt Rancher, Randall Bragg. Bragg had killed the previous marshall so Cole and Hitch set about bringing him to justice. The problem is, they are up against a man who doesn't play by the rules. To complicate matters further, the widow Allison French arrives in town and quickly wins the attention of Cole. However, there is more to Allison than meets the eye and she is after one thing - a man to look after her. This proves to be dangerous for the whole operation.

While this is entertaining enough, it is truly one of the corniest books I have ever read. It conveys all of the worst stereotypes about men and women i.e. Men are smart, stong and have no fear; women are weak, simple and will sleep with any man for money. It was all just a little too pathetic and caused a slight feeling of nausea to my stomach.

I think my favourite part of the book was when the 'bad guys' and 'good guys' shoot each other while Bragg (the man they're actually trying to bring to justice) rides off into the sunset. I'm not sure, if Parker wanted his readers to laugh in that chapter but I visualised it as a comic moment.

Don't get me wrong, if you are a western fan then you'll probably enjoy it. The fact that it was made into a movie means that someone out there at some time must have liked it. If, however, you've never read a western - I wouldn't recommend it. Furthermore, if you're a feminist, I'd stay well away from it - though you might just enjoy the scene where all the men shoot each other.

Appaloosa