Thriller 4-/5

When symbologist Robert Langdon is drawn into solving a series of murders, clues lead him to discover a secret held by the Catholic Church for two thousand years. Right. Everyone knows this book. A lot of people have said how badly written it was, but I didn’t find it that bad. The story gallops, and the final reveal is worth the price. It’s probably a bit too long for the payoff.

Working from 3 sources: professional edit, critique by a well-published author, and critique by an expert in the field, I’ve been revising The Shadow Spy’s Daughter. All the comments have been super-helpful!

Classic 5/5

Six-year-old Scout Finch observes the culture of her small Alabama town through innocent eyes as her father defends a Black man in a rape case. Although the story may seem rambling, all (or most) of the anecdotes about Scout and her community illustrate nuances influencing the central conflict. But it is the captivating voice and child’s perspective, as well as the phenomenal writing, that make each anecdote enjoyable to read for its own merit.

Finished a novel swap with a really wonderful author–his book was a delight to read. Also had a chat with an agent that resulted in me forwarding The Shadow Spy’s Wife to him, so we’ll see how that goes.

Horror 4/5

Seven children discover a monster who takes on the forms of their greatest fears, and that follows them throughout their lives, bringing them both fortune and tragedy. I quite enjoyed this book for the short-story-esque nature of the individual vignettes, though I found the work as a whole rambling, slow, and focussed on an unsatisfying ending.