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ALTHOUGH I read some recent (and
as-yet-to-be-published) books this month, I am opting instead to write about
Nicole Mones’ book The Last Chinese Chef: A Novel.
Mones is a master writer whose books grab
readers by the throat and yank them headfirst into the story. Like many
writers, I read with a critical eye, noticing the technical details of a story
such as smooth transitions, overuse of adverbs, and unresolved plot lines. Thus
my experience as a reader is often detached.
My first experience with Mones’ writing was
Lost in Translation, which later was turned into a major motion picture.
Mones pulled me into that story, where I was happily ensconced for a few days.
I found myself rationing my reading time so I could make the book last a little
longer. When I finished, the book, I cried because it was over. Even worse, I
went to hear Mones speak at my local bookstore, where I raised my hand and
asked pitifully “Will you be writing a sequel?” “No,” she said. She had moved
on, but I hadn’t. That to me is a sign of great writing. The story lingers.
The same is true with her novel in The
Last Chinese Chef. In this story, Maggie, a recently widowed American food
writer travels to China to investigate another woman’s paternity claim against
Maggie’s deceased husband’s estate. The story is part romance, part foodie
journal, part travel story, part coming-of-age novel. And yet, the plot line
rings true as do the characters and myriad details. So much so, in fact, that
Mones included the subtitle “A Novel” and then penned an epilogue explaining
all the details she made up. I almost didn’t believe her...didn’t want to
believe her. I so desperately want her stories to be true. To me, this is the
mark of a virtuoso writer and great spinner of stories. Plus, as usual, I
learned a little something about Chinese culture and cuisine. Mones’ writing
exemplifies the classic writing advice “show, don’t tell.”
Unfortunately, Angela Waller’s
self-published epic saga The Snows of Yorkshire suffers from the
opposite problem. Although the book is beautifully bound and the author appears
to have done quite a bit of research, her novel is bogged down by too much
“telling.” The book spans 600 years in just under 350 plodding pages. I
honestly didn’t care about the characters and was thoroughly put off by the
footnotes at the ends of the major sections. Example: “Kate and Richard had
another son, born just over a year after Crispin’s death, followed by three
daughters born during the next 10 years.” I didn’t see the point – even after
reading the next section.
On the other hand, I thoroughly enjoyed
Royal Flush, the third in Rhys Bowen’s Royal Spyness Mystery series.
Impoverished royal relation lady Georgiana is as delightful as ever as she
manages to keep her head above water while scampering through caper after
caper. Bowen’s stories are light, frothy fun and she makes writing look easy.
While Bowen’s stories don’t have the staying power of Nicole Mones’ work, I
would happily take any one of her books with me on a plane or to the beach or
in the tub. Rhys Bowen knows know to show her readers a good time, that’s for
sure!
Until next month...
Please email me at
OKEEFEKG@GMAIL.COM or visit my website
at www.snark-hunter.com.
Link to previous reviews -
January 2009 February 2009
March 2009
April 2009
May 2009
June 2009
July 2009
August 2009 |
