The Biblio Blogazine

In The Wake of the Boatman by Jonathon Scott Fuqua
ISBN 978-1890862-42-8
Fiction, 305 pages
Bancroft Press

FTC Disclosure: Review copy provided by publisher

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In the wake of the boatman. The boatman being a father, husband, role model. Or is he? His son isn’t so sure.

Neither is the father:

Over and over, his mind fastened on the fact that he had no idea how to give his son a hug. It seemed a completely different act from hugging his wife or daughter…Suddenly, he felt old, warn, and permanently immovable.

There is a lot of angst in this book. Much of it related to relationships both personal and familial as well as toward gender and identity.

Pretty powerful stuff. Let me tell you, this is not a light read.

But I enjoyed it. Even though I struggled a bit to understand the depth of the father-son relationship, which is what this story is primarily about.

Not to get too personal, but it’s a dynamic I am just now discovering through my marriage. I had never seen one in action, and it still remains somewhat of a mystery.

Carl and his son Puttnam (the protagonist) are not characters that endeared themselves to me. There were a few times that I really disliked both, intensely.

I believe this is because the characters dislike themselves a great deal, and this shines through and glares upon their fatal flaws. Imperfection is put on display in a harshness that is only tempered by the relationships each man has with the women in the family.

The roles of women in this book are subtle, but important. Like the men, they are flawed. However they are the strength and the glue that keeps the family together and moving forward toward a resolution.

The author doesn’t end the novel in a way that redeems Putt or his father. Not completely. This is not a bad thing. He does leave the reader with hope  that Putt will become a likeable person, not only to us, but more importantly, to himself.

As I said, this isn’t a light read, but by no means is it a challenging one. Just like Goldilocks, I’m gonna say it’s juuust right.

The Secret Speech by Tom Rob Smith
ISBN13: 9780446402415
Fiction/Thriller, 440 pages
Grand Central Publishing
an imprint of Hachette Book Group

FTC Disclaimer: Book courtesy of the publisher

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Book summary from publisher’s website:

Soviet Union, 1956. Stalin is dead, and a violent regime is beginning to fracture-leaving behind a society where the police are the criminals, and the criminals are innocent. A secret speech composed by Stalin’s successor Khrushchev is distributed to the entire nation. Its message: Stalin was a tyrant. Its promise: The Soviet Union will change.

Facing his own personal turmoil, former state security officer Leo Demidov is also struggling to change. The two young girls he and his wife Raisa adopted have yet to forgive him for his part in the death of their parents. They are not alone. Now that the truth is out, Leo, Raisa, and their family are in grave danger from someone consumed by the dark legacy of Leo’s past career. Someone transformed beyond recognition into the perfect model of vengeance.

I had Child 44 on my wish list for a long time. I knew it must be a good book, because until recently, I’d never come across it at the library bookstore.

Lo and behold, during the last library sale, I found a copy. Hardcover too.

I was beyond excited and did a fairly good job of scaring a few of the other customers who were standing a little too close when I grabbed said book off the shelf and began jumping up and down exclaiming, “Yes!”

Why the strong reaction?

Besides it being on my list forever and a day, I had just finished reading Child 44’s follow up, The Secret Speech.

I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s a sequel as much as it is another part of Leo’s life, and past, that the author is sharing. You don’t need to read Child 44 to understand Secret Speech. I love it when an author does such a good job on the new plot, that each book in a series can easily stand on their own – and Smith earned my adoration for doing just that.

There were times when his introduction of newer characters, especially minor ones,  could be construed as a merely the insertion of a character study, they were so descriptive, offering everything about them all at once.

But it worked. Each was readable and interesting and fit within the story.

To say this is a page turner doesn’t seem to be enough. Let’s put it this way, the first break I took from reading had me at about 100 pages. It didn’t feel like I’d read that much. And I couldn’t wait to get back to it.

The pace was one where I felt pulled along by the events happening, wanting to know how it all turned out. It was intense. There were a few times I had to re-read sections because I caught myself reading too quickly through a passage. I just couldn’t stop myself.

The theme of this book, to me, was that nothing is at it seems. Even ourselves. Time changes memories and people. Sometimes they come full circle, sometimes one-hundred eighty degrees.

What was bad is now good. What was good is now evil. And many times, some feel caught in the middle, travelling between both, doing what they can to survive.

How do you live with yourself? How do you justify what you have done, and what you will do given the chance to change?

Can you change? Or are you condemned to remain as you are because no one will allow you redemption or forgive you? Even if they forgive you, can you forgive yourself?

Yes, that is a lot of questions.

But if I answer them, or explain them, I will give away too much.

Plus, these are what came to me while reading. How you perceive and judge Smith’s theme and plot should be based on your own opinion.

In offering mine, all I can tell you is that I highly recommend this book. In fact I have. To anyone who I know is a reader, loves thrillers, and doesn’t mind my gushing about how much I enjoyed this novel.

Before the third one comes out (titled A New World), I do need to read the first.

And I will. I just need to find the right weekend as I have a feeling once I pick it up and start reading, not much will get in the way of me stopping until I’ve read it all.

Tom Rob Smith has earned a spot on my favorite authors list. Not an easy feat. Well done!

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The author can be found on his website at www.TomRobSmith.com and as @tomrobsmith on Twitter.
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