Review of "Dear Mr. M: A Novel" by Herman Koch

Dutch author "Mr. M" is an older man, well past his writing prime, with a beautiful young wife and a little daughter.





Mr. M's most popular book, based on a real life occurrence, is called "Payback." Published four decades ago, "Payback" tells the story of two high school students accused of killing their history teacher.

The teacher, Mr. Landzaat - a married man with two daughters - had an affair with a pretty student named Laura.



When Laura dumped Landzaat to hook up with a fellow high-schooler named Herman, the teacher went a little crazy. He took to stalking Laura, even going so far as to 'drop in' (and stay over) when Herman and Laura were vacationing in her family's cabin. During this 'visit' Landzaat disappeared.



In the here and now Mr. M is being surveilled by his very creepy downstairs neighbor. The neighbor - a middle-aged man - observes Mr. M, checks the writer's mail, and 'accidently' runs into Mrs. M when she takes a short trip with her child.



Eventually the neighbor inveigles himself into a mild friendship with Mr. M, and - when Mrs. M opts out - even accompanies the author to a writer's gala. Seating at the gala's entertainment reflects an author's importance in the artistic community.....and less successful (or past their peak) writers get stuck in the back row or behind pillars. Mr. M, whose fading popularity and waning sales weigh on his mind, resents his more successful friends and colleagues.



The story moves back and forth between the present time and the high school days of Laura, Herman, and their friends. The students were an independent bunch who sometimes arranged 'teenager only' holidays at Laura's family cabin. Herman - who's described as skinny with crooked teeth and unfashionable clothes - exhibits a lot of snarky manipulative behavior at school and at the cabin - and is especially disrepectful (and even hateful) to teachers. It's hard to see what Laura sees in Herman (not that Mr. Landzaat, with his 'long teeth', is any prize either).



In current times, during conversations between the downstairs neighbor and Mr. M, it's clear the snoopy acquaintance resents Mr. M's writing a book about what happened among Laura, Herman, and Mr. Landzaat. It seems that - for some reason - the neighbor is very interested in these old-time events.

The major characters in the book are intriguing but not particularly likable. Herman, Mr. M, and Mr. Landzaat are flat out noxious; and Laura, while less unpleasant, wouldn't make a good BFF. The minor characters - including Mr. M's writer colleagues, various high school students, a wily journalist, Mrs. M, and several teachers - add color and interest to the story.



The book seems to be about the ethics of exploiting other people's lives for a book as well as how far an author would go to fulfill his/her vision.

Some parts of the book were a bit slow but it held my interest throughout. I speculated a lot about the 'real identity' of some of the characters and had various theories about what happened to Mr. Landzaat. I was right about some things and wrong about others.

I'd recommend the book to readers who enjoy literary fiction, particularly fans of Herman Koch. 

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review of "Ghost Blows A Kiss: A Bailey Ruth Ghost Mystery" by Carolyn Hart

 

In this 10th book in the humorous 'Bailey Ruth' series, the heavenly emissary is sent to Oklahoma to prevent a miscarriage of justice. The book can be read as a standalone.

*****

Bailey Ruth Raeburn is deceased but still very active. She works for 'Heaven’s Department of Good Intentions', which sends emissaries to Earth to help people in trouble. Emissaries are supposed to be discrete, unnoticed, and silent.



Nevertheless, Bailey Ruth can never manage to remain inconspicuous, and her supervisor is reluctant to send her on missions. Still, when an emergency arises Bailey Ruth is dispatched to Adelaide, Oklahoma to save a drowning woman.



Bailey Ruth rescues the woman, an antiques dealer named Fran Loring.



It turns out Fran was running from the scene of a murder when she fell into the pond. Fran claims she saw a dead woman and panicked, but it's likely she'll be the prime suspect. Bailey Ruth believes Fran is innocent, and aims to make things right.

The murder victim is Sylvia Chandler, the second wife of Arthur Chandler, an oil magnate who's on his deathbed. Since her husband fell ill Sylvia has been running the oil company, and has plans of her own for the business.



Since Arthur Chandler is dying, his son, two daughters, and their spouses have gathered at the Chandler mansion.



Each of these people would benefit from Sylvia's death, but Acting Police Chief Howie Harris - who's a rather dim bulb - considers them 'too elite' to be questioned.



Howie himself has underlying motives, since he hopes to replace Police Chief Sam Cobb, who's on leave. Thus Howie kisses up to Mayor Neva Lumpkin and says he'll solve the case quickly WITHOUT incurring police overtime....all of which is important to the mayor. Howie plans to arrest Fran, and - as far as he's concerned - case closed.

Bailey Ruth will have none of it though, and takes on the guise of Detective M. Loy to question the Chandler family members - and other persons of interest - herself.



Luckily, Bailey Ruth can teleport and 'magically' change her outfits, so she can go anywhere and be anyone. Thus Bailey Ruth can be dressed to the nines and in a restaurant one moment, and wearing a black suit and standing on a suspect's doorstep the next. Moreover, Bailey has an ally in her quest to save Fran Loring. Lead detective Don Smith has taken a shine to the antiques dealer and vows to help clear her name.



Bailey Ruth is a hoot. She has good detective instincts; sneaks into (absent) Police Chief Sam Cobb's office and uses his computer; searches through file cabinets; leaves helpful messages on Acting Chief Howie Harris's desk; etc. Surprisingly for a ghost, Bailey Ruth can also eat and drink, and she freely digs into the bag of M&Ms Sam Cobb stashes in his desk.



The book isn't very realistic (the lead detective dates the prime suspect), but it's an enjoyable cozy mystery. In addition, Bailey Ruth's numerous outfits and delicious meals add a fun element to the story.





Thanks to Netgalley, Carolyn Hart, and Dreamscape Media for a copy of the book.

Rating: 3 stars

Review of "The Hotel: A Novel by Pamela Kelley"

Nantucket's Whitley Hotel, the epitome of luxury, caters to the rich and famous.

The resort is a family business founded by Wynn Whitley, and his children started their careers there.



Now Wynn's grown grandchildren work there as well: Nick is a chef;



Lucy is in customer service;



Paula is an accountant;



and Andrea is the general manager.



When business starts falling off because of a rival hotel, Wynn decides to make some changes. He appoints Paula general manager and moves Andrea to head of concierge services. Andrea resents the switch, becomes a bit spiteful, and starts looking for employment elsewhere.

Wynn also hires a hotel consultant named David Connolly, to help prepare Paula for her new general manager position. David - who travels widely for his job - welcomes the opportunity to work at the Whitley because his parents live on Nantucket and his mother has Alzheimer's.



Meanwhile, a famous romantic-comedy actress, who's going incognito as Bella Bryant, checks into the Whitley for a long vacation. To hide her identity the beautiful star turns her long platinum blonde hair into a brunette chin length bob, wears sunglasses, and dons a hat.



Bella is in Nantucket for a much needed rest, and she gets the opportunity to relax, go fishing, tour the island, go shopping, try various restaurants, etc.



The story is mostly about family relationships, the running of a luxury hotel, and romance. All the young Whitleys are attractive and available, and they have plenty of opportunities to socialize. They go to parties, have drinks with fellow hotel employees, and meet hotel guests.



Thus Nick, Lucy, Paula, and Andrea all meet at least one 'someone' in the story, and we follow along as things develop (or don't).

It's interesting to see the workings of a luxury hotel, where the guests expect (and pay for) first class service. The pool, beach, spa, bars, room service, breakfast room, restaurant, etc. all sound wonderful.



The hostelry also sponsors wine tastings and food tastings, and it all seems very inviting.



This is a pleasant light story with a fairy tale vibe, reminiscent of a Hallmark movie. Perfect for a vacation read.

Thanks to Netgalley, Pamela Kelley, and ‎ Piping Plover Press for a copy of the book.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review of "We, The Jury: A Novel" by Robert Rotstein

As the book opens, Sepulveda County Superior Court Judge Natalie Quinn-Gilbert is giving jury instructions in the trial of David Sullinger. Sullinger, who split open the head of his wife Amanda with an axe, claims he was a battered husband who killed in self-defense.

The judge - recently widowed and consumed with grief - hasn't been her best self lately. Nevertheless, she oversaw the proceedings; the prosecution and defense have rested their cases; and the jury has its job to do.

The bulk of the story is about jury deliberations, told from the jurors' rotating points of view. But we also get glimpses into what's going on in the heads of the judge; court clerk; bailiff; prosecuting attorney; paralegal; and sensation-seeking journalist/blogger.

The eight jurors are a diverse group of individuals, including:

- The foreperson - an anxious, coffee-loving, middle-aged woman who works in an office.
- The clergyman - a sizable man who doesn't have much to say.
- The grandmother - a former high school Vice-Principal who has hearing problems.
- The student - the youngest member of the jury, a young lady concerned about doing the right thing.
- The express messenger/actor - an observant young man with a flippant attitude.
- The architect - a fashionable woman who's worried about her business.
- The housewife - a pushy homebody with a strong opinion about everything.
- The jury consultant - a stylish professional woman who's had experience with trials and witnesses.

When deliberations begin, all the jurors seem to have a similar opinion about whether David Sullinger acted in self-defense or whether he murdered his wife in cold blood. Great! The jury foreperson can just 'push the red button' (which signals a decision) and they can go home.

Not so fast though! A couple of the jurors want to talk about specific bits of evidence such as: an incident with a hot tuna casserole; the contradictory testimony of the Sullingers' teenage children; a troubling occurrence in culinary school; the axe that killed Amanda Sullinger; a certain letter; and more. It turns out things aren't so cut and dried after all.

As the jurors debate, some become less certain about their original judgment and others refuse to budge. In fact two or three seem to have an agenda. But who and why might surprise you.



Other characters add depth and interest to the story. These are:

- The courtroom clerk who bakes cupcakes with Judge Quinn-Gilbert and worries about the jurist's health.
- The bailiff who got tossed off the 'real' police force.
- The journalist/blogger who's not too ethical about getting a story.
- The prosecutor who should have done his homework better.
- The CSR (Certified Shorthand Reporter) who reads back evidence in the required monotone.
- The defense attorney who supposedly never loses a trial.....but may be about to lose her husband.
- The presiding judge of the Superior Court (the big boss), who's concerned about Judge Quinn-Gilbert's behavior.

The book strongly reminded me of the excellent 1957 film "12 Angry Men", about a jury of 12 white men who must decide the fate of a slum dweller - probably Hispanic - accused of killing his father. Both Rotstein's book and the film examine people's preconceived notions, prejudices, and biases.



I enjoyed the novel, and thought the 'slightly addled judge' angle was a creative departure from the usual books set in courtrooms. I'd recommend the book to readers who like mysteries and courtroom dramas.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author (Robert Rotstein), and the publisher (Blackstone Publishing) for a copy of the book.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review of "Rabid: A Cultural History of the World's Most Diabolical Virus" by Bill Wasik and Monica Murphy

 

Rabies, a disease caused by the Lyssavirus, is one of the oldest and most dreaded afflictions in recorded history. The virus, which is transmitted by the bite of an infected creature, creeps along the nerves to the brain - after which it's invariably fatal.


The 'Lyssavirus' that causes rabies

Rabies can infect most warm-blooded animals, but is most often associated with dogs - who've been humankind's companions for thousands of years. People have always been wary of feral dogs, but even a pet canine will bite in the throes of the illness.


Route of rabies viruses through the human body

In current times, a person bitten by a rabid creature can be treated with 'rabies shots' (vaccine), developed by the brillliant chemist Louis Pasteur in the late 1800s. Until then, however, rabies was inevitably a death sentence to humans, and it still is in many poor nations.


Rabies shots

The term rabies comes from the Sanskrit word 'rabha' - which means rage. The name is apt because the disease transforms relatively docile creatures into mad, foaming beasts. The metamorphosis usually takes from 30 to 50 days, depending on the distance from the bite site to the brain. When the virus reaches the brain, it causes a variety of symptoms such as violent movements; uncontrolled frenzy; compulsive biting; hydrophobia (fear of water); partial paralysis; confusion; and sometimes loss of consciousness. Rabies shots work by destroying the virus before it reaches the brain, because once there, the microbe always kills its host.


Drawing of a rabid dog


A rabid dog

This book written by journalist Bill Wasik and veterinarian Monica Murphy, traces the history of rabies through the ages; the development of rabies vaccine by Louis Pasteur; the impact of rabies on civilization and culture; the devastating rabies epidemic that struck Bali in 2008; and more. The authors also touch on HIV/AIDS which is, perhaps, as dreaded as rabies.


Bill Wasik


Monica Murphy

*****

Rabies has been around for millenia. The ancient Greeks called the affliction 'lyssa' - which means frenzy, and the malady has been mentioned in cunieform writings on ancient clay tablets. The early Mesopotamians feared dog bites and the old Sanskirt medical treatise, the Sushruta Samhita, has an accurate description of rabies, noting that human victims 'bark and howl like the animals that bit them and exhibit water scare'.....after which the disease is always fatal.

Scientists believe that rabies originated in bats at least 12,000 years ago. These flying mammals then infected dogs - who passed the disease to people.


A rabid bat

Human maladies that originate in animals, called zoonoses, are very common. Zooneses include measles and anthrax - from cattle; influenza - from birds and livestock; malaria - from chimpanzees; smallpox, plague, typhus, and monkeypox - from rodents; and dengue fever - from primates.

Rabies was always associated with dogs, which 'domesticated themselves' by hanging around human enclaves for food. This proximity gave rise to a kind of dual identity: on the one hand canines were valuable hunting partners, sheep herders, and companions; on the other hand they were terrifying conveyers of rabies.

The consequences of being bitten by a mad dog led to the search for remedies, and many rabies treatments were proposed through the ages. Old texts from different parts of the world include the following suggestions:

- Bleed and cauterize the bite wound.
- Treat the wound with a sesame paste.
- Treat the wound with a paste of garlic, nettles, leeks, chives, olive oil, and vinegar.
- Feed the patient a firebaked cake made of rice, roots, and leaves.
- Kill the offending dog, remove its brain, and rub it on the wound.
- Apply salt or a brine pickle to the wound.
- Give the patient a steam bath, then pour wine into the wound.
- Set a rooster's anus on the wound, to draw out the poison.

Of course none of these therapies worked, and some people tried a prophylactic approach. The kings of France, for instance, sent their dogs to church once a year, where a mass was sung and candles were lit, in hopes of preventing rabies.



Over time it became clear that creatures other than dogs can pass rabies to humans, and people have been infected by bites from cats, coyotes, foxes, bats, skunks, and raccoons.

Besides being medically important, rabies also had a profound effect on human culture. In 1998, the Spanish neurologist Dr. Juan Gomez-Alonso speculated that rabies inspired the vampire legends of the 1800s. Gomez-Alonso pointed out that both rabies victims and vampires tend to be aggressive; to bite others; to display hypersexuality (rabies victims ejaculate repeatedly); to exhibit facial spasms (drawn back lips); and to wander at night.

It's quite possible that werewolves and zombies also stem from rabies, and that all of these 'monsters' are actually rabid humans that were misunderstood by superstitious people.


Rabies victim depicted on the television show 'Criminal Minds'


Depiction of a vampire


Depiction of a werewolf


Depiction of a zombie

Rabid (or savage) dogs and bloodthirsty humanoids have become staples of books, films, and television shows, and the authors discuss the appearances of these creatures (with plot details) in the following:

Books
Wuthering Heights; Jane Eyre; Dracula; Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde; Their Eyes Were Watching God; Old Yeller; I Am Legend; The Zombie Survival Guide; World War Z; Rabid; Day of the Mad Dogs; Pride and Prejudice and Zombies; The Walking Dead.
(Note: most of these books were made into movies and/or television shows.)

Movies
Werewolf of London; Night of the Living Dead; Shaun of the Dead; 28 Days Later (the authors' favorite 😊)

The storyline of 'Day of the Mad Dogs' involves a married couple circumventing quarantine laws to bring a dog from France to England. The dog soon goes mad, and the ensuing rabies epidemic has catastrophic consequences. Unfortunately, something like this REALLY HAPPENED in Bali in 2008 (as described in the book), and it took years - and drastic measures (including culling thousands of dogs) - to get the scourge under control.

Wasik and Murphy emphasize that widespread dog vaccination is very effective for controlling the disease.


A dog getting a rabies vaccination

Unfortunately, the practice is too expensive for many developing countries, and 55,000 people die from rabies each year.....mostly in Asia and Africa.

Though rabies has been a scourge on the animal kingdom, it has one silver lining. The Lyssavirus, which is able to make its way into the brain, has helped scientists learn how to get drugs past the blood-brain barrier and into the human central nervous system.

I found the book to be interesting and informative and highly recommend it to readers interested in the subject.

Rating: 4 stars