Rediscovering Michael Connelly

 It was in early 2000s I discovered Michael Connelly. I chanced upon a book of crime writers in a book shop, looked at a few names and searched for authors in the shop. I found two authors Connelly and Coben. And picked up their books and there was no looking back. They both became my new favourite authors. Bosch and Bolitar opposites side of a coin. Very different kind of detectives and inhabiting similar worlds.

At that point, I had access to more Connelly books than Coben and I read quite a lot. But over the years, my reading is not as prolific as before and while I still picked up the Coben books on its release I havent read Connelly for a while after reading Lincoln Lawyer. 

Recently, I picked up Desert Star and immensely enjoyed it and was wondering why I stopped reading Connelly. 

Nelophobia

 Looks like we suffer from the fear of breaking glass- Nelophobia. Not sure if this is something our dear AI made up or something that we truly have.

Doubt everything

 If we don't doubt everything, there are no new truths to be found!

Klara and the Sun

Some books make you think and some books stay with you forever. Many many years ago, I read Never Let Me Go, which had a lasting impression on me. Last year, I read Remains of the day. Very different book to Never let me go. But the emotions they awoke are much similar. I was sad. 

Its a strange world. But not far off, I think. 

Here is another book by the same Author. I feel sad again. Klara the Artificial friend is in many ways a true friend. She is loyal and cares for her human. But is Klara just a toy for her human. Klara is a toy but a sophisticated toy. Why did Klara decide to destroy the cootings machine even by the process she gets hurt! 

As the story unfolds and I understand why Klara was chosen in the first place there is a deep sense of sadness. 

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Between life and death, there is a midnight library where there is a book with every possible life one could have lived.

Nora Seed frustrated with life, decides to end it and ends up in the Midnight Library. She gets to look at her regrets and live possible lives that deals with these regrets. Is she happy in any of them? Is there a perfect life? Is there any where she hadnt made those mistakes and where she can decide to stay back forever? If so, what does it mean to her current life. 

Interesting concept. But after a point, it seemed repetitive and pointless for Nora to go on visiting lives. With her encounter with the polar bear, we do know that she no longer wishes to die, she realises that she wants to live. But why does she need to go visiting lives even after that. Probably because while she wants to live, I think we need assurance that she wants to live her current life and not any of those other possible versions.

Do we all not imagine some of the possible lives for ourselves? 

The Age of Innocence by Edith Warthon

Another love traingle. Newland Archer caught between his love for innocent May and charming Countess Olenska. The eternal struggle between succumbing to society's norms and choosing hearts desire.

If Countess Olenska, went with the divorce that Newland adviced against, she would be free to pursue her desire. But she follows his advice. 

Is May really that innocent? Initially she wanted a long engagement but why was there a sudden change in heart. She did know how to keep him from pursuing after his love. 

I Capture the castle by Dodie Smith

 #27 of 54 BBC Big Read

This reminded me of Little women and bit like Pride and Prejudice. This family lives in a crumbling castle. No one is earning anything except for the servant boy who contributes to the household income. Father an experimental writer the forerunner to our James Joyce who has written just one book and refuses to write another spends his time reading detective novels. Step-mother who was a famous model but currently no source of income. Not sure if I missed out on what educational qualifications Rose has and what she intended to do if the landlords of the castle with two eligible bachelors do not come visiting. Our Narrator Cassandra, a teenager who loves writing. The story is written in a lighter vein. Some of it funny in lines of PG Wodehouse. 

They all knew the reality of the situation that they have no money. Why does no one goes and gets a paying job. Rose decides to take the easy route marry the rich man and escape poverty. And what Rose and Thomas do to make their father to start writing again is preposterous. Who in their right mind would do what they did? Anyway, alls well that ends well.