"The Better Mousetrap" by Tom Holt

I realised that even though I am a huge TH fan, I never quite got round to reviewing any of his books at BWSG. Thinking about it, I realised it may be because I have always found his books hard to pin down.

Don't get me wrong, TH's books are rather readable, even if this reader does occasionally get lost in the story. Today, as I was chatting with the sis (who's also a TH fan), I finally figured out that the best way to enjoy his book is to roll with the plotline, far-fetched as it sounds, and try not to figure out the logical workings of the plot from start to finish. It is likely to give you a blinding headache.

I'm not exactly sure which genre he fits in, though fantasy would be my personal best bet, since his books always take you on flights of satiric fantasy that always make me feel slightly silly for chuckling out loudly while reading it in public transport.

"The Better Mousetrap" is a story about Emily Spitzer, a pest-control slayer and Frank Carpenter, the guy with a portable door who travels in the fabric of time to un-do "events" which, if happened, could lead to vast amounts of insurance being paid out. Emily is no ordinary pest-control slayer as well. She slays dragons, huge spiders.. you get the idea.

"The Better Mousetrap" is in reference to this death bounty that has been taken out on Emily. Someone wants her dead, conclusively. By a stroke of luck, she crosses paths with Frank and a few other characters who combine forces to eventually send the evil profiteer to her just desserts.

Typing it out, it all sounds rather bland. But I think part of the fun is in the reading for his books. He has a gift for taking digs at many aspects of our lives in a fashion that loses its punch in the telling. Or maybe it's just me.

Rating: 4 out of 5

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon

Wiki link

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay is definitely worth recommending as it is an epic tale of two young men in America during the war, how they fought for their ideals through their comic book creation, and it touches on many other issues such as mid-20th century American culture, the allure of magic and Houdini, and how the real world eats up idealists.

But it took me a long time to get through The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. While certainly a hefty tome, Chabon's poignant and accessible writing should have allowed me to finish it in half the time. But I couldn't - it got too sad. I reached some points where I felt like the story was rather like a Korean drama - heart-wrenching and depressing. Some parts made me feel like shutting the book quickly, cos if I did that, then maybe the tragedy would not unfold for the two main characters.

I guess it is the hallmark of a good book, for its reader to feel for the characters to this extent.
But did he have to make them until so cham?!?

8 out of 10 tear drop daggers.

(On a related side note, here's Chabon's interesting essay on The Recipe for Life )