10 Jan 2012

AUGUST HEAT.

As suspected I was too weak and found myself giving into THE TEMPTATION that is The What's In A Name 5 Reading Challenge and so give you my first read which fits perfectly into 'A book with a something you'd find on a calendar in the title' category.........

AUGUST HEAT by ANDREA CAMILLERI.

In the lazy, slow month of August, Inspector Montalbano and his girlfriend, Livia, prepare for a relaxing holiday in a villa he has found for them. It is, he assures, her far too hot for anything exciting to happen. But when Livia's friends' young son goes missing, a series of events is sparked which will certainly ruin the Chief Inspector's pleasant interlude.

A secret apartment and a grisly find in an old trunk are just the beginning: Montalbano must navigate his way though the case as well as coping with the sweltering heat, the suspicious death of an Arab labourer and the tempting lure of a beautiful girl.....
...... Outer back cover.

OPENING SENTENCE (Chapter 1): He was sleeping so soundly that not even cannon-fire could have woken him.

MEMORABLE MOMENT (Page 123): "Fazio, I didn't say we did anything wrong. I said I didn't like it."
"You mean the way we treated Filiberto?"
"Yes"
"But Chief, he's a criminal!"
"And we're not?"

KEEP IT OR NOT?: A readers group read, I have no intention of buying a copy.

Oh dear, not a good start to the new year reading wise, my first book wasn't particularly to my liking and this one was even less so.

The 10th in a series of books, none of which I have read before, I don't know if its because this just wasn't my cup of tea OR if this was just a one-off that wasn't a true representation of the authors usual high standard of writing OR if it was an indication that the series was perhaps becoming a little tired - either way I didn't enjoy the novel and would certainly question whether or not it worked as a mystery come crime novel.

Not only was there a weak plot, but the dialogue tended to be repetitive (if the heat was mentioned once it was mentioned a hundred times) ....... And as if this wasn't bad enough I found the characters ludicrously stereotypical - Montalbano being an none too faithful Italian who when dealing with women (especially a certain beautiful twin) often seemed to think with, err, how can I put this politely? an organ other than his brain - if you get my meaning.  Then, of course, there were the beautiful, sexy twins who were able to feel exactly what their sibling was feeling despite not even being in the same vicinity, dodgy builders (most of them foreigners), and corrupt cops, oh and a real brat of a child - not a single one of them was even vaguely likable.

No, most certainly not my cup of tea at all though it has to be said that I do know that both this author as well as his Inspector Montalbano creation are widely loved and acclaimed as great reading.


11 comments:

Gina said...

Wow...you really have hit a slump. Best choose your next read ever so carefully...gotta break this streak! Best of luck!

Felicity Grace Terry said...

Fingers crossed.
My next two reads will probably be my book club reads so there is no guarantee they will be to my taste.

Patti said...

I love your honest reviews. Hopefully your next book will be better.

Maude Lynn said...

Doesn't sound like my cup of tea, either.

Joy Weese Moll said...

I think I read one of these books in a quest to experience Italy vicariously, but it must not have stuck, because I didn't read any more. The Magdalen Nabb series suited me better.

Kelly said...

Well I hate that you've struck out with your first two books of the year! This one doesn't tempt me, in part because I try to always read a series in order.

I'm glad, though, that you're participating in the challenge! I've completed my second (category #5), but waiting to review it once I've read the entire trilogy.

Melissa (Books and Things) said...

Oh it's not good that the plot is weak. All I could think of is those people buried in Alaska would love to read this just for the cover. LOL

Hope you next book is so much better.

Melissa (My World...in words and pages) said...

So sorry this wasn't a winner for you. DO hope the next book is. :)

Alexia561 said...

Sorry to hear that the year started off with less than thrilling reads, but look on the bright side - things can only get better from here! So glad you decided to do this challenge, as it's unique and fun!

Fingers crossed that your next book is a winner!

P.N. Subramanian said...

Beautiful reviews. You may get a bonanza soon.

Betty Manousos said...

aw, sorry to hear that this wasn't a good read, hope your next book is so much better.

big hugs!