Perez-Reverte’s latest translated novel has two men, one a war photographer and the other a former Croatian soldier who was a tortured prisoner of war, having an engaging philosophical dialogue from their personal experiences about what they both have seen and done (and not done). Faulques, a world famous photographer, has had a career in most of the warring “hotspots” of the world, and has retired to painting memories of wars that he feels can only be applied to a large mural he is working on. Markovic, the Croatian who was once a photo op subject of Faulques, has tracked the painter Faulques down in order to eventually kill him. While both men were witnesses to the atrocities of war in which both men lost loved ones, Faulques was mostly an observer taking photos while Markovic was a participant soldier. Hector V.
Edward Wozny does not understand why he has been asked to help unpack some crates with old books for an important and rather mysterious client of his prestigious financial firm. After all, Edward is a senior financial analyst there. There must be some kind of mistake. Yet, once he sets eyes on the project, he feels compelled to continue. His decision will involve him in a dangerous and intriguing game in the search for an invaluable medieval codex that will have an unexpected conclusion. Bonina G.
Orwell's semi-autobiographical debut novel is an often funny portrayal of poverty experienced firsthand, interspersed with social commentary. The narrator is an out of work British writer who spends half the novel working as a plongeur (dishwasher) in different Parisian eateries and half as a tramp in London. He relates his adventures with a journalistic sensibility: he treats with sympathy and respect the characters he meet, with the clear-sightedness of the outsider, and his decent into near starvation and penury are dealt with almost abstractedly. Lina C.
“Cool Instructor” Kylie Chase sells her cool services to the socially inept. Geeks, nerds and wannabes flock to her to learn about the latest trends. A super hot celebrity journalist, wanting to do a piece on her profession, tails her mercilessly, wanting to get to the core of being cool. The only thing is Kylie Chase really isn’t cool. In fact, she makes a shambles out of many of the lives she touches, including her own and doesn’t want her dirty little secret getting out. Deirdre L.
