Sonntag, 18. Dezember 2011

What Alice Knew by Paula Marantz Cohen

 I feel that I have a lot to pick up now.. It's quite a time since I posted here the last time.. Well - those of you who are still here: thank you very, very much! So without loosing more time - here we go with the review about a book I enjoyed very much reading - in English just by the way..

WHAT ALICE KNEW : THE MOST CURIOUS TALE OF HENRY JAMES & JACK THE RIPPER by Paula Marantz Cohen

 In a nut-shell:

In 1888 London is shocked by a horrible murder series - Jack the Ripper is enjoying himself very much.. Scotland yard asks William James who is a specialist in psychology to help them - that is especially Inspector Frederick Abberline to solve the case.

But William isn't the only one who thinks a lot about this case - his bedstricken sister Alice and his brother Henry, the world famous author, who both live in London - are helping their brother find out who is the vicious murderer..

Have a quick look at the Dramatis Personae - which is pretty interesting for those are persons who actually excisted outside of their authors and readers minds:


The actual (though you wouldn't guess it from my summary..) main character:

Alice James

August 7, 1848 - March 6, 1892


The brothers Henry & William James

Henry James 
April 15, 1843 - February 28, 1916
William James
January 11, 1842 - August 26, 1910 


Inspector Frederick George Abberline

January 8, 1943 - December 10, 1929



And of course there are some other persons having parts in this novel:

Notorious wonderful genius Oscar Wilde - love his wit!:

October 16, 1854 - November 30, 1900


Walter Richard Sickert
- one of my favourite painters:

May 31, 1860 - January 22, 1942



same goes for John Singer Sargent
 (this is a self portrait - I wasn't able to find a photo of him..)

January 12, 1856 - April 14, 1925

The very quick-witted Samuel Langhorne Clemens better known as Mark Twain

November 30, 1835 - April 21, 1910


So - though this book is pure fiction and you shouldn't expect to find now revealed who Jack the Ripper actually was - it's a great book - and a fast read. You just mustn't take it as non-fictional book - otherwise you'll be very much disappointed I guess.. Frankly, I am a bit obsessed with the Ripper murders - I read almost every book ever written about these murders. (not even talking about the films about them..) 

I enjoyed very much to "join" a party with Oscar Wilde and Mark Twain. This really was fun to imagine.. It's a book that I might re-read at some time.. 

And for my luck we had some very heavy fog during the time I was reading this book in November - which appeared in shortest time and was really, really thick..

(well.. it is really hard to take a picture of fog, you know..)


So please take care, ladies and gents!

I hope to write soon again!

yours 

Irene

5 Kommentare:

  1. This book was a fun read. I have some issues with the resolution, but it always kept my attention, a good page-turner. Good post!

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  2. Glad you enjoyed this one. I thought it was really good too. Also, glad to see you posting again! I've missed you!

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  3. Thank you, Bev! Hopefully after the holidays I'll be more active on my own blog, too.

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  4. ....Whoops, thought you were Bev for a sec, Irene! Heh, heh. That wasn't a reply to me. I'm glad you're back too, by the way! *Face Palm*

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  5. Oh, Laura and Bev! It's so wonderful to have you! Actually having people still reading my post makes me feel happy. Thank you so much for commenting!!

    Laura: Yes, I am not overwhelmed by Ms. Cohen's solution either - but I think for a work of fiction she did it very well. It is believable the way she put it - but I try to see this apart from the actual murders - kind of doing some mind games in the way of "what if".. ;") - oh: and I am looking forward for you posting more again! Your blog is so much fun - and I simply adore the title of it! ;") And: I am glad, too! Thank you sooo much!

    Bev: aww.. thank you!! You're so sweet! I missed blogging here, too - though I must say I was a bit shocked when I noticed HOW LONG I actually didn't post here! Shame on me!

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Every comment makes me happy - because than I know there is someone out there reading this! ;")

Thank you for commenting! I am reading every comment you'll make - and when I can think of an answer I will post it. ;")