January 01, 2005
January's Featured Books
1/7 - The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux (o o o o o)
The Paris Opera House: enormous, magnificent, riddled with trapdoors and secret passages . . . and haunted by a dark spirit known only as "the opera ghost." This creature already wields total control over the managers through intimidation and (when necessary) terrorism and murder. But when a beautiful, talented, and hopelessly naive young singer joins the performers, his megalomania is replaced by obsession and an overwhelming desire to possess her.
French author Gaston Leroux wrote this psychological thriller over a century ago, but for the most part it still has the power to send chills down the spine. Okay, maybe it's a bit dull in spots, but the story continues to fascinate successive generations, inspiring several movie versions (from the silent era to one which will be released in a few short weeks) and even an opera of its own by the illustrious Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Part mystery, part tragic romance, and part Gothic horror, all of this book is worth your time. The themes of religion, illusion, and madness which it explores are powerful and absorbing. The characters are wonderful (in particular, the location of the action itself almost becomes a character in the story, so vividly is its architecture described), and the villain (as it should be) is by far the most complex and intriguing of them all. If you enjoy the works of Poe, Shelley, or Stoker, give Leroux a try. You won't be disappointed.
1/1 - The Mystery of the Stuttering Parrot by Robert Arthur (o o o o o)
Jupiter Jones, Pete Crenshaw, and Bob Andrews are sent on yet another dangerous mission by movie director Alfred Hitchcock. Facing off against a sinister fat man, they attempt to track down seven parrots with literary names, each of which has learned a spoken phrase. These phrases are the only clues that lead to a priceless treasure which the boys' enemies will do anything to get their hands on.
This is one of a couple dozen books in the "Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators" series. I've probably read around fifteen of them, but I haven't read one in years. As far as I remember, they are excellent and highly entertaining mystery/adventure stories for 10-15 year olds (give or take). These are way better than the Hardy Boys . . . which is probably why I never cared much for that series. And the detectives in question are sponsored by the great Hitchcock himself! Who could ask for more?
The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux (o o o o o)
The Paris Opera House: enormous, magnificent, riddled with trapdoors and secret passages . . . and haunted by dark spirit known only as "the opera ghost." This creature already wields total control over the managers through intimidation and (when necessary) terrorism and murder. But when a beautiful, talented, and hopelessly naive young singer joins the performers, his megalomania is replaced by obsession and an overwhelming desire to possess her . . . [Read More] Posted by Jared at January 1, 2005 12:00 AM | TrackBack