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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:
- 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
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
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!
AntwortenLöschenGlad you enjoyed this one. I thought it was really good too. Also, glad to see you posting again! I've missed you!
AntwortenLöschenThank you, Bev! Hopefully after the holidays I'll be more active on my own blog, too.
AntwortenLöschen....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*
AntwortenLöschenOh, 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!!
AntwortenLöschenLaura: 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!