Nocturne

Title: Nocturne
A Haunting Story of Forbidden Love

Author: Syrie James

Fiction (sci-fi/supernatural romance)

Pages: 281 (including Author Q&A and Reading Group Guide)

Like romance novels? Like vampires? Read Nocturne.

Nocturne includes the requisite romance novel elements—likable female protagonist in some way struggling, fate providing a male figure in her life, successes and setbacks as the two get to know one another, growing tension, eventual steamy love scenes.

Now add in the vampire element. A vampire is the quintessential “bad boy;” who, has long been established as irresistible to many a gal. I mean, he’s mysterious, super human strong, and literally hungers for your flesh.

Not to mention, with centuries of spare time on his hands, a vampire has had the time to pick up some interesting skills and hobbies through the years. In Nocturne, our protagonist Nicole Whitcomb marvels at Michael Tyler’s various pastimes―He writes, he plays the piano, he woodworks. At one point, the two bond over literature. (I thought it a fun touch that connections are revealed between Michael and literary greats Charles Dickens and Robert Burns.) It’s no surprise that Nicole quickly feels attracted to him. Besides, Michael has a British accent. Really, she didn’t stand a chance.

While uncovering secrets that stretch several lifetimes is an entertaining element of the storyline, it becomes clear to the reader that our vampire isn’t the only one hiding a distressing secret and a painful past. In the end, this is a story about the healing power of love. Sometimes it requires the eyes of another to truly see ourselves.

Character development unfolds mostly through dialogue. I think this highlights the challenge of a two-character, one-setting plot. There’s quite a bit of “telling” instead of “showing.” I felt this made Nicole seem inauthentic during the revelations of her past. She is sharing and sharing and sharing; it begins to feel forced.

I’m not sure why there’s an author Q&A or a Reading Group Guide. This is a cute romance novel with a supernatural element and clever literary references. I’m not sure who is putting in the time and effort to organize a book group to discuss it in-depth. Read it. Enjoy it. Done.

That being said, it was an entertaining enough story for me to consider reading some of Syrie James's other titles: Dracula, My Love, The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen, The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte.

Man Down

Title: Man Down
Proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt That Women Are Better Cops, Drivers, Gamblers, Spies, World Leaders, Beer Tasters, Hedge Fund Managers, and Just About EVERYTHING ELSE

Author: Dan Abrams
Non-Fiction
Pages: 144

In the age-old battle of the sexes, who reigns supreme? Abrams makes the case for female superiority claiming on the back cover, “Women are smarter, healthier, and unequivocally better than men.” And with his legal background, make a case he does. Abrams references studies and statistics backing up his thesis in an easy-to-read five part, thirty-six chapter case for womankind. That’s not to say it reads like a bland legal brief. Abrams’s conversational writing style keeps it light. This paired with the book’s brief length and contentious claim place it squarely in the coffee-table book category.

While Abrams does make a compelling case, there is some room left for debate. Abrams himself admits doubt regarding the claim in chapter ten—“Women Get Ready Faster Than Men:”

“I am not going to question the findings, and more comprehensive studies in this book have shown that women tend to be more efficient and goal oriented, but I’ll admit that I wonder whether maybe, just maybe, this could be a rogue survey” (46).

Abrams maintains a strong voice throughout the book as he interjects opinions and questions while tackling well known clichés and seldom-considered comparisons such as “Women Are Better at Giving and Following Directions” (Chapter 20) and “Women Are Better Hedge Fund Managers” (Chapter 31).

As you’ve probably worked out from the abovementioned chapters, the title of each chapter presents the claim to be proven. A loosely related oft-humorous quote follows. Only a few pages are allotted to each chapter. Again, this reads like a coffee table book not a treatise on the fairer sex. Abrams makes a pretty straightforward case for each claim of female superiority, but there is the occasional concession to lingering male primacy: “The same Swiss study that proved the message or report read by a woman was deemed more credible also showed that male newscasters were still considered ‘more credible’ overall” (130).

I checked a copy out from the library and read it over the course of three days. As a female member of our species, I wasn’t too surprised by Abrams’s assertions and found myself nodding in agreement with his well-supported conclusions. I imagine it’s much more fun for stoking conversation. Place it on your coffee table, invite over male and female friends, and see what conversation (debate?) ensues.