I have fallen behind on my reviews over the last few weeks, so I’m cramming the last three books I read into one review in order to catch up. These books are about as tonally different from each other as it is possible to be, so expect some whiplash.
Martyr tells the story of Cyrus, an Iranian-American poet and recovering addict. Decades ago, his mother died when the plane she was on was mistakenly shot down by the United States Army. Trying to find meaning in her death, and in his own suffering , Cyrus becomes obsessed with the idea of martyrdom, and decides to write a book of poems about various martyrs in history. This book was a delight to read. The prose was lush and evocative and occasionally, very funny. I especially enjoyed the bizarre dream sequences where Cyrus imagines conversations between various fictional characters, celebrities, and random people from Cyrus’s life. The only thing that didn’t work for me was the ending. I don’t want to spoil it, but it ended on a note of ambiguity that just felt unsatisfying to me. On the other hand, my husband also read the book and said that the ending was one of his favorite things about it. So I might just be missing something. Overall, I would recommend this book, with the caveat that it gets very dark (unsurprising, given the premise).
Dinosaurs at the Dinner Party is a nonfiction account of the discovery of dinosaurs in the Victorian era and the philosophical, social, and religious backlash it caused. I grew up loving dinosaurs. Jurassic Park was my favorite movie as a toddler (I was only allowed to watch the first 30 minutes or so). I can’t remember a time where I wasn’t aware that enormous reptiles once dominated the planet. But, as this book reminded me, this hasn’t always been the case. Just two centuries ago, the discovery of these ancient giants rocked the Victorian world. The fact that humans hadn’t always ruled the planet was a deeply disturbing revelation for many. Also, the idea that entire species could go instinct seemed to contradict the idea of an intelligent Creator with a plan for the world. The writing is witty and enjoyable, and it was fascinating to learn about the early years of modern paleontology. I give this book two iguanadon thumb spikes up.
Pony Confidential had a really fun premise and a strong start, but didn’t quite stick the landing for me. The protagonist of this book is a pony. “But not just any pony. I am a pony who is bent on revenge. I am the Iago of ponies, a furry Fury. I am both adorable and devious, and, until I get what I want, I’m going to make every human I meet pay for your collective crimes.” After being seemingly abandoned by his owner 25 years prior, the pony decides to track her down and make her pay. At the same time, Penny, the pony’s former owner, has been arrested for a murder she didn’t commit, and the pony may hold the key to clearing her name. The book has a lot of the fun with the premise, especially with the cantankerous, human-hating pony. I will admit though, as the pony’s journey led to him becoming less cynical and grumpy and more openhearted and optimistic, I found him less interesting as a character. I’m usually all for character growth, but I wish he had stayed a little grumpier throughout.
