Book Review - Police by Jo Nesbo

The latest Harry Hole thriller and he is out of the police force and lecturing at the Police college. A number of loose ends from earlier stories are tied up here so it is an advantage, although not essential to have read the earlier novels. Harry's old team are on the hunt for a killer who is targeting policemen and women with a connection to a old crimes which were unresolved or had some difficulty about them.  Harry's personal life is finally getting to a point where he asks Rakel to marry him but will his commitment be derailed by a troubled student seeking to seduce him while he solves another  'unsolvable' mystery?  Red herrings aplenty which is no doubt appropriate for a Scandinavian mystery. Excellent stuff!
Wendy

Book Review—American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Shadow Moon is an ex-con who, through a series of unusual events, becomes the body guard and errand boy of Mr Wednesday, better known as Odin of Norse Mythology. Along with other old world gods and mythologies we are introduced to new divinities of American culture. Mr Wednesday, wanting to reassert the power of the old gods, rallies the old deities to take on these new gods in battle.

The novel is very enjoyable, with Gaiman playfully and effectively bringing the old deities into the modern world, and conjuring new ones with a keen eye on modern life. It is by no means realistic, but like his other works, exists in a fascinating world where high technology, seedy characters, dark underworlds, the mundane and magic all intermingle.
American Gods is a supremely fun read with many interesting turns, twists, and reinventions.
Andreas

Film Review—Guardians of the Galaxy

The least anticipated but arguably the most enjoyable entry in Marvel’s Cinematic Universe. Guardians of the Galaxy features Peter Quill (AKA Star-Lord) a half-human half-alien  thief, Gamora, the personal assassin of an intergalactic warlord, Drax the Destroyer, a warrior vigilante, and bounty hunters Rocket, a raccoon-like alien experiment, and Groot, a sentient tree-like humanoid. This rag tag group must team up to stop an evil Kree zealot from destroying the planet Xandar. Make sense? No? That’s absolutely fine, as the franchise as a whole and this entry in particular is about having a great deal of nerdy fun.

It does suffer from many of the follies inherent in comic book films, most notably a ridiculous two-dimensional villain, predictable plot, and chance occurrences up the galactic wazoo. But it is fun, has perfectly executed humour, enough references and Easter eggs to keep the fan boys entertained for several hours, and a killer sound track.

Andreas

Book Review - Kettlebell Training by Steve Cotter

Kettlebell Training contains 95 exercises for strength and weight loss. It is an easy to use guide that will help you set goals and select exercises to create a workout plan or follow the sample programs of sport specific routines such as football, soccer, mixed martial arts or tennis. The book contains step by step instructions with detailed photos.

Author Steve Cotter a Kettlebell expert has trained elite athletes, Navy Seals and U.S Marines.

‘Steve Cotter taught me the basics of Kettlebell lifting at a time I didn’t have any clue about Kettlebells. They have become a staple in my program and my athletes programs ever since’ Sean Skahan-Strength training and conditioning coach, Anaheim Ducks.

I enjoyed incorporating this book with its exercises into my fitness routine, I enjoyed mixing and matching the exercises to suit my training and no doubt have become fitter because of it. Anne

Book Review—The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

′Ay,′ he said aloud. There is no translation for this word and perhaps it is just a noise such as a man might make, involuntarily, feeling the nail go through his hands and into the wood.

Santiago is an unfortunate Cuban fisherman who has not caught any fish for eighty-four days, while his fellow fishermen gain sizable catches. He has been deemed “salao”, the worst kind of unluckiness. But on the eighty- fifth day he believes his fortune will change by sailing his skiff far into the gulfstream. His instinct pays off and so begins a three day struggle with a giant marlin.

The text contains many biblical illusions, conjuring images of feuding brothers, dreams of lions, and numerous references to the crucifixion.  It is also one of Hemingway’s most unique novels, relying more heavily on allegory than the realism that characterises his works, although the work is inspired by real life events. It does feature Hemingway’s influential and trademark restrained prose, the simplicity of which is the strength of the novel combined with the Christian imagery.

The novel brought Hemingway back into the literary limelight and was specifically mentioned by the Nobel committee when awarding him the prize. This is fitting, as in many ways the work is a swan song. His last major work, it was preceded by a few poorly received novels, leaving many to think the old master was unable to produce a noteworthy tale as in his earlier years. But with The Old Man and the Sea Hemingway asserts his abilities, luring readers and fixing them with his many literary tricks and techniques, producing a simple but powerful tale.
Andreas