Alan Lightman, theoretical MIT physicist/novelist with joint appointments in science and humanities, in his novel, "Mr g"(2012), presents an imaginative rendering of Intelligent Design (Mr g is the designer) working within "g's" construct of quantum reality, cause and effect, time/space continuum, concept of Pi, harmonics, energy, matter, rotational motion, atoms,  elaborate structures of elements, ticking hydrogen time clocks.  

Mr. g disclaims any responsibility for "the marvelous ways" in which atoms in molecules formed linear chains, planar triads, tetrahedrons, octahedrons" because it was the laws of quantum that prescribed the electrical attractions. Likewise the planets and stars, he had "nothing to do with that." Those molecules "formed by themselves" based on cause and effect from the principles with which the universe began.

Lightman's "snake" is two "evil-like creatures" who convince Mr. g that he has to include "intelligent beings" to appreciate this universe (Aalam 104729 which is 10,000th prime number in base ten). The discourse from then on begins to wander as Lightman does not seem to come to grips with "beings" as he did with the astrophysics of the first part of the book.

Review by Gulfport patron.

Sam Savage's 2006 first novel, "Firmin," is a first in a number of ways, including the book format that appears to have had a rodent munching on the edge of the book, creating a perfect half circle of empty space. This is a unique reading experience.

Another "first" is that this autobiography is of an "educated" rat who literally consumes education when he resides in the back areas of a book store, and eats his way through a liberal education. 

It is a beast fable in the traditional sense that the beast/rat is the trenchant observer of the human world and foibles, that know no animal boundaries.

It is also a tragi-comedy, but Savage switches that genre heading in the plot, so that the first, and best part is the comedy, and then in the remainder of the book is a non-attached plot shift where the tragedy is a long descent to the abyss as his two human attachments go the way of all flesh.

Savage designates the name/title "Firmin as being a play on "fur man." It could also be a play on "vermin." 

Review by a Gulfport Library fan

 

Alan Lightman's 1994 novel "Good Benito" continues the vignette style he used in "Einstein's Dream" (1993), in this case it is Tom Sawyer/Huckleberry Finn personal experiences of Bennett and friends but in the Space Age.

In the "best" Iowa Writers tradition, Lightman shifts the plot back and forth in time (a serious consideration in all of Lightman's novels), leaving the reader to determine what the shift is all about. Emerging is a very grim picture of a family life (his father is totally withdrawn, his mother is a nut, his uncle totally spoils his graduation party), with not much improvement in interpersonal relationships (although there is considerable space to young Bennett and friend concocting computer-like devices a la Steve Jobs). 

The one bright light in Bennett's life is mathematics, "beautiful mathematics." No interpersonal problems, it is "a world without bodies, . . . a world of clear logic and grace."

While Bennett's positively described his world by equations," that precision was never in his personal life, including the end of the book where is wife replicates the mental instability and rejection of Bennett, just as he experienced with his mother. No "good Benito" anywhere.

Review by a Gulfport patron.

Einstein's Dreams" is theoretical physicist's Alan Lightman's first novel (1993). He has a dual faculty appointment at MIT in science and the humanities.

Lightman uses Einstein in dream sequences to focus on a myriad of human experiences that can be viewed through his  theories on time/space continuum. The "Great Clock" ticks for us all. His various vignettes drift back and forth between "Are we slaves to the Clock", or "Do we ignore the Clock at our own risk." 

The general rhetorical tone of Lightman's discourse is we plod through life's experiences all of which take place in space and time with a variety of outcomes over which our control is questionable. At the end, it appears that Lightman, like Einstein, "feels empty."

(Gulfport Library also has "Good Benito" (1994) and "Mr g" (2012).

By a Gulfport patron.

 

Review by a Gulfport Library fan.

According to the frontispiece of Ken Folltet's 2010 "Fall of Giants" Book One of "The Century Trilogy," this is 20th book he has written, most of which are in the adventure genre.

"Fall of Giants" is a huge volume (985 pages) of a historical overview of a well-worked historical era, 1911-1924. Complete with a huge cast of characters (don't get discouraged) who range from the traditional upper-upper English to the very basic as well as middle class WelchGerman/Austrian, Russians, French, and Americans.

He interweaves this cast of well-thought-out character studies in an interesting chaos version of how their lives will impinge and change the others. His plot arrangements are clear, so even though there are many, they can be kept recognizable, and it is interesting to see how Follett  manages the complexity and chaotic interchange of lives, emotions, and personal out-comes.

Interestingly enough, I found his interpretation of the one of the major "lead" characters, Earl Fitzherbert  to be wobbly and basically uncertain as the novel progressed. But the others were so well-defined, it hardly mattered.

One other note was the necessity of battle descriptions of WWI warfare, much of which has been done in countless other books. But given Follett's time span, it was a necessary coverage. Another reminder of human folly for which millions gave their lives.

Review by a Gulfport Library fan.

 

Review of "Witch & Wizard The Fire"

Review of "Witch & Wizard The Fire" by James Patterson and Jill Dembowski (2011) is the third of the "Witch & Wizard" series ("Witch & Wizard" and "The Gift" precede it).

 

This series is under a general heading of "Readers of all Ages"but it is listed with other books aimed at a younger audience. This series audience seems to be for young adults with the chief characters in middle to high school.

 

A caveat is that Patterson and Dembowski present a constant violent reading diet to young adults of grisly descriptions and events throughout the book. Examples: "horror"; "blood" by the buckets splashed all over the characters, the bodies, and the environment; "pustules"; "hot and oozing mess"; "eyes puff as blood leaks into them"; "burning at the stake" (with full descriptions of smells, and visuals); "vomit and blood"; "rotting flesh"; "rotting flesh, mass of decaying arms, slimy flesh, decay, gagging stench"; etc.

 

You get the idea.  But remember, young readers are reading page after page after page of blood, gore, and decay that somehow, miraculously,  is supposed to result in the With and the Wizard leading the populace into a new and better society.  An oxymoron plot device if there ever were one.

 

This said, this third volume, in contrast to the second (The Gift" with Ned Rust) that started from nowhere and ended there, is clearly plotted with echoes of characterization from Volume 1 that resonate for some humorous  characterizations, at times, as well as what I assume is Patterson's contribution in the emotional responses of particularly the Wizard that have their own resonances to Patterson's Alex Cross series.

 

Review by a Gulfport Library patron.

Review of "Forever Rumpole" (2011) by John Mortimer

You may say "Rumpole, again?" Oh yes, again. Mortimer is such a splendid writer, plot manager (he notes three in every story), and story teller, that a reprise is well worth it.

You can skip some of the 15 stories you have read and probably re-read, but this edition has some that probably you have not read before, and they are just as delicious as the others.

There are two introductory sections: an Introduction by Ann Mallalieu (a long-time associate), and a wonderful Author's Introduction by Mortimer. Both of these give added atmosphere and background to the imagination and talent of an extraordinary writer.

The subtle humor never fails to enliven an intellectual journey into a world that Mallalieu notes is already changed "out of recognition."This volume takes on additional gravitas since there will be no more "Rumpole Stories." Mortimer died in 2009.

Review by a Gulfport patron.