The Mirror's Edge

Title: The Mirror's Edge
Author: Steven Sidor
ISBN: 0312354134, 9780312354138
Publication: St. Martin's Press, April 1 2008

The Mirror's Edge is fast paced, cut-throat, and immensely entertaining. The narrative is perfectly paced to keep readers engaged, but without the normal stall tactics and switchbacks normally employed to break up the action. Cover-to-cover, this book is pure action.

Don't let all that action fool you - this is a psychological thriller, not just a bunch of action packed nonsense. With every page the mind sinks deeper into the dark underbelly of the human imagination. The settings and characters are so richly detailed that it's easy to forget you're reading a book.

What most impressed me about the novel is Sidor's ability to tackle the tricky subject of satanism in a way that stays one step ahead of cliche but still provides enough mainstream imagery to strike a chord with the reader. This book was frightening in a very tangible way. When the pages are closed and the novel settled back onto the shelf, you will be left with lingering fingers of fear. I guarantee it.

Another thing about this book - I really liked the language. Throughout Mirror's Edge Steven Sidor uses a very sharp clipped style of writing that I felt fit perfectly with the subject matter and the characterization of the narrator. One of my primary problems with writing is that I tend to go overboard. I say too much and in such a convoluted way. I was actually able to learn something from Sidor about paring it down - I can say just as much without it sounding like too much detail. He's able to work in the nuances of a situation without you even realizing that he provided them to you - the way something smells, the taste, etc. This book is really well written, and I cannot wait to read more from this author.

Just for the record - I liked this book so well that for the first time ever, I actually contacted the author to tell him.

The Book of the Unknown: Tales of the Thirty-six

Title: The Book of the Unknown: Tales of the Thirty-six
Author: Jonathan Keats
ISBN: 0812978978, 9780812978971
Publication: Random House, 10 February 2009

I obtained an Advance Reader's copy of this book, which will be published this week! I'm really excited about it, and think it will be an instant success. The Book of the Unknown combines elements of history, faith, and folklore to create a narrative that's engaging and insightful.

The Book of the Unknown is based on a fascinating concept called the "lamed vov" or the "thirty-six" stating that there is a minimum of 36 righteous individuals living in the world at all times. This Jewish tradition comes from the Talmud, and may have origins in Genesis. Basically, the book is a collection of short stories depicting the lives of a few of the 36 at one point in time. (You can learn more about the Lamed Vov here: http://www.neveshalom.org/html/arts/art_gallery_legend36.htm)

The author gives us a foundational story about a man, John Katz, who finds a manuscript during an archeological dig and holds onto it for many years. The manuscript is a list of his contemporary 36, written by a Kabbalist and buried after his death. Jon Katz begins researching the names on the list, and has combined 12 of their stories for us to enjoy.

What strikes me about the stories are the seemingly degenerate nature of these righteous people. In fact, one of them isn't even human! The author introduces us to a golum (a woman made of mud and brought to life using magic) as one of the lamed vov. Others include at thief, a clown, a negligent sin-eater and an adulterer.

This fascinating fictional account is entertaining, solidly written, and hopeful. I highly recommend this book, and think it would make an excellent gift as well!