Sunday, October 25, 2009

13 1/2 by Nevada Barr

I've been reading a ton about this book on various blogs and knew I just had to try it out. I've heard a lot of good things about Nevada Barr, but have never read anything by her... probably because she writes the Anna Pigeon series and another series to follow is the last thing I really need right now. Anyways, I had 13 1/2 figured out pretty much from the beginning but I still enjoyed it. I give it a B.

Inside cover:
In Jackson Square in the French Quater a tarot card reader told Polly Deschamps she would be a success. Thirty years later, Polly is a respected professor of literature with good friends and her own home- a safe life for her and her two daughters.
Butcher Boy, released on his seventeenth birthday, shook the snow from his boots and went south. New Orleans, a mecca for runaways then and now, offers sanctuary but never forgiveness.
When Polly falls in love with Marshall Marchand, a restoration architect who is helping to rebuild her adopted city, shadows of her past rise out of the posioned ground of New Orleans as thick and deadly as the toxic waters of the flood.
Like history, some crimes are doomed to repeat themselves. Evil stays the same, only the victims' names change. As two broken pasts collide in an uncertain present, Polly is determined that her children's names will never be on that list.

The story is told going back and forth from the late 1960s/early 1970s to the present day. As you read, you learn of the horrible crimes that were committed by the Butcher Boy and then are brought back to modern day, post-Katrina New Orleans. Polly is a strange character, one that I admire, but not one that I really cared for. As a matter of fact, I really didn't like any of the characters, but it was an interesting story to read. The whole premise of reinventing yourself is a common theme and one that is well done. I think part of my problem is I haven't had a lot of timie to really get lost in a book for a couple of hours and are just reading a few pages here and there and that may have impacted my enjoyment and rating of this book. If you like a psychological suspense, I would recommend 13 1/2.

I am not sure what I am going to read next, but it will be one of my books. I am going to get dinner ready for tomorrow and then hope to dive in to a great book. I hope everyone had a great weekend and Happy Reading!

5 comments:

Literary Feline said...

I am glad you enjoyed this one, Kristie. I've read the first book in her Anna Pigeon series and liked it (didn't love it) but haven't gotten around to reading more just yet. One of these days!

This one sounds interesting. Is it a stand alone, do you know?

I hope you have a good week, Kristie. I can't believe the weekend is over already. I wish tomorrow were another Sunday and not Monday.

Staci said...

I've never really been interested in reading any of her books but now after reading your thoughts on this one, I'm sure that this series just isn't for me. Like you, I really don't need to get involved in yet another series...I've got so many going on as it is!!!

Kristie said...

Wendy... I am pretty sure this is a stand alone. There doesn't seem to be a way that they could really extend it into a series, so you should be good to go.

Staci, if you read it, I will be interested in reading your thoughts!

Booklogged said...

I liked this book a lot. I think we were suppose to figure it our early on but there was still tension up to the end.

Kristie said...

I would agree with you Booklogged! The tension did build... that's for sure! :)