Book Review
As I let you know recently, my latest novel is about to hit the shelves. Much like with movies, a lot of new books get reviewed by book reviewers (movies get reviewed by movie reviewers). I was able to find one review in the latest issue of Maclean's magazine. As I promised, here it is for you see for yourself.
Connecting Howards
Hard Cover $39.99
"The schedule is absolutely killer, but if there's one thing I've always been, it's a survivor."
With this opening line, we begin a bold tour of a strange world that is distinctively Jamie Luxton and will feel familiar to readers of his earlier works. Some of this familiarity stems from the fact that this novel is a sequel to his earlier effort "Sins of the Original Howard". But how does his latest work stand up to it's predecessors?
That question is somewhat complicated to answer. Many were expecting this to be his finest work yet, based soley on the fact that his earlier books really weren't any good. However, when it is all said and done, this is clearly not a finest work by anyone's standard. Instead, "Connecting Howards" fits squarely into the middle of the pack of Luxton novels, right between "Shark With No Teeth" and "Aliens Can Detect Your Bio-Rythym".
As already stated, this novel is a sequel, though that is not made immediately apparent to the reader. The story is essentially about Howard Franklyn, an accountant who works in the world trade center( the story is set in 1999). Howard Orbach, a TV show producer, is Frankyln's best friend. In fact, they've been friends so long that they can't even remember how they met. "We've been friends so long I can't even remember how we met" Franklyn tells Orbach over a casual lunch.
This lifelong friendship finds it's limits tested, though, when a travelling insurance salesman named Howard Kellogg walks into their lives. Kellogg thinks he can make Orbach an offer he can't refuse, and he might be right. Orbach suddenly disappears from Franklyn's life. Suspicious and jealous, Franklyn takes to spying on the other Howards, lurking in the shadows and rummaging through garbage to find out what's going on. This goes on until Kellogg catches Franklyn trying to break into his car.
Rather than getting upset, or pressing charges, Kellogg invites him to lunch. It quickly becomes apparent that Kellogg has some kind of hypnotic power over Franklyn, and draws him ever deeper into a strange, dream-like world of drugs, birds, and acupuncture. As it turns out, while Franklyn is lost in his illusory world, Kellogg is out in the real world, impersonating Franklyn and destroying all his personal and professional ties. In an all to brief moment of lucidity, Franklyn discovers he's lost all his friends, he's out of a job, aand even his own wife doesn't recognise him.
His life thus destroyed, Franklyn plots to kill Kellogg, urged on by the Teardrop Kitty, a yellow talking cat with a teardrop shaped head. But when Franklyn finally has Kellogg cornered, Orbach returns and intervenes. It is revealed that Howard Kellogg is a man on a mission to destroy not just Franklyn's ties with the world, but the ties of every Howard everywhere. This mission was given to him by none other than the Original Howard, the man from whom all other Howards are descended. As a prerequisite to his master plan, all Howards must first be united under his control. Howard Franklyn is the last Howard in the world who has not joined.
This marks the half way point and the rest deals with Franklyn's dilemma over joining with the other Howards or trying to rebuild his life. Before he can make that decision, he must first discover who exactly the Original Howard is, and what his plan might be. Unfortunately, the reader already knows who the Original Howard is, if they read "Sins of the Original Howard". In fact, approximately 12 pages from "Sins of the Original Howard" can be found in "Connecting Howards"detailing that characters background and motivations, lifted almost word for word.
Unlike "Obergruppenfuhrer!", Jamie Luxton has not written "Connecting Howards" for children. In one instance, six monkeys die violently and their destruction is quite graphically described.
Unfortunately, this book is not really for adults, either, even though one supposes it's supposed to be. The writing style is often inconsistent and difficult to follow. When writing this review, I was careful to refer to the characters by their last name. Jamie Luxton employs this tactic only rarely, instead prefering to just call everyone "Howard". Confusion can be the only result.
It should also be noted that many of the characters come across in a rather undynamic manner and frequently as rather obvious literary tools. The pilot, Rick, for example, is a veritable fountain of exposition.
In any case, I can't recommend to the casual reader that you rush out and buy this.
Even if you are a loyal and dedicated fan of Jamie Luxton's novels, I recommend you wait for the paperback. And while you are waiting, may I suggest you head on down to the welfare office and apply, if you haven't already, because you will wind up down there sooner or later. You will die poor and alone because that's how dumb you are.
Everybody's a critic. LOL!
Still, better than the last book!
I think I'll go show this to my sister. I could use some "sympathy" right now ;)
Connecting Howards
Hard Cover $39.99
"The schedule is absolutely killer, but if there's one thing I've always been, it's a survivor."
With this opening line, we begin a bold tour of a strange world that is distinctively Jamie Luxton and will feel familiar to readers of his earlier works. Some of this familiarity stems from the fact that this novel is a sequel to his earlier effort "Sins of the Original Howard". But how does his latest work stand up to it's predecessors?
That question is somewhat complicated to answer. Many were expecting this to be his finest work yet, based soley on the fact that his earlier books really weren't any good. However, when it is all said and done, this is clearly not a finest work by anyone's standard. Instead, "Connecting Howards" fits squarely into the middle of the pack of Luxton novels, right between "Shark With No Teeth" and "Aliens Can Detect Your Bio-Rythym".
As already stated, this novel is a sequel, though that is not made immediately apparent to the reader. The story is essentially about Howard Franklyn, an accountant who works in the world trade center( the story is set in 1999). Howard Orbach, a TV show producer, is Frankyln's best friend. In fact, they've been friends so long that they can't even remember how they met. "We've been friends so long I can't even remember how we met" Franklyn tells Orbach over a casual lunch.
This lifelong friendship finds it's limits tested, though, when a travelling insurance salesman named Howard Kellogg walks into their lives. Kellogg thinks he can make Orbach an offer he can't refuse, and he might be right. Orbach suddenly disappears from Franklyn's life. Suspicious and jealous, Franklyn takes to spying on the other Howards, lurking in the shadows and rummaging through garbage to find out what's going on. This goes on until Kellogg catches Franklyn trying to break into his car.
Rather than getting upset, or pressing charges, Kellogg invites him to lunch. It quickly becomes apparent that Kellogg has some kind of hypnotic power over Franklyn, and draws him ever deeper into a strange, dream-like world of drugs, birds, and acupuncture. As it turns out, while Franklyn is lost in his illusory world, Kellogg is out in the real world, impersonating Franklyn and destroying all his personal and professional ties. In an all to brief moment of lucidity, Franklyn discovers he's lost all his friends, he's out of a job, aand even his own wife doesn't recognise him.
His life thus destroyed, Franklyn plots to kill Kellogg, urged on by the Teardrop Kitty, a yellow talking cat with a teardrop shaped head. But when Franklyn finally has Kellogg cornered, Orbach returns and intervenes. It is revealed that Howard Kellogg is a man on a mission to destroy not just Franklyn's ties with the world, but the ties of every Howard everywhere. This mission was given to him by none other than the Original Howard, the man from whom all other Howards are descended. As a prerequisite to his master plan, all Howards must first be united under his control. Howard Franklyn is the last Howard in the world who has not joined.
This marks the half way point and the rest deals with Franklyn's dilemma over joining with the other Howards or trying to rebuild his life. Before he can make that decision, he must first discover who exactly the Original Howard is, and what his plan might be. Unfortunately, the reader already knows who the Original Howard is, if they read "Sins of the Original Howard". In fact, approximately 12 pages from "Sins of the Original Howard" can be found in "Connecting Howards"detailing that characters background and motivations, lifted almost word for word.
Unlike "Obergruppenfuhrer!", Jamie Luxton has not written "Connecting Howards" for children. In one instance, six monkeys die violently and their destruction is quite graphically described.
Unfortunately, this book is not really for adults, either, even though one supposes it's supposed to be. The writing style is often inconsistent and difficult to follow. When writing this review, I was careful to refer to the characters by their last name. Jamie Luxton employs this tactic only rarely, instead prefering to just call everyone "Howard". Confusion can be the only result.
It should also be noted that many of the characters come across in a rather undynamic manner and frequently as rather obvious literary tools. The pilot, Rick, for example, is a veritable fountain of exposition.
In any case, I can't recommend to the casual reader that you rush out and buy this.
Even if you are a loyal and dedicated fan of Jamie Luxton's novels, I recommend you wait for the paperback. And while you are waiting, may I suggest you head on down to the welfare office and apply, if you haven't already, because you will wind up down there sooner or later. You will die poor and alone because that's how dumb you are.
Everybody's a critic. LOL!
Still, better than the last book!
I think I'll go show this to my sister. I could use some "sympathy" right now ;)
posted by Jamie S. Luxton III | 7:14 PM
5 Comments:
No one will criticize you when Dominic Santini is at your side.
I think i read it already.
I went to Chapters to try and order your book. They said it wasn't in their system, but could try and special order it for me. I told them not to bother.
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