The Rook Review

Imagine you wake up in the rain surrounded by bodies all wearing latex gloves with no idea how you got there or even who you are. In your pockets you find a letter that claims it was written by who you were, telling you what to do. This is how The Rook, by Daniel O’Malley begins. What follows is a supernatural thriller and part detective story as Myfanwy Thomas (pronounced Miffany), the heroine of the story, tries to find out who she was (is) and who wants her dead.

The backdrop of The Rook is a secret government agency, called the Checquy, which deals with supernatural disturbances and threats to the United Kingdom.  Along the way we find many super-powered agents, uber-villians and a girl struggling to figure out who she is.

One of the things that really worked about this book was the device used throughout for Myfanwy’s former self to communicate to her via letters. This made info dumps more interesting while still pertaining to the rest of the story. As the book goes on you really begin to feel for former Myfanwy.

The book gets a little far out there at times with some of the strange powers and wild threats floating around the UK that the Checquy have to deal with. Overall, though, it is a fun ride and well worth checking out. The first draft of the sequel was recently completed and if you read The Rook, I am sure you will be waiting for it just like I am. The Rook gets 3.5 Mick Happies. Here is a link to the first four chapters of The Rook (oh and a trailer for the book as well).

Super 8 Review

There is one thing I can attest to…J.J. Abrams is on a film roll. My wife, daughter and I all liked 2009’s Star Trek and I really enjoyed Super 8 (they decided not to watch, their loss). Being the two films that Abrams directed in the last few years, I think that constitutes the start of some kind of streak.

Super 8 is a coming of age, sci-fi, quasi-action and thriller film set in 1979 in Ohio. It is the story of the events that happen in a small town when a group of middle school-aged kids witness a US Air Force train derailing in the outskirts of town. The train contains something the government doesn’t want loose, but of course it gets out.

I liked how well Abrams does at putting you in the feel of the late 1970s. I remember riding my bike all over the place the way the kids in the movie do. Granted I wasn’t into filming Super 8 movies or witness to a train wreck.  I also believed the struggle of Kyle Chandler as a recent widower and town deputy who has, through no fault of his own, been thrust into an authority role trying to make sense of what is happening in his town.

The only nits I can pick on this one might be the use of lens flares (it seems to be Abrams’ thing) and the slight suspension of disbelief needed to accept that the kids in the movie have things figured out well before the adults. Those really are nits though. If you haven’t seen this movie, get it on DVD and start watching. I give 4 Mick Happies to Super 8.