Book Review: The Third Policeman

The Third Policeman

Author: Flan O'Brien

I just completed reading this story and would like to suggest it to you.

The story is narrated by the main character. He and a friend (Divney) commit a murder (Mathers) for finical gain. Divney hides the cash box that Mathers was carrying.
Years pass and the box remains hidden. Just until the heat cools off of the murder, so says Divney. After 3 years the location is revealed and the narrator goes to get the box. INSIDE Mathers home.

Then things change. The narrator then comes across two Policemen with odd features conducting odd tasks speaking in odd terms. It's all very odd. The story carries on with the narrator speaking with and following around the Policemen while they show him around. He is shown a box one of hte policeman crafted. A beautiful work of art, inside which contained another identical but smaller box, inside which contained another identical but smaller box..smaller and smaller each box identical to the one before it until the 28th and smallest box visible only with magnifying glasses.

He is also introduced to the 'atomic theory of bicycles' which basically states that the longer one rides a bike the more the rider and bicycle become one another by exchanging atoms. Especially on a bumpy gravel road.

The story carries on. I do not wish to give away the plot twist. Perhaps you wish to read the wikipedia entry to find out.

I found that the plot is striking. It as memorable and good story as 1984 or Fahrenheit 451. Im not saying that government over-rule takes place, just that the story is as good.

The superb usage of alliteration and excellent visual descriptions was continuously interesting and helps 'paint the picture' so to speak. Here is an example of one of my favorite lines talking about fixing his bicycle:

"...felt his tyres with red knowing fingers and furbished his machine fastidiously."

Final Notes:
The narrator has an internal conscience who speaks up from time to time. His name is Joe and adds a bit of humor to the story. The narrator also has a fascination with a philosopher named 'DeSelby' and frequent tangents to the story about him appear at the bottom half of a page, occasionally for several pages. I found this distracting and the small print eventually led me to skipping all those pieces.

It is a good read and I suggest that you add it to your reading list today.

Book Review: Good Omens

Good Omens
The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch

Authors: Neil Giaman & Terry Pratchett

I just finished reading this book. It, if you couldn't tell by the title and cover, is fiction. In my own words I will attempt to sum the novel up as quickly as possible:

Agnes Nutter was a witch, who in 1655, wrote a book of prophecies. One of which was the exact day the end of the world would come. It just so happens that it is going to be Sunday.

The anti-christ (Adam, somehow fittingly) is re-born in to the modern world. A mix up in the delivery room causes Adam to be raised in the country as a normal boy. The authors do a good job at adding an overshadowing of his true power in his everyday world.

There are two angels, one on the side of heaven (Arizaphale) and one on the side of hell (Crowley). They both live on earth and help people or create problems, respectively. Since they have lived on earth since The Beginning they actually have become quite accustom to life on earth. As a result they are not looking forward to the Rapture. However, since they are here each respective side is sending them to find Adam. It seems that the delivery room mix up caused both sides (Heaven and Hell) to lose track of him.

As the book moves along the heat (pun intended) between the two sides is building and building into the great last battle. More and more weird shit is happening all over the world, like Atlantis rising. Arizaphle and Crowley get more and more frantic looking for Adam. The Four Horsemen appear, riding motorcycles, looking for Adam.

The armies of Good and Evil take the field of battle with Adam, caught, unafraid in the middle. I will not say what happens after this point. But it was a fairly clever solution to destroying all life on Earth.

This is a pretty easy reading book. I particularly enjoy that there were plenty of places to break because I usually only have 20-30 minutes to read at anyone time. I find that when chapters drag on, so can the book. Anyway, If you are looking for a good, fun fiction this could be it for you.

Side thought: I thought this was much better than American Gods also by N. Gaiman.