Carl Deuker -- Books, Movies, TV

Confusion of 20's. Main character is confused about his sexuality, his nationality, his future, his past. Great scene where he meets, girlfriend Hella in tow, Giovanni.  Giovanni has been distraught because David simply disappeared. He was worried that David was dead.  David, though, plays the role of the "straight" male.  Giovanni, he pretends to Hella, is just a roommate. No idea why he's so upset.  Hella sort of believes it.  Love, deception, heartbreak, betrayal.  Great writing.

Cozy mystery with a "women are superior creatures" underpinning. The four women have all had their struggles, which we will learn about one-by-one, but they all remain/emerge wiser, kinder, smarter, etc. than the men in the novel, most of whom are corrupt, narrow-minded, unfeeling and potentially violent. (Nora's encounter with the paramedic-hunk is the exception, though it occurs to me that he may be the murderer.) Even Estelle, who uses sex to get what she wants, is portrayed positively.  The men are comically manipulated by her curves.  In one scene, she goes skinny-dipping with a married man but is rescued by her buddies before she actually has sex with the guy. Nora, our main character, is told by her female friends that she is beautiful despite her scars. No male says this to Nora because males are just too crass to see beyond surface beauty.  I hope I'm wrong and the book is more nuanced. If not, then this author is a one-and-done writer for me.

Cozy mystery.  Main character is former librarian who was in a terrible accident and suffered burns that disfigure her. She owns a bookstore and gives "book counseling. She meets an interesting man, sends him to a nearby scone shop for a comfort scone, and awaits his arrival at her bookstore.  Only he dies . . . did he jump in front of a train or was he pushed? Four women become detectives.  Nora, Bookseller and Estella, local tramp are two most compelling so far.

Genre might be dystopian fairy tale. "Daddy" is beast-like in many ways. Kids groom his beard and hair, bear witness to his super-human strength. He is connected to the land in an animalistic way, not a legal way.  He makes his living fighting other men . . . and always winning.  In these fights, he's manipulated, but he is not part of the underbelly.  He fights fair and clean. Spoilers next Ending.  Cathy is attacked.  She manages to kill her attacker (Price's son) even though he is much bigger. Price assumes that "Daddy" has killed his son and so comes after "Daddy" with a crew of men.  Daddy as Christ--pinned to his table. Cathy as Avenging Angel who kills them all. Daniel (who runs away during the attack) goes in search of her (is she alive?) after the horror ends. Ending reminded me a lot of the ending in Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle. " Regular" people revealing their regular cruelty. I will definite...

"Daddy" as mythic figure.  Strong, quiet, powerful--I work for no man Book seems to be heading to a confrontation between Daddy and Price, a rich landowner who mistreats the common man.

Daniel narrator. Young boy with no mother and street boxer for a father. Yorkshire. Sister Cathy is attacked on beach by classmates.  Cathy fights them off.  Unclear exactly how far it went, but it was sexual assault.  The novel moves in time.  The assault took place when D & C were young teens.  The "present" tense of the story involves Daniel's search for Cathy, who has run away for reasons which are not yet clear

Pino is forced to bring Leyers to freedom in Austria. Leyers has managed to cover up his past and serves but one year for his war crimes. After that, he lives the good life.