BLOG# 7: Woman Novelist Blog - Break No Bones

PARAGRAPH #1:
In Kathy Reichs latest crime novel, Break No Bones, we follow forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan through a knot of Charleston murder investigations, at first seemingly unrelated, but which wind closer and closer together as the plot progresses. Reichs has an uncanny ability for making her characters believable. She has as firm a grasp on human manerisms, habits, and behaviour as is possible, and has used this to her full advantage in creating characters that seem more real to me than any others I have read about for a very long time.
One thing Reichs does, which I quite like, is giving certain characters nicknames, even if the name only sticks until you learn the person's real name. For example, the reporter Homer Winborne is introduced on the first page of the book as "Plankton," because he presents as having the IQ of plankton. Once you learn his name, however, he is usually referred to as Winborne, although Plankton is still thrown in occasionally to emphasize his plankton-like stubbornness and stupidity. Other examples of nicknames would be the dog Boyd being called "the chow", and the body found in a floating barrel earning the appropriate name "barrel lady".
Other things I liked about Reichs' writing were that she keeps her discriptions fairly short and to the point, and moves the book along at a brisk pace, while effectively using suspense to keep the reader hooked. Also, her use of often humourous and always intriguing "Charlestonian" or Southern slang words, such as Sheriff Gullet's "jigswiggered," which so confuses Ryan, makes the reading a little more fun.
Overall, Reichs' book was extremely enjoyable, and far preferable to watching an episode of CSI.

PARAGRAPH #2:
There is not much to dissappoint in Break No Bones. The puzzle-addicts will get their fix from the ever twisting plot, and intertwining murder cases, leaving you to wonder about what's going on in Charleston. Action lovers will be left satisfied by close calls with a gator, a devilish doctor, and a local developer's thugs, among others. Reichs' writing style lacks nothing except errors, and even enlightens the reader with her use of "good" words.
The only qualm I have about the book is that Emma died, as I never like to see best friends (or lovers, for that matter) be torn apart. However, if Emma lived, her entire sideplot would be rather useless, so it was probably best she was killed off ... for the greater good and all that!

PARAGRAPH #3:
"At noon we reconvened in the kitchen, and the mental cut and thrusts between the men started anew. Halfway through lunch, I'd had it.
'You two are acting like escapees from a school for the criminally immature.'
Two faces went puppy dog innocent.
'How about we all take a sabbatical. It's a holiday weekend, a time-out will be rejuvinating.' I couldn't believe I was saying this but the constant bickering was wearing on my nerves.
'Pete, go play another eighteen holes. Ryan, let's drive into town and ambush Emma for a day at the beach.'"

I particularly like this passage because it describes Ryan and Pete's arguing in a very original manner: criminally immature! Followed by the old "puppy-dog-face-cliché", it's a very effective depiction of the situation in the room, and of the silly things men will do for a woman's attention. And also, of course, of the woman catching out the two guys!

"'Jigswiggered?'
'You knew what he meant.'
Ryan pulled into traffic. For a Saturday afternoon, there was quite a bit. 'Is that a bad thing? To swigger a jig?'
'Under certain circumstances.'
'Or were plural jigs wiggered? Perhaps he really meant to swig a jigger.'
I punched Ryan's arm.
'That's an assault.'
'Arrest me.'"

I liked this quotation for two reasons: 1) The word "jigswiggered", and Ryan's witty comment on Gullet's word; 2) Reichs' accurate depiction of 'banter' between two lovers. This reflects her understanding of human manerisms and behaviour, as discussed earlier, and she came up with a fairly original and clever exchange. And most importantly, she gives me, the reader, a new line to use when MY girlfriend playfully punches me in the arm and I'm stuck for a comeback!