The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz
Recently
a genre study has compelled me to finish two books I’d started and discarded
(not literally; I returned them to the library). And in both cases, reading them was a
happy experience.
a genre study has compelled me to finish two books I’d started and discarded
(not literally; I returned them to the library). And in both cases, reading them was a
happy experience.
I’d had
a feeling I’d like The Spellman Files,
but I must not’ve been in the mood the first time I started reading it. This
time, though, I was only ornery during the first few chapters, during which
Izzy Spellman, the 20-something narrator, talks about her badass misbehaving
petty crime days. I kind of wanted to slap her.
a feeling I’d like The Spellman Files,
but I must not’ve been in the mood the first time I started reading it. This
time, though, I was only ornery during the first few chapters, during which
Izzy Spellman, the 20-something narrator, talks about her badass misbehaving
petty crime days. I kind of wanted to slap her.
But
then the book improved, as her family became more of the story and as Izzy
seemed to start to grow up.
then the book improved, as her family became more of the story and as Izzy
seemed to start to grow up.
Hers
is a family of private detectives, and everyone’s in on the act, even her
little sister Rae, who was bit with the bug as a child and conducted her first surveillance
at age 6. I adore that girl.
is a family of private detectives, and everyone’s in on the act, even her
little sister Rae, who was bit with the bug as a child and conducted her first surveillance
at age 6. I adore that girl.
So her
family is enchantingly offbeat, and that’s always a plus.
family is enchantingly offbeat, and that’s always a plus.
And
the structure of the book appealed to me. Each chapter had a theme—such as her
ex-boyfriends or her uncle Ray’s lost weekends—yet the story moved forward
nicely even with these side excursions (which actually provided some great
background information about the characters).
the structure of the book appealed to me. Each chapter had a theme—such as her
ex-boyfriends or her uncle Ray’s lost weekends—yet the story moved forward
nicely even with these side excursions (which actually provided some great
background information about the characters).
And
Izzy is a Get Smart addict, and
there’s lots to like about that.
Izzy is a Get Smart addict, and
there’s lots to like about that.
So,
yeah. I liked it enough that I have book 2, Curse of the Spellmans, riding around with me in the car, queued up
as my next audiobook. I don’t dive willy nilly into a series, so this is a
meaningful step, guys.
Also — I got all the way through the book without realizing it doesn’t exactly contain a mystery. In fact, no substantial mystery whatsoever. But the book still works. It’s really quite something.
