Supernatural : The roads not taken by Tim Wagonner

I don’t always read ‘interactive books’, but when I do, it has to be Supernatural… Obvious. To be honest, The Roads not taken by Tim Waggoner is the first I ever read, and I’d quite enjoyed the experience. Being part of Sam and Dean’s investigation is new and refreshing, and I suddenly discover being a hunter is not easy (well, from the first time I watched an episode of Supernatural, I had always been convinced I will be the 5 first minutes victim…  Now I am sure… Well, maybe with a little training, I could make till the second commercial 😉 ).

synopsis : This interactive adventure lets Supernatural fans control the action for the first time, as they follow Sam and Dean Winchester in their quest to battle the monsters, ghosts and demons lurking in the darkest recesses of America. But remember: If you make the wrong decision, another victim could meet a dark and gory death. So, follow all the clues, interview the right suspects, and make the right choices…

There is 4 short-stories in this book, at first it has annoyed me. How could you get the time to make choices in 30 pages ? But never underestimated a Supernatural writer… This short-stories are finally an all-story, if you get what I mean, and the little things go to a greater one…

I enjoyed the four adventures, they are all different, they are all very « Supernatural », faithful to the show (as always with the series of books), but adding new interests and original monsters. I enjoyed making bad choices too (yes, weird, I know), and even when I did the right ones, I take the time to read the other possibilities… Sorry Sam and Dean, I enjoy when you win, but I enjoy when you lose too (I mean when you die, again… and again…), because Tim Waggoner is really good for unexpected twists and gruesome deaths…

 

 

Some thoughts about The fall of the Stone City By Ismail Kadare

The destiny of a city, and of a man who seems is most important inhabitant from the 1943 to 1963. Kadare talks about the madness of war but in a city which is just occupied, so he could point the weakness of the nation, of people, the selfishness of all individuals which became the selfishness of all.

Everybody is obsessed by the dinner the big doctor Gurameto gave to the Nazi officer: at first he’s a hero, than a traitor, from the point of view. Kadare has lived under the communism order, so he could point the suspicion which changes a diner to save live in a plot to kill Staline… He ridicules the investigators, the order, he show how people let things go to prevent themselves.

Governments pass, but people remain the same. This situation could have taken place in any city of an occupied country, and the oppressors could be any oppressors of any dictatorship. I think it’s why Kadare is not really specific about characters (they are few, and it’s only in the last part of the book that they are more humans – feelings which command acts…). It worth reading because there is a testimony of a time, and a universal testimony (as I fell people will always remain the same, and adapt instead of fight).

I really like this in the light of the “Antic Tragedy” of the big doctor story: I think Kadare has the antic model in mind while writing because there are a lot of elements which remind me of Sophocles & Co:

• The story from the childhood which is like a malediction (if you hear it, you leave it) or an omen.
• The doctor who is a hero (despite himself, he did nothing in fact) and his friend who is the dead man from the omen
• The events which are written in marble, you can’t escape your destiny
• The blind man & his song who are like the oracle
• The city itself, which is passive but testify, like the antique choir.

 

Interesting things :

Kadare succeeds in make me doubt about the genre of the book, it could be a lot of different thing, testimony, pastiche, historical but also supernatural, as I keep doubts at the end about the dinner: reality or dream of people. Even one of the doctors disappears, legend & reality mix (maybe people prefer not to remember their bad actions and cowardice)

more about the writer : Here.

more in French : Mes lectures de Mai (1ere partie)