I really enjoyed Layla. She is so put together and yet so childish from her years of captivity. She might take advantage of people because she doesn'tI really enjoyed Layla. She is so put together and yet so childish from her years of captivity. She might take advantage of people because she doesn't know better, but I liked the way she seized life. Y'know, at least, Cali grew up with loving parents, Layla is totally screwed up. She's high maintenance and she knows it. But there's definitely more to her than her luxurious tastes. Her story is so sad.
What was she supposed to say? What could she say? That she’d witnessed every perversion known to mankind but she’d never been asked to a dance? That she’d been trained to manipulate people and steal their money from the time she was old enough to speak? That with one glance she could make him laugh, or cry, or maybe even… fall madly in love with her?
Layla really has to reevaluate her life and values. Manipulating people is like breathing to her.
Layla replied, trying to understand why giving the girl a little extra sense of urgency would be so wrong. Layla had seen plenty of real wrongdoing, and it looked very different to her. Completely different.
She's got to sort through what she believes in. Layla and Michael are both 21 but they seem like children compared to 18 year olds Cal and Cali. Especially with Cal taking on the Dad role since he's the only “normal” one. Their new living arrangements have the four of them staying together.
Layla is a bit fancy but I like that she never really crosses into snobby or uppity territory. And I love that she is so loyal to her new family. She's unfamiliar with colloquialisms which is one idiosyncrasy that never fails to get me giggling.
“Don’t you want to have sex with me?” she asked. He nearly choked. “Uhm… uh… Of course I do.”
Michael still feels guilty about everything that happened to Layla so he's more than obliging. I also think he misses his close relationship with his twin. I wasn't quite impressed with the introduction of is love interest.
Cal and Cali continue to be boringly sweet like an old married couple. But it is a little more humorous through Layla's eyes since she can see every emotion and see what a colour fest it is.
Layla's love interest is the bumbling Ramon. I have to like him for the very fact that he's a little hard on Layla and doesn't worship at her feet. I was really happy and thrilled to go along for the ride of their hard-earned romance. So much more interesting than the Cals. Sorry!
She was a mystery that he knew he could spend a lifetime trying to solve.
Just a few questions I have... (view spoiler)[Why didn't Cali manipulate that cop that thought Layla was a hooker? Do you really expect me to believe that a FBI agent would start playing video games with a suspect?>spoiler> (hide spoiler)]...more
Biggles has always been a favourite of mine. His competence in solving a mystery is refreshing especially after finishing a book revolving around a TSBiggles has always been a favourite of mine. His competence in solving a mystery is refreshing especially after finishing a book revolving around a TSTL protagonist(I'm looking at you Grace Wells). Anyway. The plot of this one is a little bit dodge. I can't believe that even back then those dealing in the gold business would be so gullible.
In this book, the gang meet Marcel their French counterpart for the first time. Marcel - “His name is Monsieur Bourdau. Always he goes to the great deserts, to sit and watch.” “Watch what?” inquired Biggles curiously. “The beast that is called the ibex. But this man loves the ibex.” Marcel spoke as if he could hardly believe this himself. Biggles looked incredulous. “Why a man should love the ibex is a thing not easy to understand,” admitted Marcel, with another shrug. “But there, men love different things. This one loved the ibex. Why he loved the ibex—” “Never mind why he loved the ibex,” interposed Biggles. “Let’s agree that he did love them. What about it? Go ahead.”
I'm not sure why I found this so funny but I make it a point to include in my reviews things that tickle me pink so I don't have to go search through the book again. Nobody reads my Biggles' reviews anyway. ;)
The book opens up with Biggles' showing off his great criminal mind. And I do admire it. He knows how the bad guys think.
“That is all. The ibex drink, but there is no one to watch. Then one day a holy man comes to the French government and says someone should be in the desert to see that the water flows so that the ibex may drink. He will go, and with some friends make a religious house for the memory of the good Bourdau. So they go. Everyone is happy.” “Including the ibex,” murmured Biggles sarcastically.
and
”...but an ibex watcher is something that might occur once in a lifetime. Yet here, apparently, we have a party of them, all content to live alone in the middle of a million square miles of sand, for the pleasure of watching a fool animal wet its whiskers.”
Marcel is half Biggles' age, which surprises me. In the later books I always thought he was quite old.
“I could ask them if a strange aeroplane sometimes passes that way.” “No, I don’t think I’d do that,” answered Biggles quickly. “I might annoy the ibex, you think?” “You might annoy the men who sit there watching them drink.”
Bertie gets to have a little action.
“What other man wears an eyeglass when he flies?” “Let me tell you something,” put in Ginger seriously. “If Bertie was flying that Hurricane, and wanted to shoot you down, you wouldn’t be here now. What he shoots at he hits.”
(view spoiler)[
“That means nothing,” asserted von Stalhein. “One of Bigglesworth’s men talks more blah than anyone I ever met. As if that isn’t enough he fools about with a monocle. He looks and sounds the complete ass — but he isn’t.”(hide spoiler)]
I do love how W.E. Johns' likes to surprise his characters. It's always so much fun.
As Algy stepped out of the Douglas, Marcel poked a pistol into his ribs. Then, of course, he recognized the man he had captured. The expression on his face was photographed indelibly on Algy’s mind. His eyes opened wide. His lips parted. His lower jaw sagged. He clapped a hand to his forehead, muttering incoherently. Algy took him by the arm. “Come on,” he said. “You’re the very man I want to talk to. Where the deuce did you spring from?”
and
The only face on which there was any sign of recognition was Bertie’s, and his expression was so ludicrous that it was all Algy could do to refrain from laughing.
And I do appreciate the way Johns' backs his characters into a corner and forces them to assess and reassess. I love protagonists that can think on their feet.
Nothing else, Algy had declared, could save Bertie. What would happen when he got to El Asile, he admitted frankly that he did not know. The next move would depend on what happened when he got there. ...more
I do love Biggles dry humour. In reference to a bribe, he says,
“..we’ve already had a visitor. He thought he was in a Woolworth Store and tried to buyI do love Biggles dry humour. In reference to a bribe, he says,
“..we’ve already had a visitor. He thought he was in a Woolworth Store and tried to buy us...”
Biggles likes to look after his boys from his squadron. Even the prickly Tug is still happy to be called upon in times of need. He enjoys adventure, so he abandons his taxi service for a bit in favour of seeing Biggles through his latest gig. I was surprised to see that despite Tug's temperament he's awfully good at the subtlety of spy work. ...more
I don't know what to say. I'm not a swearer. I promise. But just let me get this out.
SONS OF BITCHES!!!
This book made me so darn angry. The author reaI don't know what to say. I'm not a swearer. I promise. But just let me get this out.
SONS OF BITCHES!!!
This book made me so darn angry. The author really knew how to make me rage at the cruelty and the injustice of the whole situation. The aftermath for Mia is nothing but hell. If I were her, I would've probably offed myself. Her father's treatment of her is absolutely, unforgivably appalling.
Mia's life completely changes after that night. It haunts her every move and thought and everything triggers her trauma. But all is not lost. Mia's best friend Ari, never loses patience with her and supports Mia tirelessly. Mia also discovers that not all of her family members are evil bastards. This was a relief.
Dom is soothing. Just thinking about him makes me feel calmer. He is simple and good. I want to marry him.
I love that Collateral Damage isn't a recap of the same story. Through Parker's eyes, the story is transformed and given a facelift. Parker has a muchI love that Collateral Damage isn't a recap of the same story. Through Parker's eyes, the story is transformed and given a facelift. Parker has a much bigger life outside of Jaden and school that we're only discovering now. There are some big surprises that really, well, surprised me. It makes me realise that Parker is a grown man falling in love with a highschool student. It's fascinating. I had to giggle at his description of her as a “half-attractive English partner”.
I liked that Parker's side of the story doesn't turn him into a sap or take the edge off his character. He's still got his bravado and arrogance. It's satisfying. Parker's side really helps me understand him. How awkward his position is. It's also incredibly romantic that he is willing to throw everything away for Jaden.
Erik is Parker's BFF and he's funny. This is his take on marriage.
”There's a person in your life who annoys the shit out of you twenty-four hours a day, but you'd never get rid of because you'd miss them too much if they were gone. Until you would get rid of them because they do, in fact, annoy the shit out of you."
I found the epilogue priceless because it doesn't depict a perfect, fairytale relationship. Sure, Jade is living out her dreams, but it just shows her and Parker for what they are, quirks and flaws. I loved that while Jade is a bit of a different person because she's older, she's still very much her. There's something special about the way her character has developed and matured from being under Parker's loving nurturing. It's an awesome epilogue. ...more
Biggles goes undercover without his team and ends up with a new set of disgruntled and silly partners. One of them is Canson who hates Biggles. Don't Biggles goes undercover without his team and ends up with a new set of disgruntled and silly partners. One of them is Canson who hates Biggles. Don't you just love it when enemies are forced to work together?
“You're right,” he [Canson] growled. “You always are, dammit,” he added viciously.
Biggles decides to pull off a scheme that's crazy, even for him. I saw a ton of holes in this plan, so I waited for it to fall apart. This story is rather unsteady because Biggles himself is not convinced that he is investigating something illegal and if it's any of his business. I think the story spent too long in some parts and too little in other bits. Still, it's Biggles and I always love Biggles. 3.5 Stars
P.S. I know people have always complained about Johns' racism and I never really saw it to much effect until this book.
Zoe and the Edge
>
Books:
cop
(10)
Loading...
