six word takes on recent reads:
Heyday
synopsis: interesting historical setting plus thrills, chases
review: great setting, clunky prose equals screenplay
The New Measures: A Theological History of Democratic Practice
synopsis: fascinating stuff happened, God in details
review: Fascinating indeed. Great read. God? Hmmm.
Guess that's actually twelve words per book, but, well, the brevity leaves too much unsaid. Both books take the middle of the 19th century (roughly) as the primary historical setting. I read The New Measures first and decided to read Heyday because it was a novel set during the same period. I heartily recommend the former but I cannot do the same for the latter.
Heyday felt like it would have been better off a screenplay for an HBO miniseries or something. It was clearly well researched but the narrative rarely goes more than a few pages without tripping over the research. Nor is the plotting strong enough to sustain the book's length. The seams show in a fashion that is often awkward.
The New Measures on the other hand manifests its construction by design. A neat hybrid, it crosses academic genres and disciplines skillfully while avoiding all the usual excesses of academic writing. It's clear and cogent, and shit, it's even a fun read and full of great stories. Can't remember the last time I could say that about an academic book. It's got a theological argument to make but it keeps the actual theologizing to a minimum, making its case humbly and gracefully.
