Saturday 28 August 2010

Nope, not a review! I'm working myself up to one. I'm toying between finishing off Collection 3 meaning "The Waitress" by Sinclair Smith or "The Snowman" by R L Stine... or breaking loose a bit and doing a Mutant Point Horror.

Hmmm.... choices choices! If only all decisions in life were as complex as which Point book to read next!

I was just on amazon.co.uk and have added a shed load to my basket. As well as some of the Unleashed (Catchman, Darker, Blood Sinister) I have also added some of the Point Original Fiction books and spotted Point Romance. That could be an interesting diversion for this blog at some point. I remember reading one which after trawling amazon reminded me it was "Saturday Night". Man, that seemed sooooo grown up! Like, someone was PREGNANT! They talked about marriage.

Actually I'm 31 now and they still seem like grown up subjects :D

And then I saw Judy Blume. Another set of books I spent my teenage years reading...

Ah well, time to go!

Thursday 26 August 2010

Richie Tankersley Cusick - April Fools

I was reading the Babysitters' blog for this entry at:

http://rsvpordie.blogspot.com/search/label/April%20Fools

(go visit her blog - she writes really well!)

and I think she has summed this book up pretty well. Although I wouldn't go so far as to call it shit! A very typical Point Horror in many ways and with some interesting morals and logic.

The whole story starts with Belinda, Frank and Hildy all out in a car, travelling back from an April Fools party. As Babysitter comments, do people actually have April Fools parties? Frank is driving after having a few drinks and as well as drink driving, I presume he is also underage for buying, possession and consumption of alcohol. Christ, how many offences is this? And we're not out the first chapter!

Whilst driving along, a car behind starts tailgating them in an aggressive manner and Frank decides to have a laugh with them, by driving erratically. It is April Fools after all! The joke ends with the other car skidding off the road, down a gorge and bursting in flames with someone trapped inside. Whoops-a-daisy. In the words of a Harry Enfield character: I don't believe you wanted to do that!

Now, is it me, or is it a) silly to piss arse about on the road anyway? b) doubly silly if you are drunk and c) triply silly when you are on a little used road out near the airport with a ruddy great big gorge to the side?

I started off not really liking Frank at all as you can probably tell.

My feelings to these three didn't get any better where Hildy was concerned. Hildy was all for covering up the whole incident because they might go to prison. Oh and she was supposed to be grounded and her parents would be really mad at her. I'll say. Can't see the parental units being totally cool about this little escapade.

To our Hildy, it's totally logical that they left the scene and didn't get any help and Belinda is wrong to be upset about it all. Hildy's attitude is one of “Yeah we pushed them off the road, but it was only a joke. We didn't mean to kill them. So you know, it's all okay”. Actually, given these kids are probably looking at a case of vehicular manslaughter, I can kind of see why Hildy wants to keep it covered up. I think it's just her logic of – we were only having a laugh therefore it's okay, that's getting me big time. To my mind, this girl is a potential psychopath...

Introducing Adam Thorne, who is the scary character in the story. As if a teenage girl with plaited pig tails who thinks driving someone off the road for a laugh is totally acceptable isn't scary enough!

Without going too much into the story, I had to crack a grin here! The coincidence was a bit too much. Adam is badly disfigured due to being in a car accident right around the time Belinda and co stuffed someone off the side of the road. Come on, this is kind of laughable! We're all brighter than Belinda because we KNOW Adam was somehow involved and Belinda's all ifs and buts and maybes and Hildy is still doing the “it's not our fault, stop being crazy!” routine.

I'm still having trouble with Hildy! I think Hildy and Frank are quite well matched. Neither seem to take any responsibility for their actions or think Belinda's response is reasonable. Yeah, I know we killed at least one guy, but hey, let's not be all daggy about it.

The other character that did make me laugh was Cobbs. Oh, and the impression of the English. Belinda knows he's English because he's all stiff and formal. And Noel (Adam's step brother) thinks his way of ringing the doorbell before entering is so weird! Apparently, this is one way Cobbs has funny ideas. As Babysitter in her blog perfectly puts it, pardon me little Miss USA for having manners! I keep having images of either Jeffrey out of “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” or Socket from “Carry On Screaming” with a dose of Lurch out of “The Addams Family”.

Although Noel is the initial and obvious love interest in this story, eventually Cobbs does fill the role. Noel appears to be out to protect Belinda from the evil disfigured Adam Thorne, but a twist in the story reveals the contrary. (You'll have to read it to find out how!) Cobbs offers his services to Belinda's family for free at the end of the story, which is laughable. If you were left a significant sum, would you still be working? Granted Cobbs is at a loose end, but by golly gosh! With a fistful of dollars like that, I'd sure find some trivial whimsy to keep myself occupied!

I find myself wondering if Cobbs isn't actually seeing himself as some kind of pseudo father figure to Belinda. Maybe I've missed it, but there's no reference to a Mr Swanson, only Mrs Swanson, Belinda's mum.

He did save Belinda so it probably would be natural for him to feel some extra concern for her. Does he love her though? After all, she probably has been the only person to speak to him as a person as opposed to an employee. Even though Noel isn't formal with him, there is still that employer divide and one that would never be crossed.

At the end, Cobbs does say “and I you miss” in response to Belinda saying “I love you”. Does he mean it or is it a suitably butler-y polite response? Is this a real love as in romantic love or a deep friendship love? It's an interesting thought and I'm not sure you can resolve it either way.

When you consider Cobbs' description: receding white hair line, angular face, over 6 feet tall, corpse like pale and very thin, he doesn't seem like the usual love interest. That's an understatement really isn't it?! Nor an ethical love interest to some as Cobbs must be at least 30 years older than Belinda.

I can almost feel some kind of fanfic coming out of this, this is such an unanswered question! Cobbs 4 Belinda 4eva?

The other unresolved issue I can see is: if Adam and Noel are declared fit to stand trial, how will this affect Belinda et al? Even though Adam and Noel were trying to crash the car ultimately, Frank made them crash through his reckless driving. This to me, would take precedence over Adam and Noel's intentions. Unless it's Hildy's court and there's a verdict of “Well, it's okay 'cause they were trying to crash anyway”. Kind of like saying if you murder a man but as long as he was going to top himself the next day anyway, it's all ticketyboo and above board. I don't think it kinda works like that!

So, if Noel and Adam can't stand trial, maybe the kids will get away with it. If I was those kids, particularly Frank, I'd be hoping and praying that this never comes to trial! I don't know what forensics were like in the USA in the early 1990s, but I bet they could probably deduce something out of the way the car landed or skid marks or something.

There we have it. “April Fools” by Richie Tankersley Cusick. Not an easy review to write without doing a blow by blow account which I want to try and avoid.

I did enjoy reading the book, even if for the interesting morals, but it's not one of Point Horror's best, nor one of the worst. What will be the worst though? Once I get to the end of every Point Horror, I shall maybe answer that question! And the counter question: what is the best Point Horror? This is just standard Point Horror more than anything and doesn't stand up to scrutiny for its' legal plot holes and weaknessess and logic from the lead characters. Y

And I think that concludes my first review of a Richie Tankersley Cusick. I don't dread reading another one, but I don't think I'd be champing at the bit to read another.

See you at the next review!

Friday 13 August 2010

Diane Hoh - The Fever

Here we are again, with another Diane Hoh and after “The Invitation”, I'm looking forward to this. This is another Point Horror book that I have never read. Somehow during my charity shop rummaging for Point Horror, this one has always eluded me. I remember seeing it when younger in the Puffin book club leaflets we'd get given in English class, and for ages, I thought the front cover actually depicted a knight! Come on... it does bear a resemblance if you look at it kinda cross eyed...

No wonder the story and picture never gelled in my mind. However, now I know it is a healthcare professional, the whole thing makes a bit more sense.

I've been a care worker in a range of places, including hospitals so reading through this, a fair few care practice issues and the odd plot hole came up. For a start, this is clearly written before the current litigation society and at a time when Doctor Was Right And Must Be Obeyed. Now we are all too familiar that medics can and do make mistakes. No doubt I will come back to this as when making notes, I was coming up with so much stuff that made me put on my carers' hat and get the old axe grinding.

The best bit is at the start of chapter 5. A perfect example of Good Doctor and Naughty Patient.

It also clearly has been written before “Care In The Community” type schemes and/or closure of the old Victorian asylums as the hospitals have grounds and open air spaces, with student nurses studying in the grounds. Here at least, students rarely live at the hospital anymore. Most hospitals don't have any grounds apart from the car park and some garden areas are barred from use because of Health and Safety. Man, whatever happened to the concepts of Be Careful, Personal Responsibility and Accidents Do Happen?

But, the opening description was great! A real gothic/art deco decaying hospital came to mind. Which is great to me because I love looking at pictures of the old asylums. Mentions of yellowing ceiling tiles and cracks in the walls really paint a gloomy image of this place!

We meet Duffy Quinn who is has been in hospital for 2 days so far after being struck down with a high temperature and associated delirium, probably caused by an outbreak of the flu. Duffy is fed up of being hospital and wants to go home, but unless her temperature comes down, the medics won't discharge her. So her job is to lie there, sleep well and get better.

In the hospital are various volunteers (candy stripers) who assist the nursing staff and are using this as a stepping stone into medical school. Most of them know Duffy from school, which makes for interesting patient confidentiality ethics. And, if you were at school with your carer, would you be ticketyboo with it? Can't say I'd have been baring my botty to my classmates! I did wonder as to their ages, but it appears that you can be a candy striper whilst still at high school, so what I thought was a plot hole, probably isn't one at all.

Duffy is crushing on Christopher 'Kit' Rappaport. Kit is being emotionally blackmailed by his grandfather to stay in Twelvetrees, whereas Kit would rather get the heck away. This isn't strictly relevant to the story, but does add pathos. Hoh describes Twelvetrees as the sort of place kids leave before the ink is dry on the diploma. That's quite a good summary of a town! Kind of like where I live. Kit suddenly leaves one day after arguing with his grandfather. Kit has been saying he wanted to go to California, so although sudden, it's not totally out of character. Take note of this factoid in the book: this is relevant kids!

Other people are subsequently introduced – Cynthia, Smith, Dylan and Amy are all volunteers. Jane is Duffy's best friend. All are aiming for medical school in the future. This doesn't really make much difference to the storyline apart from for Cynthia, but does give a bit more depth to the cast of characters. To me, they aren't really all that interesting. Apart from Kit but he never really features all that much. For once, the heroine doesn't end up with the hero.

Duffy being puzzled by something is the catalyst of the story. In the prologue, Duffy was awoken by people in her room and called out to them. No-one responded, which puzzles Duffy because no nurse would ignore a patient. Nurses just don't DO that.

Various incidents occur to further Duffy's paranoia that Someone Is Out To Get Her – she nearly falls down a lift shaft, her wheelchair goes careering off Heidi-style towards a lake with her in it and someone tried to drown her in the shower. Wow. That's gonna be one heck of a tweet when she gets home!

Nobody believes her and Duffy finds herself getting repeatedly sedated to calm down because she's clearly delirious and naturally, there are logical explanations for all these events. Someone switched the lift sign by mistake, a student released the brake to take her back in and got distracted, nobody attacked you in the shower you were going crazy. Oh and the noises you heard was probably just someone on shift bringing a date to the hospital. That's okay then! If I was the date, I wouldn't be getting fresh in a hospital!

In many ways, I can see this from the medical staff's point of view – she has had a temperature and it's the adults role in Point Horror to not believe and to leave our heroines in mortal peril, but I really don't feel right with the way they keep doping her up the minute she becomes vaguely awkward. This really is from the old days!

Duffy soon starts feeling off colour and experiencing strange symptoms. It also transpires that some digoxin pills have gone missing. This does nothing to improve Duffy's paranoia, particularly when she realizes that the symptoms she has come on after every medication time and mimic those a person taking digoxin would have. Duffy Quinn, Medicine Woman!

Here we have the old position of “We Never Do Any Harm” coming out. The pills are missing but the staff are blasé thinking they will just turn up on the floor somewhere. Nobody could POSSIBLY be given these pills by mistake, because y'know, we're trained and don't make mistakes. That happens in OTHER hospitals! Foreshadowing here.

As a former carer, I rankle at this. Mistakes can happen to anyone and by anyone, no matter how trained you are. And if pills went missing, there'd be a massive search for them. As far as I know, medication is locked away and each dose is made up at the time for the patient. So unless there was massive negligence and failure to follow protocol, Duffy shouldn't have been able to be given digoxin repeatedly.

Duffy hides her pills and gets Amy to send them down for analysis. Amy agrees and the lab are all cool about it too. Hmm. This is all a little bit too convenient and required substantial suspension of belief! I did think I had another plot hole – you could check MIMS or BNF to find out what they were, you wouldn't need lab analysis. Apparently, someone took the antibiotic out of the capsules and replaced it with digoxin.

Also, it isn't guaranteed that the side effects from the digoxin will be experienced. If Duffy felt fine she could have been bumped off not knowing any different. I digress.

To me, this part of the story doesn't make sense. Going back, the noises Duffy heard in her room were Cynthia and Kit fighting (read the book to know more!), but thinking about it, Duffy probably would never have worked the mystery out, until Cynthia's confession. At the beginning of “The Fever”, the prologue has nothing in it that could help Duffy work out what it was.

Actually, just as I wrote that paragraph, none of the attacks on Duffy make any sense! Duffy just wouldn't have worked it out.

Kit's logic and solution also doesn't make sense. Even though the chart mix up was initiated by Cynthia, Cynthia's admission would not have exonerated the nurse. She should still have checked the medication charts and confirmed the patient is who they are either verbally or via name band. Lack of time to check patient identity would be no defence at all. The nurse is still to blame. So, Kit's saying that Cynthia should own up, is pointless in terms of helping the nurse.

Unless I am reading this story all wrong, the digoxin arc isn't needed. If you cut that out the storyline, it makes no difference to the ending. Add into that the previous comment about Duffy probably never working the mystery out, this is bit of a by-play.

However, there is a semi local record of a nurse killing people with digoxin from 1988. It is possible that Ms. Hoh had heard of these even though the cases weren't tried until 2006 as these cases were around New Jersey, and Ms. Hoh had lived in this area. Maybe this storyline was added from real life inspiration.

The big question – did I enjoy reading the book? Yes, I did actually. Despite the plot holes, care practice issues, I never really wanted the book to end. It did end a bit suddenly and Cynthia's admission in the morgue to Duffy seems unlikely, but with the way the book was going, it is the only way events could be explained. Duffy could not have come to the solution with the evidence she had as already stated.

I doubt I'll ever read it again, but I am one book closer to have read every Point Horror! As it's an early one, it definitely has status and being from a frequent Point Horror writer, it had to be done!