Double Trouble in Bugland

Double Trouble in Bugland

By William Kotzwinkle

Going forth from their little flat at 221B Flea Street, Inspector Mantis, accompanied by his trusted colleague Doctor Hopper, solve antennae-bending mysteries featuring unforgettable bugs such as the relentless spring-cleaner Mrs. Inchworm, the bespectacled Professor Booklouse, the fearless Captain Flatfootfly, and the endearing Miss Allegra Warblefly.

I'd read the first Trouble in Bugland, and liked it very much - it's an insect take off on Sherlock Holmes - and finally ginned up the funds and willingness to buy this sequel, which isn't quite as good, although it is charmingly, "profusely illustrated".  All the mysteries depend on some natural factoid of the bug world, such as the vampire moth's vampiric tendencies, or the parasitic habits of a nectar stealer.  

Perhaps my memories are ever rose-colored, but it seemed to me that the stories in this book were longer, and more fluffed out than the initial set. We have only four mysteries, which are, indeed, "profusely illustrated" (I think the illustrations must take up a quarter to a half of the book) and it seems like there isn't much in the way of detection, in most of them.  Mantis finds a clue, which he takes to another expert (and again, he depends on so many other experts - on moths, parasites, etc - in this one) and then they immediately know what has happened, and then track down the culprit.  There's a lot of padding in each story to fluff them out - one of them has them sitting in a bar, waiting for the informer to get back to them, solving a series of mini-mysteries for the local police captain, which would be fine, except that it feels like filler.  

Be that as it may, it's still a delightfully weird charming Holmesian take-off.  If you've ever wanted to read more bug mysteries, here you are!  I mean, it is weird, in the sense that bugs are living in "Bugland" eating fudge and popcorn and carpets and performing in theaters and getting kicked out of places for being stink-bugs.  But it's also a very soothing bedtime reading.  It feels cozy.

34: A Book Set in Victorian Times

Ten Second Reviews

A Broken Vessel & Whom the Gods Love

By Kate Ross

The second of the Julian Kestrel, regency detective mysteries, I enjoyed this one too. Although there were BY FAR too many clues, that was part of the mystery, and acknowledged by the characters partway through.  It was also entertaining how Kestrel investigated the upper class suspects, his valet Dipper managed the regular tradespeople, and Dipper's prostitute sister Sally handled the underbelly - I thought the use of each of them in their respective spheres was fun.  Kestrel is this time investigating an anonymous note which Sally stole from one of three clients, alluding to a woman in desperate trouble.  She's just died when they find her, and it quickly becomes a murder investigation instead.  Again, some coincidences, but the writing and characters still hold up - I'm checking out the third one as I write.


Aaaaand now I've finished the third, I'm checking out the fourth, and sad that the series will end soon.  Again, far, far too many coincidences (two sets of twins in this one? Not to mention that Kestrel magically lands upon the exact right madhouse by simply wandering around town, ahem) but for whatever reason, I guess I just don't mind them! These feel like dense books, since there's SO MUCH interviewing and discussion, but they're also pleasantly engrossing, especially as the clues start picking up.  I have to say though, these book jackets are driving me crazy, since all the book descriptions give spoilers about the victim and events in the book that don't become really clear until at least halfway through.  I did also guess some of the answers, but was still wholly surprised by the motives, so I'm happy both to be right and to be surprised.  Spoiler here, but I was really put off by the Jewish banker turned rapist subplot.  It felt really out of character and poorly explained how he could actually go through with it, and frankly, left the book on a pretty low note.  But onwards to numero quatro!

Predictably Irrational

By Dan Ariely

Why do our headaches persist after we take a one-cent aspirin but disappear when we take a fifty-cent aspirin? Why do we splurge on a lavish meal but cut coupons to save twenty-five cents on a can of soup?

Dan Ariely refutes the common assumption that we behave in fundamentally rational ways. From drinking coffee to losing weight, from buying a car to choosing a romantic partner, we consistently overpay, underestimate, and procrastinate. Yet these misguided behaviors are neither random nor senseless. They're systematic and predictable—making us predictably irrational.

Soooo, this was fine.  Probably my impression of it is coloured by the fact that I was trying to get my husband interested in it, and it was a complete loss.  I also felt like some of the research was kind of glossed over, in terms of, for example, the chocolate pricing one in the free chapter.  I assume that they controlled for people who came to the table and didn't buy any chocolate when it was 1 and 15 cents respectively but did just pick up a free one, right?  Like, I feel like the total numbers of people getting chocolate had to have gone up (versus those who paid even just one penny) but there isn't really an explanation as to how they covered that, aside from making the sign very small so people had to get close to see it.  But I do find the ideas fascinating, even if more broadly than specifically applicable (like, not everyone is a sucker for advertising) and the chapter on placebos oddly affecting.  Frankly, we should do more experiments with surgery (with knowledge and consent of course) because unnecessarily submitting people to the knife is awful.  But I think the message, that we're all unconsciously doing these things and in some cases, the only cure is to be more conscious, is one that's hit home.