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| Plot Summary of Smoking Poppy |
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"
Pocket, Jan 2002, 23.00, 271 pp.
ISBN: 0671039393
London electrician Dan Innes is stunned when his estranged wife informs him that the British embassy in Bangkok called about their adult daughter. Neither Innes has heard from Charlie in two years, but now they learn she has been arrested as a drug smuggler in Thailand and languishes in Chiang Mai jail, probably awaiting death.
When Dan and Charlie last talked two years ago, they brawled and left their once close relationship strained and probably over. However, Dan realizes he still loves his rebellious Charlie and decides to go to Asia to free his daughter. Shockingly at least to Dan, his evangelical son Phil and a pub quiz teammate join him on the trek. The safe world of London vanishes almost from the moment the trio arrives at Chiang Mai jail. They begin to fight for their lives as well as that of Charlie along the perilous the Thai-Myanmar border where opium is king and vapid stray westerners are cannon fodder.
Though a non-stop adventure thriller that hammers home the atrocities along the Thai-Myanmar border, SMOKING POPPY stands way above the field because of the deep look at relationships. The story line is loaded with gripping action as the frightened but courageous Londoners fight to remain alive to rescue someone that they believe most likely gone over the mental edge. However, the key that makes this more than another thriller is the insightful look at love especially estranged and what is truly friendship (quiz teammates at a pub or someone willing to risk everything?). Even the title provides a double meaning to readers who will rejoice in award winning Graham Joyce's astounding tale.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Smoking Poppy |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book
descript. of violence and chases - 10%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10%
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Crime Thriller
Yes
Crime plotlets:
- escape/deal with prison
General Crime (including known murderer)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- small businessman
How much violence does he/she use?
- just the right amount
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- mastermind
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist
- power
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Asia/Pacific
Yes
Asian country:
- Southeast Asia
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths?
- 0 (not a murder mystery)
Amount of dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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