Officially, winter comes in tomorrow but I'm pretty sure, temperature-wise, that it's been here for a couple of weeks. The only good thing to come out of this season - besides Christmas, of course - is that the nights are longer so there's more time to cover up in bed and read. Here are some suggestions for you.
Series
Boca Knights - Steven M. Forman ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2009, 331 pages, Paperback)
This is Forman's first novel and the start of a new series. Our hero, Eddie Perlmutter, is a 60-year old,
retired Boston cop who suffers with arthritis so his friends convince him to move to Florida for the
warmth. He settles in to the resort life in Boca Raton taking a job at one of the local golf courses. That doesn't work out but he stumbles upon a Russian counterfeiting ring and that changes everything. Soon he's got a P. I. License and he gets involved in a murder and with some tough skin-head types. It's funny at times, crass at times, but it's always interesting and it has a great ending. I enjoyed it.
Year Of The Tiger - Jack Higgins ($6.99/$.50, copyright 1996, 259 pages, Paperback)
I've posted about several of Higgins' works that I've come across before and liked. Several of them have been centered on Paul Chevasse, a member of England's "secret" service. This is another one and revolves around his rescue of an important scientist being held as a prisoner by the Chinese in Tibet. I'm a fan of Higgins and he's put in plenty of action and intrigue but this one is very similar to the one where Chevasse rescued the Dalai Lama which I read recently. It was OK.
Non-fiction
History's Last Stand - Gerard and Patricia Del Re ($10.00/$1.00, copyright 1993, 210 pages, Trade Paperback)
Every once in a while, I pick up a non-fiction book because there's something about it that grabs me. This one has thumb-nail entries of how some of history's empires ended; how some Presidents and Rulers left office (or died); how some famous people met infamous ends; and other interesting endings. Some of these I knew and others I didn't. I have to say it was a bit pedantic and I was hoping for some more of the "famous last words" kind of thing. It was OK.
The Man Who Loved Books Too Much - Allison Hoover Bartlett ($15.00/$.50, copyright 2009, 256 pages, Trade Paperback)
Bartlett has gone to great lengths to present the story of Ken Sanders, a book store owner and self-
appointed book thief catcher and his most infamous catch -John Gilkey. It's an interesting story, and Bartlett tells it from both sides - having interviewed both of the principles. You get to feel Sanders' passion to catch the thief but, somehow, she's not able to explain Gilkey's desire. I've been a bookie for years and I can understand - on a certain level - why he would covet a particular book but Bartlett doesn't offer any insight as to why he does it. It was OK.
So, Merry Christmas .... Happy New Year .... and
Keep reading.
Saturday, December 20, 2014
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Fifth Anniversary Post!!!
I know! Right! I'm kind of surprised that I've been doing this for 5 years! OK ... I would still have been reading for the last 5 years but my having a car has let me visit some libraries that I wouldn't have been able to get to otherwise and I wouldn't have been able to blog about them if I didn't have this laptop. So, first, this month's selections.
Series
NYPD Red - James Patterson and Marshall Karp ( $10.00/$.50, copyright 2012, 360 pages, Paperback)
This is the latest series out of the Patterson workshop and it's a doozy. NYPD Red is an elite squad who's primary responsibility is to protect the rich and famous. Detective Zach Jordan has worked it for years and he and his new partner - and former lover - Kylie McDonald are faced with a serial killer. It's Hollywood on the Hudson time and some of the powerful people are being killed - dramatically. The killer is very well prepared and stages some dramatic escapes, and there is some great character development here. Like all of Patterson's books, the chapters are short and the action keeps on intensifying. I enjoyed it.
Odd Hours - Dean Koontz ($9.99/$.25, copyright 2008, 397 pages, Paperback)
This is the fourth in Koontz's Odd Thomas series and I understand he intends it to run to seven volumes. Odd is a fry-cook with a special power - he sees ghosts. They don't speak to him but he feels compelled to help them resolve whatever keeps them here. And he gets visions of upcoming tragedies that he tries to prevent. Here, Odd is working as a personal chef to a retired actor in a place called Magic Beach. His vision leads him to a mysterious, pregnant woman and gets him involved in a plot to smuggle nuclear weapons into California. There are the usual assortment of strange characters that Odd deals with, and some of them are very interesting, but I found Koontz's mixing of the supernatural with a real-world situation felt forced. And he's left a lot of open questions, which I guess will be answered in the next three volumes. I don't think I'll be looking for them. I have to say that I was disappointed with this.
Miscellaneous
Boy's Life - Robert R. McCammon ($5.99/$1.99, copyright 1991, 578 pages, Paperback)
This is the story of Cory Mackenson, an 11-year-old boy living in Zephyr, Alabama. It starts when he's helping his father with the early morning milk deliveries and they come across a dead man - an obviously murdered man. This imbues the book, and it creeps in from time to time, but it's not the main focus. This is the story of a young boy's coming-of-age, and McCammon fills in with the joys and tragedies that life holds. He gives us Cory and his friends as they go to movies, ride their bikes, play baseball, and camp out. And he shows us how Cory and his family and friends deal with racism, bullying, and death. I've read several of McCammon's earlier works and I'd thought of him as a "horror" writer, and he does include some elements here but they're seen through Cory's eyes and that makes them sort of magical. If you haven't read this book, go out right now and get yourself a copy. I love it.
Totals
There's a couple of things I feel that I should say here. Firstly, I no longer mention books that I start but don't finish. My opinion shouldn't cloud yours. Secondly, I tend to read several books at the same time. So when you see that I've read a 500 page book in a month along with other books you should imagine a carry-over effect.
Now to the numbers ....
Series - 20 books, $198.57 total cover price, $23.68 actual cost.
Miscellaneous - 13 books, $150.84 total cover price, $23.04 actual cost.
Graphic Novels -2 books, $17.98 total cover price, $.25 actual cost.
Sherlock Holmes - 4 books, $38.98 total cover price, $2.50 actual cost.
Ten Books/Off The Shelf - 2 books, $3.45 total cover price, $3.45 actual cost.
Yearly Total - 41 books, $409.82 total cover price, $52.92 actual cost.
Five Year Total - 228 books, $2429.82 total cover price, $230.93 actual cost.
I would like to acknowledge the fact that my parents allowed my brothers and sisters and I to read whatever we wanted to. This included comic books which - growing up in the early '50's - were restricted under the Comics Code. (And my Dad always read my Mad Magazine when I was finished with it.)
Anyway.
I have another - more personal - anniversary coming up in a few days. Thanksgiving is just a week away. Christmas is coming up quickly. It's cold out so find yourself a good book to cuddle up with and ..
Keep reading.
Series
NYPD Red - James Patterson and Marshall Karp ( $10.00/$.50, copyright 2012, 360 pages, Paperback)
This is the latest series out of the Patterson workshop and it's a doozy. NYPD Red is an elite squad who's primary responsibility is to protect the rich and famous. Detective Zach Jordan has worked it for years and he and his new partner - and former lover - Kylie McDonald are faced with a serial killer. It's Hollywood on the Hudson time and some of the powerful people are being killed - dramatically. The killer is very well prepared and stages some dramatic escapes, and there is some great character development here. Like all of Patterson's books, the chapters are short and the action keeps on intensifying. I enjoyed it.
Odd Hours - Dean Koontz ($9.99/$.25, copyright 2008, 397 pages, Paperback)
This is the fourth in Koontz's Odd Thomas series and I understand he intends it to run to seven volumes. Odd is a fry-cook with a special power - he sees ghosts. They don't speak to him but he feels compelled to help them resolve whatever keeps them here. And he gets visions of upcoming tragedies that he tries to prevent. Here, Odd is working as a personal chef to a retired actor in a place called Magic Beach. His vision leads him to a mysterious, pregnant woman and gets him involved in a plot to smuggle nuclear weapons into California. There are the usual assortment of strange characters that Odd deals with, and some of them are very interesting, but I found Koontz's mixing of the supernatural with a real-world situation felt forced. And he's left a lot of open questions, which I guess will be answered in the next three volumes. I don't think I'll be looking for them. I have to say that I was disappointed with this.
Miscellaneous
Boy's Life - Robert R. McCammon ($5.99/$1.99, copyright 1991, 578 pages, Paperback)
This is the story of Cory Mackenson, an 11-year-old boy living in Zephyr, Alabama. It starts when he's helping his father with the early morning milk deliveries and they come across a dead man - an obviously murdered man. This imbues the book, and it creeps in from time to time, but it's not the main focus. This is the story of a young boy's coming-of-age, and McCammon fills in with the joys and tragedies that life holds. He gives us Cory and his friends as they go to movies, ride their bikes, play baseball, and camp out. And he shows us how Cory and his family and friends deal with racism, bullying, and death. I've read several of McCammon's earlier works and I'd thought of him as a "horror" writer, and he does include some elements here but they're seen through Cory's eyes and that makes them sort of magical. If you haven't read this book, go out right now and get yourself a copy. I love it.
Totals
There's a couple of things I feel that I should say here. Firstly, I no longer mention books that I start but don't finish. My opinion shouldn't cloud yours. Secondly, I tend to read several books at the same time. So when you see that I've read a 500 page book in a month along with other books you should imagine a carry-over effect.
Now to the numbers ....
Series - 20 books, $198.57 total cover price, $23.68 actual cost.
Miscellaneous - 13 books, $150.84 total cover price, $23.04 actual cost.
Graphic Novels -2 books, $17.98 total cover price, $.25 actual cost.
Sherlock Holmes - 4 books, $38.98 total cover price, $2.50 actual cost.
Ten Books/Off The Shelf - 2 books, $3.45 total cover price, $3.45 actual cost.
Yearly Total - 41 books, $409.82 total cover price, $52.92 actual cost.
Five Year Total - 228 books, $2429.82 total cover price, $230.93 actual cost.
I would like to acknowledge the fact that my parents allowed my brothers and sisters and I to read whatever we wanted to. This included comic books which - growing up in the early '50's - were restricted under the Comics Code. (And my Dad always read my Mad Magazine when I was finished with it.)
Anyway.
I have another - more personal - anniversary coming up in a few days. Thanksgiving is just a week away. Christmas is coming up quickly. It's cold out so find yourself a good book to cuddle up with and ..
Keep reading.
Monday, October 20, 2014
Chapter Fifty-six
Well, it's beginning to get colder, the day's are growing shorter, and the leaves are going out in a blaze of glory. This is October Country (I couldn't resist. I stole that from Ray Bradbury.) It's time to start hunkering down under the covers with a good book. Here's a few you might like.
Series
Darkest Fear - Harlan Coben - ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2000, 319 pages, Paperback)
This is one of Coben's Myron Bolitar novels. Myron is a sports agent who used to play pro basketball until he had his knee injured. He also used to be a lot of other things. In this one, he's approached by a former lover. She needs his help because her son needs a bone marrow transplant and the donor has disappeared and - 0h, yes - Myron is the father. There's an old, bitter rivalry involved, Myron's cast of colorful friends are still here including Win - the roommate and sociopath - Esmeralda, and Big Cindi, and there's plenty of Myron's trademark sarcasm. Coben mixes this with the story of a serial killer, a rich family, and the FBI. At times funny, at times suspenseful, and at times emotional. I enjoyed it.
Alex Cross, Run - James Patterson ( $10.00/$.50, copyright 2013, 378 pages, paperback)
I've mentioned Patterson's books in the past - how he's got all these different series' where he has co-writers - but he writes the Alex Cross series himself. In this one, Alex is faced with a pair or serial killers and a stalker who has a personal agenda against him - a stalker who actually frames him for assault. What I like about the Alex Cross books is that Patterson brings Cross's personal life - specifically his family - into every book and this one is particularly effective because it involves a sub-plot that revolves around a recently added foster child. I enjoyed it.
Off The Shelf
Last month, I added a new category - Top Ten - that led me to re-read some books that have stayed with me. The book I mentioned then was one that I pulled off of one of my bookshelves. Right behind it, I found this one which I really wanted to revisit. Hence, the start of another new category.
King Rat - James Clavell ($1.95/$1.95, copyright 1962, 352 pages, Paperback)
This book is set in the Changi Prison Camp on the island of Singapore during 1945. It's the first novel that Clavell had published and there's an auto-biographical aspect to it since he was actually imprisoned there. The prisoners are a mix of British (or British colonists) and Americans. Conditions are terrible and people do what they can to survive. Although some of the characters are stereotypes, the story revolves around several fully fleshed-out people: the King, an American Corporal and Wheeler-dealer who's living well; Flight Lieutenant Philip Marlowe, a young man who the King takes under his wing; and the Provost Marshal Robin Grey, the King's nemesis. This is Clavell's shortest book but, in my opinion, his most powerful. There are a lot of things going on here but, in the end, it is a story of humanity stripped to it's basic elements. I enjoyed it.
Don't forget the Halloween falls on a Friday this year so I think it's a law that you can celebrate for the whole weekend. Whatever you do, stay safe and ....
Keep reading.
Series
Darkest Fear - Harlan Coben - ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2000, 319 pages, Paperback)
This is one of Coben's Myron Bolitar novels. Myron is a sports agent who used to play pro basketball until he had his knee injured. He also used to be a lot of other things. In this one, he's approached by a former lover. She needs his help because her son needs a bone marrow transplant and the donor has disappeared and - 0h, yes - Myron is the father. There's an old, bitter rivalry involved, Myron's cast of colorful friends are still here including Win - the roommate and sociopath - Esmeralda, and Big Cindi, and there's plenty of Myron's trademark sarcasm. Coben mixes this with the story of a serial killer, a rich family, and the FBI. At times funny, at times suspenseful, and at times emotional. I enjoyed it.
Alex Cross, Run - James Patterson ( $10.00/$.50, copyright 2013, 378 pages, paperback)
I've mentioned Patterson's books in the past - how he's got all these different series' where he has co-writers - but he writes the Alex Cross series himself. In this one, Alex is faced with a pair or serial killers and a stalker who has a personal agenda against him - a stalker who actually frames him for assault. What I like about the Alex Cross books is that Patterson brings Cross's personal life - specifically his family - into every book and this one is particularly effective because it involves a sub-plot that revolves around a recently added foster child. I enjoyed it.
Off The Shelf
Last month, I added a new category - Top Ten - that led me to re-read some books that have stayed with me. The book I mentioned then was one that I pulled off of one of my bookshelves. Right behind it, I found this one which I really wanted to revisit. Hence, the start of another new category.
King Rat - James Clavell ($1.95/$1.95, copyright 1962, 352 pages, Paperback)
This book is set in the Changi Prison Camp on the island of Singapore during 1945. It's the first novel that Clavell had published and there's an auto-biographical aspect to it since he was actually imprisoned there. The prisoners are a mix of British (or British colonists) and Americans. Conditions are terrible and people do what they can to survive. Although some of the characters are stereotypes, the story revolves around several fully fleshed-out people: the King, an American Corporal and Wheeler-dealer who's living well; Flight Lieutenant Philip Marlowe, a young man who the King takes under his wing; and the Provost Marshal Robin Grey, the King's nemesis. This is Clavell's shortest book but, in my opinion, his most powerful. There are a lot of things going on here but, in the end, it is a story of humanity stripped to it's basic elements. I enjoyed it.
Don't forget the Halloween falls on a Friday this year so I think it's a law that you can celebrate for the whole weekend. Whatever you do, stay safe and ....
Keep reading.
Friday, September 19, 2014
Chapter Fifty-five
Here we are coming up on the last weekend of the summer and, from what I've read, we're in for a pretty colorful Autumn. So, as the days start to grow shorter and the nights start to get cooler, don't forget to stockpile some books just in case. Here's a couple that you might want to check out.
Miscellaneous
City of Thieves - David Berioff ($15.00/$.50, copyright 2008, 258 pages, Trade Paperback)
This book has popped up several times during my library visits over the last year or so and I finally picked it up. It takes place during the Siege of Leningrad in WWII and revolves around a young man, Lev, who's arrested for looting and winds up in a cell with an accused deserter, Kolya. Instead of being killed for their "crimes", they are charged by the commanding officer to find 12 eggs for his daughter's wedding cake - 12 eggs in a city and countryside that is literally starving. What follows is - at times - funny, sad, uplifting, and scary as the 2 go on this quest. It's a coming-of-age story that Berioff fills with vivid characters who are dealing with hardships while experiencing friendship, love, hope, and death. I enjoyed it.
Series
Robert B. Parker's Killing The Blues - Michael Brandman ($9.99/$.50, copyright 2011, 290 pages, Paperback)
This is a continuation of the Jesse Stone novels originally created by Robert B. Parker, hence the way the title is written. Michael Brandman worked with Parker on the Jesse Stone made-for-TV-movies that starred Tom Selleck so, I suppose, he was considered the best person to resurrect the series. Jesse is the Chief of Police in Paradise, a small town on the coast of Massachusetts but he used to be a cop in L. A. and he carries a lot of baggage. In this one, he and his officers are faced with a bunch of car thefts that escalate into murder; an ex-con with a personal grudge who wreaks some havoc; and the bullying of a high school girl. To be honest, I thought that this read a lot more like a screenplay then a novel but that's probably due to Brandman's TV background. He does have a good feel for the characters though and it really moves along well. I enjoyed it.
Ten Books
OK. This is a new category. A while ago, I was challenged on Facebook to list ten books that have stayed with me. The catch was that I had to do it immediately, which I did. I'm pretty sure I've mentioned a couple of them in this blog before and here's another one.
The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexander Dumas ($1.50/$1.50, printed 1956*, 441 pages**, Paperback)
I'm guessing that you all know the plot to this book so I'll just lay out the bare bones. Set during the end of the Napoleonic Era, Edmund Dantes is a young man about to realize all his dreams - he's to become captain of a trading ship and he's about to get married. But there are people who resent and envy him so he's set up on a trumped up treason charge and sentenced to life in prison at the infamous Chateau d'If. He befriends a fellow prisoner who teaches him some things, stages an escape, and finds the hidden treasure of Monte Cristo. Then things get interesting. He takes his time as he plots his revenge on each of the men who destroyed his life. I enjoyed it.
* Dumas actually published this in installments in a paper or magazine (as he did with all his work, and like Dickens did with his) during 1844 and 1845. Which leads me to..
** I've had this book since the 60's and didn't realize that it's abridged. I went to Barnes & Noble's and found a complete edition which ran to 618 pages. Remember, back then authors were paid per installment so it's not unusual that there was some padding going on.
That's it for now.
October's up next and that leads into Winter and the Holiday Season.
Have fun, be well, and ..
Keep Reading!
Miscellaneous
City of Thieves - David Berioff ($15.00/$.50, copyright 2008, 258 pages, Trade Paperback)
This book has popped up several times during my library visits over the last year or so and I finally picked it up. It takes place during the Siege of Leningrad in WWII and revolves around a young man, Lev, who's arrested for looting and winds up in a cell with an accused deserter, Kolya. Instead of being killed for their "crimes", they are charged by the commanding officer to find 12 eggs for his daughter's wedding cake - 12 eggs in a city and countryside that is literally starving. What follows is - at times - funny, sad, uplifting, and scary as the 2 go on this quest. It's a coming-of-age story that Berioff fills with vivid characters who are dealing with hardships while experiencing friendship, love, hope, and death. I enjoyed it.
Series
Robert B. Parker's Killing The Blues - Michael Brandman ($9.99/$.50, copyright 2011, 290 pages, Paperback)
This is a continuation of the Jesse Stone novels originally created by Robert B. Parker, hence the way the title is written. Michael Brandman worked with Parker on the Jesse Stone made-for-TV-movies that starred Tom Selleck so, I suppose, he was considered the best person to resurrect the series. Jesse is the Chief of Police in Paradise, a small town on the coast of Massachusetts but he used to be a cop in L. A. and he carries a lot of baggage. In this one, he and his officers are faced with a bunch of car thefts that escalate into murder; an ex-con with a personal grudge who wreaks some havoc; and the bullying of a high school girl. To be honest, I thought that this read a lot more like a screenplay then a novel but that's probably due to Brandman's TV background. He does have a good feel for the characters though and it really moves along well. I enjoyed it.
Ten Books
OK. This is a new category. A while ago, I was challenged on Facebook to list ten books that have stayed with me. The catch was that I had to do it immediately, which I did. I'm pretty sure I've mentioned a couple of them in this blog before and here's another one.
The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexander Dumas ($1.50/$1.50, printed 1956*, 441 pages**, Paperback)
I'm guessing that you all know the plot to this book so I'll just lay out the bare bones. Set during the end of the Napoleonic Era, Edmund Dantes is a young man about to realize all his dreams - he's to become captain of a trading ship and he's about to get married. But there are people who resent and envy him so he's set up on a trumped up treason charge and sentenced to life in prison at the infamous Chateau d'If. He befriends a fellow prisoner who teaches him some things, stages an escape, and finds the hidden treasure of Monte Cristo. Then things get interesting. He takes his time as he plots his revenge on each of the men who destroyed his life. I enjoyed it.
* Dumas actually published this in installments in a paper or magazine (as he did with all his work, and like Dickens did with his) during 1844 and 1845. Which leads me to..
** I've had this book since the 60's and didn't realize that it's abridged. I went to Barnes & Noble's and found a complete edition which ran to 618 pages. Remember, back then authors were paid per installment so it's not unusual that there was some padding going on.
That's it for now.
October's up next and that leads into Winter and the Holiday Season.
Have fun, be well, and ..
Keep Reading!
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Chapter Fifty-four
Well, it's almost the end of August. Summer is winding down and - for those of you who teach or have children - school will be starting soon. It hasn't been that hot a season - in fact, it's raining right now - but I do prefer the cooler evenings that should be coming soon. Here are this month's selections.
Miscellaneous
True Grit - Charles Portis ($14.95/$.50, copyright 1968, 224 pages, Trade Paperback)
I'm gonna guess that everyone who reads this blog has seen a movie version of this book. I have to say
that I did not see the Jeff Bridges version. Frankly, I didn't think I needed to. Reading this, John Wayne really is Rooster Cogburn - and Glen Campbell is "LeBeef", and Kim Darby is Mattie Ross. The story is simple. Mattie is the narrator and is after the man who killed her father. She hires Cogburn because she believes he has"grit". "LeBeef" joins up because he's after the same man for different reasons. Portis tells the story simply. There are no wasted words here, just a depiction of life on the frontier mixed with action, some
humor, and a fair dose of humanity. I enjoyed it.
Series
The Black Box - Michael Connelly ($14.99/$.50, copyright 2012, 403 pages, Trade Paperback)
I've said this before - I am a big Connelly fan, especially of his Harry Bosch series. I checked the front of this volume and it says he's written 16 other books in this series (and around 25 books all together). This is one of the best. Harry is working in the Open Unsolved Unit and he's down to his last 5 years on the job. He's trying to close as many cases as he can before they force him out. This case involves the murder of a Scandinavian free-lance reporter who was murdered during the riots that hit LA after the Rodney King verdict. It's been 20 years, but Harry remembers because he was there when the woman's body was found. Bosch is a driven man and what drives him is justice - justice for the victims - and this brings him into
opposition from his new Boss and the people upstairs, but Bosch doesn't play politics. What starts out as simple becomes complicated as Bosch turns up connections to the Iraq Wars and smuggled weapons. Connelly has created a world for Bosch that includes both his work and his private life and he weaves them together very well here. I enjoyed it.
Seventy-Seven Clocks - Christopher Fowler ($6.99/$.50, copyright 2005, 496 pages, Paperback)
This is one of the books in Fowler's Peculiar Crimes Unit series, and the first one I've read. It's set in London and features the detective partnership of Arthur Bryant and John May. Bryant, the older of the two, distrusts modern equipment while May takes to it. (Since the book is set in 1973, the "modern" equipment is mostly electric typewriters and walkie-talkies, which makes for some amusing situations.) Here, they have to deal with a series of strange murders - a man bitten by a snake in a fancy hotel, another who's blown up by
a watch, and several more - that revolve around a particular family and ultimately involves a couple
of ancient workers guilds. Fowler has a great feel for characters - Bryant and May work well together and
with the people they interact with. His knowledge of London's history is also impressive. But he weaves
in a side story that centers on a female Desk Clerk from the hotel who involves herself in the murders, which I found distracting, and the ending was a bit far-fetched. It was OK.
That's it for now.
Outside, it's stopped raining and it's looking more like September. Until next month ...
Keep Reading!
Miscellaneous
True Grit - Charles Portis ($14.95/$.50, copyright 1968, 224 pages, Trade Paperback)
I'm gonna guess that everyone who reads this blog has seen a movie version of this book. I have to say
that I did not see the Jeff Bridges version. Frankly, I didn't think I needed to. Reading this, John Wayne really is Rooster Cogburn - and Glen Campbell is "LeBeef", and Kim Darby is Mattie Ross. The story is simple. Mattie is the narrator and is after the man who killed her father. She hires Cogburn because she believes he has"grit". "LeBeef" joins up because he's after the same man for different reasons. Portis tells the story simply. There are no wasted words here, just a depiction of life on the frontier mixed with action, some
humor, and a fair dose of humanity. I enjoyed it.
Series
The Black Box - Michael Connelly ($14.99/$.50, copyright 2012, 403 pages, Trade Paperback)
I've said this before - I am a big Connelly fan, especially of his Harry Bosch series. I checked the front of this volume and it says he's written 16 other books in this series (and around 25 books all together). This is one of the best. Harry is working in the Open Unsolved Unit and he's down to his last 5 years on the job. He's trying to close as many cases as he can before they force him out. This case involves the murder of a Scandinavian free-lance reporter who was murdered during the riots that hit LA after the Rodney King verdict. It's been 20 years, but Harry remembers because he was there when the woman's body was found. Bosch is a driven man and what drives him is justice - justice for the victims - and this brings him into
opposition from his new Boss and the people upstairs, but Bosch doesn't play politics. What starts out as simple becomes complicated as Bosch turns up connections to the Iraq Wars and smuggled weapons. Connelly has created a world for Bosch that includes both his work and his private life and he weaves them together very well here. I enjoyed it.
Seventy-Seven Clocks - Christopher Fowler ($6.99/$.50, copyright 2005, 496 pages, Paperback)
This is one of the books in Fowler's Peculiar Crimes Unit series, and the first one I've read. It's set in London and features the detective partnership of Arthur Bryant and John May. Bryant, the older of the two, distrusts modern equipment while May takes to it. (Since the book is set in 1973, the "modern" equipment is mostly electric typewriters and walkie-talkies, which makes for some amusing situations.) Here, they have to deal with a series of strange murders - a man bitten by a snake in a fancy hotel, another who's blown up by
a watch, and several more - that revolve around a particular family and ultimately involves a couple
of ancient workers guilds. Fowler has a great feel for characters - Bryant and May work well together and
with the people they interact with. His knowledge of London's history is also impressive. But he weaves
in a side story that centers on a female Desk Clerk from the hotel who involves herself in the murders, which I found distracting, and the ending was a bit far-fetched. It was OK.
That's it for now.
Outside, it's stopped raining and it's looking more like September. Until next month ...
Keep Reading!
Friday, July 18, 2014
Special Insert #9 - The Thrift Store Edition
I haven't done a Special Insert in almost two years (I had to look it up), but the situation here merits the acknowledgement. There's this Thrift Shop in South Plainfield that I visit on a regular basis, usually to check out whatever seasonal clothes they have on hand or to browse through the strange assortment of things that they have in their side room. I don't normally check out the books that they have but, one day last month as I walked down that aisle, a particular title just jumped out at me. I couldn't believe my luck and actually wound up picking out two more books. Here they are in the order that I read them and, coincidentally, in the three most common categories that I use.
Series
The Black Hand - Will Thomas ($14.00/$1.50, copyright 2008, 289 pages, Trade Paperback)
This is an entry in the Barker and Llewelyn series. I read the first one in the series many years ago and enjoyed it so, when I came across this, I scooped it up. Cyrus Barker is a private enquiry agent with a varied past and Thomas Llewelyn is his assistant. This one is set in 1885 and they're called on by the police to check out a murder victim who turns out to be a former assassin Barker recognizes. This leads to their being hired by the Home Office to look into the appearance of the Mafia in London. There are other murders, attempted murders, threats ,attacks, and a couple of great fight scenes. There's also a good bit of humor and some insight into the characters' past. The characters are well defined and the writing is smooth.The only drawback is that - as part of a series- the author supposes that the reader doesn't need any introductions so it took me a while to come up to speed. I enjoyed it.
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes And The Secret Alliance - Larry Millett ($10.98/$1.50, copyright 2001, 401 pages, Paperback)
Millett has written a series of books revolving around Holmes & Watson's adventures in and around the Midwest US. I read several of them many years ago and grabbed this as soon as I saw it. In the ones I read, Shadwell Rafferty - a bar owner and part time detective - had played a part. In this volume, Rafferty takes center stage and Holmes & Watson are helpful but secondary characters. Rafferty is asked to look in to the lurid death of a union activist - simple enough, but it rapidly becomes complicated. Millett mixes in famous people, a Presidential visit, scandal, a potentially devastating explosion, cover ups, and more murders. I didn't like the fact that each chapter started with Watson's notes in a short-hand that I found distracting and there's lot of history I could have done without. The characters are well defined but I thought the ending was contrived. It was OK.
Miscellaneous
The Sea Hawk - Rafael Sabatini ($13.95/$1.50, published 1915, 372 pages, Trade Paperback)
This was the book that jumped out at me. I've read several of Sabatini's works and enjoyed them all. As I understand it, this book was to be the plot for the Errol Flynn movie but they decided on a different
script and only kept the title. The "hero", Sir Oliver Tressilian, is a reformed pirate who helped defeat the Spanish Armada. He's now living a quiet life in the family home with hopes of marrying. Of course, in Sabatini's works, things don't work out that way. He's betrayed by his half-brother, sold into slavery, and eventually finds himself freed by Barbary pirates. He joins them and becomes one of the best. (If this sounds a bit like "Captain Blood" that's because Sabatini wrote that too.) Sabatini weaves a great story and, eventually, brings all the character together for what would make a great cinematic ending. The language is a bit flowery, but the action is intense and Sabatini has created some really memorable characters. I enjoyed it.
I've been back to that Thrift Store several times since then but haven't found any other books that interested me. That's the kind of place it is. You can't go there looking for anything particular, but you can always find something.
That's it for now. Enjoy the summer and .......
Keep Reading.
Series
The Black Hand - Will Thomas ($14.00/$1.50, copyright 2008, 289 pages, Trade Paperback)
This is an entry in the Barker and Llewelyn series. I read the first one in the series many years ago and enjoyed it so, when I came across this, I scooped it up. Cyrus Barker is a private enquiry agent with a varied past and Thomas Llewelyn is his assistant. This one is set in 1885 and they're called on by the police to check out a murder victim who turns out to be a former assassin Barker recognizes. This leads to their being hired by the Home Office to look into the appearance of the Mafia in London. There are other murders, attempted murders, threats ,attacks, and a couple of great fight scenes. There's also a good bit of humor and some insight into the characters' past. The characters are well defined and the writing is smooth.The only drawback is that - as part of a series- the author supposes that the reader doesn't need any introductions so it took me a while to come up to speed. I enjoyed it.
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes And The Secret Alliance - Larry Millett ($10.98/$1.50, copyright 2001, 401 pages, Paperback)
Millett has written a series of books revolving around Holmes & Watson's adventures in and around the Midwest US. I read several of them many years ago and grabbed this as soon as I saw it. In the ones I read, Shadwell Rafferty - a bar owner and part time detective - had played a part. In this volume, Rafferty takes center stage and Holmes & Watson are helpful but secondary characters. Rafferty is asked to look in to the lurid death of a union activist - simple enough, but it rapidly becomes complicated. Millett mixes in famous people, a Presidential visit, scandal, a potentially devastating explosion, cover ups, and more murders. I didn't like the fact that each chapter started with Watson's notes in a short-hand that I found distracting and there's lot of history I could have done without. The characters are well defined but I thought the ending was contrived. It was OK.
Miscellaneous
The Sea Hawk - Rafael Sabatini ($13.95/$1.50, published 1915, 372 pages, Trade Paperback)
This was the book that jumped out at me. I've read several of Sabatini's works and enjoyed them all. As I understand it, this book was to be the plot for the Errol Flynn movie but they decided on a different
script and only kept the title. The "hero", Sir Oliver Tressilian, is a reformed pirate who helped defeat the Spanish Armada. He's now living a quiet life in the family home with hopes of marrying. Of course, in Sabatini's works, things don't work out that way. He's betrayed by his half-brother, sold into slavery, and eventually finds himself freed by Barbary pirates. He joins them and becomes one of the best. (If this sounds a bit like "Captain Blood" that's because Sabatini wrote that too.) Sabatini weaves a great story and, eventually, brings all the character together for what would make a great cinematic ending. The language is a bit flowery, but the action is intense and Sabatini has created some really memorable characters. I enjoyed it.
I've been back to that Thrift Store several times since then but haven't found any other books that interested me. That's the kind of place it is. You can't go there looking for anything particular, but you can always find something.
That's it for now. Enjoy the summer and .......
Keep Reading.
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Chapter Fifty-three
Summer doesn't officially start until Saturday but, if you ask me, it's too hot already. And we may get our first 90 degree day tomorrow. There's only 3 things you need to remember - sun screen, water, and a good book - to varying degrees, depending on where you are. Here are the books that have occupied my time since last month.
Miscellaneous
The Anatomists - Hal McDonald ($9.99/$.50, copyright 2008, 306 pages, Paperback)
According to the blurb on the cover, this book won truTV's "Search for the Next Great Crime Writer" contest. It's premise is that 2 medical students in 1824 Victorian England arrange to buy a body from a grave robber which was a common practice at the time. The grave that's robbed belongs to a recently deceased, upper-class woman but the body they get is of a man who's been murdered. The 2 students must figure out what happened. For a contest winner, I found it very derivative. The one student - Jean-Claude Legard - is a Frenchman who dabbles in acting and seems to be a combination of Holmes and Poirot. The other - Edward Montague - is the narrator and wannabe Watson, whose name isn't even mentioned until half-way through the book. There's some well-written stuff here and some of the extra characters are interesting, but it feels padded and could have been done in about 200 pages. It was OK.
Zoo - James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge ($10.00/$$.50, copyright 2012, 372 pages, Paperback)
Here's another of Patterson's collaborations. As I've said before, I'm a fan of his but have found his collaborations iffy. This one revolves around a scientist, Jackson Oz, and his unorthodox theory about why animal behavior around the world is changing. No one believes him, of course, until the animals start to attack. I found the beginning slow but the episodes of animal violence around the world are interesting. The lead up to the ending was exciting but I thought that the solution was kind of slapped together and the actual ending I found to be pat. It was OK.
Sherlock Holmes
It's no secret that I'm a Holmes fan so you can imagine my surprise when I came across these 3 in a library rubber-banded and priced together at $1.00. I've allocated the price based on the size of the books.
The Last Sherlock Holmes Story - Michael Dibdin ($10.00/$.50, copyright 1978, 190 pages, Trade Paperback)
Dibdin has set this book in 1888, and it's his contribution to the Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper body of stories. All of the traditional Holmes elements are present. The characters (real and fictional) and the London atmosphere and scenarios feel like Doyle's. In fact, I felt that a lot of the narrative was lifted almost word-for-word from "The Canon" . Also, it starts well after the 3rd murder which seemed strange to me and, I have to admit, I didn't care for the direction that the ending took. It was OK.
Sherlock Holmes and the Egyptian Hall Adventure - Val Andrews ($9.00/$.25, copyright 1993, 112 pages, Trade Paperback)
Andrews has set his story in 1898, after what is called "The Great Hiatus" when Holmes has returned from his "death" and seems more relaxed. Here, he's hired by a magician performing at the Egyptian Hall, a theater for magicians and other similar entertainers. He needs help in recovering a valuable ring he'd borrowed from an audience member during a performance and then lost. Holmes and Watson go to see the act and the magician winds up dead. Andrews gives us contortionists, midgets, locked rooms and Lestrade. It's all great fun. I enjoyed it.
Sherlock Holmes and the Houdini Birthright - Val Andrews ($9.00/$.25, copyright 1995, 160 pages, Trade Paperback)
This one starts in 1922, when Holmes comes out of retirement to help Harry Houdini "rescue" their
mutual friend Arthur Conan Doyle from a crooked spiritualist. (What's interesting here is that Doyle and Houdini were great friends until Doyle's interest in spiritualism drove them apart.) Then, the story jumps ahead to 1927. Houdini is dead but Holmes is asked by the widow Bess to prove that it was murder. It's an interesting problem and there are some great Holmes/Watson moments in England, America, and Europe but the solution is a bit far-fetched. Still, I enjoyed it.
That's it for now. Stay cool, seriously. I think we're in for a long, hot summer. Until next month ...
Keep Reading.
Miscellaneous
The Anatomists - Hal McDonald ($9.99/$.50, copyright 2008, 306 pages, Paperback)
According to the blurb on the cover, this book won truTV's "Search for the Next Great Crime Writer" contest. It's premise is that 2 medical students in 1824 Victorian England arrange to buy a body from a grave robber which was a common practice at the time. The grave that's robbed belongs to a recently deceased, upper-class woman but the body they get is of a man who's been murdered. The 2 students must figure out what happened. For a contest winner, I found it very derivative. The one student - Jean-Claude Legard - is a Frenchman who dabbles in acting and seems to be a combination of Holmes and Poirot. The other - Edward Montague - is the narrator and wannabe Watson, whose name isn't even mentioned until half-way through the book. There's some well-written stuff here and some of the extra characters are interesting, but it feels padded and could have been done in about 200 pages. It was OK.
Zoo - James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge ($10.00/$$.50, copyright 2012, 372 pages, Paperback)
Here's another of Patterson's collaborations. As I've said before, I'm a fan of his but have found his collaborations iffy. This one revolves around a scientist, Jackson Oz, and his unorthodox theory about why animal behavior around the world is changing. No one believes him, of course, until the animals start to attack. I found the beginning slow but the episodes of animal violence around the world are interesting. The lead up to the ending was exciting but I thought that the solution was kind of slapped together and the actual ending I found to be pat. It was OK.
Sherlock Holmes
It's no secret that I'm a Holmes fan so you can imagine my surprise when I came across these 3 in a library rubber-banded and priced together at $1.00. I've allocated the price based on the size of the books.
The Last Sherlock Holmes Story - Michael Dibdin ($10.00/$.50, copyright 1978, 190 pages, Trade Paperback)
Dibdin has set this book in 1888, and it's his contribution to the Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper body of stories. All of the traditional Holmes elements are present. The characters (real and fictional) and the London atmosphere and scenarios feel like Doyle's. In fact, I felt that a lot of the narrative was lifted almost word-for-word from "The Canon" . Also, it starts well after the 3rd murder which seemed strange to me and, I have to admit, I didn't care for the direction that the ending took. It was OK.
Sherlock Holmes and the Egyptian Hall Adventure - Val Andrews ($9.00/$.25, copyright 1993, 112 pages, Trade Paperback)
Andrews has set his story in 1898, after what is called "The Great Hiatus" when Holmes has returned from his "death" and seems more relaxed. Here, he's hired by a magician performing at the Egyptian Hall, a theater for magicians and other similar entertainers. He needs help in recovering a valuable ring he'd borrowed from an audience member during a performance and then lost. Holmes and Watson go to see the act and the magician winds up dead. Andrews gives us contortionists, midgets, locked rooms and Lestrade. It's all great fun. I enjoyed it.
Sherlock Holmes and the Houdini Birthright - Val Andrews ($9.00/$.25, copyright 1995, 160 pages, Trade Paperback)
This one starts in 1922, when Holmes comes out of retirement to help Harry Houdini "rescue" their
mutual friend Arthur Conan Doyle from a crooked spiritualist. (What's interesting here is that Doyle and Houdini were great friends until Doyle's interest in spiritualism drove them apart.) Then, the story jumps ahead to 1927. Houdini is dead but Holmes is asked by the widow Bess to prove that it was murder. It's an interesting problem and there are some great Holmes/Watson moments in England, America, and Europe but the solution is a bit far-fetched. Still, I enjoyed it.
That's it for now. Stay cool, seriously. I think we're in for a long, hot summer. Until next month ...
Keep Reading.
Monday, May 19, 2014
Chapter Fifty-two
The sun is brighter and the days are longer and warmer. That long, harsh winter has faded into memory. And I have quite a mix of books to share with you this month. There are similarities and there are differences but every one of these is interesting in it's own right.
Miscellaneous
Finbar's Hotel - Dermot Bolger ($9.99 IR/$16.88*/$.50, copyright 1997, 273 pages, Trade Paperback)
I don't usually pick up short story collections but I did come across a couple over the last few months that
sounded interesting. This collection is actually Bolger's brainchild and he got 6 other Irish authors to go
along with him. The action (for want of a better word) takes place at a down-at-the-heels hotel in Dublin
over the course of one night. We get the middle-aged married man who'd just like to have something interesting happen to him.There's the art thief who prowls the halls, waiting for some buyers. There's a stereo-typical dying woman. A night manager who gets even with a tormentor from his past. There's triumph and tragedy. It's an interesting mix and they don't tell you who wrote which story (I only know Roddy Doyle so I was at a loss). It's a bit uneven, but I enjoyed it. (* The book was priced in Irish Pounds so I used a conversion rate for the copyright date.)
Series
The Bookwoman's Last Fling - John Dunning ($9.99/$3.99, copyright 2006, 507 pages, Paperback)
I found this on Thrift Books while looking for something else. It's another volume in the Cliff Janeway series. Here he's been hired to evaluate the books left by a deceased woman - a woman who's death is now in question. The books, however, are not the main focus here, just the motive. To find out what happened Cliff finds himself in the world of horse racing. Not the up-front stuff but the behind the scenes doings - the mucking of stables, the warm walking, etc.. There are a lot of red herrings, and I felt that the ending
was way too forced but Dunning does well by the host of characters that people this world. I liked it.
The Striker - Clive Cussler ($9.99/$.50, copyright 2013, 402 pages, Paperback)
Cussler is the James Patterson of action/adventure novels. He has several different series' going on (some
with co-authors), the most notable being the Dirk Pitt series. This book is from his Isaac Bell series.
Bell is a detective with the Van Dorn agency. The story is book ended by sections that take place in 1912, but the bulk of the book is set in 1902. Here Bell is tasked with finding out who's sabotaging mines in
West Virginia. He gets involved with the struggle between the miners and the mine owners (and it's easy
to see which side Cussler is on). The case turns out to be more complicated then it first seems, and
there are fights, explosions, and run away trains keeping the book moving along briskly. I enjoyed it.
Separate From The World - P. L. Gaus ($16.94**/4.50, copyright 2008, 201 pages, Trade Paperback)
This is part of a series set in a college town in Ohio and featuring a professor (Branden), a local preacher (Cal), and the sheriff (Bruce)- life long friends who get involved in different situations. What sets this series apart from similar, small town ones is the presence of a large, local Amish community. This book has a murder, then a suicide, and then a kidnapping. How they interconnect and how the Amish deal with things fill it out. At times the writing seems to be disjointed as if Gaus had left off in some places and when, he came back, started at a different place. But Gaus' treatment of the Amish kept me interested enough to keep going. All in all, I liked it. (** I couldn't find a price anywhere on the book so I got a cover price off of a discount book site that I frequent.)
Well, Summer's on it's way. Some indications are pointing to a real hot one this year. My advise? Crank up the air conditioning, grab a cold drink, and ........
Keep Reading.
Miscellaneous
Finbar's Hotel - Dermot Bolger ($9.99 IR/$16.88*/$.50, copyright 1997, 273 pages, Trade Paperback)
I don't usually pick up short story collections but I did come across a couple over the last few months that
sounded interesting. This collection is actually Bolger's brainchild and he got 6 other Irish authors to go
along with him. The action (for want of a better word) takes place at a down-at-the-heels hotel in Dublin
over the course of one night. We get the middle-aged married man who'd just like to have something interesting happen to him.There's the art thief who prowls the halls, waiting for some buyers. There's a stereo-typical dying woman. A night manager who gets even with a tormentor from his past. There's triumph and tragedy. It's an interesting mix and they don't tell you who wrote which story (I only know Roddy Doyle so I was at a loss). It's a bit uneven, but I enjoyed it. (* The book was priced in Irish Pounds so I used a conversion rate for the copyright date.)
Series
The Bookwoman's Last Fling - John Dunning ($9.99/$3.99, copyright 2006, 507 pages, Paperback)
I found this on Thrift Books while looking for something else. It's another volume in the Cliff Janeway series. Here he's been hired to evaluate the books left by a deceased woman - a woman who's death is now in question. The books, however, are not the main focus here, just the motive. To find out what happened Cliff finds himself in the world of horse racing. Not the up-front stuff but the behind the scenes doings - the mucking of stables, the warm walking, etc.. There are a lot of red herrings, and I felt that the ending
was way too forced but Dunning does well by the host of characters that people this world. I liked it.
The Striker - Clive Cussler ($9.99/$.50, copyright 2013, 402 pages, Paperback)
Cussler is the James Patterson of action/adventure novels. He has several different series' going on (some
with co-authors), the most notable being the Dirk Pitt series. This book is from his Isaac Bell series.
Bell is a detective with the Van Dorn agency. The story is book ended by sections that take place in 1912, but the bulk of the book is set in 1902. Here Bell is tasked with finding out who's sabotaging mines in
West Virginia. He gets involved with the struggle between the miners and the mine owners (and it's easy
to see which side Cussler is on). The case turns out to be more complicated then it first seems, and
there are fights, explosions, and run away trains keeping the book moving along briskly. I enjoyed it.
Separate From The World - P. L. Gaus ($16.94**/4.50, copyright 2008, 201 pages, Trade Paperback)
This is part of a series set in a college town in Ohio and featuring a professor (Branden), a local preacher (Cal), and the sheriff (Bruce)- life long friends who get involved in different situations. What sets this series apart from similar, small town ones is the presence of a large, local Amish community. This book has a murder, then a suicide, and then a kidnapping. How they interconnect and how the Amish deal with things fill it out. At times the writing seems to be disjointed as if Gaus had left off in some places and when, he came back, started at a different place. But Gaus' treatment of the Amish kept me interested enough to keep going. All in all, I liked it. (** I couldn't find a price anywhere on the book so I got a cover price off of a discount book site that I frequent.)
Well, Summer's on it's way. Some indications are pointing to a real hot one this year. My advise? Crank up the air conditioning, grab a cold drink, and ........
Keep Reading.
Friday, April 18, 2014
Chapter Fifty-one
Happy Easter, all!
I hope you're enjoying your Spring, although the weather hasn't been all that cooperative. (After all, we did have snow earlier this week). Still, the days are getting longer and the temperatures are getting warmer. Soon you'll be doing your reading outside. Here are some suggestions for you.
Series
Rebels of Babylon - Owen Parry ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2005, 384 pages, Paperback)
This is another volume in the Abel Jones series from Parry. Jones is a major in the Union army during the Civil War who's tasked by the President to look into certain things. Here, he's been sent to New Orleans to find out how and why the daughter of a rich, political donor from the North wound up dead under embarrassing circumstances. Parry has a great knack for bringing the locale of his stories to life, and he does a great job of writing the dialog in the different "dialects" that exist in that melting pot of New Orleans from the French patois through a lower-class British accent and up
to Jones' Welsh. This one starts off with a chase and never slows down. There are characters that ooze New Orleans. There is a side note of voodoo. There is the negro question. And there is more of Jones religious beliefs and some interesting counterpoints. I enjoyed it.
Murder at Fenway Park - Troy Soos ($14.00/$.50, copyright 1994, 252 pages, Paperback)
Though the opening and closing chapters take place in the present day, the bulk of this novel is done as a flash-back to 1912. Soos' main character is Mickey Rawlings, a utility baseball player just picked up by the Boston Red Sox. He's late getting to Fenway Park for his first day and stumbles across a dead body. That's the set-up. I have to admit that I'm not a big baseball fan, and I know next to nothing about it's history, but Soos seems to. He peoples this story with players and references that I assume are real. And he has a real feel for the times - how people dressed, what things cost, etc. In between traveling from city to city on the hunt for the World Series title, Mickey tries to piece together what happened while dealing with another murder and the suspicions of the police. I enjoyed it.
Rogue Island - Bruce De Silva ($14.99/$3.99, copyright 2010, 302 pages, Trade Paperback)
About a month or so ago, I read a book review in the Star Ledger that was about the most recent book in De Silva's series. I was interested and spent some time trying to find the previous volumes, finally ordering the first one from Thriftbooks. The main character is Liam Mulligan, a reporter for a newspaper in Providence, Rhode Island. He's old school, and has connections on both sides of the law. In this book, He's investigating a string of fires in his old neighborhood and dealing with a soon-to-be ex-wife, a new girlfriend, and politics. Then things get worse. People he knows die in the fires, and his life is threatened. De Silva's characters, in many cases, are stereotypes, but he gives them quirks that set them apart from the usual ones. Especially Mulligan, who's not as tough as he'd like people to think he is. I have to admit that I could see where De Silva was going with some of the characters and situations but I was surprised at the ending. I enjoyed it.
Comic Books
Runaways -Brian K. Vaughan, writer; Adrian Alphona, illustrator (($9.99, $.25, first published in single issues in 2011, issues 1 - 6, Trade Paperback)
Vaughan made a name for himself on two previous series' - "Y: The Last Man" and "Ex Machina", both of which he wrote, and I have to admit that I only read a few issues of each. The "Runaways" was a series he created for Marvel. It revolves around 6 teenagers who only meet when their parents get together several times a year. As it turns out, their parents are a group of Super-villains and the kids have found this out. When the parents find out that they know, the kids are in trouble and they hit the road. Oh, and the kids have all developed powers that they didn't realize until now. I wanted to like this but I found the characters to be one-dimensional and there's no real action. I didn't like it.
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man - Brian Michael Bendis, writer; Sara Pichelli, illustrator ($7.99/$.0, first published in single issues in 2012, issues 1-5, Trade Paperback)
This is not my Spider-Man, nor is it my Marvel. Several years ago, Marvel started the Ultimate line to draw in new readers who might be confused by all the years of back-story that their characters had. But, somewhere along the line, they started to take chances. This is one of them. They killed Peter Parker. And some young kid named Miles Morales - a likable, Hispanic guy - gets bit by a radioactive spider and takes up the mantle. OK, it's not quite that simple and it involves Norman Osborn, Nick Fury, Spider-Woman, Electro and others but, still, the end result is the same. Again, this is not my Spider-Man and I'm pretty sure Marvel has bailed on the whole Ultimate line, but Bendis is a great writer and it flows well. I did find it hard, at times, to follow which way the illustrations went, though. I didn't want to, but I liked it.
I've picked up some really large books recently that look very interesting and I hope to be able to tell you about some of them next month. Until then, go outside and enjoy the Spring and ...
Keep reading.
I hope you're enjoying your Spring, although the weather hasn't been all that cooperative. (After all, we did have snow earlier this week). Still, the days are getting longer and the temperatures are getting warmer. Soon you'll be doing your reading outside. Here are some suggestions for you.
Series
Rebels of Babylon - Owen Parry ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2005, 384 pages, Paperback)
This is another volume in the Abel Jones series from Parry. Jones is a major in the Union army during the Civil War who's tasked by the President to look into certain things. Here, he's been sent to New Orleans to find out how and why the daughter of a rich, political donor from the North wound up dead under embarrassing circumstances. Parry has a great knack for bringing the locale of his stories to life, and he does a great job of writing the dialog in the different "dialects" that exist in that melting pot of New Orleans from the French patois through a lower-class British accent and up
to Jones' Welsh. This one starts off with a chase and never slows down. There are characters that ooze New Orleans. There is a side note of voodoo. There is the negro question. And there is more of Jones religious beliefs and some interesting counterpoints. I enjoyed it.
Murder at Fenway Park - Troy Soos ($14.00/$.50, copyright 1994, 252 pages, Paperback)
Though the opening and closing chapters take place in the present day, the bulk of this novel is done as a flash-back to 1912. Soos' main character is Mickey Rawlings, a utility baseball player just picked up by the Boston Red Sox. He's late getting to Fenway Park for his first day and stumbles across a dead body. That's the set-up. I have to admit that I'm not a big baseball fan, and I know next to nothing about it's history, but Soos seems to. He peoples this story with players and references that I assume are real. And he has a real feel for the times - how people dressed, what things cost, etc. In between traveling from city to city on the hunt for the World Series title, Mickey tries to piece together what happened while dealing with another murder and the suspicions of the police. I enjoyed it.
Rogue Island - Bruce De Silva ($14.99/$3.99, copyright 2010, 302 pages, Trade Paperback)
About a month or so ago, I read a book review in the Star Ledger that was about the most recent book in De Silva's series. I was interested and spent some time trying to find the previous volumes, finally ordering the first one from Thriftbooks. The main character is Liam Mulligan, a reporter for a newspaper in Providence, Rhode Island. He's old school, and has connections on both sides of the law. In this book, He's investigating a string of fires in his old neighborhood and dealing with a soon-to-be ex-wife, a new girlfriend, and politics. Then things get worse. People he knows die in the fires, and his life is threatened. De Silva's characters, in many cases, are stereotypes, but he gives them quirks that set them apart from the usual ones. Especially Mulligan, who's not as tough as he'd like people to think he is. I have to admit that I could see where De Silva was going with some of the characters and situations but I was surprised at the ending. I enjoyed it.
Comic Books
Runaways -Brian K. Vaughan, writer; Adrian Alphona, illustrator (($9.99, $.25, first published in single issues in 2011, issues 1 - 6, Trade Paperback)
Vaughan made a name for himself on two previous series' - "Y: The Last Man" and "Ex Machina", both of which he wrote, and I have to admit that I only read a few issues of each. The "Runaways" was a series he created for Marvel. It revolves around 6 teenagers who only meet when their parents get together several times a year. As it turns out, their parents are a group of Super-villains and the kids have found this out. When the parents find out that they know, the kids are in trouble and they hit the road. Oh, and the kids have all developed powers that they didn't realize until now. I wanted to like this but I found the characters to be one-dimensional and there's no real action. I didn't like it.
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man - Brian Michael Bendis, writer; Sara Pichelli, illustrator ($7.99/$.0, first published in single issues in 2012, issues 1-5, Trade Paperback)
This is not my Spider-Man, nor is it my Marvel. Several years ago, Marvel started the Ultimate line to draw in new readers who might be confused by all the years of back-story that their characters had. But, somewhere along the line, they started to take chances. This is one of them. They killed Peter Parker. And some young kid named Miles Morales - a likable, Hispanic guy - gets bit by a radioactive spider and takes up the mantle. OK, it's not quite that simple and it involves Norman Osborn, Nick Fury, Spider-Woman, Electro and others but, still, the end result is the same. Again, this is not my Spider-Man and I'm pretty sure Marvel has bailed on the whole Ultimate line, but Bendis is a great writer and it flows well. I did find it hard, at times, to follow which way the illustrations went, though. I didn't want to, but I liked it.
I've picked up some really large books recently that look very interesting and I hope to be able to tell you about some of them next month. Until then, go outside and enjoy the Spring and ...
Keep reading.
Friday, March 21, 2014
Chapter Fifty
We made it!
It's March and the long winter is over (although I understand that there's another storm coming in Tuesday into Wednesday). Still, the sun is out and the temperature may hit 60 tomorrow. I'll take it. Now for the books that kept me going during the last few weeks.
Series
Chinaman's Chance - Ross Thomas (95 pence ($2.50)/ $.25, first published in England in 1978, 318 pages, Paperback)
This is the first appearance of Artie Woo - the fat man who claims to be the rightful emperor of China - and his friend Quincy Durant - the thinner one, who's past is shown by the scars on his back. They've been together since they escaped from an orphanage when they were 14. They are hired by a wealthy guy to find his wife's sister - both women having had been members of a popular female trio back in the day. It seems like easy money to the guys, but Thomas throws in grifters, the CIA, and millions of missing dollars. I'll say this for Ross, he really knows how to create some very memorable characters. There's suspense here and a whole lot of humor. I enjoyed it.
Treasure Hunt - John Lescroart ($9.99/$.50, copyright 2010, 434 pages, Paperback)
I wasn't impressed with the first book in this series but I am a big fan of Lescroart so I gave it another try. The focus here is on Wyatt Hunt and his detective agency - The Hunt Club - which has fallen on hard times. The action revolves around his "junior" associate Mickey Dade, who stumbles on to the body of a bigshot in the charity business and comes up with a way to try and save Wyatt's agency. Unfortunately, It doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Some of Lescroart's other series characters make appearances here, including his most famous - Dismas Hardy - but they don't really help, and there's way too much attention paid to Mickey's hoped-for career as a chef for me. I stuck it out till the end and - I have to admit - that was pretty good. But, all in all, I didn't like it.
Miscellaneous
Cathedral - Nelson DeMille ($7.99/$.50, copyright 1981, 575 pages, Paperback)
I've finally gotten around to reading a DeMille book and I'm gonna have to go out and find some more. I picked this one up last month and read it right away due to the subject matter. It takes place on St. Patrick's Day in New York City and, while the city celebrates and the parade goes on, a group of former IRA members take over St. Patrick's Cathedral, demanding the release of family and friends from prison. DeMille has created some great characters from all sides of the situation including the police and the hostages - specifically Brian Flynn as the leader of the IRA men. The chapters move back and forth between all the players, and the action and suspense build nicely. Plus, DeMille blends in some great historical information about the "Struggles" and the Cathedral itself. I enjoyed it.
Next up - Spring! And there are some family celebrations coming up that I'm looking forward to.
Get out in the sun everyone and ...
Keep reading!
It's March and the long winter is over (although I understand that there's another storm coming in Tuesday into Wednesday). Still, the sun is out and the temperature may hit 60 tomorrow. I'll take it. Now for the books that kept me going during the last few weeks.
Series
Chinaman's Chance - Ross Thomas (95 pence ($2.50)/ $.25, first published in England in 1978, 318 pages, Paperback)
This is the first appearance of Artie Woo - the fat man who claims to be the rightful emperor of China - and his friend Quincy Durant - the thinner one, who's past is shown by the scars on his back. They've been together since they escaped from an orphanage when they were 14. They are hired by a wealthy guy to find his wife's sister - both women having had been members of a popular female trio back in the day. It seems like easy money to the guys, but Thomas throws in grifters, the CIA, and millions of missing dollars. I'll say this for Ross, he really knows how to create some very memorable characters. There's suspense here and a whole lot of humor. I enjoyed it.
Treasure Hunt - John Lescroart ($9.99/$.50, copyright 2010, 434 pages, Paperback)
I wasn't impressed with the first book in this series but I am a big fan of Lescroart so I gave it another try. The focus here is on Wyatt Hunt and his detective agency - The Hunt Club - which has fallen on hard times. The action revolves around his "junior" associate Mickey Dade, who stumbles on to the body of a bigshot in the charity business and comes up with a way to try and save Wyatt's agency. Unfortunately, It doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Some of Lescroart's other series characters make appearances here, including his most famous - Dismas Hardy - but they don't really help, and there's way too much attention paid to Mickey's hoped-for career as a chef for me. I stuck it out till the end and - I have to admit - that was pretty good. But, all in all, I didn't like it.
Miscellaneous
Cathedral - Nelson DeMille ($7.99/$.50, copyright 1981, 575 pages, Paperback)
I've finally gotten around to reading a DeMille book and I'm gonna have to go out and find some more. I picked this one up last month and read it right away due to the subject matter. It takes place on St. Patrick's Day in New York City and, while the city celebrates and the parade goes on, a group of former IRA members take over St. Patrick's Cathedral, demanding the release of family and friends from prison. DeMille has created some great characters from all sides of the situation including the police and the hostages - specifically Brian Flynn as the leader of the IRA men. The chapters move back and forth between all the players, and the action and suspense build nicely. Plus, DeMille blends in some great historical information about the "Struggles" and the Cathedral itself. I enjoyed it.
Next up - Spring! And there are some family celebrations coming up that I'm looking forward to.
Get out in the sun everyone and ...
Keep reading!
Friday, February 21, 2014
Chapter Forty-nine
Well, it's almost the end of February and I'm happy to see it go. It's been a tough one considering that my car was buried by the plows during the first storm and I've had to rely on local stores and family. But, they say this weekend should be warm and I'm hoping to dig out tomorrow. And Spring is just around the corner. And St. Patrick's Day, too, so there's hope in sight.
Let me tell you about what I've been reading to occupy myself.
Series
Lost on Venus - Edgar Rice Burroughs ($2.75/$3.95, 224 pages, Paperback)
This is the second in the Carson Napier series and picks up where the first one left off. He's been captured by the enemy and must escape in order to go after the Princess, Duare. This is the literary equivalent to an Indiana Jones movie - with the hero bouncing from one predicament to another - including the River of Death and a mad scientist and his kingdom of zombies. This is a classic Burroughs' book but there's an element of humor and it's a bit more political then I've seen from him. I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
The Barbed-wire Kiss - Wallace Stroby ($6.99/$.50, copyright 2003, 334 pages, Paperback)
What drew me to this book is that it's set along the Jersey shore, specifically southern Monmouth and Ocean counties. But this is not the "Jersey Shore" that was seen on TV. This is the shore of boarded up buildings and blue collar workers in places like Asbury Park that rubs up against the white collar, new money set of Colt's Neck. It's about ex-cop Harry Rane who tries to help his boyhood friend Bobby out of a jam. Bobby's problem is a drug deal gone bad, and now he owes a local mobster money. Stroby keeps things moving along briskly and throws in lost loves, mafia connections, double crosses, violence, and revenge that make for a satisfying read. I enjoyed it.
Spade & Archer - Joe Gores ($15.00/$0, copyright 2009, 337 pages, Trade Paperback)
I'm not a fan of a writer signing on to do a sequel to a deceased writer's classic work like what was done to "Gone With The Wind". I'm also not a fan of continuing with a popular character even after the creating writer has passed on (James Bond, for example). This is a slightly different situation. Gores has created a prequel to Dashiell Hammett's "The Maltese Falcon" and gives some interesting background to Sam Spade and his detective agency. Gores actually wrote a fictionalized book about Hammett and his career so I was willing to give this a shot. What we have is a series of cases that get more and more complicated as Spade builds his reputation. The characters ring true (even if, like me, you envision Bogart as Spade) and there's a master criminal involved that makes things even more interesting. I enjoyed it.
I was watching the weather while writing this. There's another cold front coming in on Monday with, maybe, more snow by Wednesday. I'm really tired of this. But it's the weather and there's nothing we can do about it except carry on and ...
Keep reading.
Let me tell you about what I've been reading to occupy myself.
Series
Lost on Venus - Edgar Rice Burroughs ($2.75/$3.95, 224 pages, Paperback)
This is the second in the Carson Napier series and picks up where the first one left off. He's been captured by the enemy and must escape in order to go after the Princess, Duare. This is the literary equivalent to an Indiana Jones movie - with the hero bouncing from one predicament to another - including the River of Death and a mad scientist and his kingdom of zombies. This is a classic Burroughs' book but there's an element of humor and it's a bit more political then I've seen from him. I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
The Barbed-wire Kiss - Wallace Stroby ($6.99/$.50, copyright 2003, 334 pages, Paperback)
What drew me to this book is that it's set along the Jersey shore, specifically southern Monmouth and Ocean counties. But this is not the "Jersey Shore" that was seen on TV. This is the shore of boarded up buildings and blue collar workers in places like Asbury Park that rubs up against the white collar, new money set of Colt's Neck. It's about ex-cop Harry Rane who tries to help his boyhood friend Bobby out of a jam. Bobby's problem is a drug deal gone bad, and now he owes a local mobster money. Stroby keeps things moving along briskly and throws in lost loves, mafia connections, double crosses, violence, and revenge that make for a satisfying read. I enjoyed it.
Spade & Archer - Joe Gores ($15.00/$0, copyright 2009, 337 pages, Trade Paperback)
I'm not a fan of a writer signing on to do a sequel to a deceased writer's classic work like what was done to "Gone With The Wind". I'm also not a fan of continuing with a popular character even after the creating writer has passed on (James Bond, for example). This is a slightly different situation. Gores has created a prequel to Dashiell Hammett's "The Maltese Falcon" and gives some interesting background to Sam Spade and his detective agency. Gores actually wrote a fictionalized book about Hammett and his career so I was willing to give this a shot. What we have is a series of cases that get more and more complicated as Spade builds his reputation. The characters ring true (even if, like me, you envision Bogart as Spade) and there's a master criminal involved that makes things even more interesting. I enjoyed it.
I was watching the weather while writing this. There's another cold front coming in on Monday with, maybe, more snow by Wednesday. I'm really tired of this. But it's the weather and there's nothing we can do about it except carry on and ...
Keep reading.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Chapter Forty-eight
Happy New Year!
We made it through the holiday season and into 2014 unscathed, but I can't say I'm too happy with it so far. It's been nothing but heavy snow storms and sub-zero temperatures. Still, it is winter - just a worse one then we've had for a while. Let me tell you about a couple of books you might want to hunker down with until Spring.
Series
Drown All The Dogs - Thomas Adcock ( $5.50/$.25, copyright 1994, 342 pages, Paperback)
This is part of a series that I recently came across. The main character is Neil Hockaday - Hock - an Irish-American detective with the NYPD. In this volume, Hock and his girlfriend Ruby - an African-American actress - fly to Ireland to visit his dying uncle, Liam. Hock is hoping to find out more about his father who died when he was very young. While he's dealing with this, there are a series of murders, suicides, and assaults that take place on both sides of the Atlantic. Of course, as in all books involving The Irish, there's a lot of drinking and a lot of politics. The payoff is interesting but the characters are such stereo-types that I couldn't bring myself to invest in any of them. It was OK.
Dark of The Moon - John Sanford ($9.99/$.50, copyright 2007, 418 pages, Paperback)
Sanford is more popularly known for his Lucas Davenport series of "Prey" novels involving the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Here, he's spun off a subordinate character in those novels - Lucas Flowers - and taken the action out of the city and into the country. Flowers is a laid-back kind of guy given to wearing rock T-shirts and liking women. He's sent to the small town of Bluestem to investigate the murder of a retired doctor and his wife and comes across several other murders. It's interesting to see how Flowers works his way into the lives of the locals while building up a whole list of suspects and Sanford throws in some misdirection to keep things moving along. There's not much action until the very end, but it's all tied up neatly. I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
Mr. Arkadin - Orson Welles ($3.50/$2.10, copyright 1956, 256 pages, Paperback)
Yes. That Orson Welles. As I understand it, Mr. Arkadin was the last movie that Welles produced and directed and this was his own novel on which he based the screenplay. The main character, Guy van Stratten, is a small-time smuggler in Europe and Mr. Arkadin is one of the richest men in the world. But, Arkadin claims to have amnesia and doesn't remember a large chunk of his past so he hires van Stratten to look into it. It's an easy 10 Grand until the people that he's interviewed
start dying and Van Stratten starts to get suspicious. It's a pretty good noir novel, but I did some checking and there seems to be some doubt as to Welles' authorship. There's also speculation that it's adapted from several episodes of a radio series "The Lives of Harry Lime" (which Welles wrote and performed in) and that Arkadin is based on the Harry Lime character (Lime being Welles' role in "The Third Man"). Still, I enjoyed it.
That's it for now. I better get started on the next book since February is a short month.
It's cold out there so stay inside, stay warm, and...
Keep Reading!
We made it through the holiday season and into 2014 unscathed, but I can't say I'm too happy with it so far. It's been nothing but heavy snow storms and sub-zero temperatures. Still, it is winter - just a worse one then we've had for a while. Let me tell you about a couple of books you might want to hunker down with until Spring.
Series
Drown All The Dogs - Thomas Adcock ( $5.50/$.25, copyright 1994, 342 pages, Paperback)
This is part of a series that I recently came across. The main character is Neil Hockaday - Hock - an Irish-American detective with the NYPD. In this volume, Hock and his girlfriend Ruby - an African-American actress - fly to Ireland to visit his dying uncle, Liam. Hock is hoping to find out more about his father who died when he was very young. While he's dealing with this, there are a series of murders, suicides, and assaults that take place on both sides of the Atlantic. Of course, as in all books involving The Irish, there's a lot of drinking and a lot of politics. The payoff is interesting but the characters are such stereo-types that I couldn't bring myself to invest in any of them. It was OK.
Dark of The Moon - John Sanford ($9.99/$.50, copyright 2007, 418 pages, Paperback)
Sanford is more popularly known for his Lucas Davenport series of "Prey" novels involving the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Here, he's spun off a subordinate character in those novels - Lucas Flowers - and taken the action out of the city and into the country. Flowers is a laid-back kind of guy given to wearing rock T-shirts and liking women. He's sent to the small town of Bluestem to investigate the murder of a retired doctor and his wife and comes across several other murders. It's interesting to see how Flowers works his way into the lives of the locals while building up a whole list of suspects and Sanford throws in some misdirection to keep things moving along. There's not much action until the very end, but it's all tied up neatly. I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
Mr. Arkadin - Orson Welles ($3.50/$2.10, copyright 1956, 256 pages, Paperback)
Yes. That Orson Welles. As I understand it, Mr. Arkadin was the last movie that Welles produced and directed and this was his own novel on which he based the screenplay. The main character, Guy van Stratten, is a small-time smuggler in Europe and Mr. Arkadin is one of the richest men in the world. But, Arkadin claims to have amnesia and doesn't remember a large chunk of his past so he hires van Stratten to look into it. It's an easy 10 Grand until the people that he's interviewed
start dying and Van Stratten starts to get suspicious. It's a pretty good noir novel, but I did some checking and there seems to be some doubt as to Welles' authorship. There's also speculation that it's adapted from several episodes of a radio series "The Lives of Harry Lime" (which Welles wrote and performed in) and that Arkadin is based on the Harry Lime character (Lime being Welles' role in "The Third Man"). Still, I enjoyed it.
That's it for now. I better get started on the next book since February is a short month.
It's cold out there so stay inside, stay warm, and...
Keep Reading!
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