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!
