I've been putting this Chapter off because I haven't been in much of a mood to read over the last few months. No need to go into that now but last month I did mention that I'd started bringing a book to my chemo sessions (there's a lot of sitting around). I actually got through 80 pages then. I finished that book this month and started on a second. I thought I'd share the story about why I chose this book.
I was having some soup (actually broth only) in the Living Room while watching the afternoon news. I was looking around while it cooled off a little when I noticed 2 books on one of the shelves. They were by the same author and I remember picking them up at a library sale in Woodbridge about a year ago. What attracted me to them was the fact that they took place in The Bronx, my hometown. I started with the one with the oldest copyright date,
Series
Bronx Angel - Ed Dee ($6.50/$.50, copyright 1995, 350 pages, Paperback)
The basic plot is simple enough. A young cop is found dead with his pants around his ankles on a back street in The Bronx. Nearby, water has seeped through a retaining wall and frozen into what the locals believe is an angel. Police Detectives Anthony Ryan and Joe Gregory get assigned to the case and they have some ideas about how to pursue it but an ambitious boss has other ideas. She has them working nights interviewing prostitutes and investigating a sex club for transvestites. Along the way they have to deal with what may be a gang of rogue cops and Gregory's running for President of the Hibernian Society. All this while they ride around a Bronx that was very familiar to me. Ryan is the narrator and we learn a lot about his past, especially what he regrets, while he and Gregory try to make sense of the murder and it's aftermath. Dee is a retired cop and he must've worked in The Bronx because his characters and locations ring true. I enjoyed it.
I've started the other Dee book I had and have gotten through 98 pages. I noticed that "Bronx Angel" is actually the second book in the series and the one I'm reading is the third. I'm enjoying these so much that I ordered a copy of the first of the series from a Discount site that I use. It came in over the weekend,
One book is a start. I'm hoping next month that I can tell you about two or more.
I hope you had a Great Christmas. I wish you a Happy and Healthy New Year. And, until next month …
Keep Reading.
Wednesday, December 26, 2018
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Bookmark 2
I took a "time out" last month because of the various medical issues I had to deal with. I'm now half-way through the chemo and the radiation and now I've developed another problem - I can't swallow anything solid.
I spoke with the Radiologist yesterday and I agreed to have a feeding tube installed. I have to meet with a Gastroenterologist with a local office. We went back and forth on the timing of the meeting but finally agreed on 2:45 Friday (after the chemo). He's only in this office Mondays and Fridays with afternoon appointments so I'm hoping he does his surgical procedures in the mornings and I can get mine done Monday.
Also, I called my Cardiologist to tell them that I can't swallow anything hard which includes most of my pills - specifically the Potassium, Calcium, and Magnesium. She told me that I could crush the Potassium and take it with Apple Sauce, Then she said she'd ask their pharmacist about what to do with the others. I haven't heard back yet.
I'll continue with my treatments and wait for some answers.
I did have several books that I tried getting into since last month. They were part of a batch of mystery/espionage titles that I picked up a couple of months ago. I've tried picking them up again but I still can't get interested.
A Small Town in Germany - John LeCarre
I first read this book back in '78.I was called for Jury Duty in The Bronx and during a break walked down the street and picked this up in a convenience store. I remembered it being pretty good.
Trouble Is My Business - Raymond Chandler
I don't normally read short story collections but this is more of a series of novelettes revolving around the classic detective Philip Marlowe. It's classic Chandler but I can't seem to get into it.
Funeral in Berlin - Len Deighton
This is one of those books that I've always wanted to read and, now that I have the opportunity, I can't.
I brought a book with me to my chemo session last week and have made some progress. I've read about 80 pages so far and will probably read some more later on. Maybe I've turned a corner. I hope so.
Anyway, I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! December is up next and with it - Christmas!
Till then...
Keep Reading!
I spoke with the Radiologist yesterday and I agreed to have a feeding tube installed. I have to meet with a Gastroenterologist with a local office. We went back and forth on the timing of the meeting but finally agreed on 2:45 Friday (after the chemo). He's only in this office Mondays and Fridays with afternoon appointments so I'm hoping he does his surgical procedures in the mornings and I can get mine done Monday.
Also, I called my Cardiologist to tell them that I can't swallow anything hard which includes most of my pills - specifically the Potassium, Calcium, and Magnesium. She told me that I could crush the Potassium and take it with Apple Sauce, Then she said she'd ask their pharmacist about what to do with the others. I haven't heard back yet.
I'll continue with my treatments and wait for some answers.
I did have several books that I tried getting into since last month. They were part of a batch of mystery/espionage titles that I picked up a couple of months ago. I've tried picking them up again but I still can't get interested.
A Small Town in Germany - John LeCarre
I first read this book back in '78.I was called for Jury Duty in The Bronx and during a break walked down the street and picked this up in a convenience store. I remembered it being pretty good.
Trouble Is My Business - Raymond Chandler
I don't normally read short story collections but this is more of a series of novelettes revolving around the classic detective Philip Marlowe. It's classic Chandler but I can't seem to get into it.
Funeral in Berlin - Len Deighton
This is one of those books that I've always wanted to read and, now that I have the opportunity, I can't.
I brought a book with me to my chemo session last week and have made some progress. I've read about 80 pages so far and will probably read some more later on. Maybe I've turned a corner. I hope so.
Anyway, I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! December is up next and with it - Christmas!
Till then...
Keep Reading!
Monday, October 29, 2018
Bookmark
I've mentioned before that I usually have more then 1 book that I'm reading at any given time. Right now I have 4 - 3 on my night table and 1 on the table next to my recliner in the Living Room. I haven't been able to finish any of them.
Since my last "Chapter" I've had 15 different doctor visits and medical tests that took up most of the month. Some were scheduled and some came up as a result of others. I've tried to read but I keep getting distracted.
There's some treatments that I have to deal with and I've got them scheduled over the next month and a half. There are some questions that I still have for the doctors that I'm dealing with but I'm gonna have to go forward with the treatment anyway.
I intend to get back to finishing the books I mentioned earlier. Hopefully you'll hear about them next month. Until then ……
Keep reading.
Since my last "Chapter" I've had 15 different doctor visits and medical tests that took up most of the month. Some were scheduled and some came up as a result of others. I've tried to read but I keep getting distracted.
There's some treatments that I have to deal with and I've got them scheduled over the next month and a half. There are some questions that I still have for the doctors that I'm dealing with but I'm gonna have to go forward with the treatment anyway.
I intend to get back to finishing the books I mentioned earlier. Hopefully you'll hear about them next month. Until then ……
Keep reading.
Monday, September 24, 2018
Chapter Ninety-nine
It was a long, hot summer but we've made it to September and some cooler, much welcome, weather. My local Library has a set of shelves in the lobby that hold their sale books. They're 4 for $1.00. I've been stopping by every now and then but there wasn't anything interesting until last month. They must've gotten a donation of old mystery/adventure books and I spent $3.00 on a random selection. Here's the first few.
Series
Confessional - Jack Higgins ($.25/$6.99, copyright 1985, 293 pages, Paperback)
I've read a few of Higgins' books over the years and always enjoyed them. I'm considering this as a part of a series because the protagonist is a character that he's use in 3 other novels. Liam Devlin is a former IRA gunman and German spy who was once sent to England in a plot to kidnap Winston Churchill. He's an antihero with a silvery Irish tongue and a ready wit despite being a well-honed killer. In this book, Devlin is recruited by British intelligence to ferret out an unknown assassin who has used murder to sabotage peace efforts in strife-torn Northern Ireland for decades. Neither Devlin nor British intelligence know the assassin is Michail Kelly, an Irish-born Soviet agent whose has literally been living under their very noses. With Britain and Argentina at war over the Falkland Islands, Kelly sets out to sabotage a last minute peace effort by assassinating the man responsible for organizing it--the Pope. Thus the stage is set for an action-jammed manhunt ranging all throughout the United Kingdom. Higgins' characters are never caricatures and he knows how to build suspense until he reaches a typically satisfying ending. I enjoyed it.
The Case of the Half-Wakened Wife - Erle Stanley Gardner ($.25/$3.95, copyright 1945, 245 pages, Paperback)
This is the first Perry Mason book that I've ever read - although I grew up watching his various incarnations on TV (specifically Raymond Burr's). All the main characters are here - Perry, Della (his secretary), Paul (his investigator), and Lt. Tragg - although their physical descriptions are different from the TV portrayals. Here, Perry joins a woman named Jane on her yacht to meet with her sisters and some businessmen. She wants to sell an island and share the money with her family but there are oil right issues that Perry is there to figure out. There is the obligatory foggy night and Perry hears a scream followed by him seeing an armed woman run by. Some clues lead Perry to accuse someone which turns out to be a mistake and he winds up getting fired and getting sued. It's complicated but Garner pulls it all together in the end. Two things: there's a relationship here between Perry and Della that was never addressed on TV and the language is very formal/stilted which took away from the enjoyment. I liked it.
Nightcrawlers - Bill Pronzini ($.25/$6.99, copyright 2005, 301 pages, Paperback)
I don't recall having read anything by Pronzini before but I'll keep my eye out from now on. This is a part of series about a "Nameless" detective who started as sort of a Lone Wolf but now works with a couple of partners. There's Jake Runyon, a (younger version of himself) and Tamara Corbin (the office manager who tries to get out in the field). In this book the "Nameless" detective is now referred to as Bill and he's trying to track down his dying friend's mother-in-law to deliver a package. Jake is trying to help his estranged son by finding whoever is severely beating gay men. Tamara is looking for a dead-beat dad and winds up getting kidnapped so Bill and Jake set out to help. Pronzini does a great job with these characters. They work well together but they also work well as stand-alones, each with their own back story. He's good with location details and the plot moves along briskly. I enjoyed it.
The A. B. C. Murders - Agatha Christie ($.25/$4.99, copyright 1935, 184 pages, Paperback)
I've read a few of Christie's books many years ago and didn't really care for them. Still, this one sounded interesting and the price was right. There's a serial killer on the loose and each of his victims has been in a different town starting at Andover then working him way alphabetically through the ABC Railroad Guide. He's gotten away with 3 before he makes the mistake of challenging Hercule Poirot to stop him. Of course, Poirot is intrigued and comes out of retirement to catch him. What follows is a complicated "catch me if you can" story. Christie has always had a great way with plots and plot twists and her writing style can only be described as elegant. Still, for some reason, I just don't like Poirot. It was OK.
October is coming. The weather should get cooler. The leaves will change colors then fall. The days will get shorter. And Halloween will come. Maybe I can find a few Horror Books to read. Till then ..
Keep reading!
Series
Confessional - Jack Higgins ($.25/$6.99, copyright 1985, 293 pages, Paperback)
I've read a few of Higgins' books over the years and always enjoyed them. I'm considering this as a part of a series because the protagonist is a character that he's use in 3 other novels. Liam Devlin is a former IRA gunman and German spy who was once sent to England in a plot to kidnap Winston Churchill. He's an antihero with a silvery Irish tongue and a ready wit despite being a well-honed killer. In this book, Devlin is recruited by British intelligence to ferret out an unknown assassin who has used murder to sabotage peace efforts in strife-torn Northern Ireland for decades. Neither Devlin nor British intelligence know the assassin is Michail Kelly, an Irish-born Soviet agent whose has literally been living under their very noses. With Britain and Argentina at war over the Falkland Islands, Kelly sets out to sabotage a last minute peace effort by assassinating the man responsible for organizing it--the Pope. Thus the stage is set for an action-jammed manhunt ranging all throughout the United Kingdom. Higgins' characters are never caricatures and he knows how to build suspense until he reaches a typically satisfying ending. I enjoyed it.
The Case of the Half-Wakened Wife - Erle Stanley Gardner ($.25/$3.95, copyright 1945, 245 pages, Paperback)
This is the first Perry Mason book that I've ever read - although I grew up watching his various incarnations on TV (specifically Raymond Burr's). All the main characters are here - Perry, Della (his secretary), Paul (his investigator), and Lt. Tragg - although their physical descriptions are different from the TV portrayals. Here, Perry joins a woman named Jane on her yacht to meet with her sisters and some businessmen. She wants to sell an island and share the money with her family but there are oil right issues that Perry is there to figure out. There is the obligatory foggy night and Perry hears a scream followed by him seeing an armed woman run by. Some clues lead Perry to accuse someone which turns out to be a mistake and he winds up getting fired and getting sued. It's complicated but Garner pulls it all together in the end. Two things: there's a relationship here between Perry and Della that was never addressed on TV and the language is very formal/stilted which took away from the enjoyment. I liked it.
Nightcrawlers - Bill Pronzini ($.25/$6.99, copyright 2005, 301 pages, Paperback)
I don't recall having read anything by Pronzini before but I'll keep my eye out from now on. This is a part of series about a "Nameless" detective who started as sort of a Lone Wolf but now works with a couple of partners. There's Jake Runyon, a (younger version of himself) and Tamara Corbin (the office manager who tries to get out in the field). In this book the "Nameless" detective is now referred to as Bill and he's trying to track down his dying friend's mother-in-law to deliver a package. Jake is trying to help his estranged son by finding whoever is severely beating gay men. Tamara is looking for a dead-beat dad and winds up getting kidnapped so Bill and Jake set out to help. Pronzini does a great job with these characters. They work well together but they also work well as stand-alones, each with their own back story. He's good with location details and the plot moves along briskly. I enjoyed it.
The A. B. C. Murders - Agatha Christie ($.25/$4.99, copyright 1935, 184 pages, Paperback)
I've read a few of Christie's books many years ago and didn't really care for them. Still, this one sounded interesting and the price was right. There's a serial killer on the loose and each of his victims has been in a different town starting at Andover then working him way alphabetically through the ABC Railroad Guide. He's gotten away with 3 before he makes the mistake of challenging Hercule Poirot to stop him. Of course, Poirot is intrigued and comes out of retirement to catch him. What follows is a complicated "catch me if you can" story. Christie has always had a great way with plots and plot twists and her writing style can only be described as elegant. Still, for some reason, I just don't like Poirot. It was OK.
October is coming. The weather should get cooler. The leaves will change colors then fall. The days will get shorter. And Halloween will come. Maybe I can find a few Horror Books to read. Till then ..
Keep reading!
Thursday, August 30, 2018
Chapter Ninety-eight
It's been a rough month. If it wasn't raining and humid it was sunny, hot, and humid. I would go out early and get back home by 9:30 AM because my Cardiologist doesn't want me to be out in this heat. So, I've been home most days working on a few things and reading a few books. Here's what I got through this month.
Series
The Unquiet - John Connolly ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2007, 515 pages, Paperback)
I've read several of Connolly's Charlie Parker books over the years. He is an ex-New York Police Officer now working as a Private Investigator because he handled a personal loss badly. While chasing the killer of his wife and daughter, he hires on to help Rebecca Clay, a young mother, to chase away Frank Merrick (a stalker who calls himself "Revenger") who wants to know where her father is. Everything leads Parker to Gilead, Maine, where a cult has been suspected of child abuse. This book is a bit dark and there are some supernatural elements that I didn't care for. Also, Connolly spends a lot of time allowing Parker to wallow in his private sorrows. And, in my opinion, it's about 100 pages too long. Still, Parker is a great character, and his supporting cast - including Louis (a large black man and ex-hit man) and Angel (a skinny, white ex-thief) who happen to be lovers back him up and bring some comic relief. It took me a while to get through this but I have to admit that Connolly can write and I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
Gone For Good - Harlan Coben ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2002, 417 pages, Paperback)
I'm a big fan of Coben's work. He writes a series about a Sport's Agent named Myron Bolitar who has an interesting past and some quirky friends. But he's also written several stand-alones all centered in New Jersey. The main character here is Will Klein who grew up idolizing his older brother Ken. Ken was the fierce Tennis Player who palled around with John Asselta the Wrestler, and Mcguanne the Student Council President. Everything seems idyllic until one night a young woman was found brutally murdered in her family's basement. The Prime Suspect - Ken Klein. With the evidence mounting against him, Ken vanished. Now, eleven years later, Will finds proof that Ken is still alive and he must face some startling truths about his brother, his brother's friends, and himself. Coben has created an interesting mystery and populated it with characters that ring true. He placed all this in a suburb of Livingston - a bedroom community of well-watered lawns, Little Leagues, and Soccer Moms. I'm guessing that when Coben wrote this he thought that a murder set in this kind of setting would be shocking but now, 16 years later, it isn't. Still, the suspense level is maintained throughout and it had a great ending. I enjoyed it.
Off The Shelf
The Vicar of Christ - Walter F. Murphy ($2.95/$2.95, copyright 1979, 760 pages, Paperback)
You know how it goes, I was looking for one thing and found another. My Brother-in-law recommended this book to me back in the early '80's and I went right out and bought it. It's a bit far-fetched but it is conceivable. The main character is Declan Walsh and the author's approach to the story is interesting - he sets it up as 3 separate interviews conducted by a Reporter. He's looking for some background on a man who was a Medal of Honor winner from the Korean War, then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court ho resigned that post when his wife dies. He joins a Monastery as a Monk and ends up being elected Pope. (I did mention that it was far-fetched). The man in question is Declan Walsh. The first interviewee is a former Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant who liked Walsh. He speaks about Walsh's time as a Battalion Commander and the difficult decisions that he had to make. Murphy does a great job of depicting what Walsh and his men went through during that conflict. The second interviewee is a fellow Supreme Court Justice who didn't like Walsh. Murphy gives us some insight into the Court's decision-making process and gives us a depiction of Walsh giving serious attention to situations that don't really matter anymore. The Third interviewee is a Cardinal who was indifferent to Walsh. This section doesn't address any serious issues but does bring us into the Vatican and shows us some of the infighting and ideological differences that happen there. (Side Note: when Walsh is elected Pope he chooses the name Francesco I. Remind you of anyone?). Murphy's writing style is simple and entertaining and he's created some great characters. I enjoyed it.
It's late August and we're in another heat wave. Hopefully we'll get some relief soon. The Labor Day Weekend is up next. Enjoy whatever you do and …
Keep Reading.
Series
The Unquiet - John Connolly ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2007, 515 pages, Paperback)
I've read several of Connolly's Charlie Parker books over the years. He is an ex-New York Police Officer now working as a Private Investigator because he handled a personal loss badly. While chasing the killer of his wife and daughter, he hires on to help Rebecca Clay, a young mother, to chase away Frank Merrick (a stalker who calls himself "Revenger") who wants to know where her father is. Everything leads Parker to Gilead, Maine, where a cult has been suspected of child abuse. This book is a bit dark and there are some supernatural elements that I didn't care for. Also, Connolly spends a lot of time allowing Parker to wallow in his private sorrows. And, in my opinion, it's about 100 pages too long. Still, Parker is a great character, and his supporting cast - including Louis (a large black man and ex-hit man) and Angel (a skinny, white ex-thief) who happen to be lovers back him up and bring some comic relief. It took me a while to get through this but I have to admit that Connolly can write and I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
Gone For Good - Harlan Coben ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2002, 417 pages, Paperback)
I'm a big fan of Coben's work. He writes a series about a Sport's Agent named Myron Bolitar who has an interesting past and some quirky friends. But he's also written several stand-alones all centered in New Jersey. The main character here is Will Klein who grew up idolizing his older brother Ken. Ken was the fierce Tennis Player who palled around with John Asselta the Wrestler, and Mcguanne the Student Council President. Everything seems idyllic until one night a young woman was found brutally murdered in her family's basement. The Prime Suspect - Ken Klein. With the evidence mounting against him, Ken vanished. Now, eleven years later, Will finds proof that Ken is still alive and he must face some startling truths about his brother, his brother's friends, and himself. Coben has created an interesting mystery and populated it with characters that ring true. He placed all this in a suburb of Livingston - a bedroom community of well-watered lawns, Little Leagues, and Soccer Moms. I'm guessing that when Coben wrote this he thought that a murder set in this kind of setting would be shocking but now, 16 years later, it isn't. Still, the suspense level is maintained throughout and it had a great ending. I enjoyed it.
Off The Shelf
The Vicar of Christ - Walter F. Murphy ($2.95/$2.95, copyright 1979, 760 pages, Paperback)
You know how it goes, I was looking for one thing and found another. My Brother-in-law recommended this book to me back in the early '80's and I went right out and bought it. It's a bit far-fetched but it is conceivable. The main character is Declan Walsh and the author's approach to the story is interesting - he sets it up as 3 separate interviews conducted by a Reporter. He's looking for some background on a man who was a Medal of Honor winner from the Korean War, then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court ho resigned that post when his wife dies. He joins a Monastery as a Monk and ends up being elected Pope. (I did mention that it was far-fetched). The man in question is Declan Walsh. The first interviewee is a former Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant who liked Walsh. He speaks about Walsh's time as a Battalion Commander and the difficult decisions that he had to make. Murphy does a great job of depicting what Walsh and his men went through during that conflict. The second interviewee is a fellow Supreme Court Justice who didn't like Walsh. Murphy gives us some insight into the Court's decision-making process and gives us a depiction of Walsh giving serious attention to situations that don't really matter anymore. The Third interviewee is a Cardinal who was indifferent to Walsh. This section doesn't address any serious issues but does bring us into the Vatican and shows us some of the infighting and ideological differences that happen there. (Side Note: when Walsh is elected Pope he chooses the name Francesco I. Remind you of anyone?). Murphy's writing style is simple and entertaining and he's created some great characters. I enjoyed it.
It's late August and we're in another heat wave. Hopefully we'll get some relief soon. The Labor Day Weekend is up next. Enjoy whatever you do and …
Keep Reading.
Sunday, July 29, 2018
Chapter Ninety-seven
To make up for all the rainy days that we had in June, July has given us mostly sunny, really hot and humid days (although we have had some extreme Thunder Storms which have caused some serious local flooding). I've been going out early to run errands so I'd be home before it got really bad. This has cut down on my Library visits. I did manage, however, to pick up a few books at the Main Library in Woodbridge early in the month.
Series
Polar Star - Martin Cruz Smith ($5.95/$.50, copyright 1989, 366 pages, Paperback)
I read Smith's 1st entry in this series - "Gorky Park" - years ago and I remember enjoying it. When I saw this, I had to pick it up. In that book, Moscow detective Arkady Renko the first major case of his career -"Gorky Park" - Moscow detective Arkady Renko solved a complicated case but annoyed a lot of powerful people. As a result, he lost his job. 8 years later, he's working on a Russian factory fishing ship in the Bering Sea. An American trawler drops a load of fish on the deck and out drops the body of a young woman named Zina. The ship's Captain knows about Renko's past and asks him to investigate. The Captain is hoping for something accidental but Renko suspects murder. Things get complicated once he starts his investigation.Smith has created some great characters here and the confined situation makes things interesting I enjoyed it.
In The Moon of Red Ponies - James Lee Burke ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2004, 402 pages, Paperback)
I've been a big fan of Burke's Dave Robicheax series which is set in Lousiana so, when I came across this book featuring a new character and setting, I picked it up. The Protagonist is Billy Bob Thornton, a former Texas Ranger who's now a Defense Attorney. He's hired to defend Johnny American Horse
who's trying to keep an oil company off of his native land. At the same time the guy who tried to kill Billy Bob's wife is released from prison. Burke moves us back and forth between these characters but the ending does leave some questions open. It was OK.
Damage - John Lescroat ($9.99/$.50, copyright 2011, 445 pages, Paperback)
This is another entry in Lescroart's long-running series featuring San Francisco attorney Dismas Hardy and the head of the city PD's homicide squad, Abe Glitsky ( although in this book, Hardy makes only a couple of token appearances). The book focuses instead on Glitsky and on Wes Farrell, another member of the cast who has been a partner in Hardy's law practice. Farrell has just been elected District Attorney with the backing of the super-wealthy Curtlee family, owners and publishers of one of the city's major newspapers. Ten years earlier, their son Ro was convicted of some major crimes but his conviction is overturned. While awaiting a retrial, one of the principal witnesses is murdered and Farrell and Glitsky need to prove what they believe is right versus what the newspaper says is wrong. Lescroart, as always, creates some great characters and gives some insight into "Fake News". I enjoyed it.
I have a few things coming up next month and a stack of books to get through. Until then …
Keep reading.
Series
Polar Star - Martin Cruz Smith ($5.95/$.50, copyright 1989, 366 pages, Paperback)
I read Smith's 1st entry in this series - "Gorky Park" - years ago and I remember enjoying it. When I saw this, I had to pick it up. In that book, Moscow detective Arkady Renko the first major case of his career -"Gorky Park" - Moscow detective Arkady Renko solved a complicated case but annoyed a lot of powerful people. As a result, he lost his job. 8 years later, he's working on a Russian factory fishing ship in the Bering Sea. An American trawler drops a load of fish on the deck and out drops the body of a young woman named Zina. The ship's Captain knows about Renko's past and asks him to investigate. The Captain is hoping for something accidental but Renko suspects murder. Things get complicated once he starts his investigation.Smith has created some great characters here and the confined situation makes things interesting I enjoyed it.
In The Moon of Red Ponies - James Lee Burke ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2004, 402 pages, Paperback)
I've been a big fan of Burke's Dave Robicheax series which is set in Lousiana so, when I came across this book featuring a new character and setting, I picked it up. The Protagonist is Billy Bob Thornton, a former Texas Ranger who's now a Defense Attorney. He's hired to defend Johnny American Horse
who's trying to keep an oil company off of his native land. At the same time the guy who tried to kill Billy Bob's wife is released from prison. Burke moves us back and forth between these characters but the ending does leave some questions open. It was OK.
Damage - John Lescroat ($9.99/$.50, copyright 2011, 445 pages, Paperback)
This is another entry in Lescroart's long-running series featuring San Francisco attorney Dismas Hardy and the head of the city PD's homicide squad, Abe Glitsky ( although in this book, Hardy makes only a couple of token appearances). The book focuses instead on Glitsky and on Wes Farrell, another member of the cast who has been a partner in Hardy's law practice. Farrell has just been elected District Attorney with the backing of the super-wealthy Curtlee family, owners and publishers of one of the city's major newspapers. Ten years earlier, their son Ro was convicted of some major crimes but his conviction is overturned. While awaiting a retrial, one of the principal witnesses is murdered and Farrell and Glitsky need to prove what they believe is right versus what the newspaper says is wrong. Lescroart, as always, creates some great characters and gives some insight into "Fake News". I enjoyed it.
I have a few things coming up next month and a stack of books to get through. Until then …
Keep reading.
Monday, June 25, 2018
Chapter Ninety-six
The first three weeks of June were sort of a washout with most days being overcast and rainy. Sure, we had a couple of nice days and one good weekend but that was it. Frankly - as I said last month - it kept the pollen down. Plus, I didn't have to slather on the sunscreen. I ran a few errands each day and spent some quiet time reading.
Miscellaneous
The Westing Game - Ellen Raskin ($6.99/$4.28, copyright 1978, 182 pages, Trade Paperback)
This book is listed for Young Adults but I think a lot of older people who enjoy a good mystery with some humor will like it. The plot is pretty simple - a group of people who have been tricked into buying apartments/businesses in the same building are gathered together at a nearby mansion. They are given the chance to win a great deal of money if they can find out who killed Sam Westing, the mansions original owner. Raskin drops a lot of clues and red herrings but her strength is in her characters. They are too numerous to mention and no one actually stands out but they are all well-written, and a bit bizarre, and there's an interesting ending. I enjoyed it.
American Pastoral - Philip Roth ($1495/$1.00, copyright 1997, 423 pages, Trade Paperback)
I have noticed this book on one of my shelves on-and-off since I picked it up at a Library Book Sale about 2 years ago. I always meant to read it but there was always something new that caught my interest. Having read about Roth's death last month, I thought it was time. It's the story of Swede Levov, who's living the American Dream. He was a famous High School athlete who inherited his father's business. He married a former Miss New Jersey named Dawn and they moved into a beautiful house. They had a wonderful daughter whom they named Merry. Everything was great until 1968 when Merry helped in a terrorist act against the Viet Nam War. Roth's characters are well defined and their dialog rings true. His description of the effect that the riots had on Newark and elsewhere are brutally honest. I have to admit that I had some trouble with this book and had to set it aside from time to time but I did finish it. It was OK.
Chronic City - Jonathan Lethem ($15.95/$.50, copyright 2009, 467 pages, Trade Paperback)
I first came across Lethem when I read "Motherless Brooklyn" several years ago (I 'm pretty sure I posted about it). This is the story of Chase Insteadman, a former child star, and Perkus Tooth, who used to write about pop culture for Rolling Stone. These unlikely friends, and a whole bunch of other characters, end up on a dead end quest for something that they're looking for. They wander all over Manhattan and Brooklyn to find it but don't, although they do have some interesting experiences. To be honest, I'm not sure what it was because Lethem tends to wander around a bit narratively. I will says that he's pretty good at creating characters and writing dialog but I got bored several times and picked up something else to read before I finished this. It was OK.
This afternoon, the sun came out. According to the weather reports we're in for a heat wave starting in a couple of days. I've just picked up a few books that I'm looking forward to getting in to.
July is next ….
Keep reading.
Miscellaneous
The Westing Game - Ellen Raskin ($6.99/$4.28, copyright 1978, 182 pages, Trade Paperback)
This book is listed for Young Adults but I think a lot of older people who enjoy a good mystery with some humor will like it. The plot is pretty simple - a group of people who have been tricked into buying apartments/businesses in the same building are gathered together at a nearby mansion. They are given the chance to win a great deal of money if they can find out who killed Sam Westing, the mansions original owner. Raskin drops a lot of clues and red herrings but her strength is in her characters. They are too numerous to mention and no one actually stands out but they are all well-written, and a bit bizarre, and there's an interesting ending. I enjoyed it.
American Pastoral - Philip Roth ($1495/$1.00, copyright 1997, 423 pages, Trade Paperback)
I have noticed this book on one of my shelves on-and-off since I picked it up at a Library Book Sale about 2 years ago. I always meant to read it but there was always something new that caught my interest. Having read about Roth's death last month, I thought it was time. It's the story of Swede Levov, who's living the American Dream. He was a famous High School athlete who inherited his father's business. He married a former Miss New Jersey named Dawn and they moved into a beautiful house. They had a wonderful daughter whom they named Merry. Everything was great until 1968 when Merry helped in a terrorist act against the Viet Nam War. Roth's characters are well defined and their dialog rings true. His description of the effect that the riots had on Newark and elsewhere are brutally honest. I have to admit that I had some trouble with this book and had to set it aside from time to time but I did finish it. It was OK.
Chronic City - Jonathan Lethem ($15.95/$.50, copyright 2009, 467 pages, Trade Paperback)
I first came across Lethem when I read "Motherless Brooklyn" several years ago (I 'm pretty sure I posted about it). This is the story of Chase Insteadman, a former child star, and Perkus Tooth, who used to write about pop culture for Rolling Stone. These unlikely friends, and a whole bunch of other characters, end up on a dead end quest for something that they're looking for. They wander all over Manhattan and Brooklyn to find it but don't, although they do have some interesting experiences. To be honest, I'm not sure what it was because Lethem tends to wander around a bit narratively. I will says that he's pretty good at creating characters and writing dialog but I got bored several times and picked up something else to read before I finished this. It was OK.
This afternoon, the sun came out. According to the weather reports we're in for a heat wave starting in a couple of days. I've just picked up a few books that I'm looking forward to getting in to.
July is next ….
Keep reading.
Thursday, May 24, 2018
Chapter Ninety-five
It's May but Spring seems to keep escaping us. We've had a few seasonal , warm, sunny days but - mostly - we've had to deal with overcast skies and rain. To be honest, the rain keeps the pollen down so I feel better and I've spent a lot of time reading but I do miss the sun. This month's selections were all part of an order that I got from Thrift Books a month and a half ago.( Side Note: If I'm looking for a particular book, I use Better World Books because they don't charge for Shipping. If they don't have what I'm looking for, I go to Thrift Books. Their policy is Free Shipping if your order is over $10.)
Miscellaneous
Trainspotting - Irvine Welsh ($3.25/$13.00, copyright 1976, 344 pages, Trade Paperback)
I must have read the first page of Trainspotting more than twenty times since I got it because I had some difficulty with the Scottish dialect. There's no point lying, this is a challenging novel, sometimes you have to read things twice or pause to think about them to fully understand what's being said. But, unlike a lot of books that are difficult to read, this was ultimately rewarding and once you get used to the slang words it becomes a very gritty, moving and funny read. I'm not a fan of short stories (which I didn't realize this was) but these combine to make an interesting read. Together, they tell the story about a bunch of Scottish heroin addicts (Rents, Sick Boy, and others). All the characters are oddly likeable in a way, which really says something to me about the author's talent as a writer. Welsh gives a sense of humanity to these addicts, he makes them people with unique characteristics and personal struggles that we can offer sympathy to. I enjoyed it.
The Lone Ranger And Tonto Fist Fight In Heaven - Sherman Alexie ($3.79/$14.99, copyright 2005, 242 pages, Trade Paperback)
This one I knew was a short story collections but I grew up watching The Lone Ranger and this title just grabbed me. Alexie has linked these stories into a narrative of life on the Spokane Indian Reservation. It is an exploration of the ways in which they deal with the pains and the joys of their lives - the storytelling, the dancing, the alcohol. They are told by well defined characters who are trying to live their lives and I found passion here and Alexie's affection for these people. Again, a collection like this is always hit-or-miss and, frankly, I found it very repetitive. Each story has similar characters but with different names. Maybe that's the point. It was OK.
Cannery Row - John Steinbeck ($3.79/$9.95, copyright 1945, 185 pages, Trade Paperback)
I am a big Steinbeck fan. This book takes place in Monterey, California during the Great Depression. Again, I was expecting a short novel but this is actually a series of vignettes.The simple plot revolves around Doc, who helps everyone he can so some of the locals want to do something for him. Steinbeck gives us Mack and the Boys (a group of homeless guys); Dora (the Madam with a heart of gold): and Lee Chong (a store owner who's allowed his customers to run up a lot of debt so that they could get by). Steinbeck has created a great group of characters here and their interactions ring true. I enjoyed it.
June is next. I'll be hitting the Libraries soon and I hope to find some good stuff. Til then …
Keep reading.
.
Miscellaneous
Trainspotting - Irvine Welsh ($3.25/$13.00, copyright 1976, 344 pages, Trade Paperback)
I must have read the first page of Trainspotting more than twenty times since I got it because I had some difficulty with the Scottish dialect. There's no point lying, this is a challenging novel, sometimes you have to read things twice or pause to think about them to fully understand what's being said. But, unlike a lot of books that are difficult to read, this was ultimately rewarding and once you get used to the slang words it becomes a very gritty, moving and funny read. I'm not a fan of short stories (which I didn't realize this was) but these combine to make an interesting read. Together, they tell the story about a bunch of Scottish heroin addicts (Rents, Sick Boy, and others). All the characters are oddly likeable in a way, which really says something to me about the author's talent as a writer. Welsh gives a sense of humanity to these addicts, he makes them people with unique characteristics and personal struggles that we can offer sympathy to. I enjoyed it.
The Lone Ranger And Tonto Fist Fight In Heaven - Sherman Alexie ($3.79/$14.99, copyright 2005, 242 pages, Trade Paperback)
This one I knew was a short story collections but I grew up watching The Lone Ranger and this title just grabbed me. Alexie has linked these stories into a narrative of life on the Spokane Indian Reservation. It is an exploration of the ways in which they deal with the pains and the joys of their lives - the storytelling, the dancing, the alcohol. They are told by well defined characters who are trying to live their lives and I found passion here and Alexie's affection for these people. Again, a collection like this is always hit-or-miss and, frankly, I found it very repetitive. Each story has similar characters but with different names. Maybe that's the point. It was OK.
Cannery Row - John Steinbeck ($3.79/$9.95, copyright 1945, 185 pages, Trade Paperback)
I am a big Steinbeck fan. This book takes place in Monterey, California during the Great Depression. Again, I was expecting a short novel but this is actually a series of vignettes.The simple plot revolves around Doc, who helps everyone he can so some of the locals want to do something for him. Steinbeck gives us Mack and the Boys (a group of homeless guys); Dora (the Madam with a heart of gold): and Lee Chong (a store owner who's allowed his customers to run up a lot of debt so that they could get by). Steinbeck has created a great group of characters here and their interactions ring true. I enjoyed it.
June is next. I'll be hitting the Libraries soon and I hope to find some good stuff. Til then …
Keep reading.
.
Monday, April 23, 2018
Chapter Ninety-four
We're only a couple of weeks into April and - for the most part - the weather has not been Spring-like. We haven't had any more snow but it's been overcast and chilly. Thankfully, I'm still working on the pile of books that I picked up at the Library sale a couple of months ago.
Miscellaneous
The Rhinemann Exchange - Robert Ludlum ($1.95/$.50, copyright 1974, 446 pages, Paperback)
I first came across Ludlum's work in the late '60's/early '70's and this is one of my favorites. During World War 2, the U.S. and Germany make a back-door deal to exchange industrial diamonds for a design for a new bombing element. The swap is to take place in Buenos Aires and Agent David Spaulding is assigned to the swap. The thing is, he only knows about getting the bomb part until a third party tips him off about the other side of the deal. He takes it on himself to right what he sees is wrong. Ludlum keeps the action moving at a brisk pace. He does a great job describing the locale and his characters are well defined. I enjoyed it.
That's it for this month.
I still have a couple of books stacked up in the Living Room from that Book Sale and I just got 3 more in the mail from one of the Discount sites I use.
Spring is finally here so enjoy it and ....
Keep reading.
.
Miscellaneous
Freedomland - Richard Price ($15.00/$1.00, copyright 1998, 655 pages, Trade Paperback)
I'm a big fan of Price's work. In fact, I spoke about his novel "The Wanderers" a couple of months ago. A white woman, Brenda Martin, stumbles into an inner-city emergency room and announces that she has just been carjacked by a black man and her young son was asleep in the back seat. Detective Lorenzo Council - who grew up in the Housing Project that's the scene of the crime - is assigned the case. Council jumps right in to the search but he has his doubts about Brenda's story. Then a reporter gets involved and sensationalizes the whole situation causing some serious tension between the Black Inner City and the next door White Suburb and all this takes place within 72 hours. This book is big and I have to admit that I expected to hit some padding but Price really does a great job of moving it along. His characters ring true and he keeps the suspense going until the end. I enjoyed it.The Rhinemann Exchange - Robert Ludlum ($1.95/$.50, copyright 1974, 446 pages, Paperback)
I first came across Ludlum's work in the late '60's/early '70's and this is one of my favorites. During World War 2, the U.S. and Germany make a back-door deal to exchange industrial diamonds for a design for a new bombing element. The swap is to take place in Buenos Aires and Agent David Spaulding is assigned to the swap. The thing is, he only knows about getting the bomb part until a third party tips him off about the other side of the deal. He takes it on himself to right what he sees is wrong. Ludlum keeps the action moving at a brisk pace. He does a great job describing the locale and his characters are well defined. I enjoyed it.
That's it for this month.
I still have a couple of books stacked up in the Living Room from that Book Sale and I just got 3 more in the mail from one of the Discount sites I use.
Spring is finally here so enjoy it and ....
Keep reading.
.
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Chapter Ninety-three
March has been a tough month with 3 Nor'easters that hit within a week or so of each other. Every one of them was bad enough to keep me indoors for several days at a time - excluding how long
I was outside cleaning off my car and digging out from what the plows did. I'm lucky to live close to a few stores that I can walk to regardless of the weather and I'm happy that I have shelves full of books that I can revisit.
Off The Shelf
Noble House - James Clavell ($7.99/$7.99, copyright 1981, 1370 pages, Paperback)
I am a big fan of Clavell's "Asian Saga" so, when I was looking for something to help me pass the time, I found this in the back of one of my bookshelves. It's 1963 and the Noble House is close to collapse. Ian Dunross is now the Tai-Pan and must figure out a way to pay off his debts and save his inheritance. The narrative takes place in Hong Kong (as expected) and covers about a week and a half of it's history including cold war espionage, bank failures, hostile takeovers, drug smuggling, kidnapping, and murder. Clavell has two strengths - his knowledge of the history of the area and his insight into the human condition especially the interpersonal. He's built on his previous books and created a family saga that is very intricate but interesting. I suppose that you could read this as a stand-alone book but I would recommend that you read :"Tai-Pan" first. I enjoyed it.
OK. I had to do it.
Tai-Pan - James Clavell ($7.99/$7.99, copyright 1966, 732 pages, Paperback)
This is, probably, the 5th time that I've read this book and I still enjoyed it. It's a magnificent saga of the 1840's founding of Hong Kong by powerful British trading interests. It's the story of - in my opinion - an unforgettable fictional character, Dirk Struan, founder of The Nobel House, the leading British trading combine in China. He's locked in a life-and-death commercial and family blood feud with Brock & Sons, another powerful British firm, that vies with him for primacy in the opium trade with China. Clavell brings in pirates, a Russian scheme, and some American interests to make things interesting but he's also good with dealing with his character's personal lives. Like I said, I really enjoyed t.
Four days from now it will be April. I'm looking forward to no more snow but I'm dreading the pollen. Until then ...
Keep reading.
I was outside cleaning off my car and digging out from what the plows did. I'm lucky to live close to a few stores that I can walk to regardless of the weather and I'm happy that I have shelves full of books that I can revisit.
Off The Shelf
I am a big fan of Clavell's "Asian Saga" so, when I was looking for something to help me pass the time, I found this in the back of one of my bookshelves. It's 1963 and the Noble House is close to collapse. Ian Dunross is now the Tai-Pan and must figure out a way to pay off his debts and save his inheritance. The narrative takes place in Hong Kong (as expected) and covers about a week and a half of it's history including cold war espionage, bank failures, hostile takeovers, drug smuggling, kidnapping, and murder. Clavell has two strengths - his knowledge of the history of the area and his insight into the human condition especially the interpersonal. He's built on his previous books and created a family saga that is very intricate but interesting. I suppose that you could read this as a stand-alone book but I would recommend that you read :"Tai-Pan" first. I enjoyed it.
OK. I had to do it.
Tai-Pan - James Clavell ($7.99/$7.99, copyright 1966, 732 pages, Paperback)
This is, probably, the 5th time that I've read this book and I still enjoyed it. It's a magnificent saga of the 1840's founding of Hong Kong by powerful British trading interests. It's the story of - in my opinion - an unforgettable fictional character, Dirk Struan, founder of The Nobel House, the leading British trading combine in China. He's locked in a life-and-death commercial and family blood feud with Brock & Sons, another powerful British firm, that vies with him for primacy in the opium trade with China. Clavell brings in pirates, a Russian scheme, and some American interests to make things interesting but he's also good with dealing with his character's personal lives. Like I said, I really enjoyed t.
Four days from now it will be April. I'm looking forward to no more snow but I'm dreading the pollen. Until then ...
Keep reading.
Tuesday, February 27, 2018
Chapter Ninety-two
February turned out to be a hit-or-miss kinda month, weather-wise. We had some really cold days, we had some snow, and we had some warm days - including one record-breaking Wednesday. I'm still sitting with my Granddaughter twice a week (for a couple of hours) and I still have some follow-ups with a couple of doctors. And, I still have a lot of books from the Metuchen Library sale last month.
Miscellaneous
When you're at these kind of sales sometimes you get lucky.
The Wanderers - Richard Price ($15.95/$1.00, copyright 1974, 239 pages, Trade Paperback)
I grew up in The Bronx in the '60's and I understand what Price was writing about. This book is sort of a coming-of-age story for a teenage street gang of the same name in the 1960's Bronx. In the first chapter, we are introduced to the world in which they live. In this world street gangs are numerous, and based on ethnic identity. There are Italian, Black, Irish and Chinese gangs. Perhaps the most bizarre of the gangs described are the Ducky Boys, a whole neighborhood of dwarf-like Irish kids who carry straight-edge razors. I was sure that this was something Price had made up, but someone from the Bronx of that time once told me there really was such a gang. The novel follows the lives of the gang members, Richie, Perry, Joey, Eugene and Buddy as they try to figure out their lives in this rough environment. These guys are really just kids trying to make the best of things in challenging circumstances and, like teenagers everywhere, they go to school, fall in love and worry about their future. There is an unusual honesty about this novel. Price lays it out in an uncompromising way with recognizable characters and the story lines don't always work out. I enjoyed it.
Series
Miscellaneous
When you're at these kind of sales sometimes you get lucky.
The Wanderers - Richard Price ($15.95/$1.00, copyright 1974, 239 pages, Trade Paperback)
I grew up in The Bronx in the '60's and I understand what Price was writing about. This book is sort of a coming-of-age story for a teenage street gang of the same name in the 1960's Bronx. In the first chapter, we are introduced to the world in which they live. In this world street gangs are numerous, and based on ethnic identity. There are Italian, Black, Irish and Chinese gangs. Perhaps the most bizarre of the gangs described are the Ducky Boys, a whole neighborhood of dwarf-like Irish kids who carry straight-edge razors. I was sure that this was something Price had made up, but someone from the Bronx of that time once told me there really was such a gang. The novel follows the lives of the gang members, Richie, Perry, Joey, Eugene and Buddy as they try to figure out their lives in this rough environment. These guys are really just kids trying to make the best of things in challenging circumstances and, like teenagers everywhere, they go to school, fall in love and worry about their future. There is an unusual honesty about this novel. Price lays it out in an uncompromising way with recognizable characters and the story lines don't always work out. I enjoyed it.
Series
When you're at these kind of sales sometimes you take some chances.
Nevermore - Harold Schechter ($6.99/$.50, copyright 1999, 465 pages, Paperback)
What if Poe's famous Gothic stories were based not on imagination but reality? This book takes the idea that Poe was involved in the investigation of hideous murders in Baltimore in his youth, murders that seemed to be related to his family. While unravelling the dark thread of these horrific murders, Poe eventually finds the inspiration that leads to some of his most famous works.Fans of Poe will enjoy matching the murders to similar events in his stories, such as The House of Usher and The Masque of the Red Death. What I found especially interesting was that Schechter brings another historical figure into the story - Davy Crockett. I admit that I found this annoying at first but in the end the partnership does work out. It was good.
Last Words - Rich Zahradnik ( $13.95/$1.00, copyright 2014, 237 pages, Trade Paperback)
Last Words
It's March of 1975 in New York and newsman Coleridge Taylor roams police precincts and ERs. When a body is brought into Bellevue, Taylor immediately knows something is off. Sensing a story, he begins to follow whatever thread he can to find out the truth. Zahradnik has created richly drawn characters, both the major ones and the minor ones. I have to say that one of the more enjoyable aspects of this book was the sense of time and place. I felt transported back to 1975, right to the streets of that time period. The political, economic and social climate of the era feels right It was an enjoyable mystery, atmospheric and suspenseful. This is one of those books I hope gets lots of attention. It enjoyed it.
That's it for this month.
Coming up is March, which means St. Patrick's Day and - hopefully - warmer weather. Until then .........
Keep reading.
Last Words - Rich Zahradnik ( $13.95/$1.00, copyright 2014, 237 pages, Trade Paperback)
Last Words
It's March of 1975 in New York and newsman Coleridge Taylor roams police precincts and ERs. When a body is brought into Bellevue, Taylor immediately knows something is off. Sensing a story, he begins to follow whatever thread he can to find out the truth. Zahradnik has created richly drawn characters, both the major ones and the minor ones. I have to say that one of the more enjoyable aspects of this book was the sense of time and place. I felt transported back to 1975, right to the streets of that time period. The political, economic and social climate of the era feels right It was an enjoyable mystery, atmospheric and suspenseful. This is one of those books I hope gets lots of attention. It enjoyed it.
That's it for this month.
Coming up is March, which means St. Patrick's Day and - hopefully - warmer weather. Until then .........
Keep reading.
Monday, January 29, 2018
Chapter Ninety-one
Though the Holiday Season was busy, I was able to attend a Book Sale in Metuchen just before Christmas. I got there early and pretty much had the freedom to wander around and pick up what I wanted. I spent $12 and had to borrow a bag to carry them to the car. So many books, so many genres. Here are the one's I read this month.
Miscellaneous
Confederates - Thomas Keneally ($.50/$3.50, copyright 1979, 437 pages, Paperback)
I don't usually pick up historical fiction but this grabbed my attention. This is not your typical Civil War Novel. There are no happy endings here, and no escape from the inevitability of this nightmare. The Confederate army we meet consists of ragged and hungry teachers, musicians, small farmers, orphaned children, men in their 60's, conscripts, and even the sorely ill and walking wounded, who share their stories and simple dreams as they trudge resignedly and painfully across Virginia toward their destiny at Antietam. Keneally, from chapter to chapter, paints a compelling picture by showing us what various characters are going through while still giving us what I think is an historically accurate depiction. I enjoyed it.
The Death Of The Detective - Mark Smith ($.50/$1.95, copyright 1973. 636 pages, Paperback)
This book drew me in. On the surface the plot is very familiar: a grizzled detective named Magnuson is summoned to a friend's deathbed only to find him murdered, and he must solve the mystery and bring the killer to justice. The difference is that there is no mystery for the reader. From the opening pages we know there is an escaped mental patient looking to take vengeance on his intended victim. Magnuson, theorizes vast conspiracies and multiple suspects with imagined motives for the killing, and all the while the reader knows that he is wrong. This vast novel is full of characters, each of them has their own history that, once revealed, can change the entire way they are viewed. The character of Tanker is the best example of this but I won't get into that. he is easy to write off as a young street punk, but in the space of a few pages his back story makes him into a tragic figure. I enjoyed it.
Series
The Insidious Doctor Fu Manchu - Sax Rohmer ($.25/$.40, copyright 1913, 191 pages, Paperback)
I'm a big fan of Pulp Fiction and have a collection of Doc Savage and the Shadow. I was lucky enough to pick up several volumes of Sax Rohmer's Fu Manchu series at the book sale. This is the first and introduces the main characters - Nayland Smith and his good friend Dr. Petrie . Smith brings Petrie into an adventure revolving around the figure of a mysterious Chinese doctor named Fu-Manchu, the evil genius at the center of a plot to subjugate the white races to oriental domination. As the plot unfolds these two Englishmen, encounter many of Dr. Fu-Manchu's terrifying agents, including numerous representatives of a mysterious Asiatic strangler cult. I really enjoyed this.
I still have quite a few books left over so I'm ready for February.
Talk to you then.
Keep reading.
Miscellaneous
Confederates - Thomas Keneally ($.50/$3.50, copyright 1979, 437 pages, Paperback)
I don't usually pick up historical fiction but this grabbed my attention. This is not your typical Civil War Novel. There are no happy endings here, and no escape from the inevitability of this nightmare. The Confederate army we meet consists of ragged and hungry teachers, musicians, small farmers, orphaned children, men in their 60's, conscripts, and even the sorely ill and walking wounded, who share their stories and simple dreams as they trudge resignedly and painfully across Virginia toward their destiny at Antietam. Keneally, from chapter to chapter, paints a compelling picture by showing us what various characters are going through while still giving us what I think is an historically accurate depiction. I enjoyed it.
The Death Of The Detective - Mark Smith ($.50/$1.95, copyright 1973. 636 pages, Paperback)
This book drew me in. On the surface the plot is very familiar: a grizzled detective named Magnuson is summoned to a friend's deathbed only to find him murdered, and he must solve the mystery and bring the killer to justice. The difference is that there is no mystery for the reader. From the opening pages we know there is an escaped mental patient looking to take vengeance on his intended victim. Magnuson, theorizes vast conspiracies and multiple suspects with imagined motives for the killing, and all the while the reader knows that he is wrong. This vast novel is full of characters, each of them has their own history that, once revealed, can change the entire way they are viewed. The character of Tanker is the best example of this but I won't get into that. he is easy to write off as a young street punk, but in the space of a few pages his back story makes him into a tragic figure. I enjoyed it.
Series
The Insidious Doctor Fu Manchu - Sax Rohmer ($.25/$.40, copyright 1913, 191 pages, Paperback)
I'm a big fan of Pulp Fiction and have a collection of Doc Savage and the Shadow. I was lucky enough to pick up several volumes of Sax Rohmer's Fu Manchu series at the book sale. This is the first and introduces the main characters - Nayland Smith and his good friend Dr. Petrie . Smith brings Petrie into an adventure revolving around the figure of a mysterious Chinese doctor named Fu-Manchu, the evil genius at the center of a plot to subjugate the white races to oriental domination. As the plot unfolds these two Englishmen, encounter many of Dr. Fu-Manchu's terrifying agents, including numerous representatives of a mysterious Asiatic strangler cult. I really enjoyed this.
I still have quite a few books left over so I'm ready for February.
Talk to you then.
Keep reading.
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