I'm going to do something different this time so bear with me. When I buy a book - and I presume it's the same for everyone - I'm motivated by the Author's name (especially if it's a continuation of a series), the subject matter, the cover, and/or the description and blurbs on the back. Still, the old adage is true - Caveat Emptor (Buyer Beware). I've mentioned in the past that there are a lot of books I start but then put aside or wind up disappointed with. I thought that I'd give you an example so here are 2 books where the Author's name drew me in.
Series
Deep Freeze - John Sandford ($9.99/$.50, copyright 2017, 385 pages, Paperback)
Sandford is the author of the "Prey" series starring Lucas Davenport, who leads the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. I've read and enjoyed a number of these so when I came across this I picked it up eagerly. Virgil Flowers is an investigator for the Bureau who operates in the more rural areas of the state. Here, he's given two cases to work on in the small town of Trippton- a place he solved another case years ago and where a lot of people know him. The first is the murder of a prominent woman in her own home after hosting a meeting for a 20 year school reunion. The second involves tracking down whoever is adapting Barbie and Ken dolls so they can simulate sex. Virgil
is an interesting character and Sandford does a great job with the townspeople (especially Virgil's friend Johnson Johnson) and the winter scenes in Minnesota but it's entirely too long. Virgil interviews everyone who was at the meeting and asks them all the same basic questions which became tiresome. Plus, we know who the murderer is because he's revealed in the first chapter. As far as the second case, it only popped up intermittently and I lost interest. It's now in the "Donate To The Library" pile.
Miscellaneous
The Third Man - Graham Greene ($12.95/$3.98, copyright 1968, 120 pages, Trade Paperback)
I read a few of Greene's books years ago and recently came across a reference to one that I hadn't. I, of course, went to my favorite Discount site to look for it. I forgot about it as soon as I came across this. I didn't know that Greene had written it and it's one of my favorite movies. I ordered it immediately. My excitement on it's arrival evaporated quickly. It's a copy of the Screen Play. Again, this is one of my favorite movies and I'm not going to go into any details. It was interesting to read the dialog between Holly Martins and Harry Lime, and the descriptions of the scenery in bombed-out Vienna (which are short, clipped film references) give you a sense of the location . My problem is that I was expecting a novel, and a novel - in my opinion - should give you insight into the characters and their motivations. Through the Author, you should get to read their minds and try to understand what makes them tick. I was disappointed but I did finish it. It was OK.
Right now, I've got several books on order and they're all in transit. While I'm waiting I browsed through my shelves and came across several books that I remember enjoying years ago. They are all from different series' and different genres. Maybe the next Chapter will be a Throw-back one.
It's cold and we've had some snow. Typical February weather. Bundle up, pour a drink and …
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