A couple of weeks ago, one of my nephews posted on FaceBook that he was interested in writing, and asked for suggestions on how he should proceed. I replied with the old adage.."Write what you know". Now, that may not always be true - particularly in Fantasy/SciFi works - but, interestingly, I have recently read a few books that justify that saying. That being said, I'm going to change the format I usually post in so that I can explain this.
Series
Andrew Vachss
Vachss has been a Federal investigator, a social caseworker, and a director of a maximum security prison for youthful offenders. His life has been focused on the exploitation of children. I had the opportunity to pick up several of his books at the same time, and read two of them back-to-back.
Strega - ($11.00/$.50, copyright 1987, 293 pages, Trade Paperback)
Vachss' main character is Burke. He's a product of the "system" - no known parents, foster-raised and street-trained,with time spent honing himself in prison. He has created a family of his own among the street people and criminals that people the city. In this one, he's hired to locate a photograph of a young boy who's being abused. He does what he has to do, meeting with damaged people and dealing with the seamy underside of New York. I enjoyed it.
Choice of Evil - ($13.00/$.50, copyright 1999, 305 pages, Trade Paperback)
Burke is faced with a part of his past that he's not entirely comfortable with. His girlfriend has been killed in a drive-by that appears to be anti-gay which, in turn, leads to some serious reprisals by an anonymous killer. The consensus is that this killer is an old associate of Burke's who is supposed to be dead. I found this one to be less interesting. Burke seemed more needy, and his supporting cast less effective. It was OK.
Eddie Muller
This Eddie Muller's father was the Eddie Muller who wrote the "Shadow Boxing" column in the old San Francisco Examiner starting back in the 1930's. Boxing continued to be very big into the 1950's, actually becoming one of the major draws at the birth of TV. Eddie Junior (the author) has made his reputation on books about Film Noir - and the ways people deal with different crimes under mundane circumstances.
The Distance - ($14.90/$.50, copyright 2004, 413 pages, Trade Paperback)
This is set in a time and place I was totally unfamiliar with - the boxing scene in 1948 San Francisco as seen through the eyes of a newspaper columnist - Mr. Boxing, Billy Nichols. It starts with him stumbling into a crime scene and trying to help out a friend, and then spirals outward. Boxers, fixers, cops, dames...they're all here, and they look good in the black-and-white that they're painted in. This would've been a great movie. I enjoyed it.
I have several books - directions - to go from here. Not sure which way I'll turn. But the bottom line is - write what you feel, what pours out of you. If it makes you happy, nothing else matters.
Oh, and...
Keep reading.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Chapter Thirty
Wow! Thirty chapters. Plus a couple of Special Inserts along the way. I guess I've been making entries to this blog for over 2 1/2 years now. And I've got enough books piled up in the other room to do another 2 1/2 without buying another volume. The old time flies/enjoying yourself thing, I guess. Anyway, let's get to it.
Miscellaneous
The White Tiger - Aravind Adiga ($14.00/$.50, copyright 2008, 276 pages, Trade Paperback)
There are a lot of superlatives thrown around on the cover for this book, from sources ranging from USA Today to the New York Times. It is the "life" story of a young man in India and his path out of The Darkness to becoming a success. I was marginally aware of the poverty, crowding, and living conditions of much of India, but this book really brings it home - and with just the right touch of black humor to make it interesting. I enjoyed it.
The Threepenny Opera - Bertolt Brecht ($6.95/Gift Card, copyright 1949, 110 pages, Paperback)
Everyone remember Mack the Knife? You know, Louis Armstrong, Bobby Darin? Well, Mack was the main character in this play written by Brecht with music contributed by Kurt Weill. It's sort of a slice of life depiction of how the lower (read criminal) class lived in London and takes place just before a coronation. This volume includes instructions on how to stage a production which would be interesting to see. I enjoyed it.
Sherlock Holmes
Rasputin's Revenge - John Lescroart ($14.00/$.25, copyright 1987, 269 pages, Trade Paperback)
I wrote about Lescroart's previous Holmes-related volume - Son of Holmes - several months ago. I enjoyed that one, but this one's even better. As you can tell from the title we're dealing with pre-revolutionary Russia and the early years of World War I. Jules Giraud - the narrator of both volumes - is sent to Russia on a mission for the French war effort and encounters Auguste Lupo (the Son of Holmes), murders, court intrigue, and - of course - Rasputin. And there's a surprise appearance by a couple of interested parties towards the end. Very satisfactory. (Get the reference?)
Graphic Novels
OK. I know that I wrote previously that I would be staying away from these since the prices had gotten prohibitive, but I got these (and another volume or two) for free as "payment" for helping with a Book Fair at an Elementary School in Elizabeth. Remember, these are aimed at school children.
Sidekicks - Dan Santat ($10.99/$.0, copyright 2011, 217 pages, Trade Paperback)
The premise here is that the greatest superhero in the world is getting old, and he decides to hold auditions for a sidekick. His pets decide to try out. (I told you these were aimed at school children). We also get a super-villain to fight, and lessons on family, friendship, and how using your brain can win out over brawn. I enjoyed it.
Poe - J. Barton Mitchell (writer) and Dean Kotz (art) ($10.99/$.0, 2011, pages unnumbered, Trade Paperback)
I'm guessing that you figured out who this slim volume is about. The premise is that Poe, while dealing badly with his wife's death, helps his police-officer brother solve a series of brutal crimes. The writer brings in references to many of Poe's famous stories, but I found it at times a bit disjointed and the art work is way too dark. It was OK.
Here's wishing you all a Happy Memorial Day Weekend, and...
Keep reading.
Miscellaneous
The White Tiger - Aravind Adiga ($14.00/$.50, copyright 2008, 276 pages, Trade Paperback)
There are a lot of superlatives thrown around on the cover for this book, from sources ranging from USA Today to the New York Times. It is the "life" story of a young man in India and his path out of The Darkness to becoming a success. I was marginally aware of the poverty, crowding, and living conditions of much of India, but this book really brings it home - and with just the right touch of black humor to make it interesting. I enjoyed it.
The Threepenny Opera - Bertolt Brecht ($6.95/Gift Card, copyright 1949, 110 pages, Paperback)
Everyone remember Mack the Knife? You know, Louis Armstrong, Bobby Darin? Well, Mack was the main character in this play written by Brecht with music contributed by Kurt Weill. It's sort of a slice of life depiction of how the lower (read criminal) class lived in London and takes place just before a coronation. This volume includes instructions on how to stage a production which would be interesting to see. I enjoyed it.
Sherlock Holmes
Rasputin's Revenge - John Lescroart ($14.00/$.25, copyright 1987, 269 pages, Trade Paperback)
I wrote about Lescroart's previous Holmes-related volume - Son of Holmes - several months ago. I enjoyed that one, but this one's even better. As you can tell from the title we're dealing with pre-revolutionary Russia and the early years of World War I. Jules Giraud - the narrator of both volumes - is sent to Russia on a mission for the French war effort and encounters Auguste Lupo (the Son of Holmes), murders, court intrigue, and - of course - Rasputin. And there's a surprise appearance by a couple of interested parties towards the end. Very satisfactory. (Get the reference?)
Graphic Novels
OK. I know that I wrote previously that I would be staying away from these since the prices had gotten prohibitive, but I got these (and another volume or two) for free as "payment" for helping with a Book Fair at an Elementary School in Elizabeth. Remember, these are aimed at school children.
Sidekicks - Dan Santat ($10.99/$.0, copyright 2011, 217 pages, Trade Paperback)
The premise here is that the greatest superhero in the world is getting old, and he decides to hold auditions for a sidekick. His pets decide to try out. (I told you these were aimed at school children). We also get a super-villain to fight, and lessons on family, friendship, and how using your brain can win out over brawn. I enjoyed it.
Poe - J. Barton Mitchell (writer) and Dean Kotz (art) ($10.99/$.0, 2011, pages unnumbered, Trade Paperback)
I'm guessing that you figured out who this slim volume is about. The premise is that Poe, while dealing badly with his wife's death, helps his police-officer brother solve a series of brutal crimes. The writer brings in references to many of Poe's famous stories, but I found it at times a bit disjointed and the art work is way too dark. It was OK.
Here's wishing you all a Happy Memorial Day Weekend, and...
Keep reading.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Chapter Twenty-nine
April has been a pretty busy month for me personally, so I didn't have much time to read. I'm in the middle of something interesting right now, but I don't know if I'll have it finished within the next day or so. Since I like to post these on or before the 24th of the month, I'm gonna have to go with the 3 books that I have finished since my last post. Coincidentally, they all fall within the same category.
Series
Night Prey - John Sandford ($9.99/$.50, copyright 1994, 435 pages, Paperback)
Sandford has been writing this series about Lucas Davenport for a long time. Davenport leads a special police unit in and around the Minneapolis and St. Paul area, and in this book they deal with a serial killer. It's an interesting read, and Sandford alternates sections of each chapter between Davenport and his people, the killer, and a potential victim. Unfortunately, Sandford seems to presume that you're familiar with his characters and their relationships so he just jumps in and brings in whoever he needs when he needs them. It was OK.
The Chicago Way - Michael Harvey ($13.95/$.50, copyright 2007, 303 pages, Trade Paperback)
This is the first volume of a projected series. The main character is a former cop turned private investigator named Michael Kelly. Here, he's hired to look into an eight-year-old rape case by a cop and former friend. As cold cases go, this one stirs up a lot of heat and Kelly relies on an array of friends and colleagues who happen to be involved in professions that provide him with information - a coroner, a reporter, someone in the DA's office, etc. Nothing really new here. The author, Harvey, is the co-creator of "Cold Case Files" so he's familiar with how the procedures work, but sometimes this reads like he tried to expand on a television script and still left some details out. It was OK.
The Case of the Missing Books - Ian Sansom ($13.00/$1.00, copyright 2005, 326 pages, Trade Paperback)
Another first in a possible series. This is a sort of fish-out-of-water story. Israel Armstrong - a young, unremarkable English man - takes a job as a librarian in a small little town in the far north of Northern Ireland. Only the library has been closed, but he's to drive around the mobile library. Only all the books are missing, and the local government insists that it's his responsibility to find them - after all, he's the librarian. The village characters - and they are all characters - ring true, the dialog is great, and some of the scenarios are very inventive. I enjoyed it.
This Month
As I mentioned earlier, I was busy this month. April is Donate Life Month, and there were a few things I was involved in that took up a lot of time. There was also the Woodbridge Domestic Violence Response Team Annual Walk/Run which was held last Saturday and was a lot of fun. Additionally, my daughter and her husband moved into their first house on Sunday and, although I can't lift anything heavy, I was there to do what I could. Looking ahead to May, I don't seem to have as many demands on my time so maybe there will be more then 3 books next month.
Sign up as an organ donor and...
Keep Reading.
Series
Night Prey - John Sandford ($9.99/$.50, copyright 1994, 435 pages, Paperback)
Sandford has been writing this series about Lucas Davenport for a long time. Davenport leads a special police unit in and around the Minneapolis and St. Paul area, and in this book they deal with a serial killer. It's an interesting read, and Sandford alternates sections of each chapter between Davenport and his people, the killer, and a potential victim. Unfortunately, Sandford seems to presume that you're familiar with his characters and their relationships so he just jumps in and brings in whoever he needs when he needs them. It was OK.
The Chicago Way - Michael Harvey ($13.95/$.50, copyright 2007, 303 pages, Trade Paperback)
This is the first volume of a projected series. The main character is a former cop turned private investigator named Michael Kelly. Here, he's hired to look into an eight-year-old rape case by a cop and former friend. As cold cases go, this one stirs up a lot of heat and Kelly relies on an array of friends and colleagues who happen to be involved in professions that provide him with information - a coroner, a reporter, someone in the DA's office, etc. Nothing really new here. The author, Harvey, is the co-creator of "Cold Case Files" so he's familiar with how the procedures work, but sometimes this reads like he tried to expand on a television script and still left some details out. It was OK.
The Case of the Missing Books - Ian Sansom ($13.00/$1.00, copyright 2005, 326 pages, Trade Paperback)
Another first in a possible series. This is a sort of fish-out-of-water story. Israel Armstrong - a young, unremarkable English man - takes a job as a librarian in a small little town in the far north of Northern Ireland. Only the library has been closed, but he's to drive around the mobile library. Only all the books are missing, and the local government insists that it's his responsibility to find them - after all, he's the librarian. The village characters - and they are all characters - ring true, the dialog is great, and some of the scenarios are very inventive. I enjoyed it.
This Month
As I mentioned earlier, I was busy this month. April is Donate Life Month, and there were a few things I was involved in that took up a lot of time. There was also the Woodbridge Domestic Violence Response Team Annual Walk/Run which was held last Saturday and was a lot of fun. Additionally, my daughter and her husband moved into their first house on Sunday and, although I can't lift anything heavy, I was there to do what I could. Looking ahead to May, I don't seem to have as many demands on my time so maybe there will be more then 3 books next month.
Sign up as an organ donor and...
Keep Reading.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Chapter Twenty-eight
Well, the Winter's finally over - although I gotta admit it was a pretty mild one. Today is the first day of Spring, we've passed St. Patrick's Day, and we've got a couple of week's of Lent left. I hope you all get to enjoy the upcoming seasons (and sorry to all you allergy sufferers out there). I only have three books to tell you about this time, but it's an example of quality over quantity.
Series
Bronx Tales - Joseph Teller ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2009, 366 pages, Paperback)
This is one of the early works in the Jaywalker series. He's a defense lawyer whose name is actually Harrison J. Walker, but everyone calls him Jaywalker ( which, I have to admit, annoyed me after a while). It is a flashback dealing with one of his earliest cases - a multiple rape case. There are some interesting angles here, but too much time spent on legal details and procedures. To be honest, I picked it up because it had "Bronx" in the title, and there are some references to local areas I recognized. The ending was interesting, but too pat and too quick. It was OK.
Sherlock Holmes
Dust and Shadow - Lyndsay Faye ($14.00/$1.00, copyright 2009, 322 pages, Trade Paperback)
My fascination with the Holmes mythos should be known to anyone who actually reads this blog. Here, we add in that greatest of all English mysteries - the Jack the Ripper case! Yes, I know, there are any number of Holmes/Ripper novels already in print, but here we have something unusual - a new slant on who the Ripper was. And it is the first novel written by a young woman who has given new life to Holmes, Watson, Lestrade and the other characters and their interactions. I enjoyed it.
Old Favorites
Tai-Pan - James Clavell ($3.25/$2.20. copyright 1966, 734 pages, Paperback)
I mentioned the last time that I'd come across a couple of books that I'd read years and years ago, and was going to reread. This is one of them, and I have to admit that I've read this at least twice before. Clavell may be more famous for his epic novel Shogun, which was made into an excellent mini-series on television.( And there was a movie made of this book that I've never seen that didn't do so well.) For my money, this is Clavell's best work. He deals here with the British taking over Hong Kong, the China Traders and their dealings with the Chinese, opium smuggling, and their rivalries. This book has everything - action, adventure, intrigue, humor, history, and romance. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone who likes a good story.
Like I said, quality over quantity (if you discount the first book). Hopefully, I'll have some more great stuff to tell you about in the upcoming months.
Keep reading.
Series
Bronx Tales - Joseph Teller ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2009, 366 pages, Paperback)
This is one of the early works in the Jaywalker series. He's a defense lawyer whose name is actually Harrison J. Walker, but everyone calls him Jaywalker ( which, I have to admit, annoyed me after a while). It is a flashback dealing with one of his earliest cases - a multiple rape case. There are some interesting angles here, but too much time spent on legal details and procedures. To be honest, I picked it up because it had "Bronx" in the title, and there are some references to local areas I recognized. The ending was interesting, but too pat and too quick. It was OK.
Sherlock Holmes
Dust and Shadow - Lyndsay Faye ($14.00/$1.00, copyright 2009, 322 pages, Trade Paperback)
My fascination with the Holmes mythos should be known to anyone who actually reads this blog. Here, we add in that greatest of all English mysteries - the Jack the Ripper case! Yes, I know, there are any number of Holmes/Ripper novels already in print, but here we have something unusual - a new slant on who the Ripper was. And it is the first novel written by a young woman who has given new life to Holmes, Watson, Lestrade and the other characters and their interactions. I enjoyed it.
Old Favorites
Tai-Pan - James Clavell ($3.25/$2.20. copyright 1966, 734 pages, Paperback)
I mentioned the last time that I'd come across a couple of books that I'd read years and years ago, and was going to reread. This is one of them, and I have to admit that I've read this at least twice before. Clavell may be more famous for his epic novel Shogun, which was made into an excellent mini-series on television.( And there was a movie made of this book that I've never seen that didn't do so well.) For my money, this is Clavell's best work. He deals here with the British taking over Hong Kong, the China Traders and their dealings with the Chinese, opium smuggling, and their rivalries. This book has everything - action, adventure, intrigue, humor, history, and romance. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone who likes a good story.
Like I said, quality over quantity (if you discount the first book). Hopefully, I'll have some more great stuff to tell you about in the upcoming months.
Keep reading.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Chapter Twenty-seven
I hope I don't jinx things by saying this, but so far it's been a very mild winter and we're expecting that the next couple of days may be near 60. And it's Leap Year, so here's an early Happy Birthday shout out to anyone out there born on February 29th. What I have for you this month is an interesting mixed bag.
Series
Faceless Killers - Henning Mankell ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2003, 369 pages, Paperback)
This is the first in the Kurt Wallander series, a police procedurals set in Sweden. There's a cover blurb suggesting that if you liked "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", you'll like this book. To me, the only similarities are the setting and the weather. Wallander is a police inspector trying to solve a brutal double murder while also trying to prevent a witch hunt against immigrants. Oh, and he's dealing with several personal crises, including a possibly senile father, an absent daughter, and a wife who's left him. It was OK.
The Reapers - John Connolly ($9.99/$.50, copyright 2008, 515 pages. Paperback)
This is part of the grim and gritty Charlie Bird series, but deals mostly with two characters who have played supporting roles in the past. Louis and Angel are killers, and have been payed very well, in the past, for their services. They are also gay lovers, though that isn't pertinent to this story. Here we learn a lot about Louis' past, and how it is now catching up with him, and how he and his friends deal with it. It's a good read, but if you're not familiar with the series I think you'd have a hard time trying to catch up on what's happening. I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
Dead Even - Brad Meltzer ($7.99/$.50, copyright 1998, 529 pages, Paperback)
I've read several of Meltzer's books, and I've always found the underlying premises to be a little strained. Here we have a wife on her first day as an Assistant District Attorney snatching a case that was earmarked for one of her superiors, hoping that it will keep her from getting let go do to upcoming budget cuts. It looks like a simple robbery, but soon things get tricky. And to make matters worse, her husband is hired as the Defense Attorney. There are death threats, outside influences, and more murders to complicate the situation. I enjoyed it.
Make Love, the Bruce Campbell Way - Bruce Campbell ($23.95/$.50, copyright 2005, 309 pages, Hard Cover)
That's right, I said Bruce Campbell. THE Bruce Campbell. Star of the Evil Dead movies, The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr., and Burn Notice. (OK..maybe only co-star of Burn Notice). Who could pass this up? Especially at this price! This is an account of his involvement in the Mike Nichols movie "Let's Make Love!" starring Richard Gere. Actually, I'm pretty sure Campbell made this whole thing up, but who wouldn't want to spend a few hours listening to his stories over a couple of cold ones? I enjoyed it.
End Notes
Over the last week, I came across a couple of books that I read many years ago. They're by different authors; deal with different subject matters; and I read them at different stages in my life. They got me to thinking, and I've decided to change things up at times and reread one or two of my personal favorites. Not back-to-back, but added into the mix. We'll see how that works. Happy Mardis Gras, and......
Keep Reading.
Series
Faceless Killers - Henning Mankell ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2003, 369 pages, Paperback)
This is the first in the Kurt Wallander series, a police procedurals set in Sweden. There's a cover blurb suggesting that if you liked "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", you'll like this book. To me, the only similarities are the setting and the weather. Wallander is a police inspector trying to solve a brutal double murder while also trying to prevent a witch hunt against immigrants. Oh, and he's dealing with several personal crises, including a possibly senile father, an absent daughter, and a wife who's left him. It was OK.
The Reapers - John Connolly ($9.99/$.50, copyright 2008, 515 pages. Paperback)
This is part of the grim and gritty Charlie Bird series, but deals mostly with two characters who have played supporting roles in the past. Louis and Angel are killers, and have been payed very well, in the past, for their services. They are also gay lovers, though that isn't pertinent to this story. Here we learn a lot about Louis' past, and how it is now catching up with him, and how he and his friends deal with it. It's a good read, but if you're not familiar with the series I think you'd have a hard time trying to catch up on what's happening. I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
Dead Even - Brad Meltzer ($7.99/$.50, copyright 1998, 529 pages, Paperback)
I've read several of Meltzer's books, and I've always found the underlying premises to be a little strained. Here we have a wife on her first day as an Assistant District Attorney snatching a case that was earmarked for one of her superiors, hoping that it will keep her from getting let go do to upcoming budget cuts. It looks like a simple robbery, but soon things get tricky. And to make matters worse, her husband is hired as the Defense Attorney. There are death threats, outside influences, and more murders to complicate the situation. I enjoyed it.
Make Love, the Bruce Campbell Way - Bruce Campbell ($23.95/$.50, copyright 2005, 309 pages, Hard Cover)
That's right, I said Bruce Campbell. THE Bruce Campbell. Star of the Evil Dead movies, The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr., and Burn Notice. (OK..maybe only co-star of Burn Notice). Who could pass this up? Especially at this price! This is an account of his involvement in the Mike Nichols movie "Let's Make Love!" starring Richard Gere. Actually, I'm pretty sure Campbell made this whole thing up, but who wouldn't want to spend a few hours listening to his stories over a couple of cold ones? I enjoyed it.
End Notes
Over the last week, I came across a couple of books that I read many years ago. They're by different authors; deal with different subject matters; and I read them at different stages in my life. They got me to thinking, and I've decided to change things up at times and reread one or two of my personal favorites. Not back-to-back, but added into the mix. We'll see how that works. Happy Mardis Gras, and......
Keep Reading.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Chapter Twenty-six
Looking back at the last chapter, I noticed that the authors I spoke of were all new to me (except Robert B. Parker, but his was an "historical" western which is different from his usual work). This month, I seem to have picked books by authors that I've spoken about in the past, one of which is an entry in a familiar series.
Series
9 Dragons - Michael Connelly ($9.99/$.50, copyright 2009, 449 pages, Paperback)
This is a recent addition to the excellent Harry Bosch series. Harry gets involved with the murder of a Chinese liquor store owner, and it quickly becomes complicated. For one thing, his daughter gets kidnapped in Hong Kong, where she lives with her mother (I must've missed a few volumes since this was a surprise to me). Of course, Harry has to go after her. Several real surprises, some excellent action sequences, and Connelly's great grasp of people and locations. However, I did think that the ending was a little rushed. I enjoyed it.
Hour Game - David Baldacci ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2004, 590 pages, Paperback)
Baldacci's books tend to be based in Washington, D. C., or on characters who have ties to that area. Here he gives us 2 former Secret Service agents - one male (the older Sean King), one female (the younger Michelle Maxwell) - who now operate as private detectives in a small Virginia town. They get involved in a serial killer situation where the killer is copying other past serial killers - Son of Sam, the Zodiac Killer, etc - while also investigating a burglary case. There are some very interesting developments, and the main characters are well drawn, but others are merely caricatures of southern archetypes and some questions are left unanswered. It was OK.
Miscellaneous
True Detectives - Jonathan Kellerman ($9.99/$.50, copyright 2009, 462 pages, Paperback)
I am a fan of Kellerman's Alex Delaware series featuring Detective Milo Sturgis, and they make what amounts to cameo appearances here. The main characters are Moses Reed, an uptight, white Detective, and Aaron Fox, a stylish, black Private Detective. They both get involved in a cold missing person's case. Oh, and they're also half-brothers who's fathers had been police partners, and, of course, they don't get along. Kellerman tries, but it never rings true and I didn't find anything likable about the main characters. I didn't like it.
King Con - Stephen J. Cannell ($6.99/$.50, copyright 1997, 419 pages, Paperback)
Stephen J. Cannell, of course, was the creator of several of the more popular TV series' including "The Rockford Files" and "The A-Team". Here he gives us the King of Con men - Beano Bates - who runs afoul of a vicious mob boss and the bosses equally vicious but crazier brother. Beano sets out to get even by running a con on the brothers, with the help of his family of crooks and grifters, and a prosecuting attorney who wants the mob boss behind bars. Some of the situations and set-ups seem far-fetched, but I've seen similar ones shown on those news programs that warn us about what to watch out for, so...maybe Cannell had an inside source. It's a little too long, but I enjoyed it.
I came across this quote from Tom Clancy recently.."The difference between fact and fiction is that fiction has to make sense." Makes sense to me.
Keep reading.
Series
9 Dragons - Michael Connelly ($9.99/$.50, copyright 2009, 449 pages, Paperback)
This is a recent addition to the excellent Harry Bosch series. Harry gets involved with the murder of a Chinese liquor store owner, and it quickly becomes complicated. For one thing, his daughter gets kidnapped in Hong Kong, where she lives with her mother (I must've missed a few volumes since this was a surprise to me). Of course, Harry has to go after her. Several real surprises, some excellent action sequences, and Connelly's great grasp of people and locations. However, I did think that the ending was a little rushed. I enjoyed it.
Hour Game - David Baldacci ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2004, 590 pages, Paperback)
Baldacci's books tend to be based in Washington, D. C., or on characters who have ties to that area. Here he gives us 2 former Secret Service agents - one male (the older Sean King), one female (the younger Michelle Maxwell) - who now operate as private detectives in a small Virginia town. They get involved in a serial killer situation where the killer is copying other past serial killers - Son of Sam, the Zodiac Killer, etc - while also investigating a burglary case. There are some very interesting developments, and the main characters are well drawn, but others are merely caricatures of southern archetypes and some questions are left unanswered. It was OK.
Miscellaneous
True Detectives - Jonathan Kellerman ($9.99/$.50, copyright 2009, 462 pages, Paperback)
I am a fan of Kellerman's Alex Delaware series featuring Detective Milo Sturgis, and they make what amounts to cameo appearances here. The main characters are Moses Reed, an uptight, white Detective, and Aaron Fox, a stylish, black Private Detective. They both get involved in a cold missing person's case. Oh, and they're also half-brothers who's fathers had been police partners, and, of course, they don't get along. Kellerman tries, but it never rings true and I didn't find anything likable about the main characters. I didn't like it.
King Con - Stephen J. Cannell ($6.99/$.50, copyright 1997, 419 pages, Paperback)
Stephen J. Cannell, of course, was the creator of several of the more popular TV series' including "The Rockford Files" and "The A-Team". Here he gives us the King of Con men - Beano Bates - who runs afoul of a vicious mob boss and the bosses equally vicious but crazier brother. Beano sets out to get even by running a con on the brothers, with the help of his family of crooks and grifters, and a prosecuting attorney who wants the mob boss behind bars. Some of the situations and set-ups seem far-fetched, but I've seen similar ones shown on those news programs that warn us about what to watch out for, so...maybe Cannell had an inside source. It's a little too long, but I enjoyed it.
I came across this quote from Tom Clancy recently.."The difference between fact and fiction is that fiction has to make sense." Makes sense to me.
Keep reading.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Chapter Twenty-five
To quote John Lennon.."Another year over, and a new one just begun". This is the first posting of the third year for this blog, but the last for this calendar year. And I have a real mixed bag of books to tell you about, so here we go..........
Non-fiction
A Monk Swimming - Malachy McCourt ($14.00/$.50, copyright 1998, 290 pages, Trade Paperback)
Malachy is Frank McCourt's brother. Having read Frank's book about their impoverished upbringing in Ireland, I thought that Malachy's tales of his early years in New York would be as interesting. Malachy has some great tales to tell, drops names left and right, and always seems to have a drink in his hand in whatever country he finds himself. Then it hit me, almost at the end, that he still had some baggage from Ireland that he hadn't left behind. It was interesting.
Miscellaneous
Metzger's Dog - Thomas Perry ($13.95/$.25, copyright 1983, 314 pages, Trade Paperback)
Here we have the story of "Chinese" Gordon and his friends who steal a supply of cocaine from a university using it for a study. They also, however, manage to take something that the CIA wants back, and the rest of the book involves attempts by both sides to get what they want. It's described as a "comic thriller", but it is 28 years old and it's not quite as comic or as thrilling as it once must have been. It was interesting.
Creepers - David Morrell ($7.99/$.25, copyright 2005, 356 pages, Paperback)
The premise here is that a reporter joins a group of "urban explorers" while they look through an abandoned, about-to-be-torn-down, hotel in Asbury Park. The original intent is to learn about the history of the building, perhaps to get pictures of ornate furnishings and other things, and never to disturb anything. But nothing goes right. Not everyone is who he says he is, and there are plenty of surprises in store. And it all takes place during one dark and stormy night. I enjoyed it.
Gunman's Rhapsody - Robert B. Parker ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2001, 316 pages, Paperback)
I've written about Parker's other westerns before, but this one is different. It's a version of the Gunfight at the O. K. Corral. There are certain historical events that have interested me, and this is one that I've read up on. Parker gets his facts right, but I'm of the opinion that facts - in this case - take away some of the mystique of the event. Kostner and Quaid or Russell and Kilmer may have been more historically accurate, but I prefer Lancaster and Douglas or Fonda and Mature. It was interesting (I was gonna say it was OK).
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars, The Fall of the Amazing Zalindas - Tracy Mack & Michael Citrin ($16.99/$1.99, copyright 2006, 259 pages, Hard Cover)
Although mentioned in only a handful of stories, the street urchins that populated London were a kind of private army for Sherlock Holmes. He used them to follow people, listen in on conversations, and probably some other not-so-legal things. Here we find Holmes involved in the death of a tight-rope walker, which leads to a breech of the queen's palace and his old enemy, Moriarty. This book is the first in a proposed series that focuses on the Irregulars, so there is much attention paid to Wiggins and his associates. I enjoyed it.
Graphic Novels
Jimmy Corrigan, The Smartest Kid on Earth - Chris Ware ($19.95/$1.00, published 2000, Trade Paperback)
I've read very few non-super hero graphic novels, but I saw a review last year that said this one had won some awards, so I gave it a try. It was originally published as a series of newspaper strips, then as a section in a self-published book by Ware. It's the story of a middle-aged man trying to get to know his long-missing father, interspersed with past versions of the Corrigan men and their dysfunctional father/son relationships. I found it very depressing, and gave up about a third of the way through. I didn't like it.
That's it for now.
Merry Christmas! And...
Keep reading!
Non-fiction
A Monk Swimming - Malachy McCourt ($14.00/$.50, copyright 1998, 290 pages, Trade Paperback)
Malachy is Frank McCourt's brother. Having read Frank's book about their impoverished upbringing in Ireland, I thought that Malachy's tales of his early years in New York would be as interesting. Malachy has some great tales to tell, drops names left and right, and always seems to have a drink in his hand in whatever country he finds himself. Then it hit me, almost at the end, that he still had some baggage from Ireland that he hadn't left behind. It was interesting.
Miscellaneous
Metzger's Dog - Thomas Perry ($13.95/$.25, copyright 1983, 314 pages, Trade Paperback)
Here we have the story of "Chinese" Gordon and his friends who steal a supply of cocaine from a university using it for a study. They also, however, manage to take something that the CIA wants back, and the rest of the book involves attempts by both sides to get what they want. It's described as a "comic thriller", but it is 28 years old and it's not quite as comic or as thrilling as it once must have been. It was interesting.
Creepers - David Morrell ($7.99/$.25, copyright 2005, 356 pages, Paperback)
The premise here is that a reporter joins a group of "urban explorers" while they look through an abandoned, about-to-be-torn-down, hotel in Asbury Park. The original intent is to learn about the history of the building, perhaps to get pictures of ornate furnishings and other things, and never to disturb anything. But nothing goes right. Not everyone is who he says he is, and there are plenty of surprises in store. And it all takes place during one dark and stormy night. I enjoyed it.
Gunman's Rhapsody - Robert B. Parker ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2001, 316 pages, Paperback)
I've written about Parker's other westerns before, but this one is different. It's a version of the Gunfight at the O. K. Corral. There are certain historical events that have interested me, and this is one that I've read up on. Parker gets his facts right, but I'm of the opinion that facts - in this case - take away some of the mystique of the event. Kostner and Quaid or Russell and Kilmer may have been more historically accurate, but I prefer Lancaster and Douglas or Fonda and Mature. It was interesting (I was gonna say it was OK).
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars, The Fall of the Amazing Zalindas - Tracy Mack & Michael Citrin ($16.99/$1.99, copyright 2006, 259 pages, Hard Cover)
Although mentioned in only a handful of stories, the street urchins that populated London were a kind of private army for Sherlock Holmes. He used them to follow people, listen in on conversations, and probably some other not-so-legal things. Here we find Holmes involved in the death of a tight-rope walker, which leads to a breech of the queen's palace and his old enemy, Moriarty. This book is the first in a proposed series that focuses on the Irregulars, so there is much attention paid to Wiggins and his associates. I enjoyed it.
Graphic Novels
Jimmy Corrigan, The Smartest Kid on Earth - Chris Ware ($19.95/$1.00, published 2000, Trade Paperback)
I've read very few non-super hero graphic novels, but I saw a review last year that said this one had won some awards, so I gave it a try. It was originally published as a series of newspaper strips, then as a section in a self-published book by Ware. It's the story of a middle-aged man trying to get to know his long-missing father, interspersed with past versions of the Corrigan men and their dysfunctional father/son relationships. I found it very depressing, and gave up about a third of the way through. I didn't like it.
That's it for now.
Merry Christmas! And...
Keep reading!
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