Seventh Anniversary Edition!

It's November but - so far - we haven't had too many cold days although I understand that's gonna change tomorrow. My Granddaughter and I are still having a great time, including spending time reading. Here are the one's that I managed to read by myself this month.

Series

Inferno - Dan Brown ($9.99/$.50, copyright 2013, 611 pages, Paperback)
I enjoyed "Angels and Demons" and thought that "The DaVinci Code" was pretty good so I was looking forward to reading this. Robert Langdon - our hero - wakes up in the hospital, with no idea where he is. Within minutes of awakening in the hospital, the chase is on. An assassin tries to kill him but Langdon escapes, joined by an attractive young female doctor, Sienna, he met two minutes before. They spend the first half of this book being pursued by various factions in black clothes driving black cars with blacked out windows. They find hidden passages, overcome locked doors, hide behind sculptures and paintings, outrun helicopter tracking drones, discover ancient caverns and on and on and on, always on the brink of being captured but always managing to make it in the nick of time as pages are taken up describing various paintings, sculptures, fountains, passageways, artists, Florentine history, and lots and lots and lots of Dante's Inferno. It's all overblown and, in my opinion, there's way too much time spent on Florentine history. I finished it but I wouldn't recommend it.


Miscellaneous


Deadwood - Pete Dexter ($14.00/$.50, copyright 1986, 365 pages, Trade Paperback)
I'm a child of the '50's and grew up watching Westerns on TV so I love when I come across anything like this. Deadwood is really everything a Western ought to be: a character-centric story full of dirt, killing, heartbreak, misery, drunkenness, and simple moments. I picked it up because it mentioned Wild Bill Hickock in the blurbs and Dexter spends a portion of the book dealing with Hicock's death but he also dedicates portions of the book to Colorado Charley Utter, Calamity Jane, Al Swearengen, and others. Calamity Jane, in particular, is shown as a drunken mess but also an extremely tender woman who cares for the sick during an outbreak of smallpox, and the complexity and inconsistency of her character make her one of the most magnetic in the book. I enjoyed it.

Totals

I haven't read as much this year, Largely because my Granddaughter has taken up more of my time and I've had some health issues to deal with. Still, I don't think the numbers are bad.

Miscellaneous - 18 books, $135.15 cover price, $18.73 actual price

Series - 8 books, $68.94 cover price, $12,22 actual price

Off The Shelf  - 4 books, $27.89 cover price, $27.89 actual price

This year's totals:

30 books, $231.98 cover price, $58.84 actual price.

Seven years totals are:

294 books, $2,984.89 cover price, $298.49.

I'm in the middle of a new book now and I hope you are, too.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Next up, December so ....

Keep reading.

Chapter Seventy-eight

It's October although you wouldn't know it by the weather the last few days. I had a few extra days off over the first two weeks of the month because of School Holidays but I'm back to Babysitting 4 days a week now. My Granddaughter is getting older and we spend a lot more time taking walks, sometimes to the park or the Library. I can usually count on her to take a nap after lunch for about 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours during which I eat my lunch and read. Here's what I've gotten through since last month.

Miscellaneous

Half Of Paradise - James Lee Burke ($7.99/$.00, copyright 1965, 469 pages, Paperback)
This was given to me by a friend who bought a box of books at a Yard Sale and thought that I'd like it. I've read a lot of Burke's books over the years - especially most of his Dave Robichaux series - and enjoyed most of them. This is Burke's first published work and reads like three different short stories that he reworked. You get the last in the line of  former Louisiana landowners who has an alcohol problem; a dirt-poor boy with a talent for playing guitar who hits the big time and drugs; and a black dock worker who boxes on the side but gets badly hurt and then framed for a robbery. These are stereotypes in Burke's books and, when he merges the stories it gets very depressing. Still, Burke's strengths are here - his characters, dialogue, and the descriptions of everyday lives ring true. It was OK.

Trans Atlantic - Colum McCann ($12.00/$3.99, copyright 2013, 304 pages, Trade Paperback)
I've read a few of McCann's books before and - for the most part - enjoyed them. This one is a collection of short (and not so short) stories about crossings from America to Ireland and vice versa that he tries to tie together into a novel. It begins with an utterly compelling account of the first transatlantic plane flight that describes the perils of what they went through. The second chapter is about Frederick Douglas's visit to Ireland during the early days of the Great Famine, which was interesting but a bit too long. Then, for me, it became a struggle. The George Mitchell chapter made me put it down for a while but the last few chapters - the crossing from Ireland to America - saved things. McCann can write and there are parts of this book that were a pleasure to read. It was OK.

A Pirate Looks At Fifty - Jimmy Buffett ($15.00/$3.99, copyright 1998, 420 pages, Trade Paperback)
I’ve been a fan of Buffett’s music for a long time. Some of it's funny and some of it's not but I have a good time when I listen (see what I did there?).  Buffet wrote this as an autobiography/travelogue type of book to celebrate his 50th Birthday (Christmas Day, 1996). He talks about his family, his early years, his wild days of drug and alcohol abuse, and his struggles to make it in the music industry. He doesn’t gloss over the fact that his fame and popularity leave him with the money and connections to do whatever he wants to, but he does not flaunt it, either. It is simply the way it is.The writing is simple and straightforward, and fun to read. I enjoyed it.

So ... that's it for now. The weather report says that we're in for more seasonal weather. I did notice, driving around today, that the leaves are really starting to fall. I'm not sure what my Granddaughter is going to be dressed as for Halloween but I'm sure she'll be cute.

Next up - November. Until then ..........

Keep reading.

Chapter Seventy-seven

It's September and it's still feeling Summery even though it's the first day of Autumn. I've been back babysitting since the 6th of the month - roughly 2 weeks ago - and our schedule has changed a bit. We go out every day, sometimes to the park and sometimes to the library. What hasn't changed is that I still get some time to read while my Granddaughter naps. Here's what I've gotten through since last time.

Series

Speak of The Devil - Richard Hawke ($7.99/$.25, copyright 2006, 376 pages, Paperback)
I'm always willing to read the first book in a series and was happy to come across this one. Fritz Malone is another detective cut from the first-person, witty Spenser mold. This starts with Fritz going out to get some bagels. He stops to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade in Manhattan and winds up witnessing a mass killing, chasing and shooting the gunman, and then getting whisked away by the police. What follows are blackmail threats, bombs, and dirty cops. Because of his "connection" to the Department, he's brought in to help in the investigation and he brings in his own people to help him. Hawke has created a fast-paced, suspenseful read and the characters are well defined. I particularly liked a couple of the supporting ones although the relationships are not clear. The ending wasn't much of a surprise and I thought it was rushed. It was OK. 

Johannes Cabal The Necromancer - Jonathan L. Howard ($15.00/$4.48, copyright 2009, 290 pages, Trade Paperback)
This popped up in my Facebook newsfeed because I follow a couple of used book sites. It sounded so interesting that I ordered it immediately. Johannes Cabal has sold his soul to the devil - with immediate possession - in exchange for mastery of the Necromantic Arts but, after a while, decides that he wants it back. He goes back to Hell and haggles with Satan who, being bored, offers him a new deal. Cabal can have his soul back if he gets 100 other people to sell theirs - and he only has one year to do it. And just because he's an okay guy, Satan gives Cabal a carnival to do it with. He agrees but then finds out that the carnival is in bad shape and he's going to need help so he literally unearths his brother Horst to help him. The rest of the book is so unexplainable that you're just going to have to trust me on this. Howard writes in that dry, British, Gaimanesque  style and his characters are stereotypes which makes them immediately identifiable. My only objection is that, at times, he seems to be so taken by his own writing that he drags a scene out too long. Still, I really enjoyed it.

Miscellaneous

The Genius - Jesse Kellerman ($9.99/$.50, copyright 2008, 548 pages, Paperback)
I'm a fan of both Jonathan and Faye Kellermans' works so I thought that I'd give their son's a try. A successful young NYC art dealer named Ethan Muller discovers a vast series of bizarre drawings in an abandoned apartment in Queens. The artist, Victor Cracke, has gone missing and Muller takes advantage of that. He sets up a show that quickly becomes the toast of the contemporary art world. He soon has cause for alarm--a retired cop sees one of the drawings in the newspaper and recognizes the little boy in it as a long-ago victim of a serial killer who was never caught. Is the artist the murderer? Muller needs to find out and someone needs to keep it secret. Kellerman does a great job setting this in the New York art world  and his characters are sharply drawn and memorable. I enjoyed it.

That's it for now.

October is coming up and the leaves are starting to turn. Halloween is just around the corner. Till then ..........

Keep reading.

Chapter Seventy-six

It's August and it's hot. I haven't had to Babysit because my Daughter didn't have to teach this month. She gets to spend the whole month enjoying time with her Daughter and I get to spend the whole month relaxing, trying to stay cool, and reading. I have this stack of books that I've been waiting to get into but I made the mistake of stopping by my local Library while they were having a Special Sale (Paperbacks for $.25) and wound up with some old favorites. Here's what I've gotten through so far.

Miscellaneous

Of Mice And Men - John Steinbeck ($.25/$8.00, copyright 1937, 107 pages, Paperback)
I am a big Steinbeck fan so picking this up was a no-brainer. I read this years ago and have seen the movie and TV versions but a classic like this always deserves to be revisited. This is the story of a two men who work as itinerant farm laborers, drifting from job to job in California. Lennie is the gentle giant, physically strong but mentally deficient. George is the "smart" one who guides and protects Lennie but also depends on him for companionship. Together, they have a dream to someday buy a place of their own where they can grow crops and raise rabbits and live happily ever after. They've had some problems in the past but now have new jobs on a new farm but, as the title implies .. "The best laid plans ...".It's a short book but Steinbeck has created some memorable characters and  the ending - even though I knew what it would be - still has an impact. (My only objection is the cover price. $8.00 for 107 pages! Ridiculous.) I really enjoyed it.

The Daughter Of Time - Josephine Tey ($.25/$2.95, copyright 1951, 205 pages, Paperback)
This has always been one of my favorites. Inspector Alan Grant of Scotland Yard is recovering in the hospital when a friend gets him interested in Richard III and the death of his Nephews. Did he really order them killed in the Tower of London, or was he unjustly implicated as part of a massive smear campaign? This is different from the other Mysteries that I've reviewed before because the detective work involved is all just good historical research which I found fascinating  Tey has her opinion and she works up to it logically. I really enjoyed it.

The Black Swan - Rafael Sabatini ($.25/$1.50, copyright 1931, 217 pages, Paperback)
I have yet to read a Sabatini novel I didn't enjoy. It's the story of Charles de Bernis, an aide to Henry Morgan, Governor of Jamaica. He's sailing home to a well-deserved retirement on a ship that's also carrying the Governor's daughter when they run into the last pirate at large - Tom Leach. To save their lives he convinces Leach that he's turned against Morgan and that the lady is under his protection. What follows is an adventure fraught with peril and suspense as our hero tries to balance his story and actions against a pirate determined to double-cross him at the first chance he gets.  Sabatini again creates some memorable characters and when he describes a sword fight, you hear and see every clash, grunt and splash. I really enjoyed it.

The Osterman Weekend - Robert Ludlum ($.25/$1.50, copyright 1972, 336 pages, Paperback)
I've always thought that Ludlum's earlier books were his best so I was happy to find this one again. It's the story of John Tanner, a TV news executive who is summoned to Washington one day and told by a CIA operative that one or more of his best friends, the Ostermans, the Cardones and the Tremaynes is a traitor. They are all gathering for the weekend at Tanner's house in suburban New Jersey and Tanner's job is to get the traitors to reveal themselves so the CIA can swoop in and deal with them. Ludlum gives us an ordinary person who's thrown into extraordinary circumstances and must get by on his own wits. It's a quick and easy read, the suspense grows nicely, and - unlike most of Ludlum's other books - everything occurs in one place. I enjoyed it.

Two Years Before The Mast - Richard Henry Dana, Jr. ($.25/$2.50, printed 1964, 371 pages, Paperback)
Last month I wrote about "White-Jacket" by Herman Melville, this month I came across this. While attending Harvard as a young man, Dana found his eyesight became weak and his health declining. He decided that salt air and plain hard work would be the cure so, for two years, he served as a common sailor aboard a clipper ship, the Alert. He was given no special treatment, living in the forecastle, eating the mess of salt beef and common hardtack, risking his life and serving under a captain crueler than most. Like Melville, Dana was able to write in such a way as to re-create the life on board a sailing ship, down to the smallest details and that's what makes this book so real - you can feel the cold of Tierra del Fuego, taste the salt beef, and feel the wind and damp. I really enjoyed it.

I spent $2.00 that day so I still have 3 more books to go but next month is September and I'll be back to Babysitting. I'm planning on helping my Granddaughter with the Alphabet and some Beginning Words. Still, I'm sure I'll find the time to read a book or two for myself.

Enjoy the rest of the Summer and ...

Keep reading.

Chapter Seventy-five

It's July and we're in the middle of a Heat Wave. I'm actually beginning to think that Global Warming has moved the really hot weather to July and that August will be cooler. My Babysitting duties have been cut in half this month so I had more time to read. Here's what I've gotten through.

Miscellaneous

Bronx Noir - S. J. Rozan, ed. ($15.95/$1.00, published 2007, 361 pages, Trade Paperback)
This is a collection of short stories with that dark twist synonymous with Noir. I don't usually buy collections like this but the locations being set in my home borough sucked me in. It's a mixed bag. Some stories are short and others run on too long. Out of the 19 stories, I only recognized two of the authors - the prolific Lawrence Block (Riverdale) and Ed Dee (Van Cortlandt Park). There are
 some clever twists and snappy endings but there are also several stories that I figured out the twist very early on. I have to admit that the main reason I bought this was that I was hoping to pick out familiar places based on where the index said the stories were set. I was disappointed. Only in Robert J. Hughes' "A Visit to St. Nick's" (Fordham Road) did I find something familiar - my old parish church (though no one I knew ever called it St. Nick's). It was OK.

White-Jacket - Herman Melville ($8.95/$.50, published 2002, 400 pages, Trade Paperback)
In this early title from the great Melville, we get an episodic account of the author's service aboard the USS United States, sister ship of "Old Ironsides", told in often startlingly candid detail. From the ritual floggings at the masthead to a critical grog shortage, Melville details the life of the 400-man crew of an American man-of-war based on his own experiences. Each chapter is a commentary on some facet of life aboard the ship. There are many characters but no real plot just a fascinating collection of observations laced with irony, dry humor, and - at times - outrage. I enjoyed it.

Series

I was on a Book Run early this month when I picked up the first 3 volumes in a Young Adult series.

Montmorency - Eleanor Updale ($2.99/$.50, copyright 2003, 233 pages, Trade Paperback)
Taking place in London in the late 1800's, Montmorency is the name given to a jailed thief recovering from injuries obtained during his bungled last job. As he heals from radical -- and groundbreaking -- surgeries, he formulates a plan to become a master thief. During the day, he is Montmorency, a gentlemen with a penchant for fashion and opera. At night, he's Scarper, a thief who scurries through the sewers of London, robbing the very wealthy. The first two-thirds of the book lay out how he goes about this and the various obstacles he faces. In the last third, he's given  a way to leave Scarper behind and still make a living in the role of Montmorency with a chance for societal respect. This volume is shorter (and the cover price is lower) then the following two and I think that was done intentionally by Updale so that it would attract readers. It worked for me. I enjoyed it.

That's another month done with. Next up is August and, again, I have a lot of books already stacked up. It's hot out so stay inside, crank up the AC and ......

Keep Reading.

Chapter Seventy-four

It's June - the end of June actually - and that means School's out for Summer. What that also means is that my Babysitting duties will be limited to 2 days a week in July then none in August. I'll work out some "Play Dates" with my Granddaughter over the two months and - probably - spend my extra spare time reading out of the sun.

I ended last months Post by mentioning that I had a couple of Biographies that I hoped to get through for this month. They could be considered as Part I and Part II because they are by and about the same person. I read 85 pages of the first one and just couldn't get interested in it. That happens sometimes. I put them away for now.

I did manage to read the following, however.

Miscellaneous

The Scarecrow - Michael Connelly ($9.99/$.50, copyright2008, 538 pages, Paperback)
I've mentioned before that I'm a fan of Connelly's Harry Bosch series but he's also created other characters in other novels (many of them, eventually, interact with Bosch). This one is a sequel to "The Poet" and is centered around newspaper reporter Jack McEvoy. (I did not list this as a "Series" because, as far as I know, there are only these two books.) As the book begins, Jack has been downsized from the Crime Beat at the Los Angeles Times and given two weeks to train his replacement. After taking a call on a seemingly innocuous crime story, Jack begins to look into things and decides to go out with a story to remember. It concerns a young man, arrested on suspicion of murder, though the young man swears his innocence. Jack finds some troubling details in the confession as well as a larger pattern that points to a potential serial killer. The twist to this scenario is that the reader already knows who the real killer is having been introduced to him early on. Connelly alternates perspectives between these two characters as Jack's deadline draws near and The Scarecrow, using technology, slowly cuts off Jack's contact with email, his bank account, etc. The story moves along at a good pace, the suspense builds, and the characters feel real. I enjoyed it.

Off The Shelf

A little explanation first. My Daughter took part in a Book Exchange on Facebook and invited me to participate. I did and wound up sending a copy of one of my favorite books to someone in Chicago. Anyway, as I decided on which book to send, I got the itch. You see, a book becomes a favorite because you enjoy reading it over and over again. So .... I did.

Tai-Pan - James Clavell ($7.99/$7.99, copyright 1966, 732 pages, Paperback)
I think that this is the fourth time that I've read this book and, maybe, the second time that I've posted about it. It's part of Clavell's "The Asian Saga" and - though not the longest or shortest - is, in my opinion, the best of the series. It is an engaging story about the European community in China just after the British have taken control of Hong Kong. It centers on Dirk Struan, referred to as The Tai-Pan by those around him and the most powerful trader in Asia. It is an epic story of how the British created and controlled their first stronghold in Asia. Clavell does an amazing job of creating realistic characters and incorporating facts about the time period and the culture. He gives us rival traders who will stop at nothing, plotting Russians, Pirates, Typhoons, and even a horse race.You'll find everything here - action, adventure, intrigue, violence, humor, tragedy, and even romance. I enjoy it every time I read it.

Up next is July and, like I mentioned above, I'll have a lot more free time and I've got a lot of books in different genres backed up. Maybe I'll surprise you.

Keep Reading.

Chapter Seventy-three

So far, May has been kind of a bust weather-wise. Sure, we've had a couple of really good days but it seems like it's mostly been overcast and rainy. I did manage to take my Granddaughter out for a walk a couple of times. She's 13 months old now. She's now only napping once a day while I'm there and she's walking. These changes cut into my daily reading time but I did manage to finish these.

Series

Private #1 Suspect - James Patterson and Maxine Paetro ($10.00/$.50, copyright 2012, 377pages, Paperback)
I've always tried to read at least one book from all of the Patterson Factory Series'. This is the first one of the  "Private"  series that I came across. The central character, Jack Morgan, is the owner of a private security firm which is involved in several cases at once in this book - including the murder of a former girlfriend that he's accused of committing . All of these must be solved by the end of the book. As you might expect the action is continuous right up to the end (where the book starts to drag a bit, but by then, it's only a few more pages and you're done). There's nothing heavy-duty here (although Jack's having an evil twin brother is interesting) , and anyone who wants to stick with it should be able to finish it up in one day. It moves fast and held my attention. I enjoyed it.

Miscellaneous

Burr - Gore Vidal ($4.95/$.50, copyright 1973, 564 pages, Paperback)
I first read this book in Hard Cover back in the late 70's and was very happy to come across this Paperback edition at a Library Sale. This is a historical fiction novel, so the characters in the story actually existed. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton all make appearances  but the book's main character is Charlie Schuyler, a law clerk and budding journalist in the employ of the aging Aaron Burr, who is still living down his famous duel with Alexander Hamilton. The story is set in the 1830's, well after the American Revolution and towards the end of Burr's life. Schuyler has some powerful friends that want him to get Aaron Burr to admit that he is the father of Martin Van Buren, who is running for president. They hope to discredit Van Buren by linking him to the hated Burr, as well as painting Van Buren as a bastard. The whole book is Burr's recollections to Charlie about his life in the American Revolution, as vice-president to Thomas Jefferson, and his supposed attempt to split the United States and make himself emperor of Mexico. These recollections are interspersed with Charlie's relationship with Burr and with Helen Jewett, a prostitute that Charlie wants to marry. Vidal writes with passion and humor, and he brings all of the characters (real and imaginary) to life, although he doesn't hold some of our Founding Fathers in high regard. I enjoyed it.

That's it for this month. Looks like we're in for warmer weather mid-week which, I hope, will last through the Memorial Day weekend.

Up next, June and a couple of autobiographies (if I can finish them).

Keep reading!