Also Read 3 Mar 2012 5:01 AM (13 years ago)
I've decided to start a separate post for the books I've read which don't really need a review of their own. I'll update this from time to time. These include so far:
- Build A Man
, by Talli Roland (Book 158), a sort of love story where a wannabe tabloid journalist working as a receptionist for her plastic surgeon boyfriend meets the man of her dreams when he comes in for a complete makeover. The clash of ethics with the chance of her dream job makes for interesting reading, though the book is a bit lightweight.
- Three Ways to Die
, short stories by Lee Goldberg (Book 157)
- Brilliant Book of Calm
, short, thought-provoking and inspirational chapters on keeping a more centered life (Book 156)
Babylon Series - Books 154 and 155 3 Mar 2012 4:59 AM (13 years ago)
The Babylon series of books is written by Imogen Edwards-Jones with the help of an anonymous source inside the industry she is profiling. Factual information and anecdotes that actually took place are compressed into the space of a week. Perhaps the best known of the series is Hotel Babylon which subsequently sparked a TV program, but other in the series include Air Babylon, Fashion Babylon, Pop Babylon and the two I've just read, Beach Babylon and Wedding Babylon. Believe me - you will learn more about the inner workings of these industries than you ever wanted to know, all told with the best of British humor. Hotel, Air and Wedding are my favorite of the series so far, but rumor has it that another expose is on its way. Can't wait. Recommended.
Check them all out on the Imogen Edwards-Jones author page
The Lonely Mile - Book 153 3 Mar 2012 4:55 AM (13 years ago)
Next to Before I Go to Sleep, this is probably the best book I've read all year. The Lonely Mile by Allan Leverone tells the story of a truck driver and former soldier who gets in the way of a serial killer who is about to capture his next victim. He saves the girl, but thereby creates an undesirable connection. How that plays out is the subject of the book. While technically there were a couple of faults which might give away one of the surprises, I liked the characters and the plot twists and found the last few chapters absolutely gripping! Highly recommended.
Embody by Jan Tilley - Book 152 3 Mar 2012 4:54 AM (13 years ago)
This sci-fi book is told from the perspective of an alien intelligence sent on a mission to find out as much as possible about humans by inhabiting their brains. The concept of two intelligences co-existing is an interesting one and you have to wait for the end to find out the point of the mission and the solutions to some ancient mysteries. While not great, it was quite readable and sci-fi fans will probably enjoy it.
Future Queens of England - Ryan Matthews - Book 151 3 Mar 2012 4:54 AM (13 years ago)
Future Queens of England is a humorous tale of Tony a homophobic, thuggish lout who is sentenced to a year at a finishing school for gay men. Along the way he changes is thoughts, gets over his prejudices, makes new friends and finds love (with the only other straight person at the school). The author pokes fun at stereotypes and is not above lots of low but rib-tickling very British humor. A good read if you want something light and entertaining. Recommended.
An English Rose with Thorns - John Moralee - Book 150 3 Mar 2012 4:53 AM (13 years ago)
This is a small collection of short stories of which the most interesting is the last - the tale of robbery and smuggling where nothing is what it seems. I can't say much more without giving it away, so if you get the chance to pick this one up for free, as I did, take it. Recommended.
The Lost Hero - Rick Riordan - Book 148 26 Feb 2012 6:21 AM (13 years ago)
The Lost Hero takes us back to the world Rick Riordan made famous in the Percy Jackson series. This time Percy is nowhere to be seen but some of our old friends search for him while we are introduced a a new set of demigods, including Jason, whose memory has been mysteriously wiped. He (along with 6 other demi-gods - we don't meet them all now) is at the centre of a new prophecy about the usual sort of death, destruction and general mayhem as gods try to rise and conquer. I found the book readable but not compelling, though I'll probably read the rest of them since I like all that Greek and Roman god stuff. Recommended (if you like that sort of thing).
World Made by Hand - James Howard Kunstler - Book 149 26 Feb 2012 6:20 AM (13 years ago)
World Made By Hand is another alternate future book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Set in a future where the fight for oil resulted in a war that pretty much wiped out all of our technological advances, it's the story of how people survive in the aftermath. They go back to doing things by hand, non-mechanized inventions (electricity supply is unreliable) and bartering services. As always there are opportunists, profiteers and those who retain their values. This is an enjoyable read. Recommended.
The Future of the Past - Adam Williams - Book 147 26 Feb 2012 6:19 AM (13 years ago)
Danny Isham is a detective whose mother is dying. A couple of children's bodies are found on a building site. Could these be the world of child killer Matthew? And what do the local crime bosses have to do with it? As you can tell, The Future of the Past weaves a number of threads together, and the conclusion is surprising and a bit distracting. There's not much new in the style of writing and the villains are pale imitations of those made popular by the likes of Lynda LaPlante and Martina Cole, but nevertheless, the story maintains pace and interest and overall it's a good read. The ending is surprising (well, at least, I didn't see it coming). Recommended.
The Voice - Michael Whetzel - Book 146 26 Feb 2012 6:18 AM (13 years ago)
The Voice contains linked stories that tell of the future after a mysterious voice speaks to humanity, leaving many people dead or injured. It's intended as a prequel to a series of novels set in this world - and it's a pretty good taster. Think of novels like The Stand or any other novel where perspectives shift to help you to build up an overall picture and you will get the idea. I found some stories interesting, others less so, but most of them readable. Whether that will carry through to a full novel from a single perspective remains to be seen. However, I am tempted to delve more into the scary future this author presents. Recommended for sci-fi/alternate future lovers.
Second Glance by Jodi Picoult - Book 145 14 Feb 2012 2:54 PM (13 years ago)
Second Glance by Jodi Picoult is a strange tale including paranormal happenings, an Indian burial ground and a hidden secret (yes, all at the same time, believe it or not). Here's Amazon's description:
In a small Vermont town, an old man puts a piece of land up for sale, igniting a firestorm of protest from the local Abenaki Indians, who insist it is an ancient burial ground. To appease them the developer looking to buy the property hires a ghost hunter, Ross Wakeman. Ross is a suicidal drifter desperate to cross paths again with his fiancee, who died in a car crash eight years earlier. But after several late nights all Ross can lay claim to discovering is Lia Beaumont, a skittish, mysterious woman who, like Ross, is on a search for something beyond the boundary separating life and death.While the characters are interesting, I never felt like there were any real surprises as the story developed so I worked out the identity of the mysterious old man pretty early as well as what had happened to the stillborn infant. This was readable but not enthralling. As a Jodi Picoult fan I had to read it, but I don't think my life would have been poorer if I hadn't.
Rescue by Anita Shreve - Book 144 14 Feb 2012 2:48 PM (13 years ago)
I generally like Anita Shreve's books, and while Rescue was no exception, I wasn't transported to another world in quite the same way as usual. I could almost feel the grinding of the writing process. Paramedic Peter Webster rescues and later marries Sheila, a troubled woman with a drinking problem. When she nearly kills their daughter Rowan, the marriage ends and Peter raises his daughter alone. As she is about to go to college, their relationship seems to be deteriorating, so Peter tracks down Sheila to help sort things out. I liked the main character, disliked Sheila and could almost see the ending coming. I'd rate it as readable, but average.
The Postcard Killers - James Patterson - Book 143 14 Feb 2012 2:19 PM (13 years ago)
James Patterson and Liza Marklund collaborate for the tale of a hunt to catch a pair of killers who are rampaging through Europe killing couples and sending postcards to the local newspapers to announce their victims. Detective Jacob Kanon has a personal interest in this one, as his daughter and her husband were among the killers' victims. Swedish reporter Dessie Larsson helps him when the killers are tracked to Stockholm, and they try to stop the killers from striking again. Though most Amazon reviewers pan it, this is a decent read, though not Patterson's greatest (maybe because he's no longer writing them on his own?).
The 7th Month by Lisa Gardner - Book 142 14 Feb 2012 2:12 PM (13 years ago)
I'm a big fan of Lisa Gardner's work so I was prepared to enjoy this story of what detective D D Warren does while she is 7 months pregnant and on desk duty. In the 7th Month, a gig as a film consultant leads to the chance to solve a murder, which DD does in less than a day. Short and sweet, and a recommended read.
The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist - Book 141 9 Feb 2012 4:12 PM (13 years ago)
When I read The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist, I couldn't help being reminded of another book set in a similar sort of world. In the world of main character Dorrit Wegner, childless people over a certain age, unless they are in protected occupations, are deemed 'dispensable' and leave the outside world behind to live out their days in a unit where all their needs are provided for. The catch is that they must take part in medical experiments and donate organs to help those who are 'needed' on the outside. Sooner or later, the idyll comes to an end with a final donation. At first, Dorrit finds a world that is infinitely more accepting of her than the world she left behind (after all, they are all in the same boat). She falls in love and finds happiness, but her will is often tested as those close to her reach the end of the donation cycle. This was an intriguing and slightly worrying book, but well worth reading. Recommended. I'd love to read some more of her books, but unfortunately this is the only one in English so far. (Oh, and the book it reminded me of?
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.)
Turning Point - Melissa Garrett - Book 140 4 Feb 2012 2:49 PM (13 years ago)
I could not stop reading Turning Point, the story of a girl, Jenna, who leaves on vacation and wanders into a decade old unsolved mystery when her car breaks down. Her rescuer, Phil, may not be what he seems - and neither might his wife Myra and son Dominic. When Jenna finds out what's really happening, the story is even more horrific and the only question is whether she will get away before someone is seriously hurt. Absolutely gripping and highly recommended.
The Lost Ark - Book 139 4 Feb 2012 2:46 PM (13 years ago)
Yep, it's the hunt for the Ark on Mount Ararat, joined with a missing persons search following in the footsteps of an Ararat scholar and enthusiast. Readable though not riveting. Here's Amazon's description:
In a lonely bar in eastern Turkey, ex-National Geographic photojournalist Sam Ward is hired to find an eccentric professor who disappeared high atop Mount Ararat, fabled resting spot of Noah's Ark. Accompanied by the professor's beautiful daughter, archaeologist Faye Roberts, Sam soon stumbles upon a secret stronghold — a base of operation for unleashing hell of earth. Now running for their lives, Sam and company are about to come face-to-face with the greatest archaeological discovery of all time....
The Witness - Dee Henderson - Book 138 4 Feb 2012 8:59 AM (13 years ago)
The Witness is a complex novel and it's best to highlight Amazon's own description of it.
Police Chief Luke Granger's witness to a murder, Amy Griffin, has been on the run for years. Her family thinks she was murdered eight years ago, but Amy chose to accept a life in the shadows in order to protect her sisters' lives. Now unveiled secrets about their father have thrust the sisters into the public spotlight. The man who wants Amy dead now sees her sisters as the way to locate her.I found the characters likeable, and the premise interesting, but overall the book wasn't as compelling as I'd hoped. If you're able to pick it up second hand or as a Kindle freebie, you won't be disappointed, but don't pay full price.
Tuesdays with Morrie - Book 137 4 Feb 2012 8:55 AM (13 years ago)
One of my favorite books from my first book club was The Five People You Meet in Heaven, so I couldn't wait to read Tuesdays with Morrie, which I'd heard so much about. Until I opened the book I had no idea that it was non-fiction, but the tale of Albom's past and present relationship with his dying college professor and the life lessons that he learns from him is as riveting as any novel. It's written in a simple and accessible style and is an easy read. Highly recommended.
The Anvil - Ken McClure - Book 136 29 Jan 2012 12:18 PM (13 years ago)
The Anvil is a medical thriller. All of the people involved in the development of a wonder drug that virtually eliminates the need for facial reconstructive surgery die inexplicably - except one, who spends years on the run before deciding to fight back against the drug company that once employed him. Full of entirely believable scientific skullduggery, this book was a gripping read. Recommended.
A Dog Named Slugger - Leigh Brill - Book 135 29 Jan 2012 12:14 PM (13 years ago)
I loved, loved, loved this true story of how Leigh Brill gets a working dog to help her deal with the challenges of cerebral palsy. The book examines their growing bond and you learn a lot about how such dogs are trained and work, too. An easy and excellent read - highly recommended.
The Litigators - John Grisham - Book 134 29 Jan 2012 12:11 PM (13 years ago)
Finley and Figg are the partners in an ambulance chasing legal firm that is always on the edge of financial disaster. Then David Zinc walks out of a pressurted career at a much more upscale firm and joins them. The book follows the firms fortunes through two mass tort cases - one successful, one not. I didn't find this thriller particularly gripping - nowhere near the standard of Grisham's early work.
The Art of Racing in the Rain - Garth Stein - Book 133 29 Jan 2012 12:06 PM (13 years ago)
The Art of Racing in the Rain is one of the most enjoyable books I've read recently - and the fact that it is narrated by a dog is part of its appeal. Enzo tells the story of life with his master Denny, a racing driver who experiences lots of family problems. It's a chance for the rest of us to get inside a dog's head - and if you have ever owned a dog, the thoughts and feelings Enzo expresses are entirely believable. Amazon describes it as 'A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope--a captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life . . . as only a dog could tell it.' That about sums it up. Highly recommended (and in case you're wondering, it has a happy ending, sort of.)
A Change in Altitude Book - Anita Shreve - Book 132 22 Jan 2012 11:39 AM (13 years ago)
Anita Shreve is one of my favorite authors, so I had high hopes of A Change in Altitude. It's the story of Margaret, from whose point of view the story is told, her husband Patrick and their sojourn in Africa. While it seems a romantic idea to visit Africa, and the fulfillment of a dream, it soon turns sour after a mountain climbing expedition results in the death of one of the party. They struggle to recover equilibrium after that. While I found the book mildly interesting, I wasn't gripped in the way I have been by some of her previous novels and found the characters kind of dull. If you're an Anita Shreve fan you'll probably read it anyway, but there's no need to rush.
Project Management Guide - Book 131 22 Jan 2012 11:33 AM (13 years ago)
Jen Stakes-Roberts' Guide to Project Management was an eye-opener for me - and I'm no slouch at organization. This ebook, which I raced through in an hour or so, provided sound advice on taking a project management approach to your business. I have used the advice in the book to make some changes to my writing business and am trialing some of the project management tools she suggests. At the moment, this book is available here.