Words for Words

Relentless - Dean Koontz

2009-07-05T22:05:00.001-04:00

The amazing thing about Koontz is that he can crank out 2-3 books every year and yet all of them are examples of great storytelling. This seems like it might be a touch auto-biographical, as the author Cubby Greenwich takes a beating from an influential critic named Waxx, and it soon becomes apparent that the criticism is intended as a death sentence for Cubby and his family. As the plot unfolds and other similarly-targeted authors and artists are identified, the characters kick into overdrive to resolve the situation before they are "resolved" themselves. Great literature? No, but an excellent summer read!

The Sign - Raymond Khoury

2009-07-01T22:08:00.001-04:00

It took me three weeks to get through this book, not because it was long or "bad" per se, but because it just never inspired me to get lost in the story. Consequently it was read at 4-5 pages each sitting, and I breathed a sense of relief when I was done. A news crew is in Antarctica reporting on global warming when "the sign" appears overhead, which sets in motion a plot wherein a faction uses technology to create religious imagery and to subconsciously influence a famous priest as the the fall-guy. Really, not a bad plot, but just-okay writing (a few times the narrative jumps to "we" - nothing annoys me more than a break in voice). I wanted something more, as I am a fan of the author's first two books.

The Plant People - Dale Carlson

2009-07-01T12:40:00.004-04:00

About a year ago Todd and I sat down over coffee and talked about what else, books. He related that a book stood out to him that he read as a youngster. That book being The Plant People by Dale Carlson. Always trusting Todd's instincts on books, I immediately went looking for a copy. I placed on my wishlist at Paperbackswap and about a year later this shows up in my mailbox.

I actually wasn't sure what to expect, Todd gave only a brief synopsis, but was looking forward to it nontheless. This book is written for the young teen in mind and I spent all of about 20 minutes finishing it. Originally published in 1977, this book came across (too my adult mind) as more of a propaganda piece for the environmental movement than a book meant to entertain. Don't get me wrong, I was entertained for those 20 minutes and I tend to overlook most preachy or propagandizing in books, and this was no different.

Get past the "humans are destroying the earth and humanity is now being punished, save for the few true enviromental lovers" message and you have a brief (very brief) diversion and I have no doubt that a young teen or pre-teen would enjoy this one even more. 7/10

Guardians of the Lost - Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman - Sovereign Stone Trilogy

2009-06-30T16:08:00.003-04:00

Book 2 of the Sovereign Stone Trilogy felt very much like a middle book. Not a bad story and you can tell it's leading up to something, but really nothing much seems to happen other than setting up book 3. I'm looking forward to the final book in the trilogy, but felt a bit like this was just a necessary step to the end. 5/10

The Last Child - John Hart

2009-06-02T22:10:00.002-04:00

The author's ability to build scenes and characters just amazes me, and combined with a fantastic plot, this is a great book! Johnny's twin sister Alyssa disappeared when she was twelve years old, and Johnny has spent the last year trying to find the person that too her. In the meantime, his dad has gone missing, and his mom has completely fallen apart. The cop that promised to bring Alyssa home has lost his wife and son to the job, and just about every other character in this book is broken in some way as well. When a motorcyclist is hit by a car and sent over the side of a bridge to die at Johnny's feet with "I found her" on his lips, the situation amplifies. I could easily put this in my all-time top-ten list!

Monster - A. Lee Martinez

2009-05-26T21:10:00.001-04:00

Monster is a crytobiological containment specialist, that is, he's a bounty catcher of odd creatures. He meets Judy, a supermarket cashier, while answering a call regarding a Yeti that is cleaning out the ice cream aisle. Judy is an incog, one that can not remember magic, but a rune on her forehead helps just a bit. Monster is called back when trolls run through Judy's apartment, and after Monster's own apartment is overrun with goat-headed men, he begins to suspect that something bigger is going on. It turns out that an old lady with a thing for turning people into cats is manipulating the universe with the help of a stone, and Judy is a threat to her success. Sound a bt stretched? Perhaps, but this was a fun, quick read!

Coraline - Neil Gaiman

2009-05-25T21:32:00.003-04:00

Even though this is billed as a pre-teen book, I've been a Neil Gaiman fan for many years when I first discovered him with his work on the comic Sandman. I picked this one up to read in between other novels and as something I could read through quickly over the holiday weekend. I enjoyed this one greatly. It did start out a bit slow, but about midway it picked up nicely and carried through to the end nicely.

Would a pre-teen enjoy this? I'm sure they would though it may start out a bit too slow to hold their interest. Would an adult enjoy this? I sure did and so would any Gaiman fan. Now I'm looking forward to seeing the film. Recommend this for a quick enjoyable read. 9/10

Storm Front - Jim Butcher

2009-05-21T19:28:00.001-04:00

Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden is a wizard - the sign on his office door says so. The Chicago Police Department brings him in as a consultant to solve a double murder, a man and a woman caught in a delicate situation, made more so by the mere fact that both of their hearts have exploded from their chests. The man turns out to be the bodyguard of a local mob boss, the woman is an escort from a vampire-managed service, and somehow Dresden winds up both a suspect and a target. This was a quick airplane read, but very entertaining - I'll definitely be picking up the rest of the series!

Well of Darkness - Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman - Sovereign Stone Trilogy

2009-05-21T15:38:00.003-04:00

The Sovereign Stone Trilogy from the masters of fantasy and creators of the Dragonlance world starts off with this first novel, Well of Darkness. Tells the story of a whipping boy and his prince as they grow up and grow into the evil that is called the Void. This trilogy is really very well self-contained. There is no real cliffhanger, most all the themes have a clear resolution and the conclusion actually leaves you in doubt of where the next book in the trilogy will continue on.

This is much darker than Dragonlance and in fact feels to be more adult and less of the the young adult type of fantasy. And it is refreshing to see the elves in the story as siding more with the evil than is typical (except of course the Drow in the Forgotten Realms world).

While not a novel that I would consider in the running for my read of the year, it was enjoyable and I look forward to seeing where the next book leads. 7/10

The Pale Blue Eye - Louis Bayard

2009-05-17T21:52:00.002-04:00

Fantastic! Gus Ladnor is pulled from his retirement from being a New York City detective to help solve the murder of a cadet at 1830 West Point. To get closer to the closed community, Landor requests the aid of a cadet to serve as his spy in in the ranks and he is assigned none other than the young Edgar Allen Poe, who in turn spends equal time writing poetry, falling for the primary suspect's sister, and learning the art of deduction from Landor. As a second cadet is found, minus its heart, the commander of the academy grows impatient, and Landor is pressed to find the murderer. The ending of this book is quite phenomenal - I did not see it coming!

The Last Testament - Sam Bourne

2009-05-11T22:22:00.001-04:00

First, let me say, I am FINALLY done with this book. It wasn't a bad book, really, but I just didn't find myself wanting to read more than a few pages at a time. Maybe I'm just weary of this type of mystery/thriller - religious artifact, factions that want to hide or expose it, et cetera. In this case, the artifact is the last will of Abraham, discovered just as the Peace Talks are growing more difficult. So who "owns" Israel, and can Abraham's will actually solve the problem or just make it worse? Maggie Costello, a negotiator, is looking for the answer in an environment where she can't trust anyone, except the handsome Israeli. Ergh.

Rain Fall - Barry Eisler

2009-04-29T22:05:00.002-04:00

John Rain learned the art of killing as a member of the U.S. Special Forces in Vietnam, and has honed his skills as a for-hire assassin in Japan. He has simple principles - the target must be a principle and never a woman, and he can be the only one hired for the hit. The target always dies from what appears to be natural causes, and in the opening pages of this book, a man has a heart attack in the subway. As John concludes the job, he watches another man diving through the victim's pockets, which starts a cycle of double-crossing that John must resolve before both he and the daughter of the original target wind up dead themselves. It took me awhile to get into the character, but I will definitely follow John through the sequels!

Gone Tomorrow - Lee Child

2009-04-29T21:47:00.002-04:00

Jack Reacher is always aware of his surroundings, and when his mental checklist identifies a suicide bomber on the subway at 2am, the alarms start going off and Jack steps into the situation. The rest of the book is a result of that decision as the police, FBI, and other feds focus on Jack, and a young women evolves into something completely different. As a fan of Reacher, I found this to be a great, fast-paced book, and was happy to get a copy three weeks before the on-sale date here in the states (thanks Amazon UK)! Definitely pick up this book!

Boneman's Daughters - Ted Dekker

2009-04-29T21:45:00.002-04:00

The Boneman is a serial killer that takes teenage girls and breaks their bones without damaging the skin - nothing terribly different about this killer that I haven't seen in many other books and movies. Ryan Evans is a military intelligence officer that is captured in Iraq and subsequently tortured by being made to watch children have their bones broken. He is the estranged father (adopted) of Bethany Evans, and after his military discharge, goes home to make amends with his family. Can you see it coming? Frankly, I thought that this was a bit contrived, but altogether an okay book.

The Gift - Patrick O'Leary

2009-04-26T21:18:00.003-04:00

I hate to say it, but I just couldn't finish this one. I really wanted to and it probably wouldn't have take that much effort to do so as it is a relatively short novel coming in at under 300 pages. But after fighting my way through half of it, I just didn't see the point in going any further. I didn't connect with any of the characters, in fact I felt confused most of the time as there seemed to be point of view and time jumps in the middle of a sentence at times. Just didn't have the energy to fight through it any more. 3/10

Night - Elie Wiesel

2009-04-26T21:12:00.003-04:00

I picked this up from a friend who recommended it for a quick read. When I saw the Oprah label on the front, I almost put it back. Those are not typically the type of books I enjoy. However, due to the small size and interesting subject matter I decided to at least start this one. I am glad I did. This tells the true story of the holocaust from the viewpoint of a teen who lived through it. Interesting detail on how humans when put into such an abusive situation move from optimism, to disbelief, finally to an almost animalistic survival. In some ways this story was too short and I wanted to read more, in other ways, it was way too long and it hurt to read more. I highly recommend this one. 8/10

Fault Line - Barry Eisler

2009-04-22T20:07:00.000-04:00

I'll start by admitting that I've just ordered this author's backlist, so obviously I enjoyed this book. I did feel that part of it was somewhat contrived, and the introduction of certain characters did reveal where it would end up. Regardless, the writing was excellent, and the characters had a depth that I haven't seen for quite awhile. Alex Treven is a patent attorney who finds his first "gig" client - the inventor of an encryption program called Obsidian - but is soon running for his life when the inventor and the patent office official are killed and all materials in the office turn up missing. Luckily, Alex' brother is a black ops specialist (see, a bit contrived) that steps into the situation to save his brother. Again, I liked this book, and hope that this author's other works are similar!

Drop Shot - Harlen Coben

2009-04-19T20:50:00.001-04:00

Myron Bolitar is back (see Deal Breaker, above)! This time, the sports agent with a proclivity for getting involved in strange situations is trying to keep his beloved Jessica out of harm's way while the hired guns of a rival sports agency are attempting to dissuade Myron's interest in the murder of a young tennis champion. At the same time, Myron is trying to figure out what's going on with his own tennis star, a young man that seems to have something to do with the shooting, but as he was on the court at the time, the connection is mysterious! I really enjoyed this book, even if I had it figured out halfway through.

The Footprints of God - Greg Iles

2009-04-15T08:04:00.001-04:00

I really enjoyed this one. An interesting thriller with NSA, the Israelis, a dying "mad" scientist, two medical doctors and an evolving intelligent computer rounds out the cast in this one. Iles deals with some controversial issues in this one. Concept of religion and nature of God combines with hard science in a way that is unlike anything I've read before. No not in the way of Hubbard nor is my Christian faith shaken in the least, but it fits in the story well and makes the story enjoyable and allows for a good suspension of belief. There are plenty of other hot issues that Iles touches on here. I'm not sure if he is a political or religious activist of any sort, but he would make a good one. Despite my disagree with the political and ethical issues he portrays in the book, they make for a good read and enjoyable story. Well done.

he Unquiet - John Connolly (CD read by Jay O. Sanders)

2009-04-13T20:51:00.001-04:00

Although abridged, I really enjoyed this novel. Charlie Parker is back as the haunted private investigator, this time hired by the daughter of a Dr. Clay to protect her from a killer, a hit man intent on discovering the truth behind the disappearance of his own daughter. Dr. Clay was a child psychiatrist, and it appears that he became involved with a group of child abusers before disappearing himself. This is one of those stories that kept me guessing, and although I was partially right, it was definitely not a "gimme" solution. I will likely seek out the printed version of this book eventually, as now I want to see what was abridged!

The Sacred Blood - Michael Byrnes

2009-04-12T18:26:00.002-04:00

The follow-up to 2007's The Sacred Bones will not be mistaken as one of the best books ever written, but it does hold the reader's attention even if the eventual answer is almost expected. Charlotte Hennessy, a geneticist, barely escaped a Vatican cabal to keep secret the discovery of Jesus' bones in the last book, and she is again targeted in this book (who knew that a cabal could cross the ocean?). At the center of the plot, DNA extracted from the bones and injected into Charlotte, cures her of terminal cancer but gets quite a few others killed in the process. At the end, a high-level religious artifact comes into play (name three, and you'll have guessed it) and a final firefight finds all right with the world. A quick, entertaining read.

The Long Fall - Walter Mosely

2009-04-04T14:50:00.001-04:00

This book was hyped in a few places, and I must admit, it probably deserved the attention. The protagonist, Leonid McGill, is a private investigator trying to go straight after a lifetime of working the other side of the street. Unfortunately, his previous employers still demand his services, and getting out seems to be a fool's errand. After a few men that he helped find turn up dead, followed shortly by the go-between man that hired McGill, the police spotlight seems to be shining on him even brighter. Leonid's family is fractured as well - a cheating wife come home, and a son intent on following his father's old ways. The characters in this book are very good, and I hope to see them again very soon.

Picking Cotton - Jennifer Thompson-Cannino, Ronald Cotton and Erin Torneo

2009-04-03T22:56:00.003-04:00

What a great book. This is not the typical genre of book that I read, so when I picked this up, a bit hesitantly I must add, I wasn't sure what to expect nor if I would even finish. Much to my surprise, four hours later, I turned the last page to one of the best books I've read all year.

Why did I enjoy it so much? I'm actually not really sure. Like I mentioned, this is not the genre of book I usually enjoy. I don't have any particular empathy for the subject matter. No rape victims in my immediate family or friends. Nor have anyone I know been wrongly convicted of a crime serious or otherwise. I am not an activist for any kind of prisoner rights nor am I an advocate for special victim rights. What kept the pages turning for me? I suppose it was just the well written look into the lives of two people and their circumstances that brought them together and how their plight changed their lives and that of those around them. I finished the book, not with a renewed sympathy for either of the players, nor the cause that the represent and fought for, but instead found that this is a genre that I may enjoy in the future. I have found a new type of book to read and am looking forward to many more of this type. Kudos to Cotton and Jennifer for persevering and being able to bring their story to us. Well done. 9/10

The Dakota Cipher - William Dietrich

2009-04-02T21:06:00.002-04:00

Ethan Gage is back! Starting off in France, Gage is sent to America by Napoleon as a liaison with Thomas Jefferson, carrying the news that France is about to announce that they've acquired the Louisiana Territory from Spain. In turn, Jefferson finances Gage and his mysterious companion Magnus Bloodhammer on their quest to the west, on the condition that they keep a lookout for wooly mammoths. Magnus is convinced that his ancestors, of the Knights Templar nevertheless, journeyed to the American West years before Columbus, and a mysterious runestone seems to validate that. Fighting the British, Indians, and disease, the duo work their way to a fantastic conclusion. I highly recommend this author, but start with the The Rosetta Key. Once you get through Dakota, check out the wikipedia entry on the Kensington Runestone.

The Righteous Men - Sam Bourne

2009-04-02T15:38:00.002-04:00

This book wasn't too bad. I'm not as enthralled with it as Todd is, but this was a good novel. Nice back story, fast enough pace for most of the book though there were a few slow places in the beginning. Based on ancient Jewish tradition mingled with a present day religious cult there were enough clues that I had it mostly figured out, but there was a twist that I hadn't counted on that made the ending quite enjoyable. Enjoyable. 7/10