Whimpulsive

Wordless Wednesday #123

2012-02-22T06:45:00.000-08:00

Sunset just north of Pacific City, Oregon

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Before the Poison by Peter Robinson

2012-02-20T06:45:00.000-08:00

Before the Poison by Peter Robinson

Genre: Mystery
Publisher: Harper Collins
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 358
Source: Copy provided by publisher through Bookbrowse

The Short Version:
Successful Hollywood composer returns to Yorkshire after the death of his wife and becomes fascinated (or obsessed?) with a murder that happened more than 50 years ago in the house he’s bought.

Why I Read It:
I have been a fan of Robinson’s Inspector Banks series for years. When I found out that his newest book was a standalone mystery I knew I’d read it as soon as I could.

The Book:
Christopher Lowndes has had a successful career in Hollywood composing award winning movie scores. After the death of his wife he returns to England. He buys a house in Yorkshire, where he grew up. It’s an old mansion with a history. Part of that history is an infamous murder. Grace Fox was young and beautiful and she was hanged for the murder of her much older husband.

As Chris tries to settle in to both the village and his life alone he begins to feel as if the eerie feelings he’s having have something to do with Grace Fox and the murder. He begins to ask questions and investigate what happened so many years ago.

Before long he is accused of being somewhat obsessed with the Grace Fox case and his search for evidence of her innocence. The more questions he asks and the more information he finds, the darker and more confusing become the long held secrets.

As Chris seeks the truth about Grace, he also must face some truths about himself in order to move on with his life in his new home.

My Thoughts:
Having been a fan of Robinson’s Inspector Banks series for years, I expected to like this standalone mystery. I was not disappointed at all. The format of telling the story of the present day investigation while telling the historical part of the story through excerpts from books and from Grace Fox’s own diary works well. It’s a mystery but it’s also about relationships, guilt, and a bit of a history lesson added to the mix.

Kilnsgate House is almost a character in this book. It’s a big old drafty and dark character. Although plenty of the story takes place elsewhere, it is Kilnsgate House that holds the key and is where Chris feels his connection with Grace. I could see much of this story playing out in my head as an old black and white film from the glamour days of Hollywood. Naturally the character of Chris and his connection to the film industry plays into that imagery, but it’s helped along by the films and music he watches and listens to throughout the book. The musical references are tossed in throughout and I need to go back through the book and make notes of them.

Robinson takes a break from procedurals and scores a win with this one. The story kept me guessing and the musical references made me wish there was a playlist available.

The US edition of this one is on sale tomorrow. Do yourself a favor and get to your local bookstore to get it. If you’re a fan of the Inspector Banks series you’ll like the change of pace. If you haven’t read Peter Robinson’s work before, give this one a try and then go back to read the Inspector Banks series from the beginning.

Rating 5/5

Weekend Update February 19, 2012

2012-02-19T06:45:00.000-08:00

Since my last update:

I finished Accidents of Providence by Stacia M. Brown this week. It was a mix of historical fiction and crime fiction. I liked it but didn’t love it. I think I was more intrigued by the secondary stories than I was by the primary story.

From there I moved into straight historical fiction and started The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great. I’ve been fascinated with Russian imperial history ever since I read Robert Massie’s Nicholas and Alexandra many many years ago. I have Massie’s biography of Catherine on my shelf but wanted to read the historical fiction one first. So far, I’m liking it a lot.

I had a road trip to Olympia, Washington last Sunday so I had several hours of quality audiobook time to spend with New Tricks by David Rosenfelt which was read by Grover Gardner. I finished it on Friday. It’s always tricky to switch to audio partway through a series. You take the chance that the narrator is totally wrong compared to how the characters sounded in your head when you were reading the paper editions. I have to say that Grover Gardner is great for this series and audio may become my preferred format for this one.

My new audiobook is Rules of Civility by Amor Towles, read by Rebecca Lowman. I’m nearly done with the first cd and so far I’m loving it.

Other than books and reading:

As I mentioned I spent Sunday on the road to meet some friends for lunch and several hours of chatting with a couple of dear friends. We meet in Olympia because it’s halfway between my house and the friend who lives farthest north. Doesn’t everyone routinely drive 2 and a half hours for a lunch date? I really like the way the old downtown part of Olympia looks.

Also, our backyard has been hosting some sort of small bird convention this week.

Hope you're having a great weekend!!

Accidents of Providence by Stacia M. Brown

2012-02-17T06:45:00.000-08:00

Accidents of Providence by Stacia M. Brown

Genre: Historical Fiction/ Crime Fiction
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 257
Source: Copy provided by publisher

The Short Version:
Mid-17th century crime fiction highlighting the law charging unwed mothers with murder for concealing the death of a newborn.

Why I Read It:
It sounded like an intriguing combination of crime fiction and historical fiction.

The Book:
In mid-17th Century England the law calls for any unwed woman who conceals the death of her illegitimate infant to presumed to have murdered the child.

Rachel Lockyer works in a glove makers shop. When her employer finds her burying something in the woods and later discovers the body of an infant, Rachel comes under the scrutiny of criminal Investigator Thomas Bartwain. It is his job to determine if Rachel's case should go to trial.

The story of his investigation and subsequent trial follows not only Rachel and the investigator but also the leaders of a political group called "Levellers' that Rachel met through her brother. Rachel's love story plays out amid the background of the turbulent times following the execution of Charles I when Cromwell and the army ruled England.

My Thoughts:
I enjoy a bit of historical fiction in between my many crime fiction books and this one was an intriguing mix of both. It took me a while to get fully involved in the story but once I did, I really enjoyed it. Part of the reason is that Rachel is in many ways a pawn of both the legal system and the political agenda of the Levellers.

I liked Bartwain's wife and the way she kept prodding her husband to question the decisions he felt he had to make. His development was a very interesting part of the story to me. Although this book is presented as Rachel’s story I found the storyline of her investigator to be the most interesting part.

The women in this story are strong, yet limited by society and the law. This part of the book is what I think would make it an excellent book club choice. While it takes place over 300 years ago there is much in this book that can be discussed in terms of present day issues.

I enjoyed the historical context of the story and it prompted me to seek out more information about the Levellers and some of the characters based on real people. I consider that to be a positive feature of a historical novel. Again the comparison to present day political movements would make for good discussion.

The mystery of what really happened to the child is finally revealed but to me the bigger and more interesting part of the story was already over. I’d call this one historical fiction with a side of legal thriller.

Rating 3.5/5

Wordless Wednesday #122

2012-02-15T06:45:00.000-08:00

Fishing boat off the Oregon Coast

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Confessions of a Serial Reader – The Ones We Take on Vacation

2012-02-14T06:45:00.000-08:00

I don’t really stick to any specific series, genre or book type when I go on vacation. My only rule about books and vacation is to take at least three times more than I could possibly read. I like to be prepared for a sudden swing in my reading mood depending on the weather, plans for the day or a sudden whimpulse to read something different than what is currently in my hand. This is much easier to do when we take a vacation that involves driving to our destination. When we fly somewhere I always take a few paper books but I have to be honest that this is when I really do love that we both have nooks. I don't have to try to take just books we'll both read. In the days of stricter size and weight limits for luggage and fees for everything, an e-reader keeps me from having to make that horrible choice of “This book or those shoes but not both”.

Out of curiosity I browsed our reading lists for the past few years to see if there was any sort of pattern or series that showed up in our vacation reading choices so I could make sure I had the right mix on the nooks before our next vacation.

Both The Hubster and I read plenty of non-series books on vacation but there are a few series that we clearly turn to again and again when we’re going to spend several days sitting, reading and watching the ocean. Series can be nice to take for vacation because it’s a bit of a known quantity before you even open the book.

Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series

I think it’s the combination of fast paced action and books that we like to read in a few settings instead of a chapter or two here and there that makes this a go to vacation series for us. Besides Reacher is a character that both women and men can like.

Tim Dorsey’s Serge Storms series

This series makes great vacation fare. Noting about it can be taken seriously and the madcap craziness and laughs are great for reading in a relaxed atmosphere.

David Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter series

These are fun quick and quick witted mysteries with enough laughs mixed in that they don’t break the spell of the relaxation mode. I’ve switched to audio for this series so it probably won’t show up on my vacation mix unless it’s one that is ‘next in the series’ for both of us and we’re driving to our destination.

For me the need for something out of the light fiction, historical fiction or cozy mystery realm is always necessary to have in the mix when packing for vacation.

Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove and Blossom Street series

The Cedar Cove series has been a summer vacation staple for me for the past few years but I’ve finished that series so may focus on catching up with her Blossom Street series now.

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles' Moreland Dynasty Series

Last year I started Cynthia Harrod-Eagles’ Moreland Dynasty series on our vacation. That was a good fit and I’ve already got the second book on my shelf.

Julie Hyzy's White House Chef series

I want to get caught up on this series this year so I should probably make sure I have at least one with me on vacation.

What about you? Do you have series that you prefer to read when you’re in more relaxed setting and away from your normal day to day routine? Do you prefer certain genres or types of books for vacation reading?

Weekend Update February 12, 2012

2012-02-12T06:45:00.000-08:00

Since my last update:

We had a fabulous weekend at the coast with friends last weekend, but that also meant not a lot of reading time.

I finished Missing Persons by Clare O’Donohue and liked it a lot. This is the first in a new to me series. The second will be out later this spring and I will definitely be on the lookout for it.

I started Accieents of Providence by Stacia Brown which is a historical fiction set in 1649 London.

I finished listening to The Treasure of Khan by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler. It was a fun adventure romp with the typical Cussler over the top but fun story. Scott Brick’s narration has made me a convert to audio for the two Cussler series I read.

I started listening to New Tricks by David Rosenfelt. I’ve read the first six in this series so making the jump to audio was a risk. Andy Carpenter is one of my favorite characters. You never know how the narrator’s voice and characterizations will match up or clash with the voice you’ve created in your head. I can tell you that by midway through the first CD I’m quite happy with the way that Grover Gardner reads this series and voices Andy Carpenter. . I have a road trip today and I’m definitely looking forward to spending several hours with Grover Gardner and Andy Carpenter.

Other than books and reading:

We had a wonderful weekend getaway at the Oregon coast last weekend. We somehow lucked out and had amazing near record weather.

I don’t think I’ve ever walked on the beach barefoot in Oregon in February before. We had a fun and relaxing weekend and are already planning a rerun for next January or February.

Hope you're having a great weekend!!

Audiobook – The Treasure of Khan by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler

2012-02-10T06:45:00.000-08:00

The Treasure of Khan by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler

Genre: Adventure
Series: #19 in the Dirk Pitt Series
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Publication Date: 2006
Read by: Scott Brick
Source: Library

The Short Version:
Classic Cussler adventure story with Dirk Pitt and his team against a power hungry maniac who wants to be a modern day Genghis Khan.

Why I Read It:
I’ve been reading this series for years and I still enjoy the heck out of it.

The Book:
From the Publisher:

Genghis Khan-the greatest conqueror of all time, who, at his peak, ruled an empire that stretched from the Pacific Ocean to the Caspian Sea. His conquests are the stuff of legend, his tomb a forgotten mystery. Until now.

When Dirk Pitt is nearly killed rescuing an oil survey team from a freak wave on Russia's Lake Baikal, it appears a simple act of nature. When the survey team is abducted and Pitt's research vessel nearly sunk, however, it's obvious there's something more sinister involved. All trails lead to Mongolia, and a mysterious mogul who is conducting covert deals for supplying oil to the Chinese while wreaking havoc on global oil markets utilizing a secret technology. The Mongolian harbors a dream of restoring the conquests of his ancestors, and holds a dark secret about Genghis Khan that just might give him the wealth and power to make that dream come true.

From the frigid lakes of Siberia to the hot sands of the Gobi Desert, Dirk Pitt and Al Giordino find intrigue, adventure, and peril while collecting clues to the mysterious treasure of Xanadu. But first, they must keep the tycoon from murder-and the unleashing of a natural disaster of calamitous proportions.

My Thoughts:
I’ve enjoyed this adventure series for years. Ever since I first read Raise the Titanic, I’ve been a Dirt Pitt fan. The adventures are always over the top and unrealistic but they’re always downright fun.

Every book starts out with a prologue from the past, then really kicks off in the present day. There is always some power hungry maniac who wants to take over the world in some way. This time around it’s a Mongolian decendant of someone from the prologue who is out to cause havoc in the oil market and make is fortune and restore Mongolia to it’s 12th and 13th century heyday all at the same time.

Think of is as a Saturday afternoon black and white adventure movie in book form. Add in plenty of technical mumbo jumbo, enough underwater action to make fit within the realm of Pitt’s National Underwater Marine Agency (NUMA) despite the fact that much of it takes place in Mongolia and the Gobi desert.

I’m so glad I’ve switched to audio for this and the other Cussler series I read (the Kurt Austin series). Scott Brick does a wonderful job with the characters and the feel and tone of the story. I will be unlikely to return to written format for either of these series because of his talent as a narrator.

Rating 3.5/5

SoundBytes is a weekly roundup of audio book reviews hosted by Jen at Devourer of Books.

Missing Persons by Clare O'Donohue

2012-02-09T06:45:00.001-08:00

Missing Persons by Clare O'Donohue

Genre: Crime Fiction
Publisher: Plume
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 280
Source: Library

The Short Version:
Freelance Television producer Kate Conway works on a show that investigates a missing young woman while at the same time she’s a suspect in her soon to be ex-husband’s death.

Why I Read It:
I saw some info about upcoming second book in this series that caught my interest, so I decided to read the first to see what it was like.

The Book:
Kate Conway is a free lance television producer. She currently working on a true crime news magazine type show. She's in the middle of a rather messy divorce when she gets a couple of surprise phone calls.

One is an offer to work on a new TV series called Missing Persons which will focus on average people who have disappeared. The first show will focus on a 22 year old Chicago woman who disappeared a year ago.

The other phone call is from Kate's soon to be ex-husband's girlfriend, Vera (the woman with whom he was cheating on Kate). Vera tells Kate that Frank is in the hospital after collapsing mysteriously after playing basketball. Frank's death from an apparent heart attack stuns both women. When an autopsy reveals that the cause of death might not be so simple, Kate finds herself on the other side of the interview table and being questioned by the police. She has no idea who may have had a hand in Frank's death beyond knowing she didn't do it.

Her investigative reporter approach to the disappearance of young Theresa Moretti soon coincides with looking into what really happened to Frank. Kate's not sure who to believe in either investigation.

My Thoughts:
I liked this one a lot and I will most definitely be getting the next Kate Conway book. The TV investigative type show works well as a venue for an amateur sleuth. The double storylines of Theresa's disappearance and Frank's death keep lots of potential suspects in the mix until the very end. The parts that are predictable are well balanced by the parts that are not.

I liked Kate and I also liked the two guys who work with her on the TV show. They're fun characters who work well with that of Kate and the freelance aspect of their work opens them up for a variety of scenarios and settings as the series continues (and I hope it will).

Kate's relationship with Frank's girlfriend and his parents as they all deal with their grief and the police investigation is realistically messy. Kate suspects Vera but at the same time finds herself unable to dislike her.

Grief is also a key in the Theresa Moretti case. Her mother insists she's still alive, other friends have gone on with thier lives, and it seems like everyone is holding back some bit of truth about events that led up to Theresa's disappearance.

The television production approach to the investigation makes it a nice change from a classic police procedural.

I'm looking forward to the second book in this series and hoping that it continues beyond that.

Rating 4/5

Wordless Wednesday #121

2012-02-08T06:30:00.000-08:00

Dogs . . . Love . . . The Beach

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Music to Read By

2012-02-07T06:45:00.000-08:00

Do you listen to music while you read or work? For years I have not. I have preferred no music playing while I read or work but lately that has changed. Perhaps a bit of late onset ADD or maybe I’m just more easily distracted lately for a variety of reasons. No matter what the reason I’ve been seeking recommendations lately for music that I can play while reading or working that won’t be distracting.

Over the past few months I have been less able to just sit and read for long periods of time. It’s got absolutely nothing to do with my book choices. I’m reading great books. It’s my brain that gets distracted. I can find a reason every few minutes to take a break for a gazillion reasons. I check email, check Twitter, play a game of Bejeweled Blitz on Facebook, Look out the window to see what the kids in the playground are up to or pretty much anything for a minute or two before returning to my book.

I have discovered that for the first time since college, background music helps me focus. This is weird because it’s truly not been true since I got out of grad school. However, there are some major restrictions.

No words – I tend to sing along or pay more attention to the words in the song instead of the words on the page
Nothing too jittery or nervous sounding
I’m not a jazz fan
Some classical stuff works but some of it is sleep inducing and therefore defeats the purpose
Instrumental versions of common songs don’t work well because my brain starts filling in the lyrics

I put out the word on Twitter a couple of weeks ago and have added some music to my reading and working playlist that has made a great difference and I actually enjoy listening to this as background music.

One friend recommended Explosions in the Sky.

Well first of all, they get an “A” for great band name. Secondly, their music was often used in the show Friday Night Lights. I loved that show and the music. I have now added most of their CDs to my Reading and Working playlist and it’s perfect for what I need. The first evening The Hubster came home and I had their music playing I didn’t tell him what I was listening to. Pretty soon he said “This sounds very Friday Night Lights”. Ten points for The Hubster!
If you’re a fan of the show or just want some good background music you might want to give them a try.

Another friend recommended Christopher O’Riley.

He is a classical pianist who has two CD of his own arrangements of Radiohead songs. Yeah it sound weird, and it sort of violates my ‘instrumental versions of songs I know don’t work’ rule, but it actually works for me as good background music. If you like piano background music you should give these a try.

That’s as far as my music exploration has gone so far, but I will likely be trying more options and sharing more music to read by as I find choices that work for me. Another twitter friend has suggested music with lyrics that are in a language that I do not know. I hadn’t considered that but it might work and I’ll be trying out some options with Spotify soon.

Do you listen to music when you read or work? What’s your favorite background music?

Weekend Update February 4, 2012

2012-02-04T06:45:00.000-08:00

Since my last update:

It seems like the hectic pace is going to be the status quo for a while but I’m managing to carve out a bit of reading time when I can. It’s not nearly as much as I’d like but such is life.

I’m finished Pronto by Elmore Leonard and thoroughly enjoyed it. As a fan of he TV show Justified I was curious to find out how the character of Raylan Givens in the book compared to the TV show. I can happily say that I can totally see and hear Timothy Olyphant as Raylan while reading it.

I started Missing Persons by Clare O’Donohue and so far I’m liking it a lot. The main character is a TV producer for crime based news magazine type shows. In the early chapters of the book her soon to be ex-husband dies and she finds herself under suspicion for his death.

I’m on the last CD of The Treasure of Khan by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler. I’ll definitely be finishing this up this week and it’s been a fun adventure story and exactly what I expect from the Cusslers. Scott Brick makes the audio versions of these books quite enjoyable. I have several audiobooks clamoring for my attention so picking out my next one might be a tough choice.

Other than books and reading:

We had a rough week at our house. We had to say goodbye to our elder cat. Phoebe was nearly 15 years old and the first pet The Hubster and I adopted together. Her nickname remained “baby girl” until the very end.

Sometimes doing the right thing really sucks. We’re going to miss her. Howie is going to miss her a lot. This is the first time since we’ve been married that we only have one cat. I’m sure we’ll be getting Howie a cat later this spring or summer because he does not do ‘alone’ well at all and becomes his own crime spree.

We’re spending this weekend at the Oregon Coast with some friends. It’s nice to take a couple of days away for a getaway like this. The weather is absolutely amazing for February so I hope it holds up for the rest of the weekend.

These are just a couple of photos off the phone from when we arrived last night. I have a feeling some of the ones I took with the camera will be showing up for upcoming Wordless Wednesday photos.

Hope you're having a great weekend!!

Pronto by Elmore Leonard

2012-02-03T06:45:00.000-08:00

Pronto by Elmore Leonard

Genre: Crime Fiction
Publisher: Harper Collins
Publication Date: 1993
Pages: 198
Source: Purchased

The Short Version:
Raylan Givens’ first appearance is completely in line with the character as portrayed in the TV show Justified and his trip to Italy is both thrilling and hilarious.

Why I Read It:
I’ve been a fan of the TV show Justified since the very first episode. Raylan Givens as portrayed by Timothy Olyphant is one of my favorite television characters. I decided I wanted to read about him as he was originally created by Elmore Leonard before the TV show existed.

The Book:
This is the first time the character of Raylan Givens appears in an Elmore Leonard story.

From the publisher:

The feds want Miami bookmaker Harry Arno to squeal on his wiseguy boss. So they’re putting word out on the street that Arno’s skimming profits from “Jimmy Cap” Capotorto—which he is, but everybody does it. Harry was planning to retire to Italy someday anyway, so he figures now’s a good time to get lost. U.S. Marshall Raylan Givens knows Harry’s tricky—the bookie ditched him once in an airport while in the marshal’s custody—but not careful. So Raylan’s determined to find the fugitive’s Italian hideaway before cold-blooded Sicilian “Zip” whacks Arno just for fun. It’s a “pride thing” . . .

My Thoughts:
Whether you’re a fan of the TV show Justified or not this is an enjoyable story. It’s the first time I’ve read anything by Elmore Leonard and I promise you it won’t be the last.

Raylan Givens is a great character but he’s not the only one in this book. Harry, Jimmy Cap and Zip are all both dangerous and hilarious at the same time. I was pleased to see that in the book because one of the things I enjoy about Justified is the way it can be serious, dangerous and suspenseful but at the same time make me laugh out loud.

Raylan’s unsanctioned journey to Italy to find Harry really takes him out of his comfort zone. Nevertheless he’s still very much Raylan and takes the local criminals by surprise because he’s definitely not what they’re used to. His primary goal is to get Harry back to the US because he cannot stand that Harry got away from him not once but twice.

Harry’s girlfriend Joyce is also intrigued by Raylan, but at the same time she doesn’t want Harry killed and does what she can to keep him from being a complete idiot. This is not easy because even though Harry has been running a successful bookmaking operation for years, he’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

I will definitely be reading the other books and stories by Elmore Leonard that feature Raylan Givens and will likely take a look at some of his other work. I really enjoy the combination of suspenseful crime story with fun characters and some laugh out loud moments to balance the tension.

I absolutely recommend this one for every one and hightly recommend it for fans of Justified.

Rating 4.5/5

Wordless Wednesday #120

2012-02-01T06:45:00.000-08:00

Mt.Hood with Lenticular Clouds

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Confessions of a Serial Reader – The Ones We Both Read

2012-01-31T06:45:00.000-08:00

I’m the gatekeeper for the TBR stacks and lists at our house. The Hubster and I have similar taste in books. In fact, when we were first dating one browse of his bookshelves told me that we’d get along just fine. I read faster than he does so I’m almost always the one bringing new books into our household. I read faster and more than he does so our habit has been for me to pass along book I think he’ll like. He tells people that he never has to shop for books. He just looks at the stack on his dresser or the ‘books you might like’ shelf I keep updated for him on his nook.

Because he does read significantly fewer books than I do I only pass along the best of what I think he’ll like and limit any new series to the very best. There are several series we’ve both been reading since before we got married but since then I’ve learned to only give him the best of what I think he’ll like because he’ll never get to all of them

The series we’ve both completed:

Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games series

I had him listen to the first book when we were on a road trip (it was a re-read for me) and he was hooked. He read the other two shortly after I finished them.

J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series

We started reading the books about the same time and in fact he read Goblet of Fire before I did. He never read any after Goblet of Fire and said he was reluctant to pick them up again after so long because he’d want to start over but read too slow to do that. This year we watched the entire movie series and while watching, I continually pointed out things that were left out of the movies. . I finally convinced him to listen to the series from the beginning on his commute. He did and enjoyed it. Since then he’s decided he likes listening to audiobooks beyond just when we’re on road trips together

The series we’re both still reading:

The Dirk Pitt series and The Kurt Austin series by Clive Cussler and a variety of co-authors:

We both started the Dirk Pitt series before we met and have since both started the Kurt Austin series. I have recently switched to listening to these series and currently I’m listening to a Dirk Pitt book and The Hubster is somewhere in the middle of a Kurt Austin book. We both enjoy Scott Brick’s performance of these adventure stories.

Lee Child’s Jack Reacher

Reacher is just freaking awesome. That is all.

Tim Dorsey’s Serge Storms series

I continue to use the same description for this series as I did when I wrote my post about the first one. It’s like Pulp Fiction takes Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride through Florida. Craziness in a completely fun way.

David Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter series

A smartmouth private investigator with the best dog that ever lived. Add in a few fun secondary characters and some decent mysteries and you have the perfect formula for books we’ll both like. I have the next one in my audio queue so we may be transitioning from print to audio with this series.

Robert Crais’ Elvis Cole and Joe Pike series

Elvis has the smartmouth PI style of Andy Carpenter and Joe is scarier version of Jack Reacher. There’s no dog but Elvis does have a cat who lives with him.

James Thompson’s Kari Vaara series

This was The Hubster’s introduction to Nordic Crime fiction and he liked the first one enough to read the second immediately afterwards. Now we’re both waiting for the third book to be released in March.

Chelsea Cain's Archie and Gretchen series

We both read Chelsea Cain’s column in the local paper long before we read her books. They’re rather gruesome but the local inside stuff and locations make them weirdly fun for us.

James Patterson’s Alex Cross series

We both like these for the same reason. Sometimes you just need an entertaining story that you know will be a fast paced and go quickly. The short chapters are perfect for those attention deficient reading moods.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes series

We both read the first couple of these last year and want to read more. Neither one of us can believe we haven’t read them yet,

What about you? Do you have any particular series that both you and your partner read?

Weekend Update January 29, 2012

2012-01-29T09:31:00.000-08:00

Since my last update:

Another busy week but I did manage to get a little bit of reading done.

I finished Start Shooting by Charlie Newton and I also read The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka. I enjoyed both of them.

I’m currently in the middle of Pronto by Elmore Leonard. It’s the first of his books that feature Raylan Givens, now played by Timothy Olyphant on TV in Justified. This is my first Elmore Leonard book and the Raylan in the book is very much as portrayed on TV.

Yes, I’m still listening to The Treasure of Khan by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler. I only listen when I’m in the car by myself so it takes me a while to get through some longer books. I’m enjoying the typical Cussler adventure story in this one.

I'm still plugging this year's Mystery Theme week. Hope you'll join the fun by checking in at Jen’s Book Thoughts and signing up for this year’s Mystery Theme Week. It’s going to be the week of April 16-20 and the theme this year is “Heroes and Villains”. I’ve participated in her theme week for the past two years and I can promise you that Jen does an amazing job of putting together a week of fun for all. I’d love to have you join in the fun this year.

Other than books and reading:

I finished the hat I was making for my friend’s baby boy.

I thought the pattern was cute when I first saw it but then I saw the finished hat on him and just melted.

A few random photos from my week:

Took this one of the Pioneer Courthouse downtown while I was walking around after work on Wednesday. It was lovely to have a break from the rain on the day I had downtown errands to do.

Yesterday was just a beautiful afternoon. We went up to Council Crest (highest point in Portland) to see what the view looked like. There wasn't enough wind to totally clear out he hazy clouds but it was still a pretty day,

Hope you're having a great weekend!!

The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka

2012-01-27T06:45:00.000-08:00

The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka

Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Knopf
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 129
Source: Library

The Short Version:
The story of a group of Japanese women who came to the US in the early 1900’s as “picture brides” and settled in California through their internment during World War II.

Why I Read It:
When Meghan at Medieval Bookworm was talking about this book on Twitter one day I became intrigued and requested it from the library. There was quite a long list of hold requests already but it was worth the wait.

The Book:
This is the story of many women without being the story of a single particular character. It’s all told in collective first person voice and although there are moments and scenes of particular women it’s a collective story.

Beginning with their sea voyage to San Francisco the women who came as “picture brides” begin to share their histories of why they’re doing this and their speculations about their future husbands based on the letters and photos they have. When they arrive they learn that the pictures and letters have in many cases not provided an accurate prediction of what their lives will be like.

Their struggles to create lives with and sometimes in spite of their husbands and the societal prejudices show their strength. As farmers, domestic workers, shop owners, or whatever they need to do they make their way. Most of them stay in California. They try to retain their Japanese culture even as their children become more American than Japanese. After Pearl Harbor everything changes for the Japanese Americans in the Western US. The order for them to be evacuated and detained in internment camps is a sad piece of our history that makes this book quite haunting.

My Thoughts:
Growing up on the west coast I’ve heard all my life about the evacuation and internment of the Japanese Americans. I’ve read a few books and stories over the years so this one caught my attention when Meghan mentioned it. I’m so glad she did because I thought this was a beautifully written book that despite its short length tells many stories in a powerful way.

The collective first person voice is unusual and took some getting used to but I loved the way it allowed the story to not be limited to a handful of characters. It also creates a lyrical story told as through a chorus. I loved the way that she managed to touch on so many different emotions in such a short book. There was sadness, laughter, love, pain, anxiety and so much more. The writing was beautiful and I could easily have marked passages on nearly every page that I wanted to pause and absorb again.

Here are a few I found by just randomly flipping through the book:

On the boat we sometimes lay awake for hours in the swaying damp darkness of the hold, filled with longing and dread, and wondered how we would last another three weeks.

They admired us for our strong backs and nimble hands. Our stamina. Our discipline. Our docile dispositions. Our unusual ability to tolerate the heat, which on summer days in the melon fields of Brawley could reach 120 degrees.

We gave birth in Rialto by the light of a kerosene lantern on top of an old silk quilt we had brought over with us in our trunk from Japan. It still had my mother’s smell.

Soon we could barely recognize them. They were taller than we were and heavier. They were loud beyond belief. I feel like a duck that’s hatched goose’s eggs. They preferred their own company to ours and pretended not to understand a word that we said.

In the newspapers, and on the radio we began to hear talk of mass removals.

I highly recommend this book. It didn’t take me long to read but it will stick with me for a long time.

Rating 5/5

While not the same kind of mail order marriage as portrayed in this book here is a link to a story about a family from Oregon and how the internment changed their lives. Their daughter was not allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies from the University of Oregon but finally received her diploma in 1986. The Yasui Legacy

Wordless Wednesday #119

2012-01-25T06:45:00.000-08:00

Flamingos don't like snow

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Start Shooting by Charlie Newton

2012-01-24T06:45:00.000-08:00

Start Shooting by Charlie Newton

Genre: Suspense, Thriller
Publisher: Doubleday
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 305
Source: Copy Provided by Publisher

The Short Version:
A murder from 25 years ago comes back to haunt a Chicago cop and the victim's sister as they’re both caught up in a maze of corruption, political maneuvering and trouble that’s bigger than either of them expects.

Why I Read It:
When Jen at Jen’s Book Thoughts says to me, “I think you’ll like this one” I almost automatically add it to my TBR list. She’s got great taste in books and she’s also become familiar with the types of books I like. When you have a friend like that you trust their opinion more than the average review.

The Book:
Because this book is complex and has multiple intertwining storylines it’s difficult for me to attempt to put together a coherent synopsis without inadvertently getting all spoilery. When that happens I fall back on using the publishers comments.

“The best way I can describe the Four Corners neighborhood of Chicago is find a length of rebar, scratch a big cross into the concrete, set your feet solid in the quadrant you like best, lean back, and start shooting.”
Officer Bobby Vargas is hard-edged but idealistic, a Chicago cop who stands at the epicenter of a subterranean plot that will have horrific ramifications for both himself and the entire city. Twenty-five years earlier, a gruesome murder rocked the unforgiving streets of Four Corners. Now, suddenly, a dying Chicago paper is running a serial exposé on new evidence in that old case, threatening to implicate Bobby and his older brother, Ruben—a decorated, high-ranking detective and cop-prince of the streets. The smear campaign stirs up decades-old bad blood, leading the Vargas brothers down an increasingly twisted and terrifying path, where the sins of the past threaten to destroy what remains of the truth.
As readers and critics discovered in his first novel, Calumet City, Charlie Newton’s Chicago is a landscape as brutal and poignant as any in modern crime fiction—a multi-faceted, shockingly violent labyrinth of gangland politics, political backstabbing, corporate malfeasance, and, possibly, hope. Start Shooting is a riveting read.

My Thoughts:
Well Jen was right. I did like this one. I liked it quite a bit actually. The story is told alternately by Bobby Vargas and by Arleen Brennan in the first person. Their voices are unique and the pacing of the narrative comes in short bursts. The time stamps when the scene changes provide the framework to be able to place yourself in the story’s timeline. Since both Bobby and Arleen interact with Bobby’s brother Ruben as well as several other characters the two viewpoints round out the character of Ruben despite the fact that Ruben never directly tells his own part of the story.

It’s fast paced but complex so even though it started out quick and drew me in right away, it was not until I was well into the book that things started coming together for me. There were a couple of points where I wasn’t sure where things were going and whether I’d end up liking it or not but the final third of the book was hard for me to take breaks from because I wanted to finish it in one sitting.

I have not read Newton’s previous novel, Calumet City but I have now added it to my TBR list. This is an author I’ll be watching. If you like gritty noir style cop stories you should do the same.

Someone needs to give Quentin Tarantino a copy of this book. It reads like one of his films and he would make a great film version of this.

Rating 4/5

Hangin' with Howie

2012-01-22T08:31:00.000-08:00

Got my mouse. Got my laser pointer.

Life is good.

Weekend Update January 20, 2012

2012-01-21T09:54:00.000-08:00

Since my last update:

What happened to this week? Suddenly it’s Saturday again and I’m still reading and listening to the same books I was on Sunday. No I’m not in anything that could be termed a reading ‘slump’. I’m just being attacked by several To Do lists at the same time. Tomorrow is looking promising as a day to indulge myself with reading time.

I’m nearly done with Start Shooting by Charlie Newton. I should finish it up today. The closer I get to the end of this one, the more exciting it gets. Well done Mr. Newton!

I’m still listening to The Treasure of Khan by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler. This has been a typical Dirk Pitt adventure story and I enjoy Scott Brick’s performance of this series just as much as I enjoyed listening to him read my most recent book from Cussler’s Kurt Austin series. I’ve got The Hubster listening to that one now.

If you’re a mystery fan, please check in over at Jen’s Book Thoughts and consider signing up for this year’s Mystery Theme Week. It’s going to be the week of April 16-20 and the theme this year is “Heroes and Villains”. I’ve participated in her theme week for the past two years and I can promise you that Jen does an amazing job of putting together a week of fun for all. I’d love to have you join in the fun this year.

Other than books and reading:

I’ve been busy. Between work and just stuff I need to do at home I feel like the To Do lists are growing as fast as I can check things off. When the chance comes along to relax a bit with some reading time or catching up with shows on the DVR I fully appreciate it these days.

Let’s see, this week we’ve had snow, rain, windstorms and flooding. That upcoming vacation to Mexico is looking very good these days.

Taking a look at the iPhone photos from this week . . .

Howie was all excited to go outside on Sunday morning but he was not a fan of getting snowed on so he just sat on the porch pillar and grumped about it.

Sometimes waiting for my train in the rain is actually kind of pretty. I love the way this part of downtown looks.

Hope you're having a great weekend!!

Wordless Wednesday #118

2012-01-18T06:45:00.000-08:00

Good thing I filled the birdfeeder

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Hostage Zero by John Gilstrap

2012-01-17T06:45:00.000-08:00

Hostage Zero by John Gilstrap

Genre: Suspense
Series: #2 in the Jonathan Grave series
Publisher: Pinnacle
Publication Date: 2010
Pages: 368
Source: Purchased

The Short Version:
Hostage rescue specialist Jonathan Grave and his team are back only this time it’s personal.

Why I Read It:
I’ve been a fan of John Gilstrap ever since I read his first book (Nathan’s Run). Last year I read the first of his Jonathan Grave books (No Mercy) and purchased this second book even before I finished the first.

The Book:
Jonathan Grave doesn’t work for the income because he doesn’t need it. In fact he works to help rescue hostages partly because of the fact that his father was a corrupt businessman who finagled a way to leave his money to Jonathan before he was sent to prison. Wanting to distance himself from that money Jonathan used it to fund a foundation and boarding school called Resurrection House for children whose parents are incarcerated.

In this edition of the series two boys are kidnapped from Resurrection House. Jonathan and his hostage rescue team have more personal incentive and no payment on the line this time around. One of the boys is left for dead but found and saved by a homeless veteran. The other boy is still missing.

The Security Solutions team consists of Jonathan, his longtime friend called Boxers who provides more muscle, demolitions expertise and piloting skills than words, and back in the home office a computer expert named Venice but nicknamed “Mother” by Jonathan. As they investigate the kidnapping and follow the maze of leads they discover that they have a valuable asset in the homeless man and a case that’s going to get extremely complicated and dangerous before it’s over. Will they find the missing boy in time and see that the perpetrators of this crime are brought to justice?

My Thoughts:
I enjoy the recurring characters in this series. The banter between the members of the team provides the expected occasional humor and sarcasm but it’s not overdone or forced the way it can sometimes be in series like this. It’s there but it doesn’t interrupt the flow or the tension as the suspense builds.

The case takes many interesting and dangerous turns along the way. There are some storylines that initially seem disconnected but it all begins to converge. The reasons behind the kidnapping gradually become clear. There is plenty of action and yes stuff gets blown up (rather spectacularly I might add). Legalities are really more of guideline actually.

If you enjoyed Preston and Child’s Gideon’s Sword, I heartily encourage you to give this series a try. Jonathan Grave and his team are fun and interesting and the stories are exciting and suspenseful. I've already got the third book in this series waiting to be read.

Rating 4/5

Weekend Update January 15, 2012

2012-01-15T08:55:00.000-08:00

Since my last update:

I finished reading Before the Poison by Peter Robinson. It was excellent. Keep an eye out because it’s coming out next month and you should put it on your list to watch out for.

I started reading Start Shooting by Charlie Newton. Jen at Jen’s Book Thoughts recommended this one and she was right. It caught my attention right off the bat. I’m hoping to be able to spend some quality time with it today.

I’m still listening to The Treasure of Khan by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler. I’m a convert to listening to Cusslers books instead of reading them Scott Brick is a great narrator and these adventure stories are great for my driving around town listening.

Other than books and reading:

Last weekend was our annual family get-together in Hood River to celebrate Dad’s birthday. It was a pretty day to drive through the Columbia Gorge.

There were a lot of low clouds but blue sky above. I could have easily stopped many times to take some photos. I did manage to get a couple along the way.

It was cold but clear this week which made for some pretty sunrises and sunsets.

After a rough week it was nice to have a chance for some fun yesterday. Jenn from Jenn’s Bookshelves was in town and we had a chance to get together to enjoy some time to chat and enjoy some good wine before she headed back home. I always enjoy meeting up with bloggers I’ve known for a long time.It was great to meet Jenn and have a chance to enjoy a nice chat.

I happened by this chess game in progress at Director Park in downtown Portland on my way to meet Jenn.

Hope you're having a great weekend!!

Audiobook – A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny

2012-01-13T06:45:00.000-08:00

A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny

Genre: Mystery
Series: #7 in the Inspector Armand Gamache series
Publisher: MacMilllan Audio
Publication Date: 2011
Read by: Ralph Cosham
Source: Library

The Short Version:
The focus of the series moves back to Three Pines when a body if found in Peter and Clara Morrow’s garden the morning after the party celebrating Clara’s first solo art show.

Why I Read It:
I have enjoyed listening to this series from the first book. The only bad part about reading this latest one is that now I have to wait so long for the next book.

The Book:
Clara Morrow’s first solo exhibition brings together many returning characters from earlier books in this series. It’s a new character however, who is found dead in the Clara’s flowerbed the next morning. The victim was Lillian Dyson who had a connection to Clara and to Clara’s husband, Peter. She also had connections to many other people that were in Three Pines that night.

As Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his team return to Three Pines to investigate they find themselves including people who have become friends in the list of potential suspects. They also find themselves continuing to deal with the aftermath and ramifications of the horrifying events that took place a few months ago. Those events are a major part of the previous book, Bury Your Dead, so I’m not going to say more here. If you have read Bury Your Dead you can be assured that the storylines in that book do continue to progress in this book.

The case of Lillian Dyson tests Gamache and his team and also tests Peter and Clara Morrow. There are truths about their past as well as truths about their relationship and professional lives that must be faced. The secrets are many and the answers are few, but do include the answer to who killed Lillian Dyson. That and some of the other developments in this series may surprise you.

My Thoughts:
I’m going to say it again. This series is continuing to get better with every book. I loved the way that ongoing storylines progressed while at the same time the central case of this particular book is fully addressed withing the book. While some books in this series can stand on their own, I do not recommend reading this one unless you’ve at least read both The Brutal Telling and Bury Your Dead.

I highly recommend the audio version of this series. I admit I’m biased because I’ve listened to all of them. They’re probably just as wonderful if you read them but the audio versions have made me a huge fan of both Lousie Pennny for her writing talent and of Ralph Cosham for his audio performance talent. To me he is Inspector Gamache.

I enjoyed the murder mystery in this one. The road the investigation took was interesting and there were some surprises along the way. I like a mystery that makes me change my mind about who the murder might be several times along the way. At the same time I also thoroughly enjoyed the continuing stories of the now familiar characters in Three Pines and in Inspector Gamache’s team. There are some serious wounds for some of these characters at this point and their ongoing stories are one of the reasons I enjoy this series so much. I have come to know Peter and Clara Morrow as well as Olivier and Gabri who run the Bistro and the B&B. Gamache’s assistant Jean Guy Beauvoir has become one of my favorite characters. The struggles he’s faced in the recent books are becoming more and more involved and one of my favorite parts ot this series.

Ruth the prickly poet is also one of my very favorite characters and the image the author paints of her at the end of this book was a beautiful moment.

If you’ve read the previous books in this series you will enjoy this one just as much or more than the others. If you haven’t read this series I encourage you to give it a shot and I also recommend the audio versions as read by the amazing Ralph Cosham.

Rating 4.5/5

SoundBytes is a weekly roundup of audio book reviews hosted by Jen at Devourer of Books.