CONSPIRACY CLUB
Ballantine Books (2003)
"Expediency trumps virtue" ...
Read this book in a day and a half ... a new lead character that simply mesmerized me. Great summer read!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Book 27
Meg Wolitzer
THE TEN YEAR NAP
Penguin (2008)
Oh my ... 383 pages of waiting for something to happen. A real sleep inducer ... zzz
Book 26
Jodi Picoult
MY SISTER'S KEEPER
Simon & Shuster (2004)
I usually shy away from books that have been made into "major motion pictures" ... but I kept picking this book up from time to time and finally decided to purchase it.
Well-written from differing POVs ... centering around a timely, controversial subject.
I could not put this book down!
MY SISTER'S KEEPER
Simon & Shuster (2004)
I usually shy away from books that have been made into "major motion pictures" ... but I kept picking this book up from time to time and finally decided to purchase it.
Well-written from differing POVs ... centering around a timely, controversial subject.
I could not put this book down!
Book 25
Wally Lamb
THE HOUR I FIRST BELIEVED
Harper Collins (2008)
An amazing story ... that manages to bring the life of many generations to light ... while telling the tale of a couple whose lives are shattered by the events of Columbine High School.
THE HOUR I FIRST BELIEVED
Harper Collins (2008)
An amazing story ... that manages to bring the life of many generations to light ... while telling the tale of a couple whose lives are shattered by the events of Columbine High School.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Book 24
Kim Edwards
THE MEMORY KEEPER'S DAUGHTER
Penguin (2005)
Wonderful book ... absolutely heart-breaking ... with amazingly real characters. I devoured this book over the course of two evenings.
Will definitely read more books by Kim Edwards.
THE MEMORY KEEPER'S DAUGHTER
Penguin (2005)
Wonderful book ... absolutely heart-breaking ... with amazingly real characters. I devoured this book over the course of two evenings.
Will definitely read more books by Kim Edwards.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Book 23
Christopher Moore
LAMB
Harper Collins (2002)
This book held a strange fascination for me ... wouldn't actually recommend it to anyone as it doesn't live up to its own publicity.
However, the sheer fact that this is the "greatest story" never told from the point of view of Biff, Jesus' best friend and details the "missing years" from the Bible was enough to keep me reading.
Some great wit ... but definitely not a "must read".
LAMB
Harper Collins (2002)
This book held a strange fascination for me ... wouldn't actually recommend it to anyone as it doesn't live up to its own publicity.
However, the sheer fact that this is the "greatest story" never told from the point of view of Biff, Jesus' best friend and details the "missing years" from the Bible was enough to keep me reading.
Some great wit ... but definitely not a "must read".
Book 21
Elizabeth Hays
LATE NIGHTS ON AIR
(2007)
Some amazing passages about the Canadian North simply mesmerize the reader ... made me want to buy a canoe and portage my way to places unknown. Characters were well-developed and not your typical "stock" characters. A good read.
LATE NIGHTS ON AIR
(2007)
Some amazing passages about the Canadian North simply mesmerize the reader ... made me want to buy a canoe and portage my way to places unknown. Characters were well-developed and not your typical "stock" characters. A good read.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Book 20
Jeannette Walls
THE GLASS CASTLE
Scribner (2006)
A memoir ... and easily the best book I've read in the last couple of years! Absolutely brilliantly written.
This was a "Heather's Pick" from Chapters ... and I literally devoured the full 288 pages in one day (and half the night).
THE GLASS CASTLE
Scribner (2006)
A memoir ... and easily the best book I've read in the last couple of years! Absolutely brilliantly written.
This was a "Heather's Pick" from Chapters ... and I literally devoured the full 288 pages in one day (and half the night).
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Book Nineteen
Val McDermind
THE GRAVE TATTOO
Harper Collins (2006)
Strange story ... academia, London gangs, Wordsworth scholars, Fletcher Christian and the Mutiny on the Bounty ...
Guess it was worth it in the end as I now know more about the Mutiny, Captain Bligh and Mr. Christian ...
THE GRAVE TATTOO
Harper Collins (2006)
Strange story ... academia, London gangs, Wordsworth scholars, Fletcher Christian and the Mutiny on the Bounty ...
Guess it was worth it in the end as I now know more about the Mutiny, Captain Bligh and Mr. Christian ...
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Book Eighteen
Lisa Genova
STILL ALICE
Pocket Books (2009)
"Even then, more than a year earlier, there were neurons in her head, not far from her ears, that were being strangled to death, too quietly for her to hear them. Some would argue that things were going so insidiously wrong that the neurons themselves initiated events that would lead to their own destruction. Whether it was molecular murder or cellular suicide, they were unable to warn her of what was happening before they died."
Absolutely spell-binding ... a touching look into the world of dementia and early-onset Alzheimer's disease ... seen through the eyes of Alice and her family and friends.
A must read ...
STILL ALICE
Pocket Books (2009)
"Even then, more than a year earlier, there were neurons in her head, not far from her ears, that were being strangled to death, too quietly for her to hear them. Some would argue that things were going so insidiously wrong that the neurons themselves initiated events that would lead to their own destruction. Whether it was molecular murder or cellular suicide, they were unable to warn her of what was happening before they died."
Absolutely spell-binding ... a touching look into the world of dementia and early-onset Alzheimer's disease ... seen through the eyes of Alice and her family and friends.
A must read ...
Book Seventeen
Julie Navarro
THE BIBLE OF CLAY
Seal Books (2009)
This was a painful book to get through. Sad ... because the storyline was an interesting one ... archaeological treasure in Iraq ... threat of war ... Nazi war criminals ... but the author was never able to bring a spark of life or reality to her words.
Even worse were the chapters devoted to Shamus ... Abraham's scribe ... yup, you guessed it ... Abraham from the Bible.
Truth be told, it's like the author had the bare bones outline of 4 different stories ... each not enough to flesh out a whole novel ... so she threw them all together into this unfulfilling goulash.
I'm glad it's finally over ...
THE BIBLE OF CLAY
Seal Books (2009)
This was a painful book to get through. Sad ... because the storyline was an interesting one ... archaeological treasure in Iraq ... threat of war ... Nazi war criminals ... but the author was never able to bring a spark of life or reality to her words.
Even worse were the chapters devoted to Shamus ... Abraham's scribe ... yup, you guessed it ... Abraham from the Bible.
Truth be told, it's like the author had the bare bones outline of 4 different stories ... each not enough to flesh out a whole novel ... so she threw them all together into this unfulfilling goulash.
I'm glad it's finally over ...
Monday, February 9, 2009
Book Sixteen
Patricia Cornwell
SCARPETTA
G.P. Putnam's Sons (2008)
"The mental state of the madman, indeed, may be described as a walking and disordered dream." - Montagu Lomax
I used to love Patricia Cornwell's Scarpetta series ... can actually remember anxiously awaiting the publication of her next title. Based on that old memory, I splurged and purchased this book, full price and in hard cover.
Lesson learnt ... not worth the $24.99 ... I couldn't help but think of all the other things I could have done with that money as I reading a book that was so true to formula that I had figured out the plot and twist before I'd reach the quarter-mark of the novel.
For me, Patricia Cornwell, hit her peak with Body Farm ... and since then, her Scarpetta books have just been pale imitations ....
SCARPETTA
G.P. Putnam's Sons (2008)
"The mental state of the madman, indeed, may be described as a walking and disordered dream." - Montagu Lomax
I used to love Patricia Cornwell's Scarpetta series ... can actually remember anxiously awaiting the publication of her next title. Based on that old memory, I splurged and purchased this book, full price and in hard cover.
Lesson learnt ... not worth the $24.99 ... I couldn't help but think of all the other things I could have done with that money as I reading a book that was so true to formula that I had figured out the plot and twist before I'd reach the quarter-mark of the novel.
For me, Patricia Cornwell, hit her peak with Body Farm ... and since then, her Scarpetta books have just been pale imitations ....
Monday, January 26, 2009
Book Fifteen
Lawrence Sanders
MC NALLY'S DARE
G.P. Putnam (2003)
Good, quick read ... though definitely not Sanders' best. I'll read him again nevertheless.
MC NALLY'S DARE
G.P. Putnam (2003)
Good, quick read ... though definitely not Sanders' best. I'll read him again nevertheless.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Book Fourteen
John Sandford
CHOSEN PREY
G.P. Putnam (2001)
For a "typical" psychological thriller ... this one had a different enough ending to earn it a mention as a good read!
CHOSEN PREY
G.P. Putnam (2001)
For a "typical" psychological thriller ... this one had a different enough ending to earn it a mention as a good read!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Book Thirteen
Stephenie Meyer
BREAKING DAWN
Little Brown & Company (2008)
Childhood is not from birth to a certain age and at a certain age
The child is grown and puts away childish things.
Childhood is the kingdom where nobody dies.
- Edna St. Vincent Millay
Needless to say, I'm sad that it's over ... it's been a wild ride with the Cullens ... Edward and Bella ... werewolves and the Volturi. Stephenie Meyer did a wonderful job of knitting together all the loose ends ... making all the pieces fit ... and bringing the saga to an end in a way that satisfied the reader.
I feel like I've been on vacation and am back with wonderful memories ...
BREAKING DAWN
Little Brown & Company (2008)
Childhood is not from birth to a certain age and at a certain age
The child is grown and puts away childish things.
Childhood is the kingdom where nobody dies.
- Edna St. Vincent Millay
Needless to say, I'm sad that it's over ... it's been a wild ride with the Cullens ... Edward and Bella ... werewolves and the Volturi. Stephenie Meyer did a wonderful job of knitting together all the loose ends ... making all the pieces fit ... and bringing the saga to an end in a way that satisfied the reader.
I feel like I've been on vacation and am back with wonderful memories ...
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Book Twelve
Stephenie Meyer
ECLIPSE
Little Brown & Company (2007)
Fire and Ice
Again ... just when I thought I had the story figured out ... I realized that I didn't have a clue! Werewolves and vampires ... who'd have thought I could stay interested for three whole books?
Onto the next and last of the series ...
ECLIPSE
Little Brown & Company (2007)
Fire and Ice
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of deire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
- ROBERT FROST
Again ... just when I thought I had the story figured out ... I realized that I didn't have a clue! Werewolves and vampires ... who'd have thought I could stay interested for three whole books?
Onto the next and last of the series ...
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Book Eleven
Stephenie Meyer
NEW MOON
Little Brown & Company (2006)
The second book of what's been called the "Twilight Series" ... and once again Stephanie Meyer does not disappoint. Some plot twists are forseeable ... but just when you think you've got the book figured out ... she takes you down another winding trail and the story changes in ways you'd never imagined.
As with Twilight ... these are books that the big screen could never do justice to ... too many layers to get the full flavour into a 2 hour movie.
Onto the last book of the series ...
NEW MOON
Little Brown & Company (2006)
The second book of what's been called the "Twilight Series" ... and once again Stephanie Meyer does not disappoint. Some plot twists are forseeable ... but just when you think you've got the book figured out ... she takes you down another winding trail and the story changes in ways you'd never imagined.
As with Twilight ... these are books that the big screen could never do justice to ... too many layers to get the full flavour into a 2 hour movie.
Onto the last book of the series ...
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Book Ten
Stephenie Meyer
TWILIGHT
Little Brown & Company (2005)
Edward and Bella ... what a love story. Even though this novel was penned with young adults in mind ... I couldn't help but be carried away by this uniquely gripping and unusual love story. Stephanie Meyer's made me feel all of Bella's emotions ... and made me marvel at the sheer power of her love for Edward ... and as for Edward ... I mean who wouldn't fall for a breath-takingly beautiful vampire?
Can't wait to see what happens next ...
TWILIGHT
Little Brown & Company (2005)
Edward and Bella ... what a love story. Even though this novel was penned with young adults in mind ... I couldn't help but be carried away by this uniquely gripping and unusual love story. Stephanie Meyer's made me feel all of Bella's emotions ... and made me marvel at the sheer power of her love for Edward ... and as for Edward ... I mean who wouldn't fall for a breath-takingly beautiful vampire?
Can't wait to see what happens next ...
Book Nine
James Patterson & Howard Roughan
YOU'VE BEEN WARNED
Hachette Book Group USA (2007)
Okay ... so it breaks my heart a little to trash this book ... because James Patterson did do some of the writing or all of the writing or none of the writing. This book was absolutely terrible. Bad plot ... unsympathetic characters ... under-developed characters ... you name the flaw and it can be found in this novel.
Only the opening quotation was worth remembering: "Character, like a photograph, develops in darkness" - Yousuf Karsh
YOU'VE BEEN WARNED
Hachette Book Group USA (2007)
Okay ... so it breaks my heart a little to trash this book ... because James Patterson did do some of the writing or all of the writing or none of the writing. This book was absolutely terrible. Bad plot ... unsympathetic characters ... under-developed characters ... you name the flaw and it can be found in this novel.
Only the opening quotation was worth remembering: "Character, like a photograph, develops in darkness" - Yousuf Karsh
Friday, January 2, 2009
Book Eight
James Patterson
CROSS
Little Brown & Company (2006)
Another great Alex Cross novel ... facing the Butcher ... one of Patterson's most twisted killers. I think what I love about Patterson's writing is that though it follows a certain formula ... you can never be absolutely sure of the ending ... and his writing style has a certain "show don't tell" quality about it - all his characters have quirks and eccentricities that make them come alive to the reader ...
Though I have a host of other books available to read ... I think I'm going to continue the Patterson marathon and read "You've Been Warned" next ...
CROSS
Little Brown & Company (2006)
Another great Alex Cross novel ... facing the Butcher ... one of Patterson's most twisted killers. I think what I love about Patterson's writing is that though it follows a certain formula ... you can never be absolutely sure of the ending ... and his writing style has a certain "show don't tell" quality about it - all his characters have quirks and eccentricities that make them come alive to the reader ...
Though I have a host of other books available to read ... I think I'm going to continue the Patterson marathon and read "You've Been Warned" next ...
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