Running over the weekend

Well, I was able to get some decent runs in this past long weekend. On Friday night after work, I went for a run that was pretty bad. I only did 2 miles, not my normal 3 because it wasn't good and I figured a shorter run would let me run the next day.

I did run the next day on Saturday and got in 3 miles. It was decent run, slow but got it in. It was also at the end of the day so tired and all that too.

Then I took Sunday off and I almost didn't get a run in on Monday either. I finished up some painting that needed to be done for a very long time and saw the Cardinal game wasn't very good so went for my run. I did 6 miles, all over 13 minutes a mile, the last 3 around 14 minutes. So time wasn't good but it felt great actually doing a long run. It has been too long since I had gotten in any kind of decent longish type run.

I am still in not very good shape but this past weekend at least brought me a couple steps closer.

God's Spy--#32 finished

This is a first novel for the author and overall it is okay. A good story with some interesting characters but parts of the story were a little iffy, but for a first novel it is alright. I wasn't overwhelmed by it and I am not searching out his next novel immediately but still it was enjoyable. The topic seems to be one of those over done topics, the Catholic church/Vatican. After the Dan Brown blockbusters there have been too many of these similar ones. A female detective that is also a serial killer profiler gets caught up in investigating the murders of Cardinals right before the election of the next pope.

I have already posted it on by Bookshelf at PBS and there are 8 other copies there also. It is one that I got in a deal in the Book Bazaar. I will try to wait it out, could be a while before it gets requested though. I do expect it to move at some point though unlike others on my bookshelf.

I just started reading The Midnight House and a few days earlier started reading Berlin Blues. I am still working on Alexander Hamilton also--it is really taking a while to get through this one. I think I am under a hundred pages remaining but it will still be a few days to a week or maybe more for it.

The Judas--#31 finished

This is a British spy thriller and overall a pretty good book. I missed the first in the series, The Mentor, but have probably picked up enough to continue onward without going back. The 3rd in the series is not out yet so I will have to be paying attention to it.

I am tired so I will not be going into many details of the book. But let me say the characters seem kind of interesting and the story line was also interesting. Some things in the book, especially toward the end, seemed unlikely but that happens. Good book overall.

I am still reading Alexander Hamilton and have also started God's Spy. Will be picking up a 3rd book too, but not sure if that will be tonight.

Altar of Eden--#30 finished

This is another James Rollins book. It is a good read. Like other Rollins books he tries to base them off of possible occurrences. I am not sure that this one really holds up as well as the others but it was still a good read. A lab working with Dept of Defense tries to make a superhuman or superanimal type creature to be used in military situations. A Border Guard and a Veterinarian with a past team together to take them down while also at the same time falling in love. Like I said parts of the story didn't really seem possible but that was okay to a point. A good read but certainly not a great read.

I will be posting it on PBS at some point, there are still 28 WL for it so might wait a few days to do this. I am reading The Judas and still working on Alexander Hamilton as well. Not sure when I will pick out the next book though.

The Poet's Funeral--#29 finished

The book started off pretty good, interesting characters and situation but once the murder/death happened it evolved into more of an investigative type book. The investigation and the ending were not strong points at all for the book. I understand there had to be some conflict going on but I just wish what the author had chosen would have been better or more believable. Oh well, still not a bad book and was even good in parts. The idea of a small time book/poetry publisher is kind of interesting and I liked the premise.

I will be posting it on PBS at some point in the near future, there is only 1 WL for it. I am out of town this weekend so posting it will have to wait until next week. I will be picking out a 3rd book to read hopefully tonight yet, since flying this weekend need one to read for all the waiting at the airport and on the plane.

Twelve Mighty Orphans--#28 finished

A really interesting and very good read about a true story of an orphanage in Texas that became a powerhouse in football. The school football team seemed to only have around 12 players or so each year but each year competed for the state championship for the large schools in Texas in the 1930s. The head coach that put this together was Rusty Russell an injured vet from WWI, who had lost most of his eyesight in WWI. Russell developed a passing game long before anyone else at least in TX at that time. He also had the advantage of having the players year round for every day of the year. There was no going home for the students, they were at an orphanage. Size of the players and number of players were their disadvantage but it seems these kids played with a large chip on their shoulders because they were orphans.

While they never won the state championship they were in the playoffs and competing for it each year. They also became a nationwide news story of hope during the depression. A couple of kids went on to play professional football while others became very successful businessmen or teachers. The orphanage and school just closed in the early 2000s, right before this book was written. It seems as though it is a way of life that has almost disappeared. Like I said though, this is a very good read, especially if you are a football fan.

There are 3 WL for it so I will be posting it on PBS soon. I am still reading Alexander Hamilton, I am 75 pages in so far. Also reading Altar of Eden and am around 160 pages in. I have also just started The Poet's Funeral and around 30 pages into it. Probably won't start a 4th just yet. Will probably try to push ahead & finish either Altar or Poet in the next few days.

The Osiris Alliance--#27 finished

This is a first book by a veteran lawyer and news man, Jack Ford. I haven't heard of him but I might have caught him on TV at some point. Oh well, his book is alright especially for a first book and all. The action kept moving but at a few points seems like a veteran prosecutor would have handled things much differently instead of going out and leading an investigation himself and then later with a news reporter. Looking past some of that though it is still a good story and some interesting old time stuff with the Lindbergh baby kidnapping. Not an amazing read or anything but not too bad either.

I have posted it on PBS, there is only 1 copy a head of it but since this is not an established or popular author it might take a while before it gets requested. This is okay though since my bookshelf has several of these 1 or 2 copy books on it. Generally speaking these books move, it just takes time and with a lot of credits stocked up on, I have time to sit with them and wait.

I am still working on Alexander Hamilton but it is slow going, I am to page 60 but it is going slow. I have also started a James Rollins book, Altar of Eden and have also just reached 60. I will be looking to start a 3rd book later as well.