Friday, September 30, 2011

Everything--#56 finished

An interesting book with some also interesting characters but not sure how I feel overall about the book. I liked the style of the book, short quick chapters that bounced from main character to main character. I guess I am not sure about how the characters fit together and I had a hard time caring about the characters. They were all pretty wrapped up with themselves not noticing what they were doing how it affected others. I guess overall just alright. Actually it will probably be a book that will be forgotten much sooner than others but I guess that is the way it goes sometimes.

I have posted it on PBS. It was one that I got from PBS and it has taken over a year before I got it read. Too long but that is just the way it was. I will be passing it along now though. Still something like 17 WL for it.

I am still reading the Clinton vs Starr book, as I will be reading it for a very long time yet. Also reading New Orleans Noir a short story book and another book that talks about 9 former Speakers of the House. None of these books are moving very fast so I will probably pick up something else to get started on as well.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

To Make Men Free--#55 finished

This is a very good book about the Civil War during the time of the Battle of Antietam. It is fiction but with tons of research to make it appear as probable as possible. The pressures of all involved on both the military and political sides--Lee vs McClellan, Lincoln vs McClellan and Lincoln vs his own cabinet. A very good read. I have read a couple of Civil War books where there is no story just a spewing of facts, which while interesting, lose something over several hundred pages. This book has the facts but also wraps the whole story of what was actually going on with the main characters and even the soldiers at this time. Highly recommend this book. I was even thinking about making it a keeper but decided I would rather share it with others. I have ordered the next book by this author on the Battle of Fredericksburg.

I have posted it on PBS and there is one copy ahead of it, so it should move at some point. I am still reading the Clinton vs Starr book and just started Everything a Kevin Canty book. I will probably start a 3rd book either tonight or tomorrow as well.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Your Oasis on Flame Lake--#54 finished

I really enjoyed this book, it was something different and the characters were enjoyable but still human in many many ways. It is about 2 families in small town MN and some trying times they are all going through some brought on by themselves and others by accident or crime. The interaction between them and spiced with good humor and generally a happy ending made it a nice book to read. I will probably be looking for other stuff by this author.

I have already posted it on PBS & there are around 50 or 60 copies ahead of it so it is not moving. Oh well that is not a problem, it is a good book that I enjoyed so if it has to sit on my shelf awhile that is okay with me. It is too late tonight to grab a 3rd book but will probably start on tomorrow night.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Honey in His Mouth--#53 finished

This book was written back in 1956 by Lester Dent, creator of Doc Savage, but was not published till recently by his estate. I hadn't read any of his other books or the Doc Savage books but this one seemed interesting. A small time hustler in Missouri has identical looks to a South American dictator. A group of the dictator's friends/advisors have been skimming money for years from the country and want to use the double to get the money out of international banks & into their hands. Not a great story or anything and some interesting characters but not a bad read. It is kind of like what I figured a book written in the 1950s would be like. Long stays in the hospital, guy that hits women, lots of drinking and smoking, police that somehow track obscure stuff down and so on. Not saying it is bad, but just different. I did like the book somewhat but it really isn't my normal book either so I guess overall just kind of neutral about it.

I will be posting it on PBS, I think there were still 2 WL for it so hope to mail it off soon. Still reading the Clinton vs Starr book, the Civil War book and the Flame Lake book. I don't think I will be starting a 4th now, maybe when I am closer to finishing one of the others.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Digital Fortress--#52 finished

The same author as The DiVinci Code and Angels and Demons, Dan Brown. This book was similar in that it is a quick and easy page turner type book. Code breaking and computer stuff and all of that along with a tracking and chase side as well. Not a bad book for what it is--an action adventure page turner. To me Dan Brown books are kind of like John Grisham books fun easy reads or mind candy as a former boss used to call them. Not really much more to it.

I have posted it already on PBS and there were 190 copies a head of mine, the new sized mass media paperback and I didn't bother checking numbers of copies for hardback and others. I am sure there are hundreds if not thousands. I am not expecting this book to move but will have it on my bookshelf and see, maybe offer if up in a deal down the line. I got the book from a deal in the first place.

I am still reading the Civil War novel, To Make Men Free, just getting past 100 pages read. Also reading The Death of American Virtue the Clinton vs Starr book, slow going but was expected but interesting so far also. I have also started a basement book, in other words, it means I will only keep it in the basement, Honey in His Mouth. It has a pretty provocative cover photo, a woman in a very skimpy negligee. I might look to add a 4th book but not sure at this point.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

The Emperor's Tomb--#51 finished

I really wasn't expecting to finish this book today, but since my wife wasn't feeling well it was a stay home day and I took advantage of and got plenty of reading in. This is kind of a normal Steve Berry book in that it is a story he wraps around true facts and theories with some belief. It makes for an interesting story. I force myself to read his author's notes after finishing the book and that is where he explains important parts of his story. This one is mostly in China with the underlying theory being oil is naturally produced by the earth instead of being finite from long ago decomposed fossils, dinosaurs, etc. Interesting theory and hope it is true and sounds like there is some evidence, not sure why it is not really mentioned but there it is.

I have posted it on PBS, since I have a couple other books to mail--I did post Bluebirds and a couple others that I had around that people wanted. I hope to mail them all soon after the holiday tomorrow. I am still reading the Civil War novel, To Set Men Free. I also started and have gotten a ways into it already, Digital Fortress, the next Dan Brown novel--so far like expected a page turner. I also started the opposite of a page turner, The Death of American Virtue, Clinton vs Starr. Like the Passage before it I want to get reading some of these long books I have so I have tried to do so. I don't expect to start a 4th book, will probably wait till Digital Fortress is closer to being finished.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Bluebirds Used to Croon in the Choir--#50 finished

A book of unusual short stories by Joe Meno. While most were interesting in one way or another, I have to say I really don't get them. I guess they were attempting to bring out some kind of emotions in the reader and while some did, this is not something that interests me or I enjoy. A strange collection of stories and thoughts. Some of the stories seem to have some beginnings of maybe becoming a longer story or book. Since pretty much all of them ended up opened ended, a couple of how things ended would have been nice but I guess that is not the author's style. I think I have another Joe Meno book on my WL and now I am not so sure I want it but I won't decide now. I will give it a few days to see how this book sinks in to me if it does at all.

I will be mailing it off, I think there are 9 WL for it and have been for a long time. I just mailed the Tatum O'Neal book today so might just wait till next week after the holiday before posting this one. I might try to get The Emperor's Tomb done by then also but it has been slow going for me. I have also just started a Civil War novel, To Make Men Free.