Thursday, August 29, 2013

Expecting to Fly--#41 finished

Wow, a really powerful and emotional book about a teenaged girl in the '60s that started on drugs and into more destructive things in late high school & into college years.  Author really seems to get into the heart of the girl and while to me the girl was not sympathetic, it seemed very real and almost unstoppable.  Just the start of it through the many different drugs is really very scary story for a parent to read.  I really just makes me hope that we have done well to avoid our kids getting to this point or area of life.  Hopefully, we have taught them to make better decisions than the girl in this book.

I will probably post it on PBS at some point soon.  There are no copies on system and I would expect it would move pretty quick.

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Swinging from My Heels--#40 finished

Good read about the LPGA by Christina Kim a player on the tour.  She had some interesting insights about the tour and the '09 season.  That was a tough season for her personally in growing up in many ways and also for the tour because of the crappy economy.  It is really too bad that the LPGA remains stuck in obscurity while the PGA flourishes.  I doubt they would ever be on the same level but the LPGA should not be buried either.  I turned on CBS for just a couples minutes today for golf and they highlighted the other tours, the PGA, the Seniors and the minor tour used to be Nike, now I don't know.  There was no mention of the LPGA--I don't know why, maybe there is no tourney this weekend and the mention it when there is but still really seems unfair.  I checked Christina Kim on wikipedia a few days ago and it seems like she hasn't turned her game up, seems to be more of a fringe player and plays more European tour now, which in her book she mentioned doesn't pay as well.  I don't know why Europe, could be boyfriend, likes the countries there, etc so maybe it is not a play thing but I do wish her well.  This was an interesting book and will help me follow the LPGA a little more.

I have posted it on PBS, there were no copies before this one so it should go at some point.  I am still reading Skeleton Crew and have started Expecting to Fly and What I Talk About When I Talk About Running.  I will probably be grabbing another book as well.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

"H" is for Homicide--#39 finished

This was the next in line of the Kinsey Millhone mysteries that I am slowly reading in order.  This is another good read in the series, maybe a little more action than some of the others and not as much stories about side characters as other books.  I don't think she even mentioned Rosie--I think that is the lady that runs the restaurant around the corner and there wasn't even a conversation with her landlord either.  There are many more books in this series where we can catch up on all that, this one was kind of nice in that the action & mystery didn't have to take back seats at all.  I am not sure if I have the "I" book or not, will have to check on that.  I do want to read at least 2 a year and getting to 3 or even 4 a year would probably be better.

I am still reading the never ending Skeleton Crew, I did go past 300 pages read but it is still rarely picked up so it will still be a while before it gets finished.  I have also started Swinging from My Heels by Christina Kim a pro on the LPGA tour, good so far.  I will probably look to add another one either tonight or tomorrow as well.

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Hamburgers & Fries--#38 finished

This was a short quick read about the history of hamburgers and then at the end some quick notes about fries.  Some kind of interesting stuff and ideas about hamburgers but I guess I am not that much of a hamburger foodie as the author.  Eating a bunch of hamburgers is not something that excites me even though I do like to eat, just not really obsessive about a food.  Also he was in Iowa, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Tennessee but didn't get into Nebraska or Missouri--my states seem kind of left out.  Oh well, that is the way it goes sometimes.

I have posted it on PBS and there were 2 WL for it so hope it goes soon.  I just started H is for Homicide the next Kinsey Milhone book and it has started good--I really do like this series and glad I am sticking with reading in order.  Also still have Skeleton Crew and will probably start a 3rd book later tonight.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

NYPD Red--#37 finished

This is a James Patterson New York detective book.  It is a good quick page turner type book.  I started it on Sunday I think and by Wednesday night it is done.  An elite police force in NY that is focused on the rich/elite faces off with a crazy guy serial killer during a week long Hollywood in NY time.  It is not great writing or story and probably has a few holes but it moves fast so you don't have time to really sit back & think on it.  I think this is kind of my reaction to the other Patterson book(maybe books, not sure if I have read 1 or 2) but all in all a fun read.

I will posting it on PBS at some point, probably in near future.  The WL for it was over 100 so it will move, just need to post it.

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Havana Bay--36 finished

This is the 4th in the Arkady Renko detective series.  I like the series and it has been interesting cases & places.  It is an older series, this one was written in 1999 but almost seems older than that.  Renko is an interesting character and he is put into fun and sometimes confusing places.  Every one of the books in the series seems to be easy to get into & moves along at a fast enough pace also.  This one is in Cuba and did mix some of what makes Cuba kind of mysterious into it.  Good stuff.

This copy is old & kind of beaten up, but I was keeping copy of this series anyway so this is a keeper book.  I will be looking to add another book tonight also.

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Fergie: My Life from the Cubs to Cooperstown--#35 finished

This is Ferguson Jenkins book.  I grew up liking the Texas Rangers, when you grow up in NE you can kind of pick any team you want.  The KC Royals were probably in the paper the most but I was a fan of the Lone Ranger so the Texas Rangers just kind of fit.  When I started following baseball & the Rangers they were not the terrible team of a couple years earlier.  Jenkins was their star pitcher and they had players like Toby Harrah, Mike Hargrove, Jim Sundberg, etc.  They never put it all together to win but it was fun following them especially with baseball cards.  Because Fergie's good years with the Cubs were prior to me knowing baseball, for me he is always associated with the TX Rangers.  I guess when I saw this book I was a little surprised his connection to the Cubs.  It was a good read and learned a lot about the player & person.

I will be posting it on PBS today, there is 1 WL for it.  I am still reading Havana Bay and am starting another short story in Skeleton Crew--I had set this aside for about a month so figure time to get back on it.  I will be adding another book to the mix as well.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Camel Rider--#34 finished

A good young adult story about an Aussie boy in a Middle Eastern country that is under attack.  The westerners convoy out of the area, but had left the boy's dog at the house/compound, which being a 12 year old, was all he could think of.  He slips away at a gas stop a few hours out and heads into the mountains in an attempt to get back to the house for the dog.  In the mountains, he meets a boy about his age that was put their by his masters because a camel he was in charge of broke a leg and had to be put down.  He is from Bangladesh but is basically a slave to these men.  The boys meet up and while they cannot talk find a way through some adventures to get back to the compound.  A nice read with a feel good ending.

I have posted it on PBS, it is the only copy in the system so it should move at some point.