Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Coffee & Kung Fu--#72 finished

A good book but not great.  Interesting characters and interesting story but not enough there to really grab me.  Lots of people in the story making bad decision including the main character.  Some sad stuff happens too.  Eventually she decides to chuck it and move to Hong Kong & join a friend there that had decided the same thing a couple weeks earlier.  Main character leaves behind a ticket for friend/guy she met but really doesn't know--but seems to have a connection.  Probably another bad decision but ends on that note.  An okay read but nothing that makes me want to find other books by author.

I have posted it on PBS & there are 9 copies ahead of it so probably not moving anytime soon.  Probably last book finished for this year, so 72 is a nice number.

Saturday, December 26, 2015

The Chris Farley Show--#71 finished

An interesting biography, it is basically clipped together quotes from the people that knew Chris Farley talking about the different times in his life.  Friends, family and co-workers, etc, interesting read and certainly interesting life.  Since it is just the quotes, each person kind of steps back & explains themselves on what is going on, there is not an overall writer really doing this.  Of course at times seems like a lot is going unsaid as well.  Interesting but not sure if it is the best method for a biography.

As far as his life, it is too bad Chris couldn't control his addictions to alcohol and then drugs.  It was mentioned that he might have been happier with a simpler life--married with kids to support, rather than single and crazy comedian lifestyle.  Since he couldn't control his life as it was, not sure he could have if his life was different either.  Just too bad his life ended so soon.

There are 3 WL for it and I will be posting it soon, probably in next few weeks.

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Secret Daughter--#70 finished

The rest of the title is, A Mixed-Race Daughter and the Mother Who Gave Her Away, a memoir.  The daughter June Cross wrote the book.  A powerful book that shows racism at such an individual and personal sense.  In the 1954 June Cross was born, her mother was white and her father was black.  They were not married and lived between New York and Atlantic City.  He was an entertainer and she worked various jobs to keep the rent paid because his work had slipped off by that time.  The mom Norma had a child previously right out of high school and the father was gone.  This son was being raised by her mother.  By age 4 June could not "pass" as white and Norma would be ostracized for having a black child.  A black family in Atlantic City they stayed with, agreed to raise June basically as their own.  Norma eventually marries Larry Storch of F Troop fame but has to keep June a secret for fear of again upsetting people and hurting Larry's career.  June as a child is forced to call them Aunt & Uncle at various times and then her adopted parents.  They stayed in touch & brought June to Hollywood in summers but she could never be a complete part to their family.

June is successful through school and Aunt Peggy raises her well.  June gets into Harvard and goes through the struggles there.  She becomes a reporter and eventually a producer of documentaries for Frontline.  She makes a documentary about her life and breaks open all the secrets.  Interesting life for her mom that she learns about then.  A very good read.  I thought interesting that obviously she struggled and was hurt about her situation but did overcome this.  Also thought that if abortion was legal and affordable, June probably would not have been here to tell this story and makes you think of all that is missing now because of abortion.  The flip side is that Norma would have been free to pursue her life unencumbered by a mixed race child and her 2 other children--older son that grandma raised and younger daughter that was given up for adoption.  A life of struggle is better than no life at all.

I will be posting it on PBS, I am the 10th person on PBS to have this book, so it is a big traveler.  I will wait till after Christmas though, I am trying to avoid the post office at this time of the year.  There are currently no copies on the system so pretty sure it will move probably quickly.

Sunday, December 13, 2015

P is for Peril--#69 finished

Next in the series and another good one.  Little different in that there is not a nice wrap up at the end, so not too sure who the murderer actually is at this point.  Hope it is further explained down the road in the next novels but obviously can't say at this point.  Kinsey investigates a missing person and finds out he has plenty of things going wrong and plenty of issues in his life that a murder, suicide or skipped town & in hiding are all possibilities.  Fun sorting it all out but the ending leaves you wanting for some more concrete answers, hope further info/explanation is coming down the road.

I will be keeping this one like all the books in the series so far.  Might try to start next one in this series in next few weeks to keep rolling on it.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

O is for Outlaw--#68 finished


The next in the Kinsey Millhone series and another good one.  Her ex-husband is shot & she is at first considered a suspect.  She has to delve into this and back to what caused her marriage to end.  While it was likely to end anyway, her then husband was accused of beating a guy outside a bar that caused the guy's previous head injury to kill him.  Husband wanted Kinsey to give an alibi/lie for him and she walked out then.  Him getting shot makes her re-investigate this & his shooting and she finds the ex was also re-investigating things and she follows his leads.  She figures it out & bad guy dies in end and ex never recovers from shooting and dies never coming out of coma.  Not one of my favorites but does give some insight into her earlier life along with the usual sharp detective work.

This is a keeper series for me so will not be posting it.  I am probably going to start right away on next in series, saw I had only read N this year and figured I really need to read more to get current on this series.

The Art of Non-Conformity--#67 finished

Not my normal book to read, a kind of self help/re-think your life kind of book.  Had some interesting thoughts & ideas for people to break out and do something different.  It encourages the reader to step away from comfortable and try to decide what you really want out of life & to go get it.  Book seemed to focus on the big changes one can make and seems to brush aside obligations, not so easy for many to do but he mentions that as well.  An okay read and good reminder that generally speaking things do work out to some degree and it is okay to try things.  I am not at a place to try big changes but even smaller changes can be good.

There are either 60 some or maybe 80 some WL for this book so I will be posting at some point.  Previous owner wrote in the back of the book on a blank page but this is okay with PBS just got to let next person know.  I actually finished this a couple days ago back in Nov but just now getting it logged in.

Friday, November 27, 2015

Gestapo Mars--#66 finished

Same author that wrote Go Go Girls of the Apocalypse and same kind of style.  Just a kind of crazy scenario where action & quips keep coming.  Just a fun entertaining read if you like this kind of thing, I am guessing plenty of people might not though.  A cryo-frozen James Bond type assassin is unthawed over 200 years since he was frozen and things have changed.  He has a mission but is not really told what it is and figuring out good and bad guys isn't easy.  Fun ride though an interesting concept of the future.

There are like 5 WL for it so I will probably ship it off at some point sort of soon.  I hate mailing this time of year because post office is busy but no reason to really hang on to the book, better to mail off for someone else to enjoy.

Monday, November 23, 2015

The Immortal Rules--#65 finished

The first book in a 3 part series about world gone to hell.  Red lung disease came about & was killing lots of people.  Vampires come out of hiding to help but instead hurt, causing an almost zombie like low level vampire.  Vampires to save themselves setup fortresses in cities & keep people around to harvest blood.  Fringer girl gets turned into vampire by loner vampire & she learns something about vampire culture.  She leaves tore up city where she lived whole life & finds group kind of wandering around, acts human and joins up.  Gets found out & banished but helps them out.  Lays some groundwork for next books too.  Good story, really enjoyed the book.

The book I have the ISBN is not registering on PBS, the other ISBN all have a WL so if ever figure out could mail off.  Will keep at this point & give to my kids to read and might stay as keeper book, not sure, will probably depend how next 2 books in series go.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

The Yuletide Bandit--#64 finished

Good true story crime book about a serial criminal that started robbing banks & moved up to robbing brinks trucks.  Along the way stole guns and other equipment from stores too.  Even stole some jewelry from jewelry store.  Was basically a successful criminal for 8 years, didn't get caught.  Got shot in the ankle once & kind of recovered but think had a limp for a while.  Basically only got caught because he was doing big time amount of drugs--cocaine & crack, instead of his more normal joints & pills he was doing before.  The drugs made him paranoid and he realized he told a prostitute that he was kind of dating that he was this criminal.  So he takes more drugs & then takes her hostage and being unable to kill himself after letting her go, he comes down from high and falls asleep where then cops bust in & arrest him.  This is all in Canada where laws different but he only gets 23 years--seems really really light but oh well.  Good story & interesting details.  I checked news & can't find anything recent so guess still in jail, this is like 12 years or so later--would have been up for parole a few years back for first time.

There were no copies on PBS so I posted it a couple days ago and it has already been requested.  It was requested before I even finished the book.  It is done & will go off in the mail tomorrow.

I'm Kind of a Big Deal--#63 finished

A funny short story memoir kind of book by a lady that grew up on Mass and moved to California after high school to get famous.  Funny stuff about her life and then growing up and getting a writing job after years as a failed actress.  Then onto life with kids.  I enjoyed the book and her stories.  I really like this style of book, similar to the Jewish girl that grew up on Omaha and moved to New York.  You catch glimpses of their life that is mostly for entertainment.  So maybe not so much about all the details of life but more of just funny stories about their life.

I will post on PBS at some point, something like 23 WL for it so no hurry to do so now.

Sunday, November 15, 2015

The Kingmaker's Daughter--#62 finished

This is the 4th book in Philippa Gregory's series about the Cousin's War, later called War of the Roses. This book focuses on the younger of Richard Neville's(Earl of Warwick) daughters that became queen under Richard.  Her knowledge of the time and the research done to make this a likely happening for a historical fiction book continues to amaze me.  Some of these happenings were gone over in the different books but from a different perspective, to hear them again but from now Anne's perspective is enjoyable.  Good book & good series.

I will probably be posting on PBS.  There is a small crack in binding that I might try a little glue to fix before sending out though.  I am not sure how many WL for it but enough that I have time on it, do not have to rush to move it out.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Puerto Vallarta Squeeze--#61 finished

First book I read by Robert James Waller and can tell he is a very talented writer, good story that flowed very nicely with good characters.  Little things that happened that came back around later, were just mentioned and moved on, no big !!! or anything to make you remember them.  Just a good professional story.  I really liked the book.

I will probably post it even though there are already quite a few copies in the PBS system.

Sunday, October 25, 2015

American Salvage--#60 finished

A short story book with the stories based in tough areas of Michigan.  Lot of good stories in here, really liked this book.  I have a novel by author that I am looking foreword to getting to at some point too.  Good stories, good characters and even though were short stories, could gather the good insights of character development.

I am not sure if I will keep this one or send it off.  It is an author autographed copy to "Sue", not that it means much but I do like the autographed copy books I have.  There is a WL of around 8 for it so would move as soon as I feel like posting.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

The Street Lawyer--#59 finished

A good Grisham read.  A big firm lawyer is caught in a hostage situation at work where homeless guy keeps group of them homeless.  It ends with homeless guy getting shot & his blood is all over this lawyer.  Lawyer re-evaluates his life and looks into why homeless guy did it & finds out big firm did him wrong.  His whole life changes, ends marriage that was on way to end, moves out of nice expensive apartment to much cheaper, leaves big firm and goes to work in poverty/street lawyer type place, starts helping at homeless shelters.  Finds mentor lawyer that helps homeless.  Sues big firm because of their wrong.  All kind of works out in the end.  Nothing great but a good quick page turner type read. Was written in late '90s but guess it was one that I had missed back then.

It is wrinkled, could be water damage or just cheaply made.  Since it is a Grisham & there are already hundreds of this copy on PBS, it is going to my give away pile.

Sunday, October 18, 2015

The Forever Boys--#58 finished

A very fun read about the Senior Baseball League from 1989-1990.  It was a league formed for 35+ age players, catchers at 32+ to continue playing baseball.  This was prior to expansion & right after the MLB owners collusion where older more expensive players were squeezed out of the league.  This was the time of the USFL and people with money thought about starting ways to compete with the other major leagues.  A good read about the St Petersburg Pelicans and the players and the teams they played against.  More than a few times after reading a chapter or two I would open up baseball reference.com and look up the stats on these players--fun reliving some memories.  Also several of the players I have baseball cards for--since I collected from later '70s and into mid to late '80s.  Fun to see some of the names still showing up, Steve Henderson is hitting coach for the Phillies, Dock Ellis just passed away among others.

This one is going on my keeper shelf, not really a designated shelf, just a thought in my head more like.

Friday, October 16, 2015

Cannery Row--#57 finished

I thought this book, short book at only 123 pages, had some very interesting characters but the story overall just sort of kicked along.  Other than to talk about the characters I didn't see a reason for the book.  I just did a quick wikipedia read of it & it mentioned centered on Doc & the parties for him.  I guess could argue Doc was main glue of the Cannery Row area but such a short book, just have to infer way too much for my liking.  Again though the characters were interesting and Steinbeck is a very good writer--it had been a very long time since I had read anything by him.

I will keep this book, no reason to put on PBS or give away.  Good to keep the classics, which not sure it really qualifies, Steinbeck certainly does qualify.

Monday, October 12, 2015

The Hermit King--#56 finished

The Hermit King was a good story, only about 125 pages.  The book also had 5 other short stories, they were just okay.  The Hermit King was a good story about 2 kids, boy & girl around age 12.  This is in small town Alabama, he lives there & she comes to visit her 2 aunts that are basically spinsters.  They really have no idea in raising her.  She lives with her dad, her mother died, I believe.  The boy lives with his mom and grandmother.  Mom is a widow, dad died in WWII, which is still going on.  Mom doesn't really have it together & grandma kind of runs things.  Well, kids get in trouble and decide to run away.  All of this in the back drop of the South in the 1940s.  Interesting story & interesting times.  Other stories basically around the South too at different times but to me not as interesting.

I have posted it on PBS, it is the only copy in system now so I think it will move sometime.

Sunday, October 4, 2015

The Invention of Everything Else--#55 finished

A book about a maid in the hotel that interacts with Nikola Tesla at the end of his life.  Not really knowing anything about Tesla this was probably a bad introduction to his life.  The book did talk about his earlier life so you do get to understand part of it but you don't really understand what was real & what was fiction.  Just a lot of this book is just out there.  You have to understand it was a different time & people had different thoughts & beliefs, that almost anything could be invented.  I don't know, just a different sort of book that really wasn't for me.

I will be posting it on PBS at some point but I am back to have too many credits so will be in no hurry to send it off.

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

The Kill Switch--#54 finished

This is a new series by James Rollins and Grant Blackwood, another Sigma kind of branch with a person Tucker Wayne but he also has a military trained service dog Kane.  He is a kind of outside the system guy that Sigma is trying to pull into the system.  Similar type action based around stuff that could be fact makes it an interesting read.  Had finished a couple days ago but just now getting it logged in.

I have posted it on PBS, it was down to like 9 WL & figured best not to wait.

Friday, September 25, 2015

Red Dwarf: Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers--#53 finished

I liked the series that was on PBS in the mid 1990s and it seems like the book follows along or maybe vis versa.  I am not sure which came first but just guessing the book did.  I never saw the beginning episodes of the series so not sure if started they same way as the book but certainly could have.  Good humor and makes me want to see the TV show again.  I have another Red Dwarf book too so will have to read it & then maybe search out the show.

This is one that is going on my keeper list at least for the time being.  There are no copies on system and no WL for it so, just as well keep it anyway.

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Still Life With Bread Crumbs--#52 finished

A New York artist photographer is getting older, 60ish, single/divorced and her career has stagnated.  She has money problems with taking care of her parents, mother is in home with Alzheimer's and father in separate apartment with their longtime maid--maybe something more.  Also son just out of college and trying to work in movie productions so of course helping him out too.  She decides to sublet her Park Ave apartment and move to the hinterlands--couple hours or more out of NY into very rural NY state.  Meets interesting people and finds new subject that reinvigorates her career.  A younger man also in the picture and with some complications as well.  Some trouble in there but in the end seems like everything works out.  Nice story.  I thought beginning was really good but at end just kind of tied up the loose ends to get done with a happyish ending.

I will probably post on PBS but there is one page that has some wrinkles, not sure if postable or not.  Doesn't look like water damage but not sure either.  There are plenty of WL for it so might try a couple things to get wrinkles out first.  If not can donate away if needed.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

The Counterfeit Agent--#51 finished

This is the next in the John Wells series, a kind of CIA guy that works outside of the CIA, especially now that the director of CIA has moved on to be a Senator.  Still has a good contact inside though but mostly working on outside now.  Good series and good action, a page turner.  Written with believable stuff that is current in the world.  Just a fun read.  I already have the next book in series & will try to get on it soon.

I have already posted it & will be mailing it today.  It was down to 8 WL and is a mass media paperback, these popular paperbacks move quickly so wanted to get it read & moved while there was still a WL for it.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Going Away Shoes--#50 finished

Short story book by Jill McCorkle.  Very good book, a few of the stories really hit hard, great realism and emotions.  Most are good and a couple okay but those very good ones really make this a read worth doing.  The more I read short stories, I have kind of realized about myself, the more I have to learn to enjoy them for what they are.  At times I am left unsatisfied because I think there is more there and the author just didn't finish it--I like closure.  The are generally fun quick reads that make you think but you don't have to invest novel time and thoughts into them either.  While obviously still reading but it is a different kind of exercise in reading too.  Makes me think that maybe I need to retry poetry at some point for almost the same reason.  For now though I will continue to look for short story books and keep them in the regular mix of reading.

I will be posting it on PBS, this is one of those wish list multiple books that I promised myself I would get mailed off so my line jumping ways is sort of okay, at least for my mind.  There are 6 WL for it so it should move whenever I feel like doing a mailing.

Saturday, September 5, 2015

The Old Man and the Sea--#49 finished

It had been a while since I had read something by Hemingway and figured this would be a good quick read & it was.  I also thought I had read it before & I don't think I had, at least I don't remember it.  It is about an old man still living a very simple life as a fisherman & he hooks onto a huge fish that pulls him for days.  Finally he pulls it in  & lashes it to his boat only to have sharks come and attack & eat it while he is trying to bring it back into shore.  Simple story but Hemingway's writing and the thoughts and actions the old man is fighting through are what make the novel.  Good stuff.  Just reminds me that I need to grab some of the classics and read them as well as the other stuff I run through.

This is a keeper so will not be going on PBS.

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Innocent Blood--#48

This is the 2nd in the Sanguines series and like the first book some good things & then some just off the wall too just out there things.  I drifted along on this book through the first half and then after finishing some other books just pushed through & finished it today.  Back with vampires, both good--that are Catholic priests and bad, your blood sucker types and others.  Throw in a famous bad guy from the Bible and a couple other characters with the returning group from the first book and there you go.  Saving the world while everyone else just doesn't notice.  Not a favorite series but moved along well enough that if I get a copy of the next book I will read it too.

I will be posting it on PBS in the next week or two, only at 15 WL for it so want to get it moved soon while still WL for it.

Racing While Black--#47 finished

I finished this book on Saturday but just now getting around to entering it.  Good book about a father and son that are race car enthusiasts and father ran teams for years but now they look to get into bigger time stock car racing.  They are black and one of the few owners in stock car racing at least around the North Carolina area.  They set a goal to get their team in the top level of NASCAR.  Book focuses a lot on the sponsorship area and the struggles they had.  Sponsorship is a struggle for just about all teams except those at the very top.  At time or two they mentioned that most of the cars they were racing against were not sponsored of if they were it was by local businesses, one mentioned was by local strip clubs.  I do not doubt for a second that being a black team didn't help and hurt in many ways as was pointed out--crowds at some venues just didn't like them, people they were racing against tried to wreck them and intimidate them on & off the track.  Racing is a tough sport and an expensive sport.  They seemed very successful outside of racing and had money they could invest in their team to a degree and were able to get some sponsors.  A lot of interesting characters and info in the book.  I did a wiki on them before I finished, reading they had some success but never reached NASCAR.  It is too bad because I think NASCAR could use some diversity--Danica Patrick gets plenty of press but a couple minority drivers--black and/or latino I think could really introduce the sport of new marketing segments.  I guess that is what I don't understand.  This team in the book should have been a great marketing tool for some products but those products just couldn't pull the trigger on it and you don't get why in the book.  Was it these products not trusting this team--not that they were black but they were not on top of their team--living away from the track, car & driver most seasons and book documents some struggles because of this.  Was it a personality thing?  Once they went to Rev Jackson & his Rainbow Coalition was that a reason companies shied away?  Book is from the Miller Racing side so answers aren't given but makes you wonder.

I will post it on PBS, was a good read and would like to pass it along.  There are no WL for it & no copies on system yet so hopefully will move sooner rather than later.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

NYPD Red 2 -- #46

Another series that I am reading, this one by James Patterson and Michael Karp.  Unlike other Patterson books I have read recently, I really like this one & also the first book in series.  An elite police group in NY that works on police cases of the elites in NY.  Fun characters and fast action so nice page turner.  I would imagine a 3rd and beyond will be coming out as well.  This one had a vigilante kind of serial killer angle that ended up being other policemen doing it.

I have posted it on PBS already, it is a mass paperback and the WL was running short so I just got it in a couple weeks ago and mailing off while there is still a WL for it.  Still reading Innocent Blood and Racing While Black and just started a short story book--Going Away Shoes.  Not sure if will be starting a 4th book right away or not.

Monday, August 24, 2015

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets--#45 finished

The 2nd in the Harry Potter series and is a good read.  Still seems a little kidish or young for my taste but have been told it becomes more adult like as the series goes on.  Lots of stuff in here that makes it appealing but nothing I see that would make me fanatical about it.  Of course saying that I already know the history & my expectations are of course influenced by that so not a true test either.  Good book and good characters & will continue on with the series.  We have the 3rd book but think we are missing the 4th but have plenty of time to find or get copy out of library yet.

This is on the keeper shelf, so no posting it to PBS.  Also there are probably tons of copies already out there anyway so no reason to add to that.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Rothstein--#44 finished

This is about Arnold Rothstein as the subtitle reads, The Life, Times and Murder of the Criminal Genius Who Fixed the 1919 World Series.  A good read about the times and the gambling and criminal stuff in New York city back then.  Makes you think, today we look at corruption in 3rd world countries & think it can never be fixed but it was only 100 years ago it was rampant here.  I had not heard of AR before this and it is a good read.

I have posted it because there was 0 WL but it got snapped up right away.  I will be mailing it off later this week.

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

A Student of Living Things--#43 finished

An interesting novel of a close knit extended family that suffers the murder of the son.  It is an unsolved case that haunts the family.  His sister trying to return to normal returns to her graduate studies and meets a guy that says was the brother's friend.  Through some twists & turns well he is the killer, an insane guy.  She, before knowing he is the killer, helps him lure next person toward them.  When next guy closer to coming to town, she kind of wises up and they don't meet and she eventually turns insane guy over to FBI & he confesses.  Mean time her & other guy meet up have a quick romance & he leaves country and she has their child.   Many details left out but like I said an interesting story.

I will be posting it on PBS, I don't think any hardcopy copies on system--maybe a paperback though.  No WL for it so it will be sitting for who knows how long.  Still reading Rothstein and just getting started on Innocent Blood & Harry Potter book 2.  I might go ahead and start another book tonight too.

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Wolves Eat Dogs--#42 finished

This was the next in series of Arkady Renko series by Martin Cruz Smith.  Another very good book in this series which is definitely one of my favorite series.  He is back in Russia, the new Russia with millionaires and billionaires.  He is investigating a couple that have died and the investigation takes him into the evacuation zone around Chornobyl.  Really interesting stuff, I had no idea about much of it and about how large that zone is.  Makes me want to learn more, need to find a good book on it.  Renko is still himself, driving people crazy.  Just a fun character & series.

This series is on my keeper shelf so no PBS for it.

Thursday, July 30, 2015

My Mortal Enemy--#41 finished

A short novel by Willa Cather.  Kind of interesting look at the life of a lady that was adopted and when became a young adult picked lover over the family money.  Her father said if she goes off and marries her boyfriend she will be left out of his considerable will and he will give it all to charities, she was their only child and I think the mother had past.  She chooses love in a grand dramatic gesture and while her life was good it is not the fairy tale either.  She also ends her life poor after living younger & middle age years doing well when husband had good job.  At end she seems to miss the money but not sure if that is just old age and poor health talking or if she really means she lives a regretful life.  An interesting read and interesting characters, I really do like Cather's writing in general.

This one is not in good enough shape for PBS and since it is a Cather book I would not be mailing it anyway.

Monday, July 27, 2015

Exposed--#40 finished

This is the next in Alex Kava's Maggie O'Dell FBI series.  This pushed along the series and was a good read with some details about Ebola, this is what they were exposed to.  Her boss dies from it setting up change of leadership issues for Maggie in the next installment.  This is a good series, kind of gross at times & just too unlikely but interesting enough to want to see it through.

I am keeping the Alex Kava books since she is a NE author so won't be putting this one on PBS.                                                            

Friday, July 17, 2015

The Infinite Tides--#39 finished

I really enjoyed this book.  An astronaut on the space station for a extended tour has his life fall apart from him while up there.  His daughter dies in a car accident and then days after this his wife lets him know she is divorcing him.  Work has been his whole life and after these shocks, he starts getting migraines so he can no longer perform at work too.  Problems in getting him down & new crew up happen but that was all kind of background.  The book starts after he is down and him trying to understand and restart his life.  NASA puts him on hold with everything going on and he returns to his house that his wife has almost completely cleaned out.  It is a struggle for him--emotions are something he avoided, instead preferring his math and calculations.  Some interesting side characters and it took a while but you see that he does kind of get through it but the end of the book doesn't really take that step.  You just kind of know that he will be alright now.

This is one of those multiple WL books that I ordered so I will be sending it off on PBS at some point probably in a few weeks.  Really liked this book.

Monday, July 13, 2015

Infidelities--#38 finished

This is a short story book by Josip Novakovich a native of Croatia.  The stories are all about the Balkans, the area of the former Yugoslavia that broke apart in bloody wars in the 1990s.  Very good stories and characters.  Mostly about the times of the 1990s when this country was breaking up into several and the author took the perspective of the individual person and how they were affected by the war.  Some very emotional writing.  I also enjoyed the author wrote from both a female and male perspective very convincingly.  Good book that I enjoyed.

There is a little water damage on the last 30 or so pages so I cannot post it on PBS.  I will start a new stack of books to be given away with it.  I will probably also be sorting off some of the ones on my PBS bookshelf that were never move & give them away as well.

Sunday, July 12, 2015

The Blood Gospel--#37 finished

This is a new James Rollins series he is writing along with Rebecca Cantrell.  The basic idea is there are evil vampires, have been since ever and Jesus comes along and saves Lazarus and Lazarus is first in a line of priests(?) or workers for Christ maybe that do battle with the vampires.  All of this is sort of behind the scenes of everyones normal lives.   That is the premise, then the story is a couple regular people, a soldier and a hot archeologist get thrown in with a vampire for Christ to hunt down the Blood Gospel.  If the premise works for you then the story isn't bad.  If the premise gives you problems well I am sure the rest of the book would as well.  This is the first in a new series so will have to see where it goes, I do have book 2 already.  I thought the premise wasn't bad, parts were clever and they used enough historical events that you can sort of see where it could tie in so good so far.  The story itself and some of the characters just kind of out there.  Good enough that I will go to book 2 at least.

I have already posted it on PBS, there are 4 or 5 copies already out there so probably won't move quick unless the series itself becomes a hit.

Sunday, July 5, 2015

The Summons--#36

This was the vacation reader book, a good quick read by John Grisham, written a few years back.  A good story of a 2 sons of a MS judge, one sort of good son and one addict and overall bad son.  Both basically estranged from their dad, dad asks both to come back to go over will.  When good son gets there dad is dead and he finds lots of cash hidden in boxes.  Not knowing how or why the cash got there, he has to stash it first & then figure out what to do with it, he is also the executor.  Some interesting stuff on what goes on and of course he is being stalked but he can't figure out by who.  Pretty good story, easy quick read.

I just passed this along to my sister while at vacation, book was mass paperback so sure there are hundreds of copies already on PBS so no reason to put another one.

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Doglands-#35 finished

This is a kind of young adult book about a hero greyhound mix breed that avoids death from cruel owner of racing greyhounds and eventually comes round and saves many dogs.  It reads more for kids, I just had a hard time getting into it.  I guess I am also not much of a dog person either.  Just okay.

I will be posting it on PBS, there are 4 WL for it.  I will probably wait a few weeks and then move it along.  Getting ready for vacation and have some older paperbacks taking along.

Friday, June 19, 2015

Zero at the Bone--#34 finished

A true story of a terrible kidnapping in 1953.  A drunken couple kidnap a 6 year old boy & kill him and then get a ransom from his parents of $600k. This happens around St Joseph & Kansas City MO.  After getting the money the couple decide on a whim to go to St Louis.  They rent a room & she basically passes out in it for a few days.  He goes erratic and his new found cabbie friend is connected with local mob like figures.  He stays drunk and stupid and the mob guys get help from police officers that they are buddies with and steal around half the money.  This money was never recovered.  Book goes into great detail of the people involved and great detail of the kidnapping and the attempts to get the money. Also then what they believed happened in St Louis.  The Route 66 motel Coral Courts plays a part in this.  Also a mention of a bar I used to hit very often in college--Jimmy & Andys or J & A's by the time I went there.

The couple were arrested and trial and execution happened within months.  Again great detail of all of this--as a reader you really get the whole story it seems.  Both were executed together in the gas chamber in Dec after the kidnapping happened in September--kind of amazing to read given it usually runs a decade plus now a days before an execution sentence is carried out.

I am not sure if I will be posting it on PBS or not, there are 4 WL for it so I might move it at some point but since a local book might also stay on a keeper shelf too.

Monday, June 15, 2015

Back to Blood--#33 finished

This is a Tom Wolfe novel about Miami and about a 2nd generation Cuban police officer & his struggles along with the struggles of Miami in general.  He goes after the the money and plastic kind of life in Miami.  He goes after each group fighting to keep their power or fight for more against the other groups in town.  A good read with good characters, good action and enough humor to keep it light hearted enough as well.  Really liked this book.

I am probably going to post it on PBS, I got it from there so I should probably pass it along although I like keeping Wolfe's books too.  Don't have to decide right now, I think there are 14 WL for it and with it being a big hardback book, those lines don't move very fast.

Saturday, June 13, 2015

The Pink Lady--#32 finished

This is a book about Helen Gahagan Douglas an actress in the '10s, '20s & '30s that became interested in politics & causes and became a Democratic Representative in the 1940s.  An interesting person and really a ground breaker in many ways as one of the first actor/actresses to be involved in politics and getting elected.  Also running against Nixon for the Senate seat and the dirty politics of that race that is almost commonplace now.  An interesting read and an interesting person.  I enjoyed the author, Sally Denton's, book on the Fremonts and wanted to read more by her and have to say she is 2 for 2 in what I have read.  Very good and easy to read but also researched and interesting, good stuff.

I will probably be posting it on PBS at some point, there are no copies on the system right now but have enough credits so not in a big hurry either.

Thursday, June 4, 2015

It's Always Something--#31 finished

This is Gilda Radner's book about her life and her fight with cancer.  It also was at the same time as her life with Gene Wilder who became her husband.  It is a good book because it is her honest look at her life fighting cancer.  She is kind of crazy at times, obsessive, depressed and just a basic person fighting for their life.  It is also sad because the whole way through the book, you know how it ends and yet in her writing there was optimism and hope but you the reader know otherwise.  The 1980s was a different time than today for fighting cancer but I am certain the emotions she had then are some of the same today.  While maybe the numbers surviving cancer are generally much better, no one wants to be the number on the downside and that is always there with cancer.  Gilda's was a life too short but given her time on SNL and her story about her fight with cancer the memory of her lives on.

This is a paperback that isn't in great shape and does have a stain of something on a few pages so I cannot post it on PBS and there are plenty of copies already there.  I will add it to my donation pile and hopefully find a place to take them soon.

Thursday, May 28, 2015

The Fight of the Century--#30 finished

Good book about the first Ali vs Frazier fight and the buildup before and a quick run down of what came after.  Ali being suspended after his arrest for refusing his begin drafted and serving in the Army during Vietnam along with trying to get back into top shape after having those 3 years off.  Frazier's style of fighting where he keeps coming after his opponent and taking a lot of punishment--doing this to compensate for his smaller stature and shorter reach--makes a shorter career likely.  Just lots of good stuff in the book about both fighters and the people around them.  This was really the heyday of boxing.

I will probably post it on PBS, there are no copies on the system so it will be the only one but things aren't moving much at PBS so who knows how long it will sit there.

Saturday, May 23, 2015

I am Hutterite--#29 finished

I really didn't know much about Hutterite communities before reading this book.  I think I had scanned a wikipedia article on them and that was the reason for finding & WL the book on PBS.  Eventually it came but like most books on PBS it requires patience.  It was really interesting to read about these different related farms of communities and how they live their life.  I would imagine living in a community has it own struggles but throw in the fact that in some ways they are Amish like, no TV, no radio and little interaction with the outside world.  But they do have modern things like their kitchen and farm equipment.  I would guess they also have a hard time keeping people in the community.  The author grew up in a Hutterite community until around age 10 when her family left and went on their own.  A really interesting life and struggle for the author and her family.

I am not sure if I will post on PBS or not.  I might try to talk others into reading the book because it is an interesting way of life that most just don't realize is even out there.

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Sleeping at the Starlight Motel--#28 finished

A short story book written in 1995 with stories mostly centered around eccentric people or family in Georgia.  An okay read overall, some stories were pretty good and others simply were not.  It was a quick read and most stories pretty short so could just spend a few minutes reading one between things.  Some of the stories were kind of look back and now that book is 20 years old just doesn't seem to stand the test of time.  Oh well.

I have posted it on PBS but there are 36 books ahead of it so it is probably not going anywhere.  I will leave posted for now & maybe give away later at some point.

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Fargo Rock City -- #27 finished

The author, Chuck Klosterman, is just a couple years older than me and grew up in midwestern rural life--him in North Dakota & me in Nebraska.  Kind of fun to read about how he saw his life growing up and this was all weaved in the heavy metal/glam rock that was going on.  He mentions AC/DC Back in Black as an early album and from there he went into heavier rock.  I had that same album/cassette and from there I went backward into classic rock.  He goes on & on about the metal bands that for the most part I avoided, Poison, Ratt, Motley Crue, Guns & Roses, etc.  I remember some of them but never really got into them other than maybe a popular song or two from each.  Still fun to hear about his growing up and interesting takes on the bands that I think he has probably spent more time thinking about than just about anyone else.  From reading about these bands, I am pretty glad that my teenage self was able to decide to avoid them for the most part.

I have posted it on PBS, there were 2 WL for it and figured no reason to hold on to it.  I posted a couple others to move on as well and just waiting for them to get accepted to mail the whole group off at once.

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

The Boyfriend--#26 finished

2nd in a series, at least I hope it continues as a series, with Jack Till as a retired cop that is a private investigator.  Not as much of the day in the life like the Kinsey Milhone series but more of a focus on big cases that take months not days to solve.  Other thing I like about this is Jack Till has a young adult daughter with Down Syndrome and she is just a character in the book.  No crazy story lines or weird focus, she just is there and it describes their relationship.  I enjoy this, just a seemingly normal like background character.  The investigation part in this one may have been a little hard to believe and follow but was still fun overall.

I am keeping this series at this point so this one will stay on my shelf.  I have 4 books reading but not sure if any will get finished over this weekend or not.  Reading Fargo Rock City, Chuck Klosterman's book about growing up in ND & being a metal rock fan in the '80s.  Also reading I Am Hutterite about a lady that grew up in early years in a Hutterite community--think Amish but live in a community.  Then started reading Tom Wolfe's Back to Blood about Miami and then that leaves a short story book Sleeping at the Starlite Motel by Bailey White.  All four books are good but none have grabbed me yet to where I will sit & kick out a 100 or so pages in a night.

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

The Quickie--#25 finished

This is another James Patterson book with another author and about the same kind of results as the other one I read at the end of last year--Swimsuit.  Not really a good book.  Lots of holes in the story and just an unbelieveableness to it as well--if that is a word.  It was like the author's kept saying, well what if this and then what if this--really just not good & barely worth my time.  The chapters were short & was a good book to carry around when outside or going places because didn't care much about it.  Really not worth my time doing much more about it.

There are plenty of copies on PBS already so it will go into the pile of donate books and hopefully gone off to somewhere else in the next few weeks.

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Waiter Rant--#24 finished

A good and funny read that was also kind of introspective.  Started as a blog a few years back and when blog got popular enough the blogger got an agent I guess and was able to sell a book.  I will have to do a wikipedia check on him, although he doesn't give his name, to see what has happened with him since then.  Good stuff on restaurants and people that work them and the customers as well.  I have never worked in food--fast food, restaurants or anything in between so this & The Last Night at the Lobster were good reads for me.  They have shown that I need to respect the people that work in food--it is a tough job pretty much in all the areas.

I am not sure if I will post this or not.  Has a couple issues that might make it trouble for posting on PBS and I also like it and might look to pass along if someone I know or kids know becomes a waiter/waitress.

Saturday, April 25, 2015

The Gardner Heist--#23 finished

A famous art theft from 1990 in Boston that I knew nothing about until I read this book.  I was in college then and kind of clueless about stuff especially art.  This is a good read with lots of interesting characters and details about the theft and the still ongoing search for the pieces that have never been recovered.  Kind of amazing to read about how easy it was for this to occur back then and the author says the theft of art is still happening.  Hard to balance tough security measures with also wanting to allow the public the chance to view the art.  I am glad I have read this book and now hope the art is found and returned, kind of want to see the rest of the story as Paul Harvey would say.

I will post it on PBS at some point probably soon.  I think it was more than 15 WL for it and maybe into the 20s, not sure.  It is one of the books I got from the WL Multiple thread and sort of jumped line to get.  Those books I get that way I have pledge to myself to send back out FIFO(First In First Out) so next in line person will get it.

Saturday, April 18, 2015

David Carradine: The Eye of my Tornado--#22 finished

I wasn't a Kung Fu fan, I guess bad timing in that I just don't remember it being on TV when I was paying attention.  Same with the later the Legend Continues or whatever it was.  I knew of the actor but that was about it until the Kill Bill movies.  I also remember his death with the strangulation during sex. Book looked interesting when I found it so picked it up.  Not a great book, not even a good book.  A good reminder though that people are complicated.  Throughout the book I just kept getting the feeling that there are two sides to every story and with David dead and an ex-wife writing a book, he just plain old doesn't get to respond.  That is the breaks I guess.  I don't think she was making stuff up and can tell at times struggled with what she was writing but still just her side.  From the book, he sounds like a dick, especially when he was drinking which was the time before her.  She helped sober him up and get a career back and she got no rewards for this--he dicked her out of commission because she was his agent.  He was almost certainly sleeping around and he became cold and like a bully to her.  It is too bad for her but then I kept asking during the book--you knew he was like this, so what did you get involved.  She shacked up with him while he was in the process of leaving one of his wives--I don't even know how many marriages these 2 went through but it was more than plenty.  She was divorced once or twice and so was he before this--why she didn't see that things would end and probably end badly I have no idea.  Or maybe she did but that just didn't come out in the book?

Some interesting stuff about his life and her life and some inside stuff about movies.  There are probably better books out there to spend your time with than this one, unless big fan of either of them.

I have posted it on PBS and there are 2 copies ahead of it so probably not moving anytime soon.

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Meet the Annas--#21 finished

A musical novel about a girls group in the '60s right before the British invasion.  Kind of fun read about making music back then and an interesting couple of song writers.  The story is set 30 some years later when one of the songs that basically flopped when greatness was expected, becomes a hit in the '90s from commercials and maybe movies, etc.  One of the songwriters is bitter that the producer and his thug pal forced their way into the songwriting credits so the writer Dink is suing over that.  Also this opened many unanswered questions and brought people back in touch that hadn't talked in years--like the songwriters.  Why it took 30 plus years for all of this to get in the open, I have no clue--a real shortcoming in the book that is otherwise pretty good.  Oh well, still an okay read though.

I will be posting it on PBS, there is 1 WL for it so will probably post soon.

Sunday, April 5, 2015

The Lincoln Myth--#20 finished

This was the next in the Cotton Malone series and a good read, no as good as others that I remember but okay.  Had to do with Mormans and succession from the US.  Old documents from the Constitutional Convention time by Madison give rise to a secret document that all signed that would allow states to leave the union.  Document was passed from President to President until Lincoln sends it off in hiding to Brigham Young in Utah to keep Utah out of the Civil War so the West would basically be safe.  Jump to today and the 2nd in command of Mormans learns of this & wants to use it to break Utah and maybe other states out and become their own countries.  Of course bad stuff happens & Malone gets pulled in to fix things.  Just an alright story.  Had a hard time believing the whole secret document thing along with the real evil person--deranged kind of guy helping the 2nd in command guy.  Throw in Casopedia Vitt, Malone's sort of girlfriend also know & sort of having old relationship with deranged guy and it was just a little too much to swallow on this one.  Still okay and moves the series along I guess.

I will post it on PBS at some point, think there was 20 or maybe 40 WL for it.  Not sure if will start another one right away or not.  Have 3 reading & might stay at that for now but will see.

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Miami Noir--#19 finished

Another one of these city Noir books, short stories about the undersides of some major cities.  I have read New Orleans, Detroit and Brooklyn previously and this one Miami is very good too.  I liked all the stories, all kind of different and interesting.  Good stuff here.

I will probably be posting it at some point soon, there are 2 WL for it but this book is a little bit rougher than I would like.  It is still postable for PBS though and since it seems these books don't get posted often I will still be sending it off.  Still reading The Lincoln Myth, The Annas and the book on David Carradine.  I will look to get started on another one today as well.

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

The Last Fish Tale--#18 finished

A good read about the history of Gloucester, MA and of fishing in general.  Goes into the settlement of the area and the importance of fishing and then the advances and dangers.  Then advances becoming too good for the fishing and the extreme drop in numbers of fish and how the targeted fish changes to others.  Also Gloucester has been a popular spot for artists as well and how the artists and fisherman have mixed.  It also touches on what happens is a town loses it's commercial fishing port to tourists and wealthy as several cities have--none have returned to become a fishing town.  It is tough to mix tourism and fishing especially with dropping numbers of fish, the fisherman are struggling to make a living.  A good read to be introduced into this whole topic.  I like the writer from other books and figured since the reality TV show Wicked Tuna is out of Gloucester this would be a good read and it certainly was.

There are a 2 WL for it and I will probably post it at some point

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Joe Biden: A Life of Trial and Redemption--#17 finished

Unless you are a real partisan Democrat, not much to see here.  This is basically just a cheering leading exercise in the life of Joe Biden.  An interesting person and an interesting life that carried him to the Vice-Presidency but this book is really not very good.  I knew it after the first chapter where all of Joe's old-time friends were interviewed and everyone had great things to say about him.  The book is 484 pages which to me is incredible that it was that long but really had nothing to say.  I did learn about his life but certainly not in an even handed way.  At least I started it with low expectations and after the terrible beginning I lowered it some more and now at least I can say I am very glad I finished this book because I just wanted to get it done with by the end.

There was 1 WL for it, I think that is probably why I started reading it in the first place.  I have already posted it and it has been accepted so should be mailing it off tomorrow.

Saturday, March 21, 2015

N is for Noose--#16 finished

This is the next in the Kinsey Millhone series.  This one is mostly located a few hours away from her home of Santa Teresa.  She had been in Carson City, NV helping her friend Dietz recover from knee surgery and a former client of his called for a him.  Since he was laid up and it was on the way home for Kinsey, she took the job figuring a few days on it & get some money running back in.  Of course it wasn't a simple job--if it was there could not have been a book.  It was fun though to see her grind away on a case.  She did get back to Santa Teresa at one point to kind of check in with things there before heading back out of town for the conclusion.  I liked this book, another very good addition to the series.  I have most of the rest of the series in hand so will be grabbing & getting on them a little quicker from now on.

I will be keeping it for now.  Figure to get the complete series and keep it, not sure if will re-read but might or maybe encourage others to do so.

Saturday, March 14, 2015

The American Sun & Wind Moving Picture Company--#15 finished

A different sort of book.  A family that makes movies in the early days of making movies--before sound.  The book jumps a couple or 3 years at a time when going to a new chapter.  Joey is the main character, that as a young boy is beautiful enough to play girl roles & even as gets older continue's to play both male & female roles.  When in late teens or early 20s, he is forced to takeover as mother to her friend & lover, that kills her husband and fakes the death of her kids.  Joey starts across county with kids working when can and raising kids as best as possible.  After several years & struggles, gets to California and just as meets up with the real mother & former lover, the youngest the boy is killed.  Then jump ahead a few years and all living with his uncle Karl, who has married the lover and given her plastic surgery so won't be seen as escaped murderer.  Joey & girl sort of have a relationship again.  Interesting and confusing I guess would be how I describe the book.  Just really too disjointed to get into it & enjoy.  Maybe a little to artsy for me I guess.

I have posted it on PBS, it is the only copy so I would guess it will get requested at some point.  Reading a Joe Biden book and a Kurlansky book about Glouchester, MA and just started N is for Noose and also Miami Noir.  With these 4 going and none close to being done will probably just continue with them for now.

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

The Prince of Risk--#14 finished

A high powered Wall Street executive investigates his estranged dad's death.  Ex-wife is a hot FBI investigator that goes off the rails.  Dad was working with high ups in government and even going to see President when an "accident" occurs with secret service having to shoot up vehicle.  By the way dad was president of NYSE.  A man in China who was wanting to become even bigger in their government was behind all of this and wanted to manipulate the NYSE and other stock exchanges and throw in a terrorist shoot 'em up too.  Just a crazy story, can't really buy any of it and had a hard time caring anyway.  A page turner but when you take even a small step back, you realize it is all just kind of crazy unlikely or at least hope so.

I will post on PBS at some point but again at point with PBS of no books coming in so don't need to get more credits.  There are like 20 WL for the book so should be good into summer probably before would have to move it.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Mayor of the Universe--#13 finished

Just a goofy and to me too light & no reality type book.  A plain boring type person is visited by outer space aliens and gets to live some of his make believe personalities he had growing up.  They are not what he expected.  Meets the love of his life at the end and all goes good.  Just a weird but not very good book.  I have enjoyed a couple other books by author and this and another one have been duds.  I have a few more so will probably keep trying at some point.

I have posted it on PBS & will be mailing it off later this week.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Counting Coup--#12 finished

The writer moves to a Crow Indian reservation in Montana to write a book about the boys basketball team but once there changes instead to the girls basketball team.  There is a talented senior player along with other talented players that become the focus of his book.  Interesting how he spent 15 months there working on this book, that once those months were done, he was unable to finish the book for a few years.  He couldn't finish it because he saw little to no hope for the girls on the team, especially the Indian girls.  The book is powerful in showing how tough life is on the rez.  The unbelievable alcoholism and unemployment that fuel the assaults, bankruptcies, drug use and just sight of no future.  Through in racism and sexism along with decades old feuds between clans and it really makes you wonder how anyone functions in this area at all.  At the end of the book, it was finally when a few years later he could see these girls were growing up into women with success that he felt good about finishing the book.  I just wish there was something out there for another update--it is about 20 years since that time and I would just like to know.

I will probably post it on PBS at some point, there is 1 WL for it but I really enjoyed it so might keep it around a while yet.  I was able to add more books onto my PBS WL but still not getting any of my books being posted to me.  Oh well, just the way it is.

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Running the Books--#11 finished

Interesting, non-fiction--a Harvard educated, raised orthodox Jew, takes a position as prison librarian at a state prison in Boston.  He is not educated in Library Science but does have a love of books, don't remember if mentioned but I would guess an English or some kind of Writing major in college.  Interesting characters and real struggles both with the inmates & the staff.  It is a tough place to work and tough to follow all of the minute details of rules in a prison.  I enjoyed it and makes you think about  the people locked up and how they got there.  Seems like most he was close with have sad endings.  He also doesn't really let you know what is next is his life, which I am interested in too.  His website & no wikipedia entry don't seem to have much detail either.  Also kind of wonder if the pimp in the book ever got his own memoir published.

I will post it back to PBS at some point but again have too many credits & not enough WL offers coming in so will just stack this away for now.

Monday, February 16, 2015

The Day Trader--#10 finished

An alright kind of quick read.  Started out fast but then just too much going on and really confusing with too many angles and none really making much sense.  It ended with main guy having a new perspective on life and everything will be great which I don't buy.  Just a couple months earlier he wanted to be a big time day trader player but oh well.  Pages kept turning so didn't have to get bogged down in that the story just wasn't believable.  I grabbed it because I needed a book to read on a nice day outside about a week ago and it was close to the top of a pile in my book room.  It met that qualification and was readable but more I think about it less I liked the book.

I have posted it on PBS but with 45 copies ahead of this version & who knows how many copies of other versions, it isn't going anywhere.  I will leave posted for now, sometimes multiple orders will grab an older book or maybe one day I will run a deal on PBS.  I am also thinking about purging some especially if I can find somewhere to donate them off to like a nursing home or prison or something where they might get read & used.

Sunday, February 15, 2015

The Brutal Language of Love--#9 finished

This is a really good short story book with a lot of tough emotions about women in love or at least what they think is love.  While not all the stories were great or maybe even good they all made me think a little and also made me see thinks from a different perspective.  Also none of the stories really answered any questions, mostly just ended with the reader hoping things turn out for the best with a lot of doubt on that.

I will probably be posting it on PBS at some point, there are no copies on system but PBS is changing in ways this weekend and will just have to see about it first.   I already have plenty of credits, just need some of my WL books to come through before I feel good about sending more out.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Prime Green--#8 finished

Author Robert Stone looks back at the 1960s.  He was mostly in his 20s then and 30s by late '60s and was kind of right in the middle of it.  After a stint in the Navy in late '50s, moves from New York to a writing program at Stanford, living around San Francisco.  He moves back and forth between New York and San Fran and lives by many characters of the times.  He even gets to Vietnam in the early '70s as a reporter.  His first book is written in the '60s and was made into a movie staring Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward.  Checking out Robert Stone's wikipedia page, I see he just passed away in January, lived 77 years and married 55 years to his wife--wow that is really nice to see.  RIP.  Not really into or have studied the 1960s, this was an interesting read.  He seems to have been attached to some of the beatniks of the '50s and slide into the '60s.  I got the feeling as he got older & kids & family, the whole life of the '60s became more settled down into the '70s & later but he really doesn't get into that.  Good read overall.

I will post on PBS, there is 1 WL so if do soon should move.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

The Eye of God--#7 finished

The next in line of James Rollins books, the Sigma Series.  Pretty good series and he tries to tie them in with a this could be possible happening.  The this could happen in this book is a comet carrying black matter is returning to earth for first time since Genghis Kahn's time when a crucifix was made for St Thomas that had a piece of black matter.  A race to find Genghis Kahn's tomb to avert this disaster.  Just hard to believe all of these hidden tombs and clues all get discovered and follow to next within days--when it has been thousands of years they have been hidden.  I have a hard time buying it.  Throw in some evil North Koreans and some crazy Kahn worshipers to slow things down, but don't really just make more action and there is the book.  A good page turner but overall kind of a weak premise.  Oh well, good enough book that I will look to keep up on series.

PBS has big changes happening, they are going to start charging a yearly membership fee.  I am pretty sure I will pay for some kind of level at least for the next year & see how it goes.  My WL has been moving very very slow, so not sure it is worth it but think I will give a year to see how it goes.  I might trade some of my credits for a membership but have a few days yet to figure this out.  If still on PBS I will probably be posting this book since I think it had like 14 WL for it.

Friday, January 30, 2015

Body Count--#6 finished

This is an account of a serial killer in Spokane Washington back in the 1990s.  The killer Robert Lee Yates killed prostitutes in the area.  The book was written soon after a plea was done where he avoided the death penalty.  The last few pages of the book savage this plea deal.  I just checked wikipedia and 2 of the murders happened in a different county and I see where they did get a death penalty conviction but it is still in appeals.

The lives of his victims were sad before he killed them.  Most were severely addicted to drugs and for that reason lived as prostitutes to pay for the habit.  Most seemed to have children and struggled for existence, but obviously their death gave them no opportunity to reform their lives.  Sad story they had to live like they were and made sadder with their murders.

I will not be posting it on PBS because the spine of the book is cracked.  I will put it on the give away pile for now.

Saturday, January 24, 2015

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest--#5 finished

This is the 3rd and last book in the series & I have to say I really enjoyed this series.  The author, Stieg Larsson, wrote the books and handed them all in to his publisher at the same time and then shortly after this he passed away.  I am glad he was able to finish & deliver the books but after reading them I wish I could hear more about their lives.  I really liked the characters in these books.  While everything was basically wrapped up, I think they were still going to have interesting lives.  I guess this is a sign that I really liked these books because I already miss knowing what is next.

I will not be putting this on PBS, there are already many copies of all 3 books I think.  I am keeping them for me, will probably re-read them again at some point.  I have a couple books I am reading, The Eye of God, I think it is called and a book about a 1990s serial killer in Spokane, WA.  I will need to add another book, maybe yet tonight.

Monday, January 19, 2015

Cult Baseball Players--#4 finished

Famous writers and celebrities profile their all-time favorite baseball stars, this was on the cover.  Put together in 1990 so obviously, no recent players and few that even played into the '80s.  Interesting read on some of the players, in something like this hard to have quality across the board.  Not a bad mix with some diversity thrown in.  Just had way too much of an eastern mix for my tastes--too many New York players, including Dodger & Giant players that made the move.  Oh well, nice read on the players in there.

I will be posting it on PBS, there are zero copies so I think it will probably get requested at some point.

Multiple Choice--#3 finished

A cute sort of fun book about a family with oldest daughter a freshman at college and mom goes to different college to finish her degree.  They both end up at same internship at a radio station and are sort of pushed into having a show together.  Nothing deep, nothing really lasting about this book.  I actually thought the idea of it was pretty good and have come away a little disappointed, think the potential was there for more.  Instead just a quick read with no great insights.  Almost sounded more like a cable movie script than trying to develop the characters but what do I know.

I have already posted it on PBS, there were a few copies ahead of it, maybe 5 so who knows if it will move or not.  I finished it a couple days ago but just now getting it down.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Man Killed by Pheasant--#2 finished

This is a memoir of the author in the style that I enjoyed before where the author does short stories about important parts of their life.  Rather than just the normal kind of script like in grade school--this, then high school--this, now just a story about something I remember when I was this age or something along those lines.  You are able to get good insight into their lives without needing all of the details.  Since the couple books I read this way were about more normal people, all the details really aren't that important.  Good stuff in here about what he was thinking and happy times, fears, anxieties and everything else.  He grew up in Iowa and while he wanted to move away, he found himself staying in Iowa his whole life so far--I think he was probably only in his 40s when he wrote the book.  I am guessing to that he probably won't move unless he has to for some reason almost beyond his control.

I will be posting it on PBS and probably pretty soon since there is only 1 WL for it.  I am reading Multiple Choice a kind of almost chic lit book that so far is pretty decent, also reading some book about a hot dog joint in Florida--a fiction novel, just getting it started so not really sure yet.  Also reading Cult Baseball Players or something like that, short write-ups on baseball players, published in 1990 I think so obviously players before that--no current or recent day players.  I will probably look to start another one today or tomorrow as well.

Sunday, January 4, 2015

The Successor--#1 finished

My first book finished in 2015.  I will probably try to type up some kind of recap of 2014 in next few weeks but not today.  First book I have read by author and it was okay.  I didn't realize it was a series until after I finished it.  Not sure I am going to try to start over on it.  It is about a bigwig financial capital person that has big time friends in politics.  This book was about him having a role in an overthrow of Cuba.  I started it just before Cuba got in the news with relations with the US defrosting, so kind of funny timing.  The book has a large cast of people and was kind of difficult in keeping them straight so makes sense it is a series so most readers already knew them, to me was a little confusing and not very in depth.  Oh well, I have a couple other books by author but don't think part of this series--I will probably give them a try at some time.  I had selected this book because it is a mass market paperback and wanted one to take along when went back to NE for Christmas and didn't really matter that it got a little bent up.

The spine cracked on it, kind of cheap book and just didn't hold up well and I am very easy with my books.  Oh well, I will give it away somewhere, can't post of PBS.