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.