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.