Foreign Influence--#74 finished

 This is a series that I started reading a few books in it but not from the beginning.  I looked on PBS & the first book in series is not available and I had this one--something like the 9th book and figured I would just read it.  A good read, a few of the characters I knew, obviously the main guy Scot Horvath.  Some of the things done, the extreme torture of terrorists especially seem like issues so long ago, this book was written in 2010.  I will have to keep looking for book number 1 and try to start series at the beginning at some point.

There are already enough copies on system and this book is a little rough with slightly tore pages toward the end, I will probably keep for now in case want to re-read when I start the series from beginning. 

Book Doctor--#73 finished

This is a lady that helps people write their books and it is a story about her relationships and how her perspective was changed by one she was helping.  It is a funny kind of quirky book with interesting characters.  I enjoyed reading the letters she received from people that wanted her help and the types of books they were writing.  The tax attorney that comes and wants her help to write his story but his story seems to change pretty regularly.  She gives him some writing advice & lessons and meets him once a week but it is almost therapy for him and her.  A good and interesting read.

There are no copies on PBS so I will probably post it now.  Was thinking about keeping it but doubt I can get anyone else in house interested in reading. 

Satchel--#72 finished

 This is a book about Satchel Paige.  A good telling of his life from growing up in Mobile, AL and then his life in baseball.  Some of the struggles both for him and the leagues he was playing in.  The travel time and side games he was sent to to earn extra money.  It had to be a tough life but since he was one of the best, he at least was earning more than most.  The traveling to Dominican Republic and Cuba as well in winters to keep earning a paycheck.  Also then once the color barrier was broken, how Jackie Robinson was seen by other Negro Leaguers and then his chance at the big leagues.  Then his life after the major leagues but not without baseball--still playing on traveling teams.  This is certainly a story worth hearing, glad I read this book.

There are 3 WL for it on PBS so I will probably mail it off to let someone else enjoy it.

Contagious--#71 finished

 Contagious: Why Things Catch On, is the full title.  It talks about characteristics of things that become popular.  He talks about a blender that was so powerful could bust up marbles, golf balls, etc but was unknown until was able to get videos out showing these things.  It goes of different things to consider and think about for products and ads.  I thought a lot of good more practical advice but wasn't really something that interested me overall.

There are 3 or 4 WL for the book so I will get it mailed off at some point probably soon.

The Burglar--#70 finished

 A fun read about a female burglar that breaks and enters and steals cash, guns, jewelry--smaller easy to grab items from rich houses.  One house she enters she finds a murder scene and backs out & thinks she gets away but people keep chasing her.  She thinks it is the police but comes to realize it is a security team that had planted small cameras throughout their clients houses and was blackmailing them.  They were also the ones that killed the 3 people in the house and are now after her.  A good quick read, lots of action and good detail about what goes on in her life. An enjoyable and different kind of story.

Will probably post at some point on PBS, I think there are 20 some WL for it so no hurry.

Open--#69 finished

 This is a short story book by a Canadian author.  I enjoyed some of the stories and others just seemed to be more exercises in writing--almost trying to throw the reader off by talking about the now & the same paragraph flashing back or sideways or something.  I have generally had good luck with the short story books I have read and this didn't seem as good--not bad--more of a disappointment I guess.

There are no copies in PBS but this is also an author signed copy.  I will probably post on PBS at some point though since overall seemed just okay to me.

A Painted House--#68 finished

 This is an older John Grisham book that I hadn't read before.  This book and also the three before it were my vacation books.  This one & the one just previous were finished after back from vacation.  I enjoy the Grisham books and this was a nice change in that it wasn't about any lawyers.  A poor sharecropping family in Arkansas in the 1950s and the hillbillies and Mexicans they hire for the harvest of their cotton.  A good quick type read.

Plenty of copies of this already on PBS so this will also just go in my donation pile.

Heart of the Land--#67 finished

The rest of the title is: Essays on Last Great Places.  This is a book of short essays put together for the Nature Conservancy done in the early to mid 1990s.   Talks about areas that are important to the author and also where the Nature Conservancy is involved and how it will hopefully or has gotten the land back to what it was.  Kind of interesting to hear about the places & what they were like and then the changes & hopefully getting back to what they were.  A few cases there weren't changes but still needed protection to keep they from being changed.  The timing of this book struck me part of the way through because there was no mention of global warming or climate change--if this had been compiled a few years later I am sure that would have been a main theme.

There are no WL for it on PBS, it is a hardback with it's cover but does have a minor stain on the cover & through to the book cover too.  I think probably still postable at PBS but to avoid any question of problems will probably just go in my donate away pile.

The Zero Game--#66 finished

This is the other book finished on vacation.  It is also an older book from back in 2004.  I have had it for years on my bookshelf and finally got on reading it.  Not a bad read, a behind the scene game being played in DC by congressional aids turns deadly.  Suspend some reality and remember electronic tracking and all that stuff wasn't as big back then and is still enjoyable.  I doubt what the evil people were planning could ever be done but still made a good enough book to read.  

There are over 60 some copies in PBS so this will just go to my donate away pile.

Inside the Kingdom--#65 finished

 This is one of the 2 books I finished on vacation at the end of July but finally getting around to logging it in.  This lady was married to one of Osama Bin Laden's older brothers.  There are I think 54 kids--dad was married multiple wives & divorces, etc all in this.  The book was written after 9/11 and the connection to Osama certainly made it newsworthy and sold copies but just as interesting was her life in Saudi Arabia and how she was lucky enough to get out with her children and get divorced away from there.  Since the dad/man has all the power, she likely would not have been able to take her girls out of the country & they would have remained and eventually married off.  Just crazy that it goes on and really only very slowly changing.  I guess since guys in power & most women in country know that from day they were born, not much of a fight for rights going on.  Really interesting read about the country and the family.

I have mentioned this to some others and they might be interested in reading it so keeping it for now.