Books Read in 2009

Books 2009

58 books this year against a resolution of 100. Short again! Once again, though, I found a few new favorite authors and am really looking forward to whatever they publish in 2010!

Abandoned by Cody McFadyen: Smoky Barrett is an FBI agent with a violent past - her husband and child were murdered several years earlier, and Smoky's own face was permanently scarred by the killer. As this book opens, Smoky is attending the wedding of one of the FBI's own, and the venue is filled with law enforcement as an injured woman stumbles down the aisle. She'd been missing for eight years, and her then-husband has since had her declared dead and remarried. As Smoky and her team focus on the apparent kidnapping, they discover a killer that operates a business without any sense of humanity. I did figure out parts of this novel, but enjoyed it nonetheless. (11-08-09)
The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook by Ben Mezrich: I am only one of the millions for which a daily check of Facebook has become a routine over the past year, and I've been happy to reconnect with high school classmates, banter with coworkers, and waste minutes in front of Farkle and Mafia Wars. Just five years ago, however, Facebook was a concept being launched from a Harvard dorm room and its adoption was absolutely viral. It's an interesting story, and I'm certain that the book gets it at least 80% right - the author wasn't there, but rather created conversations and settings from interviews, documents, and probably whole cloth. Regardless, it does make the reader, or at least me, think about the "how could I do that?" - unfortunately, the answer isn't in the book! (08-05-09)
Alex & Me by Irene Pepperberg: In September 2007, an African Grey parrot passed away, and the world noticed. He had an obituary in Time Magazine, tributes setup online, and hoards of fans crashing The Alex Foundation website to express condolences. He was a 30-year-old, one pound bunch of gray feathers, but was also proof that non-humans could possess intent, communicate, and have intellectual interactions with human beings. Alex could count, identify colors and shapes, and apparently play jokes on his handlers. I've been the proud owner of an African Grey ("Watson") for the past decade, and am amazed by these parrots. (02-15-09)
And Another Thing by Eoin Colfer: Douglas Adams is one of my favorite authors, but regrettably passed away suddenly in 2001. For eight years, I've continued to check the beginning of the SciFi section at the bookstore, hoping to find that a forgotten work was found and published. No luck there. Mr. Colfer has written the 6th book in the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy trilogy (for the uninitiated, yes, Adams wrote five books in what started as a trilogy). First a positive comment - it was good to run into the whole gang again, even if much of the book seemed to be key players and events from earlier books held together by a loose storyline. The characters were there in name, but they weren't quite "right" in many respects - Ford and Zaphod seemed quite different to me. The story also didn't contain the wit that Adams captured in the 1st five books, and I don't believe that there was a single quotable piece of dialogue. To be fair, this wasn't a bad book, but when you're stepping into the shoes of someone like Adams, you can be almost certain that the shoes will never fit just right. (10-20-09)
The Art of Making Money by Jason Kersten: Art Williams Jr. grew up on the criminal side of Chicago, finding his path when his mom's boyfriend introduced him to the art of counterfeiting. Art went on to create one of the best copies of the new $100 bill - including the watermark and security strip - and this book takes the reader through the methods that he used. It also tells the stories of Art's relationships with his family, including an estranged father that abandoned him as a child but came back into his life much later. Although not a bad book overall, I really wanted more out of this. I expected something a bit grittier, details of criminal enterprise, but the actual counterfeiting operations tends to be shadowed by over-explanations of Art's personal life. (09-04-09)
The Associate by John Grisham: This lawyer-in-trouble return had been trumpeted as The Firm, part 2. It's always hard to critique someone who essentially invented a genre, but I didn't get into this at all. Kyle McAvoy finds himself the center of an extortion from parties unknown - all he knows is that if he doesn't help steal information on a case from his New York law firm, the blackmailer will release a video that shows Kyle in connection with a rape during his college days. I felt like I was trapped in the novel the same way the main character was, and the ending left far too much unresolved. As noted, the book uses the lawyer-in-trouble formula as past books, and of course focuses upon the "evil" nature of firms, partners, and most attorneys. It just felt tired here. Love Grisham, could have skipped this. (02-03-09)
Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie: I loved the First Law series, and couldn't wait the extra month for the author's stand-alone novel, so I ordered it from the U.K. I was definitely not disappointed. Set in the same world as the First Law, a fantasy world that at times seems like medieval England with some modern insights, Best Served Cold follows Shivers, a minor character from the previous series. The plot for the book is nothing terribly new - bad people kill brother, sister swears deadly revenge - but that summary vastly undersells what the author has done here. The characters are very complicated and deep - the sister is the feared Monza Murcatto, a mercenary with thousands of deaths to her credit, and she is joined by the perpetually-inebriated Cosca, the counting ex-prisoner Friendly, the named man Shivers come to Styria to become a better man, the master poisoner Moreer, and countless others. The dialogues are sharp, and the author manages to bring humor into some of the darkest situations. I can't speak highly enough for this book or this author. (07-29-09)
Boneman's Daughters by Ted Dekker: The Boneman is a serial killer that takes teenage girls and breaks their bones without damaging the skin - nothing terribly different about this killer that I haven't seen in many other books and movies. Ryan Evans is a military intelligence officer that is captured in Iraq and subsequently tortured by being made to watch children have their bones broken. He is the estranged father (adopted) of Bethany Evans, and after his military discharge, goes home to make amends with his family. Can you see it coming? Frankly, I thought that this was a bit contrived, but altogether an okay book. (04-26-09)
Breathless by Dean Koontz: This is one of those novels where 5-6 seemingly-disparate storylines have to come together by the end, and in this case, within the final pages. Unfortunately, it seemed that at least one of those storylines was so completely unessential to the overall novel that it could have been dropped without any effect, and a few of the other storylines were just kind of there. The real story here concerns two strange creatures discovered by a retired Army sniper named Grady and his emotionally-scarred-but-healing friend the veterinarian. Stripped down, I was really disappointed by this novel, as usually Koontz' characters have a fair bit of depth and his plots have a number of unexpected twists. This effort, however, felt like it was written over a weekend just to push out another book. (11-29-09)
The Card by Michael O'Keefe & Teri Thompson: Those that know me recognize that I couldn't tell you anything about sports - nothing. It might seem odd, then, that I would be interested in a book about a baseball card. This isn't just any card, but the T206 Wagner that has inspired people to spend a million dollars for a 100-year-old slice of cardboard! This book highlights the mysterious past of the Gretzky card, as well as an industry of sports collectibles that has become haunted by fakes and restorations. I've paid $100 for a single postcard that I wanted for my collection, and that feels like a lot to me, but I suppose that one man's Benjamin is another's million! An interesting book! (01-05-08)
A Conspiracy of Paper by David Liss: I've had a few of this author's books sitting on my shelf for awhile, and finally pulled one down - and now I wonder why I waited so long! Set in 1719 London, the book follows an ex-pugilist-turned-thief-taker named Benjamin Weaver as he attempts to track down the killer of his estranged father. The effort takes Weaver into the world of the stock-jobbers, men that trade stocks and government issues in various coffeehouses, deploying some tactics that would not look out of place in today's headlines. The author paints a very vivid picture of London, including the cultural divisions of rich and poor, as well as Jewish and English. I will be returning to the author, and his protagonist Weaver, very soon! (08-18-09)
The Daemon by Daniel Suarez: So, what happens when a designer of extremely popular multi-player virtual games (e.g., World of Warcraft) dies of brain cancer? In this novel, a daemon is unleashed that burrows through corporate and government networks, following an emotionless logic path focused on interrupting society. I'm not much of a techie anymore, but there is an unnerving sense that much of this book could happen - imagine if that gaming engine is turned to the outside world! There are parts that seem somewhat fantastic (e.g., the razor-armored rider-less motorcycles), but for those of us that have experienced the helplessness of having a credit card hacked online, the book resonates with possibility! The book doesn't actually resolve and actually introduces an upcoming series - I'll be waiting for it to hit the stores in 2010! (01-22-09)
The Dakota Cipher by William Dietrich: Ethan Gage is back! Starting off in France, Gage is sent to America by Napoleon as a liaison with Thomas Jefferson, carrying the news that France is about to announce that they've acquired the Louisiana Territory from Spain. In turn, Jefferson finances Gage and his mysterious companion Magnus Bloodhammer on their quest to the west, on the condition that they keep a lookout for wooly mammoths. Magnus is convinced that his ancestors, of the Knights Templar nevertheless, journeyed to the American West years before Columbus, and a mysterious runestone seems to validate that. Fighting the British, Indians, and disease, the duo work their way to a fantastic conclusion. I highly recommend this author, but start with the The Rosetta Key. Once you get through Dakota, check out the wikipedia entry on the Kensington Runestone. (03-31-09)
Dead Men's Dust by Matt Hilton: Joe Hunter is an ex-counterterrorism expert who leaves his native England to hunt down John Tefler, his half-brother in America, a petty thief that skipped out on his kids. John is in a situation of his own, running from someone and crossing lines with the Harvestman, a psychopath that takes souvenirs from his victim's body as he kills coast-to-coast. I like Joe, who reminds me of Jack Reacher (Lee Child) or Repairman Jack (F.Paul Wilson), but it seems like the character needs to grow a bit - I'll be checking out the sequel to find out if he does! (07-14-09)
Deal Breaker by Harlan Coben: I love finding a new favorite author with an established backlist - last year it was Lee Child, and I think 2009 has brought me Coben! Myron Bolitar is a sports agent that gets involved with investigating the disappearance of his client's girlfriend, who is also the sister of Myron's ex. The plot and resolution were excellent, and although I guessed the ending correctly, it was indeed a guess on my part - I always like it when an author outsmarts me. I look forward to seeing Myron and his semi-psychotic friend Win soon! (03-18-09)
The Devil's Punchbowl by Greg Iles: So, the author missed the original release date by a few months, but delivered with almost 600 pages of a great novel! Penn Cage is back as the mayor, and former city prosecutor, of Natchez, Mississippi. When his friend Tim Jessup is killed after uncovering a dog-fighting ring controlled by the manager of a floating casino, Penn and his family are drawn into a conspiracy that includes foreign dignitaries, Homeland Security, and a host of backroom deals. This novel brings back Caitlan Masters, the newspaper writer, and Kelly, a Special Forces soldier and friend of Penn. The new characters, Sand and his underling Quinn, are believably evil and starkly drawn, and admittedly I looked forward to their next appearance in the text, as it always signaled another turning point. The ending left a follow-up novel as a distinct possibility, and I'll look forward to that release day! (10-11-09)
The Doomsday Key by James Rollins: The Sigma Force is back! A senator's son is killed in the destruction of an experimental crop in Africa, and it appears that the Guild may be involved. The usual cast is back, including the purported double-agent Seichan, and the investigation leads to locations identified in the Doomsday Book, a survey of "wasted" sites in England. As with every Rollins novel, the characters and subplots seem to go in all different directions, but it all ties together and is an excellent read. (07-06-09)
Drop Shot by Harlen Coben: Myron Bolitar is back (see Deal Breaker, above)! This time, the sports agent with a proclivity for getting involved in strange situations is trying to keep his beloved Jessica out of harm's way while the hired guns of a rival sports agency are attempting to dissuade Myron's interest in the murder of a young tennis champion. At the same time, Myron is trying to figure out what's going on with his own tennis star, a young man that seems to have something to do with the shooting, but as he was on the court at the time, the connection is mysterious! I really enjoyed this book, even if I had it figured out halfway through. (04-19-09)
Evil at Heart by Chelsea Cain: Well, this is book three in the saga of Archie Sheridan, the damaged cop, and Gretchen Lowell, the serial killer that made him that way. Like book two, the characters just feel a bit tired, and although there is an interesting plot twist, it becomes predictable pretty early on. As in the past books, there's an underground of people that worship Gretchen as a serial killer, and in this book, they move to action with a bit of surgery practiced on themselves and others. Of course, some are blaming Gretchen since she's on the run again, and of course Archie is once again smitten with the mere thought of Gretchen. I am pretty much over these characters - let's move on. (12-19-09)
Fault Line by Barry Eisler: I'll start by admitting that I've just ordered this author's backlist, so obviously I enjoyed this book. I did feel that part of it was somewhat contrived, and the introduction of certain characters did reveal where it would end up. Regardless, the writing was excellent, and the characters had a depth that I haven't seen for quite awhile. Alex Treven is a patent attorney who finds his first "gig" client - the inventor of an encryption program called Obsidian - but is soon running for his life when the inventor and the patent office official are killed and all materials in the office turn up missing. Luckily, Alex' brother is a black ops specialist (see, a bit contrived) that steps into the situation to save his brother. Again, I liked this book, and hope that this author's other works are similar! (04-22-09)
Fear the Worst by Linwood Barclay: What happens when your 17-year-old daughter disappears, and you discover that she never worked at the hotel as she claimed? Tim Blake is a car salesman, and the divorced dad of Sydney, the missing teen. As Tim and his ex-wife look for their daughter, they begin to see that this is more than a runaway case, and the plot begins to grow much more complex. There are a few clichéd elements, but the plot twists were well-developed and the characters very believable. This was my first book by this author, and there will absolutely by more! (09-29-09)
Fool by Christopher Moore: So, this is a retelling of the Bard's King Lear, accented with bits of Macbeth and twisted histories. When the king decides to split his kingdom between his three daughters, only Cordelia, his youngest, speaks the truth that her love for him will be divided between Lear and her future husband. For her truth, she is cast out with nothing. The Black Fool, the narrator of this tale, decides to bring war to the kingdom, and begins to manipulate the chessboard with help from a few witches, a de-knighted knight, and his cohort, the Natural. This is a fun read, very entertaining. (03-03-09)
Ford County by John Grisham: John Grisham has followed a wealth of other well-known authors by publishing a book of short stories. They weren't bad, but I guess when you're used to an author that uses novel-length writings to develop characters and plots, the short story format falls short. The stories herein all happen in Clanton County, Mississippi and cover the subjects of AIDS, attorney misconduct (of course), strippers, and casinos. Some of the characters I'd like to see again, and others I wouldn't. I love Grisham generally, but I get the sense that, if these stories were written by someone just starting out, they may have never seen publication. (11-13-09)
Founding Brothers - The Revolutionary Generation by Joseph J. Ellis: This was a phenomenal book! I picked this up at an airport last week, and have been captivated by these stories of Washington, Burr, Hamilton, Adams, and Jefferson. The writing style is fantastic (Ellis is a Pulitzer winner) and the stories he has chosen are perfect - things you may not have thought about at depth, such as how the Potomac was picked to become the capital, how and why slavery came to exist in the Constitution, and how the famous Burr-Hamilton dual came to pass. This is not a dull history version - the writing brings the men the founded this country off the page. I'd recommend this to anyone! (01-15-09)
The Gates by John Connolly: While trick-or-treating a few days before Halloween, Samuel Johnson happens upon a few of his neighbors enacting a strange ceremony in their basement, culminating in a portal opening and Samuel being pursued by the former Mrs. Abernathy. As it turns out, the Great Malevolence (i.e., the Devil) is harnessing the power of a particle collider to open a doorway and take over the Earth. His only challengers are Samuel, a couple of his friends, and an exiled demon with a love for jellybeans. The story is similar something that Christopher Moore or A. Lee Martinez might write, and a fun, albeit brief, read. Great for the Halloween season! (10-25-09)
Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child: Jack Reacher is always aware of his surroundings, and when his mental checklist identifies a suicide bomber on the subway at 2am, the alarms start going off and Jack steps into the situation. The rest of the book is a result of that decision as the police, FBI, and other feds focus on Jack, and a young women evolves into something completely different. As a fan of Reacher, I found this to be a great, fast-paced book, and was happy to get a copy three weeks before the on-sale date here in the states (thanks Amazon UK)! Definitely pick up this book! (04-27-09)
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman: Yes, it is a kid's book, but I really enjoyed it! It is rather dark (and given the author, no surprise), but I was shocked when the first chapter detailed the murder of a family, less the baby that crawls away. Nobody Owens is adopted by the people of the graveyard, taught their ways, and warned of the outside world. The end was as expected, but nevertheless it was a great story! (03-09-09)
Ground Zero by F.Paul Wilson: Repairman Jack used to be one of my favorite characters, but it seems that the author's writing has gotten a bit looser over the last few books and I was disappointed in this work. Mr. Wilson added a note at the beginning of this book that only two RJ books remain, and it feels like the writing is just trying to tie up all the pieces instead of focusing on a great story. The magic of the past books was in how RJ solved problems for people, often by unique means. In Ground Zero, RJ is still hanging out with the Kickers when he gets a a call from an old friend, Eddie, about another old friend, Weezy. These characters were introduced in The Secret Histories, a prequel issue last year for teens, and again, it feels like Wilson is simply filling in words on an outline. I love most of Mr. Wilson's work, but this one just didn't do anything for me. (08-02-09)
The Guinea Pig Diaries by A.J. Jacobs - I really liked this author's previous two books - one about reading the entire Encyclopedia Britannica and the other about conforming to Biblical law for a year - but I couldn't get into this book. Whereas the previous books were focused, this book documents a series of one month experiments and at times seems like it is just stretching to the reach the back cover. A.J. adopts the mannerisms of George Washington, outsources his life overseas, and defers to his wife for a month. Some mildly entertaining moments, but not what I've come to expect from this author. (09-12-09)
His Father's Son by Bentley Little: Disappointing. Bentley Little has a knack for surrealism, and some of his books (e.g., "The Store") are fantastic novels that focus on an everyday thing or event spiraling into an abyss. This book is NOT an example of the author's best work. Steve Nye is an everyman that receives a call at work one day that his father has been committed after unexpectedly attacking his mother, and as Steve visits his dad in the hospital, dad whispers "I killed her." The novel gets pretty fragile at this point as Steve decides that dad was a mass murderer, and Steve opts to continue in his dad's footsteps by killing a bunch of people. Unfortunately, the decisions are usually arrived to in the scope of a day or two, and just don't make sense, even if Little is trying to show that the character is falling into madness. The saving grace is that Nye is a budding horror author, so the reader is treated to several of Little's short stories within this book. Pick up one of Little's "The" novels, but skip this one. (12-11-09)
House of Reckoning by John Saul: Back in high school in the mid-eighties, I picked one of this author's books up from my parents' collection. I've liked John Saul ever since, but this book felt like too many of his other novels. Sarah, a 14-year-old finds herself crippled and in a foster home, after her father becomes a guest of the state penal system. Of course, her foster family is abusive and dysfunctional, and, of course, there is a old insane asylum across town that offers a solution. It is a simple formula, and the result in this case was a pretty simple story. (10-31-09)
Johannes Cabal The Necromancer by Jonathan L. Howard: I have always been a fan of Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes, and as Howard says his acknowledgements, sometimes you have to wonder what makes a carnival evil. This book answers that question with a fantastically-crafted story with great characters and an underlying sense of humor. Johannes Cabal is a necromancer, just as the title would suggest, who has entered into a wager with Satan to retrieve his soul, sold years prior to gain the gift of necromancy. As a part of the wager, Satan demands that Cabal have 100 people sign over their souls in a year's time, and Satan provides a run-down traveling circus and a bit of diabolical influence to "assist" Cabal in his task. Aided by his brother Horst, a creature with a certain aversion to sunlight and a peculiar need for blood, and a host of "created" sideshows and riggers, Cabal treks from town-to-town looking to make his quota. Howard is a master, a Christopher Moore with more literary flair. I look forward to his next book! (09-09-09)
The Last Child by John Hart: The author's ability to build scenes and characters just amazes me, and combined with a fantastic plot, this is a great book! Johnny's twin sister Alyssa disappeared when she was twelve years old, and Johnny has spent the last year trying to find the person that too her. In the meantime, his dad has gone missing, and his mom has completely fallen apart. The cop that promised to bring Alyssa home has lost his wife and son to the job, and just about every other character in this book is broken in some way as well. When a motorcyclist is hit by a car and sent over the side of a bridge to die at Johnny's feet with "I found her" on his lips, the situation amplifies. I could easily put this in my all-time top-ten list! (05-31-09)
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch: I think most people have heard of this book by now, but for those that haven't, the author was a professor at Carnegie Mellon, invited to participate in a tradition where the professor would deliver a theoretical last lecture. In his case, however, a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer made it likely that this would be this last for real, and his topic turned to happiness through realizing one's childhood dreams. Video of the lecture is viewable at www.TheLastLecture.com, but the book goes beyond by talking about how the author worked with his wife to ensure that his three children (18 months to six years) would know their father. This is a good book to start the year with, as it reminds you over-and-over that time is valuable, and quite possibly in shorter quantity than desired. (01-02-08)
The Last Testament by Sam Bourne: First, let me say, I am FINALLY done with this book. It wasn't a bad book, really, but I just didn't find myself wanting to read more than a few pages at a time. Maybe I'm just weary of this type of mystery/thriller - religious artifact, factions that want to hide or expose it, et cetera. In this case, the artifact is the last will of Abraham, discovered just as the Peace Talks are growing more difficult. So who "owns" Israel, and can Abraham's will actually solve the problem or just make it worse? Maggie Costello, a negotiator, is looking for the answer in an environment where she can't trust anyone, except the handsome Israeli. Ergh. (05-09-09)
Lawyer Boy by Rick Lax: Perusing the law section at Borders, I fell upon this story of an amateur magician that decides to go to law school. This book chronicles the period stretching from the LSAT through the author's first year at DePaul in Chicago. Not bad. I've been a law student at a public university, nothing at all wrong with that, but the environment is different than Turow's "1L" tale from Harvard. This book tells that tale by introducing the characters present in every law school, and the story is told with an entertaining humor. Those that have experienced, or plan to experience, law school will enjoy this book, and the rest of you, it's a great story! (01-04-08)
Lethal Legacy by Linda Fairstein: This book didn't quite catch me, which is a shame, as it really was a decent book with a unique plot line and good characters. Alexandra Cooper is an ADA in New York, and is initially called to an assault in Manhattan. After that woman refuses help and disappears, another woman is killed in the same apartment while holding a valuable book. Thus begins the search for a killer, and at the same time, a search for the object behind the murders, the first world map using the name "America." Why didn't it catch me? I don't know - I just didn't connect - but I will be picking up another book by this author soon! (03-25-09)
Life Without Lawyers by Philip Howard: I've enjoyed this author's previous books, and this one walks a similar theme. Our society has shifted on its perspective of lawyers - once a venerable profession, attorneys are now believed by many to be dishonest, manipulative, or worse (at least until they need one themselves!). Like any profession, there are certainly a few bad eggs, but as a lawyer myself, I believe that most attorneys are keeping their clients at the highest priority. The author actually pins much of the fault on society itself, and I agree to a large degree. Many folks believe that their individual rights trump the greater good - a teacher looks at a kid wrong, a workplace has to document every employee issue, etc - and there is a crippling effect as people worry more about being sued than about doing the "right thing." Mr. Howard proposes a logical, though difficult, strategy to change the tide, but as doing so requires lawmakers to speak against the current mindset, I don't know how plausible the approach actually is. (03-10-09)
The Long Fall by Walter Mosley: This book was hyped in a few places, and I must admit, it probably deserved the attention. The protagonist, Leonid McGill, is a private investigator trying to go straight after a lifetime of working the other side of the street. Unfortunately, his previous employers still demand his services, and getting out seems to be a fool's errand. After a few men that he helped find turn up dead, followed shortly by the go-between man that hired McGill, the police spotlight seems to be shining on him even brighter. Leonid's family is fractured as well - a cheating wife come home, and a son intent on following his father's old ways. The characters in this book are very good, and I hope to see them again very soon. (04-04-09)
The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown: Five million copies in the first printing - one million for each of the years that we've waited for the DaVinci Code sequel. When it was announced several months ago that the focus would be Masons in Washington, D.C., my first thought was Nicholas Cage in the movie National Treasure. Happily, this story was completely different, and although not as well-written as his last two novels, it was good to see Robert Langdon again. The story takes place over 12 hours as Langdon arrives in D.C. expecting to give a speech and instead finds himself interpreting symbols off of his mentor's severed hand shortly before being pursued by both the CIA and a villain that believes that the Masons are guarding a secret treasure. The clues are a combination of symbols and numbers, and there's enough detail about the Masonic ceremonies to be interesting. Now, waiting another five years for the next book. (09-24-09)
The Magicians by Lev Grossman: Quentin Coldwater is a depressed high-school student, secretly in love with his best friend's girlfriend and obsessed with a series of kids' books set in the fantasy world of Fillory. After a college interview starts and ends with the death of the interviewer, Quentin finds himself taking an entrance exam at Brakebills, a hidden college for would-be magicians. He is admitted, of course, and discovers that magic is much more difficult than Hogwarts would have us believe (watch for passing references to quiddich and Hermione). The reader knows that eventually Quentin and the other characters will have to cross his childhood fascination with Fillory, and indeed this is the climax of the book. This is a crossing of Harry Potter and Narnia, but populated with deeply-drawn characters with realistic human flaws. I really enjoyed this book! (08-24-09)
Monster by A. Lee Martinez: Monster is a crytobiological containment specialist, that is, he's a bounty catcher of odd creatures. He meets Judy, a supermarket cashier, while answering a call regarding a Yeti that is cleaning out the ice cream aisle. Judy is an incog, one that can not remember magic, but a rune on her forehead helps just a bit. Monster is called back when trolls run through Judy's apartment, and after Monster's own apartment is overrun with goat-headed men, he begins to suspect that something bigger is going on. It turns out that an old lady with a thing for turning people into cats is manipulating the universe with the help of a stone, and Judy is a threat to her success. Sound a bt stretched? Perhaps, but this was a fun, quick read! (05-25-09)
The Motley Fool Million Dollar Portfolio by David & Tom Gardner: With the market dropping everyday, I knew that there had to be some bargain stocks our there, but needed a bit of help thinking through it. I've been pretty lucky with stock picks in the past, but they were mostly based on gut feel and not as much science. Taking some of the lessons from this book, I'm planning to do a bit more research so I can pick up some good deals while the market is dropping. Above all, this was a readable book that jumped between analysis, history, and a few war stories (good and bad). Definitely a keeper (02-23-09)
One L by Scott Turow: Back in the mid-70s, Scott Turow spent his 1L year at Harvard Law School, and turned it into this book which has almost become required reading for every new law student. I haven't read this since the summer before I entered Akron Law, and since I've started to focus on my own novel again, I wanted to relive the 1L experience. Things haven't changed much, and although Akron isn't Harvard, this book still brought back memories of stress, study groups, the Socratic method, and more stress! What I'd give to go back! (02-11-09)
One Shot by Lee Child: Well, that was the last of the Jack Reacher books until Gone Tomorrow is released in May! This wasn't the best story, only because there couldn't be another 300 pages unless the reader assumed a few things upfront. A former Army sniper shoots five people, seemingly at random, and after being awakened at his home, asks for Reacher, who shows up soon thereafter. The problem is that the sniper is beaten into a coma while sitting in jail, and Reacher had investigated him 14 years prior for a similar incident that he admitted to. So hiswhy ask for Reacher? The story moves at a good pace and is an entertaining trip (even if you know you've figured it out!). (01-30-09)
The Pale Blue Eye by Louis Bayard: Fantastic! Gus Ladnor is pulled from his retirement from being a New York City detective to help solve the murder of a cadet at 1830 West Point. To get closer to the closed community, Landor requests the aid of a cadet to serve as his spy in in the ranks and he is assigned none other than the young Edgar Allen Poe, who in turn spends equal time writing poetry, falling for the primary suspect's sister, and learning the art of deduction from Landor. As a second cadet is found, minus its heart, the commander of the academy grows impatient, and Landor is pressed to find the murderer. The ending of this book is quite phenomenal - I did not see it coming! (05-17-09)
The Paris Vendetta by Steve Berry: I have been a fan of this author since his first book several years ago. In this tome, Cotton Malone once again emerges from retirement rather abruptly as his book shop is broken into by a young American Secret Service agent, who is expressing concerns of a financial conspiracy that seems to be supported by immediate gunplay. Meanwhile, the Paris Club is being formed by the extremely wealthy to prey upon forced instability in the markets, and a secret cache of Napoleonic treasure is being sought. Cotton's friend Thorvaldsen, a billionaire himself, joins the Paris Club to maneuver against the man responsible for the murder of Thorvaldsen's son. Once again, Berry has written a book with a lot going on, and has done so very, very well. I highly recommend this, and every book, by this author! (12-10-09)
Rain Fall by Barry Eisler: John Rain learned the art of killing as a member of the U.S. Special Forces in Vietnam, and has honed his skills as a for-hire assassin in Japan. He has simple principles - the target must be a principle and never a woman, and he can be the only one hired for the hit. The target always dies from what appears to be natural causes, and in the opening pages of this book, a man has a heart attack in the subway. As John concludes the job, he watches another man diving through the victim's pockets, which starts a cycle of double-crossing that John must resolve before both he and the daughter of the original target wind up dead themselves. It took me awhile to get into the character, but I will definitely follow John through the sequels! (04-28-09)
Relentless by Dean Koontz: The amazing thing about Koontz is that he can crank out 2-3 books every year and yet all of them are examples of great storytelling. This seems like it might be a touch auto-biographical, as the author Cubby Greenwich takes a beating from an influential critic named Waxx, and it soon becomes apparent that the criticism is intended as a death sentence for Cubby and his family. As the plot unfolds and other similarly-targeted authors and artists are identified, the characters kick into overdrive to resolve the situation before they are "resolved" themselves. Great literature? No, but an excellent summer read! (07-02-09)
Remembering Wadsworth by Caesar A. Carrino: I have been a resident of Wadsworth Township since 2002, and live in a home just next to the former Pardee farm on what used to be Stony Ridge Road. When we moved here, we signed a document that disclosed that the area has been tunneled through with coal mines, but that the locations of many of them are unknown. This author is a former mayor of the town of Wadsworth, and tracks the town from its settlement in the early 1800s though the 1900s. While it is a short book, it was intriguing to learn the College Street is indeed named for a college that used to be located there (now the site of Isham Elementary School). Learning just a bit about the rise and fall of some of the smaller towns in the area (Western Star, River Styx, Clark Corner) was great as well. Certainly this book has a limited geographic, but those from the area should definitely see what this town used to be like. (11-02-09)
The Sacred Blood by Michael Byrnes: The follow-up to 2007's The Sacred Bones will not be mistaken as one of the best books ever written, but it does hold the reader's attention even if the eventual answer is almost expected. Charlotte Hennessy, a geneticist, barely escaped a Vatican cabal to keep secret the discovery of Jesus' bones in the last book, and she is again targeted in this book (who knew that a cabal could cross the ocean?). At the center of the plot, DNA extracted from the bones and injected into Charlotte, cures her of terminal cancer but gets quite a few others killed in the process. At the end, a high-level religious artifact comes into play (name three, and you'll have guessed it) and a final firefight finds all right with the world. A quick, entertaining read. (04-11-09)
Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey: In a magic experiment gone awry, James Stark was dropped into hell, where Lucifer and his minions took great interest in a living human and had him fight in the arena for eleven years. After killing his Hellion keeper, Stark returned to L.A. to kill Mason, the magician and former friend that sent him to hell. Stark finds himself involved with a video store employee, several other magicians, an angel, and Homeland Security as they collectively try to save the world from Mason and the Kissi, a demon-like tribe. This book is humorous, and reads like Christopher Moore or Mike Carey. I'd definitely recommend this book! (12-30-09)
The Sign by Raymond Khoury: It took me three weeks to get through this book, not because it was long or "bad" per se, but because it just never inspired me to get lost in the story. Consequently it was read at 4-5 pages each sitting, and I breathed a sense of relief when I was done. A news crew is in Antarctica reporting on global warming when "the sign" appears overhead, which sets in motion a plot wherein a faction uses technology to create religious imagery and to subconsciously influence a famous priest as the the fall-guy. Really, not a bad plot, but just-okay writing (a few times the narrative jumps to "we" - nothing annoys me more than a break in voice). I wanted something more, as I am a fan of the author's first two books. (06-29-09)
The Silent Hour by Michael Koryta: Lincoln Perry is a private investigator drawn into a 12-year-old mystery featuring both a missing woman and the bones of her husband. Lincoln's first client is a parolee that worked for the couple, who ran a rehabilitation program out of their home, and after Lincoln refuses to track her down, a PI out of Pittsburgh gets Lincoln involved. This novel is set just up the road in Medina County and Cleveland, Ohio, so I could easily picture several of the locations. I am a fan, and will need to track down some of this author's other books. (08-31-09)
Storm Front by Jim Butcher: Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden is a wizard - the sign on his office door says so. The Chicago Police Department brings him in as a consultant to solve a double murder, a man and a woman caught in a delicate situation, made more so by the mere fact that both of their hearts have exploded from their chests. The man turns out to be the bodyguard of a local mob boss, the woman is an escort from a vampire-managed service, and somehow Dresden winds up both a suspect and a target. This was a quick airplane read, but very entertaining - I'll definitely be picking up the rest of the series! (05-21-09)
Triple Cross by Mark T. Sullivan: An interesting premise - a globalist group called Third Position Army takes over the Jefferson Club, a retreat for the rich and famous that is hosting the 7 wealthiest men in the world. Mickey Hennessy, the security chief, is shot during the raid but escapes, only to find that his 14-year-old triplets are still inside. When the TPA begins putting on mock trials of the billionaires, Mickey starts working with the FBI to storm the retreat and get his kids back. There were some odd gaps in the story (e.g., the networks are broadcasting outside the gates, but the Army, watching inside, doesn't know the FBI's plans?) but overall I was entertained. I've just ordered several of this author's backlist. (09-20-09)
Vanished by Joseph Finder: After a stint in the Special Forces, Nick Heller went to work as a private investigator for a powerful lobbying firm. When he receives a call from his nephew Gabe, he winds up looking for his estranged brother after an attack that left his brother missing and his sister-in-law in a coma, and soon he learns that things are much more complicated. Nick's own father is a former corporate financier, currently serving a long sentence for Enron-like activities, and it appears that the company where the missing brother was in finance himself is involved in mercenary work. This is an interesting new character for Finder, somewhere between Jack Reacher and Jason Bourne, and I look forward to the next novel. (08-28-09)
Waiter Rant by Steve Dublanica: The back of this book states that 80% of customers in restaurants are nice people looking for something to eat, but the other 20% are "socially maladjusted psychopaths." I bought this book looking for stories about the latter, a voyeuristic glimpse at the kitchen and dining room. This book is actually quite book, and although it does have some stories about bad customer behavior, much of the book features the author's own introspection on life. After leaving the seminary before graduation, the writer entered the restaurant business as a temporary measure, but never left. This book does make you think about the people that miss every holiday and weekend party so they can serve us dinner, and is a decent read. (12-23-09)

Books on CD

Some people call listening to a book "reading" - I am not one of those people! There are times, however, when a book on CD is the perfect thing for a long drive or to help distract a part of the brain during a difficult project!

The Unquiet by John Connolly (read by Jay O. Sanders): Although abridged, I really enjoyed this novel. Charlie Parker is back as the haunted private investigator, this time hired by the daughter of a Dr. Clay to protect her from a killer, a hit man intent on discovering the truth behind the disappearance of his own daughter. Dr. Clay was a child psychiatrist, and it appears that he became involved with a group of child abusers before disappearing himself. This is one of those stories that kept me guessing, and although I was partially right, it was definitely not a "gimme" solution. I will likely seek out the printed version of this book eventually, as now I want to see what was abridged! (04-13-09)