Summary:
John's just a regular guy. He suspects that the man his ex, Michelle, is dating might be cheating on her. John's suspicions lead him down a road he wasn't expecting. Michelle's honey knows his way around guns, can fight better than Tyson and Holyfield and Bond combined, and can distract cops so easily, you'd think he was using the Force. The novel follows John, and Michelle's new guy, Frank (or is it Peter??) as they get to the bottom of a plot to kill them. There are shootings, deaths, and even an explosion or two.
Thoughts:
Awesome as usual. Before I go on, I should say that I am privileged enough to know the author. He's family. However, that does NOT mean that I treat his novels with kid gloves compared to the other stuff I've read. Sure, it might make Dave feel good, but if those three of you that actually read this blog (ha.) decided to pick up a Dave White novel based on my say-so, and find it to be a roiling pile of crap, you'd probably run screaming for the hills and my readership would be down to, well, nothing at all.
So now on to the review. I honestly love White's writing style. It helps that he's based in Northern Jersey, and so are his characters, and that's my current section of the world as well. The blunt but humorous descriptions and observations of White's characters bring them closer to reality for me because I see the world in a similar way. As we the reader follow John the teacher through these escapades of his, we feel for the guy, and really care about him as if he's the chatty neighbor who you'll be talking to about his kids tomorrow on your way out your respective doors. With most mystery writers, I can predict the exact angle and trajectory of the next shoe's drop before it's dropped but, with White, you never can tell. I usually catch up with where the plot's going to go about three sentences before it goes there. He packs so many twists into a single book, you feel like you're on the world's longest roller coaster, and believe me, there's always a final drop out of no where before you roll back into the station. The last drop in this one comes in the chapter that's usually the epilogue-like one, where we the readers finally relax and think everything's all finished. Literally, a Chekov's Gun scene comes out of nowhere, and I still (after having finished this a couple days ago) can't believe the ending. Trust me when I tell you, Dave White's got a knack for the drama, and I enjoy the hell out of every one of his books.
Side note: This book is not available in paper form. It's an eReader only one. I was hesitant about it, because I like the solid, tangible books in hand, but because it's White, I downloaded the book, and I am not sorry. Pick it up. It's worth the megabytes.
Book 31 of 50
Pages: Unspecified, eReader book
Genre: Mystery
Grade: A
Would I Recommend?: Absolutely, and not just because he's family. Two good reasons you should download this: 1, it's effing GOOD, and 2, it's only $0.99. Come on. Writing this good is a steal at any price, but at under a dollar, will you really feel gypped? Doubtful.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Assassination Vacation (Sarah Vowell)
Summary:
It's a non-fictional book for once. Vowell delves into the crazy minds and lives of the men who went after Presidents Lincoln, Garfield, and McKinley, examining the roads they took toward the assassinations, and the roads they followed afterward. It also looks at Robert Todd Lincoln, Abraham's eldest, who was in the vicinity during each of the assassination attempts.
Thoughts:
The chapter on Lincoln takes up almost half the book, and goes far more in depth than the other two. Vowell makes history fun in the most off-beat kind of way. She literally goes on vacations and day trips to find out more about what John Wilkes Booth was doing the day after the shooting. I swear. She takes the truths of the days surrounding each assassination and lays them all out so you can learn them best, and absorb just how nuts each of the assassins actually were. Vowell's way of looking at the history of these murders makes it fun and interesting to learn about, as opposed to reading a text book or listening to your high school history teacher drone on about dates and events. (No offense to Mr. Heath, and Mr. Lynch, who are probably long gone from my school at this point, but who did actually help me enjoy history a lot more than most teachers!) Vowell takes the emotionless facts of when and where, and throws in the emotional bits of who and why so that her readers can get a sense of how it really went down. And poor Robert. That man must have had a serious complex by the end of his life.
The book is a great read. I honestly didn't want to put it down, and fully plan on picking up more of Vowell's books. Her joy over the history leaps off the page as if it had a life of its own. HIGHLY suggest this one, people. HIGHLY.
Book 31 of 50
Pages: 255
Genre: History
Grade: A
Would I Recommend?: YES. A thousand times, YES!! Even if you're not big on history, this is worth it. YES!!
It's a non-fictional book for once. Vowell delves into the crazy minds and lives of the men who went after Presidents Lincoln, Garfield, and McKinley, examining the roads they took toward the assassinations, and the roads they followed afterward. It also looks at Robert Todd Lincoln, Abraham's eldest, who was in the vicinity during each of the assassination attempts.
Thoughts:
The chapter on Lincoln takes up almost half the book, and goes far more in depth than the other two. Vowell makes history fun in the most off-beat kind of way. She literally goes on vacations and day trips to find out more about what John Wilkes Booth was doing the day after the shooting. I swear. She takes the truths of the days surrounding each assassination and lays them all out so you can learn them best, and absorb just how nuts each of the assassins actually were. Vowell's way of looking at the history of these murders makes it fun and interesting to learn about, as opposed to reading a text book or listening to your high school history teacher drone on about dates and events. (No offense to Mr. Heath, and Mr. Lynch, who are probably long gone from my school at this point, but who did actually help me enjoy history a lot more than most teachers!) Vowell takes the emotionless facts of when and where, and throws in the emotional bits of who and why so that her readers can get a sense of how it really went down. And poor Robert. That man must have had a serious complex by the end of his life.
The book is a great read. I honestly didn't want to put it down, and fully plan on picking up more of Vowell's books. Her joy over the history leaps off the page as if it had a life of its own. HIGHLY suggest this one, people. HIGHLY.
Book 31 of 50
Pages: 255
Genre: History
Grade: A
Would I Recommend?: YES. A thousand times, YES!! Even if you're not big on history, this is worth it. YES!!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
The Name of This Book is Secret (Pseudonymous Bosch)
Summary:
I really can't tell you what it's about, because I'm not supposed to, but if I were to tell you, this is what I would say... It's about a couple of kids that learn of the disappearance of a magician, and get drawn into a whole secret world that no one should know about. But I didn't tell you that!
Thoughts:
It's fabulous. What a fun story. Sure, it's a kid's book. Then again, so was Peter Pan, and Mary Poppins, and the Wizard of Oz. This one makes you think, and try to discover who's who, and what's what, and how they're going to get where they're going next. There are codes to decipher, and riddles to solve, and smells to hear. I got turned onto the book by the Today Show, and I'm glad I hunted it down. Definitely a fun romp, and great for kids. Enjoy this one, everyone. I know you will!
Book 30 of 50
Pages: 351, 360 if you include the Appendix, and more if you write more in your ending!
Genre: Children's, mystery
Grade: A+
Would I Recommend?: Absolutely. You're crazy if you don't go hunting for this book! Such fun!
I really can't tell you what it's about, because I'm not supposed to, but if I were to tell you, this is what I would say... It's about a couple of kids that learn of the disappearance of a magician, and get drawn into a whole secret world that no one should know about. But I didn't tell you that!
Thoughts:
It's fabulous. What a fun story. Sure, it's a kid's book. Then again, so was Peter Pan, and Mary Poppins, and the Wizard of Oz. This one makes you think, and try to discover who's who, and what's what, and how they're going to get where they're going next. There are codes to decipher, and riddles to solve, and smells to hear. I got turned onto the book by the Today Show, and I'm glad I hunted it down. Definitely a fun romp, and great for kids. Enjoy this one, everyone. I know you will!
Book 30 of 50
Pages: 351, 360 if you include the Appendix, and more if you write more in your ending!
Genre: Children's, mystery
Grade: A+
Would I Recommend?: Absolutely. You're crazy if you don't go hunting for this book! Such fun!
Sunday, October 9, 2011
No Nest for the Wicket (Donna Andrews)
Summary:
Once again, Meg Langslow has craziness surrounding her. Mrs. Fenniman, a woman whose relationship to Meg is, I think, some sort of aunt, decides to start an Extreme Cricket tournament in Caerphilly. Of course the tourney has to be on Meg's huge property, as well as her neighbor's farm, because everyone enjoys invading Meg's and Michael's space. Oh, and somebody gets murdered. Shocker.
Thoughts:
If you've read this blog at all, you know how I love Andrews's writing. The scenarios get more and more ridiculous, but with the way Andrews set up her first novel, no one thinks twice about how off-the-wall the newest novel's plot is. I can't wait to see what's coming next. The only thing that bugs me is Meg's fear of marrying Michael, but I guess Andrews was trying to draw out that piece of plot as long as possible.
Book 28 of 50
Pages: 259
Genre: Mystery
Grade: A-
Would I Recommend? Heck yeah, though as with most series books, I do suggest starting from the beginning. Sure, you could pick up in the middle, but the whole joy of the Langslow brood is watching the crazy get crazier.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Silver (Edward Chupack)
Summary:
This is the back story of one Long John Silver, the dreaded pirate from Treasure Island. Chupack takes readers on a journey through Silver's past straight through to finding his Treasure Island.
Thoughts:
I have yet to read the original story, so take what I say with a grain of salt. However, this was probably one of the more boring books I've read in the last two or three years. It literally took me a month and a half to fight my way through this damn book. The story is told through Silver's own pen, written to the man who captured him. Holy Jesus, did I want out the whole way through this novel. I found it in the bargain bin at Barnes and Noble and after just a few pages, I saw exactly why it was there. Bleh. No thank you. Avoid this one, friends. Trust me.
Book 29 of 50
Pages: 272
Genre: Historical fiction, pirates
Grade: F
Would I Recommend? Nope. Leave this bad boy in the bargain bin, kiddies.
This is the back story of one Long John Silver, the dreaded pirate from Treasure Island. Chupack takes readers on a journey through Silver's past straight through to finding his Treasure Island.
Thoughts:
I have yet to read the original story, so take what I say with a grain of salt. However, this was probably one of the more boring books I've read in the last two or three years. It literally took me a month and a half to fight my way through this damn book. The story is told through Silver's own pen, written to the man who captured him. Holy Jesus, did I want out the whole way through this novel. I found it in the bargain bin at Barnes and Noble and after just a few pages, I saw exactly why it was there. Bleh. No thank you. Avoid this one, friends. Trust me.
Book 29 of 50
Pages: 272
Genre: Historical fiction, pirates
Grade: F
Would I Recommend? Nope. Leave this bad boy in the bargain bin, kiddies.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)