Paperback 2009, 384 pages
December 23, 2010
South Amboy, NJ
This book was found in complete manuscript form after Crichton’s death in 2008. It is not your typical Crichton novel in that it is not a scientific tour-de-force. Instead it is a rather straightforward narrative of how Charles Hunter leads a team of privateers and successfully takes a treasure-laden Spanish Galleon, escapes the pursuit of the Spanish, but is tried and convicted as a pirate when he returns to his home port in Jamaica, escapes and finally avenges his conviction. The one interesting “science” angle is how Hunter successfully sinks the pursuing Spanish warship.
The book is very easy to read. Comparisons with John Grisham’s non-legal novels are inevitable, and I have to give the edge to Crichton.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
I, Alex Cross by James Patterson
Paperback 2009, 361 pages
December 18, 2010
Hong Kong
Caroline Cross, Alex’s niece, was murdered and ran through a woodchipper. Turns out the murderer is the “First Gentleman,” the president’s husband, called Zeus. He is a rich and powerful man who is also a serial killer. He hires many people to clean up after him; these hired guns do an excellent job of killing anyone connected to the murders. One of the victims escapes and hides in Alabama. The case is solved when somehow Alex Cross tracks her down. The killer is then killed by a secret service agent loyal to the president; the agent is then killed by other agents charged with protecting the president. The story ends there, it is left to the imagination of the reader to decide if there are further developments, e.g., if the president is aware of her husband’s actions. I imagine most readers can weave together a story better than Patterson can, so he wisely leaves the task to them.
A side story is Nana, Cross’s mother, gets very sick, is in a coma for a while, but manages to pull through. This is a relatively short novel, so Patterson must have felt obliged to throw another story in there. Wonder how many readers of the Cross series care? Another thing is Bree agreeing to marry Alex, another issue of unknown importance to the reader.
In any case, by making this a rather straightforward story, Patterson manages to produce one of his more readable books. An average thriller, but above average for this author.
December 18, 2010
Hong Kong
Caroline Cross, Alex’s niece, was murdered and ran through a woodchipper. Turns out the murderer is the “First Gentleman,” the president’s husband, called Zeus. He is a rich and powerful man who is also a serial killer. He hires many people to clean up after him; these hired guns do an excellent job of killing anyone connected to the murders. One of the victims escapes and hides in Alabama. The case is solved when somehow Alex Cross tracks her down. The killer is then killed by a secret service agent loyal to the president; the agent is then killed by other agents charged with protecting the president. The story ends there, it is left to the imagination of the reader to decide if there are further developments, e.g., if the president is aware of her husband’s actions. I imagine most readers can weave together a story better than Patterson can, so he wisely leaves the task to them.
A side story is Nana, Cross’s mother, gets very sick, is in a coma for a while, but manages to pull through. This is a relatively short novel, so Patterson must have felt obliged to throw another story in there. Wonder how many readers of the Cross series care? Another thing is Bree agreeing to marry Alex, another issue of unknown importance to the reader.
In any case, by making this a rather straightforward story, Patterson manages to produce one of his more readable books. An average thriller, but above average for this author.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
True Blue by David Baldacci
Paperback 2009, 571 pages
December 7, 2010
The story’s main character is Mace, an ex-cop who was framed and went to jail for two years. Upon her release she wants to clear her name (and get re-instated) by trying to solve a crime on her own. Other characters are her sister Beth who is the Police Commissioner, and Roy a lawyer.
The premise is incredulous enough. And Baldacci adds to that by making the case one of international conspiracy. Money is being laundered through Roy’s law firm with the help of a rogue organization in the intelligence community. The murder of Diane at the law firm is just the first of many murders committed by the group. The story takes the reader through many layers of intrigue before it unveils the real culprits, which it does in haste. The story also ends abruptly with a lame plot by the protagonists to expose the bad guys. Evidently Baldacci suffers the same lack of ability to end a story in a satisfying manner also.
This book is about the same length as the last book I read (one page shorter). I have to say it is quite a bit better than the other one (The Scarpetta Factor) in terms of readability. Baldacci doesn’t have to make tons of digression and needs only a minimal amount of flashbacks to make the story move along. On the other hand, saying the book is better than “The Scarpetta Factor” isn’t saying much.
December 7, 2010
The story’s main character is Mace, an ex-cop who was framed and went to jail for two years. Upon her release she wants to clear her name (and get re-instated) by trying to solve a crime on her own. Other characters are her sister Beth who is the Police Commissioner, and Roy a lawyer.
The premise is incredulous enough. And Baldacci adds to that by making the case one of international conspiracy. Money is being laundered through Roy’s law firm with the help of a rogue organization in the intelligence community. The murder of Diane at the law firm is just the first of many murders committed by the group. The story takes the reader through many layers of intrigue before it unveils the real culprits, which it does in haste. The story also ends abruptly with a lame plot by the protagonists to expose the bad guys. Evidently Baldacci suffers the same lack of ability to end a story in a satisfying manner also.
This book is about the same length as the last book I read (one page shorter). I have to say it is quite a bit better than the other one (The Scarpetta Factor) in terms of readability. Baldacci doesn’t have to make tons of digression and needs only a minimal amount of flashbacks to make the story move along. On the other hand, saying the book is better than “The Scarpetta Factor” isn’t saying much.
Friday, November 5, 2010
The Scarpetta Factor by Patricia Cornwall
Paperback 2009, 572 pages
November 5, 2010. UA862 Enroute HKG-SFO.
Five letters sum up this novel: A-W-F-U-L.
I vaguely recall the character Kay Scarpetta, but I can’t possibly forget if I had ever read a novel that is so awful. The story’s many main characters are Scarpetta, a volunteer medical examiner; Benton her husband; Lucy her niece and a computer wizard among other things; Jaime the DA and Lucy’s lover; and Marino the cop who was Scarpetta’s ex-lover. The last characterization is uncertain, and brings to mind one of the writer’s many annoying and flawed techniques. There are lots of flash backs that the reader may think will eventually resolve but end up being dead weight (i.e., make the novel longer without adding much to it other than confusion).
Other literary skills (trespasses really) fully utilized in the novel are interleaving several things all at once by devoting short paragraphs to each in turn; using many sentences to describe one simple thing that’s is not germane to the story (e.g., a staircase); and using a simple narrative to try to outline the real plot since the author seems incapable of putting the real excitement into action.
At the end you simply have a deranged killer (Chardonne) who ended up being shot dead at the end of the story. If the story is condensed into a novelette of 100 pages it may be worth a read. But at close to 600 pages, that’s simply the work of a writer with illusions of being a literary novelist, and one who couldn’t let any thought go to waste at that.
Since I am writing this inside a plane, I can’t go back and see how bad this book is compared to other atrocious ones I have read. I’m sure it will take the cake, hands down.
November 5, 2010. UA862 Enroute HKG-SFO.
Five letters sum up this novel: A-W-F-U-L.
I vaguely recall the character Kay Scarpetta, but I can’t possibly forget if I had ever read a novel that is so awful. The story’s many main characters are Scarpetta, a volunteer medical examiner; Benton her husband; Lucy her niece and a computer wizard among other things; Jaime the DA and Lucy’s lover; and Marino the cop who was Scarpetta’s ex-lover. The last characterization is uncertain, and brings to mind one of the writer’s many annoying and flawed techniques. There are lots of flash backs that the reader may think will eventually resolve but end up being dead weight (i.e., make the novel longer without adding much to it other than confusion).
Other literary skills (trespasses really) fully utilized in the novel are interleaving several things all at once by devoting short paragraphs to each in turn; using many sentences to describe one simple thing that’s is not germane to the story (e.g., a staircase); and using a simple narrative to try to outline the real plot since the author seems incapable of putting the real excitement into action.
At the end you simply have a deranged killer (Chardonne) who ended up being shot dead at the end of the story. If the story is condensed into a novelette of 100 pages it may be worth a read. But at close to 600 pages, that’s simply the work of a writer with illusions of being a literary novelist, and one who couldn’t let any thought go to waste at that.
Since I am writing this inside a plane, I can’t go back and see how bad this book is compared to other atrocious ones I have read. I’m sure it will take the cake, hands down.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Smash Cut by Sandra Brown
Paperback 2009, 489 pages
South Amboy, NJ
I started reading this book on my trip to Boston, and finished it at home.
The story is about how Creighton Wheeler, a horror movie buff, hires someone (Billy) to kill his uncle Paul and frames Paul’s supposed lover Julie Rutledge for the murder. Creighton gets Billy to do the killing because Creighton first kills a witness in Billy’s murder trial. This and other actions by Creighton are inspired by murder mystery films such as “Strangers in a Train”. Julie enlists the help of the defense lawyer Derek Mitchell who gradually changes his opinion from doubting Julie to fully supporting her view of events. Eventually they (Derek, Julie, and a investigator by name of Dodge) catch up with Creighton as he is about to kill Billy’s former girlfriend.
The story is generally okay, perhaps with too much gratuitous sex thrown in. At the end we find out Julie is actually Paul’s daughter instead of his lover. This “surprise” ending unfortunately detracts from the overall plot. Julie remains a suspect because people think she is with Paul for the money, there is much less reason to suspect her if it is known that she is actually Paul’s daughter. The reasons for her not telling people are too arbitrary.
In any case, this is a good book to read. The author tries to explain the term “smash cut” a couple of times, unsuccessfully in my case.
South Amboy, NJ
I started reading this book on my trip to Boston, and finished it at home.
The story is about how Creighton Wheeler, a horror movie buff, hires someone (Billy) to kill his uncle Paul and frames Paul’s supposed lover Julie Rutledge for the murder. Creighton gets Billy to do the killing because Creighton first kills a witness in Billy’s murder trial. This and other actions by Creighton are inspired by murder mystery films such as “Strangers in a Train”. Julie enlists the help of the defense lawyer Derek Mitchell who gradually changes his opinion from doubting Julie to fully supporting her view of events. Eventually they (Derek, Julie, and a investigator by name of Dodge) catch up with Creighton as he is about to kill Billy’s former girlfriend.
The story is generally okay, perhaps with too much gratuitous sex thrown in. At the end we find out Julie is actually Paul’s daughter instead of his lover. This “surprise” ending unfortunately detracts from the overall plot. Julie remains a suspect because people think she is with Paul for the money, there is much less reason to suspect her if it is known that she is actually Paul’s daughter. The reasons for her not telling people are too arbitrary.
In any case, this is a good book to read. The author tries to explain the term “smash cut” a couple of times, unsuccessfully in my case.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Ford County Stories by John Grisham
Paperback 2009, 340 pages.
Clearwater, Florida
I bought the book on Monday at SFO because I ran out of things to do on the return trip from Sydney. I hesitated a bit because the previous non-lawyer books by Grisham that I read were quite disappointing. I finally bought it because (i) it was relatively cheap at $7.99, (ii) it was either listed as the #1 or #2 bestseller, and (iii) maybe it will be different this time.
Anyway, the book consists of 7 short stories (about 50 pages each) talking about life in and around Clanton, the county seat of Ford County. After reading a couple of the stories I began to regret why I bought the book. First, most – if not all – of the stories seem to reinforce an outsider’s view of that part of the country as being backward, and that people there are particularly mean. I thought Grisham is from that area, and that he would be more sympathetic to people in that area. Second, the stories while somewhat interesting, aren’t developed well at all. Perhaps there is not much to develop? Third, you get the feeling that these were all Grisham’s writing experiments during his fledgling days as an author, and now that he is famous, he wants to see his work in print. That these were his older works is further confirmed by the gas chamber execution and the AIDS death.
In the end, I am left with a similar feeling of disappointment as I did when I finished “Playing for Pizza.”
Clearwater, Florida
I bought the book on Monday at SFO because I ran out of things to do on the return trip from Sydney. I hesitated a bit because the previous non-lawyer books by Grisham that I read were quite disappointing. I finally bought it because (i) it was relatively cheap at $7.99, (ii) it was either listed as the #1 or #2 bestseller, and (iii) maybe it will be different this time.
Anyway, the book consists of 7 short stories (about 50 pages each) talking about life in and around Clanton, the county seat of Ford County. After reading a couple of the stories I began to regret why I bought the book. First, most – if not all – of the stories seem to reinforce an outsider’s view of that part of the country as being backward, and that people there are particularly mean. I thought Grisham is from that area, and that he would be more sympathetic to people in that area. Second, the stories while somewhat interesting, aren’t developed well at all. Perhaps there is not much to develop? Third, you get the feeling that these were all Grisham’s writing experiments during his fledgling days as an author, and now that he is famous, he wants to see his work in print. That these were his older works is further confirmed by the gas chamber execution and the AIDS death.
In the end, I am left with a similar feeling of disappointment as I did when I finished “Playing for Pizza.”
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
The 8th Confession by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro
Paperback 2009, 342 pages.
Sydney, Australia
I have a lot of spare time this week in Sydney, so I got to finish this book whiling away hours in and around Sydney.
This is another Women's Murder Club novel, the main story being a 30+ year old women (nicknamed "pet girl") committing murders with the help of kraits, a type of poisonous snake. Turns out this woman was the illegitimate child of a rich man who was also a serial killer. She actually killed her father by putting a snake in his bed. Lindsay Boxer broke the case kind of by happenstance: a visit with a teacher of pet girl and her victims.
The story was interesting but probably didn't provide enough material for our writers. So they saw fit to throw in a few bonuses: the prosecution of a woman who killed her father and maimed her mother, she was in turned murdered by fellow inmates in prison; the murder of a homeless man whom everyone thought was a great person but turned out to be a Stanford graduate who was a drug dealer and a pimp, many people admitted to the murder making it unlikely the real murderer would be found guilty; at least three romances involving Lindsay, Cindy, and Yuki (who fell in love with a doctor with ambiguous sexual identity). These additional stories provide the novel with a respectable length but end up being a waste of the reader's time. To be fair, this is how I regard most of Patterson's novels.
Simple read, interesting enough main story. An typical Patterson book, a below average book overall.
Sydney, Australia
I have a lot of spare time this week in Sydney, so I got to finish this book whiling away hours in and around Sydney.
This is another Women's Murder Club novel, the main story being a 30+ year old women (nicknamed "pet girl") committing murders with the help of kraits, a type of poisonous snake. Turns out this woman was the illegitimate child of a rich man who was also a serial killer. She actually killed her father by putting a snake in his bed. Lindsay Boxer broke the case kind of by happenstance: a visit with a teacher of pet girl and her victims.
The story was interesting but probably didn't provide enough material for our writers. So they saw fit to throw in a few bonuses: the prosecution of a woman who killed her father and maimed her mother, she was in turned murdered by fellow inmates in prison; the murder of a homeless man whom everyone thought was a great person but turned out to be a Stanford graduate who was a drug dealer and a pimp, many people admitted to the murder making it unlikely the real murderer would be found guilty; at least three romances involving Lindsay, Cindy, and Yuki (who fell in love with a doctor with ambiguous sexual identity). These additional stories provide the novel with a respectable length but end up being a waste of the reader's time. To be fair, this is how I regard most of Patterson's novels.
Simple read, interesting enough main story. An typical Patterson book, a below average book overall.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Deal Breaker by Harlan Coben
Paperback 1995, 343 pages
Sydney, Australia
This is a simple plot made unnecessarily complicated. The disappearance of Kathy Culver and the murder of her father Adam were the main mysteries to be solved. It turns out Adam was trying to lure out the killer by mailing compromising photographs of Kathy to possible suspects. Myron Bolitar, a sports agent trained as a lawyer and was a former FBI agent, was asked by Kathy's boyfriend Christian Steele – who was his client – to help. If the world is not small enough, Myron used to date Jessica Culver, Kathy's sister. The investigation ended up going in many different directions, opening up many old wounds, caused the death of Kathy's college roommate, and eventually led to a trap that led to the capture of the killer, who turns out to be Christian Steele himself. Christian killed Kathy when he found out about her past which came into being because she discovered an affair between her mother and a good family friend. In the end it is a wonder that the story can be finished in “only” 343 pages.
Despite all my misgivings, this was an easy book to read, and it was reasonably suspenseful that I thought of staying up late to finish it, but not enough that I actually did so. I did finish it while sitting at the Manly Beach, though.
I rate it above average.
Sydney, Australia
This is a simple plot made unnecessarily complicated. The disappearance of Kathy Culver and the murder of her father Adam were the main mysteries to be solved. It turns out Adam was trying to lure out the killer by mailing compromising photographs of Kathy to possible suspects. Myron Bolitar, a sports agent trained as a lawyer and was a former FBI agent, was asked by Kathy's boyfriend Christian Steele – who was his client – to help. If the world is not small enough, Myron used to date Jessica Culver, Kathy's sister. The investigation ended up going in many different directions, opening up many old wounds, caused the death of Kathy's college roommate, and eventually led to a trap that led to the capture of the killer, who turns out to be Christian Steele himself. Christian killed Kathy when he found out about her past which came into being because she discovered an affair between her mother and a good family friend. In the end it is a wonder that the story can be finished in “only” 343 pages.
Despite all my misgivings, this was an easy book to read, and it was reasonably suspenseful that I thought of staying up late to finish it, but not enough that I actually did so. I did finish it while sitting at the Manly Beach, though.
I rate it above average.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Violets are Blue by James Patterson
Paperback 2001, 391 pages
South Amboy, NJ
I bought this book quite a while ago (2002?). I finally brought it with me on my recent Asian trip and started reading it. Because the overhead light in my HKG-EWR airplane seat wasn't working, I ended up finishing the book after I got back to NJ.
This was a particularly violent book dealing with two cases: a vampire cult and how some members wanted to take over the leadership by committing murders where the old leaders were performing in order to frame them; the "Mastermind" who was after Alex Cross by killing people he cared about. The murders by the vampires wannabes were very gruesome, but at the end their leader was (isn't it always) a regular fellow no one initially suspected. The Mastermind turned out to be someone FBI agent Cross worked with and respected (Kyle Craig); he was eventually caught by Cross.
The novel certainly has its tense moments, but you get the feeling that Patterson didn't quite know how to bring it all together. He admitted as much by having Cross say real life can not be nailed down as neatly as fiction. The irony is of course he was writing fiction, so not being able to nail down a logical plot is more his shortcoming than a problem with real life.
In any case, he was a better writer then than he is today. This is a reasonably good book to read. I don't understand why he used the title "Violets are Blue," though.
South Amboy, NJ
I bought this book quite a while ago (2002?). I finally brought it with me on my recent Asian trip and started reading it. Because the overhead light in my HKG-EWR airplane seat wasn't working, I ended up finishing the book after I got back to NJ.
This was a particularly violent book dealing with two cases: a vampire cult and how some members wanted to take over the leadership by committing murders where the old leaders were performing in order to frame them; the "Mastermind" who was after Alex Cross by killing people he cared about. The murders by the vampires wannabes were very gruesome, but at the end their leader was (isn't it always) a regular fellow no one initially suspected. The Mastermind turned out to be someone FBI agent Cross worked with and respected (Kyle Craig); he was eventually caught by Cross.
The novel certainly has its tense moments, but you get the feeling that Patterson didn't quite know how to bring it all together. He admitted as much by having Cross say real life can not be nailed down as neatly as fiction. The irony is of course he was writing fiction, so not being able to nail down a logical plot is more his shortcoming than a problem with real life.
In any case, he was a better writer then than he is today. This is a reasonably good book to read. I don't understand why he used the title "Violets are Blue," though.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
The Associate by John Grisham
Paperback 2009, 434 pages.
Hong Kong.
Kyle McAvoy was about to graduate from Yale Law School when he was blackmailed with a videotape taken while he was in college. He was asked to join a large NYC law firm and to spy on behalf of opposing counsel in a case involving huge defense contractors. He eventually asked for help from his father (also a lawyer), a defense attorney who called in the federal authorities, and planned to turn the tables on the blackmailers. However, the blackmailers mysteriously disappeared when Kyle was about to hand over the illegally downloaded files as part of the sting.
This is a book unsatisfying on many levels. First, you keep reading, thinking something exciting will happen, and then you find yourself close to the end of the book and it dawns on you that there is not much more to the plot. Second, it is never made clear why Kyle is so afraid of the tape (which actually proves his innocence) but so brave as to try to turn the tables on people who are willing to kill. Third, the book leaves the reader hanging as to who the "bad guys" are. Fourth, the ending, as with many other Grisham novels, is quite anticlimactic, bordering on limp.
The reader does get to see how new lawyers get their starts in these large law firms. Of course I do not know if what the author writes reflects at all what happens at the start of these people's careers.
"Uninspired" is how I would categorize this book. Better than many Patterson books, but at some level more dissatisfying as the expectations were high.
Hong Kong.
Kyle McAvoy was about to graduate from Yale Law School when he was blackmailed with a videotape taken while he was in college. He was asked to join a large NYC law firm and to spy on behalf of opposing counsel in a case involving huge defense contractors. He eventually asked for help from his father (also a lawyer), a defense attorney who called in the federal authorities, and planned to turn the tables on the blackmailers. However, the blackmailers mysteriously disappeared when Kyle was about to hand over the illegally downloaded files as part of the sting.
This is a book unsatisfying on many levels. First, you keep reading, thinking something exciting will happen, and then you find yourself close to the end of the book and it dawns on you that there is not much more to the plot. Second, it is never made clear why Kyle is so afraid of the tape (which actually proves his innocence) but so brave as to try to turn the tables on people who are willing to kill. Third, the book leaves the reader hanging as to who the "bad guys" are. Fourth, the ending, as with many other Grisham novels, is quite anticlimactic, bordering on limp.
The reader does get to see how new lawyers get their starts in these large law firms. Of course I do not know if what the author writes reflects at all what happens at the start of these people's careers.
"Uninspired" is how I would categorize this book. Better than many Patterson books, but at some level more dissatisfying as the expectations were high.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
Hardcover 2009. 509 pages.
South Amboy, NJ
Zach Solomon, son of Peter, has gone over to the dark side because he feels he is abandoned by his father and wants to get even. He infiltrates the Freemasons and attains the highest level (33rd). By kidnapping Peter, he gets Peter's sister Katherine and Professor Robert Langdon to help him locate the lost symbol which will make him ready for the final sacrifice. The books starts with Langdon getting a fake message early in the morning and ends with Langdon and Katherine seeing the morning sun bounce from the National Monument to the Capitol Building the next morning. Meanwhile the CIA, the Capitol Architect, the leader of the National Cathedral, and many others are involved, with a few people dying along the way.
The book does contain some plot twists, most of which are in the "so what" category. The only one that impresses is the discovery that Mal'akh is Zach, who we thought died in a foreign prison. There are also many occasions where one screams at the stupidity of Langdon and Katherine, such as why Langdon would hop on a plane to go to Washington DC to begin with, or why they would believe Peter is freed without actually talking to him.
In terms of Freemason secrets such as their ceremonies, I don't find them that exciting. That there are these "perfect squares" is an interesting fact. Finally, it is a bit of a let down that the lost symbol is actually a Bible inside the corner stone of the National Monument (which of course never gets uncovered). The last 20 or so pages see the author trying to pontificate on how we are all creators and other philosophical issues; he is not qualified to do that. If I wanted to read up on the meaning of life, a book by Dan Brown probably isn't high on my reading list.
Overall not a bad book. The ending is more satisfying than the one in "The Da Vinci Code." It is not good enough to warrant the 500 plus pages, though.
South Amboy, NJ
Zach Solomon, son of Peter, has gone over to the dark side because he feels he is abandoned by his father and wants to get even. He infiltrates the Freemasons and attains the highest level (33rd). By kidnapping Peter, he gets Peter's sister Katherine and Professor Robert Langdon to help him locate the lost symbol which will make him ready for the final sacrifice. The books starts with Langdon getting a fake message early in the morning and ends with Langdon and Katherine seeing the morning sun bounce from the National Monument to the Capitol Building the next morning. Meanwhile the CIA, the Capitol Architect, the leader of the National Cathedral, and many others are involved, with a few people dying along the way.
The book does contain some plot twists, most of which are in the "so what" category. The only one that impresses is the discovery that Mal'akh is Zach, who we thought died in a foreign prison. There are also many occasions where one screams at the stupidity of Langdon and Katherine, such as why Langdon would hop on a plane to go to Washington DC to begin with, or why they would believe Peter is freed without actually talking to him.
In terms of Freemason secrets such as their ceremonies, I don't find them that exciting. That there are these "perfect squares" is an interesting fact. Finally, it is a bit of a let down that the lost symbol is actually a Bible inside the corner stone of the National Monument (which of course never gets uncovered). The last 20 or so pages see the author trying to pontificate on how we are all creators and other philosophical issues; he is not qualified to do that. If I wanted to read up on the meaning of life, a book by Dan Brown probably isn't high on my reading list.
Overall not a bad book. The ending is more satisfying than the one in "The Da Vinci Code." It is not good enough to warrant the 500 plus pages, though.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
The Black Hole War by Leonard Susskind
Paperback 2008. 471 pages.
South Amboy, NJ
Subtitle: My battle with Stephen Hawking to make the world safe for quantum mechanics.
South Amboy, NJ
Subtitle: My battle with Stephen Hawking to make the world safe for quantum mechanics.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child
Paperback 2009. 543 pages.
South Amboy, NJ
I read this book while I was in Hong Kong and enjoyed it. Evidently Child has written a series of crime novels based on the character Jack Reacher, and this is one of them.
Both a politician (John Sansom) and a group from Afghanistan (represented by a team headed by two women) attempt to obtain information about Sansom when he visited the country. The reason why Sansom wanted the comprising information is clear enough, but we do not get a satisfactory explanation on the motivation of the other team.
Reacher's involvement started when he witnessed the suicide of Susan Mark who stole the information from government archives because her son was kidnapped and held hostage. He got the help of a couple of detectives and Susan's brother Jacob Mark but had everything else stacked against him.
The story is mostly believable (if you call one against twenty or so - and coming out on top - believable) and the plot moves along nicely.
One of the better novels in this genre I have read.
South Amboy, NJ
I read this book while I was in Hong Kong and enjoyed it. Evidently Child has written a series of crime novels based on the character Jack Reacher, and this is one of them.
Both a politician (John Sansom) and a group from Afghanistan (represented by a team headed by two women) attempt to obtain information about Sansom when he visited the country. The reason why Sansom wanted the comprising information is clear enough, but we do not get a satisfactory explanation on the motivation of the other team.
Reacher's involvement started when he witnessed the suicide of Susan Mark who stole the information from government archives because her son was kidnapped and held hostage. He got the help of a couple of detectives and Susan's brother Jacob Mark but had everything else stacked against him.
The story is mostly believable (if you call one against twenty or so - and coming out on top - believable) and the plot moves along nicely.
One of the better novels in this genre I have read.
Friday, May 7, 2010
The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen
Paperback 2007. 429 pages
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.
The book's premise is this breed of Watchers who are out to do evil. The Mephisto Club consists of a group of people set on destroying these people. There are quite a few gruesome murders, the requisite suspense, and (alas) the not so satisfying ending. In any case, the group is compromised as it is infiltrated by a Watcher.
I am writing this a couple of weeks after I finished the book and am embarrassed to say I don't remember too many specifics. Which is the nature of these reads, I guess.
I do remember enjoying it, though.
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.
The book's premise is this breed of Watchers who are out to do evil. The Mephisto Club consists of a group of people set on destroying these people. There are quite a few gruesome murders, the requisite suspense, and (alas) the not so satisfying ending. In any case, the group is compromised as it is infiltrated by a Watcher.
I am writing this a couple of weeks after I finished the book and am embarrassed to say I don't remember too many specifics. Which is the nature of these reads, I guess.
I do remember enjoying it, though.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Cross Country by James Patterson
Paperback 2008, 403 pages
Somerville, MA. May 2, 2010.
In this novel Alex Cross was involved in pursuing a vicious gang of teenagers led by someone with the nickname "Tiger" who first murdered his friend Ellie Cox and eventually kidnapped his family. Turns out Cox was a journalist who learned from a Nigerian journalist Adanne Tansi a plot by a couple of rogue CIA agents who work with various countries to destabilize Nigeria. The gang consisted of Janjaweed militia who also killed for hire. Cross traveled to Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and the Sudan, and in so doing saw a lot of suffering by the various African people and the cruelty of some. After many misadventures starting with his first three days after landing at the Lagos airport and many near-death encounters with various bad guys, he headed back to Washington DC just as his family was being kidnapped. He eventually killed the Tiger and one of the rogue agents, and got the other arrested, and his family miraculously survived the ordeal.
The plot just stretches credibility beyond the breaking point. It's difficult to imagine why Cross didn't die as he was up against the militia, gangs, corrupt police, fake clergyman, and rogue CIA agents. These people would kill anyone in their way without hesitation but would spare Cross's life. I don't know what drove Patterson to this level of suffering and violence, one possible reason is he needed a forum to tell the world how bad things are in parts of Africa. On that point he succeeded: despite his many statements that many people are kind and helpful, I am sure many after reading this novel would hesitate to visit those parts of Africa. And the violence was very graphic, bordering on gratuitous. So perhaps good intentions, but the result may not be quite what he intended.
One thing about Cross that I didn't know, though, is that he is African-American. And we know that because people in Africa called him "A White Man". I am quite sure this was used in a movie (and probably the corresponding book) about how American Indians treated a black soldier.
This book is better than most (if not all) of the other Patterson books I have read. Probably the high marks as a fantasy overcome the low marks as a detective story.
Somerville, MA. May 2, 2010.
In this novel Alex Cross was involved in pursuing a vicious gang of teenagers led by someone with the nickname "Tiger" who first murdered his friend Ellie Cox and eventually kidnapped his family. Turns out Cox was a journalist who learned from a Nigerian journalist Adanne Tansi a plot by a couple of rogue CIA agents who work with various countries to destabilize Nigeria. The gang consisted of Janjaweed militia who also killed for hire. Cross traveled to Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and the Sudan, and in so doing saw a lot of suffering by the various African people and the cruelty of some. After many misadventures starting with his first three days after landing at the Lagos airport and many near-death encounters with various bad guys, he headed back to Washington DC just as his family was being kidnapped. He eventually killed the Tiger and one of the rogue agents, and got the other arrested, and his family miraculously survived the ordeal.
The plot just stretches credibility beyond the breaking point. It's difficult to imagine why Cross didn't die as he was up against the militia, gangs, corrupt police, fake clergyman, and rogue CIA agents. These people would kill anyone in their way without hesitation but would spare Cross's life. I don't know what drove Patterson to this level of suffering and violence, one possible reason is he needed a forum to tell the world how bad things are in parts of Africa. On that point he succeeded: despite his many statements that many people are kind and helpful, I am sure many after reading this novel would hesitate to visit those parts of Africa. And the violence was very graphic, bordering on gratuitous. So perhaps good intentions, but the result may not be quite what he intended.
One thing about Cross that I didn't know, though, is that he is African-American. And we know that because people in Africa called him "A White Man". I am quite sure this was used in a movie (and probably the corresponding book) about how American Indians treated a black soldier.
This book is better than most (if not all) of the other Patterson books I have read. Probably the high marks as a fantasy overcome the low marks as a detective story.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Paperback 1992 (Dover Thrift Editions), 122 pages
Cape Coral, FL. April 19, 2010.
Play written between 1599 and 1601.
Cape Coral, FL. April 19, 2010.
Play written between 1599 and 1601.
Monday, March 22, 2010
A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis
Paperback 1962, 76 pages.
Kunming, China. March 20, 2010.
With Foreword by Madeleine L’Engle, and Introduction by Doughlas H. Gresham.
Written under penname of N. W. Clerk after the death of Lewis’s wife.
Kunming, China. March 20, 2010.
With Foreword by Madeleine L’Engle, and Introduction by Doughlas H. Gresham.
Written under penname of N. W. Clerk after the death of Lewis’s wife.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Bones by Jonathan Kellerman
Paperback, 2009, 429 pages
February 22, 2010 Enroute UA870 SYD-SFO
Alex Delaware is a clinical psychologist consultant for the LAPD. In this novel he helps to track down the killer(s) involved with a series of murders discovered at a marsh in the city run by the “Save The Marsh” organization. The killers turn out to be a rich lady Simone Vander and her lover lawyer who started off murdering victims of their sexual bondage games. Eventually they turned on the lady’s father, step-mother, and step-brother (although they spared the child). Helping in the investigation was the original prime suspect Huck who worked as an aide to the family; he was the prime suspect because evidence was planted by the perpetrators to frame him (unsuccessfully).
The plot of the book is simply too complicated compared to how good the book is. Since I read it during a trip, I picked it up and put it down multiple times and at first got quite confused as to where the story was going. Some elements of the story are beyond reasonable belief: like serial killers suddenly find they can use that crime to frame another person and hope to inherit a huge fortune from it. The title “Bones” refers to the right hands that are chopped off and stored in a box. One might expect this to have great significance, but actually it was an elaborate but credibility-straining scheme to stage events so the LAPD will take the investigation in a particular direction.
Kellerman, a psychologist himself, supposed writes great psychological detective stories; this book must be an exception to the rule. Delaware could pass himself off as a regular detective; and I do not get any more insight into what turns people into serial killers from the book. Toward the end Delaware also got into a bit of heroic act by trying to help Huck when he was being stabbed by Vander. No doubt the author sees a bit of himself in Delaware.
The book if written better would be average. As it is, it doesn’t make the grade.
February 22, 2010 Enroute UA870 SYD-SFO
Alex Delaware is a clinical psychologist consultant for the LAPD. In this novel he helps to track down the killer(s) involved with a series of murders discovered at a marsh in the city run by the “Save The Marsh” organization. The killers turn out to be a rich lady Simone Vander and her lover lawyer who started off murdering victims of their sexual bondage games. Eventually they turned on the lady’s father, step-mother, and step-brother (although they spared the child). Helping in the investigation was the original prime suspect Huck who worked as an aide to the family; he was the prime suspect because evidence was planted by the perpetrators to frame him (unsuccessfully).
The plot of the book is simply too complicated compared to how good the book is. Since I read it during a trip, I picked it up and put it down multiple times and at first got quite confused as to where the story was going. Some elements of the story are beyond reasonable belief: like serial killers suddenly find they can use that crime to frame another person and hope to inherit a huge fortune from it. The title “Bones” refers to the right hands that are chopped off and stored in a box. One might expect this to have great significance, but actually it was an elaborate but credibility-straining scheme to stage events so the LAPD will take the investigation in a particular direction.
Kellerman, a psychologist himself, supposed writes great psychological detective stories; this book must be an exception to the rule. Delaware could pass himself off as a regular detective; and I do not get any more insight into what turns people into serial killers from the book. Toward the end Delaware also got into a bit of heroic act by trying to help Huck when he was being stabbed by Vander. No doubt the author sees a bit of himself in Delaware.
The book if written better would be average. As it is, it doesn’t make the grade.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Impressionism: 50 Paintings You Should Know by Ines Janet Engelmann.
January 9, 2010; South Amboy, NJ
Softcover, 2007; 135 pp.
We picked this book up when we visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art a couple of weeks ago. I couldn't find out anything about the author, so she may be a well-known art historian, or just an amateur (hopefully a knowledgeable one). Also, the 50 were picked by her, or via a survey, or is common knowledge among people who "know"? The book doesn't tell us. Neither do we know if they were chosen because they were significant artistically or historically.
I thought I had a pretty broad exposure to Impressionist paintings since I, like millions others, like work from the period a lot. I learned quite a few things from reading the book:
Many artists struggled financially, although some could afford to paint because they came from a rich family.
There were quite a few painters that were not French: van Gogh, of course, was Dutch, although he lived in France for a long time; there were several Germans also.
Many paintings took a long time to complete. I knew about van Gogh's sketches when I went to the Met for a van Gogh exhibition, but I didn't know the extent to which the artists spent time creating their work.
Gaugin's work eventually evolved to be 2-dimensional.
The artists often worked together, and painted each others' portraits. Sometimes they would paint the same objects. Examples are Renoir and Monet painting La Grenouillere, van Gogh and Monet painting sunflowers.
In any case, still a good book to read since I'm sure Ms. Engelmann knows a lot about the subject than I do. If I were to pick (even from the painters I know reasonably well) I would have made a few different choices, though.
Softcover, 2007; 135 pp.
We picked this book up when we visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art a couple of weeks ago. I couldn't find out anything about the author, so she may be a well-known art historian, or just an amateur (hopefully a knowledgeable one). Also, the 50 were picked by her, or via a survey, or is common knowledge among people who "know"? The book doesn't tell us. Neither do we know if they were chosen because they were significant artistically or historically.
I thought I had a pretty broad exposure to Impressionist paintings since I, like millions others, like work from the period a lot. I learned quite a few things from reading the book:
Many artists struggled financially, although some could afford to paint because they came from a rich family.
There were quite a few painters that were not French: van Gogh, of course, was Dutch, although he lived in France for a long time; there were several Germans also.
Many paintings took a long time to complete. I knew about van Gogh's sketches when I went to the Met for a van Gogh exhibition, but I didn't know the extent to which the artists spent time creating their work.
Gaugin's work eventually evolved to be 2-dimensional.
The artists often worked together, and painted each others' portraits. Sometimes they would paint the same objects. Examples are Renoir and Monet painting La Grenouillere, van Gogh and Monet painting sunflowers.
In any case, still a good book to read since I'm sure Ms. Engelmann knows a lot about the subject than I do. If I were to pick (even from the painters I know reasonably well) I would have made a few different choices, though.
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