Paperback 2006, 197 pages
March 29, 2011
South Amboy, NJ
Anne read this book in preparation for a discussion she would lead, so I picked it up also.
The protagonist Chick was about to commit suicide but had an accident instead. In his dazed state, he saw his dead mother for about a day. During the time, he re-evaluated his life and learned a few things about himself. He survived the accident, and reconnected with his daughter (her not inviting him to her wedding was one trigger for his suicide). Chick died a few years later, and the story was narrated by his daughter.
Since the story is fiction, involves ghosts, visions, and someone hurt in an accident, the plot doesn't hang together, nor does it need to. Still, I think the author could do a better job of writing coherent scenarios.
Based on this book, I don't understand why Albom is so popular. Perhaps there are so few books that tugs on the audience's heartstrings, so anything close to doing it is regarded as great writing? The writing style certainly helps, it's relaxed and easy reading. I did enjoy some passages, but then I tear up reading dinner menus and phone books.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
A Chronology of Boating on the Navesink River by Hendrik F. van Hemmen
Paperback 2010, 96 pages
March 10, 2011
South Amboy, NJ
Author is Vice President of the Navesink Maritime Association. Book is gift from Stuart.
March 10, 2011
South Amboy, NJ
Author is Vice President of the Navesink Maritime Association. Book is gift from Stuart.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
ー歩ー歩學箴言 ‐ 作智慧人。劉少平 著。
- 學習怎樣ー歩ー歩走出愚眜, ー級ー級邁向智慧
上册243頁 (2009)
下册267頁 (2009)
Completed January 26, 2010, South Amboy, NJ.
上册243頁 (2009)
下册267頁 (2009)
Completed January 26, 2010, South Amboy, NJ.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton
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.
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.
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.
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