May 15, 2011, Hong Kong
Paperback 2010, 476 pages.
The story is about how a private investigator Ty Hauck and Treasury agent Naomi Blum worked together to uncover what initially was thought as a terrorist plot to bring down the financial system of the world. It turns out the plot was hatched by a group called Gstaad headed by none other than the Treasury Secretary and his former and current colleagues at a particular investment bank company Reynolds Reid. The chase got the agents to travel to various countries and do different types of detective work. While luck was always on the side of our protagonists, the plot is by and large plausible.
One may wonder whether political correctness led to the author’s choice of the ultimate villains, or he thought this would just add yet another twist to the story. I would not be disappointed if he had simply stuck with terrorism, but the plot line he used was okay.
Gross’s credits include working with James Paterson. He is certainly a better writer than Paterson (based on this one book). To the senior author’s credit, he endorses the book.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
The Bricklayer by Noah Boyd
Paperback 2010, 382 pages
April 16, 2011
South Amboy, NJ
From what I could tell, this is the first novel written by the former FBI agent. It is about the group Rubaco Pentad which extorts money ($5M total) from the FBI by killing and threatening to kill various people if its demands are not met. The FBI calls in a former agent (who works as a mason, hence the title of the book) Steve Vail to help solve the problem. The bad guys keep throwing in mental and physical challenges at Vail which he meets, and in the process kills many (or all, I forget) of them, including the mastermind Victor Radek.
The general technique of escalating challenges works quite well for the writer, but he seems to go to the same well a couple of times too many. The final twist (that the outgoing Deputy DA is involved) is quite unnecessary and not well-developed; the author uses a short narrative to describe what happened. If I were his editor, I would say either cut out that part of the story or make it more central and elaborate on it.
It would have been a much better book if the storyline ends say 2/3 of the way; as it is it drags on a bit. Nonetheless I enjoyed this book, and would gladly read other books by the same author.
April 16, 2011
South Amboy, NJ
From what I could tell, this is the first novel written by the former FBI agent. It is about the group Rubaco Pentad which extorts money ($5M total) from the FBI by killing and threatening to kill various people if its demands are not met. The FBI calls in a former agent (who works as a mason, hence the title of the book) Steve Vail to help solve the problem. The bad guys keep throwing in mental and physical challenges at Vail which he meets, and in the process kills many (or all, I forget) of them, including the mastermind Victor Radek.
The general technique of escalating challenges works quite well for the writer, but he seems to go to the same well a couple of times too many. The final twist (that the outgoing Deputy DA is involved) is quite unnecessary and not well-developed; the author uses a short narrative to describe what happened. If I were his editor, I would say either cut out that part of the story or make it more central and elaborate on it.
It would have been a much better book if the storyline ends say 2/3 of the way; as it is it drags on a bit. Nonetheless I enjoyed this book, and would gladly read other books by the same author.
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
Kindle Edition 1996, 512 pages
January 28, 2011, UA839 enroute LAX-SYD
This is the first Amazon Kindle book that I read. I still have to get used to the device.
I saw the Musical Oliver in London, all I remember was the scene that he ran away and I thought the staging was quite clever. Of course I also remember his being exploited by various people. I did forget his background was eventually cleared up and that he was the illegitimate son of a rich person and thus inherited a substantial amount of money
Between the “olde” English, new reading device, and reading a few pages here and there, I can’t quite form an opinion whether this is a great book. I do remember some passages (usually the more graphic ones) are quite compelling.
January 28, 2011, UA839 enroute LAX-SYD
This is the first Amazon Kindle book that I read. I still have to get used to the device.
I saw the Musical Oliver in London, all I remember was the scene that he ran away and I thought the staging was quite clever. Of course I also remember his being exploited by various people. I did forget his background was eventually cleared up and that he was the illegitimate son of a rich person and thus inherited a substantial amount of money
Between the “olde” English, new reading device, and reading a few pages here and there, I can’t quite form an opinion whether this is a great book. I do remember some passages (usually the more graphic ones) are quite compelling.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
for one more day by Mitch Albom
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.
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.
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.
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