Monday, November 30, 2009

Avatar: The Na'vi Quest - Nicole Pitesa

Avatar: The Na'vi Quest is an adaptation of the Avatar movie by James Cameron. It's a short, 57 page, sparsely illustrated paperback. It's not really a novel. It does provide some interesting background on what to expect from the movie, and it does so without spoiling it for someone who intends to see the picture when it comes out. I look forward to watching the movie to flesh out this brief introduction. Recommended.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Shades of Gray #1 Noir, City Shrouded by Darkness - Kristie Lynn Higgins

Noir, City Shrouded by Darkness is one of those books I really struggled to finish. I hate to not finish a book I've started, so I stuck with it. Mistake. The book's got some good points but not many. I'm sorry. I know somebody went to a lot of trouble to write this but I have to ask why? I'm assuming they didn't have an editor because a decent editor would probably still have this in rewrite. My recommendation is don't read this. If you do you'll regret the time you wasted.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Hocus Pocus - Fern Michaels

Hocus Pocus is a sequel to Hide and Seek. The vigilantes are back in the USA and masquerading as rock stars to keep from being exposed by a supreme court justice. The justice is being blackmailed and threatens to expose the sisterhood if they don't help her out her jam. It's another convoluted but interesting adventure, with more people joining the vigilantes as things roll along. Highly recommended.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Rough Country - John Sandford

Rough Country is the latest Virgil Flowers novel. I have yet to read a book by Sandford that didn't make me lose sleep. This time Virgil is dealing with a murder at a mostly lesbian retreat. This is almost as frustrating for Virgil as trying to find the killer. You know he'll find the killer, but it's not a sure thing whether he's going to get laid or not :) This books got plenty of twists and turns. It keeps you guessing right up to the end. Very Highly recommended.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Nine Dragons - Michael Connelly

Nine Dragons is the latest Harry Bosch novel. Wow! Two continents, bad guys, guns, death, kidnapping, and a real twist in the end. Harry's life is changed forever. Very highly recommended.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Grave Secret - Charlaine Harris

Grave Secret is book four in the Harper Connelly series. There are no vampires in this novel, but who needs vampires? This story is part of a great series and this is a great book. Unfortunately when the book was over I was very sad. It has an unbelievable ending and wrapped up many mysteries, but melancholy would be the most positive description I can think of for this story. This book can really put your own life in perspective. Very highly recommended.

And for those who continue to dig for deeper meaning in this and other books, I have one message. Just suspend disbelief and enjoy the story. I love to read, and have since I was barely able to read. The best presents for me when I was a kid were books or bullets. But I hated literature classes because the search for themes, characters, plots, etc. destroyed any pleasure I got from reading a book. I never enjoyed David Copperfield or Moby Dick or Treasure Island when I was a kid, because I couldn't be a pick pocket, a whaler, or a pirate. I had to read for the deeper meaning. As an adult I've read all three and thoroughly enjoyed them. Down with literature. Up with reading. Stick your stodgy old literary analysis where the sun don't shine.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Death from the Skies! - Philip Plait

Death from the Skies! is a book to rid you of your nightmares. It does this by explaining in excruciating detail all the ways the universe can kill you. Some ways kill you slow and some get you very fast. The good part is Dr. Plait also explains the odds on them getting you at all, and that is vanishingly small. This is a fascinating book, but it contains more details than it needed. I would have preferred the Reader's Digest Condensed version, and I don't say that very often. It's still worth a read if you have the time. Recommended.
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