The House of Thunder (49)

The House of Thunder (49)
Dean Knoontz

This was a book originally released under a pen name, then later re-released under Knoontz own name. The story is good, but gets a bit tedious in the detail sometimes. Girl wakes up from a coma and finds that she doesnt remember much... soon details of her life come back, but she can not remember anything about her job.
When she was in college her boyfriend was killed in a hazing 'accident' she testifies against 4 people. 1 goes to jail, 2 others get killed some years later in a car accident and she loses track of the 4th.
**spoiler**
So she is very surpsied and frightened when she starts seeing these people in the hospital, especially the dead ones. The strange thing is, even through 13 years has passed the people look the same. She thinks she is going mad, until she starts to see cracks in the story...
The lead up to the story takes a bit long, then the conclusion is too fast... She learns she has been kidnapped by the Russians, she works for a defense contractor, and they are trying to find out information from her... The stay in the hospital was an elobrate rouge to make her break down so they could get information out of her.
Really intersting idea, and I wish he would have spent some more time on the ending and less on when she thought she was going crazy.
Overall a good book.. but certainly not one of his best.

Dave Barry is not making this up

Dave Barry is not making this up.
Dave Barry

I just realized I finished this book between Smileys People and Hey Ranger. This was the time I was on vacation and I never marked it down.. so we will call this #48 even though it occured earlier.
A great collection of Dave's columns. My favorites concern his boat called Buster and their adventures together ;0

Hey Ranger! (47)

Hey Ranger!
Jim Burnett

I picked this book up at the gift shop in the Great Smoky Mountains Nationa Park.. seemed like an appropriate place to buy a book by a retired ranger about interesting and amusing things that happen to Park Rangers.
An intersting look at silly, stupid and illegal things people do at National Parks.. It is meant to be light hearted and entertaining, which it was. It is amazing the things people will will say and do!
Much more than that, it gives you a deep apprecation for the job of park ranger.. many nights spend up working looking for lost people, helping at accidents, cleaning up enviromental spills, fighting fires, etc. etc. It is not so much a job in the sense of 9-5 but more like a lifestyle.. something you do all the time, and also involves your family.
As well as an understanding of the job and the people, Jim also gives great descriptions of the Parks themselves.. makes you want to go out and visit them!!

For more information please see the website Hey Ranger!

Smiley's People (46)

Smiley's People
By John LeCarre

The final book of the Karla trilogy.. and a very good story. In the end George wins, yet feels an odd sense of anti climax about the whole thing.
A wonderfully crafted book.. which in the end left me wondering.. what the hell was the second book all about? It really didnt seem to fit.. the only link to this story was some vauge reference to changes at the Circus while George was away.. Where were you George? Oh Yes Hong Kong....
This book was well done.. And I was very happy that I figured out the riddle of Tatiana along the way :)