The Naive and Sentimental Lover (20)

The Naive and Sentimental Lover (20)
John LeCarre

I am slowly working my way through all of John LeCarre's books, and I have been reading them in order after the first couple. His books are usually easy to find, but I had trouble finding this one. After reading it I know why. It is the only book LeCarre has written that is not about espinoge. This deals with Aldo Cassidy a rich inventor who becomes involved with an erratic writer and his wife. The book is somewhat slow to develop and is very confusing in parts.. he day dreams a lot and it is hard to tell fantasy from truth.. although I am sure that is what he wanted.. and the character sometimes has trouble telling what is real.
If you believe what you read on the Internet this book is roughly autobiographical about LeCarre's first divorce, and the other 2 people in the book each wrote their own accounts of what happened.
It is written in the classic LeCarre style.. slow to develop, confusing in parts.. long sections where the main character just thinks.. but a very engaging story. Not my favorite, but not my least favorite either. If you are a LeCarre fan you should read this.. if not.. you might skip it in favor of some of his better works.

In general I enjoy LeCarre although all of his books are hard reading and some of them are nearly impossible - lol. I do enjoy his style and the complexity of his book and will keep working my way through his catalog.

Eaters of the Dead (19)

Eaters of the Dead
Micheal Crichton

A bizarre book that is the tale of a 10th century Arab who encounters the Vikings while on his travels and joins them (somewhat against his will) on a great journey to the North.

The book is told in narrative form by Ibn Fadlan, who is a real person who encountered the Viking in 921 AD. The first three chapters of the book are from his writings, the rest is fiction created by Crichton. A really well done book in the classic Crichton style. You never know what you are going to get when you read one of his books, but you can be sure it will be well done and entertaining!

Rose (18)

Rose
Martin Cruz Smith

A book by Smith set in 19th century England in a small mining town. The lead character wants to return to Africa, but needs the support of the local Bishop. The Bishop first wants him to go to Wigan to look into the missing priest there.

The story is engaging and reminds me of Renko. The lead is somewhat of an outcast, he does not want to be there, yet keeps on the trail even when others say he should stop. In the process he gets beat up a few times... just as Renko always seems to do.

And excellent book written with Smiths attention to detail and character. In other news Martin Cruz Smith has a new book coming out in June, Stalins Ghost, which will be the sixth book in the Renko series.. I am SO excited!!

Sole Survivor (17)

Sole Survivor
Dean Koontz

I do enjoy Dean Koontz books.. but never excited about starting them.. He grabs you quick and pulls you in. His books always have such outlandish plots and ideas.. but what makes them great is that the main character is always as skeptical as you are about whatever is going on. This was a neat book, where you could not figure out what the F*** was going on...
My main complaint with Koontz is he spends too much time building up the story and the mystery.. and they reveals it and wraps the book up too quickly.

This book reminded me of Zaphod and the total perspective vortex... I wonder if that was a source of inspiration for it :)

Treasure (16)

Treasure
Clive Cussler

This is a book I started long ago and never finished... I picked it up and started over.. and I only remembered a few parts.. which was good. Another fabulous Dirk Pitt adventure. I like these books, but Pitt is a bit over the top... James Bond-ish stunts and such.. to me they take away from really good stories.
This one was good.. with a neat discovery in the end.