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Murder on the Grand
Christopher H Meehan
This is a small press book about based in Grand Rapids Michigan.. if you are familiar with the town you will recognize streets and landmarks.. and if you are not I wonder if he is too vague.. the books itself is poorly written.. WAY too detailed on everything that is going on.. a simple sentence may take several paragraphs by the time he tells you about every movement of the speaker, his feelings, the position of the sun etc.
The story is about a woman who is attached after being called to the home of a friend.. the friend is dead.. and her boyfriend is found (in pieces) soon after. This may or may not be related to a death that occurred shortly before.. and may tie into a girl who dies years before.. and all of it *might* be tied to Promise Keepers.. all the main characters are priests.. and you get the impression that every movement in Grand Rapids revolves around the church (that is church, not to be confused with God). An awful book with a thin plot that just doesn't hold up... I think the ending sums it all up when the author writes...
"Then the car, a red 1978 Escort, made my mind sway. But it couldn't be, I told myself as I went down the embankment. No Way"
The Ford Escort was not produced until 1981.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Decent from Xanadu (40)
Decent from Xanadu
Harold Robbins
One of my guilty pleasures.. I do enjoy Robbins.. he has a way of writing that makes you interested in his characters.. who are often strong, yet still beliviable. This concerns on of the richest men in the world, Judd Crane, who wants to live forever. He seeks out a Russian Dr who has helped others live longer and begins a long series of operations and treatments desigend to let him live longer. Along the way the Drs attractive assistant becomes the close companion to Crane. She may or may not be working for the Russians.. and may be a spy.. As with Leonard novels.. the joy is in the characters and not the story!
Harold Robbins
One of my guilty pleasures.. I do enjoy Robbins.. he has a way of writing that makes you interested in his characters.. who are often strong, yet still beliviable. This concerns on of the richest men in the world, Judd Crane, who wants to live forever. He seeks out a Russian Dr who has helped others live longer and begins a long series of operations and treatments desigend to let him live longer. Along the way the Drs attractive assistant becomes the close companion to Crane. She may or may not be working for the Russians.. and may be a spy.. As with Leonard novels.. the joy is in the characters and not the story!
Svetlana (39)
Svetlana
martin Ebon
In 1967 Stalin's daughter Svetlana defected to the U.S. This is her story as told by someone else. She leaves Russia after Xmas 1966 to take the cremated remains of her Indian husband to his country. While there she decides she can not go back to her country and begins a quest for someone who will take her.
The most interesting parts of the story are the parts dealing with her childhood and a touch of information on her father. It is amazing that Joseph Stalin probably killed more people than Hilter (and his one people at that) and started a system that reminding me of 1984 complete with 'revised' history as people fell out of favor.. yet little is know about him, and his is not the symbol of all evil as Hilter is.
One interesting note... after she left her country the disgraced head of KGB was replaced by on older more experienced man.. Yuri V. Andropov.. who would go on to become head of The Soviet Union in 1982
martin Ebon
In 1967 Stalin's daughter Svetlana defected to the U.S. This is her story as told by someone else. She leaves Russia after Xmas 1966 to take the cremated remains of her Indian husband to his country. While there she decides she can not go back to her country and begins a quest for someone who will take her.
The most interesting parts of the story are the parts dealing with her childhood and a touch of information on her father. It is amazing that Joseph Stalin probably killed more people than Hilter (and his one people at that) and started a system that reminding me of 1984 complete with 'revised' history as people fell out of favor.. yet little is know about him, and his is not the symbol of all evil as Hilter is.
One interesting note... after she left her country the disgraced head of KGB was replaced by on older more experienced man.. Yuri V. Andropov.. who would go on to become head of The Soviet Union in 1982
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Stalin's Ghost (38)
Stalin's Ghost
By Martin Cruz Smith
One of my favorite writers put out a new book about my favorite Detective, Arkady Renko. I am not sure why but I just love these books.. I can't get enough of them... it makes me want to go to Russia!
So this book picks up where Renko leaves off in Wolves Eat Dogs and continues in the typical fashion... One thing that is so interesting about these book is you have to figure out the characters as Renko does.. he meets them at parties, in interviews, at crime scenes.. and you have to make your own judgments about them.. and how they all fit together or if they do... Another fine book in the Arkady tradition.. I hope there are many more books in this series!
By Martin Cruz Smith
One of my favorite writers put out a new book about my favorite Detective, Arkady Renko. I am not sure why but I just love these books.. I can't get enough of them... it makes me want to go to Russia!
So this book picks up where Renko leaves off in Wolves Eat Dogs and continues in the typical fashion... One thing that is so interesting about these book is you have to figure out the characters as Renko does.. he meets them at parties, in interviews, at crime scenes.. and you have to make your own judgments about them.. and how they all fit together or if they do... Another fine book in the Arkady tradition.. I hope there are many more books in this series!
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Touch (37)
Touch
Elmore Leonard
I think I read this book about 15 years ago.. .although I don't remember much of it. An engaging book full of lively characters. Set vividly in Detroit.. a bit different from some of Leonards other books, but still very enjoyable.
Elmore Leonard
I think I read this book about 15 years ago.. .although I don't remember much of it. An engaging book full of lively characters. Set vividly in Detroit.. a bit different from some of Leonards other books, but still very enjoyable.
Hitler's Secret Life (36)
Hitler's Secret Life
By Glenn B. Infield
This was an interesting book that dealth more with Hilter's locations than with his Military style. It looked at how Hitler had first come to Obersalzberg in Bravaria when he was young and trying to get the NSAD started. As he became more successful he bought a home there and made it his base.. When he came to power his 'home' became a fortress taking over much of a town. Add to this the Eagles Nest and his bunker in Berlin. This book looked at his locations and the people around him and how things changed as the war went on. Also there is an intersting look at his health.. it is no secret that Hilter lost the war largely due to bad (often illogical) decisions.. The book suggests that the Allies were actually poisoning the medicines he took by the handful. And interesting idea..
As with any book of this type there is a lot of conjecture and some conspiracy theory, but overall an interesting and enjoyable book.. with many references to explore theories in more detail.
By Glenn B. Infield
This was an interesting book that dealth more with Hilter's locations than with his Military style. It looked at how Hitler had first come to Obersalzberg in Bravaria when he was young and trying to get the NSAD started. As he became more successful he bought a home there and made it his base.. When he came to power his 'home' became a fortress taking over much of a town. Add to this the Eagles Nest and his bunker in Berlin. This book looked at his locations and the people around him and how things changed as the war went on. Also there is an intersting look at his health.. it is no secret that Hilter lost the war largely due to bad (often illogical) decisions.. The book suggests that the Allies were actually poisoning the medicines he took by the handful. And interesting idea..
As with any book of this type there is a lot of conjecture and some conspiracy theory, but overall an interesting and enjoyable book.. with many references to explore theories in more detail.
Map & Compass (35)
Map & Campass
Cliff Jacobson
I was at the library to pick up a guide book on Michigan Campgrounds and ran across this. My GPS is my best friend.. but a GPS is not a compas.. it shows you were you are not where you are going.. so it is still good to have a compass (there is always one in my geocaching bag). I had not used a map and compass since Boy Scouts, this book covers the basics of navigation how to apply the compass to a map.. and also how to project and determine where you are located. A good book for anyone who spends time outside!
Cliff Jacobson
I was at the library to pick up a guide book on Michigan Campgrounds and ran across this. My GPS is my best friend.. but a GPS is not a compas.. it shows you were you are not where you are going.. so it is still good to have a compass (there is always one in my geocaching bag). I had not used a map and compass since Boy Scouts, this book covers the basics of navigation how to apply the compass to a map.. and also how to project and determine where you are located. A good book for anyone who spends time outside!
Yesterday's Spy (34)
Yesterday's Spy
Len Deighton
This is about 2 spies.. that pretend they are not... Both worked together during the war.. and both now deny to the other that they are still active.. Eventually one is sent after the other where complicated layers of deceit are uncovered on all sides.
This is a good book, it actually reminds me a lot of The Spy That Came In From The Cold by LeCarre.. the set up for how the character is sent in is nearly the same.
Len Deighton
This is about 2 spies.. that pretend they are not... Both worked together during the war.. and both now deny to the other that they are still active.. Eventually one is sent after the other where complicated layers of deceit are uncovered on all sides.
This is a good book, it actually reminds me a lot of The Spy That Came In From The Cold by LeCarre.. the set up for how the character is sent in is nearly the same.
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