Title: A Drop of the Hard Stuff
Author: Lawrence Block
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: May 23, 2013
When was the book published: May, 2011
Main Characters: Matthew Scudder, Jim Faber his sponsor, girlfriend Jan, Mick Ballou (present day friend), High Low Jack Ellery, Ellery's sponsor - Greg Stillman
What happens? Scudder tells Mick the story of his encounter years ago with Jack Ellery, childhood acquaintance who became a criminal, then a reformed alcoholic. Jack does the 8th and 9th steps of apologizing for his past errors and gets shot twice in the head. Greg hires Scudder to determine if his death was related to his confessions.
How long was this? 319 pages
Did I like this? More great Block writing. Wish it wasn't a flashback to the past - can't he write a Scudder story in the present? - but other than that it was a page turner.
Overall grade: A-
Saturday, May 25, 2013
The Racketeer by John Grisham
Title: The Racketeer
Author: John Grisham
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: June 28, 2013
When was the book published: 2012 I think
How long was this? 352 pages
Did I like this? top notch, loved it. Grisham isn't always great, but he nailed this one.
Overall grade: 352 pages
Author: John Grisham
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: June 28, 2013
When was the book published: 2012 I think
Main Characters: Malcolm Bannister, Judge Raymond Fawcett, Nathan Cooley
What happens? Malcolm is doing 10 years for unknowlingly doing illegal real estate transactions for a mobster. The Feds catch him in a sting. He hatches a plot to get out by helping them find the killer of a federal judge. The plot twists in amazing directions - no spoilers here.How long was this? 352 pages
Did I like this? top notch, loved it. Grisham isn't always great, but he nailed this one.
Overall grade: 352 pages
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Six Years by Harlan Coben
Title: Six Years
Author: Harlan Coben
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: May 21, 2013
When was the book published: 2013
Main Characters: Professor Jacob Fisher, best friend Benedict, lost love Natalie, Todd Sanderson, mentor professor Hume, Mrs. Dinsmore, bad guys Otto and Bob aka Danny Zuker
What happens? Natalie dumps Jacob (six years ago), marries Todd, and says "promise to leave us alone." Todd dies, and Jake sees his obituary, goes to the funeral, and Todd is married to Delia, not Natalie. He can't keep his promise and investigates.
How long was this? 351 pages
Did I like this? read it in 3 days, great story by a great story teller. I might have been able to see what was coming in the plot a bit., but I loved it anyways
Overall grade: A-
Author: Harlan Coben
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: May 21, 2013
When was the book published: 2013
Main Characters: Professor Jacob Fisher, best friend Benedict, lost love Natalie, Todd Sanderson, mentor professor Hume, Mrs. Dinsmore, bad guys Otto and Bob aka Danny Zuker
What happens? Natalie dumps Jacob (six years ago), marries Todd, and says "promise to leave us alone." Todd dies, and Jake sees his obituary, goes to the funeral, and Todd is married to Delia, not Natalie. He can't keep his promise and investigates.
How long was this? 351 pages
Did I like this? read it in 3 days, great story by a great story teller. I might have been able to see what was coming in the plot a bit., but I loved it anyways
Overall grade: A-
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Plainsong by Kent Haruf
Title: Plainsong
Author: Kent Haruf
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: May 18, 2013
When was the book published: 1999
Main Characters: Tom Guthrie, sons Ike and Bobby, the McPheron brothers who have a farm, Victoria Robideaux, teenage girl, the Beckmans, Maggie Jones
What happens? Tom's a high school teacher, his wife has lost her mind and moved to Denver to live with her sister. Victoria gets pregnant and her mother throws her out of the house and she winds up living with the McPherons.
How long was this? 301 pages
Did I like this? Wonderful story, characters, very moving. Not much action or excitement, so why was I riveted to every page? Beautifully written
Overall grade A
Author: Kent Haruf
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: May 18, 2013
When was the book published: 1999
Main Characters: Tom Guthrie, sons Ike and Bobby, the McPheron brothers who have a farm, Victoria Robideaux, teenage girl, the Beckmans, Maggie Jones
What happens? Tom's a high school teacher, his wife has lost her mind and moved to Denver to live with her sister. Victoria gets pregnant and her mother throws her out of the house and she winds up living with the McPherons.
How long was this? 301 pages
Did I like this? Wonderful story, characters, very moving. Not much action or excitement, so why was I riveted to every page? Beautifully written
Overall grade A
Where You Once Belonged by Kent Haruf
Title: Where You Once Belonged
Author: Kent Haruf
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: Kauai May 2013
When was the book published: 1990
Main Characters: narrator and newspaper owner Pat Arbuckle, Jack Burdette, high school hero turned bad guy, sherriff Bud Sealy, Burdette's wife Jessie and two boys
What happens? Burdette comes back to town 8 years after stealing money from the town's main business, the grain storage place. Arbuckle tells the story of their lives from growing up and going to college with Burdette, and his long romance of Wanda Jo whom he abandons when he marries Jessie at a convention.
How long was this? 176 pages
Did I like this? The guy is an amazing writer, who tells a story and captures the language and character of the people of Holt Colorado.
Overall grade: A-
Author: Kent Haruf
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: Kauai May 2013
When was the book published: 1990
Main Characters: narrator and newspaper owner Pat Arbuckle, Jack Burdette, high school hero turned bad guy, sherriff Bud Sealy, Burdette's wife Jessie and two boys
What happens? Burdette comes back to town 8 years after stealing money from the town's main business, the grain storage place. Arbuckle tells the story of their lives from growing up and going to college with Burdette, and his long romance of Wanda Jo whom he abandons when he marries Jessie at a convention.
How long was this? 176 pages
Did I like this? The guy is an amazing writer, who tells a story and captures the language and character of the people of Holt Colorado.
Overall grade: A-
The Naming of the Dead by Ian Rankin
Title: The Naming of the Dead
Author: Ian Rankin
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: Kauia May 2013
When was the book published: 2006
Main Characters: Det John Rebus, partner Siobhan, boss MacCrae, Siobhan's parents Teddy and Eve, journalist Mairie, bad guy Gerry Cafferty
What happens? Summer of 2005 and a big G8 summit in Edinburgh. Rebus is working the murder of Cyril Colliar who was one of Cafferty's muscle. A G8 conference delegate falls (or jumps or is pushed) to his death at one of the hotels and Rebus gets suspended for trying to solve these and tie them all together, as he draws closer to retirement. London bombings occur during all of this; Siobhan's mother gets clocked in the head during the G8 protests.
How long was this? 564 pages
Did I like this? Rankin is a top notch writer. In the tradition of great British thrillers, full of political tension and thoroughly believeable.
Overall grade: A-
Author: Ian Rankin
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: Kauia May 2013
When was the book published: 2006
Main Characters: Det John Rebus, partner Siobhan, boss MacCrae, Siobhan's parents Teddy and Eve, journalist Mairie, bad guy Gerry Cafferty
What happens? Summer of 2005 and a big G8 summit in Edinburgh. Rebus is working the murder of Cyril Colliar who was one of Cafferty's muscle. A G8 conference delegate falls (or jumps or is pushed) to his death at one of the hotels and Rebus gets suspended for trying to solve these and tie them all together, as he draws closer to retirement. London bombings occur during all of this; Siobhan's mother gets clocked in the head during the G8 protests.
How long was this? 564 pages
Did I like this? Rankin is a top notch writer. In the tradition of great British thrillers, full of political tension and thoroughly believeable.
Overall grade: A-
The Judas Judge by Michael McGarrity
Title: The Judas Judge
Author: Michael McGarrity
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: Kauai May 2013
When was the book published: July, 2000
Main Characters: Deputy State Polic chief Kevin Kearny, wife Sara Brannon, ex lawyer/judge Vernon Langsford, his dysfunctional family, Kay Murray and Penelope Gibbens
What happens? Someone goes on a killing spree, with Vernon killed along the way, but shot twice, giving away that he was the real target. Kearny has to untangle to mess
How long was this? 270 pages
Did I like this? OK, not great, would try him again. Plot and characters reasonably good, but not compelling
Overall grade: B-
Author: Michael McGarrity
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: Kauai May 2013
When was the book published: July, 2000
Main Characters: Deputy State Polic chief Kevin Kearny, wife Sara Brannon, ex lawyer/judge Vernon Langsford, his dysfunctional family, Kay Murray and Penelope Gibbens
What happens? Someone goes on a killing spree, with Vernon killed along the way, but shot twice, giving away that he was the real target. Kearny has to untangle to mess
How long was this? 270 pages
Did I like this? OK, not great, would try him again. Plot and characters reasonably good, but not compelling
Overall grade: B-
Sunday, May 5, 2013
The Tie That Binds by Kent Haruf
Title: The Tie That Binds
Author: Kent Haruf
Did I listen or read?: Library Book
When did I finish?: May 1, 2013
When was the book published: 1984
Main Characters: Sanders Roscoe, Edith and Lyman Goodnough ("good - no",) Sheriff Bud Sealy, Roy and Ada Goodnough, Sander's wife Mavis
What happens? The story of generations in a small town in the plains. Sanders and his father live near evil Roy and his two kids in Holt. They grow up, their paths cross, tragedy befalls them. A saga that covers 80+ years.
How long was this? 246 pages
Did I like this? An exceptionally well written saga, a page turner, with characters vividly drawn with their tragedies and fates drawn exquisitely.
Overall grade: A
Author: Kent Haruf
Did I listen or read?: Library Book
When did I finish?: May 1, 2013
When was the book published: 1984
Main Characters: Sanders Roscoe, Edith and Lyman Goodnough ("good - no",) Sheriff Bud Sealy, Roy and Ada Goodnough, Sander's wife Mavis
What happens? The story of generations in a small town in the plains. Sanders and his father live near evil Roy and his two kids in Holt. They grow up, their paths cross, tragedy befalls them. A saga that covers 80+ years.
How long was this? 246 pages
Did I like this? An exceptionally well written saga, a page turner, with characters vividly drawn with their tragedies and fates drawn exquisitely.
Overall grade: A
Hit Me by Lawrence Block
Title: Hit Me
Author: Lawrence Block
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: May 1, 2013
When was the book published: Feb 2013
Main Characters: Keller (aka Nicholas Edwards), his wife and daughter, Dot
What happens? Keller's house renovation business is slow, and his stamp collecting obsessive but not profitable, so he takes on some jobs for Dot in New York (a high ranking monk in a monastery) and on a cruise ship (a mobster under federal protection) and finally a contract for a kid who is a stamp collector.
How long was this? 337 pages
Did I like this? Block's writing is phenomenal and easy to read, funny, with great dialogue. The plot is not really riveting, and the stamp collecting detail becomes a distraction. I would read anything that Block writes - he is that entertaining.
Overall grade: B
Author: Lawrence Block
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: May 1, 2013
When was the book published: Feb 2013
Main Characters: Keller (aka Nicholas Edwards), his wife and daughter, Dot
What happens? Keller's house renovation business is slow, and his stamp collecting obsessive but not profitable, so he takes on some jobs for Dot in New York (a high ranking monk in a monastery) and on a cruise ship (a mobster under federal protection) and finally a contract for a kid who is a stamp collector.
How long was this? 337 pages
Did I like this? Block's writing is phenomenal and easy to read, funny, with great dialogue. The plot is not really riveting, and the stamp collecting detail becomes a distraction. I would read anything that Block writes - he is that entertaining.
Overall grade: B
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)