Our Kind of Traitor by John Lecarre

Title: Our Kind of Traitor
Author: John LeCarre
Did I listen or read?: Read library book
When did I finish?: Oct 21, 2011
When was the book published: 2010
Main Characters: Perry Makepeace and his girl Gail. Dima the russian banker for the mob. spies Luke, Ollie, Hector and Billy Boy their boss, and Aubrey Longrigg, super spy.
What happens? Perry and Gail take holiday in Antigua and get lured into Dima's life and family. Perry beats him at tennis and Dima decides that Perry will help him run away to England and become a whistleblower on the new russian mafia boss the Prince. Dima's family (crazy wife Tamara, two twin older boys, daughter Natasha from a previous wife, two little girls orphaned by the murder of their parents by the Prince.
How long was this? about 300 pages.
Did I like this? It was the author's usual slow spy writing but the action picked up in the 2nd half of the book - it was pretty exciting and he did a good job with letting you get to know the characters. I have never read a quality book with a worse ending. The ending was completely unacceptable - no explanation for what happened, it just ends.
Overall grade: C+

Gamble by Felix Francis

Title: Gamble
Author: Keith Francis
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: Oct 13, 2011
When was the book published: 2011
Main Characters: Nick Foxton, financial advisor and former jockey, his artist girlfriend, Claudia, the advisory firm of Lyall and Black, the DI, rich guy Jolyon Roberts.
What happens? Nick is standing next to co-worker Herb Kovak who is assasinated in a crowd at Cheltenham. Nick's girlfriend gets cancer. Jolyon Roberts approaches Nick to discreetly investigate a Bulgarian investment made which appears fraudulent. People try to kill Nick.
How long was this? 352 pages
Did I like this? Very good. Just like Dick Francis, except Felix is quite a bit more modern in his cultural references. Otherwise, it fit the mold and was wonderful, delightful reading, finished in 5 days or less.
Overall grade: A-

Seal Team Six by Howard Wasdin

Title: Seal Team Six
Author: Howard Wasdin
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: Sep 30, 2011
When was the book published: 2011
Main Characters: Howard Wasdin
What happens? The true story of Howard's life and adventures in the military. Starts with an exciting preview, but then goes into an extensive life history of growing up, being abused by his father. Some stories of the brutal training were interesting.
How long was this? 313 pages
Did I like this? Interesting in parts. Overall, boring. Wanted to read about exciting military successes and failures, not how he came in first in every training exercise.
Overall grade: C

Reimagining the California Lawn

Title: Remimagining the California Lawn
Author: Bornstein, Fross, O'Brien
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: did not read, did not finish
When was the book published:
Main Characters:
What happens? reacquire this if we want to re-do the front lawn
How long was this?
Did I like this?
Overall grade:

One Hundred Percent Lunar Boy by Stephen Tunney

Title: One Hundred Percent Lunar Boy
Author: Stephen Tunney
Did I listen or read?: read an advanced reading copy that I bought at Fort Mason for a dollar, during Jacob's improv show.
When did I finish?: late August 2011
When was the book published: 2010
Main Characters: Hieronymus Rexaphin and his girlfriend Slue (both 100%.) The dumb kids, Loopies, Clellen and Bruegel. An earth girl, Windows Falling on Sparrows
What happens? Interesting science fiction, the moon has been colonized under a giant oxygen tent or something, and a few folks on the moon have the "4th color" in their eyes, and if a normal human looks at them, they lose their minds. They all have to wear glasses to hide this to maintain order. There is a persistent cop on HR's trail because he winds up breaking the rule.
How long was this? 308 pages
Did I like this? Parts of it were interesting science fiction. The plot was unique and exciting a bit in the second half. It was challenging reading through the frustrating naming and language conventions ("They all got on the 'Johnwayneicus Laboratorium Highway, and he said 'what in the name of jesus and pixie are you doing?" The characters weren't well developed...just kinda frustrating, but entertaining.
Overall grade: B-

Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich

Title: Smokin' Seventeen
Author: Janet Evanovich
Did I listen or read?: read library book
When did I finish?: Sep 18, 2011
When was the book published: 2011
Main Characters: usual group (Stephanie, Lula, Connie, Joe Morelli, Ranger, parents, grandparetns); ex high school football star and chef Dave Brewer, Mooner
What happens?: Vinnie's bail bonds has burned down, they are working out of Mooner's mobile home, and people are leaving dead bodies in the lot. Someone is tagging these with notes for Stephanie. And a bunch of mob stuff that I don't remember.
How long was this? 308 pages
Did I like this? entertaining at points, same repetition repeated from previous books
Overall grade: C

Star Island by Carl Hiaasen

Title: Star Island
Author: Carl Hiaasen
Did I listen or read?: Library book
When did I finish?: labor day 2011
When was the book published: 2010
Main Characters: Cherry Pye, teen singer, her parents Janet and Stan(?), Skink aka ex Governor Clinton Tyree, and Jim Tile, state trooper, Bang Abbot, paparazzi, Ann Delusia, stunt double for Cherry Pye
What happens? Skink wreaks havoc with some messed up real estate developers, and Bang gets too close to Cherry Pye and kidnaps her double. Skink kinda falls for Ann and they are the only interesting people
How long was this? 377 pages
Did I like this? entertaining and lots of laughs, but you really don't care about the people or what happens to them.
Overall grade: B-