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Review Date: 4/23/2014
"All the Pretty Horses", and most all of what Cormac Mccarthy writes, is an enchanting read. it's deep, it's serious, it's funny, it can be a little shocking, all in all, Cormac is very skillful at tugging at your emtotions, and making you think. If you read "All the Pretty Horses", you will find yourself wanting to read the complete trilogy. Please do, it's well worth the effort. In addition, "No Country for Old Men" and "the Road" really stand out, and you'll likely love them, as well.
haasker
haasker
Review Date: 10/27/2011
I've read quite a bit of Parker's Spenser novels, but that didn't prepare me for this. It's like a whole new author in the western genre. All I can say is, wow. Eyeopening, heartfelt, realistic action, in depth characters, a story that will really grab you. If you saw the movie and thought it was only good, or so-so, please read the book, the characterizations are so much better. Parker at his best. I guarantee, if you read this, you'll be picking up Resolution, Brimstone, Blue Eyed Devil, and.... oh... sadly, there won't be any more. Thanks Robert for sharing your wonderful talents with the reading world.
Review Date: 2/1/2018
I've read or listened to almost all of Dean Koontz's books (even some written under his various pseudonyms). Ashley Bell falls somewhere in between his better works, in my humble opinion, such as One Doorway away from Heaven, Odd Thomas Series, to his lesser works, such as Midnight & Relentless. There is even a little of Odd Thomas in Bibi Blair's quest to find Ashley Bell, what with the haunting shadows and the relentless fog sent to hinder her. The subject matter is even a little timely, considering the rising amount of hate of others not like ourselves going on in the real world. Thanks, Mr. Koontz, for taking that on. Although I felt the ending pages went on too long, maybe Koontz is setting us up for a sequel.
The return of BiBi Blair, and her likeable cast of characters would not be entirely unwelcome, so I'm looking forward to another outing with Pogo, Pax, Nancy & Murph, wonderfully fleshed out and easy to identify with.
The return of BiBi Blair, and her likeable cast of characters would not be entirely unwelcome, so I'm looking forward to another outing with Pogo, Pax, Nancy & Murph, wonderfully fleshed out and easy to identify with.
Review Date: 6/16/2015
Not Dean Koontz' best work. Multiple story arcs, some not as interesting as the others. It did hold my interest, however, and I was waiting anxiously to find out how he would wrap it up. It seemed that maybe his publisher was pushing hard for him to finish it, cuz in my opinion, it left some loose ends, or tried too hard to tie everything up, so the ending seemed rushed. I'm still a huge Dean Koontz fan. If you haven't read Dean Koontz before, don't start with this one, you may not come back to him. And then you'd really be missing out, cuz he's done some really great stuff over the years. Try the audiobook version "One Door Away From Heaven", simply one of the best audio books I've ever listened to, or any of the "Odd Thomas" series (do yourself a favor, and start with the 1st one) then you'll be hooked on Koontz.
Review Date: 6/6/2015
I know the Hunger Games series was written for a young adult audience. I'm way beyond that. However, I'd have to say listening to "Hunger Games", then "Catching Fire", I was completely enthralled, not only with Suzanne Collins story telling skills, but with the enchanting and totally engaging voice of Caroline McCormick. The "Hunger Games" series is a must listen for any audio book fan. I've listened to hundreds of books, and "Catching Fire" rates up there in my top 5. Wonderful and memorable, this reading will stick with you for a long time.
haasker
haasker
Review Date: 1/29/2014
It is the fall of 1952, John Grady Cole and Billy Parham--nine years apart in age, yet with a kinship greater than perhaps they know--are cowboys on a New Mexico ranch encroached upon from the north, at Alamogordo, by the military. To the south, always on the horizon are the mountains of Mexico, looming over El Paso, Ciudad Juarez and all the cities of the plain. And there is a woman. Or perhaps, it is more an obsession with a woman. As we discovered in the previous two entries to this trilogy, "All The Pretty Horses" and "The Crossing".
following the characters of John Grady & Billy, the unexpected becomes the expected. Reading any of Cormac McCarthy's work, the reader is always taken on a rewarding journey. "Cities" is a fitting final installment.
following the characters of John Grady & Billy, the unexpected becomes the expected. Reading any of Cormac McCarthy's work, the reader is always taken on a rewarding journey. "Cities" is a fitting final installment.
Review Date: 4/21/2014
I'll start with, I love Thomas Perry. I've read most everything he's written. His stories are consistently enjoyable, and always keep you guessing as to what is really going on. Dead Aim is a little more predictable, however, Perry makes up for that by increasing the action level to new heights. If you like Perry, you will, indeed, like this one. Highly recommended.
haasker
haasker
Review Date: 10/27/2011
Rankin is always a good read. In this Rebus installment, we learn even more about him, and DC Clarke is prominently featured. The story is really one to get you thinking, and keeps you wondering right up till the end. A bloody good read is what I say!!
Review Date: 1/1/2014
A lot of times historical fiction gets bogged down in creating a large scale panorama in which to tell the story. It takes forever, gets boring, and the tale has the reader lost and uninterested before it really gets underway. Then there is Sam Eastland. Although the story is set from turn of the century to pre WWII Russia,using flashbacks, Eastland wastes little time in setting the stage. He doesn't need to. He presses on the gas pedal like it's a modern day detective mystery, and never lets up. He gives you just enough background, and then lets the story carry itself. Inspector Pekkala is a very interesting and believable character. I loved "Eye of the Red Tsar", and I'm anxious to pick up the next one in the series, "The Red Coffin".
Haasker
Haasker
Review Date: 10/19/2014
I've got to tell you, I had never heard of Linwood Barclay until I picked up "No Time for Goodbye" and could not put it down. I just finished "Fear the Worst" in record time, and Linwood just keeps getting better at his craft. Totally engrossing, great character development, and a story line that just keeps you turning the pages - loved it, loved it! On to his next one!
haasker
haasker
Review Date: 5/17/2016
Len Deighton's "Fighter, The True Story of the Battle of Britain" is a fascinating study of the men and machines that fought in the air over Britain in the summer of 1940. As a history afficiando of WWII, I'd known a lot of information about the subject, but never had encountered such a drill down approach as Mr. Deighton takes in this effort. He does a fine job of giving the reader a great deal of background on the story behind each one of the significant aircraft, from either the British or the German side, and the men who created them. We learn why they are designed the way they are, their good points, and their bad ones, as well. Mr. Deighton keeps a very objective view throughout the book, especially when it comes to the strong points, and the fallibilities of the leaders, and the flyers. More fascinating, he combines intricate details of the strategies employed by both the Germans and the British. At times, this detail can be mind numbing, but then, the reader is being given all the information possible to provide the absolute clearest picture of the true facts behind the crucial periord of the war. My only criticism of Deighton's work, is that the book dehumanizes the horrific losses that were subjected to both the flyers and the innocents on the ground during the part of the battle known as the blitz. They seem to be only numbers. I was reminded of the nightly body counts reported on the Huntley Brinkley report during the Vietnam War. We never learned about the faces behind those numbers. I was always troubled by that seeming indifference to the human side.
I was also taken a bit aback by the abrupt ending of the book. It just seems to peter out at the end. Instead of finalizing the story, and bringing all the threads together, it just stops. Much like a band that forgot their notes, and just quits playing.
Those are minor quibbles, however, since Mr. Deighton accomplishes in fine form what he set out to do, which was to inform the reader in intricate detail all of the known facts behind that momentous summer in 1940.
I was also taken a bit aback by the abrupt ending of the book. It just seems to peter out at the end. Instead of finalizing the story, and bringing all the threads together, it just stops. Much like a band that forgot their notes, and just quits playing.
Those are minor quibbles, however, since Mr. Deighton accomplishes in fine form what he set out to do, which was to inform the reader in intricate detail all of the known facts behind that momentous summer in 1940.
Review Date: 9/2/2014
I read Sam Bourne's 1st book, "The Righteous Men", and I thought to myself, this guy has something going. So right after I finished that one, I picked up "Final Reckoning" and read through it even more quickly than his first. A very enjoyable read, I like the way Sam writes, and I hope he keeps at it.
Review Date: 3/26/2014
I read this book when it first came out, in only a sitting or two, and the storyline and characters still stick out in my mind today. I love Stephen Coonts material, and although this was his first effort, it still stands up as a very well written yarn, and the points he was making about trying to fight a war with our hands tied behind our back still ring true to this day. Just insert Kharzai of Afghanistan in for the Russians, and you'll totally understand the point. So Kudos to Coonts for authoring a book that is still fresh in my mind over 25 years later. It's well worth the time you'll invest, and who knows, it may turn you into a Coonts fan. He's done plenty of good writing since then!
Review Date: 11/13/2013
Having read all of John Sandfords Prey and Virgil Flowers books, I wanted to pick up on his earlier work as John Camp. I found "Fool's Run" completely enjoyable, the story engaging, and as I turned the last page I was wishing for more. If you like Sandford, be sure to read his work as John Camp, as well, you won't be sorry. Which book or series to start with isn't 100% defined, however, in the latest prey installment, "Silken Prey", we encounter Kidd and Luellen once again, as major characters, so it was helpful to have read "Fools Run" 1st. Sandford is artful in intertwining characters from his different series into his various plots, he includes enough background to make sure the reader is not lost.
Review Date: 11/13/2014
Another fine one from Crais. It may be a cliche, but so true, this is a hard one to put down!
Review Date: 4/18/2017
The good: Margolin at his best. A very entertaining book. The author really fleshes out the Amanda Jaffe character in this one, I can't wait for the next one in the series. Living in Oregon, I love the way the Portland area is used as a part of the story, making it feel a lot more real to the local reader, and educational for those not from our blessed area of the nation.
The bad: I've loved Jonathan Davis narrating other books, but this one was barely listenable. When he is the voice of the narrator, he is really good. But when he takes on the characters, he changes his timbre, lowers his volume, and makes it really hard to understand him. To make matters worse, it sounds like the recording was done at the lowest possible bit rate, so it's very "bassey" and lacks high tones. I found myself constantly adjusting the volume throughout the book. You might be better off reading the hard cover of this one.
The bad: I've loved Jonathan Davis narrating other books, but this one was barely listenable. When he is the voice of the narrator, he is really good. But when he takes on the characters, he changes his timbre, lowers his volume, and makes it really hard to understand him. To make matters worse, it sounds like the recording was done at the lowest possible bit rate, so it's very "bassey" and lacks high tones. I found myself constantly adjusting the volume throughout the book. You might be better off reading the hard cover of this one.
Review Date: 6/16/2015
Reading this book was an eye opening experience. Since I was a teenager watching Albert Sweitzer on TV in Africa, I wondered, why are there so many disparities and inequalities in the world populations? Why is Africa so poor? How, if we all came out of Africa, we're not all black? Jared Diamond attempts to answer those questions and many more in a very straightforward, scientific manner. His writing can be a little on the dull side sometimes, but then there are many places in the book where he makes the topic a little lighter. This is not a book you'll read in one sitting, or stay up all night to read, but it is written very well, and it has helped me to understand a lot better how we all came to be who we are, and where we "fit" into the world. I would highly recommend the National Geographic made film of this book, Mr. Diamond is a principle narrator in it. It's available on Netflix. Do read the book first, the film understandably condenses much of the book, and you'll miss being able to study the maps and diagrams which the book has many of.
haasker
haasker
Review Date: 10/27/2011
Patterson was just learning his craft here, in one of his earlier efforts. Although a good read, it's a little rough around the edges. Stick with Patterson (if you're just getting started), and you'll find much more fulfilling efforts.
Review Date: 7/28/2012
Definitely one of the better ones in the Rebus series. As soon as I was done with this one, I had to read the next. and the next! I am most certainly hooked on Rebus.
Review Date: 2/24/2012
"Higher Authority" is my 3rd Stephen White book. I love the way he builds his characters, totally human, with many good points, and flaws, as well. Mr. White keeps the action moving, not at a frenetic pace, while at the same time, keeps enough balls in the air to keep it interesting. In this particular outing, I thought he got a little preachy (if you've read the book, or plan on reading it, that is pun intended!), and let himself get away from the story. I still give "Higher Authority" a very high rating. I liked it, and if you like not so heavy mystery thrillers, with likeable realistic characters, good story telling, go for this one, you won't be disappointed.
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