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Mike's Book Challenge 2013
The Venus Throw by Steven SaylorCompleted on January, 4, 2013
Rating: 4/5
Review: Another fascinating read in the Roma Sub Rosa series and Gordianus the Finder. I really enjoy these books for both the character development and the historical fiction that is Rome. Saylor takes actual events from Roman history and brings them to life, staying true to the characters he includes from reality. I enjoyed the mystery and the atmosphere and will absolutely continue with this series.
The Secret Servant by Daniel SilvaCompleted on January 8, 2013
Rating: 4/5
Review: Another solid offering from Daniel Silva. I really, really enjoy these books. It has just the right mix of character development, action, and spycraft to keep me hooked and turning pages. This book has our hero, Gabriel Allon, helping thwart another terrorist attack, this time in England.
My only worry about this series is that Allon is becoming almost too much of a superhero. It feels like he meets every world leader and is now internationally famous. I almost liked it better early on when he was still a secret agent. But the stories are still great so keep them coming.
The Rise of Rome: The Making of the World's Greatest Empire by Anthony EverittCompleted on January 16, 2013
Rating: 4/5
Review: A great survey of the beginnings of the Roman Empire. The second half of the book was tremendous as it gave an overview of Rome's great battles with Greek powers and with Carthage. The earlier parts of the book deal more in legend than reality, and the author admits this up front. Having limited knowledge of this era of history, I found it hard to keep track of many of the names in the stories. It was not difficult reading, but because so little is known about so much, it was not always a fast or easy read.
I would recommend this to anyone who wants to know more about the earliest times of Rome's great empire and will be reading more by this author.
The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper FfordeCompleted on January 24, 2013
Rating: 2.5/5
Review: I would give this more like 2.5/5 stars. I found the world created in this book (continued from the previous book) to be a lot of fun. The idea that the characters of books police themselves and jump around and that the creative process of writers is controlled in this mythical land makes for a clever read. With that said, the plot in this novel seems like it was just inserted in as a way to allow the author to write the fun stuff. While reading this, I imagine a group of English majors sitting around late at night in college thinking about how cool it would be to have characters from literature be able to bounce in and out of other books in this whole book world. A few hours and a few beers later, this world is created and we have this book.
Anyway, I will finish the fourth book in the series as it ends the first part of Thursday Next's story, but I doubt I will continue with the later installments.
Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Jon MeachamCompleted on January 25, 2013
Rating: 4/5
Review: I just finished this solid book about our third President, Thomas Jefferson. It had been many years since I had read a book exclusively about Jefferson, and the first I can remember that basically defends him against the early Federalist leaning Founding Fathers. This was a good book in that is covers all of the topics you would expect, including his views on slavery and his relationship with Sally Hemmings. I think the author does a good job of admitting the faults and contradictions of Jefferson while defending them as a part of his greater personality. I don't necessarily buy every argument, but I think the subject was treated fairly and professionally.
My only real issue with the book was that at times it came across as very disjointed to me. The writing was very good, but it seemed to jump around at times from one topic to the next in a manner that was abrupt. Perhaps this was just something that happened to me but it hit me more than a few times. In addition, I felt that the book could have (and probably should have) been longer and dealt with some topics in more depth. The author states that his focus was on Jefferson's "art of leadership" and his philosophical thought process, but more background would have helped frame the story better in many places.
Overall a good read and one I would recommend to students of history.
A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan DoyleCompleted on January 26, 2013
Rating: 4/5
Review: My first Sherlock Holmes book and I loved it! This book was basically two parts. The first part introduces us to Watson and Holmes and takes us through their work figuring out a crime and finding a murderer. The second part is a flash back giving us the story of where the murderer came from and why he committed the murders. Then there is a very short final chapter that sums up how Holmes used the clues to figure it out.
This was a quick, fun read and exactly what I had expected. Usually when I read a classic book about figures I have seen in movies and on television, I am surprised by the differences. This is one of those rare times when this did not happen. Looking forward to the next story.
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis StevensonCompleted on January 27, 2013
Rating: 4/5
Review: Another classic that I surprisingly enjoyed. This story is well known to anyone who has followed anything to do with pop-culture, but as is often the case, the original was not all that similar to the many different adaptations. The story is basically about Dr. Jeckyll and his journey into becoming two people. Mr. Hyde is obviously his evil side, and the story simply goes through how it came to be and the torments of the Dr. in dealing with the transition. A good story that looks into the human mind and its through process. It does not evolve into any comic book type of story and Mr. Hyde is not a tragic character.
This was a super-quick read and I would recommend it to any fans of literature.
Moscow Rules by Daniel SilvaCompleted on February 13, 2013
Rating: 3.5/5
Review: Yet another solid offering from Daniel Silva. I really enjoy the Gabriel Allon series. I would probably rate this 3.5/5 on its own and do not think it is one of the better books in the series. However, I still really enjoyed it and love the writing style. I thought this particular story dragged quite a bit and did not really get going until the last 100 pages. Still looking forward to the next in the series.
Eisenhower in War and Peace by Jean Edward SmithCompleted on February 17, 2013
Rating: 5/5
Review: A fantastic read about one of the great Americans in history. I had read very little about Eisenhower before this book, and I now realize how much I have been missing out on the knowledge of a great figure.
This book covers all of Ike's life with the first third focused on his career and rise to power, the second third on his time during World War II, and the third third on his Presidency. Ike's rise through the Army was not terribly interesting, but reading about a peace time army is not exciting by definition. I really enjoyed the World War II section (I always enjoy reading about World War II), and thought the author did an outstanding job of highlighting both the successful and failed decisions and leadership of Ike. I learned the most reading the section on his Presidency, and again thought the author was very fair in his analysis.
I know I am not saying much in this review, but I think the best compliment I can give to a book is that it makes me want to read more about the many topics it touched on.
The Sign of Four by Arthur Conan DoyleCompleted on February 17, 2013
Rating: 4/5
Review: This was my second Sherlock Holmes book and I enjoyed it as much as the first. This book introduces us to Holmes' cocaine habit, and Watson meets a girl he likes, so it was nice to have that type of character development. The way Holmes uses logic to solve the crime of the story is again interesting and fun to read. I also liked the bit of history mixed into the story - this time dealing with British rule in India. A quick read and I will continue to read the Holmes' stories in the future.
Night Soldiers by Alan FurstCompleted on February 23, 2013
Rating: 4/5
Review: I can't believe that I have not heard of this series of books before. What a great read about a Bulgarian turned Soviet spymaster turned defector during the years of World War II. The book was dark, raw, and did a fantastic job of placing the reader in the Europe of the time. I felt it was realistic and gritty, and really gave what I believe to be a true sense of what the war would have been like for people living it. The story covers the travels of the main character, but it also does a great job introducing us to many minor characters and spans the countries of Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union, Spain, France, and even America. I can't wait to read the next in the series and am excited that there are many more to read.
Purgatory Ridge by William Kent KruegerCompleted on February 27, 2013
Rating: 4/5
Review: Another great offering from Krueger and the Cork O'Connor series. I really enjoy these books. I can't pinpoint the reason why I have enjoyed this series more than others, but I think I just really like the characters and the geography of the Great Lakes region. The mystery was not terribly difficult to figure out, but the story moved along without any lulls, and I thought the ending was satisfying. I would not call this great literature, but I enjoy the writing style and find the reads to be a nice escape. I will absolutely continue reading this series.
Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling by Ross KingCompleted on March 2, 2013
Rating: 3/5
Review: I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would when I began. This covers the story of the years in the early 16th century when Michelangelo was commissioned to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The story obviously covers the ceiling in great detail, and gives the reader great detail into not only the Biblical stories, but also the process used to complete the actual painting. In addition, the author spends a great deal of time going through the politics and wars of the time, and Pope Julius II is covered almost as much as Michelangelo.
There were many parts that dragged for me as I do not have a truly great interest in the art world, but the book certainly helped created an appreciation for the process of creating such beautiful art. I certainly hope to visit Rome some day to view Chapel and other works of art referenced in this book.
The King's Coat by Dewey LambdinCompleted on March 4, 2013
Rating: 4/5
Review: Yet another series that I need to get into. This is the first book that follows the adventures of Alan Lewrie, a young British man who is forced into service in the Navy during the American Revolutionary War. The story covered a great amount of detailed history of the world of a British Naval Ship, and had enough character to keep the pace moving. Some reviewers have commented that Lewrie has a junior high school sense of sexuality, and I think that criticism is fair, but probably not far off from where someone of his standing would have been. Overall a good read and I am excited for the next in the series.
Gone for Soldiers: A Novel of the Mexican War by Jeff ShaaraCompleted on March 9, 2013
Rating: 4/5
Review: I had forgotten how much I enjoy reading Shaara's books. This is the fourth of his that I have read, and I really like how he approaches historical fiction. This book covers the little discussed Mexican War and follow Shaara's trademarked style of having each chapter told from the perspective of an historical figure. The majority of chapters in this book are done through Winfield Scott and Robert E. Lee, with a few chapters at the end (dealing with the attack on Mexico City) being told through the eyes of Grant, Jackson, and Longstreet.
The War itself involved only a few large battles, so the story focused quite a few chapters on Lee's scouting ability. I found it interesting, but it did seemed to be stretched out a bit at times. I really enjoyed reading about three things:
1. The Mexican War that I did not know much about.
2. Winfield Scott, a towering historical figure I also did not know much about.
3. The background stories for many of the major figures of the Civil War.
Rage by Wilbur SmithCompleted on March 30, 2013
Rating: 3/5
Review: I would rate this book a 3.5 out of 5. This is a classic Wilbur Smith book and I enjoyed it very much. I enjoyed it more than the 3 stars would indicate. The story always moves at a fast pace, the plot lines are always interesting and not always what you think, and he does a great job of making the reader feel like they are a part of South Africa and the culture. The part of this book that I had a really hard time with is Smith's portrayal of women. All of his books have sex scenes, but in this book, it seemed as if every female character was obsessed with sex. The conservative religious women, upper class and lower class women, even progressive women, could think of nothing but sex. I am not a prude or conservative at all, but the attitudes in the book that the menfolk simply dominate by being masculine and the women can barely contain themselves wore on me after a while. I don't remember it being quite like this in the previous books I read by Smith. There were always characters like this, but I remember female characters that had more dimensions to them.
With all of that said, I still really enjoyed the book.
Heretic by Bernard CornwellCompleted on April 1, 2013
Rating: 3/5
Review: This was the third and final book in the "Search for the Grail" series featuring the English archer Thomas of Hookton. This book followed the Cornwell formula and really was no different than the previous two books. It introduces one new female character, but there is never really a true love interest developed with her. The only real difference between this book and the previous ones in the series is that in the last chapters, the Plague arrives. It was interesting from an historical point of view, but other than quickly killing people off in the final pages, it didn't really have an impact on the story.
Basically I was a bit disappointed in this book. I feel like there was little magic or excitement about finding the Grail, and the entire story of the trilogy certainly could have been told in two books. I never had that "can't wait to find out what happens next" feeling that I usually do reading Cornwell.
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur GoldenCompleted on April 20, 2013
Rating: 4/5
Review: I had wanted to read this book for a long time but for whatever reason kept putting it off. I am glad I finally got around to it. It was not at all what I expected. The story was told through the perspective of the main character, Chiyo/Saruyi, and it focuses on her journey in becoming a geisha. I enjoyed being immersed in a world I knew little about, and it was great to learn about the cultural norms in Japan in the first half of the 20th century.
I would have liked it more if it had spent a bit more time talking about what was going on in 1930s Japan, but cannot fault the author for not writing about it as it would have taken away from the continuity of the story. My only real critique of the book is that I found the main character to speak in a voice that almost seemed childlike and never changed even as she got older. I know that she is telling the story as she looks back from a future date but it just seemed a bit off to me.
The Devil's Punchbowl by Greg IlesCompleted on April 28, 2013
Rating: 4/5
Review: I always enjoy reading books by Greg Iles and this book did not disappoint. It follows the repeating character of Penn Cage and the world of Natchez, Mississippi. This book was not as much of a mystery as previous ones, but it was more of an action thriller where we know the bad guys pretty early on and just see how the good guys are going to get them. This story involved more high tech/navy seal type of action, but Iles always does a good job with character development and giving the reader an appreciation of Southern culture. Exciting and mindless entertainment.
A Murder on the Appian Way by Steven SaylorCompleted on May 18, 2013
Rating: 4/5
Review: I have really come to enjoy books by Saylor and his main character, Gordianus the Finder. These books are basically mystery books set in Rome with Gordianus as the detective. Along with the mystery, a whole lot of Roman history is tossed in to make this a readers delight.
This particular mystery dragged a bit, but the final 10% of the book made up for the parts that seemed to stretch out. Looking forward to the next one.
The Defector by Daniel SilvaCompleted on May 23, 2013
Rating: 4.5/5
Review: This is the ninth Gabriel Allon book I have read by Daniel Silva and this one was my favorite. It is fast paced, emotional, and everything you would expect to see when Allon is put in an intensely personal and dangerous situation.
This was a sequel of sorts to the previous book, Moscow Rules, and continues the story of the same bad guys. These Allon books are some of my favorites, and this is now the longest series of books I have read about any one particular character. Odd to think that at 34 years old, but I cannot think of any other series I have read so much of. Great stuff - highly recommended.
The Romanovs: The Final Chapter by Robert K. MassieCompleted on June 8, 2013
Rating: 4/5
Review: I truly enjoy the way author and historian Robert Massie writes books. There is something about the way in which he tells a story that makes it easy to read and informative all at the same time. This book looks at the murder of the family of the last Czar - Nicholas II. It then follows the aftermath and what happened to the bodies. The book reads like a case of CSI and spends a lot of time examining the claims of people throughout the 20th century of being Anastasia or Alexi - the two youngest children of the Czar.
I thought a few parts of the book dragged. Specifically parts dealing with the DNA process and the infighting between the scientists. That is not to take away from Massie, but it was just not something that interested me much. I would give five stars to the parts dealing with the early history and the woman Anna Anderson.
Overall a great read. If you are interested in Russian history, this is a good book for you.
The War for the Union by Allan NevinsCompleted on June 9, 2013
Rating: 5/5
Review: Surprisingly, one of my favorite books about the Civil War! Going into this book, the first of four volumes covering the entire Civil War, I thought it would be a dry read that would spend too much time on small details. However, I found the narrative to be outstanding, and was fascinated by the many levels the author covers in the book. From studies of resources and the capacity to make weapons and ammunition to the politics and battles, every chapter had something for me that I did not know and was interested to learn.
I am looking forward to the next three volumes and hope to tackle them during my off time in the summer.
Bunker Hill: A City, a Siege, a Revolution by Nathaniel PhilbrickCompleted on June 19, 2013
Rating: 5/5
Review: Nathaniel Philbrick is one of my favorite authors without question. This is another winner from him that covers the history of Boston through the first half of 1775. The Bunker Hill title is a bit deceiving as the story really covers the run up to the battle, including large sections on Lexington and Concord. Philbrick is great at both telling a story and giving the reader an in-depth historical account of the time period. I have read a lot about this particular time period, but I feel like I learned a great deal that I did not know before. Two items that stuck out to me - one, I never appreciated the stature and role that Joseph Warren played in the events in Boston at that time; two, I enjoyed the argument that most of the leaders of the rebellion in Boston generally had selfish reasons (business, ambition, etc..) to promote the cause.
A great read for anyone interested in this time period.
Driven West: Andrew Jackson and the Trail of Tears to the Civil War by A.J. LangguthCompleted on June 21, 2013
Rating: 3/5
Review: I found this book to be a difficult one to review. I feel like I learned a lot about the political history of America during the time of Jackson through Buhcanan, but felt that the book never truly had an identity. Much of it wanted to be a history of the Cherokee and the Trail of Tears. However, every time it started making progress with their history, it would switch over to presidential politics or something else. It seemed like the author would have been better served narrowing the book down to solely a history of the Cherokee.
Overall I am glad I read it because of the new knowledge I gained, but found the writing to jump around too much to make it a truly enjoyable read.
The House At Riverton by Kate MortonCompleted on June 22, 2013
Rating: 5/5
Review: What a surprising find I have made with author Kate Morton. This was such a beautiful book in so many ways. The language and writing style of the author is fabulous. The writing was the kind that makes reading easy and rich at the same time. The history and character development were outstanding and I truly felt like a part of the world she created. The end was not completely surprising, but provided enough of a twist that helped close the story out in a satisfying way. Very excited about this author and plan to read more of her in the near future.
The War of the Worlds by H.G. WellsCompleted on June 23, 2013
Rating: 4/5
Review: I really enjoyed this quick, classic novel. I knew the story already from the many adaptations in popular culture, but this book was interesting enough, and suspenseful enough, to keep me interested and turning pages. It is always fun to read the original story as well to compare it to the movies I have seen dealing with it. The Tom Cruise movie I enjoyed very much, and it did keep with the general themes and plots of the book. A good read I would recommend to any fans of science fiction.
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg LarssonCompleted on July 3, 2013
Rating: 3/5
Review: Well, I wound up enjoying this book. But it was one of those cases where the last 200 pages were probably 4 stars, and the first 300 were 2 stars. Having read the first two books in the Larsson series, I knew that he always takes forever to get going, but for some reason, the setup in this book seemed to drag for me. Another part that dragged is that the plot seemed to feel predetermined. Except for the last 30 pages, everything else in the book was inevitable.
Disappointing end to the series for me. With that said, I loved the characters and it is a shame Larsson passed away and won't be able to keep writing more books.
The System of the World by Neal StephensonCompleted on July 12, 2013
Rating: 5/5
Review: Well that last book of the trilogy seemed to take quite a long time, but it was a satisfying ending to the Baroque Cycle. I am actually sad to be finished reading about these characters and will be picking up Cryptonomicon at some point to see how their ancestors fare in the mind of Setphenson.
This book was a large discourse on the creation of the money system focused in England. It was actually fascinating from an economic point of view. I also love throughout all of the books how Stephenson throws in tidbits about word origins.
My only complaint about this particular book is that I was hoping that more of the story would focus on Jack Shaftoe. The plot focused around his exploits, but most of it was not told from his point of view. As a whole, I enjoyed the second book the most as they travel the world, and I liked the cast of characters best that were on the Minerva throughout the second book.
Outstanding series of books. It is hard to say who I would recommend this too because it is written in such a unique way. There are some long stretches where the action doesn't move at all, but from a historical inquiry point of view, I found these conversation fascinating. Great stuff and a trilogy I will read again in the future.
The Gunslinger by Stephen KingCompleted on July 13, 2013
Rating: 3/5
Review: Well this is not the type of Stephen King book I have ever read before. The writing style is not all that different from the other books he has written, but the fantasy backdrop is certainly different. I have gotten more into the fantasy genre in recent years, and this (like the description and foreword say) is more of a Western set in a fantasy world.
I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more. Rating this book is kind of difficult. I enjoyed it, but felt like it was simply the opening chapters to a longer book. King admits that the entire series should be viewed as one novel, but since it was published as its own novel, I have to go with the 3 stars. My guess is that I will rate the series higher when I get through it, and this is a promising start.
Sam's Letters to Jennifer by James PattersonCompleted on July 14, 2013
Rating: 3/5
Review: I grabbed this one because it was on our shelf and I knew I could read it in basically less than a day. I have read a lot of James Patterson, and his books, while not great literature, keep you turning pages. This book was more on the romance side of things, and while I enjoyed much of it, there were too many chapters (and when I say chapters, bear in mind that they are three pages long and probably less than 200 words) spent with one character telling the other one how much they loved them. I am all for a little romance or declaration of love in a story, but it was a bit over the top. Overall, not a terrible read, but not one I will remember.
PS: I am obviously not the target audience for this type of book so take my review for what it is.
Gettysburg: The Last Invasion by Allen GuelzoCompleted on July 19, 2013
Rating: 5/5
Review: A fantastic read about the military history of Gettysburg. This book was outstanding in its detail of all parts of the battle, from the background of the leaders involved, to the movements of troops, to the impact of the weapons used by the soldiers. I had never read a book dedicated to this battle, and I feel like I now have a deep knowledge of it and its controversial decisions. I think I would have to read more to see whether or not I completely buy the arguments of the author, but he was certainly convincing.
At times this could be a bit tough to follow as the author talks about dozens and dozens of officers and divisions, but there are enough maps provided to help keep it all together. A recommended read to all during this 150th anniversary year of the battle.
Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. by Ron ChernowCompleted on July 23, 2013
Rating: 5/5
Review: Another fantastic book by one of my favorite authors Ron Chernow. I find Chernow to be the best biographer I have read. He writes in a beautiful and flowing narrative style, covers all of the appropriate history and analyzation of his topic, and obviously loves his historical person while being fair and often critical of their life. I knew next to nothing about Rockefeller outside of his being filthy rich from Standard Oil, and this book has taught me a great deal about the man, the family, and the time period in American History. As a liberal, there is a lot to his business practices to dislike, but as an American, he truly helped build the country we live in today. A great read that I would recommend to everyone who has time to read a lengthy yet rewarding biography.
Tinkers by Paul HardingCompleted on July 24, 2013
Rating: 2/5
Review: I feel bad giving this two stars, but this book simply did not do it for me. It was dense and depressing. There was little to no enjoyment, which I suppose is expected in a book about a man dying, but even the flashbacks were all sad and frustrating. I give the author credit for his treatment of the theme of death, but for whatever reason, I found myself frustrated with this book and was not impressed by the prose.
The Hours by Michael CunninghamCompleted on July 26, 2013
Rating: 4/5
Review: Surprising to me - I really enjoyed this book. It didn't seem like the type of book that would interest me, but the character insights and development really hit home for me. The book alternates between three separate stories (that are connected in interesting ways) and while there is no great plot development, it is more of a character study of how we view ourselves and how we are almost like characters in a novel. A great deal has been written about this book and the use of Virginia Woolf and her stories, so I won't get into that. Needless to say, I am now very interested in reading Woolf and will look into her books in the near future.
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth StroutCompleted on July 29, 2013
Rating: 3.5/5
Review: I would give this book 3.5 stars. I really enjoyed the characters in each of the short stories, and I love how the author connected them all through the lead character of Olive Kitteridge. The author's ability to get inside the minds of each character was impressive, and I found myself reading this book quickly and with enjoyment.
There are two issues that stopped me from rating this higher. First, while I enjoyed reading about her, I had no love at all for the main character Olive. She was tough to like in any way, but I do give the author great credit for staying true to her character throughout the book. Second, it seemed like almost all of the characters were negative about life. While there were many happy parts, it always seemed to come back to everyone stuck in a boring or difficult existence. Again, I am taking nothing away from the author because I was impressed by her ability to weave stories together in the small town setting, but each time I put the book down after reading for a while, I just felt sad for a lot of the people in the stories.
I will certainly read more by Elizabeth Strout and would recommend this book because it does make you think about life and the people in your life.
Monsoon by Wilbur SmithCompleted on August 5, 2013
Rating: 5/5
Review: A fantastic offering from Wilbur Smith who is easily one of my favorite authors. This story takes us back to the time of tall ships and exploration and presents a great look at both English society and Arab-Muslim society of the time. This story, like all of his stories, has loads of adventure, love, detail on sailing, hunting, and religion - basically everything I would want in a story such as this. The pace of the book never slows down and I found it hard to put down. High recommended if this is style of writing is your cup of tea.
Lord of the Flies by William GoldingCompleted on August 6, 2013
Rating: 4/5
Review: This is one of the few books I have read after I have seen the movie. To be clear, I am talking about the old black and white movie from the 1950s, but I saw it twice in school and it has stuck with me.
It is too bad I saw the movie first, because knowing what happens took all the suspense out for me. If I remember correctly, the movie follows the book pretty much 100%. I enjoyed the book, and I think the study of human nature through these kids is outstanding. It is also very scary, and is a story I will think about long after I have finished the read.
Dreadnought by Robert K. MassieCompleted on August 12, 2013
Rating: 5/5
Review: Well after a long lover affair with this book, I have finished and it is yet another favorite by Robert K. Massie. This book is massive in every way. It covers the detailed history of England and Germany in the decades leading up to the start of World War I. I learned a great deal about this period that I did not know and feel so much better for it.
The way Massie is able to provide biographical sketches of multiple historical figures in a way that explains their methods but does not slow the story down is impressive. I found myself wanting to read more about most of the individuals he referenced. In 908 pages of text, I never once found myself bored.
If you have the time to read this book, I could not recommend it highly enough.
Double Cross by James PattersonCompleted on August 13, 2013
Rating: 2.5/5
Review: Another formulaic book from James Patterson. I would actually give this 2.5 stars, but will round up to 3 since at the very least, the pages kept turning. I think I like Patterson books at this point only because I can read one of them in less than a day. The short chapters keep the story moving, but there is little to no character development, and in this particular book, the ending was very anticlimactic dealing with all of the bad guys.
A Farewell to Arms by Ernest HemingwayCompleted on August 15, 2013
Rating: 4/5
Review: Woof - what a depressing book in many ways. I had a love/hate relationship with this book while reading it. The writing style of short and to the point sentences was both appealing and frustrating. I felt that it made the characters a bit too one dimensional, but at the same time helped give a matter-of-factness to the war and the people living through it. I am glad I read this, my first Hemingway, and feel like I understand the point of the hopelessness of war and life of the time.
Cross Country by James PattersonCompleted on August 16, 2013
Rating: 2/5
Review: The last couple of Alex Cross books were verging on a two star rating, but this one finally reached it. While acknowledging for some time that Patterson books are not great literature, I have still enjoyed flying through his books because the pages turn quickly and I have invested in his characters.
This story has Alex Cross leaving America and going to Africa to chase a brutal killer who has murdered entire families in Washington. He leaves his girlfriend and family for this, for reasons passing understanding. When in Africa, he is kidnapped and tortured many times. Somehow he always manages to escape. At one point, Patterson ran out of interesting ways to have Cross escape and when being attacked by a militia, simply says that Cross was able to fight a few off before the militia left. When Cross finally returns to America, he, wait for it, is kidnapped and tortured again. Another problem I had was that after spending the last book having Cross and Detective Bree display an almost puppy love, this book he leaves her to travel to Africa and flirt with a beautiful woman who he sleeps with, twice, but not sexually. Just really odd.
I will probably still continue the series, but my expectations are pretty low at this point.
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken FollettCompleted on August 30, 2013
Rating: 4/5
Review: I very much enjoyed reading this novel that everyone had told me to read. It tells the story of the building of a cathedral, but it is more about a handful of characters who I came to both love and hate. I enjoyed how the story took us through most of the life of each character, and I like how most characters stayed true to their personalities throughout the story. I am disappointed to learn that the sequel to this book is not really a sequel but takes place generations later. However, I will be reading more by this author in the future.
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled HosseiniCompleted on September 2, 2013
Rating: 5/5
Review: A dramatic story about the lives of two women in Afghanistan. This was the kind of story that made an impression on my mind and will stay with me for some time. The story follows two women, whose lives connect, through the various ruling changes in their country. It shows their lives during the Soviet invasion, the civil wars following the departure of the Russians, and finally the rule of the Taliban. It is amazing to see the horror the people of this country has had to live through. The story puts a human face on the terrible wars that we read about in the news but often do not give a second thought to. As someone who teaches high school history, this is the kind of book I would want my students to read so they can understand that there are families and children just like us that live over there, and that war is almost always bad for all involved.
The Rembrandt Affair by Daniel SilvaCompleted on September 7, 2013
Rating: 4/5
Review: Yet another great read about the great Gabriel Allon. This is one of the longest series of books I have read, and I have enjoyed each and every book. I love the way the author takes his time telling a story, providing important historical background. While the characters and many artifacts are fictional, they are stepped in real history and draw me in completely. I also love how even though Allon is a super spy, things do not always go according to plan and often people get hurt. It gives the stories of Silva more realism.
Glad there are a few more in this series. I hope Silva keeps writing them for years to come.
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia WoolfCompleted on September 17, 2013
Rating: 3/5
Review: I really wanted to love this book but had a really hard time with it. It honestly was a struggle to get through.
The positive: The imagery and the descriptive writing was beautiful. It was a unique story in the sense of being able to get into the minds and thoughts of so many diverse characters.
The negative: There was really no plot to speak of. The entire book was one day about a party being thrown at night. However, the party was simply the backdrop for Woolf being able to look through the thoughts and judgements of her characters.
I really don't know what else to say about this book. I enjoyed the early pages because of the interesting style. However, this wore me down after a while. Also, the idea that most people came across as cynical to me lessened the enjoyment of the story for me.
I will try Woolf again but my expectations will not be as high.
Shinju by Laura Joh RowlandCompleted on September 29, 2013
Rating: 4/5
Review: I really enjoyed this book! What a pleasant surprise after reading many reviews that basically thought this book was average. This is a great look into the culture and history of Japan during the Tokugawa Shogunate. It basically is a police procedural, but set in Japan during their version of the Middle Ages.
The mystery itself was not ground-breaking, but it was interesting with enough twists to keep me guessing. I enjoyed the determination of the main character, and I thought that the minor characters were often more than cookie-cutters. I am excited about this series and will be reading more without question.
The Drawing of the Three by Stephen KingCompleted on October 7, 2013
Rating: 3.5/5
Review: I rate this book 3.5/5 stars. I though there were parts that dragged a bit, but as always, King has a knack for literally getting inside the minds of his characters and that makes this book a fun ride. I really enjoyed how the stories of the different characters were brought together by the end of the story, and it makes me want to continue reading this series in the near future.
As King himself admits, this is not the usual style of fiction he writes, but I like it very much. It has fantasy elements, but it is more of a western style of main character and the fantasy feels a bit more science fiction like at this point.
Anyway, good stuff.
Lincoln's Men: The President and His Private Secretaries by Daniel EpsteinCompleted on November 2, 2013
Rating: 3.5/5
Review: A solid book that I would rate 3.5/5 if I had the option. It covers the history of the Civil War through the relationship between Lincoln and his secretaries. It is a very general history, and basically covers the history of the war in a short, quick book. We learn about the personal backgrounds of Hay, Nicolay, and Stoddard, but overall I feel like it really just touched on the surface. I am not sure there is too much more there for the author to dive in deeply with, but I did enjoy the read.
The Book Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Grant (other topics)Grant (other topics)
Retribution: The Battle for Japan, 1944-45 (other topics)
Retribution: The Battle for Japan, 1944-45 (other topics)
And the Mountains Echoed (other topics)
More...
100 Total Books in 2013
60 Fiction Books (40 that I own as of January 1st) - Must Include:
- 15 Books on 1001 Before You Die Book List
- 5 Books on Modern Library Top 100
- 2 Man Booker Award Winners
- 2 Pulitzer Prize Winners
- 2 National Book Award Winners
- 2 Stoker Award Winners
- 2 Hugo Prize Winners
- 3 Rereads from my Favorites List
- 20 Continue or Finish Series
- 10 Begin New Series
- 10 Favorite Author Books
- 5 Epic Reads (800 Page Minimum)
40 Non-Fiction Books (30 that I own as of January 1st) - Must Include:
- 5 History Books on Ancient Rome
- 8 History Books on European History
- 3 History Books on the American Colonial Era
- 3 History Books on the American Revolutionary Era
- 3 History Books on the American Antebellum Era
- 3 History Books on the American Civil War Era
- 3 History Books on the American Gilded Age Era
- 3 History Books on the World War Era
- 3 History Books on the Cold War Era
100 Book Challenge (* After Author's Name Indicates Ownership as of January 1st)
1. The Venus Throw by Steven Saylor* (Fiction - 1/4/13)
2. The Secret Servant by Daniel Silva* (Fiction - 1/8/13)
3. The Rise of Rome by Anthony Everitt* (Non-Fiction - 1/16/13)
4. The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde* (Fiction - 1/24/13)
5. Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Jon Meacham* (Non-Fiction 1/25/13)
6. A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle* (Fiction 1/26/13)
7. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson* (Fiction 1/27/13)
8. Moscow Rules by Daniel Silva* (Fiction 2/13/13)
9. Eisenhower in War and Peace by Jean Edward Smith* (Non-Fiction 2/17/13)
10. The Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle* (Fiction 2/17/13)
11. Night Soldiers by Alan Furst* (Fiction 2/23/13)
12. Purgatory Ridge by William Kent Krueger* (Fiction 2/27/13)
13. Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling by Ross King* (3/2/13)
14. The King's Coat by Dewey Lambdin* (3/4/13)
15. Gone for Soldiers: A Novel of the Mexican War by Jeff Shaara* (3/9/13)
16. Rage by Wilbur Smith* (3/30/13)
17. Heretic by Bernard Cornwell* (4/1/13)
18. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden* (4/20/13)
19. The Devil's Punchbowl by Greg Iles* (4/28/13)
20. A Murder on the Appian Way by Steven Saylor* (5/18/13)
21. The Defector by Daniel Silva (5/23/13)
22. The Romanovs: The Final Chapter by Robert Massie (6/8/13)
23. The War for the Union by Allan Nevins* (6/9/13)
24. Bunker Hill: A City, a Siege, a Revolution by Nathaniel Philbrick (6/19/13)
25. Driven West: Andrew Jackson and the Trail of Tears to the Civil War by A.J. Langguth* (6/21/13)
26. The House At Riverton by Kate Morton (6/22/13)
27. The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells* (6/23/13)
28. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson* (7/3/13)
29. The System of the World by Neal Stephenson* (7/12/13)
30. The Gunslinger by Stephen King* (7/13/13)
31. Sam's Letters to Jennifer by James Patterson* (7/14/13)
32. Gettysburg: The Last Invasion by Allen Guelzo (7/19/13)
33. Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. by Ron Chernow* (7/23/13)
34. Tinkers by Paul Harding (7/24/13)
35. The Hours by Michael Cunningham (7/26/13)
36. Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout (7/29/13)
37. Monsoon by Wilbur Smith* (8/5/13)
38. Lord of the Flies by William Golding (8/6/13)
39. Dreadnought by Robert K. Massie* (8/12/13)
40. Double Cross by James Patterson (8/13/13)
41. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway (8/15/13)
42. Cross Country by James Patterson (8/16/13)
43. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett* (8/30/13)
44. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (9/2/13)
45. The Rembrandt Affair by Daniel Silva (9/7/13)
46. Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf (9/17/13)
47. Shinju by Laura Joh Rowland (9/29/13)
48. The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King (10/7/13)
49. Lincoln's Men by Daniel Epstein* (11/2/13)
50. Young Stalin by Simon Sebag Montefiore* (11/10/13)
51. Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson (11/16/13)
52. Portrait of a Spy by Daniel Silva* (11/21/13)
53. The Fallen Angel by Daniel Silva (11/29/13)
54. The End: The Defiance & Destruction of Hitler's Germany 1944-45 by Ian Kershaw (12/1/13)
55. Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde* (12/5/13)
56. Tobacco Road by Erskine Caldwell (12/7/13)
57. And the Mountains Echoed (12/22/13)
58. Retribution: The Battle for Japan, 1944-45 by Max Hastings* (12/29/13)
59. Grant by Jean Edward Smith (12/31/13)
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61.
62.
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99.
100.
Fiction Book Challenges
1001 Before You Die
1. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
2. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
3. The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
4. The Hours by Michael Cunningham
5. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
6. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
7. Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Modern Library Top 100
1. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
2. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
3. Tobacco Road by Erskine Caldwell
4.
5.
Man Booker Award Winners
1.
2.
Pulitzer Prize Winners (**denotes books exceeding goal)
1. Tinkers by Paul Harding
2. The Hours by Michael Cunningham
3. **Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
National Book Award Winners
1.
2.
Stoker Award Winners
1.
2.
Hugo Prize Winners
1.
2.
Continue or Finish Series (Title will be
crossed outwhen finished)Bernard Cornwell - Grail Quest
1.
Heretic(4/1/13)Steig Larsson - Millenium
1.
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest(7/3/13)J.R.R. Tolkien - Lord of the Rings
1. Return of the King
Neal Stephenson - Baroque Cycle
1.
System of the World(7/12/13)Daniel Silva - Gabriel Allon
1.
The Secret Servant(1/8/13)2.
Moscow Rules(2/13/13)3.
The Defector(5/23/13)4.
The Rembrandt Affair(9/7/13)5.
Portrait of a Spy(11/21/13)Steven Saylor - Roma Sub Rosa
1.
The Venus Throw(1/4/13)2.
A Murder on the Appian Way(5/18/13)3. The House of the Vestals
Jasper Fforde - Thursday Next
1.
The Well of Lost Plots(1/24/13)2.
Something Rotten(12/5/13)Kim Harrison - The Hollows
1. The Outlaw Demon Wails
2. White Witch, Black Curse
Naomi Novik - Temeraire
1. Throne of Jade
2. Black Powder War
William Kent Krueger - Cork O'Connor
1.
Purgatory Ridge(2/27/13)2. Blood Hollow
Begin New Series (Title will be
crossed outwhen finished)Colleen McCullough - Masters of Rome
1. The First Man in Rome
Jacqueline Carey - Kushiel's Universe
1. Kushiel's Dart
Sara Donati - Wilderness
1. Into the Wilderness
Harry Turtledove - Timeline 191
1. How Few Remain
Dewey Lambdin - Alan Lewrie
1.
The King's Coat(3/4/13)Alan Furst - Night Soldiers
1.
Night Soldiers(2/23/13)John Jakes - Kent Family
1. The Bastard
Laura Jon Rowland - Sano Ichiro
1.
Shinju(9/29/13)Nelson DeMille - John Corey
1. Plum Island
Dorothy Dunnett - The Lymond Chronicles
1. The Game of Kings
Favorite Authors
Stephen King
1. The Gunslinger (7/13/13)
2. The Drawing of the Three (10/7/13)
Wilbur Smith
1. Rage (3/30/13)
2. Monsoon (8/5/13)
Jeff Shaara
1. Gone for Soldiers: A Novel of the Mexican War (3/9/13)
2.
Greg Iles
1. The Devil's Punchbowl (4/28/13)
2.
Isabel Allende
1.
2.
Epic Books
1. Rage by Wilbur Smith
2. The System of the World by Neal Stephenson
3. Monsoon by Wilbur Smith
4. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
5.
Non-Fiction Book Challenges
Ancient Roman History
1. The Rise of Rome by Anthony Everitt
2.
3.
4.
5.
16th Century European History
1. Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling by Ross King
2.
17th Century European History
1.
2.
18th Century European History
1.
2.
19th Century European History
1.
2.
20th Century European History(**denotes books exceeding goal)
1. The Romanovs: The Final Chapter by Robert K. Massie
2. Dreadnought by Robert K. Massie
**3. Young Stalin by Simon Sebag Montefiore
**4. The End: The Defiance & Destruction of Hitler's Germany 1944-45 by Ian Kershaw
American Colonial Period
1.
2.
3.
American Revolutionary Period
1. Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Jon Meacham
2. Bunker Hill: A City, a Siege, a Revolution by Nathaniel Philbrick
3. Lincoln's Men by Daniel Epstein
American Antebellum Period
1. Driven West: Andrew Jackson and the Trail of Tears to the Civil War by A.J. Langguth
2.
3.
American Civil War Period
1. The War for the Union by Allan Nevins
2. Gettysburg: The Last Invasion by Allen Guelzo
3. Grant by Jean Edward Smith
American Gilded Age Period
1. Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. by Ron Chernow
2.
3.
World Wars Period
1. Retribution: The Battle for Japan, 1944-45 by Max Hastings
2.
3.
Cold War Period
1. Eisenhower in War and Peace by Jean Edward Smith
2.
3.
Running Tally Owned (as of January 1, 2013)
Fiction: 26 (Nook Books: 19)
Non-Fiction: 10
Total: 36
Running Tally Read
Fiction: 43 (Nook Books: 28)
Non-Fiction: 16
Total: 59