The History Book Club discussion

Here is your new thread for 2014, Michael. Happy reading!

Thanks Jill.

I have started the year off with a classic.

January

1. by Larry Niven
Finish Date: 3rd January
Genre: Fiction
Rating: A-

Review:

This book is getting a tad long in the tooth, being first published in 1977. But age has not removed the shine from this classic apocalyptic novel. If anything I feel that the age of the book adds to the story and in places makes for some hilarious reading.

All this aside Lucifer's Hammer delivers a story of a world that is in the path of a comet. Mankind knows it is coming close, just not how close. The start of the book is used well in informing the reader about comets and the science of predicting their paths. Our main characters are well grounded and we get a good feel for them.

Then the world comes to an end and Armageddon is let loose upon the earth. We watch the survivors struggle to come to terms with their new reality. It is fascinating to see how they change. Some rise to the challenge and some lapse into depravity. The plot is not a new one nor does it comes as surprise. But what makes it a truly great read is how well the author tells his tale. Also the thought is always in the back of your mind that what you are reading may one day be your reality, which in itself is truly scary stuff.

This book did leave with one question. Why the hell was it no called hammer fall.

I have probably read 3 sci-fi books in my life and this was one of them!!!! Read it years ago but I remember being impressed and fascinated by it.

by Larry Niven

Very frightening subject matter.

by Devan Sagliani
Finish Date: 15th January
Genre: Zombie
Rating: B+

Review:

Undead L.A is a great compilation of short stories relating to a zombie outbreak in L.A. I started reading this book with some trepidation. I mean the zombies in L.A bookshelf is a well-stocked one. All my concerns were swept aside by some damn fine writing and great character development.

This is the first novel I have read from Devan Sagliani and I will be back for some more. Each of the stories in this compilation is worthy of its own novel. For me the stand out story amongst them all was No One is Watching. This was great example of what can be achieved in a short story. Over the last couple of years I have come to embrace the short story be it either as a stand alone or in compilation form. It is a true art to be able to engage the reader and deliver a full story in this short form. Devan Saglini has mastered this form of writing.

by Dan Simmons
Finish Date: 18th January
Genre: Sci-Fi
Rating: D

Review:

I went into this book expecting great things. What I got instead was a train wreck of a book. The plot and character development lazily wander their way through the pages. This ended up with me never really caring that much about either.

As for the ending of the book it was one of the worst ones I have read. The sense of disappointment and frustration as I read the last page was huge. After investing so much time in this book it felt like I was being forced to read the next book in the series just to get closure and some clarification of the first book. I mean the author sent so much time building up to what promised to be an exciting conclusion only for it to end up people basically walking off into the setting sun.

This is the first time I have read a Hugo award winning novel that did not deliver. Let’s hope it is the last one. I for one will not be finding out what happens next as I really don’t care.

The Undead L.A. novel sounds fascinating (added to my tbr list). Thanks for bringing it to my attention, it is hard to find quality zombie lit.

May I also suggest by Hugh Howey.

Thanks! I love zombie movies but have had a hard time finding zombie lit I like. I'll give these two a try.

Michael wrote: "byDan Simmons
Finish Date: 18th January
Genre: Sci-Fi
Rating: D

Review:

I went into this book expecting great things. What I ..."

Another person who didn't like Hyperion! I thought I was the only one :-).

Soooo over rated.

4. by H.P. Lovecraft
Finish Date: 22nd January
Genre: Classic Horror
Rating: A

Review:

I am ashamed to say that this was my first foray into the world of Mr Lovecraft. Was I impressed? The answer is very much so. There is something about books from this era I love and At the Mountain of Madness is shining example of this. The English language as an art form is here for all to see. Lovecraft paints a vivid and frightening picture that sill gets ones heart pumping. In today’s modern world where language is changing to fit our fast and busy lifestyle it is good to hear words long out of favour and use.

This book has opened up Lovecraft's world to me and I intend to visit it again soon and often. So take some time out from the rat race and delve into this classic.

5. by Peter Clines
Finish Date: Australia Day 26th January
Genre: Zombie
Rating: A-

Review:

This is my second Peter Clines book and like the first this one has not disappointed. What we have is a Zombie vs. Superheroes storyline dressed up for a wider audience. I loved how the author chops and changes the narrative to keep the tempo up. I especially loved the chapter that was told from only one side of a conversation. I would love an entire book wrote in this manner (Mr Clines that was a hint).

The story is simple and easy to follow and even though this book is full of zombies it does not feel like a zombie book. The book is far from original, yes there is a virus and the "ex's" need a shot to the head to truly die, but what it delivers is a cracking story. Chuck into the mix Superheroes each with their own unique powers and we have a geek nirvana. Oh did I also mention that when a Superhero dies they become a Super-Ex. I probably should mention that as it whacks up the geek squeal factor a couple of notches. This is a series is one I can see myself quickly devouring.

6. byDavid Stafford(no photo)
Finish Date: 29th January
Genre: Cold War Espionage
Rating: B

Review:

This book is a great look into the world of espionage during the peak of the Cold War. It introduces us to many of the main players as well as the politics of the day. This is all delivered by telling the story of a daring operation that is straight out of a screenplay. A joint initiative from the British and Americans dig a tunnel right up to where one day the Berlin wall will stand. From this tunnel they tap the phone lines and start recording all they hear. Then one day this tunnel is discovered by some “workers” looking for a leak. The KGB pounces on this opportunity and has a field day using it for anti-American propaganda.

I enjoyed the author’s style and found this book a very easy and engaging read. It has all you expect from a novel about espionage from the double agents to the clandestine meetings. But this is not a novel it is a true story and that just added to my interest in this book. It has kindled the fire in me to learn more about the Cold War the quite battle of intel gathering.

7. byJ.L. Bourne(no photo)
Finish Date: 29th January
Genre: Zombie Survivor
Rating: A

Review:

J.L Bourne delivers a great example of Zombie survival. The story is told in the format of a diary and works extremely well in the telling of this tale. From the first page you are engaged and soon lose yourself in the struggle to survive. What I really liked about this book is the minimal amount of time trying to explain the dead rising. There was a virus it spread and dead people started walking. Well that’s good enough for me.

Like all good Zombie survival stories the plot is more about the people alive then the shambling rotting dead. They play a vital part in the story but they are not the story. Day by Day Armageddon delivers a fast and action filled story that hits the ball out of the park.

February

8. byWendy Ruderman(no photo)
Finish Date: 2nd February
Genre: True Crime
Rating:A-

Review:

I went into this book not quite knowing what to expect. Was it going to be a compendium of the newspaper articles that won the authors a Pulitzer or was it going to be the story behind the story? I was happy to find out that it was the latter.

The book starts off with a great first chapter that introduces us to all the main players in this real life thriller and sets the tone for the rest of the book. What we get from this book is a journalist view of the pressure and danger they put themselves in to chase the truth, a truth that gets scarier the deeper they dig. What start off as an investigation into a narcotics cop inappropriate relationship with his informant and the falsifying of information for search warrants. Soon expands into an investigation of a police squad out of control robbing and sexually harassing citizens to scared to report them.

This book tells the story of the lengths that the authors go to expose police corruption and the danger they put themselves in to do so. This story reads like an action thriller and leaves the reader breathless as it tears through the pages.

9. by F.G. Cottam
Finish Date: 10th February
Genre: Horror
Rating: C-

Review:

Colony delivers an old fashion haunting story with a demonic twist. The story centers on an island whose bleak landscape hides a mystery. A team lands on the island to try and explain the Islands dark past. Equipped with all that technology can offer the team comes up against the evil that dwells upon its shores. An evil that doesn’t give a dam if you can get a phone signal or not.

The book goes along at a steady rate and the mystery is slowly revealed to the reader. The characters are a tad cliché and I felt more time could have been given to their development. What really disappointed me with this book was the end. It finished way to quick and abruptly for me and I was left feeling cheated. All the elements where there for a titanic end but what I got was a fizzer and yes I was not happy. This book has so much potential but at the end it fell way short of the mark.

10. byPeter Ross Range(no photo)
Finish Date: 18th February
Genre: True Crime
Rating:B

Review:

How can you not read a book with a title like that? What we get is a short story that is a to the point investigation into a shocking murder that rocked the quite suburb of Bethesda. That's right I learned that Bethesda is more than the studio behind the popular Fallout games.

But on a serious note this book follows the shocking murder of young 20 something female in an upmarket Yoga clothes store. The brutality of the murder defies belief. We follow the investigation as it progresses through to the shocking finding that solves the crime. This book takes the reader on a short ride into depravity an highlights the short comings of modern society.

11. byMark Tufo(no photo)
Finish Date: 12th February (oops forgot this one)
Genre: Zombies
Rating: B

Review:

This short story nestles itself between book 3 and 4 of the Zombie Fallout series and is a prequel to the series. As a reader I find that prequels can be fraught with risk and I often find myself asking questions like:

Is this just a grab for some cash?
If it is so important to the story the why not include it in the first book?
Will it add any value to the story and series?
Is this a result of lazy story development?

What I got in this prequel was a valued pack story that not only added to the series but stood alone as a separate story. Mark Tufo has nodded his cap to his readership by adding some great tongue in cheek references to the series. The book tells the tale of the discovery of the virus that will one day bring the world to its knees and adds a tantalizing link and teaser to what is to come in the series. I for one want to know what the hell is in that suitcase.

I always come away from Mr Tufo's books feeling greatly entertained and for some reason craving pop tarts. For those of you yet to sample what this author has to offer it's time you jump in with both feet and immerse yourself in his world.

12. by Preston Fleming
Finish Date: 20th February
Genre: Thriller
Rating: A-

Review:

The final book in the Kamas trilogy delivers a story that can stand on its own feet. We are taken another journey into the dystopian world where the US is ran by a President for Life and freedom is just a word. Once again we go inside the labour camps where enemy of the state or sent to rot and die.

This time we follow the story of an agent of the state who has spent his life tracking down the enemies of the state in the European safe havens. He soon comes caught up in a deadly game of betrayal and greed that finds him in a labour camp abandoned by the state and fighting to survive. Without giving away the story this book has all the ingredients for a top class thriller. There are twists mixed with adventure and betrayal and good helping of redemption. I can only hope the author decided to return to the world of Kamas one day as there is so much to explore.
(This book was an advanced copy)

13. bySteven M. Gillon(no photo)
Finish Date: 22nd February
Genre: WWII History

Rating: B-

Review:

A very interesting read if not a slightly misleading title. What you get in this book is a look at Franklin D Roosevelt’s leadership of the USA into war. Pearl Harbour is the catalyst for this but if you are looking for a history of the Pearl Harbour incident look elsewhere.

The author gives us great insight on the high level of leadership required to take a nation to a war footing and rally a nation. This is my first book on FDR and I found this book gives a great understanding of the man and how he came to lead a nation. It is amazing to think that the public and many politicians had no idea how incapacitated the man was from polio. The lengths he went to hide his disability is truly amazing, and shows his strength of character when put into context regarding the time he lived.

The old saying that it is lonely on top is highlighted in this book as FDR moves to protect the nation from the shock of Pearl Harbour and to soothe their nerves. It also shows the obstacles he faced from a nation wanting to remain neutral. His vision and leadership should be studied be all with an interest in this area. Overall a great study into leadership and strength of character.

14. byPat FrankPat Frank(no photo)
Finish Date: 23rd February
Genre: Cold War Fiction
Rating: A+

Review:

Written in the midst of the fear and turmoil of the Cold war Alas Babylon is a fantastic tale of mutual destruction. To truly enjoy all this book has to offer one has to try and get in the mindset of the era. Once you do that you can truly appreciate how frightening this story would have been in its day. It would have scared the crap out of me and kept wondering when the end was coming.

Alas Babylon is a story of survival and hope after the USSR and USA take turns in trying to wipe each other off the face of the earth. The story focuses on a small town and the hero of the story that tries to keep a sense of civility in their lives. As in all good survival stories this book highlight the good and bad in society and individuals.

I love reading books like this because through the story it gives a snapshot into the social and political landscape of the era. I look forward to digging around and finding some more classics like this one.

"I love reading books ... snapshot of era ..."

Michael, I was stationed at Sac Headquarters in the early '60, so seeing your praise for Alas, Babylon brought back some memories. I much preferred Frank's book to Shute's most famous "On the Beach." Despite not much liking his version of world's end, many of Nevil's novels from that era are among my all-time favorites. Including Round the Bend.

Round the Bend

My all-time favorite post-holocaust novel is Stewart's Earth Abides.

Earth Abides

Looking through my books tagged as published in the 1950s, and seeing some mysteries and science fiction on your current 50 books list, some other books come to mind. Here are a randomly selected quintet:

The Hustler
Manchurian Candidate
Gallipoli
The Caine Mutiny
Citizen of the Galaxy

Thanks, Chris, great titles. Don't forget book covers and author links/photos:

by Nevil Shute

by George R. Stewart

by Richard Condon

by Walter Tevis

by Jack Bennett (no photo)

by Herman Wouk

by Robert A. Heinlein

Yes thank Chrisl you have expanded my TBR :) It must have been a surreal experience being based at Sac HQ.

Michael, I'm practicing, adding pictures of a couple favorite Vietnam books.






Yes, surreal in hindsight it was, when joining the air force, wanting to see the world, I asked to be sent to Japan or Germany and got sent to a hole in the ground near Omaha. If I remember correctly there were 11 generals and one admiral living on base, and much of my work was for an army major. Was there when JFK flew to Nebraska to award a presidential unit citation to the 544th, the recon tech group I was assigned to.

What does it feel like to be a part of Cold War history.

Thanks, Chris, keep at those citations, let us know if you need help.

Wow, SAC, very interesting, indeed. My uncle served in the army in Germany during Vietnam.

15. byStrobe Witherspoon(no photo)
Finishing Date: 26th February
Genre: Dystopian Militant Buddhism Political Satire.
Rating: A+++

Review:

How can a book with a recommendation from the authors mum on the front cover be anything but good? Strobes début novel hits the ball out of the park. In this world full of technology, driven by social media and the desire to be connected at all time. Strobe with his tongue planted firmly in his cheek, takes aim and fires an intelligent and insightful satirical broadside at the world today and what it might become.

The story is set in the distant future were the American internet company Furtl, which has integrated itself into every aspect of Americans life, is starting to lose the battle against the Chinese alternative Holospace machines. Without giving the stories away lets just say this is a story of private business taking over the country by using politicians as their puppets. The few control the masses through fear thus increasing their profits lines. It is a story of one man trying to make amends and give power back to the people.

As a techno-freak I had a big grin on my face through most of this book. There is one frightening aspect of this book, and that is the story is not that much a stretch of the imagination. I believe the author has given birth to a new genre, Dystopian Militant Buddhism Political Satire.

March

16. by Tameichi Hara(no photo)
Finish Date: 4th March
Genre: WWII Memoir
Raing: C+

Review:

I went into this book with high expectations but what I got was an average WWII memoir. I found that the story did not flow freely and was very laborious in areas. The author repeated himself often in the book and I wonder if that is due to translation issues or poor editing. The book does have some intense battle scenes and it goes some way to give a good sense of what it is like to be a leader of men during wartime. Why it is refreshing to read a World War II book from a Japanese view it was not enough to raise the book above mediocrity for me

17. by G.S. Fields
Finish Date: 7th March
Genre: End of the World
Raing: A-

Review:

This book starts off with the end of the world already in the past, ripped asunder by a killer solar storm. It focuses on the last remnants of civilisation living in the Maldives. We find our hero drowning in drink and self-pity waiting to die. This is where our story begins and from there we are catapulted into a story of intrigue, action, survival and a tad of Sci-Fi.

Yet again another début has impressed me and I find myself thanking the skies for the new indie author movement. If you are looking for an end of the world book that packs a punch then this is your book.

18. byPaul Ham(no photo)
Finish Date: 13th March
Genre: WWI History
Rating: A

Review:

What can I say I love Paul Ham’s books; he has a great talent in making history dance of the pages. While 1913 is only a small offering running at 81 pages he still manages to engage the reader from the very first page. This book is a lead in to his much more substantial body of work 1914 ,and on the eve of the 100th year since World War I broke out it is a very pertinent read.

What we get in 1913 as you would expect is the lead up to the war. He looks at the social and political landscape of the era. He goes along away in getting the reader to see how numerous societies across had a glorified and romantic view on War. I came away from this book with a new view on the pre-cursors to WWI and with the appetite to delve into his next book. For those of you yet to experience the brilliance of Paul Ham this is a great introduction.

19. by Brooke Jarvis
Finish Date: 15th March
Rating: B-
Genre: General History

Review:

This book is a very powerful piece of writing packed into only 35 pages. This book takes a first-hand look at the last vestiges of a former Leper colony. It astounded me that people used to be sentenced to the island for having leprosy. Even though only a snapshot the author managers to give the reader a great insight into the people and history of this dwindling piece of history.

20. by Ilsa J. Bick
Date Finised: 16th March
Genre: End of the World

Review:

Ashes tell a story of the world sent back to the dark ages by a series of Electric Magnetic Pulse (EMP). These pulses have killed off a whole lot of people and for some of those who survived they are far from human. Into this new world we follow a teenage girl with a terminal brain tumour, who was hiking by herself at the time of the attacks. The EMP's have a surprising effect on this young lass.

I liked the mechanics used in this book, the chapters read like one episode of a TV show. We have a build up to a cliff-hanger ending to the chapter. What I did not like about this book was that I found it a tad predictable. This might be because I read too many books of this genre. All other aspects of this book such as character development and interaction was engaging and entertaining. Overall this book is well worth a read.

21. by John Scalzi
Finish Date: 21st March
Genre: Anthology
Rating: A+

Review:

Not one to normally read Anthologies I found myself strangely attracted to this collection of stories. The authors have delivered five great tales all based in a world they all had a hand in making. This book is very much a concept driven book in which the authors clearly articulate their goal and theme of the book. Each story builds on and around the others taking the reader on a tour of this new world.

The stories in this book revolve around a future society. It is a society where whole cities survive in of the grid. Where secret worlds live within others cities and some cities can form and disappear within a day. Each story is unique but as pointed out earlier they all entwine together to deliver a vision of our possible future.

Another aspect of the book which I liked was how the project leader John Scalzi gives us insight to the creative process and collaboration behind its creation. Overall I found each read entertaining and hope that some of these stories are followed up into more substantial bodies of work. So do yourself a favour and have a look at what this anthology has to offer.

22. byJeffrey A. Onorato(no photo)
Finish Date: 29th March
Genre: Dysopian
Rating: A++

Review:

The SIN of Addison Hall is a breath of fresh air in the crowded Dystopian genre. The reader is taken in to a world preoccupied with beauty so much that your looks determine your place in society. The citizens are placed in a caste based on their looks from the cursed to the blessed. Your caste determines every aspect of your life from the food you can eat to the jobs you can undertake.

It is in this world we meet our hero of sorts Addison Hall. Addison is a member of the second lowest caste the Burdened. This Burdened bumbles from day to day suffering the injustices of his caste. One day he learns that his caste is set for extermination, as the leadership blames them and the cursed for the society’s woes. Sound familiar? Well it should as this a leaf out of the Third Reich’s book. As a WWII geek I loved how the author uses mistakes of our past to link us to his created world. It goes so far that the people in power are called Face-ist instead of Fascist, a fact that gave me a great chuckle.

This book does not follow your traditional narrative but this is what gives the book its freshness. The characters are well developed and have many a flaw that ingratiates them to the reader. Never has self-depreciation been used so well in a book. The end of the book is truly amazing and leaves many questions unanswered. Usually this annoys me as a ploy by the author to ensure you buy their next book. But in the SINS of Addison Hall this is a very fitting end to the book and leaves you pondering the question of what entail true happiness. Well done Mr Onorato on a stellar debut I see big things in your future, maybe a bit of Botox may smooth the way.

23. byD. L. Denham(no photo)
Finish Date: 30th March
Genre: End of the World
Rating: B-

Review:

As prequels go this book delivers a tale that wets ones appetite for more. In this tale we are introduced to a futuristic world which has been devastated by a nuclear war. We find our hero sitting in a cell awaiting his fate in the isolated community of Red Denver. This book tells the story of how he got there and what he has to face to survive.

By the end of this short story you have a good sense of the world it is set in and what makes our hero tick. The story by itself is entertaining if not a tad cliché but that is not bad thing as it is a story that is very well told.

Michael -some of your citations need edits.

18 and 6 still left

It looks like you are either not adding the photos of the authors and only the links. Normally, we add the book cover, then the author's photo then the author's name in linkable text. If the photo is not available then add (no photo) on the end. Just try to do the edits on your own and we will help you as you go along if you have any questions.

Great reading progress.

Also place the months in caps and in bold

JANUARY

This is the actual format:

Our Required Format:

JANUARY

1. by Winston S. Churchill
Finish date: March 2008
Genre: (whatever genre the book happens to be)
Rating: A
Review: You can add text from a review you have written but no links to any review elsewhere even goodreads. And that is about it. Just make sure to number consecutively and just add the months.

Thank you Michael - I can see that you are giving it the attention requested.

No worries Bentley

You only have a couple outstanding and I think you just missed them going through them all. (18 and 6)

At the top of your first entry in message 2 - you should add the month in caps and bold JANUARY

In message 16 you have the month but it does not stand out - place that in caps and bold - FEBRUARY - same thing in message 27 for MARCH

When you have everything done, I will delete everything in message 29 aside from the sample format, message 30 and this one.

You are almost there.

April

24. by Steven Konkoly
Finish Date: 8th April
Genre: EMP event
Rating: B

Review:
The Perseid Collapse follows on from Konkoly's excellent book the Jakarta Pandemic and like the previous book it a fantastic read from start to finish. His second book is set six years after the flu pandemic that bought the USA and the world to its knees. The world is finally back to normal what else can go wrong?

This story kicks into top gear fairly quickly with our heroes being thrown into a world of chaos. This is caused by an unexplained EMP blast and Tsunami that destroys large parts of the USA. It is put down as a meteor strike but the author gives us enough information to know otherwise. It is into this world our heroes are yet again thrown. Learning much from the previous disaster they put their plans into action. This book is an action packed thriller, in which they come face to face with the dark side of humanity as they race to save family living in Boston.

As a post-apocalyptic novel this book ticks all the boxes and manages to deliver a fresh fast paced narrative with well thought out and written characters. For me the true test of how good a book of this genre is comes down to how paranoid it makes me. This book had me looking around seeing how well prepared I will be if the end of the world comes and it is not looking good. I look forward with great excitement to the next novel in this series.

25. byPaul Ham(no photo)
Finish Date: 9th April
Genre: World War I History
Rating: A

Review:
Paul Ham keeps pumping out great book after great book. His talent in bringing history alive on the page is evident in 1914 again. With the 100 year anniversary of the start of the Great War upon us this book gives us an insight into the people and the world in which they lived.

1914 does not try to shed new light onto the start of the war but what it does is to give us a look into a world on the cusp of change and its masters that thirsted for war. We see that the Great War was not triggered by the assignation of Franz Ferdinand as popularly believed, but instead it was a combination of numerous factors. Much of this book is taken up with giving the reader a great sense of the people and politics of the time, as well as the key events leading up to the outbreak of war.

What I liked about this book is that it tries to view the road to war through the eyes of the people and doctrine of the time. This book for me is a must read for anyone wanting to understand the causes and opening months of the war to end all wars.

26. byBarroux
Finish Date: 19th April
Genre: World War I History
Rating: D

Review:

I held high hopes for this book but alas I was dissapointed. For me the story of how the diary was discovered was more intersting than the diary itself. Yes it does provide a brief snaphot into the life of a French soldier at the opening of the Great War. But it lacked details and this left me not feeling connected are caring about the soldier. The artwork that accompanyies the diary is drab and unisnpiring. I am sorry to say that the book to me felt like it was trying to cash in on the centenary of World War I.

Too bad about the recent book Michael - I would have thought it had more promise too.

Yes very dissapointed in that one.

27. by A.G. Riddle
Finish Date: 19th April
Genre: Sci-Fi
Rating: A

Review:

This debut novel is great solid read that engages the reader from the get go. The Atlantis Gene manages to pull together several themes into a tight and solid narrative. The plot is well constructed and unravels at a nice pace that keeps you intrigued throughout the story.

There is a lot going on in this book and the author does a masterful job of keeping the flow of the story going. Numerous sub-plots and characters all slowly weave together to create a rich tapestry of action and intrigue. As mentioned earlier the melding of varied themes such as the origin of man, mysticism, science, action and intrigue all play out on a global scale to produce an outstanding read.

28. by Christopher McDougall
Finish Date: 27th April
Genre: Travel Adventure/Sports
Rating: A++ (WOW)

Review:

I picked this book up on sale on as the cover grabbed my interest. I would like to point out that I have never had much interest in running for the sake of running. For me running was something I used to do on the rugby or soccer field. I went into this book expecting an interesting adventure travel read based around running.

As this book went along I found myself looking at my lifestyle and re-evaluating my anti-running stance. This book tells the story of one man quest to find a tribe of legendary Mexican runners. Along the way we are introduced to a cast of colourful characters that are all connected through their love of ultra-running. It talks about how the human body is designed for running, and how before the advent of sneakers planter factitious and other running ailments were none existent. It introduces the reader to the world of ultra-running. Before reading this book I had no idea of what ultra-running was and by its end I was on the hunt for more books on the subject.

This book as a story is a ripping read that is highly entertaining and is full of characters larger than life. On a personal level it has gave me a desire to do what the human body is designed for and that is to run. Time will see if it this desire ends up being a flash in the pan or leads to a life of running.

29. by Keith Lowe
Finish Date: 29th April
Genre: WWII
Rating: B-

Review:

Savage Continent tells the story of Europe after the end of World War II. This book for me is well written but gave me no new insights into the subject. Why the book is well set out I quite often found myself skipping over sections. With that in mind I would recommend this book for someone new to the subject matter as it does give a good overview.

As one would expect this book is filled with some rather disturbing scenes of the violence that swept across Europe in the wake of the war. I found that this was not balanced by some of the positive aspects and stories from this period. As an avid World War II buff I admit that this period of time was just as violent as the actual war, but this was just one aspect of the period. This book did not paint the complete picture of post war Europe and that for me stopped this book from being a 5 star read.

Great Michael, what is the genre for number 29?

Hey Michael. I just received a newsletter from my local library with some new titles and when I saw this one I had to pass it on to you - since you're a fan of both baseball and mysteries. This sounds like a new series that will combine both. You may have already heard about it, but just in case...

by T.T. Monday (no photo)

Have not heard of that one thanks Dave

Hi everyone sorry I have been missing in action for a while. Life has been very busy for me with a new job taking up a lot of my time. The good news is it has not stopped my reading.

May

30. by Chris Dietzel
Finish Date: 3rd May
Genre: End of the World
Rating: A

Review:

This book delivers a refreshing and well though tale of the end of the world. Instead of nightmare vision of the world ending with a scream what we have is the human race bowing out with a whimper.

If you are expecting an action packed novel than this book is not for you. But if you want a highly engaging and intelligent read then this is what you are looking for. The storyline and character development are above par and I found myself getting lost within in the pages.

Without wanting to give away the plot all I can say is trust me and give this book a read. You will be entertained by this unique vision of the end of human race.

31. byEvan Wrights(no photo)
Finish Date: 6th May
Genre: True Crime
Rating: B-

Review:

There is so much I like about this book and much that did not sit well with me. Evan Wright tells us the story of the rise of the Cocaine Cowboys and the rise of Miami as the drug capitol of the USA. He tells this story mainly through the eyes of one of the original cowboys. The story is in two parts that run parallel with each other. We get an insight into the life of the cowboy post prison as the author spends a lot of time with Jon Roberts as he is told his tale. The second part is the life of ?Jon as a ruthless crime boss in which money is never a concern.

Both story arcs intertwined well together and told a highly interesting story of excess, greed, crime and violence. This book delivered the high quality of journalistic investigation that I have come to expect and love of Evan Wright. What I did not like about this book was how he let Roberts drift off on tangents and the right way to inflict pain on someone. The first one had some merit as it let you see just how much a sociopath he was. But after that all it did was to allow Roberts to stoke his own ego.

Overall Evan Wright has delivered another great book that lets you look into the other side of society. He has a great knack of bringing the reader into the world of the subject matter he is writing about. Apart from my earlier quibbles I would still recommend this book without hesitation.

32. by Thomas Harding
Finish Date: 12th May
Genre: WWII
Rating: B

Review:

Hanns & Rudolf is a extremely well put together story that tells a tale worthy of the silver screen. The book tells the parallel stories of the rise of the man who would run Auschwitz and the man who would ultimately bring him to justice.

The author takes great lengths to give the reader a great feel for these men's upbringing and the two contrasting lives they lived. I found myself time and again having to remind myself this was a true story. So good was the plot and character development it was easy to forget this fact.

Once again I find myself amazed at the quality of material that is still being written about WWII. Thomas Harding deserves a firm pat on the book for brining this little piece of history alive in the readers mind.

33. by Jack Weatherford
Finish Date: 16th May
Genre: History
Rating: B-

Review:

This book went a long way to shedding light on the man known as Genghis Kahn for me. It was a well written book that engaged me and made this book a pleasure to read.

So I here you ask why not 5 stars instead of the 3 you have given it? The reason is that I was expecting the life of Genghis Kahn and how his deeds helped shape the modern world to take up most of this book. So I was very surprised that just after the half-way mark Genghis up and died. The rest of the book concentrated on his offspring and the rise and fall of the empire he established. Why there was nothing wrong with this, it was not what was advertised on the cover.

Overall an enjoyable and very accessible piece of history writing. This book though is more of an overview of the Mongol empire and not a study of Genghis Kahn and how he helped shaped the modern world.

34. by Mary Roach
Finish Date: 20th May
Genre: Science
Rating: A

Reveiw:

Be warned after reading this book you will never look at eating and the digestive process again the same way. Once again Mary Roach serves up another fascinating journey into the less glamorous sciences of subjects most people are happy not to think about.

I mean I had no idea that I produce two types of saliva and I now have a greater appreciation of this and many other of my bodies digestive processes. Being introduced to the wonders of fecal transplant is just one the amazing subjects you will be exposed to during this engrossing read, I s..t you not people.

This has been one of my favorite reads by far this year. So if you have not yet sampled what this author has to offer then it is time to sit down put on a bib and dig in.

35. byTerrence E. Poppa(no photo)
Finish Date: 22nd May
Genre: True Crime
Rating: C+

Review:

Drug Lord is the tale of the rise of king pin Pablo Acosta in Mexico's cut throat drug trade. The author does well to give the reader a sense of the seedy and violent world of drug running with the right mix of action and information.

What I got from this book was a look into the machinations of running drugs over the US/Mexico border from the politics and corruption to the risks and money to be made from it. The author has taken time to paint a realistic picture of this world and has not tried to glorify the violence for the sake of a good yarn. Overall a good solid entertaining and informative read.

36. by John Scalzi
Finish Date: 27th May
Genre: Sci-Fi
Rating: B

Review:

John Scalzi's has delivered in his prequel Unlocked a promising start to his upcoming book Locked In. Unlocked packs a lot into its 32 pages and not one word is wasted as we are plunged into a world reeling from a mysterious virus. A virus that turns the bodies of some of its victims into prisons where the mind is free but the body is incapacitated. The victims fully aware of everything around them but can’t even blink at will.

I really liked the mechanics of this book with its documentary style of narrative. It gives the reader a great understanding of the history of the virus, its impact on society and how it is being dealt with. All this adds up to a great base that the author can launch us into the main story. It is a story I am yearning to delve into but alas I must wait for it release.

June

37. by Rashad Freeman
Finish Date: 3rd April
Genre: Thriller
Rating: A

Review:

This book grabs you from the very beginning and does not let you go until you way after the end, as you sit there trying to process the full extent of what you have just read.. For someone like me who is not a huge fan of murder thrillers this book delivered a lot more than I was expecting. The character and plot development was just superb and each chapter had that little hook to drag you further into the story. I am not going to go into the storyline here because I don't want to ruin or diminish any of the impact of this first rate story for the reader.

This book for me once again highlights to me all that is good about Indie authors and that is a vibrant and creative revolution of the publishing industry. I look forward to diving into more of this authors offerings in the near future.

38. by Hugh Howey
Finish Date: 20th June
Genre: End of the World
Rating: B

Review:

Dust is a fitting end to Hugh Howey's Silo trilogy and what a journey it has been both in story and for the author. Hugh Howey started of the series with Wool a novella launched as an indie book an Amazon. From there Hugh Howey sky rocketed into the book world waving the indie flag all the way. Even though Hugh is now a major author for one of the top publishing companies, he has never forgotten where he came from. So major kudos and a tip of the hat to Mr Howey.

Now with that bit of history out of the way what do I think about Dust. As mentioned at the start I found this book a suitable ending to the series. It was my least favorite book in the series though. It may be because I left to long between the books, but I found this story harder to get into. The characters and world was familiar but it took me a while to get into the groove.

As I let the dust the settle (bad pun intended) I already have Hugh's next offering sitting on my bedside table begging to be read. For those of you not yet familiar with this great author’s work I can only implore you to give him a go.

Glad to have you back, Michael.

Ditto....I was beginning to get concerned.

Thank you very much.

Glad that it has not stopped your reading.

Michael 110 people in the group have been reading your reviews in 2014 on this thread - we look forward to reading your reviews in 2015 - I have set up a thread for 2015 for you.