Defending Jacob
William Landay
It's happened again! I haven't written and I have all the excuses lined up. I was sick...again. We are remodeling our living area. Currently having our hardwood floors refinished. Work is busy...and on and on. Thinking back over these last few weeks I haven't read anything that I've been moved to share about, until now.
I'm currently reading/listening to the book so I don't have any final conclusions yet. However, what I've read so far, I like. If you are interested in the audio book of this I would highly recommend it. The actor sounds so much like Michael Douglas it's creepy. It's not him of course, I looked it up. So it's a nice voice and the guy is a great reader.
The story goes like this. A boy is murdered and a classmate of his is arrested for the murder. That's Jacob and he's 14. Jacob's dad was a DA and is now trying desperately to defend his son. So far the book has only touched on the question of "how far would you go?" I guess I'll find out how far this particular father will go to defend his son. It's been a good read so far, but stay tuned.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Sunday, February 12, 2012
It was OK
Taken
Robert Crais
Before I write even one word about this book I will answer the question that everyone has asked. No, this is not the book that the movie "Taken" with Liam Neeson was based off. I have no idea if that movie was a book. I will say this about the movie though, if you haven't seen it then do! It was a fantastic movie but no I will not watch it with you. Once was enough. OK, enough about movies, I don't write about those here.
This book is part of a series that I enjoy reading. Elvis Cole is a private detective in Los Angeles and his side kick Joe Pike is...well, hard to describe. They met in Vietnam and have been best buds ever since. Ordinarily I wouldn't recommend picking up in the middle of this series but with this book you really don't need any background information. I can't think of one reference to a past book that would make the reader lost if this was the first Elvis Cole novel you read. That's really good and bad. Good for someone who just wants to pick up this book and see if they like the author, story lines and characters. Bad for someone like me who is half in love with Elvis and Joe.
I was disappointed in this book. It does not have the usual wit that Crais' past books in this series have. Most of the time I laugh out loud, in this book I may have chuckled once. The plot is exactly what the title suggests. Elvis is taken and Joe goes to find him. However, the way the book is written was confusing. It starts after Elvis was kidnapped and then jumps back in time to tell the reader how he was kidnapped. The author doesn't take you back to finding Elvis until 3/4 of the way through the book. By this point I've all but forgotten he gets taken. Then finally he's gone and Joe is really pissed. The book wraps up pretty fast after that.
My recommendation is to start at the beginning with this series. It really has been enjoyable to read. The first book is called "The Monkey's Raincoat" published in 1987. If anything the dated material will be good for a laugh. Like having to pull over for a pay phone.
Robert Crais
Before I write even one word about this book I will answer the question that everyone has asked. No, this is not the book that the movie "Taken" with Liam Neeson was based off. I have no idea if that movie was a book. I will say this about the movie though, if you haven't seen it then do! It was a fantastic movie but no I will not watch it with you. Once was enough. OK, enough about movies, I don't write about those here.
This book is part of a series that I enjoy reading. Elvis Cole is a private detective in Los Angeles and his side kick Joe Pike is...well, hard to describe. They met in Vietnam and have been best buds ever since. Ordinarily I wouldn't recommend picking up in the middle of this series but with this book you really don't need any background information. I can't think of one reference to a past book that would make the reader lost if this was the first Elvis Cole novel you read. That's really good and bad. Good for someone who just wants to pick up this book and see if they like the author, story lines and characters. Bad for someone like me who is half in love with Elvis and Joe.
I was disappointed in this book. It does not have the usual wit that Crais' past books in this series have. Most of the time I laugh out loud, in this book I may have chuckled once. The plot is exactly what the title suggests. Elvis is taken and Joe goes to find him. However, the way the book is written was confusing. It starts after Elvis was kidnapped and then jumps back in time to tell the reader how he was kidnapped. The author doesn't take you back to finding Elvis until 3/4 of the way through the book. By this point I've all but forgotten he gets taken. Then finally he's gone and Joe is really pissed. The book wraps up pretty fast after that.
My recommendation is to start at the beginning with this series. It really has been enjoyable to read. The first book is called "The Monkey's Raincoat" published in 1987. If anything the dated material will be good for a laugh. Like having to pull over for a pay phone.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
It should smell good too.
The Language of Flowers
Vanessa Diffenbaugh
For any of you that know me, you know that I HATE to work in the yard. Flowers, trees and weeds are the death of me every summer. I don't buy flats of flowers every year but depend solely on those that pop back up every spring. This book makes me want to start my own greenhouse. The words and phrases used by Diffenbaugh make the book come alive.
The story is simply heartwarming and very well told. It is about an orphan, Veronica, who has a love of flowers from an early age. Every flower has a meaning and Veronica uses flowers to express herself, almost more than she uses words. As she goes through life flowers are the only comfort she has. There are many foster homes, group homes and failed adoptions. Then one day she is deemed unadoptable by a judge and when she is 18 she is thrown out on her own. Flowers are all she knows and eventually she lands a job with a florist.
Eventually Veronica learns to trust herself and others. She becomes a very sought after florist when one particular client credits Veronica with saving her relationship. This book will tug at your heart strings and I may have shed a tear or two. But the most amazing thing was the description of the flowers. I could smell them, the author made them so very real. I felt like the pages of book had come alive and I was standing in the middle of Veronica's garden.
This is surely a good one!
Vanessa Diffenbaugh
For any of you that know me, you know that I HATE to work in the yard. Flowers, trees and weeds are the death of me every summer. I don't buy flats of flowers every year but depend solely on those that pop back up every spring. This book makes me want to start my own greenhouse. The words and phrases used by Diffenbaugh make the book come alive.
The story is simply heartwarming and very well told. It is about an orphan, Veronica, who has a love of flowers from an early age. Every flower has a meaning and Veronica uses flowers to express herself, almost more than she uses words. As she goes through life flowers are the only comfort she has. There are many foster homes, group homes and failed adoptions. Then one day she is deemed unadoptable by a judge and when she is 18 she is thrown out on her own. Flowers are all she knows and eventually she lands a job with a florist.
Eventually Veronica learns to trust herself and others. She becomes a very sought after florist when one particular client credits Veronica with saving her relationship. This book will tug at your heart strings and I may have shed a tear or two. But the most amazing thing was the description of the flowers. I could smell them, the author made them so very real. I felt like the pages of book had come alive and I was standing in the middle of Veronica's garden.
This is surely a good one!
Monday, January 16, 2012
A good start!
11/22/63
Stephen King
This New Year is off to a good start and a not so good start. My not so good start is that today is January 16th and this is my first post. My good start is that the first book I read in 2012 is a real winner. As the new year rolled around I thought that I would be more dedicated to my blog. Posting once a week doesn't really seem like it would be that hard. Then January started, our computer crashed and I got sick in the first week. I'm sure that blogging at work is frowned upon so here I am my first day on our new computer. I will be (or try REALLY hard) to be more dedicated to writing in the blog. Now on to the books!
I have never read a Stephen King novel because frankly I don't really want to be scared enough to wet the bed at night. However, all the reviews said this novel was not scary and that it was a fantastic story. They were right! It is a time travel novel so it has it's own weirdness but it was so well written and thought out that I wasn't distracted by this.
Jake is a teacher in 2011. Al, a friend of Jake's, shows him a "rabbit hole" to 1958. When Al dies, Jake takes on his friends quest to prevent the assassination of JFK. Hence the title of the book. So Jake must live in the "Land of Ago" as he comes to think of it, until 11/22/63 when he can change history. One caveat with the time travel is that every trip to 1958 resets the past. So anything Jake fixes on his first trip back, he has to continue to fix each time he goes. I really can't say too much more without spoiling the book. It has everything though, love, mystery and science fiction. I would encourage you to read it. The only thing scary is the 840 pages but I still read it in like 10 days. It is completely worth your time.
Stephen King
This New Year is off to a good start and a not so good start. My not so good start is that today is January 16th and this is my first post. My good start is that the first book I read in 2012 is a real winner. As the new year rolled around I thought that I would be more dedicated to my blog. Posting once a week doesn't really seem like it would be that hard. Then January started, our computer crashed and I got sick in the first week. I'm sure that blogging at work is frowned upon so here I am my first day on our new computer. I will be (or try REALLY hard) to be more dedicated to writing in the blog. Now on to the books!
I have never read a Stephen King novel because frankly I don't really want to be scared enough to wet the bed at night. However, all the reviews said this novel was not scary and that it was a fantastic story. They were right! It is a time travel novel so it has it's own weirdness but it was so well written and thought out that I wasn't distracted by this.
Jake is a teacher in 2011. Al, a friend of Jake's, shows him a "rabbit hole" to 1958. When Al dies, Jake takes on his friends quest to prevent the assassination of JFK. Hence the title of the book. So Jake must live in the "Land of Ago" as he comes to think of it, until 11/22/63 when he can change history. One caveat with the time travel is that every trip to 1958 resets the past. So anything Jake fixes on his first trip back, he has to continue to fix each time he goes. I really can't say too much more without spoiling the book. It has everything though, love, mystery and science fiction. I would encourage you to read it. The only thing scary is the 840 pages but I still read it in like 10 days. It is completely worth your time.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
'Tis the Season
I guess this is the time of year when I read the least. I'm busy, like everyone else. Holiday parties, shopping and my personal favorite...baking! So that being said I haven't finished a book in a while. Sure I've done some looking, checked out a few online but I haven't actually finished one. I guess that doesn't mean I can't write about something.
I love books in a series. I get very attached to the characters. I love an author that really makes you identify and fall in love with the characters of a book. Books that are in a series give the reader an opportunity to really get to know the main character. In fact if a book is a stand alone novel I usually get very sad at the end. It's like saying goodbye to a dear friend!
Right now I am listening to book number 12 of the Harry Bosch series. Harry Bosch books are written by Michael Connelly. Connelly also wrote "The Lincoln Lawyer", which was just made into a movie. Harry Bosch is an LAPD detective. The books are your basic mysteries where Harry tracks down the killer and saves the day. Harry is flawed like any good detective in a book. Over the course of the books the reader really gets to know him. He's on a mission in life, to be a voice for murder victims and hunt their killers. I like him and listening to him brings it to a whole new level. This particular author includes some jazz music on his audio tracks too. It's very Harry. If you like mystery novels I would give Michael Connelly a try.
Merry Christmas!
I love books in a series. I get very attached to the characters. I love an author that really makes you identify and fall in love with the characters of a book. Books that are in a series give the reader an opportunity to really get to know the main character. In fact if a book is a stand alone novel I usually get very sad at the end. It's like saying goodbye to a dear friend!
Right now I am listening to book number 12 of the Harry Bosch series. Harry Bosch books are written by Michael Connelly. Connelly also wrote "The Lincoln Lawyer", which was just made into a movie. Harry Bosch is an LAPD detective. The books are your basic mysteries where Harry tracks down the killer and saves the day. Harry is flawed like any good detective in a book. Over the course of the books the reader really gets to know him. He's on a mission in life, to be a voice for murder victims and hunt their killers. I like him and listening to him brings it to a whole new level. This particular author includes some jazz music on his audio tracks too. It's very Harry. If you like mystery novels I would give Michael Connelly a try.
Merry Christmas!
Friday, November 25, 2011
A perfect combination
The Rose Garden
Susanna Kearsley
There is something about time travel and romance that makes for the perfect combination. I've read several books now that combine the two and I've loved them all. Susanna Kearsley does a fantastic job of explaining the time travel without confusing the reader. Nothing is worse than not understanding how the past, present and future all fit together in a time travel book. I've ready those kind too.
The book starts in the present. The main character Eva has lost her famous actress sister, Katrina, to cancer. Eva has to decide where to spread Katrina's ashes and she decides to return to England to a vacation home where they spent their childhood summers. It turns out that the Trelowarth homestead is a very magical place. Eva soon begins to travel back to the year 1715. She meets Daniel, his brother Jack and their friend Fergal. Eva has to struggle with popping up at the most inconvenient times. The only thing Eva brings with her are the clothes on her back. This is a problem when you are wearing 2011 clothing in 1715, and vice versa up return. Daniel is quick to believe that she is time traveling and that helps Eva cope.
There is a twist in the end that I didn't expect, which is great. I really thought I had the whole book wrapped up and figured out about half way through. That was not the case and it was a welcome surprise. I would highly recommend this book. There is one drawback and that is the language. Given that the book is set in England, and not in the city, we are talking on the coast and in the country, there were certain language difficulties. Add to that the fact that some of the book takes place 300 years ago. I found that the author did a great job juggling all the aspects of language. It wasn't hard for me to overcome those language barriers. It just took some getting used to.
Susanna Kearsley
There is something about time travel and romance that makes for the perfect combination. I've read several books now that combine the two and I've loved them all. Susanna Kearsley does a fantastic job of explaining the time travel without confusing the reader. Nothing is worse than not understanding how the past, present and future all fit together in a time travel book. I've ready those kind too.
The book starts in the present. The main character Eva has lost her famous actress sister, Katrina, to cancer. Eva has to decide where to spread Katrina's ashes and she decides to return to England to a vacation home where they spent their childhood summers. It turns out that the Trelowarth homestead is a very magical place. Eva soon begins to travel back to the year 1715. She meets Daniel, his brother Jack and their friend Fergal. Eva has to struggle with popping up at the most inconvenient times. The only thing Eva brings with her are the clothes on her back. This is a problem when you are wearing 2011 clothing in 1715, and vice versa up return. Daniel is quick to believe that she is time traveling and that helps Eva cope.
There is a twist in the end that I didn't expect, which is great. I really thought I had the whole book wrapped up and figured out about half way through. That was not the case and it was a welcome surprise. I would highly recommend this book. There is one drawback and that is the language. Given that the book is set in England, and not in the city, we are talking on the coast and in the country, there were certain language difficulties. Add to that the fact that some of the book takes place 300 years ago. I found that the author did a great job juggling all the aspects of language. It wasn't hard for me to overcome those language barriers. It just took some getting used to.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
A Trilogy
The Next Always - Inn at BoonsBoro Trilogy, book one
Nora Roberts
I love to read books in a series. One day when I'm not busy reading I'll post some of my favorite authors who write books in a series. I don't read every single Nora Roberts book that hits the shelf. For one thing I can't keep up. I think she writes just about more books than anyone, which always makes me question the quality of writing. However, I read the Bride Quartet series as they were released. If you haven't read those, and love weddings and great romance stories then I would recommend them. So I was excited when I heard she was releasing a new trilogy about a family of three brothers.
The Next Always is set Maryland around an old (and haunted) Inn. The Montgomery family, consisting of three brothers and their mother, purchased the old Inn and are remodeling it into a B&B. The ghost, who is friendly, is a nice twist. This book focuses on Beckett and how he falls in love with Clare. Clare has a lot of complications, she is a widow and the mother of three boys. She has made a name for herself in the small town of BoonsBoro by opening a coffee shop/book store. The story rolls on nice and smooth with one bump in the road when Clare acquires a stalker.
I liked the book and would recommend it for an easy read. It's a nice love story and I'm looking forward to the returning characters in book number two.
Nora Roberts
I love to read books in a series. One day when I'm not busy reading I'll post some of my favorite authors who write books in a series. I don't read every single Nora Roberts book that hits the shelf. For one thing I can't keep up. I think she writes just about more books than anyone, which always makes me question the quality of writing. However, I read the Bride Quartet series as they were released. If you haven't read those, and love weddings and great romance stories then I would recommend them. So I was excited when I heard she was releasing a new trilogy about a family of three brothers.
The Next Always is set Maryland around an old (and haunted) Inn. The Montgomery family, consisting of three brothers and their mother, purchased the old Inn and are remodeling it into a B&B. The ghost, who is friendly, is a nice twist. This book focuses on Beckett and how he falls in love with Clare. Clare has a lot of complications, she is a widow and the mother of three boys. She has made a name for herself in the small town of BoonsBoro by opening a coffee shop/book store. The story rolls on nice and smooth with one bump in the road when Clare acquires a stalker.
I liked the book and would recommend it for an easy read. It's a nice love story and I'm looking forward to the returning characters in book number two.
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