Again with Library A to Z

The next two books from the shelves are THE LOCH by Steven Alten and FINAL THEORY by Mark Alpert. Both books deal with science and science theory. The Loch is the story of a scientist who searches for the unusual in the depths of the ocean. He has a catastrophic event happen in the Sargasso Sea that causes him to lose credibility in the eyes of the scientific world. He heads to Scotland the place of his birth to help his father who has been charged with murder. In the process he gets involved in the mystery of the Loch Ness monster. Interesting theories and lots of sightings documented by various people to lend to the mystery. Suspenseful and scary at times, lots of gory happenings. Final Theory tells the story of a professor who had at one time been a protege of a physicist who had been associated with Albert Einstein. After the physicist is tortured and left for dead he whispers a clue before dying. The FBI and the torturer begin a deadly chase for the knowledge that this young professor has been given. It is supposed to lead the Theory of Everything and if it gets into the wrong hands could end the world. Lots of suspense and lots of blood. It's a page turner! Hard one to put down.

More of the Library from A to Z again

Here I am again with 3 books read. I'll start with Jeffrey Archer's FALSE IMPRESSION. It's a really good thriller about the theft of a Van Gogh painting from an estate in England. The owner of the painting is slain by an unbelievably evil hired assassin just when the painting is about to be shipped to its buyer in New York. There is lots of intrigue and eventually a love story. We all know the love story is imminent but it's fun to find out how the two eventually connect. This is the second novel I've read by Jeffrey Archer and he does not disappoint.


Second book was SAY YOU'RE ONE OF THEM by Uwem Akpan. I was surprised to find it was a book of short stories. I usually avoid short story volumes, but since I brought it home without looking at the contents I decided to go on because it was an Oprah Winfrey recommendation. Funny thing, I avoided this book at the bookstore just for that reason. I find her "books" can be rather intense and since I read late at night before going to bed it's hard to sleep if I wind up thinking about them. I didn't finish all the stories I must admit, but I think it's a book worth reading especially regarding what is happening in Africa at the moment. All the stories are told from a child's point of view and are excruciatingly horrifying in some circumstances. 


I did bring home a light and airy book called DEEP DISH by Mary Kay Andrews. This story centers around two local Southern chefs who find themselves competing for a chance to be a Cooking Channel star. All they go through to accomplish this end is fun reading. If you like to cook and are familiar with the Food Network, the Cooking Channel and any other cooking show on TV you'll enjoy the book.

Back to the Library A to Z

Just finished reading Kingsley Amis' The Folks That Live On The Hill. Teddibly British, like one of those British sitcoms on PBS. In fact that is what it reminded me of. It was more like Keeping Up Appearances than As Time Goes By. Sentence structure was a little confusing, but I got the gist of the story. I've never read any of Amis' books, but I think that Lucky Jim may be the one for which he's most known(seems to come up in my crossword puzzles a lot.) Fun and sometimes funny and absolutely no reason to read it except for a little diversion.

Oh, the Library!

David Liss is one of my favorite writers. He writes historical fiction for the most part and is able to relate what happens way back when to things that are happening today. The latest book I read by him is THE ETHICAL ASSASSIN. This is not historical, but is a mystery. It's in the present day in Florida where a 17 yr. old young man is trying to raise money to go to college by selling encyclopedias! Do they still do that? Well, they do in this book. He becomes involved in a murder unwittingly and is taken under the wing of the assassin. The story is the tale of his trying to come to terms with his association with the murderer and selling encyclopedias to people who don't really need them. 

Latest from the Library A to Z

THE OUTLANDER by Gil Adamson is the latest book I've read from the library. Great book, one that I avoided at the bookstore for some reason, but found to be a fantastic story. It started out to be a rather dark, stark tale, but "the widow" found out how to survive in the wilderness without a hint of that knowledge in her at the beginning. Her survival is what drives her and the story. What a wonderful adventure this is that involves a woman not a man. She never gives up no matter what and learns she is without a doubt a person of many strengths.

Back to the Library!

Just finished reading THE EXODUS QUEST  by Will Adams. It's entertaining in an Indiana Jones sort of way. Has a lot of archaelogical history as part of the story, which can be rather interesting or boring depending on your point of view. It was necessary for the story, but there was much too much. And the hero got banged around so much he probably should have been dead by the end of the book, but no walking around like nothing had ever happened. I enjoyed the book regardless.

Not library books

I have just finished reading Steig Larson's third book in his trilogy, THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET'S NEST. Great book, the best of the series. I'm sorry there will nothing else forthcoming from this author, but thankful I had the chance to read what he produced. Go read the books if you haven't already!

Further Adventures of Library A to Z

Latest book is THE STEPMOTHER by Carrie Adams. It's a sequel to THE GODMOTHER which I wrote about recently. This book is a further step in the life of Tessa King godmother to all her friends kids. This time she is finally to going to take the big step and marry the man of her life. He has three kids of his own with whom she becomes involved of course. She also has to contend with the ex and her influence on the kids. This is a story about the trials and tribulations of marriage and how difficult it is to remain married forever. Liked it every bit as much as the first one and recommend it highly.

The Good Old Jaunt Thru the Library...

Still in the As!!! There are a lot of writers with the last name Adams. The current book, SHARDIK by Richard Adams was his second book after the sensation WATERSHIP DOWN. I thought it would be a good one, but woe is me...no. It started out fine and had a lot of potential of telling a good tale, but then Adams went off the track and introduced other characters who didn't lend much to the story and who got killed off. Lost interest...The big old bear who is the central theme of the book gets short shrift and so does the leading character...oh, well...next!

Still in the A section...

Loved the latest book. The Godmother by Carrie Adams is just a good, fun story about a young woman with a bunch of friends who are all married(she's single) and she is chosen by them to be the godmother to their children. Events happen that cause her to rethink her life & relationships.  Kinda Bridget Jones...but different. Would make a good movie!

Comment about Library A to Z

If I'm going to keep reading books from the library I'm going to have to buy myself one of those hazard suits. Books from the library are so FILTHY!!!! Crud spilled on them and other stuff I don't even want to think might be. Pages stuck together with what I hope is taco sauce, what looks like somebody wiped their finger-picken' nose with the page and maybe got dropped in the toilet! It's a good thought to get books from the library, but isn't there some way to take care of these books? UGH!!!

Same day, different book in Library A to Z

CRYING WOLF by Peter Abrahams is a book I thought had a lot of promise, but in the end decided not to continue reading. Stephen King calls Abrahams his "favorite American suspense novelist." It started out interestingly enough, but after awhile I realized I needed more than a silly suspense book with one wigged out character I really didn't like. The main character is okay, but I had the feeling it was going to end up being one of those books like a slasher movie. I am not interested in scary stories and crazy people right now, but those who are might find it a fun book. Well written.

Further Adventures of Library A to Z

SAFFRON DREAMS by Shaila Abdullah is the first book I've read by this author. I almost didn't read it, but decided to when I found out it was about a Muslim woman who loses her husband in the tragedy of 9/11. Her experience was every bit as tragic as any other person who lost a loved one there except it was made worse by the feelings expressed by those who saw her and equated her with those responsible. It's a lovely book and hope it will be read by many people who want to find out more about the hearts and minds of Muslim men and women.

A to Z, more of...:-)

Just read another book by Jeff Abbott. This one is PANIC. The two books I've read, "Collision" and "Panic," are both intense page-turners. "Panic" starts off with sheer terror and doesn't stop. I almost stopped reading because Abbott gets a little graphic with the violence and people get killed left and right. But the story line keeps a reader going. One has to find out what happens at the end! I do like Jeff Abbott's intriguing story lines, but I'm finding a trend here. He seems to follow a single outline for each one so far. The Russians seem to get involved a lot and there is a story line that I found to be the same as "Collision." I do recommend Jeff Abbott's novels for the sheer, intense fun of living another life vicariously.

Library A to Z cont. still in the 'A's

Just finished reading THE TRANSLATOR  by Leila Aboulela. This writer was born in Khartoum, Sudan and is a winner of the Caine Prize for African Writing. The Translator is her first novel. I brought home two other books written by her and I'm looking forward to reading them. In this book Aboulela gives an insight into the life of a devout Muslim who lives in a place foreign to her religion. It's a lovely love story and beautifully written.