“Little Princes: One Man’s Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal” by Conor Grennan is a memoir of the author’s timI got this book for free.
“Little Princes: One Man’s Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal” by Conor Grennan is a memoir of the author’s time as a volunteer in an orphanage in Nepal. Not only did Mr. Grennan volunteer, but he also went above and beyond to find the long lost families of these children who were never orphaned but used and manipulated by war profiteers.
Conor Grennan, fresh from a job at Prague goes on a whirlwind world wide trip in 2006. He starts his adventure volunteering for an orphanage called “Little Princes Children’s Home). Turns out the kids are not orphans but victims of a notorious child trafficker which has promised their parents protection from the Maoist revolutionaries. However, more often than not the children end up as slaves.
Stunned by their stories, Grennan sets on a mission to locate the parents
"Little Princes” by Conor Grennan is the story of how one man can make a difference. Volunteering with young children without any experience, the author finds himself at Little Princes Children home in Nepal and quickly comes to think of the kids as family.
The story of how the kids came to the orphanage is distributing. A man, known to the authorities but with political clout, has promised poor parents to take care of their children, saving the children from forced labor, slavery or joining the rebel army. The parents, poor as they were, scraped together a hefty sum to insure their child’s future. Once he got the money the monstrous child trafficker abandoned the kids, forced to work or sold them.
Conor Grennan trekked through the mountains, at great peril and huge personal risk to remedy the situation and find the children’s parents –assuming they were still alive. As he tells his tales Mr. Grennan weaves in his love affair and eventual marriage to the lovely Liz.
The book is written in a pleasant manner but felt slightly rushed. However, that’s OK – as a former backpacker (in South America) I thought the style suited the storyteller. The book is enjoyable and readable while not giving way to sentimental moments. It comes across that Grennan is one of the “good guys” and is telling a genuine story while sharing credit with those who helped him along the way.
While it is obvious that Mr. Grennan tries to shine a positive light on those that helped him, he still makes them somewhat dimensional instead of a cardboard figure (after all, even in the US you cannot be straight as an arrow in order to successfully navigate the bureaucracy).
While the story is amazing, sincere and touching it is also a pleasure to see how the author has grown, both in personality and style over the five years in which the memoir takes place.
“Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas” by Ace Collins (Website) is a short book, divided into sections, each corresponding to a beloved Ch“Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas” by Ace Collins (Website) is a short book, divided into sections, each corresponding to a beloved Christmas song. The book is arranged alphabetically and includes lyrics to most of the songs.
The book tells about 31 Christmas songs and carols including “Do You Hear what I Hear”, “G-d Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”, “Jingle Bells’, “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer” and more. The titles are arrange alphabetically and most of the songs also include the lyrics.
I was looking forward to read “Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas”, not only to get into the holiday spirit but also because I love this type of books since my childhood. These short stories filled with charming facts and little unknown tidbits were always fascinating to me.
Not to mention a great resource in case I’ll be on “Jeopardy” one day.
The premise of this book is quite interesting, that is telling the history of each carol or Christmas song. Mr. Collins is a good writer and makes the stories he writes about engaging and easy to read, but he lacks some serious research. The core fact of what the author is describing are woven with information which cannot be verified (such as putting thoughts in people’s heads) or is simply misleading (I did some fact checking and found conflicting information). If the information is not wrong well, the reader is out of luck because there are absolutely no sources at the end.
I will grant the author that most of the stories he tells are legitimate and verifiable when one checks up on them but to mix fact and fiction only undermines the authors credibility.
For example, the author’s take on “Good King Wenceslas”, he mixes facts and legends into a simple narrative which could easily be taken as all pure fact and worst – be quoted from in the future. The piece about “Twelve Days of Christmas” (which accidentally I happen to look up) was taken out of an Internet page without any reasonable research. The author claims that the “Twelve Days of Christmas” was some sort of coded reference but a 2 second search on Google using the term “Twelve Days of Christmas Origin” brought me to a Snopes page claiming it is false.
“The Devotion of Suspect X” by award winning Japanese author Keigo Higashino is a fictional mystery book but not in the usually “who-dun-it” style. Th“The Devotion of Suspect X” by award winning Japanese author Keigo Higashino is a fictional mystery book but not in the usually “who-dun-it” style. This charming novel focuses on the mind games played between the suspect and a police consultant – both brilliant mathematicians.
A divorced single mother and former night club hostess , Yasuko Hanaoka, thought she finally escaped her ex-husband when he shows up on her door step. One thing leads to another and the ex-husband ends up dead. Ishigami, Yasuko’s neighbor who is a middle aged high school math teacher, hears the commotion and helps her get rid of the body.
When the unidentified body turns up, Detective Kusanagi turns up on Yasuko’s doorstep as part of his investigation. Yasuko however has an airtight alibi. Kusanagi brings in Dr. Manabu Yukawa, a brilliant physicist who gets a kick out of help the detective solve what seems to be unsolvable crimes. Yukawa is a college friend of Ishigami and is convinced he has something to do with the murder.
“The Devotion of Suspect X” by Keigo Higashino is a very clever mystery novel. The mystery is the way the investigation unfolds, layer by layer while the reader is privy to how the murder was done is a unique way to tell a story; it is also dangerous because the pitfalls to ruin the story are many. Actually one could say that this book, certainly a thinking person’s novel, is more of a psychological drama, a cat and mouse game, than a mystery.
The interaction between the characters is very interesting and the characters themselves are appealing as well. As we get to know Ishigami, we learn why he wastes his time teaching high-school students who don’t care and that he must pass. We learn about his strange devotion to Yasuko and keep wondering what made him do what he did – all the way to end.
Understanding Ishigami is the key to understanding this book.
Scattered throughout the books are complex philosophical questions and mathematical proofs. I found those interesting even though some were hard for me to grasp but somehow they helped the story move along. How Keigo Higashino achieved that might be the true mystery of the book.
A word of praise to the fine and fluent translation by Alexander O. Smith.
“The Losing Role” by Steve Anderson is a historical fiction book which takes place during World War II. The story follows a failed German actor who is“The Losing Role” by Steve Anderson is a historical fiction book which takes place during World War II. The story follows a failed German actor who is drafted to infiltrate American lines posing as an American officer.
Max Kaspar, a.k.a. failed German-American actor Maximilian von Kaspar, is fighting on the Eastern front when he is drafted by the SS for an unknown mission. Soon Max discovers that he has been recruited to impersonate American officers and cause havoc behind enemy lines.
Realizing the absurdity of the plan, Max devises his own plan which ultimately, he hopes, will bring him back to America and to his true love, the theater.
I'm a sucker for espionage thrillers especially if they take place in WWII.
“The Losing Role” is an interesting book with a refreshing twist, it is told from the view point of a German solider – and a likable one at that. Max has been disillusioned by the promises of America, he has been grinded by the rough life of an immigrant and an actor and has decided to go back and protect the Fatherland.
As an immigrant I can certainly understand Max’s disappointment. Many immigrants come to America with a promise of “streets lined with gold” only to realize that the only thing guaranteed is hard work and that there is no such thing as “easy money”. No matter what everyone else say.
Mr. Anderson made Max an affable character, an actor wearing a uniform due to his naïveté. We meet Max on the brutal Eastern front, fighting the Russians, but learn about his life in America through flashbacks.
This is a well researched and fascinating book. Mr. Anderson’s description of Operation Greif (Germans posing as Americans) comes across very vividly as a part of the last attempt for the Germans to turn over the war, even though it seems that the men in the field realize that it is in vain. However the confusion that Operation Greif caused among the Americans is well documented and Mr. Anderson does a wonderful job bringing that to life.
Some historical characters, such as the colorful German Lt. Colonel Otto Skorzeny, make a cameo which is always a pleasure. Skorzeny was the leader of Operation Greif and lived to see the end of the war (and then some), he was a formidable commando.
“Treasure Island” by Robert Louis Stevenson is an 1883 fictional adventurous and classic pirate story. The book follows Jim Hawkins, a young man, who “Treasure Island” by Robert Louis Stevenson is an 1883 fictional adventurous and classic pirate story. The book follows Jim Hawkins, a young man, who has found a treasure map and with the help of friends hires a crew to find the treasure. But the crew has their own plans.
In the mid 18th Century at a seaside village in south-west England Jim Hawkins, the young son of the keepers of the Admiral Benbow Inn, meets and old seaman named Billy Bones. Quickly Jim discovers that Bones is a pirate and that his old crewmates want Bones’ sea-chest.
Bones dies and Jim opens his sea-chest to collect the money owed to the inn – only to discover a mysterious oilskin packet. The packet is a detailed map of an island Jim, together with Dr. Livesey and Squire Trelawney, hire a crew to sail to the island.
But the crew are not the honest sailors they think they are and the sea-cook, Long John Silver, turns out to be the most dangerous one of them all.
I read “Treasure Island” by Robert Louis Stevenson as a young boy and always remembered it as one of my favorites. Recently, as part of a classics book club, I read it again.
The two main characters of the book, Jim Hawkins and Long John Sliver have certainly cemented themselves as two of the most intriguing and dimensional characters in literature. I was happy to reconnect with them almost as if they were old friends.
The first half of the book was a breeze to read, but the second half was a bit more difficult due to the pirate’s slang, cumbersome metaphors and tongue tied conversations. However, I quickly re-discovered that those quirks were part of the charm of the book. Even Jim Hawkins admits he has trouble understanding the narrative – so I wasn’t alone.
I read the Barnes and Noble classics version, which came with a fascinating biography of Stevenson especially regarding “Treasure Island”. The book was actually written for Stevenson’s stepson, after painting the island he started the novel and completed 15 chapters. Stevenson finished the book in Switzerland writing a chapter a day.
Unknowingly, Stevenson created much of the pirate lore which we have been accustomed to. The pirate speaking almost unintelligibly, a parrot on his shoulder, missing a foot and ready to double cross his best friends for a buck or two.
My biggest surprise upon reading “Treasure Island” as an adult was that I realized that the story is not about Jim Hawkins, but about Long John Silver. Granted that usually the villain in any book is usually more colorful and fun than the upstanding protagonist – but this discovery has taken by surprise. Silver’s moral ambiguity is well known but just how amoral the character is I never fully realized as a naïve child (even though I have become a naïve adult).
I was happy to discover that “Treasure Island” truly deserves its status as a beloved classic. The story is suspenseful and the adventure can be enjoyed by children of any age....more
“A Reliable Wife” by Robert Goolrick is a fictional story about a 58 year old widower and his mail order bride. The story takes place in the frozen tu“A Reliable Wife” by Robert Goolrick is a fictional story about a 58 year old widower and his mail order bride. The story takes place in the frozen tundra of Wisconsin, as well as in the heated, burning desire of the characters’ hearts.
“Country businessman seeks reliable wife. Compelled by practical not romantic reasons. . . . Discreet.”
This is Ralph Truitt’s, “the wealthiest man in town”, requisitioning a mail order bride. Ralph is consumed by thoughts of evils men do to themselves and their families, especially during the long, harsh, cold and lonely winter of Wisconsin.
Ralph’s new wife to be, Catherine Land, a trim and proper lady is not what she seems to be or what she wants Ralph to believe she is. Catherine has a scheme which the reader is not yet privy to, but we are privy to Ralph’s long and sad history with women.
Neither Ralph nor Catherine are playing straight with one another, and Goolrick is not playing straight with the reader as well.
“A Reliable Wife” by Robert Goolrick is a wicked novel. Every character in the book has his or her own agenda, alliances and schemes. The freezing wasteland of Wisconsin is a perfect back dropfor this tale where the colder it gets, the hotter the heart and the madness becomes.
This is a strange book, none of the characters are especially likable or identifiable, yet it works. The many faces of what we call “love”, a story desperation, deception and survival are all a factors. However, there are some drawbacks, there are some inconsistencies in the story and the ending is too convenient, tying everything up in a neat package.
Nevertheless, the story is told in vivid narrative, it is sinful and tense, with flashes of violence, graphic sexual acts and grief. The writing of this novel is exquisite and introspective, smart and sometimes provocative.
“The Lotus Eaters” by Tatjana Soli (Website) is a fictional book about the Vietnam War. Helen Adams is a combat photographer,I got this book for free.
“The Lotus Eaters” by Tatjana Soli (Website) is a fictional book about the Vietnam War. Helen Adams is a combat photographer, a woman “in a young man’s profession” is drawn to Vietnam after the loss of her brother in combat.
Helen Adams’ brother died in Vietnam and to her mother’s dismay she feels a pull towards the country. Helen arrives without any experience joining a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Sam Darrow who shows her the ropes. Through brazen luck and skill she becomes known by her own right as a brave (and lucky) professional photographer.
Helen falls in love with Darrow as well as with her (and his) mysterious Vietnamese assistant Linh who also has his own sad history. Together they go through turmoil and danger, much like the country they are documenting.
The phrase “Lotus Eaters” comes from Homer’s “Odyssey” and refers for one’s will to return home being robbed away from them. This is a clue to the rest of the book and how Helen, who is so used to documenting savagery through the eye of the lens, will find life at the US unwearyingly boring.
Helen is emotionally detached from her subject through the lens of the camera. She documents atrocities but feels safe and distanced from behind her instrument. Soli does an excellent job bringing to the reader the uncompromising horror of what Helen sees as well as the hypocrisy of war on both sides.
Somehow Ms. Soli has managed to create an authentic experience in a fictional novel. The reader gets submerged into Helen’s experiences and her own private war. The strength of the descriptive narrative comes not from an overly detailed account, but just enough to let the imagination ignite.
“The Lotus Eaters” is an excellent novel, haunting, confrontational and compelling on several levels. While not written in chronological order, the book is stimulating and thought provoking as it does not deal with politics, but with the people impacted by decisions of world leaders thousands of miles away.
“Secrets to the Grave” by Tami Hoag is a fictional mystery featuring the recurring characters we met in “Deeper than the Dead”. The novel takes place “Secrets to the Grave” by Tami Hoag is a fictional mystery featuring the recurring characters we met in “Deeper than the Dead”. The novel takes place in the same town of Oak Knoll, CA and is set in the mid 1980’s.
While still trying to recover from the “See-no-evil” serial killer which shook the small town of Oak Knoll, CA a year ago, another gruesome murder has been committed. Marissa Fordham is a mysterious resident of Oak Knoll, she is murdered and Haley, her four year old daughter, the only witness, barely survives.
The sheriff’s office has procured the services of FBI agent and profiling expert Vince Leone, who happen to fall in love with fifth grade teacher teacher Anne Navarre and stay in town. Detective Tony Menedez heads up the investigation and uses his human resources well.
Together Tony and Vince piece together a mystery which involves Oak Knoll’s elites while Anne is trying to restore the memory of Hayley to point out the killer. But is Anne doing Hayley a favor? Is the memory of a four year old can be trusted?
“Secrets to the Grave” by Tami Hoag is a well written book, while “Deeper than the Dead” was about families breaking apart, “Secrets to the Grave” seem to be about families coming together. The strength of the book comes from the interaction of the well developed characters. The mystery was not as involved as the previous book, I figured out who the killer is a bit before the ¾ mark. However, I found the side stories much more compelling; the dilemmas Anne Navarre finds herself in are fascinating and thought provoking.
I’d certainly recommend reading “Deeper than the Dead” first even though it is not a necessity, but you’ll enjoy this book more and have a better understanding of the characters and their interaction, which as I mentioned is the strong point of this book.
Tami Hoag is a gifted author, her narrative flows and her style is both unique and easy to digest. The multi-tier (n-tier for all you IT folks) plot of the book is both interesting and fast paced. As a child of the 80s I certainly enjoyed all the puns and shots at the pop-culture icons, as well as the lack of CSI technology. To this day I remember the debate around DNA and how it will be used in the court of law.
“The Flock” by James Robert Smith is a fiction fantasy thriller set in a Florida. The title of the novel comes from a group of prehistoric giant carni“The Flock” by James Robert Smith is a fiction fantasy thriller set in a Florida. The title of the novel comes from a group of prehistoric giant carnivorous birds known as Phorusrhacids. The flock has survived in the Florida wilderness and is now fighting against being discovered by men.
Salutations, FL is a model, ideal and beautiful town owned by the movie studio / conglomerate Berg Bros. The movie studio wants to grow the town, however its neighbors, Marine Colonel Winston Grisham and billionaire Vance Holocomb wants to stop Berg Bros. for their own separate reasons.
Enter Ron Riggs, a Fish & Wildlife employee who is called to Salutations to find out why the residents’ cats and dogs go missing. Thinking a big snake is the abductor Ron hires his ex-girlfriend Mary to help him out. However, soon they will find themselves in the middle of a power struggle between three titans who will stop at nothing to further their agenda. In the midst of the power struggle they discover The Flock, a group of intelligent, pre-historic birds who have hidden from humans for centuries.
“The Flock” by James Robert Smith is a fast paced thriller with wonderful pulp elements peppered in the novel.
The characters are fun, even though they are stereotypical with each representing an umbrella group (militants, big business, conservationists), but their interaction is what takes this book to another level. I liked the way Mr. Smith played with his characters’ names. The militant is named after the U.S’s rightwing / patriotic authors etc. These characters create the engaging drama in the novel, but the giant birds are the true stars.
Mr. Smith has created a somewhat believable story of how these terror birds (Titanis walleri) survived unseen and undiscovered in one of the most populous states in the union. The author has given these birds human characteristics which are interesting (although I didn’t understand how come the intelligent, non-flying birds with hand instead of wings never created tools).
This book was a fast read, fast paced and fun at that. The storytelling is brilliant and the descriptive prose is imaginative and detailed. Some of the chapters are written from the viewpoint of the birds, which I found to be very interesting and helped me understand their way of life.
Three Seconds by Anders Roslund and Borge Hellström is a crime fiction novel focusing on the prison drug trade. The novel has I go this book for free.
Three Seconds by Anders Roslund and Borge Hellström is a crime fiction novel focusing on the prison drug trade. The novel has won the prestigious Best Swedish Crime Novel of the Year in 2009.
Piet Hoffmann loves his wife and adores his two little boys. However, his business takes him away from them often. Piet is an informant for the Swedish police and has been working for years, off the books, to infiltrate an arm of the Polish mafia who is bent on taking over drug distributions in Sweden's jails.
After years of hard work, Piet finally gains the trust of a respected business man who knowingly fronts the Polish mob. The deal that gained Piet legitimacy cost another undercover agent his life which forced Piet to collect evidence from the crime scene absolving himself.
As Piet's handler, Erik Wilson falsified records to Piet's existing criminal history to boost up his rap sheet to make Piet the legitimate heir to the jail drug underworld. All this while they are preparing for the largest sting operation in Swedish law enforcement history.
Detective Superintendent Ewert Grens is investigating the murder in the drug-deal-gone-bad. A grieving widower Ewert throws himself into his investigation only to hit peculiar roadblocks at every turn.
And we didn't even get to the twists yet...
Three Seconds has many things going in one book. The novel is a bleak crime drama, a conspiracy story and a detective story. The story is morally complex, visceral and the reading is demanding but well worth the effort.
There is no set-up to this book as the story gets running from the start, assaulting the reader thick and fast with drama and authenticity. The writing is refined, the characterization solid, and the action brutal. Three Seconds is written in short scenes, which takes some getting used to, but once you do watch out... the pace of the book is electric.
Behind the compelling and sometimes complex storyline there is a real critique of the Swedish jail system, justice system. and the way the Swedish police use informants. This exciting and innovative book is well plotted and goes into considerable detail without actually losing the reader. However, the subject matter does not make this a particular pleasant reading of this well researched and absorbing book.
Great job by translator Kari Dickson of keeping the pace and dialog flowing.
“Deeper than the Dead” by Tami Hoag is a fictional thriller set in 1985, before computers, forensics and a cell phone was as I got this book for free.
“Deeper than the Dead” by Tami Hoag is a fictional thriller set in 1985, before computers, forensics and a cell phone was as big as a brick (and weighed just as much). The book follows an FBI agent who is following a killer in a small town in California.
Oak Knoll, a sleepy California college, town three children literally stumble upon a corpse in the ground. The victim is a young woman who has been jailed in her own body before she was killed – her moth and eyes are glued shut (with Superglue) and her eardrums are pierced. The killer becomes known ash the “See-No-Evil” murderer.
Anne Navarre, the kids’ teacher steps in to comfort them and help the police question the children in a manner which is appropriate and doesn’t add to the trauma. FBI agent Vince Leone is a profiler, a science which is still new and untested – he is sent to Oak Knoll from the FBI’s basement (hence the book’s name) to try to catch a killer which leaves no evidence behind. “Deeper than the Dead” by Tami Hoag is a compelling, well written, fast paced thriller. If you are a child of the 80’s (as I am) you’ll get a kick out of all the “Miami Vice” and other pop culture references.
The book’s investigative team uses old fashion technology and hard work to attempt and solve a crime. That approach might seem strange and antiquarian but I still remember those days where a computer in your house was a luxury…and that was a Commodore 64. There are no DNA tests, computer records, fingerprint matches are still done manually and the science of profiling is just starting to catch on as legitimate.
The book is deliciously suspenseful, surprising and the unexpected twists and turns are a delight which will held my attention throughout. There are several grim situations in the book, from descriptions of dysfunctional families to scenes of torture which are eluded to but never described.
The characters in the book are strong, believable and Ms. Hoag created interlocking plotlines which work very well together. Surprisingly enough, the least interesting character in the book is the villain. The ending also lacked a punch, the story wrapped up quickly almost as an afterthought, there were many questions left unanswered and not everything was tied up in a neat package, which left the reader to wandering about the villain’s accomplices, if there were any.
There is some romantic interludes which add some complexity to the story but do not overshadow the thriller, but simply add to the characters strong relationship. “Deeper than the Dead” is a very good book and a page turner almost to the very end.
Let me preface by saying that Galveston is part three or a series and I have not read parts one or two.
“Galveston (Civil WarI got this eBook for free.
Let me preface by saying that Galveston is part three or a series and I have not read parts one or two.
“Galveston (Civil War in the Far West)” by P. G. Nagle is a historical fiction account of events in Texas and New Mexico during the American Civil War. The story culminates in the battle for Galveston, a Texan barrier island.
Confederate Solider James Russell returns home from the rough battle at Valverde. He finds himself accompanying his sister, Emma, to their aunt’s home in Galveston, Texas. Emma is bitter and in low spirits because she lost her fiancé in the war, her family thinks that leaving the farm will do her some good.
Far from being safe, the island of Galveston is being attacked by the Union Army. While Jamie takes part in the battle, Emma takes care of their aunt and does her part as a volunteer nurse
Union naval officer Quincy supplies the contrasting view from the Union side.
“Galveston” by P. G. Nagle was an easy read and a fascinating one as well. The outdoor descriptions of New Mexico and Texas are very good and help transport you to the 1860s. I was mesmerized by the descriptions of the battle (there is only one) and the tactics used at the time. Ms. Nagle also took the time to put us into the minds of civilians being caught in the midst of the war – an aspect which should not be overlooked.
The book flows smoothly, is entertaining and well written. However, the characters aren’t complex, but that could be due to the fact that I have not read the previous two books. I did like the story and learning about little known part of the Civil War (or any war) is always captivating.
Ms. Nagle’s writing, as well as constantly changing from the narration of one character to another, keeps the story moving along at a reasonable pace.
I got this book for free. Article first published as Book Review: The Templar Salvation by Raymond Khoury on Blogcritics.
“The Templar Salvation” by RayI got this book for free. Article first published as Book Review: The Templar Salvation by Raymond Khoury on Blogcritics.
“The Templar Salvation” by Raymond Khoury is the long awaited fictional sequel to “The Last Templar“. The Knights Templar existed for more than two hundred years doing the bidding of the Roman Catholic Church. At some point the knights have fallen out of favor with the Pope, were hunted down and took their secrets (and some say artifacts) to the grave.
Conrad, one of the last of the Templars, is on a mission – he must save several crates and ensure their safety. Archeologist Tess Chaykin is forced by a mysterious Iranian man to solve Conrad’s mystery 700 years later while her boyfriend, FBI agent Sean Reilly, tries to save her from certain death. Their adventure takes them to Europe & Turkey, meeting strange and wonderful people while their lives are being constantly threatened. Part of the mystery is what’s in the trunks – the other part is what would they do if they find it.
“The Templar Salvation” is a fast, imaginative page turner which brings back archaeologist Tess Chaykin and her boyfriend FBI special agent Sean Reilly. This is an enthralling book and I could not find any glaring historical inaccuracies in it, quite the opposite, I thought learned a few things along he way.
The book jumps back and forth in time, switching between the story of one of the last Templars and our contemporary heroes. While the knight is trying to hide the objects of desire, central to the plot, Tess and Sean are following his footsteps trying to find them.
I did find some of Agent Reilly’s luck and actions to be a bit too implausible - it seems as if the man cannot die and if he gets hurt he just shakes it off. Reilly also did things I thought were out of character. As a former solider I know that for a time I felt naked without my gun, it is hard for me to believe that Reilly would make the mistake of putting his gun in a backpack.
“The Templar Salvation” is filled with chases and fights (which I thought were overdrawn and could have been shortened – but that’s nitpicking), but I truly enjoyed the historical perspectives which were mesmerizing. The reference to other characters in Templar books not written by Mr. Khoury certainly got a chuckle out of me. Overall this is an enjoyable book which was fast paced, likable characters and when it was all said and done, left me with some things to think about.
“Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë is an 1847 novel published as “Jane Eyre. An Autobiography” under the nom de plume of “Currer Bell”. The novel is told“Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë is an 1847 novel published as “Jane Eyre. An Autobiography” under the nom de plume of “Currer Bell”. The novel is told in first person narrative and goes through five distinct stages in Jane’s life. In spite of many dark elements the novel has strong elements of right vs. wrong as well as morality. The orphan Jane Eyre, brought up by an duty bound aunt by marriage is having a miserable childhood. The family is spoiled and socially fixated, considering the orphan in their mists beneath them and bans Jane from her cousins. After an incident with her cousin John, Jane is sent to a school called Lowood where the moral pillar of her time finds herself subject to the hypocritical minister who runs the place. Jane endures the school even though she has been branded a liar and subject to a starvation diet as well as other miseries – but she remains faithful to standards which would break any other mortal. Reaching adulthood, Jane leaves Lowood to become a governess for Mr. Rocchester at his home called Thornhill. Mr. Rochester wins Jane’s love and respect even though she knows he is harboring a secret. Rochester asks for Jane’s hand in marriage, even though she keeps remind him what a poor, plain girl she is. At the last moment the marriage is thwarted, Jane flees Thorhill all alone and without a penny to her name. However, Jane finds her way back to society and moves up the social ladder only to make her way back to Mr. Rochester to discover his painful secret. I can certainly see why “Jane Eyre” is considered a classic. Brontë’s use of strong language , rhetorical brilliance and lovely narrative are certainly impressive. The author also had the guts to tackle many social issues head on, something that we, at this voyeuristic age, seem to take for granted. Even though this book was not meant to be historical, several decades later I found it captivating to read about the day-to-day living of 1800′s England. The book described the fascinating social ladder of the 1800′s where governesses (nannies/teachers) were far below their employers, yet often better educated. I felt that Jane’s assertions to Rochester that she is his equal was something that was simply frowned upon a society which thrives on ambiguities. I found myself increasingly interested in the outcome of the story, the Rochester secrets, Jane’s wit and eventual outcome. The personal story of Jane Eyre is very absorbing and well written. Brontë’s observations are poignant and engaging, her storytelling, when she’s not of on a tangent, is admirable. But,oh the tangents… as much as absorbing as the book was, when the characters start going off on departures about religion and morality I almost felt as if I was being scolded. The huge amount of storytelling which is meant to be nothing but a filler got to be annoying after a hundred pages or so. The only conflict in the book is between Jane and Rochester, the rest of the book is filled with Jane being Jane, preaching to the reader about morality, virtues, temptations which might have some charm, but certainly isn’t interesting. My favorite book, Don Quixote is known for its unbalanced structure, but the Quixote chapters are completely separate from the stories within a story parts. In “Jane Eyre” Brontë tells the tale in logical progression which is structured around the protagonist. However, the consistency of the narrative is done at the expense of the overall strength of the whole.
“The First Wave” by James R. Benn is second book in the fictional Billy Boyle series. In the Billy Boyle book (review) we meet the young Boston cop wh“The First Wave” by James R. Benn is second book in the fictional Billy Boyle series. In the Billy Boyle book (review) we meet the young Boston cop who has been enlisted as a special investigator to his uncle in Washington during WWII. Only that his uncle is Ike, and he takes Billy with him overseas.
The characters from the first book are being assembled, this time in Algeria, getting ready for the Allied forces to take over, hoping the French won’t put up a fight (they did). Stations in a military hospital, Boyle discovers that a drug smuggling ring involving many high ranking Vichy officials is operating with aid from someone who is knowledgeable about top secret data. Mix the smuggling up with a coup, murders and a kidnapping and you got the making of an interesting story.
Billy not only has to uncover the corruption which has become the norm, but also be sensitive as to not screw up Eisenhower’s notorious “deal with Darlan” – the fascist, antisemitic highest ranking leader of the French Vichy government.
While the first book in the series I considered historical-fiction, this book is more of a crime story which happens during war time. The history is there, but it there are far too many liberties taken with time-line and the story-line does not deal with any specific occurrences (such as Operation Jupiter from the last book).
The author did make this clear at the end notes, otherwise my rating would dropped.That being said, I like the fact that the stories revolve around little known events of World War II instead of the big ones we all learned about.
In “The First Wave” Billy has matured, he has seen devastation, revenge, backstabbing and some more of the acts men do in war time. Much like Billy, so has Mr. Benn’s narrative matured. The book is still an easy read and fast paced , but is more darker in storyline as well as tone.
The competing Vichy (that’s the French government the Nazi’s installed) interested are outlined by Mr. Benn are very interesting. Those interests shows how complicated and somewhat unrealistic were the hopes of the Allies that they would be greeted as liberators (we were not).
The book also centers around two other main subject, while not as exciting as murder & mayhem are no less important and in my opinion even more. The first is Pfizer’s ability to mass produce penicillin. The second is the important role of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. It was very inspiring to read a book which honors those women who despite holding a “Relative Rank” (meaning they didn’t have to be saluted to) and getting 50% less than their male counterparts, still volunteered in droves to serve in combat zones.
Kingdom Under Glass" by Jay Kirk is a historical fiction - biography tale, set in the late late nineteenth - earlDisclaimer: I got this book for free.
Kingdom Under Glass" by Jay Kirk is a historical fiction - biography tale, set in the late late nineteenth - early twentieth century, about the great taxidermist & conservationist, inventor and sculptor Carl Akeley, his wives Delia "Mickie" Akeley and second wife Mary Jobe Akeley.
Akeley is a legend, I'm surprised I haven't heard of him before this book. On a jungle expedition he killed a leopard with his bare hands, somehow survived an elephant attach, stuffed Jumbo the elephant for P.T. Barnum, was an acquittance of Teddy Roosevelt, invented a movie camera, used his fame to prompted King Albert of Belgium to create the world's first wildlife sanctuary in the Belgium Congo (Virunga National Park) and I'm not even going to detail his scientific and artistic achievements.
The book is divided into four parts:
Prologue: where we meet Carl Akeley in the African jungle hunting a silverback gorilla to add to the museum's collection. At this time, the gorillas are considered almost a legend.
Part One: The Resurrectionists - we are introduced to a cast of characters, including Carl's friends and wife. The narrative flows as we follow Carl from his childhood interest in this seeming morbid preoccupation, to dead end jobs. His big break came when P.T. Barnum's elephant Jumbo died and he was chosen to stuff the big fellow. Following more years of hard work, Carl finally emerges as the premier taxidermist of his time.
Part Two: Ahab the Veldt - Convinced that most animals will soon be extinct, Carl & Mickie go to Africa to collect animals for the museum. By "collecting" they mean killing the animals for the museum's exhibits; if the animal they killed is not to their satisfaction, they will lay it aside and go after the perfect specimen. Along the way they meet many of the world's rich and famous who are also clamoring to bag an exotic animal before they can no longer do so. Fighting sickness, disease, hostile natives, stubborn tour guides and herds of elephants, as well as the childless Mickie adopting a monkey puts a strain on their relationship.
Part Three: Life in the City - After several years living in tents in Africa, adjusting to the luxurious life in New York City is not as easy as it sounds. The fact that Mickie brought her adopted monkey back from Africa, who wrecks havoc on the house and the marriage doesn't help. Carl, not wanting to be home, is busy at his job as well as inventing a better movie camera. After the marriage dissolves Carl goes once more to Africa, this time to find the elusive mountain gorilla. However, after witnessing the horrible death of a baby gorilla, he comes to the epiphany that maybe, just maybe, killing them is not the best way to preserver their legacy. But Carl is still obsessed with finishing his elephant wing at the Museum.
Part Four: Under the Volcano - Carl goes back to the Congo to find his gorillas, this time taking his new wife Mary. Not getting George Eastman to commit anymore money to the life work at the museum puts Akeley in a foul mood. I won't spoil the ending, but it is ironic as can be.
To this day, the Akeley Hall of African Mammals is a testament to Carl Akeley's contributions to the world of science.
Jay Kirk has done the impossible, he made a book about a taxidermist not only interesting, but entertaining as well. Jay Kirk's prose is beautifully written, brilliant, smooth and striking, however it is not for the faint of heart as there are intimate descriptions of the process of taxidermy - starting with the tracking of a perfect specimen.
The research that went into this book is amazing. At the end notes Mr. Kirk reveals his sources, from personal journals to published books and his thought process about making such assumptions as "Akeley thought...".
A refreshing change from many other books is that Mr. Kirk is unapologetic about the attitude of the time - deep racism, impenitent colonialism and cataclysmic conservationism are par of the course. This type of narrative is very effective and sometimes even shocking.
However, the author never make such assumptions, criticizes or strays from the narrative - but let the deeds and words of these men speak for themselves. Both Akeley and Roosevelt believe that extinction is inevitable. Akeley, however, believed that he is using his skills as a hunter and taxidermist to further the cause of conservationist by preserving specimen (it seems he did not see the irony of killing several animals until getting the perfect one to preserve).
The author breathes life into the characters in a masterful way, with superb writing, an eye for detail and nuances which make us all individuals.
I feel it's important to mention that I have read this book during the mid-term elections bonanza, when I couldn't turn on the TV set, or visit an ad sponsored website without being bombarded with political ads. The book's theme of trying to slowdown the world's appetite of destroying our natural resources and not-so-natural resources in order to make a buck certainly hit home.
“Washington: A Life” by Ron Chernow is an encompassing biography of George Washington. This marvelous book breaks the wooden image of Washington and b“Washington: A Life” by Ron Chernow is an encompassing biography of George Washington. This marvelous book breaks the wooden image of Washington and brings out the character of the man we all learned about with all his charm and personality.
“Washington: A Life” is divided into six parts:
The Frontiersman: starts with a quick history of the Washington family all the way to the time young George left the British Army for the life of a happily married Virginia planter. Along the way the readers learn how “George” became “Washington” through his trials and tribulations in the French-Indian War as well as the hard lessons he learned from being a second class citizen to his British born counterparts.
The experience young Washington gained in these early conflicts were invaluable to his belief in a strong central government (he couldn’t get troops to protect the frontier from other states), no to mention his disdain for short sighted politicians.
The Planter: After giving up his military Washington marries the wealthy widow Martha Custis and settles into domestic bliss as a Virginian gentleman-farmer. However, financial trouble and family tragedy destroy this illusion, coupled with yet more embarrassment from England as well as restrictive laws and unfair judgments against the colonials. The formerly loyal English subject has committed himself to the revolution which will make him world famous.
The General: Taking control of a non-existent Continental Army, Washington’s greatest accomplishment was keeping it together. During the though eight years of the Revolutionary War the only constant was Washington who had to hone his military skills as long with his political skills “dealing with selfish, apathetic, states and bureaucratic incompetence“. By stepping down, returning his commission and going back to his farm Washington became, according to King George III”the greatest man in the world“.
The Statesman: Touches on the years between the end of the Revolutionary War and the time Washington was unanimously elected to be president. As much as Washington wished to remain in Mount Vernon, he adhered the call of Congress and helped get the Constitution accepted by nine of the original 13 states in order to create a union.
The President: Thrusted into another public job, Washington grudgingly accept and leaves Mount Vernon, again, to the temporary capital city of New York. Realizing that everything he does not only sets a precedence, but will also be scrutinized for ages, Washington forges and defines the unique role of the President & the Executive branch.
The Legend: Spending the twilight of his years in Mount Vernon Washington was still plagued with financial worries. As much as Washington wanted to get away from the political theatre, the theatre still found him especially during the “Quasi-War” with France during John Adams’ tenure. George Washington died after exposing himself to the elements and falling ill.
This is the kind of history book I love. Mr. Chernow tells of little known anecdotes about George Washington which not only tell of of his character, but even relevant to this day. Some of the stories the author relates are laugh-out funny, the type that no-one can make up, the type that if you read them in a fictional book you’d hiss and throw the book at the wall – yet they are true.
The self criticism of Washington literally leaps out of this book, that is the major difference I found between this biography and “His Excellency” (book review). Washington always internalized new things he learns and is able to change even though it goes against everything he knew to be true. One can see how over a lifetime of slave ownership his views towards this practice have changed from one end to the other.
Ron Chernow is not only a wonderful historian, but also a masterful story teller. In this book Chernow painted George Washington in a relatable, unforgettable realism while keeping the story is vivid, flowing and compelling. Why, it’s almost like you’re reading fiction instead of a biography. Then again, I always maintained that no fiction story can be as good as history, otherwise it would almost be laughable. “Who makes up this stuff“, we would cry to the heavens.
Which author in their right mind would invent a character like Mary Ball Washington, George’s mother. Poor George couldn’t earn a word of praise from his emotionally numb mother, not as a loyal son, general, president or benefactor. Not only that, Mrs. Washington petitioned the Virginia legislature for a pension… and she was rich! Laughable – if in fiction.
On an off shoot, while the book is about George Washington, I loved how Mr. Chernow peppered the narrative with a few sharp witted quotes from John Adams (review of “John Adams” by David McCullough) – funny today as they were when written.
I have read many history books, several about Washington and I must put this one on the top of the list, the extraordinary quality of the writing and the psychological insights are worth the price of admission by themselves.
“The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives” by Lola Shoneyin is a fictional story set in modern day Nigeria and centers around thI got this book for free.
“The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives” by Lola Shoneyin is a fictional story set in modern day Nigeria and centers around the house of a polygamist. The novel examines the complex relationships between the wives, their children and a new wife who is brought into the house.
Bolanle Alao is the young beautiful wife of Bab Segi; she is educated, naive and… his fourth wife. Upsetting the delicate balance of power in the dynamic relationship, Bloanle is noticing that she is being pushed out by the wives, while at the same time being pushed by her husband to have a child.
Polygamy was never the first choice for any of the wives, and Bolanle is no different. However, circumstances have a way to make your decision for you.
When Bab Segi’s two greedy wives devise a Machiavellian plot to make sure Bolanle is out of the way, a disastrous results awaits them which will not only upset the balance of power, but might destroy the whole family. In this polygamists household secrets are the norm, each woman guards her secret against all others in the household, however shares them with the reader through out the story.
“The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives” is a sometimes sad, sometimes funny book. The novel examines the compound relationships of a polygamous family, the jealousies, infighting, self deception and conniving.
I know very little about Nigeria; however Ms. Shoney made the country very familiar, as well as the people, so I felt at ease reading the book. Since the story is told by multiple people the reader is privy to their emotions, ambitions and world view which makes the characters fully developed and dimensional in a surprisingly short amount of pages. Weaving through each separate narrative, the reader learns of the events which brought this family together as well as an eye for the present.
As the story unfolds, we are drawn into the world of Baba Segi and his family. Lola Shoeyin’s writing is clear and evokes emotions as well as believable reactions from the characters. Even though the book takes place in Nigeria, it does have universal theme of actions and reactions within a close knit fiefdom of one man’s home.
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