NonFiction
Bible and the People by Lori Anne Ferrell. History of the printed Bible from hand-copied manuscripts to mass produced printing. "The story of what happened to ancient set of writings we call the Bible during those thousand years."
The Templars: the secret history revealed by Barbara Frale. "An explosive new history of the medieval world's most powerful military order." Wielding economic and military might behind a cloak of secrecy. Revealing the history of the trial of the Templars' leadership bu the Inquisition and their secret initiation ceremonies.
Tear Down This Myth: how the Reagan legacy has distorted our politics and haunts our future by Will Bunch. Bunch writes that today's politicians claim to carry Reagan's mantle "no matter preposterous the fit." Reagan's popularity while in office was never very high, his tax cuts did not fuel the economy, his "waste-ridden build-up" did not win the Cold War, ignore his willingness to speak to adversaries and desire to eliminate nukes, Bush I and Clinton's rollback of Reaganomics "spurred a decade of peace and prosperity."
Scratch Beginnings: me, $25, and the search for the American Dream by Adam Shepard. Recent college grad starts out with the clothes on his back and $25. After 12 months he plans to have $2500, a working car, and a furnished apartment.
This sounds like an interesting concept but the guy sounds like an arrogant dipstick.
Blood in the Cage: mixed martial arts, Pat Miletech, and the furious rise of the UFC by L. Jon Wertheim. Author decides to blow the lid off a brutal competition. Then, he finds out it is a real sport, with real athletes, and really interesting. Told with the tale of Pat Miletech who runs one of the most famous mixed martial arts training schools.
* The picture section contains lots of tattoos and cauliflower ear.
* We have a couple UFC fight DVDs if you want. UFC 67 and 68.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Where Did All These Dang Novels Come From?
Mystery
The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death by Charlie Huston. Another fine entry from Huston. Webster takes a job with Clean Team cleaning up the remains of suicides, murders, and train wrecks. When the grieving daughter of a Malibu suicide asks for Webster's assistance he knows he should say no. But, he doesn't.
Positive review by writer Stephen Blackmoore. In fact, I think Blackmoore may be in love with Huston.
Run For Your Life by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge. It says on the rear flyleaf that Patterson does some sort website promoting children's books. So, I won't make fun of him like I usually do.
Nemesis: the final case of Eliot Ness by William Bernhardt. Eliot Ness has taken work in 1935 Cleveland when the "Torso Killer" starts terrorizing the population.
A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny. Another fine mystery novel featuring Chief Inspector Gamache of the Quebec Provincial Police. Gamache and his wife are summer vacationing at a small inn when a murder happens. Gamache follows the trail back to Penny's familar setting of Three Pines, Quebec.
Leopard's Prey by Suzanne Arruda. Jade del Cameron is has taken a job for a business that is in Africa to capture wild animals to sell to zoos. When Jade's best friends find a murdered man on the coffee plantation Jade's boyfriend is the main suspect. "Once again, an Africa of a bygone era comes alive as plucky, resilient, outspoken Jade del Cameron pits her strengths against man and beast in another top-notch novel of mystery and suspense."
Mr. Monk is Miserable by Lee Goldberg. Goldberg's Monbk novels are recommended by Crider. Monk travels to Paris with his assistant Natalie. Monk wants to tour the sewers because they "are famous making the City of Light admirably sanitary." Monk finds a new skull in a catacombs and Goldberg contrives a way for Captain Stottlemeyer and Lieutenant Disher to fly to Paris and help.
Fantasy and Science Fiction
Fast Ships, Black Sails edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer. Swashbuckling tales of past and present pirates with a fantastical bent. If you get excited by pirates you can check out Pirate Primer: mastering the language of swashbucklers and rogues by George Choundas.
Fiction
Six Seconds by Rick Mofina. "Three strangers entangled in a plot to change the world in only six seconds..." This had a nice review.
True Colors by Kristin Hannah. Chick book with three sisters. Save yourself and read Charlie Huston's book.
Kiwi Wars by Garry Douglas Kilworth. Captain 'Fancy Jack' Crossman of the British Army is sent to New Zealand to fight in the Maori Wars of the 1850s. The Maori are a dangerous and honorable enemy but there are 'nefarious Europeans at work, enriching themselves at land agents.'
Good action novels by Kilworth. I've two others in this series.
Drood by Dan Simmons. 771 pages about the five mysterious years at the end of Charles Dickens life. Dickens survives a horrifying train wreck to become obsessed with "crypts, cemetaries, and the precise length of time it would take for a corpse to dissolve in a lime pit."
Simmons last historical novel, The Terror, was fantastic so I'm betting this is pretty dang good as well.
Fire Gospel by Michael Faber. Down and out linguist Theo visits Iraq to search for surviving historical treasures. After a bombing Theo finds a papyrus scroll that was sealed inside a statue. Theo smuggles the document home, translates it, finds it is a fifth Gospel and tries to make some dough off it. Theo is unprepared for the religious fervor and trouble he stokes up.
Large Print
A Dangerous Place by Jack Higgins.
The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death by Charlie Huston. Another fine entry from Huston. Webster takes a job with Clean Team cleaning up the remains of suicides, murders, and train wrecks. When the grieving daughter of a Malibu suicide asks for Webster's assistance he knows he should say no. But, he doesn't.
Positive review by writer Stephen Blackmoore. In fact, I think Blackmoore may be in love with Huston.
Run For Your Life by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge. It says on the rear flyleaf that Patterson does some sort website promoting children's books. So, I won't make fun of him like I usually do.
Nemesis: the final case of Eliot Ness by William Bernhardt. Eliot Ness has taken work in 1935 Cleveland when the "Torso Killer" starts terrorizing the population.
A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny. Another fine mystery novel featuring Chief Inspector Gamache of the Quebec Provincial Police. Gamache and his wife are summer vacationing at a small inn when a murder happens. Gamache follows the trail back to Penny's familar setting of Three Pines, Quebec.
Leopard's Prey by Suzanne Arruda. Jade del Cameron is has taken a job for a business that is in Africa to capture wild animals to sell to zoos. When Jade's best friends find a murdered man on the coffee plantation Jade's boyfriend is the main suspect. "Once again, an Africa of a bygone era comes alive as plucky, resilient, outspoken Jade del Cameron pits her strengths against man and beast in another top-notch novel of mystery and suspense."
Mr. Monk is Miserable by Lee Goldberg. Goldberg's Monbk novels are recommended by Crider. Monk travels to Paris with his assistant Natalie. Monk wants to tour the sewers because they "are famous making the City of Light admirably sanitary." Monk finds a new skull in a catacombs and Goldberg contrives a way for Captain Stottlemeyer and Lieutenant Disher to fly to Paris and help.
Fantasy and Science Fiction
Fast Ships, Black Sails edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer. Swashbuckling tales of past and present pirates with a fantastical bent. If you get excited by pirates you can check out Pirate Primer: mastering the language of swashbucklers and rogues by George Choundas.
Fiction
Six Seconds by Rick Mofina. "Three strangers entangled in a plot to change the world in only six seconds..." This had a nice review.
True Colors by Kristin Hannah. Chick book with three sisters. Save yourself and read Charlie Huston's book.
Kiwi Wars by Garry Douglas Kilworth. Captain 'Fancy Jack' Crossman of the British Army is sent to New Zealand to fight in the Maori Wars of the 1850s. The Maori are a dangerous and honorable enemy but there are 'nefarious Europeans at work, enriching themselves at land agents.'
Good action novels by Kilworth. I've two others in this series.
Drood by Dan Simmons. 771 pages about the five mysterious years at the end of Charles Dickens life. Dickens survives a horrifying train wreck to become obsessed with "crypts, cemetaries, and the precise length of time it would take for a corpse to dissolve in a lime pit."
Simmons last historical novel, The Terror, was fantastic so I'm betting this is pretty dang good as well.
Fire Gospel by Michael Faber. Down and out linguist Theo visits Iraq to search for surviving historical treasures. After a bombing Theo finds a papyrus scroll that was sealed inside a statue. Theo smuggles the document home, translates it, finds it is a fifth Gospel and tries to make some dough off it. Theo is unprepared for the religious fervor and trouble he stokes up.
Large Print
A Dangerous Place by Jack Higgins.
Monday, February 02, 2009
New Music and DVD From" Springsteen, George Jones, the British, Woody Allen, others
Music CDs
Music from the Land of Hope and Glory by the United States Marine Band. The Marine band sends out free CDs. We received a CD from them before and it was pretty good. So I kept this one. Pieces from Gordon Jacob (William Byrd Suite), Gustav Holst, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Sir Edward Elgar.
Working on a Dream by Bruce Springsteen. Latest album.
The Essential George Jones by George Jones. Two discs with 40 songs. I read the other day that Jones wasn't going to record (or maybe he wouldn't release) He Stopped Loving Her Today because the song was so dang sad. Jones did put the single out and it ended up being his signature song.
Live Evil by Black Sabbath. Reprint of the classic metal album.
Maybe I should try to listen to this. But, I'm pretty sure I would hate it.
Christmas Oratorio by John S. Bach and performed by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge and Academy of St. Martin of the Fields.
DVDs
Vicky Christina Barcelona starring Scarlett Johansson, Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem. Two Americans vacationing in Barcelona and meet a charming Spaniard and his crazy ex-wife. Humorous romantic entanglements ensue.
Fireproof starring Kirk Cameron. Firefighter dedicated to his work has a failing marriage. "This gripping story follows one man's desire to transform his life and marriage through the healing power of faith."
The Express: the Ernie Davis story starring Dennis Quaid, Rob Brown, Clancy Brown. College football player Ernie Davis overcomes the odds and becomes the first black recipient of the Heisman Trophy. Quaid plays his scowling coach.
Oof! Davis died of leukemia at 23 years old. That's a bummer.
Clancy Brown? Neat, I don't see that guy very often. He played a nutty acting coach in Chump Change. Chump Change had Traci Lords and ends up being a neat tour of the Milwaukee area as Lords's character and the lead character are shown walking to all sorts of different places and bars.
Skins: volume 1 starring [teenage actors and actors playing teenagers]. British teenagers drink, get high, pop pills, have sex, go to school and "manage parent with the finesse only teenagers can."
Music from the Land of Hope and Glory by the United States Marine Band. The Marine band sends out free CDs. We received a CD from them before and it was pretty good. So I kept this one. Pieces from Gordon Jacob (William Byrd Suite), Gustav Holst, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Sir Edward Elgar.
Working on a Dream by Bruce Springsteen. Latest album.
The Essential George Jones by George Jones. Two discs with 40 songs. I read the other day that Jones wasn't going to record (or maybe he wouldn't release) He Stopped Loving Her Today because the song was so dang sad. Jones did put the single out and it ended up being his signature song.
Live Evil by Black Sabbath. Reprint of the classic metal album.
Maybe I should try to listen to this. But, I'm pretty sure I would hate it.
Christmas Oratorio by John S. Bach and performed by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge and Academy of St. Martin of the Fields.
DVDs
Vicky Christina Barcelona starring Scarlett Johansson, Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem. Two Americans vacationing in Barcelona and meet a charming Spaniard and his crazy ex-wife. Humorous romantic entanglements ensue.
Fireproof starring Kirk Cameron. Firefighter dedicated to his work has a failing marriage. "This gripping story follows one man's desire to transform his life and marriage through the healing power of faith."
The Express: the Ernie Davis story starring Dennis Quaid, Rob Brown, Clancy Brown. College football player Ernie Davis overcomes the odds and becomes the first black recipient of the Heisman Trophy. Quaid plays his scowling coach.
Oof! Davis died of leukemia at 23 years old. That's a bummer.
Clancy Brown? Neat, I don't see that guy very often. He played a nutty acting coach in Chump Change. Chump Change had Traci Lords and ends up being a neat tour of the Milwaukee area as Lords's character and the lead character are shown walking to all sorts of different places and bars.
Skins: volume 1 starring [teenage actors and actors playing teenagers]. British teenagers drink, get high, pop pills, have sex, go to school and "manage parent with the finesse only teenagers can."
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Two Novels and Two Old CDs That Were Sitting Next To The Novels
Fiction
Returning by Ann Tatlock. A Christian romance with little plot description on the back cover.
Batter Off Dead by Tamar Meyers. "A Pennsylvania Dutch mystery with recipes." Avoid.
Music CDs
Come On Over by Shania Twain. Our lost copy was replaced.
Twain seems like a nice gal. I suppose she is still single. You can fly over to Switzerland and woo her. Of course, O.J. Simpson used to seem like a nice guy too. Maybe Twain is a werewolf like John Oates.
Glide by Jerry Douglas. Mentioned before but the CD had to be reclassified into our Country section.
Returning by Ann Tatlock. A Christian romance with little plot description on the back cover.
Batter Off Dead by Tamar Meyers. "A Pennsylvania Dutch mystery with recipes." Avoid.
Music CDs
Come On Over by Shania Twain. Our lost copy was replaced.
Twain seems like a nice gal. I suppose she is still single. You can fly over to Switzerland and woo her. Of course, O.J. Simpson used to seem like a nice guy too. Maybe Twain is a werewolf like John Oates.
Glide by Jerry Douglas. Mentioned before but the CD had to be reclassified into our Country section.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Two Audiobooks and One CD
Music CD
The Boxmasters by The Boxmasters. Some sort of music by a musical trio featuring Billy Bob Thornton. Sound bites here.
AudioBooks
Angel Creek by Linda Howard. 8 CDs at 9 hours. Orphaned lady running family homestead in Colorado gets into fight over water rights with her hunky neighbor. Be still, my beating heart.
Volk's Shadow by Brent Ghelfi. Colonel Alexei Volkovoy runs a criminal empire while dealing with matters of state security. When an American oil company headquarters is bombed by terrorists it looks like Volkovoy may have been the real target. Gritty and violent.
The Boxmasters by The Boxmasters. Some sort of music by a musical trio featuring Billy Bob Thornton. Sound bites here.
AudioBooks
Angel Creek by Linda Howard. 8 CDs at 9 hours. Orphaned lady running family homestead in Colorado gets into fight over water rights with her hunky neighbor. Be still, my beating heart.
Volk's Shadow by Brent Ghelfi. Colonel Alexei Volkovoy runs a criminal empire while dealing with matters of state security. When an American oil company headquarters is bombed by terrorists it looks like Volkovoy may have been the real target. Gritty and violent.
Monday, January 26, 2009
The Usual Repeats Plus One by Gischler
Fiction
Gun Monkeys by Victor Gischler. Idiot with a itchy trigger finger travels through Florida chased by cops.
If you like this book you can check-out the several other Gischlers we have.
Fireflies in December by Jennifer Erin Valent. Jessilyn's father vows to take in and care for Jessilyn's best friend Gemma after Gemma's family dies in a fire. Jessilyn is white. Gemma is black. They all live in a small Virginia town in 1932. Guess what trouble starts.
This had a neat review and should be pretty good reading.
Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich. A long ago murder murder in North Dakota sets white and Ojibwe communities against one another.
The Usual
Under the Radar by Fern Michaels. The usual.
Dark of Night by Suzanne Brockman. The usual.
A Darker Place by Jack Higgins. The usual.
The Associate by John Grisham. The usual.
Gun Monkeys by Victor Gischler. Idiot with a itchy trigger finger travels through Florida chased by cops.
If you like this book you can check-out the several other Gischlers we have.
Fireflies in December by Jennifer Erin Valent. Jessilyn's father vows to take in and care for Jessilyn's best friend Gemma after Gemma's family dies in a fire. Jessilyn is white. Gemma is black. They all live in a small Virginia town in 1932. Guess what trouble starts.
This had a neat review and should be pretty good reading.
Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich. A long ago murder murder in North Dakota sets white and Ojibwe communities against one another.
The Usual
Under the Radar by Fern Michaels. The usual.
Dark of Night by Suzanne Brockman. The usual.
A Darker Place by Jack Higgins. The usual.
The Associate by John Grisham. The usual.
An Older DVD and Three CDs
DVD
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants starring Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera, Blake Lively, Alexis Blidel. I bought this as a replacement and bought the so-called "box set" by mistake. The box set came with this movie, the sequel movie, and a paperback of the novel.
CDs
Exclusive: the forever edition by Chris Brown. I'm not sure if this is rap, r&b, or soul music. Comes with a DVD disc.
Live at the Troubador by Daryl Hall and John Oates. Did I order this? Was it a donation? Two discs from their 2008 performance at a club in California.
Hall an Oates were big when I was in elementary and middle school. After the band broke up the rumor was that they broke up the band because one of the guys was gay and made a pass on the other. That kind of rumor is accepted as truth by an eighth grade guy. The truth is that the guy with the mustache turned into a werewolf.
Remember that goofy looking bass player? I wonder what he is doing now.
Greatest hits: volume 1 by Rascal Flatts. Sixteen songs (three Christmas tunes) from the popular country trio.
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants starring Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera, Blake Lively, Alexis Blidel. I bought this as a replacement and bought the so-called "box set" by mistake. The box set came with this movie, the sequel movie, and a paperback of the novel.
CDs
Exclusive: the forever edition by Chris Brown. I'm not sure if this is rap, r&b, or soul music. Comes with a DVD disc.
Live at the Troubador by Daryl Hall and John Oates. Did I order this? Was it a donation? Two discs from their 2008 performance at a club in California.
Hall an Oates were big when I was in elementary and middle school. After the band broke up the rumor was that they broke up the band because one of the guys was gay and made a pass on the other. That kind of rumor is accepted as truth by an eighth grade guy. The truth is that the guy with the mustache turned into a werewolf.
Remember that goofy looking bass player? I wonder what he is doing now.
Greatest hits: volume 1 by Rascal Flatts. Sixteen songs (three Christmas tunes) from the popular country trio.
What to Read 19 "Hunger Games" and "Blood Alone"
What to Read 19
Two books to try: Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Blood Alone by James R. Benn.
Two books to try: Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Blood Alone by James R. Benn.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Three Large Print and One YA
Large Print
The Treasure by Iris Johansen. Eh.
English Major by Jim Harrison. Freshly divorced sixty-year old guy from Michigan drives West to visit old friends. Eat, drinks, and picks up single women along the way.
The Men's Book Club chose this for the January meeting. I didn't read it.
The Sweet In-Between by Sheri Reynolds. Kenny's mother is dead and her father is in prison. Kenny is about to turn eighteen and is living with her father's girlfriend, "Aunt" Flo. Flo's family is a mess, but better than living on the street. Kenny becomes obsessed by the murder of a neighbor.
Young Adult (YA)
3 Willows: the sisterhood grows by Ann Brashares. Chick book for teens.
The Treasure by Iris Johansen. Eh.
English Major by Jim Harrison. Freshly divorced sixty-year old guy from Michigan drives West to visit old friends. Eat, drinks, and picks up single women along the way.
The Men's Book Club chose this for the January meeting. I didn't read it.
The Sweet In-Between by Sheri Reynolds. Kenny's mother is dead and her father is in prison. Kenny is about to turn eighteen and is living with her father's girlfriend, "Aunt" Flo. Flo's family is a mess, but better than living on the street. Kenny becomes obsessed by the murder of a neighbor.
Young Adult (YA)
3 Willows: the sisterhood grows by Ann Brashares. Chick book for teens.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Two Crappy Music CDs and a Bunch of Books
Fiction
A Whole New Light by Sandra Brown. Probably some middle aged romance after divorce or death of spouse. The guy will be rugged yet mysterious or grieving. The gal will be second guessing and nervous. The adult children will be both happy and upset.
NonFiction
Save the Last Bullet for Yourself: a soldier of fortune in the Balkans and Somalia by Rob Krott.
Krott, bored out of his mind after leaving the US Army, travels to Croatia in early 1992 and joins the fledgling Croatian Army as a volunteer in the war against Serbia, which is backed by the former Yugoslav Army. Commissioned as an officer in a Croatian Commando unit, he leads combat patrols along the free-fire-zone border. He then sets up a training program for the Commandos, leads forays against Serb positions, snipes enemy soldiers, becomes invovled in intrigue and leaves Croatia just as the Bosnian conflict starts.
Then he goes to Somalia and other deathtraps.
Large Print
Knit Two: a Friday Night Knitting Club novel by Kate Jacobs.
The World According to Bertie by Alexander McCall Smith. "The new 44 Scotland Street novel."
Good Luck by Whitney Gaskell.
Extreme Measures by Vince Flynn.
The Victoria Vanishes by Christopher Fowler. "A Peculiar Crimes Unit mystery."
Audio Books
Guilty: liberal 'victims' and their assault on America by Ann Coulter. 9 CDS with 10.5 hours of craziness.
Isn't this the same broad who was whining about being "banned" from NBC? Isn't that 'victimhood'? Listen and find out.
Things I've Been Silent About by Azar Nafisi. 11 CDs at 13.5 hours. Author of Reading Lolita in Tehren writes about growing up in Iran.
Dawn Patrol by Don Winslow. Surfing private investigator takes on old kidnapping case in San Diego.
The Charlemagne Pursuit by Steve Berry (writing as Scott Brick). 13 CDs at 16.5 hours. Cotton Malone's father may have killed on a top secret mission, not a submarine accident.
Music CDs
Minutes to Midnight by Linkin Park.
Safe Trip Home by Dido.
A Whole New Light by Sandra Brown. Probably some middle aged romance after divorce or death of spouse. The guy will be rugged yet mysterious or grieving. The gal will be second guessing and nervous. The adult children will be both happy and upset.
NonFiction
Save the Last Bullet for Yourself: a soldier of fortune in the Balkans and Somalia by Rob Krott.
Krott, bored out of his mind after leaving the US Army, travels to Croatia in early 1992 and joins the fledgling Croatian Army as a volunteer in the war against Serbia, which is backed by the former Yugoslav Army. Commissioned as an officer in a Croatian Commando unit, he leads combat patrols along the free-fire-zone border. He then sets up a training program for the Commandos, leads forays against Serb positions, snipes enemy soldiers, becomes invovled in intrigue and leaves Croatia just as the Bosnian conflict starts.
Then he goes to Somalia and other deathtraps.
Large Print
Knit Two: a Friday Night Knitting Club novel by Kate Jacobs.
The World According to Bertie by Alexander McCall Smith. "The new 44 Scotland Street novel."
Good Luck by Whitney Gaskell.
Extreme Measures by Vince Flynn.
The Victoria Vanishes by Christopher Fowler. "A Peculiar Crimes Unit mystery."
Audio Books
Guilty: liberal 'victims' and their assault on America by Ann Coulter. 9 CDS with 10.5 hours of craziness.
Isn't this the same broad who was whining about being "banned" from NBC? Isn't that 'victimhood'? Listen and find out.
Things I've Been Silent About by Azar Nafisi. 11 CDs at 13.5 hours. Author of Reading Lolita in Tehren writes about growing up in Iran.
Dawn Patrol by Don Winslow. Surfing private investigator takes on old kidnapping case in San Diego.
The Charlemagne Pursuit by Steve Berry (writing as Scott Brick). 13 CDs at 16.5 hours. Cotton Malone's father may have killed on a top secret mission, not a submarine accident.
Music CDs
Minutes to Midnight by Linkin Park.
Safe Trip Home by Dido.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Music CDs
Live From Austin, TX. by Richard Thompson. Fifteen tunes recorded July 2, 2001 with that aqua colored guitar he always uses.
Tha Carter III by lil Wayne. A rap album.
Hotel California by The Eagles. This will check out.
"Off With Their Heads" by The Kaiser Chiefs. Peppy rock music with nice hooks. If you like this there are two other discs you can place holds on.
Glide by Jerry Douglas. Link to this comment: Jerry Douglas is probably the most famous dobro player in the world, which might sound like damning with faint praise, except that he's also one of the most in-demand session musicians in the world, period, as well as a constantly sought-after producer, and the man John Fogerty describes as "my favorite musician, and I'm including Otis Redding and Elvis in that."
Rockin' With Wanda by Wanda Jackson. Compilation of by the Queen of Rockabilly.
Gospel
Unspoken by Jim Brickman. Gospel piano.
A New Hallelujah by Michael W. Smith. Concert recording from a 2008 performance.
Live From Austin, TX. by Richard Thompson. Fifteen tunes recorded July 2, 2001 with that aqua colored guitar he always uses.
Tha Carter III by lil Wayne. A rap album.
Hotel California by The Eagles. This will check out.
"Off With Their Heads" by The Kaiser Chiefs. Peppy rock music with nice hooks. If you like this there are two other discs you can place holds on.
Glide by Jerry Douglas. Link to this comment: Jerry Douglas is probably the most famous dobro player in the world, which might sound like damning with faint praise, except that he's also one of the most in-demand session musicians in the world, period, as well as a constantly sought-after producer, and the man John Fogerty describes as "my favorite musician, and I'm including Otis Redding and Elvis in that."
Rockin' With Wanda by Wanda Jackson. Compilation of by the Queen of Rockabilly.
Gospel
Unspoken by Jim Brickman. Gospel piano.
A New Hallelujah by Michael W. Smith. Concert recording from a 2008 performance.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
16 and 13/16 Inches of Books
Fiction
Kiss by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy. "She steals more than your kiss." Girl wakes up from six month coma accused a car wreck and thinking her family wants her dead.
A Body to Die For by G.A. McKevett. "Voluptuous" private investigator Savannah Reed helps investigate the murder of diet guru's husband.
Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich. Another Stephanie Plum novel.
Never Tell A Lie by Hallie Ephron. Suspense novel.
B.P.R.D. 1946 by Mike Mignola. Another Hellboy comic.
I have still not watched either Hellboy movie.
Mounting Fears by Stuart Woods. President Lee is facing an election and trouble abroad.
Dead or Alive by Michael McGarrity. Kevin Kierney rushes home to New Mexico when his business partner is murdered by an escaped convict on Kierney's doorstep. Kierney teams up with his Deputy Sheriff son to track the escapee into the mountains.
Outlaw Marshall by Al and Joanna Lacy. Inspirational western fiction. Deputy U.S. Marshall convinces bad guy to go straight. Former bad guy starts tracking other crooks when he is framed for murder and Deputy Marshall comes to the rescue.
Joys of My Life by Alys Clare. "A Hawkenlye Mystery." Nuns in 1199 travel three weeks across England on request of Queen Eleanor. Meanwhile Sir Josse is investigating a report of devil worshipping knights. Both groups meet at construction of the cathedral in Chartres.
Driftless by David Rhodes. Family dramas set in Wisconsin.
This book hit a best of the year list and since it is set in WI. The author published a three books in the 1970s then was paralyzed. A publisher got to wondering what the author was up to, called the author's old agent and asked. The agent called the guy - they had apparently been out of touch for years - and it turns out he had a manuscript (this novel) ready to go.
Eclipse by Richard North Patterson. California lawyer Damon has been divorced by his wife and his work is soulless. He gets a message from an old girlfriend for help. The girlfriend's husband has been charged with murder by a corrupt government in West Africa and Damon agrees to defend him.
Three Weeks to Say Goodbye by C.J. Box. Jack and Melissa adopted a girl nine months ago. The teen father never signed his parental rights away and not the dad's powerful father in Denver wants him to get the child back. Jack and Melissa have to decide how far they will go to protect their kid.
Non Fiction
Unmasked & Anonymous: Shimon & Lindemann consider portraiture by J. Shimon & J. Lindemann. Published by the Milwaukee Art Museum. Selection of different portraits with a spread age for both the subjects and date taken.
I ordered this after following a link from Madison Shooters that mentioned an exhibit at the Art Museum.
The photos include two kinda creepy nudes.
In Sickness and in Power: illnesses in heads of government during the last 100 years by David Owen. When a president falls sick, how is it handled? Do you hide the severity or pretend it never happened? Does the economy and politics go nuts? Covers several people including Nixon, Stalin, Kennedy, Eisenhower, and Churchill.
Rich Like Them: my door-to-door search for the secrets of wealth in America's richest neighborhoods by Ryan D'Agostino.
Decorating with Ceramic Tile: innovative techniques & patterns for floors, walls, backsplashes and accents by Jerri Farris. New and updated edition.
Large Print
Running Hot by Jayne Ann Krentz. Crapola.
Kiss by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy. "She steals more than your kiss." Girl wakes up from six month coma accused a car wreck and thinking her family wants her dead.
A Body to Die For by G.A. McKevett. "Voluptuous" private investigator Savannah Reed helps investigate the murder of diet guru's husband.
Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich. Another Stephanie Plum novel.
Never Tell A Lie by Hallie Ephron. Suspense novel.
B.P.R.D. 1946 by Mike Mignola. Another Hellboy comic.
I have still not watched either Hellboy movie.
Mounting Fears by Stuart Woods. President Lee is facing an election and trouble abroad.
Dead or Alive by Michael McGarrity. Kevin Kierney rushes home to New Mexico when his business partner is murdered by an escaped convict on Kierney's doorstep. Kierney teams up with his Deputy Sheriff son to track the escapee into the mountains.
Outlaw Marshall by Al and Joanna Lacy. Inspirational western fiction. Deputy U.S. Marshall convinces bad guy to go straight. Former bad guy starts tracking other crooks when he is framed for murder and Deputy Marshall comes to the rescue.
Joys of My Life by Alys Clare. "A Hawkenlye Mystery." Nuns in 1199 travel three weeks across England on request of Queen Eleanor. Meanwhile Sir Josse is investigating a report of devil worshipping knights. Both groups meet at construction of the cathedral in Chartres.
Driftless by David Rhodes. Family dramas set in Wisconsin.
This book hit a best of the year list and since it is set in WI. The author published a three books in the 1970s then was paralyzed. A publisher got to wondering what the author was up to, called the author's old agent and asked. The agent called the guy - they had apparently been out of touch for years - and it turns out he had a manuscript (this novel) ready to go.
Eclipse by Richard North Patterson. California lawyer Damon has been divorced by his wife and his work is soulless. He gets a message from an old girlfriend for help. The girlfriend's husband has been charged with murder by a corrupt government in West Africa and Damon agrees to defend him.
Three Weeks to Say Goodbye by C.J. Box. Jack and Melissa adopted a girl nine months ago. The teen father never signed his parental rights away and not the dad's powerful father in Denver wants him to get the child back. Jack and Melissa have to decide how far they will go to protect their kid.
Non Fiction
Unmasked & Anonymous: Shimon & Lindemann consider portraiture by J. Shimon & J. Lindemann. Published by the Milwaukee Art Museum. Selection of different portraits with a spread age for both the subjects and date taken.
I ordered this after following a link from Madison Shooters that mentioned an exhibit at the Art Museum.
The photos include two kinda creepy nudes.
In Sickness and in Power: illnesses in heads of government during the last 100 years by David Owen. When a president falls sick, how is it handled? Do you hide the severity or pretend it never happened? Does the economy and politics go nuts? Covers several people including Nixon, Stalin, Kennedy, Eisenhower, and Churchill.
Rich Like Them: my door-to-door search for the secrets of wealth in America's richest neighborhoods by Ryan D'Agostino.
Decorating with Ceramic Tile: innovative techniques & patterns for floors, walls, backsplashes and accents by Jerri Farris. New and updated edition.
Large Print
Running Hot by Jayne Ann Krentz. Crapola.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
"More Music, More Music, More Music"
Music CDs
Quantum of Solace: original motion picture soundtrack by David Arnold.
Funhouse by Pink. Some weird pop album. Ordered on suggestion of a Page.
Afterwords by Collective Soul. Greatest hits collection. Also ordered on suggestion of a Page.
Live From Austin, TX. Three albums recorded during performances on Austin City Limits.
Live From Austin, TX. by Waylon Jennings. Recorded April 1, 1989. 17 tunes including Luckenbach, Texas, Good Ol' Boys, Rainy Day Woman.
Live From Austin, TX. by Merle Haggard. Recorded October 30, 1985. Includes a performance of Bob Will's Ida Red (not as good a version).
We also have a compilation of Wills' tunes recorded in the late '30s and early '40s, Seven Miles Out of Town.
I have Encore which is a three disc set of later Will's recordings. I need to check-out Seven Miles.
Live From Austin, TX. by Jerry Lee Lewis. Recorded October 17, 1983. Includes both Rock N' Roll and Country hits.
Quantum of Solace: original motion picture soundtrack by David Arnold.
Funhouse by Pink. Some weird pop album. Ordered on suggestion of a Page.
Afterwords by Collective Soul. Greatest hits collection. Also ordered on suggestion of a Page.
Live From Austin, TX. Three albums recorded during performances on Austin City Limits.
Live From Austin, TX. by Waylon Jennings. Recorded April 1, 1989. 17 tunes including Luckenbach, Texas, Good Ol' Boys, Rainy Day Woman.
Live From Austin, TX. by Merle Haggard. Recorded October 30, 1985. Includes a performance of Bob Will's Ida Red (not as good a version).
We also have a compilation of Wills' tunes recorded in the late '30s and early '40s, Seven Miles Out of Town.
I have Encore which is a three disc set of later Will's recordings. I need to check-out Seven Miles.
Live From Austin, TX. by Jerry Lee Lewis. Recorded October 17, 1983. Includes both Rock N' Roll and Country hits.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Three New DVDs
DVD
10 Items or Less: the complete first and second seasons starring That Guy You See in Lot so Commercials. Leslie takes over the family grocery store, Greens & Grains, after his dad dies. "Of course, the staff of Greens & Grains isn't exactly the brightest. Then again, neither is Leslie." A comedy series from some cable network.
I've caught a couple episodes of this show and thought it was funny and figured someone else might think the same.
Eagle Eye starring Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan and Billy Bob Thornton. A product placement opportunity for Jeep as Jeep. Plot: two people are "Activated" to be used as assassins and follow around by bad guys using high-tech gizmos.
An American Carol starring David Allen Grier, Kelsey Grammer, Kevin Farley, Leslie Nielsen. Comedy. A Michael Moore type guy wants to band the 4th of July and ghosts of America's past confront him. A conservative response to Moore's movies.
10 Items or Less: the complete first and second seasons starring That Guy You See in Lot so Commercials. Leslie takes over the family grocery store, Greens & Grains, after his dad dies. "Of course, the staff of Greens & Grains isn't exactly the brightest. Then again, neither is Leslie." A comedy series from some cable network.
I've caught a couple episodes of this show and thought it was funny and figured someone else might think the same.
Eagle Eye starring Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan and Billy Bob Thornton. A product placement opportunity for Jeep as Jeep. Plot: two people are "Activated" to be used as assassins and follow around by bad guys using high-tech gizmos.
An American Carol starring David Allen Grier, Kelsey Grammer, Kevin Farley, Leslie Nielsen. Comedy. A Michael Moore type guy wants to band the 4th of July and ghosts of America's past confront him. A conservative response to Moore's movies.
Monday, January 12, 2009
What to Read 18
Books I will not be reading. Instead of selecting a few items I read and enjoyed, I selected a few items I have not read and would likely NOT enjoy. I had difficulty keeping a short list.
O's Big Book of Happiness
Eclipse from the Warrior series by Erin Hunter
Anything by Karen Robards
Anything by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown
One of Those Malibu Nights by Elizabeth Adler
Sugar Queen by Sara Addison Allen
Secrets of the Sexually Satisfied Woman by Laura Berman
Harlequin and anything else by Laurell K. Hamilton.
O's Big Book of Happiness
Eclipse from the Warrior series by Erin Hunter
Anything by Karen Robards
Anything by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown
One of Those Malibu Nights by Elizabeth Adler
Sugar Queen by Sara Addison Allen
Secrets of the Sexually Satisfied Woman by Laura Berman
Harlequin and anything else by Laurell K. Hamilton.
More CDs By Bands I Never Listened To
I ordered quite a few of CDs at the end of the year with left-over moolah. We have 23 discs sitting on the processing cart.
Music
Spirit by Leone Lewis. No clue. Some singer.
David Cook by David Cook. Some guy with plucked eyebrows, an overly neat beard, and eye makeup.
Love on the Inside by Sugarland. Country Western music. Judging by the cover art and musicians' photos this is one of those pop albums marketed as country. Not that there is anything wrong with that.
The guy half of this duo must be going bald because he always wears a hat.
Lucky Old Sun by Kenny Chesney. This guy must be going bald too.
Maybe that's why Chesney and Renee Zellweger got divorced. Maybe Chesney never took his hat off until the wedding night and she freaked out.
Maybe he has a problem worse than balding. Maybe he is missing part of his skull and there is a bare metal plate on his scalp. Or, maybe it is a glass plate and you can see his brains.
Joy to the World by Faith Hill. Whoops...a little late on this one. Hill sings Christmas standards.
That Don't Make Me A Bad Guy by Toby Keith. Keith has an advertisement/competition from Ford in the back of the CD booklet. "Enter to win the new '09 F-150 and go on tour with Toby Keith."
I Am...Sasha Fierce by Beyonce. The title sounds very pretentious. Two disc album.
Fearless by Taylor Swift. Very popular teenaged singer gal of Country & Western music.
Take It to the Limit by Hinder. I think I chose this out of a catalog based on sales. Some sex drugs and rock and roll band with a heavier sound, I think. Justin Who Checks Out Many CDs will be happy with this one.
Don't Forget by Demi Locato. Another teenage singer. Pop songs.
How to Walk Away by Juliana Hatfield. If you didn't already reserve this from another Library in our System.
Rock N Roll Jesus by Kid Rock. This disc has been out a while and has been selling really well. I should have ordered it earlier.
Music
Spirit by Leone Lewis. No clue. Some singer.
David Cook by David Cook. Some guy with plucked eyebrows, an overly neat beard, and eye makeup.
Love on the Inside by Sugarland. Country Western music. Judging by the cover art and musicians' photos this is one of those pop albums marketed as country. Not that there is anything wrong with that.
The guy half of this duo must be going bald because he always wears a hat.
Lucky Old Sun by Kenny Chesney. This guy must be going bald too.
Maybe that's why Chesney and Renee Zellweger got divorced. Maybe Chesney never took his hat off until the wedding night and she freaked out.
Maybe he has a problem worse than balding. Maybe he is missing part of his skull and there is a bare metal plate on his scalp. Or, maybe it is a glass plate and you can see his brains.
Joy to the World by Faith Hill. Whoops...a little late on this one. Hill sings Christmas standards.
That Don't Make Me A Bad Guy by Toby Keith. Keith has an advertisement/competition from Ford in the back of the CD booklet. "Enter to win the new '09 F-150 and go on tour with Toby Keith."
I Am...Sasha Fierce by Beyonce. The title sounds very pretentious. Two disc album.
Fearless by Taylor Swift. Very popular teenaged singer gal of Country & Western music.
Take It to the Limit by Hinder. I think I chose this out of a catalog based on sales. Some sex drugs and rock and roll band with a heavier sound, I think. Justin Who Checks Out Many CDs will be happy with this one.
Don't Forget by Demi Locato. Another teenage singer. Pop songs.
How to Walk Away by Juliana Hatfield. If you didn't already reserve this from another Library in our System.
Rock N Roll Jesus by Kid Rock. This disc has been out a while and has been selling really well. I should have ordered it earlier.
Friday, January 09, 2009
More Music - With More to Come
Music CDs
Gossip in the Grain by Ray La Montagne. I think this was another catalog order. The guy has a beard.
That Lucky Old Sun by Brian Wilson. The genius is definitely no longer reclusive.
Long Road Out of Eden by The Eagles. This is going back back to the processing stack because the Page missed disc number two.
For a neat insight into The Eagles read Heaven and Hell: my life in The Eagles (1974-2001) by Don Felder. Glenn Frey and Don Henley do not come off well. Instead, they sound like major jerkwads.
808s & Heartbreak by Kanye West. I don't listen to Top 40, rap or R&B but West was on Saturday Night Live a couple months ago and the songs were kinda neat.
Dark Horse by Nickelback. Popular band that people love to hate.
Circus by Britney Spears. Selected by a Page. This should get some decent use. Britney sure has.
Greatest Hits by Morrissey. Including all your favorites. Such as: I Hate You, I Hate Myself, I'm So Sad, Leave Me Alone, My Childhood Was Misery.
Gossip in the Grain by Ray La Montagne. I think this was another catalog order. The guy has a beard.
That Lucky Old Sun by Brian Wilson. The genius is definitely no longer reclusive.
Long Road Out of Eden by The Eagles. This is going back back to the processing stack because the Page missed disc number two.
For a neat insight into The Eagles read Heaven and Hell: my life in The Eagles (1974-2001) by Don Felder. Glenn Frey and Don Henley do not come off well. Instead, they sound like major jerkwads.
808s & Heartbreak by Kanye West. I don't listen to Top 40, rap or R&B but West was on Saturday Night Live a couple months ago and the songs were kinda neat.
Dark Horse by Nickelback. Popular band that people love to hate.
Circus by Britney Spears. Selected by a Page. This should get some decent use. Britney sure has.
Greatest Hits by Morrissey. Including all your favorites. Such as: I Hate You, I Hate Myself, I'm So Sad, Leave Me Alone, My Childhood Was Misery.
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Music: Years in the making and here for the taking
Music
Chinese Democracy by Guns N' Roses. There now, feel better?
Black Ice by AC/DC. I took a while getting this one. I kept forgetting.
Greatest Hits: 19 Kids by Keith Urban.
Riot! by Paramore. What is this? I must have ordered this off bestseller chart or something. Maybe I saw it in a catalog.
Chinese Democracy by Guns N' Roses. There now, feel better?
Black Ice by AC/DC. I took a while getting this one. I kept forgetting.
Greatest Hits: 19 Kids by Keith Urban.
Riot! by Paramore. What is this? I must have ordered this off bestseller chart or something. Maybe I saw it in a catalog.
Monday, January 05, 2009
DVD with Brazilian Shoot-em-up, Batman Shoot-em-up and Brad Pitt Shot-in-the-face-up
DVD
Elite Squad starring [Brazilians]. Police Captain in Rio de Janeiro tries to clear the gangs out of one of the slums before his retirement. I promise lots of Taurus handguns.
Hamlet 2 starring Steve Coogan, David Arquette, Catherine Keener. High school drama teacher writes a sequel to Hamlet. Sequel is awful.. Hilarity ensues.
House Bunny starring Anna Faris. Playboy Bunny Shelley gets kicked out of the Playboy Mansion and finds a job as house mom in a loser sorority.
I was listening to Howard Stern this morning and he watched this movie last week and said it was awful. But, he also said Anna Faris did a great job.
I know a family named Ferris.
The Foot Fist Way starring Danny McBride. An inept and bullying Tae Kwon Do teacher finds his wife is cheating on him and treks to meet his celebrity hero who is also a jerk. Very funny.
I took Tae Kwon Do classes for a while. I signed up at a place in Arlington, TX and a couple times the instructor never even showed to unlock the freaking door. Jerk.
Dark Knight starring Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart. Batman fights the Joker.
Burn After Reading starring George Clooney, John Malkovich, Brad Pitt, John Malkovich, and John Malkovich. Idiot at a Washington, D.C. gym finds a drunk, fired CIA agent's memoirs in a locker and thinks the memoirs are top secret documents. Idiot and desperate co-worker try to get cash for the info. Meanwhile, sex fiend U.S. Deputy Marshal has lots of sex and goes jogging.
Mamma Mia! starring [actors who cannot sing].
My wife was watching this during vacation at my parents' house. I was in the other room reading a book and had to put a pillow over my head so I would not have to hear it.
Music CDs
Twilight: original motion picture soundtrack with songs by Muse, Paramore, and others.
AudioBooks on CD
Suicide Collectors by David Oppegaard. 7 hours, 13 minutes. "The Despair has plagued the earth for five years" with victims committing suicide. A mysterious group called Collectors pick-up the bodies. Norman takes a stand against the Collectors.
Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage by M.C. Beaton. 5 hours, 37 minutes. Agatha is going to remarry until her long-thought-dead drunk of a first husband shows at the wedding. When the drunk is strangled Agatha and would-be second husband are suspects.
Boys Adrift: the five factors driving the growing epidemic of unmotivated boys and underachieving young men by Leonard Sax, M.D., Ph.D. I heard Sax speak at a librarian convention and he did a good job and presented convincing arguments.
Red Helmet by Homer Hickam. Song Hawkins marries a coal mine superintendent and moves to West Virginia and becomes a miner. "In this hauntingly beautiful and romantic novel, he brings alive the little Appalachian town of Highcoal and a people dedicated to mining coal according to the old ways while struggling with modern problems - illegal drugs, environmental destruction, and a world economy that threatens their very existence."
Elite Squad starring [Brazilians]. Police Captain in Rio de Janeiro tries to clear the gangs out of one of the slums before his retirement. I promise lots of Taurus handguns.
Hamlet 2 starring Steve Coogan, David Arquette, Catherine Keener. High school drama teacher writes a sequel to Hamlet. Sequel is awful.. Hilarity ensues.
House Bunny starring Anna Faris. Playboy Bunny Shelley gets kicked out of the Playboy Mansion and finds a job as house mom in a loser sorority.
I was listening to Howard Stern this morning and he watched this movie last week and said it was awful. But, he also said Anna Faris did a great job.
I know a family named Ferris.
The Foot Fist Way starring Danny McBride. An inept and bullying Tae Kwon Do teacher finds his wife is cheating on him and treks to meet his celebrity hero who is also a jerk. Very funny.
I took Tae Kwon Do classes for a while. I signed up at a place in Arlington, TX and a couple times the instructor never even showed to unlock the freaking door. Jerk.
Dark Knight starring Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart. Batman fights the Joker.
Burn After Reading starring George Clooney, John Malkovich, Brad Pitt, John Malkovich, and John Malkovich. Idiot at a Washington, D.C. gym finds a drunk, fired CIA agent's memoirs in a locker and thinks the memoirs are top secret documents. Idiot and desperate co-worker try to get cash for the info. Meanwhile, sex fiend U.S. Deputy Marshal has lots of sex and goes jogging.
Mamma Mia! starring [actors who cannot sing].
My wife was watching this during vacation at my parents' house. I was in the other room reading a book and had to put a pillow over my head so I would not have to hear it.
Music CDs
Twilight: original motion picture soundtrack with songs by Muse, Paramore, and others.
AudioBooks on CD
Suicide Collectors by David Oppegaard. 7 hours, 13 minutes. "The Despair has plagued the earth for five years" with victims committing suicide. A mysterious group called Collectors pick-up the bodies. Norman takes a stand against the Collectors.
Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage by M.C. Beaton. 5 hours, 37 minutes. Agatha is going to remarry until her long-thought-dead drunk of a first husband shows at the wedding. When the drunk is strangled Agatha and would-be second husband are suspects.
Boys Adrift: the five factors driving the growing epidemic of unmotivated boys and underachieving young men by Leonard Sax, M.D., Ph.D. I heard Sax speak at a librarian convention and he did a good job and presented convincing arguments.
Red Helmet by Homer Hickam. Song Hawkins marries a coal mine superintendent and moves to West Virginia and becomes a miner. "In this hauntingly beautiful and romantic novel, he brings alive the little Appalachian town of Highcoal and a people dedicated to mining coal according to the old ways while struggling with modern problems - illegal drugs, environmental destruction, and a world economy that threatens their very existence."
NonFiction without Garfield
NonFiction
Garfield Minus Garfield by Jim Davis. Dan Walsh erased Garfield from the Garfield comic strips and improved the stories immeasurably.
Hot, Flat, and Crowded: why we need a green revolution and how it can renew America by Thomas L. Friedman.
Homeowner's Guide to Managing a Renovation: tough-as-nails tactics for getting the most from your money by Susan E. Solakian. "Every stage of planning and executing a job...walks you through each step of a hypothetical renovation."
George Tooker by George Tooker. Painter who has "over the past sixty years...continued to create radiantly illuminated yet disquieting images. Imbued with moral, spiritual, and sensual power."
Angling the World: ten spectacular adventures in fly fishing by Roy Tanami. Fly fishing travels to Brazil, Russia, New Zealand and elsewhere with great photographs.
Pieces of my Heart by Robert J. Wagner. Actor's autobiography. Wagner always wanted to be an actor and seeing Hollywood stars play the golf course near his childhood Bel Air home only encouraged him. His work in the studio system, his marriage-divorce-marriage-widowerhood with Natalie Wood, and his television work.
Why We Suck: a feel good guide to staying fat, loud, lazy and stupid by Denis Leary. This was on the bestseller list so I bought it. "Part memoir, part self-help tome"
Eating the Sun: how plants power the planet by Oliver Morton. This is supposed to a fascinating, and actually interesting, look at how plants work and the mystery of photosynthesis.
The Customer is Always Wrong by Jeff Martin. "A tragicomic and all-too-revealing collection of essays by writers who have done their time behind the counter and lived to tell the tale."
The Forever War by Dexter Filkins. A look at the War on Terror.
Multiple Bles8ings: surviving to thriving with twins and sextuplets by Jon and kate Gosselin and Beth Carson. That is a lot of kids.
Dewey: the small-town library cat who touched the world by Vicki Myron. Ugh.
Garfield Minus Garfield by Jim Davis. Dan Walsh erased Garfield from the Garfield comic strips and improved the stories immeasurably.
Hot, Flat, and Crowded: why we need a green revolution and how it can renew America by Thomas L. Friedman.
Homeowner's Guide to Managing a Renovation: tough-as-nails tactics for getting the most from your money by Susan E. Solakian. "Every stage of planning and executing a job...walks you through each step of a hypothetical renovation."
George Tooker by George Tooker. Painter who has "over the past sixty years...continued to create radiantly illuminated yet disquieting images. Imbued with moral, spiritual, and sensual power."
Angling the World: ten spectacular adventures in fly fishing by Roy Tanami. Fly fishing travels to Brazil, Russia, New Zealand and elsewhere with great photographs.
Pieces of my Heart by Robert J. Wagner. Actor's autobiography. Wagner always wanted to be an actor and seeing Hollywood stars play the golf course near his childhood Bel Air home only encouraged him. His work in the studio system, his marriage-divorce-marriage-widowerhood with Natalie Wood, and his television work.
Why We Suck: a feel good guide to staying fat, loud, lazy and stupid by Denis Leary. This was on the bestseller list so I bought it. "Part memoir, part self-help tome"
Eating the Sun: how plants power the planet by Oliver Morton. This is supposed to a fascinating, and actually interesting, look at how plants work and the mystery of photosynthesis.
The Customer is Always Wrong by Jeff Martin. "A tragicomic and all-too-revealing collection of essays by writers who have done their time behind the counter and lived to tell the tale."
The Forever War by Dexter Filkins. A look at the War on Terror.
Multiple Bles8ings: surviving to thriving with twins and sextuplets by Jon and kate Gosselin and Beth Carson. That is a lot of kids.
Dewey: the small-town library cat who touched the world by Vicki Myron. Ugh.
Fiction Pile
Fiction
Rebels of Mindanao by Tom Anthony. Former soldier Tom Thornton has retired to the island of Mindanao in the Philippines when former colleagues ask him to find and kill a Turk who is running money to Al Qaeda connected rebels in the jungle.
Dark Ops by W.E.B. Griffin. Assassinations of government officials has some dude looking for who is responsible.
Trophy Exchange by Diane Fanning. Murder mystery.
A Golden Age by Tahmima Anam. Some literary chick book set in East Pakistan, which is soon to become Bangladesh, during a party.
Fire and Ice by Julie Garwood. I do not care.
Contagious by Scott Sigler. Aliens are not invading with spaceships but with pathogens. Former football star Perry has an ability to sense hosts of the disease and teams with a CIA guy to defeat the threat.
Running Hot by Jayne Ann Krentz. Paranormal investigators battle evil paranormal people. Or something. This sounds real lame.
Telex From Cuba by Rachel Kushner. Wealthy Americans in pre-revolution Cuba. The parents are oblivious to the country's problems but the kids learn how the cane fields stay working.
A Face at the Window by Sarah Graves. "A home repair is homicide mystery."
Need by Carrie Jones. A Young Adult novel with gold colored lipstick on some gal on the cover.
Ultra Violet by Nancy Bush. Girl's paperback mystery.
The Mirror in the Well by Micheline Aharonian Marcom. "A woman's sexual awakening is a tragedy when the woman is married to someone other than the man who awakens her...This novel will shock and offend some readers. Unapologetically explicit in its language, extreme in some of the acts it catalogues, it makes no pretense of submission to middle-class decency, let alone to expectations of happy endings. All three people in this love triangle are flawed, damaged, human. Things fall apart, and the resolution is unclear. Why does she do it? Who should we read it? The answer in one word: ecstasy."
Rebels of Mindanao by Tom Anthony. Former soldier Tom Thornton has retired to the island of Mindanao in the Philippines when former colleagues ask him to find and kill a Turk who is running money to Al Qaeda connected rebels in the jungle.
Dark Ops by W.E.B. Griffin. Assassinations of government officials has some dude looking for who is responsible.
Trophy Exchange by Diane Fanning. Murder mystery.
A Golden Age by Tahmima Anam. Some literary chick book set in East Pakistan, which is soon to become Bangladesh, during a party.
Fire and Ice by Julie Garwood. I do not care.
Contagious by Scott Sigler. Aliens are not invading with spaceships but with pathogens. Former football star Perry has an ability to sense hosts of the disease and teams with a CIA guy to defeat the threat.
Running Hot by Jayne Ann Krentz. Paranormal investigators battle evil paranormal people. Or something. This sounds real lame.
Telex From Cuba by Rachel Kushner. Wealthy Americans in pre-revolution Cuba. The parents are oblivious to the country's problems but the kids learn how the cane fields stay working.
A Face at the Window by Sarah Graves. "A home repair is homicide mystery."
Need by Carrie Jones. A Young Adult novel with gold colored lipstick on some gal on the cover.
Ultra Violet by Nancy Bush. Girl's paperback mystery.
The Mirror in the Well by Micheline Aharonian Marcom. "A woman's sexual awakening is a tragedy when the woman is married to someone other than the man who awakens her...This novel will shock and offend some readers. Unapologetically explicit in its language, extreme in some of the acts it catalogues, it makes no pretense of submission to middle-class decency, let alone to expectations of happy endings. All three people in this love triangle are flawed, damaged, human. Things fall apart, and the resolution is unclear. Why does she do it? Who should we read it? The answer in one word: ecstasy."
Friday, December 26, 2008
Bounty of Books with Boxing, Blood, and "Watch You Bleed"
Fiction
Fifty-to-One by Charles Ardai. A guy decides to cash in on the pulp fiction market with a mob story by an 18 year old showgirl. Her supposed non-fiction story of a mob hit gets them on the wrong side of the wrong people.
Ardai writes good stuff.
A Promise for Spring by Kim Vogel Sawyer. Judging by the cover this is a Christian romance. Yep. English Gal Emmaline finally goes over to the U.S. after five years away from her fiance. But, will she want to stay on his Kansas sheep farm?
Set by the Solomon River in Kansas in the Northwest corner of Kansas.
Blood Sins by Kay Hooper. FBI agent recruits a young girl to be victim bait for a killer.
NonFiction
No-Man's Land: one man's odyssey through The Odyssey by Scott Huler. Middle-aged guy gets crisis induced philosophical notions of Odysseus and follows his path around the Mediterranean. Huler follows Odysseus' 20 year journey in six months from Troy to Ithaca.
Supposed to be very interesting and entertaining.
In Spite of Myself by Christopher Plummer. Big Secret Revealed: He's Canadian.
The stories of filming Sound of Music are really fun. Or so I've read.
Boxing for Beginners: a guide to competition and fitness by Billy Finegan with Courtney Clark. All the basics of a boxing workout and proper punching, blocking, ducking and slipping.
The Longest Trip Home by John Grogan. Dog guy writes memoir of childhood. Big Secret Revealed: he likes his parents.
Watch You Bleed: the saga of Guns N' Roses by Stephen Davis. You could say this band biography was well-timed to match the recent album release. Or, you could say that Davis lucked out the Chinese Democracy was released at all, let alone near his book's release date.
While on the topic, we have not yet gotten our copy of Chinese Democracy. Neither have the Chinese.
American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House by Jon Meacham. "An orphan who fought his way to the pinnacle of power, bending the nation to his will in the cause of democracy." There's a Guns N' Roses Chinese Democracy joke in there somewhere. Keep looking, I couldn't find one.
Warlord: a life of Winston Churchill at war, 1874-1945 by Carlo D'Este. This is supposed to be a fantastic biography. That is saying something in a book world crowded by Churchill books.
O's Big Book of Happiness: the best of O, the Oprah Magazine by the editors. Big Secret Revealed: I won't read this.
Fifty-to-One by Charles Ardai. A guy decides to cash in on the pulp fiction market with a mob story by an 18 year old showgirl. Her supposed non-fiction story of a mob hit gets them on the wrong side of the wrong people.
Ardai writes good stuff.
A Promise for Spring by Kim Vogel Sawyer. Judging by the cover this is a Christian romance. Yep. English Gal Emmaline finally goes over to the U.S. after five years away from her fiance. But, will she want to stay on his Kansas sheep farm?
Set by the Solomon River in Kansas in the Northwest corner of Kansas.
Blood Sins by Kay Hooper. FBI agent recruits a young girl to be victim bait for a killer.
NonFiction
No-Man's Land: one man's odyssey through The Odyssey by Scott Huler. Middle-aged guy gets crisis induced philosophical notions of Odysseus and follows his path around the Mediterranean. Huler follows Odysseus' 20 year journey in six months from Troy to Ithaca.
Supposed to be very interesting and entertaining.
In Spite of Myself by Christopher Plummer. Big Secret Revealed: He's Canadian.
The stories of filming Sound of Music are really fun. Or so I've read.
Boxing for Beginners: a guide to competition and fitness by Billy Finegan with Courtney Clark. All the basics of a boxing workout and proper punching, blocking, ducking and slipping.
The Longest Trip Home by John Grogan. Dog guy writes memoir of childhood. Big Secret Revealed: he likes his parents.
Watch You Bleed: the saga of Guns N' Roses by Stephen Davis. You could say this band biography was well-timed to match the recent album release. Or, you could say that Davis lucked out the Chinese Democracy was released at all, let alone near his book's release date.
While on the topic, we have not yet gotten our copy of Chinese Democracy. Neither have the Chinese.
American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House by Jon Meacham. "An orphan who fought his way to the pinnacle of power, bending the nation to his will in the cause of democracy." There's a Guns N' Roses Chinese Democracy joke in there somewhere. Keep looking, I couldn't find one.
Warlord: a life of Winston Churchill at war, 1874-1945 by Carlo D'Este. This is supposed to be a fantastic biography. That is saying something in a book world crowded by Churchill books.
O's Big Book of Happiness: the best of O, the Oprah Magazine by the editors. Big Secret Revealed: I won't read this.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
What to Read 17
Two books to try.
Bill Mauldin: a life up front by Todd DePastino. Mauldin gained fame as a U.S. Army cartoonist during World War Two and won a Pulitzer prize in 1945, Mauldin continued as an an editorial cartoonist and newspaper columnist and was awarded a second Pulitzer in 1959. Book website is at http://www.billmauldinbiography.com/
Killing Floor by Lee Child. First book in the Jack Reacher series of novels. Reacher is a former military policeman traveling the US who gets involved in various troubles. Lee Child's website.
Bill Mauldin: a life up front by Todd DePastino. Mauldin gained fame as a U.S. Army cartoonist during World War Two and won a Pulitzer prize in 1945, Mauldin continued as an an editorial cartoonist and newspaper columnist and was awarded a second Pulitzer in 1959. Book website is at http://www.billmauldinbiography.com/
Killing Floor by Lee Child. First book in the Jack Reacher series of novels. Reacher is a former military policeman traveling the US who gets involved in various troubles. Lee Child's website.
One Last Item Before Christmas Break
Music CD
Mamma Mia!: the movie soundtrack with [people]. I ended up ordering the "Deluxe Album with Bonus 'Behind the Scenes' DVD" for some reason. It comes with a booklet about the production filled with color photos.
Major chick movie.
EDIT: Pierce Brosnan was obviously hired for his acting ability, not his singing ability. However, Meryl Streep does sing well. Big surprise there, when doesn't she do well at something?
ANOTHER EDIT: I take that back. Streep does okay on some songs but not on others.
Mamma Mia!: the movie soundtrack with [people]. I ended up ordering the "Deluxe Album with Bonus 'Behind the Scenes' DVD" for some reason. It comes with a booklet about the production filled with color photos.
Major chick movie.
EDIT: Pierce Brosnan was obviously hired for his acting ability, not his singing ability. However, Meryl Streep does sing well. Big surprise there, when doesn't she do well at something?
ANOTHER EDIT: I take that back. Streep does okay on some songs but not on others.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Two Comedies
DVD
It's Bad For Ya' by George Carlin. "Carlin's Emmy-nominated 14th and final HBO special from the March of 2008 features Carlin's noted irreverent and unapologetic observations on topics ranging from death, religion, bureaucracy, patriotism, overprotected children and big business to the pungent examinations of modern language and the 'decrepit state of the American culture.'"
Includes a 1969 appearance on the Jackie Gleason show.
Step Brothers starring Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly. Two middle-aged losers have to live together and their parents marry and join households. Their stupidity drives the newlyweds apart and the nitwits try to bring them back together. Supposedly funny.
It's Bad For Ya' by George Carlin. "Carlin's Emmy-nominated 14th and final HBO special from the March of 2008 features Carlin's noted irreverent and unapologetic observations on topics ranging from death, religion, bureaucracy, patriotism, overprotected children and big business to the pungent examinations of modern language and the 'decrepit state of the American culture.'"
Includes a 1969 appearance on the Jackie Gleason show.
Step Brothers starring Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly. Two middle-aged losers have to live together and their parents marry and join households. Their stupidity drives the newlyweds apart and the nitwits try to bring them back together. Supposedly funny.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
What to Read 16
Rachel the Page recommends two novels: Helen of Troy by Elizabeth George and And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie.
Gratuitious Pistol Posing, Jason Bateman, A New AudioBook Vendor
DVD
Hancock starring Jason Bateman and Charlize Theron. Super hero turned bum gets a makeover.
This is rated PG-13 so I assume Theron keeps her shirt on in this one.
Traitor starring Don Cheadle and Guy Pearce. A former undercover intelligence soldier's loyalty is questioned after a terrorist bombing and a prison break.
TransSiberian starring Woody Harrelson and Ben Kingsley. Tourists on the TransSiberian railway are under suspicion after a drug related murder on board the train.
Get Smart starring Steve Carell and other people. Movie version of television show. I have not seen this.
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 staring Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera, Blake Lively. Young women all share the same pair of pants or something. Looks like they travel to Greece, or Cyprus, or somewhere else in the Mediterranean.
Wanted starring Mrs. Movie Big Shot and others. Young guy is recruited to join a group of assassins and shoot pistols in slow motion.
Tropic Thunder starring Jack Black, Ben Stiller, Robert Downey, Jr., Nick Nolte Actors filming a war movie in the jungle get into a real shoot-out. I think.
The Mummy: tomb of the Dragon Emperor starring Brendan Fraser, Maria Bello, John Hannah, Michelle Yeoh, and Jet Li. Chinese mummy attacks people and gets shot at by tommy-gun wielding guy.
This is also rated PG-13 so Maria Bello must keep her shirt on in this one.
Chaplin starring a bunch of actors. A recent donation. Biopic of Charlie Chaplin.
Gia starring Angelina Jolie. Biopoic of dead model from the 1970's.
For those of you keeping track: this is not rated but I think Jolie does take her shirt off.
Audio Books
I just started buying from Landmark Audiobooks. Here is a new batch.
Cross Country by James Patterson. A vicious killer who has murdered a whole family is followed from D.C. to Nigeria by Detective Alex Cross.
Rough Weather by Robert B. Parker. Narrated by Joe Mantegna.
Your Heart Belongs to Me by Dean Koontz. Rich guy gets heart transplant and is stalked by crazy lady who wants the heart.
Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer. A connection between the murder of Superman's creator and the murder of Abel? Listen to the novel and ponder.
Private Patient by P.D. James. A patient in a private clinic in Dorset, England dies at a private surgery clinic. Inspector Dalgliesh investigates and "suspects multiply all too rapidly."
Divine Justice by David Baldacci. Government assassin 'Oliver Stone' is on the run. The same people he worked for have turned on him and Stone relies on his friends to escape.
A Mercy by Toni Morrison. A Dutch trader in 1680 buys a slave girl who looks for love from an older woman and a handsome blacksmith.
Hancock starring Jason Bateman and Charlize Theron. Super hero turned bum gets a makeover.
This is rated PG-13 so I assume Theron keeps her shirt on in this one.
Traitor starring Don Cheadle and Guy Pearce. A former undercover intelligence soldier's loyalty is questioned after a terrorist bombing and a prison break.
TransSiberian starring Woody Harrelson and Ben Kingsley. Tourists on the TransSiberian railway are under suspicion after a drug related murder on board the train.
Get Smart starring Steve Carell and other people. Movie version of television show. I have not seen this.
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 staring Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera, Blake Lively. Young women all share the same pair of pants or something. Looks like they travel to Greece, or Cyprus, or somewhere else in the Mediterranean.
Wanted starring Mrs. Movie Big Shot and others. Young guy is recruited to join a group of assassins and shoot pistols in slow motion.
Tropic Thunder starring Jack Black, Ben Stiller, Robert Downey, Jr., Nick Nolte Actors filming a war movie in the jungle get into a real shoot-out. I think.
The Mummy: tomb of the Dragon Emperor starring Brendan Fraser, Maria Bello, John Hannah, Michelle Yeoh, and Jet Li. Chinese mummy attacks people and gets shot at by tommy-gun wielding guy.
This is also rated PG-13 so Maria Bello must keep her shirt on in this one.
Chaplin starring a bunch of actors. A recent donation. Biopic of Charlie Chaplin.
Gia starring Angelina Jolie. Biopoic of dead model from the 1970's.
For those of you keeping track: this is not rated but I think Jolie does take her shirt off.
Audio Books
I just started buying from Landmark Audiobooks. Here is a new batch.
Cross Country by James Patterson. A vicious killer who has murdered a whole family is followed from D.C. to Nigeria by Detective Alex Cross.
Rough Weather by Robert B. Parker. Narrated by Joe Mantegna.
Your Heart Belongs to Me by Dean Koontz. Rich guy gets heart transplant and is stalked by crazy lady who wants the heart.
Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer. A connection between the murder of Superman's creator and the murder of Abel? Listen to the novel and ponder.
Private Patient by P.D. James. A patient in a private clinic in Dorset, England dies at a private surgery clinic. Inspector Dalgliesh investigates and "suspects multiply all too rapidly."
Divine Justice by David Baldacci. Government assassin 'Oliver Stone' is on the run. The same people he worked for have turned on him and Stone relies on his friends to escape.
A Mercy by Toni Morrison. A Dutch trader in 1680 buys a slave girl who looks for love from an older woman and a handsome blacksmith.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Books So New You May Cut A Finger
Fiction
Knit Two by Kate Jacobs. Knitting club members at a yarn shop in Manhattan share stories and whatnot.
NonFiction
Forgotten Patriots: the untold story of American prisoners during the Revolutionary War by Edwin G. Burrows. Of teh 200,000 men fighting for America during the Revolutionary War 6,800 died in battle. 32,00 men became prisoners of war. Overcrowded and underfed conditions led to as many as 18,000 deaths in captivity.
Trick or Treatment: the undeniable facts about alternative medicine by Simon Singh and Edzard Ernst, MD. "What works and what doesn't? What are the secrets, what are the lies? Who can you trust, and who is ripping you off? Can science decide what is best, or do the old wives' tales really rtap into ancient, superior wisdom?"
Knit Two by Kate Jacobs. Knitting club members at a yarn shop in Manhattan share stories and whatnot.
NonFiction
Forgotten Patriots: the untold story of American prisoners during the Revolutionary War by Edwin G. Burrows. Of teh 200,000 men fighting for America during the Revolutionary War 6,800 died in battle. 32,00 men became prisoners of war. Overcrowded and underfed conditions led to as many as 18,000 deaths in captivity.
Trick or Treatment: the undeniable facts about alternative medicine by Simon Singh and Edzard Ernst, MD. "What works and what doesn't? What are the secrets, what are the lies? Who can you trust, and who is ripping you off? Can science decide what is best, or do the old wives' tales really rtap into ancient, superior wisdom?"
What to Read 15
An "interview" with Julianna Hatfield about her new book When I Grow Up: a memoir. Hatfield website.
I wrote in a previous post that I was unable to schedule an interview to speak with Ms. Hatfield about her book. Since I already had thought of some questions to ask I decided to do a mock-up.
I wrote in a previous post that I was unable to schedule an interview to speak with Ms. Hatfield about her book. Since I already had thought of some questions to ask I decided to do a mock-up.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
Seventeen Hardcovers
Fiction
Extreme Measures by Vince Flynn. Mitch Rapp has to find an missing Al-Queda cell that has infiltrated the U.S. At the same time his secret assignments to stop deadly jihadists are being called into question on Capitol Hill.
Wolfman by Nicholas Pekearo. Werewolf vigilante. I read a good review.
The Darker Side by Cody McFadden. Serial killer novel.
Every Now and Then by Karen Kingsbury. "He's on a desperate quest to rid the city of heartache, but first he must find a way to deal with his own."
The Treasure by Iris Johansen. Lady Selene has been freed from her status as a harem slave by assassin Kadar. To secure their freedom the the sheikh who held her they have to find a sacred relic for him.
Bad Traffic by Simon Lewis. Tough cop Jian leaves China for London on a search for his missing daughter. Jian finds himself without his usual authority and teams with migrant Ding Ming who is looking for his missing wife.
A Fatal Waltz by Tasha Alexander. Victorian mystery series. Emily reluctantly attends a party at Lord Fortescue's estate. Fortescue is murdered and the husband of Emily's friend is arrested for it. Emily works "to right this terrible wrong and clear his name". Emily travels through high society and low society in her search.
Alexander spoke at the Murder and Mayhem in Muskego conference a month or so ago. She was interesting so I ordered this.
Trigger City by Sean Chercover. Private Investigator Ray Dudgeon has taken a high-paying but easy job. When he finds out the dead girl he was researching was a covert intelligence agent Dudgeon gets into unexpected trouble.
Chasing Smoke by Bill Cameron. Homicide detective Skin Kadash is undergoing cancer treatments. He is just barely getting by when his partner asks for help off-the-clock. Kadash figures no way until he hears the victims were all cancer patients with Kadash's own doctor.
A Lion Among Men by Gregory Maguire. Volume three in the Wicked series.
Lost Temple by Tom Harper. Disgraced soldier Sam is living in Greece in 1947 when the KGB tries to steal a notebook given to Sam by a dying archaeologist. When the CIA and the British are show up on a notebook hunt Sam teams with a couple gals to find out why.
The Company by K.J. Parker. Five war veterans colonize an island. Sure that their friendship will keep them together they find out a terrible secret one has been hiding.
Science Fiction
City at the End of Time by Greg Bear.
Large Print
Cruel Intent by J.A. Jance.
NonFiction
Michelle: a biography by Liza Mundy. Biography of Michelle Obama.
The Ascent of Money: a financial history of the world by Niall Ferguson.
Extreme Measures by Vince Flynn. Mitch Rapp has to find an missing Al-Queda cell that has infiltrated the U.S. At the same time his secret assignments to stop deadly jihadists are being called into question on Capitol Hill.
Wolfman by Nicholas Pekearo. Werewolf vigilante. I read a good review.
The Darker Side by Cody McFadden. Serial killer novel.
Every Now and Then by Karen Kingsbury. "He's on a desperate quest to rid the city of heartache, but first he must find a way to deal with his own."
The Treasure by Iris Johansen. Lady Selene has been freed from her status as a harem slave by assassin Kadar. To secure their freedom the the sheikh who held her they have to find a sacred relic for him.
Bad Traffic by Simon Lewis. Tough cop Jian leaves China for London on a search for his missing daughter. Jian finds himself without his usual authority and teams with migrant Ding Ming who is looking for his missing wife.
A Fatal Waltz by Tasha Alexander. Victorian mystery series. Emily reluctantly attends a party at Lord Fortescue's estate. Fortescue is murdered and the husband of Emily's friend is arrested for it. Emily works "to right this terrible wrong and clear his name". Emily travels through high society and low society in her search.
Alexander spoke at the Murder and Mayhem in Muskego conference a month or so ago. She was interesting so I ordered this.
Trigger City by Sean Chercover. Private Investigator Ray Dudgeon has taken a high-paying but easy job. When he finds out the dead girl he was researching was a covert intelligence agent Dudgeon gets into unexpected trouble.
Chasing Smoke by Bill Cameron. Homicide detective Skin Kadash is undergoing cancer treatments. He is just barely getting by when his partner asks for help off-the-clock. Kadash figures no way until he hears the victims were all cancer patients with Kadash's own doctor.
A Lion Among Men by Gregory Maguire. Volume three in the Wicked series.
Lost Temple by Tom Harper. Disgraced soldier Sam is living in Greece in 1947 when the KGB tries to steal a notebook given to Sam by a dying archaeologist. When the CIA and the British are show up on a notebook hunt Sam teams with a couple gals to find out why.
The Company by K.J. Parker. Five war veterans colonize an island. Sure that their friendship will keep them together they find out a terrible secret one has been hiding.
Science Fiction
City at the End of Time by Greg Bear.
Large Print
Cruel Intent by J.A. Jance.
NonFiction
Michelle: a biography by Liza Mundy. Biography of Michelle Obama.
The Ascent of Money: a financial history of the world by Niall Ferguson.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Paperbacks: Two Gischlers, A Huston, Zombies, and Demons
Fiction
Suicide Squeeze by Victor Gischler. Conner Samson is sent to reposses a comic book store owner's boat. On board is a specially autographed, 1954 Joe DiMaggio that some dangerous people really want.
Shotgun Opera by Victor Gischler. Ex-tough guy Mike Foley has been living the easy life, and hiding out, for the last forty years in Oklahoma. His nephew Andrew shows up with a hitwoman on his trail and Uncle Mike has to turn tough-guy again.
I really enjoyed Gischler's Go-Go Girls of the Apocolypse, as I mentioned before. So I am all set to be disappointed by these two books after setting my expectations overly high.
Every Last Drop by Charlie Huston. Tough guy PI Joe Pitt is not really a PI. He just does jobs on demand. He's not much of a guy either, he's a vampire. Pitt has angered all the other vampire "clans" of Manhattan who now want his head on a stick. Pitt leaves Manhattan for the wilds of the Bronx.
See, Gischler? This vampire stuff sells.
The Rising by Brian Keene. Some zombie horror novel that had a nice review in the back of Booklist or Library Journal.
Deja Demon by Julie Kenner. "The days and nights of a demon hunting soccer mom." Local housewife Kate cares for her family and hunts local demons and zombies?
What has knock-offs has Buffy wrought?
Romance
Never Romance a Rake by Liz Carlyle. A starred review for this paperback romance. Baron Rothewell wins a poker bet for the Comte de Valigny's daughter.
Like No Other Lover by Julie Anne Long. Another paperback romance that got a good review.
Yuletide Treasure by Lauraine Snelling and Jillian Hart. Two short romance novels stuck together.
Suicide Squeeze by Victor Gischler. Conner Samson is sent to reposses a comic book store owner's boat. On board is a specially autographed, 1954 Joe DiMaggio that some dangerous people really want.
Shotgun Opera by Victor Gischler. Ex-tough guy Mike Foley has been living the easy life, and hiding out, for the last forty years in Oklahoma. His nephew Andrew shows up with a hitwoman on his trail and Uncle Mike has to turn tough-guy again.
I really enjoyed Gischler's Go-Go Girls of the Apocolypse, as I mentioned before. So I am all set to be disappointed by these two books after setting my expectations overly high.
Every Last Drop by Charlie Huston. Tough guy PI Joe Pitt is not really a PI. He just does jobs on demand. He's not much of a guy either, he's a vampire. Pitt has angered all the other vampire "clans" of Manhattan who now want his head on a stick. Pitt leaves Manhattan for the wilds of the Bronx.
See, Gischler? This vampire stuff sells.
The Rising by Brian Keene. Some zombie horror novel that had a nice review in the back of Booklist or Library Journal.
Deja Demon by Julie Kenner. "The days and nights of a demon hunting soccer mom." Local housewife Kate cares for her family and hunts local demons and zombies?
What has knock-offs has Buffy wrought?
Romance
Never Romance a Rake by Liz Carlyle. A starred review for this paperback romance. Baron Rothewell wins a poker bet for the Comte de Valigny's daughter.
Like No Other Lover by Julie Anne Long. Another paperback romance that got a good review.
Yuletide Treasure by Lauraine Snelling and Jillian Hart. Two short romance novels stuck together.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Six Inch Snowfall. Read Some Large Print.
Fiction
Born to Run by James Grippando. I don't like this guy's name; it is too difficult to type.
Cruel Intent by J.A. Jance. Did I mention before I do not like Jance? She spoke at a Librarian thing at Phoenix Public Library and got on my nerves. Ice cream was served afterward.
Large Print
Bodies Left Behind by Jefferey Deaver. I don't like his name either. Too many e's. This is the one set in WI.
Heart in the Right Place by Carolyn Jourdan. The cover has a photograph of a goat.
Cold Hearted by Beverly Barton.
The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff. 768 pages long. Processed by Ruth the Page who is the sister of Jacob the Former Page.
Stand the Storm by Breena Clarke. Historical fiction.
I See You Everywhere by Julia Glass. Chick book.
The Goliath Bone by Mickey Spillane with Max Allan Collins. A Mike Hammer novel. I think Spillane collaborated on this before he died. I don't like the second author. Too many names to type.
A McKettrick Christmas by Someone Else With Too Many Names. Chick book romance.
Born to Run by James Grippando. I don't like this guy's name; it is too difficult to type.
Cruel Intent by J.A. Jance. Did I mention before I do not like Jance? She spoke at a Librarian thing at Phoenix Public Library and got on my nerves. Ice cream was served afterward.
Large Print
Bodies Left Behind by Jefferey Deaver. I don't like his name either. Too many e's. This is the one set in WI.
Heart in the Right Place by Carolyn Jourdan. The cover has a photograph of a goat.
Cold Hearted by Beverly Barton.
The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff. 768 pages long. Processed by Ruth the Page who is the sister of Jacob the Former Page.
Stand the Storm by Breena Clarke. Historical fiction.
I See You Everywhere by Julia Glass. Chick book.
The Goliath Bone by Mickey Spillane with Max Allan Collins. A Mike Hammer novel. I think Spillane collaborated on this before he died. I don't like the second author. Too many names to type.
A McKettrick Christmas by Someone Else With Too Many Names. Chick book romance.
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Media and One NonFiction I Missed
DVD
X-Files: I want to believe starring Gillian Anderson (who is still pretty hot) and Mulder. An FBI agent is abducted.
Lost: Season 4 starring That Good Looking Brunette. Lots of extras included.
AudioBook
Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell. 12 CDs for 15 hours and 14 minutes.
NonFiction
Eat This, Not That!: thousands of simple food swaps that can save you 10, 20, 30 pounds or more by David Zinczenko.
X-Files: I want to believe starring Gillian Anderson (who is still pretty hot) and Mulder. An FBI agent is abducted.
Lost: Season 4 starring That Good Looking Brunette. Lots of extras included.
AudioBook
Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell. 12 CDs for 15 hours and 14 minutes.
NonFiction
Eat This, Not That!: thousands of simple food swaps that can save you 10, 20, 30 pounds or more by David Zinczenko.
Guns, Baseball Cards, Juliana Hatfield and John Lennon Was a Jerk
Biography/Memoir
When I Grow Up by Juliana Hatfield. Hatfield had big success on the pop charts in the 1990s but then had a steady decline in sales. Years later, and now in her thirties, Hatfield was sitting on a dingy couch at a venue and wondered, "Why I am I still doing this?" and took more control of her career.
Hatfield played in Milwaukee on Wednesday evening. I emailed her publicity company a week before asking to do a video interview. The publicity gal, Bobbie, responded back saying she could arrange it. I thought, "Sweet!" Then I thought, "Dang. Now I have to drive to Milwaukee." Turns out I never got an interview. I received an apology from Bobbie on Thursday for not scheduling one.
I was both relieved and disappointed. Relieved I did not have to change my schedule and drive through new snowfall to Milwaukee. Disappointed because I think Hatfield would have been very interesting to talk to. Hatfield is also really good looking; I can write that because my wife never reads these posts.
One Soldier's War by Arkady Babchenko. Here are the facts: 18 year old Arkady is drafted out of college into the Russian Army. Suffering the traditional, brutal, and stupid hazing of the Russian Army Arkady gets little infantry training. Arkady is sent to Chechnya in both 1995 and 1999.
Here is another fact: Never go to Chechnya. Never, ever go to Chechnya. Don't fly over Chechnya. Don't even look at Chechnya on the map.
Bunny Tales: behind closed doors at the Playboy Mansion by Izabella St. James. St. James lived at the Playboy Mansion for two years and was one of Hefner's seven girlfriends. A "tell all story of life at the Playboy Mansion - the good, the bad, and the hard-to-believe."
John Lennon: the life by Philip Norman. I always thought Lennon sounded like and could be a major jerk. I am now vindicated. Norman had been working with Yoko Ono on this until Yoko canned him.
Maus by Art Spiegelman. Both I: my father bleeds history and II: and here my troubles began.
NonFiction
Knitting Noro: the magic of knitting with hand-dyed yarns by Jane Ellison.
U.S. Army Weapons Systems 2009 by the Department of the Army. Missiles, bombs, vehicles, communications.
How to Break a Terrorist: the U.S. interrogators who used brains, not brutality, to take down the deadliest man in Iraq by Matthew Alexander and John J. Bruning. Alexander found that, "with most prisoners, negotiation was possible and psychological manipulation stunningly effective."
Men, Love & Sex: the complete user's guide for women by David Zinczenko. "In this funny and fascinating guide for women, thousands of men confess what turns them on, what turns them off, and what turns 'for now' into 'forever'."
Complete Soapmaker: tips, techniques and recipes for luxurious handmade soaps by Norma Coney.
2009 Standard Catalogue of Baseball Cards edited by Don Fluckinger. I did not make that name up.
When I Grow Up by Juliana Hatfield. Hatfield had big success on the pop charts in the 1990s but then had a steady decline in sales. Years later, and now in her thirties, Hatfield was sitting on a dingy couch at a venue and wondered, "Why I am I still doing this?" and took more control of her career.
Hatfield played in Milwaukee on Wednesday evening. I emailed her publicity company a week before asking to do a video interview. The publicity gal, Bobbie, responded back saying she could arrange it. I thought, "Sweet!" Then I thought, "Dang. Now I have to drive to Milwaukee." Turns out I never got an interview. I received an apology from Bobbie on Thursday for not scheduling one.
I was both relieved and disappointed. Relieved I did not have to change my schedule and drive through new snowfall to Milwaukee. Disappointed because I think Hatfield would have been very interesting to talk to. Hatfield is also really good looking; I can write that because my wife never reads these posts.
One Soldier's War by Arkady Babchenko. Here are the facts: 18 year old Arkady is drafted out of college into the Russian Army. Suffering the traditional, brutal, and stupid hazing of the Russian Army Arkady gets little infantry training. Arkady is sent to Chechnya in both 1995 and 1999.
Here is another fact: Never go to Chechnya. Never, ever go to Chechnya. Don't fly over Chechnya. Don't even look at Chechnya on the map.
Bunny Tales: behind closed doors at the Playboy Mansion by Izabella St. James. St. James lived at the Playboy Mansion for two years and was one of Hefner's seven girlfriends. A "tell all story of life at the Playboy Mansion - the good, the bad, and the hard-to-believe."
John Lennon: the life by Philip Norman. I always thought Lennon sounded like and could be a major jerk. I am now vindicated. Norman had been working with Yoko Ono on this until Yoko canned him.
Maus by Art Spiegelman. Both I: my father bleeds history and II: and here my troubles began.
NonFiction
Knitting Noro: the magic of knitting with hand-dyed yarns by Jane Ellison.
U.S. Army Weapons Systems 2009 by the Department of the Army. Missiles, bombs, vehicles, communications.
How to Break a Terrorist: the U.S. interrogators who used brains, not brutality, to take down the deadliest man in Iraq by Matthew Alexander and John J. Bruning. Alexander found that, "with most prisoners, negotiation was possible and psychological manipulation stunningly effective."
Men, Love & Sex: the complete user's guide for women by David Zinczenko. "In this funny and fascinating guide for women, thousands of men confess what turns them on, what turns them off, and what turns 'for now' into 'forever'."
Complete Soapmaker: tips, techniques and recipes for luxurious handmade soaps by Norma Coney.
2009 Standard Catalogue of Baseball Cards edited by Don Fluckinger. I did not make that name up.
Koontz, Cornwell, Cussler and Crap from Stephenie Meyer
Young Adult
The Host by Stephenie Meyer. Extra Copy. Yes, I should read it to see what the big deal is. But, isn't the fact that fifteen year old girls love this book enough to scare anyone away?
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. See above.
Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer. See above.
Fiction
Your Heart Belongs to Me by Dean Koontz. Some sort of thriller. I assume.
Enchanted Again: more erotic bedtime stories for women by Nancy Madore. Hubba hubba. Dang, no illustrations.
We have some other "erotic stories for gals" book, Empress's New Lingerie and Other Erotic Fairy Tales: bedtime stories for grownups by Hillary Rollins, that checked out okay so I bought this one too.
Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell. The cover has an illustration of a sheet of stainless steel perforated with four bullet holes and a smear of blood on one of them. 500 pages long.
Backup by Jim Butcher. A novelette from the Dresden Files. Harry Dresden's older brother Thomas works to help his brother out.
Large Print
Arctic Drift by Clive and Dirk Cussler. Dirk Pitt and company have adventures on the high seas and Arctic icebergs.
Leaving Whiskey Bend by Dorothy Garlock. Christian themed romance?
Pagan Stone Nora Roberts. Fantasy novel with adult women with "shared nightmares and random violence."
The Host by Stephenie Meyer. Extra Copy. Yes, I should read it to see what the big deal is. But, isn't the fact that fifteen year old girls love this book enough to scare anyone away?
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. See above.
Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer. See above.
Fiction
Your Heart Belongs to Me by Dean Koontz. Some sort of thriller. I assume.
Enchanted Again: more erotic bedtime stories for women by Nancy Madore. Hubba hubba. Dang, no illustrations.
We have some other "erotic stories for gals" book, Empress's New Lingerie and Other Erotic Fairy Tales: bedtime stories for grownups by Hillary Rollins, that checked out okay so I bought this one too.
Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell. The cover has an illustration of a sheet of stainless steel perforated with four bullet holes and a smear of blood on one of them. 500 pages long.
Backup by Jim Butcher. A novelette from the Dresden Files. Harry Dresden's older brother Thomas works to help his brother out.
Large Print
Arctic Drift by Clive and Dirk Cussler. Dirk Pitt and company have adventures on the high seas and Arctic icebergs.
Leaving Whiskey Bend by Dorothy Garlock. Christian themed romance?
Pagan Stone Nora Roberts. Fantasy novel with adult women with "shared nightmares and random violence."
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Home Repair with Who
Fiction
Fatal Fixer-Upper by Jennie Bentley. A themed paperback mystery. Like the books my wife is always reading except without vampires or recipes.
DVD
The Who at Kilburn:1977 starring Who. Both the 1977 concert - you'll recognize the footage - and a 1969 London concert.
The booklet smells funny.
Fatal Fixer-Upper by Jennie Bentley. A themed paperback mystery. Like the books my wife is always reading except without vampires or recipes.
DVD
The Who at Kilburn:1977 starring Who. Both the 1977 concert - you'll recognize the footage - and a 1969 London concert.
The booklet smells funny.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
I looked at the processing cart and said, "Where'd that [stuff] come from?"
Fiction
Arctic Drift by Clive and Dirk Cussler. I'm not sure what this is about. According to the cover illustration and a map on the inside someone finds a ship from the 1845 Franklin Expedition.
Crossroads by Belva Plain. Jealous woman and other woman and both their husbands are in conflict.
Dashing Through the Snow by Mary and Carol Higgins Clark. Christmas themed mystery in New Hampshire with a missing lottery ticket.
Princep's Fury by Jim Butcher. Fantasy novel.
Arctic Drift by Clive and Dirk Cussler. I'm not sure what this is about. According to the cover illustration and a map on the inside someone finds a ship from the 1845 Franklin Expedition.
Crossroads by Belva Plain. Jealous woman and other woman and both their husbands are in conflict.
Dashing Through the Snow by Mary and Carol Higgins Clark. Christmas themed mystery in New Hampshire with a missing lottery ticket.
Princep's Fury by Jim Butcher. Fantasy novel.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Over Forty-Five Hours of Books
AudioBooks
Bones by Jonathan Kellerman. 12 hours on 10 CDs. Dead hookers in a bird marsh. One dead girl not a hooker and her "blue-blood employers are nowhere to be found."
Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly. 11 hours 22 minutes on 10 CDs. Mickey haller is back to work as a defense attorney and defending a famous Hollywood producer after the first lawyer was murdered. Harry Bosch investigates the dead lawyers murder and sets Haller up for bait.
Haller was in Lincoln Lawyer which I listened to and enjoyed.
Gate House by Nelson DeMille. 22 hours 14 minutes on 19 CDs. Some mob murder thing with an ex-wife and a guy returned from 10 years in London.
DVD
Stargate Continuum starring MacGyver, That Blond Girl, The Bald Black Guy, The Dude's Brother. Science and Fiction together at last!
Large Print
Just After Sunset by Stephen King. Horrifying short stories according to the back cover.
Bones by Jonathan Kellerman. 12 hours on 10 CDs. Dead hookers in a bird marsh. One dead girl not a hooker and her "blue-blood employers are nowhere to be found."
Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly. 11 hours 22 minutes on 10 CDs. Mickey haller is back to work as a defense attorney and defending a famous Hollywood producer after the first lawyer was murdered. Harry Bosch investigates the dead lawyers murder and sets Haller up for bait.
Haller was in Lincoln Lawyer which I listened to and enjoyed.
Gate House by Nelson DeMille. 22 hours 14 minutes on 19 CDs. Some mob murder thing with an ex-wife and a guy returned from 10 years in London.
DVD
Stargate Continuum starring MacGyver, That Blond Girl, The Bald Black Guy, The Dude's Brother. Science and Fiction together at last!
Large Print
Just After Sunset by Stephen King. Horrifying short stories according to the back cover.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
An overweight, alcoholic, degenerate gambling, former heroin and cocaine using, cigarette smoking, prostitute hiring, near death comic writes a book
NonFiction
Too Fat to Fish by Artie Lange. Contrary to this entry's title I like Artie. Artie is a funny guy with some amazing stories. So he wrote a book. Amazing stories. If you like this we also have Artie's "concert" video (shot in a bar) Artie Lange: it's the whiskey talkin' and his movie Beer League.
Fix-It and Forget-It Big Cookbook by Phyllis Pellman Good. 1400 slow cooker recipes.
Outliers: the story of success by Malcolm Gladwell. How much do environmental factors like family, birthplace, birth date and culture effect a person's success?
Too Fat to Fish by Artie Lange. Contrary to this entry's title I like Artie. Artie is a funny guy with some amazing stories. So he wrote a book. Amazing stories. If you like this we also have Artie's "concert" video (shot in a bar) Artie Lange: it's the whiskey talkin' and his movie Beer League.
Fix-It and Forget-It Big Cookbook by Phyllis Pellman Good. 1400 slow cooker recipes.
Outliers: the story of success by Malcolm Gladwell. How much do environmental factors like family, birthplace, birth date and culture effect a person's success?
Monday, November 17, 2008
I should be happy about all the new things but I do have other work to do
Fiction
Paperbacks - All Sizes
Star Wars: Darth Bane: Rule of Two by Drew Karpyshyn. After the Sith War the last surviving Sith, Darth Bane, instituted the Rule of Two: all Sith must have an apprentice. Bane's apprentice Zannah has impressive powers. The only Jedi believing there are remaining Sith is out to stop Bane and Zannah.
I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone by Stephanie Kuehnert. Set in WI with punk band chick looking for her punk band mother who ran away years ago.
Sex Club by L.J. Sellers. A birth control clinic is bombed and a client turns up dead in a dumpster. One of the clinic's nurses, Kera, starts to investigate the victim's Bible group.
Gun Work by David J. Schow. Carl Ledbetter's wife has been kidnapped in Mexico. Unable to pay the million dollars demanded Carl calls for help from the deadly man whose life he once saved in Iraq.
A Hell of a Woman: an anthology of female noir edited by Megan Abbott. "Dark tales of lonely housewives, diner waitresses yearning for more, schoolgirls with dangerous ambitions, hustlers looking for one last score..." From Busted Flush Press, out of Houston, who sent us a bunch of bookmarks once.
Fourth Victim by Tony Spinosa. Spinosa is Reed Farrell Coleman. Heating oil business owners Joe and Bob, featured earlier in Hose Monkey, are facing a crime wave against heating oil businesses. Five heating oil truck drivers in Long Island have been robbed and murdered. One driver saved the life of Joe when they were both in the NYPD and Joe and Bob follow a confusing trail on the way to solving the murder.
Spinosa/Coleman writes some great stuff.
Hardcovers
Leaving Whiskey Behind by Dorothy Garlock. I like whiskey. I thought about picking up some Jamesons when I was at the Super Target in Fitchburg but decided since I have stuff at home already I did not bother.
The Archbishop of Andalusia by Andrew M. Greeley. A Blackie Ryan novel.
Salvation in Death by J.D. Robb. Murder in 2060 New York with a poisoned priest.
Cross Country by James Patterson. Who cares?
A Mercy by Toni Morrison. Are these books really any good? I know Morrison gets press and good reviews but is the story interesting. Let me rephrase that, would I enjoy the story?
Snake Dreams by James D. Doss. Murder and romance with Charlie Moon on the Ute Reservation.
Joker by Brian Azzarello. The Joker is being released from the Arkham Asylum and eager to regain his power as a crime lord.
Large Print
Heat Lightning by John Sandford. Detective Virgil Flowers gets a call about a dead body at a veterans memorial in Stillwater, MN. The victim is left in the same way as one a week ago and Flowers works to find the killer before there is another killing.
Rustler by Linda Lael Miller. Some cowboy romance with a reformed crook named Wyatt wooing, and getting wooed, by the prim Sarah who has a secret history of her own.
Wedding Belles by Haywood Smith. Lifelong friends aid one woman whose 28 year old daughter is marrying one of their high school classmates.
Fisherman's Bend by Linda Greenlaw. Jane Bunker left violent Miami for for the quiet life in Maine. But she still runs into murder and mayhem.
Grace by Richard Paul Evans. Young Eric finds Grace dumpster diving for food and lets her stay in the family tree house. Grace tells horrific stories of her home life but Eric's brother tells about Grace's hideout and she is sent back home.
So Long at the Fair by Christina Schwarz. Job decides whether to stay with his wife or leave for his mistress while vengeful events in 1963 start to come back to haunt him.
NonFiction
Outliers: the story of success by Malcolm Gladwell. "Why do some people succeed far more than others?"
The Price of Government: getting the results we need in an age of permanent fiscal crisis by David Osborne, and Peter Hutchinson. Budgeting and results in government.
Paperbacks - All Sizes
Star Wars: Darth Bane: Rule of Two by Drew Karpyshyn. After the Sith War the last surviving Sith, Darth Bane, instituted the Rule of Two: all Sith must have an apprentice. Bane's apprentice Zannah has impressive powers. The only Jedi believing there are remaining Sith is out to stop Bane and Zannah.
I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone by Stephanie Kuehnert. Set in WI with punk band chick looking for her punk band mother who ran away years ago.
Sex Club by L.J. Sellers. A birth control clinic is bombed and a client turns up dead in a dumpster. One of the clinic's nurses, Kera, starts to investigate the victim's Bible group.
Gun Work by David J. Schow. Carl Ledbetter's wife has been kidnapped in Mexico. Unable to pay the million dollars demanded Carl calls for help from the deadly man whose life he once saved in Iraq.
A Hell of a Woman: an anthology of female noir edited by Megan Abbott. "Dark tales of lonely housewives, diner waitresses yearning for more, schoolgirls with dangerous ambitions, hustlers looking for one last score..." From Busted Flush Press, out of Houston, who sent us a bunch of bookmarks once.
Fourth Victim by Tony Spinosa. Spinosa is Reed Farrell Coleman. Heating oil business owners Joe and Bob, featured earlier in Hose Monkey, are facing a crime wave against heating oil businesses. Five heating oil truck drivers in Long Island have been robbed and murdered. One driver saved the life of Joe when they were both in the NYPD and Joe and Bob follow a confusing trail on the way to solving the murder.
Spinosa/Coleman writes some great stuff.
Hardcovers
Leaving Whiskey Behind by Dorothy Garlock. I like whiskey. I thought about picking up some Jamesons when I was at the Super Target in Fitchburg but decided since I have stuff at home already I did not bother.
The Archbishop of Andalusia by Andrew M. Greeley. A Blackie Ryan novel.
Salvation in Death by J.D. Robb. Murder in 2060 New York with a poisoned priest.
Cross Country by James Patterson. Who cares?
A Mercy by Toni Morrison. Are these books really any good? I know Morrison gets press and good reviews but is the story interesting. Let me rephrase that, would I enjoy the story?
Snake Dreams by James D. Doss. Murder and romance with Charlie Moon on the Ute Reservation.
Joker by Brian Azzarello. The Joker is being released from the Arkham Asylum and eager to regain his power as a crime lord.
Large Print
Heat Lightning by John Sandford. Detective Virgil Flowers gets a call about a dead body at a veterans memorial in Stillwater, MN. The victim is left in the same way as one a week ago and Flowers works to find the killer before there is another killing.
Rustler by Linda Lael Miller. Some cowboy romance with a reformed crook named Wyatt wooing, and getting wooed, by the prim Sarah who has a secret history of her own.
Wedding Belles by Haywood Smith. Lifelong friends aid one woman whose 28 year old daughter is marrying one of their high school classmates.
Fisherman's Bend by Linda Greenlaw. Jane Bunker left violent Miami for for the quiet life in Maine. But she still runs into murder and mayhem.
Grace by Richard Paul Evans. Young Eric finds Grace dumpster diving for food and lets her stay in the family tree house. Grace tells horrific stories of her home life but Eric's brother tells about Grace's hideout and she is sent back home.
So Long at the Fair by Christina Schwarz. Job decides whether to stay with his wife or leave for his mistress while vengeful events in 1963 start to come back to haunt him.
NonFiction
Outliers: the story of success by Malcolm Gladwell. "Why do some people succeed far more than others?"
The Price of Government: getting the results we need in an age of permanent fiscal crisis by David Osborne, and Peter Hutchinson. Budgeting and results in government.
Friday, November 14, 2008
DVDs with Ben Kingsley, Australian horror, prom dance horror, and Hellboy horror
DVD
Hellboy II starring Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Jeffrey Tambor, John Hurt. Hellboy and colleagues fight against [something] to...save humanity!
Ron Perlman may show up in a prequel to Bubba Ho-Tep entitled...Bubba Nosferatu!
Dance of the Dead starring [teenagers]. Oh, wow. This is a zombie movie. That must be why I bought it. Just hours before the prom high school students have to work together to stop the zombie hordes...attacking the town!
Wolf Creek starring [Australians]. Three hikers in Australia's outback return to their car to find it is dead. A passing truck stops and the Crocodile Dundee style driver offers a lift...to despair!
Last Legion starring Colin Firth and Ben Kingsley. Firth plays a general assigned the security of the young Caesar. When Rome is sacked Firth and friends flee by sea with the boy Caesar to England where they hope to find the last intact, and loyal, Roman legion. Firth rallies the troops and fights...for freedom!
Hellboy II starring Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Jeffrey Tambor, John Hurt. Hellboy and colleagues fight against [something] to...save humanity!
Ron Perlman may show up in a prequel to Bubba Ho-Tep entitled...Bubba Nosferatu!
Dance of the Dead starring [teenagers]. Oh, wow. This is a zombie movie. That must be why I bought it. Just hours before the prom high school students have to work together to stop the zombie hordes...attacking the town!
Wolf Creek starring [Australians]. Three hikers in Australia's outback return to their car to find it is dead. A passing truck stops and the Crocodile Dundee style driver offers a lift...to despair!
Last Legion starring Colin Firth and Ben Kingsley. Firth plays a general assigned the security of the young Caesar. When Rome is sacked Firth and friends flee by sea with the boy Caesar to England where they hope to find the last intact, and loyal, Roman legion. Firth rallies the troops and fights...for freedom!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Fiction with another one of those vampire/witch/werewolf paperbacks women read
Fiction
Bone Yard by Michelle Gagnon. FBI agents and serial killers. They go together like peas in a pod. This one has a mass grave on the Appalachian Trail with victims from several states.
No Rest for the Wiccan by Madelyn Alt. Witch Maggie deals with domestic crises, her love life, finding some ghosts, and solving a murder.
I bet the author stuck some recipes in there.
The First Quarry by Max Allan Collins. The one named hit man's beginning. A series started by Collins in 1976. Quarry infiltrates a college town to kill a professor.
Soul Patch by Reed Farrel Coleman. Former policeman and current PI Moe Prager runs a wine shop in a rich part of Manhattan but feels most comfortable anywhere but there. When an old cop friend kills himself Moe starts looking into what went on and follows a trail of corruption that began 35 years ago.
Coleman's Hose Monkey (written as Tony Spinosa) was really good. The previous book in this series, The James Deans, won a bunch of mystery awards.
I was planning to interview Coleman on video at Murder and Mayhem in Muskego but did not get the opportunity.
Fault Lines by Nancy Huston. Sol's mother thinks her is destined for greatness because his birthmarks match those of relatives going three generations back. "When Sol's family makes an unexpected trip to Germany, secrets begin to emerge about their history during World War II. It seems birthmarks are not all that's been passed down through the bloodlines."
The Shack by Wm. Paul Young. "Where tragedy confronts eternity." Mackenzie receives a letter, seemingly from God, telling her to revisit the Oregon mountain shack where he daughter was likely murdered four years ago.
Just After Sunset by Stephen King. I thought he was going to retire?
Whiskey Rebels by David Liss. Two former soldiers of the Revolutionary Army find themselves at odds after the war. One works for Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton, who he hates. Another heads for Western Pennsylvania and distills whiskey.
This look good. You don't see many novels about the Whiskey Rebellion.
Comfort Food by Kate Jacobs. Snap judgement from the cover: literary chick book.
A Most Wanted Man by John LeCarre. A Russian in Germany is facing deportation. His German lawyer is intent on winning his case. Russian may be a Muslim terrorist and intelligence agencies start to swoop in to influence things.
Ritual by Mo Hayder. Police diver Flea Marley and Inspector Jack Caffery investigate an abduction after linking the victim to two hands found in the bay in Bristol, England. Their investigation takes them into the drug addicts, street kids, whores and immigrants of underground Bristol. Recent immigrants may have brought a nasty occult ceremony with them.
Swallowing Darkness by Laurell K. Hamilton. Considering Hamilton's previous book content the title is likely a double entendre.
Bodies Left Behind by Jeffrey Deaver. Wisconsin Deputy Brynn McKenzie leaves the dinner table to respond to a 911 hang-up call. The remote cabin hosts a bloody crime scene and Brynn and a survivor flee into the woods from a couple killers.
Into the Fire by Suzanne Brockman. I don't know. I'm tired of typing.
Bone Yard by Michelle Gagnon. FBI agents and serial killers. They go together like peas in a pod. This one has a mass grave on the Appalachian Trail with victims from several states.
No Rest for the Wiccan by Madelyn Alt. Witch Maggie deals with domestic crises, her love life, finding some ghosts, and solving a murder.
I bet the author stuck some recipes in there.
The First Quarry by Max Allan Collins. The one named hit man's beginning. A series started by Collins in 1976. Quarry infiltrates a college town to kill a professor.
Soul Patch by Reed Farrel Coleman. Former policeman and current PI Moe Prager runs a wine shop in a rich part of Manhattan but feels most comfortable anywhere but there. When an old cop friend kills himself Moe starts looking into what went on and follows a trail of corruption that began 35 years ago.
Coleman's Hose Monkey (written as Tony Spinosa) was really good. The previous book in this series, The James Deans, won a bunch of mystery awards.
I was planning to interview Coleman on video at Murder and Mayhem in Muskego but did not get the opportunity.
Fault Lines by Nancy Huston. Sol's mother thinks her is destined for greatness because his birthmarks match those of relatives going three generations back. "When Sol's family makes an unexpected trip to Germany, secrets begin to emerge about their history during World War II. It seems birthmarks are not all that's been passed down through the bloodlines."
The Shack by Wm. Paul Young. "Where tragedy confronts eternity." Mackenzie receives a letter, seemingly from God, telling her to revisit the Oregon mountain shack where he daughter was likely murdered four years ago.
Just After Sunset by Stephen King. I thought he was going to retire?
Whiskey Rebels by David Liss. Two former soldiers of the Revolutionary Army find themselves at odds after the war. One works for Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton, who he hates. Another heads for Western Pennsylvania and distills whiskey.
This look good. You don't see many novels about the Whiskey Rebellion.
Comfort Food by Kate Jacobs. Snap judgement from the cover: literary chick book.
A Most Wanted Man by John LeCarre. A Russian in Germany is facing deportation. His German lawyer is intent on winning his case. Russian may be a Muslim terrorist and intelligence agencies start to swoop in to influence things.
Ritual by Mo Hayder. Police diver Flea Marley and Inspector Jack Caffery investigate an abduction after linking the victim to two hands found in the bay in Bristol, England. Their investigation takes them into the drug addicts, street kids, whores and immigrants of underground Bristol. Recent immigrants may have brought a nasty occult ceremony with them.
Swallowing Darkness by Laurell K. Hamilton. Considering Hamilton's previous book content the title is likely a double entendre.
Bodies Left Behind by Jeffrey Deaver. Wisconsin Deputy Brynn McKenzie leaves the dinner table to respond to a 911 hang-up call. The remote cabin hosts a bloody crime scene and Brynn and a survivor flee into the woods from a couple killers.
Into the Fire by Suzanne Brockman. I don't know. I'm tired of typing.
Large Print by One Pseudonym Lady, One Dead Lady, One Montana Guy and A Limey
Large Print
Salvation in Death by JD Robb. Father Flores drinks from the communion chalice and keels over. Father Flores was felled by felonious fellas who found facts of his fugitive past.
Eleventh Man by Ivan Doig. Snap judgement from cover: World War Two pilot of bomber crewman survives with guilt and goes him and woos a dead colleague's girl.
Murder Inside the Beltway by Margaret Truman. Yes, Margaret Truman was related to Harry S Truman. She was Truman's only child. Yes, she is dead. No, I do not know if her novels were ghost written or if this book was completed before her death.
A Most Wanted Man by John LeCarre. A Russian in Germany is facing deportation. His German lawyer is intent on winning his case. Russian may be a Muslim terrorist and intelligence agencies start to swoop in to influence things.
Salvation in Death by JD Robb. Father Flores drinks from the communion chalice and keels over. Father Flores was felled by felonious fellas who found facts of his fugitive past.
Eleventh Man by Ivan Doig. Snap judgement from cover: World War Two pilot of bomber crewman survives with guilt and goes him and woos a dead colleague's girl.
Murder Inside the Beltway by Margaret Truman. Yes, Margaret Truman was related to Harry S Truman. She was Truman's only child. Yes, she is dead. No, I do not know if her novels were ghost written or if this book was completed before her death.
A Most Wanted Man by John LeCarre. A Russian in Germany is facing deportation. His German lawyer is intent on winning his case. Russian may be a Muslim terrorist and intelligence agencies start to swoop in to influence things.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
What to Read 14
Interview with author J.D. "Dusty" Rhoades at the Murder and Mayhem in Muskego writers conference held at the Mueskego, WI public library on 8 November 2008.
Rhoades's books include the Jack Keller series: Devil's Right Hand, Good Day in Hell, Devil's Right Hand. Rhoades's most recent is the thriller Breaking Cover. All titles are available from the Library.
Rhoades's books include the Jack Keller series: Devil's Right Hand, Good Day in Hell, Devil's Right Hand. Rhoades's most recent is the thriller Breaking Cover. All titles are available from the Library.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
What to Read 13
Discussion with author Anthony Neil Smith about Minnesota and Smith's latest novel Yellow Medicine. Filmed at the Muskego Public Library in Muskego, WI during the Murder and Mayhem in Muskego writers conference on Nov. 8, 2008.
Edited for time to keep under 10 minutes.
Edited for time to keep under 10 minutes.
Made-up Stories
Mysteries
Oscar Wilde and a Game Called Murder by Gyles Brandreth. We already own Oscar Wilde and a Death of No Importance. That one checked out so I bought this one. Oscar Wilde is at a dinner party in 1892 with, among others, Bram Stoker and Arthur Conan Doyle. Wilde proposes the question, "Who would you most like to kill?" When one of people whose name was anonymously written down at the party is murdered Oscar and pals get to work.
Blood Alone by James R. Benn. Billy Boyle has landed in advance of the rest of the Allied invasion force on Sicily. With a concussion induced amnesia he cannot recall the true mission. You see, Boyle's mother got Billy a cushy staff job with Uncle Ike. Too bad Uncle Ike is General Eisenhower who decided to put Billy's detective skills to use.
If you like this one there is at least one more Boyle novel set in North Africa.
Twin Killing by Marshall Cook. Small town newspaper editor Monona Quinn rushes back to Iowa after her nephew is arrested for drug possession. Back home in Summersend, IA the locals start turning up dead. What a coincidence.
Santa Clawed by Rita Mae Brown. Some dead cat story. Or a cat with dead people. Or a cat writes about dead people. I'm not sure what the deal is with these.
Angel's Tip by Alafair Burke. Spring Breaker Chelsea hart stays late at a New York nightclub's VIP room and is found dead with her hair chopped off. NYPD detective Ellie Hatcher has a good case against a rich jerk but has suspicions based on previous deaths.
Burke gets around. I think she used to attorney-ize in Phoenix. Then she lawyerized in Portland, OR. Now she teaches legalizing in New York.
Fiction
Go-Go Girls of the Apocalypse by Victor Gischler. Mortimer Tate leaves his mountain side cave after hiding out for nine years due to the fall of civilizaztion. He encounters cannibals, one eyed train conductors, hookers, would be cowboys, and searches for coffee.
For a fuller review see What to Read 10 or What to Read 12.
'Tis the Season by Lorna Landvik. Drunken socialite Caroline reaches out to her Norwegian former nanny and a dude ranch owner in Aridzona. Stories are exchanged and a Christmas reunion is planned.
Breaking Cover by JD Rhoades. Tony Wolf was assumed dead after his undercover assignment went bad and he took a biker gang's cash and ran. Now his self-imposed cover is blown and he has to defend himself.
A replacement for a copy that was doused. I interviewed Rhoades at the Murder and Mayhem in Muskego thing this past Saturday but do not have the video up yet.
Searching for Paradise in Parker, PA by Kris Radish. Some chick book. Judging by the cover and title this is a comedy.
Western
Grave For A Dead Gunfighter by Kent Cowell. Clint thought his father dead by Clint's own mistake. Ten years later Clint learns his father is alive and when Clint finds his father the man refuses Clint and his help against the carpetbaggers out to take the old man's land.
Oscar Wilde and a Game Called Murder by Gyles Brandreth. We already own Oscar Wilde and a Death of No Importance. That one checked out so I bought this one. Oscar Wilde is at a dinner party in 1892 with, among others, Bram Stoker and Arthur Conan Doyle. Wilde proposes the question, "Who would you most like to kill?" When one of people whose name was anonymously written down at the party is murdered Oscar and pals get to work.
Blood Alone by James R. Benn. Billy Boyle has landed in advance of the rest of the Allied invasion force on Sicily. With a concussion induced amnesia he cannot recall the true mission. You see, Boyle's mother got Billy a cushy staff job with Uncle Ike. Too bad Uncle Ike is General Eisenhower who decided to put Billy's detective skills to use.
If you like this one there is at least one more Boyle novel set in North Africa.
Twin Killing by Marshall Cook. Small town newspaper editor Monona Quinn rushes back to Iowa after her nephew is arrested for drug possession. Back home in Summersend, IA the locals start turning up dead. What a coincidence.
Santa Clawed by Rita Mae Brown. Some dead cat story. Or a cat with dead people. Or a cat writes about dead people. I'm not sure what the deal is with these.
Angel's Tip by Alafair Burke. Spring Breaker Chelsea hart stays late at a New York nightclub's VIP room and is found dead with her hair chopped off. NYPD detective Ellie Hatcher has a good case against a rich jerk but has suspicions based on previous deaths.
Burke gets around. I think she used to attorney-ize in Phoenix. Then she lawyerized in Portland, OR. Now she teaches legalizing in New York.
Fiction
Go-Go Girls of the Apocalypse by Victor Gischler. Mortimer Tate leaves his mountain side cave after hiding out for nine years due to the fall of civilizaztion. He encounters cannibals, one eyed train conductors, hookers, would be cowboys, and searches for coffee.
For a fuller review see What to Read 10 or What to Read 12.
'Tis the Season by Lorna Landvik. Drunken socialite Caroline reaches out to her Norwegian former nanny and a dude ranch owner in Aridzona. Stories are exchanged and a Christmas reunion is planned.
Breaking Cover by JD Rhoades. Tony Wolf was assumed dead after his undercover assignment went bad and he took a biker gang's cash and ran. Now his self-imposed cover is blown and he has to defend himself.
A replacement for a copy that was doused. I interviewed Rhoades at the Murder and Mayhem in Muskego thing this past Saturday but do not have the video up yet.
Searching for Paradise in Parker, PA by Kris Radish. Some chick book. Judging by the cover and title this is a comedy.
Western
Grave For A Dead Gunfighter by Kent Cowell. Clint thought his father dead by Clint's own mistake. Ten years later Clint learns his father is alive and when Clint finds his father the man refuses Clint and his help against the carpetbaggers out to take the old man's land.
Monday, November 10, 2008
What to Read 12
Interview with Victor Gischler at the Murder and Mayhem in Muskego writers conference held at the Muskego Public Library in Muskego, WI.
Gischler's available books are: Gun Monkeys, Pistol Poets, Suicide Squeeze, Shotgun Opera, Go-Go Girls of the Apocalypse. His Blogpocalypse website is at victorgischler.blogspot.com.
Gischler's available books are: Gun Monkeys, Pistol Poets, Suicide Squeeze, Shotgun Opera, Go-Go Girls of the Apocalypse. His Blogpocalypse website is at victorgischler.blogspot.com.
What to Read 11
Interview with author Chris Grabenstein at the Murder and Mayhem in Muskego writers conference hosted by the Muskego Public Library in Muskego, WI.
Grabenstein's novels include the John Ceepak series with Tilt-A-Whirl, Mad Mouse, Whack-A-Mole, Hell Hole. The Christopher Miller holiday-themed thriller series with Slay Ride and Hell for the Holidays. Horror novels for middle readers with The Crossroads.
Grabenstein's novels include the John Ceepak series with Tilt-A-Whirl, Mad Mouse, Whack-A-Mole, Hell Hole. The Christopher Miller holiday-themed thriller series with Slay Ride and Hell for the Holidays. Horror novels for middle readers with The Crossroads.
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