Book Reviews

  • Freakonomics : A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
    by Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner

    Read Date:  August 2005

    Interesting statistical reading. 

     
  • Codex
    by Lev Grossman

    Read Date:  August 2005

    Entertaining, but not especially polished....I'd like to try this author again after he's published a few more.

     
  • The Wall : A Thriller
    by Jeff Long

    Read Date:  July 2005

    I'll save my review for it's release date in January.....but must say that once again, we have a beginning that begs for the pages to keep turning, a middle filled with unexpected twists and turns and an another Jeff Long ending, translated this means that once again Jeff,  you never fail to surprise! 

    Thanks for the early copy!

     
  • Angels & Demons, Special Illustrated Edition
    by Dan Brown

    Read Date:  July 2005

    This engaging book wove together history, symbols of religious iconology, secret societies, the Vatican and more into a fun adventure filled read with a little Sherlock Holmes thrown in for good measure.  I enjoyed this prequel to The Da Vinci Code.

     
  • Host
    by PETER JAMES

    Read Date:  May 2005

    Terrible!  I had to stop after 165 pages - Ugh!

     
  • Critical Judgment
    by MICHAEL PALMER

    Read Date:  April 2005

    Palmer's latest medical chiller fails to chill.  Set in the mountains outside of San Francisco an ER doctor, Abby Dolan has arrived to join her fiance who has been hired by the town's chemical & battery manufacturing plant, "Colstar."  Abby soon discovers mysterious symptoms plaguing the town residents and becomes concerned that the chemical plant is to blame.  Abby's fiance, Josh Wyler, begins exhibiting symptoms and Abby finds herself compelled to know the truth, banging heads with Colstar security.  The imaginative final twists is interesting, but the characters lack depth and the book was only mildly interesting.  A three star read.

     
  • Life Expectancy
    by Dean Koontz

    Read Date:  March 2005

    I had a great deal of fun reading this book.  I am not sure how Dean manages to write such fun humor into his characters while putting them into the midst of their torment, trials and tribulations.

     
  • The Broker
    by John Grisham

    Read Date:  March 2005

    It's another Grisham novel going through the motions.  There is a lack of passion.  It makes me wonder if he's simply trying to fill his 300 page minimum...  Don't get me wrong, some of the story is compelling and fun, but mostly he's so capable of doing much better work that it leaves the reader longing for the Grisham of old.

     
  • Odd Thomas
    by Dean Koontz

    Read Date:  February 2005

    As always, with Koontz's, you get a novel with suspense, humor and some surprising twists. His books are always a quick read and entertaining.  I enjoyed it.

     
  • Night Fall
    by Nelson DeMille

    Read Date:  February 2005

    Nelson DeMille always manages to weave a splendid story, though I did not enjoy the sarcastic humor of his main character in the same fashion as I did in Up Country.  No laughing out loud at the antics, but still worthy of reading as DeMille's clever turn of events and intelligent writing skills are better than most.

     
  • State Of Fear
    by Michael Crichton

    Read Date:  January 2005

    The book is a fast read and brings you to numerous places, both main stream & remote.  The characters are fun and have interesting quirks, humanizing them and help weave the fabric of events together.  Well written and entertaining.

     
  • Split Second
    by David Baldacci

    Read Date:  January 2005

    What a total wast of time - highly contrived, very predictable and really stupid.

     
  • Deception Point
    by Dan Brown

    Read Date:  November 2004

    This was an interesting read although more predictable than I would have liked.  Still - very entertaining and fun in it's quest to learn of life on other planets.

     
  • Digital Fortress : A Thriller
    by Dan Brown

    Read Date:  November 2004

    This was a fun read on a journey through Europe, cyber space and government with a little big brother thrown in for good measure.  Very entertaining.

     
  • The Ascent: A Novel
    by Jeff Long

    Read Date:  October 2004

    This is a book about an expedition striving to conquer Mt. Everest.  The visual references were amazing and put me on the mountain while I read about the trials, challenges & moral dilemmas of the 12 person team.  I loved it!
     

     
  • The Reckoning
    by Jeff Long

    Read Date:  September 2004

    Jeff Long - Bravo!  Thank you for the fantastic & exciting adventure through Vietnam & Cambodia.  Thank you for the fantastic scenery and plot twists.  This ghost story with interesting characters, hammering storm winds, jungle fortress & ancient city was as stylish as it was suspenseful.  Most of all, thanks for not being predicable.

     
  • The Last Juror
    by John Grisham

    Read Date:  March 2004

    This book was an enjoyable easy read with interesting characters and events.  I typically enjoy reading Grisham, but have most enjoyed his books that take you on a journey.  This book does that as you enter an era of racial conflict and experience life on the streets of a small southern town.  I really enjoyed this book.

     
  • The Da Vinci Code
    by Dan Brown

    Read Date:  June 2003

    This book hooks the reader very early on and is fascinating in its journey through historical fiction.  The details feel real and give cause to examine facts and events.  I enjoyed reading this book and felt as if I were on an adventure. 

     
  • Visions of Sugar Plums (A Stephanie Plum Novel)
    by Janet Evanovich

    Read Date:  June 2003

    This wonderfully told holiday adventure made me laugh out loud.  I enjoyed all of the mad, vivid characters and their antics.  Great read! 

     
  • The Descent
    by Jeff Long

    Read Date:  May 2003

    Humanity is not alone, there are vast citadels of civilizations from earths past with demons and the devil himself.  An expedition is sent to the earths core to seek out the evil threat with exciting plot twists and a good measure of terror.  Jeff Long possess an impressive imagination and has managed to create a new and horrifying world for his readers to enjoy.

     

     
  • Year Zero
    by Jeff Long

    Read Date:  April 2003

    This is an action adventure that takes you through a fascinating and complex journey.  A plague organism that races through the world's populations has been unleashed as Los Alamos labs scientists seek a cure. This book has strong believable characters and offers truly vivid scenery and events; from the bones of Golgotha to humans cloned from the time of Christ.  A five star read! 

     
  • Prey
    by Michael Crichton

    Read Date:  March 2003

    A wonderfully told adventure through bio-technology and possibilities.  This novel was well written and very enjoyable.

     
  • December 6 : A Novel
    by Martin Cruz Smith

    Read Date:  March 2003

    1941 Tokyo is the setting for this clever and interesting novel which leads you through history, the Japanese culture and offers a hero who's conflicted loyalties to country keep you guessing.  Throw in a samurai honor bound to kill him, a dangerous Japanese mistress, an affair with a British diplomat's wife and the opportunity to escape Japan on the last flight out and you've got yourself a five star read.

     
  • The Arraignment
    by Steve Martini

    Read Date:  March 2003

    The writing was sloppy and the story was a farce.  Things did not connect and I did not care about any of the characters.  This was a waste of time!

     
  • Hollywood Tough: A Shane Scully Novel
    by Stephen J. Cannell

    Read Date:  February 2003

    This book reads like a made for TV movie.  This is not a bad thing, but it's not a great thing either.  The author did keep the story going and gives you an emotional ending.