Author: John Grisham
Media: Audiobook (Ft. Bend Library)
The Confession was a captivating books, as are most of Grisham's novels. There was an undercurrent in the book that attached the Texas Judicial System, within the fictional setting of the novel. Additionally, the book theme questioned the practice of Capitol Punishment. While the characters were well developed in the book, one of the main characters was on the extreme. The books takes the reader along the roller coaster ride of a pastor, a lawyer, an innocent man on death row, and the terminally ill real murderer, as they race to stop the train known as the Texas Judicial System.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
In The Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and An American Family in Hitler's Berlin
Author: Erik Larson
Media: Audio Book (Ft. Bend Library)
This was a true story about the American Ambassador to Germany and his family from 1933 to 1937. The Ambassador, William Dodd, is sent by his country to a land he had not see since before the Great War (WWI). He find that the country of Germany is much different from his memories. Dodd and his family are in Germany as Hitler power increases from the role of Chancellor to that of Führer und Reichskanzler (Leader and Chancellor).
The book overall was a good book, which give some insight into the Germany of that time period, at least through the eyes of the Americans. For a non-fiction book, the flow of the book was smoother than most non-fiction books.
Media: Audio Book (Ft. Bend Library)
This was a true story about the American Ambassador to Germany and his family from 1933 to 1937. The Ambassador, William Dodd, is sent by his country to a land he had not see since before the Great War (WWI). He find that the country of Germany is much different from his memories. Dodd and his family are in Germany as Hitler power increases from the role of Chancellor to that of Führer und Reichskanzler (Leader and Chancellor).
The book overall was a good book, which give some insight into the Germany of that time period, at least through the eyes of the Americans. For a non-fiction book, the flow of the book was smoother than most non-fiction books.
Monday, May 16, 2011
The Lincoln Lawyer
Author:Michael Connelly
Media: Audiobook (Ft. Bend County Library)
THe Lincoln Lawyer is the first book from Michael Connelly that strays from the standard crime detective novel. While crime and detectives are certainly part of this book, the main character is a defensive lawyer. The story is interesting, with some unexpected twists and turns. However, if you are looking for a story with many intertwined stories inside of it, this is not the book for you. The character that develop, while interesting, seem a little on the far fetched side, like the defense lawyer and his ex-wife the prosecutor. That reminded me of political names Mary Matalin and James Carville.
May 9, 2011 - May 16, 2011
Media: Audiobook (Ft. Bend County Library)
THe Lincoln Lawyer is the first book from Michael Connelly that strays from the standard crime detective novel. While crime and detectives are certainly part of this book, the main character is a defensive lawyer. The story is interesting, with some unexpected twists and turns. However, if you are looking for a story with many intertwined stories inside of it, this is not the book for you. The character that develop, while interesting, seem a little on the far fetched side, like the defense lawyer and his ex-wife the prosecutor. That reminded me of political names Mary Matalin and James Carville.
May 9, 2011 - May 16, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Mystery
Author: Jonathan Kellerman
Media: Audiobook (Ft Bend Co. Library)
This book was part of the Alex Delaware Series written by Kellerman. It was the first time I had experienced this author, and character. Noble Laureate quality it was not, but it was a decent story line with some twists and turns. A woman was found shot, and Alex happened to have seen her the evening before her murder. The character develop was okay, I think I would have been better tuned into the undertones, had I read the preceding 23 novels with Alex Delaware, and supporting character Milo Sturgis, who happens to be a gay LAPD detective.
May 2, 2011 to May 6, 2011
Media: Audiobook (Ft Bend Co. Library)
This book was part of the Alex Delaware Series written by Kellerman. It was the first time I had experienced this author, and character. Noble Laureate quality it was not, but it was a decent story line with some twists and turns. A woman was found shot, and Alex happened to have seen her the evening before her murder. The character develop was okay, I think I would have been better tuned into the undertones, had I read the preceding 23 novels with Alex Delaware, and supporting character Milo Sturgis, who happens to be a gay LAPD detective.
May 2, 2011 to May 6, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Treachery in Death
Author: JD Robb
Media: AudioBook (Ft. Bend County Library)
I discovered listening to this group, that if police spoke with the same language they do in the book, they are as profane as a group of submarine sailors or roughnecks. The language aside, it was an interesting story line, with some unique characters. A couple of homicide cops discovery a group of dirty cops, and work diligently to try to take them down. You will have to read/listen to the story to see if they are successful in their efforts.
April 23 - May 2, 2011
Media: AudioBook (Ft. Bend County Library)
I discovered listening to this group, that if police spoke with the same language they do in the book, they are as profane as a group of submarine sailors or roughnecks. The language aside, it was an interesting story line, with some unique characters. A couple of homicide cops discovery a group of dirty cops, and work diligently to try to take them down. You will have to read/listen to the story to see if they are successful in their efforts.
April 23 - May 2, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
The Silent Man
Author: Alex Berenson
Media: Audiobook
This was a John Wells character novel, it was the first one that I read. It was decent enough, and give a glimpse into Terrorist stealing a nuclear weapon and their attempt to set it off in america. The John Wells, gets into trouble with his service on a couple of points. Other than that, I really don't remember much about the plot, or the book.
2009 Time Frame
Media: Audiobook
This was a John Wells character novel, it was the first one that I read. It was decent enough, and give a glimpse into Terrorist stealing a nuclear weapon and their attempt to set it off in america. The John Wells, gets into trouble with his service on a couple of points. Other than that, I really don't remember much about the plot, or the book.
2009 Time Frame
Digital Fortress
Author: Dan Brown
Media: Audiobook (iPod)
This was a fast paced book that revolved around a massive computer system at the CIA which had the ability to decode messages. One of the programers who was disgruntled with the project, sent a bug to the system in an attempt to kill it. The programmer is killed in a European country. The ground chase is commissioned by one of the CIA directors who in the end self destructs in an effort to cover up a mistake that he made.
On another note, I listened to most of this book while putting my kitchen back together (new sink installation) and dishes after the cabinets were replaced.
February 2008
Media: Audiobook (iPod)
This was a fast paced book that revolved around a massive computer system at the CIA which had the ability to decode messages. One of the programers who was disgruntled with the project, sent a bug to the system in an attempt to kill it. The programmer is killed in a European country. The ground chase is commissioned by one of the CIA directors who in the end self destructs in an effort to cover up a mistake that he made.
On another note, I listened to most of this book while putting my kitchen back together (new sink installation) and dishes after the cabinets were replaced.
February 2008
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Skinny Dip
Author: Carl Hiaasen
Media: Audiobook (iPod)
This was the first book of Carl Hiaasens that I read, and it was an interesting novel. Fiction through and through, with a few minor exceptions. The book was filled with color characters, and a plot that weaved in and out of the insane to the plausible. I certainly enjoyed the book, as well as the writing style. It was set in Florida, as are most of Hiaasen's books. The overall plot starts with a husband throwing his wife off a cruise ship, she survives, and he is unaware of this fact. The book scores high marks in my book, and to shore that fact up, I have listened to and read additional works by Hiaasen.
I actually listened to this book when I was down in Houston have a stent put in to fix a little problem I was having. It could have been the stress of that ordeal that aided in my enjoyment of the book. Along with the book, this was also the time in my life, when I started listening to my iPod as I went to sleep. This part of my routine has become very standard, when at home, relatives houses, or hotels, I will grab my iPod as I hit the bed.
~ October 25, 2008 to November 11, 2008.
Media: Audiobook (iPod)
This was the first book of Carl Hiaasens that I read, and it was an interesting novel. Fiction through and through, with a few minor exceptions. The book was filled with color characters, and a plot that weaved in and out of the insane to the plausible. I certainly enjoyed the book, as well as the writing style. It was set in Florida, as are most of Hiaasen's books. The overall plot starts with a husband throwing his wife off a cruise ship, she survives, and he is unaware of this fact. The book scores high marks in my book, and to shore that fact up, I have listened to and read additional works by Hiaasen.
I actually listened to this book when I was down in Houston have a stent put in to fix a little problem I was having. It could have been the stress of that ordeal that aided in my enjoyment of the book. Along with the book, this was also the time in my life, when I started listening to my iPod as I went to sleep. This part of my routine has become very standard, when at home, relatives houses, or hotels, I will grab my iPod as I hit the bed.
~ October 25, 2008 to November 11, 2008.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Bram Stoker's Dracula
Author: Bram Stoker
Media: Audiobook (iPod)
I did listen to Bram Stoker's Dracula, and it was much better than the movie with the same title. To be quite honest, this was not a book that you could only passively listen to without difficulty. It is set in Europe a few hundred years ago, so the job titles are a tad different, along with some of the dialect. The story itself differed greatly from the current context of Dracula. Over the past few years, there seems to be a resurgence in the interest in vampire books and TV shows. A few years ago there was a show titled Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I really think that iTunes had it on sale when I purchased it.
November - December 2009
Media: Audiobook (iPod)
I did listen to Bram Stoker's Dracula, and it was much better than the movie with the same title. To be quite honest, this was not a book that you could only passively listen to without difficulty. It is set in Europe a few hundred years ago, so the job titles are a tad different, along with some of the dialect. The story itself differed greatly from the current context of Dracula. Over the past few years, there seems to be a resurgence in the interest in vampire books and TV shows. A few years ago there was a show titled Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I really think that iTunes had it on sale when I purchased it.
November - December 2009
Home Free
Author:Fern Michaels
Media: Audiobook
This was a book that seemed like a cross between a tame romance novel and a spy novel that was light on the spying. It was enjoyable to listen to. I did figure out within the first 20 minutes of the listen, that the book was one in a long series of books with the same characters. The core characters were know as the vigilantes. The book splits about 50/50 between the core characters lives, and the actually spying part, which for me was a bit of a switch. I am not sure if I will go back to the beginning of the series or not, only time and availability of books will tell.
April 18, 2011 to April 20, 2011.
Ft. Bend County Library
Media: Audiobook
This was a book that seemed like a cross between a tame romance novel and a spy novel that was light on the spying. It was enjoyable to listen to. I did figure out within the first 20 minutes of the listen, that the book was one in a long series of books with the same characters. The core characters were know as the vigilantes. The book splits about 50/50 between the core characters lives, and the actually spying part, which for me was a bit of a switch. I am not sure if I will go back to the beginning of the series or not, only time and availability of books will tell.
April 18, 2011 to April 20, 2011.
Ft. Bend County Library
Saturday, April 16, 2011
The Rembrandt Affair
Author: David Silva
Media: Audiobook
The Rembrandt Affair is another spy/mystery novel involving the fictional character Gabriel Allon. As normal he finds himself in a battle along with the Americans and British (from the periphery) with an influential Swiss businessman, and the ghosts from the Holocaust.
April 3 - April 11
Checked Out from Ft. Bend County Library
Media: Audiobook
The Rembrandt Affair is another spy/mystery novel involving the fictional character Gabriel Allon. As normal he finds himself in a battle along with the Americans and British (from the periphery) with an influential Swiss businessman, and the ghosts from the Holocaust.
April 3 - April 11
Checked Out from Ft. Bend County Library
Friday, April 1, 2011
Cutting for Stone
Author: Abraham Verghese
Media: Audiobook (CD - Ft Bend Co. Library
Cutting for Stone was a long book, longer than most books I read or listen to. It came in with 19 CDs and a total of 21 hours. I finished it in 15 days, and that is a lot of driving.
The book was a little slow getting into, however, once you get in it, the characters seem alive. Verghese spends a good deal of time with character development in the story. Giving on a vivid pictures of all of the characters. There are half a dozen character which are the crux of the story. The majority of it is set in Ethiopia, a country which I really knew little about. While the novel game me some good insight to the place, I still feel as though there is little I know. My thoughts of Ethiopia come from the drought and starvation which made the national media when I was 8-10 years old. It was a very good book, a book, in all honesty that will get you to thinking about life. Your life, and the lives of others.
March 17 - April 1, 2011
Media: Audiobook (CD - Ft Bend Co. Library
Cutting for Stone was a long book, longer than most books I read or listen to. It came in with 19 CDs and a total of 21 hours. I finished it in 15 days, and that is a lot of driving.
The book was a little slow getting into, however, once you get in it, the characters seem alive. Verghese spends a good deal of time with character development in the story. Giving on a vivid pictures of all of the characters. There are half a dozen character which are the crux of the story. The majority of it is set in Ethiopia, a country which I really knew little about. While the novel game me some good insight to the place, I still feel as though there is little I know. My thoughts of Ethiopia come from the drought and starvation which made the national media when I was 8-10 years old. It was a very good book, a book, in all honesty that will get you to thinking about life. Your life, and the lives of others.
March 17 - April 1, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Double Whammy
Author: Carl Hiaasen
Media: Audiobook
Double Whammy is a tale that starts in the Coon Bog with an apparent boating accident. The story is based primarily in Florida, the characters do take a trip to a Tournament in Louisiana. In the book three of the recurring characters of Hiaasen's books make large appearances. The first is Skink or "The Captain", a state trooper named Jim Tyle, and a Dade County Homicide detective Al Garcia. The story also brings in some other notable characters, namely Reverend Charlie Weeb, a televangilist /real estate investors, who is having problems with the fish at his big real estate development.
January 2010 (Drive down to Houston)
Media: Audiobook
Double Whammy is a tale that starts in the Coon Bog with an apparent boating accident. The story is based primarily in Florida, the characters do take a trip to a Tournament in Louisiana. In the book three of the recurring characters of Hiaasen's books make large appearances. The first is Skink or "The Captain", a state trooper named Jim Tyle, and a Dade County Homicide detective Al Garcia. The story also brings in some other notable characters, namely Reverend Charlie Weeb, a televangilist /real estate investors, who is having problems with the fish at his big real estate development.
January 2010 (Drive down to Houston)
Strip Tease
Author: Carl Hiaasen
Media: ebook
Once again Carl Hiaasen has produced a work of fiction (Strip Tease) that is extremely entertaining, while challenging the social normals, and the power which money can play in the world of politics. Take an older politician, an extremely wealthy constituent, one drunk night at a strip club, mix them together for the opening story and you are off to the races. The book was later turned into a screen play which stared Bert Reynolds and Demi Moore. I never saw the movie.
Winter 2010/2011
Media: ebook
Once again Carl Hiaasen has produced a work of fiction (Strip Tease) that is extremely entertaining, while challenging the social normals, and the power which money can play in the world of politics. Take an older politician, an extremely wealthy constituent, one drunk night at a strip club, mix them together for the opening story and you are off to the races. The book was later turned into a screen play which stared Bert Reynolds and Demi Moore. I never saw the movie.
Winter 2010/2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Unbroken
Author: Laura Hillenbrand
Media: eBook
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
This was the first non-fiction book I have read recently, and it was well worth the time to read it. The author does a masterful job of piecing the story together through her pros. The story itself is amazing, humbling, and inspirational all in one. It chronicles the life of one individual who becomes a bombarder on a B-24/B-25 in World War II. It documents the trails of flight, and the horrendous conditions that the POWs were put through in the Japanese camps. It is a book that I highly recommend reading.
Media: eBook
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
This was the first non-fiction book I have read recently, and it was well worth the time to read it. The author does a masterful job of piecing the story together through her pros. The story itself is amazing, humbling, and inspirational all in one. It chronicles the life of one individual who becomes a bombarder on a B-24/B-25 in World War II. It documents the trails of flight, and the horrendous conditions that the POWs were put through in the Japanese camps. It is a book that I highly recommend reading.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
The Silent Sea
Author: Clive Cussler
Media: E-Book
The Silent Sea was the first Clive Cussler book that I had read. It starts off 40 years before the main story begins, on an island off the coast of Washington state. Cussler manages to weave the characters through a tail that starts in South America, runs to North America, makes one major stop in Antarctica of all places, and finishes on the island off the coast of Washington State. I was a little unsure about the book, but it did capture my attention. It was the first or second e-book that I read, so I was also figuring out how the Sony Reader (PRS 505) worked. Since then, I have read several books on the e-reader.
March-April 2010
Media: E-Book
The Silent Sea was the first Clive Cussler book that I had read. It starts off 40 years before the main story begins, on an island off the coast of Washington state. Cussler manages to weave the characters through a tail that starts in South America, runs to North America, makes one major stop in Antarctica of all places, and finishes on the island off the coast of Washington State. I was a little unsure about the book, but it did capture my attention. It was the first or second e-book that I read, so I was also figuring out how the Sony Reader (PRS 505) worked. Since then, I have read several books on the e-reader.
March-April 2010
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
State of Fear
Author: Michael Crichton
Media: Audio Book
Michael Crichton delivers an environmental terrorist thriller in State of Fear. The book is a fast paced, jet setting race to stop a plot of the terrorist. The marauders are always on the edge of missing the opportunity to stop the next disaster, as they circle the globe. In the end, the bad guys are stopped, and exposed for who they really are, Lawyers. The book ends with a lengthy commentary or editorial by the author. This is used to frame up his thoughts around the various environment crisis that are presented in the media. His arguments are good, yet he reaches no conclusion.
February - March 2010
Media: Audio Book
Michael Crichton delivers an environmental terrorist thriller in State of Fear. The book is a fast paced, jet setting race to stop a plot of the terrorist. The marauders are always on the edge of missing the opportunity to stop the next disaster, as they circle the globe. In the end, the bad guys are stopped, and exposed for who they really are, Lawyers. The book ends with a lengthy commentary or editorial by the author. This is used to frame up his thoughts around the various environment crisis that are presented in the media. His arguments are good, yet he reaches no conclusion.
February - March 2010
Monday, March 14, 2011
Trap Line
Author: Carl Hiaasen & Bill Montalbano
Media: E-Book
Trap Line was an interesting read to say the least. It is not the first Hiassen book I have read, and I doubt it will be the last. The story is laid out in the Florida Keys mainly. A fisherman get forced into a situation to perform a little smuggling job, which goes south. The complications for that are far reaching, and end up with some of the local muscle going down, with the help of a gay Restaurant owner.
February 2011
Media: E-Book
Trap Line was an interesting read to say the least. It is not the first Hiassen book I have read, and I doubt it will be the last. The story is laid out in the Florida Keys mainly. A fisherman get forced into a situation to perform a little smuggling job, which goes south. The complications for that are far reaching, and end up with some of the local muscle going down, with the help of a gay Restaurant owner.
February 2011
Rules of Deception
Author: Christopher Reich
Media: Audiobook
Rules of Deception, was another spy novel. I hope you do not take it poorly, it was a very good book, well written. The book kept me enthralled through out its entirity. The last portion of the book was the best (as it should be) when all of the sub-plots come togther to form the overall plot of the story. The story starts with a Doctor and his wife climbing a mountain, and ends, well you will have to read it yourself. Most of the major "alphabet soup" playesr are thrown into the book, including the CIA, and "The Office". I will be looking to read additional books by this author.
February - March 2011
Media: Audiobook
Rules of Deception, was another spy novel. I hope you do not take it poorly, it was a very good book, well written. The book kept me enthralled through out its entirity. The last portion of the book was the best (as it should be) when all of the sub-plots come togther to form the overall plot of the story. The story starts with a Doctor and his wife climbing a mountain, and ends, well you will have to read it yourself. Most of the major "alphabet soup" playesr are thrown into the book, including the CIA, and "The Office". I will be looking to read additional books by this author.
February - March 2011
The Art of Racing in the Rain
Author: Garth Stein
Media: Audio book
The Art of Racing in the Rain, was a though provoking book for me. It does not fit into my normal genera of reading. The story was told through the eyes of a dog, which gave it an interesting spill. There are a few gaps in the overall narative, because the dog, well the dog misses parts. The reader is left to fill in the blanks, which is not very difficult. The book is more about living life, and the way the main character Denny lived his. It was a very though provoking book, on that reminded me of the many blessings that I have. It also gave cadiance to the fact, that I should live life to the fullest.
Media: Audiobook -- Ft. Bend County Library
Year: 2011 (Q1)
Media: Audio book
The Art of Racing in the Rain, was a though provoking book for me. It does not fit into my normal genera of reading. The story was told through the eyes of a dog, which gave it an interesting spill. There are a few gaps in the overall narative, because the dog, well the dog misses parts. The reader is left to fill in the blanks, which is not very difficult. The book is more about living life, and the way the main character Denny lived his. It was a very though provoking book, on that reminded me of the many blessings that I have. It also gave cadiance to the fact, that I should live life to the fullest.
Media: Audiobook -- Ft. Bend County Library
Year: 2011 (Q1)
Friday, March 4, 2011
The Watchman
Author: Robert Crais
Format: Audio Book
Thoughts:
This was my first Robert Crais book to experience. It was a little slow starting off, although that might have just been the narrator and a few minor sound effects in the beginning. It did not take long to devour the book, listen to it in less than a week, all of it was done in the car. The story was pretty interesting, and the main characters had a personality about them. The main character was an individual named Joe Pike.
Format: Audio Book
Thoughts:
This was my first Robert Crais book to experience. It was a little slow starting off, although that might have just been the narrator and a few minor sound effects in the beginning. It did not take long to devour the book, listen to it in less than a week, all of it was done in the car. The story was pretty interesting, and the main characters had a personality about them. The main character was an individual named Joe Pike.
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