Wednesday, April 30, 2008

4-29-08 The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie - Fiction

5 - I can easily see why this won a National Book Award. Alexie first caught my eye with the movie "Smoke Signals" and this is the first book of his I've read. The story of a 14 year old Indian (that's Native American) boy who gets the courage to leave the res and attend a white high school, Absolutely True Diary is a lesson in acceptance and courage told with a lot of humor. Junior Spirit is a wonderful character written with truth. He's a teenager dealing with hormones and fitting in but he also has to deal with loss, personal and community identity, and poverty. Alexie gives the reader an inside look at the culture of an Indian reservation and addresses a lot of the misinformed beliefs whites have about Indians and Indians have about whites. A book that should be read by young and old alike.

4-26-08 Fluke by Christopher Moore - Fiction

5 - This on is right up there with Dirty Job. Set in Hawaii, Fluke tells the story of a whale biologist who's goal in life is to find out what humpback whale song is saying and why they sing at all. Because this is a Christopher Moore book, you know the characters are going to be a little kooky. The biologist is pretty straightforward and so is his photographer, but then you have Kona, the white stoner surfer Rastafarian from New Jersey; the Old Broad, the financial backer of their research who believes the whales talk to her and occasionally order sandwiches; and Amy, their cute as a button research assistant who's weirder than anyone thinks. Along the way you also meet the Whaleyboys, visit Gooville, and end up learning a heckuva lot about whales. Fluke is another laugh out loud accomplishment by Moore.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

4-22-08 The Bone Collector by Jeffery Deaver - Fiction

5 - I just watched the movie again and remembered that I had thought the book was much better. So I figured I should double check. Yeah, the book is still awesome and much better than the movie. Deaver writes a tight thriller, keeping the reader guessing until the very end. The crimes are unusual and cleverly executed and Lincoln Rhyme's analysis is exquisite. Lincoln Rhyme is a quadriplegic who can move only his head, shoulders, and one finger. An authority on crime scene forensics, he's pulled into a confusing case that begins with a hand reaching out of a grave by the railroad tracks in New York City. Amelia Sachs, the first officer on the scene, earns his unwanted respect by preserving the crime scene. She's unwillingly drafted to be Rhyme's eyes and legs on each crime scene, getting on the job training in walking the grid of a crime scene. It's a race against time when the perpetrator leaves clues for the next crime. This is an excellent crime thriller.

4-17-08 Nice To Come Home To by Rebecca Flowers - Fiction

4 - It must be my age that's making me pick up a couple more "chick lit" books. This is a sweet and funny story about Pru, a 30 something woman who suddenly realizes she is not where she planned to be in life. She should be married with a couple of kids and be working at a job she loves that's meaningful. When she attempts to correct the situation, she ends up unemployed and her boyfriend breaks up with her. Pru wanders along, trying to get back on track, over thinking everything. She's helped along by her friends and her sister, who's having her own relationship issues. Along the way, she acquires a cat that hates her, a niece that exhausts her, a puppy that torments the cat, and a kind-of, but not really, boyfriend. She does find her way eventually and in the process proves that you tend to find happiness where and when you're not looking.

Monday, April 14, 2008

4-13-08 Hex and the City by Simon R. Green - Fiction

5 - Well now we get down to it: the origins of the Nightside and John Taylor's mother. Lady Luck hires John to discover and report to her on the origins of the Nightside. Her payment is the truth about his mother. John chooses two individually frightening helpers for this case: Madman, a scientist who has seen the true reality which drove him crazy, and the Sinner, who's not welcome in Heaven or Hell. Along for the ride is Sinner's true love, Pretty Poison, a succubus and the reason for his unique status. A great ride through new and familiar places in the Nightside.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

4-11-08 Infected by Scott Sigler - Fiction

5 - This book will do for dry skin what The Stand did for the flu. A fast paced thriller, Infected follows a CIA agent, a doctor, and a victim as the government attempts to track a bizarre disease that makes its victims psychotic and, once the victims are dead, liquefied the bodies in under two days. Dew, the agent, is called in for his discretion and experience. He follows the leads as they are given him and begins to uncover something stranger than he ever imagined. Margaret, the doctor, stumbles upon the disease and finds herself immersed in something huge and unknown. Perry, the victim, finds a use for the discipline that helps him keep his violent tendencies under control. These three are part of something huge and life changing, but will they discover what it is in time?

Friday, April 11, 2008

4-6-08 The Translator by Daoud Hari - Non-Fiction

5 - Not a book for the overly sensitive or faint of heart. This is a beautiful story about a man who risked his own life over and over to make sure the story of his people in Darfur was heard around the world. Daoud (I know I usually refer to authors by their surname, but after reading this I feel I know and have befriended him) sugar coats nothing in this tale, describing such horrific acts of evil that you, the reader, will tear up if you have any soul. And yet his love of life, his people, his country, and his traditions softens the blows because knowing someone can live through and witness these abominations and still be so joyous and thankful for what he has and has done lifts the spirit. Daoud teaches us in detail with the current story and history lessons about the actions of the government and the people of Darfur and, hopefully, this book will open the eyes, minds, and hearts of millions.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

4-1-08 The Ranger's Apprentice: The Battle for Skandia by John Flanagan - Fiction

5 - Continuing the story where The Icebound Land left off, Flanagan creates another grand tale focusing on Halt, Will, Evanlyn, and Horace. Will and Evanlyn, still trying to escape Skandia, discover a new enemy. Halt and Horace discover that same enemy during their trek to find Will and Evanlyn. The Temujai plan an invasion of Skandia leading the four to make a difficult decision: Do they fight to help their own enemy, the Skandians, save their country? The characters continue to grow up and evolve creating more depth as the story moves on. Here's hoping for a 5th book!