6-29-08 Cell by Stephen King - Fiction

3 - Much like his older stuff, this book has a good mix of the supernatural and the human condition. Unfortunately, it strongly reminded me of The Stand so it felt more like a retelling of a favorite story that has been updated for the times. King really has a thing for post-apocalyptic road trips that have to be done on foot. Overall, not a bad book or story. The characters are well fleshed out and the ideas of the human condition are well thought out and believable. If you are a fan of older King, pick this one up and try it out.

6-25-08 Soul Harvest by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins - Fiction

5 - Yup, still holding my interest. The Wrath of the Lamb has occurred and the Tribulation Force is now separated. Buck and Rayford are desperately searching for the other members and in the process gain new brothers and sisters in Christ. All believers now have a way to distinguish themselves to each other as the work becomes more perilous to them. Full of action and subterfuge, Soul Harvest is an excellent ride.

6-20-08 Peter and the Shadow Thieves by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson - Fiction

5 - They really do write a great adventure story. The second in their Peter series is set primarily in London with Peter and Tink racing to help Molly and her father. Barry and Pearson introduce the Darlings into the story through George, Molly's friend. Peter is, as always, a magnet for trouble and finds much of it in London while trying to track down Molly. Neverland is not quiet with Peter gone however; James and the other lost Boys get themselves into a fix and must try to get themselves out. Arranged much like the first book with short chapters, you can probably eek out a couple weeks of bedtime stories.

6-17-08 Nicolae by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins - Fiction

4 - OK, the series is starting to get a little preachy but still moves like a great espionage/adventure story. The Four Horsemen have been set upon the earth and, basically, all hell has broken loose. The members of the Tribulation Force are moving ever closer to discovery while continuing to spread the message of Christ. The Antichrist still wields incredible power and makes political movements to gain even more. I must say the reason I keep reading is that LaHaye and Jenkins have written characters the reader can become invested in and even the side characters play important roles.

6-14-08 Bringing Down the House by Ben Mezrich - Non-Fiction

5 - A fascinating look at card counters, Bringing Down the House reads like fiction. the story of one of the MIT blackjack teams isn't hard to believe at all. Consider: extraordinarily intelligent college students who, like anyone else, need stimulation but don't look for it in the classic college style of sex and drugs find another challenging and no less dangerous pastime. Vegas does not look kindly on anyone who figures out how to beat their system. Card counting is legal but that won't stop the casinos from banning you. And if you are well enough known, the chances of being "back-roomed" go through the roof. Intense and as addicting as gambling, Bringing Down the House is an incredible adventure.

6-11-08 Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson - Fiction

5 - This is actually a young reader book, but I would definitely recommend this as a good night story for your children. The idea for this book came from Pearson's daughter who, knowing the story of Peter Pan, wanted to know how Peter met Captain Hook. This is that story. The chapters are very short, some only 1 1/2 pages, and are ideal for a bedtime story. The only downside is your child will learn the word "idjit" as Black Stache (later known as Captain Hook) used this word often with his crew. This is a fabulous and exciting story well deserving of the label "prequel" to Peter Pan.

6-9-08 Lost In A Good Book by Jasper Fforde - Fiction

5 - These are probably most enjoyed by people who have read and enjoyed a good selection of classics, but I'm well enough versed that I get most of the references. Thursday Next is a spunky character willing to make daring and even stupid choices that somehow turn out OK. In this, the second Thursday Next story, Thursday joins the members of Jurisfiction as an apprentice to Miss Havisham from Great Expectations. She gets to see the Great Library and meet the main librarian, the Unitary Authority of Warrington Cat (formerly known as the Cheshire Cat until they moved the county boundaries) and begins to learn about being a PRO (Prose Resource Operative). If your teens ask you why they have to read those dull, dusty classics for school, hand them a Thursday Next book and tell them those classics may one day save their life.

6-5-08 Archangel by Sharon Shinn - Fiction

5 - This is one of those great crossover books that can be used to introduce a reluctant reader to a new genre. If you like romances, I dare you to try this scifi/fantasy and not like it. Shinn writes wonderful stories drawing the reader in and introducing characters the reader actually cares about. Try this book and if you like it, she has written four more books about Samaria.

6-1-08 Tribulation Force by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins - Fiction

5 - The second book in the series kept my attention. Leaning in a much more political vein, Tribulation Force covers the advancement of the Antichrist through some incredibly slick political maneuvering and some plain old well placed fear. The reader still follows the four main characters and they continue to grow and develop and question throughout. If they end up turning into plain, boring, preaching crazies in any of the books and it doesn't fit well with the story, I'm dropping this series immediately. Until the, while the story continues its twisty tour from political thriller into, what I expect to be, more of a military thriller, I'll keep reading and recommending.

5-31-08 Ask A Mexican! by Gustavo Arellano - Non-Fiction

4 - A funny and informative collection of Arellano's columns from the OC Weekly, Ask A Mexican! is exactly what it sounds like: Ask Arellano (the Mexican) any question about Mexicans. The questions range from the truly racist to just flat-out amusing. Arellano answers them with a combination of information and humor. And, the reader gets the added bonus of learning a ton of sear words and combinations. So if you're curious about why Mexicans swim with their clothes on or why Mexicans get along so well with the Irish, pick up this book.