Stone Cold

By David Baldacci

For the third book of the Camel Club series, we rejoin Annabelle and the Camel Club as they face their newest adversary.  While Annabelle is confronted with demons from her past, similarly Oliver finds that key men from his past are being systematically assassinated.  Enter Harry Finn, a man with a vendetta and one objective: eliminate Oliver Stone.

The action begins with a violent gas explosion at the home of Carter Gray, former Chief of Intelligence.  Due to their contentious history, Oliver Stone is at the top of the list of suspects.  We soon learn that Carter Gray is not dead, but he is happy to let his would-be assassin think that he is.  Slowly, more and more is revealed about the assassin, and we learn why Oliver is being so aggressively targeted.  Will Harry prove to be the better assassin and eliminate Oliver, or can they work together and prove that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

In addition to Oliver’s never ending problems, Annabelle is being hunted by Jerry Bagger.  Bagger has started tracking down the other members from her con, and is getting close to getting Annabelle.  To help out their new honorary member, half of the Camel Club is tracking Bagger’s investigation.  Soon a key member from Annabelle’s past reveals themselves and becomes an unlikely ally to Annabelle.  But can the Camel Club protect her from the powerful clutches of Bagger as he seeks to get revenge.

This book was another great example of what Baldacci does best.  Once again, he drives the story by slowly revealing key aspects and relations between the characters.  Baldacci typically baits his readers with the action and an introduction to the antagonist of the story.  We can assume that Oliver Stone will ultimately become involved, but don’t quite know how.  By the end of the book , he has once again established a very convincing relationship and motive for the characters in the book.  Coupled with a sufficient amount of action, this was another great Baldacci book.  However, I find myself continuing to wait for some ancillary character development, and a reason to care about them.  Perhaps in the next book.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5 Bunsen Burners

Up Next: Divine Justice by David Baldacci

Marley & Me

by John Grogan

      Marley is the world's worst dog.  At least that's what his family believes when he eats new necklaces, runs away with a cafe table attached to his leash, and jumps on just about everyone that comes to their house.  To the owners, he is a nuisance, but as most dog owners understand, he quickly becomes a member of the family.  This book follows Marley as he grows and also the author's life.

      John and his wife decide to buy a puppy on impulse because it would be great practice for the responsibility of raising kids.  John loves the idea, especially after thinking fondly of his childhood dog he loved so much.  Despite them both having jobs, they took this responsibility head on.  After getting their puppy John finally researches the Labrador Retriever breed and finds out that their high strung personalities, need for constant companionship with their humans, and stubborn personalities with training may be hard to manage.  John reads that a good indicator of the puppy's personality is the temperament of the parents.  John thinks back to his day at the breeder remembers that while the mother was calm; the only glimpse he had of the father was a frothing, charging, covered in mud lunatic.  Needless to say, the Grogans soon learn they might have bitten off more than they can chew! Marley is hyper, untrained, and chews just about everything he can get his paws on.  The Grogan's try to work out his energy with scheduled walks, times to play, and games.  Marley has a particular fear of thunderstorms, and will break through walls, chew doors, etc. at the sounds of a storm approaching.  For all of the moments that Marley is wild and uncontrollable, the family also finds that he is protective of the humans he loves, and can comfort them when they are in need of a shoulder to cry on.  While they struggle with Marley, they also have moments of emotional hilarious situations that make this book so enjoyable.

       This book was an intimate look into the relationship between an owner and his beloved canine.  It depicts the ups and downs, serious moment in their lives, and overall joys of owning a dog.  While this book is mostly about Marley's experiences and stories, it also follows the Grogans' lives.  John Grogan does not hold back on the details of his life, happy or sad, he tells everything.  It makes this book very personal and unforgettable.    

      .  Marley, over the course of the story becomes a member of their family and beloved friend to their children.  This book did not take long to finish at all and I loved each chapter.  If you have a soft spot for dogs or have one as a member of your family, this book should be on your reading list.  Enjoy!

Rating: 5 out of 5    

Up Next: Mudbound by Hillary Jordan

The Collectors

By David Baldacci
Rejoining the camel club after their last adventure, a whole new set of problems has emerged. The Speaker of the House has been assassinated, and the camel club has connected this murder with the death of the director of the Library of Congress’s Rare Books division. The director just so happens to be the boss of camel club member, Caleb Shaw. The Camel Club utilizes their inside man to directly “work against” a powerful and dangerous espionage ring. 

While we catch up with the Camel Club, we are also introduced to the con artist Annabelle Conroy. Annabelle is arranging a team for a con to settle a personal vendetta. Her target is Jerry Bagger, Atlantic City casino tycoon. After a series of short cons, they have built up enough capital to pull the big con against Jerry Bagger. After the con, the team parts ways, and Annabelle ends up in Washington. It just so happens that her ex-husband is Jonathan DeHaven, the former Director of the Rare Books Division. While attending his funeral, she runs into Oliver, Caleb, and the rest of the camel club. She agrees to meet with the camel club to discuss Jonathan’s private collection of rare books, to assist Caleb who was named his literary executor. The Camel Club begins to realize that the murder of the Speaker of the House and the death of Jonathan DeHaven are connected. Soon they are tracking down leads, and investigating suspicious characters trying to uncover major players in an espionage ring.

Baldacci once again does a wonderful job spinning an elaborate web of interconnected plotlines and interrelated characters. He slowly builds on the major theme, and creates additional tension with side plots. The two, related plotlines work well together. Baldacci effectively alternates between villains Roger Seagraves and Jerry Bagger. He makes good use of his opportunities to create tension and drive the story, often putting the Bagger story on the back burner and bringing you back to it when appropriate. I still feel that many of the characters in this book are underdeveloped. The majority of the Camel Club are practically faceless and placeholders for activity. In addition, some of the more technical (science-related) details in this book bothered me due to inaccuracy. As a reader, one thing that irritates me is when an author over-extends himself into an area in which he is unfamiliar. Baldacci should stick to government ops, and avoid science (for me). Despite these few faults, I really enjoyed the book and look forward to continuing the series.

Rating: 4 out of 5 bunsen burners

Up Next: Stone Cold by David Baldacci

The Camel Club

By David Baldacci

The first novel of a five book series, we follow ex-covert operative Oliver Stone. Oliver used to be a part of a black-ops assassination squad for the US government. Long since dissociated from the Triple Six, he now spends his time in a tent adjacent to the White House. In protest, he displays a sign on this tent that summarizes his new attitude, “I Want the Truth.”

The camel club is a group of friends who meet to discuss political events and other conspiracies. During one of their secret meetings, they witness the murder of a CIA agent. This murder is staged to look like a suicide, for reasons yet unknown to the reader. The camel club is seen trying to escape on their boat, and soon they are drawn into a governmental conspiracy which pits Oliver against adversaries from his former life. They struggle to save the lives of government officials and untangle the web of conspiracy. We race towards the conclusion of a nasty terrorist plot, centered around an elaborate assault on a public official. The action is fast paced, and weaves a complex story which tethers Oliver’s past to current events and major figures. It’s up to Oliver and the rest of the camel club to avoid the treasonous agents, while trying to solve and prevent crimes. The Camel Club even gains a friend in Secret service agent Alex Ford, whose affiliation is crucial to the development of the story.

Baldacci excels with plotlines revolving around conspiracy and government ops. He shines in is his description of weapons and tactical coordination. Baldacci’s writing makes the process of infiltration and attack very believable and understandable. With the characters of the Camel Club, he has woven a complex web of relationships. Seemingly unrelated characters or events are quickly integrated into the plot and used to build up Oliver’s backstory. He also feeds us pieces of Oliver’s former personal and professional life. By the end of the book, we have a great understanding of the emotional and professional motives of Oliver. Tying the plot together in a satisfying way also exemplifies his work, and by the end of the book you understand all the key relationships (except for the ones he leaves for later books).

My complaints with this book detract little from the novel itself, but were still somewhat distracting. I felt that the supporting characters were very weak. The novel is called “The Camel Club,” yet I cared little about the other members. Their personalities and traits were somewhat weak, and their involvement in the story often seemed to be integrated just so that the action was happening to someone else instead of Oliver all the time. They were forgettable, and I can only hope they are further developed in the other books of the series. Having read some other reviews of the book, many readers felt the book was a bit preachy about the “evils of America” and where we have gone wrong. While I definitely recognize the passages where this occurred, it did not distract me from the story. Given the publication date (2005) I can also understand the political climate at the time this was written, so it is excusable.

 Rating: 4 out of 5 Bunsen Burners
 Up Next: The Collectors (book 2) by David Baldacci

A Lion Called Christian

by Anthony Bourke and John Rendall

       Most of us saw the YouTube video montage of the lion cub reuniting with his human owners after a couple of years in the wild of Africa.  It was amazing, unique, and unfathomable how this male lion, king of the jungle, could be so warm and gentle to these men.  Like many, I viewed the video and wanted to know more.  I found this book at a used bookstore and took it home.  The story was a rare event of a wonderful bond between a lion named "Christian" and his two owners.

       Christian, a male lion cub, was purchased at the famous department store in London, England, called "Harrods" in the 1970s.  Anthony and John decided to buy the lion cub as a pet and keep him in the basement of the furniture store that they worked in.  They describe the playfulness of the cub and how they could see moments of his wild instincts show as he swiped his claws at their legs walking by.  The three became wonderful companions with humorous stories to share.  The love between owners and animal is heartwarming and touching.

        After a few months, it is obvious to Anthony and John that Christian is getting too large for his surroundings and was frequently becoming bored from lack of stimulation.  They would take him to a church lawn and allow him to run freely.  This was short lived due to the growing concern of people in the area. Christian was never a "danger" but he would often bring fear to those passing by.  Anthony and John knew immediately that their love for Christian would force them to have to find an alternative environment for him.  That turned out to be an adventure of a lifetime for them and Christian as they began planning to release their "cub" into the African wilderness.  The rest of their journey is incredible (which includes their reunion).  It is a feel good story from beginning to end.

       I absolutely adored this book. I thought it was well written, organized, and the topic was fantastic. Obviously you will fall in love with the characters and be able to just imagine their bond with Christian.  I liked this story because Anthony and John are very truthful and candid about what they experienced.  The men did not have many unrealistic ideas about the decision to own a wild animal and they do not pretend they knew what they were getting into by purchasing him.  They admit many times they thought it was a risky and dangerous idea.  They admitted when the space became too small and the animal too big to handle.  I appreciated this about their story. 


Rating: 4 out of 5


Up Next: Marley & Me by John Grogan

Pet Sematary

    By Stephen King

        I read this classic tale of horror when I was younger, but couldn’t remember most of the story details. This book was written at the zenith of King’s horror period, and this story certainly lived up to my expectations.
       The story involves a typical American family; a mother and father with a son and daughter and cat. The Creed family has moved from Chicago to Ludlow, Maine where Louis is going to be the doctor for a small university. The family moves into a nice home, on a very busy road. They are quickly welcomed into the community by Judd, their neighbor across the street. Everything is wonderful with the family, as they begin to settle in to their new home. However, Louis’s first day at the university is a sign of what is to come. A college student is brought in to the medical center after being struck by a car. The incident resonates with Louis’s daughter, Ellie, as it is her first introduction to death. More importantly, the horrific death resonates with Mrs. Creed. Rachel Creed was exposed to death at a very young age, when her sister contracted and slowly died from spinal meningitis. Rachel was traumatized by the death, and becomes very cross with Louis when he decides to have a frank conversation about death with their daughter. Ellie’s cat is then killed by an Orinco truck on the busy road in front of their house. Judd decides to take Louis to the pet sematary, and to the Indian burial ground which holds a forbidden secret. Soon Louis is struggling with a bigger problem than his daughter’s dead cat. 
         I found this book to be a very interesting read. While the story was sufficiently interesting, what impressed me the most was how relatable the characters were. The emotions and conflicts are so well described that it is easy to put yourself in their shoes. The action wasn’t fast-paced, but the thrill was in the anticipation on what was going to happen next. I would definitely recommend this book; it is a great example of what people think of when they think “Stephen King.” 


Rating: 3.75 out of 5 Bunsen Burners 


Up Next: The Camel Club by David Baldacci

Safe Haven

by Nicholas Sparks

Katie Feldman is a young woman seeking refuge and anonymity in a small new town. She moves to Southport, North Carolina into a cabin for a fresh start. She takes a job at a local restaurant to try and make some money. Katie quickly starts a friendship with her neighbor Jo who lives next door. No one would suspect that she is hiding from an abusive husband and a life she was desperate to escape.

Trusting people is obviously something that Katie is wary of given her past. Soon after moving to Southport, Katie meets Alex, a store owner, and feels drawn to him and his two children. Katie starts to let her guard down and a relationship begins to form. Both of these unsuspecting characters have no idea what is about to rock their finally stable world.

Nicholas Sparks is known for his romances. Some of his books have even been made in to successful motion pictures. Safe Haven will not disappoint Spark's fans - it's a quick and easy read, a love story, and a general feel good book. For me this book was a fast read that I had a hard time putting down. It is full of several twists and turns. Some you see coming, some are unpredictable. This book is part romance, part mystery, part thriller. What is not to love?

My few critiques are that the book could have ended a few pages earlier and I would have been satisfied. The final twist was unnecessary in my opinion and I could have done without it. Having said that, I still thought it was a great book and I would recommend it to any Nicholas Sparks fan. Or anyone looking for a good beach read this summer!

Rating: 4 out of 5

Up Next: Christian the Lion by Anthony Bourke and John Rendall

 

A Cup of Tea

by Amy Ephron

       It is 1917 in New York during World War I when a prominent woman, Rosemary Fell, walks down the street and sees a woman under a lamp post, shivering against the elements.  The woman is obviously penniless and Rosemary, on a whim, decides to invite the young woman home for a cup of tea.  Rosemary clothes the girl and gives her something to eat.  While at Rosemary's house, her fiance Phillip comes in to visit her and he looks a little too longingly at the homeless young woman.  The woman returns this gaze.  Sensing something is going on, Rosemary quickly pushes the woman out of her life as fast as she came in, but little does Rosemary realize, the damage is already done.  Soon Rosemary's high society world is crumbling at her fingertips all because she took a chance to try and help a woman.

        This book is a very short book, so as to not give too much away, the review will mirror this.  This book has a very interesting concept.  Not many books have a plot with the main character giving a helping hand and it ends up hurting their lives forever.  This book has many twists and turns which keeps readers hooked.  Each chapter is only a few pages long so this read will not take many of you very long.  Take a chance on this short story and enjoy!


Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Up Next: Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks  
  

The Gathering

by Kelley Armstrong

Those who know me well know that I'm a huge fan of Kelley Armstrong's "Otherworld" series.  Since I'm all caught up and awaiting the next volume (impatiently I might add), I was intrigued by her new series The Gathering.  Like her "Otherworld" books, this one also involves the supernatural though less overtly so.

The book opens in a really off-the-beaten path and somewhat secretive village in Canada.  There, a whole town exists to serve a corporation run by the St. Clouds.  No one is exactly sure what is going on within the compound but all the families work at their medical research facility.  They were brought there for various reasons.  Mainly to serve the needs of the company.  Each family was given a home and their kids are given the best of the best in regards to everything.  But things are not what they seem in this town.  There is a mystery afoot right from the get go and it only gets more and more mysterious as time goes on.

Maya is our protagonist.  She's an adopted child with Native American roots.  She doesn't know much about her history or who her real parents are.  One of her most unique characteristics is a pawprint-shaped birthmark on her hip.  Of the other kids in the town, she's closest to Daniel.  But soon, another boy takes serious interest in Maya: Rafe.  He's known as a player and a bad boy.  At first, she's not interested in him at all.  But soon, she finds herself falling for him and it turns out he knows more about her than she does. . .

This book is written for older teens so it's not quite as in-depth or grisly as Armstrong's other books.  The characters are well-written and believable and the book flows smoothly.  I found myself not surprised by some of the developments as the story went on but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the work.  Fans of the "Otherworld" series will note some crossover in this book and be excited to see how that pans out in the future.

While this book wasn't the page-turner I have found her other works to be, I still had some difficulty putting it down.  I found myself saying "Just one more chapter. . ." a few too many times.  ;)  While the ending did leave me wanting more, I didn't feel like I was on pins and needles awaiting the next volume.  The book simply ends like the next chapter was left off of it.  No serious cliffhangers.  No glaring mystery still left to solve (aside from the ones pervading the entire book).

I certainly enjoyed this book and it was a nice holdover while I await the next book in the "Otherworld" series.  I'm also really looking forward to reading the other books in this new series as soon as they come out.

I would give this book 4 out of 5 wheeks.

Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me

by Chelsea Handler (and friends)

       I bet some of you have thought you pulled off amazing pranks on unsuspecting friends. Oil on the floor to watch them slip and fall, telling them swallowing a tablespoon of cinnamon will taste amazing, or that 3D movie glasses will be ruined in the regular light of the movie theater. Let me tell you now, you cannot begin to hold a candle to Chelsea Handler's pranks.
 
    "Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me" is written by Chelsea's family, friends, and co-workers, infused with a little bit of Chelsea's own writings. They each write their own chapter describing the pranks and comedic onslaught Chelsea has unleashed on them throughout their time knowing her. From very public emails, to prank phone calls, fake pregnancies, ridiculous lies, and nonexistent floods in hotels. You will absolutely marvel at the woven stories and lies Chelsea is able to pull over on unsuspecting victims. Many of her friends and family know that Chelsea loves to prank others, however she is still able to make them look foolish. That takes pure skill. This book is a quick read and it will make you laugh.
   
     This book is hilarious and I loved the different perspectives all describing the elaborate ways they were all embarrassed by Chelsea. She is obviously brilliant at her craft (making people look dumb) whether it is on her show or behind the scenes. She is so clever in her execution of the practical jokes. I especially love how her friends and colleagues just go along with the pranks without knowing about them ahead of time. If you enjoy Chelsea Handler this book will not disappoint you. It is a very amusing look at her personality outside of the show, when she is surrounded by her family, friends, and coworkers.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Up Next: A Cup of Tea by Amy Ephron

Mockingjay

by Suzanne Collins

  While many think that the The Hunger Games trilogy is a love triangle between Katniss and the boys that love her (Gale and Peeta), that is not the root of these books. As much as I love a good romance, this book has a taste of that, but it is not the sole interest. The main theme is the District's rebellion against the Capitol, which Katniss becomes the face of.

    As the "Mockingjay" of the rebellion, Katniss finds herself trying to encourage the other Districts to join her fight against Capitol rule. It means a lot of strategic planning and face-time in front of cameras to get her message out. Katniss suddenly finds herself as a soldier in a war. Katniss make sacrifices and struggles daily. She realizes others are dying for her cause, but that she also has to be strong to lead the rest for the good of the Districts. Keep in mind, she is only 17 years old. All of this responsibility on her shoulders makes for a trying and emotional journey. Not to mention adventurous as the Districts and Capitol's turmoil comes to a head. As to not ruin the rest of the trilogy, this review will stay short. Read these books with the understanding that it is not a romance. This is not the Twilight series. Enjoy the ride of reading 3 books that have a strong and determined young, unselfish, female character who faces challenges along the way. You will enjoy it even more with this mentality.

     As I said in the other two, I love the band of characters in this series. Katniss Everdeen is a fantastic female heroine who fights for the right reasons and the good of others. Her strength and intelligence was impressive throughout the entire series. The other supporting characters are vital to the story as they help to develop and contribute to Katniss's story. Collins is a fantastic writer who should be applauded for this series. I have recommended the book to all ages and genders. All have exclaimed how much they enjoyed it and could not put the series down. Who can say no to books like that?

Rating: 4 out of 5

Up Next: Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me by Chelsea Handler

Death with Interruptions

By José Saramago

     I picked up this novel by suggestion from my good friend and fellow blogger, Deputy Dawg. He was reading it a while ago and had told me about the premise of the book. I started this novel knowing only that it deals with some ideas about death and what would happen one day if everyone suddenly stopped dying.
    While the idea of the book was clear to me, the story was far from what can be anticipated. I’m not sure that after reading my review here a reader will be prepared for what this book offers, but I am ready to do my best to make it so. The book begins in an unknown Country; at the stroke of midnight death has been suspended. After a few days, people begin to take notice that no one has died. The infirm and weak persist in a vegetative state, unable to cross over into whatever lays beyond this life. From omniscient third person perspective, we eavesdrop into the dialogue among those affected by the absence of death. Insurance companies, hospice care facilities, hospitals, and morticians all struggle as their livelihood has been fundamentally changed. We see how society changes to deal with this new condition, and how their morals are challenged. For example: people residing in the present Country cannot die, is it permissible to take the infirm beyond the borders to allow them to die? While death is a topic most people see as an unfortunate consequence of life, putting the perspective on the living shows what a necessity it really is for normal life. Additional ideas are discussed in the novel, such as the idea that death could perhaps provide a 1 week warning to those whose life will soon end. How will people choose to use this extra time? Will they elect to make amends to those they have wronged, say goodbye to family members, or indulge as they have nothing to lose?
      The book really reminded me of a book that might be assigned for a college class. One which can facilitate a great deal of discussion, reflection, and change of perspective. This would also probably make for a good book for a book club. Before I continue, let me temper my praise of this book with the following: I enjoyed reading this book, but it was very different from any pleasure reading I would typically undertake. The dialogue takes quite a while to get used to. The writing style is unique, being narrated from the third person omniscient through a flow of consciousness type of style. The book reads a bit funny, which may be attributed to the fact it was translated from Portuguese. Punctuation also stood out to me in this book. Some typical elements, like capitalization and quotation marks, were omitted from the text. Perhaps related to the flow of consciousness style, commas were also ubiquitous, which sometimes made comprehension a bit more of a challenge. It is not structured to have a flowing story or the typical progression of a work of fiction (think dramatic structure). What it does well, however, is make the reader think about things. This book will certainly not change your life and it won’t give you a new perspective about mortality and life as we know it. But I don’t believe that was the author’s intention in the first place. If you like to think and keep an open mind, this book would be an interesting read for you. And I would recommend this book to readers out there who are engaged in a book club, as the collaborative discourse might provide further significance to this book which I was unable to gain reading it on my own.
     Rating: 4 out of 5 Bunsen Burners Up Next: TBA (I am currently reading the Hunger Games trilogy, but will not be reviewing them as they have already been reviewed by Kady. Where appropriate, I will include my thoughts about the books in the comments section of the previous reviews).

Catching Fire

by Suzanne Collins

      After loving the first book the Hunger Games, I needed to feed my new Hunger Games addiction and read the second book in this trilogy.  No surprise, it took a day and I was hooked.  Due to how much I enjoyed the first book, I was afraid that this book would not deliver.  Luckily, Collins proved me wrong.  The author made Katniss such a likable and courageous character in both these books.  While this book was vastly different in subject the characters and Collins simple, but exciting writing style kept my interest.


Unfortunately this review will be shorter than the others so I don't spoil anything (since it closely follows the first book).  Catching Fire continues where the first book left off.  Katniss finds herself as the (unintentional?) face of the a multi-district wide rebellion against the Capitol (and you know how if you read the first book).  Of course President Snow and the Capitol will not let her do this without consequences. Yet again, Katniss finds herself in unfortunate predicaments and frightening experiences.  Her courageous attitude, unbelievable intelligence, and impressive physical strengths are tested at every turn.

     Obviously from my review, I enjoyed reading this book.  I think Collins created a brilliant plot to follow the first book with.  While it picks up where the Hunger Games leaves off, it is a wonderful book by itself.  The author again impressed me with her writing and vivid descriptions.  Collins really knows how to fully involve a reader into her books because she leaves many chapters with a cliff-hangers that keep you up late into the night wanting to know more. I can't say I liked it as much as the first one, because it was a completely different piece of literature, but I was not disappointed.   I don't think it will be a surprise to say Mockingjay (the third book) is up next!

Rating: 4 out of 5

Up Next: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (Third book in the Hunger Games trilogy)

11/22/63

By Stephen King
Diner owner Al has discovered a portal to the past, 1958 to be exact. After using the portal for a time to keep his diner running, he decides to change history and prevent the assassination of John F. Kennedy. He has come to believe that this event is monumental and completely changes the course of history. Unfortunately, Al becomes terminally ill with lung cancer and must abandon his plan. He looks to Jake Epping, his only friend and high school teacher, to carry out his objective. After a quick visit to 1958 Maine, Jake begins his five year quest to change history.
Jake is guided by detailed notes provided by Al regarding the action of Lee Harvey Oswald and the knowledge that if he fails he can try again (as each venture into the past gives a complete reset). Just as Al warned him, the past is obdurate and will do whatever it can to resist change. Jake decides that his first objective will be to save the life of the family of one of his students. Jake was teaching adult education classes and was moved by an essay written by one of his students. The essay, while poorly written, was dramatic in its content. “Hoptoad” Harry details how his father killed his family and maimed him in a drunken rage. This emotional story sets the stage for King to display how difficult it is to change the past. We are left to wonder if changing such a simple event can be so difficult, what may happen when Jake tries to intervene with the public execution of a US President? What potential cascade of events and history may occur as a result? Jake deals with the typical problems of everyday life and love, and also with those problems associated with a time traveler from the future trying to change the stubborn past. The pages leading to the climax of the novel are fast paced and the book was very hard to put down at this point. And, as usual, I was very pleased with the conclusion to the novel.
I really enjoyed this story and all the events that occurred to Jake as he travelled from Maine to Texas. King did a wonderful job of immersing the reader in all the details of the late 50’s and early 60’s. As is typical with King’s writing, I felt that the bulk of the novel would stand alone just fine, even without the time travel and pursuit of Lee Harvey Oswald. His character development and the relationships that blossom were well established and convincing. In addition to being an interesting book, it also gave me a new perspective on Lee Harvey Oswald. While this book is obviously not meant to be a detailed history of Oswald, or a reliable biographical work, King brought up some important facts about Oswald’s life leading up to his assassination of John F. Kennedy. In the past, I found it fairly romantic to think that maybe there is more to the story than just a lone gunman. King brought up some information I had not previously heard of, namely Oswald’s probable involvement in the assassination attempt on Major General Edwin Walker. This changed my perspective of Oswald from a potentially innocent patsy, to an egomaniac looking to change the world and make a name for himself. What was also interesting about this book was the fact that King had initially attempted this novel in the 70’s. He ultimately decided that the combination of fresh wounds and difficulty writing the story (I guess the story was obdurate too: you’ll get that joke if you read the book) to abandon the work. Boy am I glad he got back to it after all these years. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good “edge of your seat” thriller, especially those with a romantic attachment to the 50’s and 60’s.
Rating: 5 out of 5 Bunsen Burners.
Up Next: Death with Interruptions by José Saramago.

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon

By Stephen King
This short novel by (my favorite author) Stephen King is about a young girl, named Trisha, who finds herself separated from her family deep in the woods. She loses her sense of direction, but manages to keep moving in an effort to rediscover the path or find some people to help. Little does she know that she is quickly moving herself outside the zone of the search party. This young girl grows up quickly as she is required to ration what little food she has, use what little survival skills she has, and do all she can to keep herself alive. Her only escape from the torture of being lost, cold, and hungry in the woods, is her Walkman that she uses to pick up Red Socks games. Readers follow her as her condition grows more desperate and we wonder if she will make it out alive.
This story is quite good and a great example of how the author has a unique talent for making something out of nothing. He does a fantastic job of getting into Trisha’s head and describing the physical pains and emotional strife she encounters. I have always found it incredible how King can make little action so very interesting. For the majority of the story, there are no other characters, little dialogue, and static setting. Yet somehow the story remains interesting. I thought King did a phenomenal job putting the reader into Trisha’s head, describing her ordeal and pain so well you really feel for her.
I really enjoyed this book and it was a fine representation of Stephen King’s unique talent. Due to the content, I can only rate this book so high. While it has merit for what it accomplishes, it is not the typical fast-paced or exciting page-turner that King usually delivers. That being said, I enjoyed the book but would never insist that someone should read it.
Rating: 3.25 out of 5 Bunsen Burners
Up Next: 11/22/63 by Stephen King

Thirteen Reasons Why

Thirteen Reasons Why
by Jay Asher

So after receiving my new Kindle Fire on Thursday and running through the setup, I immediately went to the Kindle book store and purchased my first ebook, Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, after hearing several good reviews from teachers and hearing a book talk about it in my Young Adult Lit class last semester. But it wasn't just the good reviews that fueled my curiosity about Jay Asher's novel, it was the entire idea behind it: a young girl commits suicide but before doing so creates a series of cassette tapes that are to be passed to each person, 13 in all just in case you missed what the title was, that pushed her towards ending her life.

The story is told through two distinct narratives running concurrently. In the present you have Clay Jensen, your typical high school good guy wanna be valedictorian. He doesn't have any skeleton's in his closet, other then a secret crush. And in the past you have the voice of Hannah Baker, a pretty new girl who's life is surrounded by rumors. Now I use the words "present" and "past" and "voice" because... well in case you haven't guessed it from my introduction, Hannah is not actually alive during the story. She is creator of the tapes and consequently the suicide victim. So while Clay listens to the tapes and progresses through them, you not only hear his thoughts and follow him through his journey but you also hear the voice of Hannah playing on the tapes. Its actually quite genius and immensely well thought out and is probably the only way to tell this story.

Now I won't say anything else relating to the story because I dare not ruin it for anyone, so you'll have to be content with what I've given you, but I will say this: I literally could not put this book down. Mr Asher created a extremely likeable and relate-able character in Clay in order to tell his story and placed him in a very real small town setting. He also addresses several real issues that teens face each and every day: fear, ridicule, rumors, suicide and dealing with the death of someone important in your life, all the while being respectful to those dealing with these issues.

With that said 5 out of 5 dawg bones. Woof!

The Listeners

by Christopher Pike

The Listeners is the fourth book I have read by Christopher Pike. This book involves FBI agent David Conner, a rogue agent if there ever was one. His boss, Ned Calendar, has found a particular case that he feels David will be adept at. This is the final case that the two will be working, as David is quitting the FBI and Ned is retiring. We are given David’s background, including some stories which help to develop him as a phenomenal agent who has great instincts for the job, while at the same time casting him as an individual who doesn’t do things “by the book.” We are also presented with stories highlighting tragedies which have befallen him. His unconventional tactics and behavior in response to these tragedies also provide evidence for why he is leaving the FBI. Back to the case at hand: Ned wants David to investigate a group involved with channeling “The Big Mind.” Lead by Professor Spear, they have provoked FBI attention due to their knowledge of government secrets. David is sent to investigate because of his unconventional attitude, and his potential for relations with some of the young girls in the group.
While David begins to infiltrate the group, undercover as a magazine reporter, Ned conducts his own investigation into Dr. Spear’s past. They discover disturbing details about the death of Spear’s wife, and their time in Africa with the Dogon tribe. We are introduced to many players in the story, primarily members of Spear’s group. Critical to the story are twins Vera and Lucy. David becomes involved with Lucy, but has no idea what kind of power the twins are capable of capturing.
The story is decent, truly saved by the development of some interesting characters. I was definitely attached to the characters, and this is the primary reason why I enjoyed the book. Overall, I thought the story itself was somewhat weak. Definitely an interesting premise, however, by the end I was dissatisfied with the flow of the story and the ending. While the plot was strong, as well as the character development, the downfall of the novel was definitely the topic and execution. I like Pike’s style, but this was definitely not one of his best books.
Rating: 3 out of 5 Bunsen Burners
Up Next: The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon

The Hunger Games

by Suzanne Collins

    Just like many have, I heard about the excitement of this series before I actually sat down to read it.  Many times stories have not lived up to their hype.  I was so happy when this story lived up to my high expectations.  I could not put it down and was wrapped up in the story of Katniss Everdeen and her experience within the Hunger Games.

     Very few authors are able to create a futuristic world and make it a plausible reality.  The authors who do it well are gems, while I find myself picking apart the alternative worlds of mediocre authors and their mediocre worlds.  Luckily for all of us, Collins is a gem. She is able to create the eccentric, futuristic world of the Capitol and it's 12 surrounding districts of North America.
   
    Katniss Everdeen is the main character of this book and she lives with her mother and younger sister, Primrose.  The Capitol punishes the 12 Districts for a rebellion in the past, by holding the Hunger Games once a year. The Hunger Games is a required reality television program for the nation to watch. It's a fight to the death between the tributes chosen from each of the districts. One boy and girl, ages 12-18, are randomly chosen in a public event called a "reaping" to be tributes in the Hunger Games. Since each district has two tributes selected, there are 24 teens in total fighting to the death, and only one can win. This year for the 74th annual Hunger Games; Primrose, our heroine's little sister, is drawn in the ballot. Katniss immediately does the unthinkable and volunteers to take her sister's place. In her district, the boy chosen is Peeta Mellark, the local baker's son.

    In the world of the Hunger Games, the tributes are given a training period to hone in and learn new survival or attack skills. This is designed to hopefully give them an advantage against the other tributes, and is a way to show their skills to the game makers and gain sponsors for the games. Katniss is well-versed with a bow and arrow, since she has secretly hunted on the land in her district for years with her close friend Gale. Katniss relies on this strength to help her in the games. She also has the help of Haymitch Abernathy (her mentor from her district who previously won the games) and Effie Trinket the Capitol's representative. They will not only help Katniss and Peeta navigate and survive the pre-game interviews in the Capitol, but gain sponsors for the games, and survive the game itself.

    This book is wonderfully written, detailed, and exciting. I could not get enough of Katniss and her adventure not only with the people around her but in the games as well. I loved the idea of a strong, smart, and independent female character. The only critique I had for this book is small and because it involves the conclusion of the book I feel I cannot post it for fear I will reveal to much about ending. I could not put this book down and would highly recommend it. Thankfully this book is a series and I have already started the second book. Give into the hype and read this story. You will not regret it!

Rating: 5 out of 5

Up Next: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games Series #2)    

Timeline

By Micheal Crichton
Timeline is a very interesting book involving time travel to 14th century France. The book begins with the discovery of an ITC scientist appearing in the desert babbling nonsense. After getting picked up by a passing couple, he is quickly taken to the hospital and soon succumbs to some mysterious ailment.
Our focus is then shifted from New Mexico, onward to France where we catch up with a group of students guided by their Professor in the excavation of a long forgotten town. The Archeologists are scouring the grounds for clues about what life was like in the town during that time period, and digitally reconstructing the castle and other buildings. Combining certain assumptions about the buildings and the geography with what they discover, they begin to piece together a fairly accurate blueprint of the town. Or so they thought. When an ITC representative shows up, and they see documentation of the town which is more detailed than their own, they begin to wonder. The professor is whisked away to ITC headquarters, and soon loses contact with his students. The students continue to work, until they discover a handwritten note from their Professor, in a cache of old documents. Somehow their Professor wrote them a note from over 600 years ago, and no one can figure out how.
Going to ITC themselves, they prepare to go on a journey of a lifetime as they learn that time travel is possible through the use of quantum technology. The author briefly describes the concept of quantum computers (as a means for tremendous processing capability), and explains how the machines ITC has developed is able to fully transcribe someone into an alternate universe in the past.
The group transports back in time, and things begin to go wrong immediately. They are accosted by knights and need to flee for their lives if they hope to ever bring the professor back. The time period is captured wonderfully as we traverse the castle, meet various characters, and follow along with our main characters as they race the clock to get back to the present time. Along with their main goal of finding the professor, they get themselves into conflict with the residents, often through ignorance about the time period. The story is well paced, and contains a great deal of action occurring parallel to the main plotline. I loved the medieval weapons, jousting and all the stereotypical stuff you would think of for the 1300’s. I really enjoyed the book, with my only complaint being the part of the ending was very obvious. About 1/3 of the way through the book, I knew what would happen with one of the characters. Fortunately this did nothing to spoil the book in any way.
Rating: 4 out of 5 Bunsen Burners
Up Next: The Listeners by Christopher Pike

Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang

by Chelsea Handler

If you have watched the TV show Chelsea Lately or more recently seen the character "Trish" in the movie This Means War with Reese Witherspoon, then you have experienced Chelsea Handler. This means you are aware of her very dry, sarcastic, and well delivered humor. I have watched her embarrass the celebrities on her TV show by asking them ridiculous questions that always made me laugh. I have always thought her delivery and content of her jokes were hilarious, despite their sometimes raunchy content. Her book is the same wonderful formula.

This book is compiled of stories about her life, friends, and family. It is also a very easy read. In this book you hear about her inappropriate and strange father, her hilarious siblings, and the elaborate pranks she plays on her friends/co-workers. One of my favorite chapters was about a family vacation gone completely awry at Martha's Vineyard. Other chapters involve her friends and coworkers. They are always in on the jokes/pranks if aware of them ahead of time or just go along with them automatically if they are brought into the middle of them. It made for some amusing stories. I loved laughing at her stories for two reasons. The first was because of the way she writes so candidly about her experiences and secondly because I was happy these things never happened to me! While reading I couldn't stop laughing, thinking, "Is this real? Did she actually do this?!" It only made it more entertaining.She includes pictures of the events throughout the book- which turned out to be a nice look into these personal moments and a way to bring some truth to her stories.  I laughed out loud on many occasions which made this a terrific book to relax to after a rough day or long day at work.

My one big criticism of this book is the first chapter. For me, it was a little crass and a bit much compared to the rest of the book. I found myself embarrassed reading it and thankful when it ended. Luckily the rest of the book was filled with chapters that were more appealing to me and more of what I expected from her. If you understand Chelsea's sense of humor then you will enjoy this book. It is a quick, easy read with tons of unbelievable stories that will make you laugh. If you do not know her or like her, then you may not enjoy this book.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Up Next: Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Last Man Standing

By David Baldacci
Web London is an elite agent with the FBI’s hostage rescue team, set to engage a drug den near Washington DC. The raid involves an elaborate operation which has been coordinated over many months, facilitated by a deep undercover informant. Soon after the mission begins, the entire group is obliterated by laser activated heavy machine gun fire. All except for Web London, who inexplicably froze as the raid started. While Web was able to redeem himself by destroying the machine gun nests, it could hardly compensate for the death of the entire team. Web struggles internally and externally as he fights to come to grips with why he froze, and faces accusations of treason. Web begins seeing a therapist, and reconnects with friends to help him deal with his personal struggle. By pursuing the truth in what happened during the raid, Web gets himself into a variety of sticky situations that only luck and his extensive training, keep him alive. We are brought full force into his life, and the conflicts that plague him. We follow Web as he resolves his problems in spectacular military style.
The book introduces numerous characters, and provides background to Web’s life while detailing his current problems. While Web attempts to solve the mystery about what happened to Charlie team, an additional problem from his past presents itself. Web was previously involved in a raid on “The Free Society” lead by Ernest Free (Think David Karesh and Waco). Suddenly, key people from the trial of Ernest Free (two attorneys, a judge and more) are being murdered. The book continues to throttle on with many shootouts, hand to hand combat and illuminating surprises. You never know what might happen and it keeps you guessing until the end.
I must congratulate the author on his development of characters, and fully enveloping the reader in the story. The latter was further assisted by not deviating from the central plotline, and keeping the book moving. While this book was quite a few pages (500+), I didn’t feel that anything included was extraneous and it kept me interested. My few critiques of the book are as follows. While I like to have everything connected at the end of the story, I felt that this particular book did this too neatly. In an effort to not spoil the book for those who haven’t read it, I can’t say much more than that. The only other thing I can say that disappointed me about the book was the ending. I feel this is a constant complaint of mine for many of the books I review, but found comfort in the fact that many people (on Baldacci’s website) have asked for more books involving Web London so they can also get the finality they desire. I felt that some important loose ends, separate from the main story, still existed at the conclusion. I understand why these were not addressed, since the book was primarily about the assault and the secondary conflict with “The Free Society,” it may have been difficult to come back to the other extraneous issues.
Overall, I truly enjoyed reading this book. It was much different from most of the stuff I have read in the past, and especially different from the series I had just finished (The Fury). I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a Jason Bourne type of character with lots of action. I would definitely read another book by this author. Thank you Patti for the recommendation!
Rating: 4 out of 5 Bunsen Burners
Up Next: Timeline by Micheal Crichton

Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor

by Stephanie Barron

Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, and Sense and Sensibility were introduced to me when I was young.  I found myself captured by Jane Austen’s love stories and the unpredictable young heroines.  Consistently I was taken with the proud men who loved these women: Mr. Darcy, Captain Frederick Wentworth, and Col. Christopher Brandon. To me there was no romance like the ones Jane Austen created in her novels. Her writing was straight forward and sophisticated. Imagine my excitement on receiving this book during the holiday break!

The author Stephanie Barron presents this novel as part of a collection of lost letters written by Jane Austen. Austen is the protagonist in this story and readers catch up with her right after she has turned down Harris Bigg-Wither’s marriage proposal. Jane then flees this predicament and goes to her friend Countess Isobel Payne’s house Scargrave Manor. Isobel has recently married Frederick Payne and a ball has been planned in the new bride’s honor. The visit is going well until Frederick becomes very ill and dies. It is decided that foul play is involved and all evidence points to Isobel being guilty. A little later in the story Isobel’s personal maid, Marguerite is also murdered in a violent manner. Isobel pleads with Jane to solve the murders and prove her innocence. Jane embarks on a crime solving journey to solve the Scargrave murders in order to save her friend from the gallows.

This book had many enjoyable aspects. I loved having Jane Austen as the main character and incredible sleuth. She is presented as an intelligent detective, strong individual and wonderful friend. I loved how Stephanie Barron wrote in Austen’s old English and involved some of her history while writing this book. She made many footnotes explaining items or terms of historical or cultural importance. It is obvious Barron is an Austen fanatic like so many of us. I am not an expert on Austen’s writing or the time period, so if there were any discrepancies, I was not aware of them.  Some parts of the book seemed unrealistic at times, but because I was enjoying the book, I quickly overlooked them in order to continue with the story.

 I do not have a lot of criticism about Barron’s book. One negative comment that reviewers have said were that this book was not about Jane’s life. I did not expect this book to be about Jane’s life or her novels so I was not disappointed. I thought the novel was slow to really get started and it took me a while to get used to reading the language. I was also disappointed in the lack of a love story involved in Barron’s writings, especially because that’s what I enjoyed the most about Austen’s books. Despite these criticisms, I still appreciated the book and liked reading it. Read this book with an open mind and enjoy!

Rating: 4 out of 5

Up Next: Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang by Chelsea Handler

Avenging Fury

By John Farris
The final book in the series is extremely difficult to review without giving away many things that have happened in the previous books. In an effort to not spoil any mysteries (there were quite a few moments during reading the book where I found myself saying “no way”), I will try and give my subjective opinion the best I can. Hopefully my summary will also be sufficient.
We catch up with Eden just after the previous novel. Half of Mordaunt is “in disposed,” while Gwen is searching for his feminine half trapped in the past in an alternate universe. Tom Sherard is on a boat on a mission to dispose of Mordaunt’s physical body. We also meet Harlee Nations, a Fetchling who works with Mordaunt. A demon with the body of a sixteen year old girl, and girlfriend of Bronc Skarbeck (from The Fury and the Terror), Harlee is actually the main focus of the book. We follow her and the other Fetchlings as they try to find Eden, and hope to assist Gwen in reuniting Mordaunt with his feminine half. Eden meets Cody Olds, who remains as her protector even after she spills the beans about her abilities. With Gwen’s ultimate return, and the fast paced action of the Fetchlings (their constant meddling), we are brought to a final showdown between the Avatar and Mordaunt.
This book is incredibly hard to review, just like all the other books in the series. I would have to say that this was the worst, however. It’s the worst to review, and the worst of the series. While it has been a little while since I actually read the book (it’s taken a bit to summarize it sufficiently for a review), I found myself struggling to remember what exactly Eden did in the book. And really, going back through it and skimming for some action, she did nothing. Eden was a secondary character in her own book. Even Tom was secondary. The book mostly revolved around the Fetchlings, their desire to help their boss and various situations they involved themselves with, and less about the main conflict. There weren’t many surprises, and the few that existed were dull just the same. The ending was also dull. For a four book series, you expect quite a few pages leading up to the ultimate resolution, some drama and suspense and then a lengthy conclusion. Instead, we are left with a kind of “this is happening, then good and bad meet up, now it’s all over.” It was sad. Following the same characters for so many pages (over 1000 over the 4 books, and more than that if you count the original book) to be left with such a dissatisfying conclusion. I think the only thing that made the end satisfying was the finality of it. I wasn’t left with a lot of questions about what would happen to this person, or that person. The conclusion was certainly conclusive, but unsatisfying. This was my least favorite book of the series.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 Bunsen Burners
Up Next: Last Man Standing by David Baldacci

The Fury and the Power

The Fury and the Power
By John Farris
For the second book in the series, we meet up with Eden in Africa with Tom Sherard and supermodel Bertie Nkambe. Eden is being taught (by Bertie) how to develop her powers, and decompressing from the ordeal she has just been through. Her adoptive mother (Betts) was planning to visit, until she is kidnapped by (our old friend) the crossdressing assassin and forced to lure Eden home.
Eden goes home to help Betts, whom Eden thinks is in the hospital from a stroke, and sends her doppelganger to Rome with Tom and Bertie. A rash of murders has been taking place on prominent religious figures, so the crew travels to Rome to consult with the Pope. In Rome, Eden’s doppelganger (who wants to be called Gwen) meets up with Lincoln Grayle, a magician who had a romantic interest in Eden while in Africa. Gwen is soon kidnapped, leaving Tom and Bertie to deal with the evil on their own. The novel keeps its hasty pace as we follow Tom and Bertie fighting the “bad guys” and trying to get to the root of the problem. Eden once again battles with the cross dressing assassin, and ultimately finds herself in Las Vegas. In the final pages, we get a satisfying showdown between good and evil and a few twists involving some other characters from the book. Farris leaves us hanging on, waiting for the next book to find out what is going to happen with the protagonists.
I thought this book was well done, and interesting. The author did a good job of further developing the characters and leading us through the plot. Some old friends made new appearances, and new conflicts (major and minor) were exposed. I was disappointed by a few elements of the story, however. I thought that some of the characters were dispatched prematurely. I was unsatisfied since we had been given sufficient information to get to know them, and then they were then absent from the story. This occurred with both ancillary, and more important characters (recurring from previous books). In addition, I thought that the “bad guy” could have been more developed. We weren’t given a great deal of background into where they come from, motivation, etc. Some indirect references are all we are left with to try and understand a world that is much different from any construct we have. Overall this book was satisfying, if only to continue to find out what happened to the characters who had now already taken up some 700+ pages of my time. However, I did not enjoy this book as much as the first (The Fury) or as the previous book (The Fury and the Terror).
Rating: 3.5/5 Bunsen Burners
Up Next: Avenging Fury by John Farris

The Fury and the Terror

By John Farris
Almost thirty years later, the author John Farris has revisited his protagonists Robin Sandza and Gillian Bellaver. The novel begins by introducing us to the daughter of Gillian Bellaver- Eden Waring. Eden lives with her adoptive parents, Riley and Betts. Like her mother, she possesses supernatural powers, none more important than her premonitory dreams. During her valedictory speech, she warns everyone of an impending plane crash, and rescues many from the conflagration. The media latches onto the story giving her national publicity. Unfortunately, this draws all the wrong kind of attention. Soon she must deal with a cross dressing assassin, MORG agents, and shape shifting creatures: all while trying to save America from a terrorist attack.
We are also introduced to Eden’s doppelganger, her biological grandmother, and the husband of her biological mother. Eden’s abilities allow her to create the exact mirror image of herself, effectively allowing her to be in two places at one time. She can use this pseudo-twin as a means to gather information, or help those in needs, without fear of harm. Also important to the story is her biological mother’s husband. Tom Sherard is an African hunter, and a very rugged and versatile man. These abilities are the reason that Eden’s biological grandmother has asked for his assistance in finding Eden, and keeping her safe. A number of other characters are introduced and we become more familiar with people with psi abilities. The terrorist plot thickens as we learn more about the disabling events that have occurred to the President of the United States, and the involvement of the first lady.
Despite the abundance of characters, the story was not at all hard to follow. I was very anxious to find out what was going to happen as the story progressed, and to see the bad guys get what was coming to them. The author also did a great job of inserting the reader into the world of the novel. He provided adequate detail when appropriate, without droning on and on explaining how her powers work and various other anchors which would have hindered the story. I also found that I did not question the powers, and believe that the story would have been just as interesting in absence of the sci-fi material. My only complaint is that the conclusion was not as dramatic as I would have liked. Instead of a big huge build up to the final events of the book, I felt like it continued along at essentially the same pace. The ending happened, and that was it. I would not say I was dissatisfied with the ending, I just thought the buildup could have been better.
Rating: 4/5 Bunsen Burners
Up Next: The Fury and the Power by John Farris

The Fury

By John Farris
For Christmas I got a whole pile of books by some new authors to try. In addition, I did get Stephen King’s new book (11-22-63), but I thought I should hold off on that one and give somebody new a try. I can’t wait to read it, but I must say I couldn’t have made a better choice on a book (series) to read.
This book revolves around Gillian Bellaver and Robin Sandza. These two teens are spiritual twins (meant to be siblings, until an umbilical strangling forced Robin to transfer to a new body) who possess a number of paranormal abilities. Gillian is the daughter of a wealthy family, living in New York City. Following an incident at a skating rink, Gillian soon becomes very ill. This illness seems to augment her psychic abilities, and is soon having episodes of precognition and astral travel. Robin also possesses similar abilities, expressed initially by his communication (and sedation) of a troubled child with Autism. Robin is soon pursued by a covert government agency known as MORG. He is ultimately captured, and imprisoned in an effort to harness his psi-abilities. At this point, Robin’s father (also a government agent) Peter begins searching for his son. We delve deeper into Gillian’s expanding powers, and the relationship between her and Robin. The book was filled with action, and I was dying to find out what would happen next. Ultimately, the ending was more succinct than I would prefer. But it was still satisfying, regardless. As an added bonus, the author revisited the characters since the late seventies and wrote three companion novels.
I enjoyed the author’s writing style, and felt that the strength of this novel was the fact that he didn’t overdo the paranormal “science.” By focusing more on the conflict of Peter, and Robin’s distress at the MORG agency, he kept the novel from becoming one of pseudoscience and pure fantasy. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
As a side note, this book was made into a movie in the Seventies with Kirk Douglas. While the movie was ok, it’s practically a completely different story from the book. There are enough parallels to recognize the source, but otherwise I’d take the book over the movie any day.
Rating: 4/5 Bunsen Burners
Up Next: The Fury and the Terror.

Sleepeasy

By T. M. Wright
I picked this book up at a used book store in Virginia mostly because the cover contained an endorsement for the author by Stephen King. How can I go wrong with “T.M. Wright is a rare and blazing talent,” I thought?
This book is somewhat difficult to review. I guess it’s because there was a bit of it that really appealed to me (for some reason), and also there were a few things I didn’t like. It is also very different from anything I have read before. The book centers around Harry Briggs, who has died and finds himself in a new place. He arrives in Silver Lake looking for his wife. The afterlife is populated by the creations of the dead. Everyone who has died is given a certain area, and is allowed complete freedom to create their own world to “live” in. Harry soon discovers that his subconscious has created a murderer, troubling both the new realm and our plane of existence. Harry spends the book searching for his wife, and the criminal he is responsible for creating. We are given insight into “the afterlife” present in this book, and also visit the earthly realm. The book introduces some interesting ideas, and is well executed by sticking within the defined parameters. Simply put: it doesn’t contradict itself or venture further (theoretically) than is tolerable. Characters are reasonably developed, and unnecessary characters are simply forgotten. This is something I’m not typically used to, but the author omitted characters satisfactorily.
The story was certainly not engrossing, but I was definitely intrigued by the way it was presented. I find it rather difficult to give this book a concise review, because it is hard to articulate how I felt reading it. It wasn’t what I would call a “page turner,” and given the subject matter was different from anything else I’ve ever read. I commend Wright for his writing, and his style certainly appealed to me. Overall, the story was not completely engrossing, but definitely interesting enough to read and be moderately satisfied with the ending.
Rating: 3.5/5 Bunsen Burners
Up Next: The Fury by John Farris

Under the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy

by Frances Mayes

I must confess I have always had a bit of a crush on Italy and everything Italian. I love the language, the country, the culture, the food, etc. If I could pick anywhere to take my husband on a trip, it would be Italy in a heartbeat. After hearing about this book and the movie, I figured it was my time to read it.

This story is a true account of how Mayes takes a chance and decides to renovate a house in Tuscany named Bramasole. It needs a lot of work and most of the beginning of the book is about the renovation and the workers she meets along her journey. The author does not make Bramasole her permanent home, only an escape, as she splits her time between Italy and San Francisco. As she discovers this new foreign country, she takes her audience along for the ride. She allows us to visualize the beauty in the environment, the olive trees, the stone structures, the history, and the culture. It is easy to get lost in her descriptions and imagine such a wonderful place. After only a short time period, it is obvious Mayes' heart lies in Tuscany.

This story does involve some key characters. They include: Mayes, her husband Ed, and some secondary characters: the workers, some friends, and her daughter. While characters are introduced, they are not the focus of this book. They are merely a small part of it. This was a new change for me, because so many of the books I'm used to revolve around the development and story of it's characters. This book tends to focus more (if you couldn't tell) on the setting and small memories Mayes has of her experiences in this new country. Mayes, a poet, allows you to see the Tuscan countryside, the local people, the markets and her beautiful house.

Mayes truly makes readers apart of Italy as you read her book. She uses Italian words many times, she speaks often about the locations she visits, and she describes the rich and delicious food. She even includes many recipes in the book! (I cannot WAIT to try them!!) You feel as if you are discovering all this with her.

My critiques of this book are this: Mayes occasionally came across as "snobbish". I started to dislike the way Mayes contradicted herself when it came to money. She would say that her and her husband were tight monetarily due to paying for the renovations (you have a house in Italy AND San Francisco...?) but she would continue to talk about how many pairs of shoes she purchased at the market to feed her obsession or the new renovations projects she added on. It was also obvious (after some of her older memories) that her childhood was a privileged one-so I felt I didn't need to be reminded of the cook her family had on hand as many times as I was. While I understand this is a memoir, so she is writing freely - this was one part of the author's memories, I could have done without.

If you are looking for a character driven book, you will be disappointed. It is not a guide to Italy either. I hear it is NOTHING like the movie. It is simply a woman finding her way through a new adventure in her life, in a new country, and you're invited for the ride. Sit back and enjoy her creative writing and the wonderful descriptions of a beautiful country.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Up Next: Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor by Stephanie Barron

I'm Dreaming of a Black Christmas

by Lewis Black
I received this book last year for Christmas, but was unable to read it at the time because I came down with the flu hardcore. I thought that this would be the perfect time to read this since I missed my chance last year.
I will begin my review by stating what I expected from this book. I am a big Lewis Black fan, and watch his specials and listen to his cds. When I opened this book, what I anticipated was a mocking analysis of Christmas traditions, compulsive and obligatory holiday spending, and other aspects of the holiday season. However, what I did not expect was Black’s introspection into his own personal life.
I’m going to start with the introspection provided by Mr. Black. As I read through the book, I couldn’t help but think of the Tragic Clown. So often with comedians, the humor and laughter they provide is a front to the pain and suffering within. Comedians such as John Belushi, Chris Farley, and Richard Jeni are classic examples of people who were successful comedians battling their own internal conflicts. Prior to reading this book, I would have never placed Lewis Black in this category. After reading this book, I began to feel sorry for him and realize the pain that he carries within. He discussed his marriage, and the child he was father to (which his wife had lied to him about being his) and the loneliness he feels during holidays. It is clear that Lewis Black has regrets about his life which are haunting him as he ages. He further digests why he is living the life he lives and if there is any other way things could have turned out.
For the meat of the book, he dissects our traditions of overindulgence (in food and possessions) during the holiday season. He also gives thorough description to his typical holiday activities that he (as a Jew) participates in. It was interesting to hear a little bit about his personal life, the friends he visits and some of the traditions he participates in. His humor was sharp, as expected, but at the same time I wasn’t really blown away by anything new.
Overall I thought this was a decent read, and I probably would rate this book a bit higher if I had tempered my expectations a little bit. His observations and rants were classic Lewis Black, but I think the end of the book was my favorite part. The last pages deal with his part in the USO tour. Being someone who is very outspoken against the war in Iraq, it was very interesting to hear about his participation and get his perspective from the whole thing. This part was very genuine and meaningful.
Rating: 2.5/5 Bunsen Burners
Up Next: Sleepeasy by T.M. Wright

Pack of Two: The Intricate Bond Between People and Dogs

by Caroline Knapp

I received this book from a friend of mine for Christmas. As I began reading through it on that morning, I already knew I was going to get a lot out of reading it.

From the first chapter, I related to the author in a way that only a person who truly loves dogs can. While I do not share the same life experiences of the author, I still found her journey mirrored much of my own experiences living with my dog, Risa.

While this book is about how, through her dog, the author learned to find meaning in her life after losing both parents and giving up alcohol; it focuses more on her relationship with the dog, Lucille, than the particular hardships of going sober. The author does delve into the difficulty she had forming relationships with other people and how her dog helped her discover how to survive and relate to others without the use of alcohol. But, for the most part, this book is about her dog.

The author's relationship with Lucille is a very strong one and one I understood completely from the get go. Caroline doesn't simply own a dog. She's not just a dog lover. Her relationship with Lucille is far more intimate. A more honest relationship than what she could ever have with another human being.

This book is full of anecdotal evidence and stories about how the author and others feel about their dogs. However, the tales are also backed up by scientific facts by some of the top minds in their field. A lot of time is spent discussing how we, as humans, can open up and truly be ourselves around dogs. How living with a dog brings out both the best and the worst in us. Why we have this sort of changing relationship with dogs (the way we see and utilize dogs is constantly changing). And, most importantly, the type of relationship a dog allows us to have with them that would be taboo between humans.

If you are the type of person who bonds closely with animals, you will likely learn a lot more about the whys of this type of relationship. You'll also easily relate to how the author feels when she talks to many of her friends regarding her dog--they think she's crazy. If you are one of the people who can't relate to someone being so enamored with their dog, I think this book would give you some insight into why those relationships are so powerful and why so many people have them.

My only complaint with this book is the author's belief in dominance in regards to dog training. This is something I feel is unnecessary when it comes to training our dogs and also tends to lead to conflict between us rather than a tight bond. However, it did not color my opinion of the book and I still really, really enjoyed it.

I give this book 4.5 out of 5 wheeks.