Book Thread number ?

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Re: Book Thread number ?

I need some new, interesting recommendations (and one of my favorite books came from a recommendation in this thread).

your top 5 (or 10, if you want) books. go.

These aren't necessarily my top "X", but they all immediately come to mind as having stuck with me for some time after reading them.

Nine Stories - Salinger
Slash - Slash w/ Anthony Bozza
Shadow Divers - Robert Kurson
All Quiet on the Western Front - Erich Maria Remarque
Grunge is Dead - Greg Prato
Beyond the Deep - William Stone and Barbara Am Ende
The Outsiders - S. E. Hinton
Kitchen Confidential - Anthony Bourdain (though I suspect you've already read this )
Fast Food Nation - Eric Schlosser (and this)
High Crimes - Michael Kodas

Very recent honorable mention:

Bagombo Snuff Box - Kurt Vonnegut (a short fiction collection; my first exposure to Vonnegut, and I'd say it's been favorable overall, particularly the stories 'The Package' and 'The No-Talent Kid')

And if you've never taken the plunge on Lord of the Rings, do it. One of the very few high fantasy series everyone should at least attempt to read (most other fantasy novels are ghost-written copycats).

 

[Probert]

Re: Book Thread number ?

I need some new, interesting recommendations (and one of my favorite books came from a recommendation in this thread).

your top 5 (or 10, if you want) books. go.

I have a 5 Star shelf on my Goodreads and while more than 10 these are the 59 books I have deemed 5 stars

Rebel Yell by Gwynne, S.C.

The English Girl (Gabriel Allon, #13) Silva, Daniel

Henry Clay: The Essential American Heidler, David S.

The Boys of Winter: The Untold Story of a Coach, a Dream, and the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team by Coffey, Wayne

Full Black (Scot Harvath, #10) by Thor, Brad *

I Want to Go Home!by Korman, Gordon

Dynasty by Golenbock, Peter

The Matarese Circle (Matarese #1) by Ludlum, Robert

Burn Factor by Mills, Kyle *

Memorial Day (Mitch Rapp, #7) by Flynn, Vince

Alexander Hamilton by Chernow, Ron

100 Decisive Battles: From Ancient Times to the Present by Davis, Paul K.

The Civil War: A Narrative by Foote, Shelby

The Hunt for Red October (Jack Ryan, #3) by Clancy, Tom

Without Remorse (John Clark, #1) by Clancy, Tom

The Cardinal of the Kremlin (Jack Ryan, #4) by Clancy, Tom

Patriot Games (Jack Ryan, #1) by Clancy, Tom

The Killer Angels by Shaara, Michael

Nothing Like it in the World: The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-69 byAmbrose, Stephen E.

Killing Pablo: The Hunt for the World's Greatest Outlaw by Bowden, Mark

Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West by Ambrose, Stephen E.

Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War by Bowden, Mark

The Sword of Shannara (The Original Shannara Trilogy #1) by Brooks, Terry *

The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, #1) by Tolkien, J.R.R.

The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2) by Tolkien, J.R.R.

The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, #3) by Tolkien, J.R.R.

The Hobbit by Tolkien, J.R.R.

The Elfstones of Shannara (The Original Shannara Trilogy #2) by Brooks, Terry *

The Wishsong of Shannara (The Original Shannara Trilogy #3) by Brooks, Terry *

Transfer Of Power (Mitch Rapp, #3) by Flynn, Vince

Treasure of Khan by Cussler, Clive

The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Finest Hour by Hornfischer, James D.

Ghost Soldiers: The Epic Account of World War II's Greatest Rescue Mission by Sides, Hampton

Gettysburg by Sears, Stephen W.

Washington's Crossing by Fischer, David Hackett

John Adams by McCullough, David

Act of Treason (Mitch Rapp, #9) by Flynn, Vince

Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist by Lowenstein, Roger

Den of Thieves by Stewart, James B.

1,000 Places to See Before You Die by Schultz, Patricia

Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and bin Laden from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001 by Coll, Steve

Fade by Mills, Kyle *

The Odessa File by Forsyth, Frederick

The Negotiator by Forsyth, Frederick

Intensity by Koontz, Dean*

Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America by Borneman, Walter R.

Minor in Name Only: The History of the Adirondack Red Wings by Kane, Mike

Nathan Bedford Forrest: A Biography by Hurst, Jack

Guests of the Ayatollah: The Iran Hostage Crisis: The First Battle in America�s War with Militant Islam by Bowden, Mark

Protect and Defend (Mitch Rapp, #10) by Flynn, Vince

Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era by McPherson, James M.

Extreme Measures (Mitch Rapp, #11) by Flynn, Vince

Pursuit of Honor by Flynn, Vince

American Assassin by Flynn, Vince

Civil War Sites: The Official Guide to Battlefields, Monuments, and More
War, Civil

Civil War Sites, 2nd: The Official Guide to the Civil War Discovery Trail
War, Civil

Washington: A Life by Chernow, Ron

Hard Merchandise (Star Wars: The Bounty Hunter Wars, #3) by Jeter, K.W.

Master of the Game By Sydney Sheldon

 

[The Rube]

Re: Book Thread number ?

The Boys Of Winter is a solid read.

 

[leswp1]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Eclectic reader here but usually something with history. My favorites so far-

Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. Time travel b/w late 1700s and mid 1900s. Saw the book jacket for first book and wasn't impressed, not my usual type of read at that time. Had someone give the first book to me and was hooked. History in Scotland France, Caribbean and pre Revolution US , medicine (of the time) and some steamy stuff (not all that much).

James Rollins- Sigma series- intrigue/spy type stuff with history and Mission Impossible/James bond gadgetry. Discovered these last yr. Not my usual genre but love the detail and the history mixed with now. Kind of like Clive Cussler but much better written. He also wrote a trilogy with [Cantrel?] about Sanguinists (think vampires who are turned 'normal' by surviving on sacred wine) which was pretty good but not as good as the SIgma ones. Definitely out of my usual type of book but OK in an odd way.

The Last Cato- on the idea of Davinci code but I liked it better.

The usual Romance fluff- Jo Beverly, Julia Quinn, Jayne Anne Krentz/ Jayne Castle/Amanda Quick.

JD Robb the In Death series. Not as keen on Nora Roberts, her alter ego.

MC Beaton for light mystery fluff not romance style- Hamish MacBeth series- constable in small village in Highlands and Agatha Raison who is retired ad person solving mysteries in the Cotswolds.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Eclectic reader here but usually something with history. My favorites so far-

Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. Time travel b/w late 1700s and mid 1900s. Saw the book jacket for first book and wasn't impressed, not my usual type of read at that time. Had someone give the first book to me and was hooked. History in Scotland France, Caribbean and pre Revolution US , medicine (of the time) and some steamy stuff (not all that much).

James Rollins- Sigma series- intrigue/spy type stuff with history and Mission Impossible/James bond gadgetry. Discovered these last yr. Not my usual genre but love the detail and the history mixed with now. Kind of like Clive Cussler but much better written. He also wrote a trilogy with [Cantrel?] about Sanguinists (think vampires who are turned 'normal' by surviving on sacred wine) which was pretty good but not as good as the SIgma ones. Definitely out of my usual type of book but OK in an odd way.

The Last Cato- on the idea of Davinci code but I liked it better.

The usual Romance fluff- Jo Beverly, Julia Quinn, Jayne Anne Krentz/ Jayne Castle/Amanda Quick.

JD Robb the In Death series. Not as keen on Nora Roberts, her alter ego.

MC Beaton for light mystery fluff not romance style- Hamish MacBeth series- constable in small village in Highlands and Agatha Raison who is retired ad person solving mysteries in the Cotswolds.

If you like Rollins, try reading Steve Berry's Cotton Malone series. I believe him and Rollins write these 2 series in the same "universe" because I'm pretty sure that they reference characters in each others books. They are the same types of stories that Rollins writes for his Sigma series, with the historical aspects, but with less Sigma gadgetry. The main character is Cotton Malone, a retired US Justice Dept. agent, that now owns a historical books store in Copenhagen. He constantly finds himself thrown back into his own life for one reason or another.

Here is the list, in order:
The Templar Legacy
The Alexandria Link
The Venetian Betrayal
The Charlemagne Pursuit
The Paris Vendetta
The Emperor's Tomb
The Jefferson Key
The King's Deception
The Jefferson Key
The Patriot Threat

 

[leswp1]

Re: Book Thread number ?

If you like Rollins, try reading Steve Berry's Cotton Malone series. I believe him and Rollins write these 2 series in the same "universe" because I'm pretty sure that they reference characters in each others books. They are the same types of stories that Rollins writes for his Sigma series, with the historical aspects, but with less Sigma gadgetry. The main character is Cotton Malone, a retired US Justice Dept. agent, that now owns a historical books store in Copenhagen. He constantly finds himself thrown back into his own life for one reason or another.

Here is the list, in order:
The Templar Legacy
The Alexandria Link
The Venetian Betrayal
The Charlemagne Pursuit
The Paris Vendetta
The Emperor's Tomb
The Jefferson Key
The King's Deception
The Jefferson Key
The Patriot Threat

I think you are right. They did go to Copenhagen. Thanks!

 

[jen]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Thanks for the recommendations. As far as subject matter - often, it doesn't matter too much what a really good book is about. I've read plenty of books that are outside my usual subject range, and thoroughly enjoyed them (Seabiscuit comes to mind). I read a lot of books that are good - but not many that I felt were great.

Not really info scifi, but - when I was a kid, I read a series called Dragon-something or other (Dragonlance?) and enjoyed it, so maybe I'd enjoy it now.


My 5-starred books (warning: includes lots of chicky **** )

The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary - Winchester, Simon
Bright Lights, Big *** - Lancaster, Jen
The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death - Notaro, Laurie
Their Eyes Were Watching God - Hurston, Zora Neale
I Love Everybody - Notaro, Laurie
Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig - Eig, Jonathan
The Last Hero: A Life of Henry Aaron - Bryant, Howard
Seabiscuit: An American Legend - Hillenbrand, Laura
Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy - Leavy, Jane
Girls' Poker Night - Davis, Jill A.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - Smith, Betty
Bread Givers - Yezierska, Anzia
The Beach House - Monroe, Mary Alice
Welcome to My Planet: Where English Is Sometimes Spoken - Olson, Shannon
Me and Hank: A Boy and His Hero, Twenty-Five Years Later - Tolan, Sandy
The Brothers K - Duncan, David James
The Final Season: Fathers, Sons, and One Last Season in a Classic American Ballpark - Stanton, Tom
The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club - Notaro, Laurie
There's a (Slight) Chance I Might Be Going to Hell - Notaro, Laurie
Blackberry Wine - Harris, Joanne
Island: Collected Stories - MacLeod, Alistair
Girl Sleuth: Nancy Drew and the Women Who Created Her - Rehak, Melanie
Bread Alone - Hendricks, Judi
Jeneration X - Lancaster, Jen
52 Loaves: One Man's Relentless Pursuit of Truth, Meaning, and a Perfect Crust - Alexander, William
The Potty Mouth at the Table - Notaro, Laurie
Such a Pretty Fat - Lancaster, Jen
Five Quarters of the Orange - Harris, Joanne
The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing - Bank, Melissa
Are We Winning? Fathers and Sons in the New Golden Age of Baseball - Leitch, Will
The Boys of Winter: The Untold Story of a Coach, a Dream, and the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team - Coffey, Wayne
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? - Kaling, Mindy
Spooky Little Girl - Notaro, Laurie
Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero - Maraniss, David
It Looked Different on the Model: Epic Tales of Impending Shame and Infamy - Notaro, Laurie
Hank Aaron and the Home Run That Changed America - Stanton, Tom
The Soul of Baseball: A Road Trip Through Buck O'Neil's America - Posnanski, Joe
Chocolat - Harris, Joanne
A Tale of Two Cities - Dickens, Charles
A Raisin in the Sun - Hansberry, Lorraine
Straight Man - Russo, Richard
Coastliners - Harris, Joanne

 

[WeAreNDHockey]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Thanks for the recommendations. As far as subject matter - often, it doesn't matter too much what a really good book is about. I've read plenty of books that are outside my usual subject range, and thoroughly enjoyed them (Seabiscuit comes to mind). I read a lot of books that are good - but not many that I felt were great.

I wish I had the patience or was open minded enough to do this. I don't know why, but I rarely stray too far afield of the subjects I know well. I sometimes do make a point of reading books with a point of view that I am mostly opposed to, just to try and pry open my mind once in a while. I guess that is a little similar to what you do.

Just finished reading The Collapse, the Accidental Opening of the Berlin Wall, by Mary Elise Sarotte. Not bad, but it was advertised as written with a novelist's eye and ended up being a little dryer than I expected.

 

[St. Clown]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Just finished reading The Collapse, the Accidental Opening of the Berlin Wall, by Mary Elise Sarotte. Not bad, but it was advertised as written with a novelist's eye and ended up being a little dryer than I expected.

Was it advertised as written with a good novelist's eye?

 

[Probert]

Re: Book Thread number ?

My recent reads

Capitol Murder by Phillip Margolin This book finds Dana Cutler and Brad Miller once again involved in a conspiracy. Brad is working for a US Senator who is being blackmailed, Dana is hired to help defend the man who conspired with terrorists to try and blow up a football field. The cases seem to be linked by the woman blackmailing the senator and Dana believes they may have been used by the authorities. Also Clarence Little has escaped from prison and involves himself once again in Brad’s life. Ok read.

Franklin Pierce: America's 14th President by John DiConsiglio So I tired of getting the American’s Presidents series to read books on obscure Presidents so decided to try this for my biography of Franklin Pierce. My guess is this is for middle school or high school students. A short book detailing the life and poor Presidency of President Pierce.

Wilson by A. Scott Berg A very long detailed biography of Woodrow Wilson. Details his life growing up as a son of a minister. His life in academia ending with his being the first non clergyman appointed President of Princeton University. His battles with alumni and the school over the direction which ultimately ends up with him running for governor of New Jersey as a progressive. Less than 2 years later he takes the White House in a 3 way battle with teddy Roosevelt and William Taft. Details his presidency, the entrance of the US in WWI., the battles with the European powers of the Versailles treaty and the battles at home to get the Republican led Senate to accept the League of Nations. Having a stroke at the end of a journey to drum up support for the league it details the lengths that his wife and his doctor went to keep his health a secret in the final days of his Presidency. Good read

Burn by James Patterson Latest Michael Bennett book finds him back in the Big Apple but instead of being rewarded for putting a drug lord in prison he finds himself at a mayoral task force doing community policing with the officers rejected by other squads. When one of his officers dies just after he takes over they start investigating since he doesn’t believe it’s a suicide. The he is brought back to major case to try and solve a series of diamond heists. Can he solve both cases or are they connected?

James Buchanan by Jean H. Baker A short biography of our 15th President James Buchanan. A long term veteran of Foreign Service when elected serving as Congressman, Senator, Ambassador to Russia, Secretary of State and Ambassador to Great Britain you would think he might be the man to help stop the pending Civil War. Unfortunately Buchanan would go down as one of our worst Presidents. The argument in the book is that Buchanan is affected by his pro South biased in particular in his handling of Kansas and the short lame duck period after Lincoln’s election where he continued to keep Southerners in positions of power despite the southern states seceding from the Union. Of course he will still be known as the bachelor President for never marrying.

House Rules by Mike Lawson This book finds Joe DeMarco trying to get to the bottom of a bunch of terrorist attacks happening in the United States. Are the attacks tied to a bill in Congress seeking the registry of Muslims? Can Joe get to the bottom of it before he is killed by the people leaving a trail of bodies in their wake? Good read.

Mr. Midshipman Hornblower by C.S. Forester The first of the Horatio Hornblower series finds the young midshipman joining the Royal navy during the Napoleonic Wars. This follows his adventures against the French and the Spanish as he takes on captured vessels, serves as a prisoner of war and tries to earn a promotion to Lieutenant. Good read.

The Catcher was a Spy by Nicholas Dawidoff I really wanted to like this book. I have wanted to read it ever since seeing Moe’s card at the Spy museum in Washington DC. The book was a little disappointing. It tells of his growing up in New Jersey his being one of the few Jewish students at Princeton and his playing of baseball there. It tells how he was drafted by the Dodgers but opted to study in Paris rather than come back for spring training. He also opted to continue Law School one year rather than go to spring training with the Cubs. He was widely assumed to be the smartest man in baseball and describes his unusual habits. It tells of his career first as a second string catcher and then as a third string catcher who rarely caught. It tells of his filming in Japan during a barnstorming tour. During WWI he joined the OSS but he didn’t fight with the French Resistance he used his intellect to cozy up to Italian and Swiss scientists and see how close the Germans were to developing a nuclear bomb. His post War “career” was the toughest part ot read as it basically told of his life as a professional mooch and storyteller staying with friend to friend and getting meals and lodging from them and his various idiosyncrasies. All in all it was ok.

As the Crow Flies by Craig Johnson, Another solid Longmire book finds Walt on the reservation trying to find a place to hold his daughter Katie’s wedding. Whe he and Henry see a woman fall to her death off a cliff and find her young son alive he is enlisted by the new young inexperienced Tribal Police Chief to help solve the crime. He get involved in the complicated relationships on the reservation while mentoring a young police chief. Can he solve the crime before the wedding? Good read

Mr. Untouchable by Leroy Barnes, Tom Folsom Good book for what it was Mr. Untouchable Nicky Barnes story of his rise to power, his forming of the council to distribute heroin in Harlem and other parts of NYC and his decision to turn informant and bring them all down after he feels that they have betrayed him after he is sent to prison. This is told by Barnes so obviously is completely one-sided.

Cold Cold Heart by Tami Hoag This book picks up where the 9thh victim left off with us following Doc Holiday’s last victim Dana Nolan home to recover from her brutal injuries. As she struggles to recover and re-adjust to life she takes a new look at people she has known her whole life and looks into the disappearance of her high school friend from 7 years before. Good read.

Hope to Die by James Patterson This is the best Cross novel in quite a while, mainly because Patterson focuses on a single plot line rather than trying to weave 2 or 3 into a single book. The book finds a devastated Cross thinking that members of his family are being killed by the person or people who abducted them. As he finds they are probably alive he tries to find them assisted by a new DC detective and Ava while being taunted by his families captor. Good read

Ship of Ghosts: The Story of the USS Houston, FDR's Legendary Lost Cruiser, and the Epic Saga of Her Survivors by James D. Hornfischer This book tells the story of the USS Houston a heavy cruiser which was used by FDR several times before the war. In the Pacific after Pearl Harbor she finds herself under a joint allied command and is one of the few survivors in the battle of the Java Sea,. Accompanied by the Perth they are attempting to find safe passage when they are caught in the middle of a Japanese invasion fleet in the Sundra straight and are sunk. The second half of the story tells of the men’s struggle for survivor in the water and after being made POW’s. It tells of their time in prison camps in Indonesia and the men’s work on the railroad of death in Burma and Thailand. It also tells the stories of the men who were taken to Japan. It has some brief moments telling of the hardships that the men’s families went thru not knowing what had happened to their sons and husbands. Not quite as good as Last battle of the Tin Can Sailors but a good read.

The Escape by David Baldacci In the 3rd John Puller book we finally find out what sent his brother Robert to prison for Treason. Robert escapes from the maximum security prison at Leavenworth during a power outage. Despite having no business being near the case several high powered offers and political appointees get John on the case. Aide by an investigator from the NSA John looks into the case and believes that his brother was framed. As the principals start to get killed can he prove his brothers innocence before he ends up dead. Good read.

 

[St. Clown]

Re: Book Thread number ?

I'm not quite sure what to make of this. A new author has written a book for the characters Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomqvist. It looks like the new author received permission from Stieg Larsson's family, but his long-time girlfriend thinks it's tainting the author's original works.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2015/03/31/396569638/from-a-dragon-tattoo-to-the-spiders-web-stieg-larssons-hero-returns?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20150331

 

[leswp1]

Re: Book Thread number ?

If you like Rollins, try reading Steve Berry's Cotton Malone series. I believe him and Rollins write these 2 series in the same "universe" because I'm pretty sure that they reference characters in each others books. They are the same types of stories that Rollins writes for his Sigma series, with the historical aspects, but with less Sigma gadgetry. The main character is Cotton Malone, a retired US Justice Dept. agent, that now owns a historical books store in Copenhagen. He constantly finds himself thrown back into his own life for one reason or another.

Here is the list, in order:
The Templar Legacy
The Alexandria Link
The Venetian Betrayal
The Charlemagne Pursuit
The Paris Vendetta
The Emperor's Tomb
The Jefferson Key
The King's Deception
The Jefferson Key
The Patriot Threat

Reading the first one. I have either read this before or it is very like one of Rollins books. Still good.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Book Thread number ?

I'm not quite sure what to make of this. A new author has written a book for the characters Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomqvist. It looks like the new author received permission from Stieg Larsson's family, but his long-time girlfriend thinks it's tainting the author's original works.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2015/03/31/396569638/from-a-dragon-tattoo-to-the-spiders-web-stieg-larssons-hero-returns?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20150331

I'd had heard rumblings that the family wanted to leave everything alone, so their blessing intrigues me. I might check it out. Honestly the only fiction I have read in the past 3-4 years, and minus one author, probably the last decade.

 

[jen]

Re: Book Thread number ?

I'm not quite sure what to make of this. A new author has written a book for the characters Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomqvist. It looks like the new author received permission from Stieg Larsson's family, but his long-time girlfriend thinks it's tainting the author's original works.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2015/03/31/396569638/from-a-dragon-tattoo-to-the-spiders-web-stieg-larssons-hero-returns?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20150331

His girlfriend makes a lot of sense. Not sure about the "continuity". I'll probably read it anyway.

 

[jen]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Receptionist-Education-New-Yorker/dp/B00BJE3OK4">The Receptionist: An Education at the New Yorker</a>. Probably would have enjoyed it more if I ever read The New Yorker. At times, it seemed like a lot of name dropping (of people I've never heard of) and English PhD drivel, but it had some redeeming qualities. The parts about her "finding her voice" that were more personal were interesting. I almost gave up on it several times, but the end was better than the beginning.

 

[aygwm2]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Don't know if any of you read poetry, but I recently finished The Blue Buick: New and Selected Poems by B. H. Fairchild (2014). Click Here for a review from BostonGlobe.com should you be curious.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Reading the first one. I have either read this before or it is very like one of Rollins books. Still good.

I think I thought the same thing when reading it. The first one in this series is very similar to one of Rollins books, I believe. After the first one, they have similar themes, but they aren't so close like that one is. Glad you're enjoying them. I thought the first ones of both series were very entertaining, and that both series started losing steam with the recent books. They might be running out of ideas.

 

[leswp1]

Re: Book Thread number ?

I think I thought the same thing when reading it. The first one in this series is very similar to one of Rollins books, I believe. After the first one, they have similar themes, but they aren't so close like that one is. Glad you're enjoying them. I thought the first ones of both series were very entertaining, and that both series started losing steam with the recent books. They might be running out of ideas.

Just finished. Woof. I was a bit surprised at the end.

 

[Probert]

Re: Book Thread number ?

My recent reads

The Last Narco: Inside the Hunt for El Chapo, the World's Most Wanted Drug Lord by Malcolm Beith This book follows the rise, capture and imprisonment and escape and rise again of El Chapo the leader of the Sinaloa cartel. It tells of the intricacies involved in the Mexican drug trade. The wars and alliances between the various cartels and the corruption of the police and politicians by the cartels. It tells a little bit about the brave politicians, cops and journalists who fight against the tide. Good read

Cop Hater by Ed McBain The first of Ed McBain 87 precinct series follows the investigation of a cop killer who is killing cops in the precinct. Thwarted by the hot weather in the city can they get to the bottom of it. OK read.

The Onion Field by Joseph Wambaugh This story follows the kidnapping and shooting of two LA police officers in an onion filed outside the city along with the subsequent trial and re-trials. It starts off slowly as he tells the tales of the two criminals and the two cops leading up to their fateful encounter. Once they meet and the crime is done the action picks up. Good read.

Lieutenant Hornblower by C.S. Forester The second book in the Hornblower series follows the young Lieutenant as he deals with a possible ship mutiny, the assault on a Spanish fortress and a rebellion amongst captured Spanish prisoners. It ends with his career possibly over in London, after a brief stint as Commander, as peace has been declared, but then once again the war with France is on and he is summoned to service.

George Mason, Forgotten Founder by Jeff Broadwater This book was okay it focused almost primarily on Mason’s political life and his influence through the Declaration of the Rights of Man, the Virginia Constitution and his influence on the Constitution, even thought he was one of the few delegates who did not sign it. It really failed to delve at all into his early life or his personal life.

The November Man by Bill Granger An okay spy novel written in the 80’s which depicts the controversy over the drawing down of human intelligence in favor of electronic intelligence gathering. With his mentor in the hospital and a team of killers tracking his moves the agent code named November is force out of retirement to find out why his former handler is in a mental institution and who is behind the plot and the operation called nutcracker.

Arctic Fire by Stephen W. Frey This book finds Jack Jensen heading to Alaska to find out what happened to his brother Troy who was swept off a fishing boat. When he finds another man met a similar fate he teams up with his former fiancé to investigate. He finds out his brother worked for a top secret government team dedicated to stopping terror attacks but both of the men suspected that their boss had gone off the reservation and was seeking to kill the President for trying to shut down the team. OK read 1st of 3 books.

Andrew Johnson by Annette Gordon-Reed This was probably the worst of the American Presidents books I have read. Trying to read a book on every President sometimes leaves you with slim pickins for the obscure Presidents. Here the author starts with a premise Andrew Johnson was a racist, and precedes to tell you why rather than telling the story of Johnson’s life and letting the reader draw their own conclusions. Johnson led a very hard life like his predecessor Abraham Lincoln. He held all manner of public office, State Senator, Governor, Representative and Senator before becoming President. As far as the book tells his only major accomplishment during those years is his support of the Homestead Act, which is followed up by the point he vetoed similar legislation for freedmen after becoming President. Even the impeachment was kind of glossed over.

Gray Mountain by John Grisham This John Grisham novel follows the adventures of Samantha Kofer a young hot shot attorney who is forced to look elsewhere for employment after the 2008 crash. Her firm offers her a chance to stick on if she volunteers at a non profit. She heads off the Appalachian in coal country where she learns what it is like to do the law for real people and not big shot developers in NYC and finds out the stranglehold big coal has on the area as she becomes involved in black lung and other related cases. When one of the lawyers in the area is killed over a controversial case involving the coal companies she becomes involved with his brother in turning over stolen documents that may crack open the case. Good read.

NYPD Red 3 (NYPD Red #3) by James Patterson The latest NYPD Red book finds them investigating the death of a chauffeur to one of the richest men in the city. When they can’t find the man’s teenage son they believe he was kidnapped but the father will not cooperate. They are force to investigate the murder hoping they can find the kidnapper. OK

Rutherford B. Hayes by Hans L. Trefousse This is a short biography of Rutherford B Hayes the 19th President of the US. One of the four Presidents elected without winning the popular vote and elected after an election commission investigated voter suppression in former Confederate states of Louisiana, South Carolina and Florida. It follows his early career as a lawyer in Ohio his service in the Union Army during the Civil War and his rise in Republican politics as a Congressman, Senator and Governor. A compromise choice after James Blaine was unable to be nominated he promises to serve only 1 term and squeaks into office. Fighting often with the Republicans in Congress during the first 2 years, including a big spat with Roscoe Conklin the NY Republican boss, he has some better successes during the last 2 years after Democrats take control. Mainly known for the last removal of troops from the old Confederate states which led to the rise of Jim Crown laws.

Charon's Landing (Philip Mercer #2) by Jack Du Brul The second Phillip Mercer novel finds him trying to stop an environmental disaster as ex- KGB and environmentalist groups are trying to blow apart the Alaskan Pipeline. Mercer gets in the middle of it when he is the sole survivor of an ill fated fishing trip. Ok read


Donnie Brasco: Unfinished Business by Joe Pistone The second book by Joe Pistone tells some unfinished stories from his time undercover as Donnie Brasco. Tells of the evolution of mob after his historic time undercover and how the mob and law enforcement have adapted. OK but not nearly as good as the first book.

Hornblower and the Hotspur (Hornblower Saga: Chronological Order #3) by C.S. Forester The third Hornblower book starts with him getting married but then right afterwards he is taken off the service to command the Hotspur in the blockade of Cadiz to keep Napoleon from invading. From gathering intelligence to getting in some publicized scraps with French vessels Hornblower proves his worth as a captain. Good read.

 

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Re: Book Thread number ?

The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Daniel James Brown (2013)

Very good read! The story of the University of Washington's eight-oar rowing team in the early and mid 1930s, with a special focus on the resilient and determined life of Joe Rantz, one of the crew members. This should be required reading for sports teams and sports enthusiasts. Really enjoyed it. Looks like it's in development for a movie.