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Mike's Book Challenge 2011
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Angelology by Danielle Trussoni Completed on December 15, 2010
Rating: 2.5/5
Review: I was very hopeful that this book was going to be great. I would probably give it 2.5 stars if that was possible, but will go with the 2 stars because of the let down at the end. First let me say that the book reminded me of part Da Vinci Code by Brown and part The Historian by Kostova. I enjoyed the Da Vinci Code, and I really liked The Historian, but this book falls far short of both.
The characters were too simple, they often seemed not nearly emotional enough when the action happens, and I never found myself enjoying any of them. The book ends with a big possibility of a sequel, but I don't see myself reading it if and when it comes out. When I read a book, at the point where I have about 100 pages left, I usually sit down and read it through. It took me three different sittings to get through this one, and I never felt that desire to keep turning to find out what happens next. Disappointing.
Catching Fire by Suzanne CollinsCompleted on December 19, 2010
Rating: 4/5
Review: This is the second book of a trilogy. I read the first book, the Hunger Games, a little over a month ago. I enjoyed the Hunger Games very much, but felt that it was missing something. The time spent in the arena was not as suspenseful as I would have liked, although the world Collins created was special.
This follow up was even better. It picks up right where the first book left off, and it continue to explore the world that Collins created. It is hard to review this without giving too much away, but I like the whole possible rebellion angle that the book takes. For a book that is considered to be a young adult title, there is a good amount of violence and death that makes the story real. My only criticism of the book would be that the central character, Katniss, sometimes seems to be too naive. She can't really see anything coming. However, that is part of what makes her endearing, so it is not a strong criticism.
Mockingjay by Suzanne CollinsCompleted on December 26, 2010
Rating: 4/5
Review: This is one of the few times I have read a two books back to back in a series. I enjoyed this series, although I have to say that I think something was missing. I think it was too short. Every time I felt like I was getting to know a character, they were killed off or disregarded. I have read in a lot of reviews that people didn't necessarily like the ending. I don't have a problem with the ending, other than the fact that it seemed to happen too quickly. Overall, I am glad I read the series and would recommend it to people for a solid read. The second book in the series was my favorite. This third book - I thought the first part was slow to pick up, but then I was flying through pages. Like I said above, I just wish she had taken more time to really get into the character development. However, with this being a young adult book, I understand that my preferences would not be those of the target audience.
Sleep No More by Greg IlesCompleted on December 28, 1010
Rating: 3/5
Review: I think I give away a bit with this review so spoiler alert. This is the fourth Greg Iles book I have read, and of the four, this is my least favorite. I enjoy Iles' writing style, and much of this book was a page turner. However, I thought that the idea that people can transfer souls through sexual pleasure was quite the stretch. I tried to suspend reality for it, but I think having the character of Penn Cage enter the novel with plausible realistic alternatives to the idea of the soul transfers, only to stick to the fantastical idea in the end, was disappointing. With all of that said, I still think Iles is a great suspense writer and I look forward to reading another of his.
Roman Blood by Steven SaylorCompleted on January 1, 2011
Rating: 3.5/5
Review: This book was interesting. I was not sure what to expect going into it, but now that I am finished, I am impressed. As a history guy, I love the many references to life in Rome and the appearance of many historical figures. I even liked the asides that almost seem to stop the story to talk about a bit of the history involved. In terms of the actual story, it kept me wanted to know more from chapter to chapter. I don't think it was the best "mystery" story in the true sense of the term. Looking at the story as a "whodunit," it is not really possible for the reader to figure everything out. One can make educated guesses, but not enough is given to think you could possibly figure out the crime before it is all explained. With that said, I still enjoyed learning about the case step by step, and I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz ZafonCompleted on January 16, 2011
Rating 4.5/5
Review: What a fascinating book! I am having a hard time trying to decide how to review this book. I would say the language and writing style of Zafon are incredible. I truly lost myself in the descriptions and metaphors of the narrative. The story itself was compelling, but I felt that there were a couple of places where it dragged a bit. By the end of the book when all of the questions are answered, I couldn't help but think that he could have got to the end a bit quicker. With that said, I still very much enjoyed the read and would recommend it to any lover of books. I would rate this 4.5 stars if possible.
Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene FrostCompleted on January 21, 2011
Rating 2.5/5
Review: So these types of books are what I would call my guilty pleasure. I have read the first four Kim Harrison books in the Hollows Series and wanted to try another one. The Frost books have seriously high ratings on Goodreads, so I decided to give it a shot.
I usually am the person who makes fun of those reviewers who like to downgrade books that are raved about by 99% of the world. I feel that they just like to be contrarian and prove their intellectual and cultural superiority over the rest of us. However, I have to say that this book was a big let down based on its popularity. I found some parts to be funny and some of the world building to be interesting, but as a story I thought it was weak. I felt the character development was rather thin, and the plot was too simple. The ending sets up the idea for the rest of the series, and it seems to have potential, but I worry that if the writing remains as simple as this first story, I may not enjoy it any more than I did this first book.
This Republic of Suffering by Drew Gilpin FaustCompleted on February 2, 2011
Rating 3/5
Review: This book is almost impossible to rate. I will begin by saying it is the least favorite book I have ever read. That is not to say it was bad. It is very well written, exhaustive in its coverage of the topic of death in the Civil War, and deserving of the accolades it received when it was first published. However, for me, the subject matter was incredibly depressing. And its negative tone was relentless. I am sure in academic circles this book is essential reading. Also, as a history teacher, I know will use the idea of the individual death this book focues on in my classes. To summarize, I could never recommend this book to read to anyone not in a graduate program dealing with the Civil War.
Dark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 by Stephen PuleoCompleted on February 8, 2011
Rating 4/5
Review: What an outstanding find of a book. I had to read this for a history book club I am involved with and I couldn't have had a happier surprise. I don't think I would have ever picked up a book to read about the Great Molasses Flood of 1919 in Boston unless I had to. I am really glad I did...
The book is divided into three sections. The first is the lead up to the event. This was my favorite section as it introduced to us many different individuals with various backgrounds. It also gave us the state and national view of what was happening in history. Politics, economics, the lead up to World War I, and immigration issues are all discussed. Fascinating stuff when lumped together. The second part deals with the accident itself. It is heart-wrenching when you see the death and heartache that the people you met in part one have to go through. The devastation that followed the molasses tank collapsing is truly incredible. The third and final part deals with the court case. This is also interesting, but there was little suspense as we know how it turns out. And if you didn't know, the author tells the story in a way that makes it obvious.
Great book - highly recommended to history lovers. It runs a bit too much like a narrative at times, but overall a powerful read.
Plain Truth by Jodi PicoultCompleted on February 19, 2011
Rating 3/5
Review: I randomly picked up this book when I was at my sister-in-law's house and started reading it. Everybody raves about Jodi Picoult, so I figured I would give it a shot.
It was a decent read. The story is of an Amish girl who gives birth to a baby in a barn, alone, and the baby dies. The suspense is that the Amish girl denies being pregnant and has no recollection about what happened and the authorities are prosecuting her for murder. As the story moves along, we learn more and more about it.
The plus parts of this story was the immersion in Amish culture. This was done mostly through the perspective of the girl's lawyer, who is a big-city lawyer forced to live with the Amish during the months of the investigation and trial. I generally enjoyed the character development, although I felt like a lot of the people in the story were very cliche.
The story has a satisfying conclusion, but I felt that while it went for a "wow" type of ending, it only pulled off an "ok, that makes sense" type of ending.
I will certainly read more of Picoult in the future. Looking through reviews, I don't think this was one of her bigger hits.
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. MartinCompleted on February 21, 2011
Rating 5/5
Review: Wow, another incredibly good book in the "Fire and Ice" series. I was hooked on this 1100 page book from start to finish. Not much can be said about this book and about this series that has not already been said, but I find this series to be outstanding.
This book continues the story of the characters who survived the previous two books. A couple of things that make this book stand out from the others:
1. More of the main characters die in this book. It felt like a massacre of people you followed being killed at one point.
2. There is much more "fantasy" in this book. While there were minor parts of fantasy in the first two books, much more was hinted at that actually explored. In this third book, to me at least, it seemed as if more of the traditional fantastical elements were present.
To close, I have to say that what makes these books special is that fact that it is hard not to root for all sides in the story. In a world where there are many kings and families fighting against each other, it is quite the ability of Martin to make you enjoy most people involved.
Captain Alatriste by Arturo Perez-ReverteCompleted on February 24, 2011
Rating 2/5
Review: I have to say that I was very disappointed in this book. I had read the Flanders Panel by Perez-Reverte and thought I had found a new favorite author. This book was a big let down from my first impressions. It seems as if this book was the first part of a story that needed to continue on. The action was too infrequent, and there were way too many digressions that talk about Spanish history or Spanish life that really were not that interesting. I think that if I was a Spanish citizen, I may have enjoyed this book more.
With that said, I do still think I will read the next book in this series. I think there is great potential in some of the characters. I just felt that this potential was not even sniffed in this first installment.
The Archer's Tale by Bernard CornwellCompleted on February 27, 2011
Rating 4/5
Review: There is nothing like a good Bernard Cornwell novel to make me content. This was the first book in a Trilogy about the Holy Grail. Going in, I thought it may have fantastical elements, but it really was more of a classic Cornwell novel about England and France in the 100 Years War. This novel ends with the Battle of Crecy.
He sets up the trilogy nicely, leaving loose ends but nothing that made hurt the story as one that can stand alone. I am looking forward to the next book in the trilogy. I really think that Cornwell is one of my favorite authors.
The Lost Symbol by Dan BrownCompleted on March 18, 2011
Rating 3/5
Review: An entertaining read and pretty much exactly what I expected going in. There were a lot of interesting historical facts and symbols interpretations that make you stop and think, and the story was a bit of a page turner. I did not like this book as much as Angels and Demons or the Da Vinci Code, but I am glad I read it. I thought at times the plot was a bit too slow, and the ending was not really dramatic at all. The theoretical science and spiritual allusions were thought provoking, although a bit far-fetched at times. In short - nothing spectacular but a nice escape.
Tai-Pan by James ClavellCompleted on April 30, 2011
Rating 5/5
Review: What a fantastic book! I had read Shogun a couple of years ago and that book became one of my all time favorites. I don't know why it took me so long to try another book by Clavell, but I am glad I did. Tai-Pan is not quite as good as Shogun, but it was still an exciting read with a little bit of everything in it. It does a tremendous job with the historical subject of the creation of Hong Kong, and Clavell's ability to relay the thoughts of the dozens of characters is remarkable. I can't say enough about this book and recommend it for anyone who loves a long novel with a huge setting.
Arms of Nemesis by Steven SaylorCompleted on May 13, 2011
Rating 3/5
Review: An entertaining read for the second book in the seriers about Roman "Gordianus the Finder." I think I enjoy these books more for the Roman History than I do for the mystery. The mystery in this book involves the murder of a man and the response of the man's benefactor and his desire to kill all slaves in the house as an example to the all slaves about what happens when slaves murder their master. The catch is that there is great doubt by many in the house that slaves comitted the actual murder.
The murder mystery is decent, but a bit unsatisfying when the killer is revealed. I felt that the book was too short and we were simply introduced to the players in the story one at a time until they finally nail it down. The suspense of the possible murder of the slaves enhances the story, but like I said, I found myself enjoying the background and "world building" of ancient Roman society much more entertaining.
I will continue with this series and would recommend it to others.
The Warded Man by Peter BrettCompleted on May 22, 2011
Rating 4.5/5
Review: Very good book! I am very surprised by how much I enjoyed reading this book. The basic story is very clever with the demons that come out at night and humanity's complete fear of them. I like how it takes us from the villages to the cities in what was some fantastic world-building. I also enjoyed the character building and how we get to meet our main characters early in their lives and them jump forward just a bit to when they had come into their own.
The only reasons that this book was not 5 stars is that it did not really have an ending. The story did not build up to the ending, it just keeps moving along. The final chapters were simply the next chapters in what will be a trilogy (or more). I understand that this book sets up a much larger story, but I still would have appreciated the effort to make it stand alone a bit better.
With that said, I still loved it and am looking forward to the next installment.
Sharpe's Fortress by Bernard CornwellCompleted on June 15, 2011
Rating 3.75/5
Review: Another enjoyable book from Bernard Cornwell. I like how Sharpe finally gets some vindication in this book, and I can say that without giving anything away. The book was rather short, and at some point I would like a bit more character building with Sharpe and his personal thoughts, but that is a tough criticism as the book takes place completely in India where the army was doing nothing but marching and fighting. I will be continuing with this series and now count Cornwell as one of my favorite authors.
The Kill Artist by Daniel SilvaCompleted on June 22, 2011
Rating 3/5
Review: A solid book and the start of a series I hope to fully enjoy. The Kill Artist revolves around a retired Israeli spy/assassin who is brought out of retirement to finally kill his great nemesis. Not exactly original stuff, but I liked the background and the way many side characters were weaved in and out of the story.
Overall I liked the story and the spycraft involved. I thought there could have been more action, but the book felt more realistic than other similar types of books I have read. I would have given this book 4 stars but I felt that the ending of the book was a bit of a disappointment. The showdown between the two rivals didn't have that epic feel you would hope for from a type of book such as this.
With all of that said, I did enjoy it, and based on reviews of the series I have read, the future books only get better.
Over the Edge of the World by Laurence BergreenCompleted on June 22, 2011
Rating 4/5
Review: A solid read about a person of history I knew little about. Over the Edge of the World tells the story, in detail, of Magellan's voyage around the world. It also tells, in detail, the history of everything associated with Magellan and his trip. I enjoyed the read, although at times I wished the author would move the story ahead rather than digress to look at the history of everything.
The writing itself is fantastic. Bergreen is a journalist as opposed to a historian, and the writing style plays that out. It is writteen as a narrative and reads as a novel throughout the book.
The author goes out of his way to defend Magellan and his actions, and I suppose that is what happens when you spend so much time researching and reading about a particular person.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the Age of Discovery, exploration in general, or to learn about the journey of this legendary figure.
A. Lincoln: A Biography by Ronald WhiteCompleted on June 29, 2011
Rating 5/5
Review: One of the best books I have read! Abraham Lincoln is easily my favorite person in history, and this biography does a fantastic job covering his life and the major events of the Civil War. I cannot praise this book enough as being incredibly readable - it is not too much to say that this book truly reads like a novel. Lincoln's emotions come through in the reading and the author's use of the letters and speeches of Lincoln, both public and private, do a tremendous job of putting the reader into the President's mind. The author's background of being an expert on the speeches of Lincoln really shine through as he breaks down important speeches and analyzes their meaning, but not in a way that slows the book down in any way.
There is not much else to say that has not already been said. While this is obviously a book that shines a positive light on Lincoln, the author does a good job of presenting the negative side and negative views about the President by his contemporaries. I would recommend this for anyone who enjoys a good read and wants to learn about Lincoln the man and President.
April 1865: The Month That Saved America by Jay WinikCompleted on July 5, 2011
Rating 3.75/5
Review: A fascinating book on the last month of the Civil War. There were dozens of nuggets from this book that I will take with me as nice stories to share with my students. My favorite chapter was easily the one that dealt with the surrender of Lee's army and the meeting of Lee and Grant. The author writes with grace and puts you into the house at Appomattox. The level of respect these two men had for each other after spending months trying to defeat the other is incredible. Great stuff.
My main criticism of this book is that only about half of it really talks about April of 1865. Every time a major figure is mentioned, the author takes 5-10 pages to go back and tell that person's biography. I understand that some context is necessary to fully tell the story of the end of the War, but I felt that it slowed down the story and gave us more than we really needed. Also, unless you are very new to the Civil War, the background stories do not truly provide any vital information.
I would recommend this read to any Civil War lovers.
Heir to the Empire by Timothy ZahnCompleted on July 8, 2011
Rating 3.5/5
Review: I had long thought about trying to read one of the books from the Star Wars Universe as I had loved the movies as a kid/teen. After seeing that this book was the one that followed the Return of the Jedi movie (it begins five years after the end of the movie), I thought it would be a great place to start.
First let me say that if this story was a stand alone story with characters that we did not already know, it would not be very good. That is probably an unfair evaluation, but the story itself would not hold interest without the previously built universe.
With that criticism out of the way, I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed it most because it brought me back to some favorite characters. All the trademark expressions of the characters were included, and there were many references to events from the movie series. I knew going in that this was the first book of a trilogy, but I thought the ending was a bit too quick. I am looking forward to the rest of the series.
One other criticism is that with our heroes traveling light years from one planet to the next in an infinite universe, there were two too many times when the characters just happened to be in the same place at the same time by coincidence. It makes it easier to write the story, but was a bit too convenient.
The Last Full Measure by Jeff ShaaraCompleted on July 18, 2011
Rating 4/5
Review: A very enjoyable book and satisfying finish to the Civil War trilogy by Jeff Shaara. I had read the first two books of the triology many years ago, but for whatever reason had not got around to finishing it. I am very glad I did.
I have been on a bit of a Civil War kick in the last month, and this book provided a lighter read about the characters and events that have so fascinated me. Shaara's ability to get into the heads of the historical figures is outstanding, and his ability to describe battle scenes (and provide maps to help those of us who have trouble visualizing things) is excellent. I would recommend this book, and the whole series, to anyone with any interest in the Civil War or anyone who enjoys direct historical fiction.
In the Garden of Beasts by Erik LarsonCompleted on July 21, 2011
Rating 3/5
Review: Well I went into this book really hoping to love it. It has great reviews and my father through I would really enjoy it. Now that I am finished, I have to say that is was pretty much just OK. The second half of the book was very interesting as the everything starts happening in Hitler's Germany, but the first half of the book really dragged for me. There were so many names and obscure people mentioned that really didn't have a whole lot to do with the overall story. Also, I am no entirely sure if the author felt that Ambassador Dodd was a good leader or not. He seemed to go back and forth on him, but not in a way that made him feel objective.
However, with all of that said, it was an interesting story. To see Hitler's Geramny from the eyes of the American family in Berlin was a unique way to study the history. I am glad I read the book, but wish that it had done a better job grabbing my attention.
His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi NovikCompleted on July 23, 2011
Rating 4/5
Review: I was not entirely sure what to expect from this book, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that I really enjoyed the read. This book mixes true events in history during the Napoleonic Wars with the idea that dragons not only existed, but were used as as an air force for both sides. The dragons themselves can speak and reason and are completely loyal to their captains. A very interesting take on things and one that I enjoyed as being original and exciting. Also, the narrative is written with a Dicken's-like realism thought made the read that much more authentic. I would recommend this book to pretty much anyone as a fun read.
Purity of Blood by Arturo Perez-ReverteCompleted on July 24, 2011
Rating 3/5
Review: A very quick read that was better than the first book in the Alatriste chronicles. This book is a very short story that follows the adventures of a former soldier and now sword for hire Captain Alatriste. As a history teacher, I very much enjoyed the historical background of 16th century Spain. The Inquisition, class system, and social tensions are very well done in this book. The reason I don't rate it higher than a 3/5 is that the actual plot of the book could have been done in 100 pages. The many tangents the story takes to explain the history or background to the story is what fills up most of the book. I can't imagine that anyone not interested in the history of the time period would be very interested in the story. I will continue reading the series as I did enjoy this book and the books can be read in a day or two.
Power of the Sword by Wilbur SmithCompleted on August 9, 2011
Rating 4/5
Review: Wilbur Smith delivers again. This guy is shooting up to favorite author status for me. This is the fifth book of his I have read, and they all follow the same Courtney family of South Africa. At this point, we have entered the World War II era and the book ends just after the war.
Smith's books have it all. History, adventure, sex appeal, tough guys, and everything else you could ask for in a fun read. I understand the criticisms by people about Smith's take on African people and women, but I think the compaints are a bit over the top. Put into historical perspective, I think Smith nails it.
This particular story didn't seem to have a beginning and end like his previous stories. That would be my one complaint and the reason I only went with four stars. While I very much enjoyed the story, there was no true buildup to an ending. There were many ups and downs throughout the story, but I wish there had been more of a climax.
With that said, I am all about these books. I will be reading the next one for sure.
Cloud Atlas by David MitchellCompleted on August 22, 2011
Rating 4/5
Review: Well I finished this book yesterday, and I am still not entirely sure how I feel about it. It was a fascinating read, but in the end, I still am left feeling like I wanted more. Without giving anything away, the five or six stories that are told and linked together throughout time were very interesting to think about. However, that "woah" moment never materialized for me. I thought there might be a big pay off at the end, but the book just sort of ended with a very brief exposition of what might be the meaning of the whole thing.
With that said, I feel like I sound too negative. I really enjoyed the characters in teh story and even though each story acts as something like a short story, I always wanted to continue onto the next one to find out what was next. Mitchell's ability to change voices is quite impressive, and his skill as a writer is really second to none.
Overall I would recommend this to fans of literature, but you need to stay on top of it and really focus to find a lot of the detail and connection between stories. Not a light beach read for sure.
The Black Echo by Michael ConnellyCompleted on August 28, 2011
Rating 3/5
Review: I wanted to start a new mystery/detective series as it had been quite some time since I had read any books of that type. I decided on Michael Connelly because people seem to enjoy his books. I enjoyed this first book of Connelly's Harry Bosch series and I will read the next for sure.
With that said, this book was simply another one of those books where it was nice to read, quick and fun, but left no last impressions. I can't say I didn't like it, but it was something to read at the end of the summer as a simple joy. It was an older book, so part of the enjoyment was the lack of technology - like the police having to run to cell phones every so often to call in - and the simple formula of a detective story. That is pretty much all I have to say about it.
The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund MorrisCompleted on September 4, 2011
Rating 5/5
Review: Wow what a great book! As just about all of the reviews of this book have said, this is a fantastic look at the life of Teddy Roosevelt up to his ascension to the Presidency. What a fascinating man TR was. His entire lifestyle is worth of emulating and inspiring to us even today. TR seemingly never stopped going either mentally or physically. He was always walking, talking riding, hunting, or reading and seemed to require little or no sleep to be highly successful at all things. It makes me feel like I waste part of my life by simply relaxing and watching a televesion show at night.
The writing in this book is outstanding and the old cliche that it reads like a novel is true. I am not a supporter of all of TR's politics, but anyone who loves history or loves a good read will enjoy this book. I will absolutely read the final two volumes of this series and am looking forward to having a stretch of time to do so.
The English Assassin by Daniel SilvaCompleted on September 10, 2011
Rating 3/5
Review: This was my second Daniel Silva novel about the Israeli spy/art restorer Gabriel Allon. I enjoyed the book, but certainly don't think it was amazing. I find the characters Silva creates to be interesting, and the historical background of the Swiss involvement in the looting of both art and money of Jews during World War II. The plot itself seemed to be more like the background than the history, so it didn't necessarily make for the page-turner you would expect in a spy novel like this. I will continue reading this series and would recommend it.
Poison Study by Maria SnyderCompleted on September 17, 2011
Rating 4/5
Review: I surprised myself by really enjoying this simple story and am looking forward to the next book in the series. The descriptions about this book were a bit deceiving in the sense that it moves quickly past the idea of the Food Taster/Poison Expert and turns into a drama with some hints of fantasy. The story is simply told, but I enjoyed this simplicity and I enjoyed the black and white backgrounds and actions of the main characters. The world building was subtle and leads to many options in future books. It is nice to find a story that you can simply enjoy without a lot of deep thought and this book was it for me.
The Children of Henry VIII by Alison WeirCompleted on September 18, 2011
Rating 4/5
Review: A good book about exactly what the title says - the children of King Henry VIII. As a teacher of A.P. European History, I knew the basic story of Edward, Mary, and Elizabeth but this book obviously contained a wealth of information that added to my knowledge. Weir writes her narrative in a way that mixes history and storytelling well.
I would probably have given this book five stars if it weren't for two things. First, following the names of English aristocrats at this time is very difficult. The men earn new titles and therefore new names, but it seemed as if this wasn't clearly explained and the names were interchanged when telling the story. This slowed the reading down for me a bit, but this is a minor complaint.
I would recommend this book for history lovers, but I think it might be a bit too in depth for someone coming to this story with no knowledge of the period. I will certainly be reading more of Weir's work in the future.
Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth PetersCompleted on September 23, 2011
Rating 3/5
Review: I am always looking for new series to start and came across this one about Ms. Peabody by Elizabeth Peters on Goodreads. I enjoyed this first book in the series, although I did not find it to be exceptional. It tells the story of a very intelligent and funny English woman who inherited great wealth from her late father and is bordering on the verge of becoming a spinster. She travels to Rome and later Egypt where she meets up with the other major characters and the mystery of the book takes place.
What I most enjoyed about this book was the language, the time period, and the characters. I enjoyed the interplay and the role of gender between the major characters. I liked the social commentary about English vs. Egyptian social roles and norms. I thought the story itself was rather simple, and it is fairly obvious who the culprits are fairly early in the story.
I will give this series a chance and will read the next book.
The Invisible Bridge by Julie OrringerCompleted on October 13, 2011
Rating 4.5/5
Review: Outstanding book following a Hungarian family through World War II. I enjoyed living in the world of Paris and Eastern Europe during the war, although the story was incredibly sad at times. I thought the book was tremendous in making the reader understand the culture, the hatred, the love, and all of the emotions that went into living during that difficult time period in Europe. I also liked that it dealt with a nationality that I know little about.
My only criticisms of the book are that at times, it seemed as if our central character was too lucky to have things break for him the right way. Also, after coming to love many of the other central characters, I felt as though they were killed off too quickly or unceremoniously. However, I don't think these aspects of the story took away from the greatness of the writing.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys the World War II era or a long story with a lot of romance and emotion. I would give this 4.5 stars if possible.
Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation by Cokie RobertsCompleted on November 11, 2011
Rating 3/5
Review: This was a nice read about the women of the founding generation. I had gone into this book expecting that it would be set up in a way that would provide the reader with a number of short biographies of the wives and mothers of the period. Instead, it was set up chronologically, which at first glance makes sense. However, it made for more difficult reading as the narrative seemed to be all over the place. We would have three paragraphs about one woman, and in the next paragraph, there would be a sudden switch to a new woman. For me personally, it made for choppy reading.
I offer that criticism with love however as I did enjoy many parts of the book. There were many nuggets sprinkled in throughout the story that had me smiling, and I did not have a problem with the random sidebars of the author who wrote as if she was a friend of these women. Recommended for the popular reader, but not for a more serious historical scholar.
Benjamin Franklin: An American Life by Walter IsaacsonCompleted on November 13, 2011
Rating 4/5
Review: A solid biography of Benjamin Franklin that does justice to all aspects of his life. I enjoyed this read and although I already knew the overarching story, I learned what felt like dozens of anecdotes about Franklin and his life. I especially enjoyed the parts about his printing business and his scientific pursuits.
I was a bit put off by the way the book was set up. I did not care for having the "outline" format where he would deal with one specific aspect of Franklin and then move on to a different aspect, each with its own sub-heading. To me it tried to put Franklin in a box too much rather than just write a flowing narrative. The writing itself was great, and the history was outstanding, but I would have liked it better if the author had tried to weave the story together in one seamless flow.
I would recommend this book to any lovers of history.
A Feast for Crows by George R.R. MartinCompleted on November 15, 2011
Rating 4.5/5
Review: I just finished the fourth book of the epic Fire and Ice series and I was both pleased and a tad disappointed with the book. While my review will not be unique or revolutionary and will sound similar to many othe reviews, I plod ahead...
The writing and the world building of this series are still outstanding. It is fun to read and the characters are all unique and well flushed out. I liked some of the new characters in this book, and will not complain that the story did not move forward as much as the first three books. My bigger complaint is not that the overarching story didn't move forward, it is that the story within the book never left me wanting more. In the first three books, when a chapter ended for a character, it took everything in me to not flip ahead to find the next chapter for that character to find out what happened next. I don't think that happened a single time in this book. The cliffhangers did not really stick with me until the final few chapters, and for that reason I would probably rate this book more of a 4.5/5.
I am looking forward to the fifth book, especially because the characters I am most interested in will be in that book. Still one of my favorite series of all time.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg LarssonCompleted on November 20, 2011
Rating 4/5
Review: With the movie coming out soon, I wanted to be sure to read the book before the film because we all know, with very few exceptions (Lord of the Rings), the books are superior to the movies.
I enjoyed this book and found it to be a page turner. The mystery itself did not reveal itself until 70 pages in, so the beginning could be called slow, but I found the introduction of the characters was interesting enough to keep me going. The entire book was very character driven as this was not the classic mystery where the reader can take guesses or try to pick up on clues to guess the bad guy. We discover who the bad guy is along with the characters and I found it to be enjoyable.
With that said, I do not really understand all the hype around this book. It was very good, but it was not earth-shattering and it was not unique from other mystery or suspense novels outside of its setting in Sweden and the personality traits of the protagonists.
I would recommend this to anyone for a good read and I do plan on reading the final two books of the trilogy.
Semper Fi by W.E.B. GriffinCompleted on November 26, 2011
Rating 2/5
Review: Well I was very surprised by this book. The book has received countless four and five star reviews and I thought I would love it. Historical fiction about marines in the lead up to World War II? How could a guy like me not love it?
I am so disappointed by this book. I am not one of the people on these sites that finds incredibly popular books and rips them to be contrarian. I usually fall in with the masses. This book is the great exception to that rule.
First of all, there is little to no action in this book. Toward the very end we get to the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the first actions in Asia, but we don't actually read about any of the events. The main characters are in and around the action, but what they do there is simply hinted at.
With that said, I realize that this book was supposed to be more about the life of a marine during this time period. To me, the book never went deep enough into the characters and many of the secondary characters were cookie-cutters. Also, if I take the book as gospel, it turns out that any woman who sees a marine wants to have sex with him immediately. That includes Chinese women, prostitutes, rich women, married women, or anyone else in between. I am not being prudish with this criticism, it just seems to be way over the top.
I may read the next in the series because all the glowing reviews can't be wrong. I will hold out hope that things pick up.
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel HawthorneCompleted on December 3, 2011
Rating 3/5
Review: I had put off reading this book for a long time because the reviews for it were not always glowing. I finally decided that this is an American classic and I needed to read it. Besides, I teach about the time period, and spent a full day at the Old Manse where Hawthorne wrote it down in Concord two summers ago.
I am glad I read this book but was not overly impressed. I got the feeling that Hawthorne was pretty darned impressed with himself and his writing ability. The story is famous so I won't spend time reviewing the plot or anything, but I have to say that a majority of the book was spent flushing out the thoughts and psyches of the main characters. I understand that the book was full of symbolism and was a criticism of society in many ways, but as a novel, it did not really keep me turning the pages.
I would recommend this for serious readers or for students of early American history. It is not a light read, and I would suggest reading it in one or two sittings because it is tough to gear up and come back to day after day.
Friends of Liberty by Gary Nash and Graham HodgesCompleted on December 10, 2011
Rating 3/5
Review: A decent book that follows the lives of three Revolutionary War Era historical figures. The famous author and President Thomas Jefferson, the Polish revolutionary and adopted American hero Tadeusz Koscuszko, and the free black Massachusetts man Agrippa Hull. The main chronological story is solid and takes us through the war and history of slavery. I learned a lot about Koscuszko that I did not know, and the biggest positive I take from this book is my desire to read more about him. The Jefferson information was not new for me outside of his relationship to Koscuszko, but I thought it was presented well. However, the parts about Hull left a lot to be desired. There is very little primary source information available from Hull, so the authors repeat the phrase "Hull probably..." throughout the book dozens of times. While I understand that he was in some ways a placeholder for the slave issue being written about, but it got to be too much to assume that he felt a certain way about anything.
The book was for a book club and it did raise many interesting facts and discussions. I would recommend it in that capacity but not necessarily as a book to read on your own.
The Quiet Game by Greg IlesCompleted on December 18, 2011
Rating 4/5
Review: Another great story by Greg Iles. Iles is one of my favorite suspense/mystery writers and this book kept me turning pages from beginning to end. It focuses on Iles' main character Penn Cage, and mixes a cold case murder story with the history of Natchez and its people with the personal love stories of Cage, past and present. That is a lot to mix into one story, but Iles does a great job with it.
The action in this story was a bit over the top at times, and it did have the feel that no matter what, the main character was going to make it and come out on top, but that is part of what makes stories like these so fun to read. To say anything specific about the story will give away its contents. I will certainly be finding more books by Iles to read in the future.
Heaven is for Real by Todd BurpoCompleted on December 24, 2011
Rating 3/5
Review: This was a very short book that tells the story of a little boy who came close to dying and later tells the story of how he went to Heaven. This is a difficult book to rate as an objective reader. It was not great literature, and the story itself could have been told in half (or less) the pages. However, the story was nice to read, I could feel for the people involved, and like many other reviews point out, it makes you think.
I don't doubt the truth of the story told by the Pastor/Father of the boy, but it does seem to be very specific in its details for quotes and specific details that were recalled over the course of years. Do I take the story at its word? Probably not, but I also don't think the author and people from the story are lying. Do I think they are delusional? No - and I am now stuck in a place where I don't know how to explain my thoughts about the story. I am glad I read it because it made me think, but I don't think the details of the story were important to get me there.
Under the Eagle by Simon ScarrowCompleted on December 27, 2011
Rating 4/5
Review: This book was a nice surprise that I completely enjoyed from start to finish. The comparisons of the writing style to that of Cornwell is pretty much right on, and I felt that there was just enough mix of history and action to make this a fun read for those who enjoy adventure stories and Roman History.
This book follows a few main characters, with the central character being the recently freed palace slave Cato. Cato is forced to join the army, and the story follows him from his training to a fight in the German frontier lands to the eventual climax of the book with a large fight against the Britons. Exciting stuff and just enough history to make the time period come alive.
I would not describe this book as great literature, but it sure was fun and I look forward to the next one.
Steve Jobs by Walter IsaacsonCompleted on December 30, 2011
Rating 4/5
Review: A fascinating read about the life of Steve Jobs. This is the first biography I have read about someone who was alive during most of my life. Reading about the evolution of the computer industry is following the timeline of my 33 years of life. I own/owned most of the technologies discussed in this book, so to read about the process of their development and marketing is really fun. Finding out about the design and engineering decisions is something that anyone who enjoys technology would appreciate.
On the other side of that coin, it turns out that Steve Jobs was a major league asshole. His drive and perfectionism inspired some truly amazing products, but his treatment of people, including employees, politicians, and even his own family, was simply horrible most of the time. I give the author credit for not sugar-coating any of his personality flaws, but it made it hard to root for Jobs when you could never really warm up to him as a person. I know I could never have worked for him.
Recommended for anyone of my generation who wants to read about an iconic figure and the development of the computer age.
End of Year Summary:Well I am falling short of my goal of 56 books read. Looking back at my list of what I did read, I can see that there were a few stretches where I did not finish any books. There are a couple of main reasons for that. First, life just got really busy with school and coaching that I did not have a lot of time to keep reading. Second, and probably more to the point, I often had a problem of reading too many books at once and then never finishing any of them. I would stress myself out over trying to decided what to read and what to read next and would never actually stick a book out. That would explain a couple gaps of almost a month where I did not finish a book.
I have one more book I will likely finish tomorrow, but that falls outside the rules of this challenge and my challenge for next year so the book will get lost in the ether. I am doubling up my challenge for next year to read 100 books. It is quite a step up considering I didn't make it through my challenge this year, but I am redoubling my efforts to be sure I can make it happen.
If anyone out there read through my challenge, I hope I provided you with at least a few things to think about.
Mike Saucier
The Book Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Steve Jobs (other topics)Steve Jobs (other topics)
Under the Eagle (other topics)
Under the Eagle (other topics)
Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back (other topics)
More...
***Updated in November - I have decided to extend this a week to make it a 56 week challenge. That way I can start my 2012 challenge at the appropriate time***
56 Book Challenge
1. Angelology by Danielle Trussoni (Fiction - 12/16/10)
2. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (Fiction - 12/19/10)
3. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (Fiction - 12/26/2010)
4. Sleep No More by Greg Iles (Fiction - 12/28/2010)
5. Roman Blood by Steven Saylor (Fiction - 1/1/2011)
6. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (Fiction - 1/16/11)
7. Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (Fiction - 1/21/11)
8. This Republic of Suffering by Drew Gilpin Faust (Non-Fiction - 2/2/11)
9. Dark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 by Stephen Puelo (Non-Fiction - 2/8/11)
10. Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult (Fiction - 2/19/11)
11. A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin (Fiction - 2/21/11)
12. Captain Alatriste by Arturo Perez-Reverte (Fiction - 2/24/11)
13. The Archer's Tale by Bernard Cornwell (Fiction - 2/27/11)
14. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown (Fiction - 3/18/11)
15. Tai-Pan by James Clavell (Fiction - 4/30/11)
16. Arms of Nemesis by Steven Saylor (Fiction - 5/13/11)
17. The Warded Man by Peter Brett (Fiction - 5/22/11)
18. Sharpe's Fortress by Bernard Cornwell (Fiction - 6/15/11)
19. The Kill Artist by Daniel Silva (Fiction - 6/22/11)
20. Over the Edge of the World by Laurence Bergreen (Non-Fiction - 6/22/11)
21. A. Lincoln: A Biography by Ronald White (Non-Fiction - 6/29/11)
22. April 1865: The Month That Saved America by Jay Winik (Non-Fiction - 7/5/11)
23. Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn (Fiction - 7/8/11)
24. The Last Full Measure by Jeff Shaara (Fiction - 7/18/11)
25. In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson (Non-Fiction - 7/21/11)
26. His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik (Fiction - 7/23/11)
27. Purity of Blood by Arturo Perez-Reverte (Fiction - 7//24/11)
28. Power of the Sword by Wilbur Smith (Fiction - 8/9/11)
29. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (Fiction - 8/22/11)
30. The Black Echo by Michael Connelly (Fiction - 8/28/11)
31. The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris (Non-Fiction - 9/4/11)
32. The English Assassin by Daniel Silva (Fiction - 9/10/11)
33. Poison Study by Maria Snyder (Fiction - 9/17/11)
34. The Children of Henry VIII by Alison Weir (Non-Fiction - 9/18/11)
35. Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters (Fiction - 9/23/11)
36. The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer (Fiction - 10/13/11)
37. Founding Mothers by Cokie Roberts (Non-Fiction - 11/11/11)
38. Benjamin Franklin: An American Life by Walter Isaacson (Non-Fiction - 11/13/11)
39. A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin (Fiction - 11/15/11)
40. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (Fiction - 11/20/11)
41. Semper Fi by W.E.B. Griffin (Fiction - 11/26/11)
42. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne (Fiction - 12/3/11)
43. Friends of Liberty by Gary Nash (Non-Fiction - 12/10/11)
44. The Quiet Game by Greg Iles (Fiction - 12/18/11)
45. Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo (Non-Fiction - 12/24/11)
46. Under the Eagle by Simon Scarrow (Fiction - 12/27/11)
47. Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson (Non-fiction - 12/30/11)
48.
49.
50.
51:
52:
53:
54:
55:
56:
Running Tally
Fiction: 34
Non-Fiction: 13