Okay, so Bowie was an illegal slave trader (guess that's worse than a legal one), Travis was a wanted murderer riddled with an STD (but a good writer)Okay, so Bowie was an illegal slave trader (guess that's worse than a legal one), Travis was a wanted murderer riddled with an STD (but a good writer), and Crockett was little more than a buffoon who believed his own hype. But, no matter their motives, they were not cowards and did die at the Alamo. So, let's not get all woke about it, okay? The book is a good history about what really happened back then but the last third of the book is superfluous tedium about San Antonio's shabby treatment of the site and Phil Collins' amassing of questionable provenance Alamo memorabilia....more
I thought I'd read this coz it's like number 1 with a bullet on GR. Well, if you want to wallow along with the main character in spilled milk crying, I thought I'd read this coz it's like number 1 with a bullet on GR. Well, if you want to wallow along with the main character in spilled milk crying, "coulda, woulda, shoulda", depression and suicidal thoughts, this may be the book for you. I DNF'd about a third in and kicked myself for waiting so long. If the protag was real and phoned me up whining about committing suicide, my advice would be "DO IT!"...more
So, Bohjalian can tell a story and keep you interested, that's no problem. But, you know when you try to do historical fiction and pick 1600's Boston,So, Bohjalian can tell a story and keep you interested, that's no problem. But, you know when you try to do historical fiction and pick 1600's Boston, men's attitude to women and belief in witches...well, the book is gonna be pretty predictable and maybe a lot boring. Or, you can go all melodramatic at the end and say, "Hah! Not predictable!" but that doesn't make it a better book, just a book with a silly ending....more
Some of these series have a limited shelf life and I would have to say that at #9 Victor has passed his use by date. An ice cold assassin has become aSome of these series have a limited shelf life and I would have to say that at #9 Victor has passed his use by date. An ice cold assassin has become a champion of the under trodden? Really? There's still lots of action for sure but the background story is just not believable. Oh, and Mr. Wood should buy himself an atlas. At the book's beginning Victor takes an open fishing boat from Canada across "the great lake" to sneak into the US (Chicago!) and do a contract. Quite a feat since Chicago is nowhere near the border....more
Somehow, I got gifted with an advance copy of this "coming in August" newest Stephen King and, well, best not to look too closely at where gifts come Somehow, I got gifted with an advance copy of this "coming in August" newest Stephen King and, well, best not to look too closely at where gifts come from. This is not your standard horror or supernatural King. No, SK is still trying to write a crime thriller. His first attempt(s) was the Bill Hodges trilogy which I found to be, shall we say, "SK meh", you know, like three and a half or four stars. I think he felt the same and brought in some good old supernatural in Book 3. Well, he may be an old dog, but he learned...Billy Summers is one Hell of a book! While I was reading it, I was reminded of Thomas Perry's The Butcher's Boy. It's a little like that trilogy but so much more. I really got involved with the characters here and couldn't put the book down. Again this is pure crime thriller with zero supernatural stuff and one great read....more
The fifth entry in the Mike and Rosie legal partnership series is not as good as the first four but once it gets rolling in the courtroom, it is interThe fifth entry in the Mike and Rosie legal partnership series is not as good as the first four but once it gets rolling in the courtroom, it is interesting enough. Siegel does know his stuff when it comes to the interplay between the judge and the lawyers....more
I'm generally not much of a fan of British crime writers but thought I'd give this short story/novella a go. I was pleasantly surprised and will have I'm generally not much of a fan of British crime writers but thought I'd give this short story/novella a go. I was pleasantly surprised and will have a look at the author's Roy Grace series....more
This mystery/thriller is readable and that is saying something in this era of "Mary had it all, or so it seemed, a handsome husband, two beautiful kidThis mystery/thriller is readable and that is saying something in this era of "Mary had it all, or so it seemed, a handsome husband, two beautiful kids, a shit load of money until one day her past blah, blah, blah...or her hubby/child disappeared and blah, blah, blah...". A lot of the book is an explanation of the used and antiquarian book trade (pre-Amazon & EBay) and I found that so interesting, I gave an extra star....more
All the characters in this book are teenagers suffering from cancer backed up by their parents, elder influences, so to speak. What makes this book diAll the characters in this book are teenagers suffering from cancer backed up by their parents, elder influences, so to speak. What makes this book different is that all these characters have entered that stage called "acceptance"...they are going to die sooner rather than later, so let's get on with whatever life we have left. Did I get all choked up? Want to cry? Nope! The kids in this book didn't. I'd be insulting them if I did. That's what makes this one damn good read....more
Early in the book, the author claims it not to be a memoir. Uh...it is, with a little "Doh!" level philosophy thrown in. MM had the good luck to be boEarly in the book, the author claims it not to be a memoir. Uh...it is, with a little "Doh!" level philosophy thrown in. MM had the good luck to be born drop-dead handsome with some acting talent. He wasn't the first and won't be the last. Two stars because he's not a bad writer....more
Misogyny alert! Why do female mystery/thriller wannabe writers have to ring the bell with the ubiquitous "psychological thriller" description. I usualMisogyny alert! Why do female mystery/thriller wannabe writers have to ring the bell with the ubiquitous "psychological thriller" description. I usually reject a book as soon as I see that because I know the book won't appeal to me. Okay, My Lovely Wife doesn't really fit that descriptor...actually it's more a very oblique ripoff of the Gone Girl storyline. The book works, the leaps of logic are handleable, Ms. Downing is a competent writer. Scant praise I know but there remains altogether too much of the male/female psy-games for my taste....more
This is an interesting screed on the way the super-rich keep their money and make it grow at everyone else's expense basically. You will probably comeThis is an interesting screed on the way the super-rich keep their money and make it grow at everyone else's expense basically. You will probably come away believing that the only way to level the playing field is with a full on revolution ala 18th century France....more
This may be the best time travel book I have ever read. I'll probably read it again and I never do that, but there is just so much philosophy, psycholThis may be the best time travel book I have ever read. I'll probably read it again and I never do that, but there is just so much philosophy, psychology and just straight up STORY, that it begs a second reading. A very under-read and under-rated novel....more
Perhaps I am reviewing this book too close to having finished it...Oh, what the Hell? This is just a great read! Excise maybe 70-odd pages of science Perhaps I am reviewing this book too close to having finished it...Oh, what the Hell? This is just a great read! Excise maybe 70-odd pages of science nerdliness and you have yourself an absolute classic, up there with Childhood's End. Not that the science is a chore...this is still a 5-star read (Pssst, better than The Martian IMO)....more
I didn't find this up to Mitzner's usual standard but like all of his books it was well written and very readable.I didn't find this up to Mitzner's usual standard but like all of his books it was well written and very readable....more
Nothing new here for anyone even remotely interested in diet and, as other reviewers have mentioned, does too many commercials for their favorite "WhoNothing new here for anyone even remotely interested in diet and, as other reviewers have mentioned, does too many commercials for their favorite "Whole Foods" type websites....more
Well, what a piece of crap! Not by Bourdain but kinda stitched together from tv programs, hearsay and post-it notes and narrated by his assistant who Well, what a piece of crap! Not by Bourdain but kinda stitched together from tv programs, hearsay and post-it notes and narrated by his assistant who in each city takes a break to let his brother or someone narrate with a lot of "F*ck this!, F*ck that! and other oh so with it curse words to (I guess) make us think he's channeling AB and trying to justify the "Irreverent" in the title. I agonized through Buenos Aires, Melbourne, Sydney, and Vienna and found out how much a cab ride from the airport into each city costs or used to cost. I also got a brief overview of his favorite restaurant in each city, that's assuming they haven't moved/sold the restaurant/raised the prices. I decided to forego learning cab fares in other world cities and DNF'd at that point. Got to be the worst ripoff of 2021 and I didn't pay for it!...more
Loading...
