| Below are my most recent book reviews. Books are identified by type and are rated: |
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| **** A terrific book which I greatly enjoyed and recommend |
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| *** A good book of high value which I recommend |
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| ** A good book that I found interesting and recommend if you are interested in the subject |
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| * A book which I did not enjoy |
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| See drop-down menu under books for previously reviewed books |
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| New Books reviewed since last update |
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| Title |
Author |
Type |
Rating |
Description |
Date Reviewed |
| Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Ever Seen |
Christopher McDougall |
Non-Fiction |
**** |
What “The Wave” was to surfing, this book is to running. Some science, some medicine, a reclusive tribe of Mexican Indians, and a cast of crazy characters who run ultramarathons, this is a fascinating book for anyone – not just runners. You will laugh and you will learn and you may also just be inspired! |
2013-01 |
| Tears of the Desert: A Memoir of Survival in Darfur |
Halima Bashir & Lewis Slave |
Non-fiction |
**** |
(Bradley) This is a heart breaking story about a young black woman who came of age during the GENOCIDE in the Darfour region of Sudan. Her father, a local goat herder, was a very sharp man and early on recognized Halima as an exceptional student who should be given every opportunity to succeed, even though they were Muslim. In the process of telling her life’s story, Halima provides first hand detailed information of the atrocities inflicted on the Blacks of Sudan by the Arabs (Janjaweed horseman) with the backing of the elected government. All the while the UN and world did little more than issue declarations to prevent the disaster, even refusing to use the work Genocide, for that would require the UN to act. This is a must read for anyone who believes there remains value in the UN. Harsh in her honesty, Halima’s story is both shocking and very disturbing. It is amazing what one person with power can do to another! |
2013-01 |
| Fighter Pilot – The Memores of Legendary Ace Robin Olds |
Robin Olds & Chritina Olds |
Non-fiction |
*** |
(Bradley) Robin Olds is a West Point Graduate, accelerated class of 43, who goes on to become an ace in both World War II and the Vietnam war. He offers some very interesting and accurate insights into the challenges we face with our Militrary. Many of his comments could be applied to the problems we have faced in recent wars. More importantly his story offers insights into the challanges faced by those who grew up in a militrary family in the 50′s & 60′s. I highly recomend Fighter Pilot and would have given it 4 stars except for some excessive detail on actual dogfights, which does not translate well into visual images for non-pilots. |
2011-12 |
| Murder in the High Himalaya |
Jonathan Green |
Non-Fiction |
*** |
True story of a group of British climbers in 2006 who witnessed the murder by Chinese troops of a 17 year old Tibetan nun. The author researched the story of the nun as well as the climbers to provide a factual account of real events that will leave you saddened and angry. Anyone who thinks the Chinese think and act like we do should read this book. |
2012-11 |
| The Man in the Rockefeller Suit: The Astonishing Rise and Spectacular Fall of a Serial Imposter |
Mark Seal |
Non-Fiction |
*** |
The true story of a Catch Me If You Can caliber con man – a German born man who moves to the US and assumes a variety of identities which nobody ever questions. His last is that of Clark Rockefeller and everyone who knows him, including his wife, believes he is a member of the wealthy family. The author seemed to develop an obsession with the story, but does a good job of piecing together the sequences of events. Interesting read, though there’s a bit of “so what” to it. |
2013-01 |
| The Kill Artist |
Daniel Silva |
Historical Fiction |
** |
First in the Gabriel Allon series, this is the story of a former Israeli assasin who tries to retire but gets called back to help with a terrorist who is an old nemesis. Meant to help illustrate some of the origins of the Israeli-Palestinian conflicts, Silva gives good background on both sides. A bit violent but a decent story with some educational value. |
2013-01 |
| The Racketeer |
John Grisham |
Fiction |
*** |
Good Grisham thriller. A small town lawyer is unfairly convicted of money landering on behalf of his client and sent to a minimum security prison. When a federal judge is murdered, he trades knowledge of his crime for his release, resulting in an interesting series of events that take many twists and turns and should leave you satisfied at the end. |
2012-11 |
| The Hostage |
W.E.B Griffin |
Fiction |
** |
Second in the Presidential Agent series, this story involves the kidnapping of a US Diplomat’s wife in Argentina and subsequent murder of the diplomat. While not one of Griffin’s best, it’s still a good read. |
2013-01 |
| I, Michael Bennett |
James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge |
Fiction |
* |
Michael Bennett, a widowed detective with ten adopted kids, takes down a major drug kingpin who then seeks revenge. Not a great story line but it was OK. I listened to the audio version and had just settled in to listen to the ending, when it ended. In fact there was no ending. The book just stopped. I thought something had happened to my download and spent a good bit of time via a slow internet connection ensuring that was not the case. Then I went to Amazon and saw all the furious reviews from readers who encountered the same thing – no ending. Apparently a set up so you have to buy the sequel – NOT! |
2012-12 |
| The Bone Bed |
Patricia Cornwell |
Fiction |
* |
Years ago I liked Cornwell and her heroine Kay Scarpetta. Then I read a couple of her books that were really bad. Thought I’d give this one a try in hopes that she had returned to form. No such luck. A pretty inane story line with a bad guy that makes no sense. Skip it. |
2012-11 |
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| Books Previously Reviewed |
See tabs under Books for more |
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| Title |
Author |
Type |
Rating |
Description |
Date Reviewed |
| The Airmen and the Headhunters: A True Story of Lost Soldiers, Heroic Tribesmen and the Unlikeliest Rescue of World War II |
Judith M. Heimann |
Non-Fiction |
**** |
(Bradley’s review) It is the fascinating true story of some lost US airman, their rescue first by the headhunting natives of Borneo and then months later by an incredible Australian Major (who’s team, while killing more Japanese than all the Australian “special forces” combined did not lose a single soldier while behind enemy lines). This book provides one a realistic look into the cost of the war on the solders, their families, and the natives. What an amazing story of personal sacrifice, bravery, and team effort. When their plane was shot done while on a mission, the local tribes people, the Dayack faced a very difficult choice. Do they rescue these strange Americans or turn them over to the Japanese. The heroic efforts of these strangers at great personal risk, give one a little hope in human nature (something we need today). I highly recommend this book to those who appreciate non-fiction and believe the free world owes a serious debt to those who purchased our freedom today with their actions and selfless bravery. |
2012-11 |
| Hellhound on His Trail |
Hampton Sides |
Non-Fiction |
**** |
This is a very detailed account of the man who assasinated Martin Luther King in 1968. Sides does a great job of presenting the story, including great insight into King’s final months as well as the path taken by his killer. Following the assasination, the FBI embarks on one of the largest manhunts in their history, finally getting their man. As I was quite young when King was assasinated, I really enjoyed reading the details of the time and the events. While there are still many people who believe there was a conspiracy and/or that the killer at least had help, Sides concludes it was primarily one person acting on his own. I found his version very credible. |
2012-11 |
| Day After Night |
Anita Diamante |
Historical Fiction |
*** |
A fictionalized account of three women who are held in the Atlit camp in the Middle East following the end of WWII. Atlit, located near Haifa, was a British facility and many Jews who fled after the world were “displaced persons” with nowhere to go. Many of them ended up going from concentration camps during the war to holding facilities after the war. Although the characters are not real, the backdrop is, including the finale where the “inmates” are rescued and sent to various kibbutzes. I confess to having very little knowledge of the events in this book beforehand and found it quite educational and well-written. Highly recommended. |
2012-11 |
| Horse of a Different Color |
James D. Squires |
Non-Fiction |
*** |
(Bradley’s review) Written by the ex-publisher of the Chicago Tribune, Squires brings wit, honesty, and insight to the horse racing industry. After leaving publishing he and his wife “the dominate one” decide to pursue their passion for horse breeding, after a land investment turns sour, by starting a breeding farm. Of course, the goal is breed a winner of the world’s most important race – the Kentucky Derby. In spite of the fact that very early in the book you know the outcome, this is a very revealing look at horseracing, with all its blemishes and accomplishments. Other than providing a little too much detail about which horses are related, kind of like trying to follow your brothers’ second cousin on his mother’s side once removed, it is a very quick and worthwhile read. |
2012-11 |
| The Wrecker |
Clive Cussler |
Historical Fiction |
** |
Second in the Isaac Bell series, set in the early 20th century during the era of the railroads, detective Isaac Bell is on the trail of a killer known as The Wrecker who is out to destroy the railroad and its tycoon owner. Reasonably interesting, but not as good as the first book in the series. The good guys win in the end, but certainly have their shares of missteps and errors along the way. |
2012-11 |
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