Books and other stuff I feel like discussing
By education and experience - Accountant with a specialty in taxation. Formerly a CPA (license has lapsed). Masters degree in law of taxation from University of Denver. Now retired. Part time work during baseball season as receptionist & switchboard operator for the Colorado Rockies. This gig feeds my soul in ways I have trouble articulating. One daughter, and four grandchildren. I share the house with two cats; a big goof of a cat called Grinch (named as a joke for his easy going "whatever" disposition); and Lady, a shelter adoptee with a regal bearing and sweet little soprano voice. I would be very bereft if it ever becomes necessary to keep house without a cat.
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Books Update
I have been reading, really I have! I just checked to see when my last summary of books was posted, and it was early December. I've got some catching up to do, probably will make this two posts, I'll finish up tomorrow.
THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE by Steig Larsson
I am among the throngs of readers who got hooked on this trilogy, about the unusual Lisbeth Salander and her abilities to hack into the tightest computer system. In this entry, she meets a menacing figure from her past, while in a parallel story journalists trace a sex trafficking ring. The book ends with a cliff hanger, sending me immediately to read
THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET'S NEST by Steig Larsson
Lisbeth is gravely wounded as the book opens, is taken into police custody, and prepares to stand trial. Subterfuge on the part of her friend Mikhail Bloomquist provides Lisbeth with the technology she needs to assist in preparing for her defense. Of the three books in this series, I enjoyed this one most.
THE FRACTURE ZONE by Simon Winchester
Winchester is one of my favorite authors, but this title was not on audio, darn it! But I found it engrossing, as I knew I would. As a journalist, Winchester traveled through the Balkans during the upheaval in Kosovo during the early 1990's, and published this summary of his travels. Very insightful, and more than a little nerve wracking at times.
MANHUNT by James Swanson
Very detailed summary of John Wilkes Booth planning and carrying out the assaination of Abraham Lincoln, and the effort by law enforcement agents to track him down and arrest him.
WHITER THAN SNOW by Sandra Dallas
Dallas lives and writes in the Denver area, and often bases her historical novels in Colorado, loosely linked to actual historical events. One of my book discussion groups chose this for our session. The story of a deadly avalanche, and its effect on the residents of the little mountain town. I read it very quickly, and had a lukewarm reaction. Most of the other discussion group members agreed.
THE LONELY POLYGAMIST by Brady Udall
The protagonist of this ironic novel has four wives, three households, goodness knows how many children, and a strong physical attraction to the wife of the best customer of his home construction and renovation business. Needless to say, things get very complicated. At times the author plays for laughs, at other times he tugs your heartstrings. I couldn't really tell you why I picked it up from the library shelf, but in the end I was very glad I did.
WANTING SHEILA DEAD by Jane Haddam
Haddam usually looks to popular culture for the underlying situations in her mystery novels. The Sheila of the title is the main on screen host of a reality TV show, a sort of hybrid of survivor and "America's next big star" type of show. Several attempts (or what seems to be attempts) are made on the life of the TV host, but the deaths occur among other persons connected with the show. Retired FBI agent Gregor Demarkian gets involved and sorts it all out. Haddam has a nice way of ending each of her chapters on a sort of mini-cliffhanger and abruptly shifting the scene as the next chapter begins. To find out what happens to the characters in early chapters, you have to keep reading and adding more cliffhangers to the mix.
LEARNING TO DIE IN MIAMI by Carlos Eire
Eire won several awards a few years ago with his memoir WAITING FOR SNOW IN HAVANA. The author and his brother were among the young children airlifted out of Cuba in the early 1960's. In their case, they were left without any parental care when their mother's plans to follow them were thwarted. The two boys spent months in a series of foster homes, one of which was a real nightmare. Eventually their mother was able to join them. The title of the book refers to Thomas Aquinas of all things. Both of his memoirs are excellent, and I recommend them to all readers.
More later.
Happy reading!
THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE by Steig Larsson
I am among the throngs of readers who got hooked on this trilogy, about the unusual Lisbeth Salander and her abilities to hack into the tightest computer system. In this entry, she meets a menacing figure from her past, while in a parallel story journalists trace a sex trafficking ring. The book ends with a cliff hanger, sending me immediately to read
THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET'S NEST by Steig Larsson
Lisbeth is gravely wounded as the book opens, is taken into police custody, and prepares to stand trial. Subterfuge on the part of her friend Mikhail Bloomquist provides Lisbeth with the technology she needs to assist in preparing for her defense. Of the three books in this series, I enjoyed this one most.
THE FRACTURE ZONE by Simon Winchester
Winchester is one of my favorite authors, but this title was not on audio, darn it! But I found it engrossing, as I knew I would. As a journalist, Winchester traveled through the Balkans during the upheaval in Kosovo during the early 1990's, and published this summary of his travels. Very insightful, and more than a little nerve wracking at times.
MANHUNT by James Swanson
Very detailed summary of John Wilkes Booth planning and carrying out the assaination of Abraham Lincoln, and the effort by law enforcement agents to track him down and arrest him.
WHITER THAN SNOW by Sandra Dallas
Dallas lives and writes in the Denver area, and often bases her historical novels in Colorado, loosely linked to actual historical events. One of my book discussion groups chose this for our session. The story of a deadly avalanche, and its effect on the residents of the little mountain town. I read it very quickly, and had a lukewarm reaction. Most of the other discussion group members agreed.
THE LONELY POLYGAMIST by Brady Udall
The protagonist of this ironic novel has four wives, three households, goodness knows how many children, and a strong physical attraction to the wife of the best customer of his home construction and renovation business. Needless to say, things get very complicated. At times the author plays for laughs, at other times he tugs your heartstrings. I couldn't really tell you why I picked it up from the library shelf, but in the end I was very glad I did.
WANTING SHEILA DEAD by Jane Haddam
Haddam usually looks to popular culture for the underlying situations in her mystery novels. The Sheila of the title is the main on screen host of a reality TV show, a sort of hybrid of survivor and "America's next big star" type of show. Several attempts (or what seems to be attempts) are made on the life of the TV host, but the deaths occur among other persons connected with the show. Retired FBI agent Gregor Demarkian gets involved and sorts it all out. Haddam has a nice way of ending each of her chapters on a sort of mini-cliffhanger and abruptly shifting the scene as the next chapter begins. To find out what happens to the characters in early chapters, you have to keep reading and adding more cliffhangers to the mix.
LEARNING TO DIE IN MIAMI by Carlos Eire
Eire won several awards a few years ago with his memoir WAITING FOR SNOW IN HAVANA. The author and his brother were among the young children airlifted out of Cuba in the early 1960's. In their case, they were left without any parental care when their mother's plans to follow them were thwarted. The two boys spent months in a series of foster homes, one of which was a real nightmare. Eventually their mother was able to join them. The title of the book refers to Thomas Aquinas of all things. Both of his memoirs are excellent, and I recommend them to all readers.
More later.
Happy reading!
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