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 - More Fiction
TAKEN by Robert Crais
PI Elvis Cole is contacted by a worried mother - her daughter has dropped out of sight, and the mother suspects that the influence of the young woman's boyfriend is to blame. Cole agrees to try to find the girl, and discovers an extremely cruel extortion scheme which preys on the vulnerability of illegal immigrants to the US.
Joe Pike steps in to help in classic fashion. The reader is in for a tense, atmospheric trip through the desert towns east of LA.
THE WINE OF VIOLENCE by Priscilla Royal
I've enjoyed the other books I've read by Royal, featuring Prioress Eleanor and Brother Thomas. Set in 13th century England, the books contain quite a bit of historical information about the era and the area. This volume introduces the two of them, and deals with a series of attacks and two murders occurring within the cloistered abbey where they serve.
EIGHT LIES (ABOUT THE TRUTH) by Sean Chercover
This is a nice collection of short suspense fiction, expanding on some of the author's regular characters and including a few new ones. Chercover is probably one of the better authors you've never heard of.
AND THEN THERE WERE NONE by Agatha Christie
The classic "locked room" mystery from the famous author. Ten people confined to a vacation home off the British coast begin dying one by one. It's clear after about the second death that one of them is a murderer. I haven't read very many by Christie - I enjoyed the Miss Marple series which ran on PBS a few years ago - featuring Joan Hickson in the title role. I was visiting some friends out of town, and saw this on their shelf. It's a quick engrossing read. I saw the movie years ago, so I knew from the beginning who did it, nevertheless, the story is taut and properly creepy. Knowing the ending didn't spoil it - I had forgotten how the killer pulled it off.
THE AWAKENING by Kate Chopin
A group of friends, mostly with online connections, picked this book for us all to read. Unfortunately a discussion has yet to take place. It's regarded as one of the earliest examples of "feminist" fiction, published around the beginning of the 20th century. I was underwhelmed. It seemed that the main character had begun to take steps to control her own life, but too soon was overwhelmed by the consequences of her decisions.
CALICO JOE by John Grisham
I'm not sure Grisham writes good books, but he does tell good stories! I eventually read most of his books, usually after I see a used paperback copy. In this one, he fictionalizes the 1973 baseball season, with a phenomenal rookie signed by the Chicago Cubs. His career is cut short by a tragedy, one which also involved the narrator's father.
I recommend the book for any baseball fans looking for a quick but absorbing read.
THE RACKETEER by John Grisham
Calico Joe had a teaser for this title at the end of the paperback edition, and when I saw it on the rack at the library, I couldn't resist.
A lawyer, imprisoned under a rather broad interpretation of the RICOH act, connives with several accomplices to get out of prison scot free. It works. I didn't follow all the plot twists, and the action definitely strains credulity. But as I said above, Grisham tells good stories!
THE ENGLISH GIRL by Daniel Silva
Silva's protagonist Gabriel Allon, had a happy career as an art restoration expert, when the Israeli government recruited him as a spy. So now, he does both. I've said more than once that Silva owes a debt to the tradition of the superhero who never makes a wrong step.
In this outing, he is hired to find the kidnapped mistress of the British prime minister and bring her to safety. when the action seemed to have concluded, but at least half of the book remained unread, I knew that there was going to be much, much more to the story, and that Silva had held back extremely important plot points.
From Corsica to the sandy shore of Denmark, to a wintry series of confrontations in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, Allon figures out what is really going on. Silva is another author who always delivers a good read.
That's it for fiction = some non fiction titles still to come.
PI Elvis Cole is contacted by a worried mother - her daughter has dropped out of sight, and the mother suspects that the influence of the young woman's boyfriend is to blame. Cole agrees to try to find the girl, and discovers an extremely cruel extortion scheme which preys on the vulnerability of illegal immigrants to the US.
Joe Pike steps in to help in classic fashion. The reader is in for a tense, atmospheric trip through the desert towns east of LA.
THE WINE OF VIOLENCE by Priscilla Royal
I've enjoyed the other books I've read by Royal, featuring Prioress Eleanor and Brother Thomas. Set in 13th century England, the books contain quite a bit of historical information about the era and the area. This volume introduces the two of them, and deals with a series of attacks and two murders occurring within the cloistered abbey where they serve.
EIGHT LIES (ABOUT THE TRUTH) by Sean Chercover
This is a nice collection of short suspense fiction, expanding on some of the author's regular characters and including a few new ones. Chercover is probably one of the better authors you've never heard of.
AND THEN THERE WERE NONE by Agatha Christie
The classic "locked room" mystery from the famous author. Ten people confined to a vacation home off the British coast begin dying one by one. It's clear after about the second death that one of them is a murderer. I haven't read very many by Christie - I enjoyed the Miss Marple series which ran on PBS a few years ago - featuring Joan Hickson in the title role. I was visiting some friends out of town, and saw this on their shelf. It's a quick engrossing read. I saw the movie years ago, so I knew from the beginning who did it, nevertheless, the story is taut and properly creepy. Knowing the ending didn't spoil it - I had forgotten how the killer pulled it off.
THE AWAKENING by Kate Chopin
A group of friends, mostly with online connections, picked this book for us all to read. Unfortunately a discussion has yet to take place. It's regarded as one of the earliest examples of "feminist" fiction, published around the beginning of the 20th century. I was underwhelmed. It seemed that the main character had begun to take steps to control her own life, but too soon was overwhelmed by the consequences of her decisions.
CALICO JOE by John Grisham
I'm not sure Grisham writes good books, but he does tell good stories! I eventually read most of his books, usually after I see a used paperback copy. In this one, he fictionalizes the 1973 baseball season, with a phenomenal rookie signed by the Chicago Cubs. His career is cut short by a tragedy, one which also involved the narrator's father.
I recommend the book for any baseball fans looking for a quick but absorbing read.
THE RACKETEER by John Grisham
Calico Joe had a teaser for this title at the end of the paperback edition, and when I saw it on the rack at the library, I couldn't resist.
A lawyer, imprisoned under a rather broad interpretation of the RICOH act, connives with several accomplices to get out of prison scot free. It works. I didn't follow all the plot twists, and the action definitely strains credulity. But as I said above, Grisham tells good stories!
THE ENGLISH GIRL by Daniel Silva
Silva's protagonist Gabriel Allon, had a happy career as an art restoration expert, when the Israeli government recruited him as a spy. So now, he does both. I've said more than once that Silva owes a debt to the tradition of the superhero who never makes a wrong step.
In this outing, he is hired to find the kidnapped mistress of the British prime minister and bring her to safety. when the action seemed to have concluded, but at least half of the book remained unread, I knew that there was going to be much, much more to the story, and that Silva had held back extremely important plot points.
From Corsica to the sandy shore of Denmark, to a wintry series of confrontations in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, Allon figures out what is really going on. Silva is another author who always delivers a good read.
That's it for fiction = some non fiction titles still to come.
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