The Darwin Conspiracy

The Darwin Conspiracy by John Darnton was a most excellent read. I read this in two days. It was very entertaining.

The story is told from three different perspectives, one is through the eyes of a modern day student, one is through Darwin himself, and one is through the letters and journals of people alive in Darwin's time.

Bottom line: Great read.

The Historian

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova was simply a great read. Part mystery, part suspense, part horror, and even part love story. It's just an all out entertaining read. At times I was so spooked that the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. This isn't Stephen King spooky, this is more subtle. More believable. More possible. It's well written, and a very fast read. Don't let the size of the book worry you. This really was one fun adventure!

Basically it is about a search for Dracula. Could it be possible that the historical figure Vlad the Impaler was in truth a vampire? That is the premise of the story and what a wild ride from there. Lush country side all over Europe make this book an extra special treat. Cultural and political differences between borders is fascinating and educational. Learn a little, get spooked a little, enjoy a lot!

Grave Peril

Grave Peril by Jim Butcher is book three of the Harry Dresden Wizard series. And like the two before it I LOVED it. I was sucked in. And once again found myself almost missing my bus stop because I was sucked into the stories.

This story is about ghosts and vampires. A fast and completely pleasurable read.

The Pillars of the Earth

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett was a phenomenal read. Don't let the size of the book scare you away. Trust me, as you approach the last few pages you wish it would keep going.

This is a beautiful story that I loved from cover to cover. The characters are wonderful.

Simply put, this is on my all time favorites list.

Deathstalker War

Deathstalker War by Simon R. Green is the third installment in the Deathstalker series. As with the first two it's a wonderful adventure. Fast reading and fast paced. With non-stop action. An all around fun read.

As the books progress the war between the Empress and the rebellion escalates. This book ultimately finishes with the battle on the homeworld with the Empress.

One treat in this book was the appearance of two wonderful characters that are also seen in Simon's book Shadowsfall. I was so stunned and excited I called my friend Ellie early on a Sunday morning to tell her. They were her favorite characters from Shadowsfall so I had to share with her. I figured she was at breakfast with her folks, which she was, and she kindly humored me.

Anyway, if you like well written sci fi adventures you'll love this series.

The Nautical Chart

The Nautical Chart by Aruro Perez-Reverte was described as a swashbuckling adventure. And to a certain point it was. One of the "problems" I had when I read this was that it takes place in modern day Spain. And I think I am so "Pirates of the Carib." obsessed that I had to keep bringing my mind through time to the present. The word cell phone just tripped me up. And that is TOTALLY my problem, not the authors. I love this guys writing style. This is the third book I have read by him and he has me hooked and loyal.

The story is about a sailor that currently finds himself without a ship. He, Coy, has been suspended from his career for two years due to an accident. It wasn't his fault but he was the navigator on duty at the time of the collision. So while in his land wanderings he meets a beautiful woman named Tanger. She has become obsessed with finding a boat that sunk off the coast near Cartegena. So the story revolves around Tanger's quest and Coy's willingness to help her. Love, intrigue, murder. It's all there.

It's a fun story. But if you are looking for spell binding page turners this isn't quite it. Mr. Perez-Reverte likes to build his stories with beautiful prose and "deep thoughts and reflections". That does not mean this story is boring, not by any means. It's a beautiful and interesting tale told by a master of prose.

Fool Moon

Fool Moon by Jim Butcher is the 2nd in the Harry Dresden Wizard series. I guess it's easiest to simply say "I'm in Love" these books are marvelous. Easy ready escapes from the world. I have officially now missed my bus stop twice I was so engrossed in the story.

Storm Front

Storm Front by Jim Butcher is the first book in the Harry Dresden Wizard series. These are the books that the Sci Fi. series is based on. I LOVE them both. I am especially enjoying this because I adore the man that plays Harry Dresden on the show. So having him running around in my head is a good thing. The voice in the story is exactly like the television series. So far the characters are all the same. Murphy the cop, her skeptical partner, and Bob the skull. There are slight changes in the television series that actually work. Such as Bob gets a body in the series but so far not in the book. It just works better for the tv show. Murphy in the books is more believeing in the magic. And Harry can be more forthcoming about it in the books. But still, the similarities are enough to allow me to easily play the show in my head while I read. I am REALLY enjoying this series. Fast, easy and entertaining. A beach blanket book that has intelligence and fun all rolled into one nice package. Seriously a great read.

Flesh and Blood

Flesh and Blood my Michael Cunningham tells the story of three generations of a family that came from the "old world" to the United States. It's a beautiful tale of all the things that keep a family together but also the things that tear them apart. Of what makes the various people of a family love and hate each other. I am not sure what else to say except that I enjoyed reading this. I can't say I fell in love with any character or that I cared deeply for any of them, but I enjoyed reading about each of their lives. This was just simply a well written story about a family.

The Wooden Sea

The Wooden Sea by Jonathan Carroll was an interesting story. I really liked the idea behind it. The main character is chief of police in a small town in New York. One day a three legged dog is found in a grocery store parking lot. No one knows what to do with the dog so they bring it to the police station. Frannie, the police chief brings the dog into his office. Goes and buys him food, dishes, and a blanket and let's the dog hang out with him while he tries to figure out what to do. But as he is talking about the dog with his family the dog dies.

And Frannie's life will never be the same.

I liked this story up until the end. It wasn't a bad end. It was just not a really satisfying end. The author gets you thinking about all sorts of things, time, love, aging, the universe, god, you name it, he gives you something to think long and hard about. But the end just sort of ends. Maybe he intended it to be that way. After all, we don't have answers to the great questions so why would he provide one? So maybe, as I think about it, it wasn't so bad after all.

In the Company of the Courtesan

In the Company of the Courtesan by Sarah Dunant is a wonderful tale about 16th Century Venice. After Rome is sacked by Spanish and German invaders a dwarf and his partner a beautiful Venetian Courtesan return to her home in Venice to start anew.

This is a beautiful story. I fell in love with the author's previous book The Birth of Venus so I was anxious to read her next novel. And this one did not disappoint.

Deathstalker Rebellion

Deathstalker Rebellion by Simon R. Green is book 2 in his massive Deathstalker series. I absolutely and completely LOVE anything written by this man. And the Deathstalker series has been no exception. They are fun and interesting reads. Comical yet bloody good adventures. And even if not all that much happens in 400 pages, it is still a most excellent 400 pages. I plowed through this book with gusto. I couldn't read enough. Simon Green continues to leave me in awe with everything I read from him. I just simply love his style, his characters, and his incredibly creative mind. Picking up a Simon Green book is always a gift to myself. The man is a literary god.

Myth Hunters

Myth Hunters by Christopner Golden is a marvelous read. The main character Oliver Bascombe is sitting quietly in his mother's parlor when a very wounded Jack Frost enters his life. And Jack is being hunted. So Oliver helps Jack escape only to find himself in The Veil. The Veil was created as a place for those of magic and mystery to go because mankind had lost its sense of wonder and belief. Man had become fixated on schedules and work. There was no place in the world for things of wonder and beauty.

But in helping Jack, Oliver becomes one of the hunted. And now they both must flee for their lives.

I can't begin to tell you how much I loved this story. The second book, Borderkind comes out at the end of the month. I can't wait.

The God of Small Things

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy has been re-shelved about 142 pages into the story. I just can't seem to get into it. And there are so many books to read. Maybe I'll pick it back up and finish it one of these days but for now it will get dusty.

The Dark Water

The Dark Water by David Pirie tells the adventures of Arthur Conan Doyle and his friend Joseph Bell. Doyle is stalked and hunted by a man known as Cream. Much like Holmes Moriarty this man figures profoundly in Doyles life.

I picked this book up at the library on a whim. And it is a very fast and easy read. I found myself immersed in the story and enjoying it. But I also found myself distracted and my mind would wander. I don't know if it was the book or my mood but I even put it down about 120 pages into it and thought to return it unfinished. But I picked it back up and finished it in no time. I'm glad I at least found out the end to the mystery.

Teckla

Teckla by Steven Brust is the 5th book chronologically in the Vlad Taltos series. I love these books. Fast reads with enough action and mystery to keep me hooked.

Please Don't Come Back from the Moon

Please don't Come Back from the Moon by Dean Bakopoulos tells the story of a small midwestern town. One day almost all the father's up and leave. The explanation: they went to the moon. How else could they disapear so completely.

This is the story of how the abandoned sons grew up and what their lives became. Would they join their father's? What would they all become as they grew older?

It's a fascinating story. An easy read. Nothing incredibly deep or life changing. But I read a review when this book first came out and they said it was marvelous. I enjoyed this story and I"m glad I read it.

In the Hand of Dante

In the Hand of Dante by Nick Tosches is quite a read. I enjoyed this book. The author is raw and graphic. But also heartbreakingly beautiful in his writing style. The story is fascinating. And this is the second book in a row in which I feel that the author is truly a deeply knowledgeable person with more brains in their pinky than the a roomful of average people. Damn is this man smart.

But much like Club Dumas this is not a book that makes you feel stupid. On the contrary. It's entertaining and educational. It is also a great adventure into the seedier sides of life.

The Club Dumas by Arturo Perez-Reverte is a stunning book. Very intriguing, highly intellectual, yet all the time remaining on solid ground with a writing style that flows easily, isn't pretentious, and allows any reader to enjoy the story. I could have felt a bit out of my league reading this but the author does an excellent job of "keeping it real" for lack of a better way to describe it. It is the story of a manuscript, a chapter from Dumas' Three Musketeers. Is it authentic? And if so why are there two different handwriting's on the pages? Why is one set white and the other blue?

While trying to find out the authenticity of the manuscript the main character is plunged into another mystery. That of a book of which there are only three known copies in the world. Believed to have been destroyed for it's satanic content could any of the three be the actual original? Or are they all copies? Do they differ in anyway that might be telling?

The main character suddenly finds himself in trouble. Someone wants him dead. And the two mysteries are somehow tied together.

You'll have to read the story to find out more. It's a fast paced read. A fascinating look into the world of book collecting. As well as a little bit of history. You learn a lot in this book but find yourself enjoying the education.

The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad is a very good read. I learned a great deal about the Afghan culture as well as enjoyed a good story. The author lived with a family for several months and this is their story. She tells us a little about each family member. Telling us their story from each of their own perspectives. It's a fascinating tale.

If you ever wanted to know more about this region of the country this is an excellent and fast read.