Monthly Archives: March 2013

The Chemistry of Tears by Peter Carey 2012/ 229 pages general fiction rating: 8.5 Carey seems to have done what he’s done several times before –  he’s constructed a book from two main plot threads.  One is “his” thread, one … Continue reading →

The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson western crime 2004 / 400 pages read by George Guidell – 13h 8m rating:   C Walt Longmire has been the sheriff of a small county in Wyoming for a long time.  One night the … Continue reading →

Thirty Years War by C.V. Wedgewood 1938   / 536 pages Rating:  9 The Thirty Years War was the last really large series of conflicts of the Wars of Reformation which had involved the European Protestants and Catholics for in … Continue reading →

Eye of the Red Tsar by Sam Eastland crime / Russia-historical 2010 / 288 pages read by Paul Michael 9h 4m rating:  B+ The Tsar and his family were executed in 1918.  Now,  in 1928,  Pekkala (of the unknown first … Continue reading →

Feasting, Fasting by Anita Desai 1999/240 pages Booker s’list / India rating: 9 Odd I should actually read a paperback rather than an e-book, but this was on a super-sale and I couldn’t resist.   Although Desai has been widely acclaimed … Continue reading →

You’re Next by Gregg Hurwitz 2011 / 560 pages read by Scott Brick 14h. 1m suspense-thriller rating:   A++ Oh what a totally fabulous book – okay,  it starts out a little goodie-goodie with Mike being a bit too honest … Continue reading →

Thomas Jefferson: Author of America by Christopher Hitchens 2005/196 pages Rating:  9 This is more of a long biographical essay than a biography as such.  It’s a short book,  Hitchens’  ideas are well supported,  but there are no source notes. … Continue reading →

The Fallen Angel by Daniel Silva 2012 / 432 pages read by George Guidall 10h 25m rating:  D Why did I read this?  Because it was on sale and on the surface it looked good.  Later  I found out it … Continue reading →

Resurrection Men by Ian Rankin 2002/ 464 pages read by Joe Dunlop – 15h 34m rating :  B+ And John Rebus finds himself sequestered at Tuliallan Castle for retraining.   There,  he infiltrates a group of the truly corrupt known as “The … Continue reading →

A Distant Shore by Caryl Phillips 2003 / 288 pages contemporary fiction rating: 8.5 This book is comprised of 5 unnamed chapters which at first seem unrelated.   They are related.  This is a novel.  It which won a place … Continue reading →

Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo 2012 / 257 pages (Kindle) non-fiction – contemporary India rating:  9.5 Harrowing tale of life of Muslim immigrants to an impoverished and basically Hindu slum area … Continue reading →

Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power by Rachel Maddow non-fiction 2012 / 288 pages Read by Maddow / 7h 31m Rating:  8.5 My sister recommended this – I found it on Audible and promptly got it. I have no … Continue reading →

The Preacher by Camilla Lackberg mystery 2011 / 15h 46m read by David Thorn rating:  B- I enjoy the frame story of Patrik Hedstrom and Erica Falck in their new life together with a baby on the way,  and individually … Continue reading →

HHhH by Laurent Binet (tr. by Sam Taylor) historical fiction – WWII 2010 Fr / 2012 US / 336 Kindle Rating: 9.5 I suppose I should dislike this book if I’m to remain consistent with prior ideas,  but …  I … Continue reading →

The Human Comedy by William Saroyan classic fiction 1943/ 192 pages Rating: 9.5 I’ve lived here south of Fresno for darned near 50 years and I’ve never read Saroyan!   Omg!  I’ve been to the Saroyan theater – seeing The Nutcracker … Continue reading →

Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard by Kiran Desai fiction – India 1998 / 224 pages Rating:  7 This is a somewhat silly but very fun read – inspired by a rather bizarre true a true story from India  Desai takes that … Continue reading →

All Cry Chaos by Leonard Rosen mystery 2010 / 332 pages read by Grover Gardner /  10h 24m rating – B This is the debut novel for author Rosen along with his protagonist,  Henri Poincaré,  and although it was quite a … Continue reading →