http://www.goodreads.com/review/list_rss/129091 en-US Sun, 06 Jul 2008 17:20:41 -0700 60 http://www.goodreads.com/ 200 41 http://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/gr_logo.gif 14179357 Sun, 06 Jul 2008 17:20:41 -0700
author: Charlie Huston
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2007
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 07/06/08
shelves: fantasy, noir, thriller
review:

]]> 10768589 Sun, 06 Jul 2008 17:15:57 -0700
author: Michael Chabon
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.38
book published: 2007
rating: 1
read at:
date added: 07/06/08
shelves: dnf
review:

]]> 14179214 Sun, 06 Jul 2008 17:15:32 -0700
author: Lee Child
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 07/06/08
shelves: noir
review:

]]> 14179403 Sun, 06 Jul 2008 17:15:02 -0700
author: Ritch Shydner
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.45
book published: 2006
rating: 2
read at:
date added: 07/06/08
shelves: funneh, non-fiction
review:

]]> 14179605 Sun, 06 Jul 2008 17:13:44 -0700
author: Jake Rossen
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2008
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 07/06/08
shelves: history
review:

]]> 14179276 Sun, 06 Jul 2008 17:12:13 -0700
author: Lee Child
name: Gregg
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2005
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 07/06/08
shelves: noir, thriller
review:

]]> 26449083 Sun, 06 Jul 2008 12:39:09 -0700
author: Matt Ruff
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.57
book published: 2007
rating: 2
read at:
date added: 07/06/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 21916651 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:49:20 -0700
author: Eleanor Herman
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.48
book published: 2005
rating: 3
read at: 07/08
date added: 07/01/08
shelves: history, non-fiction
review:

]]> 21916642 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:48:55 -0700
author: Adam Langer
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.74
book published: 2005
rating: 3
read at: 07/08
date added: 07/01/08
shelves: bildungsroman
review:

]]> 26042475 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:48:09 -0700
author: Lee Child
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.71
book published: 2008
rating: 1
read at:
date added: 07/01/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 26042434 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:47:54 -0700
author: Chris Bohjalian
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.41
book published: 2005
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 07/01/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 26042404 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:47:39 -0700
author: Stephenie Meyer
name: Gregg
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2008
rating: 2
read at:
date added: 07/01/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 19222036 Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:31:11 -0700
author: Anne Enright
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.10
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 04/01/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 19221967 Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:30:27 -0700
author: Richard K. Morgan
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.59
book published: 2008
rating: 2
read at:
date added: 04/01/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 14179524 Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:39:47 -0800
author: Marcus Sakey
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.36
book published: 2007
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 01/31/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 14178310 Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:33:19 -0800
author: Stephen King
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2008
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 01/31/08
shelves:
review:
Haven't read a King in years - still one of the great modern storytellers. Even when you get down to the 'mystery' of the book and realize it didn't exactly merit the 300+ pages that preceded it, you don't really care that much because you were so entertained along the way. Fun and suspenseful and shows a more mature King - this is a perfect beach read.
]]> 12776800 Thu, 17 Jan 2008 13:54:07 -0800
Think of this as "Stand By Me" by Steven King on meth. Four aimless boys in small-town California circa 1980 smoke dope, goof off, and avoid looking for summer jobs. They have friends who know people in the local underworld, and soon the boys run afowl of the town's drug lords. Add to this the boys' parents who all have pasts of their own which kicks the polt into high gear. A classic example of how small decisions and events can snowball into large do-or-die situations.

Huston is a master at dialog, and the banter and back-and-forth between the boys sounds incredibly realistic. (Not that I would know anything about being in a group of teen boys who hang out playing D&D until three in the morning. Not at all. Let's just move on, shall we?)

A book that's highly readable with a layered, meaty, fast-moving noir plot - what's not to like?]]>
author: Charlie Huston
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.72
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 01/17/08
shelves: bildungsroman, thriller
review:
Another excellent book from Huston, who also shines in his Joe Pitt/vampire private eye series. (No, really!)

Think of this as "Stand By Me" by Steven King on meth. Four aimless boys in small-town California circa 1980 smoke dope, goof off, and avoid looking for summer jobs. They have friends who know people in the local underworld, and soon the boys run afowl of the town's drug lords. Add to this the boys' parents who all have pasts of their own which kicks the polt into high gear. A classic example of how small decisions and events can snowball into large do-or-die situations.

Huston is a master at dialog, and the banter and back-and-forth between the boys sounds incredibly realistic. (Not that I would know anything about being in a group of teen boys who hang out playing D&D until three in the morning. Not at all. Let's just move on, shall we?)

A book that's highly readable with a layered, meaty, fast-moving noir plot - what's not to like?
]]> 11906155 Mon, 07 Jan 2008 14:25:07 -0800
author: John Hart
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.53
book published: 2007
rating: 2
read at: 02/08
date added: 01/07/08
shelves: mystery
review:

]]> 11904920 Mon, 07 Jan 2008 14:20:11 -0800
This story of a family curse that runs its course through generations of a Dominican Republic family is some serious nerd lit, and I'm surprised that it's gotten as much run as it has, appearing on several end-year best-of lists. Have wikipedia and a Spanish-to-English dictionary handy, because both are going to get a workout, as author Diaz spins fabulous strands of pop-culture references through his geek-tough prose. If you don't know who Uatu the Watcher is, what a d10 is used for, or aren't down with your Tolkien, you're going to have some serious problems. But since I grew up with the Monster Manual in one hand and the Offical Handbook of the Marvel Universe in the other, this was right in my wheelhouse. ]]>
author: Junot Díaz
name: Gregg
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2007
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 01/07/08
shelves: literaturah, pantheon
review:
Sweet baby Jesus, what a great book.

This story of a family curse that runs its course through generations of a Dominican Republic family is some serious nerd lit, and I'm surprised that it's gotten as much run as it has, appearing on several end-year best-of lists. Have wikipedia and a Spanish-to-English dictionary handy, because both are going to get a workout, as author Diaz spins fabulous strands of pop-culture references through his geek-tough prose. If you don't know who Uatu the Watcher is, what a d10 is used for, or aren't down with your Tolkien, you're going to have some serious problems. But since I grew up with the Monster Manual in one hand and the Offical Handbook of the Marvel Universe in the other, this was right in my wheelhouse.
]]> 11904626 Mon, 07 Jan 2008 14:11:34 -0800
author: Gene Luen Yang
name: Gregg
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2006
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 01/07/08
shelves: bildungsroman, fantasy, graphicnovels, youngadult
review:
Wonderful graphic novel about not fitting in as a teen - you don't have to be Chinese to appreciate that. The narrative, drawn in a clean, almost Powerpuff Girl style, features three interlocking tales that blend together masterfully, using elements of Chinese mythology to tell its tale, and reads a bit like a modern-day fairy tale.
]]> 10768479 Thu, 20 Dec 2007 13:08:58 -0800
author: Michael Weinreb
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.43
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at: 02/08
date added: 12/20/07
shelves: bildungsroman, history, narrativenonfic, non-fiction, sports
review:

]]> 9158753 Thu, 15 Nov 2007 13:06:13 -0800
author: Robert Wilder
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2007
rating: 0
read at: 02/08
date added: 11/15/07
shelves: dnf
review:

]]> 9158737 Thu, 15 Nov 2007 13:05:47 -0800
author: Andrew Nagorski
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.62
book published: 2007
rating: 0
read at: 02/08
date added: 11/15/07
shelves: dnf
review:

]]> 8533115 Thu, 15 Nov 2007 13:05:13 -0800
author: Karen Miller
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.60
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at: 11/07
date added: 11/15/07
shelves: fantasy
review:

]]> 8533152 Sat, 10 Nov 2007 07:00:36 -0800
author: Brian Garfield
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.60
book published: 2004
rating: 2
read at:
date added: 11/10/07
shelves: mystery
review:
The book is okay - the film version with Walther Matthau is much better.
]]> 8475774 Wed, 31 Oct 2007 07:58:54 -0700
author: Richard Aleas
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2007
rating: 2
read at:
date added: 10/31/07
shelves: mystery, noir, thriller
review:

]]> 8475516 Wed, 31 Oct 2007 07:57:44 -0700
He attempt to unravel her life, trying both to find her killer and discover how she went from wholesome pre-med student to sensual grifter, is full of twists and turns, and the story packs real punch. Fast and enjoyable: this is how I like my books. Recommended. ]]>
author: Richard Aleas
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2004
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 10/31/07
shelves: mystery, noir, thriller
review:
My first real introduction to the evil noir geniuses over at Hard Case Crime. This book, written by one of the publishers, is a story about a young detective who finds out his high-school sweetheart, now stripping on one of the seediest clubs in New York, was found shot to death.

He attempt to unravel her life, trying both to find her killer and discover how she went from wholesome pre-med student to sensual grifter, is full of twists and turns, and the story packs real punch. Fast and enjoyable: this is how I like my books. Recommended.
]]> 7599175 Thu, 11 Oct 2007 16:36:14 -0700
author: Jay Winik
name: Gregg
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2007
rating: 3
read at: 10/07
date added: 10/11/07
shelves: history, non-fiction
review:

]]> 7599121 Thu, 11 Oct 2007 16:34:50 -0700
author: Stephen Colbert
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2007
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 10/11/07
shelves: dnf
review:

]]> 6953744 Fri, 28 Sep 2007 11:44:56 -0700
author: William Gibson
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.54
book published: 2007
rating: 0
read at: 02/08
date added: 09/28/07
shelves: dnf
review:

]]> 6947096 Fri, 28 Sep 2007 09:47:03 -0700
author: Bart D. Ehrman
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2007
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 09/28/07
shelves: dnf
review:

]]> 6844239 Wed, 26 Sep 2007 13:08:07 -0700
author: Cormac McCarthy
name: Gregg
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2006
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 09/26/07
shelves: literaturah, noir
review:

]]> 6841672 Wed, 26 Sep 2007 12:31:18 -0700
author: Brock Clarke
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.13
book published: 2007
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 09/26/07
shelves: dnf
review:

]]> 6784840 Wed, 26 Sep 2007 12:29:48 -0700
author: Larry Doyle
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.52
book published: 2007
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 09/26/07
shelves: bildungsroman
review:
A coming of age novel (yet intended for adults)that details the graduation night of nebbishy loser Denis Cooverman, who uses the platform of the valedectorian speech to declare his love for head cheerleader Beth Cooper who has an army soldier with jealousy issues for a boyfriend; hilarity ensues. This touching yet hysterical coming-of-age novel is for everyone who remembers how wretched the high school experience can be - think of this as a literary version of "Superbad."
]]> 6446946 Wed, 19 Sep 2007 11:27:50 -0700
author: Charlaine Harris
name: Gregg
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2001
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 09/19/07
shelves: fantasy, mystery, woowoo
review:

]]> 6327798 Mon, 17 Sep 2007 09:44:11 -0700
author: Richard Adams
name: Gregg
average rating: 4.20
book published: 1972
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 09/17/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 6327795 Mon, 17 Sep 2007 09:44:09 -0700
author: Virginia Woolf
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.90
book published: 1925
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 09/17/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 6327345 Mon, 17 Sep 2007 09:35:52 -0700
author: Tom Perrotta
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.53
book published: 2003
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 09/17/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 6242707 Sat, 15 Sep 2007 09:54:15 -0700
author: Austin Grossman
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2007
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 09/15/07
shelves: fantasy, sci-fi
review:

]]> 5782762 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 11:36:20 -0700
author: Christopher Moore
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.69
book published: 2007
rating: 3
read at: 09/07
date added: 09/06/07
shelves:
review:
A very witty look at the life and relationships of vampires - sure, the book has a plot, but you'll enjoy the characters and the quips too much to take much notice of it. Full of genuine laughs; a sixteeen-year-old goth girl by the name of Abby Normal steals every scene she's in, especially when Moore uses her as narration, as she 'writes' in a mixture of goth sterotypes and internet lolcat slang. A quick read and well worth your time.
]]> 4813590 Thu, 30 Aug 2007 12:00:57 -0700
Good for all the dads like mine who sit around and watch the History Channel relentlessly. ]]>
author: Max Boot
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2006
rating: 2
read at:
date added: 08/30/07
shelves: non-fiction, science
review:
A look at how technology and thinking outside the box has changed the path of history from 1500 up to recently. Even though I'm not a fan of Max Boot's politics, here he gives a good historical account of battles (Queen Elizabeth's Navy vs. the Spanish Armada, the attack on Pearl Harbor, etc.)

Good for all the dads like mine who sit around and watch the History Channel relentlessly.
]]> 5305210 Wed, 29 Aug 2007 13:19:09 -0700
author: Bill Bryson
name: Gregg
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2003
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 08/29/07
shelves: non-fiction, science
review:
I love the history of science, even though I often don't understand the science itself. With Bryson's book, you get both - an often-fascinating history of science as well as science concepts put in terms that is easy for English majors like me to understand. Great stuff.
]]> 5292539 Wed, 29 Aug 2007 09:35:10 -0700
author: James Lee Burke
name: Gregg
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 08/29/07
shelves: literaturah, mystery
review:
One of Burke's best and a nice jumping-on point for this most overlooked of writers, even though he's a fixture on the bestseller lists. This novel is Burke's long goodbye for post-Katrina New Orleans, and he's as lyrical as a writer who writes about Bad People doing Bad Things as I can imagine. Wonderful.
]]> 4491164 Thu, 16 Aug 2007 17:57:13 -0700 Queenpin, but this period psychological noir is a good read on its own and offers a glimpse into Abbott's future potential. She's one to watch. ]]>
author: Megan Abbott
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2005
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 08/16/07
shelves: noir
review:
This debut novel from Megan Abbott doesn't pack the punch of her more recent effort, Queenpin, but this period psychological noir is a good read on its own and offers a glimpse into Abbott's future potential. She's one to watch.
]]> 4665745 Thu, 16 Aug 2007 17:51:31 -0700
author: Richard K. Morgan
name: Gregg
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2006
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 08/16/07
shelves: mystery, noir, sci-fi
review:

]]> 4491142 Mon, 13 Aug 2007 14:08:38 -0700
author: Daniel Silva
name: Gregg
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2007
rating: 2
read at:
date added: 08/13/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 4491103 Mon, 13 Aug 2007 14:07:45 -0700
author: Megan Abbott
name: Gregg
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 08/13/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 3585415 Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:04:52 -0700
author: J.K. Rowling
name: Gregg
average rating: 4.47
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at: 07/07
date added: 07/26/07
shelves: fantasy, youngadult
review:
Though not the best written of Rowling's work, it's a fitting and epic end to the Potter series.
]]> 2646681 Mon, 02 Jul 2007 17:42:50 -0700
author: Adrian Tomine
name: Gregg
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2003
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 07/02/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 2646650 Mon, 02 Jul 2007 17:42:12 -0700
author: Alison Bechdel
name: Gregg
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2006
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 07/02/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 2228956 Wed, 27 Jun 2007 09:30:01 -0700
author: Rob Thomas
name: Gregg
average rating: 4.02
book published: 1996
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 06/27/07
shelves: youngadult
review:

]]> 2279337 Fri, 22 Jun 2007 16:36:13 -0700
author: Daniel Abraham
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2006
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 06/22/07
shelves: sci-fi
review:

]]> 2279284 Fri, 22 Jun 2007 16:34:34 -0700
author: Ron Luciano
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.81
book published: 1984
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 06/22/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 2278892 Fri, 22 Jun 2007 16:24:30 -0700
author: Bill Simmons
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2005
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 06/22/07
shelves: non-fiction, pantheon, sports
review:

]]> 1981139 Thu, 21 Jun 2007 17:16:16 -0700
author: George P. Pelecanos
name: Gregg
average rating: 3.53
book published: 2006
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 06/21/07
shelves: mystery, noir, pantheon
review:

]]> 1993341 Thu, 21 Jun 2007 17:14:15 -0700
author: Nick Bantock
name: Gregg
average rating: 4.35
book published: 1991
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 06/21/07
shelves: fantasy, pantheon
review:

]]> 1982104 Thu, 21 Jun 2007 17:13:26 -0700
author: Raymond Chandler
name: Gregg
average rating: 4.26
book published: 1953
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 06/21/07
shelves: mystery, noir, pantheon
review:

]]> 1982236 Thu, 21 Jun 2007 17:12:43 -0700
author: William Gibson
name: Gregg
average rating: 4.05
book published: 1984
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 06/21/07
shelves: noir, pantheon, sci-fi
review:

]]> 1983126 Thu, 21 Jun 2007 17:11:46 -0700
author: Craig Thompson
name: Gregg
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2003
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 06/21/07
shelves: graphicnovels, pantheon, youngadult
review: