Samyann's Blog, page 59

Gideon’s Sword by Preston & Child – Review

Audiobook. Gideon, the lead character in Gideon’s Sword, is a smart, creative, and driven person. Regardless of the situation, the man’s ability to squirm out of danger is amazing. No spoilers in this statement, you’ll figure that out within a few pages. Given the superman qualities of the character, in both his thought and his behavior, the reader may find themselves rolling their eyes, or like me, riveted to the adventure. There are reviews all over the board, from terrible trash to five star brilliance. Frankly, I don’t understand the negativity. It’s not brilliant literature, but a fun mystery, a man on the run from a bad guy, triumphs and failures. Worth the read, if you enjoy the genre, in my opinion. Not sure what the word Sword in the title references, though.

 

How much do you know about Lincoln Logs?

Bet you didn’t know this: John Lloyd Wright, son of famous architect Francis Lloyd Wright, invented them. Everyone knows Lincoln Logs are named after Abraham Lincoln and the log cabin where he was born. 

Grover Cleveland the hangman?

Grover Cleveland was the only president in history to hold the job of a hangman. He was once the sheriff of Erie County, New York, and twice had to spring the trap at a hanging. Great ice breaker, huh?

Hunting Season by Nevada Barr – Review

Audiobook. The park district sleuthing of Anna Pigeon is always a fun adventure, and Hunting Season doesn’t disappoint. Barbara Rosenblat has been the reader of these tales throughout the series, and there is an agressive devil-may-care conveyance that gives the character a well rounded flavor. It’s said that a good narrator makes a good story better, and there is no doubt that the years long partnership of Nevada Barr and Barbara Rosenblat has been a monumental success. It’s been a while since I visited this series, Hunting Season has convinced me to catch up! Fun.

Abe Lincoln, the bartender?

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) is the only U.S. president who was also a licensed bartender. He was co-owner of Berry and Lincoln, a saloon in Springfield, Illinois. Who knew?

Presidential Harem?

Lyndon Baines Johnson “LBJ”(1908-1973) affectionately called the many women he slept with his “harem.” He even had a buzzer system installed that rang inside the Oval Office so that Secret Service could warn him when his wife was coming. Poor Lady Bird.

Deeper Than the Dead by Tami Hoag – Review

Audiobook. First time I’ve listened to a Tami Hoag story, and not the last, as it is certainly an enjoyable read. It’s rare for a procedural crime novel to be penned by a woman, for starters. How great is that! The who-done-it story of Deeper Than the Dead is filled with well defined characters and suspense. Although the villain became apparent probably a little sooner than Hoag might have liked, it was still an enjoyable tale and I’ll likely continue the series.

Deeper Than the Dead has a significant problem, though. The portrayal by the narrator of one character, the Chicago FBI agent, doesn’t work. Kirsten Potter does a credible job with all except when dealing with this Chicago accent. The character sounded a bit more Bostonian, the opinion of this local Chicagoan. But, this minor faux pas is forgiven … she does a good job with children, women, and men. It’s a fun mystery, worth the purchase.

 

Zero Day by Mark Russinovich – Review

Audiobook. The reader must be a nerd, techie devotee, to enjoy a great portion of this book. The vulnerability of the world wide internet is nothing new, and possibly this reader has a head-in-the-sand view … which is the fundamental problem from the viewpoint of Russinovich. I can fully understand the author obsession to get the point of this vulnerability across to the general public, if not the entire world. The problem is, he’s got to accomplish this without putting the reader to sleep with plather that is completely meaningless to anyone who is not a techie-nerd.

Sure, tell me about the beautiful watch, how it sounds, keeps time, gleams … but tell me how to build it and I’m dozing off with boredom. Basically this is what you’ll find in the pages of Zero Day. 

I rarely find it difficult to finish a book … but, sometimes it’s like taking medicine. Prepare to be fascinated or bored to death, there really is no in-between.

 

Oath of Office by Michael Palmer – Review

Audiobook. For the first half of this book, the reader is wondering how the two disparate stories unfolding can possibly be connected. A first lady weaving through a mystery involving a disgraced cabinet member and a seemingly unrelated emergency room doctor dealing with mysterious and murderous behaviors.  I suppose this should be an endorsement to the author ability to outline and create an intriguing plot. The problem, in my opinion, is credibility and elements brought into the story that add little to what is fundamentally, and interesting tale.

Personally, I’d have eliminated the first lady and protagonist romance, gimme a break … it blows the credibility of the story completely and makes it comical. I’ve read a few Michael Palmer stories and this one doesn’t measure up.

The Witness by Nora Roberts – Review

Audiobook. Following rebellion of an emotionally abused girl, and her witness of a murder, the story jumps a decade to a handsome cop meeting mysterious woman with a strong, independent, and vulnerable persona. She’s on the run, he struggles to learn why and to win her heart at the same time.

In my opinion, the ending is rushed, the bad guys too easy for her to conquer.

Easy listen, formulaic to a large degree. Boy gets girl.