I have always been a fan of travel and adventure books, both fiction and non-fiction, which is what drew me to Kira Salak’s book, The White Mary. Although the book is a work of fiction, she drew on her long experience as a travel journalist to present a story full of detail and vibrant description. It is immediately apparent that… Read more
How do you go on when you have lost everything? That’s the question at the heart of Abbeville. George Bailey has lost everything in the dot-com bust. His office, which once bustled with activity and the smell of money, is now deserted. He may lose his home and he has to pull his son out of private school. How can… Read more
This is definitely a woman’s book. Although it is filled with danger and intrigue, men’s fantasies about harem girls are very different from the blushing virgins and vicious, back-stabbing women you’ll meet in The Aviary Gate – and it’s their loss if they don’t read it. It’s a fascinating glimpse of the inner workings of a harem and its denizens.… Read more
I will be posting from Amsterdam for the next 2 weeks while I am away on business. My internet access will be limited, but I hope to post some reviews very soon. I finished The Aviary Gate on Saturday, before leaving on my trip. Due to a long lay-over and an 8 hour flight delay, I finished two books on… Read more
I have been reading Spenser novels for a long time – a very long time. It’s gotten to the point that not a lot of people remember the old Spenser: For Hire tv series with Robert Urich and Avery Brooks. (When I read a Spenser novel, I still hear Brooks’ voice whenever Hawk speaks.) On the whole, I have been… Read more
One of the things that struck me about Unaccustomed Earth was how sad the stories all seemed. Though not really tragic, there seemed to be no happy endings in sight for any of these characters. I could barely finish “A Choice of Accommodations” – I could see the train wreck coming and I wanted desperately to derail it, to do… Read more
I do love a good detective novel. Anyone who has taken a peek at my library knows that I love mysteries. I’ve got a full set of Nero Wolfe novels (including the cookbook), a full set of Spenser novels, and a smattering of other interesting detectives as well. But what to do since Archie and Mr. Wolfe won’t be coming… Read more
I want to buy Pagan Kennedy a beer and maybe a pizza; you just know that she’s got fabulous stories to tell. She covers quite a range of subjects in The Dangerous Joy of Dr. Sex and Other True Stories. Most of these people aren’t famous, most of them are a little nuts, all of them are fascinating in their… Read more
I have a certain fascination with old buildings, run-down hotels, abandoned factories. There are dozens of websites that show me I am not alone in this. (Check out Opacity: Urban Ruins for some fabulous photos.) So the idea of infiltrating a famous old hotel, closed up since the 1960’s, was really intriguing. Sadly, the book just didn’t live up to… Read more
This book is the fastest 600 pages I’ve ever read. I received the book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewer program and I have to admit that I was a little intimidated by its size. I am not a speed reader. I tend to dawdle – I re-read passages, linger over good descriptions and generally take my sweet time – but… Read more