2011 Reading Log

Tiger

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Hey dunny...........ya, it's set in Nashville and there is tons of references to landmarks and roads, etc. No way for me to know if they are real or not, but if you like murder mysteries set in your home town, this series might be worth a look for you.

Here is the chronological order of the books:

1) All the Pretty Girls
2) 14
3) Judas Kiss
4) The Cold Room
5) The Immortals
6) So Close The Hand Of Death.........comes out March 1st.
 

dunclock

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Dec 22, 2001
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thanks! ya I went and looked it all up after your write up and then went to her Facebook page and wrote a note...will be picking up the series this week!

told her that I could not believe that I live here and not read any of her stuff....even told her that I work for a big audio book publisher and went to see if she is being picked up in that format and she is

this why this a great thread so we can share views, opinions and recommendations:0074
 

dunclock

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Hey Tiger...how about this...I sent a message to JT Ellison on Facebook and she immediately answered me back and we are now friends :0074

told her how I just found about her and she asked for the link....so I copy/pasted your review and sent to her...she just sent this back

J.T. Ellison: Very cool. Please send my thanks along to the reviewer!


and that was a direct copy/paste from her back to me....pretty cool huh:0074
 

dawgball

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and I like all the Sandford books in the Prey series that are based in Minneapolis/St Paul...read em all:0074

I got bored with this series after about 4. Overall, a good story line but I guess I'm not cut out for fictional series.

I remember being completely captivated by the first couple that I read.
 

dawgball

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Finished Strengthsfinder 2.0 -- this will be required reading for anyone I interview for a new job.

5 out of 5 for its purpose


Now reading: The Mirror Test

About halfway through and I love it so far.
 

dunclock

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Finished Strengthsfinder 2.0 -- this will be required reading for anyone I interview for a new job.

5 out of 5 for its purpose


Now reading: The Mirror Test

About halfway through and I love it so far.

dude, you and Gary really need to look at my company titles as much nonfiction that we do...we are industry leader on doing audio in nonfiction, history, etc and you know you can download most for free at library or let me know and will get you a mp3 to download:0074
 

dawgball

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dude, you and Gary really need to look at my company titles as much nonfiction that we do...we are industry leader on doing audio in nonfiction, history, etc and you know you can download most for free at library or let me know and will get you a mp3 to download:0074

I'd be happy just to get together with you for a few beers!

The books connection can come later!
 

Theismann

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I read the articles in Playboy does that count?:shrug: Pictures are not bad either!!:0074
 

Bennymac17

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Just finished "Not Without Hope" by Nick Schuyler. I have to say it was one of the best non-fiction books I've ever read. It follows the story of the 4 guys (two NFL players) and the fishing trip they went on and only one of them made it back. I remember following this story on the news.

It is very disturbing what these guys went through. I couldn't imagine ever going through something quite like that. I highly suggest reading it.
 

Tiger

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dunclock..............I agree with you on Harlan Coben. His stand alones................The Woods, Tell No One, Just One Look, etc, are much better than his Myron Bolitar series. But as a sports fan............MB is an ex-pro hoops player, now a sports agent........I find the Bolitar series interesting, and topical. You gotta love the Win character.............he even made a brief appearance in Coben's last stand-alone "Caught" released last spring.

As far as John Sanford, I will agree with dawgball........I read 2 of his and just didn't like his writing style or characters at all. They were not an enjoyable read..........I won't be going back there any time soon.

And yes, Theismann, if you read Playboy articles and write up a review in here, it counts !! LoL

Just finished "The Quiet Game" by Greg Iles.
It was my first book by this Mississippi author and it was very good. It's set in 1998 Natchez, Mississippi, and an old unsolved murder of an African American has torn this southern town apart for 30 years. Attorney/author Penn Cage returns to his home town of Natchez, and digs into this old mystery, only to find a LOT of people who do not want it solved.

It was a long book.......624 pages......partly because of Iles writing style of being extremely descriptive, partly because it was a very in-depth novel.............but it didn't seem long.......I would pick up the book and start reading and before I knew it, 2 hours had passed. The words flowed off the page.

I will most definitely read Iles again.

4/5




Have now started "The Black Echo" by Michael Connelly. This is his very first novel from 1992.

Connelly's background is fascinating. He was a crime reporter for a west coast newspaper for 10 years, and that entire time, he knew exactly where he was headed. He said afterwards that the 10 years he spent as a reporter was actually research for the career he had always planned as a crime novelist. And it shows, cause he really knows his stuff. This will be my 11th Connelly book out of the 22 he has. My personal favourites have been "The Poet", "Echo Park", "The Scarecrow" and "The Lincoln Lawyer".

His next book "The 5th Witness" comes out on April 5th.


Happy reading !
Tiger
 

Happy Hippo

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8) Zeitoun, Dave Eggers

****1/2 A story about a Hurricane Katrina and the horrible handling of a disaster by FEMA and the Bush administration. Very disturbing that this response happened in our "free" country. Fast easy reading.

9) American Pastoral, Philip Roth

***** Really liked this book. Found the juxtaposition of the character's life highly relate-able and interesting. His take on American culture was great. His ability to switch the primary narration mid-stream was brilliant.

10) The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell

** Maybe I just didn't like this book because I had just finished two really great ones, but this is the second book I have read by him, and I just feel like he could sum up the whole thing in one long journal article... The stories were interesting, but the points seem to be drawn out. I did learn a few things, so I guess it was worth it in the end.
 

Happy Hippo

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11) *** The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook: A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal, Ben Mezrich

Interesting book, fast read, but really nothing to take away from it except that most people really suck...but who didn't know that?

12) ***** The Immortal life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot

Extremely interesting book, both factually and emotionally. Would highly recommend it.

13) ***1/2 War, Sebastian Junger

An inside look at daily life and warfare in one of the deadliest outposts in the world, in the Korengal mountain in Afghanistan. Really sad, and reaffirmed by belief that war is just really really stupid. Also watched the associated documentary, Restrepo, last night. Was good to put faces with the people from the book.

Just received my email to pick up "Unbroken" from the library for my nook, but going to have to read something else in between...can't take two war stories in a row!
 

dunclock

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you go girl...13 books in 5 weeks :0074

traded the Kindle for the Nook? isnt that awesome to download for free from your home with the library? did you get the regular Nook or the new one in 4 color and interactive video?

amazing what snow can do for reading time...it is raining now but supposed to change over within the hour and get 1-2 inches....then on Wed night-Thur morning another 4-8 inches :scared
 

Tiger

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Finished "The Black Echo" by Michael Connelly and saw why it is regarded as a classic in the mystery genre.

LA Detective Harry Bosch investigates an OD, but recognizes the man from his days in Nam. That one fact throws the entire novel into chaos.......was it really an OD ?

4/5


Followed that up with "I'd Know You Anywhere" by Laura Lippman.

This is my 2nd Lippman........the first 'What the Dead Know" was not Top 10 material by any means, but I saw enough potential to read her again.

And that was a mistake...............this novel was far too touchy, feely......it's about a 38 year old woman who was abducted at the age of 15 by a man who ultimately killed at least 2 girls and is now on death row. He kept her for 2 months back then, but why didn't he kill her like the others?

It was well set up for a great ending, but it was very disappointing...........it wasn't really a mystery per se, but rather it was about feelings on what had happened long ago.

I don't think I will read Lippman again.

2.5/5



Have now started JT Ellison's 2nd novel about detective Taylor Jackson from Nashville.........Her newest comes out on March 1st (So Close The Hand Of Death) and I am hoping to have all the prequels read by then............2 more to go after this one.


Happy Reading,
Tiger
 

Happy Hippo

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you go girl...13 books in 5 weeks :0074

traded the Kindle for the Nook? isnt that awesome to download for free from your home with the library? did you get the regular Nook or the new one in 4 color and interactive video?

amazing what snow can do for reading time...it is raining now but supposed to change over within the hour and get 1-2 inches....then on Wed night-Thur morning another 4-8 inches :scared

My goal for the year was 50 books, and although I am well on my way, I have a lot of deadlines coming up at work...oh yeah, and kids to watch too haha!

Yea, I got the Nook instead on your recommendation. Best thing ever - the ability to download library books from home is great. I haven't used the audio yet, but I'm sure I will at some point. I've been waiting to read that book you gave me, because I'm about 30th on the waiting list for the second book, and I want to read them all in a row.

We had a couple winter months of 70 degree weather and now we are paying for it - about a foot of snow on the deck and another expected tomorrow. Somehow that actually lessens my reading time, cause the kids are freaking craaaazy (not my genes)!

Keep warm, happy reading, and hope to see you soon again :0074
 
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