Funky Reading

Catch-All Catch-Up - 2011

I'm within inches of just canceling my blog because I'm so bad about updating it.

But for some bizarre reason, I can't bring myself to do it. So, at the very least, I'll bring you current with title, author, FR (Funky Rating), and perhaps a sentence when warranted. I think this is most of what I read in the past couple months; I know I'm missing some, I just don't remember them :)

Ready?

Best Kept Secret ~ Amy Hatvany. FR = 2.0. Awful.

Blood Is the Sky ~ Steve Hamilton. FR = 9.0

The Edict: A Novel from the Beginnings of Golf ~ Bob Cupp. FR = 3. Bailed out.

Thunderstruck ~ Erik Larson. FR = 9.5. If you love history & technology/invention, this is good stuff!

The Litigators ~ John Grisham. FR = 9.0

The Gentlemen's Hour ~ Don Winslow. FR = 8.5

Amazing Gracie: A Dog's Tale ~ Dan Dye & Mark Beckloff. FR = 7.5

Fletch's Fortune ~ Gregory Macdonald. FR = 9.5. Oh how I love Fletch!!! 

Going Rogue: An American Life ~ Sarah Palin. FR = 9.0. Fear not, I'm not voting for her; but if you think you know Sarah Palin, read this book - I guarantee you will see a completely different side of her.

Faith: A Novel ~ Jennifer Haigh. FR = 7.0. Tired and predictable storyline. But writing pulled it up from a 5.0.

A Pillar of Iron ~ Taylor Caldwell. FR = 11. If you can find this book, anywhere, buy it and read it; amazing (true) story of Cicero and ancient Rome. This is one of those books that changed my life when I read it as a teen and I just re-read it.

Body Blows: A Joe Grundy Mystery ~ Marc Strange. FR = 8.0

Infected ~ Scott Sigler. FR = 8.0

The Last Child ~ John Hart. FR = 8.0. 

Collision ~ Jeff Abbott. FR = 7.5

The Lord God Bird ~ Russell Hill. FR = 6.0. Perhaps some consider this "literature". I found it pompous, artificial and dull.

The Lock Artist ~ Steve Hamilton. FR = 8.5. Fun, very different storyline!

Miracle Cure ~ Harlon Coben. FR = 8.0. Not Coben's best, but a good read overall.

Adrenaline ~ Jeff Abbott. FR = 7.0. Too tricked up for me...

Damage Control ~ Robert Dugoni. FR = 8.0

The Dawn Patrol ~ Don Winslow. FR = 9.5. The dialog/slang is a bit over the top, but I really enjoyed this one.

Avarice ~ M.G. Crisci. FR = 9.0. Parts of this are crazy/silly, but it's a great novel of the slippery slope of pursuing wealth for money's sake.

The Affair ~ Lee Child. FR = 10.0. Boom goes the dynamite! I love Child/Reacher. Top of his game again. Need I say more? 

Lucky Stiff ~ Deborah Coonts. FR = 9.0. I loved the first one - Wanna Get Lucky and this followed nicely; great beach/airplane read.

The Night Circus ~ Erin Morgenstern. FR = 8.0. Definitely props for being different; didn't really hang together for me. Jack & Sharlene enjoyed very much.

The Drop ~ Michael Connelly. FR = 10.0. Ka-pow! This is what thriller fiction is all about. 

The Greatest Game Ever Played: Harry Vardon, Francis Ouimet, and the Birth of Modern Golf ~ Mark Frost. FR = 11. Maybe you've seen the movie, but the book goes to 11. Probably have to be a golfer to appreciate it fully, but if you want to understand humility, confidence, and nerve, read this...

Full Black ~ Brad Thor

Funk Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Scot Harvath is back - breaking some eggs to make an omelette (in this case a safer U.S.). Pity the poor terrorist that runs into Harvath or his ilk... This is a very clever book in a number of ways, partly because it's straight-up regarding the holes in how we're fighting terrorism and Islamic fundamentalism, and partly because it asks all the important questions about how we define our selves, our country, and our societal values. It doesn't trumpet it, but it has clear hawkish overtones (which I, of course, am fine with) regarding at what point does sacrificing freedom for security beg the question of whether you still have freedom.

The book is long on patriots, has no truck with multi-cultural political correctness, and reminds me a bit of True Grit and some of the old westerns I've read this year in terms of loyalty, doing what it takes and doing it yourself. No couch potatoes need apply for work with this super-secret organization.

What impresses me about Thor and this latest Harvath story is that the characters are pretty solid and clever, and he keeps the story moving with a very nicely structured plot of asymmetric warfare. This one has less unbelieavable stuff in it that others, although it still remains a bit over-the-top in how fast things get figured out and come together. And a few important questions regarding certain folks motivations are not set-up well.

If you've liked the other Harvath novels, you'll enjoy this one. Here's a toast to America's patriots and to the Scot Harvath's of the world that do what needs to be done.

 

Portrait of a Spy ~ Daniel Silva

Funk Rating: 10 out of 10

As I promised, I flew through the latest Gabriel Allon. Loved every page of it. Just such great writing, such great characters, and always a delight to see Allon take out the bad guy but barely survive. This book was perhaps one of the most melancholy and emotional one yet, without feeling tricked up too much. Oh, there are plenty of silly spots, and the "recruitment" on this one was a bit of a stretch. But, those are very minor quibbles in the world of Silva's fiction.

I think what I love most about Allon, and the series, is that there are always choices. Always roads left untaken. But Allon takes the right road every time. He's the kind of guy you want to be out there, a guy you want to thank. He's a guy that is always unselfish, yet always doing what HE needs to do and is therefore always selfish too. The fact he has a beautiful wife, loyal friends that drop anything when he calls, and the respect of every spy - friend of foe - on the planet, is pretty cool too.

Another top-notch read.

Out on the Cutting Edge ~ Lawrence Block

Funk Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Another one of my "retro" reads, but this one only goes back to 1989. This is almost a Reacher novel, without the violence. Ex-cop, now a PI, gets a case that he just can't stop working on... An odd coincidence and everything comes together.

Very well written in a "draws you in and you're not sure why" kind of way. Powerful characters, great writing, clever plot twists, and a whodoneit that you could have seen a mile away if you were paying careful attention. Almost like an Encylopedia Brown kind of way :)

I'd definitely put this on the reading list and I'll be looking for some more Block...

First Thrills ~ edited by Lee Child

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

This is a fun compilation of short stories from established and new authors. Very cool thing the International Thriller Writers association is doing - authors that made it are helping authors that are trying to make it. Gives the new writers a chance to get someone to notice them and to get a lucky break.

Some of the stories are predictable, some are not really all that good. But by and large, this is a great collection, and it's nice to see some short stories that work. Sometimes a novel is just too long...

I'm going to buy some more of these collections from ITW.

Enjoy!

Trader of Secrets ~ Steve Martini

Funk Rating: 6.5 out of 10

I generally like the Paul Madriani novels that Martini writes. But I guess I prefer the legal thrillers rather than these "general" thrillers. This was pretty tricked up and bordered on being so far out there on the believability scale that I just couldn't engage. I think when novels get so far out there, they either have to poke fun at themselves, or they have to be sufficiently internally consistent that it works. 

This one didn't work. I just felt like saying, "Ah, c'mon!" too many times. The main characters cross paths in wholly unrealistic ways, the heroes are unbelievably heroic with so much luck, skill, and rapid healing; the bad guys are so crazily interconnected to various bad things that it would take a cosmic puppetmaster to pull it off. 

I'd leave this one on the shelf...

Swim the Fly ~ Don Calame

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

I picked this up based on a WSJ recommendation of books for teens. I think Jack is still a year or two away from being ready for this (or perhaps it's just me that's a year or two away from Jack being ready for this).

But this is a hysterical book about some young teenagers (15ish) with a funny goal for summer vacation (to see a naked girl) and all the things that go wrong along the way. It's laugh out loud funny in many spots, and it's a quick read. The ultimate message is a good one, and I was overall very pleased with it. It's about as light as it gets for beach reading :).

Given my known audience out there, I can't really say this is one you gotta buy (unless you have a teenager), but conversely, if you found it on the airplane seat, I can guarantee you that you'll laugh pretty hard and remember this one.

The Girl with the Long Green Heart ~ Lawrence Block

Funk Rating: 8.5 out of 10

This spring I did a little retro reading - found some highly acclaimed authors that I'd never heard of. Block was seriously loved and highly regarded. And he wrote this in 1965. It's a pretty awesome read - partly because of the fact it's almost 50 years old, so there are some quaint parts about pay phones, typewriters and US mail :).

But seriously, it's a great book in a noir style. If you like the long con (a la The Sting), you'll enjoy this a lot. I had it figured out pretty early, but I enjoyed almost every page of it anyway. If I hadn't figured it out, it would be a 10 :).

Next time you're looking for a change of pace, and want to slip back to a slower, easier time, where publishers weren't pushing for a certain length book, where the plotline wasn't about terrorism or other enemies of state, where iPhones and emails, and digital data didn't exist, this is a great one to pick up.

Enjoy!

The Secret Servant ~ Daniel Silva

Funk Rating: 10 out 10

I somehow missed this one back in '07 when it came out. And it is as good now as it was then. Silva writes some of the very best NYT bestseller fiction available today. Unlike some other authors that have gone fluffy to pump up the pages, every page of a Gabriel Allon story is fabulous.

I was reading a little of the history of Silva's character development, and I loved this definition of why he named him Gabriel Allon: I wanted it to be biblical, like my own, and to be heavy with symbolism. I finally decided to name him after the archangel Gabriel. As for his family name, I chose something short and simple: Allon, which means "oak tree" in Hebrew. I liked the image it conveyed. Gabriel Allon: God's angel of vengeance, solid as an oak.

Jack Reacher and Gabriel Allon are the 1-2 punch in today's world of avenging angels. Reacher is full tilt forward vengeance anchored in loyalty and a sense of right and wrong; Allon is a reluctant angel who pulls it off time after time with a combination of guts, humility, and loyalty. So, so good... I can't wait for more! Note to readers: the latest Silva just arrived today - know that you'll be seeing it here soon...

In the meantime, if you missed this one, everything about it rocks. And now it's used paperback priced :)

Rogue Island ~ Bruce DeSilva

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

I forget whether Amazon turned me onto this, or whether it was recommended by a friend. But this was one of those books you go into with low expectations and come out delighted that it made it to your hands. 

Some good, clever writing and it's just a joy to keep turning the pages. Bit of mystery, part thriller, great characters, and just plain great storyline.

I'd put this one high on your summer reading list!

The Jefferson Key ~ Steve Berry

Funk Rating: 5 out of 10

It's so sad when you can just imagine the outline of a book and think about its potential and then you read the wreck of the full book in excruciating detail.

This could have been a great book. Honestly, I think it should have been a great book.

Why it's not is known only by the author and the publishing house. This had all the makings of a very good story with some Constitutional language that opens up a door to a great plot, and then some really clever drafting that could have made this a Dan Brown level book.

Sadly, it fell so far short the thud was deafening. The story jumped between multiple plot lines so fast it was like ADHD in a book; the thesis of privateers and early pirates as a surprisingly democratic type of governance was slick at first, by the 18th time it came back into the story it felt forced; by the 30th time, I just wanted to vomit. And so on...

Don't bother with this one.

Carte Blanche ~ Jeffrey Deaver

Funk Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Bond is back. And he's part of the iPhone generation.

I can't imagine the challenge of trying to fill Ian Fleming's shoes. On the one hand, Bond is such a franchise that the honor of getting to write a story today with Bond as the primary character has got to be one of the most amazing ego hits around. On the other hand, no one writes like Fleming.

I'm always amazed how few "James Bond fans" have actually read the original books. We've all seen the movies, but the books are truly amazing. They wouldn't get published today - they're short, taut, and brilliant.

If you haven't read a Fleming book, I don't know if I should tell you to read an original or to read this. This is some nice writing, in classic mildly creepy Jeffrey Deaver form. The bad buy is pretty weird. Not as "evil" as the SMERSH and SPECTRE characters, but very creepy...

All in all, I gotta say, this is a good summer read. Not without its flaws and shortcomings, many of which are simply a function of the comparative point of Fleming; enjoyable nonetheless. Particularly if you suspend disbelief on technology and the iPhone ;)

Buried Prey ~ John Sandford

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

Oh joy! Oh rapture! Another great read!

I haven't read a Lucas Davenport novel for years. In fact, according to Google (and assuming you trust them and the permanance of Typepad), I haven't read one while I've been blogging.

"Been blogging" being relative, of course, but still, you know what I mean.

Any-the-who, this is a great read. Davenport is a wickedly smart dude. Avenging angel type, but more intellectual vs. physical. I picked this one up because of a WSJ article talking about how authors are having a hard time as their aging protagonists challenge how to keep the stories still relevant and filled with action. In this one, over half of the book is a prequel to the entire Davenport series. It's a new case that is related to his first case.

Very cool, very well written, great characters, you know the drill. If you like mystery/detective/murder with avenging detectives, worth the hardcover price methinks, your call on the Kindle.

 

Decision Points ~ George W. Bush

Funk Rating: 10 out 10

I strongly suspect you bring a bias to a book like this. You go in with your mind made up on Bush and then commit an act of cognitive bias.

So, with that said, I went in prepared to like this book (I thoroughly enjoyed his dad's book All The Best).

I came out loving it, with even more respect and admiration for a President that I think we will come to judge as a very good one.

So, with all that out of the way, here's why this is a great read, regardless of your political stripes:

1) the way he writes this book is by "theme" of major decisions he faced and made. It's not a chronology of 8 years; each "decision" comes with its own backdrop and storyline. And he owns up to mistakes and things he'd change if he could. That model of narrative works very, very well.

2) I got a lot more context around the soundbites and the way in which issues surface, are debated, and decisions made. If you think any President is a lone island of success or failure, this book highlights how many stakeholders, sides, and factors really affect every single aspect of being President.

3) you get a real sense of Bush as a person. What's important to him, and what guides him. Love him or hate him, he is internally consistent and driven by some macro ideals and values that are anchorpoints in his life.

I would recommend you read this book, for sure!

The Painted Messiah ~ Craig Smith

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

I enjoyed this one - recommended by Amazon for me. I found the plotline pretty original and the action pretty good. I wish I could say more, but it's been 3-4 months (just catching up on blogging today) so without just sharing the plotline from Amazon, I'll tell you this is worth reading should you ever run across it somewhere...

Rework ~ Jason Fried

Funk Rating: 6 out of 10

A lot of folks liked this book, but I found it paper thin on insight and full of ra-rah pithiness that wasn't particularly profound. Perhaps in a world filled with Powerpoint, over-hyped phrases, and a general inclination to making the world more complicated instead of more simple, Fried hit some nerve with a lot of folks.

But I found his viewpoint overly simplified. He projects out from his little world of online software development and assumes the rest of the world can be just as simple and elegant. Make no mistake, I respect the absolute heck out of what he's done with his business. But unless you live in a parallel, highly digital world, much of his commentary and advice returns to general exhortation to KISS.

I'd like to see Fried apply his philosophy and framework to a world of consumer products, or making cars, or working with biotechnology. Or, for grins, to police work.

YMMV, but this isn't worth the price in my mind...

Fall of Giants ~ Ken Follett

Funk Rating: 7.5 out of 10

I think Follett is one of the best writers out there today. His Pillars of the Earth series was absolutely stellar. Unfortunately, I think he reached beyond his grasp with this opening book in a trilogy on the 20th century. Perhaps he's just tired, or perhaps he got too many "helpful" suggestions from his publishing house on what to cover...

It's not a bad book, but it's clear that in an effort to illustrate the major forces and changes in the 20th century, he felt compelled to compile a broad swath of stereotypical characters. Characters that fail to surprise in every way because they are playing a specific role; characters that have no unique characteristics, because there just isn't time to get to know any of them well; characters that fail to inspire because in order to connect dots across the globe, connections between the characters must be manufactured to the point of silliness.

I wish he'd tried to cover less ground, and built the characters more. On the one hand, it's amazing to see and understand how much the world has changed in less than 100 years. And Follett does do a good job of bringing the early 20th century to life. On the other hand, it's just too ham-fisted to really enjoy.

I'll still read the 2nd one, but I suspect I'll wait for a used hardcover or paperback...

The Reversal ~ Michael Connelly

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

Harry Bosch rocks, and I get a bit of a kick out of Mickey Haller. This is not one of the deep, brooding Bosch books, but rather a well-written, entertaining merger of the Lincoln Lawyer and the new version Harry Bosch that is a bit of a tough guy.

Some great twists and turns, and another classic Connelly ending where there isn't complete closure, but yet there is satisfaction of a well-done story. The backdrop, as always, is unsolved murder(s), and that's a bit depressing. But it's a fine, fine tale, and it belongs in the Connelly collection.

Well done!

Worth Dying For ~ Lee Child

Funk Rating: 10 out 10

Reacher is back. His super-hero cape billows behind him as the reigning avenging angle of justice wreaks mayhem in a small Nebraska town.

Staccato writing, action verbs, partial sentences - the whole shebang is in fine form in this tautly written thriller that takes place in something like 48 hours. The underlying plotline is powerful and emotional - I can honestly say I found comfort in the fact Reacher put down the bad guys with extreme prejudice given their crimes.

When you want to escape into a book, pick up Child. He's close to his best with this one.

The Capital Game ~ Brian Haig

Funk Rating: 5 out of 10

I just have to punish this book. As someone recently said, most of my ratings are 7-10, with a few 6's. Time to throw down on a 5.

I like Brian Haig's former books. But these books where he tries to do business kind of thrillers are just plain garbage. Stereotypes so plastic they crack; plotlines with so many holes Swiss cheese is more substantive; and dialog that is so artificial it's painful.

Help me send a message to Haig to go back to what he did well - don't buy this book. I think it would make a reasonable screenplay/movie, but it's a lousy book.

The Cobra ~ Frederick Forsyth

Funk Rating: 7.5 out of 10

I really enjoyed almost all of this book. There are some wickedly clever things in here, with some fabulous strategy and chess moves. Forsyth is classic at that.

And then something happened that just turned me off. I won't say what it was, because I'm not sure everyone will have the same reaction I did.

Characters are generally pretty good, overall plotline is fun and entertaining, and dialog and storytelling is pretty good (a little too much filler on geography, but I digress). He just took a plot turn that I thought was junky.

Oh well.

Innocent ~ Scott Turow

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

I had this book figured out from the halfway mark. Perhaps even at the 1/3 mark. It was nicely written, and few authors can do the "back and forth in time" kind of storytelling that Turow does so well. This is in some ways a "sequel" to Presumed Innocent, but in other ways it's new and different.

A funny thing happened on the way to the end - I had it all wrong. I didn't have it figured out after all...

Turow does a great job of keeping you thinking, spinning, confident, then doubting how it's all going to turn out. And he keeps it all pretty surprisingly human as well.

Do I think this could happen in the real world? Unlikely. But it sure made a great book and a great story. I enjoyed it very much, and I'd put it on your nightstand if you like the conflicted mystery/thriller type...

Foreign Influence ~ Brad Thor

Funk Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Scot Harvath remains one of today's avenging angels in the world of terrorists. He plays by their rules and is brutal in exacting vengeance. Candidly, little is new or different in this book vs. the other stereotypical books by Thor. It's about good vs. evil, about making tough choices in the face of time and bigger picture outcomes, etc.

It certainly fits the bill for classic NYT bestseller fiction. And, perhaps I'm just tiring of retreads and lack of originality. And, perhaps I just found this one on the edge of just too-too - Harvath almost becomes too avenging... I get it - if the other side doesn't play by rules, neither should we when fighting that enemy. But yet, this one seemed a little over the top.

Not bad at all, serious page-turning suspense; but nothing unexpected or particularly redeeming either...

The Match: The Day the Game of Golf Changed Forever ~ Mark Frost

Funk Rating: 8+ out of 10  

For a golfer, this is likely a 10 out of 10; as a book, it's not quite that good :). This is the story of the final glowing days of amateur golf. Of an unforgettable round of golf that was destined for the storybooks - a match-up of the very best players, playing out of their minds. This is zen + pride + competitive heat as no other sport can deliver.

Ben Hogan.
Byron Nelson.
Ken Venturi.
Harvie Ward.

The game was never so innocent, never so intensely serious. And never again would 4 of the game's best get together on the spur of a friendly bet made less than 15 hours before with no television rights, no ticket sales, no agents, no sponsors. Just a straight up us-against-them / pros vs. amateurs match play.

If you like or play golf, you gotta read this book. If you don't play golf but are curious, you should read this book. It's an amazing story.

The Pleasure of My Company ~ Steve Martin

Funk Rating: 8.5 out of 10

I never read Shopgirl, but I just may go back and grab that one. This is a wickedly clever book - no doubt one you kind of have to be in the mood for. I generally like Steve Martin, but I had no clue he could write so adroitly. 

This book takes obsessive compulsive behavior and turns it into a story that actually has you rooting for the main character by the end. Part innocent, part just plain odd-duck, it all comes together delightfully along the way.

Read this when you need a break from your regular day-to-day fare of thriller pulp fiction. And, if you can't get to it soon, rumor has it that a movie is coming... Steve Martin is a seriously talented guy - much more than just a comedian; and I have a newfound respect for how broad his talent set is, having recently learned he's a world-class banjo player as well!

The Rembrandt Affair ~ Daniel Silva

Funk Rating: 10 out of 10

Silva and his character Gabriel Allon are back in a new thriller that is simply fabulous. As the ultimate avenging angel with an exaggerated sense of right and wrong, Gabriel is spectacular. This is a book that unwinds itself with perfect pacing and with excellent plot development. Silva starts you off on a journey that begins with a stolen painting and a murder; over time he links it to the Holocaust and turns it into an international thriller.

There are few writers today that I think can balance pacing, dialog, characters, and a storyline that works. Silva is in that elite crowd and deserves every accolade available to NYT bestselling author. I heartily recommend this one!

The Deceived ~ Brett Battles

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

This was a great book by a new author (to me) with a great new character. This is a great thriller that kind of splits the gap between detective mystery, spy thriller, and political storyline. What I loved was that the political storyline was underplayed and the detective mystery was the headliner.

The characters are all pretty original. I wouldn't say as far to the edge as Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, but far enough to be fascinating. Some great writing that has a sense of humor and wit, and some great pacing in the writing. The main characters are "cleaners" who clean up after dead bodies. Gives them reasons to have "skills" without creating another agency and terrorist plot that they have to uncover and stop. In this case, they can pursue their own agenda - for loyalty, friendship, and "good"...

This was the 2nd by this author and I'm certainly going back for #1, and then looping back around for #3. I'd definitely put this on your paperback list - it's a worthy read.

The Ark ~ Boyd Morrison

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

This was actually a pretty fun book and a good, original storyline. Messianic complex, combined with technology and a very creative re-interpretation of Noah's Ark and what the flood was all about. The characters are pretty fun, and the story moves along well.

My issue is that he trumped up the action scenes just one notch too many. James Bond got out of fewer tight spots (across ALL his escapades) than the characters in this book. But, perhaps that's what kind of made this fun - it forces you to suspend disbelief and just go along for the ride.

I'm borderline on telling you to buy the hardcover. But if you want something different that still reeks of NYT pulp bestsellers, grab it. Enjoy!

Lullaby Town ~ Robert Crais

Funk Rating 10 out of 10

Crais rocks. I love Elvis Cole and Joe Pike, and this is just one fabulous book. Will it change your life like Ayn Rand? Heck no, this is pure page-turning, plot-twisting, fabulous-character type NYT bestselling fiction. This is simply a great way to spend a few hours enjoying a great storyteller.

I suppose you have to like Cole & Pike to begin with, and I suspect you have to be in a bit of a mood to suspend disbelief around some of the stereotypes. But the writing is quick and clever, I can't help but laugh out loud at some of the cleverness, and the storyline is pretty original (although the characters are classic stereotypes, which is what makes it fun).

Definitely worth a pickup at your local paperback bookstore...

The Lost Throne ~ Chris Kuzneski

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

Oh my! An author I've never heard of before that has a bunch of NYT bestsellers - loved this one! I am so excited to find a great author that I can go back and buy paperbooks from :)

This is a great story with some fun characters and a fabulous plot. None of the really major characters die, but I love it when an author isn't afraid to kill off some of the good guys along the way (I mean, c'mon, the bad guys don't always miss). Not a spy thriller in the traditional sense, but there are government agents scattered around. 

This is just a fun, different, energizing beach or airplane read. Had me turning the pages and I loved how he anchored it in a lot of real, true history. Worth a look for sure!

The Burning Wire ~ Jeffery Deaver

Funk Rating: 7 out of 10

Oh, how sad it is to see one of the best authors, with one of the best characters, just pound out an average-rate plot with weak imagination. It's possible my expectations were just too high, and from anyone else I would have enjoyed this. But this is the weakest Lincoln Rhyme story I think in the series.

The plot isn't credible from the start, and I had it pegged from about halfway through. Which never happens with Deaver and Rhyme, and shouldn't have happened now. Oh, there were certainly some clever parts, and it was nice to see a novel that used some pretty clever techniques to avoid just simple bombs and guns.

But, and this is a big but, the story was goofy and the characters stiff.

Read any other Deaver/Rhyme story before this one. Once you're through them all, then read this one. It's not that it's awful; it's just awfully short of maximum potential...

South of Broad ~ Pat Conroy

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

Conroy is one of those all-too-rare authors that can really write. Gorgeous, flowing text draws you into a story that captures your heart and keeps you turning the pages. You feel the characters, you imagine the history, you are right there.

I found the overall story arc quite enjoyable, and between the scenery and the characters, Conroy wove a great tale (albeit perhaps a little formulaic). I felt he tricked it up just one notch too many, in way that wasn't even remotely necessary. And I don't know why he did that - for at the end it felt like Conroy had a score to settle or something. A statement that just wasn't necessary; almost like he wanted to twist the knife based on his own life or something. 

Well, regardless, if you like Conroy's writing, you can't miss with this. And if you see this on a bookshelf, it's a fine read.

The Lion ~ Nelson DeMille

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

Oh what fun it is to have John Corey and DeMille back in hand for another summer read! While the plotline is very odd timewise (set in like 2004), it's a chuckle and a half to read the smart-aleck writing of DeMille via one of his superheroes (aka John Corey). Formerly NYPD, recently on the Anti-Terrorist Task Force. As is typical, the pace is rapid, the characters classic, and the tension high.

This is about as good as it seems to get this summer, and the stakes are as high as it gets with revenge killings, weapons of mass destruction, cutting edge technology, and good old fashioned detective work and puzzle solving. DeMille probably overbuilds the cat-and-mouse game a bit, and it gets silly in spots. But it's still a great, fun read in my mind.

Enjoy!

The First Rule ~ Robert Crais

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

Sometimes I wonder what life would be like if I had someone like Joe Pike in my corner. Someone that I knew would always back me up, no matter what; someone who would always be there. Someone to whom loyalty is absolute, and if you called and said "help," he'd be there in, in the shadows, keeping you safe from the bad guys.

Now, that's kind of silly, since my life is so vanilla. I'd never need someone like Pike. I wouldn't ever be in a situation requiring lethal force or with my life at risk (at least I like to think not). And I've got some great friends who would certainly be on the next plane if I ever said "help." But they would bring laptops, blackberries, checkbooks and smiles instead of guns :)

But, regardless, perhaps you get the point. This is a great story about unraveling a mystery, protecting your friends, and taking care of business. Bad guys have expiration dates when one of Pike's guys gets killed in a home invasion that isn't a random home invasion. Obviously Pike gets involved, and you're off on the ride. It's a great read if you like your avenging angels!

Best book so far this spring/summer. Enjoy it!

House Rules ~ Mike Lawson

Funk Rating: 8.5 out of 10

I enjoy stories by Lawson and his character Joe DeMarco. This is another one of those riddles, wrapped in an enigma, with some nice tension and danger in the mix. The plot line is an old standby, old man hidden the shadows, controlling political puppet strings for reasons known only to him.

Murder, sex, evilness, with good trying to triumph and unexpected bouts of conscience coming from supporting characters at just the right time. A fine airplane read for the summer.

Enjoy!

Fever Dreams ~ Lincoln Child & Douglas Preston

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

Maybe this is just the summer of reading that falls short. Or perhaps I'm just too tired when I'm reading and I can't love these characters like I used to.

This is another classic Pendergast tale, with the FBI agent using his amazing powers of deduction and Preston & Child using their wonderful storytelling skills. But this year's effort feels rushed and forced. And, yet again, the book doesn't end, it continues in a soon-to-be-released sequel.

The overall plot line generally works (albeit with a strange twist of marooned/secluded characters that seem to have access to extraordinary capital with no clear means of support) and there is certainly some fun in the chase. But this isn't their best work, so I can't call it a must read.

Fans can wait for the paperback...

61 Hours ~ Lee Child

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

As faithful readers of this blog know, I adore Jack Reacher as a character. And I love the staccato writing style that Child employs for these books. Each and every Reacher story has some classic lines, and this one is no exception.

As far as thrillers go, this one is a fine one indeed. But for whatever reason, it didn't quite measure up to the high standards I've come to expect from Child & Reacher.

Could be a function of the fact this is book one in a multi-part series, so it left me feeling unfulfilled. Could be that while every Reacher book has you suspending disbelief for a little while as the plot gets set up, this one just went a little bit too far in the "that's a little too too" quandrant. Or, it could just be something else I haven't figured out yet...

If you love Reacher, you must, of course, read this one. If you haven't read Reacher, start back at the beginning and by the time you get to this one the sequel will be out and perhaps that will help me come to love this one that much more.

Caught ~ Harlan Coben

Funk Rating: 10 out of 10

I think Coben is one of those truly great authors that know how to put together a great NYT bestseller that is perfect for an airplane or a beach chair. It moves fast, it has twists and turns that actually work, and it always keeps you up later than you really intended to be up.

This isn't literature - it will be an "OK" book in 10-20 years as so much of the content and storyline is RIGHT NOW with the Internet, kids in high school and the pressures, challenges, and realities they face, media hooks, blogs, you name it. I'm not sure someone who's retired would enjoy it as much as I did, nor am I sure someone younger without kids will enjoy it like I did. But I sure liked it.

Coben does the best job, by far, of any novel that has tried to set up a thriller in that context. I could nit-pick and find a few quibbles. But the book is just so well done, and the ending so awesome, that I gotta go full bore with 10 stars. Justice, revenge, redemption, and then some.

I hope I don't ruin it by raising your expectations too high, but next time you want a book that just takes you to another place for a few hours, and that keeps you hooked, I recommend this one. Particularly if you like other Coben books...

The Monkey's Raincoat ~ Robert Crais

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

Oh what fun it is to read Robert Crais again! Crais has a wonderful character here in Elvis Cole, with super pacing and a good plotline. And all the supporting cast members are fabulous as well (including, of course Joe Pike - which I read back in 2007 in The Watchman). It's quite funny in spots, and this is the first in the series...

If you like detective/mystery stories, good-guys and bad-guys, some very clever writing, and a little escape from reality, this is your kind of book.     

Enjoy!

-J

Personal Foul: A First-Person Account of the Scandal That Rocked the NBA ~ Tim Donaghy

Funk Rating: 7 out of 10

When I lived in Chicago and MJ and the Bulls dominated the NBA, I've always felt that the playoffs were manipulated. It struck me as odd that almost every series goes to 6 or 7 games, and that whichever team was down, seemed to have a better than even odds of coming back to "even it up" and get another night of commercials out of the series...

Well, this book isn't exactly about that topic, but it's close :). This book is all about a former ref who essentially figured out how to predict winners in the NBA by knowing the refs, the coaches and the players. He had "inside" information and he bet on the game. And organized crime used him to make a lot more money than he ever made.

No doubt the writing and publishing of this book was an effort at cathartic cleansing for Donaghy. Not unlike Agassi, you can see him trying to explain himself - to his friends, to the public, and perhaps even to himself.

It's not a particularly great read due to his penchant for overkill on details of specific games or people, but it's pretty interesting nonetheless. If you like sports, if you ever wondered if games were "fixed", or if you ever just wanted to know how the NBA worked, you might enjoy this one...

Lords of Corruption ~ Kyle Mills

Funk Rating: 7 out of 10

Mills is one of those authors that I buy regularly. Not because every new book is awesome, but because when he connects, like he did with Fade years ago, he's unreal.

But, this wasn't one of those tours de force.

It's actually a good plot outline - how NGOs and non-profits don't have watchdogs, and that can create all sorts of situations from money laundering to worse. And innocent people get caught in the middle. But the characters and the general story flow just isn't as good as we all know Mills can be.

If you see it in paperback, and there isn't much else to pick from, give it a shot. But otherwise, I'd probably just skip it...

Breathless ~ Dean Koontz

Funk Rating: 6.5 out of 10

I used to really enjoy Koontz. Always creative, always pushing the "out there" buttons. And, in his defense, this one is creative in the sense that he takes the big holes and cracks in evolution theory, and throws a major "what if" into the mix.

I kept turning the page because I was curious where he was going to go. But, on the last page it just didn't come together. Lots of hanging sub-plots were left hanging, characters were weak, etc. The language flows, and it's easy reading, but there are so many better books out there.

Leave this one at the bookstore...

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest ~ Stieg Larsson

Funk Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Oh my... I'm hard-pressed to find a trilogy of equal caliber. Lord of the Rings comes to mind, and I might have to give that the nod as the-best-trilogy-ever, but this series is simply extraordinary. Clearly I'm not the only one who thinks so given all the buzz and hype. But, you came here (or subscribed to this blog) to hear what I think.

Simply put, I think it's fabulous. Can I find things to quibble with? Sure, there are random bits of sloppiness in here, including the final conclusion with Salander's brother and how she resolves the situation. But c'mon, this is really, seriously good writing. It's original in its characters, it's compelling, it's avenging angel + superhero + technology genius all wrapped into one. It's about victims that aren't victims and bad actors that get what's coming to them. It's justice done the old fashioned way - by journalists and people that care about justice. And it's about being human.

I don't know what Larsson would have done to continue to the series. In some ways, his death no doubt influenced the popularity of the books. But I have to hand it to him, I thought he did what few authors in history have done - he wove a compelling, original story together that captured my imagination.

Bravo Mr. Larsson, Bravo!

P.S. First person to email me with a request gets my UK copy so you can read it before it's released here in the US.

Pirate Latitudes ~ Michael Crichton

Funk Rating: 8.5 out of 10

It's sometimes a bittersweet experience to read a "discovered after his death" manuscript released by an author's estate. You never know why the author didn't turn it into a publisher. Was he saving it? Did he feel it wasn't good enough? Was it for personal enjoyment and something not meant to be shared with the world?

The estate doesn't say, and Crichton left no notes regarding the novel (as far as I'm aware).

But this is a fun read, particularly if you like pirate stories. There's no science in this one; no ethical dilemmas that must be faced. This is a romp through the Caribbean in 1665 and has every stereotypical character and plot twist imaginable in it (giant squids, hurricanes, double-crosses, a pirate everyone loves, crooked politicians, holier-than-thou officials, etc.). And despite that, I smiled all the way through.

This is definite beach book material. I enjoyed it!

The Girl Who Played with Fire ~ Stieg Larsson

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

Oh what a great sequel! Stieg does it again, with a fabulous follow-on book to his debut The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. With one of the more original characters in a long time as the protagonist, this is a multi-layered plot that just keeps on unfolding in great page-turning fashion. We get to know Lisbeth Salander that much better, and get some insights into both why she is the way she is. And, along the way, we get a whole bunch of intrigue, murder, mystery, and character development that is awesome.

If you liked the first one, you'll love this one!

Freedom ~ Danial Suarez

Funk Rating: 6.5 out of 10

I was disappointed w/ the sequel to Daemon. I probably still harbor some animosity to both the author and the publishing house for the train wreck of just breaking the book in two and then selling them a year apart. Absolutely stupid and made it hard to get back into this book (imagine reading a book halfway, setting it down for a year, then trying to pick it up again -- that's pretty hard to do).

But even setting that aside, this just got so preachy and far-fetched in the plot setup that even all the really cool technology elements couldn't overcome a weak storyline. I really enjoyed the first one because it was so different and provocative. But Suarez couldn't deliver the goods across the full book. The violence against innocent civilians alone made the book untenable to me. And the way in which highly complex and interdependent events unfold but are totally predictable based on the "game" analogy just hit levels of absurdity near the end.

I wish I could be more positive, but it just fell well short of a good read...

Horse Soldiers: The Extraordinary Story of a Band of US Soldiers Who Rode to Victory in Afghanistan ~ Doug Stanton

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

I've had a string of great reads recently! Read this earlier in December based on a rec from my dad and found it to be absolutely mind-bending. To not just imagine, but to realize what our Special Forces do on behalf of America is humbling. I recall quote from George Orwell: "Men sleep peacefully in their beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."

This book, a history of the days shortly after 9/11 and our work in Afghanistan, is a testament to not only the truth of that quote, but to the heroic actions of a chosen few to materially influence the future safety of America. Amazing stuff that I am in awe of.

Regardless of your political philosophy, you will find much to be proud of in this book, and much to be in awe of. Most important to me was the realization of how a small group can be so incredibly influential. And, relatedly, how seeking understanding and thinking first before firing can mean the difference between success and failure.

Many who know me know that I love to make decisions quickly - I embrace the "ready, fire, aim" approach to business. Sometimes at the risk of "fire, fire, fire, OK, what happened" approach. My good friend, WDB, will appreciate that I learned to take a little more time to reflect and understand by reading this book :).

Enjoy!

Open ~ Andre Agassi

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

WOW. Simply WOW.

First, I have to admit I am an Andre Agassi fan - I'm a tennis player (duh), I grew up watching the guy, loved his rebel attitude early on, and delighted in his aging grace and competitiveness on the court. The guy lasted forever out there, at the top of his game (after essentially falling off a cliff). And a career Grand Slam is just incredible.

Is this a great book because of the writing? Heck no - it's probably a spectacular specimen of how to make an autobiography readable, but it's still kinda stream of consciousness and there is no plot or character development per se. BUT, there sure is plenty of plot and character development :)

The title of this book is exactly what this is - Andre Agassi bares his soul. His life. His hopes, his dreams, his fears, his failures, his triumphs. You are brought right there next to him. And it's powerful.

I'm not sure a non-tennis player and someone who didn't already 'know" him would love this as much as I did. But I found this an amazing read.

Paths of Glory ~ Jeffrey Archer

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

Simply put, Jeffrey Archer is one of the best storytellers in the world. It doesn't matter what he chooses as his topic, he simply can put words, phrases, paragraphs, and chapters together in a way that so few authors today can. Now, don't get me wrong, it's not literature. But boy is it great page-turning stuff for an airplane.

I got stuck in an airport without a book. Found this. Never looked back until the last page less than 36 hours later. Delightful story, based on a true story, of the first man to try to climb Mt. Everest.

I don't climb mountains, and know less about it than I know about building an airplane. But this is a fabulous story, and blows Into Thin Air away (I must admit I didn't even like that book that much regardless). If you love page turners, don't mind a little historical fiction, and enjoy Archer's writing, this is a definite grab off the shelf selection...

Ford County: Stories ~ John Grisham

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

Early in Grisham's career, I thought he was a rock star writing page turners that were awesome. Then he got a little too formulaic and predictable. Now, I'm back to really enjoying his writing, and turning page after page, seemingly unable to really stop. This is a collection of short stories that are all based in Ford County, Mississippi.

Every single one of these stories just pulled me right in. When I thought I knew where he was going, he fooled me and went a different direction. By midway through, I stopped trying to predict and just enjoyed the story. He doesn't try to overload the stories with little morality tales, nor does he always set-up sin and redemption in the typical way.

This is a fabulous collection in my mind of all-too-real stories told by a master. Fun, enjoyable, light-reading for any situation. I'm putting Grisham back on my favorites list...