Funky Reading

Love & Money ~ Michael M. Thomas

Funk Rating: 7.5 out of 10

This wasn't nearly as good as Hard Money. But, it was certainly readable, and it had a sense of "now" to it. In some ways it reminded me of Bonfire of the Vanities, but without attempting to be a statement of American culture that will stand up for decades.

It's a bit of a romp of a tale, and the characters are pretty well done. The ending is a bit surprising in some sense, yet it has its moments of redemption. The entire concept of how Thomas combines constitutional law (and some pretty sound reasoning) with no-fault divorce is fascinating inside of a novel like this.

You can do better with other books out there, but should this be left on a plane seat, it's worth a quick read...

The Christmas List ~ Richard Paul Evans

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

First off, I love Christmas. I delight in the decorations, the lights, the spirit of the season, and the love. I treasure what we're really celebrating with Christ's birth.

Second, I'm a sentimentalist and cry easily (takes a real man to admit that, right?) :). Whether we're talking It's a Wonderful Life or a wedding, or whatever, it doesn't take much to bring on the water brigade.

So this is kind of a layup book for me. A feel-good redemption story with a clever set-up -- the main character reads his obituary and then learns what everyone thinks about him. Essentially a variation on A Christmas Carol (which he makes no bones about).

It's a nice, freshly told, well-known tale. There is some sadness in the book, but fundamentally it's about realizing what life is really about. And the importance of kindness, friendship, and not always chasing the almighty dollar.

I flew through the whole thing in 2 hours. Delightful.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo ~ Stieg Larsson

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

Oh was this a great book! It started a bit slow with more characters than I could keep track of, but then it got better and better as each page turned. Wonderful characters, wonderful mystery!

I kept thinking I'd figured it out, and then he unwrapped even more of the mystery. And the main female character is just an absolute original that you can't help but like. She has her own sense of justice, her own unique skills and talents, and all in a package that is just so unexpected.

When you want to step outside of your traditional reading, pick this one out of the deep corner at the bookstore. It's a hidden gem.

Enjoy!

The Bookman's Promise ~ John Dunning

Funk Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Cliff Janeway is a great fantasy character for me. When I start dreaming about my next career after I retire and want a slow pace of life, owning a little bookstore usually makes the top 10 list. Partly because I do seem to enjoy books a lot, and partly because I know there is so much to learn about book collecting.

But, putting that aside, Janeway seems to have a way of finding himself in the middle of mysteries (set in Denver no less!) that are good little mind-benders. This is the best one yet, and follows a fascinating plot line that goes all the way back to the start of the civil war. The characters are dynamite, and the pages turn quickly.

If you haven't read any of the Cliff Janeway novels, and if you like mysteries and books, I can heartily recommend this. Well done Mr. Dunning, I'm looking forward to the next one.

The Inside Ring ~ Mike Lawson

Funk Rating: 7 out of 10

This is a pretty solid debut thriller from a new author. A cute little paperback (300 pages) and it's a cunning tale of a traitor high up in the secret service. Or at least that's the fear.

The characters in this book are a bit over the top -- you've got the Speaker of the House, a good ol' boy, and his "fixer". Who's not like the Equalizer or anything, but he gets the job done. And then you mix in all sorts of other little jerks who are in government, and you've got another classic greed and cover-your-ass kind of behavior plotline. There are some funny spots, and some nice revenge at the end...

Lawson could develop into a solid talent, but I think he's got a ways to go still...

Shadow of Power ~ Steve Martini

Funk Rating: 7.5 out of 10

I always enjoy Martini's books, particularly ones with Paul Madriani as the main character. Always well-crafted and always some nice little plot twists that you don't see coming. This was a fine paperback read on an airplane or two.

I think Martini got a little too clever for his own good with this one -- slavery, founding fathers, the Constitution, the Supreme Court, etc. It all makes for some good page turning, but the characters don't quite come together as well as they could, and something about the story just felt a little too stretched for my tastes.

To be clear, I enjoyed it. But I'm glad I paid paperback pricing...

Hard Money ~ Michael M. Thomas

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

This is an older find -- written in 1985, and it's an absolutely fabulous tale of greed, media, family politics of the rich, capitalism, etc. Given that it was written 25 years ago, I was shocked at how appropriate and pointed the narrative still was even today. 

Characters are very well done, the plotline gets a little tripped up here and there but is super. This is a book that almost borders on the philosophical -- how if you let money drive you, you end up being empty and having nothing to really live for. How when you keep score with games of "top it", you always sure to lose. 

And yet, the book isn't preachy in the slightest. It's a fast page-turning tale of intrigue, of corporate battles, of fabulous wealth, love, lust, friendship, and loss. 

I don't recall how this book came into my life, but I'm certain to go check out some more Michael Thomas books!

Glass Tiger ~ Joe Gores

Funk Rating: 7 out of 10

If you liked Point of Impact (Steven Hunter), you'll like this book too. It's about snipers, political intrigue and secrets, accepted truth that isn't truth, and delivering justice. Some good plot twists and turns, but a little bit "too too" if you know what I mean.

The characters are pretty good, and the intrigue was nicely done.

I enoyed it enough that if you find the bookstore only has one copy of a Joe Gores book and nothing else left, it's worth the paperback price.

The Three Trillion Dollar War: The True Cost of the Iraq Conflict ~ Linda J. Bilmes and Joseph E. Stiglitz

Funk Rating: 2 out of 10

We live in America and I treasure the freedom of the press. I support everyone's right to have opinions and if they'd like, to publish them.

But this book is poorly drafted, and the analysis is very weak and superficial. It has about enough content for a 7 page magazine article, and they just keep repeating the same stuff over and over again, and to give it heft, throw in footnotes that take up the 2nd half of the book so it has some thump factor ("see, it's gotta be right, it's BIG").

Short version, they can't do math and they try to be as sensational as they can be. They'd have you believe if you buy a $200,000 house, it's actually a $400,000 house if you finance it with a mortgage. So that nicely doubles things through a quick illusion. I'll leave it at that as I don't typically get into content in my blog. But rest assured the rest of their "financial analysis" that gets them to $3 trillion is just as hollow and wrong-headed.

I think the author's fundamental point is fair enough as it goes: we grossly underestimated the cost of the Iraq war. Fine, I can buy that. But let's not make up pretend math to argue with the benefit of hindsight that we'd have $3 trillion to spend on other things if only we hadn't gone into Iraq.

I can't recommend this book.

A Son of the Game: A Story of Golf, Going Home, and Sharing Life's Lessons ~ James Dodson

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

Every so often I read a book about golf. This one came to me from someone that started as a business acquaintance and is now a good friend of mine. We've anchored our friendship in golf -- member-guest tournaments (home and away) and many shared funny stories.

Dodson is a great writer, and this is a bit of an autobiographical story. It's about growing up playing golf, finding yourself and what's important while playing golf, and connecting with others through the game. I'm not sure it would be all that good of a read if you don't like golf. But, if you play the game, it's a wonderful read that will make you laugh out loud in spots, and perhaps be a bit nostalgic in others.

Enjoy!

Pursuit of Honor ~ Vince Flynn

Funk Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Mitch Rapp is back, and the bad guys are going down. All of them. With prejudice.

If you've read the Flynn/Rapp series, you know this is a novel that cuts to the core of the debate on how to fight terrorists and terrorism. It's an in-your-face, flat out argument for taking it to the enemy by all means possible. An approach that not only approves "extreme measures" but explains the argument why it must be done.

I love Rapp, and I hope there are indeed men and women like him keeping watch in the night so that we can sleep safely. This story brings it a little closer to home, and to the conniving and idiotic politicians and bureaucrats that are part of the problem.

This is a fun and quick read if you like the Rapp series. Probably not the best one to start with, but certainly a fine addition to the series.

9 Dragons ~ Michael Connelly

Funk Rating: 10 out 10

There are authors and characters that get stale after a good run. Writers that get pushed by their publishing house, or simply run out of good stories. It's sad when that happens -- great characters just get burned out and worn down.

Then there is Michael Connelly and Harry Bosch. Arguably the best detective writer in the world, with the most unique and long-running character that never gets re-tread into the ground. Harry always shows a new part of himself, he grows, he changes, yet he remains the indefatigable champion of the dead. Tough to get close to, difficult to work with, yet incredibly loyal and perceptive.

This is yet another new twist in the Bosch franchise. And it's fabulous. I might be biased, but I don't think so... If you like Bosch, you gotta get this one.

"Happy is the man who finds refuge in..." Connelly's stories :)

The Art of Racing in the Rain ~ Garth Stein

Funk Rating: 10 out 10

There are books that just catch you at the right moment and end up being exactly what you need, exactly at that point in time. I can't say this will be one of your favorite books ever, but it certainly is way up there on my list. A true writing/reading treasure.

This is another one of those books that is written by a dog, but while it makes you laugh out loud at times, it also makes you think, and perhaps even cry. It makes you evaluate what's important in your life, what you're trying to control too much, what you're holding on to a wee bit too gently, and what you are trying to fight for. A major theme here is "what you manifest is before you" -- I won't say more than that, except to say that the depth in this book surprised me. And delighted me. Where your eyes go, is where the car goes...

Told as a narrative of life; of choices, of decisions, of outcomes, this book will have a place on my bookshelf forever. All sorts of reasons make that so, but all I can tell you my dear reader (both of you!), is that you should pop this in your flight bag. I don't want to oversell, but I enjoyed it immensely. I hope you will too. Oh, just in case, if your initials are JMH, this is coming your way...

Dog on It ~ Spencer Quinn

Funk Rating: 8.5 out of 10

This is the kind of book that you smile and chuckle the whole way through. A truly original read, this is a book, written through the eyes of a dog, as his master (a private investigator) solves a case. It is rip-roaring funny in spots, particularly if you have a dog.

I'd love to put some quotes in here from the book, but that's not the point of this blog, so I'll just tell you that if you (a) like mysteries, and (b) like dogs, I gotta believe you'll love this book. How Quinn can pull this off through the whole book is beyond me; but he does, and he does it very, very well.

You can't go wrong with this book unless you don't like dogs... A /perfect/ book for an airplane or a beach. No wine required, you'll finish it with a smile on your face and a lighter step as you realize how good it would be to be a dog with so few cares and so little memory :)

The Defector ~ Daniel Silva

Funk Rating: 9.5 out of 10

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know I'm simple. I like avenging angels, loyalty is paramount (in books and in life), cleverness is highly regarded, and bad guys need to die. And, of course, along the way the main character must remain human -- flawed yet able to love; yearning for approval, yet following an internal compass of a strong moral code; chafing at authority, yet following it except when exceptions must be made.

Gabriel Allon is one of the best characters around, and Silva one of the best authors. This is non-stop, heart-pounding, high-intensity thriller writing at its finest. Some of the literary techniques Silva uses (my favorite being when he refers to actions as part of historical lore and used in training new spies; even when it's happening in real time) is fascinating and highly effective. The clues and traps are worthy of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and the action is worthy of the best Brad Thor and Lee Child can dish out with their superheroes.

This is a spectabulous book if you like these kinds of books. Enjoy!

The Lost Symbol ~ Dan Brown

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

I have to admit that against the odds, I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I can't even begin to imagine the pressure of a sequel to The Da Vince Code, and I further can't imagine how one could navigate the waters of interest groups getting all annoyed.

I don't know about you, but I had pretty much written this off. At first, my anticipation was high; then, as time passed, I figured he couldn't pull it off, so it was going to really stink. He had too many audiences, too many editors, too many storylines. So, in fact, my expectations were low.

And he exceeded them. :). Perhaps that was his strategy all along...

Oh, I could find a variety of things that annoyed me along the way of turning that final page. Character backdrop storylines with gaping holes; impossible leaps of logic and thinking to keep the story going. But, I have to say as I sit here and shake my head that Dan Brown did what I consider to be impossible: he wrote a great book with the whole world watching. Only other person that can do that is JK Rowling (and I personally didn't think those were good reads, but I acknowledge her skill).

Dan Brown deserves a toast. Not necessarily for writing a truly spectacular book (Angels and Demons I think was still better), but for pulling off one of those extremely rare feats of performing well on Sunday afternoon when everyone is tuned it, watching, and waiting to see if you'll choke.

I enjoyed it, and I think you will too.

Sidney Sheldon's Mistress of the Game ~ Tilly Bagshawe

Funk Rating: 6.5 out of 10

There are few storytellers today that are as good as Sidney Sheldon was in his heyday. I was intrigued to see what the estate would do in letting someone else use his classic characters in a "sequel" (at the risk of stating the obvious, Sheldon died in early 2007). Sadly, as talented at Tilly Bagshawe is, she just couldn't pull it off.

This book is about the next generation of Blackwells, and while she sets it up nicely with some characters you love to hate (I wonder if Sheldon outlined the characters and plotline?), she tries too hard to make it move quickly. She moves too fast between storylines, trumps up and down relationships like whack-a-moles, and never really connects the dots. Oh, it's not an awful read, but it's far from a good one.

Candidly, you'd be much, much better off getting an old paperback of the original Master of the Game and leaving this one to get moldy in the Amazon warehouse. It just isn't worthy...

Fear the Worst ~ Linwood Barclay

Funk Rating: 8.5 out of 10

This is my first Barclay, and I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed it! Wonderful suspense and a great page turner. The main characters were well done, and the twists and turns were sufficiently unpredictable to keep me moving through it. My only complaint, if I had one, was that the plot was a little stretched, and then at the end got overly tricked up. I don't think he needed to pull quite as much "connection" as he ultimately did. It would have hung together just fine and been more enjoyable with a little less contrivance.

I'd definitely put this in the bag, particularly in paperback. Enjoy!

The Invisible ~ Andrew Britton

Funk Rating: 6 out of 10 

Sometimes books and I don't get along. This happened with this book -- I found so, so many plot holes, disjointed storylines, incomplete thoughts, etc. that I just couldn't enjoy the story. I enjoyed the predecessor, The American, a bit (although I apparently didn't blog it). But this one just didn't work for me.

Characters did things that didn't make sense. They were feeling passionate about one thing and had no other possible choice other than path A. Then you turn the page, and they're passionate about something else and going down opposite path B. Characters arrive with great fanfare and great importance; then they disappear, never to factor in again. The President wants X, then he wants Y. 

It felt like someone trying to be Robert Ludlum and failing, miserably.

Can't recommend this one...

The Apostle ~ Brad Thor

Funk Rating: 7 out of 10

I like Thor's books and I like Scot Harvath -- he's my kind of avenging angel. But this was a poor effort by a talented author. Oh, it's got plenty of page-turning mojo in that "thriller by number" style that seems to be transcending all the NYT bestsellers. Yet again, terrorists are the bad guys; yet again, senior government officials are hiding bad personal behaviors; yet again, it's up to a one-man superhero to save the situation...

Now, if I put the tricked up storyline aside, I do like the fundamental storyline here (and across all the Thor books) that there are committed and serious men and women that put it on the line every day. And it's a sad reflection on our country when we get bozos in office (whether that's the Oval Office or Congress) that 2nd guess, that think "if we just talk to each other, we'll all get along", or worst of all, say things in public that undermine our brave men and women that put themselves in harm's way. Grand-standing has no place in national security.

I wish Thor had come up with a better plotline. That's my core gripe... But, when it comes out in paperback, if you like Thor, it's a fine distraction for a few hours...

Long Lost ~ Harlan Coben

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

Yes, another Coben featuring Myron Bolitar, and the converse of the blog last night -- this is the latest one in the series. In case you haven't noticed, Coben/Bolitar are my go-to team lately. The series is nice and robust (8-10 books?) and they're consistently good page turners with characters I enjoy, plotlines that work, and just plain solid writing.

This one has some good international twists, some mind-bending technology combined with terrorist cells that make you say "whoa", and enough grit to keep you from getting too comfortable. Does Coben stretch a little too far to work terrorists into his storyline? Perhaps. But hey, it's probably hard to get an editor to sign off on a storyline if it doesn't involve terrorists these days. They're the new bad guys; it's not like Russia is going to keep us up at night worrying anymore...

First Family ~ David Baldacci

Funk Rating: 7 out of 10

I'm seriously starting to wonder why I order Baldacci books at full hardcover prices. It's not that they're bad; it's just that they're not that good anymore. This is another in his trajectory of generally implausible plotlines that still gets you turning pages and saying, "this isn't so bad, but it could have been better."

If you like Baldacci, and this is the only thing short of some really bad stuff at the airport bookstore, you can read it instead of working on the plane. But it's not gonna be one you treasure...

Gone Tomorrow ~ Lee Child

Funk Rating: 8.5 out of 10

I like superhero Reacher so, so much. And Child generally writes extraordinary stories with extraordinary plots for his extraordinary character to live in. See Bad Luck and Trouble in particular, and The Hard Way, and even Nothing to Lose.

But Child seems to be having a bit of a volatility problem. He can't seem to get 2 awesome books out in a row. Not that this one is bad (not even close). It just isn't killer good like Bad Luck and Trouble and his early ones. 

In this one the set-up is just a little weird and it never really plays out across the ending. There's no real closure on the key plot element. Which, I know, is a strategy some writers like to use to show that things aren't always "black and white" and that there aren't always happy endings. But c'mon. This is Reacher. He's all about black and white. He's all about revenge, about justice, etc.

And, I will admit, the revenge and justice visited upon the bad guys (would you believe they're women?) in this book is pretty awesome. You could just see the movie option rights go up while reading that part. But the other parallel storyline that triggers the story trajectory just kinda didn't work for me.

Well, enough said. If you've read Reacher/Child and enjoy them, this is worthy. If you haven't read them yet, start with the paperbacks and enjoy those. Then, with a long flight and a glass of wine, read Bad Luck and Trouble. Savor that one. Then, once you've gotten hooked, this is a fine addition to the shelf...

The Scarecrow ~ Michael Connelly

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

I put Connelly on my top 5 NYT Bestseller authors list. Potentially even #1, but Lee Child is right there with him... And of course early Ludlum is tough to beat... So call him top 2 of the 21st century :)

Sometimes he writes so pure and so well that I can't imagine them being any better. Others of his books are simply outstanding. This is one of those simply outstanding books. 

I can't jump up and down and say "YOU GOTTA READ THIS! YOU GOTTA READ THIS!" on this one. Partly because I know a little too much about technology, so when an author takes license with the tech for the sake of the story, it just doesn't quite work. But, all that said, even though this isn't Bosch level stuff, this is a really darn good book. He brings a little new media vs. old media to bear, and he brings a lot of "a black hat hacker can do some real damage in today's connected world" into the book. In some authors hands, this would be a recipe for disaster. But he pulls it off and it's a fun read. 

If you like any of Connelly's work, this one needs to be in your bag. 

Deal Breaker ~ Harlan Coben

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

Holy cow have I been bad about blogging lately! To my 4 loyal and faithful fans (you know who you are), I apologize. To all the others that graze through here for grins and laughs, I also apologize. I've read a couple dozen books since my last blog; I'll comment on the ones I remember, which should spare you some bad ones ;)

This is the first Myron Bolitar novel by Coben. Done way back in 1995. It's amazing to me how well he nailed his characters even back then, and successfully built a franchise that was so consistent. If a few clues along the way (and a violate on the front cover saying "The First Myron Bolitar Novel") hadn't been noticed by the ever sharp yours truly, I think he could have updated a few things and passed it off as a new one.

Very fun, very enjoyable. Tough story in spots (one of the victims was buried alive!), but fantastic fodder for an airplane or a pool.

Terminal Freeze ~ Lincoln Child

Funk Rating: 7 out of 10

Child continues his annoying (to me) habit of putting out books without Douglas Preston as a co-author and they sound great on the jacket covers. And, in fact, the plot lines have a lot of promise. But something is missing. Characters? Real engagement with the reader?

I just can't put my finger quite on it, and I keep giving him the benefit of the doubt. But this is another one -- good story that combines today's "reality show" world, economics of research and sponsorship, and folks just taking one too many risks without really thinking through what they're doing. It's set in an arctic climate, and it even has a native tribe that faces extinction in it (could it perhaps be that he tries to touch too many "hot" buttons in his books?).

It's definitely a page-turner, and a fine airplane read if someone leaves it on your seat. But it's probably not worth the price of the hardcover. Wait for the next Child/Preston collaboration (hint hint: Cemetery Dance) if you're rationing book purchases...

The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life ~ Alice Schroeder

Funk Rating: 6 out of 10

If you want an exhaustive dissection of the thermodynamics of drying paint under different atmospheric conditions, I fear you may find this author's name on the title page of such a dissertation.

I can't begin to tell you how sad I was to find a subject as rich and powerful as Warren Buffet reduced to such poor writing. I gave it 5 extra rating points just because of Buffett and because of everything he's done, because of his genius, and because of the absolutely spectacular nuggets of insight that are present in this book.

But.

Don't, for a moment, think this is a page turner. Don't expect it to get better in the next chapter, and don't expect the author will find her stride. It was too much of a stretch, too rich of a subject, and she had too many visions of being "the only authorized biography of an icon of our time, so let's make it accurate." She forgot the point about it being readable and enjoyable.

If you love Buffett, you'll be able to battle through. And you'll be rewarded with some keen insights, some amazing stories, and a lot of history. But I can't actually imagine recommending someone that doesn't love Buffett read this. It's like Chinese water torture of detailed minutia and it misses the mark.

Beat the Reaper ~ Josh Bazell

Funk Rating: 10 out of 10

As 2009 new books go, this is a rockstar of a book. Extraordinary... Truly enjoyed it - it's like nothing I've read before.

I can't recall a book that was so different, so creative in its plot and storyline, AND made me laugh out loud with the cleverness of the writing. I can tell you some of the ingredients:

• mobsters (think Sopranos)
• doctors in hospitals (think Robin Cook)
• laugh out loud sense of humor with the writing/and storyline (think DeMille)
• action hero (think Lee Child/Jack Reacher)
• youth and maturing (think Salinger / Catcher in the Rye)
• footnotes that are educational yet sarcastic (?!)
• flashbacks, multiple plot threads, etc. (all the best authors)

But I simply cannot do this book justice. It's a real treat to see someone do something new and different with a book. It's a thriller, but it's not. It's a narrative, but it's more than that.

This is just plain outstanding. Now, before I go any farther, I have to tell you that I'm not sure everyone will enjoy this book... The language and some of the scenes are a bit edgy, so for those that don't tolerate that well, I warn in advance.

But, if you want to take a risk with a book this year, this is one to try. I suspect you'll love it or hate it. Obviously, I fell into the former camp. I'm still shaking my head with a WOW. Between this and Daemon, I feel like I hit a double jackpot or something!

Daemon ~ Daniel Suarez

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

This book had a solid 10 going into the last 50 pages. I was turning pages fast and furious and actually making time to read this. It's a spectacular ride that combines Internet technology, madmen, and some fascinating plot twists. It's Michael Chricton's Prey meets Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon. On steroids, with some multi-player gaming thrown in for good measure.

If you like science fiction, this is a book you should definitely read. If you like technology fiction books, this is a page turner. If you lie at wake at night wondering how the world could go terribly wrong when everything is connected, when we have no real privacy anymore, and when machines are computationally fast enough to eliminate latency, this book will give you something to really stay awake at night and worry about.

But, and this is a big but for me, the bottom falls out in the last 25-50 pages. There really isn't an ending. I couldn't even find a cliffhanger and a "to be continued..." kind of line. It just sorta runs out of pages at a chapter break. Obviously there is a sequel coming, but he could have done so much more to at least tie this book off and let it stand alone. I would have more heartily recommended it if he did that.

As it stands, my rec would be to wait until book #2 comes out. Then buy them both together. Perhaps if you can just turn from the end of this one to the start of the next one it will work better... But, if you just can't help yourself, feel free to add this to your nightstand now. It's one of the more original stories in "near-in" science fiction thrillers out there...

Faith and Doubt ~ John Ortberg

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

As a Christian, every once in while I ask myself whether it's OK to have doubts about my faith or doubts about God. This is a very well done book that attacks this issue head-on. Ortberg has a wonderful way of putting things and expressing things so that by the time you're done you realize that it is natural, and appropriate to have doubts. One of the truisms that comes through is that if you don't have doubts, you can't have faith. Think about that. If something can't be doubted, if something is such a hard, absolute fact (say, for example, the sun is HOT), then you don't need any faith to say the sun is HOT.

I won't preach on this blog, but I will say this is a great book for anyone who's wondered if it's OK to doubt; if you can still be a solid Christian and still have doubts. Faith must trump doubt, but the existence of periodic questions or doubts is not only OK, but helpful and to be expected. Some doubts can be destructive, but many doubts can ultimately lead to strengthened faith. Like relationships with our loved ones, we must trust, we must put our faith in that person.

This isn't in the same class as Mere Christianity, but it's a great read. I recommend it.

Physics for Future Presidents ~ Richard A. Muller

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

This is a book that I think everyone should read. Not necessarily because it's incredible (heck, I only gave it 8 stars), but because it cuts through so much media disinformation and cuts to the core of many of the biggest issues facing the world and future presidents: nuclear weapons, energy, climate change, space, etc.

Big topics, weighty issues. And this guy (from Cal no less!) has his head screwed on and his facts straight. If you fancy yourself educated on the bigger issues, I challenge you to read this book. It will make you sit up and think. For example, think dirty bombs are a real threat to the US? Think again, they're not. Think electric cars are the future? Think again, there are some issues that no one wants to talk about... Same with hydrogen fuel cells.

My only quibble with this book is that I don't think he's creative enough. Too much of his terrorist analysis relies upon the past and the obvious. Which, while I think is fine 98% of the time, may not be exactly the right way to run the country. Thinking outside the box is how the underdog wins...

Anyway, when you want to engage your brain a little beyond John Grisham, this is the one to buy from Amazon. Did I mention I can't believe this guy teaches at Berkeley?! And he got voted "Best Class at Berkeley by the students" -- I can't imagine many other things I have in common with undergrads there ;)

The Associate ~ John Grisham

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

It's been a while (perhaps first time ever?) since I gave Grisham a 9. But he demonstrates yet again why he is a master page-turning writer and a NYT bestseller book-in and book-out. I flew through this book in a roundtrip flight to LA last week. Enjoyed every page I turned oh-so-rapidly...

The plot is a little tricked up to get it going, but once it's off, it's a blast. Could be I'm still living my rationalization for why I'm not a lawyer at a big firm. Could be that I just think it's such a treat to escape to a different world for 4 hours or so and let the mind just relax...

This is a story of a young man who finds himself between a rock and a hard place, and manages to wiggle through. Along the way there are delightful digs, fun "new lawyer who acts like a spy" storylines, and some great characters. I can't think of many books that are so perfectly designed for an airplane or beach read. You won't remember this for the rest of your life; it's unlikely to change anything inside you; but I think you'll find yourself hard-pressed to put it down.

Enjoy!

Enough ~ John C. Bogle

Funk Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Part of me loved this book. It's high-time we started realizing:

(1) that we've had enough of the ridiculous, self-reinforcing spiral of financial infrastructure that has been built up over the past 25 years with investment bankers, private equity, hedge funds, mortgage bankers, lawyers, and other financial engineers that are overpaid to create layers of complexity in the form of derivatives, re-sellable coupon strips, swaps, etc. All in the name of risk management, portfolio management, and chasing the IRR... And,

(2) the important things in life can't be measured with money. Chasing money as the scorecard is a rabbit hole. You likely already have enough, you just don't realize it because you're looking the wrong way and thinking that next $X is all you need.

Bogle, who founded Vanguard, is obviously a wicked smart guy, and this book shows he's grounded in some pretty solid values. That said, he wandered his way through this book weaving the importance of efficient investing (which Vanguard does a great job at), values and morals, and a little preachiness. I enjoyed the book, but I could have used less "Vanguard as a great example" and more of his well-grounded arguments for why we've lost our way a bit over the past few decades...

I don't begrudge him anything. He's earned it, and he earned it the old fashioned way: by creating a company that does something valuable over the long-haul. It's a quick read, and a good reminder of what's important. And he helps you realize that your definition of "Enough" may be in need of a review...

Fade Away ~ Harlan Coben

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

Another well-done page turner from Coben featuring Myron Bolitar. This one gets a little wacky in spots, but the characters are great, the plotline is sufficiently original that he keeps you guessing, and there are some good twists and turns. Ideal for a plane or other location when you don't want to think and want to just get away...

If you like the Coben books, this is another good one. If you want my paperbook copy, just shoot me an email. First come, first serve :)

Christopher's Ghosts ~ Charles McCarry

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

I truly love McCarry's books about Paul Christopher. Some of the best espionage/spy fiction in the world. It's not all high-action italics like Ludlum, and it's not avenging angel stuff either. It's just plain, solid, outstanding writing and storytelling.

This is another great one in the series (see Tears of Autumn) and The Last Supper (which I failed to blog but enjoyed very much) and Old Boys (which I also failed to blog but enjoyed).

If you like classically written, enjoyable espionage, it's tough to beat any of the McCarry books.

Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana ~ Anne Rice

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

I read the first Anne Rice book about Christ as a child, Out of Egypt, about 30 months ago and enjoyed it immensely (9 out of 10). I'd have to say this one was pretty darn good as well. As with the first one in the series, the raw courage it took to write this, combined with some outstanding writing, earns major kudos from me.

We know so little about Christ's life before he started his miracles and his ministry. And this book tries to imagine what it was like to be him and to be around him before his first miracle of turning water to wine at a wedding in Cana. Of course it's not accurate; but that's not the point in my mind. The point is to put you there, at that time, imagining what it would be like to have Jesus as a neighbor, as a family member. Even what it was like to actually be Christ and to discover who you are and what your purpose is for His glory. What's it like to be a man, but know in your heart that you can never marry; what's it like to have a temper and be angry, but yet stop short of sinning? What is it like to forgive, over and over, and yet to still feel pain and hurt each time someone does something to you with words or action?

This is a book that I can heartily recommend to anyone. Few books are as provocative and well-written as this.

Drop Shot ~ Harlan Coben

Funk Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Back in 2006, I read my 1st Myron Bolitair book, Promise Me, by Coben. Enjoyed it and gave that one an 8. I think this one is even better. Some very good plot twists, a backdrop of tennis (which in my other resolution for 2009 I've decided to try to play more regularly), and good characters. This is a great, entertaining plane read.

Last night I went a little crazy on Amazon and bought like 6 other Bolitair stories since they're all in paperback. I'll keep you posted as I plow through them :)

The Accidental, Countdown

A little more catching up here... Two books to avoid if you can.

I never even got past the first 50 pages of The Accidental it was so bad. I have no idea how it could possibly have been nominated, much less a finalist, for a few awards. It stunk.

I read an Iris Johansen (Stalemate) last year and thought it was decent. But I picked up Countdown at an airport recently, and it wins the lousiest book I finished in 2008, hands down. Characters were incredibly weak, the dialog was downright awful, and the plotline was so contrived and tricked up that the only reason I finished it was to see if it could possibly redeem itself. And the ending dug the hole of bad writing just that much deeper.

So, there are two to NOT put on your reading list!

Resolved: To blog books again

Well hello! Happy 2009!

It's been about 5 months, and I think I actually kept pace pretty well and read 15-20 books or so. But I've been too busy to blog. And there's a weird momentum thing with blogging that turns into inertia when you don't blog...

I'll cheat a bit and do a couple quick reviews. I'm sure I'm missing some. But I aim to return to pace in 2009. We'll see...

Wishing you and your family a great and blessed 2009!

********

• Gate House - Nelson DeMille - 7 out of 10 - Entertaining writing/reading; goofy plot; awful ending
• Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things - 7 out of 10 - Provocative book about sustainable product design
• Green to Gold: How Smart Companies Use Environmental Strategy to Innovate, Create Value, and Build Competitive Advantage - 6 out of 10 - Should be sub-titled "Stating the Obvious" or "Cribnotes from Porter, Dressed Up in Green Clothing". Not awful, but little new.
• The Brass Verdict - Michael Connelly - 9 out of 10 - I sure do love Connelly; great storyline, great writing, and great book!
• Tsar: A Thriller - Ted Bell - 8 out of 10 - highly entertaining and well written. Bell has redeemed himself. Set aside believability before starting...
• Divine Justice - David Baldacci - 7 out of 10 - finally a less than goofy Camel Club book. Still short of actually a good book though...
• Extreme Measures: A Thriller - 8 out of 10 - would have been almost a full 10 if the ending wasn't so awful and trite.
• The Bodies Left Behind - Jeffery Deaver - 6 out of 10 - from anyone other than Deaver, this would be a 7.5. But it was sloppy in the plot, ridiculous in the characters after the plot twists, etc.
• Moscow Rules - Daniel Silva - 9 out of 10 - simply outstanding. If you like Silva, Gabriel Allon, or just plain great thrillers/avenging angels, this is great. A few weaknesses, but not many.
• The Forgery of Venus - Michael Gruber - 8 out of 10. A very different book. Entertaining and I enjoyed it.
• The Sleeping Doll - Jeffery Deaver - 8.5 out of 10 - some great plot twists and good writing. Classic Deaver
  

The Billionaire's Vinegar: The Mystery of the World's Most Expensive Bottle of Wine ~ Benjamin Wallace

Funk Rating: 7 out of 10

This reminded me of a business book -- great outline, great plot/theory/story, but 2/3rd too long... At 336 pages, this book wanders ridiculously at times and doesn't even stay chronological...

But, for all that, the combination of characters, the history of how the world of expensive and old wines just exploded onto the scene in the 80s, and the whole possibility of actually owning a bottle of wine once owned by Thomas Jefferson is captivating and engaging. Most of the book is fun, and it's a glance into a world that is incredibly different (private jets used just to transport single bottles of wine?!; wine tastings that last for weeks and start at 9 am each day?!) from my existence.

It's fine escapism reading, even as it is too long by far.

East of Eden ~ John Steinbeck

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

Well, I took a brief detour from the NYT Bestseller list to read this classic that was highly recommended by a friend. I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed the writing and the character development. I haven't read much Steinbeck, but boy do I respect his ability to work his craft! I felt the characters and the scenery come alive in ways that few authors accomplish. On that front, call this a 10+!

That said, there was a little too much tragedy, and not enough triumph in this book. I felt the plotline and general story thread got a little trumped up, a little too obvious, and a little too tragic for my tastes. I know he had a reason for doing that, but I would push back on Steinbeck (if he were alive) and say "Thou mayest" in terms of his plotline. If free will and choices do exist, and if we can craft our own destiny, I humbly suggest he could have put a few more positive outcomes in this book...

But, I'm quibbling, and God knows I'm not an actual critic or accomplished reader of "literature". It's a heck of a book, and I'm glad to have added it to the archives...

The Last Patriot ~ Brad Thor

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

I have to give Thor some credit on this one -- a good page turner that combines history with today's global politics and the threat of fundamentalist Islam. Did you know Thomas Jefferson had some experience with Islam via the Barbary Wars (and that the US paid something like 20% of GDP to pirates back in those days?!)? Thor pulled a mild Dan Brown here, with some old religious clues combined with good old chutzpah of Scot Harvath.

This isn't a great book from a character development perspective, and in fact, it's a little weak and less "fun" than his other works. But there are still some good bad-ass things in here, and it's a page turner for sure. :)

Fine beach or airplane reading if you like the other Scot Harvath books. But I wouldn't put this in the bag until you've read other ones...

The Broken Window ~ Jeffery Deaver

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

Oh how I love Lincoln Rhyme! One of the truly great characters of the last 10-20 years in bestselling fiction. Wickedly intelligent, physically handicapped, and a study of the ultimately rational detective.

This isn't the best Rhyme novel as elegantly crafted plot turns go. In fact, it's almost downright plodding in that sense. But, it's just as terrifying as this one is just a touch closer to being "real" -- if someone knows everything about us based on all the technology that now surrounds us, how easy it can be to ruin our lives...

Deaver did a weird thing in this novel of keeping the character alive from The Cold Moon as a sub-plot. So clearly we're going to see that bad guy again. And it distracted from this book more than a little in my mind. It was almost as if Deaver outlined this story, got the go-ahead, and then ran out of gas and wrote a short novel. So his publisher told him to bulk it up by filling in some more pages with a tease on the sequel to The Cold Moon.

Any-the-who, if you love Rhyme, this is a pretty good one. Certainly short of his best, but a fun read.

The Last Lecture ~ Randy Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

I have a sense that just about everyone reading this blog has seen Randy Pausch's "Last Lecture"

If you haven't, click the link above.

In a very real sense, this book is similar to business books that have a great theme and are super 30 minute lectures. And then someone decides to write a book. Result: the first 2 chapters rock and the balance of the book is filler. This book is a larger / longer version of his lecture, but the difference for me was that I didn't think it was filler. It was a rich, more contextual story about what an incredible path Randy has taken since he was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

It's largely about him, his choices, his life, and his message to his kids and his wife. So, at times, you feel like Randy is kind of being a little selfish. But, you know what? He's earned it. His advice, his values, his point of view are powerful, refreshing, and inspiring to say the least. He's one amazing guy, and I don't think I'd have his courage if I were in his situation. So, I humbly applaud him (through my inevitable tears).

My favorite quote, and one I'm going to print in large type and hang on my wall is below. I love how he tags "find your passion" as the key to life. And, then, he follows it up with this:

"Brick walls are not there to keep you out, but to remind you how badly you want something. Brick walls aren't there to keep you out, they're there to keep all those other people out."

Next time I take on a brick wall, I'll be thinking of Randy...

Gentlemen of the Road: A Tale of Adventure ~ Michael Chabon

Funk Rating: 0 out of 10 - another bail

What the Sam Hell is up with Michael Chabon?!

I think his The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay was one of the best books I've read - powerful, stunning, tour de force. The writing in that book and the story and the character and the plot were spectacular. And I loved The Final Solution (although it did take two tries to get through it). Then something happened. Not sure exactly what. Fawning fans? Ego-mania?

Shortly after the awful and ridiculously pretentious and egotistical Yiddish Policeman's Union (where the basic plotline is "you, Mr. Dumb Reader, try to figure out what I'm writing out here."), he's gone and done it again. Another ego-trip for Mr. Chabon to demonstrate what a talent he truly is to write in the style and of the time of ages past. This is a lousy, trumped up, completely shallow effort at replicating some of the most wonderful writing at the dawn of modern literature, in a country, age, and culture where tradition and history actually matter. And he does it very, very badly in my mind.

Crap. Junk. Pretentiousness at its highest evidence in today's literature.

I'm sick of Chabon. I don't for a second argue his skill as a writer. His mastery of English, his ability to construct sentences are with few peers. But as an author and a storyteller? He's lost his way. Badly.

Wow. I don't think I've written such a harsh criticism in the years I've been doing this blog. But in a different way from Tom Wolfe's Charlotte's Way, I wanted to throw this against the wall. It's that bad. If you read it, and enjoyed it, tell me what about it worked for you...

Devil May Care (James Bond) ~ Sebastian Faulks

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

It never ceases to amaze me how few people have actually read the original James Bond books by Ian Fleming. For such an incredible, iconic character, most only know Bond through the movie screen. But in my mind, Fleming is one of the most talented writers of 20th century thriller fiction. Fleming had an ability to bring a story alive through scenery and characters that was unique. And the books were tight, short, and full of fun.

I have to say that Faulks did a great job in bringing Bond back some 50 years later and being true to the actual Fleming legacy. If you want to compare this book to current thrillers and to the movies, forget it. You're missing the point. Fleming didn't do books with italics like Ludlum, he didn't do plot flips and mind-benders like Jeffrey Deaver, and he didn't do redemption stories like Archer.

Fleming wrote good guys vs. bad guys. With enough action, unique locations, quick-thinking, and just plain fun that it let you escape from your current existence. It let you fantasize that maybe, just maybe, you could be Bond. But probably not.

If you've never read Fleming, this won't float your boat. But if you read all the originals, twice or more, you will find this a worthy successor. It's not Fleming, but it's nice and close. And it's fun.

Prisoner of Birth ~ Jeffrey Archer

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

What a delight! It's like the early days of Archer all over again. Kane and Abel, The Prodigal Daughter, Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less, etc. Classics all. And this is right up there with them. Spectabulous storytelling. Good characters, fun plot twists, easy reading, GREAT ending.

If you like great stories, this is right up there in my mind with the others. Sure, you can guess parts of the ending. That's part of the fun; he doesn't pull a triple mind-bender on you that has you all whacked out with annoyance because you read a little too fast in your urgency to turn the page. He pulls off some good "whoas", but lets the story unfold nicely.

Oh, there are a few bizarre things that just don't quite make sense. Why, again, does Nick start writing a diary of such detail? But, that's minor compared to the simple joy of a good book.

My mom didn't think this was all that good of a book. But my best friend and I rate it highly. If you like the Jeffrey Archer of old, he's back. In all his storytelling glory. Perfect for an airplane, a beach, or an afternoon on the porch with a favorite beverage... Enjoy!

Nothing to Lose ~ Lee Child

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

As all my faithful readers know, I love Jack Reacher. Immensely. His last one, Bad Luck and Trouble, got a perfect 10 from me.

Remember when I blogged that Reacher was a superhero? Clearly, I have a bright future ahead as a fortune teller cum book promoter/editor. For in this book, Reacher truly does save the world... It's a good book as they go, but not up to the dizzying heights that Child has attained in the past.

My general issue is that the initial plot set-up is just plain kinda weird -- both for Reacher and for the plotline. Reacher is overly stubborn and pig-headed; and the plotline gets wrapped around itself a bit too much. I found this one just didn't come together as well along the way. That said, the ending is spectabulous, and quite enjoyable :)

If you read all the Reacher books, I'm interested in your take. If you don't read them, don't start here; go back to the early ones and polish off Bad Luck and Trouble first...

The Whole Truth ~ David Baldacci

Funk Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Finally Baldacci leaves Oliver Stone and the Camel Club behind and writes something new! Unfortunately, it's still a little bit of a re-tread -- the world is run by a few powerful folks. We're all pawns in a military industrial complex game. Talented journalists, emotionally wrecked by stories they've covered, come back just in time to save us, along with secret agent men no one acknowledges. Love is possible, but denied.

For all the re-treads, Baldacci does pull in a few good elements. His plotline roughly tracks the changes in the media world; how soundbites, which took away actual reflective discourse and conversation, no longer even matter in a world of instant gratification of the Internet. How we all rush to judgment if the Internet tsunami says its so -- if a story is present all over the Net, it must be true. And let's all jump on anyone questioning the storyline we're reading that fits with our world view...

I think there is something interesting in the argument that the Net fosters a media consumption strategy of confirming your a priori beliefs. I read Drudge because I like what Drudge covers. Drudge links to lots of places, so I feel like I'm getting a good "balance". But, down deep, I know I'm not... I'm confirming my conservative bent by reading stories that appeal to conservatives.

Anyway, that's the provocative thought underlying this mental floss beach read. It's not bad, but it's not a heck of a good story either...

Blasphemy ~ Douglas Preston

Funk Rating: 6 out of 10

I love books written by both Preston and Child. I'm less a fan of books written by one of them alone. And this is no exception to the weakness they seem to bring to their solo efforts. The plotline is actually not awful -- what happens when the world's most advanced minds push the edges of particle accelerators to see what the Big Bang was like? And what is the distinction between religion, faith, truth, and science?

Unfortunately, along the way, Preston so super-loaded the storyline with American Indians, governmental lobbyists, former CIA operatives, religious right activists, a single-minded President, long lost loves, numerology, and seriously deranged geniuses, that he lost sight of a more simple storyline. Then, he went over the top and pushed the "science as religion" button and he pretty much lost everything in the shuffle -- it's like someone talking, singing, waving their arms, playing the harmonica, and juggling at the same time. You kind of look at it in mild fascination and then go back to watching the graceful dancer that is just so incredibly talented at their craft.

It's not awful, and he kept me turning the page if only to figure out what he could possibly pull out next. The characters are kinda intriguing, and he does a few nice plot twists. But ultimately, it feels like a story that editors said "let's add x, y and z to the mix to give it a little more currency and adrenaline to the mix." And that's too bad. For he can do so much better...