Funky Reading

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...

How Life Imitates Chess ~ Garry Kasparov

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

I've been a chess player since I was a kid. Never did chess club or anything serious, but I enjoy the game, and it's influenced my life. I'm running about a 1300-1400 on redhotpawn.com, which is respectable for a hack, but nothing to be particularly proud of...

I'm always shocked how few people actually play the game... I don't know how you can be successful in business and not be a reasonable chess player -- chess teaches you think a few steps ahead; to think strategically about your move, your position, the opponent, etc. It teaches you that there is another move after this one, and that your opponent will counter-move, so don't act as if no one else will respond to your actions...

Sharlene bought this for me for Christmas. It was a surprisingly good read. Oh sure, Kasparov has an ego that is staggering. But he's got a heck of a good head on his shoulders and he makes you think about offense, defense, setting up the pieces in the right way, and how sometimes you must sacrifice for greater glory down the road. He talks about "time, material and quality" as being the three key levers in chess, and in life. And I'd have to agree with him. You have to make trade-offs. You have to look for the strategic advantage across those three.

Perhaps the quote I loved most from this book was "The first essential for an attack is the will to attack." So, so true. I've seen time after time how people I know and respect just don't have the will to attack. And regardless of whether they get pushed into it or run away, the lack of will means they were destined to fail...

Much of this book reminded me of Sun Tzu. It's a fun and easy read. It's not a chess book, but he uses chess to illustrate his "life lessons" and to highlight how he thinks. Probably more enjoyable if you like chess, but perhaps worthy of an airplane read nonetheless.

Stamboul Train ~ Graham Greene

Funk Rating: 7 out of 10

I'm not quite sure of the background on this book and how it came to be in my library. When I did a quick Amazon check on this, I bought this book back on May 16, 2000. Why? No clue. Why did I decide to finally read it now? Again, no clue. But, for some reason, Graham Greene has found his way into my consciousness lately, mentioned as a great 20th century author, so perhaps I pulled it off the shelf out of frustration after several lousy reads.

This is more "literature" than it is page turner, thriller fare. The author called it "an entertainment" when he wrote it, and while it's not entertaining in the way I think of the word, it is fascinating. I'm sure it's overly stereotypical of the time period (early 1930s), but I found it fascinating to see how life was lived a mere 75 years ago. With elements of major political movements (revolutions, socialism, etc.) that just aren't present in today's generally epic democracy vs. radical Islam world, and industrial revolution at its front end (trains belching smoke for goodness sake!), this is a heck of a time traveling read.

In addition, it's pretty darn well written. Someday I'll read what is generally regarded as classic Greene, and see what I really think of him. But, for now, I'll kind of put him in the zone of a Michael Chabon -- a serious author, with real talent for writing. May not make it through all of his stuff, but he's worth another one.

As for you, dear reader, I can't argue you should go out of your way. But, should you ever find a Graham Greene book on your shelf gathering dust, it's worth at least a few turns of the page...

Chasing Eden ~ S.L. Linnea

Funk Rating: 5 out of 10

Oh boy, I'm now double digit books behind... That's not good... Bad Johnny, bad blogger, [insert wrist slap here]... I'll see if I can catch up, but I may end up just skipping a few that aren't even worth the effort... I seem to have caught a dreadful disease of bad books. So give me some recs!

So why am I blogging this book at all if it's a 5? Well, as I anxiously await the new Dan Brown blockbuster (The Solomon Key, now some 3 years overdue and STILL not pre-order-able on Amazon), I decided to buy a bunch of other religious historical fiction type thrillers. And this one had an outline that I think could have been a winner: search for and find the Garden of Eden. In Iraq of all places!

But these writers have no real reason to call themselves authors, for this is one of the sloppier and poorest efforts I've read in a while. The character development stinks, the plot holes are painfully large, and the entire thing just doesn't hang together. It doesn't make any credible sense. How this book got 20+ reviews averaging over 4 on Amazon is beyond me...

So, this blog is an effort to save you, dear reader, from yourself should you find you can't wait for the next Dan Brown book either... You can thank me later...

The Appeal ~ John Grisham

Funk Rating: 7.5 out of 10

It's just like old times! Book came out last Tuesday, I blog it here on Sunday. Wheee! :)

I loved the original John Grisham. Eminently readable, terribly suspenseful, and always good for some fast page turning. No need to read every word, much less every sentence; it's just plain fun skimming...

This is close to that. I suspect the overall outline he turned into the publishers ran all of 3 pages, but it's still a pleasant beach (or ski chalet) read nonetheless. There are no grand surprises, but there is still some nice tension as JG keeps you guessing on where it will all net out. This is the new Grisham, with a political statement and message (Pelican Brief x 2), but still able to show both sides of the argument with some open-mindedness in the context of "you get the behaviors and the game that the law permits..."

If you like Grisham, I can't see why you won't like this one. If you don't care for him, this one won't change him into your favorite author. So I'll let you make your own decisions. Just be careful about how you think about elections and how your opinion gets shaped...

The Kitchen Boy: A Novel of the Last Tsar ~ Robert Alexander

Funk Rating: 7 out of 10

This is another one of my catchup posts. While I was avoiding a few books, I snuck in this one...

The Kitchen Boy is historical fiction. Set in the last days of the Tsar Nicholas and his family, it's a novel of what might have happened in the last days of the Imperial Family. Its plotline is what really happened during the imprisonment and execution of the family, and explains the missing remains of two of the Romanov children.

As stories go, this is a pretty good one. Alexander turns a nice tale with some good character development, and you feel a little bit like you're there. Unfortunately, not unlike The Last King of Scotland, I have real heartburn when historical fiction is about people and not as much about events. I find myself thinking that this is how Czar Nicholas really was, and how his children really were. And that creates in my mind a false sense of understanding history. For I really have no clue. I don't know the details of the Russian royal family and the revolution. And I hate that someone is mucking with my mind and creating a memory/impression that is fictional, but doing it with real people and real events. If someone asks me about Czar Nicholas now, I can't help but conjure up what I know about him from this book. Argh.

That said, when I can successfully step back, this is a well written tale that gets you to turn the pages. It's clear the author has a real fondness for the family, and deplores the national tragedy brought on by the Bolsheviks. Can I recommend it? Sure -- it's a quick and good read. But be careful about keeping the distinction between fact and fiction clear; this is a novel, not a biography...

The Atrocity Archives ~ Charles Stross

Funk Rating: BAILED

An evil spirit has descended upon my reading nightstand. Yet another book that just stopped me cold. Couldn't get into it despite great ratings and recs; couldn't follow the storyline. Something just was broken between me and this book. I've been enjoying science fiction lately and picked this up with relish. Until I started reading it. Then I went into avoidance mode. I hate to quit on books. But sooner or later you have to admit the obvious when you're not picking it up anymore...

Can't say much about this book other than it didn't work for me. Your experience may vary...

Dirty White Boys ~ Stephen Hunter

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

This is a "catchup" blog post (and I've got a few more coming). Along the way of my constipated nightstand, I managed to jam in a couple other books. This was one of them. I so incredibly loved Point of Impact by Hunter that I snuck in another one in the "trilogy". This one is about some escaped convicts and the cops that try to take them down.

I have to say that Hunter is an amazingly talented writer. His character development is extraordinary. He probably tried a touch too hard to make the good guys flawed, and the bad guys surprisingly redeeming. But, even so, it's a heck of a story. Some seriously awful and horrid plot twists (lots of blood, guts, mayhem and tragedy; love triangles run amok; twisted minds, etc.) make you almost cringe and say "oooh, that's nasty and bad." But, you keep on turning the page, and turning and turning.

As must always happen in any book I rate above a 6, the good guys win and the bad guys lose. But this book probably takes the prize for making that journey as painful as possible; for when you cheer you still cringe. If you are looking for a thriller that makes you really wonder if there is good in this world, and if you want your thrillers to be provocative about how the jail system in America is one of our most awful legacies to future generations, this is a must-read.

Global warming may kill us all in the end (author's note: it's -5 right now). But what we do to criminals with today's jail system may wreak far more painful and personal injury to us and our loved ones in our lifetime... If I took anything away from this book, it's that the next fundraiser that calls me about prison reform will actually get my attention and I will listen and see if I can support it.

The Best American Mystery Stories (2006) ~ Scott Turow (Editor)

Funk Rating: 4 out of 10

Well hello dear reader! It's been a long time since I last blogged a book. I can come up with 3 excuses:

1. I've had a bad string of lousy books (see below). Don't know about you, but when I've got a lousy book on the bedstand, I don't make much progress and things bog down...
2. I'm in the middle of about 5 books due to the above. I daresay there is a multiplicative effect when you have more than one lousy book on the nightstand.
3. My reading pace goes in phases and is correlated to airplane time. I haven't flown much in the past 6 weeks...

OK, enough excuses. And on to the blogging. This collection simply stunk. I'm prepared to say it's me, not the book, for the Amazonian reviewers seemed to like it. But, like most collections, I find I don't get into any kind of groove, the stories are too short to be fulfilling, and while every so often there will be a "whoa" moment, they are too far and few between.

So, for what it's worth, I can't even begin to recommend this one. The stories are just weird and weak...

Thriller: Stories To Keep You Up All Night ~ James Patterson (editor)

Funk Rating: 7 out of 10

This is not a "book"; it's an anthology of 32 new short stories by top thriller authors such as Lee Child, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, Eric Van Lustbader and David Morrell. There are some very good stories in here, but I must admit that putting a book like this on my nightstand had a SERIOUS impact on my reading pace. Why? (1) It's huge, so you can't really take it on a plane, and (2) you never read more than one story a night as there is no real page turning capability between stories, and sometimes you can't even finish one story in a night. So, that my dear reader is my excuse on why you haven't seen me blog much lately!

OK, with that defensive whine out of the way, I will say there are some fun ones in here (and only a few duds). The authors are all major names and the stories don't suffer from bloat that sometimes occurs when they have to write hundreds of pages. Many of the stories take existing characters or minor characters from prior novels and they fill in some gaps and further the character development.

This isn't a bad book by far. But be forewarned the impact it will have as it sits on your nightstand night after night and week after week :)

Point of Impact ~ Stephen Hunter

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

This is an outrageously good book. It was turned into a movie, Shooter, and I wonder if I might have given it a full 10 if I hadn't seen the movie. It's that good. It plays to all my favorite elements: great characters developed exceedingly well, good vs. evil, the avenging angel of justice that removes the bad guys from the face of the earth in such wonderful ways, and so on. Throw in a little love interest, some serious loyalty and integrity, a dog, and plenty of "slyness" and you've got my number pegged.

It might be slightly over the top regarding guns - their manufacture, design, bullets, etc., but there's a reason it needs to be that way. This is a book for those that like Mitch Rapp, and Reacher. You like your "good guys" to have some violence and to be able to beat the bad guys at their own game. It's not a page-turning thriller in the way the story "flies", for it builds and builds. Reminded me a bit of Joseph Finder's Power Play in that sense, although it didn't have the page turning deep into the night aspect...

Very fun, and Stephen Hunter (and the fine friend who recommended it), are tops on my list...

Stone Cold ~ David Baldacci

Funk Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Once you set aside the general silliness of the plotline, this is a well written book. Good characters (although I suspect you'd want to know them from the prior stories) and some page-turning action. For me, it was the last 50 pages that brought it all together and made it an 8.5. There is real emotion and storytelling in this story, and while it's a little trumped up, it's much better than I originally feared.

Oliver Stone and his band of misfits are back together again. But this time there are some real wrongs to be righted and some bad, terrible history that needs to get re-written. I'm not sure how long Baldacci can (or should) keep these characters around, but he made this one work for me. With a decidely wicked and oh-so-justified conclusion of revenge. That said, the price paid prior to that conclusion was pretty high. Oh, did I mention there are two major plotlines that fulfill the comments of this paragraph? And yet a 3rd plotline deftly woven in that is a little light on the conclusion but still well done?

If you've liked the prior Camel Club series, this does not disappoint. It has earned its #1 spot on NYT Hardcover Bestsellers...

Protect & Defend ~ Vince Flynn

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

I simply love Mitch Rapp. As I've said many, many times in this blog, I hope there are guys like him out there. When you are fighting for something that is at the ideological core of your existence (freedom), when you are fighting against an enemy that does not value human life, nor any system of jurisprudence or democracy, or when you are fighting for your best friend who is in the hands of your enemy, I firmly believe that rules and law need to take a backseat. Shoot first and ask questions later. And skip the Monday morning quarterbacking altogether.

So this book works for me. Like all of Flynn's books, I am sure there are those out there that can't stomach them. But boy, does Mitch make me cheer when he evens the playing field. When he takes out like 20 bad guys in a few minutes by playing the same games the bad guys play, I feel quite good about it.

If you liked the other Flynn books, this is in the same vein. There are some credibility problems in the set-up, but overall, another great avenging angel who is one of the few that represents what needs to get done to successfully combat terrorists and those that feed/create/spawn them.

World Without End ~ Ken Follett

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

This is a delicious, delightful escape to the 14th century in England. A captivating tale that slowly grabs you and pulls you into a world that is so different from today, yet all so similar in terms of behaviors, motivations, desires, and the like. For all that technology and industry have brought us over the centuries, and for how different our day-to-day lives are, this book reminds the reader that people are people. With their noble sacrifices, their not-so-noble choices, their flaws, their love (both for others and for their passion, whatever it may be) and their ingenuity.

This is a long book, designed to create a separate world for its characters and for you to join them. The plot is a little wandering, but the characters and the themes are wonderfully done. Follett has followed up Pillars of the Earth with a real gem in my mind. It's not a page turner in the sense that some thrillers are (I'm not sure how one can write a 1000+ page "page turner"), and the characters are confusing for the first half until they appear with sufficient frequency to create a little lock-in. But for a town of a couple thousand growing to up to 7,000 inhabitants that lives through all sorts of trials, tribulations, and re-birth, it's a joy.

I'd certainly put this on your reading list if you want a big fat book this winter to read by the fire and cuddle up with. It reminded me of Tolkien's ability to create an alternate world that at the end you find is all so very real in your mind. Delightful, just delightful!

Playing for Pizza ~ John Grisham

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

This is a pleasant, simple, mouth-watering, redeeming book. It's a quick read, and is basically a "playing for the love of the game" storyline that includes some incredible food, funny stories, a touch of a love story, and one man's quest to find himself.

Set in Italy, the book is about an athlete (football player) who escapes the madness of US pro sports because he's basically washed up. And he finds out what's important in life, and what's important to him. Along the way, Grisham writes about food as well as anyone in Zagat's or Food and Wine Magazine. I swear I want to go to Italy now more than ever because the best food and wine in the world is in Parma. And, of course, the Italian people are wonderfully fun, genuine, friends-and-family people (which is exactly how I remember them from my trips there).

I smiled my way through most of it, and while I'm no football fan, I enjoyed the heck out of the play-by-play re-caps. And the book ends as it should. When you need a light-hearted break, this is a fine one to fly through. No thriller plotlines, no complex science, just a good story.

Evil Genius ~ Catherine Jinks

Funk Rating: 7 out of 10

This book was recommended to me after I blogged Soon I Will Be Invincible. The comment was that it is as a similar book, but better.

I would tend to say that this is a much more clever book in the writing as there is a whole set up of a "University" for evildoers and super-villians, and there is a fun "Mini-Me" aspect to it all. However, I also felt this one lacked the overall good vs. evil component and all that is wrapped up in the decision-making around moral choices.

Like SIWBI, this is an "out there" premise, and not normal fare for a thriller reader. For whatever reason, while I am in awe of the author's ability to spin the tale in a thoroughly clever way, I left this book feeling that I wished there was a meaningful antagonist to the Evil Genius (a young, pre-teenage, super-genius that has been sufficiently abandoned by family and peers due to his uniqueness that he spirals into imagined slights and outrageously clever means of revenge).  The Genius is manipulated and steered in ways that accelerate into a climax that while "redeeming" creates a gaping hole on credible outcome.

If you want something different, I would encourage an Amazon screening on this and SIWBI. They're similar but different, and I think will appeal to different readers for different reasons...

Power Play ~ Joseph Finder

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

There is a new (to me) contemporary master in the HOUSE. Name is Joseph Finder, and this guy can write thrillers. Imagine a train -- lots of cars to pull. Starts with what you know is serious horsepower given the intro. Then the cars start to move. And they accelerate. And accelerate. And accelerate.

Before you know it, you've read 50 pages when you knew it was time to put it down. That train is flying, momentum, plot twists, genius conductor at the helm. You're along for the ride and enjoying every minute of it. Just another page. OK, chapter. OK, it's ANOTHER 50 pages. You gotta put it down. People want to get off the plane...

You get the idea, this is a great book. Better than almost all in terms of pure, thrilling writing. It's anchored in a business context of a team-building offsite that goes off the rails, and reminds me in some ways of the classic Crichton Disclosure (for all the things captured well about how corporate America behaves).

If you like thrillers, and like them set in a business context, this is a gem. Enjoy!

The Wheel of Darkness ~ Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

Pendergast is BACK! Picking up where Book of the Dead leaves off, Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast and his ward Constance Greene set off in pursuit of a very unique and dangerous item that's been stolen from a remote monastery in Tibet.

The first thing you must do when you start reading this book is suspend disbelief. For once you stop objecting to the extraordinary plot twists and unlikely series of events, I think you'll love this mystery thriller. Like in all the Pendergast books, the skills Pendergast possesses are incredible, and there's a not insubstantial amount of Tibetan mysticism and meditation. I enjoyed all the untraditional elements of this one, and found the pages turning deep into the night and on the plane.

This is a book consistent with the Pendergast series and unlike most other thrillers and best sellers out there. The writing is outstanding, the characters and scene development elegant, and the plot twists largely unpredictable. Preston & Child cram a lot of intriguing and arcane knowledge into this thriller and do it as well as anyone. If you've loved the other ones in the series, this is one of the best.

The Husband ~ Dean Koontz

Funk Rating: 6 out of 10

Historically I've enjoyed Koontz. His books are usually fast page turners with sufficiently "odd" plots that they become intriguing mind-benders. Good airplane and vacation fodder. But this one just never worked for me. There was nothing particularly strange or paranormal in it, the characters were goofy, and the whole setup just didn't hang together for me.

In one sense, I found the book a bit similar to Caught Stealing -- where a generally average guy finds himself in some extraordinary circumstances and his world gets turned upside down. What he thinks he knows, he doesn't know. And for a gardener, he pulls off some amazing self-defense moves and planning (requiring a suspension of disbelief and adopting a "extraordinary times produce extraordinary heroes" acceptance of the storyline).

I can't recommend this book unless you have very little else to pick from...

The Last Colony ~ John Scalzi

Funk Rating: 7 out of 10

Well, it had to happen. Either I burned out on Scalzi, or Scalzi just couldn't quite pull off the hat trick of 3 top notch books in a row. I readily admit I got so addicted to the first two, that I couldn't help myself but read the last one in the series. And, while I've given it only a 7 for reasons below, it's still a heck of a read.

In this one, I felt that Scalzi was again trying to bring bigger topics to life through science fiction plotlines. This book is about freedom, democratic choice, political machinations, pawns that are used, and creative solutions that can be found when you give "mission intent" to capable people without telling them how to do their jobs. That said, while the topics are noble, I felt the story suffered as Scalzi tried to shoehorn too much into the storyline. I found there was more political backdrop than was necessary; too many "cover stories" baked into politicians telling soldiers what to do (and therefore vice-versa senior soldiers telling junior soldiers that "you don't know the half of it, here's real truth about what's really going on.") 

It's a fine story, eminently readable and enjoyable. If I read this first, I bet I would have scored it higher. But I know Scalzi writes great books, and I simply found the first two better than the last one. I look forward to where Scalzi goes next, as this has been set up as a trilogy and he clearly states in the epilogue that these characters are now done...

Holmes on the Range ~ Steve Hockensmith

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10*

I am a huge Sherlock Holmes fan -- have been since I was a kid. If you enjoy Sherlock Holmes, I think you'll really enjoy this book. If you also love the old West, and have a soft spot in your heart for cowboys and ranches, you will likely LOVE this book.

This is one of those incredibly clever, very fun, extremely well written books that will be a treat for some and fall flat for others. It's a who-dunnit murder mystery (several actually) set in a time over a hundred years ago. The language is brilliant and the clues are subtly laid down across dialog and scenes that are straight from the early days of huge ranches owned by Englishmen investing in the "New West", drifting cowboys (punchers), and hard times. Having just spent a week this past summer at a dude ranch in Wyoming, I loved every western phrase and the whole cowboy setup.

Parts of this book reminded me of The Final Solution by Michael Chabon, but only in the sense that I'm delighted to find well-written stories that harken back to the time when observation and a focused mind solved mysteries. The hero in this story has a touch of Columbo in him, for he's humble and unpretentious, yet asks the right questions, is troubled by small inconsistencies, and has a mind sharper than most.

If you share the love of "deducifying" a mystery, give this book a shot.

* if you don't care for Sherlock Holmes, or the old west, I can't imagine you'd enjoy this book...

Soon I Will Be Invincible ~ Austin Grossman

Funk Rating: 7 out of 10

As I continue my trek through new and different books, this one is definitely an "out-there" book choice. Part comic book, part existential exploration, and part just plain silly. But it is fun once you put the right goggles on. But you have to be in the mood, or you'll just throw it into the wall or "accidentally" leave it on the plane...

The setup for this book is basically superheroes vs. villains.  Take X-Men, Heroes, and the Incredibles, put it into a book, and you've got the beginnings of this tale. The villain, Mr. Impossible, is the smartest mind ever. Or at least close. The heroes are "The Champions", and they have all sorts of fun powers and neat talents. Yet they remain eerily human in their existential quests.

This book won't be for most, and even when I tried to put on my "enjoy it" hat, I still had some troubles with the gaps and holes Grossman leaves throughout the book. But it was certainly different, and as a new Heroes fan I found it intriguing, and I smiled at the dry humor and matter-of-fact way that Mr. Impossible, in particular, tells his tale.

The Ghost Brigades ~ John Scalzi

Funk Rating: 9.5 out of 10

It was less than a month ago that I read Scalzi's first novel in this series, Old Man's War. I couldn't help myself. I couldn't wait. So I read the 2nd one. And loved it just as much!

Scalzi has re-invigorated my love for science fiction. His writing is easy to read, provocative, and just plain fun. I'm sure it's not for everyone, but I really love how he makes the future, and some of the moral and deeper questions come to life through plotlines that are very clever and believable. The genius in this story is about choices and free will. Do they exist? And if yes, how can they be demonstrated in the most clear and undeniable way? And, ultimately, there is a question of if one has choices and free will, what motivates and defines how you make those choices and exercise that free will? Upon what do you build your foundation of who and what you are?

Scalzi explores the subject elegantly. Pure genius in my mind. I love this stuff!

The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl ~ Timothy Egan

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

First, before I start telling you why I loved this book, is it just me, or are book titles getting longer and longer? It's like some marketing genius in the book publishing world decided that a 30 second title is better than a 5 second one...

Anyway, this is an incredible book. Mind-opening, assumption-shattering, and just plain unreal. Incredibly researched, with interviews from folks that lived through it; this is a heck of a book. My mom told me this was great, and after reading the jacket, I wasn't convinced. But I ran out of books on a long-plane ride, and started it. And then couldn't stop. Not because of the writing (which fails to follow a typical timeline many places), but because I simply had no idea how incredibly intense and awful the Dust Bowl was.

Perhaps my history knowledge was just weak. Or perhaps I actively practice cognitive dissonance and am successful. But even though I knew the Dust Bowl sucked, I never had any appreciation for how incredibly sucky it was. It was like something out of a fictional novel. Temperatures that were unbearably hot, day after day. No rain. No crops. No indoor plumbing. No food. Dust storms that would deposit inches of dust around your house daily. Dust storms that literally killed men, women, children and animals -- autopsies would show lungs completely full of dust. Automobiles that would short out because of static electricity. People hanging wet sheets over windows and over babies cribs to try to keep the dust out. To no avail. Was it man-caused by over-farming? Perhaps. Probably. We'll never know for sure.

I can't do this book justice. The writing, perhaps intentionally, is repetitive and reinforces the utter despair of people hoping things were going to get better, but never did. At least not for something like 7 or 8 years. Anyone who wants to debate and discuss global warming should read this book if only to see what nature can do without any help at all.  Anyone who wants a taste of what a depression can really wreak -- when credit markets shut down, when commerce and supply and demand for commodities crater -- should read this book. And, finally, anyone that wants to discuss how farm subsidies got started can at least get an appreciation of how that train got started should read this book (but don't count on it being helpful for getting rid of that trainwreck).

Perhaps most impressively, when anyone who wants to see what sheer will and determination look like, read this book... The people that stuck it out are intense, stubborn people. I'm not sure they were rational or made the wisest choices, but I respect the heck out of their commitment to a land that was hostile, painful, and harsh...

The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich ~ Timothy Ferriss

Funk Rating: 7 out of 10

Unlike my recent blog on The Black Swan, this is not a chewy, serious book. In fact, it's almost a fantasy book -- offering a promise that is awful hard to deliver on. That said, Ferriss does a heck of a job showing how if you are intelligent, fearless and focused, you can escape the rat race of chasing your tail for no real gain. I have to give Ferriss a lot of credit -- he says things that cut against the accepted wisdom. He shows how living your life has to trump working your life. And he does so in a great, easily readable way.

In many ways, I love this book for it shows how creativity, smart delegating and outsourcing, and focusing on what's important rather than what's urgent (and what makes you feel important) need to be the focus of your life. My only ding is that I think Ferriss gives short shrift to how hard it actually is to pull off the model he lays out -- some folks can do it, but not everyone. Some business ideas are easy to fit into his model; most aren't. And if you're not cut out to be a merchant, his tricks and techniques won't help you.

BUT, if you want to be exposed to some amazing things that are happening in our increasingly flat world, if you want to see if you can map yourself into the world he lays out, it's incredibly cool. I learned a ton from this book, will be implementing many aspects of his model in a new side venture I'm about to embark on, and I think this is a great book to help you get out of the trap of working for THE MAN. It's a quick and easy read, and Ferriss will make you laugh with how incredibly clever, quick, smart, and out-of-the-box he can be. My prediction is that the more you care what other people think about you, the less you'll enjoy/adopt his philosophy; the more internal your self-confidence, self-esteem, and happiness generation comes from, the better this book will fit your gestalt...

Enjoy!

Genghis: Birth of an Empire ~ Conn Iggulden

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

In my continuing quest to get outside the normal thriller fare, I put this one in my bag for a long flight. and I enjoyed it! This is historical fiction done well -- Iggulden brings Genghis to life from his birth to the beginning of his reign as uniter of the nomadic Mongol tribes. It casts him a generally positive light, and is anchored in surviving accounts of Genghis Khan's early life.

I readily admit I knew nothing about Genghis Khan, other than the bare facts that he was a ruthless enemy, and built the largest continguous empire in world history. And this isn't one of those detailed histories covering everything. This is designed as an entertaining and educating read on the first 18 years of his life -- what made him, motivated him, etc. It's human, and it's told well.

If you like these kinds of stories, I think you'll enjoy this one.

The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable ~ Nicholas Taleb Nassim

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

This is a chewy, serious book. I suspect reading it in short spurts before bed would be painful and you'd miss the key themes. Frankly, I tried to focus pretty hard, and I still missed 50% of it is my guess. So I'll read it again soon and re-blog it :)

That said, it's an extraordinary book. Particularly at the time when all the models for "how fixed income securities SHOULD behave" are broken and we've got market dysfunction at a high level... Nassim's point (in my mind) is simply this: don't assume because you have a rear view mirror that you can predict the future within narrow bounds, with certainty. The future is unpredictable on the edges. Many times, perhaps even most times, it will play out as you forecasted (and the better your models and the better your analysis, the increasing likelihood of being right). BUT, when you're wrong, as you will certainly be sooner or later, when there is a touch of extreme consequences of cascading errors of prediction, be darn careful about how much you can lose (or darn aggressive about how much you can win)...

This is a super book that makes you think. Nassim points out the flaw in "averages" and normal distributions. He points out that exposing yourself to upside "surprises" is smart, and controlling against downside "surprises" is also very smart. I'm sure the guys at Bear Stearns and American Home Mortgage are finding that out first hand. As well as all the folks that stretched into a new home with an ARM...

Nassim also makes some great life/balance points about (not) sweating the small and inconsequential stuff. My favorite story is about how running for trains is a bad idea. You only feel bad when you miss them. So walk, don't run, and if you miss it, enjoy the serendipity that follows. And go to parties, talk about random things, skip mass media (both print and TV), and focus on the things that are important. This is a guy that gives me rationale for all the things I want to do :)

I'd recommend you put this on your non-fiction diet of 2 books a year. It's a great book...

First Commandment ~ Brad Thor

Funk Rating: 7.5 out of 10

This book was heading for a 6 rating until the end. But Thor pulled it out of the ashes and salvaged an OK from me. Without blowing the plotline, I'll say that the cleverness in the title is cool -- I like it :)

Agent Scot Harvath is back in this one, continuing to get his buttons pushed and pushing back even harder, eliminating back guys from the face of the earth. I think the scenario that sets up the plotline is a little strained, but there's a basic point that good people, trying to do the right thing given the consequences and circumstances, often screw up royally. I wish Thor hadn't pushed this particular scenario quite so hard, as the whole behavior of the President is goofy, but he pulls the story together ultimately.

I think at the core, Thor is making a point that sometimes you have to meet ruthless terrorists with ruthless consequences. Nothing new for Thor/Horvath, just a different setting with some excellent plot creativity and good "friends" along the way. If you've liked other Thor books, this one is just fine...

Killer Weekend ~ Ridley Pearson

Funk Rating: 7 out of 10

Pearson's latest work isn't a bad read, but it lacks the punch and fervor of some of his earlier works. I will concede it has some good page-turning moments, and it's wonderfully light reading for the summer. But it falls short on all the angles that are important to me these days: the characters are stereotypes and fail to develop into real people you remember afterwards, the plotline feels formulaic, and there are so many strings and threads left untouched and underutilized that I wonder exactly why he wrote so many unfinished angles in.

Yes, I can hear you saying: "John, this is the first in a series, you dufus." OK, maybe so. But it still was sloppy in my mind. There are better books out there this summer. But, should you find this in your latest Amazon box, it's not a wreck. You'll fly through it, I'm sure...

Old Man's War ~ John Scalzi

Funk Rating: 9.5 out of 10

I took a left turn at the Amazon store, and found the science fiction section. OK, that's not entirely correct. What caused me to take that left turn was Marc Andreessen's blog and his listing of the top 10 science fiction writers of the 21st century.

I started with this one, and loved it! Haven't really read much science fiction since I was a kid, and this brought back all sorts of great memories of how wonderful science fiction can be (when it's done right). And this one is definitely done right.

You can read the plotlines anywhere, so I won't retread that. I'll merely say that if you ever enjoyed science fiction, and are looking for a change of pace in your thriller/NYT bestseller diet, this is a great place to start. Super characters, great writing, awesome technology, a love story woven in, and some good old-fashioned ingenuity bring it all together. Fun stuff! And I've now bought Scalzi's other two books for after I finish a few more on Marc's list...

Wild Fire ~ Nelson DeMille

Funk Rating: 8.5 out of 10

I'm a little late to this one (published late 2006), but I continue to really enjoy DeMille. What a character this John Corey is! I found myself laughing at his attitude, at the dialog, and the overall storyline. I think DeMille has learned the same thing that Lee Child has learned -- sometimes less is so much more.

This is a great story that at one level is about patriotism and ego run amok, about folks that don't spend enough time in the real world so they begin to think abstractions can be reality. On another level, it's about a simple case of revenge. And, as you likely know if you've read this blog, I like my avenging angels in my thriller fiction :)

Was it a little silly in some ways? Sure. Over the top? Yeah, if you didn't like Night Fall, you probably won't like this one either. But if you liked other DeMilles, and/or enjoy Lee Child, I expect you'll like this one too...

A super summer read -- beach bag or airplane, you make the call.

Caught Stealing ~ Charlie Huston

Funk Rating: 6 out of 10

This is one of those times when great ratings on Amazon didn't translate to a good experience for me. Somehow I tumbled across this book and felt it was worth a try given the 4 stars on Amazon.

Data would suggest it's just me -- 41 out of 52 reviews gave it 4 or above. For me, I'm being generous with a 6 out of 10. The basic plotline, classic case of mistaken identity, goes off the rails with a bumbling bartender / former sports star coming up with "escapes from mayhem" that would do a secret agent proud. It didn't hang together, wasn't really any fun, and the death count was excessive. Categorized as noir, I fear it demonstrates that I don't get/enjoy noir. Oh well.

This is one of those books where I'm reluctant to tell you that you won't like it. I'll stop short of that and just say that I didn't like it....

Bone in the Throat ~ Anthony Bourdain

Funk Rating: 7 out of 10

I don't read many mob stories, but what drew me to this one is that it's written by a real chef (who's pretty famous). Somehow it got recommended to me online, and I took a chance. It was a nice change of pace, and generally a fun story. The mobspeak and characters are pretty funny, and the food is mouthwatering.

But, at the end of the day, I couldn't get myself to score it much higher. I had to push myself to take it off the nightstand, and so much of the storyline is just not believable (I readily concede it may be my particular, personal existence in the world that makes "the mob" scene so unreal).

I just couldn't a find a "there-there" or a point to the whole thing. It's not bad, and if you want a change of pace, I'd give it a 9 for that. Otherwise, keep the beach bag open for other books...

Simple Genius ~ David Baldacci

Funk Rating: 6 out of 10

A mildly enjoyable mystery/thriller romp through the wonderful world of cryptography, quantum computing, CIA renegades, treasure hunts, idiot savants, and so on. Baldacci manages to spin together a page-turner with just enough of a plotline to keep you turning (if only because you think it will get better and make some overall sense as to why he wrote this). But when the pages are done, it's less than satisfying...

DB brings back some of his prior characters, starts with a front-end to the story that only by pure force of insistance he ties into the plotline, and then we're off on what ultimately becomes a goofy ride of plotline silliness. Because it's Baldacci, it's not awful -- anyone else attempting this kind of story would have failed miserably. Baldacci just fails enough to make me shift him to the paperbook authors (authors that I no longer buy in hardback since I seldom love the latest book as much as it costs).

After The Collectors and The Camel Club, I fear Baldacci has lost his touch. So don't expect him again on this blog until his next one hits paperback...

Quantico ~ Greg Bear

Funk Rating: 6 out of 10

There are worse books out there, by far. But this is nothing to go out of your way for...

The plotline is mildly creative, demonstrating how a wickedly smart, but socially awkward and troubled child/man can create biological weapons of mass destruction. A classic story of how despite the very best efforts, we can still miss the forest for the trees in our fight against terrorism and the sprawl of governmental agencies.

The characters are weak (several of them completely unexplained how/why they're off the reservation), and while the gadgets of the future are cool, they're not particularly mindblowing in their "holy crap! never thought of how technology could take us there!" kind of thing.

A weak effort, despite the hype around the book...

The Battle of Salamis ~ Barry Strauss

Funk Rating: 7 out of 10

And now for something completely different...

There is something about the serendipity of a physical store that Amazon can never match. I was in one of the major chains (Barnes & Noble?) and I saw this book on the employee recommended list. To explain how "out of Funk" this is: it's the re-telling of the naval encounter between Greece and Persia around 480 BC. When Xerxes is coming on down to make Greece part of his kingdom. And how Themistocles fought him off with one of the most amazing naval strategies ever pursued. We're talking a different dimension from the world of Jack Reacher, Harry Bosch, and all my trusted fictional friends!

But that was why I grabbed it -- it was recommended, it was dramatically different, and I thought it would be fun.

I enjoyed the book very much. Strauss leaves much to be desired in his actual ability to write. But even a lousy writer can't keep a good, truthful story down. It's amazing how different, yet how similar, politics, military conflict, and regular people are now vs. then. It's stunning to see how "strategic thinkers" really were geniuses then, just as today. And how mistakes made in the heat of the moment are obvious and identifiable in retrospect.

If you want something different, and want to see how the Greeks stood up to a force that by all rights should have slaughtered them, this is a great book. I haven't seen the movie 300 yet, but this naval encounter follows immediately after Leonidas lost his great Sparta vs. Persia battle. And arguably it preserved Western civilization.

The battles are between triremes (multi-level rowing ships) and most of the fighting was done by ramming. But the intrigue, the leadership, the courage, and the honor are all present and accounted for in spades.

The Yiddish Policemen's Union ~ Michael Chabon

Funk Rating: Unrated - I bailed

I've only quit on one book since doing this blog, Catch-22. Critics (and my wife) hailed Catch-22 as a superb book. This book reminded me a lot of how painful I found Catch-22.

I absolutely adored The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay (Chabon's previous Pulitzer Prize winner). I thought his Final Solution was spectabulous (I gave it a 9 here). But I couldn't make it past page 50 in this book. Whether it was the over-the-top Yiddish, the weird scenario of a Jewish settlement in Alaska that never really gets explained, or the run-on adjective clauses that seemed to continuously require the word "like" as he was trying to explain something by saying it was like something else, I don't know.

But I do know that I just put it down uttering that "life is too short." Perhaps some day I'll come back to it and love it. That in fact is what happened with Final Solution. But I'm not as sure I'll have the energy to re-tackle this one...

I'm sure it's not lousy. It just wasn't for me. So this is my first "unrated" book in the 2 years I've been keeping this blog...

The Woods ~ Harlan Coben

Funk Rating: 7 out of 10

As page turners go, this is a great summer read. Some wonderful suspense, great unraveling of mystery, and plenty of cutbacks and surprises. I've come to enjoy Coben, and The Woods is not a lousy book.

But, at the same time, it's awful fluffy. The characters are just  superficial enough and there's just enough unbelievability in the plot turns to make me groan a little at the end. "Too tricked up" would be the quick comment over a drink when reviewing my favorite recent reads. It's clever enough, and fun in many spots, but it's just a little "too... too..." if you know what I mean...

I'd look for other fare until you find this in paperback and need an entertaining escape. I will, however, given Coben mucho credit for doing a masterful job of showing how a good prosecutor really can be great at their job (180 degrees from his not too subtle references to Mike Nifong and his disaster).

The Watchman ~ Robert Crais

Funk Rating: 8.5 out of 10

A little catch-up here on blogging. I read this a few months ago and just now realized I didn't blog it. Shame on me!

This is a great thriller -- one of those strong, wicked, silent types (Joe Pike) who's an avenging badass on the side of angels. Pike protects those that need protecting; no real questions (his watchman duties come out of a favor he owes), just doing his duty. Fast cars, a beautiful young woman who needs protecting (albeit a dose of trouble), and a great plotline. Super pacing, good plot twists, a few very good surprises. And an ending that makes you feel justice was well and truly done (e.g., bad guys get what they deserve). Simply delightful escapism!

This book has me hooked on Crais -- I'm going backwards and catching up on the series for Joe Pike is actually a sidekick of a guy named Elvis Cole. Someone who I think I'm going to like.

Put this in your airplane bag, it's a goodie!

The Overlook ~ Michael Connelly

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

I suspect you know I love Harry Bosch. Detective Extraordinaire.

This is the latest in the Bosch series and it's a great read. I can't tell you much about the plot without ruining it, but Connelly does a great job of spinning a yarn inside a riddle, wrapped in misdirection. And he does it very, very well.

That said, this is Harry Bosch light. We don't really get to know Harry any better through the story, nor do we get to know any of the characters particularly well. It's a fine plotline, clever in its way, but the characters are along for the ride.

This is the 2nd Connelly to come up short (see Echo Park and the awesome one preceding it: The Closers), and while I love Connelly, either the editors are pushing him too hard, or he's coasting. From anyone else, this would get higher marks. But this is short of what I know Connelly can write. Read it if you're a Harry fan; start with earlier works if you haven't read the others...

Golfing with God ~ Roland Merullo

Funk Rating: 6 out of 10

This is a fun read. I can't imagine one would like it if one isn't a golfer; however, if you are a golfer, it will bring a smile to your face and will serve as a great touchstone on how golf is similar to life. A life with God that is. This book had me smiling and chuckling as the author weaves a wonderful story together using the game of golf, playing golf, and teaching golf as a metaphor for pride, ego, spiritual growth, relationships, and temptation.

It's a quick read, and I'm glad I read it.

Bad Luck and Trouble ~ Lee Child

Funk Rating: 10 out of 10

It's rare that the New York Times and I agree wholeheartedly on something. On anything.

But in this we agree: Lee Child is one of the most talented, outstanding thriller authors writing books today. His main character, Reacher, is a superhero (see blog post last June) that is one of the most awesome detective / avenging angels in modern fiction. The general theme of this book is that you do not mess with special investigators (Reacher used to work in a special investigative group in the Army).

The plotline here is that someone messed with his former teammates. The mystery is who messed with some of them and why; the storyline is around the rest of the team coming together and figuring it out, and the payload is revenge. You see, messing with special investigators, is a bad idea. A very bad idea. A truly spectacular line in this book is when Reacher's got the bad guy on the phone and he says: "Buy yourself a bottle of wine, rent a DVD. But not a box set. You’ve got about two days, max."

If you like thrillers, and you like your good guys and your bad guys, this is as good as it gets.

Write on Mr. Child, for I will buy every Reacher book you write! And someday I want one of Reacher's folding toothbrushes... ;)

The Ambler Warning ~ "Robert Ludlum"

Funk Rating: 4 out of 10

As much as I enjoyed the other Ludlum I read recently, I found this one very weak. The plotline is just a re-tread of Bourne Identity with a mild twist, and unlike Bourne Identity, it was quite unbelievable and very predictable. I guessed the ending by page 50, was disgusted with most of the ridiculous dialog and unfolding events, and really have to say this is the weakest "Ludlum" I've ever read. I'm not sure if the actual author was the same as The Bancroft Strategy, but the storyline just plain stunk.

Avoid this book.