Funky Reading

Innocent ~ Scott Turow

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

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

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

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

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

Foreign Influence ~ Brad Thor

Funk Rating: 7.5 out of 10

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

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

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

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

Funk Rating: 8+ out of 10  

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

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

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

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

The Pleasure of My Company ~ Steve Martin

Funk Rating: 8.5 out of 10

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

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

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

The Rembrandt Affair ~ Daniel Silva

Funk Rating: 10 out of 10

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

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