Funky Reading

The Capital Game ~ Brian Haig

Funk Rating: 5 out of 10

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

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

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

The Cobra ~ Frederick Forsyth

Funk Rating: 7.5 out of 10

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

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

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

Oh well.