Spy Book Recommendations

As we discussed American Assassin, the talk turned to spy novels in general (Cina loves them!). I have too many books right now, but someday I'd like to check out some Nelson DeMille (Charm School, Lion's Game, The Lion, . . . )

My Own County: a Doctor's Story

by Abraham Verghese
Scott County Library, paperback, 430 pages
genre: medical memoir

This took me a long time to read! I've had it for over two months now, renewing it multiple times. I'm kind of glad that I read Cutting for Stone first. This one deals primarily with the AIDS outbreak and his work in Tennessee. Very interesting look at the disease and how people's lives were affected. Not enough info about his family . . . I think if I check online, I'll see that he and his wife divorced in the early 90s. He was so consumed with his patients and seemed to spend more time learning about their lives than taking care of his wife and sons. Although he is very candid and comes across as humble (just a poor internist, not a rich surgeon), there remains something of the arrogance I have often seen in doctors. He delves deeply into the lives of his patients, to the point that I wondered if he had gotten their permission before publishing his book. A worthwhile read.

Popcorn Days & Buttermilk Nights

by Gary Paulsen
PRMS LA hardcover 100 pages
genre: YA coming of age

I think my sixth grade book club is going to have a hard time with this. I picked it because I had never read it before, it's short, and I had multiple copies. As much as I love Paulsen, this one was odd. The preface has someone coming into "Norsten" Minnesota. Part of that setting includes a burned-out smithy . . . and then the story starts and we learn that Carly is a troubled boy from Minneapolis who comes to stay with his uncle. I spent the whole book waiting for Carly to accidentally (or on purpose) burn down the smithy. Nope. He is reformed from his bad ways by hard work, seeing the poverty of his relatives, and helping David to build a carnival. Some lyrical passages, but not much in the way of a story.

Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt

by Anne Rie
Hennepin County Library, audioCDs
genre: Christian Fiction
read by Josh Heine

Never having read any of Rice's famous vampire books, I was curious about her Christian writing. Her personal testimony is powerful and exciting and she has dedicated the rest of her career to glorifying God. However, I didn't even finish the first CD of this story. Perhaps it's because I just forced myself to listen to another story I didn't enjoy, but I just couldn't force myself to finish this one.

She starts with Jesus as a 7-year-old in Egypt. There is so little in Scripture about Christ's childhood, but it just seemed bizarre to me that he would lose his temper in a game, kill someone, bring that person back to life, and have no clue about His identity or source of power. . . I found myself thinking that I'd rather read Scripture than this story about Jesus Christ. It reminded me a lot of the book about Luke I read earlier this year.

I guess I like my fiction to be fictional. . . although I do enjoy historical fiction. This blending of imagination and Truth just doesn't work for me. Though I'm still really glad that Rice has turned her life over to Jesus.

Beyond the Deepwoods

by Paul Stewart (illustrated by Chris Riddell)
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 6:14
read by Clive Mantle
genre: children's fantasy adventure

Oh my. This story made me crazy! Louie kept telling me to stop listening, but I was trying to figure out WHY this would appeal to kids and WHICH kids it appeals to. Twig just bumbles along from one incident to another, being a complete dunderhead and demanding to be saved by any creatures around him. There are a plethora of creatures and plants that are fantastical (and usually dangerous). There's not much in the way of a plot and the ending was trite . . . and this is only book one in a series! Argh. Made. me. crazy! Couldn't wait for it to be done. Mantle's voice work was not the problem. The story was stupid, IMHO.

The Lightning Thief, Sea of Monsters, The TItan's Curse

by Rick Riordan
various formats - audio
reader?
genre: YA adventure, fantasy

It's been fun to re-"read" these titles. It freshens my memory for tomorrow's discussion of the Lost Hero. Interesting phenomenon that Riordan created . . .

The Lost Hero

by Rick Riordan
Peter Mobeck's copy, 552 pages

Just like the Percy Jackson series, this was very readable, action-packed, and full of fun characters and unbelievable turns of event. We'll discuss it at eighth grade book club next week. I enjoyed it, but found the improbable last-minute escapes to be a bit much. Leo and Festus were my favorite parts. . .

Love, Stargirl

by Jerry Spinelli
Hennepin County Library audioCDs, 6:20
read by Mandy Siegfried

This book bugged me . . . and I'm not sure why. Dootsie was a little brat, Stargirl was irritating, Perry was such a delinquent (though we finally find out what's up with him toward the end of the book). Spinelli definitely creates memorable characters, though. I found myself wanting to meet Arnold, Betty Lou, Alvina, and Charlie. The storyline of Stargirl writing a book-long letter to Leo back in Arizona just didn't work for me, though. I am not sure what kind of reader would most enjoy this book . . . and I kind of want to re-read Stargirl. I loved that book! Siegfried's voice work was nice, so I'm really not sure why this story bugged me so much.

Halt's Peril

by John Flanagan
#9 Ranger's Apprentice
PRMS hardcover 386 pgs

Kind of disappointing, actually. Halt, Horace, and Will are in pursuit of Tennyson. The Genovesans are sent to kill them. Murder and mayhem ensue at a very, very slow pace. The part with Malcolm is my favorite. He rocks! This one just didn't have the momentum of the others. I kept trying to press on to get it done, but it took me four sittings to get through. Good thing #10 ends the series. It's time.