Forever Odd

by Dean Koontz
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 7 discs
read by David Aaron Baker

This one was much creepier than the first Odd Thomas book I read. Doctor Jessup's ghost leads Odd into a new situation, one that feels "wrong." Danny (Jessup's stepson & Odd's friend) has disappeared and Odd knows that he alone must find him. The evil people in this story are truly disturbing and scary.

Liked: Odd's communication with Elvis and the ghosts in the casino
Disliked: too much repetitive info (for those who haven't read Odd Thomas, I assume)

Overall, enjoyed it, but not as much as the first book.

Crossing Oceans

by Gina Holmes
genre: Christian fiction, relationships

Right after blogging about our (tonight) book club title, I looked to see what I had written about this author's first book. Nothing! I'm not a super-efficient (or effective) blogger . . . but I like having this repository of my responses to what I've been reading.

We read this title in September 2010 for the Spirit of Life book club. It was about a woman who was estranged from her family. She left home pregnant and lived her own life for a while. She returned home after being diagnosed with terminal cancer so that her daughter could be cared for by her father and grandmother when she is gone.

Her ex-boyfriend (and father of her child) is now married and since they are unable to conceive, they want the child.

Legal, emotional, ethical issues ensue. Very interesting and engaging book. I *loved* the grandma!

Dry as Rain

by Gina Holmes
Hennepin County Library paperback 373 pages
genre: Christian fiction, relationships

I had to force myself to read this one. I just couldn't empathize with the protagonist (Eric) who cheats on his wife but blames her for the distance in their marriage while also feeling deep love for her and intense guilt about his infidelity.

Kyra has suffered amnesia (but no other damage) in a car accident and doesn't remember that they're separated.

I spent the first half of the book just saying "TELL HER THE TRUTH!!!" and the second half saying, "Is this over yet?" Needless to say, I didn't like this nearly as much as Holmes' first book and I'm not super-eager to read more from her.

Alanna: the first adventure

by Tamora Pierce
PRMS paperback 274 pages
genre: fantasy adventure

Alanna and her twin brother want to trade places - she wants to train to become a knight and he wants to continue his education (albeit as a sorcerer, not as a lady). Their distracted father doesn't know the switch has been made and Alanna becomes Alan of Tremond. She makes friends and one enemy with the other pages, squires, thieves, etc. in the city.

Dashes of coming-of-age, magic, and a portent of romance to come. Interesting, but it didn't blow me away. It will be fun to hear what the 7th grade book club girls thought of it.

The Appeal

by John Grisham
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 10 discs
read by Michael Beck
genre: legal thriller

This book had a profound impact on me. I thought about it a LOT over the week or so that I listened to it. I really struggled with the realization that although this is fiction, much of the content is extremely true-to-life.

Basically, it is the 1% vs. the rest of us. Carl Trudeau, obscenely wealthy New York businessman, rejects the court ruling that his chemical company polluted, poisoned, and killed people in Beaumore, Mississippi. He connects with other powerful and corrupt people to "buy" a seat on the state Supreme Court so that the ruling will be rejected and he doesn't have to pay for the damage done by Crane Chemical.

Ugh. This was really hard for me to read, especially the conservative Christians overwhelmingly (and unthinkingly) supporting newcomer Ron Fisk for a judge seat he isn't qualified to occupy. The tactics and politics ring far too true.

Favorite character: Denny Ott! (Pastor who "gets it" and yet truly cares for his congregation as a genuine Christian.) The ending stunned me, yet makes perfect sense. Six billion. Of course.

The Lost Years of Merlin

by T.A. Barron
PRMS hardcover 326 pages
genre: fantasy

This took me f-o-r-e-v-e-r to read. I started it via audiobook while working on the elliptical. Then I finally finished with the book. I just didn't get into it that much. Not the right book at the right time? I usually enjoy Merlin legends.

A boy washes up on a beach with no memory of who he is or where he belongs. A woman is also there. She claims to be his mother, but won't answer his questions. He has powers, leaves town, gets to the mythical Fincayra, meets Rhia, befriends a merlin he names Trouble, . . . yeah. It had a lot going on.

I'm not giving up on this author, but I'll definitely just grab a physical copy of the next title of his that I try.

Made to Crave: Satisfying your deepest desire with God, not food

by Lysa TerKeurst
Hennepin County Library paperback 217 pgs
genre: Christian self-improvement ?

Interesting to claim a genre for this . . . I almost put "self-help," but she's recommending reliance upon God not self. I almost wrote "dieting," but that's not her stated focus either.

Another interesting note: the cover image is IDENTICAL to the one on the Valerie Bertinelli book I read a little while ago. I knew that publishers did this . . . and read a cool blog entry last year about the phenomenon. I just don't understand WHY. It's an eye-catching image, yes, but I see lots & lots of photographs that are expressive. I think there are enough photos they could use without duplicating.

Anyhow, I liked the Scriptures she used. I wish I'd had time to read the whole thing, but someone's waiting for it so I need to return it today. Some of her "can't eat" food makes me wonder how it is part of God's will for her. No bread, rice, potatoes, etc.? Really? I know I need to pray more, but I don't think He's asking me to give up all the foods that she has decided to do without.

It would have been smart of me to just grab the list of Scripture verses at the end and skip the chapters on her struggles. I can't relate to her very much. Or perhaps this just isn't the right book at the right time for me.

Things Not Seen

by Andrew Clements
Carver County Library paperback 252 pages
genre: YA SciFi, relationships

Bobby Phillips wakes up invisible one day and embarks on an identity crisis that helps him to mature. His parents tell him to stay home and not let anyone know, but he goes out (fully clothed head to toe) just for something to do. Once indoors at the library, he removes all his clothing in the men's room so he doesn't look suspicious. His naked invisible self bumps into a blind girl and a friendship with the beautiful Alicia changes his world.

Cute story. Okay book club discussion with the eighth graders yesterday . . . too many had not read it or had read it a few years ago.

Around the World in Eighty Days

by Jules Verne
Carver County Library audioCDs
read by Patrick Tull
genre: hist fic, adventure

I enjoy this story, though Phileas Fogg's "cold" responses and logical approach to everything gets a bit old. I hadn't remembered the story being so incredibly racist and stereotypical (especially in America, where the Indians are encountered). Still, I like Verne's story and the characters who travel with Fogg - Passepartout, Detective Fix, and Aouda.

One thing that makes me CRAZY, though, is how many versions of this story show a hot air balloon on the cover. And this audio version has on the back: " . . . must use every means of transportation known to 19th century humans - including a hot-air balloon, a locomotive, and an elephant . . . " NO!!!! There is NO hot-air balloon used in this story! Verne mentions one as a possibility to get across the Atlantic, but Fogg NEVER gets on one in this journey.

There. I feel better now.

The Pelican Brief

by John Grisham
PRMS paperback 436 pages
genre: mystery, suspense

This was a re-read, but it's been such a long time that I honestly didn't remember the story. I just finished it last night, so wasn't able to share at our Monday book club meeting ("any" Grisham book). Darby Shaw is a bright & beautiful law student who unravels some threads tying a wealthy businessman to the murders of two Supreme Court justices.

Fletcher Coal is the powerful man behind the president.
Khamel is the expensive and talented assassin.
Thomas Callahan is Darby's professor and lover.
Gray Grantham is the intrepid reporter.

I like the suspense so much more than any lawyer stuff . . .

Some of my Bets Friends Are Books: Guiding Gifted Readers

by Judith Wynn Halstad
Hennepin County Library paperback
genre: NF reading guidance

Kate Martens recommended this. I wasn't able to do more than skim it, since I'm at my limit in the Hennepin County system. It looks valuable, but my time management skills are poor and I don't have much in the way of budget. I'm blogging just so I can easily find it again.

In Odd We Trust

by Dean Koontz
illustrated by Queenie Chan
Hennepin County Library paperback
genre: YA graphic novel, paranormal mystery

Interesting little graphic novel - the psycho killer is targeting Stormy's friend, but brutally murders a little boy who's in her care. Nicely done both storywise & artwise.

Odd Thomas

by Dean Koontz
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 9 discs
read by David Aaron Baker
genre: paranormal mystery

I'm surprised I haven't already blogged about this book. I listened to it a year or so ago and was impressed. Odd Thomas can see the dead, but few people know about his "gift." The love of his life, Stormy Llewellen(?), and he are unusual people and perfectly compatible.

Interesting story. I re-listened so that I can continue with the other Odd Thomas books (one in my car already and one on hold at the library). Baker voices Odd Thomas well.

 

<Above published 2.2.12. Below added 1.1.24.>

 

I listened to this story again. I don't love the author's / main characters' perception of life after death (with Stormy's description of this life being "boot camp" . . . ) but this is a very creative work of fiction. The "bodocks" (sp?) as evil spirits is very realistic from a Christian perspective! The theological issues I have with the story don't really detract from all the things I like about it.

 

Little Ozzie, Chester his cat, Odd's own sweet strange self . . . I stopped to write down (pausing, going back, etc.) one quotation that jumped out at me.

 

"Guilt and shame have until now kept me silent on this issue. I am old enough even if just twenty to know that I have no logical reason to feel either guilt or shame, that I was the victim, not the victimizer. Yet I've been so long marinated in both emotions that they will forever flavor me."

 

The language here really struck me. Being marinated in guilt and shame . . . made me think of the household I grew up in. I'm not sure my parents even realized how much these tools were used. Of course, Odd's mother was really mentally ill. My parents were just raising us the way they had been raised.

 

I don't plan on continuing with the Odd Thomas series this time. In fact, I may weed out the Odd Thomas books I own (at the lake). There are so very many other books I want to read!