Read so far:
Next Michael Crichton
1824: The Arkansas War Eric Flint
Man in the Middle Brian Haig
True Detective Max Allan Collins
The Dark Wing Walter H. Hunt
The Hunters W.E.B. Griffin
The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers Lilian Jackson Braun
The Girl With the Long Green Heart Lawrence Block
The Lasko Tangent Richard North Patterson
Planet of the Hairless Beach Apes Jim Toomey
Capitalism and Freedom Milton Friedman
Kiss Her Goodbye Allan Guthrie
High Profile Robert B. Parker
Sledge Hammer Walter Wager
14 books in 2 months (should get more read before end of Feb.). 84 books per year book pace. Already off target. :)
Pages read (as seen in another thread, apparently, that matters): 4581
Depending on the book, I appear to be on a 1.2 to 2.1 page per minute pace (only counting the time I spend reading).
Read one more than last year (92 vs. 91):
Read more than 1999 (highest total number of books read in 1999 - 135; at least recorded, and I didn't always record the books I've read - like textbooks, for some reason I tend to not record/note books I read for school):
I've also started a book journal blog (don't read unless you've already read the book, it's the place I put my notes as I read), and plan on trying to have something to put in the review box after each book is completed (book blog helps, if used, didn't use it for last book read; I've written "real" reviews before, but these are turning out to be synopsis, characters, and gut reaction without all the other information I normally add to reviews (like, say, a review beyond gut reaction)).
Oh, and I'm not currently reading anything. Haven't cracked open a book since Feb. 20, 2007, though I have been reading. Catching up on my magazines.
Might help keep track if I actually joined the group. Mission accomplished. I like accomplishing things. :)
Finally started a new book. On page 27 after 14.47 minutes reading.
Facing a choice between two books, a Sports Fiction book by an author I’ve read before, but didn’t particularly like (I’ve seen good reviews for the option book and thought I’d give the author another chance, only read 1 by him so far), and a Science Fiction, Military Fiction book by an author that I’ve never read before and have the impression that he hasn’t written any more books, I decided to catch up on my magazine reading. Then, today, I finally got around to reading another book. Picked the sports book up first, glanced at the first two lines, didn’t like the way they went and started the Science Fiction book. I’ve only read the prologue, so I do not know anything about the book (other than the book’s description, something about a Martian officer in the Earth space service facing some discrimination, and placed in a position near/on Mars when it revolts, or something like that), or if I will like it.
This is Drago’s First Novel. Never heard of the author, and never seen the book anywhere except at my library.
So Far: Prologue involved military unit on Phobos (near Mars) tracking some kind of killer “thing.” Private Manning killed. Then Lead Character Lt. Joseph Halavero killed by some snake thing that has the ability to change the shape of itself. Halavero’s last thought is that he is glad that his female sergeant finally called him by his first name (they were lovers when she was a private, and he was in officer candidate school). Ok, main lead character dead on a moon off Mars. Died in Moon Dust by Very Fast Giant Snake Thing (read something recently about how moon dust was speculated on by famous science fiction writer, but theory disproved).
Phobos by Ty Drago, First Novel
How did you enjoy Next? My husband (one of those non-readers) is a big
Crichton fan and I am trying to figure out if he'll enjoy it.
Re message 4: I rated it higher than some of his books, but it had too many plots (dropped, or later merged), and too many different point of views to be as enjoyable as it could have been. Too long since I read it to really review it now: check out the review by
KevinJoseph in another group. Basically agree with what he had to say, though I seem to have given the book a higher rating than Kevin Joseph.
- wait, non-reader? Does he like the Crichton movies then (I assume you mean films based on his novels instead of the one film (or was it more?) that he directed, and the films he wrote the screenplay for)? If that is what you mean, I would not recommend Next as an interduction to Crichton as a writer.
Phobos continued: Lt. Mike Brogue. Lead character. Martian native from a defunct colony. First Martian to be an officer in the Peacecorps (military), father was first Sergeant. Story (after the prologue) starts with Brogue defusing a dangerous hostage situation. Makes him a hero, and Mayor wants to use him to help defuse tensions (native Martians want their freedom from the corporation that runs Mars - only reason Mars colonies continue is the barsooium(sp?) that is stronger than any earth metal and either twice the radioactive deflector than lead, or almost the same as lead (don’t recall now). Brogue is a hothead.
Purists (some long word that boils down to purists): want to wipe out all Martians.
Fredomists: Want Mars to be free.
Alien Life: Apparently, like Total Recall, finding alien life (or artifacts as in Total Recall) will get Mars its freedom from the corporation (EED?) that runs Mars.
Does seem to be something of a continuation of Total Recall, even if only vaguely (and with limited memory of both the original Philip K. Dick short story, and film (film is different, but with similarities, than short story).
Oh, and an original to LT (since I forgot to include it in my reading blog): Drago is a lot more accomplished than I would expect for a first novel author. Very interesting book so far. If he keeps it up, I hope I find out he actually has written other books, that just do not show up on LT and in my local library's system.
Message edited by its author, Feb 23, 2007, 1:26pm.
Note to self: Googled Ty Drago. Found his biblio on Fantastic Fiction. It has one more book by Ty Drago, but lists it as a 2001 book, 2 years before his "first novel", as indicated by the book jacket, Phobos.
The Franklin Affair by Ty Drago. Historical Fiction (1776, France, Ben Franklin), and Spy fiction. Released 2001. Available used $18.34.
Message edited by its author, Feb 23, 2007, 1:41pm.
Re: Next and my non-reader husband
Although I classify him as a non-reader, he does occasionally pick up a book - he has read most of Crichton's novels. He likes the "science" aspect of them and he can get through them rather quickly. The reason I asked about Next is because I try to encourage him to read more and if he reads a book and doesn't like it he won't pick up another book for ages.
I'll check out the reviews - thanks!
re: 7: not like it will not pick up another book for ages: I would hesitate to recommend it, then.
Phobos - completed, rated 5 stars. Great book. Too bad it appears that he wrote at most 1 more book, and neither were apparently well-received (at least in terms of buyers). Very well written.
Oh, and while it is Science Fiction, it is a different type of Science Fiction than the "science" fiction of Crichton. Crichton is contemporary (or at least includes modern characters) except for his Eaters of the Dead book.
15 books completed.
Message edited by its author, Feb 26, 2007, 11:56am.
New book started:
Final Impact by John Birmingham. Third book in the Axis of Time trilogy. Too long since I read the other books. Not sure I'll like this book. Might finish it before Feb. is over.
This message has been deleted by its author.
Ninth February book finished. Back on track.
16:
Final Impact by John Birmingham. 3rd book in the Axis of Time series. Ok book, not as good as the first one.
Started book
17:
Off Armageddon Reef by David Weber. Had to return Reef book by 3/1/07, so rushed through Final Impact to get to Off Reef. Finished Final Impact during break, started Off Armageddon Reef during lunch.
18:
Brittle Innings by Michael Bishop. Very interesting. Sports Fiction, Baseball Fiction (C Class minor leagues), Historical Fiction (set during WWII), Science Fiction.
Recommend? Yes
Started: 3/3/07
Finished: 3/8/07
19:
Deep Storm by Lincoln Child. Science Fiction, Thriller, Fiction. Child stumbled in his first two solo outings - he had good ideas but had not yet mastered writing on his own, but in his third solo outing, Child appears to have finally mastered both the ability to come up with a good idea (or run with one if someone else came up with the idea) and the ability to follow through and write a very good interesting book.
Recommend? yes
Started: 3/8/07
Finished: 3/8/07
I have now read 3 books in March in the first 8 days.
20: Finished
White Sky, Black Ice by Stan Jones. First novel by Jones, and first book in the Nathan Active. Also important to just me and one other, it was another good book found by looking for Soho Crime books.
Book set in Alaska, Alaskan police trooper, native, but raised by "whites". "Suicides" hit area, Active investigates.
Interesting book. You know those books where the wise old police officer
doesn't fall for the tricks of others, like lawyers? Well, here Active isn't as experienced, yet, as those other police officers.
Book has an average rating of 4.3. Author has an average rating of 4.07, though only two appear to be by the same author (it is possible, of course, that the sex author is the same person as the crime mystery novelist, though I do not have the time to investigate).
Message edited by its author, Mar 13, 2007, 1:20pm.
22:
The Last Match completed. - Ok book. As I barely/briefly mention in my short review - I kept waiting for the story to begin, to have the story move out of the "this is what happened in the past" section. Not recommended.
Now reading
Hell Hath no Fury in addition to the two non-fiction books. I need to get around to finishing those non-fiction books.
Book
23 acquired and read on same day (and same sitting).
The Other ShoeStarted but paused:
Stone Cold 6/19/07-?
I either got tired of reading mysteries, or this is a weak book by
John Francome. Slightly annoyed as this is the last book of his I own and haven't yet read.
Note: None of the Francome books I've read were written by just by him alone.
With Mike Bailey:
Inside Track 4.22
With Terence Blacker:
Stud Poker 4.28
With Terence Blacker: Stone Cold
With Peter Burden:
Rough Ride 3.95
With Peter Burden: Dead Ringer 4.45
With James McGregor:
Riding High 3.80
With James McGregor: Eavesdropper 4.29
With James McGregor: Declared Dead 3.80
Message edited by its author, Jun 25, 2007, 9:46am.
48:
Widow's Walk by Robert B. Parker 7/09/07-7/10/07 4.24
Message edited by its author, Jul 10, 2007, 4:03pm.
So far:
Genre's read: Books read - average rating
Fiction: 44 - 4.33
Non-Fiction: 4 - 3.38
Mystery:
25 - 4.26
Science Fiction: 11 -
4.49Military Fiction: 7 - 4.27
Private Investigator: 7 - 4.31
Noir: 5 - 4.28
Alternate History: 4 -
4.45Historical Fiction: 4 - 4.34
Police Procedural: 3 - 4.39
Sports Fiction: 3 - 4.30
Thriller: 3 - 4.41
Forensic Investigation: 2 - 4.35
Serial Kiler: 2 -
4.52Cyberpunk: 1 -
4.58Legal Thriller: 1 - 4.39
Psychological Thriller: 1 - 4.33
Space Opera: 1 - 4.11
Books can be in more than 1 category, only first three categories a book fits into is counted in the genre count above.
Authors:
Authors: First Books read in 2007:
Michael Bishop - 1 book - 4.34 (Sports Fiction/Historical Fiction)
Max Allan Collins - 1 book - 4.43 (Mystery/Noir)
David Dodge - 1 book - 4.18 (Mystery/Noir)
Ty Drago - now read 2 books -
4.77 (Mystery/Historical Fiction; Science Fiction/Military Fiction)
Abba Eban - 1 book - 3 (Non-Fiction/diplomacy)
Joseph Epstein - 1 book - (Non-Fiction/Snobbery)
Milton Friedman - 1 book - 3.5 (Non-Fiction))
James Grippando - 1 book - 4.33 (Thriller/Psychological Thriller)
Allan Guthrie - 1 book - 4.22 (Mystery/Noir))
Walter Hunt - 1 book - 4.37 (Science Fiction/Military Fiction)
Stan Jones - 1 book - 4.28 (Mystery/Police))
Magdalen Nabb - 1 book - 4.33 (Mystery/Police)
Carol O'Connell - now read 2 books -
4.52 (Serial Killer/Mystery)
Michael Rymaszewski - 1 book - game manual
And because there is a thread about it:
22 books by male authors - 4.25
4 by female authors -
4.3910 male authors
3 female authors
Do not have the break-down for female lead/male lead books. Some are multiple POV anyway (Crichton's
Next book seemed to be a different POV for each chapter).
Message edited by its author, Jul 11, 2007, 10:49am.
2006 Notes (because hey, figure I'd put this somewhere):
87 books by Male Authors - 4.35
4 books by female authors - 4.29
5 NF - 4.45
86 Fiction - 4.34
Genre: total books - average rating
Mystery: 50 - 4.35
Private Investigator: 21 - 4.36
Historical Fiction: 17 - 4.33
Thriller: 16 - 4.36
Police: 11 - 4.40
Military Fiction: 10 - 4.36
Science Fiction: 8 - 4.36
Sports: 8 - 4.42
Adventure: 4 - 4.49
Combat: 4 - 4.35
Spy: 4 - 4.32
Alt. History: 3 - 4.24
Fantasy: 3 - 4.47
Forensic: 3 - 4.23
Noir: 3 - 4.44
Terrorism: 3 - 4.41
Aliens: 2 - 4.37
Post-Apocalytic: 2 - 4.30
Psychological Thriller: 2 - 4.41
Serial Killer: 2 - 4.42
Space Opera: 2 - 4.45
Time Travel: 1 - 4.09
Western: 1 - 4.24
Like before, a book can fall into more than one genre (top three genre's noted).
17 authors read for first time in 2006. None read in 2007.
Richard Aleas - 4.65
Justin Scott - read 4 more - 4.39 (average)
Michael J. Katz - 4.12
Noel Hynd - 4.25
Kyle Smith - 4.56
Philip Kerr - read 3 books - 4.39
Michael Fry - 4.33
Peter Pativa - 4.28
James S. Robbins - 4.5
Wade Miller - 4.39
James Clavell - 4.58
Barry Svrluga - 4.38
George P. Pelecanos - 4.25
Bob Newhart - 4.59
Michael D'Antonio - 4.23
Top 10 2007 (so Far):
01) David Weber Off Armageddon Reef - 5 - Science Fiction
02) Ty Drago
Phobos - 4.95 - Science Fiction/Military Fiction
03) Lincoln Child
Deep Storm - 4.67 - Thriller/Science Fiction
04) Eric Flint
1634: The Baltic War - 4.63 - Alt. History/Science Fiction
W.E.B. Griffin
The Hunters - 4.63 - Military Fiction
06) Carol O'Connell
Mallory's Oracle - 4.59 - Mystery/Police/Serial Killer
07) Ty Drago
The Franklin Affair - 4.58 - Historical Fiction
John Maddox Roberts
The Enigma Variations - 4.58 - Science Fiction/Cyberpunk
10) Robert B. Parker
High Profile - 4.55 - Mystery/Police
50:
The Double Agents by W.E.B. Griffin - 7/16/07-7/17/07 - 4.34
Message edited by its author, Jul 17, 2007, 1:09pm.
51:
Stone Angel by Carol O'Connell - 7/19/07-7/20/07 - 4.39
Update (had wrong starting row number in sum calculation, so book count before was wrong):
"And because there is a thread about it:"
44 books by male authors - 4.25
7 by female authors - 4.46
10 male authors
4 female authors
Message edited by its author, Jul 20, 2007, 1:52pm.
55:
Tipperary by
Frank Delaney - 8/6/07-8/13/07 - 4.47
Reviewed
Message edited by its author, Aug 13, 2007, 1:22pm.
56: Blackcollar by Timothy Zahn - 8/20/07 - 4.64
57: Blackcollar: The Backlash Mission by Timothy Zahn - 8/21/07 - 4.49
Message edited by its author, Aug 21, 2007, 8:56pm.
64:
Crime School by Carol O'Connell - 8/29/07-8/31/07 - 4.42
66:
Sporting Chance by Elizabeth Moon - 9/12/07-9/13/07 - 4.22
Message edited by its author, Sep 19, 2007, 11:48am.
70:
In at the Death by Harry Turtledove - 9/28/07-10/05/07 - 4.48
Message edited by its author, Oct 9, 2007, 1:54pm.
73: I'm Ready for my Movie Contract by Darby Conley - 10/10/07-10/11/07 - 4.28
76: The Sunrise Lands by S.M. Stirling - 10/22/07-10/26/07 - 4.38
77:
McMansion by
Justin Scott - 10/29/07-10/31/07 - 4.38
Taking it to the second decimal place is getting very fine-grained! :)
Well, when you have 80 books listed as "4.3" and no more information than that, it is not as informative than if you have 5 that are 4.30, 5 that are 4.32, etc. It has limited use, and, for the most part, only really changes anything when I do overall series average, or overall author average, or the like.
Fair enough. If you had a couple of thousand 4s, would you add a third decimal place?
I have sort of done that for my own use for anthologies/collections.
I had a third decimal place when I had my own graphs/charts/etc. off of LT, but dropped the third decimal place when I joined LT.
79: Cauldron by Jack McDevitt - 11/08/07-11/13/07 - 4.44
81:
Bait Money by Max Allan Collins - 11/16/07 - 4.44
Message edited by its author, Sep 16, 2008, 10:11am.
82:
Blood Money by Max Allan Collins - 11/16/07-11/19/07 - 4.48
83: If Democrats Had Any Brains, They'd Be Republicans by Ann Coulter - 11/23/07 - 12/01/07 - 4.20
85: Red Mandarin Dress by Qiu Xiaolong - 12/06/07 - 12/11/07 - 4.70
86: The cricket on the hearth by Charles Dickens - 12/12/07 - 3.70
87: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens - 12/13/07 - 4.44
88:
Horsehead Crossing by Elmer Kelton - 12-14-07 - 4.44
Message edited by its author, Sep 16, 2008, 10:09am.
89: Born Standing Up by Steve Martin - 12/15/07-12/16/07 - 4.28
90: After the Bugles by Elmer Kelton - 12/17/07 - 4.28
91: The Dracula Caper by Simon Hawke - 12/18/07-12/19/07 - 4.33
92>: Service for all the Dead by Colin Dexter - 12/20/07-12/21/07 - 4.29
4:
The Shooters by W.E.B. Griffin - 01/02/08-01/04/08 - 4.75
Message edited by its author, Feb 6, 2008, 9:24am.
5: Yarns and Shanties by Jim Toomey - 01/11/08 - 4.44
6: Alternative Zits: A Zits Treasury by Jim Borgman & Jerry Scott - 01/12/08 - 01/13/08 - 4.38
7: 99 % Perspiration: Frazz Collection by Jeff Mallett -01/14/08 - 4.38
8: Baby Blues: This is Going to be Tougher Than We Thought by Rick Kirkman & Jerry Scott - 01/15/08 - 3.70
14:
Winter House by Carol O'Connell - 01/30/08-01/31/08 - 4.63
Message edited by its author, Feb 6, 2008, 9:22am.
16:
Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan - 2/05/08 - 4.14
17: Opening Atlantis by Harry Turtledove - 02/06/08-02/09/08 - 4.55
Message edited by its author, Feb 28, 2008, 11:36am.
18 Vorpal Blade by John Ringo and Travis Taylor - 02/10/08-02/12/08 - 4.15
Message edited by its author, Feb 28, 2008, 11:37am.
19:
Manxome Foe by John Ringo - 02/12/08-02/14/08 - 4.35
Message edited by its author, Feb 28, 2008, 11:37am.
20:
Echo Park by Michael Connelly - 02/15/08-02/19/08 - 4.44
Message edited by its author, Feb 28, 2008, 11:37am.
21:
Under Vesuvius by John Maddox Roberts - 02/20/08-02/22/08 - 4.47
22: Stranger in Paradise by Robert B. Parker - 02/24/08-02/25/08 - 4.53
Message edited by its author, Feb 28, 2008, 11:38am.
23:
Potshot by Robert B. Parker - 02/27/08-02/28/08 - 4.44
Message edited by its author, Feb 28, 2008, 11:38am.
24:
Sudden Mischief by Robert B. Parker - 02/28/08-02/29/08 - 4.33
25: Blasphemy by Douglas Preston - 03/07/08-03/10/08 - 4.43
Message edited by its author, Mar 11, 2008, 2:03pm.
Have you ever read "The Education of a Wandering Man" by Louis L'Amour? Look at the list that dude read in a 3 yr period. A reading fool if there ever was one. I'm doing my own personal test to try and read 100 books in a year like he did ...I fear I won't make it because the year is 3/4 over and I'm only up to 42. Oh well....
When I had more time, and was much younger, I had several years where I read more than 100 books in a year. But the year fills up with non-reading distractions, and it has been more than 9 years since I had my peak of 135 books read in a year.
I own "The Education of a Wandering Man", but I have not yet read it. Thank-you for reminding me, I do need to search it out in my many stacks of books to read, dust it off, and read it.
29:
Ghost by John Ringo - 03/26/08-03/28/08 - 4.24
My all time record is 194 books in 1992.
But that pales in comparison with Alan Kay (inventor of Smalltalk, computer genius and luminary), who claims to have read a book a day for as long as he can remember. I tried to locate the web page where he made this claim, but was unable to - he used to have a "home page" but it is no longer a top hit on Google.
30:
Kildar by John Ringo - 03/28/08-03/31/08 - 3.70
33:
The Last Oracle by James Rollins - 04/07/08-04/09/08 - 4.38
Review on book page.
35:
Wit'ch fire by James Clemens - 04/15/08-04/17/08 - 4.48
36:
Wit'ch Storm by James Clemens - 04/17/08-04/21/08 - 4.57
37:
Wit'ch War by James Clemens - 04/21/08-04/25/08 - 4.47
39:
Wi'tch Gate by James Clemens - 04/30/08-05/02/08 - 4.35
41:
The Woods by Harlan Coben - 05/07/08 - 05/08/08 - 4.84
42:
Wit'ch Star by James Clemens - 05/09/08 - 05/13/08 - 4.35
43:
Dead Hunt by Beverly Connor 05/15/08 - 05/16/08 - 4.33
44:
Hold Tight by Harlan Coben - 05/18/08-05/19/08 - 4.26
51 Time Spike by Eric Flint and Marilyn Kosmatka - 06/02/08-06/04/08 - 4.88
53:
Deep Lie by Stuart Woods - 06/18/08-06/19/08 - 4.42
61:
Bertie and the Tinman by Peter Lovesey - 07/16/08-07/17/08 - 3.5
Message edited by its author, Jul 18, 2008, 9:43pm.
64:
Fireships by David Drake - 07/22/08-07/24/08 - 3.80
68:
Money Culture by Michael Lewis - 08/30/08-09/03/08 - 3.5
69:
Silks by Dick Francis & Felix Francis - 09/05/08-09/07/08 - 4.38
70: This Is the Part Where You Pretend to Add Value by Scott Adams 09/07/08 - 4.23
75:
Grave Peril by Jim Butcher - 09/17/08-09/18/08-4.42
76 Summer Knight by Jim Butcher - 09/19/08-09/20/08 - 4.37
Message edited by its author, Sep 20, 2008, 5:01pm.
77:
Dewey by
Vicki Myron -09/20/08-09/22/08-4.77
Message edited by its author, Sep 22, 2008, 11:13am.
78:
Death Masks by Jim Butcher - 09/22/08-09/23/08-4.44
79:
Blood Rites by Jim Butcher - 09/25/08-09/26/08 - 4.66
81:
Dead Beat by Jim Butcher - 09/30/08-10/01/08-4.78
82:
Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher - 10/02/08-10/05/08-4.40
Message edited by its author, Oct 6, 2008, 9:15am.
85:
Find Me by Carol O'Connell - 10/07/08-10/09/08- 4.65
86:
White Night by Jim Butcher - 10/13/08-10/15/08- 4.50
87: Death and Honor by W.E.B. Griffin and William E. Butterworth IV -4.5
bought and read. Even remember it. Did not record reading it. dang it.
89:
The Deceived by Brett Battles - 10/17/08-10/20/08-4.00
90: Coach by Michael Lewis - 10/20/08-4.20
93:
Dead Ball by R.D. Rosen - 10/27/08-10/28/08-4.24
94:
Red Rabbit by Tom Clancy - 10/29/08-11/04/08-4.19
Message edited by its author, Nov 5, 2008, 1:33pm.
113:
Red Storm Rising by Tom Clancy - 11/20/08-11/22/08 - 3.23
Message edited by its author, Nov 24, 2008, 3:45pm.
115:
And Did Murder Him by Peter Turnbull - 12/01/08-12/02/08 - 4.03
Message edited by its author, Dec 3, 2008, 11:52am.
124:
Mount Dragon by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child - 12/27/08-12/30/08 -4.24
2:
Black Ops by W.E.B. Griffin - 1/5/09 - 1/6/09 - 4.32
3:
Ill Wind by Nevada Barr - 01/07/09 - 01/08/09 - 4.22
8: SPQR XII: Oracle of the Dead by John Maddox Roberts - 01/29/09 - 4.38
10:
Bill, the Galactic Hero by Harry Harrison - 02/03/09-02/04/09 - 2.50
Message edited by its author, Feb 4, 2009, 9:47am.
11: Scattered Graves by Beverly Connor - 02/04/09-02/05/09 - 4.73
12:
Dreamland by Garfield Reeves-Stevens - 02/07/2009-02/10/2009 - 3.85
Message edited by its author, Feb 11, 2009, 10:45am.
Hi, Mike!
I just now saw your thread. Would you say that the books by W. E. B. Griffin are similar to Tom Clancy books? I cannot recall if I have read any books by Griffin, but I surely do like Clancy's books.
Also, I saw that a long time ago you read
A History of English Speaking Peoples Since 1900. Did you also read the Churchill books? If so, did you like them? Sorry, I realize this is from long ago and you read a lot of books per year.
Have a great day!
--BJ
Griffin's books tend to be more character driven efforts. Though that is just tends. And saying that I recall and know more about Jack Ryan than any of Griffin's characters. So I will have to think about why there is a different feel to the books.
Well, Griffin's books can seem to be slower paced at times. It has been a while since I read a Clancy book, so it is hard to try to do a compare/contrast at this stage.
I would say that Clancy is more technology detailed, but then Griffin mostly writes books set in WWII era, though a recent series was set in modern times. The modern times one had some tech talk. Mostly about secure communications.
I have not read the Churchill books. And while I found "A History of English Speaking Peoples Since 1900" to be an interesting book, I did, in the end, give it a rating below my own personal average. Do not recall why, now. I do not tend to read much in the way of nonfiction, that probably played a factor.
Thanks for the info. I do think that Clancy's books are more technology oriented than others. That is one of the things that I like about them. Of course, there were so many of his books made into movies, too, which helps to make them memorable. I still think that I would like to check out one of Griffin's books, too. Thanks! :)
--BJ
16:
Fright by Cornell Woolrich - 02/17/09-02/18/09- 4.30
17: Metacomet's War: A Novel of King Philip's War by
David Kerr Chivers - 02/19/09-02/20/09 - 4.40 (reviewed)
18-22: The Long Way Home by Joss Whedon, Georges Jeanty, Andy Owens, Dave Stewart, Richard Starkings, Comicraft's Jimmy, Jo Chen, Paul Lee - 02/20/09 - 4.24
23-27: No Future For You by Joss Whedon et al - 02/21/09 - 4.55
28-32: Wolves at the Gate by Joss Whedon, et al - 02/21/09 - 4.97
33: Psych: A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Read by
William Rabkin - 02/22/09 - 4.63
So is Patricia Briggs any relation? Or just a coincidence?
--BJ
No relation, though I did pick up the book because of the name.
38:
Once a Hero by Elizabeth Moon - 02/28/09-03/03/09 - 4.64
39:
Burn Notice: The Fix by Tod Goldberg - 03/03/09-03/04/09 - 3.60
Message edited by its author, Mar 4, 2009, 4:25pm.
44:
Back Story by Robert B. Parker - 03/16/09-03/17/09 - 4.24
47:
Rules Of Engagement by Elizabeth Moon - 03/23/09-03/24/09-4.44
48: Ignorance, Thy Name Is Bucky by Darby Conley - 03/25/09 - 4.34
What was #48 about? That is an intriguing name.
--BJ
49:
Sheepfarmer's Daughter by Elizabeth Moon - 03/27/09-04/01/09 - 4.66
48: Ignorance, Thy Name Is Bucky by Darby Conley is a collection of comic strips. The comic is titled Get Fuzzy. A man, a dog, a cat (Bucky).
Congrats on reaching 50 already! Looks like you are on track to beat last year's total. Thanks for the info on the comic book.
--BJ
Thanks :)
51: The Argyle Sweater by Scott Hilburn - 04/04/09 - 4
52: The Saturday Evening Pearls by Stephan Pastis - 04/05/09 - 4.20
Message edited by its author, Apr 6, 2009, 8:40am.
55:
Turn Coat by Jim Butcher - 04/09/09-04/10/09 - 4.34
I have been seeing Jim Butcher's name around lately, but haven't read any of his books yet. Does order matter?
--BJ
I've only read one of his two series, so I can comment on only one of them. Order matters, yes. People grow, change, advance. Though there is an important character that just appeared in one book. There seemed to be a connection between the two of them that went back a ways. This was something like the 2nd or 3rd book so it confused me, as there was no previous mention of this character, at least I do not recall one, nor recalled one at the time.
I like the Dresden series. There is/was a television series based on it also, though I haven't seen it.
--
56:
The Mao Case by Qiu Xiaolong - 04/12/04-04/14/04 - 4.44
Message edited by its author, Oct 20, 2009, 9:34am.
Thanks for the info, Mike! :)
--BJ
57:
Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs - 04/14/09-04/15/09 - 4.63
59: Against the Odds by Elizabeth Moon - 04/20/09-04/22/09 - 4.58
60: The Making of Second Life by
Wagner James Au - 04/23/09-04/24/09 - 4.22
61: 1942 by Robert Conroy - 04/27/09-04/28/09-4.37
62: 1945 by Robert Conroy - 04/29/09-05/01/09 - 4.28
64: When the Tide Rises by David Drake - 05/04/09-05/07/09 - 4.34
I read 50+ last year and I'm up to 42 for this year (currently reading Haight Ashbury: A history) but I only have a month to go.
The biggest delay this year was reading 2 of Doris Kearns Goodwins books, A Team of Rivals & No Ordinary Time and both were 800 p+
Do I get extra credit for those? :-)
Message edited by its author, May 8, 2009, 11:03am.
232> Sometimes I feel like I'm "cheating" or something when I read the really short, easy to read, books. Then I remember the really long books, like the Hamilton one. It evens out. heh, well, not really, but . .
65: Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis by Leo Duranona - 05/07/09 - 3.8
66:
In the Stormy Red Sky by David Drake - 05/09/09-05/12/09 - 4.45
Message edited by its author, Oct 20, 2009, 9:35am.
So--Mike;
Got a couple of questions for you:
Allan Guthrie -- he authored
Kiss Her Goodbye -- you read it way back--any relation to Arlo Guthrie that you are aware of?
And I keep seeing
Robert B Parker all over LT. I am going to guess mystery writer? Is he good? Are they gory?
just askin'. thankx,
belva
Allan and Arlo may or may not be related but I would doubt it. Allan Guthrie is Scottish and Arlo is American.
Robert B. Parker mostly writes mysteries involving the series character Spenser, a Boston PI. There something around 36 Spenser novels. A television series was made out of them. A series of tv movies were made out of another series, Jesse Stone, starring Tom Selleck. None of his series are especially gory. He has also, relatively recently put out some Westerns. Good? Yes. One of my favorite authors.
Thanks for the info Mike.
I kind of figured about the Guthries and if I weren't so darned lazy I could have looked it up on the net but I am and my computer seems to just get stuck here on LT also.
I may have to try one of the
Parker's. I haven't read a mystery in a long time. Have a good one.
67: The Romanov Prophecy by Steve Berry - 05/12/09-05/13/09 - 4.30
76: Marine One by James W. Huston - 05/18/09-05/19/09 - 4.28
77-81: Time of Your Life by Joss Whedon - 05/20/09 - 4.5
Message edited by its author, May 20, 2009, 3:59pm.
82:
School Days by Robert B. Parker - 05/21/09 - 4.27
83-90:
Fray by Joss Whedon - 05/21/09 - 4.23
91-98: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus, Vol. 1 - 05/23/09 -
(need to break out individual authors, etc. for rating)
99:
Trading in Danger by Elizabeth Moon - 05/25/09-05/26/09 - 4.38
Message edited by its author, May 27, 2009, 9:27am.
107: Storyteller by
G.R. Grove - 6/4/09-6/9/09- 4.15
113: Reagan In His Own Voice by Ronald Reagan - 06/17/09 - 4
115:
Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs - 6/18/09-6/23/09 - 3.24
116:
First Family by David Baldacci - 6/23/09-6/24/09 - 3.8
117:
Firestorm by Nevada Barr - 6/26/09 - 4.34
119: Thomas Jefferson by Joyce Appleby - 6/30/09-7/01/09 - 3
Message edited by its author, Jul 1, 2009, 9:54am.
Hi, Mike!
Are you doing the President's Challenge? I have fallen way behind but I do have a couple of books ready to go for it. You do such a good job of rating the books that you read that I would like to use your titles to help me pick mine. Have a great day!
--BJ
Thanks, yes I'm doing the President's Challenge, and ironically I just finished an Eisenhower book. I would recommend the Polk book that I read (Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America by Walter R. Borneman), and the Eisenhower one is both by him and interesting, but it stops just short of his Presidency (despite being written and released in 1966-67). Ack, must hurry back to work.
128 At Ease by Dwight D. Eisenhower - 7/19/09-7/23/09 - 4.20
129:
Under a Wing by Reeve Lindbergh - 7/23/09-7/27/09- 3.60
130: They Found Him Dead by Georgette Heyer - 7/28/09-7/29/09 - 4.77
131: Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen - 7/30/09-8/3/09 - 4.33
135 - Men in Blue by W.E.B. Griffin - 08/12/09-08/13/09 - 3.89
137: Skelton Hill by Peter Lovesey - 08/18/09-08/19/09 - 4.44
138: Predators and Prey by Drew Z. Greenberg -8/22/09 -3.5
139: Safe by Jim Krueger - 8/22/09 - 3.5
140: Living Doll by Doug Petrie - 8/22/09 - 3.7
141: Retreat 1 by Jane Espenson - 8/22/09 - 3.5
142: Retreat 2 by Jane Espenson - 8/22/09 - 3.5
143: X-Files #1 - 3.5
144: X-Files #2 - 3.5
145: X-Files #3 - 3.5
146: X-Files #4 - 3.5
147:
Uneasy Relations by Aaron Elkins - 8/24/09-8/25/09 - 4.40
148:
Even Money by Dick Francis, Felix Francis - 8/25/09-8/26/09 - 4.33
Message edited by its author, Aug 27, 2009, 10:15am.
149: The Sword of the Lady by S.M. Stirling - 8/27/09-9/2/09 - 3.8
150:
No Wind of Blame by Georgette Heyer - 9/3/09-9/6/09 - 4.22
151: Buffy - Harm -3
152: Buffy - Tales of Vampires - 3
153: X-Files #5 - 2.5
154: X-Files #6 - 2.5
155: Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography by David Michaelis - 09/08/09 - 09/16/09 - 4.50
Message edited by its author, Sep 16, 2009, 8:41am.
166: The Traffickers by W.E.B. Griffin and William E. Butterworth IV - 10/12/09-10/13/09 - 3.9
172:
Appaloosa by Robert B. Parker - 10/22/09 - 4.23
173: Bloom County: The Complete Library: Volume One: 1980-1982 by Berkeley Breathed - 4.34
174:
Insurrection by David Weber & Steve White - 10/26/09-10/29/09 - 4.10
175:
Crusade by David Weber & Steve White - 10/29/09-10/31/09 - 4.10
176: Envious Casca by Georgette Heyer - 11/02/09-11/03/09 - 3.23
177: Bridgehead by David Drake - 11/04/09-11/05/09 -3
178: Resolution by Robert B. Parker - 11/05/09 - 4.48
179: Duplicate Death by Georgette Heyer - 11/6/09-11/9/09 - 4.40
181:
Brimstone by Robert B. Parker - 11/13/09 - 3.70
182: The Professional by Robert B. Parker - 11/13/09-11/15/09- 4.07
184: Detection Unlimited by Georgette Heyer 11/16/09-11/23/09 -4.11
Message edited by its author, Nov 23, 2009, 4:54pm.
186: Buffy:TVS: Retreat: Part 5 - 11/25/09 - 3
190: Batgirl: Rebirth 1 - 3.15
191: Batgirl: Rebirth 2 - 3.15
192:
Dumbheart by Darby Conley - 12/13/09 - 4.34
193:
Penhallow by Georgette Heyer - 12/14/09-12/15/09 - 3.20
194:
Third Lynx by Timothy Zahn - 12/16/09-12/17/09 - 4.34
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