"The Many Deaths of the Firefly Brothers"

Jason Fireson is perplexed when he wakes up and finds himself naked on a metal table with a sheet over him. His confusion increases when he sees his chest riddled with bullet holes, and he can't remember how he got there or why he's alive.

With a beginning like this, this book had me hooked from the start. Set in the Depression-era Midwest, this is the story of Jason & Whit Fireson, a fictional pair of bank robbers who flirt with immortality. With various other gang members they travel the Midwest robbing banks to provide for their families. Some view them as saviors, some as villains, as they work their way up to Public Enemy Number One.

But this is not just a rollicking ride of adventure. The book deals with family relationships and public perception. I enjoyed the historical details of the creation of the FBI and references to actual criminals such as Pretty Boy Floyd. I was also fascinated with the details of life during the Depression and how similar some of those are to our lives today during this recession. There is also a bit of mysticism dealing with their deaths, and an ending that will have you scratching your head. (Probably a good book club read.)

I did enjoy this book and thought that Thomas Mullen's writing was beautiful. I'd recommend it as a 4-star book rather than a 5-star one.

"The Judas Strain"

After plowing through Wolf Hall for two weeks, I knew it was time for a fun read. I read a Lisa Gardner thriller in a day, but it just didn't do much for me. Then I picked up The Judas Strain by James Rollins. Wow.
My disclaimer for this book is that it is probably a lot of silly nonsense--especially if you have a medical or scientific background. Having said that, I really enjoyed and had fun reading this thriller.
"The Judas Strain" refers to a strain of bacteria that turns friendly, everyday bacteria into something that can devour and kill you. This bacteria, first noted in the time of Marco Polo, has arisen again and threatens the world. The Sigma Team, a group of trained "good" scientists, is racing against The Guild--the bad guys--to control the disease and find a cure.
This novel speeds from Sumatra, to Washington D.C., to Italy, to Turkey, and to Cambodia. It's exciting and entertaining, and I had trouble putting it down. It seems to be a combination of the medical intrigue of a Michael Crichton book and the race for information of a Dan Brown book. Whether the science is accurate or not, I enjoyed the drama of it all.

"Wolf Hall"

It took more than two weeks, but I finally finished Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. Wolf Hall is the story of Thomas Cromwell, an advisor to King Henry VIII. I truly enjoy historical fiction, and the time of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I is of particular interest of me. The fact that this novel won the Man Booker Prize and National Book Critics Circle Award was the clincher in convincing me to read it.
This book is part of the story of Thomas Cromwell--it begins with him escaping his home as the beaten pre-teen son of a blacksmith and progresses until he becomes the Master of the Lists and valued advisor to the King of England. The main focus of the story is the desire of King Henry to divorce his first wife so he can marry Ann Boleyn and the religious repercussions that follow that desire. Unlike many books about the time period, this story is told through the behind-the-scene backroom dealings of Cromwell, not the grand announcements in court.
I really enjoyed the book as I read it, but I have mixed feelings about recommending it. I enjoyed the historical information, and I enjoyed hearing the story of Henry VIII and Ann Boleyn from the viewpoint of another person. I loved the witty dialogue and the insider's view of court. The book is detailed--I mean really detailed--which may not appeal to everyone. Although the time period is the same, this is not the same story as The Other Boleyn Girl.
The most frustrating aspect of this novel is the author's inability to make clear who was speaking. She used first names and titles interchangeably, and names such as "Ann" and "Thomas" were common and therefore vague. Sometimes she used quotation marks with conversation and sometimes not. Worst was the vague "he" which could refer to anyone in the story. For example, in the sentence, "The evening before Fisher is to die, he visits More," "he" refers to Cromwell with no other reference to him whatsoever. It made the reading quite difficult.
While I enjoyed Wolf Hall, I can understand why not everyone might. Hilary Mantel is writing a sequel novel to finish Cromwell's story, and I am sure that I will read it.

"The Dakota Cipher"

"The Dakota Cipher" by William Dietrich was a random pick at the library because the description was interesting. When I began the book, I was disappointed to discover that it was third in a series of books and I had not read the first two. I went ahead and read it, and I was glad that I did!

Ethan Gage is a self-described "treasure hunter," a loveable womanizer and gambler with a heart of gold. After adventures in Egypt, Italy, and France during the turn of the 19th century, he is led back home to America on a mission for Napoleon Bonaparte. He is under orders from Bonaparte and Thomas Jefferson to explore the Louisiana Territory. This is merely an excuse for him to search for the ancient treasure of Thor's Hammer, supposedly buried in America by Viking explorers during the 1300's. Ethan sets out with his Norwegian companion Magnus to accomplish all of this and to still have a great time!

The plot of the book was a little outrageous, but I put up with it to be in the company of Ethan Gage. He is a combination of Indiana Jones and Owen Wilson's character in Shanghai Noon. He can't help but pursue the ladies, but when it comes down to it, he'll always try to do the right thing. I enjoyed this book enough to go back and read the first two, but they won't be at the top of my list. This book was a fun distraction, and I always love historical fiction!

"The Happiness Project"

I just found out that the book I'm reading that is due today has been put on hold, so I'm trying to race through and finish it! And it's so worth it! I am loving The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun by Gretchen Rubin. Rubin, a mother and writer from New York (originally Kansas City) knows that she is generally happy, but she also knows that life is short and she could be happier. This non-fiction book documents her one-year quest to bring more happiness to her life. She tries different things each month; some work, and some don't, but she learns new things about herself and life each step of the way.

This book could be considered one of those trite, one-year project books that are popular lately, but this one really appeals to me. Maybe it's because I relate so much to Rubin, a closet children's book reader and organizing fanatic. Maybe it's because everyone wants to be happier, so why not give it a try? I do know that Rubin tells you up front that what works for her might not work for you, so she gives you a framework for you to fill in your own resolutions. I love her quotations and rules for life. Some things that she says, I know I will never think of again, but others I find myself thinking of daily and beginning to apply in my life. I have found that just reading this book has made me a happier person!

"The Mortal Instruments"

I've spent the past week reading the first two books of the Young Adult "The Mortal Instruments" trilogy by Cassandra Clare. A teenage friend and an adult friend had both read and recommended them. The covers of the books describe them as a cross between "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Harry Potter," which is pretty accurate with an emphasis on "Buffy."

When Clary Fray witnesses some tattoo-covered teens murder another teen at a club, she can't tell anyone about it because the victim turns to dust before her eyes. She discovers that these teens are "Shadowhunters"--human hunters who protect the world from demons. She should not be able to see them, but that is explained when she discovers that her mother is a Shadowhunter in hiding from a rogue Shadowhunter element.

Parts of the book are quite exciting, parts are repellant, and parts are cliche. The usual teenage angst is thrown in, and I was not quite sure how much I cared about the characters. However, when I finished the first book, I went to the library the next day because I really wanted to read the second book. I liked the second book better, and now I'm left needing to go to the library again to find the third book! (The author is currently working on a new book, which will be a prequel to the series.)

This is not great literature--it's not written as well as some other supernatural books I have read--but it is an interesting adventure. I'll let you know after the third book whether or not it was worth it.

Ranger's Apprentice

About three years ago I discovered the "Ranger's Apprentice" series of books when I was looking for a good book for Brian to read. As a family we listened to the first book on CD while travelling, and we all really enjoyed it. When we got back home we bought the second book and took turns reading it. Now Erin, Brian, & I read the new books as they come out, and I finished Ranger's Apprentice Book 7: Erak's Ransom today.

Written primarily for 10 to 13 year-old boys, these books are fantastic. They are full of strong characters, including strong girls, and suspenseful plots. In Erak's Ransom, the apprentice ranger Will goes on a mission to save a new ally in a desert wasteland. Maurading bands put his friends in danger, and it is up to him to save them.

"The 19th Wife"

This cover caught my eye at Costco about six months ago. When I picked it up and saw that the book was about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Brigham Young, and polygamy, I put it right down. As a member of the Church, I really didn't want to read any "anti-Mormon" literature and feel the need to be defensive.

At the library last week, I picked up the book and took a more extensive look at it. It appeared to be more about polygamy than about the Church, and it also seemed to take a fair approach, so I thought I would try it.

The 19th Wife weaves together two fictional stories--one historical and one modern. Ann Eliza Webb was the 19th wife of Brigham Young in the polygamous society of the early days of the LDS Church in Utah. The book tells of her life from birth to death with an emphasis on her time with Brigham Young and what happened when she divorced him and denounced polygamy. The parallel story involves Jordan Scott, son of the 19th wife of a well-known polygamy fundamentalist, who is cast out of his community and later defends his mother when she is accused of shooting his father.

While Jordan's story is weak and predictable, Ann Eliza's story is fascinating. Based on her memoir, Ann Eliza tells of the Saints' migration west and of her own life in Utah and eventual marriage to Brigham Young. She is obviously bitter towards the Prophet, but the author balances her anger with other more positive views of Brigham Young.

This is the type of book that might try my faith or make me question my religion but instead I understand that any church leader in any religion is merely a mortal interpreting God's will. All we need to do is to look around us now, and we see many examples of how fame and power can corrupt a man (Tiger Woods, John Edwards, Mark Sanford, etc.) To me, polygamy was on trial in this book, rather than the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and there is no doubt that polygamy can be a destructive institution.

"The Lightning Thief"

"So, Mom, what do you think?" I swear that every time I turned around the past two days, Brian was asking me that question. Brian has read (and reread)the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series of books in the past couple of years and has loved them. He will spout random facts about Greek mythology at strange times and ask, "Who do you think is stronger, Poseidon or Zeus?" When he learned about a year ago that a film version of The Lightning Thief was being made, he was ready to buy tickets then and there. When I realized that the film was being released this weekend, I thought I had better read the book, so I could find out what all the excitement was about.

The Lightning Thief is Book One in the Percy Jackson and the Olympian series of six books and is leveled for kids ages 9 to 12. Percy is a troubled kid who struggles with dyslexia & ADHD and has been kicked out of numerous boarding schools. In trying to come to terms with why he is the way he is, he discovers that he is the son of Poseidon and that the Greek gods are alive and well in America. As demi-god, Percy is sent on a quest to recover Zeus' property and to assist a father he's never met.

This book is not perfect, but I can't help but love Percy's "voice" as he narrates the story. The writing is so similar to my son's writing--teenager with attitude! The Lightning Thief is an action-packed adventure, but it gets episodic at times--you're just waiting for the next challenge. Percy has some depth as he tries to figure out his relationships with all the new people in his life. The writing is average, but it works for a children's book. Much to my son's relief, I really enjoyed the book. Already he has asked me three times, "Hey, Mom, are you ready for Book 2?"

Check out the trailer for the movie: http://www.percyjacksonthemovie.com/

"The Scarecrow"

Jack McEvoy is being forced out of his job at the Los Angeles Times due to the rise of the internet and budget cuts. He decides to go out of his job with a bang by writing a prize-winning murder story. As he learns more about the 16 year old drug dealer who has confessed to a brutal rape and murder, he discovers that this crime will take him in a totally different direction. Jack teams up with FBI agent Rachel Walling to hunt down the true killer and discovers that he and Rachel are being hunted by the killer as well.

Michael Connelly is probably my favorite crime fiction author, and I truly enjoy his books. Although he has an array of main characters he likes to use in his books, Harry Bosch--the Hollywood detective is probably my favorite. Having grown up in Los Angeles County, I can picture many of the settings for the books. Harry has been beaten down by life, but he is always working for the victims.

The Scarecrow grabbed me from the beginning and took me on a great adventure. The end was a little formulaic and simplistic, but the plot development was outstanding. I enjoyed the book, but if I were going to recommend a Michael Connelly book, A Darkness More Than Night is my most recent favorite.

"The White Queen"

As a fan of historical fiction, I have read most of Philippa Gregory's novels. I loved The Other Boleyn Girl and The Queen's Fool and enjoyed her other novels to varying degrees. When I saw that she had written a new novel, I picked up at the library without even knowing what it was about. At home, I was surprised to see that she is writing a new series of novels set during the War of the Roses rather than the Tudor era. I didn't know much about that time period, so I dove right in.

The White Queen is about Elizabeth Woodville Grey, loyal to the Lancaster house, who finds herself smitten with, and then later married to, the Yorkist King Edward IV. The book continues with the Lancastrian King Henry trying to regain his throne, and King Edward's two brothers, George & Richard, planning to take the throne for themselves.

Even though the title of the book is The White Queen, I found this book to be more about what a man has to do to hold on to his power and less about what a woman has to sacrifice to gain power (a common Philippa Gregory theme). I found the workings of the court fascinating, and it amazed me how quickly loyalties can change in order to stay close to those in power. The reviews on Amazon for this book were mediocre, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I liked hearing more about the men and the battles, and enjoyed the mystical twist to the book due to Elizabeth's ancestress, the French water goddess. I also enjoyed learning about the mystery of the two princes who disappeared in the Tower, and found Gregory's explanation quite plausible.

"Catching Fire"

When I finished The Hunger Games, I wanted to read Catching Fire right away. Luckily, my friend Jenni felt the same way! She finished the first book about the same time I did and went out immediately to buy the second book. She loaned it to me after she finished it, then I read it, and now it's waiting on Erin's shelf for her to finish her current book.

In Catching Fire, Katniss is back with her partner Peeta making their victory tour through all of the districts. After a visit from the frightening President Snow, she knows that she cannot even breathe the idea of rebellion at the risk of death to her family, but some events cannot be stopped once set into motion.

I did not expect this book to be as strong or as gripping as the first, but I was wrong. Catching Fire builds on The Hunger Games and improves the story. The more I get to know the characters, the more I am conerned about their lives. If possible, this book is even darker and more suspenseful than the first. At one moment of Capitol brutality, I gasped out loud in shock at the cruelty. I recommended The Hunger Games to my 13-year-old son, but I'm not sure I would encourage him to read Catching Fire.

Catching Fire ends with a twist in the plot and leaves you dangling in suspense waiting for the conclusion of the trilogy. Unfortunately, Book Three does not come out until August. Those of us wondering about the survival of Kat, Peeta, their families, and District 12 will just have to wait until then to get our answers

"The Hunger Games"

Wow...I just finished "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins and really enjoyed it. I first spotted this book in the YA section of the book store about a year ago and, based on the back cover, knew I wanted to read it. Several friends have read it since then, but I just got my hands on it after my daughter got it for Christmas.

In a vaguely futuristic world, the twelve districts of The Capitol are each required to offer up two tributes from a lottery system to participate in The Hunger Games each year. Part sensationalistic entertainment, part punishment, the hunger games are a fight to the death among 24 teenagers in a controlled environment with only one victor. Katniss Everdeen, a 16 year old from coal mining District 12, offers to take her 12 year old sister's place, and the contest is on. Even though she has some hunting experience, Katniss finds out the actual game is only part of the challenge.

When we proposed this book in book club, not many women wanted to read a book about teenagers killing each other, and I might not have made it through the book if that's all this was. Instead, it's a book with political overtones as well as complicated interpersonal relationships. I could hardly put it down and read it in less than 24 hours. The 2nd book of the trilogy, "Catching Fire," is available in hardback, so I need to find a way to quickly get my hands on it without having to pay for it. The last book of the trilogy will be released in August. "The Hunger Games" is a page turner, and I strongly recommend it.

I'm Back...Again.

Last year was a bad one for me, and I had trouble making time for blog entries. Now it is January 2010 and time for another new start. I'm going to try keep my blog up to date, and I'm going to try to share all of the incredible books I read. I'm also making a New Year's resolution for myself to read a larger variety of books and authors. Last year I needed comfort, so I kept mostly to my old favorites. Here's to a new Year!