Scarecrow Returns by Matthew Reilly; 2012; $25.00; 350 pages; Simon & Schuster, New York, NY; 978-1-4165-7759-1; Checked out from Multnomah County Library, Sellwood; 1/26-1/27
Why did I pick this up? I have waited seven years for this book, that is how long it has been since there has been a Scarecrow adventure. Matthew Reilly is an amazing author of the military adventure.
What is the story? Scarecrow and Mother are testing cold weather gear in the Antarctic when they are called into action to defeat the Army of Thieves, an army of anarchist whose aim is to set the atmosphere on fire with a old cold war installation. Scarecrow, Mother and a thrown together team of civilians and French commandos has to take on a ruthless army. As usual there are multiple enemies that Scarecrow and his team must defeat to complete their mission. Mr Murphy is fully on board this mission, what ever can go wrong does and how often have you seen polar bears as part of the action and those you must defeat.
Did I like it? Yes, it is an exciting adventure that is fun and exciting and the science sounds plausible.
Grade-A
What is with the title of the review? Part of Scarecrow’s team’s is a graduate student and his robot that has voice recognition software and multiple weapons system but is small. He reminded me of the Herbie from the Fantastic Four cartoon, but Bertie was much cooler and seemed more plausible.
Sandstorm by James Rollins; 2004; $24.99; 446 pages; William Morrow, New York, NY; 0-06-058066-6; Checked out from Multnomah County Library, Central; 1/24-1/26
Why did I pick this up? I recently read The Devil Colony, the latest entry in the Sigma Force series, so I thought I would read the first book in the series.
What is the story? Painter Crowe an operative of the highly classified Sigma Force, is called to London when ball lighting sets off a tremendous explosion in the London Museum. As he tries to determine the cause of the explosion he embarks on a journey that will pit him against a former partner, exposes a traitor within his own organization, fights pirtates, sandstorms and time. He will travel from the USA to England to Arabia and deal with riddles that run through the tomb of the Virgin Mary’s father to Job’s tomb and involve the Queen of Sheba. This is like Mission Impossible lots of gadgets and fights.
Did I like it? Yes, I liked the action. The science was plausible enough that they story didn’t seem too outrageous. I am sure that some of the gadgets that are used are while not common place are in use somewhere by some clandestine agency.
Grade-A
What is with the title of the review? The treasure that everyone is after was put in place by the Queen of Sheba and she used riddles to hide the treasure and give direction.
The Girl Who Fell From The Sky by Heidi W. Durrow; 2010; $22.95; 264 pages; Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC; 978-1-56512-680-0; Checked out from Multnomah County Library, Woodstock; 1/20-1/24
Why did I pick this up? This is this years Multnomah County’s Everybody Reads book and I like to know what the book is about when someone asks me about it.
What is the story? Rachel is the daughter of an African-American father and a Danish mother, who have some bad family history. Rachel’s mother leaves her husband and moves to Chicago on her own, living with an abusive man. The mother takes her three children and commits an unspeakable act which only Rachel survives. She then moves to Portland and in with her African-American Grandmother. This is a story of race, privilege and attitudes in several different cultures.
Did I like it? I am not a fan of the narrative structure but it is a good well told story that will start many discussions about race, privilege and societal attitudes, which is the aim of the books chosen for the everybody reads books.
Grade-B
What is with the title of the review? This is the everybody reads for Multnomah County and the books are designed to get people to think and discuss issues.
The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach; 2011; $25.99; 512 pages; Little, Brown and Company, New York, NY; 978-0-316-12669-4; Checked out from Multnomah County Library, St. Johns; 1/18-1/20
Why did I pick this up? A co-worker recommended this and the background story is a baseball story.
What is the story? I can think of about 5 stories that are told throughout this book. The lead story is the story of Henry Skrimshander, a nobody high school shortsop, who is the most natural shortstop since Hall of Famer Aparicio Rodriquez. As he goes through his college career he becomes afflicted with Steve Blass disease. The story is of several journeys that characters take throughout the book, journeys of the self. They don’t travel great distances physically but they travel millions of miles emotionally.
Did I like it? Yes and no, some parts of the story were very exciting and some of them were down right depressing. Overall I like it.
Grade-B
What is with the title of the review? This book is supposedly about baseball, but that is only in the same way that Moby Dick is about Captain Ahab going on a fishing trip.
Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich; 2011; $28.00; 305 pages; Bantam Books, New York, NY; 978-0-345-52771-4; Checked out from Multnomah County Library, Hollywood; 1/17-1/18
Why did I pick this up? Because I have read the previous 17 and liked them.
What is the story? Pretty much the usual, Stephanie tries to apprehend bail jumpers, it ends funnily. Stephanie tries to decide between Morelli and Ranger, it doesn’t end. Stephanie loses a couple of cars in magnificent ways. Lulu, Connie, Vinnie, and Grandma Mazur are back helping us to laugh.
Did I like it? Yes, but not as much as previously. Things are too stagnant, every book is essentially the same.
Grade-C
What is with the title of the review? I will give Ms. Plum one more chance and then there will be a breakup if something doesn’t change. The story synopsis was cut and pasted from the review of the 17th book, I just took out two sentences. 18 books and Stephanie hasn’t improved as a bondsperson, Lulu still dresses she did in her previous job, Stephanie can’t decide two guys and neither of the guys has had the guts to tell her to make a decision. Look to Robert K. Tanenbaum to how a series should progress.
