Radiant Darkness by Emily Whitman; 2009; $16.99; 278 pages; Greenwillow Books, New York, NY; 978-0-06-172449-7; Checked out from Multnomah County Library, Holgate; 1/4-1/5
Why did I pick this up? Because just 1bout 11 years I worked with the author at the Woodstock Branch Library.
What is the story? Myth has said the Hades abducted Persephone, daughter of the goddess Demeter to his dark realm and that caused Demeter in her mourning for her daughter to cause worldwide drought and then massive flooding. However this is Persephone’s attempt to set the record straight. Her mother was cold, untrusting, fearful of men and controlling. One day Persephone met Hades, god of the dead, and decided to go to Hades with him. Her mother’s mourning cause the ranks of those in Hades to swell, which Hades thought was good, it increased his power. Persephone straightens out both her mother, Demeter and her husband, Hades and even convinces Zeus of her plan to make things work out between her, her mother and her husband.
Did I like it? Yes, I liked the voice that Emily brought to Persephone. I really thought that it was a good voice at first for someone unsure of them self but knowing what they didn’t want. Then it switched to someone who was learning as they went and then to a voice of confidence who was able to show those in authority what was best for all.
Grade-A
What is with the title of the review? James Woods gave voice and life to Hades in Disney’s Hercules, but this Hades is someone closer to Chris Hemsworth’s Thor.
Half-Past Dawn by Richard Doetsch; 2011; $25.00; 356 pages; Atria Books, New York, NY; 978-1-4391-8397-7; Checked out from Multnomah County Library, St. Johns; 1/3/12-1/4/12
Why did I pick this up? I think it was because Library Journal rated it as one of the Top Ten mysteries of 2011.
What is the story? Jack Keeler wakes up one morning to find the world believes he and his wife dead in a traffic accident. He realizes that he has been shot, then stitched up and someone has applied a henna tattoo to his arm. He calls on his former partner and best friend, Frank to help investigate and figure out what happened. The story involves the FBI, the NYPD, a mystic hitman, kidnapping, father-son relations, father-daughter relations and more. It is a thrilling piece of espionage pitting one man, trying to save his wife against a corrupt government and it’s minions.
Did I like it? Yes and No. To a certain point it was a real page turner, but then they went on to the your nuts it was all in your head. Then it went back to it’s real, then it went your partner who has been helping you has been dead for 15 years. Then it was real, then it was all in your mind as you were dying. I don’t know what was going on.
Grade-C+
What is with the title of the review? I am just not sure what was real and what was in our hero’s head. Too much mysticism and not enough clarity for me.
The Book of Mortals, Forbidden by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee; 2011; $24.99; 376 pages; Center Street, New York, NY; 978-1-59995-354-0; Checked out from Multnomah County Library, Midland; 12/31/11-1/3/12
Why did I pick this up? Because every book I have ever read by Ted Dekker is amazing. His ability to tell a story is incredible and usually there are multiple levels of story going on at one time.
What is the story? For the last five hundred years humans have believed that they have evolved to the point where the only emotion they feel is fear and that the book of Order is the manual for life. Things begin to change when an old man gives Rom Sebastian a vial of blood and a piece of vellum. Then those around him begin to die, and he becomes part of a team which will bring emotion to back to the human race.
Did I like it? Yes indeed. It is an exciting story of espionage and redemption.
Grade-A
What is with the title of the review? Many of Ted Dekker’s books tie together and I think this series will tie into the Circle series.
Lynyrd Skynyrd, Remembering the Free Birds of Southern Rock by Gene Odom with Frank Dorman; 2002; $22.95; 218 pages; Broadway Books, Newe York, NY; 0-7679-1026-5; Checked out from Multnomah County Library, Midland; 12/29/11-12/31/11
Why did I pick this up? Dude, it one of the finest assemblages of musicians ever assembled on this planet. Do you know another band whose music is requested at other peoples concerts?
What is the story? Gene Odom grew up with Ronnie Van Zandt in Jacksonville, Florida and was with him when he died in a 1977 plane crash. He tells the story of how the band was formed, how some of the songs came to be, why various band members came and went. He portray’s himself rather heroically and points out the faults of most of the other members of the band and crew. He continues on with the members of the band up until 2002.
Did I like it? Yes, I enjoyed it immensely, this is the band that I first listened to when I was able to choose my own music. The first concert I ever went to on my own involved seeing Skynyrd. I still turn up Freebird, Sweet Home Alabama and several other songs by them. I really enjoy the musical variety of the band.
Grade-A-
What is with the title of the review? Skynyrd sometimes seemed like a party band that just went out and played with abandon. However they rehearsed constantly so that they knew exactly what they were playing. The other part of the title refers to the first concert I went to on my own and the last book I read in 2011. By the way the first concert I went to was a Day on The Green on July 2, 1977. The Outlaws opened, then Santana, then Lynyrd Skynyrd and finally Peter Frampton. Most of the people left after Skynyrd played. I played $11.50 for the concert.
The Devil Colony, A Sigma Force Novel by James Rollins; 2011; $17.99; 480 pages; William Morrow, New York, NY;978-0-06-178478-1; Checked out from Multnomah County Library, North Portland; 12/28-12/29
Why did I pick this up? I am not sure, might have been the Jefferson Memorial picture on the cover or the blurbs praising the author from Lee Child and Brad Meltzer.
What is the story? A couple of kids discovered an ancient Native American burial site and all hell breaks loose. The Sigma Force an arm of the U.S. Government gets involved when strange things start happening. Things like neutrinos start to eat all matter they come in contact with and triggering volcanoes which trigger other world wide events. The Sigma team must deal with all sorts of natural events,a super secret society called the Guild, treasonous Army officers, Native American politics and much more. Each member of Sigma has a specialty from physics, to cryptology, to geology, to munitions and each of them is militarily trained.
Did I like it? Hell, yes. I haven’t turned pages so fast in a long time. It was like National Treasure combined with Michael Crichton tech, with Brad Thor or Matt Reilly espionage combined with Harlan Coben’s twist and turns. I cannot wait to read more by Mr. Rollins. I put the first book in the series on hold before I was done with this one. Each member of the team was as important as any other, unlike many series where one person is all important and the other team members are close to being cannon fodder, here the team members did as much of the heavy lifting as the team leader.
Grade-A
What is with the title of the review? The book has elements of the authors Michael Crichton, Harlan Coben, and Matthew J. Reilly while having elements of Nic Cages’ National Treasures movies and I can see Gina Carano as one of the lead female characters.
