Worth reading: Yes, certainly.

Summary: Halima was born in Darfur. This is her story of how her peaceful life was destroyed by the genocide that is occuring still, in Darfur province of Sudan. She talks about her life as a small girl growing up in the security of her small village, of her doting father, and fierce grandmother. She has the opportunity to go to school and from there to University where she becomes a Doctor.
Her world is then turned upside down when the Sudanese Government starts to destroy it's own citizens.
Halima's story is a shocking and sad one. One that continues for thousands of Sudanese refugees.

Worth Reading: Yes

Summary: This is the true story, as the title suggests, about a Lion called Christian. Christian was purchased by two young Australians at Harrods of London and stayed with them until his release back into the wilds of Kenya with the help of George Adamson (of Born Free fame).

The Aussies realised that Christian would probably spend the remainder of his life in a Zoo, unless they did something about it. What results is a wonderful tale of his relocation and rehabilitation back to the life he was born to lead.

This is certainly worth a read. This version is the recently updated version with over 50 photographs of Christian. It was released because of Christian’s tale rising again to prominence through YouTube. I have added the reunion clip below.

How likely would this situation occur today? Would cost come into it? I hope it wouldn’t but, I’ll leave that up to you.

Tags: Lions

Worth reading: Yes

Summary: This is the true account of Elsa, the lioness rescued with her sisters and, raised and nutured by Joy and George Adamson while George was the senior game warden for the Northern Frontier district in Kenya.

Born Free was written by Joy Adamson and chronicles the life of Elsa while she was part of the Adamson “Pride” and as they prepared her for her release back to the wilds of the African life she was born to.

It is an incredible tale of a lion who ended up being completely at home in two worlds, and knowing the boundaries and freedoms of each.

I saw the movie of the same name more than twenty years ago, and the story is still an inspiring one albeit in an Africa that is all but gone.

... the final paragraph is this

Whatever her ultimate fate may be, we shall always be thankful that she has given us a unique experience and the abiding memory of a most lovable character. If I have sadly to confess that “With a great sum obtained I this freedom” for her, I like to think that when she rubs her face against mine she is trying to comfort me by saying, in her own way, “But I was free born.”
Joy Adamson, 1960

Tags: Lions

Worth reading: Yes, but it helps to have read the other two first.

Summary: This is a continuation of the Myst series and follows on from Atrus’ re-discovery of the ruins of D’ni. After searching the ruins and collecting as many linking books as they could find Atrus and his band set out to find the strewn remnants of the D’ni population through the written ages.

After searching and not finding many descendants they discover a hidden library. One book takes them to a fantastic Age where the inhabitants are long lost relatives of the original D’ni. However, their opulent Age belies a secret. Atrus must now fight, something that is against his nature, to save a situation he unwittingly created.

Worth Reading: Yes.

Summary: Suddenly the continental United States is enveloped by a blue cloud of plasma. Everyone that was inside the cloud is gone. The worlds largest economy has ceased to exist, and with that others start to crumble. Countries fall into civil strife. The war in the middle east suddenly changes. America’s military machine has lost its support line, and the rest of her citizens have lost their commander in chief.

What I did find interesting was the complete lack of focus on what the plasma was and how it occurred. The focus of the entire book is what occurs because of the loss.

Worth Reading: Yes.

Summary: After an arms deal goes wrong, Juan Cabrillo - Chairman of the Corporation is stretched between regaining the weapons and aiding a mysterious woman on the hunt for a record haul of rough diamonds lost in the sands of the desert along the Skeleton Coast.

A scientist has been kidnapped. No ransom has been demanded. Eco-terrorists seem to be behind the snatch. His traded weapons are now being used in a private army that will aid in showing the world the error of it’s ways.

This is a rollicking tale, but it took me a while to get into it. I put this down to Skeleton Coast being my introduction to the world of Clive Cussler. The characters are interesting in both skill sets and personalities. I think I’ll be trying another of Clive’s novels.

Tags: clive cussler

Worth Reading: Most certainly Yes.

Summary: Reacher has a list. A list that’s used to identify a suicide bomber, from someone who isn’t. He’s sitting on a train and he’s just checked off every item on the list as he’s watching a woman sitting in the same carriage. He decides to approach the woman and perhaps talk her down. However, as he does she blows the top of her head off with a revolver.

What happens next throws Reacher against some of the most fanatical people he’s ever seen.

If ever there was a person I want to model my life on its Jack Reacher.

I can’t put my finger on it but this novel is different to other Reacher books. It may not be all historically or factually correct, but it is a work of fiction and Lee Child has license to write the way he chooses.

It’s 5 stars from me, and 5 stars from me.

Tags: Lee Child

Worth Reading: Certainly yes. This is quite different to her Twilight series.

Summary: Wanderer has lived on many worlds, and lived many different lives. Now she is on Earth. She likes this life, all five senses are giving her an overload of information she’s never experienced before. Because of her travels she is strong, but is she strong enough this time?

Melanie is on the run. She saw it start and with her younger brother managed to scavenge and survive without being caught. She is constantly on the lookout, fighting, worried what will happen if she’s not around to protect the ones she loves. Melanie has not finished living one life when it is interrupted by an unwanted visitor. Now she must fight just to stay herself.

I found this story excellent and is such a contrast to Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series. Once again the lead character in the tale is female, but this time she is strong, whichever form she takes.

Tags: stephenie meyer

Worth Reading: If you’ve come this far you may as well finish the journey. However, I for one, found this installment of the series to be the worst.

Summary: Bella and Edward are reunited, or “united” at last. Their blissful honeymoon is followed by Bella becoming pregnant. With her pregnancy comes dreams, dreams that involve a threat to her and her new child.

Much to the distaste of the Cullen’s, with perhaps the only exception being Carlisle, they must work together, vampire and werewolf, to overcome a threat to both sides. The vampire family is faced with destruction, and by a twist of fate, the werewolves are face destruction through a twist of fate that cannot be denied.

I found the best part of this part of the story involved Jacob and the wolves, which falls in about the middle. The start and finish which primarily involved Bella and Edward, were difficult to get into, and I was left not wanting more at the end.

The Twilight series has played itself out with this final book.

Tags: stephenie meyer

Worth Reading: If you’ve come this far through the Twilight series then you’ll want to continue, if only to NOT leave a saga unfinished.

Summary: Edward is back with Bella, but there is trouble brewing. There have been unexplained deaths. Unexplained to everyone except the Cullens. They know what is behind it, but not who. This part of the Twilight series has the Werewolves and the Cullens at an uneasy truce to fight of a common foe.

Bella is once again surrounded by danger. Danger, because she is still mortal, much to Jacob and Edward’s delight. Danger, much to Victoria’s delight. A Danger that will have Jasper teaching the Cullen’s how to fight and kill their own kind in a battle for survival.

This saga is growing on me.

Tags: stephenie meyer

Worth Reading: If you read and liked the first book of the saga, then you’ll want to continue. Even if you didn’t particularly like the first book, you’ll probably want to know how this all ends.

Summary: Bella has been brooding in a pit of despair. Edward and his family have left Forks. For months she’s been moping around until she figured out how to get Edward’s voice playing to her again. Her promise to Edward before he left was that she’d stay safe, and now it seems that when she does something particularly unsafe, his warning voice speaks in her head.

As Bella starts on her path of unsafe activity she ropes in Jacob, unknowingly, to help.

However, Jacob has his own secret. One that will bring him into conflict with both Bella and the Cullen family.

This is a continuation (second book) of the Twilight Saga. It is a good read, though I found it rather fast, finishing this book in two nights. Stephenie Meyer’s writing style is like a movie script and there is plenty of space between the lines of text. I can imagine that New Moon will set up factions in her fans, between Edward Cullen and Jacob Black.

Tags: stephenie meyer

Worth Reading: Yes, I think so

Summary: A Vampire tale with a twist from Stephenie Meyer.

Bella has returned to Forks, this time to live. Her first days at her new school are bland until she spies the Cullens. The Cullens stay apart from the other students, always seeming aloof and uninterested. She shares a class with Edward Cullen and his reaction to her is extraordinary. Extraordinary in that it seems to Bella that Edward cannot stand being anywhere near her. How wrong she is.

This is not a standard Vampire tale, there is no blood-letting and killing which is what I was expecting. The group of vampires in this tale have sworn not to hunt humans, even though the temptation is still there.

This story is the romance between two people, one human and one vampire. It is in danger of falling into the gushy teenage romance genre, but if you can look past this, it is a rather good read and ends up being quite good even without the standard vampire type blood-sucking we probably expect from such characters.

Tags: stephenie meyer

Worth reading: Yes

Summary:

This is not a Goodies book. Bill says this on the front cover. This is Bill Oddie’s autobiography.

Most of this book is written as a self-interview and it works really well that way. Bill give us insights into his early childhood and the problems around his Mother’s illness. Bill also share’s how his interesting in bird-watching started and where it has taken him today beyond The Goodies.

What is very interesting is his associations with the Monty Python crew as well as the Goodies team. He also talks about his other work beyond and before The Goodies, and there is quite a large amount of it. I was personally surprised that he has done so much other work beyond The Goodies, and he makes reference in his autobiography that this is the perception of most people in general.

Certainly worth a read.

Tags: bill oddie

Worth reading: Yes

Summary: Shaw is about to retire, his employer doesn’t know it yet, but Shaw has plans. One of them is marriage, the other is spending the rest of his life with the woman of his dreams. Shaw is a loner, his job is easier if he is. The fact that he’s getting married is a really big thing for him.

Nicholas Creel has money. A lot of money. He’s not the richest man in the world, but he could be, very easily. To him, the world has settled into fighting running skirmishes with extremists. This doesn’t suit Creel or the bottom line of his business. What he needs is the return of the cold war, and he knows just how to do it.

Anne is smart, very smart. She is also about to be married to Shaw with the blessing of her parents. She works for a quiet think tank, not on the radar for anyone or anything. That is until men storm Anne’s building killing everyone inside, including Anne.

Shaw is now going back to work.

This is a very good read and thanks to Craig for loaning it to me. It is similar in some aspects to Lee Child’s Reacher character. Though in a head to head I’d put Reacher over Shaw.
I’ll be investigating David Baldacci a little further I think.

Tags: David Baldacci

Worth reading: Yes

Summary: Final Impact is the third and, thus far, final installment in the Axis of Time trilogy.
The race is on to create the first atomic bomb. Contemporary history showed it was the Allies who won that race. This time the stage is different and all sides are working feverishly to be the first and create a new history.

The Germans and Japanese are both in retreat in their respective theatres of war. The Nazi’s are close but Russia is about to steal the lime-light and forever change the tide of World War 2.

This is an excellent alternate history and I hope there is a 2.4. The author has left it hanging high enough to fit another two volumes in this “trilogy”. I only hope he does.

Tags: john birmingham

Worth Reading: Yes.

Summary: Just After Sunset is the latest collection of short stories from Stephen King. He mentions in the introduction that short-story writing is an art in itself which he thought he may have lost the touch for.
He hasn’t.

This is a mixed bag of 13 short stories. There is one, possibly two, that I thought could have been dropped but generally they are well written.

“The cat from hell” is classic Stephen King

“Willa” is not classic Stephen King and is a really nice tale because of it.

That last comment doesn’t read quite right. I’m a SK fan and have come to know his writing style rather well. “Willa” doesn’t conform to his classic writing style that I’ve come to know but it still a great tale, well told.

What I don’t really like (I don’t hate it) is the section where he talks about his reasons/situation for writing the story. But, he wrote it so I’ll read it.

Tags: stephen king

Worth reading: Yes, a very interesting tale.

Summary: Albert Einstein found the unifying theory. In doing so he realised that mankind was not ready for such knowledge. Knowledge that could lift the human race to a new enlightenment, or destroy it. To protect the world, Albert hid his theory with his trusted assistants and until now it has been safe. Now, some one is killing off the old physicists in an attempt to learn the secret that has been hidden for half a century.

This is a riveting tale of betrayal and science. Mark Alpert has conducted some excellent research in the construction of this novel. Should the Unified Field Theory exist then mankind will more than likely use it to build a weapon to use against itself. While a Unified Field Theory could unlock the secrets of the universe, I don’t think humans are ready for such powerful knowledge.

Thanks to Chappo for loaning me this one.

Tags: mark alpert

Worth reading: Oh yes.

Summary: Events after the Transition have seen a dramatic change in recorded history. Nazi Germany is about to invade Britain and the Japanese have captured Hawaii. Atrocities are occurring in Bundaberg in the hands of invading Japanese.

All sides are making use of the 21st technology at their disposal. But the smart weapons are running out.

Designated Targets is the second installment of the John Birmingham’s alternate history The Axis Trillogy.

Tags: john birmingham

Worth reading: Most certainly YES!

Summary: The year is 2021. A military experiment has gone terribly wrong. A multinational Navy is caught in the resulting event horizon and is transported back to 1942 just before the battle of Midway atoll. 21st century technology, what’s left of it, has come into direct conflict with US Navy of 1942.

This is a really excellent read. How the people of 1942 compare to the ones of 2021 is very interesting and I think could actually be very close to the mark. I doubt the human race would react any differently if aliens landed under the same circumstances.

Tags: john birmingham

...How I survived 71 days lost in the Outback

Worth Reading: Yes

Summary: Ricky was driving along the Buntine Highway when he stopped to lend assistance to a car on the side of the road. He woke up half buried and covered by a tarp. Left for dead in the middle of nowhere.
This is his tale of survival as he tried to walk out of hell. No shoes. No water. No one knew where he was, including himself.
Eating, frogs, crickets, leaches, water lillies, wild rosellas and anything else he could shove down his throat. He walked for miles and managed to survive for 71 days before being found by station hands, emaciated and close to death, he had lost 60 plus kilograms.

This is an excellent true story and shows that if one keeps one’s wits together and aren’t picky about what one eats... you can beat the odds.

Worth Reading: Yes


Summary: (Taken from www.michaelrobotham.com)

Sami Macbeth is not a master criminal He’s not even a minor one. He’s not a jewel thief. He’s not a safe-cracker. He’s not an expert in explosives. Sami plays guitar and wants to be a rock god but keeps getting side-tracked by unforeseen circumstances.

Fifty-four hours ago Sami was released from prison. Thirty-six hours ago he slept with the woman of his dreams at the Savoy. An hour ago his train blew up. Now he’s carrying a rucksack through London’s West End and has turned himself into the most wanted terrorist in the country.

Fast, funny, hip and violent, BOMBPROOF is a non-stop adventure full of unforgettable characters and a heart-warming hero – Sami Macbeth – a man with the uncanny ability to turn a desperate situation into a hopeless one.

This is the first of Michael Robotham’s books that I’ve read. I always have trouble with the first book of a new author, perhaps it something to do with the newness of the style of writing to me. I had the same problem initially with Bombproof also, however I ended up getting hooked. It turned in to quite a page turner and I think I may have found a new author to follow. I particularly like the character of retired detective Vincent Ruiz and I notice he is the subject of another book “Lost”.

Tags: michael robotham

Worth reading: Yes but read “Just a Geek” first.

Summary: Wil Wheaton didn’t have space in his first book “Just a Geek” --which I reviewed previous to this-- to fit all his stories in. So he wrote this little vitamin.

This supplement is written in the same easy flowing style and includes five stories that enlighten the reader a little more on who the Wil fella is.

At least one of the stories is an expanded version of some of the events Wil has written about in “Just a Geek”.

My favourite is “Ready or not, here I come.”

Thanks again to Paul for lending this one to me.

Tags: wil wheaton

Worth reading: Yes

Summary: What happens after the Starship Enterprise has hit warp speed and left you in the dust? Wil Wheaton knows, and in his book “Just a Geek” he tells you.

This is a very interesting read and gives you an insight into who the man is, what he has been though, and what he has been put through. I can thank Paul for putting me in touch with Wil’s work.

--aside--
I for one will always think of Wil as Gordie Lachance in “Stand by Me”. Why? Well, the movie is based on a Stephen King short story called “The Body” from a collection of short stories called “Different Seasons”. I’m a Stephen King fan.
I think this was the first Stephen King book-turned-movie that I had seen.

It wasn’t till after seeing “Stand by Me” that I started watch Star Trek: The Next Generation. But this wasn’t because of Wil. More a case of Star Trek...Star Wars. So close in name and close enough to watch both.
--/aside--

Being a “reader” not a “writer” I feel there are two types of writing style; The “conventional” style where there are a lot of “She said/He said” type statements, and the...I’ll call it the “conversational” style, where there are none. Just statements that are left up to the reader to determine who said what. The conversational style can work really well or it can be terrible. Wil does it REALLY well and his prose flows--hey that rhymes, COOL--just like you’re overhearing a conversation between two people.

Tags: wil wheaton

Worth reading: Yes, if you’re willing to persist.

Summary: George has just lost his father after a sudden heart attack. It is just himself and his estranged sister, now living in America. As George is going through is fathers things he comes across an old photo of himself with his sister, only this photo has someone else in it. A second sister.

His search for his unknown sister takes him to Rome where he finds a family heritage stretching back 16 centuries. A family history that survived the Saxons in Britain, the sack of Rome and the fall of the Roman Empire, right through to the present day.

This book is the first in the Destiny’s Children series from Stephen Baxter and was a fairly hard read. The tale was interesting but the jumping back and forth as the tale of the family unfolds was not coherent. I have read the second in the Destiny’s Children series and there is a huge stretch of time between the two, but this does explain some of what occurs in the second book “Exultant” which I have also reviewed here.

Tags: stephen baxter

Worth reading: Yes

Summary: Jack Reacher has been digging swimming pools for weeks. It’s the longest he’s been in one place for a long time. The lack of money can do that to a person. He’s also been working a second job. A bouncer for a night club.

Now a private detective has been looking for him. Reacher doesn’t know why and doesn’t much care, until the private eye ends up dead. Reacher still doesn’t much care, but he’s come to the realisation that the P.I. died because he was looking for him. That’s enough for Reacher to want to find out what is going on, but could he be losing his touch in the investigation game?

This is another riveting Jack Reacher novel by Lee Child. Jack is forced to face people from his distance past, and could this mean the end to his care-free, wandering days?

Tags: jack reacher, Lee Child

Worth reading: Yes

Summary: The Maloneys are at the bottom of the social ladder. Nancy takes care of her five children while Tommy spends his time either drunk or in the local lockup. They run the local garbage collection for the council which sees the three boys up before dawn loading the garbage truck before heading off to school. It’s a hard life for the Maloney’s, with very few of life’s luxuries.

This is a fantastic tale set against small town Australia, bush-fires, religion and the true battling Aussie.

Worth reading: Yes

Summary: Taken from the back of the book - History is full of secrets. Secrets that have remained hidden for thousands of years. And we have no idea what many of them are. We know they’re there, under the ground, at the bottom of the ocean, hidden away, just waiting for someone to unlock them.

Enter Jack Howard, one of the greatest archaeologists of his day, and his friends, all of whom have devoted their lives to this cause, often at great personal loss. Jack is a man who never stops believing, never gives up hope that out there might be the next big discovery. But when he and his best friend Costas are interrupted during a dive off the coast of Sicily that might possibly reveal the final journey of St Paul, Jack has no idea what lies in store...

Their journey takes them to one of the great lost libraries of antiquity, destroyed by the eruption of Pompeii, into the heart of ancient Rome and the holiest sites of Jerusalem. Their quest? So earth-shattering that there are men who would kill anyone and anything in their path to conceal this secret...the secret of the origins of Christianity itself, and of ... The Last Gospel.
---

Excellent read and thanks to Craig for loaning this one to me. It is easy to imagine the chapters from antiquity were as David has written them. The final lines of the final chapter particularly, would have shattering consequences for modern Christianity if they were true.

David Gibbons is also the author of ‘Atlantis’ another riveting book. He is a life-long underwater archeologist and you can find more information on his activities at his website.

Tags: David Gibbins

Worth reading: Yes.

Summary: Five people have been targeted and gunned down. All were head shots and the weapon was a military sniper rifle. All clues point to an ex-military sniper by the name of James Barr. The evidence is perfect the result is a foregone conclusion. The DA is going for the death penalty. But James Barr isn’t talking. Not to anyone. Not the police. Not his sister. Not even his lawyer. He has said only one sentence... “Get Jack Reacher!”.

Jack Reacher is drifting, at the moment on the beach. He gets back to his hotel room, paid by the night and only one night at a time, and sees the news report. James Barr is the prime suspect in the slaughter of five people in Indiana. Jack Reacher leaves his hotel room, this time James Barr won’t get away with it.

Classic Jack Reacher!

Tags: Lee Child, jack reacher

Worth reading: Yes.

Summary: Jack Reacher, catches a bus and then, on a whim asks the driver to put him off on the country road to Margrave. He walks the 14 miles into town and settles down to breakfast at Eno’s diner...and then gets arrested.

There has been a murder in the small, perfect town, where the cherry trees look as though they’ve been polished by hand.

The only new arrival is Reacher, therefore Reacher is the murderer. The police cheif is adamant. That is until his story checks out and witnesses have been found.

Reacher is released. The murder victim is his older brother. Someone has made a very fatal mistake.

This could be the very first Jack Reacher novell. He is only in is mid thirties and has been out of the army for 6 months. This novell is also written from his point of view, not as an onlooker, and gives us an insite to the younger Jack Reacher.

Excellent reading.

Worth reading: Yes, absolutely!

Summary: How long would the earth take to recover from the blight of homo sapiens?
Alan Weisman takes us on a journey of discovery that opens our eyes to the ravages we have inflicted on the planet, and how long it may take for nature to recover should we suddenly not be here.

In some cases it may only take a few years before grasses and other plants start to take back their ground from our concrete jungles. In other cases it may take millions of years to break down the enriched uranium we have in our nuclear power-plants.

Alan also looks at the impact humans have had on the megafauna and flora of the continents and how we may have extinguished more species that we realise.

What is plainly obvious from reading this book is that nature is a mighty and powerful organism, and given time it will erase all trace of humans from the face of the earth.

Fighting carbon emissions is only the first step, without another home to go to, the Earth can only sustain a finite number of humans. We may have surpassed this number already. Have a read and make up your own mind.

Tags: climate change, books

Worth reading: Yes. What the world could become.

Summary: It is around the year 25,000 AD. Man has thrown off the shackles of conquering aliens species, the Qax and the Silver Ghosts, and has chased the Xeelee to the centre of galaxy. Hustled around Chandra, the large black hole in the centre of the Milky Way, for 3,000 years the Xeelee have thwarted mans attempts of removing them completely.

Child soldiers have become mankinds weapon. Billions of them. Because of them we now hold an unsteady rule over our galaxy. Cannon fodder and taught to expect a short life and glorious death fighting the Xeelee, it is very rare for them to reach their 20th birthday. Taught not to show initiative but to follow the Doctrines, a short life burns brightly, until now.

A young ensign, in a desperate attempt to save his Greenship crew show’s initiative. In so doing he has condemned himself to hard labour. It is now up to his younger self, two years in the past, to show that mankind cannot stagnate, but must take the fight to the Xeelee and Chandra their home.

Excellent read and says a lot about today’s bureaucracies.

Tags: books, stephen baxter

Worth Reading: Yes.

Summary: Tandia is the continuation of the tale started with “The Power of One”. It resumes with Peekay and Hymie going to Oxford to study law.

The focus of the story - Tandia, is a young woman born in a very difficult circumstance. Her father is Indian and her mother is Africa. She is neither and scorned by both.

Her story starts with her rape at her fathers grave side, the day after he is buried. This puts her on a path that eventually leads to Peekay and his quest to become the Welterweight champion of the world.

Set in the early 60’s during the growing tensions between the black Aficans and the white Afrikaaners in South Africa.

Tags: books, bryce courtenay

Worth reading: Yes

Summary: The year is AD 922. Ibn Fadlan, courtier to the Caliph of Bagdad is hijacked from his mission as emissary to the King of Saqaliba by a group of Viking warriors, Northmen.

Fadlan has been chosen as the thirteenth warrior on a quest to rid a kingdom of the “Wendol” - monsters of the mist.

He tells his tale in an observational tone and makes comment on the gross personal habits of the vikings as well as their jovial demeanor in the face of certain death.

Ibn Fadlan may have started out a scholarly courtier, but through his adventures, his mettle is tested and he becomes a true warrior of the North.

Tags: books, michael crighton

Worth reading: Yes

Summary: What could occur when a corporation slaps a patent on your genetic line.

One man has a special set of genes, specifically a single gene. His gene has the ability to cure cancer. Without is permission and without his knowledge a company has filed a patent on that gene and it’s worth billions. But things have changed.

Litergation and lawyers have entered the scene and the cells obtained by the company, by fair means or foul, have been destroyed. They now want some more. The ownership of a persons cells is being called into question. Who has the right, and what rights does the indivicual have if their cells have been patented by a company? How does that extend to that persons family if they also carry the gene?

This is a fascinating insite to what could occur should the continuing practise of gene patents continue. Michael even lists at the end of this book, several things that should change so the sanctity of the human body remains intact and ownership with the soul that inhabits it.

Tags: books, michael crighton

Worth reading: If you’re interested in Ancient History, then Yes.

Summary: The introduction says this is a translation from French. The Indian civilisation has been around for many thousands of years and to write a single book on her culture would be to create a tombe. This work covers just the time frame from 200BC to 700AD, considered the “Golden Age”, and if you take the time to read it, you’ll discover a rather advanced people for their time.

This book is exactly as the title describes, a look at daily life in ancient India. It covers the traditions, religion, work practises, casts, morals, ethics, manners and a whole gammut of other details that formed the life and times of ancient india, and indeed it’s influence on the lives of Indians today.

It is quite an interesting read with lots of details of the history around why things were the way they were.

If you like reading about other cultures then this book is right up your alley.

Tags: books, history

Worth reading: Yes

Summary: Jack Reacher, hitching through the states drops in on a town called Hope. He’s got nowhere to be and plenty of time on his hands so he decides to head on to the neighboring town of Dispair.

Dispair looks like a town time forgot back in the 50’s. Trying to get a cup of coffee in Dispair sees him delivered to the county line by the local constabulary. Crime: vagrancy.

Reacher has never been evicted from a whole town. He decides to find out why.

Another action packed novel by Lee Child and well worth the read. I think Jack Reacher embodies the neanderthal man that all men wish they could be.

Tags: books, Lee Child, jack reacher

Worth reading: Yes

Summary: Mike Haller, defense lawyer. His office is the back seat of a Lincoln. His driver, one of his ex-clients.

His clients are the criminals looking to get off. His job is to create enough doubt, enough grey area, to get them off.

His latest client looks to be a windfall. A franchise client. One with a lot of money.

The victim is a street-walker. She has been seriously beaten and the evidence is pointing to Mike's client.

Twists and turns abound as Mike fights for his life both in the courtroom and out of it, and as the case unfolds Mike comes to face his greatest fear.. not recognising innocence when he's faced with it.

I usually find it hard to get into Lawyer tales but this one is a cracker.

Tags: books, michael connelly

Worth reading: Yes

Summary: Kate is sick. She's endured a life spent mostly in hospital fighting and then awaiting the return of leukemia. Kate was not expected to live past the age of 5. She is now 16.

Anna is 13 and isn't sick, but she is the reason Kate has been able to fight for so long. She has spent almost as much time in hospital as her sister. Anna was brought into the world to be the bone marrow match for Kate. She was conceived with that possibility in mind.

Anna has not been more that a step from her sisters side her entire life. Now Kate needs a kidney if she has any chance to survive her latest battle. Her chance of surviving is only slight and there's every chance she will not survive the next battle as her body continues to deteriorate due to intensive chemotherapy.

But the circumstances have changed. Anna's mother assumes the operation is a foregone conclusion. Anna has always been willing to help her sister in the past, but Anna's health could be seriously effected, both now and in the future.

And Anna has reservations. Reservations that will have dire consequences for the life of her sister.

Tags: books

Worth reading: Yes

Summary: After a bit of a scuffle in a bar with an off-duty red-neck police officer, Reacher has to make a quick exit from the small town. Hoping against hope for a lift by anyone to anywhere fast, he stands on the side of the road in the baking heat. Time is running out before the local constabulary see him, when he's picked up by a young woman.

Carmen has been driving around the state with the last dollar to her name in her purse. She's looking for someone. Someone scruffy looking, strong and looking like they need money. Someone to kill her husband. She finds just such a person standing on the side of the road in the baking heat.

Yet another unputdownable "Reacher" novel by Lee Child.

Tags: Lee Child, books, jack reacher

Worth reading: Yes

Summary: While on a hike with her older brother and mother, nine year old Trisha becomes tired of the constant bickering between the two.

To give herself a break from the squabble, she decides to take a shortcut through the bush and meet up with them on the next swtich-back of the path. But now she's lost.

Each step is taking her farther and farther away from them and before long she is lost and alone in the wilderness.

As she tries to find her way out of her predicament, she passes the time listening to broadcasts of the Boston Red Sox games, dreaming that her favorite player - Tom Gordon - will come to her rescue.

Hunger and exposure are not Trisha's only problems. Before long, she comes to terrifying realization. Something has been destroying the trees and leaving a trail of butchered animals in the woods.

Something real. Something dangerous. Something that may now be following Trisha's trail.

Something that is getting closer.

Yet another hard-to-put-down short novel from Stephen King.

Tags: books, stephen king

Worth reading: No, and I don't mean to be blunt.

Summary: I really can't summarize this one. I'm still not sure of what was going on.

This is the thirteenth "Sean Dillon" novel and I think I would have been better starting with book 1. Jumping into this series at book 13 was a mistake. But how was I to know? I've never read any Jack Higgins novels before.

Sean Dillon is seemingly one mean S.O.B but why is not clear and there is nothing in this book to point out why he is so "unstoppable", or what he's coming back from.

The characters are obviously familiar with each other but there is no explanation of them to the first time reader. Perhaps this is on purpose but for me it made for frustrating reading.

Because this was my first book from this author, and because it was so confusing, I will have difficulty picking up another Jack Higgins novel. That is unless someone can point out a good one to start with. This one has not made me feel like finding the first Sean Dillon novel and starting again.

I know I probably shouldn't, but I'm going to compare this "Sean Dillon" series of books with the "Jack Reacher" series from Lee Child. Lee does a much better job and, in my opinion, each book in his series can be read very successfully as a standalone. Each "Jack Reacher" book has some background on who he is and where he came from. Not so with "Sean Dillon".
However, I will say again that this is the first Jack Higgins book I've read. My apologies to his fans, but I'm yet to be convinced.

Tags: books

Worth reading: Yes

Summary: Zarafa was the first Giraffe in Paris.

This is her story from when she was caught and tamed as young calf in Ethiopia and her journey to the royal menagerie in France, captivating the world as she went.

Zarafa was a gift from the viceroy of Egypt to King Charles X of France.

The writing of this true tale is all over the place but the story is a very interesting one. Allin provides rich natural historic detail along with details of the turbulent times in which the event takes place.

Tags: books

Worth Reading: If you're a SK fan then yes it certainly is. For everyone else, I think it might be an acquired taste. This is a re-read for me. Indeed, I've read it countless times.

Summary: Tarker's Mills is a quiet town in Maine. Quiet, that is, until one winter on a full moon, a railway-man in the middle of nowhere has his throat ripped out.

Each full moon, as the attacks continue, the residents of Tarker's Mills become more terrified. The police have no clues as to what is killing the good people of the town.

Marty Coslaw, rider of the silver-bullet, has seen it. Marty has survived an attack - just.

And now, Marty knows who it is.

This is a very small novella from SK. If you're familiar with his longer works you'll understand. The story roughly follows the lunar cycle and is illustrated nicely. It may take you about 40 minutes to read and is worth the time.

Tags: books, stephen king

Worth Reading: It's an interesting read but I probably wouldn't pick it up again.

Summary: St Luke, an island for the tourists. For the locals it's a difficult place to live and work, unless you're rich.

Populated by the whole gamut of society, the rich, the poor, those just wanting or needing to fall off the map, St Luke has seen its share of drama. Now, two bodies have washed up on the beach.

Nothing ties the two bodies together, except they were murdered, and both are missing the right hand.

This is not a "who dunnit", you know from the start what's going on. Instead, you watch the scenario play out as the police team try to figure what's been going on and why. This is not really a style of writing I enjoy, which is probably why I doubt I'll read it again.

This is the first book from Jonathan Nasaw I have read and it is an interesting tale. The locals switching in and out of dialect adds a nice bit of colour, pardon the pun, and it is well written. But for me, there just isn't enough meat on the bones.

Tags: books

Worth Reading: Yes I think so. I really liked this book because it talks of life in South Africa and how the average person lived their lives back in the 1930's.

Summary: Peekay, A small white English boy in a rural world of black Africans and Afrikaner Boers. Raised by a black Nanny, he's a rooinek in a background of racism and mistrust from all sides.

His is the story of one boys dream. The hurdles he overcomes and the losses he endures as he sets himself on a path to becoming the welterweight boxing champion of the world.

Tags: books, bryce courtenay

Worth Reading: If you're a SK fan then yes it certainly is. If you're not, then this is a nice place to start your collection.

Summary: Edgar Freemantle. Successful building contractor, Father, and Husband. Until a serious accident on a worksite should have killed him, but instead takes his right arm, damages his brain and otherwise leaves him a broken man with a destroyed marriage.

Duma key. A sparsely settled key off the Florida coast. Long stretches of beach. A place where artists go to get away from it all. The place Edgar goes to recover, recuperate and heal. A place where Edgar finds new friends and a talent he never knew he had. A place that holds a secret. One that has remained buried for a long time. One that is waking up.

I'm a SK fan from way back. I think I have most of his books. He doesn't write them fast enough.

Tags: books, stephen king

Worth Reading: Yes

Summary: Global warming, what it is, what it's doing and what we can do about it.

Leaving aside the man and how he went about delivering the message to the world, An Inconvenient Truth is worth a read. Or indeed, see the film, or check out the website.

I actually had difficulty reading this book and it took me a long time to finish it. The changes in type font, size and page layout made for very difficult reading. The message is sound in my opinion, but I'm no scientist. Even if the urgency turns out to be not as great as we believe, I think the message the book imparts (ie lets stop polluting the planet) is a good one to follow regardless.

I will find the film and watch it, that may help me absorb the information more readily.

Tags: climate change

Worth Reading: Yes but I recommend reading the first three in the series first.

Summary: Taita the slave has become master of the mystic arts, savant and upholder of the Truth. Pharaoh Nefer Seti has asked him to find the cause of the drying Nile and Taita must battle with a the powerful witch Eos, follower of the Lie.

The Quest is a continuation of the Egyptian series of Novels. It takes up the tale of Taita the Warlock, magus and master of magic. I have read a lot of Wilbur Smith's novels and really enjoyed the Egyptian series which consists of River God, The Seventh Scroll, and Warlock.
The Quest is written in the masterful story-telling way that Wilbur Smith has made his own. The Quest can be read as a standalone novel, but I highly recommend reading the preceding trilogy first. This will give a good background on Taita and where he came from, and all the adventures he has had up to this time. Taita and other members of his party make mention of events that occur in the earlier novels and it helps to understand them when making sense of the current circumstances he is in and the actions that he takes.
Well worth a read, as are all Wilbur Smiths Novels.

Tags: books, wilbur smith

Worth reading: If you are a fan of Top Gear then this is a good read.
Summary: Richard's battle back from brain damage and memory loss

I really like the BBC Top Gear series and was interested in the events surrounding Richard Hammond's crash while driving a jet-powered car. In his book, on the edge, he talks about the events leading up to the fateful moment and then his recovery after the fact.

What is rather interesting is the dual points of view. Richard's wife, Mindy, actually writes most of the book. It is from her point of view that we learn most of what Richard is going through. After all, he was suffering memory loss at the time and even now probably doesn't know what occurred during his recovery. As Richard is recovering we get both points of view, the frustration he shows at events and then subsequently, Mindy's view of the same situation.

Hats off to Mindy and the limitless support she has shown during and after his ordeal. If only we could all end up with a partner as strong as her. We also see the person who is "Richard Hammond" and insights into his family life.

What was also rather interesting was the tid-bits about James May and Jeremy Clarkson. I think the personas they portray as part of the very successful Top Gear show are not necessarily who they really are, and perhaps just what is needed to make the show the success it is.

To get a full appreciation for this book I recommend you watch the show and get an appreciation for the other characters. Richard's book is written for the fans.

Another Top Gear link.

Tags: books, top gear, richard hammond

Worth reading: Yes
Summary: What a parent will do to protect their child.

To be honest, I wasn't expecting much from this book. I admit that I gave the back cover only a cursory glance as I chose this one for a freebie in a "buy two get one free" deal at my local Angus and Robertson. I wasn't expecting much because I haven't read any of the other titles Jodi has written, nothing to do with the quality of the writing or the flow of the story, just that I'm not familiar with the author.

Well, all that has changed.

The story flow and characters are excellently developed and I didn't really want the tale to end. I wanted to know more about what happens after, what happens now, a continuance if you like.
I'm going to hunt down a couple more titles from Jodi. If anyone can recommend some please let me know.

Perfect Match is the story of Nina Frost. She is a successful lawyer prosecuting the animals that molest children. Her life seems, if not perfect, then close to it. Husband. Son. Then, one day a horrible realisation hits Nina. Her five-year-old son Nathaniel has been sexually abused. Now she is not fighting for a child of another parent. She is fighting for her own son.

Nina's fight to protect her son at all costs shows us how blind to all else we can become, how easily we can jump to all the wrong conclusions, do all the wrong things, for all the right reasons. Just what a parent is capable of, should someone or something hurt their child.

I'm not a parent yet, but even I could empathise with Nina's anguish and the steps she took in trying to somehow right an abhorrent wrong.

Tags: books

Worth reading: Yes
Summary: Diary entries and notes from his experiences in Africa over 30 odd years.

Bob Geldof, I can take him or leave him. But, I do respect what he's doing to help the situation over all Africa. I've been to Africa myself and I agree with all that he says in this book, but still it is shocking to read of the atrocities being conducted by the warlords and self-styled leaders of most african countries. His insights into where the developed nations are going wrong as they attempt to help the situation are revealing and he shows his great depth of knowledge of the African cultures as he discusses ways to better aid them.

Regardless of what you may think of Bob, this book is well worth reading and well written. You can hear the Irish lilt in his words as you read them. His writing style will have you laughing one moment, shaking your head at the idiocies he encounters, and then almost crying the next as he describes the horrors he comes across.

Tags: books

Worth reading: Hell yes!
Summary: The world gone mad, a modern day Sodom and Gomorra.

I will never look at blogging the same way again. I am a recent blogger.. in the last couple of months. I used to wonder who reads all the crap that people blog about and why on earth would they read it? Now, I don't really care who reads it, I have fallen foul of the supposed anonymity of the Internet age. There are a group of us at work who blog about different things and it's interesting to read the thoughts that are put down. Sometimes I guess it's easier to write it than to say it. Would we blog about what we personally would consider private? I seriously doubt it. I do consider blogging as an interesting exercise in communication, however.

In Ben Elton's Blind Faith, blogging is now compulsory. In fact privacy is now considered unhealthy and is actually illegal. The world he describes has turned away from scientific reason and fact and instead has corrupted the word of God, and making it illegal to be an individual thinker. Vaccinations are outlawed as being blasphemous. One in two children die of preventable diseases for this is the will of God. By Law you are Famous. By Law you cannot be discriminated against regardless of the circumstance. You are required to blog at least once a day and stream your every waking moment to the net where it can be viewed by all and sundry, including the Temple and their Confessors who require it of you.

Ben Elton describes a scary world. One in the post apocalyptic time after the flood caused by global warming. A world that is oh-so-very-close.

Tags: books

Worth reading: Yes
Summary: FBI crime investigation

I've only just started reading titles by Lee Child in the last couple of months, and I have come to like them a lot. I can read several one after the other which I find difficult with most other authors. The key character in all Lee Child's books is Jack Reacher. Ex US MP of 13 years, now drifting around the country and world.

From the back of the book:
"Sergeant Amy Callan and Lieutenant Caroline Cook have a lot in common. Both were army high-flyers. Both were acquainted with Jack Reacher. Both were forced to resign from the service. Now they're both dead. Both were found in their own home, naked, in a bath full of paint. Both apparent victims of an army man. A loner, a smart guy with a score to settle, a ruthless vigilante. A man just like Jack Reacher."

If you like "who dunnits" with a common central character with lots of gratuitous violence then Lee Child and Jack Reacher are for you.

Tags: books, Lee Child, jack reacher

Worth reading: Yes
Summary: Chasing down Dracula

This is a rather interesting read. It is another work concerning the tale of Dracula. Elizabeth Kostova has blended fact with a fictional story line. This tale is told by the daughter of the Historian. She is reading the notes and letters from her father who has suddenly gone missing, who in turn is recounting the search for his Professor who was snatched by Dracula years before.

The story traces the family line back through several generations and uncovers a family's connection with an evil past.

For me, this was a slow read for the first half of the book and at times the characters can be frustrating. But this aside, it is still an excellent book and well worth the time.

Tags: books

Finally an actual BotTF entry. I hope no one was holding out for one. I'm actually cheating a bit with this one. I read it for the second time several months back after a discussion with one of my friends prompted me to pick it up again.

Thermopylae - Battle for the West, recounts the tale of the three-day battle for the pass at the "Hot Gates" of Thermopylae. This tale was most recently told in the Hollywood over-simplification-but-still-impressive block-buster "300".

If you're not familiar with the story, the then King of Sparta, Leonidas, played a devastating yet suicidal delaying tactic to hold the advancing Persian army of Xerxes. This gave the Greeks time to settle their differences and prepare for the coming onslaught.

Thermopylae - Battle for the West, also covers the lead-up to the battle at the Hot Gates, and the final crushing defeat of of the Persian army at Plataea that ended the Greco-Persian wars, where the Spartans once again showed their superior military tactics and training.

This is a very compelling read for anyone interested in Greek history. This battle, and the resulting defeat of the Persian army is what defined the western world.

Tags: books, history

I am a voracious reader. It's not uncommon for me to have up to four books on the go at any one time. Just of late I've slackened off the pace a little and am reading just one. I won't go into the authors I tend to gravitate towards, with the exception of Stephen King. I only mention him because I've already mentioned him in another blog, and he's my favourite author.

Book of the Time Frame (BotTF) will be a section I will update with each new book that I finish. I will attempt to provide a review of said book and give some indication of whether I think it might be worth your book-time...or not. Book of the Time Frame is so-called because I don't want to be held to any specific number of books or to any specific period of time.

I was going to start with a review of my current read, however I'm staring at the bottom of my second GT for the evening and the words are starting to swim on the screen. I had a feeling that last one may have been a bit strong...pity the feeling didn't hit me till just now.

Tags: books