Review: The Fold

The Fold by Peter Clines
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The ending was hard to follow. Other than that, saying any more would be a spoiler but, I will say that the twist was predictable.

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Review: One Year After

One Year After by William R. Forstchen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It's ok. I read the first one so I figured I would read this one.

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Review: Protocol Zero

Protocol Zero by James Abel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Protocol Zero is a well written thriller in the vein of Tom Clancy and James Rollins. It is the second book in a series that follows the adventures of US Marine doctor Joe Rush. The book does exhibit a few of the standard faults of the genre, a main character who is a superman - a US Marine colonel who is also a doctor and expert in bioterrorism, clearly overqualified for his age and background - as well as some disjointed plot holes, the story is told at a good pace. A bit difficult to follow at the beginning, the plot does quickly pick up and smooth out. All in all a quick and exciting action thriller that does not get bogged down in techno babble or military minutiae. The real main character of the book is the arctic. The author has a real understanding of the arctic environment and peoples. I would recommend it if you like action thrillers.

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Review: Stress Test: Reflections on Financial Crises

Stress Test: Reflections on Financial Crises by Timothy F. Geithner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A lot of people hate Tim Geithner, thinking he was the man who put Wall Street ahead of Main Street during the Great Recession. His memoir tries to lay out why they are mistaken and convincing makes the case that his actions, along with Bush and Obama administration officials prevented the worst economic depression in history.

Regardless of what you think about the man, this is an important book as it lays out why and how decisions were made (and early on they were making up as the went along) and why the approach taken was the best of only a couple horrible options.

Tim Geithner grew up overseas and in U.S as his father worked in foreign aid. He went to Dartmouth. He started career as civil servant in treasury department. He quickly gained recognition and responsibility under Bush I and Clinton administrations.

Amazing enough he is not an trained economist but started his career a government GS-13 in the treasury department international division.

The book starts with a whirlwind tour of the Mexican and Asian financial crisis during the Clinton administration and is very dense. But this was where he cut his teeth in economic crisis management.

He was next hired by the federal reserve bank of New York. While there he recognized the trouble spots of the too big to fail banks but assumed nothing he could do about them.

As treasury secretary was probably thin on credentials for the job and most assuredly tarnished by the bailouts of 2008. His stress test plan was a shit sandwich - hated by both left and right - but he makes a good argument that the alternatives, and their were few, were worse. Amazingly it worked but neither he or Obama get any credit for it.

Overall he is happy with Dodd-frank financial reform. But says while there is more that needs to be done, there is no political will to do it. Implies that the shortcomings will have to be fixed on the fly when the next crisis happens.

The end of the book is a primer on comic crisis management that is likely to be required reading for economists and financiers of the future.

Overall this is well written and compelling book by probably the most important cabinet secretary in President Obama's first term.

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Review: Becoming Steve Jobs: The Evolution of a Reckless Upstart into a Visionary Leader

Becoming Steve Jobs: The Evolution of a Reckless Upstart into a Visionary Leader by Brent Schlender
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This puts the horrible Walter issacson "authorized" biography too shame. In my short review of that book I said that issacson wasted the access he had to Steve jobs near the end of his life because he did not understand technology and focused on the tribal and sensational. This book is the book about Steve jobs you should read. They get the tech and they get they man.

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Review: All the Truth Is Out: The Week Politics Went Tabloid

All the Truth Is Out: The Week Politics Went Tabloid by Matt Bai
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a really excellent book. Really puts into perspective the stupidity of the press.

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Review: Atlantic: Great Sea Battles, Heroic Discoveries, Titanic Storms & a Vast Ocean of a Million Stories

Atlantic: Great Sea Battles, Heroic Discoveries, Titanic Storms & a Vast Ocean of a Million Stories by Simon Winchester
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

slow at the start, gets better. very dense read.

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Review: Zone One

Zone One by Colson Whitehead
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Too clever by half. A dense frustrating read that was tough to get through.

Not recommended.

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Review: Brainrush

Brainrush by Richard Bard
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Meh. This book needed some editing. Unrealistic even for fiction.

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Review: A Delicate Truth

A Delicate Truth by John le Carré
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Always a struggle to get through Le carre. No different here. Really proves the fact that the British and Americans are two people separated by a common language.

As for the plot. Pretty good. Ends badly.

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Review: A Slight Trick of the Mind

A Slight Trick of the Mind by Mitch Cullin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A sad story about an ancient Sherlock Holmes who has lost almost everything.

Typically not the type of book I read. Very sentimental and subtle. However, as a sherlockian, I enjoyed it. Very plausible and fitting description of what the twilight days of Sherlock Holmes might be.

A film version is in the works staring Ian mckellen.

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Review: Running Blind

Running Blind by Lee Child
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Typical reacher. Obvious who done it though. Red herrings were good however

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Review: This Town: Two Parties and a Funeral — plus plenty of valet parking! — in America’s Gilded Capital

This Town: Two Parties and a Funeral — plus plenty of valet parking! — in America’s Gilded Capital by Mark Leibovich
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Gossipy tell all about the most self important people in the world - the press and dignitaries who live and work in DC.

Attempts to give the reader some insight into the clubby world of DC and clearly settles some insider scores.

Really the only shocking thing is that Washington is as bad as everyone says it is and thinks it is. High school culture money grubbing agendas stupid people. It's all there.

Unless your a political junky, I wouldn't recommend. But if you are, it's pure gold.

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Review: One Shot

One Shot by Lee Child
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

One of the better reacher stories. I can see why they used this one for the movie (although the movie changed some stuff)

Recommended.

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Review: The Enemy

The Enemy by Lee Child
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another reacher story - actually back story as this one happens in 1990.

My 3 stars pretty much says it all: good if your into the reacher series.

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Review: Tripwire

Tripwire by Lee Child
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Read enough of these now to say tripwire is one of the best reacher stories.

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Review: Our Kind of Traitor

Our Kind of Traitor by John le Carré
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Very typical Le carre : tough read, layered and dark.

An acquired taste.

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Review: A Wanted Man

A Wanted Man by Lee Child
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

typical reacher. good fun.

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Review: CyberStorm

CyberStorm by Matthew Mather
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Pretty typical end of the world story based on the idea of cyberattack.

Ending was pretty predictable in addition to being abrupt.

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Review: Reamde

Reamde by Neal Stephenson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a very long book. Very long. Basically it's a hacker/terrorist action thriller. Except because its so detailed and well, long, it doesn't exactly "zip" like many action books. What redeems it is that Stephenson is clearly very very talented (this is the first book of his I have read).

That said, giving it three stars because it is so slow to get going and I was not found of the fact that he has so so much Almost needless detail and loves to jump from point if view to point of view and back and forth in time. This break in the flow of the story was mildly annoying. For these reasons I give it 3 stars instead of 4.

Recommend however if you have the time.

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Review: Bad Monkey

Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A crazy funny detective story set in the Florida keys.

Really well done.

Highly recommended.

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Review: The Dinner

The Dinner by Herman Koch
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Giving this 3 stars. It was a tough call. The plot mesmerizing and disturbing the book is very well written. But in the end, it was disappointing. There only reason the characters seem to behave in the way they do is some unknown genetic disease.

I'd recommend it with the warning that if you are a parent, it will tug on your worst fears.

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Review: The Closing of the American Mind

The Closing of the American Mind by Allan Bloom
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Decided to read this to see if it was relevant at all. The sad answer is yes, but it flaws are even larger with age.

Most of bloom's arguments are of the "get off my lawn" sort of grumpy old men. Nearly all of part I falls into this category.

Part 2 is more philosophy than anything else and bloom's mastery of it is unquestionable.

Part 3 is mixed: in some ways dated, in some ways more relevant.

Regardless, bloom's contention: that a liberal education does not exist is even more true now than it was back in 1987. Despite his call to arms over 25 years ago, almost nothing has been done. The vast majority of america's universities are simply mechanisms one endures to get a job (or, given the most recent economic conditions, not get a job).

While much of the political conservative world internalized Bloom in the 1980s and 90s, I think one thing they miss is that bloom really takes no stand one way or the other on "right" vs "left" as we currently understand them (but he did have strong - not good - opinions on the 60s and the "radical left" of that era).

In the end, a tough book to read whose arguments are interesting but whose evidence is stale. Sadly, Bloom died in 1992 but it would have been fun to hear what he would have said 25 yrs later.

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Review: A Reader on Reading

A Reader on Reading by Alberto Manguel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Went back and forth on this book 3 stars or 4? Went with 4 because its so well written. Many of the essays are exquisite many are annoying.

I despise Alice in wonderland so the fact that it is woven throughout nearly every essay grated.

Overall if you are looking for essays on reading and literature as well as some nice insights on authors, I recommend. Personally, I probably wouldn't have read.

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Review: The Presidents Club: Inside the World's Most Exclusive Fraternity

The Presidents Club: Inside the World's Most Exclusive Fraternity by Nancy Gibbs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If your a political junky a fun read.

The one knock is that for most political junkies, much of this book is already known. Indeed, given the lengthy notes and bibliography, most of the stories in here have been reported in prior books and articles. What this book does quite nicely is put them in a coherent context.

There is little to no original history and the sections on the more recent presidents (George w bush, Barack Obama) are quiet thin.

Nevertheless, recommend.

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Review: How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading

How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading by Mortimer J. Adler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book deserves a detailed review but, I think the best review I could give it is this:

Oh how I wish I had read this when I was 18!

Highly recommended.

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Review: The Celtic Conspiracy

The Celtic Conspiracy by Thore D. Hansen
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Good idea bad execution.

I almost stopped reading this about a quarter of the way through. But, in the sprit of fairness I kept going hoping it would get better. It didn't.

Should be a 1 star review but I gave it an extra star because the central idea of the plot could have made a good book. Alas it didn't.

Not recommended.

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Review: The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America

The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America by George Packer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is not a happy book. But does weave a narrative that must be told about how America in 2013 came to be - not through the acts of the famous but through the lives of everyday people.

After reading this, I'm left with the thought that any hope of undoing the "great unwinding" of America will happen by the actions of everyday people.

Recommended with reservation: you will be depressed while reading this.

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Review: Casino Royale

Casino Royale by Ian Fleming
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Classic.

Not like the films, much darker.

Highly recommended

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Review: Ender's Game

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great scifi is many things at once: a great story, philosophy, commentary on human history, psychology and more. Very few scifi novels reach that pinnacle. Enders game does.

Why not 5 stars? Despite the fact that it is great scifi, with a great story and characters, for me there still is a one flaw: it's difficult to follow the battles and this makes it just a bit too esoteric for 5 stars.

Also, on a fundamental level it's a kids book or at least should be.

Despite that, highly recommended.

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Review: The Alchemist

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Beautiful little book but alas not my cup of tea.

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Review: Wool Omnibus

Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very good but long (it's original format was as an amazon kindle serial) post apocalyptic story.

Recommend

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Review: World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

To be honest I thought long and hard about giving this 3 stars instead of 4. The plot is simply a puzzle you have to patch together on your own from the various interview "vignettes" that make up the book. But, as an end of the world Zombie story, it's very good. So, for that and it's attention to every small detail, I give it the extra star.

Recommend.

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Review: The Nature of Things

The Nature of Things by Lucretius
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Read this in preparation for reading "The Swerve" about the discovery of Lucretius' poem. Have to say that it is a difficult read. The translation is not "modern" in any sense. That said, the ingeniousness of Lucretius is evident: very nearly explaining the true scientific nature of the world at a time when humankind ascribed everything to "the gods".

My recommendation is to find a different (better) translation (although I don't know if one exists).

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Review: The Eye of God

The Eye of God by James Rollins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fun read. Really well done.

Recommend.

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Review: The Alienist

The Alienist by Caleb Carr
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Although not really a "page turner" of a mystery, this is a really well done book. The plot and story are more of a "whydoneit" than "whodoneit".

I did find it hard to get through the first half if the book - mainly because there's lots of backstory and speculation vice "action". Additionally, there is an incredible amount of science - namely psychology. Nevertheless, even this is interesting given the setting - New York in the 1890's when Teddy Roosevelt was police commissioner.

The action picks up in the last half of the book and I found that despite my initial misgivings, I would like to pick up the adventures of the stories investigators in the sequel.

If you like historical fiction and mystery, you will like this book.

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Review: Odyssey

Odyssey by Homer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As with my review of Lombardo's translation of the Iliad, I will not comment on homers masterful and classic story. Many others have done so and I can add little.

But, like his translation of the Iliad, Lombardo's modern and dramatic style make this classic engaging.

Highly recommended.

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Review: Iliad

Iliad by Homer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The back cover of lombardo's translation of the Iliad boldly states "this is as good as Homer gets in English". I don't doubt it. The language is clearly more modern than other translations I have sampled and its pace is gripping.

Obviously, the are tons if ink spilled in reviewing the Iliad, so I will not even attempt to add to it in describing Homer's story.

But, I will say it is, at essence a war story and Lombardo has captured it in English incredibly well. The average reader may dread the suggestion of reading Homer as it has a reputation as dense ancient poetry. Not so with Lombardo.

Highly recommended.

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Review: Live by Night

Live by Night by Dennis Lehane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A classic prohibition gangster tale, masterfully told.

As a reader, I enjoy a lot of fun junk food. But occasionally I'll enjoy a nice steak dinner. This book is one of those.

Incredibly plotted, paced and characterized this book about a Boston Irish gangster in the 1920's through the 1930's follows the now classic gangster path but with a few new twists.

No doubt it will be adapted sometime down the road, although it will be tough to do.

Highly recommend.

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Review: The Fear Index

The Fear Index by Robert Harris
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Interesting thriller about a hedge fund math genius and his master money making algorithm.

Well written, quick paced read.

Recommended.

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Review: The Angel of Darkness

The Angel of Darkness by Caleb Carr
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

If you enjoyed the alienist, you will like this book even more. Not only because there is more to like but because many if the weaknesses of the first book are missing in the second.

Now, it is a long slog but it is a pleasant one. While there are a few patches that drag and many of the authors foibles are on display (character after character constantly saying "I'll tell you what I've learned as soon as we get with everyone else and sit down to a fine meal." And then several pages describing the walk to the restaurant before the character tells his tale. ) the choice of voice in this book (as compared to the alienist) seems to smooth over these patches.

As usual, the author has a fine eye for per turn of the century New York but he does not let it get in the way.

All in all worthwhile.

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Review: The Hangman's Daughter

The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Pötzsch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Good historic thriller set in the 1600's. very well written. As several reviews have noted the hangman's daughter is not really the focus of the book. Rather, it's the hangman who is kind of the neighborhood executioner, doctor, private eye.

SPOILER (kinda) One knock against it is that since it is a "whodoneit", would have been better to have even suspected the ultimate villain. He kind of pops in at the end and says "oh,yeah, I did it".

All in all very good worth the time.

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Review: The Malice of Fortune

The Malice of Fortune by Michael Ennis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very good historical mystery with most of the characters based in real people. Great theme of "science" (represented by di Vinci) vs psychology (represented by Machiavelli).

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Review: Yesterday's Gone: Season One

Yesterday's Gone: Season One by Sean Platt
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A fun read. Serialized so its long. Which means still not sure what the cause of the catastrophe is. Hopefully in season 2.

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Review: Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End

Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End by Manel Loureiro
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Very good zombie end of the world story although its a bit light on hope. Danger mayhem and fear for 90% of the story.

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Review: The Map of Time

The Map of Time by Félix J. Palma
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I didn't really like this book about 1/3 of the way through. It's broken into 3 sections and after the first I began to feel cheated. But I plowed on to the second section and things didn't seem to be getting better. Until section two turned into a lovely little story and the threads that tie all three sections are revealed. The final third is a mind blowing and thought provoking bow tie that wraps the whole novel.

Really well done. Helps is your a fan of h.g. Wells but that's not mandatory.

Recommend highly.

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Review: Inferno

Inferno by Dan Brown
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I'll write a longer review sometime later but I think this summarizes:

In a strange reversal, lets hope the inevitable film is better than the book.

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Review: The Hobbit

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The book that started it all. And a classic of fantasy.

For those who have never read it, most highly recommended.

If you are familiar with the Lord of the rings, the hobbit merely sets the stage. On many levels it is a happier story: it's villains not as villainous as those in the Lord of the rings: bad rather than evil. A good introduction for a young reader to the world of middle earth.

I've probably now read this three or four times and each time enjoy it more

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Review: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

a bit geeky, good story with good pacing, well written. although final solution is a bit obvious.

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Review: The Night Circus

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a book that you will either love or not. I am in the latter category. I found its plot slow and thin and considered abandoning it several times. I did finish it, and found the last third of the story pick up significantly.

There has been a lot of praise for this book and I can understand why, its a bit "arty" and presents the reader with a mood and style that is unique. Ms. Morgenstern is clearly a talented writer. However, like I said - its either your cup of tea or not.

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