Review: The Midnight Line

The Midnight Line by Lee Child
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For a Jack Reacher novel this one is very light on the mayhem. Still, pretty good and the audiobook narrator is great as usual.

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Review: Killers of the Flower Moon

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

very good. broken into 3 parts - the story of the family and community, a detective story told from the point of view of the lead FBI agent and then a "history" of sorts from the point of view of the author. Each of the 3 sections of the audiobook has a different narrator.

Highly recommend

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Review: Artemis

Artemis by Andy Weir
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Loved the Martian, didn’t like this book. Seriously thought about 2 stars. Main character is not relatable and hard to like. Dialogue is nothing but insults and sarcasm more in line with junior high schoolers. Narrator is ok given the drivel she has to read.

Lots of hype for this book, and I have found the more the hype the worse it is. This proves the point. It’s ok sci-fi, better than most, but nowhere near the Martian.

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Review: A Legacy of Spies

A Legacy of Spies by John le Carré
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The spy story is told via flashbacks and it gets a bit confusing here and there as to what time you are in. Nevertheless still a great spy novel by the master spy novelist

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Review: Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century

Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century by Jessica Bruder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For this review, I post my questions to a survey:

Would you try another book from Jessica Bruder and/or Karen White?

Maybe

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

It kind of petered out, which is ok because it’s not really that kind of book.

Have you listened to any of Karen White’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Did Nomadland inspire you to do anything?

No

Any additional comments?

Interesting study of one area of the seemingly more and more common trend to take life on the road. Focus here is on people who due it essentially out of necessity vice the folks who do it voluntarily. Still looking for a good book on them.

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Review: A Short History of Nearly Everything

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Started this a couple of times but never finished. Finally got through it and now I wish I had done so earlier. Really good overview of the history of science.

Recommend

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Review: The Last Town

The Last Town by Blake Crouch
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I read the entire series and my review for this installment is similar to my reviews for the others - its OK. The ending was cop out - perhaps, I suspect, to leave open the potential for additional installments. Otherwise, my same thoughts apply - some good writing talent, story is OK but way too much gore and magical solutions.

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Review: Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World

Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First part is the biography of genghis khan, second part is history of his heirs and how they conquered the world. Very interesting in that genghis, the original, was nothing like his reputation but his heirs were. Recommend

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Review: Almost A Miracle: The American Victory in the War of Independence

Almost A Miracle: The American Victory in the War of Independence by John Ferling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Considered a classic history of the American revolution. Mostly battles and strategy - congress and politics are bit players. Highly recommend

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Review: The Einstein Prophecy

The Einstein Prophecy by Robert Masello
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Meh. It's ok. Not very historically accurate. Pretty sure helicopters were either non existent or very very rare during the time period.

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Review: The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome

The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome by Susan Wise Bauer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a monster of a book. It took me months to get through it but man, it has to be one of the most thorough surveys of history out there. One of the amazing things is to notice how events and Beliefs keep repeating themselves even when hundreds of years have elapsed or two distant peoples are involved. Well written and engaging I highly recommend.

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Review: The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate—Discoveries from a Secret World

The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate—Discoveries from a Secret World by Peter Wohlleben
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great book. Who knew you could write such a long book about trees? Well you can it is is intriguing and amazing. Every time I pass by a tree now I keep coming back to parts of this book. The author makes what you would think would be a boring topic into a compelling story about the life of trees, how they survive and why they are important. Recommend.

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Review: Stories of Your Life and Others

Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I know everyone raves about this author but he's not my cup of tea. Sorry. Too self important.

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Review: Nutshell

Nutshell by Ian McEwan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Without a doubt one of the strangest protagonists I have ever encountered. Once you accept it, it's a really interesting way to tell this mystery. Recommend.

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Review: The Last Days of Night

The Last Days of Night by Graham Moore
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The ending was a bit contrived.

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Review: The Second Ship

The Second Ship by Richard Phillips
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Meh. Didn't believe the kids would act they way they did.

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Review: The Three-Body Problem

The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very good. You need to struggle through a couple of parts early where you will wonder what the heck is going on. But it gets very good. Recommend

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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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