Matrimony - Joshua Henkin

Matrimony is the story of Julian and Mia. The book takes you through their meeting (in the laundry room on campus), through their courtship, through their marriage, through all the trials and tribulations of a couple over the course of a two plus decades.

O.k., you might be thinking, "what's the big deal about a book like that, Jen?" And had I just picked this book up and read the book jacket, I might have thought the same thing. But, I read several rave reviews written by other bloggers and then I won a copy of the novel over at The Book Chase. It took me awhile to get around to reading it, but I'm so glad that I did.

At times I felt like a bit of a voyeur, peaking in on the lives of Julian Wainwright and Mia Mendelsohn. They go through a lot of the normal ups and downs of life, and a few of the not so normal ups and downs. But their realism simply makes it easy to step right into their lives and make yourself at home.

Henkin is a character writer. There is simply no other way to put it. He writes in such a way that you can feel the characters' jubilation's and you can feel their anguish. They are so well developed that you might ask yourself at the end of the book, "is this a fiction novel or is this an actual biography?"

I laughed out loud reading about Julian and his best friend Carter in their writing workshop. Their professor was an absolute stitch. I ached for Mia as she watched her mother die, and I equally ached for Julian when he experienced the ultimate betrayal. I celebrated their victories and mourned their losses because over the course of the novel, they became my friends. It takes a powerful writer to create such characters.

Julian is a writer and I think Julian's take on writing mirrors the concept of this novel:

There had emerged in American fiction a strain of excess, he believed, a group of knowing authors whose very sentence seemed to shout, "Look how smart I am." He had nothing against muscular prose; it was the flexing of those muscles that he objected to, and, along with it, a disregard for character, which, for him, was what fiction was about.

There's no muscle-flexing in this novel, but it is muscular. There's nothing showy or excessive. The language isn't elitist. Instead there is simplicity and beauty that compounds to create an incredible piece of literature.

There's no mystery to this novel. Instead it is an intimate look at the trials and tribulations, the compromises, the emotions and the depth of a relationship between two people. Sometimes figuring that all out is the greatest mystery of all. I truly enjoyed this book and it has left a lasting impression on me.

Case Histories - Kate Atkinson

Jackson Brodie is a former police inspector turned private detective. He is hired for three separate cases in Case Histories. Case one involves the Land family. One night during the 70s when the four Land girls were young, Amelia and Olivia were permitted to spend the night outside in their tent. When Amelia woke up the next morning Olivia was gone without a trace. Thirty years later when their father died, they came across Olivia's toy that went missing with her. Case two involved Theo Wyre or rather it involved the death of Theo's daughter, Lara. Lara was stabbed to death in Theo's law office and the murderer was never discovered. Theo left his law practice after Lara's death and spent ten years mulling over every detail of the investigation before he turns the case over to Brodie. And finally, case three involves Michelle. Michelle took a wood axe to her husband's head in a fit of rage. Michelle's sister hires Brodie to find Michelle's daughter.

I listened to this book on the BBC audiobook read by Susan Jameson. I can't say as she is one of my more favorite readers. The biggest problem I had was with the Land sisters who were supposed to be in their late thirties, early forties. However, all I could picture from Jameson's reading were 60-70 year-old bitties. The Golden Girls continually came to mind. And twenty or thirty years down the road they may very well resemble Blanche and Dorothy, but I don't think that was what Atkinson had in mind for these characters. While I try to be tolerant of gender differences - I've yet to discover a great male reader who does great female voices and vice versa - Jameson's higher pitched voice made the male voices especially female-sounding.

Unfortunately I also ran into problems with the quality of the CDs. So, I think I missed a rather important element at the end of the novel when all of the story lines were being wrapped up.

For those of you who disliked Tana French's conclusion to In the Woods, you will definitely love this novel. Atkinson ties up each story line with the events as they happened. This happens after Brodie concludes his investigations and essentially solves the cases. So, all the little missing details that no one would know are flushed out at the conclusion.

I enjoyed this novel overall, but found it hard to like Jackson Brodie. I liked his role as father, but as a person, he was overly judgemental and harsh on other people and he definitely lacked empathy. I especially disliked his shallow assessment of the female characters.

I felt a great deal of sympathy for both Theo and Amelia; Atkinson did a wonderful job of eliciting that emotion for these two survivors who have struggled for so long with their losses. Julia was the comic relief to the novel. The third case history involving Michelle was a bit on the odd side. I almost wonder if it wouldn't have been a tighter novel without the inclusion of that case.

The plot is a slower-moving plot, but as I mentioned earlier all the ends are tied up at the conclusion of the novel. That approach creates a definite feeling of closure for the novel. The three cases do end up having connections, so it isn't as though there are three separate short stories, but the connections are loose enough that it is three distinct case histories Jackson is investigating.

I thought the plot was unique. It wasn't predictable, but it's also the kind of novel that doesn't give you the necessary clues until the conclusion so you really don't have much of a chance to logically deduce the outcome.

Overall, I found Case Histories to be an enjoyable mystery on audiobook.

Lion's Pride - Debbie Jordan

In 1911, Arizona has not yet joined the Union. Sheriff Paco Alaniz is charged with keeping order in Moon Valley. All is calm and collected until Don Santiago Castillo de Leon, the wealthiest and most hated man in Moon Valley, is murdered in his sleep. Sheriff Alaniz's investigation is not an easy one since most everyone in Moon Valley could be considered a suspect.

Meanwhile a renegade Mormon sect also lives on the outskirts of Moon Valley, and the day after Don Santiago's murder a gambler arrives in Moon Valley to help his sister escape this group. The gambler is carrying extra emotional baggage that may put both he and his sister in danger.

While this book does contain the whodunit mystery of who killed Don Santiago, the reader will likely find the mystery less important than the relationships that are present in this novel. The depth of character arising from the relationships is really what kept me turning the pages. Debbie Jordan displays a range of relationships - and conflicts - between man and wife, lovers, parent and child, human and god, man and himself, even human and animal.

None of the relationships are perfect, but some are closer than others. Sheriff Alaniz and his wife, Connie, may come the closest to a functional relationship but even they have their short comings.

Sheriff Alaniz was probably the most intriguing character for me. He's an intelligent man with an open mind. He believes in a higher power but questions some of the beliefs of his organized religion. And I think Jordan's ultimate message with Alaniz is that it is o.k. to have those questions, and even to act on those questions. I also enjoyed Alaniz's elementary investigation techniques. It is intriguing to see the birth of some of the modern "fancy" techniques used in science today.

The Sheriff's wife, Connie, is also a fun character in this novel. She is a strong female but she doesn't use that strength to over-power her husband. Instead, she uses it to stand equally alongside him. She is definitely the foil to Don Santiago's wife, Margarita, in the monogamous marriage. However, there is also a third leg to the dynamics of the female role in this novel and that third leg involves the wives in the polygamous sect.

This was an enjoyable book for me for several reasons. First being my enjoyment of character development. This is definitely a character-driven novel. And because it is character-driven, the pace is slower. I had been reading quite a few fast-paced, action-oriented, plot-driven novels; it was nice to have a break from that pace.

The element to be aware of in this novel is that there are themes related to religion in this novel. It is not at all "preachy" or evangelical but religion does play a strong role. Because I could identify with some of the questions that were coming out in this element of the book, I felt it added a tremendous deal to the plot.

The only criticism I might offer on this novel is that some of the elements of some of the relationships ended up a bit cliche. It wasn't hard to see them coming, and those elements could have possibly been avoided altogether.

Overall, though, Lion's Pride was an enjoyable read with fun, dynamic characters.

This and That...

Just a few tidbits before I toddle off to Tyson-proof my house - my sister's nine-month-old boxer is coming to stay until tomorrow evening and I have to create a safe haven for the cats and also hide all the books (remember Tyson at my copy of Dead Connection).

Anyway...

Shelf Awareness had this picture of President-elect Obama that I wanted to post:

They later apologized becaused they had listed this as the first book sighting with Obama. They were corrected by someone who informed them the first sighting was actually Obama with a book of poetry. Regardless I'm tickled pink to see and hear him associated with books, period. He's also been reported as reading books about Kennedy and Roosevelt as he prepares to take office in the midst of this termoil.

Another little tidbit is that the Mystery Lover's Bookshop has extended their free shipping offer until Monday. They also have some additional discounts if you purchase so much. You can find out all about that and order books for your loved ones (or yourself) here. They will also special order for you if you want something that isn't mystery. In addition to books you can find some very cool puzzles and games. When I was out there this past September, I had a blast checking everything out.

And my last little announcement for today is about an author I just love, Linda Fairstein. She has a new book due out February 10, 2009. It's called Lethal Legacy and it takes place primarily in a New York City Library. Her NYC setting choices are always so intriguing to me. She originally hooked me when I read the book jacket for Entombed. The fact that it had a connection to Edgar Allen Poe was enough for me to check her out. I've been a fan ever since. You can check out Linda's website where she has a contest going to win a copy of Lethal Legacy. If you enter - tell her I said, "hi." I'm hoping she comes close enough in the Lethal Legacy tour for me to get to meet her in person. Fingers crossed!

Happy Reading!!

Publishing, the Economy, and Lunch?

Since I work now for a company that cares about what the publishing world is doing, we often receive updates on articles and such related to the industry. And of course, with the economy, there have been the articles about B&N's financials, Borders on the market - off the market drama, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's call for no new manuscripts, etc. The latest article had to do with publishing companies putting the brakes on expensive lunches. The article I was privy to came from The New York Observer. Of course there were arguments for and against these new policies. Everyone is concerned about what "not lunching" will do to the publishing industry. But on the other hand, some folks were commenting that the younger generation of publishers don't tend to "do lunch" anyway. They're more inclined to meet for coffee or drinks or some such thing.

My personal take on the whole thing? If lunch is a great place for publishers and agents to get to know one another and both agree that it's a great place to get to know one another, each party should pay for his/her own meal. Let's face it, the agents are benefiting as much as the publishers are. Why should one half of the duo be burdened with all the expense? And truly, do you have to pay $130 to get to know one another? I know I don't live in NYC, but even so, $130 is pretty steep for lunch for two people.

The comment I respected the most in the article came from Ira Silverberg, "The social time is really important, but what is not important is how expensive the food is." Bravo!

Sometimes I wonder if this economic crisis isn't the universe's way of shaking things up and reminding us of what is really important.

Happy Reading!!

Black Friday

Did you venture out this morning? I did go out to hit the bookstore this morning. I must say, it was a far nicer experience than the year I tried to go to Target on Black Friday. That experience was so discouraging because of people's behavior that I NEVER tried it again and I won't ever try it again.

But, this morning I hit the bookstore where I could get 20% off all my purchases. I found books for three people on my Christmas list, plus a few for me. When I'll actually get to them is the greatest of all mysteries, but I can say I have them now! ;) And isn't that just a wonderfully comforting feeling?

The best part was how civil the folks were at the bookstore. They didn't push or shove or try to run anyone over. They said "excuse me" and "thank you" and "please." As most of my bookstore excursions are, it was a pleasant experience.

My great find this morning was a used copy of Sunset Express on audiobook. I have very few audiobooks because I won't buy abridged versions and most unabridged versions are too pricey for me to invest in. I mostly just borrow my audiobooks from the library. However, I do own a few - all of which happen to be Robert Crais. I like having these ones because they are ones I know I will listen to more than once (who could tire of Elvis?), and they are there for those inevitable times when the new audiobooks I request don't come in before I finish the ones I presently have from the library. I have to admit that I have a hard time driving now if I don't have an audiobook. A good Harry Connick, Jr. CD might be sufficient if I don't have a long drive, but forget about the radio. It can't even come close to being as fulfilling as an audiobook.

I also picked up a couple of Nancy Drew books for my sister to give to my niece. I'm giving her the first Boxcar Children mystery and Mr. Popper's Penguins. But my youngest sister, who is out in California, hasn't seen my niece or nephew in a year and asked me if I would pick up some gifts for her that I thought were appropriate.

So, it was a very successful excursion. Afterwards I headed straight home. That's about as much as I can contribute to the economy today!

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving. Happy Reading!!

So Much To Be Thankful For

I have been at this book blog thing now for eleven months, and I believe now is a GREAT time to step back and say thank you to everyone who has helped to make this such a great joy for me. Special thanks of course to the authors who have taken time out of their schedules to answer interview questions for me: Michael Koryta, Alafair Burke, Lisa Unger, Thomas Holland, Timothy Hallinan, Ed Lynskey, Chris Grabenstein, Craig Johnson, and James Fredericks. Your generosity is humbling.

I also need to thank those folks who have really inspired me with their great approaches to book blogging - especially Lesa over at Lesa Book Critiques, Trish over at Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'? and Sam at The Book Chase. You are my book blog idols! ;)

And finally of course I thank all the folks that come and talk books with me. There would be such a great void in my life if I couldn't talk books with you all. And I'm going to call a few people out on the carpet because they've been such devoted readers and commenters and they make me feel like a half-decent blogger - Naomi, Serena, Michael and Corey, I am blessed to call you my friends. Thank you for sharing books with me. I also need to give Corey some recognition for being one of my book blog idols over at The Drowning Machine. His reviews are always so creative, and I'm envious of his writing talent every time I read one.

And I'm going to make one last special thanks to Mary Holland. Hopefully she'll be stopping by soon to acknowledge this. She doesn't leave comments, but I know she visits. She DOES drop me e-mails and every one just warms my heart. Thank you for your friendship Mary!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all, and thank you so much for being a part of this with me. Every time I stop to think about it, the whole concept still amazes me. Who would have thought I'd be able to share my love of books with folks around the world. Just too cool!

Have a wonderful holiday and happy reading!!

A Timeless Message...

One of our Canadian members created this video for "Independent's Day" on November 15th. Even though their recognition day has passed, I think this is a great message anytime, any day, anywhere. Hope you enjoy it, too.

Harvest - Tess Gerritsen

I guess it was the week of Tess's for me! This time the author is Tess. Harvest is the first book by Tess Gerritsen I've read/listened to. According to the audio case, Harvest is Gerritsen's debut novel.

Abby DiMatteo is a top-notch second-year resident at Bayside Hospital in Boston. Dr. Wettig, the supervisor of the residency program, is known to be a hard-nose who never compliments any of the residents, but he shows a lot of respect for Abby. In addition to the respect she is receiving from her supervisor, the organ transplant team is also showing interest in Abby. They want her to be a part of their team when she finishes her residency.

Abby is ecstatic about the attention she is receiving from the transplant team, and even more excited when her boyfriend Mark, who is also on the transplant team, asks her to marry him. But all the wonderfulness starts to fade after Abby helps a teenage boy get the heart transplant that is rightfully his over a 40-year-old woman who's husband is wealthy and wants to "pay" for the heart. The teenage boy is saved but the cost may be Abby's life.

I'll just start this review by saying Tess Gerritesen knows how to write a thriller! Even though she writes the story so that the reader can make connections early on, the approach doesn't deter from the anticipation or excitement at all. It is kind of like watching a scary movie where someone enters a dark room with eerie music playing. You KNOW something is going to jump out at the person, but you still jump out of your seat when it happens. That is what this book easily compares to.

The concept of buying and selling organs in this book is nothing short of terrifying. Gerritsen writes in such a way as to evoke a tremendous amount of emotion from the reader: fear, horror, anger, mortification.

Gerritsen also has a gift when it comes to characterization. I absolutely fell in love with Yakov, a young Russian orphan who was so smart and had so much curiosity. He yearned for companionship, looking for it where ever he could find it.

And Abby is another great female character. She is faced with multiple lawsuits that the wealthy husband is arranging with all his money. She is a resident; she has no money to even begin to try to fight them, but she feels that she must do something. I found myself identifying with her frustration over the fact that money is the controlling factor, not what is RIGHT. Abby isn't a superwoman, she doesn't have the super powers to trump the evils of money. And sadly, everything doesn't turn out happily ever after. But it turns out believable, which in the end makes the book that much more frightening.

Again, I listened to this book on audio. This one is a Recorded Books version, read by George Guidall. One of the elements of Guidall's reading that stood out for me was how his pace increased with action that was taking place in the plot. I find myself doing that when I read myself, so I appreciated his tendency to do the same thing. While I enjoy Guidall's readings and I think he did a very nice job on this book, I also think his sound is a little too old for the characters that this book centered on. And I'm also a little curious why they chose a male reader over a female reader for this particular book. But, as with In Big Trouble, these factors aren't enough for me not to highly recommend it. I had a great experience listening to this audiobook.

Happy Reading!

In Big Trouble - Laura Lippman

Before I start my review of this audiobook, I wanted to apologize for my small silence there. I have been battling with a rather nasty lower back problem that seemed to come out of nowhere. It's been difficult the last few days to sit at my computer chair. I'm feeling a tad bit better today (and VERY antsy at not having blogged) and am hoping that I can get a couple reviews finished.

The first audio book I finished this week is Laura Lippman's In Big Trouble. This is the fourth installment in the Tess Monaghan series, and it finds Tess traveling to Texas. Tess receives a picture in the mail of her ex-boyfriend Crow. Over the picture it reads "In Big Trouble." At first Tess discards the picture and doesn't think much of it. Crow is a big boy, and he can take care of himself. But when she contacts his parents and learns he has cut himself off from them and they haven't heard from him in several weeks, she begins to grow suspicious. And when his parents offer to hire her to find him, she sets off with Esskay for the Alamo - hmmm, a girl and her dog on an adventure in a strange land. Sound like anything you know?

With each Tess Monaghan book I add to my "read" list, I like Tess more and more. She's spunky, quirky and she definitely does NOT have it altogether! A characteristic I find especially annoying is a young person who always knows the right thing to do or say and WHEN to do or say it. How many young people do YOU know like that? It takes time, experience and maturity to master that, and yet a lot of people NEVER master it. Tess's mistakes and poor judgement make her more real to me.

Then on the flip side, Tess isn't a "silly" female character. Does she do some silly things at times? Yes, but not so that her whole personality is "silly." There are a few female detectives I've read (written by female authors) whose complete personalities are silly. That factor usually deters me from wanting to read any more of the series. I believe Tess would be irritated by "silly" females, actually. And that characteristic is appealing to me.

The plot of In Big Trouble brings Crow back into the fold and gives some background to his character. I didn't find this plot to be predictable at all. At one point I remember thinking "oh Laura, PLEASE don't tell me you're going to have this happen!" And almost as if she was listening to me think that, a character asks if that scenario is true - it's not. Whew! Saved!

Probably the element I liked the most in In Big Trouble is the theme of context. I think that theme is underlying in a lot of crime fiction, a lot of mystery, but Lippman really brings it to the forefront in this novel. As the reader I was constantly questioning events and evidence because of that theme. Still didn't help me unfold the mystery early, but it DID have me thinking the whole time.

As I mentioned at the beginning, I listened to this on audio book from BBC Audiobooks America. The reader is Deborah Hazlett. She also read the previous Tess Monaghan books that I've listened to, so her voice will be forever ingrained in my mind as Tess's voice. I enjoy her readings, but there was an element in this one that bothered me a bit. I know very little about dialects. I can usually tell you a part of the world that the dialect comes from, but beyond that I can't pinpoint regions or groups that specific sounds are attributed to. And I'm telling you all this because I will rarely be the one to criticize dialects. However, in this book there were several Mexican characters. And I have to say that Hazlett's Mexican dialect didn't sound like any Hispanic person I've ever heard. That factor ended up being a little distracting to me, but not enough so that I wouldn't recommend the sound recording.

Overall, a great Tess Monaghan adventure and a great audiobook to keep me entertained while performing that ever-annoying task of driving! ;)

Happy Reading!

The Shadow of the Wind - Carolos Ruiz Zafon

In 1945 Barcelona when Daniel Sempere is ten years old, his father takes him to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books. Here Daniel is allowed to find one book, and he chooses The Shadow of the Wind, written by Julian Carax. The book so excites the young reader that he begins to search for anything he can find about this mysterious author.

When Daniel is approached by a dark figure who calls himself Lain Coubert, he rushes to hide the precious book. Daniel had previously learned that a man calling himself Coubert had combed the country finding copies of Carax's books to destroy them. Lain Coubert also happens to be a character in The Shadow of the Wind; the character who portrays the devil.

Zafon's novel spans approximately eleven years (with a short chapter at the end another 10 years later). Throughout that eleven years, Daniel searches to solve the mystery of Julian Carax. Along the way he befriends a beggar, Fermin Romero de Torres; he suffers his first heart break; becomes a target for the evil Inspector Fumero; and he falls in love with his best friends' sister, Bea.

The writing in this book is pure poetry. The translation was done by Lucia Graves, and it is a fantastic job to say the least. There were several sections where I said, "really, an American idiom exists in Spanish like that?" Another section stood out to me as well when a distinction was made between the words "lie" and "fib." The language is just extraordinary.

And of course, a book that begins in the Cemetery of Forgotten Books is bound to have at least SOME magic to it. I was pulled into a new world when I read the description of the Cemetery:

A labyrinth of passageways and crammed bookshelves rose from base to pinnacle like a beehive woven with tunnels, steps, platforms, and bridges that presaged an immense library of seemingly impossible geometry.

And once I was pulled in, I didn't escape until I turned the last page of the book. Daniel had that very same experience when he read Carax's novel:

As it unfolded, the structure of the story began to remind me of one of those Russian dolls that contain innumerable ever-smaller dolls within. Step by step the narrative split into a thousand stories, as if it had entered a gallery of mirrors, its identity fragmented into endless reflections. The minutes and hours glided by as in a dream. When the cathedral bells tolled midnight, I barely heard them. Under the warm light cast by the reading lamp, I was plunged into a new world of images and sensations, peopled by characters who seemed as real to me as my room. Page after page I let the spell of the story and its world take me over, until the breath of dawn touched my window and my tired eyes slid over the last page.

The Shadow of the Wind's plot seemed like a Russian doll to Daniel, but the irony is that Zafon created even more dolls outside the plot of Carax's novel. Carax's journey is the next layer, followed by Daniel's experiences and finally the outer doll I believe is the reader. The final layer to this nesting doll, the one who carries the story on beyond Daniel. But, as Daniel explains to Jorge Aldaya, "'Books are mirrors: you only see in them what you already have inside you.'" Hopefully there are many readers who have enough inside themselves to see and appreciate the enormity of this book.

The characters that inhabit this saga are amazing. But the element of characterization that truly makes them what they are is the depth of the relationships that are developed throughout the novel. Fermin is absolutely hysterical, but he wouldn't be nearly so without his ties of devotion to Daniel and Daniel's father. And his relationship with Bernarda adds a kind of contradictory layer to his character, but that layer helps to make him even more real, more human. Fumero is an ideal villain because of his connections to the characters he is pursuing. And his development through his relationships with Carax and his friends only intensifies the hatred that consumes his character.

I found the plot to be very unique. It is crafted in such a way that the reader is able to start putting pieces together on his/her own, BUT don't become too confident in your investigative powers. Chances are excellent that you're going to have a curve thrown your way. I found it very easy to get caught up in all in the language and the characters only to miss the clues Zafon was feeding me. I LOVE that in a plot.

I devoured this novel, but I have to admit that the end did let me down a bit. I'll try to explain this without providing any spoilers. My thoughts are that Zafon simply created too many characters for the book. I didn't find them hard to keep track of because each was so distinct. But the novel is 487 pages long, and I finished it wondering about several characters who didn't seem to have their roles wrapped up. At least I felt there were loose ends that needed more conclusion. And I didn't feel like they were the type of loose ends that are "left to your imagination." These were loose ends that needed to be answered - at least I thought they did.

However, that fact would not keep me from highly recommending this novel. Stephen King has a blurb on the cover: "One gorgeous read." I concur!

It's Official...I'm a Bookworm!

I have to be, because I got a Bookworm Award from Lesa at Lesa's Book Critiques! Before I do what is involved for this Meme, I need to thank Lesa. I really admire Lesa. She has a great blog and she does so much with helping others find great books. So, the "award" means a lot coming from someone I admire.

O.k., so what I'm supposed to do here is:

"Open the closest book to you—not your favorite or most intellectual book, but the book closest to you at the moment—to page 56. Write out the fifth sentence as well as the next two to five sentences. Pass this on to five blogging friends."

Technically the closest book to me is the ABC book I'm working on for my nephew, but that's a SCRAPbook and it doesn't have enough pages. The book that is next to closest to me is what I'm reading right now, Lion's Pride by Debbie Jordan. It's a mystery set in turn of the century Arizona, and I just happened to pass page 56 this afternoon while I was reading during my lunch break at work (see I really AM a bookworm). And what's really freaky about this...I noted this section of the book to consider for my review! How cool! So here it is:

'I've never owned any of the cattle the wildcats like to kill, so their murderous ways cost me nothing. Besides, the land belonged to the puma first. Man is the intruder in these mountains. Perhaps we should let el gato kill a few cattle just like we pay taxes to the government for the right to live in the Territory.'

'You're quite a philosopher, Miguel.'

This particular section of the book is where the sheriff has to return to the site of the murder of Don Santiago, a rich, not-so-nice rancher. Santiago and three of his hired hands had been out hunting the puma when someone killed Santiago in his sleep.

Now, I have the pleasure of passing along this distinguished bookworm award. So, I'm passing it along to:

Corey at The Drowning Machine
Sam at Book Chase
George at The Thirty Year Itch
Tina at Just A Minute of My Time
Michael at Lazy Thoughts from a Boomer

George and Tina aren't "technically" book bloggers, but they are both bookworms...and George is considering starting a book blog. And Michael is an audio book person, so I'm not sure if he'll have a page 56 for us, but he's a bookworm, too! :) If you aren't interested in playing, my apologies. Don't feel obligated, just know I enjoy reading your blogs and hearing about the books you're reading!

Happy Reading everyone!

Anxiously Awaiting August

Woohoo! Sam over at The Book Chase has so kindly pointed out Publisher's Weekly's snippet about the upcoming release (August 2009) of Pat Conroy's new book, South of Broad. I know he isn't a mystery writer, but I LOVE his work. He knows how to work magic with the English language. I'm excited for this!! I've been waiting patiently!

That's going to make August a HUGE book month for me because Michael Koryta informed me that his next Lincoln Perry book, The Silent Hour, is set to be released August 4th! So, all you folks out there who told me you wanted to read Michael's books, get crackin' so you're up to speed by August! And make sure you let me know how you like them.

It'll be like Christmas in August! Happy Reading!

Meet New Author James Fredericks!

Not long ago, I was contacted via e-mail by a woman from Bascom Hill Publishing Group. She asked if I would be interested in reading James Fredericks' debut novel Brother. I looked it up, and it sounded like something I might enjoy reading. Plus, as luck would have it, I was in between reading obligations at the time. So, I said "certainly." I was wrong about enjoying it, though. I LOVED it! As I mentioned in my review, it's a fast-paced book; the pages almost turned themselves. I'm telling you, this is a writer to keep your eyes on because he is talented!

Since I loved the book so much, I definitely had to see if James would agree to do an interview with me. He graciously consented, and so now I'm thrilled to share my interview with you. May I introduce to you, Mr. James Fredericks...

Q. You mention on your website that you'd always wanted to write. What fostered that desire for you? Why a legal thriller?

James: Writing for me grew out of my love for reading. I read everything I can get my hands on, from Sci-Fi and Fantasy, to Mysteries, to Thrillers, to Biographies, to Histories. Eventually I realized I wanted to write my own books. I think it all crystallized when I read The World According to Garp by John Irving - although it took a long time to get there!

The novel didn't start out as a legal thriller - it just kind of evolved from a relationship novel and grew as I explored issues of motive and murder.

Q. Do you feel that there is anyone who has influenced your writing style?

James: As I mentioned, I love all kinds of books. I love books that are tightly written, and keep you wanting to turn the pages - Robert Parker does a great job with this - but I also love books that make you want to linger over individual sentences, and paragraphs: books you feel such a great regret when they end, and books you envy other people for having not yet read them. Pat Conroy comes to mind here. I wanted to strike a balance between these two, to create a novel that reads "cleanly" and makes the reader want to turn the pages, while writing in a style that's interesting and enjoyable by itself. Don't know whether I'm there yet, but it's something to strive for!

Note from Jen: uhm, do you think he modeled this answer after my review? Did I not mention all this about his book? If he's not there yet, he's pretty gosh darned close!

Q. You've worked as a "top executive" for some Fortune 500 companies. Did any of your experiences in these positions find their ways into the novel? I wouldn't think that such positions would lend themselves to the knowledge necessary to write Brother. What kind of research, if any, did you have to do?

James: Not really, although I probably understand Ev's world better than the other guys. My circle of friends consists mostly of lawyers, so I've had good second-hand experience over the years in trial and corporate law. In terms of research, I had the great luxury of having the ear and eyes of one of the nation's top trial attorneys, Kenneth Bell, who read early drafts and commented. I spoke with twins who shared their experiences, and with ex-Army guys to gain perspective. The rest of my research was mostly online. The Internet is such a great tool when you're sitting in a coffee shop writing.

Q. Are the characters of Chase or Jared based on any actual people - do either have any of your own characteristics (like did you play the piano or play basketball) - or were they born entirely from your imagination? How about the other "brothers"?

James: The whole notion of a circle of friends comes directly from my own friendships. I have a circle of friends much like Chase does. I tell people at my signings that the friends in the book are younger, better-looking, more talented versions of these friends - although that's not true in all cases! I do know a guy very like Chase, and I've always played the piano. Aside from that, most of the broad descriptions are fictitious, although I've adopted a lot of characteristics, habits, and predilections.

Q. The sympathetic pains between Chase and Jared play a rather significant role in the novel. Is that why you chose to use twins over just plain brothers?

James: No, that came later. I originally didn't have them as part of the book, and an early reader mentioned twins she knew, and how they experienced such pains and feelings. She thought it would make a nice addition to the story line of the brothers, and I agreed. I think she was right - it added a lot to the relationship. I've read a fair number of hackneyed twin stories over the years, and wanted to do something a bit different, where the twin part was somewhat accidental, yet still critical to the story, without being clichèd.

Q. I'm very impressed with the female characters in your novel. I have to admit that I'm turned off by the "damsel in distress" stereotype. And I also dislike female characters that seem more silly than substantive. Reagan has a great balance. She's intelligent and strong, but she isn't an unbelievable superwoman either. Was there an inspiration for Reagan?

James: Thank you, first. Reagan has a lot of the characteristics of my wife. She's a strong, independent woman, who's playful, but smart, supportive but confident, and good looking, too! If anything Reagan is an understated version.

Q. I'm always intrigued by the process authors use to come up with their book titles. And "Brother" obviously has multiple connotations in this novel. Did you originally think, "hey, I want to write a book about brothers" or was this complex idea about a frame-up rolling around in your mind and a brotherhood concept fit well into it?

James: Good question. I had the idea for two different novels - or at least I thought I did. The whole notion of the frame-up came to me as an interesting murder/motive story. Separately I had the notion of writing a relationship novel about the brothers. Eventually I realized it could be a single novel. The title didn't come to me until after I had finished the book. My original working title was The Last Beach Weekend. Then I liked Thicker than Water. Finally I realized there was a good, single-word descriptor that worked, and I fell in love with Brother, and stuck with it, even after my publisher wanted to change it.

Q. You mentioned on your website how Jared kind of forced his way to the forefront as you were writing - he wasn't originally meant to be such a prominent character. So the process must take on a bit of a life of its own, but do you initially try to outline for your writing or have some other structured process? Or do you just let the characters drive the development?

James: I had only a very general outline of the story and of the characters. I fleshed out the characters more as the story grew. I think the story drove the character development more than the other way around. I had very lengthy character descriptions, and sadly left a lot of chapters on the cutting-room floor to make sure the novel moved along.

Q. So, right now you're working on your MFA, obviously doing some promotional work for Brother. You mentioned that another book focused more on Jared may be in the future. Do you have any time for hobbies or other outside interests amidst all this?

James: Some. I think it's important to have a fairly well-rounded life. I never wanted to be the kind of writer that sat and suffered in my attic while churning out pages. I love to cook, enjoy working out, still sit and play the piano, and enjoy spending time with my family and friends. And I love to travel, particularly with my wife and children.

Q. Given the fact that Lookout and Garth play such important roles in the book, I'm guessing you're a dog-lover? Do you have a dog?

James: Still looking! We had a great dog that sadly passed away, and we've never found his replacement. I hope, though, that we'll have a new family addition soon (dog, not child!).

Q. The final question I always like to ask in my interviews comes from a book that's out called Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure. What would be YOUR six-word memoir?

James: That's a tough one! How about this: His family, his friends; his legacy.

I like it! Thank you so much, Jim, for taking the time to answer my questions! I truly enjoyed your interview, and I look forward to more books in the future. And I especially have to thank James for sending me these AWESOME candid pictures to include with the interview. Don't you think they added a lot? The ones with the beautiful backdrops there are from Italy by the way.

Be sure to check out James' website here to learn more fun stuff about this fascinating author. I know you will be hearing his name a lot in the future!

Happy Reading!

More on Books for Gifts

Notice my big, pretty button over there in my sidebar? There's a movement going on to encourage folks to buy books as gifts this holiday season. I don't need prompting to do this, of course. And to be honest with you, I don't buy books as gifts to "help the industry." Sorry guys. I buy books because I believe they are wonderful gifts. If you receive a book from me, it's a big deal. You know I think very highly of you to bestow such a treasure on you.

Here's an even bigger reason I think we should consider giving books as gifts: we need to remember that reading itself is a gift. In this country too many of us take that for granted. And sadly for many, reading is a difficult task. We need to start valuing the act of reading again. It gives us the power and freedom to choose our destinies. It gives us entertainment. We can travel to worlds we wouldn't otherwise experience. We can even touch base with our imaginations. Most of us buried those long ago. Reading enlightens us, educates us. It can even bring us together. One of the greatest joys in my life is reading with my niece and nephew. Another is sharing my reading experiences with all of you!

There are so many people in countries less fortunate than ours who would give anything to be able to learn to read. Let's remember how priceless the ability to read is and nurture that gift!

Over at Books for the Holidays they have some book suggestions for people on your gift lists. I, thought what I would do is give you my list of books that are still in contention for my Top 10 reads of 2008. I, of course, will still have to narrow this list down, but these books I thought were wonderful and would therefore recommend them for mystery fans. Each is linked to the review I did for the book. Here you go:

• The Great Santini (Pat Conroy)
• The Crime Writer (Gregg Hurwitz)
• The Mistress of the Art of Death (Ariana Franklin)
• The Serpent's Tale (Ariana Franklin)
• One Drop of Blood (Thomas Holland)
• K.I.A. (Thomas Holland)
• Shutter Island (Dennis Lehane)
• Dead Connection (Alafair Burke) - Tyson seconds this one ;)
• Angel's Tip (Alafair Burke)
• The Fourth Watcher (Timothy Hallinan)
• The Cold Dish (Craig Johnson)
• Envy the Night (Michael Koryta)
• The Book Thief (Markus Zusak)
• Chasing Darkness (Robert Crais)
• Power in the Blood (Michael Lister)
• A Carrion Death (Michael Stanley)
• Tilt-A-Whirl (Chris Grabenstein)
• Mad Mouse (Chris Grabenstein)
• Whack-A-Mole (Chris Grabenstein)
• Brother (James Fredericks)

I'm also reading a book right now called Shadow of the Wind. It is written by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. I think this will also be a contender for my top 10. It'll be hard to whittle my list down to 10; it's been such a great reading year.

But, this is just from my reading experience. What can YOU guys add to this list based on what YOU'VE read? Together lets create a great list of options for anyone looking for ideas for the mystery lover!

Happy Reading!!

Accepting Criticism

I have to share this incident with you all, if you haven't heard about it already. I have mentioned Trish's blog, Hey Lady Whatcha Readin', on here before, and she experienced a rather unprofessional response from a writer who asked her to read his book. A friend of Trish's posted a little about the incident on her blog, and because of all this I've decided that I'm going to address the subject here on my blog as well.

If I am asked to read a book, the first thing I do is find out from the summary if the book sounds like something I would enjoy reading. I would never accept something that isn't "my taste." That isn't fair to the writer. If I think it would be something I would enjoy, I agree to read it, but that's the only agreement I make. Beyond that, I agree only to be fair and honest in my review. If there is something I like or don't like about the book, I try to explain WHY in my review. When I'm excited about a book, that excitement comes through in my review; that isn't something I can fake. And quite frankly, I wouldn't fake it if I could. I would lose credibility that way. And while my credibility isn't important to many folks, it is important to me. It's kind of like going out on a date. Just because a guy pays for a date doesn't mean he's entitled to whatever he wants - or vice versa! Just as my body belongs to me, so do my mind and my opinions. Giving me a book doesn't entitle you to own my opinions. If you believe that it does, please don't even ask me to read your book.

I do make an effort to find something positive about every book I read. And I would NEVER go out of my way to be vicious or cruel. On the rare occasions that I give up on a book altogether, I don't review it.

So, those are the only promises I can make in regards to my reviews. Please remember, this is JEN'S Book Thoughts, no one else's.

Thanks!

The Vig - John Lescroart

In the second book of the Dismas Hardy series by John Lescroart, Dismas is visited by Rusty Ingraham, an old colleague from the District Attorney's office. It seems Louis Baker, a defendent that swore he'd kill both Rusty and Dismas when he was released is preparing to be released. Rusty fears this con will actually come after them, so he asks Dismas to set up a check system. Dismas calls Rusty each morning at 10a.m. and Rusty calls Dismas each night at 10p.m. If either one doesn't call or isn't available when the call comes, the other goes looking for him...or gets the heck outta Dodge!

The very first night of Baker's release Rusty doesn't call, and Dismas finds Rusty's house boat to be the scene of a murder. Dismas is determined to make sure that Baker is nailed for the murder, so he's on the case. But when it starts to look like Baker ISN'T the murderer, Dismas has to figure out who really IS guilty.

I listened to this novel on audio, and I have to say I really enjoy this reader, David Colacci. He also read the Dead Irish audiobook. He does a great job of creating distinct voices for the characters, the females a little less so than the males. He also doesn't get overly dramatic. Too much drama starts to make everything seem more unbelievable, sometimes even silly. Colacci does a great job of avoiding that pitfall.

There wasn't much mystery to this plot - I believe Lescroart intended it that way. The focus was supposed to be on the process and the insight into Hardy's psyche. It was a slower moving story line as well. I felt that there was too much extra stuff that wasn't really important to the main plot idea, which was sort of the point, that all these coincidences tied in at just the right time to make the investigation more complicated than it had to be. However, for me that seemed to make the plot loose and all over the place. There seems to be a rather unimportant subplot that deals with Baker's neighborhood. Lescroart makes a connection through Baker, but it definitely could have been left out and not had much effect overall. There's also a subplot about the soon-to-be ex-husband of the murdered woman. Lescroart added a lot more detail about him that was actually necessary in my opinion.

There's also a subplot with Hardy and Frannie, Hardy's business partner's sister. That didn't play into the main plot at all. And I was trying to decide why it was not sitting right with me, besides the fact that it really doesn't affect the main plot. I guess the reason is because he only JUST got back together with his ex-wife Jane at the end of the last novel, which is only supposed to take place a few months before this one. And they seemed to be rather serious about getting back together then poof it's over already, and he's completely in love with Frannie. Hardy also commits the big no-no for me when it comes to the "girlfriend." He thinks he prefers Frannie over Jane not because he doesn't LOVE Jane (he thinks he loves both women), but because Frannie NEEDS him. (Insert very dramatic eye roll here.) That whole thing was a little too soap opera-y for me.

All is all, I preferred Dead Irish to this book. But it was still a good book for the car rides back and forth to work. I'll continue the series. And I do still like Hardy as a series character despite that faux pas. I had to chuckle at a few of the dated details in the book. For example, Abe, Hardy's police detective friend, has a son named O.J. And Hardy has his share of good one-liners, that always adds to a crime fiction novel. So, I'm not ready to hang up this series yet. We'll see how things go.

Book Blogger Directory

I wanted to share the Word of the Day with you today. I get the e-mails from Dictionary.com every day and usually I fall behind on reading them because there just aren't enough hours in the day. Plus, I'm trying to figure out an effective way to actually work them into my vocabulary. Just reading the e-mail doesn't usually make it stick. But anyway...

Today's word is horripilation. Doesn't that just LOOK like a fun word? Well, turns out it fits very well for me and come hell or high water, I need to remember this word. It means "the act or process of the hair bristling on the skin, as from cold or fear; goose flesh." The better part of every winter I spend in a state of horripilation, and today as I was walking into work seeing little bitty snow particles coming down I was reminded that winter's here. Ick!

So, now on to the important stuff. One of the goals of the Book Blogger Appreciation Week was compiling a directory of book bloggers. That directory has been completed, and you can find it here. I'm ashamed to say I'm not exactly sure who all had a hand in creating this, but I know Amy from My Friend Amy's blog was the organizer of Book Blogger Appreciation Week and therefore highly involved. But my hat is off to everyone who worked on this because it is incredibly nice. You can search by topic or just have a look at everyone who's in the directory. Know someone, even yourself, who should be in the directory and isn't? Suggest them! There's an option to do just that at the site. Definitely take a minute or two to check it out. It's impressive. And feel free to pass the word as well!

Stay warm and happy reading!

More Senseless Ponderings for Sunday

I've noticed that a lot of people feel very passionately about Oprah's book recommendations or "lists" like The New York Times Best Seller List or some arbitrary group's Best Books of All Times List.

I have to admit that I don't feel so passionately one way or the other with the exception of the "Best Book" lists. Reading is too personal an experience to have any list titled that. "Best" is just too subjective a term - you can't measure best by any given standard. Everyone's "best" is different...however, I digress.

My pondering on this topic is - do you read a book just because Oprah recommends it or because it's on a best seller list? Or are you possibly one of those people who goes to the other end of the spectrum and REFUSES to read a book because it's on Oprah's recommended list? Me? I don't really care what kind of labels are on the covers; I care what's between the covers. I've read books that Oprah ended up recommending, some I've enjoyed, some I haven't. NYTimes Best Seller list, I've read some of those, too. The Audacity of Hope is one of the greatest non-fiction works I've ever read - I was so motivated to go out and DO SOMETHING after reading that book. Don't regret picking it up at all. Likewise I've read Suze Orman and picked up some great investment advice written at a level I could understand. I enjoy reading Robert Crais, Harlan Coben, Linda Fairstein, Kathy Reichs, Dennis Lehane, Michael Connelly, Pat Conroy. I believe they've all made the NYTimes Best Seller list at some point. AND I'm not a fan of James Patterson, but he makes that list before the books even hit the stores it seems like.

And of course there are all the books that never make any "list" and so many of them are just amazing. I find it such a shame that the masses for the most part remain completely ignorant to their existence. That's part of why I have this blog. I boil over with excitement at the opportunity to share Michael Koryta or Chris Grabenstein or Thomas Holland or James Fredericks with everyone. Sometimes I'm so excited that I can't get the words our right! ;)

And thus the question to ponder: I have a hard time understanding why people would limit themselves by either saying, "I can't read ANYTHING on that list" or "I can't read it if DOESN'T make the list." If you have one of these philosophies, can you tell me why you have it? How do you choose what you read from ALL the incredible offerings that are available to us?

If that wasn't enough for one post, I'm also pondering Christmas gifts this time of year. I give a lot of books for gifts. If anyone in my family specifically asks for a book, it's a safe bet they'll receive it from me - provided it isn't some obscure signed, out-of-print job that would cost $500 or something. I LOVE to give books! One of my sisters, my dad and my brother-in-law all enjoy books similar to what I enjoy, so when I find something special, they'll often receive a copy of it. Last Christmas Michael Koryta made the rounds under our Christmas tree. This year, I'm still deciding. I have a few books I'm considering.

And of course my niece and nephew have to receive books as well. Payton is 7 and Ryan is 3. Both love stories! Payton is reading on her own now, but she still likes to be read to as well. Ryan is going to get his very own personal ABC book this year. I scrapbook an ABC book with pictures of him throughout. He's just now starting to identify letters. Payton received her several years ago.

Do you give books for gifts?

Well, if I don't get some work done on that ABC book, Ryan will be receiving it for his birthday instead of Christmas. Have fun pondering, and happy reading!!

A Question to Ponder...

I've seen mentioned a number places now that a top 10 of irritating expressions has been compiled by researchers at Oxford University. Here's the list:

1 - At the end of the day
2 - Fairly unique
3 - I personally
4 - At this moment in time
5 - With all due respect
6 - Absolutely
7 - It's a nightmare
8 - Shouldn't of
9 - 24/7
10 - It's not rocket science

In addition to this, there was an extensive discussion on the DorothyL list serve about the use of "all right" and "alright". The discussion on this topic was so extensive that after awhile I was asking out loud, "have we not beaten this one to death, yet?" And even more "Is it something that's actually important enough to beat to death?"

So, here's my question to ponder. I believe that the English language...or at least American English...is a living, breathing entity. It grows and changes, parts die, new parts are born. The people who use it dictate that life.

The word "alright" is in my dictionary and its definition is listed as "all right." So, it seems to me that alright has been absorbed into our language as a synonym for all right.

I guess what I'm asking is if these phrases are used "incorrectly" so often, are they actually "incorrect" anymore or have they simply taken on a new meaning? Do we understand the message that is trying to be communicated? If something is being misused and it creates confusion, that's an entirely different situation. But if we're just being obstinate about "rules," we're going to be left behind.

Language has always morphed. That's its nature. If you look at where words and phrases started and their progression throughout their lifetimes, it's fascinating.

I say, "let 'em live!"

In the Heart...

I'm reading a book called The Shadow of the Wind for my book club. It was published in 2001 and translated to English in 2004, so you've probably all heard of it...I'm the one who's been in the dark. Anyway...

At the beginning of the book there's a passage that reads:

Once, in my father's bookshop, I heard a regular customer say that few things leave a deeper mark on a reader than the first book that finds its way into his heart. Those first images, the echo of words we think we have left behind, accompany us throughout our lives and sculpt a palace in our memory to which, sooner or later - no matter how many books we read, how many worlds we discover, or how much we learn or forget - we will return.

So, I started thinking about what this book would have been for me. I know there are some books that left a distinct impression on me and my love of reading early in my life...Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Boxcar Children series, The Mouse and the Motorcycle, Sideways Stories from Wayside School, and a tad bit later, Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret. I can't tell you which I read first. They almost all came into my life around the time I was in the third grade, so somewhere around the time I was 8. That was when I REALLY started to LOVE books. I couldn't get enough of them. And each of those books left a different impression on me for different elements. Charlie was just amazing in all the wonder of the chocolate factory. What kid wouldn't be enveloped by that whole magical setting? The Boxcar Children were my first mystery books. I never really did the Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys thing, but my third grade teacher introduced me to The Boxcar Children. She brought in her complete set of the original series - all hardbound, and I read each and every one from cover to cover during our personal reading time in class. Sideways Stories from Wayside School was just too much fun for a child my age. I absolutely LOVED the "ah ha! gotcha" moment in every story. And Beverly Cleary is definitely the author who initiated my love of character. Ralph was definitely my favorite, but don't think I didn't devour each Ramona story as well.

But I also remember the effects Gone With the Wind and The Thornbirds had on me when I read them the summer I was in Junior High School. I'm sure it has something to do with the raging hormones at that stage of life! ;) Or Johnny Tremain during my sixth grade year - I was hooked on historical fiction after Johnny Tremain. A Wrinkle in Time as a fifth grader was one of the few sci-fi books that ever grabbed me. To this day, I'm not a big fan of sci-fi, but I'd pick up A Wrinkle in Time again. It's one I'll make sure my niece and nephew have the chance to read.

My freshman year in college Dante's Inferno from The Divine Comedy had a HUGE effect on me spiritually, intellectually...WOW! I think that was the book that sparked my love of TALKING about books. I was brimming with excitement about this book and it was just too much to contain. I needed to share my thoughts and ideas with other people...the people in my class...my mom on the phone. And my mom isn't a book junkie like me. I'm sure she probably set the receiver down while I talked and went about her housework, checking back ever so often and saying "yes, dear". But I just HAD to talk about that book...I haven't shut up talking about books since!

So maybe what this passage from Shadow of the Wind is saying is that this mark the book leaves isn't necessarily the mark that has the biggest effect on you, but rather it's like a first crush. You're completely convinced that you're in love with this person and there can be no one else in the world for you (at 6 or 7 or 8 ha!). You don't ever forget that person and there are others who eventually come along that you feel more passionately about - who have a bigger effect on your life, but that first mark on your heart is one that stays there forever in a very special place, captured and frozen - never to be disenchanted because you always remember it as perfect!

So which book was YOUR first crush? Which left the first mark on YOUR heart?

Whack-A-Mole - Chris Grabenstein

Whack-A-Mole is the third book in the John Ceepak/Danny Boyle mystery series. In this installment, Danny is now a full-time officer with the Sea Haven Police Department, so he's carrying a gun. But, fear not, he scored very well at the academy and knows how to handle himself with a firearm. This new accessory to his uniform comes in handy when John and Danny have to find the killer who has buried the heads of his victims on the beach. In the middle of winter, this might not have been such a problem, but in the middle of summer and in the midst of Sea Haven's first ever sand sculpting contest this discovery is far from "convenient."

With a plethora of possible suspects and a police chief who doesn't want to take the time to do the job right - just keep it low-key, Ceepak and Danny are once again challenged in their efforts to "save the day."

Each book in this series pulls me in and mesmerizes me. I am so fascinated with the development of all the characters in this series. But of course, Ceepak and Danny are the main focus. In each book John Ceepak has revealed a characteristic that makes me absolutely adore him more. In Tilt-A-Whirl, the first book, simply the fact that he was such a goody-goody drew me in. In Mad Mouse, John showed his interest in the environment. And now in Whack-a-Mole, we see his love for animals:

Two weeks ago we collared this dog. A stray. You might be surprised how many families come down the shore with their four-legged friends, decide they're sick and tired of scooping up poop, and set their beloved pets free.

Of course it's against the posted regulations and all sorts of municipal ordinances to have doggy scavengers running around loose on the beach, begging at every umbrella for Pringles or the last licks on a Fudgsicle. Eventually, somebody notices and calls the cops. With the help of a long, looped pole, we eventually nab the perp.

Ceepak, however, is the only cop who actually visits his prisoners at the South Shore Animal Shelter in Avondale. He even gave this one particular pooch a name: Barkley. He said it's a classic.

You can't help but admire a guy who respects animals like that.

And Danny is maturing in each novel, slowly, but still maturing. The admiration he shows for Ceepak is endearing. The relationship between the two is so multi-faceted. At some points it's very father-son in nature; at other times, it's buddy-buddy; and there are also times when it's definitely mentor-mentee. They learn from each other, and that seems to be what makes their relationship work. Danny has his roles and responsibilities and Ceepak has his.

One of Danny's roles in the novel (not necessarily in the relationship) is comic relief. His sarcastic humor is so much fun. Grabenstein is definitely making fun of the tackiness in a commercial "vacation spot," and that's light and fun, but the weight of the events transpiring in the tacky vacation spot is overwhelmingly heavy and daunting. Danny and Ceepak seem to reflect those two ends of the spectrum, and Danny is the light and fun end of the spectrum. I see this distinction in a comment Danny makes toward the end of the novel:

Chief, were you listening? I want to say. He spelled it out, right there in the middle of his THANK YOU card! He lives his life under the Son? Duh. Buy a vowel, big guy.

But I don't say any of this because I've become sort of accustomed to receiving a paycheck on a regular basis. Besides, Ceepak will say it better than I ever could. He knows how to remain professional in all circumstances. Even on the days when the boss forgets to pack his brains.

But, I also believe the two partners are, through the course of the series, walking toward the middle of that spectrum - not remaining on the ends. When this passage continues, Ceepak's reaction to the Chief is "'Sir - were you listening to what I just read?'" After which, he walks out on the Chief.

And if anyone reflects the tacky vacation spot itself, it would have be the Chief. It's all about the politics with him. That's his job and that adds dimension to the plot. As does Sergeant Santucci! Being a child of the 80s, I couldn't help but think of Rosco P. Coltraine as Santucci fired willy-nilly at Mama Shucker's restaurant.

With all this comedy, you might think that the plot would be basic, maybe even silly; however, you would be completely wrong in that thinking. Grabenstein's plots never fail to involve a complexity unlike any other. The dichotomy is undoubtedly what makes this series work so flawlessly. In Whack-a-Mole, Grabenstein tackles a very heavy subject: religious extremism. The significance of Ceepak's initials even come into play in this novel.

And for me, one of the most fascinating elements in each of Grabenstein's novels is the connection of the title to the plot. Whack-a-Mole is, of course, a carnival game and a game that is found in Sea Haven. But Whack-a-Mole is also symbolic when Ceepak and Boyle are digging holes across the beach that contain heads. And finally, Whack-a-Mole is significant in the search to find the killer. One suspect pops up and then disappears while another pops up somewhere else. The first suspect comes back again as a possibility and then goes away. Can the game ever be won? Will the mole ever be whacked?

So, all in all, you can read a Chris Grabenstein novel and enjoy just the surface of it. There are a lot of laughs and a great "who-dunnit" plot. But if you delve even deeper, you'll find your reading experience to be far more challenging and fulfilling.

**If you didn't have a chance to check out my interview with Chris Grabenstein, you can see it here. It's definitely one you don't want to miss!

YES!

Congratulations to the 44th president of the United States of America, Barack Obama. I am proud to call myself an American today...and I am thrilled to say, "I have HOPE!"

Brother - James Fredericks

Chase Riordan is a former assistant district attorney turned defense attorney who is making a big name for himself - defending murder suspects. When the conclusion of Chase's third murder defense ends with the third defendant being found not guilty, Chase begins to wonder about commonalities between all of these cases. And a fourth suspect shows up on his doorstep asking for his help, but before she can be brought to trial, the charges are dropped and Chase becomes the murder suspect.

As if this wasn't enough for one lifetime, Chase also has a twin brother, Jared, who was in the Army and is now in an Army mental health facility. Each Sunday when Chase goes to visit a practically comatose Jared, he feels that things are not right in this place, and those feelings are reinforced when an old superior of Jared's pays Chase a clandestine visit.

The final element of this book is the circle of friends: Chase and his four closest friends Lionel, Ev, Peter and Randy. They've been friends for the better part of two decades. And Chase's ordeal puts their friendship to the ultimate test.

I have not read a legal thriller this good in years. This is James Fredericks' debut and it is in the vein of early John Grisham. Absolutely OUTSTANDING. This book has lawyers, reporters, the FBI, the Army, and of course political elements. What more could you want from a legal thriller? And while it may seem like a lot for one book, I can tell you that Fredericks did a magnificent job of crafting it altogether so that if any one element was missing, there would be a significant hole in the plot. The book is a long one, and under most circumstances, I would have said maybe Jared's events should have been one book and Chase's another, but the way Fredericks uses the two subplots together is ingenious. And those two subplots together with the circle of friends highlights all the multitude of meanings that the title holds for this book. It is really masterfully written.

And of course you know that I wouldn't rave this much about a book if it didn't have amazing characters. Fredericks subtly develops the characters in this book so that by the last page you know each of them as though you, yourself, were in the "circle." True to the title, the book is primarily a group of male characters. However, the one main female character, Reagan, is a credit to Fredericks. Reagan is a strong character, but not a superwoman. She's intelligent. She's supportive, but not subordinate. And while Fredericks does initially describe her as being very beautiful, he doesn't focus on this quality at all. I also enjoyed his supporting character, Kasey. Another female character who doesn't fall into a stereotype. These two female roles are a credit to Fredericks' ability to craft unique, rich characters.

Fredericks most amazing character work is definitely with Chase and Jared, though. Twins can be a recipe for cliche disaster. And I began to worry about that with this passage:

When Jared had broken his leg falling off a swing at age nine, Chase has been playing basketball in the adjoining playground. As Jared yelled with the impact, Chase stumbled to the ground while going up for a jump shot. Rarely was the connection quite so acute as that, but ever since that day, Jared and Chase had become more and more accustomed to the daily twinges and emotional swings their connection entailed. Over time the two learned to shield themselves from the effects and only the more severe feelings got through: the pains of body and soul.

However, Fredericks uses this tidbit in the most effective way possible. He doesn't abuse it or overuse it. It's in the background and it creates a link for two brothers who, for all intents and purposes, couldn't be more different. I never found it unbelievable at all.

I will add quickly that my favorite characters were Garth and Lookout. So you'll have to read the book to find out who they are! :)

And finally I have to touch on some of the gripping writing style. I was mesmerized reading this passage from a courtroom scene:

There were key moments in every trial, Chase found, when the world came into better focus. It had been the same on the basketball court. A moment came when the world stopped and the texture of the basketball, the lines in the floor, the colors in the crowd, the coordinated movements of his teammates and the opponents, all could be perceived as part of an elaborate mosaic. In court it sometimes came during the questioning of a witness, or after opening arguments. Today it came as the crowd filed out of the courtroom. All of a sudden he could hear every sound clearly - the fabrics moving against skin, the low whispers, the pressing of cell phone buttons, the rubber and leather of footwear padding along the floor. He smelled the tobacco, the perfumes, the aftershaves. He noticed the patterns in the wood grain of the table. Rufus came and sat next to him. Chase could swear he could smell the fear, the anger, the weariness.

This novel has a quick pace, which is natural for a thriller, but the intensity of this passage slows the pace down momentarily and makes you more aware of what's going on all around. It heightens the drama of a murder trial. But most importantly it pulls you, the reader, into the book. You're suddenly sitting in that courtroom seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling. And it's all happening in slow motion so you can turn a 360 degree circle and take it all in. That's the magic of great writing!

The September/October Roundup

I never got around to making this post for September, so I'll include it with my October reading recap. It's been a good couple of reading months. Here's what I read:

September:

• The Serpent's Tale (Ariana Franklin)


• Power in the Blood (Michael Lister)


• White Doves at Morning (James Lee Burke)


• Red Light (T. Jefferson Parker)


• Freezing Point (Karen Dionne)


• Missing Justice (Alafair Burke)


• A Carrion Death (Michael Stanley)


• Dirty Laundry (Paula Woods)


• Mausoleum (Justin Scott)


• Tilt-A-Whirl (Chris Grabenstein)

October

• Mad Mouse (Chris Grabenstein)


• When Darkness Falls (James Grippando)


• The Big O (Declan Burke)


• Bleeders (Bill Pronzini)


• Rainy City (Earl Emerson)


• Playing With the Enemy (Gary Moore)


• Butcher's Hill (Laura Lippman)


• Precious Blood (Jonathan Hayes)

And I'm off to a great start with November, too. Hope your fall reading has been great thus far, and don't forget to set your clocks tomorrow and vote on or before Tuesday! Happy Reading!