If you're thinking of reading this, let me help: just say no!
Since I don't usually read history, I was surprised that I enjoyed this book. It is odd, in that it is a collection of essays about historical figures, but amplified by fictional detail and dialog, in the spirit of Schama, but on steroids. Kind of a Readers Digest vibe though.
Maeda is a professor at MIT and associate director of the MIT Media Lab. This is a worthwhile little book whose target audience is probably folks who do product design (hardware or software). I particularly liked the first four of Maeda's 10 laws; you can read about them on his web site at lawsofsimplicity.com.
I like the Reacher series, by Lee Child. This one wasn't his best work though.
This was an enjoyable suspense novel. The heroes are associated with a security firm which is, apparently, the subject of several other books by this author. I won't go out of my way to look for them, but this was a decent read.
I keep reading - even though many, perhaps most of the novels I read aren't very good, or are good but not great, and almost never fantastic. I keep reading because I know that eventually I will happen upon another wonderful book, a novel so interesting, well written and effective that finding it will make slogging through the chaff worth while.
This book was interesting, frustrating, then even more frustrating. The narrative style was to intersperse scenes from different times: future, present, past. The plot was - well, that's where the word frustrating comes in.
This is an excellent, suspenseful novel. I look forward to reading more of this author's work.
I enjoyed this more than any other of James Patterson's books. Probably because it wasn't about the "women's murder club" and because while there were murders (well it is that sort of novel), they weren't of the annoying, "kill off the main characters' close friends and family" variety.
After my prior experience with Ms. Tan's "bombshell" press, I promised myself never again. But it turns out I'd already requested this book from the library. And when it arrived, well how could I not read a library book ordered just for me?
I participated in a business event last night at the famed 21 Club in New York City, dining in the wine cellar. Which piqued my interest to learn more about the history of the restaurant, hence this book.
This book was a disappointment and it was painful to read too.
Because I enjoyed Ms. Tan's other novels, I decided to read everything she wrote. That was before I realized what the "Silhouette bombshell" series (of which this book is a member) is all about: "... stories with action, emotion and a touch of romance, featuring strong, sexy heroines who speak to the women of today." Yikes.
This was an okay mystery novel. It featurs a recurring policeman as the hero, one who's been around quite a while in Mr. Sandford's books.
I really liked this book. I found the characters to be amusing caricatures, much of the dialog simply delightful, the details about art fascinating and the plot, although convoluted, tied up nicely at the end.
It really bugged me to read the author's biographical note on the inside back cover of this book and learn that it is "... her first novel for adults." Because I really liked her three other (kids?) books. A lot. In fact, more than I liked this one.
In spite of my disappointment with the last Ted Bell novel I read, I gave this one a shot. I'm glad I did.
I really enjoyed Ms. Tan's prior book, and had high expectations for this one. Which were well met. A very enjoyable read, although not quite as good as the first.
The author used up his full allotment of adjectives in this book. Here's the first paragraph:
A pleasure to read, a great action / suspense / mystery novel. Sort of. From a criminal's point of view. I didn't, however, enjoy the ending.
This novel, set in Russia, features a criminal who is the hero albeit not such a nice fellow. While I could do without the gore, it is a very good book with very strong writing.
This is not Mr. Baldacci's best work. In fact I was nervous about starting it after just the first page of prologue, which included this dialog:
It took me many pages to realize I'd read this book before. Since I was on a long flight, and had exhausted the other paperbacks I had with me (see prior four posts!), I kept reading.
A very good, suspenseful mystery / action / suspense / intrigue novel.
Good fun with an interesting female spy as the hero. Definitely want to read the other books in Ms. Tan's series.
The writing was repetitive. Slow character development. I don't plan to bother to read the next volume in the series.
This is an action / adventure / geek book. Or at least is supposed to be: the hero works for an arm of DARPA, has a doctorate in something, and is supposed to be an intellectual James Bond. Well, not quite. But the action / adventure part is there. As is conspiracy theories ala Dan Brown, odd religious ties, and all that kind of stuff.
