Civil War Toy Soldiers

Beginner's Greek by James Collins: Peter, though, is the catalyst for this novel, and his struggle to do the right thing and behave the correct way often gets in the way of his own happiness. When James Collins is moving the novel through Peter's actions and frustrations, the romantic comedy skips along its merry path. For the most part, Beginner's Greek is an enjoyable romp of the heart and mind. It's not completely believable, but that's not necessary. It's about love, true love, and how it can overcome all obstacles. That's what we all want to believe in. Right? Well, at least it's true in Beginner's Greek and we should enjoy it while we can.

The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde: The Big Over Easy is silly, entertaining, and unlike any murder mystery you've read before. Whether you enjoy reading humor or mystery, Jasper Fforde can satisfy both tastes with this novel. If you enjoy them both, especially if they're done over the top, then The Big Over Easy is right up your alley. Just go along for the ride with Jack Spratt and Mary Mary and be prepared for non-stop plot twists and a fairy tale ending. Oh, did I mention the beanstalk?

The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani: The plot in The Blood of Flowers flows smoothly and quickly. While not a novel of taut suspense, the threads of the young narrator's life and her relationships with the different women in her life create a literary fabric that might rival the Persian carpets of the story.

Blood of Victory by Alan Furst: Blood of Victory is not a powerful book that grabs your emotions or one that is filled with war action to keep pages turning quickly. The book is a quick read, though, since it weaves sympathetic characters through realistic depictions of life in Europe during 1940, and their humanity never plays second fiddle to the war story. Ilya Serebin could be a man turned cynical and self-centered by his unlucky lot in life, but in the midst of war, he continues to search for beauty and truth. In the guise of a spy story, Alan Furst has given us a story about a man with the courage to retain his humanity, his love, and his hopes in the face of evil. Without realizing how expertly he has drawn us into Serebin's world, we are enriched by the short time we've stayed with him.

Bangkok 8 by John Burdett: John Burdett has perfectly captured a sense of place that is so ultimately foreign to most of us and made it seem familiar. Even his mixture of different ethnicities, Thai, Khmer, Karen, Lao, Chinese, Russian, Burmese, and Siberian, gives this novel a feeling of the larger world outside the U.S. that we consistently ignore. Sonchai Jitpleecheep is our travel guide, daring us to think differently and inviting us to enjoy his home. Feel free to lose yourself within Bangkok 8 and enjoy your visit abroad. It's time well-spent. Bangkok 8 is one of those novels you finish with a smile on your face and warmth in your heart for a story, and a place, that is well told and satisfying.

Bangkok Haunts by John Burdett: Bangkok Haunts is another fascinating and entertaining excursion through Sonchai's world. The investigation of Damrong's murder allows him to educate us farang about his exotic world and different way of thinking. At the same time, it challenges Sonchai with forces that may be outside his control, in this world and the next. The novel never loses its pace or suspense, and it lets its humor and wit lift us above the dark story it tells. Bangkok Haunts finds John Burdett at the top of his game.

The Book of Illusions by Paul Auster: This is not a "feel good" book and it's not a story that will keep you turning pages to see what happens next. If you want a book to challenge your thoughts and emotions and perspective on life, then I can recommend it highly. Just don't think you'll put it down with a satisfied smile on your face.

Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay: Ultimately, this is a novel that has more going for it than against it. Dexter is an enjoyable sociopath and the mystery he must solve is a complex and interesting one. Darkly Dreaming Dexter never loses its pace or suspense and contains enough humor and insights to be an engaging novel. Each reader should decide beforehand whether the reservations I've mentioned above would detract from their enjoyment of Jeff Lindsay's mystery, because he's now working on his second Dexter book.

Annette Lybacki hopes that you found this piece helpful and invites you to read her articles on The 411 on Annuity Loans for some Hints and Tips on Annuity Loans.

Technorati Tags: book reviews, Books, fiction, hobby, mystery, novels, read, reading, reviews, science fiction, story

Tags: book reviews, Books, fiction, hobby, mystery, novels, read, reading, reviews, science fiction, story

Dave Barry's Money Secrets by Dave Barry: Dave Barry's Money Secrets is one of those books that makes you laugh out loud and then read that passage to whomever is with you, and then give them the book to read when you're done. Even though Dave Barry has retired from writing his weekly newspaper column, it's obvious his skill at writing humor still runs strongly within him. I can continue quoting humorous passages from the book, but do yourself a favor instead, and get your own copy.

Forever by Pete Hamill: Pete Hamill's endeavor was probably an impossible task. There is too much history, too many stories and interesting historical figures, to fit into one story of New York City. Cormac O'Connor fails to carry the story, and ultimately, the city is unable to carry it either. Pete Hamill's love for the city is evident throughout this book, and those already steeped in its history may find this novel more enjoyable than others. I suspect most readers, though, will finish it with a dissatisfied thud unless they've tossed it aside long before they get there.

The Diviners by Rick Moody: There are those who will probably enjoy this book more than I did. Those who know the people and industries satirized here or are part of that big city madness to make money, be seen at the right events, and profit at your adversary's mistakes. Perhaps more of those "aha" moments ring true to those intimately involved with them. For me, though, The Diviners was a disappointment on a promising premise that never played out to my satisfaction.

Divisadero by Michael Ondaatje: This is Michael Ondaatje's gift to the rest of us, his net for holding everything dear to us, even if it eventually leads to heartache and the divisions in our lives. There is nothing predictable in Divisadero and each thread leads to another story that mirrors each other, turning back on itself, so that even its divisions are blurred. This is the poetry of this novel, and the poetry of our lives, that has been expertly captured here.

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris: It's sentences like that grab your attention with his off-kilter way of telling about his life that makes you want to find out what it's all about. Fortunately, David Sedaris continues to deliver on the promise with more interesting, funny, and thought-provoking parts of his life. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim is a welcome addition to his private literary genre and a gift to the world that can always use more laughter. My time spent with David Sedaris passed too quickly, but this is a book that can be read again when a dose of laughter is needed. If you haven't read any of his work before, this is a fine place to start. If you're a fan of David Sedaris, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim is one you must read.

The Ghost by Robert Harris: Following Robert Harris' own explanation, The Ghost feels true. His characters act like we believe politicians would, and his intrigue and secrets, while surprising within the story, are unsurprising in the world of political theater where the ends often justify the means. While Adam Lang is not Tony Blair, Harris' outrage at recent history hits the nail on the head. The Ghost rises above political thriller to an eye-opening examination of the recent past and current issues. Whatever literary or political points he meant to score with The Ghost, Robert Harris has done so in both a thought-provoking and entertaining way.

Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips: Despite a few bumps along the way and some mean, pernicious behavior of the gods, Gods Behaving Badly eventually rescues itself from the traps it must avoid. When it tends to get repetitious or too over the top, Marie Phillips guides it back to a scene or setting that highlights human foibles or insights, and the novel is back on the road to being an entertaining read. Once Neil and Alice are confident enough to take over the novel, it glides full of humor to its immortal conclusion. Gods Behaving Badly is an original concept wrapped around a familiar theme, and the combination of the unique setting, absurd and lecherous as it is, with a sweet love story makes it a successful debut novel for Marie Phillips. While you can't necessarily count on the gods to do the right thing, reading Gods Behaving Badly is a safe bet for any reader.

The Great Fire by Shirley Hazzard: All this makes The Great Fire an easy book to put down, and difficult to read at times. Ultimately, there's little invested in the characters besides some gentle interest as to how each of their stories would play out. The plot, whether it be the love story or the different reactions by each character to the postwar world, is slight and never consuming. Others may be able to look past these shortcomings and indulge themselves in the fine literary qualities presented in this novel, and enjoy it much more than I did. For me, it was like going to a movie or a play where the scenery was perfectly captured, the costumes entertaining and optimally chosen for each character, and the acting brilliant, except they forgot to wrap it around an engaging story. Perhaps sitting back and enjoying the presentation can be an enjoyable experience, if you can live without the story. The Great Fire, despite its praise and award, was a disappointing book because of its inability to foster much interest in the lives of the people within it.

Annette Lybacki hopes that you found this piece helpful and invites you to read her articles on Do You Need a DUI Lawyer? for some Hints and Tips on DUI Lawyers.

categories: book reviews,books,novels,reviews,mystery,fiction,science fiction,hobby,read,reading,story

Technorati Tags: book reviews, Books, fiction, hobby, mystery, novels, read, reading, reviews, science fiction, story

Tags: book reviews, Books, fiction, hobby, mystery, novels, read, reading, reviews, science fiction, story