(1 votes, average: 4.5 out of 5)
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I’m on a Lehrer roll. This book is his latest. Not as much mystery in this one, but plenty of humor.
One of the main story lines involves the more-than-slightly-nutty Oklahoma governor “Buffalo Joe” Hayman. Hayman goes on a talk radio show program and announces that he is going to privatize state government — completely — from road building to the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation. Read the rest…
(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5) Loading ...
I’m not sure why Jim Lehrer chose Oklahoma for his One-Eyed Mack series — he was born in Kansas, graduated from college in Missouri, started his career in Texas. Probably just envious because Oklahoma is a much cooler state than those three! One-eyed Mack is the lieutenant-governor of Oklahoma. Since that position doesn’t demand a great deal of time (at least in this series) he has lots of time to pursue his interests — like who’s doing what behind who’s back and collecting bus memorabilia. Read the rest…
(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5) Loading ...
I don’t know how Evanovich does it — not a lot of variety in her setting and situations — but she still has me reading and laughing out loud. This one — and, if you haven’t read one before, stop now and start with the with the beginning of the series thirteen books back (One for the Money) — involves Stephanie, still juggling her two hunky love interests, a weirdly pitiful stalker, an over-age diva, a stoner/cyber-addict, a depressed teen with a penchant for tagging, plus her family Read the rest…
(1 votes, average: 4 out of 5) Loading ...
The Paranormal Puppet Show is the first installation of the Invisible Detective series in which four clever kids combine their talents to become Brandon Lake, otherwise known as the Invisible Detective. Set in London in 1937 (but featuring an interesting time-twisting paradox I hope is eventually explained) the story is well-paced, well-written, and a little scary. Compared with the two Doctor Who books, this one lacks serious undercurrents, but has enough layers to keep the pages turning. Read the rest…
(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5) Loading ...
Shining Darkness is also from the Doctor Who series. This one exchanges the likeable Martha for the consistently annoying Donna. And yet … I really didn’t hate Donna in this book. It wasn’t that the author reinvented the character, he just found a way to exploit her strengths in a way the television series never did. And while superficially this book is a kind of Great Race in Outer Space, there is an undercurrent of ethics which causes ripples and waves on the surface and gives this adventure a sophisticated Read the rest…
(1 votes, average: 4 out of 5) Loading ...
Wooden Heart is a recent offering in the book series accompanying the popular television series Doctor Who. We join The Doctor (as portrayed by David Tennant, affectionately known to us hard-core fans as the 11th Doctor) and Martha as they explore a vast, deserted spaceship. Or maybe not so deserted. This is a traditional Doctor Who adventure, long on the mystery and excitement, fast-paced, and with interesting guest characters. The Doctor and Martha are perfectly portrayed. But this adventure has a deeper, Read the rest…
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Lately I have been reading a lot of kids’ books. Not exactly intentionally, but because they were around. My husband has a small collection, half a dozen books, no more, from the new Doctor Who series and the tenuously related Invisible Detective series (written by former BBC books editor Justin Richards). Read the rest…
(1 votes, average: 4 out of 5) Loading ...
Fans of the TV series Bones may be surprised to know that Dr Temperence Brennan was originally conceived in book form. Or maybe you won’t be surprised. Maybe the interview on the DVD was a tip-off. Or the fact that Dr “Bones” Brennan writes novels on the side about heroine Dr Kathy Reichs. Anyway …
Break No Bones isn’t the first Tempe Brennan book, but it happens to be the first I’ve gotten my hands on. Read the rest…
(1 votes, average: 3 out of 5) Loading ...
Yes, I’m on a bit of a Discworld tear at the moment. And there’s more to come, as I’m halfway through Soul Music as I write this. But my most recent completion was The Last Continent, referring to a location on the Disc - which, purely on the surface, is not the least little bit unlike Australia - which was the last to be created. And is still in process, as it were, when invaded by an unlikely and unprepared school of wizards. In “modern” times, it falls to the resistant Rincewind to repair the ripples Read the rest…
(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5) Loading ...
Lords and Ladies is the second Discworld novel I’ve reviewed (unless you count saying that Reaper Man is my favorite so far as a review). Much more of a page-turner than Men at Arms, I finished this book, no lightweight at 382 pages, in about 3 days. And apparently chapters are things that happen in other books.
As I explained previously, Discworld novels feature recurring characters, and the series can be viewed as a very thick continuum, or several strands grouped by characters. Read the rest…