READING 2025 | rnhope

Anima Rising by Christopher Moore - a very entertaining mix of Dr. Frankenstein, his monster and Judith (the monster's wife), Gustav Klempt, his models (Wally in particular), Sigmund Freud and Karl Jung. As good as anything else he's written... just a fun, fun read.
Rules of Civility by Amor Towles - author of 'Gentleman from Moscow", which is on my list of greatest books I've ever read, has done another excellent novel. This one from the perspective of a young woman making her way in New York of the 30's. Excellent development of her character over span of years and a surprisingly beautiful book on civility (as in Gentleman) from the perspective of a woman.. Really well done and I love the actual 'Rules" as per George Washington.
Diver Down by AW Hartoin - the fun and constant misadventures of Mercy Watts as she persues the threat to a potential mob-killing, deep in the culture of Roatan. All sorts of messes she gets into and, while not great literature, it was a lot of fun.
A Good Man Gone by AW Hartoin - the precursor of the Diver Down and nearly as good. Mercy comes across as quite a package, one that I would like to meet.
Griffin and Sabine by Nick Bancock and
Sabine's Notebook - the first two of a series of eight very interesting tales told through a correspondence between two artists linked by some impossible connection where Sabine can see the drawings of Griffin as they are created. The story is good but the episolary through beautifically artistic postcards and letters is very engaging..
Lamb by Christopher Moore - another outrageous and fun book by this author... this might be my 5ht or 6th by him, This one the story of the missing 30 years of Jesus's life (here referred to a Joshua because Jesus wasn't proper language) and his best friend Biff (given name of Levi). Biff and Joshua travel to locate and learn from the 3 wise men that witnessed his birth... they must have been pretty smart to have gone to the trouble. As Biff and Joshua seek and spend time and learn from the three, adventure ensues. A great imagining of what might have happened.
Money for Nothing by PG Wodehouse - a very pleasant book, an easy, relaxed read. Wodehouse is such a great story-teller with a subtle sense of humor. This one, about an older man of property, trying to capture some value from the relics he is charged with maintaining and can't sell. A half-assed idea fraught with problems. Not necessarily literature but a fun read.
1812 by David Nevin - Everything you'd want to know about this forgotten war. Story focuses on two principle characters, Andrew Jackson battling in the south and Winfiel Scott in the North. Excellent detail on the presidency of James Madison and wife Dolly
Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton - Daring do in the world of pirates and the dirty Spanish ships in the Carib. Touch and go adventures, risky attacks and rescues and cannon battles at sea.
The Bucharest Dossier byWilliam Kaz - I chose this book when we planned our trip to Bucharest. Alas, trip was cancelled but I finished the book nontheless. A goodnovel about a USA/Brit returning to Romania incident to the ouster of Caucescue.
Omerta by Mario Puzo - a follow-up of the Godfather theme without the Corleones. Different families, different deaths.. but still mafia at its core. I liked it - the good guy (still a bad guy) wins the girl in the end.
The Delightful Life of a Suicide Pilot by Collen Cotterill - the last of the Dr. Siri tales and as pleasant a read as all that preceded.
The Shadow of Death by James Runcie - stories about one of my favorite tv characters, Sidney Chambers, Canon in Cambridge in post-war England. A nice mix of characters that seem to represent all levels of society. Nothing wild and crazy and no 'super' guys that can do everything and look stunning while doing it.
City on Fire by Don Winslow - an interesting story of the interactions ofthe Irish and Italian mobs in Providence RI.I liked the main character, Danny, and the surrounding mobs. Don't know how realistic it is but it could be.
Hornblower and the Atropos by CS Forester - book 5 in the Hornblower world. Given command of his first vessel he sails into all sorts of trouble and adventure and comes out on top. I do enjoy the technical aspects of the Hornblower books and can well imagine being aboard.
Act of Treason by Vince Flynn - super spy guy Rapp on another crazy adventure... this one trying to root out extreme measures to swing a presidential election... the murder of the candidate's wife; to gain the sympathy vote. It works, of course.
Apeirogon by Colum McCann - novel that explores the complexities of conflict, memory, and reconciliation through the intertwined stories of an Israeli and a Palestinian whose children were killed in the violence. McCann employs innovative narrative techniques, including lyrical storytelling and shifting perspectives, to create a deeply moving and thought-provoking meditation on peace and shared humanity.
Under Majordomo Minor by Patrick DeWitt - What a strange and intriguing story.. a young man from Bury ventures out for the very first time and learns about love and caring and a very big hole.
The Kingmaker by Brian Haig - a good spy novel.
Powder Burn by Carl Hiaasen and Bill Montalbano - not nearly as good with this co-author as Carl's solo works.
Word of Honor by Nelson DeMille - I have an advance copy of the book and I expect the editors got to it after the copy I read. It's a good, a very good story of a Viet Nam vet forced to confront his actions 20 years after his putting it in his past. Well told, interesting, and a gripping conclusion... I just wish it was shorter.
Better Off Dead by Lee Child - he captures my attention with each new book on Reacher's path through the country one misadventure at a time. This one was fun in that it was used as background for his Prime Video series 3. Child shared credit for the book with his his son, Andrew. Together, they've made Reacher a lot more violent, if that's possible. Violent for the sake of violence... not just for bad guys that get in his way.
Blue Camellia by Frances Parkinson Keyes - lovely story of life in the south.
Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child - another Reacher (see above).
Tripwire by Lee Child - once again in the middle of the pack... but I keep reading them... I suppose I see myself in the Reacher mold.
Midnight in Europe by Alan Furst - espionage novel set on the eve of World War II. Furst masterfully weaves a tale of intrigue, danger, and romance across various European cities, creating an atmospheric and suspenseful narrative.
Pacific Sniper by David Healy - a WWII story of the landing on Guam by a young country boy with a rifle. Deatth and gore and a lot of 'Japs' as our hero races around the island's jungles. The first of a series which stops for me here.
A Registry of my Passage Upon this Earth by Daniel Mason - collection of short stories, each one interesting and very unique themes/eras.
Truth by Peter Temple - a fun police story placed in Australia... which added to my enjoyment... just enough vocabulary and idiom differences.
The Wheels of Darkness by Preston and Child - another Agent Pendergast adventure and, as unbelievable as they get, still very enjoyable.
The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho by Patterson Joseph - very interesting story of a free black relegated by some nasty old ladies to the streets where he dodges slave hunters and tries to make a success of himself. A warm and caring individual that I enjoyed reading about.
Hungry Blade by Lawrence Dudley - the plot involves pre-war espionage and the Nazis attempts to raise operating funds by sales of confiscated art treasures. Primarily in Mexico and including artist Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Trotsky and enough intrigue to make it interesting.
The Last Heroes by WEB Griffin - a fictional look at the birth of the CIA as created by Roosevelt in the wake of Pearl Harbor. Beginnings of search for components of nuclear resources. Good protrayal of characters, many of them actual participants .Griffin's development of characters and plot is excellent, as always.
Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris - an author that I've enjoyed in the past but found this one a little bit tiring.
The Poison Oracle by Peter Dickinson - hard to describe, hard to read, hard to justify.
Killing at the Whim of a Hat by Colin Cotterill - while I have thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of his Dr. Siri books, this one introducing a new character, Jimm Juree, wasn't nearly as good. It may be because he has used the first person to tell the story and I just found it unpleasant.
The Danube by Andrew Beattie - read in preparation of our cancelled trip. Alas...
Cyrano's Curse by Christopher Moore - one of my very favorite authors publishes a book of poetry. Not his best work.
The Bourne Deception by Eric Van Lustbader - I worked my way to the end and then regretted having even opened the book. The original Bourne novels were great fun but it seems they are trying too hard to continue the character. Just junk.
Budapest, a travel guide - yes, I read the whole thing before i figured out we were going to Bucharest, not Budapest! Maybe someday but for now, a lost cause.