readers web site

http://booksforabuck.com/general/pubsources.html

a recommendation from my wife

WC Don

The Last Jihad and The Last Days by Joel Rosenberg

I read the first two of five books by Joel Rosenberg, his first, The Last Jihad, and his second, The Last Days. One follows the other for a reason. He uses the same main characters in both books. Both involve an attempt to solve the Middle East crisis based on the sudden discovery of huge amounts of oil reserves underneath and off shore of Israel , the idea being that both Israelis and Palestinians can become exceedingly rich if there is a way to get them to share in the deal which would benefit them both. But, they have to agree with each other to get any of it since it is going to require a substantial investment by others in the infrastructure, and they won’t do it if there remains political instability. Of course there are the usual terrorist subplots. There are the radicals that want to interrupt any peace attempt and those who don’t want to give Palestine official statehood and those who don’t want to concede that has a right to exist. Both books are well-written and plausible (except for the discovery of oil). He has done his research and I learned more about some of the Middle East struggles, especially within the Palestinians than I had known before. I highly recommend those books to you.

WC Don

I've read all the Rosenberg novels and find the plots fun and the story moves along at a good pace. Each delves a bit more into religious doctrine that some might think a little overbearing and others find integral to the story. he has a nonfiction book called Epicenter than discusses current headlines and how they relate to Old Testament prophecy and that was pretty interesting.

agree on the Child books, good reads that move right along...most all the book have been optioned to hollywood where I think their biggest problem will be who plays Reacher...don't know too many 6 ft 5 inch 225lb actors are out there. Killing Floor is the first as I recall and most all are winners, even if I thought the most recent, Nothing to Lose, was the weakest of the series.

The Blevins books are neat tales, if you like that sort of thing, which I do. He is known for his period-accurate lingo so for that, I also find them fun to read when I want a change from political thriller/police story books.

I'm reading my 2nd Connelly book now. I reported on The Overlook a few weeks back and in that were numerous references to Bosch's previous case called Echo Park. I tried to get if from the library for this trip to Senegal but it hadn't come in by the time I had to leave : (

Our airport has a used book store and guess what was on the rack? Echo Park : )

so I bought it and have 80% read by the end of my decompression day after the flight. will probably finish it tonite (jet lag has it's advantages at times). so far...it rocks. Connelly has graduated to my current power rotation until I run out of titles or interest.

East Coast Don

reporting from (ridiculously humid) Dakar, Senegal

The Age of American Unreason by Susan Jacoby

This is a very scholarly work from a decidedly leftist position regarding the development of anti-intelligent and anti-rational forces in the political arena at the same time of the unfolding of increasing influence of the fundamentalist/evangelical religious right. Essentially, it is an explanation of how we ended up with Bush in the first place. Before I go farther with this, the material obviously, it fits into my own political beliefs, but I know it does not for Don or Chris – I don’t know David. One of the points Jacoby makes is that in the face of polarization of today’s political climate, people typically only hear what they want to hear and do not challenge themselves by listening to and thinking about the opposing views. I do my best to read neocon literature, so I would challenge you to take a look at this. She starts from our founding fathers in discussing intellectual, political, and religious trends, and works her way to thru the 60s to present time stuff. There are lots of stats and lots of criticisms of other alleged intellectuals. This book has been a nice break from the more frivolous reading, but I’m ready to get to that too.

WC Don

The First Commandment by Brad Thor

It is another international spy thriller, and it has its good moments. However, as a writer, this one does not add up to the work for Cussler or Silva. I’ll give Thor another chance. Considering some of the bizarre plots that we read and enjoy, I found this one too convoluted and unrealistic to keep me in fantasy land, where I like to be.

WC Don

Stiff, The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach

Mary Roach wrote “Stiff, The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers.” It is a nonfiction work about the history of the use of cadavers, mostly in medicine, but also in such things as tests for car accidents and the like. So, she goes into grave robbing and the other stuff that used to happen. She has a lot of clever lines and often offers a unique spin on life and bodies. She also gives herself free license to digress at length into irrelevant stuff. She obviously did a lot of research, and the book had the feel of someone who did not know how to edit out the wrong material, or the feel of someone who needed to keep too much so the book would be long enough. I was talking with a retired doctor I met from Florida who recommended Summer Wind by Ruhl (a woman), a book about the solving of real cold crimes. He said his book was great, and then he asked why the hell would I want to read this one. So, I guess it isn’t necessarily a doctor-thing. I did end up skimming through a lot of the material I found interesting. Whether you pick this one up will depend on your mood and interest at the moment. I have another of her books with me, “Bonk, The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex.” I’ll let you know when I get to if. I think I will look for Summer Wind when I get home.

WC Don

The Golden Buddha by Clive Cussler

Also recommended is Golden Buddha, the latest Clive Cussler which he co-wrote with Craig Dirgo. I think it is the best Cussler yet. He has evolved. Instead of only using women as the objects of sex (not such a bad thing), he now uses them as parts of his team of operatives. The men are not entirely the equivalent of teenage-fantasy machismo (not such a bad thing either). I thought the dialogue was better and not the old silly banter, but he does some of that, too. This plot has to do with returning the Dalai Lama (you remember, he was mentioned in Caddy Shack) to power in . Very well done.

WC Don

The Secret Servant by Daniel Silva

this is from 10/08

Now that I’m actually on vacation, I thought I’d bring you up to date on what I’ve read so far. Two excellent books by Daniel Silva, The Secret Servant was his original, and it was great. It has to do with a terrorist plot centered in London and the unfolding of problems arising from the immigration of Muslims to Western Europe , especially . The Confessor is a great book that appealed to me, since like The Secret Servant, the hero is an Israeli. But, this one involves the and its dealings with about the Jews, the election of a new pope, and numerous twists. Given that I was in Rome as I read it, had just toured the Vatican, I had just been to the Sistine chapel where they hold the election, and he wrote about a fire fight in the book that supposedly took place about three blocks from where I was staying, this was thoroughly enjoyable. Even without being in Rome , this one was a winner.

WC Don