Reading for Me

Lots of driving again has resulted in lots of reading…..of audio books, that is! I had to insert the humor right away as I don’t have a rave review of this book.

In Daniel Silva’s The Rembrandt Affair, the story revolves around a newly-rediscovered painting by the renown artist. The work’s history leads us back to the Nazi invasion of Holland and the atrocities enacted against the Jews of the nation. The painting is now being sought by international thugs who want to use its hidden secrets. The story was fast moving and intriguing. Sadly, I’ve just read a lot of works in this vein recently and it didn’t stand up to the other novels in keeping my attention.

From the master of thrillers comes this tale of a government assassin whose path unexpectedly crosses a 14-year-old girl running for her life after witnessing the brutal murders of her parents. As the multiple scenes unfold early in the story, it is easy to forget that we are dealing with Baldacci and assume that the images are completely irrelevant. An exploding bus, a ordered hit gone wrong, and the assassination of a Middle Eastern prince propel this fast-paced story to its unexpected conclusion.  It wasn’t my favorite book of the year, but once again this audio book made the miles pass without a moment of boredom.

I must be honest. I've always viewed the writing of James Patterson as second rate novels with mass market appeal that lacked any real substance. When I selected Private Games from the audio rack, my expectations were quite low. I discovered a well-wrought novel with lots of thoughtful writing and highly developed characters.

Private Games is set against the backdrop of the 2012 London Olympic Games. Just before the Opening Ceremonies, a member of the organizing committee is brutally murdered. A sports reporter at the Sun receives a letter signed by Kronos (of Greek mythology fame) taking responsibility for the homicide and claims that he is cleansing the Olympic Games of all manner of corruption. The Games are plagued with attacks by Kronos — including the poisoning of the American flag bearer and murder of Chinese gymnastic coaches during a medal ceremony — leading up to the fury of the Closing Ceremony. No event is safe. No security plan seems to be impossible for Kronos to infiltrate.

A private security expert is hot on the case. Through ever twisting plot developments and new revelations, Patterson's novel keeps you guessing until the book's stupendous conclusion. Even when Kronos' identity is revealed, the mystery continues to unravel and grips the reader with intrigue. Now I understand why Patterson's works are considered page turners! I'm not sure I would invest the time to read one of his books in the traditional manner, but as an audio book it was certainly a lot of fun and passed the miles quickly. I found myself looking for excuses to get back in my car and find out what was going to happen next!

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My driving this week has been made enjoyable with the beautiful love story by Macomber. Michael is a doctor whose wife, Hannah, died a year ago after fighting cancer. On the anniversary of her death, Michael’s brother-in-law delivers an unexpected gift — a final love letter from Hannah. In her letter, Hannah tells Michael that it is time to get on with his life and find love. Hannah leaves nothing to chance and provides Michael with a list of three women that she considers potential mates for her husband.

As Michael meets each of these women, his reactions are honest and humorous. Macomber paints a lovely image of those who have lost love to death and divorce while honoring the importance of finding true love. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this story was much more than just a standard romance novel. The book was entertaining and thoughtful while maintaining a level of decorum not always found in works in this genre.

Having lunch today with my family, I realized I had to post this review so I could stay in the hunt for reading the most books this year!  (I’m gunning for you, Brauer!)

I’m hooked on audio books at the moment. They are so convenient and make the driving pass a lot quicker. Girl in Translation is the story of Kim, a young Chinese immigrant who is working through the American education system while struggling to learn the English language.  She and her mother labor in a garment factory (that is managed by her witch-of-an-aunt), earn one penny per article of clothing, and live in a roach-infested apartment in New York City. Despite the horrible circumstances, Kim proves to be an outstanding student and excels beyond all expectation.

I’m always fascinated by education stories. Once you mix in a look at dating, honor, and family from a Chinese perspective, Girl in Translation was definitely an intriguing novel. It wasn’t my favorite book of the year — largely due to the scratched CDs and my initial difficulty in understanding the reader’s use of accents — but it was still a read that I enjoyed and would recommend to others.

The theme of family seems to be running through my reading at the moment as well. It’s a major theme in what I hope will be my next post later this week:  The Light Between Oceans.

The great books keep rolling along for me! This week, I “read” another audio book to pass the time on the road.  Home Front is the story of Jolene, an Army National Guard reservist who is passionate about flying Black Hawks and caring for her two daughters. Sadly, her marriage has hit a bit of turbulence and her husband has asked for a divorce because “he doesn’t love her anymore.” When Jolene finds herself deployed to Iraq, the family’s entire world is turned upside down.

A large portion of the novel focuses on Dad caring for the home front while Mom is away serving her country. As the number of flights increase for Jolene, the situation becomes more and more dangerous until her Black Hawk is shot down. The result is that Jolene loses her right leg.

When the “soldier girl” returns home, she struggles with the strains the war has placed on her as well as her extended family. Jolene fights through the difficulty of PT and watches helplessly as her daughters attempt to understand the woman who has returned in their mother’s stead.

Home Front is a beautifully told story that is especially riveting due to Hannah’s ability to give a personal face to the Iraq War. In addition to the central story, the novel explores the effects of PTSD on American soldiers and the government’s care for our soldiers returning home while exploring the definitions of family and honor. It was a worth-while excursion into uncomfortable territory that I am glad I took.

Sickness and lots of rehearsals for the Britten festival at Union University have eaten into my time for reading for pleasure. Rather than getting TOO far off of my pace, I decided to pass the many miles of traveling back and forth to Jackson with this year’s first audio book.

The Next Best Thing is the story of a young lady and her grandmother who leave the familiar world of Boston to pursue a television career in Hollywood. Ruth Sanders’ life has been anything but easy. Her parents were killed in a car accident early in her life; she continues to deal with the emotional and physical scars from the tragic night. Her grandmother has become her closest friend and trusted confidant. To honor their relationship, Ruth pitches a television series based upon their adventures: The Next Best Thing.

Following the trials of producing a television serial, Weiner lovingly addresses the issues faced by a young woman who is haunted by her physical appearance. The novel is filled with authentic emotion as well as humor. I especially enjoyed the inclusion of Ruth’s non-traditional “knight in shining armor” – a paralyzed man fighting his own demons from his wheelchair.

The Next Best Thing is probably a book that I would have passed over if I encountered it in the library. Given the limited availability of audio books at the moment I needed one, I took a chance. I’m glad I did and enjoyed my time in Hollywood with Ruth and her Nana!

I actually listened to this book a few weeks ago and am just finding time to post it here.  Essentially, the story centers around a long-lost manuscript written by Christ to Joseph of Arimathea.  Whether the concept is based in fact or fiction, it was an interesting read to consider what people would do to obtain a “holy relic”….regardless of their personal faith at the moment.