The Coroner’s Lunch – Book #16

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| Title | The Coroner’s Lunch |
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| Author |Colin Cotterill |
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| Genre |Adult Mystery (Laotian) |
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| Pages |257 |
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| Publisher |Soho |
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| Copyright |2004 |
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Synopsis (from web-site)
Despite a total lack of training, an utter dearth of experience and a complete absence of inclination, Dr. Siri Paiboun has just been appointed state coroner for the Lao People's Democratic Republic. It's 1976, the royal family has been deposed, the professional classes have fled and the communists have taken over. And 72-year-old Siri - a communist for convenience and a wry old reprobate by nature - has got the coroner's job because he's the only doctor left in Laos.

But when the wife of a Party leader is wheeled into the morgue and the bodies of tortured Vietnamese soldiers start bobbing to the surface of a Laotian lake, all eyes turn to the new coroner. Faced with official cover-ups and an emerging international crisis, Siri will be forced to enlist old friends, tribal shamans, forensic deduction, spiritual acumen and some good old-fashioned sleuthing before he can discover quite what's going on...

Why I read It
I saw the latest book from Mr. Cotterill on my library’s new shelf and was intrigued. It takes place in Laos which I know nothing about. But since it is a ongoing series I went to the stacks and found this book, the first in the series.

What I Thought About It
While the author is British, he has spent most of his life in Southeast Asia, so I want to believe he has captured the feel of Laos. It is part of my ongoing effort to read more foreign literature, or at least foreign based stories. It clearly demonstrates the frustrations in living in a communist society, getting by with what life has dealt you. It also shows the power of being old, or in least in this case the power of not giving a damn anymore about what the “man” can do you. This story focuses on the life of the 72 year old coroner of Laos, the coroner because he was the only Doctor at the time that didn’t get out when the communists took over. He mistakenly thought he would be able to enjoy his retirement quietly. He gets frustrated by the imbeciles in charge wanting him to write death certificates to meet their quotas.

For example when a military boat crashes into a dock and chops off the legs of an old fisherman, instead of death by blood loss the local leader argues for natural causes (a heart attack because he was old). The thinking being the shock of losing his legs led to a heart attack. Anyways he finally has had enough of playing along and decides he is going to investigate the deaths that come his way like the detective in the old French novels he enjoyed in his youth. Fire him, kill him, he just doesn’t care anymore. Good stuff all the way around.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography

Colin Cotterill is a London-born teacher, crime writer and cartoonist. Cotterill has dual English and Australian citizenship; however, he currently lives in Southeast Asia, where he writes the award-winning Dr. Siri mystery series set in the People's Democratic Republic of Laos.

This is where I leave you – Book #15

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| Title | This is where I leave you |
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| Author |Jonathan Tropper |
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| Genre |Adult Fiction |
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| Pages |339 |
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| Publisher |Dutton |
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| Copyright |2009 |
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Synopsis (from web-site)
The death of Judd Foxman's father marks the first time that the entire Foxman family-including Judd's mother, brothers, and sister-have been together in years. Conspicuously absent: Judd's wife, Jen, whose fourteen-month affair with Judd's radio-shock-jock boss has recently become painfully public.

Simultaneously mourning the death of his father and the demise of his marriage, Judd joins the rest of the Foxmans as they reluctantly submit to their patriarch's dying request: to spend the seven days following the funeral together. In the same house. Like a family.

As the week quickly spins out of control, longstanding grudges resurface, secrets are revealed, and old passions reawakened. For Judd, it's a weeklong attempt to make sense of the mess his life has become while trying in vain not to get sucked into the regressive battles of his madly dysfunctional family. All of which would be hard enough without the bomb Jen dropped the day Judd's father died: She's pregnant.

This Is Where I Leave You is Jonathan Tropper's most accomplished work to date, a riotously funny, emotionally raw novel about love, marriage, divorce, family, and the ties that bind-whether we like it or not.


Why I read It
Tropper writes stories of normal lives that have been interrupted by some event. Sometimes sad and sometimes humorous, they always are entertaining. I picked up a book on tape by him a few years ago, The Book of Joe, and enjoyed it. While I haven’t read his entire backlist I do read him when I can. I saw this in a best of review for books of 2009, so I picked it up.

What I Thought About It
Fractured families and bad decisions; things that affect us all. The father of four grown children has died of a long standing illness and they all get together to sit Shiva. That is a Jewish custom where the family stays in the house for a week and contemplate the recently deceased (I am sure I am not doing it justice). All those bad decisions, well they come to a head and through the course of a week the inklings of hope and recovery can been seen. From dead fathers to dead marriages, all can heal eventually.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography

Jonathan Tropper is the author of How to Talk to a Widower, Everything Changes, The Book of Joe, and Plan B. He lives with his family in Westchester, New York, where he teaches writing at Manhattanville College. He is currently adapting This Is Where I Leave You as a feature film for Warner Brothers Studios

American on Purpose – Book #14

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| Title |American on Purpose |
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| Author | Craig Ferguson |
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| Genre | Biography |
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| Pages | 268 |
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| Publisher | HarperCollins |
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| Copyright | 2009 |
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Synopsis (from web-site)

In American on Purpose, Craig Ferguson delivers a moving and achingly funny memoir of living the American dream as he journeys from the mean streets of Glasgow, Scotland, to the comedic promised land of Hollywood. Along the way he stumbles through several attempts to make his mark—as a punk rock musician, a construction worker, a bouncer, and, tragically, a modern dancer.

To numb the pain of failure, Ferguson found comfort in drugs and alcohol, addictions that eventually led to an aborted suicide attempt. (He forgot to do it when someone offered him a glass of sherry.) But his story has a happy ending: in 1993, the washed-up Ferguson washed up in the United States. Finally sober, Ferguson landed a breakthrough part on the hit sitcom The Drew Carey Show, a success that eventually led to his role as the host of CBS's The Late Late Show. By far Ferguson's greatest triumph was his decision to become a U.S. citizen, a milestone he achieved in early 2008, just before his command performance for the president at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. In American on Purpose, Craig Ferguson talks a red, white, and blue streak about everything our Founding Fathers feared.

Why I read It
Craig Ferguson is the man and he is hilarious. If you are not watching his late night show you should. This is what Tivo’s were invented for.

What I Thought About It
Loved it. Another biography which lets you know how destructive drugs and alcohol can be, even if you are an artist. It makes you wonder if creative lives foster substance abuse or if substance abuse fuels creativity. I would bet a lot of creative types mired in the addictive cycle believe the latter; it works as a justification. I started writing about my experiences with America, but it began looking like the seeds of an original post. So that is what it will be.


Mormon Mentions
Yes! One of the first shows Craig worked on in LA was a sit-com with Marie Osmond, consequently he had a lot of interaction with her and her entourage, mostly great. While he states he would never want to be one (a Mormon), he has never met one he hasn’t liked. Well he has got that on me I guess :-)

Author Biography

Craig Ferguson entered the world of late night comedy following a diverse and eclectic career that encompasses film, television, and the stage. Since taking the helm of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on January 3, 2005, the show has set all-time viewer records and achieved the highest ratings since the show's inception in 1995.

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Ferguson got his start in the entertainment industry as a drummer for some of the worst punk bands in the U.K., a profession he held for several years. Following his musical stint, he began bartending in a local pub in Glasgow where he was introduced to Michael Boyd, the artistic director of the Tron Theatre in Glasgow, who persuaded Ferguson to give acting a go. After several low-paying acting gigs, Ferguson discovered he had a knack for comedy and was soon the star of his own BBC television show, The Ferguson Theory.

Ferguson was involved in the English comedy circuit for a short while, and then brought his act to America in 1995 to star with Betty White and Marie Osmond in the short-lived ABC comedy Maybe This Time. After the show ended, ABC decided to add the talented Scotsman to The Drew Carey Show, playing Drew Carey's boss, Nigel Wick, from 1996–2003.

Ferguson wrote the feature films The Big Tease and Saving Grace. In 2003, he made his directorial debut with I'll Be There, which he also wrote and starred in. I'll Be There went on to receive the Audience Award for Best Film at the Aspen, Dallas, and Valencia film festivals. Craig was also named Best New Director at the Napa Valley Film Festival. Ferguson's other film credits include: Niagra Motel, Lenny the Wonder Dog, Prendimi l'anima, Life Without Dick, Chain of Fools, and Born Romantic.

In April 2006, Ferguson published his first novel entitled Between the Bridge and the River, which became a critically acclaimed bestseller.

Since coming into his own on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and receiving his first Emmy nomination in 2006, Craig achieved a personal milestone in February 2008 when he was sworn in as a U.S. Citizen. Soon after, Craig hosted the White House Correspondents' Dinner, performing before political journalists, celebrities, and Washington power players.

In 2009, HarperCollins is set to publish Craig Ferguson's American on Purpose, a memoir of living the American dream as he journeys from a small town in Scotland to the entertainment capital of the world. "American on Purpose reads as if Ferguson had snorted Angela's Ashes," says David Hirshey, Senior Vice President and Executive Editor. "It will make you laugh, cry, and sing 'The Star Spangled Banner' with a Scottish burr."

Ferguson also serves on the board of the Lollipop Theater Network. The mission of the Lollipop Theater Network is to bring movies that are currently in theatrical release to hospitalized children facing chronic and life-threatening illness.

Ferguson lives in Los Angeles with his wife and son.

The astonishing adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl– Book #13

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| Title |The astonishing adventures of Fanboy & |
| |Goth Girl |
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| Author |Barry Lyga |
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| Genre |Young Adult Fiction |
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| Pages |311 |
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| Publisher |Houghton Mifflin |
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| Copyright |311 |
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Synopsis (from web-site)
The brainy outcast known as Fanboy has never had it good, but lately his sophomore year is turning out to be its own special hell. The bullies have made him their favorite target, his best (and only) friend seems headed for the dark side (sports and popularity), and his pregnant mother and the step-fascist are eagerly awaiting the birth of the alien life form known as Fanboy’s new little brother or sister.

But Fanboy has a secret: a graphic novel he’s been working on without telling anyone about it, a graphic novel that he is convinced will lead to publication, fame, and — most important of all — a way out of the crappy little town he lives in and the bullies that make it all hell for him.

Just when he thinks he’s doomed to be alone, Fanboy meets Kyra, a.k.a. Goth Girl, an outrageous, cynical girl who shares Fanboy’s love of comics as well as his hatred for jocks and bullies. Fanboy can’t resist someone who actually seems to understand him, and soon he finds himself willing to heed her advice — to ignore or crush anyone who stands in his way.

But Kyra has secrets, too. And they could lead Fanboy to his dreams…or down a path into his own darkness.

Why I read It
The Title! The young adult (teen) section of my library is around the music CD’s. So as I was checking out the latest arrivals I saw this book on the shelf in a prominent outfacing display. I love Goth Girls (think back to Winona Ryder in Bettlejuice) so I had to pick it up.

What I Thought About It
Quick, fun, and I will definitely be reading the sequel when my library gets it. Two loners find each other and just maybe they can get through the High School experience. Not a banned book but I wouldn’t be surprised if it ended up there one day. Smoking, drinking, suicidal ideation, sexual suggestions, and public nudity all by teens.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography

Barry Lyga is a recovering comic book geek. When he was a kid, everyone told him that comic books were garbage and would rot his brain, but he had the last laugh. Raised on a steady diet of comics, he worked in the comic book industry for ten years, but now writes full-time because, well, wouldn’t you?

For Lisa

FarmVille Is Action Packed To The Extreme!

A BYU Story

“I did not have sexual relations with that woman!”

I saw a link to a new website the other day called Passive Aggressive Notes.

What led me here was a post featuring a note written at my alma mater BYU, the bastion of overly self righteous Mormons everywhere. Anyways the note was left on the windshield of a young woman who had parked outside her then boyfriend/now husband’s apartment building, the infamous King Henry Apartments. It is now framed and hangs in their house. Here is the text in full:

Hi – You don’t know me but I’ve noticed that you go into #306 apt. late @ night & I sometimes see you coming out in the morning & it’s obvious that you sleep over there b/c your car is parked @ King Henry all night. I know that it’s really none of my business, but my roommates & I think that it is inappropriate to be staying @ a boy’s house all night. I feel like I should talk to someone about this problem, perhaps King Henry, but I think that you could & should fix this problem on your own w/out my intervention.

Thanks for your time

-Have a great day :-)

I just love the “it’s none of my business” line but then they proceed to make it all of their business. The underlying message is they have completely assessed the situation and have judged you to be a filthy sinner, and that is okay because as a stone thrower they are completely without sin. The obnoxious smiley face at the end is just perfect. Bloody hell, isn’t there always one of these people (the note writer) in every ward in the church.

Anyways this completely accurate depiction of all that was annoying about BYU reminded me of my own experience with single housing. I dropped out of college as a senior and moved to Minnesota; I like to say it was to “find” myself. After working for a couple of years with Juvenile delinquents I did manage to find something out, mainly that I was an idiot for dropping out. Anyways, my wife was working, we had two kids, a car payment, and a mortgage (our first house was only $27,000 – those were the days), but at the same time it was not possible to transfer to a local college. So luckily my Mom moved in to look after the kids while I went back to BYU solo. My wife garnered a lot of “who are the fancy people with the live-in English Nanny” around town because what little accent I have is completely non-existent unless I am living there; so it wasn’t obvious that she is my Mom.

I moved into single housing just of campus and paid the whole semester’s rent upfront. Now I went with single housing because it was under $200 a month as opposed to $1000 plus for married. While going over the contract it come out I was actually married and not single. Well this caused quite a stir and the manager went into the office to make a phone call to the owner, and after a lengthy conversation it was decided I could live in the apartment complex only if I signed a special contract that explicitly stated I would not have sex with my wife. I thought to myself “I don’t know what rumors you have heard, but it isn’t that impressive that it could reach to Minnesota”, but kept it to myself and quietly signed the papers.

It has become one of those great life experiences that sounds to outlandish to be true, but is really funny to share. You have to remember the culture at BYU, sex outside of marriage will totally get you expelled, so while I am not saying it didn’t go on just like other universities, unlike them it is kept very deeply buried in the closet; hidden away as much as possible. The best part of the whole experience though is this is the apartment I shared with the Mo-famous actor Lincoln Hoppe AND I get to tell people even though we have been together about 20 years we did separate for a while.

And now we are fifteen years on from that experience I can freely admit that when I went back to Minnesota for my one visit, Lisa and I totally did it, like several times.

Bloodshot – Book #12

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| Title | Bloodshot |
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| Author | Stuart MacBride |
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| Genre | Adult Mystery (Tartan Noir) |
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| Pages | 439 |
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| Publisher | St. Martin’s Minotaur |
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| Copyright | 2007 |
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Synopsis (from this web-site)
The pounding rain of Aberdeen, Scotland is predominant in the third thriller by Scottish writer MacBride. Detective Sergeant Logan McRae is suffering under his superior, Detective Inspector Steel and her team of screw-up cops. Logan is extremely busy these days – he is involved in tracking soccer star Rob Macintyre, who is the prime suspect in a series of brutal rapes, and a porn star soon turns up dead following a horrible crime. To top it all off, an eight-year-old boy is on the run after killing an elderly man. Logan’s live-in girlfriend, Police Constable Jackie Watson, is growing increasingly distant to Logan as she works the Macintyre rape case and when Macintyre is found severely beaten, Logan wonders if Jackie is to blame.

Why I read It
I have been reading Stuart MacBride’s blog since before he published his first book thanks to the link on the great Sarah Weinman’s site. Speaking of which, I really need to list the book websites I frequent in the sidebar. If you are interested in mysteries at all, Sarah’s site, Confessions of an Idiosyncratic Mind, is the greatest blog ever. I can trace about 50% of all I read back to reviews I have seen on her blog.

Anyways I read Stuart’s first book, Cold Granite, when it came out and then over the years I forgot about him – Sorry Stuart if you are prone to googling yourself and read this. Anyways I was looking over my log of books read (a good practice to get into for just this reason) when I remembered him. A short search and I learned he had gone on to publish a book every year and my library system stocked them. So I am just now catching up.

Plus it is good solid Scottish Crime fiction, sad and violent on the one hand and blackly funny on the other. Plus the books are set in Aberdeen letting you know that Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Lock Dubh are not the only place to die a nasty death while on vacation.

What I Thought About It
Good story that just makes you fear Scotland as the crime capitol of the world :-) I like the implied social commentary about fame and its usefulness in getting away with crime. Plus what role do we as family have in helping versus enabling each other in nefarious behaviours? While you can read the books randomly I recommend you start at the beginning to get the overall character development.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography

Stuart MacBride lives in the North East of Scotland, where he writes gruesome crime novels and grows gruesome potatoes.

Don’t Look Back – Book #11

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| Title |Don’t Look Back |
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| Author |Karin Fossum |
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| Genre |Adult Mystery (Scandinavian Noir) |
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| Pages |295 |
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| Publisher |Harcourt |
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| Copyright |1996 (trans. 2002) |
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Synopsis (from web-site)
Beneath the imposing Kollen Mountain lies a small village where the children run in and out of one another's houses and play unafraid in the streets. But the sleepy village is like a pond through which not enough water runs - beneath the surface it is beginning to stagnate. When a naked body is found by the lake at the top of the mountain, its seeming tranquility is disturbed forever. Enter Inspector Sejer, a tough, no-nonsense policeman whose own life is tinged by sadness. As the suspense builds, and the list of suspects grows, Sejer's determination to discover the truth will lead him to peel away layer upon layer of distrust and lies, in this tiny community where apparently normal family ties hide dark secrets. Critically acclaimed across Europe, Karin Fossum's novels evoke a world that is terrifyingly familiar. Don't Look Back introduces the tough, ethical Inspector Sejer to British readers for the first time.

Why I read It
Read an article of the resurgence of Scandinavian crime fiction and this author from Norway was highly recommended AND my library system had her books.

What I Thought About It
Nice mystery based in the evil of ordinary people in regular situations. At its foundation is the truth that once you begin lying, you are stuck lying (or worse) to keep the first one in place; usually at the cost of your own soul. I will definitely read more of this author.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography

Karin Fossum (born November 6, 1954, Sandefjord) is a Norwegian author of crime fiction, often known there as the "Norwegian queen of crime." She lives in Oslo. Fossum was initially a poet, with her first collection published in 1974 when she was just 20. It won the Tarjei Vesaas' Debutant Prize. She is the author of the internationally successful Inspector Konrad Sejer series of crime novels, which have been translated into over 16 languages. She won the Glass key award for her novel Don't Look Back, which also won the Riverton Prize, and she was shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger in 2005 for Calling Out For You.

Smell Like Me

via Bits and Pieces

Adventures in Sunday School: My Answer FWIW

For part one (the question) see here

I gave my answer in four parts; and with the ensuing discussion we had a very different lesson than I originally planned, but very productive all the same. I like to think the kids came away with something to think about which is really my goal with the class, to get them to contemplate their testimonies on a deeper level so that when the challenges come to them in the future they can better withstand the storm.

Part 1: Why is it there?
They are trying to make the point that spirits can be foreordained to great things, and that we as potential parents should keep that in mind when we chose to have or not have kids. That is to say your future child could literally be a prophet one day and if you chose not to have said child think of the possible loss.

To put that in perspective it was not all that long ago in the church where the unofficial prevailing belief that it was a sin not to have as many children as possible. If you where to do a quick Google search on Mormons and Birth Control you would easily find some quite harsh quotes to that effect.

(I didn’t share this in class but here is an example)

Joseph Fielding Smith

Those who attempt to pervert the ways of the Lord, and to prevent their offspring from coming into the world...are guilty of one of the most heinous crimes in the category. There is no promise of eternal salvation and exaltation for such as they...

Part 2: What I believe to be the understanding today
How many children you have comes down to three people, regardless of what anyone else thinks. You, your spouse, and the Lord. If all three of you are in agreement about your decision then nothing else matters.

(Again here is a quote I have looked up since then class expressing that opinion)

Church Handbook of Instructions
January 1999

It is the privilege of married couples who are able to bear children to provide mortal bodies for the spirit children of God, whom they are then responsible to nurture and rear. The decision as to how many chldren to have and when to have them is extremely intimate and private and should be left between the couple and the Lord. Church members should not judge one another in this matter.

Part 3: Where I share a personal example.
My first three kids were boys all approximately three years apart. We got surprised by number four 16 months later but she was our beautiful little girl. Lisa and I both came to the conclusion that we were done, complete now that we had a daughter. So it was all well and good between us but we forgot to include the third partner in the decision. So over the next few months started getting strong impressions that we were supposed to have one more. I just dismissed it as buyer’s remorse and I would get over it soon enough. Then I started getting even stronger impressions that we would have one more and it would be a boy. Still I wasn’t convinced and just kept it to myself. Then one day I was reading a book and as clear as day I knew I was supposed to have one more child, that it would be a boy, and his name would be Joseph Talmage.

I finally decided that I had to go revisit the decision we were done having kids with Lisa, which wasn’t easy due to us having four kids including two under two (and both in diapers). But as soon as I said I think we are supposed to have another baby and it would be a boy Lisa immediately said she had been getting the same feelings as well. Then I shared that his name had been given to me and even though she hadn’t had that feeling yet, as soon as I said Joseph Talmage she knew that would be his name (i.e. the spirit confirmed it for her strongly). So 18 months after our daughter we had baby number five, another boy who we now call JT. And then we all felt we had reached the number of kids we were supposed to have.

Though I did share that if he had been a girl we were going to call him Josephina and be done with it :-)

Part 4: The follow up
I made it clear that the topic of birth control was one that a lot of people had very strong feelings about and that my understanding may not be the correct one, or one that their parents might disagree with it. I highly encouraged them to talk with their parents to see what they thought about the topic before reaching any conclusion for their own life. Following class I made sure to visit with each of the parents in the foyer and shared parts one, two, and four with them and that I asked their kids to discuss it with them.

I have since heard from several of the parents that they have had some really good talks with their kids about the subject. I think it overall I would call this a teaching success.

The Devil of Nanking – Book #10

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| Title |The Devil of Nanking |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author |Mo Hayder |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre |Adult Mystery (partly Historical) |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages |359 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher |Grove Press |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright |2004 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|



Synopsis (from web-site)
British student, 'Grey', is obsessed with a past she cannot understand. She comes to Tokyo following rumours of a rare piece of film footage shot during the notorious Nanking Massacre in 1937. The film, if it exists, has been lost for decades. Only one man can help: Shi Chongming, now a visiting professor at the prestigious university of Tokyo , is a survivor of the massacre and holds the key to Grey's search. But will he help her? Increasingly desperate in an alien city where she knows no one, Grey accepts a job as a hostess in an upmarket nightspot catering for Japanese businessmen and wealthy gangsters. One gangster dominates. An old man in a wheelchair guarded by a terrifying entourage, he is rumoured to rely on a powerful elixir for his continued health. It is an elixir that others want for themselves – at any price.

Why I read It
This also turned up on a lot of “the best of” mysteries of the last decade lists. Given mystery is my favorite genre I have been trying to make sure I didn’t miss out on any of the good stuff. For the most part I had the top ten covered already except for this and Kate Atkinson below.

What I Thought About It
Really, really liked this. Had a lot of my favorite things covered like a historical aspect to the story, based in Japan (love Japanese mysteries), English writer, and a solid story to boot. This book explores the idea that people will do some truly evil things and feel perfectly okay justifying it in some belief system. Now we as the average Joe may not be some nasty in our lives, but I see more moderate approaches to this cruelty all the time. Read it in one day it was that good.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography

Hayder left school at fifteen, and has worked as a barmaid, security guard, film-maker, hostess in a Tokyo club, educational administrator and a teacher of English as a foreign language. Hayder has an MA in film from The American University in Washington DC, and an MA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University - where she now teaches.

Her debut novel, Birdman, was published in 2000 to wide acclaim. Although some reviewers found the novel (which concerns a serial killer with a particularly vicious modus-operandi) too violent and disturbing, the book became an international bestseller. Birdman introduced readers to DI Jack Caffery, a character who also featured in Hayder's second novel, The Treatment. The Treatment tackled themes of paedophilia. DI Caffery has returned in Hayder's most recent novels, Ritual and Skin, which she has called the Walking Man series.

Mo Hayder lives just outside Bath, England with her partner, Bob Randell (retired police sgt of Avon & Somerset Police Underwater Search Unit), and her daughter.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians – Books #5-9

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title | The Lightning Thief (2005) |
| | The Sea of Monsters (2006) |
| | The Titan’s Curse (2007) |
| | The Battle of the Labyrinth (2008) |
| | The Last Olympian (2009) |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author | Rick Riordan |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre | Juvenile Fiction |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages | 377, 279, 312, 361, 381 respectively |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher | Hyperion |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright | See above |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|



Synopsis (from web-site)
Percy Jackson & the Olympians is a series of adventure and fantasy books authored by Rick Riordan. Set in the United States, the books are predominantly based on Greek mythology. The series consists of five books, as well as spin-off titles such as The Demigod Files and Demigods and Monsters. The Lightning Thief, the first book, is the basis of a film called Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, which is scheduled for release in the United States on February 12, 2010.

The protagonist is Percy Jackson, who discovers that he is the son of Poseidon, god of the sea and earthquakes. He learns that the legendary beings of Greek mythology still exist and have always existed, including monsters, cyclopes, empousai, Titans, and also the Olympians (Greek gods) themselves who dwell in Olympus which is now situated at the mythical 600th floor of the Empire State Building. He is frequently attacked by monsters because he is a child of one of the "Big Three" (Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades). Percy meets many other young demigods, both friendly and hostile, who are also in the process of discovering their heritage and powers.

Why I read It
I saw the trailer for the new movie coming out and thought it looked interesting.


What I Thought About It
Great, fun read that the whole family has enjoyed. It is kind of a Harry Potter lite story but provides a decent beginners guide to who is who with the Olympic Gods. I can easily see this being a stepping stone to the classics for some kids (like the Iliad or the Odyssey) which is great. I imagine once the movies start coming these books will become even more popular. The best part is the ongoing story is complete in the 5 books available, so you can get the whole series at once and not have to wait around for years (aka Harry Potter). As I have inferred above, there are a lot of direct parallels to the Harry Potter series, but that is okay. They do tell their own story and actually seem educational at the end of the day.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography

Riordan was born in San Antonio, Texas. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin where he double-majored in English and history. For fifteen years, he taught in public and private schools in California and in San Antonio. He was awarded Saint Mary’s Hall's first Master Teacher Award in 2002.

Riordan is the multi-award-winning author of the Tres Navarre mystery series for adults; his The Maze of Bones reached number one on the New York Times Best Seller list on September 28, 2008. His Percy Jackson and the Olympians series features a twelve-year-old boy who discovers he is the modern-day son of an ancient Greek god. Film rights have been purchased by Twentieth Century Fox and a feature film is in development. The film is set to be released on February 12, 2010. Riordan lives in San Antonio with his wife and their two sons. Recently, Riordan has stated that he is working on a new series based upon the Egyptian pantheon, which then turned out to be The Kane Chronicles, with the first book, The Red Pyramid, to be released May 4, 2010.

Super Bowl Commercials

My two favorites:



and this one:



How old is Abe Vigoda?? He was ancient when Barney Miller was running.

(only 89 I guess)

But my favorite one liner is the "Milk-a-what" from this Etrade add.

A little bit behind

So I got a cold.

A regular everyday sinus cold.

But just when I was getting over it I came home for lunch.

Within the next 30 minutes I became very, very sick.

By the time I got to the ER that night I had a temperature of 105°F, which is very hot for an adult.

Uncontrollable shaking.

I have been sick for almost three weeks, but now I feel better.

The residual cold sores are almost gone - I had three.

But now I am behind at work; a vicious cycle.

Anyways I have read over a dozen books so far this year and I will slowly catch up on that.

And maybe blog a little too.

Thank you for your patience, all two of you :-)

Case Histories – Book #4

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title | Case Histories |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author | Kate Atkinson |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre | Adult Mystery |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages | 310 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher | Little Brown & Company |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright | 2004 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|



Synopsis (from web-site)
Investigating other people's tragedies and cock-ups and misfortunes was all he knew. He was used to being a voyeur, the outsider looking in, and nothing, but nothing, that anyone did surprised him any more. Yet despite everything he'd seen and done, inside Jackson there remained a belief — a small, battered and bruised belief — that his job was to help people be good rather than punish them for being bad.

Cambridge is sweltering, during an unusually hot summer. To Jackson Brodie, former police inspector turned private investigator, the world consists of one accounting sheet — Lost on the left, Found on the right — and the two never seem to balance.

Jackson has never felt at home in Cambridge, and has a failed marriage to prove it. Surrounded by death, intrigue and misfortune, his own life haunted by a family tragedy, he attempts to unravel three disparate case histories and begins to realise that in spite of apparent diversity, everything is connected...


Why I read It
This book is consistently rated as one of the top ten books of the first decade (this century). Consequently it has been on my “to read” list for quite a while and I happen to see it on the shelf at the library.

What I Thought About It
It started off slow, and it seemed to be three independent short stories told one chapter at a time. So much so that I looked through it to see if I could just read the stories one by one by jumping around. After settling my confusion I stuck with it due to all the phenomenal reviews and found the pace and the intertwining of the stories began to happen gradually until the speed and suspense built up to a very satisfying conclusion. This was not necessarily the style of mystery I go for, but I can state all the praise was well deserved.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography

Kate Atkinson was born in York and now lives in Edinburgh. Her first novel, Behind the Scenes at the Museum, won the Whitbread Book of the Year Award.

She is the author of a collection of short stories, Not the End of the World, and of the critically acclaimed novels Human Croquet, Emotionally Weird, Case Histories, and One Good Turn.

Case Histories introduced her readers to Jackson Brodie, former police inspector turned private investigator, and won the Saltire Book of the Year Award and the Prix Westminster. Her latest novel, the Richard & Judy Book Club and Galaxy British Book Awards 2009 shortlisted When Will There Be Good News?, also features Jackson Brodie and is out now in paperback

Pirate Latitudes – Book #3

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title | Pirate Latitudes |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author | Michael Crichton |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre | Adult Fiction |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages | 312 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright | 2009 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|



Synopsis (from web-site)
From one of the best-loved authors of all time comes an irresistible adventure of swashbuckling pirates in the New World, a classic story of treasure and betrayal.

The Caribbean, 1665. A remote colony of the English Crown, the island of Jamaica holds out against the vast supremacy of the Spanish empire. Port Royal, its capital, is a cutthroat town of taverns, grog shops, and bawdy houses.

In this steamy climate there's a living to be made, a living that can end swiftly by disease—or by dagger. For Captain Charles Hunter, gold in Spanish hands is gold for the taking, and the law of the land rests with those ruthless enough to make it.

Word in port is that the galleon El Trinidad, fresh from New Spain, is awaiting repairs in a nearby harbor. Heavily fortified, the impregnable harbor is guarded by the bloodthirsty Cazalla, a favorite commander of the Spanish king himself. With backing from a powerful ally, Hunter assembles a crew of ruffians to infiltrate the enemy outpost and commandeer El Trinidad, along with its fortune in Spanish gold. The raid is as perilous as the bloodiest tales of island legend, and Hunter will lose more than one man before he even sets foot on foreign shores, where dense jungle and the firepower of Spanish infantry stand between him and the treasure. . . .

Why I read It
Michael Crichton’s last book!

What I Thought About It
I really enjoy Crichton’s books, and when he is on there are few better. When he is off it is not because of quality, it is because it seems like he never fully threshed out the whole story. Unfortunately this book has that feel, but I think that was due to circumstances beyond his control. The story was solid and entertaining, very Pirates of the Caribbean feel to it, it just would have been nice if it had been several hundred pages longer.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography

Michael Crichton was a writer and filmmaker, best known as the author of Jurassic Park and the creator of ER. His most recent novel, Pirate Latitudes, published posthumously in November 2009, is a suspenseful adventure story set in the 17th century.
Crichton graduated summa cum laude from Harvard College, received his MD from Harvard Medical School, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, researching public policy with Jacob Bronowski. He taught courses in anthropology at Cambridge University and writing at MIT. Crichton's 2004 bestseller, State of Fear, acknowledged the world was growing warmer, but challenged extreme anthropogenic warming scenarios. He predicted future warming at 0.8 degrees C. (His conclusions have been widely misstated.)