Storm Front   John Sandford
Complicated, deeply entertaining and satisfying novel set in Mankato about a BCA agent who gets caught up in international smuggling. Pretty good characters, swift prose, and an engaging, and mostly convincing, plot. Good enough to be plenty of fun.

The Salinger Contract   Adam Langer
Entertaining, though implausible, thriller about a writer hired to write a novel that only one person will ever read. Some interesting twists, and good practical moral ambiguity in the characters. And, as would, no doubt, be the case, no really happy ending. Beautiful prose which is what kept me going.

The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II   Iris Chang
A good history of the massacre that occurred in Nanking in December 1937 when the Japanese took the city. Unfortunately, not really a balanced account. Chang’s writing uses too many adjectives instead of letting the innate horror of the action speak for themselves. Also, she talks too much about herself, and writes as if raping a woman is far worse than torturing and mutilating a man. The basic information, especially about the subsequent cover-up, is good. Too bad her intentionally inflammatory language, and her obvious personal dislike of the Japanese, taints the work.

Work Done for Hire   Joe Haldeman
Entertaining thriller about a former military sniper who is recruited to kill someone after he has been back from the war and is a successful writer. Good until the clumsy, rushed ending. But a quick read.

Mortality   Christopher Hitchens
Christopher Hitchens’ last book written while he was dying of cancer of the esophagus. Everything in it that I loved about his other work, insight, humor, and stiletto-sharp reason. Sad but really good.

The Rosie Project   Graeme Simsion
Absolutely delightful comic novel about a genetics professor with Asperger’s who creates a scientific project to find a woman with whom he is compatible. Laughed out loud, and wasn’t even disappointed with the clumsy, predictable ending. Couldn’t put it down, read the whole thing in one sitting.

Peeling the Onion   Günter Grass
Grass’ moving, honest, guilt-ridden, and literary memoir of his war and post-war years up to the publication of The Tin Drum. I wish he had kept going, but it is nearly perfect as it is. Really liked it.

Decoded   Mai Jia
Jia’s novel about a math genius who works as a cryptographer for Chinese intelligence. Like a dog repeatedly circling a spot before it lies down, Jia doesn’t get to the plot for the first 300 pages. Nice prose translation, but tedious and full of what seems to me extraneous information. Kind of a waste for me.

George Lukács   George Lichtheim
Excellent overview of the thought and works of the 20^th-century Marxist aesthetician who was such a strong influence on the Frankfurt School and critical theory. Well written, succinct, and very informative.

The Lecturer’s Tale   James Hynes
Delightful, bizarre, imaginative send up of the machinations in an English department at a major university. Strange, interesting characters, a little fantasy and horror, and a lot of fun in a moral tale based on 18^th-century literature. Couldn’t put it down.

The Intellectual Construction of America: Exceptionalism and Identity From 1492 to 1800   Jack P. Greene
Excellent history of how the American colonies were viewed and portrayed during this period, especially the British colonies of North America. Lots of good information, especially about the first half of the 18^th century. Not so interested in the concept of American exceptionalism, at least how it’s used in the 21^st century. Well worth it.

Why Read Moby-Dick?   Nathaniel Philbrick
Engaging and insightful analysis of the greatness of Melville’s classic. Well-written with good examples and extensive reference to the text, full of good critical information. Brief, but very useful.

Brown Dog   Jim Harrison
Finally a collection of the five previous Brown Dog novellas and a sixth. All of them are exquisite. B. D. is a wonderful character, Harrison’s prose is captivating, as always, and B. D.’s escapades and worldview are delightful. Couldn’t put it down. Hope there are more.

Books   Larry McMurtry
Disappointingly dull memoir of McMurtry’s nearly life-long experiences as a bookseller. I love books and bookstores, but I still got bored. The colloquial prose was fine, but his method, and what he talks, about were surprisingly uninteresting. Too bad.

Supercapitalism: The Transformation of Business, Democracy, and Everyday Life   Robert B. Reich
Reich’s thesis that democratic capitalism, the thing that made America great, has become super capitalism, that is unmaking America. He claims that the separation between capitalism and political democracy has broken down, and democracy is being destroyed by uncontrolled capitalism. No kidding. Well written, good historical background, but I was a little uncomfortable with how much he likes business. Not bad.

The Swerve: How the World Became Modern   Stephen Greenblatt
Deeply enjoyable and informative intellectual history of the re-discovery of Lucretius’ On the Nature of Things and its influence on western culture. Very well written and researched. Really enjoyed it.

The Riddle of the Labyrinth: The Quest to Crack an Ancient Code Margalit Fox
Enjoyable, well-written, and informative intellectual history of the process of deciphering the linear class B script used by the Mycenaean civilization in ancient Greece and Crete. Really enjoyed it, but sad that Alice Kober died so young.

Hop Alley   Scott Phillips
A sequel of sorts, this novel is Bill Ogden’s further adventures in the 1870s, now in Colorado working full-time as a photographer. Nicely written and engaging storytelling. I’m really going to miss Bill.

The Barbarous Years: The Peopling of British North America--The Conflict of Civilizations, 1600-1675   Bernard Bailyn
Stupendously informative history of the social, religious, political, and even personal construction of the British colonies on the eastern shores of North America. Everything about the struggle to create and sustain them was unbelievably brutal and savage, from external and internal forces. Beautifully written so the incredible detail never becomes burdensome. Excellent.

Cottonwood   Scott Phillips
Interesting, well-written novel about the infamous Bender murders in late 19^th-century Kansas. Bawdy, brutal, and at times touching. Liked the characters, especially the narration of the Bill Ogden character. Really enjoyed it.

Devils in Exile   Chuck Hogan
Entertaining thriller about Iraq war vets who rob drug dealers, destroy the drugs and keep the money. Of course, there’s more going to it under the surface, and everything is complicated by love. Fun, quick read.

The Cairo Affair   Olen Steinhauer
Novel about the Arab spring in Libya and Egypt form the CIA point-of-view. I’ve really liked all of Steinhauer’s other books, even the early eastern Europe cop novels, and especially the Milo Weaver series. But I grew weary of the betrayals, infidelities, and, I guess, the characters, in general, of this one.

The Reluctant Mr. Darwin: An Intimate Portrait of Charles Darwin and the Making of His Theory of Evolution   David Quammen
Lovely, well-written intellectual history on Darwin’s development of the idea of natural selection. Begins with Darwin’s return from the Beagle voyage and goes to his death. It is indeed intimate and very engaging and informative. Really, really liked it.

The Land of Dreams   Vidar Sunstøl
Very enjoyable, noir mystery about a policeman’s struggle with what he thinks he knows about a murder he discovered and the past that haunts him and his family. Very much the first volume of a trilogy: we’re just left hanging with all the dilemmas unresolved.

Falling in Love through a Description   Keith Waldrop
April is national poetry month, so I finally got to Waldrop’s trilogy that won the National Book Award. The poems in this volume are not nearly so obscure as the previous volume, but I couldn’t get inside many of these either. All craft, I guess.

Shipwreck in Haven   Keith Waldrop
April is national poetry month, so I finally got to Waldrop’s trilogy that won the National Book Award. The poems in this volume are so obscure and the punctuation so idiosyncratic, that I’m not sure I understood any of them. Too bad.

Sartre   David Drake
Nicely written introduction to the French author/philosopher. Follows his life chronologically. Emphasizes his literary and political writing and work, and almost completely ignores his philosophy. For that reason, disappointing.

Archetype   M. D. Waters
Recommendations I read about this book failed to mention that it’s really a romance novel clothed in science fiction. Writing is better than most romance novels, but that didn’t save it. Couldn’t take it. Quit after 30 pages.

Wildwood Boys   James Carlos Blake
Beautifully written historical novel about the savage guerrilla war along the Missouri-Kansas border during the civil war, told from the point of view of the infamous Bloody Bill Anderson. Very, very good. Excellent novel and excellent history. Didn’t want it to end.

Woman from Shanghai: Tales of Survival from a Chinese Labor Camp   Yang Xianhui
Unbearable, fact-based tales from Jiabiangou prison camp in China from 1957-1961. What happened to these people is beyond horrifying, and there was no reason for any of it. So bad, I wish I hadn’t read this book. Hope I can get over it.

By Blood We Live   Glen Duncan
This book is well written, has fairly well-developed characters, and plenty of action. But I quit after about 100 pages because I felt stupid reading about vampires and werewolves. Couldn’t imagine that I would consider it worthwhile when I finished.

Purgatory   Ken Bruen
Latest Jack Taylor novel. This time, a serial killer is haunting Galway. Even I have gotten tired of Jack’s bitterness and ineptitude. As usual, his friends pay the price. Even though the writing is superb, I think this will be my last one. Sláinte.

Give Us a Kiss   Daniel Woodrell
Well written and entertaining hillbilly noir about a man finally finding his place. Liked the characters, violence, sex, erudition, and fatal, inevitable outcome. Intelligent, quick entertainment. Very nice.

The Glass Slipper and Other Stories   Yasuoka Shotaro
Bleak and strange stories about the self-perception and inner lives of odd characters. I felt off balance reading all of them, and didn’t like any of the people. Too bad.

The Return   Michael Gruber
Entertaining novel about a man who returns to Mexico to avenge his wife when he finds out he has an inoperable brain tumor. Nicely written, and there is enough violence and sex to keep it interesting. But the increasing religious fantasies and plot improbabilities made it seem hollow. Not really bad, though.

The Thief   Nakamura Fuminori
Slim, well-written novel about an accomplished Tokyo pick pocket who gets involved, against his will, with an evil yakuza. Much rumination about fate that keeps us from what we want. Pretty good.

The Searchers: The Making of an American Legend   Glenn Frankel
History of the Cynthia Ann Parker story that was the foundation for the John Ford film. I was far more interested in the actual history in the first 2/3rds of the book. Great American history about the Indian-White wars in the southwest. Very well written and researched. Really liked it.

Introducing Baudrillard   Chris Horrocks and Zoran Jevtic
Excellent, brief introduction to the chaotic and provocative thought of the French sociologist/philosopher. Not as quick a read as I thought. Baudrillard requires effort. Very glad I read it.

Darwin's Ghosts: The Secret History of Evolution   Rebecca Stott
Beautifully written account of the long history, starting with Aristotle, of the idea of evolution, or as it was called, transmutation. I love this kind of intellectual history. Read the whole thing in the Nook app on my tablet. Really enjoyed it.

A Death in Summer   Benjamin Black
Forth novel in the Quirke series. This time, he is investigating the apparent suicide of a very wealthy businessman. He gets involved with the widow, and as usual, his investigations get other people hurt. Beautifully written, in-depth characterizations, and a good plot. Nice ending. Really enjoyed it.

A Darwinian Left: Politics, Evolution, and Cooperation   Peter Singer
Brief, ineffectual attempt to establish left politics on Darwin rather than Marx. Completely unconvincing. First Singer I’ve read and, most likely, the last.

The Difference Engine   William Gibson and Bruce Sterling
Overlong, but interesting, novel that started Steampunk. An alternate history Victorian England where Babbage’s difference engine became pervasive. Unfortunately, the middle sections of the book don’t really connect with the narrative begun in the first third and that resumes in the final third. But good enough nonetheless.

The Wrong Quarry   Max Allan Collins
Guilty pleasure of a book about an assassin who kills other assassins. Plenty of violence and sex, and a good plot with a big twist. What more could a guy ask for. Well executed, and a lot of fun.

Zero History   William Gibson
Gibson’s most recent novel continues the exploits of Hollis Henry in the employ of Bigend. Brings back all the people from Spook Country, and even, Pattern Recognition. Beautifully written, very interesting, and loved the characters again, especially Hollis, Milgrim, and Heidi. Couldn’t put it down. I’ve now read all of his fiction. Wish he had another one.

Free Will   Sam Harris
Unfortunately, this is a dumb book. Harris never develops a coherent argument, makes numerous logical mistakes, and looks down on his readers from a mountainous self absorption. Even though brief, this book is a waste of time. Too bad.

Death of the Black Haired Girl   Robert Stone
She dies about half-way into this dark novel. The prose is so beautifully manufactured that we are reminded of the author’s skill in every sentence. Not such a good thing. I disliked every character, probably, again, because Stone dislikes them. Even with all its accomplishment, didn’t like this book at all.

Marxism and Literary Criticism   Terry Eagleton
Very well written, highly informative, though brief, introduction to Marxist literary criticism. Marx, Engels, Trotsky, Lukacs, Macherey, Benjamin, Brecht, Althusser, and a couple of others are covered, as well as the important ideas. Excellent.

Skinner   Charlie Huston
Wonderful thriller filled with high intelligence, current events, and surprises, all written in perfect, invisible prose. Loved Skinner, and especially Jae, and Dharavi. Even though we got nicely to the end of the configuration, wished it wouldn’t end.

Duino Elegies   Rainer Maria Rilke
Stunningly beautiful poems in Stephen Mitchell’s beautiful translation. Can’t remember how many times I’ve read them, but they never disappoint. Too many angels, but that’s OK. The Ninth Elegy is still my favorite:
                      “ Ah, but what can we take along
into that other realm? Not the art of looking,
which is learned so slowly, and nothing that happened here. Nothing.
The sufferings, then. And, above all, the heaviness,
and the long experience of love...”

Never Go Back   Lee Child
Excellent, latest Reacher novel. He finally got back to Virginia, but he’s stumbled into a conspiracy to destroy the woman he came to see. Bad guys are right there in the army. Once again, Reacher is much too smart and violent for them, he and the woman get along great, the prose itself is worth the read, and the good guys win. Loads of fun.

A Wanted Man   Lee Child
Penultimate Reacher novel. He’s in Nebraska, still trying to get back to Virginia. This time he gets mixed up with domestic terrorists and FBI counter-terrorism agents. Interesting until the last couple of sections which read like a single-shooter video game. But Reacher’s mind is so intelligent, and the prose is so clean and crisp, I still really enjoyed it.

Suspect   Robert Crais
Disappointing, latest book by Crais. No Elvis Cole or Joe Pike. This time it’s a wounded cop working to become a K-9 officer and his dog. The sections from the dog’s perspective were cheesy to the point of being embarrassing. Too bad. Lucky it still had Crais’ prose and was a quick read.

Tatiana   Martin Cruz Smith
Latest Arkady Renko novel set in Kaliningrad in the new Russia. Murder, a lost corpse, trouble with Zhenya and his girlfriend, all while being targeted by Russian mafia. Complicated plot develops well, characters are interesting, and an enjoyable and believable ending. I have really enjoyed all of Smith’s novels, this one now included on that list.

The Twelfth Department   William Ryan
Second of the very enjoyable Chief Inspector Korolev novels. This time he is investigating murders at a psychiatric institute run by the NKVD. Well written, well plotted, and an excellent character. Kind of wished it didn’t end.

Ecclesiastes
My annual re-reading of this book that doesn’t really fit in a bible for believers. “How sweet is the light, what a delight for the eyes to behold the sun! Even if a man lives many years, let him enjoy himself in all of them, remembering how many the days of darkness are going to be. The only future is nothingness!” (11:7-8) That about sums it up.

Rivers   Michael Farris Smith
Well-written novel about a very believable near future U. S. ravaged by constant storms. Excellent prose, compelling narrative, and some good characters. Couldn’t put it down.

Tenth of December   George Saunders
Outstanding collection of short stories propelled by the characters. Magnificent use of changing perspective and each character’s inner world. Excellent, idiosyncratic prose. Characters remind me a little of Larry Brown. Can’t believe I knew nothing of Saunders until recently. Very, very good.

Dead Brides: Vampiric Tales by Edgar Allen Poe   Edgar Allen Poe
Some of my favorite (Berenice, Ligeia, Morella among others) Poe tales collected with two critical essays, H. P. Lovecraft’s mere homage to Poe’s greatness and Jeremy Reed’s interesting analysis of The Fall of the House of Usher as a description of Poe’s growing madness. Well worth it.

The Man from Berlin   Luke McCallin
Fairly interesting and well-enough written novel about a German Abwehr officer investigating a double murder in Nazi occupied Yugoslavia. Plot moves a little slowly with the protagonist’s self-examination that doesn’t really help us get to know him. Good enough I guess.

Karl Jaspers: A Biography: Navigations in Truth   Suzanne Kirkbright
May be one of the worst books I’ve read. Clunky, pretentious writing that says almost nothing, incredible lack of information about Jaspers and his life. Didn’t get any information about him and the development of his ideas that I was looking for. Terrible waste of time.

Hitler’s Furies: German Women in the Nazi Killing Fields   Wendy Lower
Excellent history of women who became part of the Nazi killing fields in the Lebensraum areas along the Eastern front in World War II. Very well written and documented, 55 pages of notes. Provided extensive information about Nazi culture and how these women got involved. Excellent history.

High Heat: A Jack Reacher Novella   Lee Child
Another deeply entertaining Reacher plot about mobsters, a New York City blackout, and even the Son of Sam. Child’s usual excellent prose and intelligence. Very enjoyable.

dot.dead   Keith Raffel
Lame and predictable mystery set in Silicon Valley about a tech startup executive framed for murder. Weak plot and lame characters. Read quickly enough, but still a regrettable waste of time. Too bad.

A Working Theory of Love  Scott Hutchins
Entertaining and kind of sweet novel about a guy trying to work out his relationships while using his father’s journals to help create an A.I. to pass the Turing test. Enjoyable, but it felt a little weak thematically and in characterizations.

Japantown   Barry Lancet
Clumsy, overwritten, emotionally overwrought novel about a murder in San Francisco’s Japantown by a secret ninja society. Shallow, unbelievable characters and an obvious plot. Another waste of time.

Devil May Care   Sebastian Faulks
Rather lame update of the Bond series. Didn’t have the energy, wit, or sex of the Fleming originals, though it followed the plot formula closely. Too bad, kind of a waste of time.

My Brief History   Stephen Hawking
Disappointingly lame “autobiography.” Very short and superficial. A complete waste of time and money, even though I got a 30% discount. Useless.

Bloodmoney   David Ignatius
Involved plot about a rogue CIA group whose members start being assassinated and the woman agent sent to find out what’s going on. A little surprise, but not nearly good enough to justify the effort; shallow, unbelievable characterizations, unjustified resolution, and a dopey ending.

The Deep Zone   James M. Tabor
Cliché-filled novel about a CDC researcher required to do extreme caving to get microbes to combat a new super bacterium. Embarrassing characterizations, and a tiring plot. Waste of time.

Bertrand Russell: The Ghost of Madness 1921-1970   Ray Monk
Deeply disappointing second volume that covers the second half of Russell’s life. Monk seems intent on character assassination, disparaging anything good that Russell accomplished and writing like a tabloid expose about everything else. Too bad, especially in light of the quality of the first volume. Glad to get the whole 1200 pages behind me.

Bertrand Russell: The Spirit of Solitude 1872-1921   Ray Monk
Excellent, well-written, philosophical, and excruciatingly meticulous biography of the first half of Russell’s life. Felt great sympathy and empathy for his personal struggles and awe for what he accomplished. I’ve always been interested in him because of our shared name, and I was very aware of his politics when I was a teenager. Very glad I read it.

Savages   Don Winslow
Story of Ben, Chon, and O and their attempt to live the California lifestyle fuelled by their drug business but without any consequences. Guess how that turns out. Exactly like the Oliver Stone movie except for O’s narration and the silly, focus-group required second ending. Liked the more recent prequel better.

The Kings of Cool   Don Winslow
Beautifully written (I really like Winslow’s prose) prequel that gives the background, even generational, of the characters and circumstances described in Savages. Actually liked this book, and the characters, better.

A Mercy   Toni Morrison
Excellent, beautifully-written novel about women in slavery in 17^th century America. Tragic, sad, abhorrent, and hugely insightful about what slavery does to people. Couldn’t put it down. Very good.

Capital Punishment   Robert Wilson
Very enjoyable thriller about a kidnapping consultant who gets involved in a situation that is more than it seems. Well written, complicated and compelling narrative, and surprisingly good characterizations. Really liked it. Wish it hadn’t ended.

The Love-Charm of Bombs: Restless Lives in the Second World War   Lara Feigel
Disappointing account of five literary figures in London during World War II. The writing is good, the exhaustive research and insights of connections between the writers’ lives and their fiction are well-done, but it’s never more than just these individuals. Somehow, the book feels trivial, and I don’t feel like I’ve really learned anything. Too bad.

All That Is   James Salter
Salter’s latest novel composed of snapshots of 40 years from World War II to the early 80s. Exquisite prose, perfectly constructed sentences and narrative that somehow captures the mundane, lovely, surprising, and heartbreaking truth of human existence in this one life. This is what a novel should be. Really sad it ended. What could I possibly read now?

Femme   Bill Pronzini
As in Fatale, not a fabulous gay man. Disappointing noir novel about a woman manipulating wealthy men with sex. The plot and all the shallow characters have already appeared thousands of times. Luckily, it didn’t take too long to read.

Dead Aim   Joe R. Lansdale
Brief, violent, stylized, noir novella about partners who agree to protect a woman from her husband. As always, they get involved in something completely different. Quick, enjoyable read. Might try something else by Lansdale.

Masaryk Station   David Downing
Latest in the John Russell/Effie Koenen series. Now it is 1948 and they are struggling through the cold war politics of a divided Germany, especially Berlin. Well written, interesting, more thriller tension, and some important developments. Very enjoyable.

Bend, Not Break: A Life in Two Worlds   Ping Fu
Story of Ping Fu’s journey from persecution during China’s Cultural Revolution to founding Geomagic a 3D software company here in the U.S. I have been very interested in the experiences of intellectuals in the Cultural Revolution, not so much in entrepreneurship. Unfortunately, had the tone of a women's self-help book. Not too bad though.
Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore   Robin Sloan
Loved every second I spent reading this novel about a bookstore clerk who stumbles into a secret society. Finished it in a day. Perfect mix of high tech and love of books. One of those books you wish you hadn’t read yet so you could still have the experience of reading it. Wish I enjoyed everything I read this much.

A Fringe of Leaves   Patrick White
Beautifully written novel about a woman in 1830s Australia shipwrecked and captured by aborigines. White won the Nobel prize in 1973, thus my interest. Enjoyed every exquisite word of it, and would have liked to meet Mrs. Roxburgh.

Phantom   Jo Nesbø
Latest Harry Hole novel. This time Harry is trying to save his “son” Oleg which entails defeating the biggest drug dealer in Oslo. As usual, very entertaining, well-written, a complex narrative, and extremely violent. Ended abruptly, and nearly everything is left hanging. Even so, once again really enjoyed it.

Odds Against Tomorrow   Nathaniel Rich
Interesting, intelligent, and especially timely novel about the futurist Mitchell Zukor whose personal fears help him warn about future catastrophes. Didn’t really like the ending, seemed pretty fanciful and certainly not a future I would like. But I really enjoyed the novel.

The River Swimmer   Jim Harrison
As usual, two exquisite novellas by one of my very favorite authors. Wished they wouldn’t end. I especially liked “The Land of Unlikeness.” Can’t ever get enough of his work. Really, really enjoyed them.

A Man Without Breath   Philip Kerr
Latest Bernie Gunther novel. I have read everyone. This time Gunther is causing problems in Smolensk in 1943. Read quickly enough, as usual, but less interesting. Bernie’s sarcasm seemed stale, the plot was obvious, and the relationship with the woman felt contrived. Not bad, but a little disappointing. May be my last one.

The Great Agnostic: Robert Ingersoll and American Freethought Susan Jacoby
Interesting, well-written introduction to Ingersoll, his historical place, and his ideas. Too much a polemic telling us what we should take from it, especially the letter at the end, but much good information nonetheless. A fascinating figure. Very Good.

A Delicate Truth   John LeCarré
Perfectly executed novel about a rendition attempt gone wrong and the damage it does to some of the people involved. Beautifully written, interesting characters, and a timely, if depressing, plot. Excellent.

Walter Benjamin   Esther Leslie
Well written intellectual, or critical, biography of the German “philosopher” and critic who is currently so popular. I’m still not sure what to think of Benjamin, but there is much of him that is deeply intriguing, and this is an excellent overview. Well worth the read.

The Leopard   Jo Nesbø
Another excellent installment in the Harry Hole series. Harry returns to Oslo to track a serial killer to the Congo and back, while dealing with the encroachment of Kripos, his own addictions and demons, and the death of his father. The increasing damage to Harry’s body reflects the damage to his mind. Longest in the series so far and well worth it. Can’t wait for the next one.

In the Tunnel   Okubo Takamichi
Very disappointing Novella about two people trapped when the bus they are on is caught in a tunnel collapse. Read more and more like a pep talk on a positive mental attitude. Waste of time even though it was short.

The Destroyed   Brett Battles
Disappointing installment in Battles’ cleaner series about an unfinished job that comes back to haunt Quinn. Not enough character development, and Battles’ seemed to strain at the plot. Really quick read, but not that much fun.

Second Son, A Jack Reacher Story   Lee Child
Short story about a 15-year-old Jack Reacher solving a case the way the adult Reacher does. Nice to meet his family. Same intelligence of style and plot that makes the whole series so interesting. Really liked it.

The Infinite Tides    Christian Kiefer
Beautifully written, thoughtful novel about an astronaut returning from the ISS to deal with his daughter’s death and his wife leaving him. Thoughtful, interesting, and as already mentioned beautifully written. Too bad the ending was so disappointing. Too bad.

California Fire and Life   Don Winslow
Entertaining, well-written novel about an insurance fire investigator uncovering murder and fraud by a real estate mogul tied to the FBS and Russian Mafia. Enjoyed his conversational style. I was nicely entertained.

Helsinki Blood   James Thompson
Latest in this deeply entertaining, brutal, emotionally bleak series about inspector Kari Vaara. Everyone is seriously damaged as he tries to get out from under police corruption, win back his wife and daughter, and save their lives. Hope there’s another one.

Deep Down, A Jack Reacher Story   Lee Child
Very entertaining “Kindle Single”, set back in the 80s, about Reacher solving the penetration of the Navy by a Soviet spy. All the things that make the novels so good are here. Just too short. Really liked it.

Hit Me   Lawrence Block
Latest in Block’s Hit series. Now Keller has a wife and child and thought he was retired. Not so fast. As usual. Block’s quick, clean style, entertaing dialogue, and interesting plot made this novel hard to put down.

The Winter of Frankie Machine   Don Winslow
Entertaining novel about a mafia hit man who just wants to be a San Diego businessman. Characters are pretty shallow, but the style is entertaining, and there’s plenty of slam bang action. Quick, pleasant read.

The Snowman   Jo Nesbø
Latest Harry Hole police procedural where a snowman is integral to a series of murders of women. As always in this series, excellent writing, interesting characters, and a complex plot that is perfectly executed. This time Harry’s loved ones are also targets. Very good.

Death in Breslau   Marek Krajewski
Strange, difficult mystery, set in Breslau during the rise of the Nazis, when it was still part of Germany. Three women are sliced open, then scorpions placed in their bodies. The difficulty derives primarily from the poor translation that includes some sentences that unintelligible in English. Too bad.

War Stories, Poems about Long Ago and Now  Howard Nemerov
I’ve loved Nemerov’s poetry since I was a teenager. This collection is about WWII, Vietnam, and since. I wish more people knew his poems. Very good.

Getting Off    Lawrence Block (writing as Jill Emerson)
Utterly entertaining guilty pleasure of a novel about an irresistible woman who murders anyone she sleeps with. And she sleeps with a lot of people. Clean, simple style that pulls you right along. Absolutely loved it.

The Devil’s Star   Jo Nesbø
Inspector Hole investigates a serial killer who uses a pentagram, chases the head of a smuggling ring, tracks the killer of his former partner, loses the woman he loves, and gets kicked off the police force. Well-accomplished, and very interesting and entertaining. Enjoyed it so much, I wish it hadn’t ended.

History of a Pleasure Seeker   Richard Mason
Interesting, well written historical novel about a young tutor trying to improve his station in early 20^th-century Holland. He is irresistible to both women and men and that causes his greatest advancements and failings. Not nearly as erotic as it sounds, and a little light on characterization. Though it says “to be continued” at the end, I think I’m done.

Nemesis   Jo Nesbo
Excellent police mystery about Nesbo’s detective Hole investigating murder and bank robberies in early 21^st Century Oslo. Cleanly written with gypsies, infidelities, corruption, and several believable narrative twists toward the end. Well, maybe one twist too many, but a very enjoyable read. Plan to read more in the series.

Betraying Spinoza: the Renegade Jew Who Gave Us Modernity   Rebecca Goldstein
Disappointing “philosophy” book that begins by stating that there is no sense in which Spinoza id a Jewish thinker and then proceeds to discuss him as just that. Some good intellectual history about Jewish philosophy in the 17^th century, but valueless about Spinoza. A bit of a waste of time.

Lehrter Station   David Downing
Latest in Downing’s fascinating thriller series with John Russell. Now the war has just ended and Russell and Effie go back to the Berlin they barely escaped from to work for the Soviets and the Americans, and combat murderous smugglers. Excellent historical narrative very well written. Really enjoyed it.

The Courtier and the Heretic: Leibniz, Spinoza, and the Fate of God in the Modern World   Matthew Stewart
Excellent, very well written historical philosophy book. Perhaps the best, most lucid description of Spinoza’s Ethics I have ever read. Made me appreciate Spinoza’s achievement even more, and also dislike Leibniz personally and as a philosopher. Outstanding.

Flight from Berlin   David John
Long, marginally interesting thriller and historical novel about the lead-up to the Hindenburg disaster in 1937. While the history about the disaster, the 1936 Olympics, and Hitler’s growing power is accurate, the characters were, for the most part, not very likable, interesting, or believable. Not a total waste though.

The Iliad   Homer (Fagles translation)
Finally filled this giant hole in my education. Really enjoyed the beauty of Homer’s language and the power of an epic so ancient. Fagles’ translation made it easy and enjoyable to read. Deeply rewarding narrative and language. I wish everything I read was this important. Have to work on that.

An American Spy   Olen Steinhauer
Complex, superbly written spy novel that continues the Tourist saga. Even though Milo is trying to be retired, he is pulled into an operation ostensibly to revenge the murder of the entire department at the hands of the Chinese. Perfectly constructed, plotted, and executed. Steinhauer gets better with each novel. Excellent.

The Medusa Amulet   Robert Masello
Overwritten, overlong mystery/fantasy about a renaissance amulet that grants eternal life when a person looks at it during a full moon. Unbelievable and not very well written, so it was mostly tiring.

The Dead Do Not Improve   Jay Caspian Kang
Odd “mystery” about a down on his luck content provider and a surfer detective investigating the death of a hippie porn star in San Francisco. Yeah. Prose was convoluted. Didn’t really enjoy it. Too bad because the title was fantastic.

The Information   James Gleick
Deeply impressive chronicle of the history, theory, and impact of information. As usual in Gleick’s books, very difficult ideas expressed clearly in sometimes-even-beautiful prose. Non-fiction book of the year, so far. Absolutely fascinating.

Viral   James Lilliefors
Ingenious thriller about the plan to use a constructed virus to depopulate areas of Africa and the agents trying to stop it. Way too believable in the current political climate. Prose is pretty good, and there is some characterization, but the real impetus is the evolving plot. Enjoyed it very much.

The Informer   Craig Nova
Dark and atmospheric novel set in pre-war Germany about a prostitute who informs for both the communists and the Nazis, and the female detective trying to solve the serial murders of prostitutes. Grim, like the times. I have loved all of Nova’s other novels. While I liked this one the least, it was still good.

Up in Honey’s Room   Elmore Leonard
Typically entertaining Leonard novel about German spies and escaped POWs in 1945 Detroit. A Raylan-like marshal, some hot women, and violence. As usual, the dialogue and accomplished prose propel the narrative. Enough of a distraction.

The Professionals   Owen Laukkanen
A group of twenty-somethings who can’t get decent work become professional kidnappers. An FBI agent and a Minnesota BCA cop hunt them down. I liked the criminals the most, though all the characters had a little more depth than usual in this genre. Couldn’t put it down.

Satori   Don Winslow
Very entertaining “prequel” to Trevanian’s Shibumi. Nicholai Hel is entrapped to work as an assassin for the Americans, kills everything in sight, falls in love, deftly eludes those trying to kill him, avenges his mother, helps lay the foundations for the Vietnam war, and barely gets out alive. All based on the game Go. A lot of fun.

Dublin Dead   Gerard O’Donovan
Extremely well plotted sequel to The Priest. Mulcahy and Fallon are both on the trail of drug thieves, even though Fallon doesn’t know it. Nicely written as well, though there is still not enough characterization, and there wasn’t much mystery about who it was. A pleasing and entertaining read.

The Priest   Gerard O’Donovan
First Inspector Mike Mulcahy novel. He finds himself chasing a Dublin serial rapist and kidnapper who tortures his victims by burning them with gold crosses. Narrative moves well, writing is good enough, just enough characterization, and a rushing, slam-bang ending. Good entertainment.

Blueprints of the Afterlife   Ryan Boudinot
Highly imaginative and well written science fiction novel about the end of the world as we knew it, who caused it, and what follows. New York Alki, people popping into quantum super position, corporate war against the new humans, Bionet embodiment, and the last dude. Very entertaining and even a little thoughtful.

In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin   Erik Larson
History of the family of the U.S. ambassador to Germany from 1933-1937. Well written and documented. Some new insights into the Nazi personalities that destroyed Germany. Seemed like the ending got telescoped and came much too quickly. Really only covers 1933 and 1934. Glad I read it.

The Silent Oligarch   Chris Morgan Jones
Well written and interesting novel about a Dutch-English business man trying to escape his life working for a Russian oligarch, and the English investigator who ends up trying to help him. Compelling characters and descriptions of Russian state and corporate corruption. Well worth it.

Raylan   Elmore Leonard
Engaging novel about the further adventures of Leonard’s U. S. Marshall. Now he’s back in his home area of Harlan County, Kentucky dealing with large coal, murder, drugs, and women. Leonard’s prose slips right along, and the dialogue, as always sounds wonderfully authentic . A quick, very enjoyable, entertainment.

Prague Fatale   Philip Kerr
Latest Bernie Gunther novel. We’re back in 1941, Bernie is involved with a new woman, working closely with Heydrich in Czechoslovakia, and stumbling his way through an investigation of the murder of one of Heyrich’s adjutants. Very interesting and well-executed, as always. Resolution was a little slim, but very enjoyable.

Helsinki White   James Thompson
Third novel in the series. Things are disintegrating as Vaara recovers from his brain surgery, he becomes more corrupt in the special squad, and his marriage starts coming apart because he no longer feels emotions. Brutal, violent, and very interesting. Wish there were another one to start on.

Everyday Life in Early America   David Freeman Hawke
An outstanding social history of the American colonies in the first half of the 17^th century. Well written, highly informative, and very enjoyable. Too bad he didn’t use footnotes. Even so, a great step on my reading of American History. Very good.

Lucifer’s Tears   James Thompson
Second well-written novel in the inspector Kari Vaara series. He’s now in Helsinki with his wife and daughter, working homicide, and causing as much trouble as he is stopping. Tough, kinky, interesting, lovely, brutal, and a lot of fun. A very enjoyable read.

Hokusai   Matthi Forrer
Beautiful collection of woodblock prints and paintings by the late 18^th-century Japanese artist. Really enjoyed browsing through this book again.

Snow Angels   James Thompson
Gripping novel about a police detective in a small town in northern Finland investigating the very brutal murder of a film star. Complicated character and relationships, and kind of depressing like the weeks of total darkness around Christmas. Plan to read the next two in the series.

This Was America   Martin W. Sandler
Collection of photographs taken between 1890 and 1910. Interested because this toward the end of Mary Ann Burnham Freeze’s life. Disappointing for me because they are concentrated in the Eastern U.S. But it was worth it.

The Darkening Field   William Ryan
Second novel with Militia Detective Korolev solving a murder in Odessa and avoiding the political consequences in the Soviet Union in 1937. Takes a while to get going, and a little too much interviewing, but enjoyable, nicely written, and worth the time. Introduces a nice new character in Slivka. Not too bad.

You Suck, A Love Story   Christopher Moore
Second novel of the vampire trilogy. Now, Tommy is also a bloodsucking fiend and the lovers are trying to dodge the vampire who turned Jody and is trying to kill Tommy. More bumbling, hilarity, and the introduction of the new minion, Abby Normal, one of the great characters of vampire fiction. Still entertaining.

Bloodsucking Fiends, A Love Story   Christopher Moore
First volume of Moore’s vampire trilogy about Jody and Tommy and how she becomes a vampire and chooses Tommy as her minion. Funny, lighthearted, and endearing. Enjoyed the characters, the deft prose, and the love story. Very enjoyable.

A Spy by Nature   Charles Cumming
Very well written and constructed spy novel about the recruitment and failure of the spy Alec Milius. Industrial espionage against the Americans in the search for oil. Because of his personal inadequacies, Milius wrecks everything he gets involved in and harms those he loves. Really disliked the character, but very well done.

Taken   Robert Crais
Crais’ latest novel with Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. This time they are battling the nightmare of human trafficking and the bajadores who infest the borderlands between the U.S. and Mexico. Screams right along, couldn’t put it down. Another very entertaining read from Crais.

“The National Game”: A Social History of Baseball in Salt Lake City, Utah, 1868-1888   Kenneth L. Cannon II
Master’s thesis that I needed for my work on MABF. Only a few pages give a background on an entry from her diary, but I was interested in the broader history. Not just about baseball, but about the Americanization of Salt Lake City and Utah.

Dark Men   Derek Haas
Third novel about the assassin Columbus. This time he is trying to work with his girlfriend, and train her as an assassin while hunting down the dark men who kidnapped his fence. As before, interesting and well written enough to be useful while riding. Enjoyed it, but I’m done with these.

Columbus   Derek Haas
Second novel about the namesake professional assassin. This time he’s based in Europe trying to get out from a hit against him. Still captures your attention with an interesting narrative and simple, clean prose. Now, on to the third one in the series.

The Silver Bear   Derek Haas
Slim, interesting novel about the origins and activities of a killer for hire. Easy, clear prose moves the narrative along nicely. Captures just enough of your attention, the characters and plot are just interesting enough, to be entertaining. Excellent while on the bike. Enjoyed it. Plan to read the next two in the series.

Wild Thing   Josh Bazell
Second Dr. Peter Brown, aka Pietro Brnwa, novel. This time he’s in the Boundary Waters investigating a lake monster. The propulsive prose, smart-ass tone, and intelligence make it extremely enjoyable. One of the great theories of our coming demise. Couldn’t put it down and wished it hadn’t ended.

Potsdam Station   David Downing
Latest installment in the John Russell novels about the British journalist in Germany during the Nazi period. This one covers Russell getting back into Berlin to find Effi and his son as the war comes to an end. Very interesting and enjoyable, and surprisingly, a fairly good ending. Can’t wait for the next one.

Typhoon   Charles Cumming
Very engaging and enjoyable spy novel about CIA and MI6 operations in Hong Kong at the time of the turnover and in Shanghai in 2004. Interesting relationships and an absence of James Bond-like hyperbole. Seemed realistic. Good read.

The Peopling of British North America: An Introduction Bernard Bailyn
Beautifully written, incredibly informative overview of who came to North America in the 17^th and 18^th centuries, the nature of their lives here, and the peculiar culture that developed into America. Couldn’t put it down. Easily one of the best history books I have ever read.

The Trinity Six   Charles Cumming
Very entertaining spy novel about an English professor of Russian Studies whose research gets him involved with British and Russian spies trying to cover up cold war treasons. A little light, but enjoyed the plot and the characters quite a bit.

Anathem   Neal Stephenson
Neal Stephenson science fiction novel, just short of 1,000 pages, about a planet in an alternate cosmos. He creates a whole new vocabulary that requires a detailed list in the back of the book. Once I broke through the language barrier, I couldn’t put it down. Didn’t want it to end, so I dragged it out. Really enjoyed it. Up there with Cryptonomicon for favorite Stephenson novel. I’m going to miss being able to live in that world with those people.

Our Kind of Traitor  John LeCarré
Beautifully written, interesting spy novel about a Russian mafia money launderer who wants to defect to the UK. Good characters and LeCarré’s usual indictment of the British spy agency. Sad ending, of course. Really enjoyed it.

The Angel Esmeralda: Nine Stories   Don DeLillo
Dark, well-crafted stories covering several decades. Liked the title story, but most of the others left me empty. I love DeLillo, but I could have missed these stories without any real loss. Too bad.

Pronto   Elmore Leonard
Entertaining 1993 novel introducing U. S. Marshall Raylan Givens. Miami mobsters, a bookie, girlfriends, and even Ezra Pound. Leonard’s strength is his characters and dialogue, and both are well done here. Quick, kind of fun, but a little light. Soderbergh could make a good movie from it.

The Affair   Lee Child
Very entertaining latest installment of the Reacher novels. This one goes back to the events that led to Reacher being involuntarily separated from the Army. As usual, crisp, quick prose, involved fast-paced narrative, violence, intelligence, and even some sex this time. As I said, very entertaining.

Parley P. Pratt: The Apostle Paul of Mormonism   Terryl L. Givens and Matthew J. Grow
Excellent, well-written biography/history of Parley that effectively makes the case for the claim in the title. Gave me a different, more realistic, and less flattering view of him. Amazing that he, and his brother Orson, could produce the works of theology they did with so little education. Most interesting point for me was that Joseph Smith actually used ideas that Parley originated. Also, seemed to me that Brigham wanted Parley out of his hair, so that’s why he was always on missions. Saddened by the resulting, constant poverty of his family and his lurid, tragic murder.

Reamde   Neal Stephenson
A 1000-page novel about terrorists, a virus infecting an MMORPG, and the many characters who get involved tracking both as they converge. Disappointingly slim characterizations, especially in a novel of this length, and far too much unimportant detail. But it reads well, and I was interested. Clumsy ending as if the editor finally said, “that’s enough, wrap it up.” Enjoyed it, but I wish it hadn’t cost $35.

The Kirtland Economy Revisited: A Market Critique of Sectarian Economics   Marvin S. Hill, C. Keith Rooker, and Larry T. Wimmer
An outstanding monograph covering the failure of the Kirtland Safety Society Anti-banking Company that caused so many problems in Mormon Kirtland and undermined Joseph Smith’s role as prophet. While it is extremely scholarly, well-reasoned, and very thorough, it is also a little too apologetic of Joseph, but extremely valuable historically nonetheless.

Read only 38 books in 2011, far less than my goal of 1 each week. Very disappointing even though, or maybe because, it reflects the disappointing year in general.

Sunset Park   Paul Auster
A beautifully written and deeply interesting novel about four people squatting in an abandoned house in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn. Very interesting characters, but the narrative just ends as if artificially truncated for some reason. As a result, deeply unsatisfying. Wish I had a better sense of what happens to these people that I grew to care so much for.

A Man of Parts   David Lodge
Wonderful biographical novel about H. G. Wells’ last days from the point of view of the many women in his life. Once again, Lodge’s prose is clean and light. Wells has interested me for decades, and I loved this enjoyable way to learn more about him. Really liked it.

Zero Day   Mark Russinovich
Very bad “novel” about cyberterrorism that reads much more like a white paper. Lifeless prose, pale, uninteresting characters, and a clumsy plot. Complete waste of time. Too bad.

The Great Leader   Jim Harrison
Harrison’s latest novel about a Michigan State policeman who tracks a cult leader who molests girls while trying to transition to retirement. Insights I really enjoyed about life, American History, relationships, manhood, womanhood, and “sex, money, and religion.” Really, really enjoyed it. Wish it hadn’t ended.

Worm: The First Digital World War   Mark Bowden
Book about the Conficker worm and the ad hoc team of computer scientists that tried to stop it. Interesting even though Bowden seemed like a dog circling endlessly the spot where he wants to finally lie down. His style is fine, but could have been better organized. Only learned a few things because he had to write to a less technical audience.

The Broken Teaglass   Emily Arsenault
Interesting novel about lexicographers discovering hints about a killing in the citations. The relationships were all only verbal, no real depth to them, and the male protagonist had no male characteristics at all. He seemed completely unreal. Good, but got tedious toward the end.

Fun & Games   Duane Swierczynski
Surprisingly entertaining action thriller about an actress being hunted by a team of assassins. And Charlie Hardie gets caught in the crossfire. The reader is pulled along nicely by the almost invisible prose, but the mindless action gets a little unbelievable by the end. But it was like the title.

A Death in Summer   Benjamin Black
I was growing tired of Quirke by the end of Elegy for April, and he is even more tiresome in this novel. Got so I didn’t find any of the relationships credible, and didn’t care about any of the characters or who killed whom. Banville is a beautiful writer, the prose is superb, but I just wanted to be done with it.

The Sisters Brothers   Patrick deWitt
Entertaining western about the infamous brothers, Charlie and Eli Sisters, hired killers who travel from Oregon to San Francisco to kill Herman Warm. Nicely written in Eli’s voice, odd characters, and dusty tangents. Kind of good.

Train Dreams   Denis Johnson
The early 20^th-century life of Robert Grainier told in a beautiful novella. While he constructs railroads and clears their paths, he is unable to construct a life connected to others. Poignant, sad, and evocative. Crystal clear prose. Really enjoyed it.

The Last Man in Berlin    Gaylord Dold
Poorly written, phallus-centered “historical” novel about a police detective in 1930s Berlin trying to solve murders of transvestites and resist the rise of the Nazis. Had to struggle through the ragged prose, didn’t like the characters, and the eroticism seemed plastic. Didn’t like it.

Death Will Have Your Eyes    James Sallis
Disappointing “novel about spies” that isn’t really a spy novel. Nicely written meditation on lives and choices and learning to live, but the spy stuff was just an overlay. Glad it didn’t take very long to read.

A Centenary of Relief Society, 1842-1942    Relief Society General Board
Excellent history of the Relief Society’s first 100 years when it had much more autonomy and power. Very helpful resource for my MABF research. Learned a lot.

The Killer Is Dying   James Sallis
Beautifully written novel about three characters living with their losses, one dying of cancer, one whose wife leaves him to die alone, and a boy living alone after his parents leave him. Great understanding of the human condition. Great prose. Absolutely loved it.

The School of Night   Louis Bayard
Pretty interesting thriller about scholars and collectors hunting for treasure based on a Thomas Harriot letter. Liked the relationship between Harriot and Margaret and some of the overall mystery. Nicely written. Really enjoyed the history and intelligence. Weak ending, but a very enjoyable read.

Agent X   Noah Boyd
Second Steve Vail novel. This time he tracks down a complicated Russian spy network that tried to kill, then frame, the woman he loves. Quick-paced, action-packed, fairly-intelligent, and adequately-written. Very similar to the Reacher series by Lee Child. Slightly too long, a little padded, but pretty enjoyable for an escape.

Rhino Ranch   Larry McMurtry
The final novel featuring Duane Moore. This time he is still trying to find love and wholeness with the same lack of luck, while the world speeds past and he grows old. Still love McMurtry’s style and the characters that populate these novels. Sorry to see them go. Couldn’t put it down. Enjoyed the read very much.

The Holy Thief   William Ryan
Historical mystery set in 1936 Moscow where Inspector Korolev tries to track down the serial killer who has tortured and killed a Russian/American nun, a high-ranking thief, and even an NKVD major. Or is it all a rogue NKVD operation about stolen icons? Fairly entertaining and well-enough written, but kind of slim on the history and details of Russian life. Enjoyed it.

The Last Ember   Daniel Levin
Dan Brown type novel about the search for the giant golden Menorah that the emperor Titus took to Rome when he destroyed Jerusalem. Marginally interesting scholarship of Josephus’ writings, but lame villains, and characters in general, and an unconvincing ending. Much better prose than any of Brown’s novels, but kind of a waste of time.

Rescue of the 1856 Handcart Companies   Rebecca Cornwall and Leonard Arrington
Read this monograph as background research for the MABF diaries I’m working on. Emphasizes the “heroic” efforts of the rescuers of the stranded Willie and Martin handcart companies at Devil’s Gate in Wyoming. A little too slim, but an adequate introduction to an interesting and revealing moment in Mormon history.

The Ideas of the Woman Suffrage Movement/1890-1920 Aileen S. Kraditor
Disappointing book on the conceptual framework for the Woman Suffrage movement in the United States. It’s not bad, it just didn’t have any information I could use for my work on Mary Ann Freeze. Too bad.

Winning the Vote: The Triumph of the American Woman Suffrage Movement Robert P. J. Cooney Jr. in collaboration with the National Women’s History Project
A large picture book reminiscent of books that accompany PBS series. Great pictures from the Woman Suffrage movement, brief biographies of the major, and some minor, players, and useful history, though brief like the biographies. Good overview but not an in-depth scholarly work.

A New World: An Epic of Colonial America from the Founding of Jamestown to the Fall of Quebec
Arthur Quinn
Part of my study of American history. Very informative and enjoyable overview of the founding of the British and French colonies in North America, though it was work getting through it. Especially liked Quinn’s writing style, and the European context for colonizing. Good foundation and learned a lot. Well worth it.

The Brick Layer   Noah Boyd
Very enjoyable, and nicely written, thriller about an unconventional FBI agent who solves a series of murders and finds ransom money. Especially good male-female dialogue between two agents. Steve Vail is much like Reacher; highly intelligent and violent, but wittier. Quick and quite entertaining.

Bhagavad Gita   translated by Stephen Mitchell
This, more than any other “sacred” text I have read, seems purely spiritual and conveys an understanding of life. I am not comfortable with the Lord/God references except that they can be understood to portray a reverence for the foundation of existence throughout the universe, which I like well enough. Also loved the clarity and simple beauty of Mitchell’s translation.

Mormon Polygamy: A History   Richard S. Van Wagoner
An outstanding overview of polygamy in Mormonism from its origins in Nauvoo to today. Nicely written, well researched, and very informative. I was especially interested in the Utah period of Mary Ann Freeze. Well worth it.

Field Grey   Philip Kerr
Latest of the Bernie Gunther series. He spends most of the book in prison recounting his involvement on the Eastern front. Not as interesting as previous books, a little too expository, but an interesting ending. Overall, disappointing, but OK.

The Second Son   Jonathan Rabb
Third Nikolai Hoffner book. This time Hoffner, dismissed from the Berlin Kripo because of his Jewish mother, is in Spain during the early days of the civil war, hunting for his youngest, second son, finding love and unbearable grief and pain. Well done. Don’t know if this is the last of a trilogy or not.

The Border Lords   T. Jefferson Parker
Very disappointing fourth novel in the Charlie Hood series. This one is marred by a veer into vampire fantasy and clumsy, over-the-top plot. Too bad.

Iron River   T. Jefferson Parker
Graphic, brutal, and hopeless third installment in the Charlie Hood series. As the power and range of the cartels grow, more people are destroyed while others thrive, Charlie and his ATFE team are overwhelmed, and some mysterious people intervene. Beautifully written contemporary entertainment.

The Renegades   T. Jefferson Parker
In this second Charlie Hood novel, Hood is battling a fellow LASD deputy, Allison Murrietta’s son, and the Mexican Drug cartel employing them. More violence and excellent prose, but no love story this time. Again, nicely entertaining, primarily because of the beautiful prose that enlivens the adequate plot.

L. A. Outlaws   T. Jefferson Parker
The first Charlie Hood novel where he gets involved with Allison Murrietta as he tries to solve the murder of 10 men at an L. A. warehouse. Police corruption, an evil assassin, loads of violence, and a great love story between two great characters, all written in excellent, Hemingway-esque prose. Nicely entertaining.

The Last Colony   John Scalzi
Another Old Man novel where John Perry and Jane Sagan are now retired and just colonists. That doesn’t last long and they are caught up in interstellar politics, war, and intrigue. Entertaining, smart, and an enjoyable escape.

Old Man’s War   John Scalzi
Really interesting science fiction novel about a future where old people can join the Colonial Defense Forces when they turn 75. Entertaining, marginally plausible, intelligent, and well-enough written. Lots of fun.

The Sentry   Robert Crais
Pretty disappointing Joe Pike novel with Pike and Cole protecting a woman who isn’t what she seems. It has character and thematic gaps, and little emotion or power. This is about the third Crais novel in a row where he seems tired and uninterested. Too bad.