Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Another Da Vinci?

I just read Cross Bones by Kathy Reichs. Sunday Times of London called it "A Spirited Rival to The Da Vinci Code...

Since Kathy Reichs is one of my "must-read" authors, I naturally picked up Cross Bones!

(By the way, have you noticed that some books are being shaped differently and are costing more from mainline publishers--this paperback listed for $9.99).

I had not yet read The DaVinci Code although I have it in my e-book library.  Maybe now I'll read it to see how it compared with Reichs.

Actually, I saw no big deal in this book...yes, there were suppositions about Jesus that most Christians will disbelieve immediately.  Actually, though, I have not found it hard or a conflict to read alternative suppositions.  The point is, my faith leads me to "know that I know" that Christ's was indeed the Son of God and that there is no question of doubt about His story.

What I did get from Cross Bones was more information about the time of Christ...and, to me, learning about history through fiction books is a great thing! 

Yes, since the main character for Reichs' books is Dr. Temperance Brennan, we automatically know, as her readers, that there is going to me at least one skeleton in the story.  Now in this one, there were two, one of which Dr. Brennan had a chance to examine and determine that it could not be Jesus.  The other one, though definitely a skeleton of someone who had been crucified, was burned to ashes before it could be further examined.  Yes, both of these were postulated to be Jesus...and, of course, the book closed with an inability to verify that hypothesis.

Hey, I enjoyed the book!  I like reading about the life of Christ, I like to learn about the disputes between different people as to why it would be a problem to this group or that...

But, for those of us who have welcomed His Spirit within our Hearts...He lives today, and everyday...and a crucified skeleton cannot ever change that.  He Lives!

So maybe I'll sit in front of my computer soon and see what the DaVinci "fuss" is all about!  LOL

 

Sooooo...I also just finished a wonderful story called, The Man Within by Ruby Moon-Houldson.  A romance story like no other!  I'll be writing my review soon, so keep posted.  The book will not be published until January, so I'll be mentioning this one again and again!

My next read, interestingly, will be a partial manuscript...and after that will be a nearly 500-page manuscript.  I must admit I'm enjoying reading books before they are published.  If an author is able to trust enough to seek a "critical review," then I find that those efforts are more rewarding as we can help new authors move forward in their careers...

Not every author can trust, though.  I found it interesting and then sad when I started reading a fine, educational self-help book and found problems in the printing as well as a couple of mistakes.  It seems the author had hired a number of individuals to edit and proofread books.

Writers!  Hear this!  When Rainbow's End Publishing Company was still publishing books, we normally had four different individuals, if not more, reading through the books.  It is natural that typographical mistakes are made.  It is also possible for individuals to "miss" some errors when they work.  In fact, this often happens when the individual has no vested interest in the book itself, but is merely proofreading.

I have found that when I review books and am reading for content, I most generally find a few mistakes...Expect this!  Don't Panic!  Wouldn't you rather know what errors are in your book so that you can either work to get them corrected or at least know the extent of the problem.  Well, I tried to do this recently...and the writer got upset...so I stopped that project.  Sometimes you can help...and sometimes, you can't...

 

Boy, my other recent read was a doozy!  Keith Ablow's The Architect is an unforgettable suspense!  Consider his profession, consider his professional need for perfection...and the possibilities...that's all I'm willing to say!  One other thing...don't read it late at night!

Keep Reading!

"The Worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it." --James Bryce

Sunday, August 6, 2006

Finally, my latest reading list! Plus More!

So, what are you doing during these hot, muggy days? Here in Book Reader’s Heaven, there’s always a new novel handy to keep me busy and interested—and to forget about the weather!

I’ve just finished reading The Chalet by Susan Lynn and that review will be posted shortly. Also finished are We the People by Adolph Caso and Cold Hit by Stephen J. Cannell. It turned out that I did a short essay rather than reviews on these two books; however, each in its own way, certainly deserve your attention! Since it was combined, check my comments on Amazon under either of the books! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0828320063/sr=1-1/qid=1154877706/ref=sr_1_1/002-4786298-0679269?ie=UTF8&s=books

As always, as an avid reader, I have very few books that are turned away without my reading it...Here's those that caught my attention recently...note that I've added a few symbols as further info (see below for details).  You can see the books are arranged alphabetically for your easy use.  I've tried to write reviews for all my books...but those who ask my help for editing and reading their books keep me fairly busy...LOL... So, I'll just say, pick up--you'll like it!

A Rage in Paradise Ralph Arnote 1997

Against The Wind J. F. Freedman 1992

Always Time to Die Elizabeth Lowell 2006*

Avenger Frederick Forsyth 2003

Before I Wake Anne Frasier 2005

Bones Buried Deep Max Allan Collins 2006

Born to be Wild Catherine Coulter 2006*

Breaker’s Reef (Cape Refuge Series) Terri Blackstock 2005*#

Cape Refuge Terri Blackstock 2002*#

Cat in a Neon Nightmare Carole Nelson Douglas 2003*

Charity Len Deighton 1996

Cold Service! Robert B. Parker 2006*

Dead End Mariah Stewart 2005*

Devil’s Corner Lisa Scottoline 2006

Faithless! Karin Slaughter 2005

Familiar Escape Caroline Burnes 2006

Finding Anna Christine Schaub 2005

Fire Sale Sara Paretsky 2006*

For All the Right Reasons Elaine Coffman 1991

Fox River Emilie Richards 2001

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince! J. K. Rowling 2005

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix! J. K. Rowling 2003*

Houses of Stone Barbara Michaels 1993*

Killing Time! Linda Howard 2006*

Lady Thief KayHooper ` 2006*

Last Witness Jilliane Hoffman 2005

Memory in Death J. D. Robb 2006*

Moonlight on the Millpond Lori Wick 2005#

Night Sins! Tami Hoag 2006

Play Dead Anne Frasier 2004

Pursuit Thomas Perry 2001

Rage Jonathan Kellerman 2005*

Retribution Jilliane Hoffman 2004

River’s Edge (Cape Refuge Series Terri Blackstock 2004*#

Scent of Roses Kat Martin 2006

Shadows Edna Buchanan 2006*

Southern Storm (Cape Refuge Series) Terri Blackstock 2003*#

Storm Winds! Iris Johansen 2002

Straight Into Darkness! Faye Kellerman 2005

Street Dreams Faye Kellerman 2003*

Suspicion of Rage Barbara Parker 2006

The Court of Three Sisters! Marianne Willman 1994

The Witness Dee Henderson 2006*#

The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell Lilian Jackson Braun 2006*

The Cat Who Talked Turkey Lilian Jackson Braun 2004

The Closers! Michael Connelly 2006*

The Long Road Home ! Danielle Steel 1998

The Secret Garden Frances Hodgson Burnett 1911@

The Secret of the Old Mill Franklin W. Dixon 1927@

The Shaman’s Bones! James D. Doss 1998

The Wind Dancer! Iris Johansen 2002

Trial by Ice and Fire! Clinton McKinzie 2003

Under Lock and Key Sylvie Kurtz 2003

Mary Mary! James Patterson 2005*

____! after title means Wow!  I really enjoyed this one; *means that this was written by one of my "short-list" of must-read authors; # denotes Christian novels; @reprints of older books (although others might be reprinted as well, those were done by the involved authors)

Note that I wish I knew how to create a better organized blog--but, gee, that would mean that I would have to stop reading in order to learn some new process...which do you think I've chosen!  LOL

Until next time...Happy Reading!