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  The book will not be published until January, so I'll be mentioning this one again and again!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

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!

Some Unknown Writers Give Us So Much!

 

Because!  You Are Unique You are absolutely unique. Enjoy that uniqueness. You do not have to pretend in order to seem more like someone else. You weren't meant to be like someone else. You do not have to lie to conceal the parts of you that are not like what you see in anyone else. You were meant to be different. Nowhere ever in all of history will the same things be going on in anyone's mind, soul and spirit as are going on in yours right now. If you did not exist, there would be a hole in creation, a gap in history, something missing from the plan for humankind. Treasure your uniqueness. It is a gift given only to you. Enjoy it and share it! No one can reach out to others in the same way that you can. No one can speak your words. No one can convey your meanings. No one can comfort with your kind of comfort. No one can bring your kind of understanding to another person. No one can be cheerful and lighthearted and joyous in your way. No one can smile your smile. No one else can bring the whole unique impact of you to another human being. Share your uniqueness. Let it be free to flow out among your family and friends and people you meet in the rush and clutter of living wherever you are. That gift of yourself was given you to enjoy and share. Give yourself away! See it! Receive it! Let it tickle you! Let it inform you and nudge you and inspire you! Remember: YOU ARE UNIQUE! Author Unknown! Smile God Loves you!

Adolfo Caso's Latest Poem

A hot, muggy day...just the day for a good read...I finished Just a Short Walk on the Beach, by Neal Tyner which obviously had me thinking vacation, vacation...and beautiful water!  I've finished my review and if you're heading for the car right now, stop at the Bookstore...or we'll be posting my review soon...to help convince you!

And speaking of vacation, Adolfo Caso, sent me his latest as he's catching up with things while taking his vacation!  What do you think?

The Poem

Undulating to the light breeze,

Resting on the hammock

Between two ancient oaks

At the edge

Of the shimmering waters

Of Big Island Pond.

My eyes flickering

As though the twilight

Were emerging in full

And my consciousness

Giving in to the oncoming sleep.

On each opening of the eyelids

Verdant waters reflecting pines

Along the deep edge of the forest

And liquid red and yellow

Painting canvasses

With the brush of a master.

In building my poem,

How to infuse the words

With the rippling colors?

How to choose words

To carry my conscience?

Closed, my eyelids screen

Morphing images without origin,

Beyond fantasy,

And, to end in disappearing details

Without destiny—

Frightfully mesmerizing

As to break my

Virgilian séance:

If I were a master of the brush

I could create a new earth

All the while knowing

The world is always the same

And never changing.

Full clouds reflecting

On a patch of sparkling water,

Eliminating their distance

While tiny ripples of bubblets

Spring upwards from within the earth

Breaking the surface of the water,

Without noise.

Water being the conduit to new forms,

Will it be the egg for a new speckled trout?

Or, the genesis of a pup?

Errant thoughts

Without dimension or perspective

Confusing the mind

Until the sleep turns off the screen

And I am dead

To a world in paradise!

First a rustling,

Then a tug at the hammock,

My eyes open onto little Elizabeth

Full of red hair.

My arm extended

She climbs aboard,

Without a word:

Stretching her legs along my side,

One hand on my bountiful belly,

Her head snug into my chest,

Both sharing paradise.

Suddenly, all confusions cleared:

Elizabeth is the poem! (U)

I'll never know how such beautiful words can evolve into a perfect little story...yet that is what happens, doesn't it!  If you enjoy poetry, you MUST check out Adolfo's new CD now available at Amazon!  If you need to check out my review first, here's the link and we'll be updating our site to highlight its availability soon!

http://www.bookreviewers.org/observations_in_poetry_and_pictures.htm

Take enough books on your vacation and Happy Reading!

                                                                            ~~~~

On of my email friends sent the following...I liked it enough to share with you!

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor.  Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups:  porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite, telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

 

After all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones.  While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.

 

Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee, in most cases it is just more expensive, and in some cases even hides what we drink.  What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups and then began eyeing each others cups.

 

Now consider this:  Life is the coffee, and the jobs, money, and position in society are the cups.  They are just tools to hold and contain life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life we live.  Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us. 

A Busy Time with Fun Books!

From far distant places men never travel anymore

Hidden amidst the clouds and snowy acres

Out past the green seas...is the beauty of the wind,

still longing, still kissing mountain tops.

So, it is safe to say we know not where the wind comes from...

down it comes from the tabernacle of the sky...

to touch us where we live.

On evenings where the thunder grows,

on nights where the lightning chases,

from the west my friend the wind comes for her visit.

Why is it, the morning is so calm after she passed me by?

Why can't there be too much of the stirring in my soul?

thomas (U)

This poem reminds me  of when I was on a cruise ship a number of years ago...I think I was the only passenger that went out...the wind was so strong that I had to hold on to the railings and pull myself to make it around to the end of the ship...then I stood there, absorbing it, holding on for safety even though I knew "the wind" wouldn't be able to "blow me away..." LOL

Why was I the only one who wanted to brave the wind and fight against it? I don't know.  Yet, I knew I loved being there...staring out over the water, the skies looking as if rain would come at any minute, the waves high and raging. Yet I was peaceful inside. How is that possible, my friend?

This latest poem from Thomas Kemp, my favorite Poet, is a favorite for me because it has brought back pleasant memories!  If you like it too, you might want to check out my review on his book http://www.bookreviewers.org/your_poet_is.htm and then head on to Amazon to order!

 

This has been a busy time for me as I’ve had the pleasure of reading a number of new books by new authors!

http://www.bookreviewers.org/reviews.htm Take a look at highlighted book Vietnam:  No Regrets by J. Richard Watkins.  If you like non-fiction and/or biographical books, you might want to consider this one.  As some of you know, I've found an interest in learning more and more about the men who served in Vietnam.  Watkins provides a book that reads like a diary and is the most comprehensive book that I've read from an individual serviceman.  Again, I thank you for sharing your story Richard!

To counterbalance the strong emotions elicited by Watkins, Thomas Edward made me laugh in Fighting Girls! http://www.bookreviewers.org/fighting_girls.htm  This book took me back to younger years when my brother would get to choose the TV show to watch and it was wrestling.  If you are a fan, hey, this little book will be a great read for you!

Blaine is a story about the future in human genetic engineering! It is an amazing tale for your consideration and one I highly recommend! This one is not yet posted so more on this next time!  I've also been working on We the People and have found myself responding to this "history text" like I have never done in the past!  Keep looking for this important review!

I have also had the opportunity to edit Ruth of Moab by Author O. Wright, who wrote Lavina http://www.bookreviewers.org/lavina_the_saga_of_an_african_princess.htm and Autumn's Turning by Mary Edwards  http://www.bookreviewers.org/elizabeth's_choice.htm, author of the delightful Elizabeth's Choice.  I'll keep you posted on these great books!

 

Interesting Article

Wow...when will POD publishers learn that they can't just publish anything?

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=482305

Now I realize that authors have a responsibility to proofread/edit and ensure their book is ready for final printing...but since this problem is so prevalent, I have to believe that the primary fault lies with the company!

Frankly, I'm disappointed that a group associated with Amazon.Com has been cited for this quality of work.  I've always been satisfied with the operations within the bookstore, so it bothers me that BookSurge was an acceptable merge with them...

While I don't agree with large sums of money being awarded in this type of law suit, I do think that authors are going to have to stand up for basic competency!

Avoid BookSurge unless you've done major research on them!

By the way, I also learned today that AOL is contemplating some type of tax on email.  Be on the alert for this as well.  I've heard problems about mail not being able to get through AOL filters in the past but have been satified with my own service...but nobody likes to be played for a fool.  Spam is Spam whether somebody can pay to get around it or not!  My response:  Boo Hoo Hiss!  Say it isn't so AOL!!!

Hey!  Please go out and take a look at my review on VIETNAM:  NO REGRETS!http://www.bookreviewers.org/reviews.htm  This was the best non-fiction story I've read on this war and if you have somebody over there...link on to Amazon and buy it...it's well worth the price!