Category: Read in 2008

4/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, C, Fiction, Read in 2008, T

The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell & Dustin Thomason

Tara

The Rule of Four

by Ian Caldwell & Dustin Thomason
Copyright: 2004
Pages: 446
Rating: 4/5
Read: Feb. 29-March 2, 2008
Challenge: Numbers Challenge
First Line: Like many of us, I think, my father spent the measure of his life piecing together a story he would never understand.
The Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, a Renaissance text, and Tom Sullivan have always had a love-hate relationship. This book consumed his father’s life. And during his final year at Princeton, he finds the book consuming him and his roommate, Paul Harris. As Paul tries to figure out all the pieces to the puzzle of this book, the deadline for his senior thesis hovers above him. But then, a long-lost diary is found and Paul believes he has solved it. But before he has time to finish his thesis and state his conclusions, thereby revealing the final pieces to this mysterious puzzle, he has to fight forces that are against him. With the help of Tom and their two roommates, Gil and Charlie, they embark upon a journey that might kill them all.
I really enjoyed this book. Although it does seem to lag in certain places, overall I felt myself rushing through it because it was so suspenseful! I could hardly wait to get to the end of it. I have read that some people are likening it to The Da Vinci Code, but I wouldn’t. I felt that in a way it was much better than Dan Brown’s book, whereas in other places (like the writing style) it did sort of lack what Brown’s book had. It’s hard to describe, but definitely an enjoyable read!
4/5, AUTHOR, B, Book Review, Fiction, Read in 2008

The Assassin by Andrew Britton

Tara
The Assassin
by Andrew Britton
Copyright: 2007
Pages: 586
Rating: 4/5
Read: Feb. 23-28, 2008
Challenge: Suspense & Thriller Challenge – political thriller; Triple Eight – 500+ pages category

First Line: Anita Zaid folded her arms as she glared across the cavernous lobby of the Babylon Hotel.

There is an explosion at the Babylon Hotel. A high ranking Iraqi official is critically wounded. Another attack is made on another high ranking Iraqi official. For CIA Agent Ryan Kealey, it can only mean one thing: someone is trying to take over by disposing of these people. But for Kealey, it becomes a little more personal. In his quest to find the truth, he runs across the madman who killed his fiancee the year before. The same madman, coincidentally, that everyone thought was already dead. But in order to convince his superiors, Kealey has to risk his entire career in order to catch this man once and for all and to put a stop to what could possibly be the worst attack on American soil – one that would ultimately be worse than 9/11.
WOW! This book for me was really, really good! It started out for me kind of slowly. I was a little bogged down by all of the Iraqi names and places as well as the military terminology. But once I got used to it, the book went really quickly. It was high paced and enjoyable in the last 250 pages – which is where all the action is. I would recommend this book to those who do enjoy books of this nature. This was my first time reading a spyish-type political thriller, and I highly enjoyed it.
2/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, N, Nonfiction, Read in 2008

Coroner by Thomas T. Noguchi, M.D.

Tara
Coroner
by Thomas T. Noguchi, M.D.
Copyright: 1983
Pages: 252
Rating: 2/5
Read: Feb. 23-27, 2008
Challenge: No challenge; personal read

First Line: In my memory, as I write, there is a montage of tragic scenes.

Dr. Noguchi was the “coroner to the stars.” He performed the autopsies of individuals like Marilyn Monroe, Robert F. Kennedy and Janis Joplin. He was also highly controversial in some of his findings. In this book he finally reveals his true thoughts and feelings behind some of the details of his most famous autopsies.
I didn’t care for this book. It started out really good but it just seemed to be quite repetitive near the end. I was really disappointed in it. When I read the description on PBS I thought it would be a lot better and I regret using a credit to order this book. I wouldn’t recommend this book whatsoever.
2/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, H, Nonfiction, Read in 2008

Aruba by Dave Holloway

Tara
Aruba: The Tragic Untold Story of Natalee Holloway and Corruption in Paradise
by Dave Holloway
Copyright: 2006
Pages: 203
Rating: 2/5
Read: Feb. 18-23, 2008
Challenge: Triple Eight – True Crime Category
First Line: I cannot tell you how much it hurts to lose a child.
This is the story of the Natalee Holloway case from her father, Dave Holloway’s perspective. I remember following this case and watching it unfold in horror in 2005. I could not believe that such a beautiful young lady could simply vanish off an island. I was also shocked that these parents let 100+ 18-year-olds go off to Aruba with only 7 chaperons! But my feelings aside, I felt that this book was really lacking in feeling. I felt as if I was just reading a true crime book written from the perspective of a person who had no involvement in the case whatsoever. All I could feel was anger coming from Dave Holloway when he should have been writing a more heartfelt story in my opinion. I just didn’t care for this one at all.
5/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, Fiction, I, Read in 2008

Blood Memory by Greg Iles

Tara
Blood Memory
by Greg Iles
Copyright: 2005
Pages: 764
Rating: 5/5
Read: Feb. 17-21, 2008
Challenge: Triple Eight – 500+ pages category

First Line: When does murder begin?

Forensic expert Cat Ferry is suspended from an FBI taskforce when she begins experiencing panic attacks at the crime scenes of a string of brutal murders in New Orleans. Digging into her psyche for answers as to why she is having problems leads her back to her hometown of Natchez, Mississippi. There she is confronted with bloody footprints in her childhood bedroom. This discovery only brings back the memories of her father’s unsolved murder when she was eight years old. She wants to find out what memories she has suppressed over the years, but what she finds out in the end might damage her even more.
Oh my gosh … I absolutely *LOVE* Greg Iles! This was another great book! This was such a fast paced book that I could barely tell that it was so big. The story line was great and tragic at the same time. Like most of his other books, this one definitely has adult content. But seriously, for those of you out there reading this who have *not* read any of his books, just try one, they’re great!
5/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, Fiction, Read in 2008, S

See Jane Die by Erica Spindler

Tara
See Jane Die
by Erica Spindler

Copyright: 2005
Pages: 474
Rating: 5/5
Read: Feb. 14-15, 2008
Challenge: Celebrate the Author; Triple Eight Challenge – From my TBR Shelf Category; What’s in a Name (First Name category)

First Line: Heart thundering with exertion, fifteen-year-old Jane Killian treaded water.

Jane Killian was nearly killed as a teenager. After years of numerous reconstructive surgeries, she is finally at a place in her life where she has everything to live for. She has a great husband, a budding career as an artist, and is in the early weeks of pregnancy. All of that is shattered, though, when her husband Ian is arrested for murder. Shortly thereafter, she begins to receive threatening notes that indicates that the man that tried to kill her as a teenager has found her to finish the job. She sets out to find out the truth, with the help of her sister, Dallas Police Detective Stacy Killian. However, when they learn the truth, it will rock both of their lives.

This book was amazing! I am never disappointed by Erica Spindler. It never fails, you think you’ve got it figured out and, BAM! she hits you with a curveball out of left field! I absolutely love it! I definitely recommend this book to anyone!

4/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, Fiction, Read in 2008, U-V-W

White Crosses by Larry Watson

Tara
White Crosses
by Larry Watson
Copyright: 1997
Pages: 371
Rating: 4/5
Read: Feb. 12-14, 2008
Challenge: No challenge; personal read

First Line: When Sheriff Jack Nevelsen got the call from the dispatcher about the accident out on Highway 284 — single car, two fatalities — his first thought was, kids.

Sheriff Jack Nevelson is called out on a fatal accident. However, what he finds is that the two in the car had no business being together at all. He finds Leo Bauer, the principal of the elementary school and June Moss, a recent high school graduate. What were these two doing heading out of town together? Nevelson has to make a decision … does he try and figure out what was going on with these two, or does he try and save Leo’s reputation by concocting a story that seems to adequately explain what these two were doing together?
I loved this book! I picked it up and could barely put it down. I felt that the choices that the Sheriff made were wrong, but I still understood what he was doing at the same time. Sometimes I felt like the author took a few liberties in regards to the language and writing style – he could have made it more readable in places, but overall it was well written. I highly recommend this book!!
5/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, Fiction, Read in 2008, S

Accident by Danielle Steel

Tara
Accident
by Danielle Steel
Copyright: 1994
Pages: 439
Rating: 5/5
Read: Feb. 8-11, 2008
Challenge: No challenge; personal read
First Line: It was one of those perfect, deliciously warm Saturday afternoons in April, when the air on your cheek feels like silk, and you want to stay outdoors forever.

Page Clarke’s life is seemingly perfect. She has a loving husband, a beautiful 15-year-old daughter, and a great seven-year-old son. However, one little white lie from their daughter Allyson will cause their lives to come crashing down around them. She tells her mother she’s going out with her best friend Chloe and her father. Instead, they both lie to their parents and meet up to go on a secret date with some older boys from school. Their date seems to go perfectly, with everybody getting along great. However, halfway home, their young lives are shattered by a head-on collision. What Page faces at the hospital is frightening, Allyson may never recover. And to make matters worse, her marriage begins to fall apart at the same time. It’s all Page can do to keep her sanity when her family needs her the most.
I loved this book! It was such a great read! It really surprised me that I enjoyed this book. I have always been so adament about hating romance books and yet I thoroughly enjoyed this one a lot! I’m glad I picked this one up, it’s definitely a good read!
3/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, Fiction, H, Read in 2008, SERIES

Hannibal Rising by Thomas Harris

Tara
Hannibal Rising
by Thomas Harris
Copyright: 2006
Pages: 368
Rating: 3/5
Read: Feb. 7-8, 2008
Challenge: Triple Eight – From my TBR Shelf Category

First Line: The door to Dr. Hannibal Lecter’s memory palace is in the darkness at the center of his mind and it has a latch that can be found by touch alone.

In the fourth installment of the Hannibal Lecter series, we learn about where Dr. Lecter’s evil comes from. We learn about the mysterious sister Mischa’s demise as well as various transgressions of his youth. Harris really strives to provide insight about what caused Dr. Lecter to become the man that we know him as – a monster.
I have mixed feelings about this book. I had myself pumped up for a lot more than what I got out of this book. We learn about what happened to Hannibal and his family in his early years. And the book continues to chronicle his downward spiral until his eighteenth year. Then there was nothing else. It would definitely be interesting to see if Harris writes a fifth book telling about what happened between the time he was eighteen and the time he
4/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, C, Fiction, Read in 2008

Class Reunions are Murder by Taffy Cannon

Tara
Class Reunions are Murder
by Taffy Cannon

Copyright: 1996
Pages: 290
Rating: 4/5
Read: Feb. 6-7, 2008
Challenge: No challenge; personal read

First Line: There were probably, Nan thought as she walked into the Spring Hill Inn, a thousand more odious ways to spend an August Saturday night.

L.A. Attorney Nan Robinson returns to her hometown of Spring Hill, Illinois for her twentieth high school reunion. She is surprised to see the Class Tramp Brenda Blaine waltz in. Although she is surprised by Brenda even showing up, she is completely unprepared when Brenda is murdered just outside the reunion. Instincts set in and Nan can’t help but want to solve the murder herself. What she finds out will be the surprise of a lifetime and some things that a lot of surprising people want to keep hidden forever.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was a quick and easy read. It was a great break from what I consider the heavier books that I’ve been reading lately. I usually don’t like books like this, but sometimes it’s nice to have a little change in pace. Besides, I thouroughly found myself enjoying this one. And I was very shocked with the ending! Very good book!!