He did it again

Send Down The Rain by Charles Martin; 2018; $25.99; 338 pages; Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN; 978-0-7180-8474-5; purchased at Rainbow West Book & Bible; 7/21/2020-7/22/2020

PTSD, Vietnam,Secrecy, Congress, miscommunication, abuse Unrequited Love and more figure in this story that covers a lot of time and space.  There is so much going on here, with so many people trying to deal with the past here and now.  Charles Martin again made me cry as I read this.  

10/10

He was only there one day

In the Shadow of Statues, A White Southerner Confronts History, by Mitch Landrieu; 2018; $25.00; 227 pages; Viking, New York, NY; 978-0-525-55944-3; checked out from Multnomah County Library, Midland; 7/17/2020-7/21/2020

You might think Mitch Landrieu is running for higher office with this treatise.  He doesn't get to the part about the statues until almost the end.  He lays the groundwork for while he was willing to fight this battle.  He was the mayor of New Orleans when the battle.  I only had a few quibbles with his reasoning, one he equates the Holocaust with slavery and I agree with this reasoning.  I felt that he ignored the United States  own record of genocide when they wiped out millions of indigenous people.  He also spoke of the benefits received by WWII in using the GI Bill, without addressing the difficulties that African-American veterans had using the problem.

One of the statutes that was removed was General Robert E. Lee.  His only connection to New Orleans was that he had visited for just one day.  I enjoyed the read and his account of growing up progressive in a time that was not looked on favorably in the southern states.

10/10

An exciting new voice

Avery Colt is a Snake. A Thief. A Liar by Ron Austin; 2019; $18.00; 157 pages; Southeast Missouri State University Press, Cape Giradeau, MO; 978-1-7320399-1-9; checked out from the Multnomah County Library, Woodstock; 7/12/2020-7/16/2020

A series of stories of a young man from the hood about growing up. Stories about relationships, with parents, grandparents, siblings and the gangs and others in the neighborhood.  It was really good book.

10/10

genocide

An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz; 2014; $27.95; 296 pages; Beacon Press, Boston, MA; 978-0-80700040-3; purchased from the Multnomah County Library's Title Wave Used Bookstore; 7/2/2020-7/10/2020

In boiling down the history of the United States of America's history to just a few words they would be, genocide, lies and failure.  The settlers of the new world and the government of the United States used genocide as a start to "settle" the country.  Then the government  lied to the Indigenous People, over and over again.  The government  have failed to live up to any treaty ever signed.  When physical genocide didn't work they turned to psychological genocide and tried to turn then into white people.  Even today the government does not treat the indigenous people well.

10/10

It's all an illusion

A Reasonable Doubt, A Robin Lockwood Novel by Phillip Margolin; 2020; $27.99; 292 pages; Minotaur Books, New York, NY; 978-1-250-11754-0; checked out from Multnomah County Library, St. Johns; 6/30/2020-7/1/2020

Just a quibble, Phillip Margolin, the morgue isn't in that building any more.  It's a dermatology clinic now.  

I was introduced to Robin Lockwood in The Perfect Alibi she is still bad ass, but now we know even more about her.  A magician performs an illusion at the Oregon Coast and disappears for several years.  There is plenty of riveting backstory before we get there.  When he reappears he hires Robin Lockwood and invites him to a return performance and his illusion goes deathly wrong.  Robin then has to figure out how the illusion was done and why it went wrong.

10/10

Not de facto, but de jure

The Color of Law, A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein; 2017; $17.95; 342 pages; Liveright Publishing Company, New York, NY; 978-1-63149-453-6; purchased from Thriftbooks.com;6/23/2020-6/30/2020

I knew about the government encouraging redlining, what I didn't know was not government agencies were acting unconstitutionally.  The FHA and other agencies involved in housing went against the constitution in refusing mortgage insurance to developers who wanted to build integrated housing developments.  The VA did the same thing in refusing to allow Black veterans to buy home in white or integrated neighborhoods.   This  is a thoroughly researched look at how the United States government was complicit in keeping Blacks and whites segregated in residential settings, which made sure that schools were segregated also.  The government acting against the best interest of its' own citizens.  Excuse me, but what a f**kin' suprise.  Note the use of the sarcasm font.  

10/10

Between the Joists

Lost Hills by Lee Goldberg; 2019; $24.95; 226 pages; Thomas & Mercer, Seattle, WA; 978-1542093804; checked out from Multnomah County Library, Central; 6/22/2020-6/23/2020

A policewoman takes down a well known male action star in a video that goes viral and all of sudden she is the face of the department and a newly minted detective. One of her first cases involves a home with large amounts of blood in all the rooms but no corpses.  With time running out due to inter-agency squabbles, over eager supervisors and a fast moving wildfire she must solve the case and save a life.

10/10

See your aura, and raise you one

The Vanishing by Jayne Ann Krentz; 2020; $27.00;294 pages; Berkley, New York; 978-1-9848-0643-7; checked out from Multnomah County Library, Central;6/19/2020-6/22/2020

Many years ago in Fogg Lake, Washington a mysterious gas was released causing the residents to hallucinate.  The residents told everyone that is from food poisoning so that they didn't become lab rats. Actually many people who were involved acquired some sort of physic ability. Two women, who were teenagers when the incident happened, use their abilities to investigate people.  One day one suddenly disappears and her friend is forced to find her with the help of a shadowy operative from THE FOUNDATION.  It was just okay.

8/10

Now for something completely different

Wish You Well by David Baldacci; 2000; $16.00; 418 pages; Grand Central Publishing, New York, NY; 978-0-446-69948-8; checked out from the Multnomah County Library, Northwest; 6/13/2020-6/18/2020

In 2000 David Baldacci took a break from all his thrillers to write a coming of age story.  Set in the mountains of Virginia in the 1940's.  It is a moving story that reinforces my belief that Baldacci is one of the foremost storytellers of our time.  A wonderful cast of well rounded characters makes for an engrossing story. 

10/10

A series of unfortunate events for Adults

Without Sanction by Don Bentley; 2020;$27.00; 373 pages; Berkley, New York, NY; 978-1-9848-0511-9; checked out from Multnomah County Library, Hollywood; 6/9/2020-6/12/2020

Matt Drake is a former operative for some alphabet agency who has retired.  He is then recalled to retrieve an asset from a war zone, who will only deal with him. Their are other operators from other alphabet agencies who have a grudge against Matt because he showed how incompetent they were.  As he moves in to rendezvous with the asset he runs, literally at times, into obstacles of all types.  He manages to overcome them to complete the mission.  It is an engrossing thriller and I look forward to reading more from Don Bentley.

10/10

Better than the movie

Mister Roberts by Thomas Heggen; 1946; $2.50; 221 pages; Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, MA; purchased at the Multnomah County Library's Title Wave Used Bookstore;6/7/2020-6/9/2020

This book was the basis for one of my all time favorite movies and it meant a lot to my friend Greg and his Dad. I wanted to read it and it did not disappoint.  It had all of the comedy of the movie but also had some musings on the nature of war and death that were not present in the movie.  Those chapters made it a well rounded novel.

10/10

Enduring Momunents

Mount Rushmore Q&A by Don "Nick" Clifford, Mount Rushmore Worker, 1938-39-40; 69 pages; Arizona Lithographers, Tucson, AZ; 0-9753006-0-1; a gift from Kirsten Harrington Leonard; 6/8/2020

During the great Pandemic of 2020, I had lunch with my good friend Kirsten and she gave me this book and I wondered why.  She made me guess why and when I got to the inside back cover I discovered why, there was a autographed baseball card of the author. It was a quick read and a fascinating account of the creation of the Presidential faces on Mt. Rushmore.

10/10

magnum opus

East of Eden by John Steinbeck; 1952, $16.00, 601 Pages; Penguin Books, New York, NY; 0-14-200423-5; purchased from SmileAmazon.com;Corner Reading Society; 5/17/2020-6/7/2020

I usually like John Steinbeck's books.  I felt like this one was bloated, had too much backstory and took too long to get to the main story.  There were parts of it that I like and overall I liked it. 

8/10

A story of realization

Playing with the Enemy, A Baseball Prodigy, World War II and the Long Journey Home by Gary W. Moore; 2008; $15.00; 306 pages; Penguin Books, New York, NY; 978-0-14-311388-1; purchased at the Friends of the Library Book Sale; 5/12/2020-5/17/2020

Our story begins in Sessler, Indiana in the days leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor.  Fifteen year old Gene Moore is playing catcher for the Sessler Egyptians semi pro team.  He can hit, throw and manage like no one else.  All the older players respect him and listen when he gives advice and positions players when he is catching.  One day a scout for the Brooklyn Dodgers shows up and eventually signs Gene to a contract.  He is too young so they find him a better semi pro team to play.  In the days after Pearl Harbor he turns seventeen and the Dodgers manage to get Gene assigned to the Navy Baseball team.  One day German U Boat 505 is captured, but the U.S. doesn't tell anyone and the entire crew was sent to a POW camp in Ruston, LA.  There the Navy was assigned to guard the prisoners.  They eventually taught the prisoners how to play baseball.  In the final game of the war, Gene Moore breaks his ankle and the is really what drives the rest of the story.  It is hard to tell what is true and what is fiction in this story based on the life of Gene Moore.  I thought it was very moving story.

10/10

A lot of fun

My Most Excellent Year, A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins & Fenway Park by Steve Kluger; 2008; $16.99; 403 pages; Dial Books, New York, NY; 978-0-8037-3227; purchased at the Title Wave Used Bookstore,5/9/2020-5/11/2020

Give me a book that promises Mary Poppins and baseball together and I will give it a look. This is an fun read told through diary entries and correspondence.  I laughed out loud at least once and found myself tearing up a couple of times.  There is baseball throughout, some of the characters are named after Red Sox players, there are Aunts Babe and Ruth.  There are divas from Streisand to Minelli.  Julie Andrews even makes an appearance.  There are several relationships being formed by people of all ages throughout the story and most of them affect each other.  One of the most hopeful books I have read this year.

10/10

Huh, where'd he go?

The Final Spark, Michael Vey #7 by Richard Paul Evans; 2017; $8.97; 316 pages; Simon Pulse/Mercury Ink, New York, NY; 978-1481497039; purchased from SmileAmazon.com; 5/3/2020-5/6/2020


For a book series named Michael Vey, he hardly shows up at all in this final installment.  After focusing on him and his electroclan for six books we get hardly any of them.  A real disappointment, I really liked the first six books, bummer.  

I think Pat Conroy would have liked this

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens;2018; $26.00; 368 pages; G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York, NY; 978-0-7532-1909-0; borrowed from Diana Lee Jackson; 4/28/2020-5/3/2020 

I truly believe that if Pat Conroy was still with us that he would have had something good to say about this book.  Delia Owens writes in a style similar to Pat Conroy and John Larison.  
She tells the story of Kya a very young girl in the marshes who is ultimately abandoned by every member of her family and left to fend for herself.  She becomes very knowledgeable about the marsh and it inhabitants.  She becomes involved with a couple of men who are two sides of a coin, but both are well rounded characters.  Each character is very well formed and the story is engrossing.  

10/10 

the penultimate spark

Fall of Hades, Michael Vey #6 by Richard Paul Evans; 2016; $11.99; 328 pages; Mercury Ink/Simon Pulse, New York, NY; 978-1-48146983-8; purchased from SmileAmazon.com; 4/26/2020-4/28/2020

Michael Vey and the Electroclan travel to Taiwan to rescue a highly placed Elgen officer who has decided to defect.  They are also going to rescue three of Hatch's glow kids who crossed him and try to recruit them to the Electroclan.  Oh and steal the Elgen's floating vault.  It was a fun and exciting read with a real cliffhanger ending.  

Homer is real

The Last Odyssey by James Rollins; 2020; $28.99; 437 pages; William Morrow, New York, NY; 978-0-06-289289-8; purchased from Gateway Free Meyer (40% off); 4/24/2020-4/26/2020

A dhow is found frozen in a glacier in Iceland.  When it is investigated it sets off a series of events that quickly involves most of the Sigma team.  Unfortunately Monk is not involved this time, but Kowalski is more involved.  As the action moves from the glacier of the Greenland to the Mediterranean Ocean, we get the history lesson that is always involved in a Sigma story. A cult called the Apocalypti are trying to trigger the Apocalypse, so that their beliefs will come to pass.  The cult is made up of members of many faiths all hoping their version of what happens after the Apocalypse comes true.  What most members of the cult don't know is that the people at the top are simply in it for the power. 
An exciting adventure through history to the gates of Hell.

10/10

Space Mountain revisted

The Boy From the Woods by Harlan Coben; 2020; $29.00; 370 pages; Grand Central Publishing, New York, NY; 978-1-5387-4814-5; purchased at Gateway Fred Meyer (25% off);4/23/2020-4/24/2020

Imagine if you will riding a roller coaster as you pull into the loading platform the track elongates and takes you through one more corkscrew.  That is what reading this book was like.  I have always likened reading Harlan Coben to riding Space Mountain, you know there are twists and turns but you can't see them in the dark.  Harlan outdid himself this time.
Back in the last century a young boy was found living by himself in the woods.  No one could determine where he came from or how he got there.  He scavenged (and stole) from homes around the woods.  He made one friend, David, before he was caught and became a part of our society.  
Our story starts many years later when David's son is in high school and ask Wilde for help.  One of his classmates is being relentlessly bullied and then disappears.  I don't to say any more for fear of giving too much away.
It is a gripping story with so many twists and turns that you might need a seat belt on your recliner.
One of the characters is obviously a friend of Myron Bolitar.  

10/10

not really Different reading it ten years later.

Prayer, Finding the Heart's True Home by Richard J. Foster; 1992; 268 pages; Harper San Francisco, New York, NY; 0-06-062846-4; chosen from my to be read pile in the time of corona; 4/13/2020-4/23/2020

 I just read my review of this from ten years ago.  I read this in a single sitting on one of my reading vacations. What follows is what I wrote ten years ago.
Richard J. Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline, walks through 21 different kinds of prayer from the simple prayer to radical prayer. So many Christian books tend to make me feel guilty, but this motivated me to a new realization of prayer,that it is simple. The church has made it complex and guilt inducing in that is a requirement of the faith,however it should be an outgrowth of a relationship. There is nothing wrong with asking for things,there is no formula or prescribed method of prayer that fits every case and every person. We must allow each other to speak in our own voice and method. Some of the prayers that I have grown from are letters that I have written to God. This is another book that will be added to my annual reading list. Grade-A. Thanks,Jim
Well I guess that it didn't get read every year though it hopefully will in the future.  I am rereading it now.  I want this to be imprinted on my mind.  
P.S.  evidently I bought the book on Amazon ten years ago after seeing Jim Weisenberg reading it.  

fact from fiction

Rise of the Mystics, Beyond the Circle, Two by Ted Dekker; 2018; $24.99; 398 pages; Revell, Grand Rapids, MI; 978-0-8007-2979-0; purchased on eBay for $2.72; 4/10/2020-4/13/2020

The story of Rachelle from Eden, Utah in this world and the 49th Mystic on other Earth continues.  Rachelle has to save both earths in different manners.  An exciting page turner which pointed out some very interesting things that opened my eyes to truths.  This two book series which follows the four book series of The Circle is today's The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.

10/10

Best of the Subject

Woke Church, An Urgent Call for Christians in America to Confront Racism and Injustice by Eric Mason; Forewords by John M. Perkins and Ligon Duncan; 2018; $14.99; 190 pages; Moody Publishers, Chicago, IL; 9780802416988; Purchased from Lifeway Books, Beaverton; 4/6/2020-4/10/2020

Why did I say this is the best of the subject, because it not only points out the problem areas but also gives concrete pointers as to help work on those problem areas.  
Eric Mason effectively points out where the church in the United States has failed to confront racism and injustice in our country.  He shows how the school to prison pipeline works, how systemic racism affects people of color in a disproportionate manner and how the churches in the U.S.  can work individually and in partnership to combat racism and injustice.  

10/10

What Uncle Ben said to Peter Parker

Michael Vey, Hunt For Jade Dragon by Richard Paul Evans; 2014; $18.99; 319 pages; Simon Pulse/Mercury Ink, New York, NY; 978-1-4814-2438-7; purchased from Multnomah County Library's Title Wave Used Bookstore; 3/3/2020-3/4/2020

Michael Vey, Storm of Lightning by Richard Paul Evans;2015;$18.99; 271 pages; Simon Pulse/Mercury Ink, New York, NY; 978-1-4814-4410-1; purchased from Thriftbooks.com; 4/4/2020-4/5/2020

This is a series I have been reading for several years and in this time of stay at home and no library books available I have been binge reading on what I have in my to be read shelf.  
Michael Vey is a young man who is able to project lightning from his body and use it for various purposes.  He is part of the Electroclan, several other young people with various electrical powers.  They are battling the Elgen who want to take over the world and are working towards that goal by providing cheap electricity to countries through a renewable source. The Elgen also have some young people with electrical powers.  The series is about the battle between good and evil uses of power.  These two are the fourth and fifth books in the series.  I enjoy them, they are fast paced and easy reading.
10/10

Might want to add a trash can for the update.

A History of Baseball in 100 Objects, A tour through the Bats, Balls, Uniforms, Awards, Documents and other artifacts that tell the story of the National Pastime by Josh Leventhal; 2015; $29.95; 495 pages; Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, New York, NY; 978-1-57912-991-0; purchased from Multnomah County Library's Title Wave Used Bookstore; 3/30/2020-4/3/2020

The book begins in the 1300's and concludes with the World Baseball Classic Trophy from 2013.  I was disappointed not to see much pertaining to Tony Gwynn in the book.  It is an interesting read if you love baseball.  All kinds of things from the first catchers match, to All Star and World Series Programs, to syringes and Barry Bonds batting helmet from when he #756.  I think it should also have included Bruce Bochy's size 8 batting helmet.  

10/10

Finding Truth In Fiction

The 49th Mystic, Beyond the Circle, Book One by Ted Dekker; 2018; $24.99; 405 pages; Revell, Grand Rapids, MI; 978-0-8007-2978-3; purchased at Rainbow West Bookstore, Gresham, OR; 3/25/2020-3/30/2020

I started reading Ted Dekker's circle books back in 2001 and when I saw this on the shelf at the bookstore I had to read it.  It ties in with a couple of other series Dekker has written, primarily the Circle books.  It takes place in Eden, Utah and now and in the far distant future.  Some people are able to exist in both worlds.  There is always a battle between good and evil in the books, it has usually pretty black and white, but this books paints with several shades of grey.  It was illuminating to read and a gripping read.  I went and ordered the second book.  I am going to try and figure out what Dekker books I haven't read and try to find them.

10/10

People of the Twenty-First Century by Hans Eijkelboom; 2014; $35.00; unpaged; 978-0-7148-6715-1; Phaidon Press, London, England, United Kingdom; checked out from Multnomah County Library, Central

All of the people who were in our house, an eight year old, a thirty three year old, a thirty four year old, a sixty two year old and a sixty three year old all enjoyed this book.  The author who is also the photographer would sit somewhere for fifteen minutes to two or three hours and photograph people who were wearing the same or similar clothes.  They cities were several in  The Netherlands; Nairobi, Kenya, Paris, London, Los Angeles and New York City.  It was interesting to see how many people were wearing similar or identical attire.  There is one page of people wearing various Scarface t shirts.  

Unholy, Why White Evangelicals Worship at the Altar of Donald Trump by Sarah Posner; 2020; $28.00; 326 pages; Random House, New York, NY; 978-1-9848-2042-6; Advance Reading Copy, publication 5.26.2020; 3/17/2020-3/25/2020

What could have been an interesting read becomes a problematic read as the author goes so far afield from her original subtitle that the book feels bloated and directionless.  If she had written the book that the subtitle promised it would have been interesting.  

5/10

What would you do for vengenance

The Other People by C.J. Tudor; 2020, $27.00; 324 pages; Ballantine Books, New York, NY; 978-1-9848-2499-8; checked out from Multnomah County Library, Central; 3/13/2020-3/17/2020

One day as he is driving home a face pops up in the back window of the car in front of him, it is his very young daughter and she says Daddy.  He follows her as long as he can knowing that she is at home with her mother.  Once he loses contact with the car he begins to rationalize that it couldn't be her because he knows she is safe at home with her mother.  Then he finds out that she and her mother were killed in an aborted robbery at their home.  When he goes to identify the bodies he is so overcome with grief that he can't and his father in law makes the id.  Over the years that follow he begins to suspect that forces beyond his control are at work and that his daughter.  Many believe that he has cracked under pressure, until circumstances bring a few people to his side.  
That is all I will say, it was a thrill ride of a  read.  I will look forward to more from the author.  

10/10

not Matt Damon

Robert Ludlum's The Treadstone Resurrection by Joshua Hood; 2019, $27.00, 375 pages; G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York, NY; 978-0-525-54255-1; checked out from the Multnomah County Library, Hillsdale;3/10/2020-3/13/2020

They have taken the idea of the program that Jason Bourne was part of and it expanded it to other individuals. 
Adam Hayes thought he had left Treadstone behind and started a family, which is barely hanging on.  He is working on a house in Washington state when he is attacked by a hit team of mercenaries.  As he flees and tries to figure out what is going on he has to resurrect the skills he learned as part of Treadstone and take care of the business that he has once again found himself thrust into.  
10/10 

let's team Ash & Reacher

The Wild One by Nick Petrie; 2020; $26.00; 381 pages; G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York, NY; 978-0-525-53544-7; checked out from Multnomah County Library, Woodstock; 3/7/2020-3/10/2020

Peter Ash is a Iraq war veteran suffering from several types of PTSD particularly claustrophobia.  He is isn't keen about airplane rides but he takes one to Iceland, when a grieving grandmother request that he try to find her missing grandson. Once he gets to Iceland the U.S. Government tries to get him kicked out.  Iceland gives him a deadline of three days to visit the country.  When he misses that deadline and continues to search for the boy he comes up against the Icelandic police, corrupt parts of the U.S.  government, and family members trying to protect the boy.   Let's just say it doesn't end well for anyone except the grandson, grandmother and Ash.  
Ash is a vigilante in the same vein as Jack Reacher but with many more problems than Reacher, however I think it would be interesting to see them work together.

10/10

The Mean Streets of Portland

The Butterfly Girl by Rene Denfeld; 2019;$26.99; 264 pages; Harper, New York, NY; 978-0-06-269-816-2; checked out from Multnomah County Library, Gregory Heights; 3/4/2020-3/6/2020

I picked this up because someone told me that the Title Wave was mentioned in it.  Not by name but if you know the neighborhood you can figure it out, besides what other bookstore sells old library books.  
Several female street people are disappearing from the streets and ending up dead in the Willamette River.  One of them catches the attention of the child finder, herself a survivor of human trafficking.  She escaped but was not able to get her sister out and she has spent years trying to find her and her latest clues bring the former foster child to Portland.  Some of the characters spend time at the Central Library and all over parts of Portland that most of us never see.  The disparate parts of the story come together to solve several mysteries.  The characters are compelling and the story is a well written mystery.  
I didn't think I had read anything by the author but in checking my records I read another book by her that was different in style and a good read.

10/10 

A crime in Astoria, that is not named Astoria

The Last Sister by Kendra Elliot; 2020; $12.95; 321 pages; Montlake, Seattle, WA; 978-1542006705; checked out from Multnomah County Library, Gresham; 3/2/2020-3/4/2020

When a man found hanging in a small town at the mouth of the Columbia River it brings the FBI to town.  Agent Zander Wells finds that there was a similar killing twenty years ago.  Are the two cases connected, what secrets is the town hiding?  And what secrets are sisters Emily and Madison, and their aunts hiding?  And what happened to their sister Tara? Dark secrets are dredged up, people are hurt and killed and Emily and Zander feel a spark.  
This is a good police procedural with just a little bit of romance sprinkled.  The setting is just as I expected it to be, since I have visited a town at the mouth of the Columbia River multiple times.  
10/10

10/10

working in the salt mines

The Warsaw Protocol by Steve Berry; 2020; $28.99; 368 pages; Minotaur Books, New York, NY; 978-1-250-14030-2; checked out from Multnomah County Library, Woodstock; 2/27/2020-3/2/2020

Someone is stealing Christian Holy relics so that they can be part of an auction of documents that could undermine the power of the President of Poland.  With his power undermine it could change the balance of power between Russia and the United States.  Both are now ruled by hardliners who would love to be the ruling superpower.  Cotton Malone, bookseller and former intelligent agent gets sucked in to the intrigue.  He has to pick sides and deal with politicians who are more concerned with their own power than the fate of the world.  Another good read from Steve Berry.
10/10

Another Book to Be Read Repeatedly

When to Walk Away, Finding Freedom From Toxic People by Gary Thomas; 2019; $24.99; 239 pages; Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI; 978-0-310-34676-0; checked out from Kitsap Regional Library through Interlibrary Loan; 2/20/2020-2/27/2020

Gary Thomas has written several books that I have reread multiple times and this is his newest book.  He shows how to identify toxic people in your life and how to best deal with them.  He even includes a chapter on how to deal with a toxic spouse.  I will be re reading this one also.  
10/10

Autopsy of a Deceased Church, 12 Ways to Keep Yours Alive by Thom S. Rainer; 2014; $12.99; 102 pages;B&H Publishing, Nashville, TN;  checked out from Multnomah University through Inter-Library Loan; 2/19/2020-2/20/2020

Many churches that have been around for centuries have fallen by the wayside for various reasons. Thom Rainer has acted as a consultant to several churches that no longer exist and used the lessons learned to write this book.  I liked the book and bought several copies to give to other people in leadership in my church.  

I was fourteen that day

Big Black, Stand at Attica, Frank "Big Black" Smith by Frank Smith & Jared Reinmuth, illustrated by Ameziane; 2020;$19.99; 175 pages; Archaia, Los Angeles, CA; 978-1-68415-479-1; checked out from Multnomah County Library, Midland;2/19/2020-2/19/2020
On September 13, 1971 authorities decided to set an example that resulted in the death of several inmates and guard at Attica prison in New York. Frank Smith was one of the inmates involved and attacked during the massacre.  These are his memories collected in graphic novel form.  It is an incident that changed things in prisons in the United States were run for awhile.  It is an engaging memoir.
10/10

Dam!

The Chill by Scott Carson; 2020; $27.00; 435 pages; Emily Bestler Books, New York, NY; 978-1-9821-0459-7; checked out from Multnomah County Library, Holgate; 2/15/2020-2/19/2020

Ghosts and Spirits menace New York City from a town far upstream that was flooded to make a reservoir to provide water and power for the city.  It is up to some of the descendants of those who lived in the town to save NYC.  One is haunted by the ghosts of her family and the other is haunted by his own personal demons and family tragedies.  Together they must work to prevent a catastrophic collapse of the dam that will threaten everything downstream.  
Scott Carson is the pseudonym of bestselling author Michael Koryta.  I have read several books by him and really enjoyed them, which is why I picked this up.

10/10

hope for reacher

Too Close to Home by Andrew Grant; 2020; $28.00; 318 pages; Ballantine Books, New York, NY; 978-0-525-91962-8;checked out from Multnomah County Library, Central; 2/12/2020-2/13/2020

Former Army Intelligence agent Paul McGrath is now working as a janitor at the courthouse.  He is actually working undercover to find out what happened to his father.  Meanwhile he is also helping investigate another case that was brought to his attention.  As in stories of this type there ends up being some convergence to the cases.  I wonder why I haven't read more by Andrew Grant.  
I will be reading more since in real life Grant is the brother of author Lee Child and they will be writing the next Reacher book together.  After that Andrew will be writing Reacher books under the pseudonym Andrew Child.  I hope he will continue writing under his own name also.  

10/10

what a writer

Us Against You by Fredrik Backman; 2017; $28.00; 435 pages; Atria Books, New York, NY; 978-1-5011-6079-0; checked out from Multnomah County Library, Kenton; 2/6/2020-2/12/2020

This is the sequel to Beartown.  It begins at the end of Beartown, no time has elapsed. It continues the story of those characters from Beartown and explores the ramifications of the things that happened in the first book and the effects that has on the people of the town.  It is an awesome story of people coming together and others attempting to cause divisions.  I will be seeking out other books by Frederick Bachman. 

10/10

time slips and important lessons

today we go home by Kelli Estes; 2019; $15.99; 400 pages; Sourcebooks Landmark, Naperville, IL; 978-1-7282-1104-6; purchased at Cascade Station, Target; 1/29/2020-2/3/2020

I was at target and saw this and the timeslip portion of it reminded me of Leslie Gould's novel.  It has an interesting story of a woman who enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War and a female Army veteran of the Afghanistan campaign.  The story of the civil war veteran resonates with the Afghan campaign veteran and helps her in her journey through PTSD.
The story is good and always raises issues of how our veterans are treated and how women are treated in our society.

Say what?

Into the Fire, An Orphan X Novel by Gregg Hurwitz; 2019; $27.99; 388 pages; Minotaur, New York, NY; 978-1-250-12045-8; checked out from Multnomah County Library, Capitol Hill; 2/3/2020-2/6/2020

The Nowhere Man turns a page into a new era with the last line of the book.
Before that Evan Smoak gets a call to help someone.  Max's cousin has given him an envelope in case something happens to him.  Max calls the Nowhere Man after someone breaks in and ransacks his home. As Evan thinks he has solved the problem another layer is exposed that gets more violent.  Evan is also dealing with the Homeowners group at his apartment and juggling his relationship with another of the tenants. 
Another exciting that promises to reveal new things about our hero.

10/10

Could be any sport

Beartown by Fredrik Backman;2016; $26.99; 418 pages; Atria Books, New York, NY; 978-1-5011-6076-9;checked out from Multnomah County Library, Fairview; 1/26/2020-1/29/2020

Beartown is a small Swedish team that only has only thing going for it, one of its hockey team.  As the economy has receded so have the fortunes of the town.  A native son who played in the NHL has returned to be the general manager of the team and its attempt to return to its former glory and bring the town up with it.  Peopled with an unforgettable cast of characters of players, coaches, sponsors, parents it goes places I didn't think it would.  Privilege, wealth, class, immigration, sexual harassment and more all affect the people of the town.   
This is the second book I have read by Fredrik Backman and I have a third on my bookshelf.  An excellent writer and I look forward to reading more by him.    

Understanding the Racial Divide in the United States.

We Are Not Yet Equal, Understanding Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson with Tonya Bolden; 2018; $19.99; 270 pages; Bloomsbury, New York, NY; 978-1-5476-0076-2; checked out from Multnomah County Library, Troutdale; 1/17/2020-1/25/2020

The chapters alternate between the strides African-Americans have made and how the culture has responded to keep them in their place.  It is a young adult version of White Rage, which I read last year.  It is an easy read, if you can contain your out rage at the oppression.  

who really runs things

Deep State by Chris Hauty; 2020;$27.00; 281 pages; Emily Bestler Books, New York, NY;978-1-9821-2658-2; checked out from Multnomah County Library, St. Johns; 1/14/2020-1/17/2020

An exciting female protagonist, who can kick butt and function as an extremely competent administrative assistant.  A story ripped from the headlines and a twist I did not see coming at all made this an exciting read.
Haley Chill is a exciting new action hero who breaks all the molds.   

an amish police chief

Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo; 2009; $9.99; 363 pages; Minotaur Books, New York, NY; 978-1-250-16163-5; checked out from Multnomah County Library, Rockwood; 1/11/2020-1/14/2020

I have read lots of Amish books but never an Amish mystery.  Linda Castillo has written a series of books set in Amish country with a female police chief who used to be a member of the Amish church growing up.  She and her family have a secret that eats at her constantly in this first book in the series.
Young girls, both Amish and English are being kidnapped, tortured and murdered.  The killings resemble those that happened in the same area sixteen years.  The chief's secret complicates her investigation.  She eventually is fired by the city council which of course is when she manages to solve the case.  The story is pretty good except for the coincidences that propel the climax.  

too many coincidences

A Small Town by Thomas Perry; 2020; $26.00; 320 pages; The Mysterious Press,New York, NY; 978-0-8021-4806-3; checked out from Multnomah County Library, Sellwood; 1/8/2020-1/11/2020

Way too many coincidences in the story.  This is a story that could have begun a series, but Mr. Perry decided to cram it all in one book.  
A small town in the middle of the country is dying until a new federal prison comes to town.  It is initially a country club but becomes the home of the worst of the worst.  One day almost the entire population of the prison escapes and terrorizes the town.  Within a couple of days all but the twelve ringleaders are either killed or caught and returned to the prison.  
Two years later the city council sends the chief of police on a extended sabbatical to "study methods of law enforcement", but in reality she is trying to track down the ringleaders and execute them.  A good portion of the book is spent tracking down the first inmate, but after that the cons congregate together making it easy for her to kill groups of them at once.  
It doesn't make sense to me to cluster together if you are trying to evade someone.   

2019 in the rear view mirror, Part 2

Following are noteworthy books from the past year.  I will link to my initial review if possible. Some of the reviews are on an old website that no longer exists.   

Books that took less than a day...
The History of the Wonderous World as recorded for the The Laurel Society, Practitioners of The Wonderous Science, Updated and Approved by the Most High Hidden Librarian, An Overview of Significant People, Concepts and Events, A Supplementary Volume to Mysteries of the The Laurel Society by Brian W. Parker & Josie Parker

The Next Person you Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom.  A sequel to the Five People you will meet in Heaven

Dangerous Minds, A Knight and Moon Novel by Janet Evanovich

Biggest Disappointment
Blue Moon by Lee Child

Favorite Thrillers
City of Windows by Robert Pobi
Elevator Pitch by Linwood Barclay

Books to reread on a regular basis
12 Rules For Life, An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson
Keep Your Love On!, Connection, Communication & Boundaries by Danny Silk

Book that hit me emotionally
Between Heaven & The Real World, My Story by Steven Curtis Chapman with Ken Abraham

I read it in 2018 and 2019, it's that good
Whiskey When We're Dry by John Larison

The Biggest Surprise
Aloha Rodeo, Three Hawaiian Cowboys, The World's Greatest Rodeo and a Hidden History of the American West by David Wolman and Julian Smith

The Biggest Book I read in 2019
Deep River by Karl Marlantes, 724 pages

Book whose world I would like to read more about
The History of the Wonderous World as recorded for the The Laurel Society, Practitioners of The Wonderous Science, Updated and Approved by the Most High Hidden Librarian, An Overview of Significant People, Concepts and Events, A Supplementary Volume to Mysteries of the The Laurel Society by Brian W. Parker & Josie Parker

Books that expanded my mind
The Color of Compromise, The Truth About The American Church's Complicity in Racism by Jemar Tisby
So you want to talk about race by Ijeoma Oluo
How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
12 Rules For Life, An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson

2019 in the rear view mirror

First the numbers for the year.

I started 76 books this year and did not finish three of them.  

The books I did not finish were Shelby Mustang, The Total Performance Car; Songs of America, Patriotism, Protest and the Music that Made a Nation and There, There.

In all those books I read 24,327 pages.

I read books by 73 different authors (some of the books were written by more than one person)  

I read books for the first time by 30 authors.

I read books by 7 people that I know or have met.  I read  two books by a person that made Ruthann and I characters in a book.

I read...

3 books in less than a day

7 books that took a day

11 books that took two days

17 books that took three days

12 books that took four days

11 books that took five days

4 books that took six days

3 books that took seven days

5 books that took eight days

1 book that took nine days

1 book that took ten days

1 book that took eleven days

1 book that took twelve days

1 book that took twenty days.

I gave...

1 book 3/10

2 books 7/10

9 books 8/10

5 books 9/10

57 books 10/10.

Tomorrow more about the books, with less numbering.