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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
