BOOK STOP

WHAT DID CYNTHIA READ IN JANUARY 2007 ?


☹Brethren: An Epic Adventure of the Knights Templar
by Robyn Young

As you might have noticed in previous book lists, I have an affinity to books related to ancient codexes, religious secrets, and all things Templar. That said, I tried very hard to love this book. I found that I really only loved the idea of the book. A stolen text, chronicling the secrets of an even more secret organization within the Templars! A book that could damn the Templars for all time, stolen by their arch rivals The Knights of St. John Hospitallers!! WOW! Reality: Page one, the book is stolen. Page 373, one of the rival knights puts the book in a locked chest promising to look at it later when he has time. Really? Call me when you open the chest again and I'll try to finish the book.


☺The Blue Zone
by Andrew Gross

Andrew Gross has previously penned several novels with James Patterson. Honestly, I have recommended his co-authored books with Patterson exclusively. They tend to be fast paced, thrilling rides. This, Andrew's first novel on his own matches that pace. A family is entered into the Witness Protection Program and one family member disappears under a cloud of murderous suspicion. Without giving away too much, this is about the secrets parents keep from their children and how those secrets can tear apart all of the child's beliefs about their family and themselves. The Blue Zone is a wonderfully written, unrelentingly exciting book, filled with realistic characters. Another book where I didn't really learn anything new, but I enjoyed the trip.



☺Relentless
by Robin Parrish

What would you think? In the blink of an eye, you are no longer you. You see yourself walking down the street and realize you are now in another body, one stronger than before, with skills you don't recall? For six months I have had this book shelved in the wrong category and I still don't know where to put it. Part thriller, part science fiction, and part religious fiction - this was a lot better than I expected. Suspension of reality is required here, but once done, the premise was intriguing and the journey was thrilling. The only bad point? I found out this is part one of a proposed trilogy.


☹The Time Machine
by H. G. Wells

Falling within my comfort zone of books about the beginning of things and the end of things (especially human civilization), I decided to pull out The Time Machine. It was referenced in a book I read recently (Stephen Baxter's unforgettable Evolution) and I wanted to refresh my memory. As good as it was the first time I read it, back in High School, it just wasn't the same. Too short by a few hundred pages for my taste, Wells waxed on too much about the flora and fauna of the year 802,701 and not enough about what may have brought us to this end.



☺The Testament
by Eric Van Lustbader

Another book about lost manuscripts, secrets parents hold from their children, and those who are willing to kill for those secrets. Would my money be better spent in therapy? Do I have issues I need to sort out? Seriously, I enjoyed The Testament. I decided to read the book after reading a short story by Eric Van Lustbader in Thriller, a short story book edited by James Patterson. I found his writing to be exciting and suspenseful and decided to try one of his novels. Avoiding his ghostwritten Robert Ludlum books, I stumbled upon The Testament. It didn't delve as deeply into its historical religious subtext as I would like, but it is a well written and pleasant thriller.


☹☺(Because he's the author I hate to love)
Foucault's Pendulum
by Umberto Eco

Oh, Umberto, why do you tempt me so with your titillating plots and intriguing characters? Why are you my Kryptonite, the one literary substance that can cause me to fall to the ground almost unconscious with the inability to penetrate your allegories? I leave Foucault's Pendulum on page 73, but hear my words, I shall return and I shall be triumphant.


☺Fallen Idols
by J. F. Freedman

Family secrets..sounds familiar...crushed illusions...yeah, I know about that...unexpected and violent death, hmmm, been there...stolen Columbian artifacts! Aha! A twist in my usual fare. J.F. Freedman never fails to thrill. I found myself having to physically stop from rushing through parts of Fallen Idols, trying to find out what happens next. I did figure out how it would end about 100 pages in, but that did not in any way detract from my enjoyment of the book.


☹☺(Because blah blah blah.)
(If he's smart, then I'm positively protozoan in intelligence.)
The Name of the Rose
by Umberto Eco

I'm back! I coming bearing a reading guide and a copy of the movie - just in case. Be gentle with me
(Note: Never happened. Didn't even crack the spine. Looks like a new book! Read Catherine Jinks The Inquisitor instead. A lot like The Name of The Rose, but only tells one story at a time, not 5000. Cool concept.)


☺The Book of Names
by Jill Gregory & Karen Tintori



☺Lucifer Gospel
by Paul Christopher



☺Different Seasons
by Stephen King



☺Resurrection
by Tucker Malarkey



☺Earthcore
by Scott Sigler

What a cool book about stuff that could never ever happen! First time in print, debut novel and a hell of a good time. I really had to check my reality hat at the door, but once I did this book hit the ground running. Sometimes it's okay to read a book and not learn a damn thing. Just read for fun's sake.

☺Dark Passage
by Junius Podrug

Seriously, the ONLY good "Let's time travel and go meet Jesus" book around. I've read it two or three times. Islamic fundamentalists travel back in time (how isn't important, they just can) to kill Jesus before he can be crucified and rise again. They figure, if he is never martyred, then Christianity will never form and Islam will rule the world. So "we" go back and attempt to stop them. The historical detail is accurate and vivid.
☺Violent Sands
by Sean Young

This book follows the story of the man set free by the Jews instead of Jesus, Barabbas.

☺Pontius Pilate
by Paul L. Maier


☺The Inquisitor
by Catherine Jinks


☹Didymus Contingency
by Jeremy Robinson

Maybe I skipped Bible study a few times as a kid, but I didn't think I missed this much! Did Jesus really know how to use a time travel wristwatch? And would he approve of people heading back to the future for a rack of ribs? Even if the cole slaw is awesome? Oh, and, Hey, if I were Lazarus, I would be afraid of shooting automatic weapons too. So there! This concludes the "Time traveling to see Jesus" portion of our programming schedule.

☺The Robe
by Lloyd C. Douglas