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
