Void Moon by Michael Connelly

Originally published in 1999.

In Void Moon Connelly takes a break from the Harry Bosch stories and introduces a new character, a professional thief named Cassie Black. Black is sexy, smart and very good at picking locks. Currently, she is on parole in Los Angeles working at a high end car dealership where her specialty is selling cars to up and coming script writers. Black was convicted for being involved in the crime that caused the death of her partner in crime (and in romance) several years earlier in Las Vegas (apparently states can exchange parole cases which is how she ended up in L.A.)

Black's specialty was robbing high rollers in Vegas casinos, usually in their rooms while they slept. She has been contacted to do one last job with a big payoff by an old colleague and, of course, things go wrong. Soon enough, the Vegas underworld is after Black and mayhem and destruction are on her tail.


Michael Connelly

It would be a spoiler to tell you why Black needs the money and even more so to tell you her true intentions for the money. Suffice to say, Black's intentions are not all that honorable (in fact, they are horrible) and I found myself in the rare position of reading a Connelly book and not really rooting for the "good guy". Well, that's because there are bad guys and worse guys in this book. Some may say, well that's the way life is. That may be so, but I find myself not really getting into the story. I can't identify with anyone.

All of the characteristics of a good Connelly story are there - action, intrigue, good character development, interesting bad guys. But, I found myself waying the various cost/benefit analyses wondering which bad guy should win and hoping for a moment in which they could all take themselves out without hurting any innocent bystanders.

You can find this book at Amazon.com here: Void Moon by Michael Connelly.

I rate this book 3 stars out of 5.

Reviewed on February 5, 2011.

Defiant Joy: The Remarkable Life & Impact of G.K. Chesterton by Kevin Belmonte

A great introduction to a terrifically important writer

Published in 2011 by Thomas Nelson.

For most people, including this reviewer, C.S. Lewis was the gateway to G.K. Chesterton. Lewis, of course, is famous for being THE Christian apologist for his generation - a man who did not believe but then, after his conversion, was able to voice the thoughts and beliefs for millions with such landmark books as Mere Christianity. When I found out that it was the writings of G.K. Chesterton that helped to convert Lewis I had to start to looking into Chesterton (fortunately I have a Kindle - they have more than 2 dozen Chesterton books and essays for free, so I was able to get my feet wet in the ocean of writing that Chesterton produced without any worries).

That being said, I am a relative newbie to Chesterton so this biography was a welcome addition to my on again off again studies of the man.

Rather than give a blow by blow book report of this biography, I'll outline its general strengths and weaknesses.

Strengths:

-Good coverage of Chesterton's early life, including his early education. Like so many geniuses, he was indifferent to his studies and gave little indication that he would be celebrated throughout the English-speaking world for his written works.

-The book is fantastic at covering his intellectual life. All of his most important works are covered - the biggest ones with individual chapters. His relationships with other authors are discussed throughout the book. We learn about his prolific books, his play, his novels, his literary criticisms and his essays. Sadly, almost nothing is mentioned about his columns and work with newspapers and magazines.

G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936)

-Belmonte makes extensive use of quotes. He often lets Chesterton speak for himself and that is a good thing because Chesterton is extremely well-spoken.

-Chesterton's larger than life personality, good humor and charm are discussed throughout the book. Belmonte does a good job of using quotations from other sources, such as fellow authors or newspaper interviews to tell us about him.

Weaknesses:

-Belmonte tells us almost nothing about Chesterton's personal life after Chesterton's becomes a successful author. The focus shifts to his writing and its impact and only rarely shifts back. I can only think of four times: when he became gravely ill, when his brother died in World War I, his trip to the United States and his death. I would have appreciated more about Chesterton the man in this biography.

To sum up, Belmonte's biography of Chesterton gave this beginning Chesterton scholar a better foundation to build upon. Solidly done.

Due to some crazy federal regulation, I am required to inform all readers that I received this biography free of charge from Thomas Nelson's BookSneeze program. However, the thoughts and opinions expressed above are my actual thoughts and opinions because I tell it to you straight.

I rate this biography 4 stars out of 5.

This book can be found on Amazon.com here: Defiant Joy: The Remarkable Life & Impact of G.K. Chesterton by Kevin Belmonte.

Reviewed on February 4, 2011.

Pest Control by Bill Fitzhugh

Entertaining, but not his best work.

Originally published in 1996.

Fitzhugh specializes in filling his books with absurd characters in absurd situations. This is my third Fitzhugh book and I have to rank it in second. It is funny, but at times his characterization of New Yorkers as oblivious and callous to the violence that can be inherent in that city is even a bit much for me.

The premise of Pest Control is that a down and out exterminator who has come up with an entirely new way to control pests is confused for a professional hit man - a top level hitman. Soon, other top level hit men are swarming after the exterminator in an effort to eliminate the newest "star" in the hit man world.

The overall premise is funny but the book somehow fails to hit the high level of promise that this reader anticipated. That said, this would be a heck of a good movie if you get the right actors involved.

If you've never read a Fitzhugh novel, I'd recommend Cross Dressing to start with instead.

I rate this book 4 stars out of 5.

This book can be found on Amazon.com here: Pest Control.

Reviewed on April 4, 2005.

Codes of Betrayal (audiobook) by Dorothy Uhnak

What's the point? There's better stuff out there.

Published by DH Audio in 1997
Read by Bruce Weitz

Codes of Betrayal is about betrayal (thus, the title) and family and it ultimately left this listener (I heard it as an audiobook, narrated by Bruce Weitz of 'Hill Street Blues' fame) wondering what the point of the novel was. Nick O'Hara, our protagonist and NYPD detective, is upset when he discovers that his grandfather on his mother's side ordered the killing of his father when he was a boy and was obliquely responsible for the death of his son in a gangland dispute.

So, Nick goes after his grandfather by becoming a spy in the family organization. Along the way, he betrays his own wife and breaks his relationship with his father's brother - his only blood relative he trusts. So, while avenging part of his family he ends up screwing up the rest of his family.

So, when I finished this dark novel I had to wonder, "What was the point?" If you like to watch a man self-destruct - this is your book.

Bruce Weitz

Not my favorite piece of literature.

I rate this book 2 stars out of 5. It can be found on Amazon.com here: Codes of Betrayal by Dorothy Uhnak.

Reviewed April 4, 2005

Charles Kuralt's Summer (audiobook) by Charles Kuralt

For fans of Kuralt, this will be a treat!

Originally published by Audioworks in 1997
Read by the author, Charles Kuralt
Duration: 1 hour, 9 minutes
Abridged

I hadn't thought about Charles Kuralt for years - until I ran into Charles Kuralt's Summer. Kuralt pulls summer-based items from his reports from CBS News and reminds us (this listener anyway) that we've missed his folksy approach on the reporting on everyday life in America since his passing a few years ago.

Kuralt lays it on a bit thick from time to time but he avoids being too schmaltzy as he reports to us about Maypole dances in Minnesota and tubin' down the Apple River in Wisconsin. The best reports are on side two, where he focuses on the Fourth of July. He travels to Gettysburg and Independence Hall, New York City and Brazil and takes us along for an emotional ride.

Although he takes a lot of his audio from his actual television reports, only once or twice did this listener feel that he was missing something by not actually seeing the pictures.

Charles Kuralt (1934-1997)

The link above is for the cassette version of the audiobook but Amazon sells it as a digital download too.

I rate this audiobook 4 stars out of 5.

This audiobook can be found on Amazon.com here: Charles Kuralt's Summer.

Reviewed on March 29, 2005.

Bland Ambition: From Adams to Quayle - the Cranks, Criminals, Tax Cheats and Golfers Who Made it to Vice President by Steve Tally

An irreverent look at the vice presidency

Published in 1992.

In Bland Ambition: From Adams to Quayle - the Cranks, Criminals, Tax Cheats and Golfers Who Made it to Vice President, Steve Tally looks at America's vice presidents and gives us the inside scoop on each of these men's foibles and character flaws. The chapters are short and sweet and hilarious!

Tally introduces us to Vice Presidents who assumed that they were really assistant presidents, vice presidents who never really showed up to work, vice presidents who showed up to work but really shouldn't have bothered and vice presidents who never really grasped the idea that they were supposed to work with their presidents to get things passed through the Congress.

For the research paper writers out there, Tally's work would be inappropriate to use as the main source of your information, but it would make a fantastic book to add that little bit of extra to make your paper more interesting to read!

This was truly an enjoyable read. I borrowed mine from the library but I'm adding it to my wish list because I want to have a copy of my own!

I rate this book 5 stars out of 5.

Reviewed on May 18, 2005

Glory Lane by Alan Dean Foster

Published in 1987.

Glory Lane is a good old-fashioned sci-fi romp that is just made worse by the inclusion of all three human characters.

This is one of those stories where lovable losers get caught up in something really big and really complicated that they didn't even know existed. Typically, as these types of stories go along, the lovable losers do better, they grow, and they rise to the occasion.

These characters do not grow. They remain petty, impudent little pests and I found myself wondering why the other races tolerated the human species if this was all the better examples that they were going to meet!

Seriously, the actual sci-fi was top-notch. There were a multitude of worlds and species that were well-done. But, it was marred by the inclusion of a punk rocker, a geek and a ditzy blond who continued to bicker, and sometimes actually fistfight with one another, no matter the situation. I wish he'd haven given that aspect of the story a rest.

I rate this book 3 stars out of 5. It can be found on Amazon.com here: Glory Lane by Alan Dean Foster.

Reviewed on May 15, 2005.