Thursday, January 29, 2015

Murder on the Orient Express, by Agatha Christie

 
The most famous mystery by Christie?  Poirot's most impressive deduction using his little grey cells?  I've seen ever film and tv version of this story (including the first porn to ever grace my adolescent eyes, "Lust on the Orient Express" -- a classic!), and have enjoyed them all.  But until recently I had not read any of Christie's works, and only now have finally read MotOE.
 
I can see now why this work is so famous.  Even having the ending spoiled by all the film adaptations, the book is a masterpiece.  I can't imagine what it must have been like when first published, with the big reveal.  What a great read.

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Under Enemy Colors, by S. Thomas Russell

  • Title:  Under Enemy Colors
  • Author:  S. Thomas Russell
  • Borrowed from DC Public (AudioBook)
  • Started:  1/15/2015
  • Finished:  1/21/2015
 
I think maybe, initially, I didn't want to like this one.  It was read by (a surprise to me), Simon Vance, whom I've praised repeatedly in this blog.  This one was read wonderfully as well, but I was taken aback to hear Vance's characters/voice on a work so similar to the Aubrey/Maturin novels. 
 
While much less literary than those Master & Commander books, Under Enemy Colors was exciting and enjoyable all the same.  So my initial reluctance was won over, for the most part, by a very enjoyable book.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Mind's Eye, by Hakan Nesser

  • Title:  Mind's Eye
  • Author:  Hakan Nesser
  • Borrowed from DC Public (Audiobook)
  • Started: 1/7/2015
  • Finished: 1/14/2015 
 
I think I was predisposed to like this one, having been wanting to read it for a while.  So even though the plot was pretty easy to figure out from the start, the characters are entertaining, the book is very well written, and, well, I liked it.

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

The 39 Steps, by John Buchan

  • Title:  The 39 Steps
  • Author:  John Buchan 
  • Borrowed From DC Public (EPub)
  • Started: 1/5/2015
  • Finished: 1/6/2015
 
Needed a quick, free public library read and opted for this mystery/thriller.  It was a very fast, easy read.  Fun enough, but forgettable. 

Might as well be Dead, by Rex Stout

  • Title:  Might as well be Dead
  • Author:  Rex Stout
  • Borrowed from DC Public (Audiobook)
  • Started:  12/29/2014
  • Finished: 1/6/2015
 
Another Nero Wolfe book, as I've mentioned before I really enjoy listening to these.  But I need a break of a couple of books between each.  Listening to two in a row, as I did hear, I find myself weary of the characters.  But just a short break between listens and these are entertaining again.

Monday, January 5, 2015

Heart-Shaped Box, by Joe Hill

  • Title:   Heart-Shaped Box
  • Author:  Joe Hill
  • Borrowed from DC Public Library (Kindle Edition)
  • Started: 1/2/2015
  • Finished: 1/5/2015
 
I think this was Hill's first novel, I liked it well enough.  Again I preferred the first half or so and felt that it fell apart in the second half.  But an enjoyable and quick horror read.

The Woman in Black, by Susan Hill

  •  Title:  The Woman in Black
  • Author:  Susan Hill
  • Borrowed from DC Public (Kindle Edition)
  • Started:  12/28/2014
  • Finished:  1/1/2015
 
 
First book of 2015?  I started it in 2014 but technically finished in 2015.  Very enjoyable but short book, followed up by watching the movie a day or two later.  Both were scary, book was better by far, but I did enjoy the atmosphere in both.