The Affair, by Lee Child

Title: The Affair
Author: Lee Child
Borrowed from D.C. Public Library Audiobook
Started: 1/30/2017
Finished: 2/5/2017

Yup, another Reacher. Hanging my head in shame.

How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life, by Scott Adams

• Title:  How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life
  
• Author: Scott Adams
  
• Borrowed from Worcester, MD Public Library (Kindle Edition)
  
• Started: 1/18/2017
  
• Finished: 2/1/2017
  

Scott Adams of Dilbert fame wrote this one.  I'm not much into self help books (Adams would hate that description -- no disrespect meant) but like a lot of people I was intrigued by Adams ability to correctly predict Trump as President way before anyone else took Trump seriously (I mean WAY back, August 2015...).  

So along with now regularly reading his blog I thought I would read one of his books.  Overall enjoyable, much like Trump's "The Art of the Deal" which I read last year when it looked like he might really become president.  Both were enjoyable reads, but I'm not sure I had major take-aways from either -- but Adams book does offer up way of approaching life that can make it more enjoyable.

Please don't take this post as an indication of my being a Trump supporter.  My political views fall under the irrational "they're all crooks" line of thinking, so I'm not here to pick or promote either side.  

Worth Dying For, by Lee Child

Title: Worth Dying For

Author:. Lee Child

Borrowed from DC Public Library Audiobook

Started: 1/24/2017

Finished: 1/28/2017

Just blowing through the Jack Reacher series now.  My first in audiobook form, terrible reader but I needed an audiobook. 

61 Hours, by Lee Child

• Title:  61 Hours
  
• Author:  Lee Child
  
• Borrowed from Worcester County, MD Public Library (Kindle Edition)
  
• Started: 1/18/2017
  
• Finished: 1/23/2017
  

Is Jack Reacher dead?  Well no, because there are a bunch of books following this one.  

Gone Tomorrow, by Lee Child

• Title:  Gone Tomorrow
  
• Author:  Lee Child
  
• Borrowed from DC Public Library (Kindle Edition)
  
• Started: 1/13/2017
  
• Finished: 1/17/2017
  

Blowing through the Jack Reacher books, just as dumb, a return to first person narrative. Still enjoying these in my own sick way.

Nothing to Lose, by Lee Child

• Title:  Nothing to Lose
  
• Author:  Lee Child
  
• Borrowed from DC Public Library (Kindle Edition)
  
• Started: 1/10/2017
  
• Finished: 1/12/2017
  

Another Jack Reacher novel...

The Father Hunt, by Rex Stout

• Title:  The Father Hunt
  
• Author: Rex Stout
  
• Borrowed from DC Public Library
  
• Started: 1/7/2017
  
• Finished: 1/10/2017
  

The last Nero Wolfe book I had left to read on any of the public library catalogs I have access to (DC, MD, VA).  Enjoyable for a late Wolfe book.

Bad Luck and Trouble, by Lee Child

• Title:  Bad Luck and Trouble
  
• Author:  Lee Child
  
• Borrowed from DC Public Library
  
• Started:  1/7/2017
  
• Finished: 1/10/2017
  

Book 11 in the horrible Jack Reacher series that I continue to be unable to resist.  Just as stupid as all of the others, and as usual I couldn't turn away from it.

The Sellout, by Paul Beatty

Title:. The Sellout

Author: Paul Beatty 

Purchased from Amazon (Kindle edition)

Started: 12/22/2016

Finished: 1/7/2017

Book club book, 2016 Man Booker prize winner.  Really liked this one, saving comments for book club meeting. 

The Invisible Man, by HG Wells

Title: The Invisible Man

Author: HG Wells

Borrowed from DC Public Library (Audiobook)

Started: 1/2/2017

Finished: 1/6/2017

One of the few classics of horror/science fiction I had not read.  Enjoyed it -- funnier than I would have expected.  Need to watch a few of the movies again. 

Also, first book of 2017. Not going to try to best or even match my 2016 book total...

The Blue Hammer, by Ross MacDonald

• Title:  The Blue Hammer
  
• Author:  Ross MacDonald
  
• Borrowed from Fairfax, VA Public Library (Audiobook)
  
• Started: 12/23/2016
  
• Finished: 12/29/2016
  

Book 101 for 2016, and my final book for the year. Also the final book in the Lew Archer series, and thus complete my in-order reading of the series which started in July.  Enjoyed this one, as I enjoyed them all.  Some more than others, only one was a real let down to me (find a victim).  My all time favorite is The Chill, a masterpiece in my opinion.

So long, Lew.

Sleeping Beauty, by Ross MacDonald

• Title: Sleeping Beauty
  
• Author:  Ross MacDonald
  
• Borrowed from Fairfax, VA Public Library (AudioBook)
  
• Started: 12/16/2016
  
• Finished: 12/22/2016
  

Book # 100 for 2016!  Holy crap, I have consumed a bunch of books this year, blowing away my second-highest year (2015) where I read 72 books...  At least two thirds have been audiobooks, but that doesn't bother me.  My commute to the office went from a 5 block walk (2007-2014) to a 30/40 minute walk.  

Sleeping Beauty is the second to last book in the Lew Archer series.  I like this one a lot, the oil spill felt topical and sad -- this did not feel like a book from 50 years ago...

One thing I find interesting about these later Archer books is MacDonald has him sleeping with women more often.  Women were always interested in Archer, some blatantly but there were only a few (that I can recall) times when Archer succumbed.  These last few books have all included such dalliances. 

I just started the final Lew Archer book, will be sad to have this one completed.  Really enjoy these books.

The Underground Man, by Ross MacDonald

Title: The Underground Man 

Author: Ross MacDonald 

Purchased used in print on Amazon.com

Started: 12/11/2016

Finished: 12/18/2016

Continuing my reading of the Lew Archer series in order, I really enjoyed this one.  Didn't see the ending coming, though I should have, so it all came together and made for an enjoyable read. 

The Goodbye Look, by Ross MacDonald

Title: The Goodbye Look

Author: Ross MacDonald

Purchases used on Amazon

Started: 11/20/2016

Finished: 12/10/2016

Continuing my Lew Archer series in order, I didn't like this one as much as I wanted to, but I suspect that comes from my 20 mins a night reading of a book with a complicated plot.  I was lost by the end - need to reread at a time when I can devote more attention to this for extended periods. 

The Asylum, by John Harwood

Title: The Asylum

Author: John Hardwood

Started: 12/1/2016

Finished: 12/10/2016

So-so period piece mystery/drama. 

The Hard Way, by Lee Child

• Title:  The Hard Way
  
• Author:  Lee Child
  
• Borrowed from DC Public Library (Kindle Edition)
  
• Started:  12/1/2016
  
• Finished: 12/9/2016
  

These Jack Reacher novels are terrible, just the worst.  This guy just seems like the biggest asshole in the world.  Yet, here I am having devoured the first 10 books in this series, so I must be a glutton for punishment.

One Shot, by Lee Child

Title: One Shot
Author: Lee Child
Borrowed from Fairfax VA Public Library
Started: 11/20/2016
Finished: 11/27/2016

Another Jack Reacher book, this was the basis of the first movie.  Happy to see it went back to third person as the last few had been first person and not as enjoyable. 

Still terrible books overall, still enjoying them despite that fact.

The Enemy, by Lee Child

Title: The Enemy
Author: Lee Child
Borrowed from Fairfax VA Public Library
Started: 11/17/2016
Finished: 11/19/2016

Another Jack Reacher novel.

Flashman and the Angel of the Lord, by George MacDonald Fraser

Title: Flashman and the Angel of the Lord
Author: George MacDonald Fraser
Borrowed from Fairfax VA Public Library
Started: 11/10/2016
Finished: 11/18/2016

Another in the Flashman series.  Liked this one quite a bit. Funny how when I started this series I hated it, now I love it, and hate that I only have a few books remaining. 

Also, I sometime put audiobook on my home stereo when I get home (usually listen on headphones) but I date not with this series.  Too many non-pc statements from flashy-- I'd be tossed out of my condo.

The Instant Enemy, by Ross MacDonald

• Title:  The Instant Enemy
  
• Author:  Ross MacDonald
  
• Purchased used from Amazon (print) in a three book collection titled "Archer in Jeopardy"
  
• Started: 11/6/2016
  
• Finished:  11/13/2016
  

Continuing to work my way through the Lew Archer series in order, rapidly approaching the end of the series.  This was a rare swing and a miss for me.  I did not actively dislike it, but I found myself not fully concentrating on it, something of a zone-out as I read.  So I had too much confusion each time I picked it up, trying to remember which character was which. 

Happy to blame myself, but I typically love these books so who knows.

Crocodile on the Sandbank, by Elizabeth Peters

• Title:  Crocodile on the Sandbank
  
• Author: Elizabeth Peters
  
• Borrowed from DC Public Library (Audiobook)
  
• Started:  11/2/2016
  
• Finished:  11/9/2016
  

This was a cute, harmless, mystery novel that I did not care for at all.

Persuader, by Lee Child

Title: Persuader
Author: Jack Reacher
Borrowed from DC Public Library
Started: 11/4/2016
Finished: 11/6/2016

Next in line in the Jack Reacher series, this one had the best opening chapter of the series, quickly devolved into the usual terrible novel that I can't stop reading.

Without Fail, by Lee Child

• Title:  Without Fail
  
• Author:  Lee Child
  
• Borrowed from Worcester, MD Public Library (Kindle Edition)
  
• Started: 11/2/2016
  
• Finished: 11/4/2016
  

I keep saying it, but these Jack Reacher books are seriously terrible and seriously addictive.  

His Bloody Project, by Graeme Macrae Burnet

• Title: His Bloody Project
  
• Author:  Graeme Macrae Burnet
  
• Purchased from Amazon (Kindle Edition)
  
• Started: 10/22/2016
  
• Finished: 11/1/2016
  

Book club selection, so I'm not going to write much here except to say I loved this book.

The Mystery of the Yellow Room, by Gaston Leroux

• Title:  The Mystery of the Yellow Room
  
• Author:  Gaston Leroux
  
• Borrowed from Fairfax, VA Public Library (AudioBook)
  
• Started:  10/29/2016
  
• Finished:  11/1/2016
  

Classic (original?) locked room mystery.  Wanted to like it more than I did.

Tai-Pan, by James Clavell

• Title:  Tai-Pan
  
• Author:  James Clavell
  
• Borrowed from DC Public Library (AudioBook)
  
• Started: 10/23/2016
  
• Finished: 10/29/2016
  

My (very slow) reading of James Clavell's Asian-Saga continued with Tai-Pan, having read Shogun almost exactly one year ago.  I am reading them in chronological order, not publication order, somewhat on accident (but happy accident).

This is a big book, something like 25 hours and change. Normally I could not have consumed such a big book in a week, but I was struck with a cold on Monday, and home from work Tuesday and Wednesday.  I was in bad shape, on a rotation of something like 6 hours sleeping, two hours awake -- round the clock for 48 hours.  During those waking moments, I was listening to this book.  

Like Shogun, I wasn't sure as I first started if I could get into this one.  I was helped (ironically?) by the Flashman series, as one of the recent books I read there took place in China around the same time.  Thus I has a better understanding of the geo-political situation in the area at the time (say what you want about the Flashman series, they are great historical overviews of the 19th century British empire).

Soon I was completely taken in by the story and the characters.  A very enjoyable read.

The Girl with all the Gifts, by M R Carey

Title: The Girl with all the Gifts
Author: M R Carey
Borrowed from DC Public Library Audiobook
Started: 10/17/2016
Finished: 10/23/2016

A recommendation from a neighbor, this was not a bad book, entertaining really, but the plot was so by-the-numbers that it was easy to guess the outcome.  So-so overall enjoyment.

My Antonia, by Willa Cather

Title: My Antonia
Author: Willa Cather
Borrowed from take one leave one library on 13th st NW in DC
Started: 10/13/2016
Finished: 10/21/2016

My moms favorite book. First time reading g.  Very enjoyable. 

Flashman and the Mountain of Light, by George MacDonald Fraser

• Title:  Flashman and the Mountain of Light
  
• Author:  George MacDonald Fraser
  
• Borrowed from Fairfax, VA Public Library (AudioBook)
  
• Started: 10/10/2016
  
• Finished: 10/17/2016
  

Another fine entry in the Flashman Paper series.  I'm enjoying my schooling in the world  of British Colonial engagements in the 19th Century (and some American to boot).  Good Old Flashy.

Echo Burning, by Lee Child

• Title:  Echo Burning
  
• Author:  Lee Child
  
• Borrowed from Worcester, MD Public Library (Kindle Edition)
  
• Started: 10/9/2016
  
• Finished: 19/12/2016
  

Another in the Jack Reacher series, these are seriously terrible books (as I've mentioned before) that I am strangely addicted to...  I'm not going to fight it, or try to explain it.

The Far Side of the Dollar, by Ross MacDonald

Title:. The Far Side of the Dollar
Author: Ross MacDonald
Borrowed from Fairfax County VA Public Library (Audiobook)
Started: 10/5/2016
Finished: 10/9/2016

Continuing my in order reading of the Lew Archer series.  I technically skipped one (The Chill) because I just read it last summer, although I think it was my favorite in the series so I wouldn't have minded reading it again. 

This one was good too, not The Chill good, but entertaining and you get a lot of usually unseen emotions from Archer.  He might even be in love.  Good stuff.

The Zebra-Striped Hearse, by Ross MacDonald

Title: The Zebra-Striped Hearse
Author:. Ross MacDonald
Purchased used from Amazon (print) in a three book collection titled "Archer in Jeopardy"
Started:  9/29/2016
Finished: 10/7/2016

Another Lew Archer mystery.  I liked this one a lot, although I don't care for the title.  The Lew Archer series has some perfect titles ("the way some people die" for instance), but this o e is very weak.

Luckily the mystery and writing are strong, very enjoyable. 

Flashman and the Dragon, by George MacDonald Fraser

• Title: Flashman and the Dragon
• Author: George MacDonald Fraser
  
• Borrowed from Fairfax County (VA) Public Library (AudioBook)
• Started: 9/27/2016
• Finished: 10/5/2016

Another book in the Flashman Papers series (book 8?), I admit I had a rough time with this one at the start.  A little bit of zone-out, despite the always excellent narration by David Case.

Eventually I found my way back and began to thoroughly enjoy the historical antics of Flashy.  This was another novel, like Flashman at the Charge, where Flashy is more heroic and less cowardly than usual.  While I prefer the more scoundrel Flash, this was still a fun book.

Running Blind, by Lee Child

• Title:  Running Blind
  
• Author:  Lee Child
  
• Borrowed from DC Public Library (Kindle Edition)
  
• Started: 9/26/2016
  
• Finished: 9/29/2016
  

These Jack Reacher books are some of the worst things I've ever read, and dammit, I can't stop reading them.

The Haunted Hotel, by Wilkie Collins

• Title:  The Haunted Hotel
  
• Author:  Wilkie Collins
  
• Borrowed from DC Public Library Audiobook
  
• Started:  9/22/2016
  
• Finished: 9/26/2016
  

I always want to like Wilkie Collins more than I do, The Haunted Hotel was no different.  So much melodrama, just not my thing.

Almighty: Courage, Resistance, and Existential Peril in the Nuclear Age, by Dan Zak

• Title: Almighty: Courage, Resistance, and Existential Peril in the Nuclear Age
  
• Author: Dan Zak
  
• Purchased from Amazon.com, Kindle Edition
  
• Started: 9/19/2016
  
• Finished: 9/25/2016
  

Book club book, saving comments for the club meeting.

Flashman and the Redskins, by George MacDonald Fraser

• Title:  Flashman and the Redskins
  
• Author:  George MacDonald Fraser
  
• Borrowed from Fairfax, VA Public Library
  
• Started:  9/15/2016
  
• Finished: 9/22/2016
  

Woah -- this was an amazing book.  This must be the best in the series, I'm not sure I'll even bother to read others.

As you may recall, I had so far read books one through four in the Flashman series.  Book three, Flash for Freedom, ends with Flashy hoping to escape America (where he is wanted on a variety of charges) to get back to the UK.

Today's book, Flashman and the Redskins, is book seven in the series.  I have not read books five and six, but only because they are not available in any library around me.  Since Fraser did not write the events in the Flashman papers in order, it just so happens that where book three ends, book seven begins.

What is amazing about this book is its scope and depth.  This is really two books in one.  In the first half, the typical young Flashy is fleeing for his life, rogering women, selling slaves, and generally being the cowardly ass we all know and love.  Flashy gets married twice (once to a bordello madam, the other time to an Apache).  Flash throws in with scalp hunters, lives with the Apaches, escapes with the aid of Kit Carson, and eventually makes his was back to England as his wife.

The second half (both halves are written as full length books) is 25+ years in the future.  A now early 50's Flashman returns to American with his wife.  Through a series of events that would be preposterous if you had not read other Flashman books, Flashy ends up in the middle of the battle of the little big horn in formal evening wear.

I won't go through the entire plot, but it was extremely funny, surprisingly moving, and overall a wonderful read.  Hard to imagine any Flashman book coming close to topping this one.

The Two Mrs. Grenvilles, by Dominick Dunne

Title: The Two Mrs. Grenvilles
Author: Dominick Dunne
Borrowed from Little Library in Ocean City, me
Started: 9/5/2016
Finished: 9/18/2016

My wife picked this one up while at the beach at the end of August.  She liked it, so I read it next.  I enjoyed it as well, very gossipy and high society.  Very entertaining.

Post Captain, by Patrick O'Brian

• Title:  Post Captain
  
• Author:  Patrick O'Brian
  
• Borrowed from DC Public Library (AudioBook)
  
• Started: 9/9/2016
  
• Finished: 9/15/2016
  

Book 2 in the Aubrey/Maturin series, and my second time around on this series.  Going much slower with it this time, not sure when I'll get to book 3.

I enjoyed this one a lot more than the first time I read it.  The first time, I wanted more sea action -- this one has a lot of the Jane Austin on the shore romance stuff, but a second reading (now knowing all the characters and the general plot already), I picked up on much more than the first go-around.

The sly humor, mostly.  I'm certain I missed much of that the first time.  I had a much firmer grasp on what was going on both directly and indirectly in the book.  This is just an outstanding series.  

Flashman at the Charge, by George MacDonald Fraser

• Title:  Flashman at the Charge
  
• Author:  George MacDonal Fraser
  
• Borrowed from Fairfax, VA Public Library (Audiobook)
  
• Started:  9/5/2016
  
• Finished: 9/8/2016
  

Book four in the Flashman series, this was probably my second least favorite so far -- but it was still excellent.  Online accounts claim this was the authors favorite in the series.

My dislike of it comes from Flashie acting as much less of a coward (which I admire) and much more of a hero.  Even discounting the drugged up Flashie heroics near the end of the book, Flashie's overall tone in this one is much more reverent of the actions of his comrades in arms.  This appears to be totally at odds with the frightened, save your skin Flashman of the other volumes.

Still enjoyable, glad I found this series.  But between Flashman and Lew Archer, I'm getting tired of writing "MacDonald" all the time in these posts...

The Archer Files, by Ross MacDonald

• Title:  The Archer Files (complete short stories of Lew Archer)
  
• Author:  Ross MacDonald
  
• Purchased Used on Amazon.com (print)
  
• Started:  8/26/2016
  
• Finished: 9/5/2016
  

This was an interesting, if not excellent, collection of stories.  They all read a rough drafts/outlines for later novels.  Some of them clearly are, you can see the outline of two stories clearly (The Doomsters, and The Ivory Grin), but bits a pieces from other stories are throughout.

Archer is a lot tougher in these (kills several people), and they're not anywhere near as polished as the novels.  Still, these made for fun occasional reading at night before bed.

It's been Lew Archer all the time for me.  Going to take a break and read a few other books before coming back to my favorite detective.

The Wycherly Woman, by Ross MacDonald

• Title:  The Wycherly Woman
  
• Author:  Ross MacDonald
  
• Borrowed from Fairfax, VA Public Library (Audiobook)
  
• Started: 9/1/2016
  
• Finished: 9/5/2016
  

A reasonably good, if not great, Archer novel.  Not nearly as good as the previous entry, The Galton Case.  

9 Dragons, by Michael Connelly

Title: 9 Dragons
Author: Michael Connelly
Borrowed from "little library" in Northside Park, in Ocean City, MD
Started: 8/26/2016
Finished: 9/1/2016

A pretty terrible and forgettable Harry Bosch novel.  Really pretty ridiculous plot, even for a series like this one. But when at the beach looking for a book to pass the leisure hours you take what you can get.

The Galton Case, by Ross MacDonald

Title:. The Galton Case
Author: Ross MacDonald
Borrowed from Fairfax, VA Public Library (Audiobook)
Started: 8/27/2016
Finished: 9/1/2016

Read this one a few times, but I wanted to pick it up again as it was the next in order in the series.  Love this book, great Lew Archer mystery. 

Flashman, by George MacDonald Fraser

Title:. Flashman
Author: George MacDonald Fraser
Borrowed from Fairfax County (VA) Public Library
Started: 8/23/2016
Finished: 8/27/2016

First in the Flashman series, I've changed my tune completely and now really enjoy these books. I think the first I read (Royal Flash) wasn't a good place to start.  This one Flashman, was pretty good.  The third book, Flash for Freedom is so far the best.

The Doomsters, by Ross MacDonald

Title:. The Doomsters
Author: Ross MacDonald
Purchased used from Amazon (print) in a three book collection titled "Archer in Jeopardy"
Started:  8/22/2016
Finished: 8/26/2016

Another Lew Archer book, this was a darker, more introspective Archer.  Less wise cracking, but I really enjoyed it. Much more Archer background.  This three book set also includes a note from MacDonald on his upbringing which was a nice addition.

Flash for Freedom, by George MacDonald Fraser

• Title:  Flash for Freedom
• Author: George MacDonald Fraser
  
• Borrowed from Fairfax County (VA) Library (AudioBook)
  
• Started:  8/18/2016
  
• Finished: 8/23/2016
  

My second Flashman book, third in the series.  I liked this one a lot more than the previous (second in the series) book.  I'm going to give the first one a go and see what I think.  These are expertly read by David Case, who I see died in 2005.  I'd listen to books narrated by him all day.

Tripwire, by Lee Child

Title: Tripwire
Author:. Lee Child
Borrowed from Worcester County (MD) Public Library (Kindle edition)
Started:. 8/21/2016
Finished: 8/21/2016

Despite finding these books vaguely annoying, I'm blowing through the Jack Reacher series.  A lazy, hung over Sunday had me start and finish this one in about 6 or so hours today.  So-so, easy stupid page turner. Not a complaint.

Die Trying, by Lee Child

Title: Die Trying
Author: Lee Child
Borrowed from DC Public Library (Kindle edition)
Started: 8/18/2016
Finished: 8/21/2016

Second jack reacher book. Better than the first, not great, but I have to admit I'm enjoying these anyway. 

I, The Jury, by Mickey Spillane

• Title:  I, The Jury
  
• Author:  Mickey Spillane
  
• Borrowed from Audible (free trial, Audiobook)
  
• Started: 8/16/2016
  
• Finished: 8/18/2016
  

If you scroll through the books I've listed on this blog you will see a majority are some form of detective fiction.  I love it, and I love the hard-boiled stuff.  One series I've never picked up is that of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer.  I could not find the print edition of the first book in the series (this one, "I, The Jury") at any local library, so when I saw the audiobook was on Audible and I am in the middle of a free trial, I gave it a go.

This book is horrible.  One of the worst books I've ever read.  This was compounded by the fact that the reader of the audiobook was the worst I've ever endured. I've said before that a great narrator can make an average book amazing, and a poor narrator can make a great book average.  What I have never experienced is a HORRIBLE book being read by and even worse narrator.  I guess I can cross that off the bucket list.

I'm not going to bother trying to catch this series in order, but I will give another Mike Hammer book a shot, only this time either in print or one of the books narrated by Stacy Keach.  I, The Jury was NOT narrated by Keach.  Maybe Keach reading, and a later book in the series, will prove a better mix.  But I have my doubts.