Read Books This will provide a list of the books I've read with a brief review. Users are blocked, contact me for access. I welcome discussions, but I'm tired of spam.

May 17, 2023

The People of Darkness by Tony Hillerman

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , — Randolph @ 10:44 am

This is the fourth book in the Chee/Leaphorn stories, I’m filling in a few books I missed when reading the series. Jim Chee has an offer to join the FBI which he is considering, or to continue his studies to become a Hataalii, a tribal medicine man.

There is a backstory of an explosion at a well logging event that killed a number of people. Years later a bomb explodes in a pickup as a tow driver is hooking it up for towing, the target was a man already dying from cancer. Then someone steels a keepsake box from a rich man, B. J. Vines, leaving many valuables that are in sight. Chee’s first involvement was when Mrs. Vines asked Chee to recover the box.

The People of Darkness are involved, somehow. This is a religious sect that worships the mole. It is not recognized by most Navajo for its use of peyote.

During his investigation, he finds himself and a woman, Mary Landon, who finds herself wandering with Chee during his investigations, the target of an assassin.

The locals believe Mr. Vines is a witch, Chee must find a solution that satisfies the local cultures and the white men.

The book is excellent and rich in Navajo culture.

March 4, 2023

The Cat Who Played Brahms by Lilian Jackson Braun

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , — Randolph @ 5:42 pm

This is the fifth book in The Cat Who… series. In this story, James Qwilleran has to move again, Maus Haus is being sold and the paper may be giving him a new beat.

Jim decides to take a vacation, to go to visit Aunt Fannie, a friend of his mother, in Moose County, ostensibly to work on his book. Being a cityfolk, he’s a bit lost in the rustic cabin Fannie is letting him use, there are noises and things go missing.

The people who live in Moose County all have their quirks, but are cordial. His calls to police turn to be animal encounters. Until he goes fishing and catches a body, things start to get interesting.

Koko, Yum Yum and Qwill’s mustache take center stage as dead bodies and odd behaviors take center stage. Qwill is out of his depth, but Koko helps make things clear.

This book isn’t as good as the previous ones. I felt is was more of an interlude between different story styles or settings – I haven’t read beyond this one yet. The story was somewhat interesting, but did pick up at the end.

February 18, 2023

Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , — Randolph @ 11:35 am

This is a fully-text Batman story. Set in his pre-Batman years, Bruce Wayne is a rich spoiled kid coming of age. He is about to graduate from high school when he gets involved in a police matter, putting himself in the middle of the action as Nightwalkers are preying on the rich of Gotham City. Bruce Wayne is to be one of their targets. he interferes with a police chase, or solved the problem depending on your perspective.

He ends up in court for his interference and is sentenced to public service, cleaning at Gothom’s insane assylum. This was the first of many irrational decisions made by key people that were necessary to further the story. And this is what ruined the story for me.

There were a number of bad decisions made, from a judge assigning a teenager to public service in a dangerous environment, police confiding in the teenager to get information, the asylum staff not keeping an eye on the teen and allowing him access to areas he should be in. It all felt rather convenient.

Then the pacing was too fast, in the style of a comic rather than prose. Much of the dialog was more suited to a visual medium and descriptions seemed weak.

Overall, the story didn’t quite work for me, but it wasn’t all bad. It was interesting to see someone’s perspective on his early life between the death of his parents and his emergence as the Batman.

February 3, 2023

Too Many Clients by Rex Stout

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , — Randolph @ 8:04 pm

Starting slowly, Nero Wolfe needs clients to support his lifestyle. Archie is to find some. The mystery begins when Archie meets Thomas Yeager, the president of Continental Plastic Products. Thomas is concerned and wants to be able to make a clandestine meeting in a less-than-desirable part of town without being followed.

Archie arranges to watch him in controlled conditions so that he can make his meeting safely, but he doesn’t show. The next day Thomas Yeager turns up dead outside of the meeting location, but it isn’t the man that Archie met.

This is a good mystery, but Archie still doesn’t have a client. He proceeds with an investigation, staying both just ahead of the police and keeping out of jail for interfering.

At the address that Thomas gave, Archie finds an apartment set up as a private love nest done out in style. He manages to get several clients, the owners of the love nest, the directors of the Continental Plastics Company, and the wife of Thomas Yeager, each of whom is looking for a different outcome. He and Nero Wolfe have to keep the clients separate, feed them the information they are entitled to and feed the police what is necessary and not raise too much suspicion.

It’s a fun read and a good mystery.

January 9, 2023

Leviathan Falls by James S. A. Corey

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , — Randolph @ 7:35 pm

December 26, 2022

Tundra: Wet, Wild and Weird by Chad Carpenter

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , — Randolph @ 8:50 am

December 26, 2019

ABC’s of Leatherwork by Tandy Leather Company

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , — Randolph @ 12:28 pm

This is a minimal primer for leatherworking. It introduces the reader to a few basic tools and techniques, that’s about it. It doesn’t mention maintenance or care of the tools, nor safety. It may be decent for a user who needs a quick introduction and has access to a teacher or someone who can help through any difficulties. It is cheap and a quick read. The company has several better books. Better is Leather Crafting: http://books.randolphking.com/?p=1647.

November 25, 2019

Behold a Pale Horse by Peter Tremayne

Filed under: Uncategorized — Randolph @ 10:32 am

This is the 22nd book in the Sister Fidelma mystery series. Set in 664 AD, Sister Fidelma is returning from a trip to Rome. She finds herself on an island where she encounters an old mentor who is dying. But he had stumbled onto something that opened the door to murder, intrigue and conspiracies.

Not speaking the language, Fidelma is limited and manipulated but unknown agents. The story is very well told and compelling to the end.

October 17, 2019

Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss

Filed under: Uncategorized — Randolph @ 3:31 pm

Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss that is a grammarian with quite a sense of humor. The book is both informative and funny as it discusses various points of grammar and of style.

The book covers different points of grammar, focusing on punctuation and its use. She grabs examples from her surroundings and compares the actual stated with the intended meanings.

Although she uses the British style, she often notes differences between American and British English, then pokes fun at everyone. Any ready will find a thoroughly enjoyable read and will learn a few points of grammar in spite if himself.

September 11, 2019

The Obelisk Gate by N. K. Jemisin

Filed under: Uncategorized — Randolph @ 7:34 am
The Obelisk Gate on LibraryThing.com

This is the second book in the Broken Earth fantasy trilogy by Jamison. This book continues from where the first one ended seamlessly as if part of the same book.

This book follows Essun, who is [still] looking for her daughter and Nassun, the daughter, who is growing in strength and facing personal doubts. This book also follows the guardian Shaffa, who is undergoing his own transformations. Through his eyes we learn a lot more about the guardians.

Essun and How find themselves in a comm named Castrima with its own unique marvels telling of a former vast technology that is related to the obelisks. Essun is trying to come to terms with saving the world by capturing the moon as indicated by Alibaster at the end of the first book.

Through How, we learn a lot more about the stone eaters. How reveals a lot more of himself as we see him grow (?) or maybe just reveal more of himself.

The story is written well as Jamisin takes the reader through the well-developed world she has created. The series is enjoyable and compelling. I strongly recommend reading it in order.

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