Entries Tagged 'Books' ↓

Linda Greenlaw's The Hungry Ocean: A Swordboat Captain's Journey is the true story of a one month Sword-fishing trip interspersed with stories from other trips that Linda has captained. Although this trip is not much different from every other sword-boat trip, the tale still makes exciting and very interesting reading.  It paints a detailed picture of the stresses and exhaustion that a fishing crew faces for the possible reward of the big haul. Although I didn't want to quit my job to become a sword-fisher, the book gave me a very good understanding of why some people wouldn't choose any other job.

Literary Quality: 6/10

Enjoyment: 7/10

Kingsley Amis' Lucky Jim is a classic. It's one of the first comic send offs of the English style higher academic system, and tells the story of Jim Dixon, a young lecturer at a small British college. Although Jim drinks too much and is somewhat of a cad, he is less annoying that everybody else in the book, and you find yourself rooting for him despite yourself. I felt an obligation to read this book due to its history and the genre it started, but it really wasn't that enjoyable and I don't recommend it unless you appreciate dry British humor and Jane Austen style dialog driven stories. In fact, Lucky Jim is what would have happened if Jane Austin had written The Big U (which I recommend instead).

Literary Quality: 9/10

Enjoyment: 5/10 

David Poyer's Down to a Sunless Sea is a cave diving thriller. It's part of a series where the protagonist, Tiller Galloway, has a long history of less than legal and self destructive behavior. Tiller is called in to help an army buddy's widow sell his cave diving business when he dies on a dive. In the process, his estranged son Tad shows up and tags along, further complicating his life. The plot offers no surprises, but the story is good and thrilling. Perhaps the best aspects of the book are the realistic portrayal of cave and technical diving. 

Literary Quality: 4/10

Enjoyment: 7/10 

GeekMafia is self published by Rick Dakan. Right now, you can buy a paperback for 5 USD or download the PDF for free.

I really enjoyed this e-book (aside from reading it on my laptop, time to get an e-ink reader…). It's not a work of great literature, it's a geek escapist beach book. If they made a movie out of it, it would be Sneakers crossed with Ocean's 11. The book follows a group of underground geeks who use their technical powers to pull off cons. 

But isn't this evil you might ask? And there is the basis for most of the plot, as the protagonist attempts to reconcile his overall sense of morals with the lifestyle he has found thrust upon him (while still getting the girl). Did I mention that the girl is pulling a con on him?

It's a great read, and well worth the $5 to hold a physical copy, go buy one.

Literary Quality: 4/10

Enjoyment: 10/10

Blacklist, by Sara Paretsky is a V.I. Warskawski novel. If you've seen the movie, this may or may not make you want to read the book, but I was pleasantly surprised. The plot revolves around a 50 year old mystery that leads to a present day murder.

Paretsky weaves together the themes of McCarthyism and the House Un-American Activities Committee with post 9/11 over reactions throughout this fast paced story. Not as humorous and with less sex than Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, the story is still a page turner.

Literary Quality: 5/10

Enjoyment: 7/10