I am listening to the new book by Dan Brown. So far, YAWN, there is a secret society and a really crazy zealot dude running around wanting to kill people and Dr. Langdon has to figure out the long lost secret to unlock some code. Wait, wasn't that The DaVinci Code? Oh yeah, my bad, that book was set in Paris at first. This one is set in Washington DC.
I am learning tidbits about Mason's and architectural secrets in DC. The best part is learning about Noetic Science. That's worth something.
A big difference between The Lost Symbol and The Da Vinci Code is Dan Brown's attitude. It is obvious that Brown is anti-catholic and probably to some extent anti-formal religion of any kind, especially if it holds secrects and conducts religious rites. I may be speaking out of turn and Brown may not be totally against them but his previous books make him appear that way. He portrays the Catholic religion as full of secrets and greed and betrayal. Anyone who has read "The Da Vinci Code" or "Angels and Demons" knows this negative portrayal is true. I am not saying that I disagree with Browns interpretation of formal religions but why then is Brown so romantic about the Masons in "The Lost Symbol" and romantic about the Masons for the same reasons that he is negative about the Catholic Religion? I felt completely preached to about the Masons and how their religious rites and secrets should be excused because they they are misunderstood. Why does Brown think we should excuse the Masons for their secrecy and rites but persecute the Catholics for theirs? I believe that all religions and the Masons are guilty of their secrects to protect the common man from, well, from themselves. Formal religions and The Masons, it could be said, keep secrets because they think that the common man would make bad decisions if he only knew the truth and he is not capable of doing the right thing with that knowledge.
I am not a supporter of formal religion or a dissenter of The Masons. I simply don't understand why protecting man from using his brain is any more or less important that the religions wanting to protect man from disbelieving in Christ.
"The Lost Symbol" was entertaining because it moved quickly and didn't drag on but it was disappointing being too formulaic compared to "The Da Vinci Code". I did not like being preached to about how good and misunderstood the Masons are.
PS Can you believe that I got this from the library, ALREADY? I'm puzzled but loving it.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
Alan Bradley co-wrote with one of my favorite authors, Jeffrey Deaver, so I wanted to read one of his books to see if I liked him solo. Boy, do I. This book was so much fun. This one I listened to on tape while driving to and fro from high school to pick up my boy each day. The actress who read the audio is "Jayne Enswistle" and I am almost deeply disappointed that she is from LA and not from an old English family because her accent was brilliant. I honestly don't know what was more fun, listening to her or hearing the story.
The time is 1950 summer and the location is a family mansion called "Buckshaw" in the English countryside. The book's heroine is an eleven year old girl named Flavia. She found her greatest love one day when she stumbled across her uncle's chemistry books. Flavia is an extremely smart and precocious girl who manages to get herself into all sorts of mischief. Picture Pipi Longstocking with a two sisters a father and lives in a country mansion.
Flavia is normally content with adding poison ivy to her sister’s lipstick (I did tell you loves chemistry) but a stranger visits “Buckshaw” and she overhears her father arguing with the man and then she finds the stranger dying in their cucumber field. Flavia thinks her father must have killed the stranger and sets about trying to solve the mystery herself and her trusty bicycle “Gladys”.
I just love Flavia! I find myself now thinking in Enswistle’s brilliant English accent and wishing I had my own chemistry lab as a child.
The time is 1950 summer and the location is a family mansion called "Buckshaw" in the English countryside. The book's heroine is an eleven year old girl named Flavia. She found her greatest love one day when she stumbled across her uncle's chemistry books. Flavia is an extremely smart and precocious girl who manages to get herself into all sorts of mischief. Picture Pipi Longstocking with a two sisters a father and lives in a country mansion.
Flavia is normally content with adding poison ivy to her sister’s lipstick (I did tell you loves chemistry) but a stranger visits “Buckshaw” and she overhears her father arguing with the man and then she finds the stranger dying in their cucumber field. Flavia thinks her father must have killed the stranger and sets about trying to solve the mystery herself and her trusty bicycle “Gladys”.
I just love Flavia! I find myself now thinking in Enswistle’s brilliant English accent and wishing I had my own chemistry lab as a child.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Poe, A life Cut Short by Peter Akroyd
I recently read a fiction book by one of my favorite storytellers, Louis Bayard, where Edgar A. Poe was his muse. The main story in the book was fiction of course but I wondered when the author referred to Poe, was it real or fiction. So, I went online with the library and ordered a non-fiction book about the life of Poe.
Very interesting indeed to learn that most of what the L. Bayard wrote about his charactar's past was actually true of E.A. Poe. He was a drinker and often a drunk. He was an orphan. He was know to exaggerate about his accomplishments in life.
This is a very nice book for what I wanted. It is a short book and doesn't go on and on about Poe's daily life. It covers the interesting aspects of Poe's life and gives us a little insight into the life of a very accomplished writer who specialized in horror. A writer who thinks often about horrific events is a very unique person indeed. One would certainly think that a person like Poe would not be boring and his life story does not disappoint.
Well, I wrote the paragraph above before I had finished the book. Poe's life was interesting in that he was an orphan who was brought in and raised by a couple. He published his first book in his early 20's and he went on to write many more wonderful poems and stories. His life was boring and maddening in that he lived the same life over and over again. He could be smart but he was idiotic in that he every time he achieved a modicum of success he drank himself right out of a job and right back into poverty. I know, it happens in real life but BORING......... I thought there would be some deeper darkness lurking there than just getting drunk over and over and over again. Poe, what a smuck you were!
Very interesting indeed to learn that most of what the L. Bayard wrote about his charactar's past was actually true of E.A. Poe. He was a drinker and often a drunk. He was an orphan. He was know to exaggerate about his accomplishments in life.
This is a very nice book for what I wanted. It is a short book and doesn't go on and on about Poe's daily life. It covers the interesting aspects of Poe's life and gives us a little insight into the life of a very accomplished writer who specialized in horror. A writer who thinks often about horrific events is a very unique person indeed. One would certainly think that a person like Poe would not be boring and his life story does not disappoint.
Well, I wrote the paragraph above before I had finished the book. Poe's life was interesting in that he was an orphan who was brought in and raised by a couple. He published his first book in his early 20's and he went on to write many more wonderful poems and stories. His life was boring and maddening in that he lived the same life over and over again. He could be smart but he was idiotic in that he every time he achieved a modicum of success he drank himself right out of a job and right back into poverty. I know, it happens in real life but BORING......... I thought there would be some deeper darkness lurking there than just getting drunk over and over and over again. Poe, what a smuck you were!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Grave Secrets by Kathy Reichs
Temperance Brennan is in Guatamala to help identify bodies in a mass grave that were killed by an earlier government. While she is there one of the people on her team is murdered and another is shot and in a coma. There is also a suspected serial killer who is killing young high school girls. The authorities ask for Brennan's help.
One of the girls missing, presumed dead, ends up in a jail in Canada. This is good news until pet hairs from the live girl are found on the remains of one of the bodies. The live girl claims she didn't know any of the missing girls. Hmmmmm.....
I enjoy reading Reich's books because I always learn new things. I was not aware of all the corruption that went on and in some cases is still going on in Guatamala. Thank you for educating me. I also learned more about DNA, did you know there is more than one DNA? Did you know that one type is derived from the mother and only the mother. It surely doesn't interest everyone but it sure does interest me.
One of the girls missing, presumed dead, ends up in a jail in Canada. This is good news until pet hairs from the live girl are found on the remains of one of the bodies. The live girl claims she didn't know any of the missing girls. Hmmmmm.....
I enjoy reading Reich's books because I always learn new things. I was not aware of all the corruption that went on and in some cases is still going on in Guatamala. Thank you for educating me. I also learned more about DNA, did you know there is more than one DNA? Did you know that one type is derived from the mother and only the mother. It surely doesn't interest everyone but it sure does interest me.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Portrait in Death by J.D. Robb
I think I have read too many of J.D. Robb's books now. I find myself very cynical of her writing. She did provide actual detecting in this book to solve the murder of young people who are being killed and photographed. It's just the premise that I don't believe. I won't ruin it by providing the ending but I just don't buy it. Maybe there wasn't enough pyschology to support the mind set of the killer but...... enough said.
Young, vibrant people are being killed and photos of their dead poised bodies are being sent to Eve Dallas' freind at the news station. The photographer is really talented and they embark on a journey through the world of photography.
This book was better than some of her J.D. Robb books but certainly not the best. I think it is time I move on from J.D. Robb. Some of the rides were fun but I tire of the usual read. I need to be fully entertained by the characters and their verbal exchange or I enjoy learning something neat or fasinating about places or crime solving or anything really. I haven't enjoyed the character exchange or learned anything from J.D. Robb in awhile. I wish Eve everlasting happiness with Roake.
Young, vibrant people are being killed and photos of their dead poised bodies are being sent to Eve Dallas' freind at the news station. The photographer is really talented and they embark on a journey through the world of photography.
This book was better than some of her J.D. Robb books but certainly not the best. I think it is time I move on from J.D. Robb. Some of the rides were fun but I tire of the usual read. I need to be fully entertained by the characters and their verbal exchange or I enjoy learning something neat or fasinating about places or crime solving or anything really. I haven't enjoyed the character exchange or learned anything from J.D. Robb in awhile. I wish Eve everlasting happiness with Roake.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
The Broken Window by Jeffrey Deaver
This book is frightening about how easy it would be to destroy someone's life with identity theft or identity destruction.
Detective Sach's and Rhyme are working on a case when Rhyme gets a call about his cousin who is sitting in jail for a murder he swears he didn't commit. The evidence is overwhelming though, blood and other evidence are found at his house. Rhyme starts looking into it and finds out that after the murder someone called the police and reported it. Ryhmes team find a very disturbing pattern where other murders have occurred with a call to police to reporting the murders and incredible evidence is then found at the suspects house. When the murderer finds out who is after him, he turns turns his efforts to Rhymes team and creates a data nightmare for all of them.
Why would someone frame Rhyme's cousin for a murder and possibly do it on other murders? More importantly if that is happening, how on earth could it be?
It is clear that Deaver takes pleasure in surprising the reader. I enjoy it. I thought I had it at one point, I knew who the murderer was just to be foiled once again. The suspense at the end was killing me. At least I had a chance in the book and I wasn't hanging by a thread from the first chapter like before.
Did you know that there is a "Broken Window Theory" that if you fix or concentrate on the small details the big things will basically take care of themselves. In the context of this book it also means focusing on the small details will lead to solving the big crime.
There are companies in the world that collect and distribute data for a variety of reasons. They are called data-mining companies. It is scary how much data they have on people and it's scary how the data makes people act without having any actual facts to support the data. I know that I have suffered because of credit companies showing data on me that isn't right but because of it banks think I'm a risk when all the other evidence shows that I am not a risk. People are putting all their faith in what a data company reports instead of using their heads to make an informed decision. We, the people, are often powerless to defend ourselves. If you would like to do more research go to: EPIC.org, http://www.gilc.org/, http://www.indefenseoffreedom.org/, http://ifea.net/, http://www.privacy.org/ or http://www.eff.org/. There is also another book on the subject: No Place to Hide by Robert O'Harrow, Jr.
Detective Sach's and Rhyme are working on a case when Rhyme gets a call about his cousin who is sitting in jail for a murder he swears he didn't commit. The evidence is overwhelming though, blood and other evidence are found at his house. Rhyme starts looking into it and finds out that after the murder someone called the police and reported it. Ryhmes team find a very disturbing pattern where other murders have occurred with a call to police to reporting the murders and incredible evidence is then found at the suspects house. When the murderer finds out who is after him, he turns turns his efforts to Rhymes team and creates a data nightmare for all of them.
Why would someone frame Rhyme's cousin for a murder and possibly do it on other murders? More importantly if that is happening, how on earth could it be?
It is clear that Deaver takes pleasure in surprising the reader. I enjoy it. I thought I had it at one point, I knew who the murderer was just to be foiled once again. The suspense at the end was killing me. At least I had a chance in the book and I wasn't hanging by a thread from the first chapter like before.
Did you know that there is a "Broken Window Theory" that if you fix or concentrate on the small details the big things will basically take care of themselves. In the context of this book it also means focusing on the small details will lead to solving the big crime.
There are companies in the world that collect and distribute data for a variety of reasons. They are called data-mining companies. It is scary how much data they have on people and it's scary how the data makes people act without having any actual facts to support the data. I know that I have suffered because of credit companies showing data on me that isn't right but because of it banks think I'm a risk when all the other evidence shows that I am not a risk. People are putting all their faith in what a data company reports instead of using their heads to make an informed decision. We, the people, are often powerless to defend ourselves. If you would like to do more research go to: EPIC.org, http://www.gilc.org/, http://www.indefenseoffreedom.org/, http://ifea.net/, http://www.privacy.org/ or http://www.eff.org/. There is also another book on the subject: No Place to Hide by Robert O'Harrow, Jr.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Cross Bones by Kathy Reichs
This was almost getting into Dan Brown territory but instead of having any big reveals Reichs takes the easy road and just loses evidence. Very safe but interesting anyway.
A body is found and through the investigation of the death bones are found that may or may not date back to the time of Jesus. There are indications that this is the reason for the murder. Tempe sends a picture of some bones to a friend who is very mysterious but wants her to come to Jerusalem right away. Curious Tempe goes and Ryan who's murder investigation is taking him to Jerusalem gets to go as well.
In Jerusalem Tempe's friend takes her to visit a burial ground to help explain some of the mystery behind the bones. The bones were stolen but an even greater find is discovered. More bones. There seems to be evidence of a family related to Jesus. Scary things are happening and another murder occurs. There are lots of people with religious interests who do not want information about Jesus being discovered, especially if it doesn't fit in nicely with what is already beleived about Jesus and how and when he died.
A body is found and through the investigation of the death bones are found that may or may not date back to the time of Jesus. There are indications that this is the reason for the murder. Tempe sends a picture of some bones to a friend who is very mysterious but wants her to come to Jerusalem right away. Curious Tempe goes and Ryan who's murder investigation is taking him to Jerusalem gets to go as well.
In Jerusalem Tempe's friend takes her to visit a burial ground to help explain some of the mystery behind the bones. The bones were stolen but an even greater find is discovered. More bones. There seems to be evidence of a family related to Jesus. Scary things are happening and another murder occurs. There are lots of people with religious interests who do not want information about Jesus being discovered, especially if it doesn't fit in nicely with what is already beleived about Jesus and how and when he died.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
The Pale Blue Eye by Louis Bayard
I really liked this book. It was very interesting. It's fiction but the author's muse is Edgar Allen Poe. I am now ordering a book about Poe's life. I thought it was very interesting so I wanted to learn more about Poe to find out hat Bayard used his life.
A retired law man, Landor, living in the mountains for his health is asked to help solve a murder at West Point. He enlists the help of a cadet E.A. Poe. In the meantime another murder occurs and everyone is getting pretty jumpy. The murders resemble satanic rituals.
This book is written for a time in 1831. You have no idea there is a time difference. There is absolutely no reference to anything that dates this book. Of course, there are no cell phones and I suppose that in itself dates the book but I personally find not having cell phones refreshing.
Poe falls in love during the story and Landor is trying to get over his daughter running off with a man. They enjoy each other's company during their working relationship and try to help each other out. There is a big surprise in the story that completely took me by surprise.
I enjoy Bayard's story telling. It gets a little drawn out sometimes because his stories are set in the 1800's or so and they don't have the CSI type technology of today. It took time and leg work to solve crimes or mysteries back then. I enjoy the journey and side stories that develop along the way.
A retired law man, Landor, living in the mountains for his health is asked to help solve a murder at West Point. He enlists the help of a cadet E.A. Poe. In the meantime another murder occurs and everyone is getting pretty jumpy. The murders resemble satanic rituals.
This book is written for a time in 1831. You have no idea there is a time difference. There is absolutely no reference to anything that dates this book. Of course, there are no cell phones and I suppose that in itself dates the book but I personally find not having cell phones refreshing.
Poe falls in love during the story and Landor is trying to get over his daughter running off with a man. They enjoy each other's company during their working relationship and try to help each other out. There is a big surprise in the story that completely took me by surprise.
I enjoy Bayard's story telling. It gets a little drawn out sometimes because his stories are set in the 1800's or so and they don't have the CSI type technology of today. It took time and leg work to solve crimes or mysteries back then. I enjoy the journey and side stories that develop along the way.
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