Hello again friends and readers. First thank you for being friends and readers; I appreciate it. We are shaking things up here a bit in the coming month. What’s that you say? We here @ Gelati’s Scoop making a few changes, unheard of. I have no idea where to begin or how to categorize the changes. The easiest way for me to get this out is in a torrent, so let’s load the shotgun and spray the ammo around shall we:
-We have almost totally filled our Facebook Page, so we are also going to start operating our Fan page as well. This could mean a lot for some of the authors we try to help and discuss, but I need to try to figure it out first. If someone would like to help and shed some light on the Fan Page for me, I would appreciate it. Otherwise my tech crew consists of my kids and neighbors kids and I will try to get them to guide me through it.
-Posts-We are going to be posting on a daily basis but have been fortunate to hook up with different sources that are going to be making things more available to us: Authors, Publicists, etc. This means we can increase our content, and I am not going to complain about that. Everything I read about doing this says there are three things that are important to doing this-content, content and again, content. I will not rest till we have all three.
-Subjects we post on- Audibles are called on occasion as we are handed things that we can get up quickly that has some relevance to the news or is just plain fun. Look for us to have these main ingredients in the posting week though: new novels, debuts, digital shorts, graphic novels, guest posts, and our blast from the past feature.
-Stuff- If you are new to writing, not new, anything in between: I need stuff to read. I love to read. I know that I am not a Hemingway, Lee Child, Mark Greaney, Leona Bodie, or a Lee Goldberg, but I enjoy this stuff and in order for me to keep doing this, I need more stuff. So please drop me a line if you have a novel, digital short or graphic novel. I think I can help in some small way. I would enjoy reading what you have poured your heart and soul into, looking through someone else’s eyes for a short period of time is fun.
I am going to stop now otherwise I may begin to get boorish. I think that you get my drift and now have the 411. The kids love it that I can keep up with all the latest slang. We are happy to take any suggestions that you have; thanks for everything.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Book Blogs, and also look for our posts on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, and the Bucks County Library System. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Guest Post by Paul Levine
“When is Jake Lassiter coming back?”
I get the question at bookstores and Bouchercon, at Thrillerfest and Sleuthfest, at Left Coast Crime, and even my dentist's office. I might be promoting one of the “Solomon vs. Lord” books, or “Illegal,” but the questions always come back to this:
“Where the heck is Jake?”
I wrote seven Lassiter novels between 1990 and 1997. Since then, I've written two stand-alone thrillers, a four-book series, and a bunch of episodes for two CBS-TV dramas. But what everyone wants to talk about is that linebacker-turned-lawyer, a tough guy with a tender heart.
“Jake's not in jail, is he?”
I don't think so, but given his conduct in court, maybe he should be.
Truth is, Jake Lassiter lives!
In Fall 2011, “Lassiter” will be out in hardcover from Bantam as Jake searches for a missing woman from his past and becomes entangled in the intertwined worlds of politics and porn. But wait, there's more:
Jake Lassiter is back in print now!
Or rather, in bytes.
On line.
Just a click away.
I'm talking about e-books. You can start reading the 20th Anniversary edition of “To Speak for the Dead,” in about 90 seconds. An international bestseller, the first Lassiter novel was named one of the best mysteries of the year by the Los Angeles Times and became an NBC World Premiere Movie.
For a limited time, e-book sellers are offering “...Dead” at the astonishing price of $2.99. Right, less than your double mocha latte, which by the way, Jake Lassiter would never drink. (That price may surprise the collector who e-mailed recently that he paid $325 for a signed first edition of “To Speak for the Dead.” Wow. I have a couple cartons in the garage if he wants more).
Now, here's the best part: All author royalties - 100 per cent - will go to the Four Diamonds Fund, which supports cancer research and treatment at Hershey Children's Hospital. It's a cause dear to my heart. The facility, part of Penn State's College of Medicine, is one of the premier institutions of its kind. Thanks to the Fund, children whose families lack the financial wherewithal receive top-notch medical care.
There's even more news about Jake. The second book of the Lassiter series, “Night Vision,” is also available as an e-book, as is “9 Scorpions,” a stand-alone legal thriller set at the Supreme Court. In the next several months, all seven Lassiter books will be on Amazon Kindle and the other e-bookselling platforms. So, even if you're new to the series, there's time to catch up before the new one hits the stores next year. If you've already read the books in the dead-trees format, try them again on your e-reader or right on your desktop or laptop. Here's a quick look at what's available now.
TO SPEAK FOR THE DEAD - Defending a surgeon in a malpractice case, Jake begins to suspect that his client is innocent of negligence...but guilty of murder. A sexy widow, a robbed grave, and another murder follow. “Move over Scott Turow. 'To Speak for the Dead' is courtroom drama at its very best.” - Larry King, USA Today
NIGHT VISION - Jake is appointed a special prosecutor when a serial killer begins stalking women on a sexually oriented Internet chat site. Enlisting a brilliant woman psychiatrist, Jake wades into a maze of lies and corruption to uncover the murderer. “Sparkles with wit and subtlety.” - Toronto Star
9 Scorpions - Sam Truitt, the newest and youngest justice on the Supreme Court, hires a brilliant and stunning female law clerk, unaware she has a personal stake in a huge case before the court. It's a story of passion and violence, justice and revenge, in and out of court. “A relentlessly entertaining summer read.” New York Daily News
For more info and to purchase, please visit http://www.paul-levine.com/content/jake-lassiter.asp.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Book Blogs, and also look for our posts on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, and the Bucks County Library System. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
Guest Post by Travis Hiltz Trinty
To long -time comic fans, they are ‘The Big Three’: The Dark Knight, the Amazon Princess and the Man of Steel. They are the three pillars that the entire DC comics’ universe is built on. Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman have always been a part of comics and probably always will be. Because of that, fans tend to get a bit jaded about them, a bit complacent and every now and then need a reminder about how cool all three really are.
That’s what Matt Wagner does in this story.
Set early in their respective histories, Trinity shows how three separate incidents draw the big three together to deal with a threat to the entire world and along the way learn something about themselves and how to work with others. It has me curious to see Wagner attempt a story using the entire Justice League.
Now conviently enough, the bad guys are criminal mastermind Ras Al Ghul, monstrous Superman clone Bizarro, and Amazon with an attitude Artemis. They just happen to each be a foe of one the heroes, but they are well written, so I’m willing to let the writer slide on that, as it is a staple of super hero comics. Wagner also does a nice job of mixing the characters up, having the heroes fight a bad guy that they are not associated with, makes for some interesting situations, and includes a couple ‘Oh cool!’ fan boy moments.
The story is basically a framework to show us these three, very different heroes and then putting them into a situation where they have to team up. Ras Al Ghul has a plan to turn the world into a ‘paradise’, by eliminating ‘excess population’, bringing civilization to its knees and then taking over, to ensure things run smoothly. To do this, he has Artemis leading squads of his soldiers against specific targets, while he uses Bizarro to help him steal half a dozen nuclear missiles.
While ‘Trinity’ is full of larger-than-life super hero action, one of the strengths of Wagner’s story is how he places each hero in the spotlight, giving us a chance to see how they see themselves and their world and then slowly pushes all three together. We get to see how their styles differ, in dealing with fighting crime and protecting the world.
There is also an enormous amount of sheer comics magic here, as Wagner scrapes all the barnacles of 70 years of accumulated history off the Big Three. These are three of the greatest characters in comics. They are icons and every now and then we need a story to reminds us of that. Wagner takes them back to their basics. Batman is dark, mysterious and a genius detective. Wonder Woman is beautiful, yet able to kick the butts of any monster or squad of ninjas that cross her path. Superman can fly to the moon, and punch through a mountain, while still coming across as basically a nice guy. All of this combines to make this a very basic and old-fashioned story and actually a pretty long read. You are stopping every page to just ‘oooh’ and ‘aah’ over how nice the art is and then having to pause to ponder the numerous “Oh, that was cool!’ moments: Superman flies into orbit to stop a missile, Batman goes mano-a-mano with Bizarro and Wonder Woman takes on a small army of commandos.
Wagner has a great clean, simple art style that reminds me of the old Superman cartoons and golden age comic reprints.
.
I think my only complaint about this is in Wagner’s treatment of Wonder Woman in the middle section of the story. She gets the worst beating of any of the three, requiring her to return to Paradise Island for ‘magic healing’, has the only nude scene in the whole story and when captured by Ras Al Ghul is basically threatened with rape. Really didn’t think any of that was necessary, or it might have worked better if it didn’t feel like she was being singled out. Batman and Superman were both tested over the course of the story, physically and emotionally, but they kept their clothes on.
Not sure if it’s because she’s ‘the girl’, or Wagner didn’t have quite the strong handle on her character he had on the other two, but there is that stumble in the story. Luckily he recovers for and the grand finale and it reads like a big summer action movie.
While Matt Wagner is more known for doing gritty, noir feeling stories, it was a pleasant surprise that he is quite capable of doing big, optimistic, larger than life stories.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Book Blogs, and also look for our posts on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, and the Bucks County Library System. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
That’s what Matt Wagner does in this story.
Set early in their respective histories, Trinity shows how three separate incidents draw the big three together to deal with a threat to the entire world and along the way learn something about themselves and how to work with others. It has me curious to see Wagner attempt a story using the entire Justice League.
Now conviently enough, the bad guys are criminal mastermind Ras Al Ghul, monstrous Superman clone Bizarro, and Amazon with an attitude Artemis. They just happen to each be a foe of one the heroes, but they are well written, so I’m willing to let the writer slide on that, as it is a staple of super hero comics. Wagner also does a nice job of mixing the characters up, having the heroes fight a bad guy that they are not associated with, makes for some interesting situations, and includes a couple ‘Oh cool!’ fan boy moments.
The story is basically a framework to show us these three, very different heroes and then putting them into a situation where they have to team up. Ras Al Ghul has a plan to turn the world into a ‘paradise’, by eliminating ‘excess population’, bringing civilization to its knees and then taking over, to ensure things run smoothly. To do this, he has Artemis leading squads of his soldiers against specific targets, while he uses Bizarro to help him steal half a dozen nuclear missiles.
While ‘Trinity’ is full of larger-than-life super hero action, one of the strengths of Wagner’s story is how he places each hero in the spotlight, giving us a chance to see how they see themselves and their world and then slowly pushes all three together. We get to see how their styles differ, in dealing with fighting crime and protecting the world.
There is also an enormous amount of sheer comics magic here, as Wagner scrapes all the barnacles of 70 years of accumulated history off the Big Three. These are three of the greatest characters in comics. They are icons and every now and then we need a story to reminds us of that. Wagner takes them back to their basics. Batman is dark, mysterious and a genius detective. Wonder Woman is beautiful, yet able to kick the butts of any monster or squad of ninjas that cross her path. Superman can fly to the moon, and punch through a mountain, while still coming across as basically a nice guy. All of this combines to make this a very basic and old-fashioned story and actually a pretty long read. You are stopping every page to just ‘oooh’ and ‘aah’ over how nice the art is and then having to pause to ponder the numerous “Oh, that was cool!’ moments: Superman flies into orbit to stop a missile, Batman goes mano-a-mano with Bizarro and Wonder Woman takes on a small army of commandos.
Wagner has a great clean, simple art style that reminds me of the old Superman cartoons and golden age comic reprints.
.
I think my only complaint about this is in Wagner’s treatment of Wonder Woman in the middle section of the story. She gets the worst beating of any of the three, requiring her to return to Paradise Island for ‘magic healing’, has the only nude scene in the whole story and when captured by Ras Al Ghul is basically threatened with rape. Really didn’t think any of that was necessary, or it might have worked better if it didn’t feel like she was being singled out. Batman and Superman were both tested over the course of the story, physically and emotionally, but they kept their clothes on.
Not sure if it’s because she’s ‘the girl’, or Wagner didn’t have quite the strong handle on her character he had on the other two, but there is that stumble in the story. Luckily he recovers for and the grand finale and it reads like a big summer action movie.
While Matt Wagner is more known for doing gritty, noir feeling stories, it was a pleasant surprise that he is quite capable of doing big, optimistic, larger than life stories.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Book Blogs, and also look for our posts on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, and the Bucks County Library System. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
Guest Post by Travis Hiltz/Hercules-Prince of Power
Back in the mists of time, the mid-eighties, Marvel Comics came out with their very first mini-series. These were finite stories with a set number of issues, a mainstay of comics today, but at the time something pretty radical.
Marvel’s first two minis were ‘Wolverine’, and anybody that’s been reading comics for longer than five minutes knows how that turned out, and their second, lesser-known title, Hercules: The Prince of Power.
Hercules had been kicking around Marvel since the late sixties, mostly in the Thor comics and as a member of the Avengers. Fans seem to like his happy-go-lucky, live-for-the-moment approach to being both a God and a super hero, but Marvel could never seem to find a formula to work for him enough to get his own title.
Bob Layton, a fan favorite from his work on Iron Man found a way to challenge Hercules, give him his own corner of the Marvel Comics universe to play in, and spotlight how he is very different from the other gods populating comics, but no less heroic and noble, just in his own special way.
The story:
In a vaguely defined future, Hercules returns home to Mount Olympus, and almost immediately gets in trouble with his Dad, Zeus.
Zeus has had enough, at 3,000 years old, he thinks it’s time for his son to grow up, and so he exiles Hercules from Olympus.
Knowing that Hercules is considered a bit of a hero and celebrity on Earth, Zeus instead decides to banish him to the depths of space, where there are whole planets full of beings that neither know nor care who Hercules is, and there are things out there whose power would dwarf even that of a god, and that should slap some humility into the Prince of Power.
Accepting his punishment with his usual knuckle-headed cheerful optimism, Hercules borrows Apollo’s magical chariot and is on his way.
He soon encounters a spacecraft, piloted by the Colonizers of Rigel, a race of short, lemon yellow explorers.
They present Hercules with a Recorder. Not the musical instrument, but a person-shaped robot that the Colonizers scatter across the universe, to gather information for them.
So, Hercules gains a sidekick and a charge account good anywhere in the civilized galaxy. This way we avoid any nit-pickiness about how Hercules deals with money during his travels.
Soon after, Hercules learns his first ‘life lesson’ of this mini. What is nicely done in this story is how it presents a series of learning experiences, during which Hercules has to stop and think about his behavior and actions, but all these lessons are presented as humor-filled, science fiction adventures. We aren’t hit over the head with a message, but each lesson works as part of the story. Nothing feels forced.
Part two features a ‘damsel in distress’ story, with a cute twist and the introduction of a running gag involving the Recorder. This particular damsel will later return in the sequel graphic novel, ‘Hercules: Full Circle’.
The last two parts of this story tell one big story, in which Hercules protects a race of snails that are considered the most famous brewers of alcoholic drinks in the galaxy, from a race of religiously fanatic bug-men that sacrifice whole planets to their ‘God’.
One great action scene later, Hercules has saved the world and we all breath a sigh of relief.
And then the bug-men’s God shows up, and we head into the grand finale. Now, I don’t want to blurt a lot of details out about the finale, as I thought it was a clever surprise. I will just say it has some great action scenes, a resolution between Hercules and the ‘God’ that tends to divide fans into love it/hate it (I loved it and didn’t find it forced or out of character) and then has a nice wrap-up that ends with a few jokes, but has a touch of the bittersweet.
All in all, a nice solo story for a character that I always liked and was glad he was finally getting a chance in the spotlight.
Now, some of you are probably asking ‘Sure, he likes the writing, but how’s the art?’
It’s Bob Layton; do you really have to ask? The art is clean and solid and every background has a beautiful sci-fi look to it that creates a world that feels real and fantastic at the same time.
Now this four-issue story has only recently been collected in a trade paperback, but you can still get all four issues cheaply, so it all depends on what format you prefer.
There was a sequel four-issue mini-series, followed by the graphic novel ‘Full Circle’, mentioned earlier.
For completest, there was also a three-part story in the anthology ‘Marvel Comics Presents’ and just last month, Layton put out the first issue of a new Hercules mini series ‘Twilight of the God’ that looks to be wrapping up the whole saga.
All in all, while ‘Hercules: Prince of Power’ does have a place in comic book history, it never had the huge impact for the character that other ‘try-out’ projects did. It did help to cement his characterization of the charming knucklehead that he is portrayed as to this day and accomplished what all good comic stories should: it gave us an enjoyable read with great art.
Marvel’s first two minis were ‘Wolverine’, and anybody that’s been reading comics for longer than five minutes knows how that turned out, and their second, lesser-known title, Hercules: The Prince of Power.
Hercules had been kicking around Marvel since the late sixties, mostly in the Thor comics and as a member of the Avengers. Fans seem to like his happy-go-lucky, live-for-the-moment approach to being both a God and a super hero, but Marvel could never seem to find a formula to work for him enough to get his own title.
Bob Layton, a fan favorite from his work on Iron Man found a way to challenge Hercules, give him his own corner of the Marvel Comics universe to play in, and spotlight how he is very different from the other gods populating comics, but no less heroic and noble, just in his own special way.
The story:
In a vaguely defined future, Hercules returns home to Mount Olympus, and almost immediately gets in trouble with his Dad, Zeus.
Zeus has had enough, at 3,000 years old, he thinks it’s time for his son to grow up, and so he exiles Hercules from Olympus.
Knowing that Hercules is considered a bit of a hero and celebrity on Earth, Zeus instead decides to banish him to the depths of space, where there are whole planets full of beings that neither know nor care who Hercules is, and there are things out there whose power would dwarf even that of a god, and that should slap some humility into the Prince of Power.
Accepting his punishment with his usual knuckle-headed cheerful optimism, Hercules borrows Apollo’s magical chariot and is on his way.
He soon encounters a spacecraft, piloted by the Colonizers of Rigel, a race of short, lemon yellow explorers.
They present Hercules with a Recorder. Not the musical instrument, but a person-shaped robot that the Colonizers scatter across the universe, to gather information for them.
So, Hercules gains a sidekick and a charge account good anywhere in the civilized galaxy. This way we avoid any nit-pickiness about how Hercules deals with money during his travels.
Soon after, Hercules learns his first ‘life lesson’ of this mini. What is nicely done in this story is how it presents a series of learning experiences, during which Hercules has to stop and think about his behavior and actions, but all these lessons are presented as humor-filled, science fiction adventures. We aren’t hit over the head with a message, but each lesson works as part of the story. Nothing feels forced.
Part two features a ‘damsel in distress’ story, with a cute twist and the introduction of a running gag involving the Recorder. This particular damsel will later return in the sequel graphic novel, ‘Hercules: Full Circle’.
The last two parts of this story tell one big story, in which Hercules protects a race of snails that are considered the most famous brewers of alcoholic drinks in the galaxy, from a race of religiously fanatic bug-men that sacrifice whole planets to their ‘God’.
One great action scene later, Hercules has saved the world and we all breath a sigh of relief.
And then the bug-men’s God shows up, and we head into the grand finale. Now, I don’t want to blurt a lot of details out about the finale, as I thought it was a clever surprise. I will just say it has some great action scenes, a resolution between Hercules and the ‘God’ that tends to divide fans into love it/hate it (I loved it and didn’t find it forced or out of character) and then has a nice wrap-up that ends with a few jokes, but has a touch of the bittersweet.
All in all, a nice solo story for a character that I always liked and was glad he was finally getting a chance in the spotlight.
Now, some of you are probably asking ‘Sure, he likes the writing, but how’s the art?’
It’s Bob Layton; do you really have to ask? The art is clean and solid and every background has a beautiful sci-fi look to it that creates a world that feels real and fantastic at the same time.
Now this four-issue story has only recently been collected in a trade paperback, but you can still get all four issues cheaply, so it all depends on what format you prefer.
There was a sequel four-issue mini-series, followed by the graphic novel ‘Full Circle’, mentioned earlier.
For completest, there was also a three-part story in the anthology ‘Marvel Comics Presents’ and just last month, Layton put out the first issue of a new Hercules mini series ‘Twilight of the God’ that looks to be wrapping up the whole saga.
All in all, while ‘Hercules: Prince of Power’ does have a place in comic book history, it never had the huge impact for the character that other ‘try-out’ projects did. It did help to cement his characterization of the charming knucklehead that he is portrayed as to this day and accomplished what all good comic stories should: it gave us an enjoyable read with great art.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Levine Vs. Lassiter: Author Duels With His (Fictional) Protagonist
Paul Levine exchanges barbs with Jake Lassiter, protagonist of his series of legal thrillers. The occasion is the 20th anniversary of the publication of “To Speak for the Dead,” which introduced the linebacker-turned-lawyer to the world of crime fiction.
“To Speak for the Dead” is now an e-book, with all proceeds going to the Four Diamonds Fund, which supports cancer treatment and research at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital. More information and download available here: http://www.paul-levine.com/content/jake-lassiter.asp.
* * *
Paul: Let me get this off my chest. I'm sorry it's been so long since I wrote a Lassiter book.
Jake: But you came back, didn't you? Came back to good old Jake, your meal ticket.
Paul: True. There'll be a new Lassiter book next year. And you must be happy that “To Speak for the Dead” is finally available as an e-book.
Jake: I'm just happy there are two hot women in the book, and both want some of the Jakester.
Paul: The book opens with what looks like a routine medical malpractice trial. It soon appears that your client isn't a bad surgeon, but might be a murderer. What's the truth?
Jake: If you want to know,, you gotta lay out $2.99 for the e-book and help kids with cancer.
Paul: Then let's talk about you. Have you changed much in the 20 years since “To Speak for the Dead” was published?
Jake: You tell me. I don't carry a Blackberry, an I-Phone, Pre, or a purse. You won't find my mug on My Space or Facebook. I don't have a life coach, an aroma therapist, or a yoga instructor, and I don't do Pilates.
Paul: So you're not exactly trendy?
Jake: I'm a carnivore among vegans, a brew and burger guy in a Chardonnay and paté world. I open the door for women and walk next to the street in case a horse and buggy jump the curb.
Paul: You're a throwback, then?
Jake: If that's what you call someone with old friends, old habits, and old values.
Paul: You live in the Coconut Grove section of Miami. How do you like it there?
Jake: Too many teenagers and tourists. Too many tattooed guys parading around with macaws on their shoulders.
Paul: Why would they do that?
Jake: The same reason men do everything. To attract babes.
Paul: Does it work?
Jake: Only with women whose idea of foreplay is getting crapped on by a bird.
Paul: Do you have a philosophy of life?
Jake: I try to do the least damage possible. I never park in the handicapped space or toss gum wrappers on the sidewalk. I help little old ladies cross the street, and sometimes, tall young ones, too.
Paul: Anything else you want to say?
Jake: Download “To Speak for the Dead.” Even if you don't have an e-reader, you can but read it on your laptop or desktop. Only $2.99 and it's for kids with cancer. Available at http://www.paul-levine.com/content/jake-lassiter.asp.
Paul: Thank you, Jake. Can we do this again sometime?
Jake: Not unless you subpoena me.
“To Speak for the Dead” is now an e-book, with all proceeds going to the Four Diamonds Fund, which supports cancer treatment and research at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital. More information and download available here: http://www.paul-levine.com/content/jake-lassiter.asp.
* * *
Paul: Let me get this off my chest. I'm sorry it's been so long since I wrote a Lassiter book.
Jake: But you came back, didn't you? Came back to good old Jake, your meal ticket.
Paul: True. There'll be a new Lassiter book next year. And you must be happy that “To Speak for the Dead” is finally available as an e-book.
Jake: I'm just happy there are two hot women in the book, and both want some of the Jakester.
Paul: The book opens with what looks like a routine medical malpractice trial. It soon appears that your client isn't a bad surgeon, but might be a murderer. What's the truth?
Jake: If you want to know,, you gotta lay out $2.99 for the e-book and help kids with cancer.
Paul: Then let's talk about you. Have you changed much in the 20 years since “To Speak for the Dead” was published?
Jake: You tell me. I don't carry a Blackberry, an I-Phone, Pre, or a purse. You won't find my mug on My Space or Facebook. I don't have a life coach, an aroma therapist, or a yoga instructor, and I don't do Pilates.
Paul: So you're not exactly trendy?
Jake: I'm a carnivore among vegans, a brew and burger guy in a Chardonnay and paté world. I open the door for women and walk next to the street in case a horse and buggy jump the curb.
Paul: You're a throwback, then?
Jake: If that's what you call someone with old friends, old habits, and old values.
Paul: You live in the Coconut Grove section of Miami. How do you like it there?
Jake: Too many teenagers and tourists. Too many tattooed guys parading around with macaws on their shoulders.
Paul: Why would they do that?
Jake: The same reason men do everything. To attract babes.
Paul: Does it work?
Jake: Only with women whose idea of foreplay is getting crapped on by a bird.
Paul: Do you have a philosophy of life?
Jake: I try to do the least damage possible. I never park in the handicapped space or toss gum wrappers on the sidewalk. I help little old ladies cross the street, and sometimes, tall young ones, too.
Paul: Anything else you want to say?
Jake: Download “To Speak for the Dead.” Even if you don't have an e-reader, you can but read it on your laptop or desktop. Only $2.99 and it's for kids with cancer. Available at http://www.paul-levine.com/content/jake-lassiter.asp.
Paul: Thank you, Jake. Can we do this again sometime?
Jake: Not unless you subpoena me.
Daniel Silva The Rembrandt Affair
I have had a nice run of finding really good novels to read and post on this summer. The Rembrandt Affair is like holding 480 pages of energy in your hand. It was an awesome read for many reasons. Daniel Silva has crafted another fine piece of work, but as many of his fans have commented on already, you were waiting impatiently for this novel and expected nothing less to be delivered. I was surprised by the size of the novel but he used every page and every word to the reader’s advantage.
The Rembrandt Affair starts out simply and then picks up the pace as we think we can see how the plotline is unfolding. Guess again. Silva shifts gears and directions in a way that makes it very hard to put this novel down. My best advice, don’t have much to do when you crack this open. This is a piece from the jacket that will give you a little flav of what is contained in pages of the novel: ” Before he is done, Gabriel will once again be drawn into a world he thought he had left behind forever, and will come face-to-face with a remarkable cast of characters: a glamorous London journalist who is determined to undo the worst mistake of her career, an elusive master art thief who is burdened by a conscience, and a powerful Swiss billionaire who is known for his good deeds but may just be behind one of the greatest threats facing the world. It is a timely reminder that there are men in the world who will do anything for money.”
I think women will do anything for money also, but that may be just my opinion, but I digress. Daniel Silva hits another home run with The Rembrandt Affair. The novel is heavy at 480 pages of fun, but don’t take it lightly, this hits the mark and then some .Gabriel is back in the saddle doing what he does best. Silva presents us with another novel that has been crafted with all the right elements and does not feel that he just followed a recipe. Instead this read is fresh, unnerving, and original. Does anybody expect any less from a writer of this caliber? What is your favorite Daniel Silva Novel?
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Book Blogs, and also look for our posts on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, and the Bucks County Library System. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
The Rembrandt Affair starts out simply and then picks up the pace as we think we can see how the plotline is unfolding. Guess again. Silva shifts gears and directions in a way that makes it very hard to put this novel down. My best advice, don’t have much to do when you crack this open. This is a piece from the jacket that will give you a little flav of what is contained in pages of the novel: ” Before he is done, Gabriel will once again be drawn into a world he thought he had left behind forever, and will come face-to-face with a remarkable cast of characters: a glamorous London journalist who is determined to undo the worst mistake of her career, an elusive master art thief who is burdened by a conscience, and a powerful Swiss billionaire who is known for his good deeds but may just be behind one of the greatest threats facing the world. It is a timely reminder that there are men in the world who will do anything for money.”
I think women will do anything for money also, but that may be just my opinion, but I digress. Daniel Silva hits another home run with The Rembrandt Affair. The novel is heavy at 480 pages of fun, but don’t take it lightly, this hits the mark and then some .Gabriel is back in the saddle doing what he does best. Silva presents us with another novel that has been crafted with all the right elements and does not feel that he just followed a recipe. Instead this read is fresh, unnerving, and original. Does anybody expect any less from a writer of this caliber? What is your favorite Daniel Silva Novel?
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Book Blogs, and also look for our posts on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, and the Bucks County Library System. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
My Immediate Love For This Thing Called Digital Shorts by The G-Man or as some have come to call me, Mr. Gelati
I was in the dark, as I usually I am about things, till last week about this new and exciting phenomenon called digital shorts. I presently wear cotton or synthetic fiber shorts, so I was wondering how they digitize shorts. Is this something that comes in my size and if so, what colors? I mean will it fit my lifestyle and enhance my mystique. My kids say I generally have a certain funk about me, I think that is slang for me being rad, cool, totally into it, hip and trendy in the best way possible. Compliments fly my way, and I take what I can get, if you know what I mean.
Being the man of intelligence I am , I decided to engage a search engine or two and try find out exactly what colors will my shorts be and how form fitting will they be. I am told that my luscious booty would look mighty fine in spandex and other form fitting type wear, so why not the new digital shorts. To my amazement I find out that not only are these things not shorts but actually written stories that are somewhat smaller than the usual novel. I am still trying to get a grip on how many words constitutes a full length novel , but the shorts come in different sizes, different genres and the covers although digital, come in many different colors. I was stunned.
The websites to publish these shorts are many and varied, but I locked in on Smashwords. I like the name, I perused the content of the site and I like the idea. I like the idea of the whole thing. A person can within seconds possess a written work that someone puts out for the price of the electricity it takes to download their heart &soul of work, or perhaps it would be anywhere from less than a buck to cost of a pack of gum or 20 oz. soda. The best thing about this is that the written work will last longer than the gum or soda. Maybe this is a new diet technique. Download digital shorts from the comfort of your home instead of snacking; imagine! Oprah, Ellen, Jay are you reading this? Someone please forward this to them, they are not my Facebook or Goodreads friends. Thanks in advance.
I am so into this right now I am going to add this to our posting day. I am going to make Saturday, Digital Short Saturday. That sounds better then Digital Short Tuesday or Wednesday, it just rolls off of the tongue better. The ereader thing is revolutionizing the way we read, the way we think about what we are reading, the way publishers look at us as customers and what we can and will consume, the way authors put themselves out there and what they want to put out. Man this can go on and on. Realistically though, the ramifications haven’t been felt yet; in my estimation, my mental capacity is too limited to even comprehend the vastness, the scope of the entire thing. One thing I do know, I like to go on rides, I have no desire to be left behind on this one. Digital Shorts: Flash in the pan? Fad? Reality? Do you think this is part of the future of writing and consumption? Your opinions are important, where do you see this going? Do you have a digital short waiting and wanting to be heard, I am your man. Drop me a line and send me your work at gelati.giovanni@gmail.com. It would be my pleasure to read it and post on it.
Being the man of intelligence I am , I decided to engage a search engine or two and try find out exactly what colors will my shorts be and how form fitting will they be. I am told that my luscious booty would look mighty fine in spandex and other form fitting type wear, so why not the new digital shorts. To my amazement I find out that not only are these things not shorts but actually written stories that are somewhat smaller than the usual novel. I am still trying to get a grip on how many words constitutes a full length novel , but the shorts come in different sizes, different genres and the covers although digital, come in many different colors. I was stunned.
The websites to publish these shorts are many and varied, but I locked in on Smashwords. I like the name, I perused the content of the site and I like the idea. I like the idea of the whole thing. A person can within seconds possess a written work that someone puts out for the price of the electricity it takes to download their heart &soul of work, or perhaps it would be anywhere from less than a buck to cost of a pack of gum or 20 oz. soda. The best thing about this is that the written work will last longer than the gum or soda. Maybe this is a new diet technique. Download digital shorts from the comfort of your home instead of snacking; imagine! Oprah, Ellen, Jay are you reading this? Someone please forward this to them, they are not my Facebook or Goodreads friends. Thanks in advance.
I am so into this right now I am going to add this to our posting day. I am going to make Saturday, Digital Short Saturday. That sounds better then Digital Short Tuesday or Wednesday, it just rolls off of the tongue better. The ereader thing is revolutionizing the way we read, the way we think about what we are reading, the way publishers look at us as customers and what we can and will consume, the way authors put themselves out there and what they want to put out. Man this can go on and on. Realistically though, the ramifications haven’t been felt yet; in my estimation, my mental capacity is too limited to even comprehend the vastness, the scope of the entire thing. One thing I do know, I like to go on rides, I have no desire to be left behind on this one. Digital Shorts: Flash in the pan? Fad? Reality? Do you think this is part of the future of writing and consumption? Your opinions are important, where do you see this going? Do you have a digital short waiting and wanting to be heard, I am your man. Drop me a line and send me your work at gelati.giovanni@gmail.com. It would be my pleasure to read it and post on it.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Guest Post by Paul Levine
“When is Jake Lassiter coming back?”
I get the question at bookstores and Bouchercon, at Thrillerfest and Sleuthfest, at Left Coast Crime, and even my dentist's office. I might be promoting one of the “Solomon vs. Lord” books, or “Illegal,” but the questions always come back to this:
“Where the heck is Jake?”
I wrote seven Lassiter novels between 1990 and 1997. Since then, I've written two stand-alone thrillers, a four-book series, and a bunch of episodes for two CBS-TV dramas. But what everyone wants to talk about is that linebacker-turned-lawyer, a tough guy with a tender heart.
“Jake's not in jail, is he?”
I don't think so, but given his conduct in court, maybe he should be.
Truth is, Jake Lassiter lives!
In Fall 2011, “Lassiter” will be out in hardcover from Bantam as Jake searches for a missing woman from his past and becomes entangled in the intertwined worlds of politics and porn. But wait, there's more:
Jake Lassiter is back in print now!
Or rather, in bytes.
On line.
Just a click away.
I'm talking about e-books. You can start reading the 20th Anniversary edition of “To Speak for the Dead,” in about 90 seconds. An international bestseller, the first Lassiter novel was named one of the best mysteries of the year by the Los Angeles Times and became an NBC World Premiere Movie.
For a limited time, e-book sellers are offering “...Dead” at the astonishing price of $2.99. Right, less than your double mocha latte, which by the way, Jake Lassiter would never drink. (That price may surprise the collector who e-mailed recently that he paid $325 for a signed first edition of “To Speak for the Dead.” Wow. I have a couple cartons in the garage if he wants more).
Now, here's the best part: All author royalties - 100 per cent - will go to the Four Diamonds Fund, which supports cancer research and treatment at Hershey Children's Hospital. It's a cause dear to my heart. The facility, part of Penn State's College of Medicine, is one of the premier institutions of its kind. Thanks to the Fund, children whose families lack the financial wherewithal receive top-notch medical care.
There's even more news about Jake. The second book of the Lassiter series, “Night Vision,” is also available as an e-book, as is “9 Scorpions,” a stand-alone legal thriller set at the Supreme Court. In the next several months, all seven Lassiter books will be on Amazon Kindle and the other e-bookselling platforms. So, even if you're new to the series, there's time to catch up before the new one hits the stores next year. If you've already read the books in the dead-trees format, try them again on your e-reader or right on your desktop or laptop. Here's a quick look at what's available now.
TO SPEAK FOR THE DEAD - Defending a surgeon in a malpractice case, Jake begins to suspect that his client is innocent of negligence...but guilty of murder. A sexy widow, a robbed grave, and another murder follow. “Move over Scott Turow. 'To Speak for the Dead' is courtroom drama at its very best.” - Larry King, USA Today
NIGHT VISION - Jake is appointed a special prosecutor when a serial killer begins stalking women on a sexually oriented Internet chat site. Enlisting a brilliant woman psychiatrist, Jake wades into a maze of lies and corruption to uncover the murderer. “Sparkles with wit and subtlety.” - Toronto Star
9 Scorpions - Sam Truitt, the newest and youngest justice on the Supreme Court, hires a brilliant and stunning female law clerk, unaware she has a personal stake in a huge case before the court. It's a story of passion and violence, justice and revenge, in and out of court. “A relentlessly entertaining summer read.” New York Daily News
For more info and to purchase, please visit http://www.paul-levine.com/content/jake-lassiter.asp.
David Hagberg The Cabal
The newest novel from David Hagberg picks up right where The Expediter leaves off and burns a trail that is totally hot and scorching. The story line from the inside cover of the novel tells us that McGarvey’s son-in-law, Todd Van Buren, is meeting with a reporter he knew from college. The reporter friend has info on a group that calls themselves The Friday Club. The reporter gives Todd a disk with info on it at a restaurant where they meet, and soon the two are killed.
McGarvey of course is set to find out who offed his son-in –law and how it ties in The Friday Club and the events of the last few novels. Hagberg is in rare form with The Cabal. This is a must read if you are a fan and have followed Kirk McGarvey this far in his journey. If this is your first Hagberg novel, hold on. The ride is swift and the action just. No spoilers will be given here, but let the bad guys fall where they may. I love the characters Hagberg has created in this series and they are all present and accounted for in this novel. This for me was full throttle Hagberg, holding nothing back in his lean mean machine in Kirk McGarvey. But Giovanni how do you really feel? I have had the pleasure of late to read some really good novels in this genre in the last two to three weeks and this is right there with the best of them.
Truth, Justice & the American Way the McGarvey way is an excellent read that is hard to put down. The Cabal takes no prisoners literally and figuratively. Hagberg takes McGarvey to the zenith and back with this one, honest injun. Be prepared to have some curves thrown at you, to gasp in surprise and wonder why and how he did that. The Cabal is a gut wrenching, fast paced force of a novel. Whether you are a huge fan like me, or a first time Hagberg reader, you are in for a treat. What is your favorite McGarvey novel?
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Book Blogs, and also look for our posts on Amazon , Barnes and Nobles and the Bucks County Library System. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
McGarvey of course is set to find out who offed his son-in –law and how it ties in The Friday Club and the events of the last few novels. Hagberg is in rare form with The Cabal. This is a must read if you are a fan and have followed Kirk McGarvey this far in his journey. If this is your first Hagberg novel, hold on. The ride is swift and the action just. No spoilers will be given here, but let the bad guys fall where they may. I love the characters Hagberg has created in this series and they are all present and accounted for in this novel. This for me was full throttle Hagberg, holding nothing back in his lean mean machine in Kirk McGarvey. But Giovanni how do you really feel? I have had the pleasure of late to read some really good novels in this genre in the last two to three weeks and this is right there with the best of them.
Truth, Justice & the American Way the McGarvey way is an excellent read that is hard to put down. The Cabal takes no prisoners literally and figuratively. Hagberg takes McGarvey to the zenith and back with this one, honest injun. Be prepared to have some curves thrown at you, to gasp in surprise and wonder why and how he did that. The Cabal is a gut wrenching, fast paced force of a novel. Whether you are a huge fan like me, or a first time Hagberg reader, you are in for a treat. What is your favorite McGarvey novel?
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Book Blogs, and also look for our posts on Amazon , Barnes and Nobles and the Bucks County Library System. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Pual Levine To Speak For The Dead
CLASSIC LEGAL THRILLER NOW AN E-BOOK “FOR THE KIDS”
TO SPEAK FOR THE DEAD, first of the Jake Lassiter series of legal thrillers, has just been released as an e-book on the 20th Anniversary of its hardcover publication. Author Paul Levine explains why he has pledged 100% of all royalties to the Four Diamonds Fund for childhood cancer treatment and research.
By Paul Levine
In the United States today, one in 300 children will be diagnosed with some form of cancer. All of us have friends or family members who have fought that grueling battle. These days, with great advances in medicine, there's a increasing chance the fight has been successful.
Yet, progress seems excruciatingly slow for those on the front lines.
A few years ago, one of my dearest friends, the godfather of my son, lost his daughter Margaux to Ewing's sarcoma, a rare but vicious bone cancer. The survival rate for Ewing's sarcoma that metastasises is a disheartening 10 per cent.
Ten per cent!
In this age of medical miracles, how can that be?
After Margaux's death at age 14, I dedicated a book to her. Such a feeble gesture. I wanted to do more. Still do. Here's how.
Twenty years ago this month, my first novel, “To Speak for the Dead,” was published to a decent amount of fanfare. The legal thriller introduced the world to Jake Lassiter, a linebacker-turned-lawyer who seeks justice but seldom finds it. The book facilitated my career change from lawyer to novelist and has always held a special place in my heart. Now, good old Jake can help a cause that's also dear to me.
I will donate all proceeds of “To Speak for the Dead” to the Four Diamonds Fund, a charity that pays for treatment of pediatric cancer patients at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital. In addition to providing world-class medical care, the Fund supports research in immunotherapy, carcinogenesis, and several other fields I can barely spell, much less understand.
In basic terms, the Fund helps sick kids. I don't know a more worthy cause.
I'm hoping that the e-book will sell for years, bringing enjoyment to readers and support to a life-saving cause. Hoping, too, that others will be moved to directly contribute.
Here's a little background about the Fund. In 1972, a 14-year-old boy named Christopher Millard was an aspiring writer. Or rather, he was already a writer. He'd penned a mythic tale about “Sir Millard and The Four Diamonds,” in the tradition of Sir Galahad and Sir Lancelot. What are those Four Diamonds? Wisdom. Courage. Honesty. Strength. All are needed in our daily lives, especially in children's battles with a dread disease.
You have probably figured out that Chris wrote the story while in the throes of cancer. The diamonds of his story were allegorical. The quest was for life itself. After a three-year battle, Chris died, but his memory lives in the name of the Fund established by his family.
Penn State students have contributed an astonishing $61 million to the Fund through their annual dance marathon. This year's event raised $7.8 million alone. The motto of “Thon” is “For the kids.” And that, too, is the dedication of “To Speak for the Dead.”
Even if you don't own an e-reader, you can download the book to your laptop or desktop. So, if you'd like a “breathlessly exciting” read (Cleveland Plain Dealer) or a “genuinely chilling” one (Washington Post), please give it a try. For a limited time, the book is only $2.99. Purchase information here: http://www.paul-levine.com/content/jake-lassiter.asp.
One last thing. If each of us can contribute - just a bit - of courage, wisdom, honesty, and strength, maybe we can reach the goal of Conquering Childhood Cancer.
TO SPEAK FOR THE DEAD, first of the Jake Lassiter series of legal thrillers, has just been released as an e-book on the 20th Anniversary of its hardcover publication. Author Paul Levine explains why he has pledged 100% of all royalties to the Four Diamonds Fund for childhood cancer treatment and research.
By Paul Levine
In the United States today, one in 300 children will be diagnosed with some form of cancer. All of us have friends or family members who have fought that grueling battle. These days, with great advances in medicine, there's a increasing chance the fight has been successful.
Yet, progress seems excruciatingly slow for those on the front lines.
A few years ago, one of my dearest friends, the godfather of my son, lost his daughter Margaux to Ewing's sarcoma, a rare but vicious bone cancer. The survival rate for Ewing's sarcoma that metastasises is a disheartening 10 per cent.
Ten per cent!
In this age of medical miracles, how can that be?
After Margaux's death at age 14, I dedicated a book to her. Such a feeble gesture. I wanted to do more. Still do. Here's how.
Twenty years ago this month, my first novel, “To Speak for the Dead,” was published to a decent amount of fanfare. The legal thriller introduced the world to Jake Lassiter, a linebacker-turned-lawyer who seeks justice but seldom finds it. The book facilitated my career change from lawyer to novelist and has always held a special place in my heart. Now, good old Jake can help a cause that's also dear to me.
I will donate all proceeds of “To Speak for the Dead” to the Four Diamonds Fund, a charity that pays for treatment of pediatric cancer patients at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital. In addition to providing world-class medical care, the Fund supports research in immunotherapy, carcinogenesis, and several other fields I can barely spell, much less understand.
In basic terms, the Fund helps sick kids. I don't know a more worthy cause.
I'm hoping that the e-book will sell for years, bringing enjoyment to readers and support to a life-saving cause. Hoping, too, that others will be moved to directly contribute.
Here's a little background about the Fund. In 1972, a 14-year-old boy named Christopher Millard was an aspiring writer. Or rather, he was already a writer. He'd penned a mythic tale about “Sir Millard and The Four Diamonds,” in the tradition of Sir Galahad and Sir Lancelot. What are those Four Diamonds? Wisdom. Courage. Honesty. Strength. All are needed in our daily lives, especially in children's battles with a dread disease.
You have probably figured out that Chris wrote the story while in the throes of cancer. The diamonds of his story were allegorical. The quest was for life itself. After a three-year battle, Chris died, but his memory lives in the name of the Fund established by his family.
Penn State students have contributed an astonishing $61 million to the Fund through their annual dance marathon. This year's event raised $7.8 million alone. The motto of “Thon” is “For the kids.” And that, too, is the dedication of “To Speak for the Dead.”
Even if you don't own an e-reader, you can download the book to your laptop or desktop. So, if you'd like a “breathlessly exciting” read (Cleveland Plain Dealer) or a “genuinely chilling” one (Washington Post), please give it a try. For a limited time, the book is only $2.99. Purchase information here: http://www.paul-levine.com/content/jake-lassiter.asp.
One last thing. If each of us can contribute - just a bit - of courage, wisdom, honesty, and strength, maybe we can reach the goal of Conquering Childhood Cancer.
Zoe Ferraris City of Veils
This novel is an eye opener. I am the proud father of seven girls (we also have a son) and must say that the way in which women are treated in the Middle East have always stunned me. City of Veils gave me a new perspective on the whole thing. Zoe Ferraris has a unique viewpoint being both a woman and having lived in the Middle East, experiencing it first-hand. Her previous novel, Finding Nouf, was a Los Angeles Times Prize Winner.
Here is the summary of the novel; When the body of a brutally beaten woman is found on the beach in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Detective Osama Ibrahim dreads investigating another unsolvable murder-chillingly common in a city where the veils of conservative Islam keep women as anonymous in life as the victim is in death.
But Katya , one of the few females in the coroner’s office, is determined to identify the woman and find her killer. Aided by her friend Nayir, she soon discovers that the victim was a young filmmaker named Leila, whose controversial documentaries earned her many enemies. But was it Leila’s work with an incendiary Korainic scholar or a missing American man who got her killed?
The plotline is intense, riveting and eye opening to say the least. Ferraris paints a picture and mindset that I would think most Western thinking people, men and women alike, find hard to comprehend and embrace. How do you identify a woman that is murdered that has to have her face shielded seemingly at all times? Difficult job, yes I would think. Maybe our friend Mr. Monk the obsessive/ compulsive detective can find a difference in her burka versus another woman’s, but he isn’t in this novel. But I digress.
I enjoyed this novel on many levels because it really challenged me. The setting, the mindset, the language and customs are all foreign to me. The manner in which the detective had to go about his business, the treatment of the women all were a surprise to me and at times enlightening. Ferraris uses all these things to the reader’s advantage as she takes us on a journey that I don’t think many of us have a chance to go on in this genre. So for that my hat is off to her. City of Veils is a unique novel for the reasons listed and many more. Dare to be different, give this novel a go, add it to your Goodreads - to read- list and challenge yourself. I think that the suspense and mystery of the novel combined with grappling to understand the mindset of the culture prove to a winning combination.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Book Blogs, and also look for our posts on Amazon,Barnes and Nobles and the Bucks County Library System. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
Here is the summary of the novel; When the body of a brutally beaten woman is found on the beach in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Detective Osama Ibrahim dreads investigating another unsolvable murder-chillingly common in a city where the veils of conservative Islam keep women as anonymous in life as the victim is in death.
But Katya , one of the few females in the coroner’s office, is determined to identify the woman and find her killer. Aided by her friend Nayir, she soon discovers that the victim was a young filmmaker named Leila, whose controversial documentaries earned her many enemies. But was it Leila’s work with an incendiary Korainic scholar or a missing American man who got her killed?
The plotline is intense, riveting and eye opening to say the least. Ferraris paints a picture and mindset that I would think most Western thinking people, men and women alike, find hard to comprehend and embrace. How do you identify a woman that is murdered that has to have her face shielded seemingly at all times? Difficult job, yes I would think. Maybe our friend Mr. Monk the obsessive/ compulsive detective can find a difference in her burka versus another woman’s, but he isn’t in this novel. But I digress.
I enjoyed this novel on many levels because it really challenged me. The setting, the mindset, the language and customs are all foreign to me. The manner in which the detective had to go about his business, the treatment of the women all were a surprise to me and at times enlightening. Ferraris uses all these things to the reader’s advantage as she takes us on a journey that I don’t think many of us have a chance to go on in this genre. So for that my hat is off to her. City of Veils is a unique novel for the reasons listed and many more. Dare to be different, give this novel a go, add it to your Goodreads - to read- list and challenge yourself. I think that the suspense and mystery of the novel combined with grappling to understand the mindset of the culture prove to a winning combination.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Book Blogs, and also look for our posts on Amazon,Barnes and Nobles and the Bucks County Library System. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Blast From The Past David Hagberg The Expeditier
I think I have read almost every novel that Hagberg has penned. I am a big fan, so watch out. I read a few reviews of this novel back when it came out and I felt they were way off base, especially Publishers Weekly. Their big beef was that Hagberg didn’t offer enough insight into the North Korean society ala James Church’s Inspector O series. No disrespect to Mr. O, but I really didn’t care when I read The Expediter if it gave me a deep and thorough insight. I like being sightless, but entertained. That’s what David Hagberg delivered here in The Expediter, pure adrenaline, suspense and action. Insight for me can be left behind. Besides how much insight can be gained into Kim Jung Il?
The Expediter has the forces that be, interrupting McGarvey’s peace and pseudoretirement to help them solve the World’s newest crisis du jour. Basically they need his unique skill set and attitude to unravel yet another plot that the alleged masterminds cannot solve. McGarvey packs a toothbrush, says goodbye to his loved ones and goes about his business. Hagberg puts together a great plot, executes it well and keeps the action going from the beginning to end; one cannot ask for more in a novel of this type. The character is hard hitting and in your face and that is when he is at his best. The narrative of the places McGarvey visits and the speed in which he is changing time zones doesn’t really lend itself to learning the history and culture of a Nation State.
I am not going out on a limb here when I say that David Hagberg can pen a really good suspense/action novel. If you haven’t had a chance to get a dose of Kirk McGarvey there are plenty of other novels in the Hagberg library to check out, grab one; they are just as good. The Cabel is his newest to date and that should be available now ( hint, click the tab ). I look forward to reading it.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Book Blogs, and also look for our posts on Amazon. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
The Expediter has the forces that be, interrupting McGarvey’s peace and pseudoretirement to help them solve the World’s newest crisis du jour. Basically they need his unique skill set and attitude to unravel yet another plot that the alleged masterminds cannot solve. McGarvey packs a toothbrush, says goodbye to his loved ones and goes about his business. Hagberg puts together a great plot, executes it well and keeps the action going from the beginning to end; one cannot ask for more in a novel of this type. The character is hard hitting and in your face and that is when he is at his best. The narrative of the places McGarvey visits and the speed in which he is changing time zones doesn’t really lend itself to learning the history and culture of a Nation State.
I am not going out on a limb here when I say that David Hagberg can pen a really good suspense/action novel. If you haven’t had a chance to get a dose of Kirk McGarvey there are plenty of other novels in the Hagberg library to check out, grab one; they are just as good. The Cabel is his newest to date and that should be available now ( hint, click the tab ). I look forward to reading it.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Book Blogs, and also look for our posts on Amazon. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
D.H. Dublin Freezer Burn
I was surprised to find this novel and find out that it is set near me in Philadelphia. Living here in Bucks County, I go into the city often especially if a Geno’s cheesesteak is involved. The C.S.U. is totally new to me, but I am glad I found it. The acronym stands for Crime Scene Unit; they are a group of forensic investigators that use cutting edge technology to help bring the perps to justice. The main character in all this is a rookie, Madison Cross.
Freezer Burn places four different people, killed and left in different ways for Madison to work with, challenging C.S.U. to put the bodies and the pieces of the puzzle together to solve the crime. I enjoyed the novel for many reasons. The pace was nice and quick, the settings made me chuckle at times as I know many of the streets mentioned in the novel. I like the detail Dublin goes into as far as the science goes, the other stuff with the gore and body parts, I could pass on. The plot line is tight and brought to a nice end; I like the gallows humor he interjects. Overall I got a nice groove on his style. This a nice mystery wrapped around science, good investigative technique and a little bit of moxie.
D.H. Dublin and his C.S.U. investigators are worthy of the time spent. Novels like this are nice as they stand apart from the rest that are just formulated and drab. I enjoyed the Philly vibe and had a good ride tagging along with the Unit as they went about their business bringing justice to the deceased. If you haven’t had the opportunity to read one of these novels ( Blood Poison, Body Trace or Freezer Burn) check one out and drop me a line and tell me your thoughts on the series. Which is your favorite one of the bunch?
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Book Blogs, and also look for our posts on Amazon. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
Freezer Burn places four different people, killed and left in different ways for Madison to work with, challenging C.S.U. to put the bodies and the pieces of the puzzle together to solve the crime. I enjoyed the novel for many reasons. The pace was nice and quick, the settings made me chuckle at times as I know many of the streets mentioned in the novel. I like the detail Dublin goes into as far as the science goes, the other stuff with the gore and body parts, I could pass on. The plot line is tight and brought to a nice end; I like the gallows humor he interjects. Overall I got a nice groove on his style. This a nice mystery wrapped around science, good investigative technique and a little bit of moxie.
D.H. Dublin and his C.S.U. investigators are worthy of the time spent. Novels like this are nice as they stand apart from the rest that are just formulated and drab. I enjoyed the Philly vibe and had a good ride tagging along with the Unit as they went about their business bringing justice to the deceased. If you haven’t had the opportunity to read one of these novels ( Blood Poison, Body Trace or Freezer Burn) check one out and drop me a line and tell me your thoughts on the series. Which is your favorite one of the bunch?
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Book Blogs, and also look for our posts on Amazon. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Graphic Novel Friday Kingdom Come Mark Waid/Alex Ross
The entire DC Comics gang is included in this one; mall, large it doesn’t matter. If they are a considered a metahuman , they are included in this epic battle. I am just starting to get caught up in the DC world and am enjoying the writing and artwork. The twists and turns of the big three ( Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman) were very surprising to me.
The quality of the writing and the depth of the plotline were what kept me totally enthralled with this graphic novel. The questions of right and wrong, the greater good, using one’s gifts to their fullest to serve others, were questions that seemed not to be asked of most of these “Super” beings and instead were just headed down a path of total self-absorption. Superman and Company tries to set things straight and make the world safe once again for all. I don’t want to expand on this much more because I don’t want to spoil what is contained in the pages of the novel. It is very thought provoking and provocative; raises questions from sources I amazed me. I paused more than once to ponder the material and how it relates to my life. Thankfully I was camped out on the beach and could just stare out at the waves, letting the thoughts just wash over me .The places these seemingly simple innocent graphic novels take us is amazing . I don’t hesitate to recommend reading this.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Book Blogs, and also look for our posts on Amazon. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
The quality of the writing and the depth of the plotline were what kept me totally enthralled with this graphic novel. The questions of right and wrong, the greater good, using one’s gifts to their fullest to serve others, were questions that seemed not to be asked of most of these “Super” beings and instead were just headed down a path of total self-absorption. Superman and Company tries to set things straight and make the world safe once again for all. I don’t want to expand on this much more because I don’t want to spoil what is contained in the pages of the novel. It is very thought provoking and provocative; raises questions from sources I amazed me. I paused more than once to ponder the material and how it relates to my life. Thankfully I was camped out on the beach and could just stare out at the waves, letting the thoughts just wash over me .The places these seemingly simple innocent graphic novels take us is amazing . I don’t hesitate to recommend reading this.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Book Blogs, and also look for our posts on Amazon. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Brad Thor Foreign Influence
Hey, I have been a bit distracted this week with the arrival of the new grandson, but to call this latest novel by Brad Thor just a thriller is a disservice. Foreign Influence is a great read from page one right to the last paragraph. Do not exit the novel early; the ride is not over. There are a few more twists and turns to be enjoyed, so please follow it to the last word. My yearly Scot Harvath craving has been Found, Fixed & Finished. I would much prefer to receive my fix on a quarterly or bi annual basis at minimum though.
Foreign Influence contained all the right elements for me. The pleasant in your face, bullet to the brain that Harvath can deliver with a-bomb , and then his sweet sensitive side of wanting to be a father & husband. Thor has constructed a wonderful, selfless hero and surrounded him with as many mismatched, damaged supporting characters as possible. I really enjoyed the new people he introduces us to in this novel and look forward to seeing as many of them as possible in his future works. To my knowledge this novel has landed in the top ten of the New York Times bestseller list and is there rightfully. Brad Thor has elevated his game again and woven a thriller that for me, exceeded my expectations.
Although most have been edited, I hit a streak of run on sentences and use of too many commas while writing this post so here are the main reasons why. I, Giovanni Gelati of Gelati’s Scoop got a major groove on this novel- Foreign Influence:
-Plotline-this stuff could be tomorrow’s headlines.
-The action is there from beginning to the last word. Make sure, unlike me, that you have nothing to do; this is hard to put down.
-New characters-there are many and they are fun, likeable, and relevant.
-Humor-yeah, that’s right humor. I laughed a number of times and really enjoyed it. A few terrorist jokes mixed with a few Mother-In- Law/Wife jokes are good for the soul.
-Did you hear the one about the Troll, the Priest, the computer hacker & the jihadist? Oh yeah, I just read it. This thriller has it all.
Foreign Influence for me rocked, no two ways about it. Brad Thor does it again; I just wish he did that more often. Maybe with the rise of the ebooks, and the ease in which they can bring the product to market, this will be a reality. One can never have enough Scot Harvath , just my opinion. What are you reading today?
Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Book Blogs, and also look for our posts on Amazon. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
Foreign Influence contained all the right elements for me. The pleasant in your face, bullet to the brain that Harvath can deliver with a-bomb , and then his sweet sensitive side of wanting to be a father & husband. Thor has constructed a wonderful, selfless hero and surrounded him with as many mismatched, damaged supporting characters as possible. I really enjoyed the new people he introduces us to in this novel and look forward to seeing as many of them as possible in his future works. To my knowledge this novel has landed in the top ten of the New York Times bestseller list and is there rightfully. Brad Thor has elevated his game again and woven a thriller that for me, exceeded my expectations.
Although most have been edited, I hit a streak of run on sentences and use of too many commas while writing this post so here are the main reasons why. I, Giovanni Gelati of Gelati’s Scoop got a major groove on this novel- Foreign Influence:
-Plotline-this stuff could be tomorrow’s headlines.
-The action is there from beginning to the last word. Make sure, unlike me, that you have nothing to do; this is hard to put down.
-New characters-there are many and they are fun, likeable, and relevant.
-Humor-yeah, that’s right humor. I laughed a number of times and really enjoyed it. A few terrorist jokes mixed with a few Mother-In- Law/Wife jokes are good for the soul.
-Did you hear the one about the Troll, the Priest, the computer hacker & the jihadist? Oh yeah, I just read it. This thriller has it all.
Foreign Influence for me rocked, no two ways about it. Brad Thor does it again; I just wish he did that more often. Maybe with the rise of the ebooks, and the ease in which they can bring the product to market, this will be a reality. One can never have enough Scot Harvath , just my opinion. What are you reading today?
Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Book Blogs, and also look for our posts on Amazon. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Dana Haynes Crashers
I had seen this novel advertised on Goodreads and thought, why not, get a hold of it. I was not disappointed; this is a very good debut thriller from Dana Haynes. Crashers have to do with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and what they do after a plane crash. The Crashers are those that respond to the accident and reconstruct it so they can figure out what the cause was, and make sure the same thing does not happen in the future.
Dana Haynes puts together a very nice group of characters and weaves a plot with them that moves at a nice pace. Did I know anything at all about the NTSB before this novel, no not really, my interest level wasn’t that high. He made me interested in it though and I enjoyed the insights he brought to bear. The plot was interesting, but the thing I enjoyed the most was the character interplay and the way he brought the novel to a conclusion. The knots were all tied together, loose ends were non-excistent,and I was wanting for more. Thankfully, this is fiction, so me wanting to reading the next in the series will involve no fatalities except on the pages of the novel. Haynes has that level of realism to Crashers .I enjoyed being educated on the inner workings of the NTSB and how it operates when a crisis occurs as much as I enjoyed the story he used to wrap it around, a win/win for all.
Crashers is very good novel, whether it is his first or tenth. It is filled with humor, humanity, realism, and intrigue. The story moves at a good pace and is very hard to put down. This novel may crack our top ten for the period, that is how good it is. Put this one in your Goodreads –to read- list at the very least.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Book Blogs, and also look for our posts on Amazon. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
Dana Haynes puts together a very nice group of characters and weaves a plot with them that moves at a nice pace. Did I know anything at all about the NTSB before this novel, no not really, my interest level wasn’t that high. He made me interested in it though and I enjoyed the insights he brought to bear. The plot was interesting, but the thing I enjoyed the most was the character interplay and the way he brought the novel to a conclusion. The knots were all tied together, loose ends were non-excistent,and I was wanting for more. Thankfully, this is fiction, so me wanting to reading the next in the series will involve no fatalities except on the pages of the novel. Haynes has that level of realism to Crashers .I enjoyed being educated on the inner workings of the NTSB and how it operates when a crisis occurs as much as I enjoyed the story he used to wrap it around, a win/win for all.
Crashers is very good novel, whether it is his first or tenth. It is filled with humor, humanity, realism, and intrigue. The story moves at a good pace and is very hard to put down. This novel may crack our top ten for the period, that is how good it is. Put this one in your Goodreads –to read- list at the very least.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Book Blogs, and also look for our posts on Amazon. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Barry Eisler Inside Out
Ben Treven is front and center again as Rain takes a break. Inside Out is one of the most provocative and enjoyable novels I have read in quite some time. I have been fortunate to have read all of Barry Eisler’s novels, and I am not going out on a limb in saying that this is probably his best work to date. Once you open it up and start to read it, putting it down is very difficult. I basically became a Casper to my family on the beach as I didn’t want to put this down. Passing up a chance to inflict more damage in bocce or ladder ball is not something I usually do.
Barry Eisler has put together a novel that is as close to hitting a ten as I think anyone has come in quite a while. Inside Out will entertain you, and at the same time make you question some very fundamental elements of our everyday life. The plot and subplots are woven together in such a way that the ending is even more mind blowing, the questions larger than anticipated. The levels to which this novel ascends are amazing, timely, controversial, provocative, and altogether too entertaining. This is the total package.
Ben Treven really has his hands full throughout the novel, and Eisler has created another franchise character for himself that is as strong, if not stronger than Rain. Treven carries enough emotional baggage to make him fun and unstable, but grounded enough to help him see things through. Inside Out for me, is thus far, the best work of fiction I have read this year, period. There are some serious novels, by some of the industries heaviest hitters coming soon, but I don’t see anyone coming close to the total package Barry Eisler has slammed down here in Inside Out. Who is your favorite Barry Eisler main character, Rain or Trever?
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Book Blogs, and also look for our posts on Amazon. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
Barry Eisler has put together a novel that is as close to hitting a ten as I think anyone has come in quite a while. Inside Out will entertain you, and at the same time make you question some very fundamental elements of our everyday life. The plot and subplots are woven together in such a way that the ending is even more mind blowing, the questions larger than anticipated. The levels to which this novel ascends are amazing, timely, controversial, provocative, and altogether too entertaining. This is the total package.
Ben Treven really has his hands full throughout the novel, and Eisler has created another franchise character for himself that is as strong, if not stronger than Rain. Treven carries enough emotional baggage to make him fun and unstable, but grounded enough to help him see things through. Inside Out for me, is thus far, the best work of fiction I have read this year, period. There are some serious novels, by some of the industries heaviest hitters coming soon, but I don’t see anyone coming close to the total package Barry Eisler has slammed down here in Inside Out. Who is your favorite Barry Eisler main character, Rain or Trever?
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Book Blogs, and also look for our posts on Amazon. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Lee Goldberg Mr. Monk Is Cleaned Out
Happy Monday to all. We are back from vacation and we have a big couple of big weeks in store for everybody. This week’ s lineup includes :
Monday-Mr. Monk/Lee Goldberg
Tuesday- Barry Eisler/Inside Out
Wednesday- Crashers/Dana Hayes
Thursday-Foreign Influence/Brad Thor
Friday-Mark Waid /Kingdom Come
Saturday-D.H. Dublin /Freezer Burn
Sunday-Blast From the Past /David Hagberg
We were on vacation last week and enjoyed every minute of it. One of the things I look forward to each year is winding down on a Friday night with the family and watching Monk & PSYCH, usually consuming a few snacks and drinks during the process. The Monk series is done on television and PSYCH was moved to another evening, totally bumming me out. The drinking and snacking still went on, but it wasn’t the same till I reached a certain point of no return, forgetting why I was bummed. I believe the words that were uttered was “just keep em coming”, or something like that. The one thing I have to still hang my hat on though is Lee Goldberg delivering a nice Monk novel to smooth out the edges, very quietly. I really enjoy sharing the novel with different members of the family, each of us claiming to have solved the mystery by a page closer to the beginning than the next. Your basic, I can solve the mystery in this many pages game.
Mr. Monk Gets Cleaned Out is a fun and engaging novel. Being a big fan, this had all the elements necessary for me to get maximum pleasure from all the pages contained in the novel. The entire cast was present and accounted for (Natalie, Stottlemeyer, Disher, Ambrose , & Dr. Bell) which made me very happy. The characters were given good time. One not dominating the other, as Monk went through his usual shenanigans finding “the Man” even though no one believes he is correct. The plot is nice and light; the humor is excellent as always. Lee Goldberg brings a great bit to the table with Monk. He understands his affliction, squeezes the most out of it, and weaves a novel full of various plots that come together at the end in a seamless way that appears effortless. The novel is always moving forward with plenty of Monklike situations to satisfy even the most ardent of fans like myself. Lee Goldberg’s gift of humor is, I think, the main ingredient in making this series of novels work at such a high level. Taking such every day mundane situations or objects (like a bottle of water), and weaving them into a well-crafted novel that is moving and insightful from start to finish is no small undertaking, but he succeeds novel after novel.
Mr. Monk Gets Cleaned Out is a fun summer read. It took the pain of missing the series out for me right away .My Monk bobble head, I think bobbled with a little more swagger for a couple of days. I enjoyed sorting the Mike & Ikes and Starbursts by color much more before heading to the beach. Wait, doesn’t everybody do that? I feel better now; I knew I wasn’t the only one. Lee Goldberg strikes again, give this novel a try. How many pages do you think it will take you to figure out the mystery? Make sure this OCD detective makes it to your reading list. Which one of the novels in the series is your favorite?
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Book Blogs, and also look for our posts on Amazon. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
Monday-Mr. Monk/Lee Goldberg
Tuesday- Barry Eisler/Inside Out
Wednesday- Crashers/Dana Hayes
Thursday-Foreign Influence/Brad Thor
Friday-Mark Waid /Kingdom Come
Saturday-D.H. Dublin /Freezer Burn
Sunday-Blast From the Past /David Hagberg
We were on vacation last week and enjoyed every minute of it. One of the things I look forward to each year is winding down on a Friday night with the family and watching Monk & PSYCH, usually consuming a few snacks and drinks during the process. The Monk series is done on television and PSYCH was moved to another evening, totally bumming me out. The drinking and snacking still went on, but it wasn’t the same till I reached a certain point of no return, forgetting why I was bummed. I believe the words that were uttered was “just keep em coming”, or something like that. The one thing I have to still hang my hat on though is Lee Goldberg delivering a nice Monk novel to smooth out the edges, very quietly. I really enjoy sharing the novel with different members of the family, each of us claiming to have solved the mystery by a page closer to the beginning than the next. Your basic, I can solve the mystery in this many pages game.
Mr. Monk Gets Cleaned Out is a fun and engaging novel. Being a big fan, this had all the elements necessary for me to get maximum pleasure from all the pages contained in the novel. The entire cast was present and accounted for (Natalie, Stottlemeyer, Disher, Ambrose , & Dr. Bell) which made me very happy. The characters were given good time. One not dominating the other, as Monk went through his usual shenanigans finding “the Man” even though no one believes he is correct. The plot is nice and light; the humor is excellent as always. Lee Goldberg brings a great bit to the table with Monk. He understands his affliction, squeezes the most out of it, and weaves a novel full of various plots that come together at the end in a seamless way that appears effortless. The novel is always moving forward with plenty of Monklike situations to satisfy even the most ardent of fans like myself. Lee Goldberg’s gift of humor is, I think, the main ingredient in making this series of novels work at such a high level. Taking such every day mundane situations or objects (like a bottle of water), and weaving them into a well-crafted novel that is moving and insightful from start to finish is no small undertaking, but he succeeds novel after novel.
Mr. Monk Gets Cleaned Out is a fun summer read. It took the pain of missing the series out for me right away .My Monk bobble head, I think bobbled with a little more swagger for a couple of days. I enjoyed sorting the Mike & Ikes and Starbursts by color much more before heading to the beach. Wait, doesn’t everybody do that? I feel better now; I knew I wasn’t the only one. Lee Goldberg strikes again, give this novel a try. How many pages do you think it will take you to figure out the mystery? Make sure this OCD detective makes it to your reading list. Which one of the novels in the series is your favorite?
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Book Blogs, and also look for our posts on Amazon. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
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