adam.currey - catching up in a hurry

Hello all,

New here and never done the challenge thing before. I'm up to about 80 so far for the year - can I still play? Is that cheating?

Adam

Ok, so if this isn't stretching the friendship, a quick catchup of my reading year so far:

(numbers at the end are my star ratings)

#1 2018-01-03 The Sacred Bones "Byrnes, Michael" 4
#2 2018-01-06 The Murder of King Tut "Patterson, James" 5
#3 2018-01-13 Pompeii "Harris, Robert" 3
#4 2018-01-14 The Alchemist's Secret "Mariani, Scott" 4
#5 2018-01-19 The Mozart Conspiracy "Mariani, Scott" 4
#6 2018-01-21 The Tunnel: A Ben Hope Story "Mariani, Scott"
#7 2018-01-22 The Doomsday Prophecy "Mariani, Scott" 3.5
#8 2018-01-26 The Heretic's Treasure "Mariani, Scott" 4
#9 2018-01-28 The Shadow Project "Mariani, Scott"
#10 2018-02-04 The Lost Relic "Mariani, Scott" 4.5
#11 2018-02-09 The Sacred Sword "Mariani, Scott" 3
#12 2018-02-16 Fire and Fury "Wolff, Michael"
#13 2018-02-17 The Armada Legacy "Mariani, Scott"
#14 2018-02-18 The Nemesis Program "Mariani, Scott" 3.5
#15 2018-02-20 Passenger 13 "Mariani, Scott"
#16 2018-02-21 The Forgotten Holocaust "Mariani, Scott" 3.5
#17 2018-02-24 The Martyr's Curse "Mariani, Scott" 4
#18 2018-02-25 The Cassandra Sanction "Mariani, Scott" 4
#19 2018-02-26 Bring Him Back "Mariani, Scott"
#20 2018-03-01 Decoy "Mariani, Scott"
#21 2018-03-04 Star of Africa "Mariani, Scott" 3
#22 2018-03-09 The Devil’s Kingdom "Mariani, Scott" 3
#23 2018-03-11 The Babylon Idol "Mariani, Scott" 3.5
#24 2018-03-16 The Bach Manuscript "Mariani, Scott" 4.5
#25 2018-03-17 Astrophysics for People in a Hurry "Tyson, Neil deGrasse" 2.5
#26 2018-03-23 Walking The Shadows "James, Donald" 2.5
#27 2018-03-31 The Rembrandt Secret "Connor, Alexandra" 2.5
#28 2018-04-01 The Left Hand of God "Hoffman, Paul" 4
#29 2018-04-06 The Magdalene Cipher "Hougan, Jim" 2.5
#30 2018-04-13 The Keeper "MacDonald, Eileen" 3
#31 2018-04-15 The Crystal Skull "Scott, Manda" 3.5
#32 2018-04-17 Shutter Island "Lehane, Dennis" 3
#33 2018-04-20 The Second Messiah "Meade, Glenn" 2.5
#34 2018-04-25 The Key "Toyne, Simon" 2.5
#35 2018-04-29 The Demon Code "Blake, Adam" 3
#36 2018-05-07 The Inca Prophecy "d'Hage, Adrian" 2
#37 2018-05-12 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo "Larsson, Stieg" 3
#38 2018-05-18 The Villa of Mysteries Hewson, David" 3
#39 2018-05-24 The Templar Legacy "Berry, Steve" 4
#40 2018-05-27 The Alexander Cipher "Adams, Will" 4
#41 2018-05-30 The Sword of the Templars "Christopher, Paul" 3
#42 2018-06-07 Black Order "Rollins, James" 3.5
#43 2018-06-09 The Moscow Cipher "Mariani, Scott" 4
#44 2018-06-24 The Stand "King, Stephen" 3
#45 2018-06-30 Temple Of The Gods "McDermott, Andy" 2.5
#46 2018-07-03 Winter Is Coming "Kasparov, G. K." 3
#47 2018-07-07 The Narrows "Brogden, James" 5
#48 2018-07-09 The Gilded Seal "Twining, James" 4
#49 2018-07-14 The Lazarus Vault "Harper, Tom" 4
#50 2018-07-15 The Lost Throne "Kuzneski, Chris" 3.5
#51 2018-07-21 A Gentleman In Moscow "Towles, Amor" 5
#52 2018-07-29 The Art of The Lord of the Rings "Tolkien, J.R.R." 4
#53 2018-08-03 Diatribes, Volume 1: 50 Essays From a Godless Misanthrope "Lugeons, Noah" 3
#54 2018-08-04 Enlightenment Now: The Case For Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress "Pinker, Steven" 2
#55 2018-08-11 Uprising "Mariani, Scott" 3
#56 2018-08-14 The Cross "Mariani, Scott" 3.5
#57 2018-08-19 The Future of Humanity "Kaku, Michio" 3
#58 2018-08-22 The Illustrated Brief History of Time, Updated and Expanded Edition "Hawking, Stephen William" 4
#59 2018-08-24 Diatribes Volume 2: 50 More Essays from a Scathing Atheist "Lugeons, Noah" 3
#60 2018-08-29 God Is Not Great "Hitchens, Christopher" 4
#61 2018-09-02 The Secret Supper "Sierra, Javier" 3.5
#62 2018-09-02 A Man And His Watch "Hranek, Matt" 3
#63 2018-09-05 Sword Of God "Kuzneski, Chris" 4
#64 2018-09-08 The Museum of Lost Art "Charney, Noah" 3.5
#65 2018-09-09 The Order of Time "Rovelli, Carlo" 3
#66 2018-09-15 The Noah's Ark Quest "Morrison, Boyd" 4
#67 2018-09-15 The Wristwatch Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Mechanical Wristwatches "Schmidt, Ryan" 4
#68 2018-09-16 The Woman In The Window "Finn, A. J." 5
#69 2018-09-19 The Exodus Quest "Adams, Will" 3.5
#70 2018-09-22 Copper Kiss "Neale, Tom" 2.5
#71 2018-09-23 Conspiracies Declassified: The Skeptoid Guide to the Truth Behind the Theories "Dunning, Brian" 3
#72 2018-09-24 The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa In Theory And Practice "Hitchens, Christopher" 3.5
#73 2018-09-29 Letters To A Young Contrarian "Hitchens, Christopher" 3
#74 2018-09-29 Is Christianity Good For The World? "Hitchens, Christopher" 2.5
#75 2018-09-29 The Eden Legacy "Adams, Will" 3
#76 2018-10-01 Prayer For The Dead "Oswald, James" 3
#77 2018-10-02 Mortality "Hitchens, Christopher" 4
#78 2018-10-05 The Temple Mount Code "Brokaw, Charles" 2
#79 2018-10-07 The Girl On The Train "Hawkins, Paula" 4.5
#80 2018-10-09 The Trial Of Henry Kissinger "Hitchens, Christopher" 3

Of course you can! Welcome to the group.

Thanks!

#81 The Venetian Betrayal by Steve Berry

A fairly typical "action thriller with historical references." Fast-paced and absorbing, although there is a rather lot going on, to the point where I'm not entirely sure all the threads were tied up by the end of the book, because I lost track. Still, a good read if this is the sort of genre you like. Alexander The Great's burial site, ancient cures for HIV, would-be Third-World despots, secret societies, this book has a lot going on.

I enjoy this sort of book as I can be entertained, and also learn some real history even though it's a fictional novel.

#82 Solomon Creed by Simon Toyne

Many books I read are somewhat formulaic and predictable - you know what role the characters play and early on already have a basic outline of the plot in your mind. This books is not one of them. From the outset, and right throughout, I didn't really know who these people were, where the story was heading or what to expect. I found it somewhat refreshing and it made for an interesting read. Things take unexpected turns and things aren't what you think.

****

#83 The Ship by Stefan Mani

This book feels as though it's been rather misrepresented, or at least mischaracterised. If you see it simply as a suspense drama, it's passable, if a little slow and clunky. Presented as a horror book with the tagline "a journey into terror and madness" it fails completely. Stefan Mani is apparently known as "The Icelandic Stephen King" but I can only conclude this reputation was gained from earlier books, because he certainly doesn't deserve it from this one.

**

#84 The Geneva Deception by James Twining

A fairly typical action thriller, competently executed. Steams along at a good pace and ties up pretty well at the end. I found the plot slightly difficult to follow at times, but this is a minor criticism.

***

#85 The Prophecy by Chris Kuzneski

I've become a fan of Chris Kuzneski, and this one did nothing to change my mind. It's a fast-paced action thriller with a sprinkling of humour that won't let you get bored. As is often the case with this sort of book, we are not only entertained but also stand to learn a thing or two about history (with the obvious caveat that some of it may be altered to suit the story) - I enjoy that.

I enjoy the camaraderie between the two main protagonists, which I find endearing without being schmaltzy.

The only negative comment is that the climax was a little anti-climactic - it looks a lot like a setup for a sequel.

#86 The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet by Eleanor Cameron

I read this book perhaps 40 years ago at the age of about 10, and was enchanted. I remembered it recently and decided to obtain a copy and reread it for the sake of reliving a childhood memory.

Considering that it was written in 1966 for children, it holds up pretty well. That said, it shows its age in its sexism (the newspaper advertisement asks for a 'boy' not a 'child') and some hokey 1960's language ('gee willikers!')

I was in two minds about reading this - wanting to relive a childhood memory without spoiling it. I'm glad I did.

***

#87 Stowaway To The Mushroom Planet by Eleanor Cameron

Everything I said about #85 "The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet" also applies to this one. Both together were a trip down memory lane.

***

#88 Boys Will Be Boys by Clementine Ford

This book covers a very important issue in today's society with humour and brutal forthrightness. Clementine Ford doesn't pull any punches or sugar coat anything here - she tells it exactly how it is.

Don't think this is a man-hating 'feminazi' just beating up on men - this is about the culture of masculinity and misogyny, not about individuals. It tackles a serious issue with skill and humour, and I feel that everyone should read it - especially men. If you're a man who's part of a society that oppresses women, you'd like to know about it so you can change, right?

***

#89 The Fall Of Gondolin by J.R.R. Tolkien

This book will probably appeal mainly to serious Tolkien fans. It presents three different versions of the story The Fall Of Gondolin, one of which is complete but written in a very 'old world literary' style that I found hard going, and another of which is easier to read, more verbose, but incomplete. The book also includes a lot of commentary from Christopher Tolkien about the various versions, the reasons behind the final one being unfinished, as well as some other related works.

***

#90 The Tattooist Of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

I was somewhat disappointed in this book. I enjoyed it, but nowhere near as much as I expected to. It's a story of great contrasts; of kindness, compassion, and even love amongst the greatest of human cruelty. I expected to be moved, perhaps even to tears, but I wasn't, not even close. The story is narrated in a very simplistic, factual style that tells the story of what happened but it fails to generate any emotional investment in the reader.

**1/2

#91 I'd Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel

A tiny little thing (it won't take more than a couple of hours of your time,) this book is all about the life of a reader, that is, someone for whom reading is a lifestyle, or as Anne puts it, the reading life. If you can identify with that, you'll identify with her story and be smiling and nodding along as I was. If not, then you probably shouldn't bother.

****

#92 The Magic Of Reality by Richard Dawkins

As the subtitle says, "how we know what's really true" - this book is about exploring the scientific method and how we know the things we know. It explores several specific questions about the world, discussing first myths that have answered the question historically and then the scientific answer.

Intended as an educational tool aimed at children or teenagers, it's also fine for adults as an introduction to these concepts. The language is accessible but does come across as slightly condescending at times.

The book is richly illustrated on every page and is quite beautiful to look at, although I found the varying colour of text and background made it somewhat difficult to read - the text can change from black on white to white on black to black on yellow from one page to another.

***

#93 The Alexandria Link by Steve Berry

A good read. Fairly standard "action thriller involving the guy guys trying to beat the bad guys to the ancient mystery" thing, but well done. Existing Steve Berry fans, or fans of Scott Mariani or Chris Kuzneski, won't be disappointed. Rather complex story with lots of twists and turns - sometimes it's a little hard to keep track of who's who.

***

#94 River Out Of Eden by Richard Dawkins

An explanation of evolution by natural selection, but it did tend to ramble at times and bogged down in places and was a little hard to follow (even being somewhat familiar with the basics as I am.)

#95 Free Will by Sam Harris

A tiny little thing - all of 80 pages and won't take more than a couple of hours at most. Easy enough to absorb, it presents the argument that free will is an illusion without getting too technical with the neurological and philosophical issues.

***

#96 The Charlemagne Pursuit by Steve Berry

A reasonably good action thriller, but seems to get bogged down a bit in all the political machinations. A little hard to follow with a lot going on and a lot of characters.

I appreciate Steve Berry's usual practice of spending a few pages at the end of the book to separate fact from fiction.

***

#97 Lying by Sam Harris

An essay on the societal and interpersonal damage caused by lying. Only very short - worth the hour or so it will take you to read it.

***

#98 Islam And The Future Of Tolerance by Sam Harris

**1/2

#99 The Rebel's Revenge by Scott Mariani

A great, fast-paced action thriller. Fans of Scott Mariani won't be disappointed, and fans of Chris Kuzneski or James Rollins will probably enjoy this as well.

#100 Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

A great psychological thriller. The two main characters, as well as their relationship, are beautifully described and brought into clear focus with deft and humour. The story alternates between his perspective and hers, which helps keep the story interesting. I know opinions are divided in regards to the ending, but I personally think it fits well into the narrative of a truly screwed-up marriage.

Congratulations on hitting the 100 book mark, Adam!!

Thank you!

#101 It by Stephen King

I was somewhat disappointed with this book. I've read a few Stephen King books before, so I knew what to expect, more or less, but this one left me feeling cold. Don't get me wrong, it's ok, but it's not scary, it's not suspenseful, and it drags on forever. This is a 500-page novel, told in 1,100 pages. Despite spending 1,100 pages thoroughly covering all sorts of side-plots, King inexplicably skims over more-important things, such as what happened to Audra and Tom.

There are some interesting aspects - the character development is good, as is the use of the character's memories (or lack thereof) as an atmosphere-developing device. I was pleasantly surprised that King didn't leave us hanging when it comes to learning who or what It is, too. Not thoroughly, but enough to be satisfying.

#102 Nine Tomorrows by Isaac Asimov

A collection of 9 short stories about possible futures. Generally still thought-provoking and interesting, despite having been written in 1959.

#103 Cabinet of Curiosities by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

A great thriller which moves along at a nice pace. As good or better than Wheel Of Darkness, the other Preston & Child book I've read. It has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing, and ties things off nicely at the end.

#104 Dance Of Death by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Overall, a great great - readers of other Preston & Child novels will not be disappointed. Storms along at a good pace, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. One serious letdown though - there is no satisfying conclusion - some plot points are tied up well enough, but several major ones are left hanging - presumably for the next book. I would have given four stars if not for this.

#105 The Jefferson Key by Steve Berry

I've read a few Steve Berry novels, and I have to say this is my least favourite. This book marks something of a departure from the norm for the Cotton Malone series in that it deals with US history and is based entirely within the USA, and the premise of the story felt a little weak to me. Steve Berry's novels tend to be a little long and have a complicated storyline, and this is no different there - the difference being that previous books were strong enough to carry it through, and this one seemed to struggle. 100+ pages from the end I was tired of the machinations and was ready for it to be over.