Book Reviews: Pelican recommended books

[Burnin' oil]

The Alchemist, Paolo Coelho: Recommended by Vash. Written by a Brazilian so it has a definite non-American vibe. A bit ethereal new-agey, kind of similar to Life of Pi. Basic message is follow your dreams. Easy to read and worth the time. A good, positive message which conflicted with my realistic (cynical) attitude. I understand why some people (Vash) like it so much and some people (me) are less enthusiatic. A moderate thumbs up.

Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, Bill Bryson: recommended by Rcooled. I could not get into it and did not finish it, which is saying alot because I have a compulsion about finishing books. I was just not in the mood for the whole "my hilarious life as a kid" shtick. I may try again in the summer by the pool with a pitcher of margaritas, etc, but not now. Thumbs down.

Caught Stealing, Charlie Huston: recommended by fxeditor. Potential MLB player has career ending injuryand becomes a boozing bartender on the short road to nowhere. The action starts when he is in the wrong place at the wrong time, and gets cuaght up in a criminal enterprise. Huston is not a great author, but it's a pretty good story, with lots of action and the main character's development is not typical. A good ending. Casual reading. The only problem was that if the F-bombs were deleted, the book would be half its current length. Reading "F'n F this, F'ing F'er" gets tedious after awhile. Thumbs up.

Christopher's Ghosts, Charles McCarry: Seahawk recommended another McCarry book which I couldn't find so I picked up this one. McCarry is a very talented writer. It's a story about pre-war Germany and the SS atrocities, etc, and how a young boy comes back to get his revenge. The action was initially very subtle (slow) and the story long in developing, but it was very well written. I will eventually read everything McCarry has written. A big thumbs up.

Next on the list: Deep Survival by Laurence Gonzales and whatever I can find by McCarry (thanks, Seahawk), Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates (Gaijin), and Dragon at the Edge of the World by our own Charles White (if I can find it). I am working my way through the recommendations here what book did you last read/recommend?

[Taz's Master]

Burnin', I just finished Tobra's reccomendation: Three Cups of Tea, and if you haven't read it yet, give it a shot.

Tobra, thanks. I loved it.

[mossguy]

Here are two that I've read recently and that I recommend:
Crossers by Philip Caputo..Three generations on an Az ranch on the Mexican border

The Constant Gardener by John LeCarre. Africa, Big Pharma, Intrigue and subterfuge.

[nostatic]

After Three Cups of Tea, Stones into Schools is a logical follow-up.

[Buckterrier]

Sure an open question, certainly depends on what you like, fiction, non-fiction etc.
There is a series of books, 17 I believe by Patrick O'Brian. The movie Master & Commander with Russell Crow was 'loosely' based on them. I had not read a book since high school. I read all 17 in about a year and a half. What's funny is I could barely get through the first one. O'Brian's style was to write 'in the times' which was the Royal Navy of the late 18th century. I made it through the first one then found there was a companion book that explained, (also a period dictionary if you will), what the terms and phrases meant.
If you enjoy history and the high seas the books are awesome.

[Taz's Master]

Originally Posted by nostatic

After Three Cups of Tea, Stones into Schools is a logical follow-up.

Illogically, I followed 3CoT with The Heart of Darkness and other stories. Always enjoyed Conrad.

[Seahawk]

BO,

McCarry gets better...PM me and I'll send you the book I recommended prior to your cerebral flame out.

He can flat write.

[Laneco]

The Art of Racing in the Rain (Garth Stein) hey - you guys saw this coming, right?

A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khalid Housseini (he also wrote Kite Runner). A real pleasure to read.

angela

[vash]

holy crap, you read fast!

[Chas White]

Next on the list: Deep Survival by Laurence Gonzales and whatever I can find by McCarry (thanks, Seahawk), Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates (Gaijin), and Dragon at the Edge of the World by our own Charles White (if I can find it).

Not to toot my own horn or nuthin’ —But Dragon at the Edge of the World is available here: Charles White's Storefront - Lulu.com
The book seems to annoy as many people as it amuses, though; it needs to be approached as a tongue-in-cheek treatment of Early American History.

[tabs]

Currently I am reading "Magic In Mexico." by Sidney Redlitch. Very interesting read about the the practice of the Black Arts in Mexico and how it traces its lineage back to Aztec times..

I am waiting to read his newest tome due out soon and that one will be entitled "Witches In Manhattan." In this book his purported collobrator is an actual Warlock named Nicky Holroyd.