Tuesday, June 30, 2009

A Master Stroke



I read almost exclusively non-fiction. One of the most enjoyable places to find well-written non-fiction is inside the pages of magazines. L. Jon Wertheim, Sports Illustrated's best tennis writer, has delivered a master stroke of his own, Strokes of Genius: Federer, Nadal, and the Greatest Match Ever Played.

As a tennis fan, I enjoyed the "inside story" feel of this book. I felt like I was courtside during the match with terrific historical context thrown in during the changeovers. Even though I knew the outcome of the match, I was riveted by Wertheim's skillful pacing.

I thought I was a fan of Federer with a grudging respect for Nadal. Now, however, I am a huge fan of both players. Wertheim managed to somehow elevate my love of the game and its combatants. And that is a gift I did not expect.

If are a fan of Federer or Nadal, of tennis, or just sports in general, do yourself a favor and immerse yourself in this wonderfully woven tale of competition, respect and rivalry.

Monday, June 29, 2009

On my Reading Table

Here is a list of what's on my reading table. This is at once intimidating and exciting:

Cooperstown Confidential by Zev Chafets
Right of Thirst by Frank Huyler
Retail Superstars by George Whalin
The First Family by Mike Dash
The Next 100 Years by George Friedman
Assisted Loving by Bob Morris
Undiscovered Gyrl by Allison Burnett

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

New Books Out Today

Hardcover

Star Wars: Omen (Fate of the Jedi #2) by Christie Golden
Magnificent Desolation -- The Long Journey Home from the Moon by Buzz Aldrin & Ken Abraham
State of Jones (Civil War nonfiction) by Sally Jenkins & John Stauffer
Finger Licken' Fifteen (Stephanie Plum) by Janet Evanovich (Audio also)
Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo
Catastrophe by Dick Morris & Eileen McGann (Audio also)
The Doomsday Key by James Rollins (Audio also)
The Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews (Audio also)

Trade Paper

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Where the River Ends by Charles Martin
Take Two: Above the Line by Karen Kingsbury (Audio also)

Mass Market

My Life In France by Julia Child & Alex Prud'Homme
GI Joe: Rise of Cobra by Max Allan Collins
A Time to Kill by John Grisham (reissue)
Fractured by Karin Slaughter
Dark of Night by Suzanne Brockmann
Last Kiss by Luanne Rice
Larger Than Life by Kay Hooper
Run to Me by Christy Reece
Fearless Fourteen (Stephanie Plum)by Janet Evanovich

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Seeing in the Dark



Full disclosure: I am a cat lover and have two of my own.

I can't tell you how much I love cats. I have had at least one cat for almost all of my adult life and most of my childhood. As I said above, I own two now. I also feed a stray that lives under the bush in front of my apartment. I imagine I have the nickname "crazy old cat guy" behind some of the doors in the complex, but I would wear it as a badge of honor.

If you are one of those people who love cats, Gwen Cooper's Homer's Odyssey (Delacorte Press, 8/25/09), is for you. I fell in love with Homer immediately upon meeting him and gladly jumped for the chance to travel on his odyssey with him.

Thankfully, no one ever told Homer the odds were against him. Abandoned on the doorstep of a compassionate veterinarian, Homer had a virulent eye infection which necessitated removal of his eyes. As you may imagine, this made Homer's adoption odyssey a little more difficult.

If you know cats at all, you know that most of them are....uh....judicious with their affection. When you gain a cat's trust and affection, well, you have really done something. And, you've heard about cats who think they're dogs or even human. Well, Homer doesn't know the difference. You see, Homer is blind...but only in the physical sense. Homer doesn't know he's blind because he never had sight.

I don't want to ruin any of the tales of Homer's life by posting them here. Just suffice to say this book is at times uplifting, at times frightening, but always endearing. (And, he even survived 9/11.)I will tell you this: Homer is so wonderful and special that I feel now that I have three cats.

This book is subtitled "A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned About Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat." Please don't take my word for it, Homer is a wonder cat. Once you read of his adventures and the way he has lived his life, you'll wish you knew him.

Gwen Cooper lets us know how lucky she is to have Homer. I'm here to say that Homer is equally lucky to have a Mom like Gwen.

Monday, June 15, 2009

June 16, New Release Books

Real Change by Newt Gingrich
Along For the Ride by Sarah Dessen
Fragment by Warren Fahy
Dune Road by Jane Green
The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner
Knockout by Catherine Coulter
Robin Rescues Dinner by Robin Miller
L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad
Rogue of My Own by Johanna Lindsey
Below Zero by C.J. Box
Angels Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Skeleton Justice by Dr. Michael Baden and Linda Kenney Baden
Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire by Margot Berwin

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

New Releases

New books are released every week. Some books can be put on the shelf when they are received. Others, though, have strict on-sale dates. I have been unable to find a good list of book new releases online. If you know of a fairly comprehensive list let me know. I'm not talking about amazon or barnes and noble. They seem to play favorites.

Here's my list (so far) of today's new releases:

Hardcover

Dean Koontz Relentless
Robert Wright The Evolution of God
Larry Tye Satchel
Julie Metz Perfection
Aravind Adiga Between the Assassinations
Melissa Gilbert Prairie Tale
Jeffery Deaver Roadside Crosses (Kathryn Dance series #2)
Shannon Hale The Actor and the Housewife
A.J. Baime Go Like Hell
Gary Jennings Apocalypse 2012 (Aztec series #3)
Greg Grandid Fordlandia
Matthew Aid The Secret Sentry
Kaspar Hauser Obama's Blackberry
Eric Van Lustbader The Bourne Deception
Alan Furst The Spies of Warsaw

Paperback

Donna Woolfolk Cross Pope Joan
Susan Swimmer Michelle Obama

C'mon folks, I know someone knows where a comprehensive list can be found.

email me @ book dot dude at hotmail dot com

Monday, June 1, 2009

Storm Polished Pearl



I just finished A Pearl in the Storm: How I Found My Heart in the Middle of the Ocean by Tori Murden McClure (Harper Collins). If you like books wherein the protagonist ask you to tag along as they find themselves, then you will love this book. I enjoyed the journey with Ms. McClure; the one in the Atlantic Ocean and otherwise.

Tori McClure always felt she had to protect others and continuously pushed herself to experience life in hostile locations. This seems to be a metaphor for her journey from an embattled childhood to an impressively learned adulthood. Weaving literary allusions with real-life action, she tells her tale with the same drive she has applied to her life outside the boat.

I just have one thing I'd like to say to her. Tori, you never lost your heart.