Good to hear, Lilo. I tried the last few Grisham books and didn't get past the first few chapters. I used to really enjoy his books, and was disheartened by how bad they've gotten.

I recently finished Harlan Coben's "Deal Breaker", the first of the Myron Bolitar series. Bolitar is a former basketball star whose career was brought to a crashing halt when he is injured at the start of his NBA career. He becomes a sports agent who gets dragged into investigating the disappearance of his former flame's younger sister, who is also the girlfriend of his start football player client.

I liked it so much I just started "Drop Shot" the next in the series.

I just finished, The Day the World Came to Town, by Jim DeFede. Great story about the 9-11 aftermath:
"For the better part of a week, nearly every man, woman, and child in Gander and the surrounding smaller towns stopped what they were doing so they could help. They placed their lives on hold for a group of strangers and asked for nothing in return. They affirmed the basic goodness of man at a time when it was easy to doubt such humanity still existed."

When thirty-eight jetliners bound for the United States were forced to land in Gander, Newfoundland, on September 11, 2001, due to the closing of United States airspace, the citizens of this small community were called upon to come to the aid of more than six thousand displaced travelers"

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE HORSE AND HIS BOY

I must admit, I had some difficulty with this story. It just didn't peak my interest really at any point and found it hard sometimes to talk myself into it to continue. This is the first book without the White Witch and even though some of the Pevensie characters are in too, I didn't at all buy into Shasta or Aravis and their quest. So far this is my least favorite of the series. I saw the PRINCE CASPIAN movie so I have an idea of what I'm getting myself into next.

Just read Bill Bryson's book MADE IN AMERICA. A fascinating look at Americas language, culture and history. I really like Bryson, his work is informative and funny!!

I know Babe likes him as well!

I do! I am currently reading "Notes From a Small Island" about his travels through the UK. You might enjoy that one, Yogi. My two favorites, however, remain "Neither Here Nor There" about his travels through Europe and "In a Sunburned Country", which is about Australia. The Australian book was my introduction to Bryson and was loaned to me by none other than our dear Plaw.

I have read NEITHER HERE NOR THERE babe, but not the Australian one. I really enjoyed his A WALK IN THE WOODS. Very funny!

Just read "Life" by Keith Richards. He is bright, funny, insightful, and a terrific writer. One of the better autobiographies out there.

Yes, it was a terrific read, but it reinforces that Keith is one of the great reprobates.

I just finished "The Oppenheimer case; security on trial" by Philip M. Stern. A thoroughly detailed account of how a great physicist--whose leadership of the Manhattan Project ended WWII and saved millions of lives around the world--was hounded and disgraced by our government. A real blot on American fairness.

I am finishing now 'To Big to Fail' about the Financial crisis of 2008; great book, a regular page turner. I would not have thought that anything written about high finance could be this interesting. I'm gonna be sorry when it ends.

For Grisham fans there is 'The Innocent Man' for those that have not read it. It is his one book that I really enjoyed. Read it twice. Intend to read it again.

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRICE CASPIAN

I really found it difficult to determine if I liked the movie or the book better. The book provides a little extra detail, especially about the ending of the film in terms of the Talmarines; however the film does a better job at setting the story up and providing more depth in other areas as to the book. Honestly I think the film could have been cut down in parts and if I was forced to make a decision, I'd have to go with the book. It was nice to see the Pevensie children again but this book fails to live up to THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE as a suitable sequel.

Lord Dunsany (1878-1957) was a true Renaissance Man (poet, author, playwright, chess champion, nobleman, pistol shooting champion, veteran of three wars, big game hunter, professor, animal rights activist) who had a profound influence on such writers as disparate as J.R.R. Tolkien, Neil Gaiman,(check out Stardust) Michael Moorcock, Evangeline Walton, David Eddings, H.P. Lovecraft, and even Robert E. Howard.

I had never read Lord Dunsany before. I decided to finally start reading his work and see if it held up to the wonderful things that other writers had said about the author. It did. Dunsany possessed a lyrical fluid verbosity with prose which reminds you of Shakespeare or King James.

In TKED Dunsany made a compelling tale of the problems that a mixed marriage between human and elf might bring. In Elfland Time does not exist or moves at such a slow state that it is virtually nullified. There is no rush to do anything. Moments of bliss can literally last for eternity. While Time stands still in Elfland it rushes in the mortal world. A human who spends a short time in Elfland may return to the mortal word and find that a decade or more has passed. Similarly an elf or other denizen of Elfland may come to our world and be frightened by the constant change of seasons, people aging, sunsets and moonrises and all of the other things which humans take for granted.

An elf has no religion and sees no reason why she shouldn't worship the stars. In TKED you get an idea of how far love would have to stretch when a human would have to find the words to explain to an elf that laughing and singing at funerals or asking advice from goats is not proper behavior.

This mixed marriage and several other events are set into motion when the Parliament of Erl decides that their home area needs to be better known. They tell their aged lord that nothing personal but they would prefer to be ruled by a magic lord. The noble thinks this a silly idea but must follow the rule of Parliament. He sends his son Alveric on a quest to bring back the King of Elfland's daughter, marry her and then produce an heir who will have magic. Alveric is a dutiful son and follows his father's instructions.

It's what happens after the wedding of human and elf-princess and birth of the new heir to the human kingdom, which is completed within the first few chapters, that makes this book unusual and worth reading. TKED is a great little novel about the perils of inviting magic in your life, the glory and madness of true love, and how sometimes you should be careful what you ask for.

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER

Only recently have I discovered that I enjoy this story more than PRINCE CASPIAN. Although, the book doesn't unfortunately go into much detail as has been the case when comparing it to the film. It just skims over some things that the movie delved into greater detail on and I felt got more out of it. I did enjoy the film better however it did have a shorter runtime than THE LION, THE WITCH & THE WARDROBE and PRINCE CASPIAN, which I'm glad. They didn't drag it out much or fluff it up to where things were unnecessarily added. THE LION, THE WITCH & THE WARDROBE was a great movie but as I stated in my previous review of PRINCE CASPIAN, I felt the movie could have been trimmed down a little. 2 books left and no more Penvensie children so I wonder where the story will take us now?

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE SILVER CHAIR

Surprisingly a quite enjoyable book. I'm gonna be honest and state that I'm running a little tired of the NARNIA franchise for now but this definitely rekindled my interest in the series. The first part dealing with the Giants and such wasn't very interesting but the latter in regards to the witch and her black knight made up for it. I didn't know Eustace went back 3 times to Narnia as he was in THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER, THE SILVER CHAIR and finally THE LAST BATTLE. I wasn't a big fan of how they referred to him in SILVER CHAIR as Schrubb instead of Eustace as he was called in VOYAGE. Looking forward to the finale, THE LAST BATTLE and wrapping this thing up!

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Story about WWII Olympian Runner Lou Zamperini

The latest Dennis Lehane. LIVE BY NIGHT.

Awesome as ever!!

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LAST BATTLE

So I finally finished THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA series. Overall it was good; a bit dry and tiresome in parts but overall somewhat satisfying. This book I really felt started out well with the ape and donkey fooling all of Narnia but the 2nd half I wasn't as much of a fan. I did however like the ending and it gave me one additional twist wondering how it was all going to play out. I wouldn't mind seeing more of the books turned into movies but I'm sure that's not going to happen or at least anywhere in the near future.

A cracking good read called GOOD VIBRATIONS, about 2 Brits travelling America on their Harleys. Funny and informative!

Based on the title, I would have thought it was about a different subject matter...

By the title, the first thing that came to my mind was The Beach Boys.




TIS

I think it was all about those big Harley engines throbbing away between their legs!!!!

Deary me

"Triumphs of Experience: The Men of the Harvard Grant Study," by George E. Vaillant.

This book summarizes 75 years of intensive tracking and study of over 200 men who were sophomores at Harvard, starting in 1938 through 1944. They were intensively examined physically and psychologically, and their lives and careers tracked into their eighties and nineties. The author is a pschyciatrist and professor, and is thrilled to have such a long-term body of research to apply scientific and statistical methods to. He shows that men can change and adapt throughout life, and aren't always trapped by environmental factors such as unfavorable childhoods, emotional shortcomings while young, etc.

His thumbnail bio's of these men were very interesting. Most were very successful in their fields compared with average folks. I wasn't as thrilled with his science as he was, although some of his findings were startling (e.g., men who had unloving, uncaring parents were much more likely to develop Alzheimer's than those who had warm, loving parents).

But I doubt his methodology would apply to people as a whole. This was an ultra-elite group of men. Far fewer Americans went to college before the end of WWII and the GI Bill, and only a tiny percentage got into Harvard--then and even now regarded as the top Ivy League School. A degree from Harvard then (and in some respects now) was (is) a door-opener to the upper middle class and the top of the grad's chosen field. Being a member of that tiny elite was no guarantee of a happy, successful life, but it sure helped.

[quote=Turnbull I wasn't as thrilled with his science as he was, although some of his findings were startling (e.g., men who had unloving, uncaring parents were much more likely to develop Alzheimer's than those who had warm, loving parents).

[/quote]

It was always my understanding that Alzheimer's was based on heredity. Did he elaborate on this finding?

For those of you with a NOOK e-reader, Dan Brown's THE DA VINCI CODE is available for free (as of a few days ago). I have the hardcover, but downloaded it anyway, because it's free, so why not?!

I guess not for the Kindle?? I have so many books, and I don't remember the last time I opened one, thanks to the Kindle. I love my books, and really never thought I would take to an e-reader, but I absolutely love it, especially for travel.

I'm currently reading Battle Royale by Houshun Takami, good read so far..

Let me know how you like that DE NIRO. I've got it on my iPad mini and I've seen the movie. I'm interested in reading it but have yet to find the time unfortunately. I'm currently reading A HARD DAYS WRITE and am enjoying it very much!

Its a great read IRISH, Much better than the film.. Would advise you too read it..

Currently reading the autobiography of H Norman Schwarzhopf IT DOESN'T TAKE A HERO.

Great read about a top soldier. His early chapters about his service in Vietnam are particuarly interesting.