The Firm was my first John Grisham novel, but was certainly not my last. His earlier stuff was fantastic. Some of his later books I didn't care for as much like Christmas with the Kranks. My other favorites include The Rainmaker, The Chamber, The Client, Runaway Jury, Pelican Brief, and The Partner.
Recently, he has delved into the popular YA genre, and started a new series entitled Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer. I read the first one in the series and it was pretty good. I might pick up the second one sometime soon.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Favorite Books - Douglas Preston / Lincoln Child
I have my friend Ellen to thank for this writing duo being on my favorite authors list, and I am grateful she turned me on to these guys. She had me start with Cabinet of Curiosities. The book starts out with the breaking of ground on a high rise apartment complex. A tunnel is discovered under the construction site, and when investigated, a charnel full of the remains of 36 people from over a 100 years ago is discovered. As the investigation into these century-old crimes ramps up, an eerily similar set of murders start happening in the present day. The book is FABULOUS! There were times while reading this one that I was so on-the-edge-of-my-seat into it that if someone had come up to me and said anything I would have jumped three feet in the air. So suspenseful and well written! It is also in my top 5 favorite books of all time.
As it turned out, Cabinet was actually the 3rd book in a series of books by Preston / Child revolving a very extraordinary and strange FBI agent named Alloysius X. Pendergast. As Ellen informed me, you didn't need to read the books in order necessarily as most of the books stood on their own without having to have prior background, although I always believe in reading books in a series in their chronological order. I did make the exception on this one because Ellen told me to start with Cabinet as it was the best of the series up to that point. She was right.
Once I finished Cabinet of Curiosities, I couldn't get my hands on another in the series fast enough, and at that point I decided to start reading the books in order. So I went to the very first book in the series, Relic, and quickly became engrossed in that one too. There were many nights when my husband, Randy, would say to me, "Hon, it's late and you have work tomorrow. Don't you think you should go to bed?" to which I would respond, "I know, but please JUST ONE MORE CHAPTER!!!" LOL It too was an awesome book and comes very close to tying with Cabinet as my favorite Pendergast novel.
After Relic there's Reliquary which follows the same plot line as Relic and should be read in chronological order to make the most sense. This one I struggled with a bit, but it was still good by the end of the book, and I enjoyed it, but certainly no where near as much as the previous two. After that came Still Life With Crows which had a completely different plot line. This one was good too. Next was Brimstone, a stand alone plot line in the series, and then came a three-book story line revolving around Pendergast's diabolical brother, Diogenes. The Dance of Death, The Book of the Dead, and The Wheel of Darkness. All three in this sub-series were good, but the first two were the best.
Preston / Child wrote another stand alone Pendergast novel, Cemetary Dance, which did incorporate several other main characters from previous Pendergast novels. It was good too, and my first and only signed, hardcopy book ever.
Their latest sub-series in the Pendergast library is one involving the death of Pendergast's wife, a plot line that was conveniently never discussed in previous novels. You knew she was dead, but didn't know any details surrounding it. The first two books, Fever Dream and Cold Vengence were average. They kept my interest enough to want to finish them, but they don't hold a candle to Cabinet or Relic and some of the others. The final book in this mini series, Two Graves, is due to be released soon. Of course I will read it as eagerly as I have all the others, but I'm glad to see this storyline coming to an end (hopefully).
These dynamic authors have penned several books each on their own, and I've read some of them. They are good, but pale in comparison to their writings as a team. They recently started a new series with a new central character, Gideon, which I have not yet read. I think part of me is putting it off because I just don't want the Pendergast series to ever come to an end, but alas, I know all good things must at some point....just hopefully not any time soon. hee hee
As it turned out, Cabinet was actually the 3rd book in a series of books by Preston / Child revolving a very extraordinary and strange FBI agent named Alloysius X. Pendergast. As Ellen informed me, you didn't need to read the books in order necessarily as most of the books stood on their own without having to have prior background, although I always believe in reading books in a series in their chronological order. I did make the exception on this one because Ellen told me to start with Cabinet as it was the best of the series up to that point. She was right.
Once I finished Cabinet of Curiosities, I couldn't get my hands on another in the series fast enough, and at that point I decided to start reading the books in order. So I went to the very first book in the series, Relic, and quickly became engrossed in that one too. There were many nights when my husband, Randy, would say to me, "Hon, it's late and you have work tomorrow. Don't you think you should go to bed?" to which I would respond, "I know, but please JUST ONE MORE CHAPTER!!!" LOL It too was an awesome book and comes very close to tying with Cabinet as my favorite Pendergast novel.
After Relic there's Reliquary which follows the same plot line as Relic and should be read in chronological order to make the most sense. This one I struggled with a bit, but it was still good by the end of the book, and I enjoyed it, but certainly no where near as much as the previous two. After that came Still Life With Crows which had a completely different plot line. This one was good too. Next was Brimstone, a stand alone plot line in the series, and then came a three-book story line revolving around Pendergast's diabolical brother, Diogenes. The Dance of Death, The Book of the Dead, and The Wheel of Darkness. All three in this sub-series were good, but the first two were the best.
Preston / Child wrote another stand alone Pendergast novel, Cemetary Dance, which did incorporate several other main characters from previous Pendergast novels. It was good too, and my first and only signed, hardcopy book ever.
Their latest sub-series in the Pendergast library is one involving the death of Pendergast's wife, a plot line that was conveniently never discussed in previous novels. You knew she was dead, but didn't know any details surrounding it. The first two books, Fever Dream and Cold Vengence were average. They kept my interest enough to want to finish them, but they don't hold a candle to Cabinet or Relic and some of the others. The final book in this mini series, Two Graves, is due to be released soon. Of course I will read it as eagerly as I have all the others, but I'm glad to see this storyline coming to an end (hopefully).
These dynamic authors have penned several books each on their own, and I've read some of them. They are good, but pale in comparison to their writings as a team. They recently started a new series with a new central character, Gideon, which I have not yet read. I think part of me is putting it off because I just don't want the Pendergast series to ever come to an end, but alas, I know all good things must at some point....just hopefully not any time soon. hee hee
Favorite Books - Jackie Collins
I was about 17 when I first picked a Jackie Collins novel - Chances. Probably a little young to be reading such "Hollywood trash" types of novels, but since I had been watching Days of Our Lives from the age of six with my mother and grandmother, this didn't seem like such a huge deal. Sure, there's some sex scenes in it, but it actually did have a very good plot line as well. At the time the approximately 800-page book seemed a bit overwhelming. It was by far the longest book I had tried to read up to that point, and I wasn't sure I would ever finish, but I did, and then the funniest thing happened which has never happened again since. The minute I read the final paragraph of the last page, I flipped the book over and started reading it again! I LOVED IT, and to this day, it is still probably my favorite book of all time. I have subsequently read the book three more times since those initial two, and each time I open the book I get caught up in the characters that make this novel so remarkable. It's the first in a long line of books following the Santangelo family - beginning with Lucky Santangelo and her playboy, ruthless father, Gino. Many other books have followed, but for me, Chances is still the best.
One of the things I love so much about Jackie Collins' books are her characters. I think she does an incredible job with characterization because you truly feel like you know these characters in real life - especially Lucky and her father, Gino. For me that is probably the single most important factor in whether or not I love a book. If the characters are written and fleshed out so well that I feel like I know them, I usually love the book. JK Rowling is another example of an author who is excellent at characterization.
Over the years, I have read most of Jackie Collins' books. I have really enjoyed all that I've read. I've fallen behind on the most recent two Lucky Santangelo novels, but I have one of the two on my list to read this year hopefully. I consider her books to be my "guilty pleasure" books. Ones that don't incite thought provoking questions or make me reconsider my position on any particular topic, but boy they sure are fun to read.
One of the things I love so much about Jackie Collins' books are her characters. I think she does an incredible job with characterization because you truly feel like you know these characters in real life - especially Lucky and her father, Gino. For me that is probably the single most important factor in whether or not I love a book. If the characters are written and fleshed out so well that I feel like I know them, I usually love the book. JK Rowling is another example of an author who is excellent at characterization.
Over the years, I have read most of Jackie Collins' books. I have really enjoyed all that I've read. I've fallen behind on the most recent two Lucky Santangelo novels, but I have one of the two on my list to read this year hopefully. I consider her books to be my "guilty pleasure" books. Ones that don't incite thought provoking questions or make me reconsider my position on any particular topic, but boy they sure are fun to read.
Favorite Books - Sophie Kinsella
What's not to love about a woman who loves to shop, knows good fashion, and sees a great bargain from a mile away? :) The Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella is well written, funny, and charming all at the same time. I have loved each and every book in the series about the zany, but lovable Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood).
Other Sophie Kinsella books I've read are Remember Me? and The Undomestic Goddess. I haven't yet started Twenties Girl or I Got Your Number, but both look interesting and ones that I will no doubt pick up at some point.
Other Sophie Kinsella books I've read are Remember Me? and The Undomestic Goddess. I haven't yet started Twenties Girl or I Got Your Number, but both look interesting and ones that I will no doubt pick up at some point.
Favorite Books - Stephenie Meyer
I must admit, I was a bit hesitant about reading a YA novel about vampires. I've never really been a big fan of vampire stories (I hated Interview with a Vampire), and I figured the Twilight series would be no different. But, after hearing a few of my friends say they had read the first one and loved it, I figured what the heck, I'll give it a try and see what happens.
What happened was I found myself falling in love with a vampire! :)
The first book, Twilight, was great, and I loved every minute of it. Book 2, New Moon, was good, but Edward was gone for soooo long that I thought he was never coming back, and I started to think - well, maybe Bella SHOULD be with Jacob afterall. LOL I struggled the most with Book 3, Eclipse. It took me forever to get through this one, and I was beginning to wonder if Bella would EVER become a vampire already!! When Breaking Dawn came out I started reading it and was immediately hooked again. It lived up to my expectations of where the storyline would go, and I loved the book. I think Ms. Meyer could have condensed books 2 and 3 and made just one book out of that whole time period, but at least I was rewarded for my reading efforts and got the ending I wanted.
Now if she would just move on to something new, and leave the Twilight series alone instead of trying to restate the first book from another character's perspective, I'd be a happy camper. C'mon Stephenie, let's see what else you can do!
What happened was I found myself falling in love with a vampire! :)
The first book, Twilight, was great, and I loved every minute of it. Book 2, New Moon, was good, but Edward was gone for soooo long that I thought he was never coming back, and I started to think - well, maybe Bella SHOULD be with Jacob afterall. LOL I struggled the most with Book 3, Eclipse. It took me forever to get through this one, and I was beginning to wonder if Bella would EVER become a vampire already!! When Breaking Dawn came out I started reading it and was immediately hooked again. It lived up to my expectations of where the storyline would go, and I loved the book. I think Ms. Meyer could have condensed books 2 and 3 and made just one book out of that whole time period, but at least I was rewarded for my reading efforts and got the ending I wanted.
Now if she would just move on to something new, and leave the Twilight series alone instead of trying to restate the first book from another character's perspective, I'd be a happy camper. C'mon Stephenie, let's see what else you can do!
Favorite Books - Harlan Coben
Harlan Coben knows how to twist! Every book I've read by him has more twists and turns than Lombard Street in San Francisco. My first book by Coben was Tell No One. It opens with a man who has finally gotten over the death of his wife after eight years. He's finally moving on, and then one evening he checks his email and sees an email from his "dead" wife! It's a really fun book to read.
Since then, I have read Just One Look, Hold Tight, and Play Dead. So far, Play Dead is my leading favorite. It was full of plot twists at almost every page turn. It kept me wanting to read more and more until I was finished. I love when a book has you so engrossed that you just cannot put it down. That's how Play Dead was for me.
Since then, I have read Just One Look, Hold Tight, and Play Dead. So far, Play Dead is my leading favorite. It was full of plot twists at almost every page turn. It kept me wanting to read more and more until I was finished. I love when a book has you so engrossed that you just cannot put it down. That's how Play Dead was for me.
Favorite Books - John Saul
I first started reading John Saul as a teenager. My very first novel by John, and still in my top 5 ALL TIME favorite books list, is The God Project. This is the book that has the 2nd best ending of any book I've read (the other being Pet Semetary as discussed in the Stephen King post earlier). I re-read this book a couple of years ago to refresh my memory because at that point it had been about 15 years since I had initially read it, and the ONLY part I could remember was the ending. Even 15 years later, I still loved it.
John Saul has written many books, and I've read most of them. Other favorites are Suffer the Children, The Unwanted, The Unloved, Comes the Blind Fury, Nathaniel, When the Wind Blows, and Cry for the Strangers.
In the mid to late 90s, a short-lived fad was for popular authors to write a serial novel consisting of 5 or 6 booklets. Stephen King published The Green Mile, Jackie Collins published L.A. Connections, and John Saul published The Blackstone Chronicles. It was a really fun concept, each mini book coming out about every 6 months until the whole "novel" was complete. I wish these three and other popular authors had done a few more. I really enjoyed them.
John Saul has written many books, and I've read most of them. Other favorites are Suffer the Children, The Unwanted, The Unloved, Comes the Blind Fury, Nathaniel, When the Wind Blows, and Cry for the Strangers.
In the mid to late 90s, a short-lived fad was for popular authors to write a serial novel consisting of 5 or 6 booklets. Stephen King published The Green Mile, Jackie Collins published L.A. Connections, and John Saul published The Blackstone Chronicles. It was a really fun concept, each mini book coming out about every 6 months until the whole "novel" was complete. I wish these three and other popular authors had done a few more. I really enjoyed them.
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