JANUARY - Three Cups of Tea

  "After a failed attempt to climb K2, Greg Mortenson drifted in an impoverished village in Pakistan. He was som moved by their kindness he promised to return and build a school for their children. Little did Mortensen realize that he had found a new mission in life. Over the next decade he would build over fifty schools, especially for girls, in Pakistan and Afghanistan, right in thebackyard of the Taliban."

FEBRUARY - 2008 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witness

All I can say is MAGNIFICENT! My brothers and sisters in Russia are incredible examples of the power of faith in Jehovah.

Since it will be 2 years till the next Sue Grafton (and Patricia Cornwell has ruined Kay Scarpetta), I need a new female detectiove to follow. Precious Ramotswe is the first female lady private detective in Botswana and she is awesome! I loved this book. I have the next 4 in the series.

In honor of the Indy 4 trailer coming out, I will finally read those Indiana Jones novels that I have. This is Indy where he is still growing and learning, so it is not the Indy of Raiders of the Lost Ark. It reads much more like a Young Indiana Jones with Sean Patrick Flannery. However, I stuck with this one to the end. I will try to squeeze in another Indy novel in March.

MARCH - Deja Dead

Deja Dead - Well reading this book took me back to the very first Patricia Cornwell / Kay Scarpetta book. In fact maybe Cornwell should have a few of her lawyer look this over... Kathy Reichs created the Temperance Brennan series. Temperance is a forensic anthropologist. The TV series Bones is based on these books. Deja Dead is a good start to a series, though I would say there was EASILY 100 pages that were not needed, especially since I knew exactly where the plot was headed within a few pages. I will check out the next book later this year

Tears of the Giraffe - What can I say? The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series has been simply a magnificent find. Tears of the Giraffe was a wonderful lighthearted read after the grim Deja dead. I can't wait to see what Precious and her ever growing family do next.

Indiana Jones and the Dance of the Giants -Peril at Delphi was "OK" and read more like a young Indy Jones. This one felt more like a young Harrison Ford. It was better so I think right before Kingdom of the Crystal Skull comes out in theatres I will give

When Death Comes Stealing -Valerie Wilson Wesley is the woman! The Tamara Hayle series shoots right to the top of my list as a great new private eye series. Can't wait to read the next one.

 

 

APRIL - Honeymoon with My Brother

  I have been wanting to read this book since 2005 when it came out. I saw the author on the Today show.

Synopsis from Barnes & Noble:

This is the true story of Franz Wisner, a man who thought he had it all- a high profile career and the fiancée of his dreams- when suddenly, his life turned upside down. Just days before they were to be married, his fiancée called off the wedding. Luckily, his large support network of family and friends wouldn't let him succumb to his misery. They decided Franz should have a wedding and a honeymoon anyway- there just wouldn't be a bride at the ceremony, and Franz' travel companion would be his brother, Kurt.

During the "honeymoon," Franz reconnected with his brother and began to look at his life with newfound perspective. The brothers decided to leave their old lives behind them. They quit their jobs, sold all their possessions, and traveled around the world, visiting fifty-three countries for the next two years. In Honeymoon With My Brother, Franz recounts this remarkable journey, during which he turned his heartbreak into an opportunity to learn about himself, the world, and the brother he hardly knew.

4/23/2008 This turned out to be an incredibly moving book. I am really glad I got to it after 3 years. As a world traveler I of course loved it, but I was also deeply moved by Franz' story and his emotional ups and downs. There is nothing like great travel and the experiences you have while doing it.

MAY - Unaacustomed Earth

  A stunning and haunting set of short stories unlike anything I have ever read before. Jhumpa Lahiri deals with great themes like love, death, redemption, fidelity, guilt and so much more. This book is simply unlike anything I have every read before. it is hard to describe but I like recommend. The characters are all from the Bengali community in America, but the stories are universal.

Another great hard-boiled Tamara Hayles mystery. This one was a quick read. Wesley's characterizations and story telling are top notch.

 

The next Precious Ramswote story. Another winner. This first two were better but this was still a wonderful read.

  Another GREAT Alex McKnight Mystery

Mr. Hamilton you are an excellent writer, but you broke my heart with this one :(

 

JUNE - A Stolen Season

Discontinued 1/2 way through A collection of "noir" stories centered around the Greater LA area. The stories were hit and miss & maybe I will come back to it.

 

Book #4 from the No. 1 Ladies Detective series. As always the characters are great.

The third book in the series. Not too bad.

 

 

 

July - Maaco!!!!

For the first time in two years there is no book of the month. July was a month pretty much dedicated to Maaco. It was the grand opening of our shop.

I think I have not been so busy in my life since college. But the hard work is paying off. The shop is doing well so far.

August - Interpreter of Maladies

Somehow, I managed to squeeze in this book of short stories during the month of August. Jhumpa Lahiri is an amazing author. I read her second book of short stories, Unaacustomed Earth, before this one. Interpreter of Maladies did not measure up quite as well for me, but I still found it to be an excellent book.

September - Maaco!!!!

Another month with no reading, dedicated to Maaco.

October - Where Evil Sleeps

This is the third Tamara Hayle mystery and once again another excellent book. I read it on the flight to Florida for the annual Maaco convention. It was great to have this one set in Jamaica.

November - Interpreter of Maladies

This book was just released at the Guided by God's Spirit District Convention of Jehovah's Witnesses. I just completed it and the book was wonderful

It's about time!!! Unless you are a fan of the series you can't get this one. Anyhow a good way to end the year with the continuing adventures of Precious Ramotswe.