Book Reviews

Poseidon's Arrow
by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler

YES! Another great read from the Cusslers. Fast-moving action-packed under water adventure - all from the safety of my living room chair.This book begins in 1943 with an Italian sub...current day travels through the Panama Canal...and ends in Tierra del Fuego at the tip of Argentina.

I always enjoy the mini-history lesson in the beginning and the tie-in at the end.

If you like Clive Cussler, do not miss out on this one!

   

Notorious Nineteen
by Janet Evanovich

Evanovich has created another LOL installment in the life of New Jersey Bounty Hunter, Stephanie Plum and her side-kick, Lula. Every time I open a new book in this series I wonder if it will be the last. A couple of books back, I thought it was time for it to end. However Evanovich has managed to write another fresh and entertaining read with the added bonus of sexual tension between Stephanie and the two *h*o*t* men in her life.

Book Reviews

First - many apologies for the ten month absence - life happens.

One of my very favorite authors! Unfortunately I have a thumbs down...

The Storm
by Clive Cussler and Graham Brown
 
I just could not buy into the premise of nanobugs. Then we discover an informant in the midst. Surprise! Who, oh who could it be. Too predictable. I want to "buy" into a book not sit there rolling my eyes. I read maybe a third of this book...skipped to the last couple of chapters. Yep...that figures.

However, I also have a big THUMBS UP!

The Tombs
By Clive Cussler and Thomas Perry

I am excited to have been along for the ride in tracing the footsteps of Attila the Hun and his treasures. Sam and Remi Fargo are believable. The story flows without a hitch. I found it hard to close the cover and go to bed at night.

Book Review

End of summer reading...Three thumbs up!

Silver Girl
by Elin Hilderbrand

I had a long lonely driving trip from home to San Marcos and back for a business seminar. My sister-in-law gave me a 12 hour audio book. Perfect for this round trip of 700 or so miles.

This book covers it all: true friendship, betrayal, theft on a BIG scale, fear, forgiveness, turning the other cheek, walking away.

At first I was a bit 'put-off' because each chapter represented either Connie's or Meredith's viewpoint. But as the story progressed and the blanks were filled in...it started making sense. Lose ends were tied up.

Well written...well performed. Well worth reading...or listening to.

This audio book has been donated to the Daingerfield Public Library



007 - Carte Blanche
by Jeffery Deaver

I saw a new Jeffery Deaver book and picked it up...checked it out...and took it home. Once home, I finally looked at it.

WAIT JUST A COTTON PICKING MINUTE! Who does this Deaver character think he is trying to usurp Ian Fleming (God bless his soul) and start writing 007 novels? Turns out he is fully capable of taking over the reins and continuing the James Bond novels.

He fleshed out James Bond a bit more...a bit more information about his early life and career...continuing his appreciation of a good bottle of wine, fast cars, beautiful women...and danger around every corner.


The Race
by Clive Cussler and Justin Scott

Cussler and Scott have redeemed themselves! I had almost decided that I just did not like the Isaac Bell novels...featured in the early 1900s. This book renewed my faith in the Cussler/Scott writing duo.

Featuring the relatively new world of "aeroplanes," this book had some technical stuff I skimmed over, but was well written and kept my attention throughout.

Book Review

Smokin' Seventeen
by Janet Evanovich

LOL funny! I've read better in this series, but I am anxious to see what happens next. Fans of Stephanie Plum, please do not boo me, but just how much longer is Evanovich going to be able to continue having Stephanie tip-toe around her choice between Ranger and Morelli? And in Smokin' Seventeen, Stephanie has a third man who wants her!

Explosive Eighteen is scheduled for release November 22. I can hardly wait!

The Daingerfield Public Library has all of the Stephanie Plum novels in book and audiobook form.




The Kingdom - A Fargo Adventure
by Clive Cussler with Grand Blackwood

I have mentioned before how much I enjoy the beginning of Cussler's novels. He begins with some obscure piece of history. The book then unfolds and shows the relevance today.

I would like to see the Fargos' "fleshed" out more. Learn more about them. This is still a book worth reading. Personally I'm waiting on another NUMA series release. :-)

Borrow your favorite Clive Cussler series from the Daingerfield Public Library.


Angel
by James Patterson

Oh my goodness! I haven't read any in this series until this book, the seventh in the series. If this junk is the best Patterson can do, it's time to quit!

The Daingerfield Public Library carries many of Patterson's better books. But I would definitely pass this series without another glance.

Book Review

The Jungle
The Oregon Files
by Clive Cussler
with Jack Du Brul

There's just not much more left to say about Clive Cussler and his novels. I like just about everything he writes. ("Just about"... the last book in his Isaac Bell series...I did not like it very well.)

But once again, the Cussler-Du Brul team has produced a well-written, exciting page turner of a novel. I like how Cussler connects past events - in this case eastern China in 1281 - with events unfolding in the modern day world (of fiction).

Juan Cabrillo and his team become enthralled in yet another rescue in which treasure seeking plays a predominate part. Action takes place around the globe and even brushes New Orleans and part of Texas Gulf Coast.

If you are not familiar with Clive Cussler's writing, head on down to the Daingerfield Public Library!

Book Reviews

Goody! Goody! The Daingerfield Public Library received a new shipment of books. I am having fun!

Book #1
Lost Empire
by Clive Cussler
with Grant Blackwood

YES! After the so-so The Spy (http://friendsofthedaingerfieldpubliclibrary.blogspot.com/2010/06/book.html )Cussler redeems himself with Lost Empire. The second in the Fargo Adventures. I don't remember reading the first in the series, Spartan Gold. I've got to have a talk with the librarian...

Cussler and Blackwood take us on a wild trip with Sam and Remi Fargo through the wilds of Tanzania, Zanzibar, Madagascar, and Indonesia. They even through some Mexican Aztec history. How do the different locales connect? You have to read the book! I'm not going to spoil it for you.

Lost Empire is full of adventure, beautiful waters, dense jungles, and just enough thrill to hold your interest.

Clive Cussler is one of my favorite authors. His books have been reviewed here before. Check the right side bar and scroll down for his name to read previous reviews.


Then, in a much lighter tone:
Book #2

Maybe This Time
by Jennifer Crusie

I like Jennifer Crusie. I'm not too fond of paranormal. But this is cute. Who wouldn't want to live in a haunted English house moved stone by stone to the state of Ohio. The eccentric original home owner also dug a moat around the house.

Oh...I forgot to mention the ghosts that came with it. You should know that there are good ghosts...and not so good ghosts. Are there really such things as good ghosts?

Crusie writes entertaining quick reads. They lift you up and make you laugh.

The Daingerfield Public Library has several of Crusie's books in paperbook, just a few in hard cover. The library does not have all of her books:

Manhunting
Getting Rid of Bradley
Strange Bedpersons
What the Lady Wants
Charlie All Night
Anyone But You
Cinderella Deal
Trust Me On This
Tell Me Lies
Crazy For You
Welcome to Temptation
Fast Women
Faking It
Bet Me
Don't Look Down
Agnes and the Hit Man
Dogs and Goddesses
Wild Ride

Book

The Spy
by Clive Cussler and Justin Scott

Y A W N zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
This was definitely a book that I could put down and go to bed when the time came. I LIKE Clive Cussler. I like the character, Isaac Bell, in this series which takes place in America in 1908. I like Cussler's/Scott's descriptions of turn of the century New York and other points in the US. I thoroughly enjoyed the sights and sounds of traveling across the country by rail.

However, it did not take long for me to figure out who the bad man was. It didn't take long for me to figure out...well...can't tell you that. It didn't take long for me to figure out the redhead(s) and... Hmmm...don't need to mention that either. I just kept reading trying to figure out when Isaac Bell was going to figure it all out...hopefully before the book ended.

I certainly hope that Cussler's next book is better...

Book Review

The Silent Sea
by Clive Cussler
with Jack Du Brul


The Silent Sea is another installment of the Oregon Files with Juan Cabrillo. Cussler and Du Brul have once again combined forces in this action packed land and sea adventure.

Once again, Cussler draws the reader into his novel. You can almost smell the salt water and feel the freezing water in The Silent Sea.

Be sure to check out our previous Author Review.
http://friendsofthedaingerfieldpubliclibrary.blogspot.com/2008/08/author-review.html

Book Review

Arctic Drift

Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler

On an earlier post, I did an author review on Clive Cussler and his writing. In that review, if you remember, I stated that my mother has a severe crush on Cussler's hero - Dirk Pitt. She still does. ;o)

http://friendsofthedaingerfieldpubliclibrary.blogspot.com/search/label/Author%20review

Arctic Drift is Cussler's latest release written with his son, Dirk Cussler.

Generally, I pick up one of Cussler's books and have a hard time putting it down to go eat. This time, I had severe trouble getting involved with the book. I picked it up three days in a row and wasn't hooked until late on that third day. But once I got hooked, I could not put it down. The clock was just 14 minutes shy of midnight last night when I got to bed.

If you check this book out at the Daingerfield Public Library, don't give up until you get deeper into the book. It will be well worth your time.

Submitted by Sherry

Author Review

Have you read anything by Clive Cussler? No!? What are you waiting for? Cussler spins a tale like none other. My mother read all the real murder tales at the library then stumbled across Cussler. I had no idea she would like his work, or I would have already suggested his books to her. I think she has a crush on Dirk Pitt. ;o) But don't tell anyone I told you.

Clive Cussler has three series: Dirk Pitt, The Oregon Files with Juan Cabrillo, and The NUMA files with Kurt Austin. I have read some of the first two series, but have not delved into The NUMA Files. Cussler has also written two non-fiction books and a children's book. Be sure to read Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt Revealed and you will find out how devious a man can be when it comes to naming his own child.

His 1992 book Sahara was turned into a movie starring Matthew McConaughey, William Macy, and Penelope Cruz. Raise the Titanic was made into a movie in 1980 starring Jason Robards, Richard Jordan, Anne Archer, Alec Guiness, and Dirk Blocker.

If you like adventure, daring, the good guy always winning through adversity, check out Clive Cussler's work.

Begin with Dirk Pitt in Pacific Vortex!
Then follow with:
The Mediterranean Caper
Iceberg
Raise the Titanic!
Vixen 03
Night Probe!
Deep Six
Cyclopes
Treasure Dragon
Sahara
Inca Gold
Shock Wave
Flood Tide
Atlantis Found
Valhalla Rising
Trojan Odyssey
Black Wind
Treasure of Khan
Don't forget Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt Revealed

The Oregon Files with Juan Cabrillo:
Golden Buddha
Sacred Stone
Dark Watch
Skeleton Coast
Plague Ship

The NUMA Files with Kurt Austin:
Serpent
Blue Gold
Fire Ice
White Death
Lost City
Polar Shift
The Navigator

The Daingerfield Public Library does not have all of Cussler's books. Be sure to check hardback as well as the paperback section to read as many as you can.

by Sherry