Double Cross Blind

Title: Double Cross Blind

Author: Joel N. Ross

Pages: 372

Genre: Fiction

Grade: D

Synopsis: The early days of December 1941 were eventful in the United Kingdom.  The Allies have captured a Nazi spy who was trying to infiltrate and take down their own spy network.  At the same time, an American who had enlisted with the Canadians in order to fight in the war is locked in a British Military Asylum, but may be just the person the British need in order to get information out of their captured Nazi spy.

My Review: Ok, I gave this book the old college try. In fact, I made it through more than 2/3 of the book when I realized that I really dreaded reading it, that I didn't care how it ended and that I really didn't understand what was going on.  The plot was extremely complicated and just never really caught my attention.  It's been on my 'to-read' list for years.  I've had a few books on that list lately that have really let me down...

Flash Boys

Title: Flash Boys

Author: Michael Lewis

Pages: 10 discs

Genre: Non-fiction

Grade: B+

Synopsis: The book opens with a very interesting description of a new fiber optic line to be installed between Chicago and New York.  It will take the straightest path possible at any cost.  The builders and investors of this line are banking on the potential profits that will come by trimming a few milliseconds off of the market trades between New York and Chicago.  For years the market had essentially been rigged by the big Wall Street banks, but in a way that had not been noticed before.  A new high-frequency trading exchange is setup in the attempt to eliminate these benefits for the big traders and banks.

My Review: I realize that my synopsis above is likely confusing and certainly not book-jacket material, but I found this book to be very interesting.  Lewis is an expert at taking a subject that you know nothing about and making it digestible and interesting.  This one is no exception.

the perks of being a wallflower

Title: the perks of being a wallflower

Author: stephen chbosky

Pages: 213

Genre: Young Adult, Fiction

Grade: B

Synopsis: Charlie is a sensitive 15-year-old boy who is writing letters about his life to an anonymous recipient who he chose because he thought this person would not be judgmental towards him. During the course of the book, Charlie deals with suicide, abuse, drugs, sex and mental illness.  He is an introvert who is trying to find his place.

My Review: Honestly, I didn't remember a whole lot about this book (it's been a few months since I read it), so it's not one that left a significant impression on me.  I had to re-read a few plot summaries in order to jog my memory.  The book was alright, but I remember thinking that it was a little to contrived for my liking.

The Martian

Title: The Martian

Author: Andy Weir

Pages: 369

Genre: Fiction

Grade: A

Synopsis: Six astronauts, including Mark Watney have landed on Mars in the first manned mission to this planet.  Mark is stranded on the planet after a freak dust storm forces the crew to evacuate the planet.  They had seen that his suit had been pierced as he had been torn away from the ground station, so they had made the difficult decision to leave his body behind. Mark now has the impossible task of eking out a living in a damaged habitat and figuring out how to communicate that he is still alive with those back on earth.

My Review: This is one of the best books that I have read in a long time.  It had the perfect mix of engineering, science and technology along with a super engaging story. 

Disclaimer:  Beware that this is some language in the book, but it generally didn't detract from the story for me.

Henry VI, Part I

Title: Henry VI, Part I

Author: William Shakespeare

Pages: 123

Genre: Play

Grade: B

Synopsis: The play begins at the death of Henry V.  There is some controversy among the noblemen as to whether or not the heir apparent Henry VI is capable of leading the country while they are at war with France.  There are parallel story-lines with the war in France, which includes Joan of Arc's visions and attempts to assist the French in battle and other quarrels and dissension back at home.

My Review: This is one of Shakespeare's earliest plays, and many experts believe that he collaborated with other authors in its writing. Nonetheless, I still had to read the play alongside a modern translation/explanation to be able to grasp what was going on. 

Confessions: The Private School Murders

Title: Confessions: The Private School Murders

Author: James Patterson

Pages: 7 discs

Genre: Thriller

Grade: B

Synopsis: Wealthy young women are being murdered in Manhattan and the police don't see any correlation between the cases. Tandy Angel fits the potential serial killer's target perfectly, but can she unravel the mystery before she herself gets killed?

My Review: Honestly, I read this book about 6 months ago and hardly remember it, so that may give you an idea about how awesome it is. I didn't read the first book in the series (I didn't even know this book was part of a series until sitting down to write this lame review). Maybe as a series they would be more memorable.

Peter and the Starcatcher

Title: Peter and the Starcatchers

Author: Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson

Pages: 4 discs

Genre: Children's Fiction

Grade: B

Synopsis: This book tells the story about how Peter became Peter Pan.  Peter is an orphan boy that has been put on a ship with a small group of other orphans to be send to live in a new place.  While on the ship he befriends Molly, who reveals to Peter that the ship is carrying a trunk of priceless stardust.

My Review: I thought that this was a cute story, but was too contrived and forced for my liking.  I think that kids would certainly enjoy it and you know that everything that Dave Barry writes is going to be funny.

Smoky the Cowhorse

Title: Smoky the Cowhorse

Author: Will James

Pages: 310

Genre: Children's Fiction, Newbery Medal

Grade: B+

Synopsis: This is the biography of a great horse that was born free and then tamed by man and enlisted as a cowhorse for many years, before finding a second and third career as well.  Smoky is a very smart horse and is always analyzing his surroundings before making decisions.

My Review: This book took a little bit of effort to get into it, but then I really enjoyed it which surprised me.  I'm typically not all that interested in animal books, but this one is well done.

Stargirl

Title: Stargirl

Author: Jerry Spinelli

Pages: 4 discs

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Grade: B+

Synopsis: Stargirl is not like anybody else.  She wears whatever she wants to school, sings Happy Birthday to kids in the lunchroom while strumming on her banjo and decorates her desk with tablecloth and flowers in each period. The kids at school don't know what to make of her, but eventually she becomes popular for a short period of time until her 5 minutes of fame are up and the cliques at the school begin to shun her again.

My Review:  The novel is a sort of coming-of-age book about a brave, strong, girl who is not afraid to be a non-conformist. It was an easy, thought-provoking read, and quite enjoyable.

Vespers Rising (The 39 Clues #11)

Title: Vespers Rising

Authors: Rick Riordan, Peter Lerangis, Gordon Korman, Jude Watson

Pages: 4 discs

Genre: Children's Fiction

Grade: B

Synopsis: The first 10 books were all focused on the strengths of the Cahill Family and the secrets that were uncovered by Gideon Cahill hundreds of years ago. This, the 11th and final book introduces us to the next threat to the Cahills, the Vespers!

My Review: I didn't love this book, it was too much of a filler book for me.  When the authors saw that the book series that they had been working on for the last few years is coming to an end, they brainstormed ways to keep it going and this is the solution.  While the 39 Clues series has now concluded, the groundwork has been laid for the next series.

Sh*t My Dad Says

Title: Sh*t My Dad Says

Author: Justin Halpern

Pages: 159

Genre: Humor

Grade: B

Synopsis: The inspiration for this book was a twitter account that blew up with popularity.  Justin would simply post his father's foul-mouthed rants and quotables. He rode the wave of popularity by gathering everything into this book and connecting it with some personal history.

My Review: As you hopefully gathered from the title of the book itself, this book has loads of language, but it is still pretty dang funny. For a synopsis of the book, look up the @shitmydadsays twitter account and you'll get a taste of what's in the book.

The Race For A New Game Machine

Title: The Race For A New Game Machine

Author: David Shippy & Mickie Phipps

Pages: 256

Genre: Non-Fiction

Grade: B

Synopsis: IBM was tasked with creating the new cutting-edge microprocessor that was to power the PlayStation 3.  When Microsoft was also searching for designers for their new chip for the Xbox 360, they also turned to the same team at IBM, but had different performance requirements and an even tighter design and manufacturing schedule.

My Review: Ok, so the writing itself could have used some touching up and condensing, but the back story and technical aspects of this book were very interesting.  A lot of the book was focused on the relationships between the design teams, but the parts that I found most interesting were details about the performance, technical requirements and how Microsoft and Sony each approached the design process. That said, a good portion of the technical topics were over my head.

Little House on the Prairie

Title: Little House on the Prairie

Author: Laura Ingalls Wilder

Pages: 4 discs

Genre: Children's Fiction

Grade: B+

Synopsis: Laura's family sells their little log house in Wisconsin and then Pa Ingalls packs the wagon and he, Ma, Mary, Laura and baby Carrie travel to Kansas in Indian Country. They're some of the first settlers there and it's a lot of work for Pa to build them a cabin.

My Review: I never watched this show growing up, and I'm not sure if I ever read the book either.  Both Ada and I listened to this book and really enjoyed it.  It's a great book to introduce the kids to the pioneers and stories about how the early settlers had to live and a taste of life without cars, tvs, spaceships and other such modern conveniences.

Always Time To Die

Title: Always Time To Die

Author: Elizabeth Lowell

Pages: 344

Genre: Mystery

Grade: B

Synopsis: Carly May has been hired by the aging matriarch of the powerful Quintrell family in New Mexico to write a family history. As Carly begins to uncover skeletons in the family's closet, she becomes the target of violence from somebody who is trying to keep these secrets hidden.

My Review: I enjoyed this book, but my main complaint was with the complexity of the plot.  The family history and details were intricately laid out, and these details were critical to unraveling the mystery.

Dimanche and Other Stories

Title: Dimanche & Other Stories

Author: Irene Nemirovsky

Pages: 8 discs?

Genre: Short Stories

Grade: F

Synopsis: This is a collection of 10 short stories written generally in the 1930s and set in Paris.

My Review: I made it through a couple of the stories when I realized that I had no interest in making it through any more of them.  They just did not pique my interest.