Fiction

Zero Day

Background

Published in 2011, Zero Day by David Baldacci introduces military investigator John Puller, a former combat veteran now working for the U.S. Army’s Criminal Investigative Division. Puller is sent to a remote area in West Virginia to investigate the brutal murder of a military family, including a high-ranking officer. As he partners with local law enforcement, Puller uncovers a disturbing trail of violence and corruption that hints at a much larger conspiracy. His investigation leads him to confront not only physical dangers but also deep institutional secrets, forcing him to rely on both his investigative skills and military training.

Zero Day
Zero Day

My Thoughts

This was a fun read with a big ending. However, there was a lot of emphasis about how the Army does business that seemed a little off to me. Of course, that might be due to my bias with the Marines. Still, I enjoyed the book.

Recommendation

A solid Baldacci novel. I’m excited to get to the next books featuring Puller.

Long Shadows

Background

Published in 2022, Long Shadows by David Baldacci follows seasoned investigator Amos Decker, known as the Memory Man, as he takes on a new case in Florida involving the brutal murders of a federal judge and her bodyguard. Tasked with uncovering the motive behind this high-profile crime, Decker is paired with a new partner, Special Agent Frederica White. As they dig into the judge’s past, they uncover conflicting clues and hidden connections that raise more questions than answers.

Long Shadows
Long Shadows

My Thoughts

It had been a while since the last time I read anything from the Memory Man series and I didn’t know this one existed. Though there was some finality to the plot, Baldacci could easily add another book or two.

The book was easily taken in and digested. I was reading some heavier medical texts just before I switched to this and I still was happily reading for the next couple of hours. There really is nothing like a good novel to keep you engaged and this one didn’t disappoint.

Recommendation

Good read with a familiar character.

Lovely War

Background

Published in 2019, Lovely War by Julie Berry intertwines the stories of four young people during World War I, as narrated by the Greek gods Aphrodite, Ares, Apollo, and Hades. The novel follows Hazel, a British pianist, and James, a soldier, whose budding romance is tested by the brutality of the front lines. Alongside them are Aubrey, a Black American soldier and jazz musician, and Colette, a Belgian singer who has lost her family to German attacks.

Lovely War
Lovely War

My Thoughts

This was another book my wife was reading and she suggested to me. I didn’t have high hopes as I’m not too big on romance novels. However, this one was surprisingly good. There wasn’t any “steamy” scenes or over the top moments, which have come to be tropes of the genre.

The choice of having the Greek Gods tell the story was a fun take on the traditional narrative. It also gave a fun counterpoint to the “mortal” plot while finally culminating in a nicely wrapped ending.

Recommendation

I would recommend this one.

Ozma of Oz

Background

Published in 1907, Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum is the third book in the Oz series and follows Dorothy Gale as she is swept overboard during a storm at sea and finds herself in the land of Ev. There, she meets a mechanical man named Tik-Tok and learns that the royal family of Ev has been imprisoned by the powerful Nome King. Dorothy reunites with her old friends from Oz, including the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman, and joins forces with Princess Ozma, who has crossed the deadly desert with an army to help. Together, they confront the Nome King and navigate challenges of wit and courage in their attempt to free the captives and restore order to the kingdom of Ev.

Ozma of Oz
Ozma of Oz

My Thoughts

Again an interesting trip down children’s literature over a hundred years ago. Talking chickens, spiteful gnomes, and good old fashioned laziness. I also enjoyed Tik-Tok himself who may or may not be proud of his namesake today.

Recommendation

A quick but interesting read.

The Land of Oz

Background

Published in 1904, The Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum is the second book in the Oz series and serves as both a sequel and a prequel to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The story introduces Tip, a young boy who escapes from the witch Mombi and embarks on a journey with his magically animated creation Jack Pumpkinhead. Along the way, Tip and his companions, including the Sawhorse and the Woggle-Bug, encounter General Jinjur’s army, which has overthrown the Scarecrow, now ruler of the Emerald City. As the group sets out to restore order, they discover secrets about Tip’s true identity and witness the return of Glinda the Good.

The Land of Oz
The Land of Oz

My Thoughts

This was an interesting read. So much of the content was completely unfamiliar so I really don’t have much to compare it to. It is over a century old and intended for children so I’m not quite the target demographic. However, it was an interesting imaginative story.

Recommendation

A relatively quick read and worth my attention.

King Solomon’s Mines

Background

Published in 1885, King Solomon’s Mines by H. Rider Haggard follows the journey of British adventurer Allan Quatermain, who is hired to lead a dangerous expedition into unexplored regions of Africa in search of Sir Henry Curtis’s lost brother. The group pursues a legendary treasure said to be hidden in the ancient mines of King Solomon, encountering harsh deserts, hostile terrain, and tribal conflicts along the way. As they venture deeper into the unknown, the party confronts both physical dangers and moral dilemmas, navigating themes of colonialism, greed, loyalty, and survival.

King Solomon's Mines
King Solomon’s Mines

My Thoughts

I didn’t expect much regarding the racial undertone of the book but I believe it came off better than expected. The African people’s were presented better than I would have thought for the time period of publication. They weren’t treated like savages or anyone taking issue with what they were doing and with whom. They still weren’t treated well, but they were presented as real 3-dimensional people, which was a pleasant surprise.

The story itself was hard to get into at the first but became more compelling as it progressed.

Recommendation

There was a slow start but it became an enjoyable read.

Looking Backward

Background

Published in 2002, Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy was originally published in 1888. The novel follows Julian West, a wealthy Bostonian who falls into a hypnotic sleep in 1887 and wakes up in the year 2000 to find a radically transformed society. In this future, the United States has evolved into a socialist utopia where private enterprise has been replaced by a centrally planned economy, and wealth and goods are distributed equally. Through West’s experiences and conversations with his new hosts, Bellamy critiques the social and economic inequalities of the 19th century and presents his vision for a more cooperative and equitable future.

Looking Backward
Looking Backward

My Thoughts

Honestly, I have no idea why this came up in my reading lists, but it was an interesting read. The fun part was to find the gaping holes in the logic and the rhetoric of this socialist quasi-manifesto. It was particularly interesting to see how the aliments of the late 1800s would be corrected from a naive utopian vision. I wonder how many people read this and honestly thought, “That’s a great idea!”

The economy has no meaning, and everyone eats, wears, and does pretty much the same thing. All are pressed into military service. All enter the workforce at 21 and retire at 45 where they can thereafter live a life of leisure. The US is still at odds with the rest of the world and simply uses a fairly simple IOU system to handle issues or trade imbalance other governments. Women’s roles are unequal at best and mate-selection is used as both a carrot and stick in this ideal world.

Recommendation

This book gives a good account of how a teenager may handle society government. If you enjoy that, this book is for you.

The Wizard of Oz

Background

Published in 1900, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum tells the story of Dorothy Gale, a young girl from Kansas who is swept away by a cyclone to the magical land of Oz. There, she embarks on a journey to find the Wizard of Oz in the Emerald City, hoping he can help her return home. Along the way, she befriends a Scarecrow seeking a brain, a Tin Woodman longing for a heart, and a Cowardly Lion in search of courage. Together, they face challenges, including the Wicked Witch of the West, and ultimately discover that the qualities they desire are already within them.

The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz

My Thoughts

Very much not the film adaptation with Judy Garland. This version comes with a map of Oz, silver slippers, strange denizens, and the flying monkeys are controlled by a magic cap with three wishes. This version came with a short history of Frank Baum and his various pseudonyms. He failed at pretty much everything, to include military school, but did pretty well as a writer. I also found out there are several of these books dealing with Oz. I will have to look into those going forward.

Recommendation

Definitely, worth the read.

White Sand 3

Background

Published in June 2019, White Sand Volume III concludes the graphic novel trilogy adapted from Brandon Sanderson’s unpublished prose novel. The story follows Kenton, one of the last remaining Sand Masters, as he tries to stabilize the Diem, the governing body of the Sand Masters, while navigating growing political unrest on the desert world of Taldain. In this final volume, Kenton must contend with assassination attempts, betrayals among allies, and deepening conflicts between the Daysiders and Darksiders. As the rival factions escalate their power struggles, Kenton is forced to choose between tradition and innovation in order to save his people and redefine the legacy of the Sand Masters. This installment also reveals more about the broader Cosmere universe, connecting White Sand to Sanderson’s larger mythos.

White Sand 3
White Sand 3

My Thoughts

I was a little disappointed by the outcome here. There was still a general lack of interesting movement in the story and it ended up wrapping in a neat tidy bow. We learned more about the properties of the sand and it seemed Kriss was about to crack it wide open, but that story arc didn’t really go anywhere. Oh, well. This medium just isn’t for me. There is still much to be told and I could see Sanderson doing more with it in the future.

Recommendation

It was OK.

White Sand 2

Background

Published in 2018, White Sand Volume II continues the story of Kenton, a powerful yet untrained sand master who has survived an attack that wiped out most of his order. As political forces converge and new enemies arise, Kenton must navigate distrust among allies and power struggles within the Diem while learning to control his abilities. Meanwhile, Khriss, an outsider with her own motivations, digs deeper into the mysteries of the planet Taldain and the secrets surrounding the sand mastery. Their paths intersect as a greater conspiracy unfolds, setting the stage for deeper revelations in the larger Cosmere universe.

White Sand 2
White Sand 2

My Thoughts

While graphic novels really aren’t my thing, I wanted to read all of Brandon Sanderson’s works. This is part 2 of the 3 part series. The type of investiture here is through the sun charged sand which can be controlled by the Sandmasters. As the planet is tidally locked around its sun, there is a day-side and a night-side. Night-siders see the control of sand to be blasphemous and the day-sider are simply too blind to their own politics to care. This makes a good setup for a hero’s journey to right the wrongs and fight against anyone standing in the way. Such is the case with this series. However, this installment had the same feeling as Episode 1 – A Phantom Menace. Lots of potential and remarkable amount legalistic non-action. It’s ok though, we are setting the stage for something better. Right?

Recommendation

It was ok.