Published in 2004, this book is the largest of the series by a good 130 pages. (Yet, was the 2nd shortest movie…) In this book, Harry and friends know “You-Know-Who” is back but the Ministry of Magic is suppressing that information. Things start going awry when they start interfering at Hogwarts.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
My Thoughts
Again, a great read. We are becoming a little bit older along with Harry as he starts having love interests and grappling with the subtleties of what is right and wrong.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was published back in 2001. The 3rd book in the Harry Potter series, it introduces the infamous Sirius Black, a man convicted of murder who broke out of the wizard prison Askaban. How will Harry and his friends make it this time?
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
My Thoughts
As with all Harry Potter books, I have read this book several times. This time around, I was reading it with my youngest son who is new to the series. Highly enjoyable.
Originally published in 1932, Brave New World is one of the first dystopian novels and has been the subject of discussion for almost 90 years. Set in some distant future, people are encouraged to forgo their family ties and live only for the good of the whole. They are conditioned to be obedient to authority and are encouraged to pursue cheap pleasures to distract them from anything uncomfortable. They use drugs whenever they feel any need to question or just want to escape. They are repeatedly told, “Everyone is happy” and everyone acts that way or they might have to see the psychologists…
A “savage” from the Indian reservation in Arizona is brought to this world. He was raised by the “old” beliefs of family, religion, and individuality. He finds their world strange but they find him even more so.
Brave New World
My Thoughts
This book effectively makes the argument of there being no real happiness simply by pursuing pleasure and suppressing pain. One can’t know the good from the evil if there is no concept of either. It is particularly interesting to put this work in the context of history as “the war to end all wars” had concluded, the Bolshevik Revolution had occurred and Stalin ran unchecked. The discussions on what constituted an ideal society were being had everywhere and nations were starting to become entrenched in their doctrine.
The book was ahead of its time in many ways. There are some dated references but it could have easily been passed off as something written 50 years later or more. As American society is trending more populist, it is very interesting to read the words of those who went before. Can we learn from the past or do we even bother to listen since so many people give their “revisionist histories” these days.
Recommendation
An important book. It’s worth the time to read it but you may have to plow through sections.
Published in October of 2019. “A Minute to Midnight” is book 2 of the Atlee Pine series written by David Baldacci that follows Atlee Pine as she investigates a gruesome crime in her hometown of Andersonville, Georgia. Atlee’s twin sister was abducted from Andersonville over 30 years ago, and the investigation into her disappearance was mishandled by the local police. Now, Atlee returns to the town to confront her demons and find out the truth about her sister’s disappearance. As she delves deeper into the investigation, she discovers that the crime she is investigating is just the tip of the iceberg and that her own life may be in danger.
A Minute to Midnight
My Thoughts
While I enjoyed David Baldacci’s other characters, I don’t really like Atlee Pine. She is all about herself. Rude, whiney, and self-centered, yet somehow everyone loves her. The only possible reason is she is tall and pretty. Not the best role model.
Published in 2019, John Grisham tells this story about a young lawyer killed at his desk in Florida. There is no likely killer but the public looks to a young black man.
The Guardians
My Thoughts
I’m writing this 2 years after the fact and I remember it being well written and a gripping story.
Recommendation
They are making a movie now so you should read it before seeing the movie.
This is the last book in the Maze Runner series (chronologically) published in 2011. There are two books which were written after which became prequels to the series.
This book picks up right after the last and the reader learns the final fate of Thomas and his friends along with WICKED.
The Death Cure
My Thoughts
First off -Spoiler Alert- he killed off my favorite character. Newt shouldn’t have died. I’m not happy about that…
The book is overly harsh. It was entertaining but overly harsh. It was a rough read.
Recommendation
Honestly, if you need closure, I can understand why you would want to read it. However, I don’t know it gave me much closure, and they left it wide open for the next book. I can’t really recommend it.
Published in 2013, W is for Wasted is the 23rd book of the Kinsey Millhone series. Kinsey’s name shows up on a piece of paper found in the hand of a homeless man found dead on the beach. Was he looking for a private investigator or was he her long lost cousin who was accidentally killed by a rouge experiment and left hundreds of thousands of dollars to Kinsey because he was ticked off at his kids? You’ll have to read to decide…
W is for Wasted
My thoughts
It took me a while to get into this one. I actually read the next book “X” before this one so I knew how a couple of things turned out but it was still enjoyable.
Published in 2010, The Scorch Trials is the sequel to The Maze Runner. This book picks up right where the last left off taking Tomas and the other “Gladers” into their next series of events. They quickly learn they are not out of peril yet…
The Scorch Trials
My Thoughts
Good book all and all. It was a pleasure to read a novel again after doing a lot of more technical material.
This book was very similar to the first in that it does a good job of getting into the mind of a teenager who is trying to cope with a world that doesn’t make sense. However, it has some of the downfalls as the first book as well. The kids get over the death of their friends remarkably quickly. This is somewhat explained by their involvement and being “chosen” to participate in the trials. However, it felt pretty unrealistic.
Recommendation
It was worth the time. I didn’t get bored and was interested throughout the book.
X” is the twenty-fourth novel in the “Alphabet” series of mystery novels by Sue Grafton. It features Kinsey Millhone, a private detective based in the fictional “Santa Teresa” California. The story takes place in the late 1980s and starts by Kinsey being hired for a simple job. One thing after another happen and soon she is hot on the heels of a rapidly expanding mystery.
X
My Thoughts
This book had a subplot going about Kinsey’s next door neighbors who weren’t so neighborly. Yet again Sue Grafton reminds us to keep our eyes out for folks who don’t have our best interests at heart.
I enjoyed the book though. It brought to mind a number of things about living out in the West. For example, it talked about water conservation which I hadn’t had to deal with for some time now that I live on the East coast. I was talking to my wife about it and it’s hard to understand if you haven’t lived it.
Written back in the 60’s, Dune is a dystopian look at a possible future where humans have made it to other planets and continue their wars and contentions.
Dune
My Thoughts
I had seen the 1984 movie and was still young enough to get that it was a big deal while only catching the broadest points the plot. I hadn’t seen it since then. Not to sound cliche but, the book was better.
There were some plot holes and the like but I thought Herbert did a great job. (Particularly since it is 60 years old.)
Recommendation
This was one of those books that I put off doing other things to continue. I would highly recommend it if you enjoy fantasy.
