The Call of the Wild - Jack London

After my last attempt to find something to read for a few minutes before going to bed, I turned to the classics pile. An hour later, I put the book down; finished. I don't remember reading The Call of the Wild in school , but I remember my brother carrying it around at one point.

I haven't read a book from the point of view of an animal in years and years - unless it was one of those sci-fi ones where the "animals" are more intelligent than the humans. It was interesting to see things through the eyes of a dog. It was a change of pace to have the writing try to reflect what we think dogs actually think about; not adding all kinds of human emotion to the life of the dog. We were having a discussion about how people are like the pack animals with a layer of intelligence over the top of it. Controlled and behaving like pack animals - jockeying for position, revelling in a job well done, desiring a sense of purpose, and taking advantage of poor leaders.

I very much enjoyed this book, and I think I'll keep it around until Owen's old enough for me to read it to him. Although, maybe I would be better off getting another copy when he's older rather than using shelf space all those years...

Reign of the Rat - Gil Smolin

This was one give to my by my sister -even signed by the author. He happens to be a patient of hers. I started it when I wanted a little something (10 minutess) before going to sleep. The next thing I knew I was finished and it was 3 hours later.

This is another one of those medical thriller books. People are dying and no one can find the cure. It spreads and still no one can find the cure. It bounces back and forth between the different main characters within chapters. This makes it very difficult to put down - there just never seems to be a break in the action. One of the things I really appreciated about this book was that the medical background and research points didn't slow the pace of the book. They were covered as succinctly as possible, so I didn't find myself skimming over that kind of information as I looked for the book to get going again.

I recommend it, but I am going to have to return it to my sister.

The Footprints of God - Greg Iles

During my trip last week, I brought 3 books with me, figuring that I would want something other than A Peace to End All Peace with me. Footprints of God was on the top of the thriller/mystery pile, so I grabbed it (yes, the reading pile is organized by type of book...) I hadn't heard anything about the book or the author, I just knew I had 2 by him.

While stuck at the airport for hours (my flight was cancelled), I started the book. It started a little slow - even given that the beginning is about the death of one man and the surveillance they lived under. But once it got underway, I was hooked. It is about the creation of artificial intelligence and it gave me something to think about other than just what was going to happen next. What would be artificial intelligence and what would be a new species? Does God get involved in our lives? Would I be willing to kill someone to save those I love?

I finished the book not long after I landed - a quick read with things to think about. I'll be passing it on to friends and hoping it comes back.

A Peace to End All Peace - David Fromkin

I first heard of this book in an article about understanding the anger and resentment in the Middle East - it listed the book as recommended by Madeleine Albright and Pres. Clinton. I kept it in the back of my mind and then it arrived as a gift from a friend who recently visit Turkey. Figuring that it would take a little time to read, I started it and planned to read other things along with it to lighten the mood. Little did I know I would be sucked in so quickly; thinking about what was going to happen next and how it would result in the Middle East we know and fear today.

It is truly amazing to me the number of intelligence mistakes made, and really at what point do you stop calling it "intelligence". The number of people with different objectives, each one playing the other for their own gain, and that is just the people in the British foreign office! Once you add in the intrigues of the people of the Ottoman Empire, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, and Greece, it is a wonder that any policy was accomplished.

I was frequently talking about this book with others around me - family, friends, co-workers, people on the plane. The writing is engaging and covered a period of history I was unfamiliar with, since we always seemed to end the school year just as WWI was beginning. This book covers the Middle East only and now I am interested to learn the Western Front side of WWI. I know the horror and despair caused by trench warfare directly related to the decisions made in the Middle East and I want to know more.

An excellent book that I will keep in the library. I can imagine reading it again - there is just so much I missed the first time through.

East is East - T.C. Boyle

This was a hand me down from a friend and I knew nothing about it other than its "literary fiction" size trade paperback. I am reading Peace to End all Peace and needed something lighthearted to break up the intelligence failures detailed in that book. With Melodie's comment that she was unable to finish, I was actually hoping to reach page 100 and put it in the outgoing pile.

With low expectations, I started the book just before bed a few days ago. I flew through the pages, while never feeling any connection to the characters. When I picked it up, I appreciated the different view points, the descriptions of what each character was doing from that character's point of view. But, when I saw it lying around the house I had to remind myself what it was about - it wasn't a story that stayed with me. When I picked it up again, I would have to remember who the characters were - the names just didn't stick. While I would say I enjoyed the book, I also realize how easy it would have been not to finish it.

It will get passed on, but I am not sure whether it will be to a used book store or to friends.

Update 5/30: Used book store.

Darkfall - Dean R Koontz

One of the early Koontz books finally made it into my house. I have no idea how I missed picking it up years ago. Thanks to Mum, I have the complete collection.

This was a return to the days when Koontz wrote horror. The kind of horror where you start looking at your house and wondering how secure it is. It was a pleasant read but it was more cliche than original. Ice maiden cop falls for respectable, righteous partner. Psycho villain starts mob war and threatens respectable guy's kids. The twist was the use of voodoo by the psycho villain. I really enjoyed the book, even when I could see the twists coming. It was nicely paced with enough of the horror to keep the light close, but not enough to make sure someone was in the room with you.

As with any Koontz book, it will go on the shelf.

Happy new year!