Around the World in 80 Days

Hi All, Just finished reading "Around the World in 80 Days" by Jules Verne. The back cover says Jules Verne is called father of science fiction. I did not find any S/F here, more of travel writing. The fact that Phileas Fogg achieved his mission in less than honourable circumstances make it a 2/5 rating.

Every Second Counts

Just finished reading "Every Second Counts" by Lance Armstrong, the US cyclist who won 7 Tour de France titles from 1999 to 2005. Lance has successfully fought cancer so the books reveals a lot of his cancer days plus his Tour victories, the falls, mishaps, the doping scandals etc. Quite an inspirational book from the sporting side but a bit drag from the cancer side.

The Closers

Just finished reading "The Closers" by Michael Connelly, a detective work of Investigator Harry Bosch, who re-openes a 17 year old unsolved murder and successfully solves it. Scene is from LAPD, lot of police work, good racy book.

Driving Through Clouds

Just finished reading "Driving Through Clouds" by Nicola Lindsay, an emotionally wrenching book about a distraught family that gets protected by its god-angel. Quite a good book, my first one for 2009, happy to open the account on the first day itself.

Why Have'nt You Written

Just finished reading "Why Have'nt You Written" Selected Stories from 1950 to 1972 by Nadine Gordimer. The stories belong to that era when South Africa was under aparthied rule. Most of the stories deal with subtle tensions arising out of racial strife.

This is my 39th and last book for 2008.

The Double Eagle

Just finished reading "The Double Eagle" a first novel by James Twining. The book is about the art underworld and a racy thriller. The narrative though is a bit difficult to start with sequence of events related to a particular time and place. Also there are too many characters in the book. Not a bad effort for a first time novel, the book introduces art thief Tom Kirk as the main character. I believe he has written a sequel to this novel. I would give it a 3/5.

Dead Simple

Read "Dead Simple" by Peter James, a twisting racy thriller set in England, of six friends, one of whom is a turncoat, but the real suspense is at the end. Somewhat predictable, yet engrossing.