I Love Books!

Duck Duck Wally by Gabe Rotter

I'm not sure how to begin to describe Duck Duck Wally.  A friend read it because the protagonist's dog is named Dr. Barry Schwartzman -- he is referred to as "The Doctor."  She passed it on to me because it ended up being such a fun read.  I started laughing while reading the jacket and didn't stop until the last page.  Well, that's not really true because I still laugh while thinking about some of the things in the book.

Wally Moscowitz is the ghost writer for a big name Hip Hop star.  He is sworn to secrecy about his real job.    His dog and best friend, The Doctor, is kidnapped and things get really crazy.  I suspect that the hip hop life (and other stereotypes) portrayed in the books might be perceived as politically incorrect in a Borat kind of way.  Oh, and the language.  Don't bother with the book if you have any qualms about swearing and rauncy slang. 

With that all being said, I was engaged through the whole story, laughed out loud and was compelled to read parts aloud to anyone who would listen. 

Hooked by Matt Richtel

I came across this book through a fun kind of coincidence.  My aunt read about it and thought the author, Matt Richtel, might be the grandson of one of her late husband Herb's good friends.  While we were chatting on the phone, I googled Richtel and read her his bio.  The details seemed to fit, and it turned out he was having a reading at a store in Fresno where my aunt lives.  She called me after attending the reading, excited to share with me his comments on the writing/editing process.  She was also happy that he shared with her an entertaining dinner he had with Herb in Las Vegas.

So, about the book.  Hooked: A Thriller About Love and Other Addictions follows Nat Idle, a medical journalist, after he survives an explosion at an internet cafe.  He struggles to solve the mystery and stay alive. I normally don't go in for thrillers, mysteries and suspense as I've mentioned before, and this book proved to illustrate the point why.  I wanted to get to the end, solve the mystery, know what the hell is going on!  And sometimes, it's not okay to sit around and do nothing but read a book until you're done with it.  I'm categorizing this book as a beach read for this reason.  It was a quick read and sucked me in and kept me interested until the end.

One of the themes is our addiction to technology and how it's changed our lives and ability to connect.  I found it fascinating and so accurate.  Richtel also managed to explain why a stimulant (Ritalin) helps with ADD -- something I never could grasp before.

The Jane Whitefield Series, by Thomas Perry

This collection of thrillers focuses on protagonist Jane Whitefield.  She's half-Seneca Indian and helps guide people out of trouble and into new lives.  She creates new identities for her clients, helps them run from whoever is pursuing them, and establish new lives.  There's no charge for her services, and she doesn't advertise.  Word travels about her special talents and the recipients of them give her a "gift" at some point in the future.  She uses her Native American background and instincts in her work.

I generally don't go in for thrillers and suspense -- I either get scared and want to make sure the bad guy gets it in the end, or I just can't wait to find out what happens.  Either way I end up reading through days and nights to finish the book as quickly as possible.  Of course, that's exactly what makes a good beach or plane read!  And, all the books in this series fit the bill.  Plus, once again, I get to indulge my fondness of getting to revisit characters in multiple books.

The series includes:

Vanishing Act

Dance for the Dead

Shadow Woman

The Face-Changers

Blood Money