The Codex by Douglas Preston

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Title: The Codex

Author: Douglas Preston

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

Length: 404 pages

Published: 2003

Publisher: Forge Books

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) "Greetings from the dead," declares Maxwell Broadbent on the videotape he left behind after his mysterious disappearance. A notorious treasure hunter and tomb robber, Broadbent accumulated over a half a billion dollars' worth of priceless art, gems, and artifacts before vanishing---along with his entire collection---from his mansion in New Mexico.

At first, robbery is suspected, but the truth proves far stranger: As a final challenge to his three sons, Broadbent has buried himself and his treasure somewhere in the world, hidden away like an ancient Egyptian pharaoh. If the sons wish to claim their fabulous inheritance, they must find their father's carefully concealed tomb.

The race is on, but the three brothers are not the only ones competing for the treasure. This secret is so astounding it cannot be kept quiet for long. With half a billion dollars at stake, as well as an ancient Mayan codex that may hold a cure for cancer and other deadly diseases, others soon join the hunt---and some of them will stop at nothing to claim the grave goods.
The bestselling coauthor of such page-turning thrillers as Relic and The Cabinet of Curiosities, Douglas Preston now spins an unforgettable tale of greed, adventure, and betrayal.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

This was one of those books that just begged me to not put it down. The concept was great - three brothers heading out separately to try to find their father's tomb, and their inheritance. Tom, the brother who we follow the most throughout the story, is reluctant to start the search. In fact, he only ends up going to Honduras because of Sally Colorado - a woman who wants to find the Codex, a Mayan medical encyclopedia. There are a lot of near-death experiences and you see most of the characters transform because of these experiences. The action almost seemed non-stop, making this a great thriller to read.

You can purchase The Codex through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read The Codex? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Blasphemy by Douglas Preston

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Title: Blasphemy

Author: Douglas Preston
Series: Wyman Ford (Book #2)

Genre: Mystery

Length: 416

Published: 2007

Publisher: Forge Books

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) The world's biggest supercollider, locked in an Arizona mountain, was built to reveal the secrets of the very moment of creation: the Big Bang itself. 

The Torus is the most expensive machine ever created by humankind, run by the world’s most powerful supercomputer. It is the brainchild of Nobel Laureate William North Hazelius. Will the Torus divulge the mysteries of the creation of the universe? Or will it, as some predict, suck the earth into a mini black hole? Or is the Torus a Satanic attempt, as a powerful televangelist decries, to challenge God Almighty on the very throne of Heaven?

Twelve scientists under the leadership of Hazelius are sent to the remote mountain to turn it on, and what they discover must be hidden from the world at all costs. Wyman Ford, ex-monk and CIA operative, is tapped to wrest their secret, a secret that will either destroy the world…or save it.

The countdown begins…

My Review:

I give this book a 4 out of 5. 

Like most of Douglas Preston's books (that I've read), the action doesn't really happen until the final chapters. The beginning three-quarters of the book is build up to the final showdown. The story itself is not bad, and Preston does a good job of explaining some of the more difficult scientific terms that are used. Fans of Tyrannosaur Canyon will be glad to see Wyman Ford back in action.

You can purchase Blasphemy through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Blasphemy? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

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Title: Fever 1793

Author: Laurie Halse Anderson

Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult

Length: 272 pages

Published: 2000

Publisher: Aladdin

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) It's late summer 1793, and the streets of Philadelphia are abuzz with mosquitoes and rumors of fever. Down near the docks, many have taken ill, and the fatalities are mounting. Now they include Polly, the serving girl at the Cook Coffeehouse. But fourteen-year-old Mattie Cook doesn't get a moment to mourn the passing of her childhood playmate. New customers have overrun her family's coffee shop, located far from the mosquito-infested river, and Mattie's concerns of fever are all but overshadowed by dreams of growing her family's small business into a thriving enterprise. But when the fever begins to strike closer to home, Mattie's struggle to build a new life must give way to a new fight-the fight to stay alive. 

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

It only took me a couple of hours to go through this book - one of the benefits of a young adult book. The story follows young Matilda Cook as she deals with the hardships of an epidemic of yellow fever which has hit Philadelphia. I love the way the author developed her from the begrudging child at the beginning of the book to the capable young woman at the end - all over the space of a few months. This was an excellent and quick read.

You can purchase Fever 1793 through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Fever 1793? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham

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Title: The Day of the Triffids

Author: John Wyndham

Genre: Science Fiction

Length: 228 pages

Published: Original: 1951

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) In 1951 John Wyndham published his novel The Day of the Triffids to moderate acclaim. Fifty-two years later, this horrifying story is a science fiction classic, touted by The Times (London) as having “all the reality of a vividly realized nightmare.”

Bill Masen, bandages over his wounded eyes, misses the most spectacular meteorite shower England has ever seen. Removing his bandages the next morning, he finds masses of sightless people wandering the city. He soon meets Josella, another lucky person who has retained her sight, and together they leave the city, aware that the safe, familiar world they knew a mere twenty-four hours before is gone forever.

But to survive in this post-apocalyptic world, one must survive the Triffids, strange plants that years before began appearing all over the world. The Triffids can grow to over seven feet tall, pull their roots from the ground to walk, and kill a man with one quick lash of their poisonous stingers. With society in shambles, they are now poised to prey on humankind. Wyndham chillingly anticipates bio-warfare and mass destruction, fifty years before their realization, in this prescient account of Cold War paranoia.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

I grew up watching the movie version of this science fiction masterpiece, never realizing that it was a film adaptation. When I discovered that it was originally a novel, I had to seek it out. And I am SO glad I did. 

Much like Water for Elephants, I was not able to put this one down. The main character, Bill, wakes up in the hospital with bandages over his eyes. No one comes at his urgent buzzing. He knows that day is the day his bandages are to come off, but he doesn't rush to take them off himself. Instead, he spends time thinking about it. Eventually he comes to the conclusion that no one is coming and removes the bandages. Thankfully, he's able to see. At this point there's no indication of why he had the bandages over his eyes. All he knows is that he missed a spectacular comet show the night before. People were out in force to watch the comet. 

When he finally leaves his room, he finds that the hospital is apparently abandoned by all but the patients - and every single one of them is blind. Through flashbacks, Bill tells the reader about the triffids - the odd new plant that the world has begun to farm for its oils which happened to sting him, causing his temporary blindness. 

As he heads out into London, he comes across and rescues a woman who can see. Several of the blind have already begun to entrap the seeing in order to survive and she fell victim to one. Together they set out to find survivors - and just plain to survive. They are two of the only survivors who seem to worry about the triffids and what these carnivorous plants will do now that most of mankind is blind.

The author shows several groups of survivors as Bill makes his way through England and the different viewpoints they hold in trying to maintain a civilized society while protecting themselves from raiders and the ever-present triffids. 

Definitely a must read for any fan of science fiction, this is a classic post-apocalyptic tale.

You can purchase The Day of the Triffids through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read The Day of the Triffids? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

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Title: Water for Elephants

Author: Sara Gruen

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Length: 335 pages

Published: 2007 (originally in 2006)

Publisher: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Orphaned, penniless, Jacob Jankowski jumps a freight train in the dark, and in that instant, transforms his future.

By morning, he's landed a job with the Flying Squadron of the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. By nightfall, he's in love.

In an America made colourless by prohibition and the Depression, the circus is a refuge of sequins and sensuality. But behind the glamour lies a darker world, where both animals and men are dispensable. Where falling in love is the most dangerous act of all...

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

I saw the film adaptation of this book awhile back and while it was very good, it doesn't completely do the story justice. The book is usually way better than the film, and that can't be more true in this case. It was a quick read, something I could not put down. 

The writing was excellent - the descriptions brought everything to life without drowning out the story. And, boy, what a story.

During a time when people were lucky to have enough food to survive on, a young man learns just before his final exams for veterinary school that his parents have died in a horrific car accident. Unable to make it through his exams because of his overwhelming grief, he heads out to ride the rails. Unbeknownst to him, Jacob has hopped aboard a circus train. Thrown into the circus life, Jacob ends up becoming the show's veterinarian, in spite of not having sat his final exams. 

The excitement of the show, forbidden love, a dangerous pair of adversaries, and an elephant who only understands Polish - that's what you will find in Water for Elephants. Definitely a must read for fans of romance.

You can purchase Water for Elephants through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Water for Elephants? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin

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Title: Winter's Tale

Author: Mark Helprin

Genre: Contemporary Literature, Fantasy

Length: 673 pages

Published: 1983

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) New York City is subsumed in arctic winds, dark nights, and white lights, its life unfolds, for it is an extraordinary hive of the imagination, the greatest house ever built, and nothing exists that can check its vitality. One night in winter, Peter Lake, orphan and master-mechanic, attempts to rob a fortress-like mansion on the Upper West Side.

Though he thinks the house is empty, the daughter of the house is home. Thus begins the love between Peter Lake, a middle-aged Irish burglar, and Beverly Penn, a young girl, who is dying.

Peter Lake, a simple, uneducated man, because of a love that, at first he does not fully understand, is driven to stop time and bring back the dead. His great struggle, in a city ever alight with its own energy and besieged by unprecedented winters, is one of the most beautiful and extraordinary stories of American literature.

My Review:

I give this book a 3 out of 5. 

I had a hard time with this one. It was extremely descriptive, and that distracted me from the story itself quite a bit. The plot line was good, but hard to follow because of the excessive description. I understand why the author detailed everything so much, but it was tough to get through. I truly felt like the story could have been told in roughly half the pages. 

I found myself not wanting to pick it up and continue reading because it felt too tedious to devote the time and energy to in order to comprehend the events. In fact I found myself actually skimming a lot of the longer paragraphs, basically catching hold of the most important ideas and I still understood what was going on. 

All in all, the story itself is good. If you have time to kill this nearly 700-page story is worth it.

You can purchase Winter's Tale through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Winter's Tale? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Artful by Peter David

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Title: Artful

Author: Peter David

Genre: Fantasy

Length: 288 pages

Published: July 1st, 2014

Publisher: 47North

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Oliver Twist is one of the most well-known stories ever told, about a young orphan who has to survive the mean streets of London before ultimately being rescued by a kindly benefactor.

But it is his friend, the Artful Dodger, who has the far more intriguing tale, filled with more adventure and excitement than anything boring Oliver could possibly get up to. Throw in some vampires and a plot to overthrow the British monarchy, and what you have is the thrilling account that Charles Dickens was too scared to share with the world.

From the brilliant mind of novelist and comic book veteran Peter David, Artful is the dark, funny, and action-packed story of one of the most fascinating characters in literary history. 

With vampires.

My Review:

I give this book a 4 out of 5. 

Let me preface this by stating that I have never read Oliver Twist, so I know little of the original story. I saw this book on the Kindle First page, and the premise intrigued me. The author gives a brief rundown of the events of Oliver Twist, allowing those that have not read it to understand some of the characters that are introduced - most especially the Artful Dodger, our title character. 

Even though I enjoyed Artful immensely, I am only giving it four stars, as I had a hard time getting into the book. I think it was mostly my lack of knowledge of Oliver Twist that made it hard to really get past the first few chapters. I was having a hard time keeping straight the events and getting used to the author's writing style for this book. Once the action truly started, I enjoyed it much more. 

I loved how the author brought in Abraham Van Helsing, the vampyre hunter who hunted Dracula, and showed him as a youth and gave some history on how he became to be a vampyre hunter. This was an excellent story, and I recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Oliver Twist, or vampyres. 

You can purchase Artful through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. Artful will be released on July 1st, 2014.

Have you read Artful? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Make It Count by Megan Erickson

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Title: Make It Count

Author: Megan Erickson
Series: Bowler University (Book #1)

Genre: New Adult, Romance

Length: 384 pages

Published: June 3rd 2014

Publisher: William Morrow Impulse

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Kat Caruso wishes her brain had a return policy, or at least a complaint hot-line. The defective organ is constantly distracted, terrible at statistics, and absolutely flooded with inappropriate thoughts about her boyfriend’s gorgeous best friend, Alec…who just so happens to be her brand new math tutor. Who knew nerd was so hot?

Kat usually goes through tutors like she does boyfriends—both always seem to bail when they realize how hopeless she is. It’s safer for her heart to keep everyone at arm’s reach. But Alec is always stepping just a little too close.

Alec Stone should not be fantasizing about Kat. She’s adorable, unbelievably witty, and completely off limits. He’d never stab his best friend in the back…

But when secrets are revealed, the lines of loyalty are blurred. To make it count, Alec must learn messy human emotions can’t be solved like a trigonometry function. And Kat has to trust Alec may be the first guy to want her for who she is, and not in spite of it.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

Since Anchor Me, I've been eagerly anticipating Megan Erickson's new book. And she did not disappoint. 

The first in a trilogy, Make It Count made me laugh, cry, and even yell out in frustration! The characters are all typical college kids. The type of drama that they deal with (cheating girlfriend, betrayal, etc.) is completely normal for the age group. 

Kat's insecurities are well-defined and well-written. You can tell the author did her homework on dyslexia to be able to write Kat's character so vividly. I felt like I was actually inside Kat's head and not just reading about her. 

You can tell each character was lovingly crafted to be an important part of the story as a whole. I really enjoyed the witty banter between Kat and Alec - especially some of the more awkward yet funny scenes early on in the story. 

At the end there is a sneak peek from book 2 in the trilogy: Make It Right; which stars Max Payton. As the second book is not slated to come out for a few more months, I'm refusing to read the sneak peek because I know it's going to drive me nuts to sit here and wait for several months to find out the whole story.

You can purchase Make It Count through Amazon in Kindle format. The hard copy version releases in July 2014.

Have you read Make It Count? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Moving Day: A Thriller by Jonathan Stone

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Title: Moving Day: A Thriller

Author: Jonathan Stone

Genre: Thriller, Contemporary Fiction

Length: 284 pages

Published: 2014

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Forty years’ accumulation of art, antiques, and family photographs are more than just objects for Stanley Peke—they are proof of a life fully lived. A life he could have easily lost long ago.

When a con man steals his houseful of possessions in a sophisticated moving-day scam, Peke wanders helplessly through his empty New England home, inevitably reminded of another helpless time: decades in Peke’s past, a cold and threadbare Stanislaw Shmuel Pecoskowitz eked out a desperate existence in the war-torn Polish countryside, subsisting on scraps and dodging Nazi soldiers. Now, the seventy-two-year-old Peke—who survived, came to America, and succeeded—must summon his original grit and determination to track down the thieves, retrieve his things, and restore the life he made for himself.

Peke and his wife, Rose, trace the path of the thieves’ truck across America, to the wilds of Montana, and to an ultimate, chilling confrontation with not only the thieves but also with Peke’s brutal, unresolved past.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

Amazon Prime's "Kindle First" program is pretty neat. You get offered the chance to get one of four books for free the month before the book is officially published. That's where I found Moving Day. I probably wouldn't have looked twice at this book before looking over the selections for April. But the description made me want to read it. And I'm glad I did. 

It's well written, descriptive but not overly descriptive, and intriguing. And you know when the main character manages to track down his belongings and gain them back that the book is not over - that there is more to the adventure and that a final showdown will take place with the thief who took Peke's things in the first place. 

The author leaves enough of Peke's past a mystery that you keep reading hoping to tease out another little tidbit. By the end, you know everything, as Peke comes full circle to the seven year old boy he was. 

The last several chapters are rather chilling, but it's definitely well worth the read. 

You can purchase Moving Day: A Thriller through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Moving Day: A Thriller? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Monthly Update June 2014

It took me all of May but I focused on Wheel of Time and finished the entire series. I also squeezed in the last couple of Deadlocked books, the remainder of America's Hidden History, and Writers of the Future Volume 30. I also did some purging of my to-read list on Goodreads and got rid of probably almost 500 books. It feels good to have less than 2,500 books to read on my list instead of nearly 3,000. 

Currently Reading: 

• Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin
• Moving Day by Jonathan Stone

Coming Up:

• Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
• Make it Count (Bowler University Book #1) by Megan Erickson
• The Codex by Douglas Preston
• Blasphemy by Douglas Preston
• Vincent Price: A Daughter's Biography by Victoria Price
• The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham
• Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
• The Forgotten Gardens by Kate Morton
• The Distant Hours by Kate Morton