Library: An Unquiet History by Matthew Battles

First sentence:

"When I first went to work in Harvard's Widener Library, I immediately made my first mistake: I tried to read the books."

Description:

"Throughout the ages, libraries have not only accumulated and preserved but also shaped, inspired, and obliterated knowledge. Matthew Battles, a rare books librarian and a gift narrator, 'entertainingly traces the evolution of the library through the centuries,' [New York Times Book Review] from Boston to Baghdad, from classical scriptoria to medieval monasteries, from the Vatican to the British library, from socialist reading rooms and rural home libraries to the Information Age." -- from the back cover

My thoughts:

I enjoyed this engaging book about libraries, books, writing and knowledge. I liked learning about how writing on bamboo stalks influenced the look of Asian writing and how Antonio Panizzi changed the card catalog "...from an inventory to an instrument of discovery" [p. 130].

Date read: 3/3/2011

Book #: 9

Challenge: Dewey Decimal Challenge 2011

Rating: 3*/5 = good

Genre: nonfiction

ISBN-10: 093325644

ISBN-13: 9780393325645

Publisher: W.W. Norton

Year: 2003

# of pages: 214
Binding: Trade Paperback

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Dark of the Eye by Douglas Clegg

First sentence:

"He had never killed a child before."

Description:

"A tragi accident left eleven-year-old Hope Stewart with an extraordinay power that is both blessing and curse. Her touch alone can heal those suffering from horrifying afflictions. . .or subject them to an unspeakable fate. Now, a once-innocent child has become the prey in a monstrous hunt. Her scientist father is determined to exploit her frightening gift, a relentless government agent is out to kill her--and a damaged soul called Monkey vows to deliver her to the mercies of the fiendish forces he serves. . . ." - from the back cover

My thoughts:

This book was more than a typical horror tale of monsters. Every character had reasons for their actions, even if I did not always agree with them.

Date read: 3/2/2011
Book #: 8
Challenge: TBR Challenge 2011
Rating: 3*/5 = good
Genre: Horror

ISBN-10: 067173539X
ISBN-13: 9780671735395
Publisher: Pocket Books
Year: 1994
# of pages: 325
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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Die Trying by Lee Child

First sentence:

Nathan Rubin died because he got brave.

Description:

"Jack Reacher is an innocent bystander -- in the wrong place at the wrong time -- when a woman is kidnapped. Now he's at the mercy of a group of men demanding an impossible ransom, for this mysterious woman is worth far more than Reacher ever suspected. And though she doesn't ask for his help, he's going to give it to her....

Because ex-military policeman Jack Reacher is a hero. He's used to saving lives. But this time he's going to take a few before he's through." -- from the back cover

My thoughts:

This was a good suspenseful thriller. I liked the interaction between Reacher and Holly Johnson as they both try to escape and figure out who captured them and why. I look forward to reading the next book in the series, Tripwire.

Date read: 3/1/2011
Book #: 7
Series: Jack Reacher, #2
Rating: 3*/5 = good
Genre: Thriller

ISBN-10: 0515125024
ISBN-13: 9780515125023
Publisher: Jove
Year: 1999
# of pages: 422
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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The Wizards of Odd edited by Peter Haining

First sentence:

"It was a fine summer morning, the kind to make a man happy to be alive."

Description:

"Wizards and wotsits, swords and sorcery, astronauts and aliens -- all the ingredients of humorous fantasy are packed into the pages of this unique collection.

Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams return to Discworld and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy respectively, with stories first seen in book form in this volume.

Other stars of the genre represented include Brian Aldiss, Isaac Asimov, Robert Bloch, Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, Stephen Donaldson, Ursula K. Le Guin, Kurt Vonnegut, and H.G. Wells. Altogether, twenty-four writers have contributed their talents to create the best anthology of humorous fantasy ever published."

My thoughts:

I enjoyed this collection of humorous fantasy stories. Two of my favorites were "Doodad" by Ray Bradbury about a man who learns too late not to underestimate seemingly useless items and "The Rule of Names" by Ursula K. Le Guin about a mysterious wizard and a knight.

Date read: 2/26/2011
Book #: 6
Rating: 3*/5 = good
Genre: Fantasy

ISBN-10: 1857236351
ISBN-13: 9781857236354
Publisher: Orbit
Year: 1997
# of pages: 298
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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Chosen Prey by John Sandford

First sentence:

"James Qatar dropped his feet over the edge of the bed and rubbed the back of his neck, a momentary veil of depression falling upon him."

Description:

"Lucas Davenport returns in the most harrowing and unexpected Prey novel yet -- the story of a congenial man, and his most uncongenial obsession...

Art history professor James Qatar's hobby was taking secret photographs of women. At night when he was all alone he'd dream about them and indulge his fantasies. Then one day his fantasy went too far. Now it's Qatar's turn to become an obsession -- of Davenport's. And for both men there's no turning back." -- from the back cover

My thoughts:

I enjoyed this mystery/thriller featuring Lucas Davenport. One of my favorite scenes was when Davenport meets the computer genius Kidd for the first time. I look forward to reading the next book in the series, Mortal Prey.

Date read: 1/30/2011
Book #: 5
Series: Lucas Davenport, #12
Challenge: TBR Challenge 2011
Rating: 3*/5 = good
Genre: Mystery

ISBN-10: 0425182878
ISBN-13: 9780425182871
Publisher: Berkley
Year: 2001
# of pages: 383
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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Forever Today by Deborah Wearing

First sentence:

"Clive had no idea that Tuesday 26 March 1985 would be his last day of conscious thought."

Description:

"Clive Wearing has one of the most extreme cases of amnesia ever known. In 1985, a virus completely destroyed a part of his brain essential for memory, leaving him trapped in a limbo of the constant present. Every conscious moment is for him as if he has just come round from a long coma, an endlessly repeating loop of awakening. A brilliant conductor and BBC music producer, Clive was at the height of his success when the illness struck. As damaged as Clive was, the musical part of his brain seemed unaffected, as was his passionate love for Deborah, his wife.

For seven years he was kept in the London hospital where the ambulance first dropped him off, because there was nowhere else for him to go. Deborah desperately searched for treatments and campaigned for better care. After Clive was finally established in a new special hospital, she fled to America to start her life over again. But she found she could never love another the way she loved Clive. Then Clive’s memory unaccountably began to improve, ten years after the illness first struck. She returned to England. Today, although Clive still lives in care, and still has the worst case of amnesia in the world, he continues to improve. They renewed their marriage vows in 2002.

This is the story of a life lived outside time, a story that questions and redefines the essence of what it means to be human. It is also the story of a marriage, of a bond that runs deeper than conscious thought." -- from the inside flap

My thoughts:

I had heard about Clive Wearing's total amnesia on an episode of Radio Lab podcast about identity. This book not only gave an insight into Clive's condition but also how it affected his wife, Deborah.

Date read: 1/25/2011
Book #: 4
Challenge: Dewey Decimal Challenge 2011
Rating: 3*/5 = good
Genre: Memoir

ISBN-10: 0385606265
ISBN-13: 9780385606264
Publisher: Doubleday
Year: 2005
# of pages: 338
Binding: Hardcover
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The Girl Who Remembered Snow by Charles

First sentence:

"Emma Passant's earliest memory was of snow."

Description:

"A professional magician, Emma Passant knows the hand is quicker than the eye. But how much of her own life has been an illusion? Her grandfather is murdered, and soon afterward a friend is killed by the same gun. So when her brawny assistant departs for greener pastures, Emma puts her act on hold and sets out to find some answers.

With only a pattering of clues, she follows a trail of cryptic words, rumors of stolen treasure, and her own vague snow-shrouded memories to the Caribbean, New York and Paris, where she discovers shattering deceptions made in the name of love--and the shocking truth about her own past." -- from the back cover

My thoughts:

This was a good mystery about someone learning the truth about her past. I liked the interactions between Emma and Timoteo in San Marcos.

Date read: 1/10/2011
Book #: 3
Rating: 3*/5 = good
Genre: Mystery

ISBN-10: 0373262574
ISBN-13: 9780373262571
Publisher: St Martin's Press
Year: 1997
# of pages: 300
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