Book 55 "Absolute Power"

Absolute Power

By

David Baldacci

A story of murder, corruption, greed, sex, and ambition as a house burglar witness a crime by the President of the United States.

That will get your attention any day? Right?

I was walking through a used book store in Mason City, Iowa and for some odd reason got into a conversation with an older lady in the basement while looking through some old paper back book collections. The subject turned to the question: "Have you ever read David Baldacci?" Which I promptly replied: "No. I've never read any of his books." This led to me buying Baldacci's first book Absolute Power which I can tell you was every bit as thrilling as the old lady had promised.

I wouldn't ear mark David Baldacci as the next classic literature giant. However, his read was very entertaining. I wasn't bored, it was intense (to say the least) and moved at light speed (compared to some other books I have read). I would term Absolute Power as one of those books you can't put down once you pick it up, or as USA Today said "Sizzling". So....to give it a one word USA TODAY-Like summary, I would say "Smokin"

Worth a read if you are looking for a quick read. Great book to bring along on your flight or on vacation.

Book 54 "The Great Gatsby"

The Great Gatsby

By

F. Scott Fitzgerald

The infamous "Great Gatsby". The story told in every single American Literature class across the land. The story about a young man named "Gatsby" whose mysterious and luxurious lifestyle gains the attention of everyone around him, including the eyes and heart of a young married woman, Daisy. The story progresses and tragedy strikes. It's the epic battle surrounding the values of Idealism.

When a novel like "The Great Gatsby" is ranked in almost every single literature corner as being one of the top ten, or most influential, or most noted one must make an attempt to read it. It's amazing how things read after WANTING to read a classic, rather than being FORCED to read a classic by some silly middle school or high school literature curriculum. One of American Literature's Finest...."The Great Gatsby". I can officially mark it off my bucket reading list and move on.

Book 53 "Riding the Bullet"

Riding The Bullet

By

Stephen King

A story of a young man who hitch hikes his way back to visit his mother after learning of her illness. Along the way he runs into a few creepy haunted rides and reminded of his past story revolving around a roller coaster called "the bullet".

Nothing short of Stephen King. His typical fashion of suspense and horror. Though, I would put this one as more mysterious over scary. Its a fairly quick read. If you are a Stephen King enthusiast I wouldn't put it towards the top of your "King List". However, it was worth an hour or two reading time. Maybe a good read while waiting for your kids at their soccer practice or something? Definitely not as thick as some of his other books.

Book 52 "The Tiger's Wife"

The Tiger's Wife

By

Tea Obreht

A mystery of a grandfather's disappearance and death sets the tone for the moving novel, The Tiger's Wife. As the reader sweeps through the pages it isn't too long before they come to an understanding that two story lines will carry the book.

"Everything necessary to understand my grandfather lies between two stories: the story of the tiger’s wife, and the story of the deathless man. These stories run like secret rivers through all the other stories of his life—of my grandfather’s days in the army; his great love for my grandmother; the years he spent as a surgeon and a tyrant of the University. One, which I learned after his death, is the story of how my grandfather became a man; the other, which he told to me, is of how he became a child again."

As the youngest member of The New Yorker's "20 under 40" group, Obreht caught my attention enough through all they hype in the literary circles that I had to pick up a copy and read it for myself. I had anticipated reading it for a while throughout the Summer, and the hype did not ruin the book. Tea Obreht deserves the literary praise.