I've Been Reading

Not necessarily in the order presented but these are the titles I have finished in the last few weeks.

All of these are Kindle editions. I doubt I would have bought even 1/2 of them had they not been. The first one below, New Scrooge Investing by Mark Skousen, was not my first choice. I happened to see Skousen on CSPAN talking about his book, EconoPower. I found that discussion interesting and tried to buy a Kindle edition only to find it unavailable. So his Scrooge book was available and I bought it.

I am still reading Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin. I am having a little trouble returning it to it. I blogged about it when I began it and that's been a while now. But I'm going to try to wade through it and enjoy it next - maybe.

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The New Scrooge Investing: The Bargain Hunter's Guide to Thrifty Investments, Super Discounts, Special Privileges, and Other Money-Saving Tips

by Mark Skousen

I am a terrible investor although probably not the worst in the world. It is absolutely uninteresting to me. I have tried on several occasions to educate myself about investing and to actually try to do some or at least take a more active role in what I have. This is my latest attempt I suppose in that vein.

I am getting older as evidenced by the fact that the Social Security Administration is regularly updating me on my benefits status.

About the book itself I actually quite enjoyed it. The title for one thing is outstanding. I always did like Uncle Scrooge McDuck and I think using the Scrooge name is an excellent device. The book is updated with Internet information which I found quite useful. This book is not available though except from used stores. I bought a copy for my son and brother who carry the "Scrooge" trait in our family.

Phantom Prey

by John Sandford

I am a big fan of Sandford's books, especially the Prey series but I also like the Kidd novels as well.

This effort did not disappoint me although I noticed on Amazon that a few reviews were negative. What I particularly enjoyed about this book was the exploration of mental illness. I knew what he was doing but found it sufficiently fascinating that I had to keep reading.

The Burnt House

by Faye Kellerman

I very much enjoyed Faye's most recent work. I am a fan because she is one of the few authors that tries in incorporate real, ordinary life into the personality of her characters. In particular I appreciate her presentation of faith as a core value. This story had enough twists and turns to keep me guessing for a very long time. A lot of time has passed now in the characters' lives since the last book I read by Kellerman.

Double Cross

by James Patterson

Yes, I do like the Alex Cross books. I also like the movies and I imagine Morgan Freeman as Cross in every book. And I am unapologetic about it. Here's the deal: you have to suspend belief to enjoy fiction. That's the secret. You try to get all literary about stuff and you won't enjoy the time.

Alex is back with the police in this one and has a new love interest. And Kyle Craig is back as the Mastermind. There's more, too, but just those things are sufficient.

Compulsion: An Alex Delaware Novel

by Jonathan Kellerman

Hard to believe I've read 21 Delaware novels prior to this one. I enjoyed it but it wasn't my favorite by a long shot. But I do love the characters except for Rbin. I'd kill her off.

The Watchman: A Joe Pike Novel

by Robert Crais

Joe Pike is one of the coolest characters I've discovered in the last few years. I really enjoyed this book and I usually buy anything that Crais writes.

An Inconvenient Book: Real Solutions to the World's Biggest Problems

by Glenn Beck

I am not a big fan of talk radio in that I rarely listen to radio and if I do listen it is usually classical music. I read the Kindle version of this book but my son gave me the hard bound volume as a gift. I have to say that the latter is one of the most beautifully done books I've ever had the pleasure of possessing. Stunning.

The book itself deals with difficult problems but does it in a light hearted way that is not overpowering but neither is it trivializing. There are a lot of facts, figures, tables, cartoons, and so on. Made me interested enough in Beck to listen to find him and listen to him. But wouldn't buy they book on my own.

Obsession: an Alex Delaware Novel

by Jonathan Kellerman

And this is the 21st one if you are paying attention. I actually liked it quite a bit but it was the first Delaware novel I'd read in a while. I have to admit that the series may be getting a tad old in the tooth.