A Roller Coaster Ride: The Undertaker

The Undertaker by William Brown
ebook, 322 pages
Published February 2011 by William F. Brown
ISBN13: 9781617505119
Read October 2011

The Undertaker is definitely a roller coaster ride, complete with the slow standing in line start. Seriously, for about the first third of the book I questioned if it was going to be worth it - just like when you stand in the long line inching forward and you see the ads for the ride and maybe a glimpse of the fun in action on a video screen, but aren't sure the shuffling pace of the line will really be worth it in the end. Boy, am I glad that I didn't hop out of line on this book.


It is a thriller involving the mafia, government, and cover-ups - all the right ingredients for a great read in my book. But there was just something about Peter's character that made it difficult for me to buy into him jumping to the conclusion of a conspiracy or scam. If you follow my Goodreads.com updates you know that I thought Peter must be really stupid for not seeing that it was the witness protection program. While I do still stand by the claim and I did finally jump on the conspiracy bandwagon around the half-way mark and that is when the ride got wild.


For a thriller, it didn't really require much thought to keep up with the story. Brown uses pretty stereotypical characters, which might be why I had problems with Peter. An aeronautical engineer (aka rocket scientist) from California does not scream conspiracy nut to me. Maybe it was the death of his wife, but I would have thought he would have been more logical.

I really liked the supporting characters of Sandy and Gino. It would be cool if there was a book that focused on Gino. Sandy was a bit unstable (I could totally see her jumping to the government conspiracy theory). Her character though served more to reinforce my opinion that Peter shouldn't have gone down that path so quickly/easily. 


The Undertaker isn't meant to be a book that you think too hard about. If you do, you just start seeing more problems and lose some of the thrilling fun that it is meant to be. It was pitched to me as a great summer beach read and it definitely would have been if I could have gotten to it this summer. For a reader who doesn't really care to read fluffy chick-lit, but still wants a light read The Undertaker is perfect! (I can say it's a fluffy thriller?)

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Video: Weekend Reading News

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The Undertaker by William Brown

 

 

The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Completed by David Madden)

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Book Event: Avid Bookshop Grand Opening

Originally, I was suppose to be in Texas for the Austin Book Festival this weekend. However, plans fell through. But lucky for me, my local town is providing a variety of book related events this weekend. Last night, I attended the Grand Opening of an independent bookstore: Avid Bookshop.

I arrived just a few minutes before 7:00 pm when the doors where set to open and there was already a crowd gathering outside. People of all ages where arriving for this event, many from the surrounding neighborhoods. When the doors opened with a dramatic flair the crowd surged forward.

As I entered, I could see owner Janet Geddis wiping tears from her eyes as she greeted the eager clients. She lives in the surrounding community and I'm sure many are her neighbors, friends, and excited supporters. Looking around the large crowd, I could see many greeting one another with hugs and warm welcome.

As you can see the crowd was large. On Friday afternoon, the Facebook invite page had 133 people listed as attending. Amidst the hub-bub, everyone wanting to congratulate Janet, I was able to get a quick with her. When asked about how she felt about finally opening the bookstore after several years of planning, she said it was "amazing... surreal", and just as she always imagined it. 

Avid Bookshop has a little bit of everything. I didn't really see much in the way of local authors' work, which was a little disappointing in a neighborhood bookstore. But if you are looking for the mainstream, popular titles for children, middle grades, young adult, and adult there was quite the selection.

The evening wound down with a reading from local writing group New Town Revue and the illumination of the permanent art installation in the children's area.

I had a great time. I mentioned my blog to a few people and even did a little scouting for the publishing house. Then I came home and like a typical book lover, I curled up in bed with a cup of hot cocoa and a book.

I'm off to another literary event this afternoon. The Northeast Georgia Reading Council is hosting a Family Day to celebrate literacy at the local Barnes & Noble. There are a couple of open mic times, so I'm hoping to do a little more scouting and then my friend and author William j. Barry will be reading from his book Sebastian and the Afterlife.

I'm back to reading!

I'm on location this week with my video blog. It's not an exotic place, but it is sort of exciting. I finished my front porch project. You can see "live" footage in the video, but here are a few of pictures.

Now on to what I'm reading this week. It's Monday! What are your reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey.


The Undertaker by William Brown

Curiosity can kill more than cats, but when Pete Talbott found himself at the wrong end of Gino Parini's .45 reading his own obituary, it was a mystery he couldn't leave alone. From the cornfields of Ohio to the gritty slums of Chicago, a bloody kitchen in a Back Bay townhouse, New York's Washington Square, and the nation's Capitol itself, the hunt is on. Someone with a penchant for sharp scalpels and embalming tables is planting bodies under other people's names, and if Talbott doesn't stop them, he and his quirky new girlfriend Sandy Kasmarek will be next on the Undertaker's list. From Goodreads.com

The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Completed by David Madden)

To mark the bicentenary of the birth of Charles Dickens in 2012, Unthank Books are publishing Sir David Madden's masterful new completion of THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD, Dickens' last, and unfinished novel. In a work of incredible literary ventriloquism David Madden renders the greatest homage he can to the great author by creating an ending as faithful to Dickens' written intentions as possible. Closely following the clues clearly laid down by Dickens in his sadly incomplete version, David Madden seamlessly continues the story with a stunningly similar repertoire of comedy, psychological acuity, inimitable description and turn of phrase. Published in one volume with Madden succeeding the 'master,' this is at last a completion of the mystery which proves it to be as much a 'whydunnit' as a 'whodunnit' and affords real pleasure, finally and fully from start to finish.
It is literally as if Dickens has risen from his grave to finish the job. From Goodreads.com

FUN! Steven George and the Dragon

Steven George & The Dragon by Nathan Everett
ebook
Published March 2011 by NWE Signatures LLC
ISBN 2940012395009
Read October 2011

I picked this book up during ArmchairBEA. It was being given away free to all the participants. At the time, I had just gotten my Nook and was still excited to fill it up with books (I'm still excited, but a bit more choosy). While now I might have bypassed the book (from the description it isn't my kind of book), I am so glad that I did not. It was such a fun read!


The only fairytales I've ever read were the ones that Disney or Golden Books rewrote. I remember learning  when I was in fourth grade that a lot of the fairytales had longer versions (and numerous versions). Often these weren't suitable for young children. Did you know there is a version of Cinderella that has the stepsisters cutting off their toes and heels to fit into the glass slipper?


Steven George and the Dragon is perfect for any age, though its length probably makes it better for older children with longer attention spans. I loved that it was just kind of frivolous. You know I read a lot of realistic dramas and this was such a nice break. Even better than what I usually turn to in the light & fluffy genre.


Steven George comes from a society that trades stories as currency. As he starts off his journey to slay the dragon, the stories of his hat become embellished, kind of like the big fish stories fisherman tell. He meets interesting characters along the way (Steven George is quite naive to the ways of the world as his village is very isolated), each with a fanciful story of their own to share. 


I gave this story only 4 stars because I wasn't too sure about the ending. The author tries to draw some religious parallels towards the end that I'm not sure work (both in terms of the analogy and story). I think I would have liked it a bit better if the Tinker had been right.


If you are looking for an enjoyable distraction, I highly recommend Steven George and the Dragon.

Instead of Reading

Instead of reading this weekend, I worked on a house project. One that I've wanted to do for a while, but just hadn't. With the cooler weather, I've been trying to give a little attention to my oft neglected yard. While trimming some shrubs a few weeks ago, I broke the railing on my front porch. So I took this opportunity to finally revamp the entrance to the front porch. It has been labor intensive and well you can see for yourself. (Hopefully, I'll be back this week with some reviews and new book recommendation for you).

Saturday Morning... 

 

Saturday afternoon....

 

Sunday afternoon...