Alright, I’ve read five books by this guy now and the last three in a row all have someone faking their death and pretending to be their cousin. Oh, that was the other two, it was actually a brother in this one (what a crazy plot twist that was for me. Couldn’t see it comin).

Well I haven’t checked the dates on any of them so maybe they’re all like 13 years apart or there’s a really good reason that I’m not deducing here but jeezman.

SO, I’m going with “uneasy relations” is the one to read. Anyhoo, the guy is a really great writer, a great wit (except for dialogue w the main guy and his wife) so if you’re on vacation and want a fun read this guy is your pal.

COURTNEY TAYLOR-TAYLOR

Murder mysteries. I love them.

This is the third book in a row that I’ve read by this guy. He’s really good. AARON ELKINS.

Plus there’s lots of fascinating information about paleoanthropology and phylogeny n shit.

COURTNEY TAYLOR-TAYLOR

First of all, wow. A history of NYC told through oysters. Talk about factoids. The first steam engine was invented in 1698. Over 100 years later (1807) Robert Fulton would create a steamboat monopoly in the Hudson Valley and be credited with inventing them. This is the factoid I just read and I’m about a third of the way through.

This writer not only does his homewerk but is also wry and clever. I’m not gonna dig around for an example so just get this book and start reading.

COURTNEY TAYLOR-TAYLOR

Pattern Recognition (Wm Gibson)

I’m about halfway through this book and it’s rocking out super hard now. It really only took about 40 pages to get up out of the quagmire and start moving. It becomes int’l espionagey like all ny times bestsellers seem to but the difference here is William Gibson and the sheer size of his brain. Amazing. I’ve gotta say that what ben franklin was to inventing, this guy is to fiction.

COURTNEY TAYLOR-TAYLOR

Well I’m flying again and this guy isn’t helping.  Neither is Delta.

When I was 19 I werked at a bar that hosted poetry nights.  Old guys would occasionally get onstage and start rattling off what they felt were hip phrases and cool reference points and god it was fuggin boring and I just wanted them to JUST SAY IT!  Whatever the hell it is that you mean, just say it.

That’s what this book is doing to me now.  It reads like a catalogue of hip reference points and sassy phrases that one must dig and grindones way through to find the storythread.   I’ve found it twice so far….I think.  But my head hurts.  I think this man needs an editor.

As for Delta, I have 3 hrs in this airport and as I’m flying alone and all day I spent the xtra dough for first class.  Can I get into the 1st class lounge? NO!  Wtf?  I can assure you if there is ever any terrorism or airrage associated with Delta I bet its got nothing to do with the U.S. Govt or this shitty consumer culture we’ve created and now must labor under or god putting OUR oil under THEIR desert.

NOPE its Delta.

COURTNEY TAYLOR-TAYLOR

What makes this the best of all international espionage high level goby intrigue pop trash novels is that he doesn’t get involved in any cheezmo boy/girl relationshit with bullets whizzing overhead. In fact there’s hardly any dialogue at all and what there is seems to be fairly necessary. Most of this reads like a very interesting historical textbook. It’s about a hypothetical war on one central international Colombian cocaine cartel and it got me through a grueling and misadventurous 40 he trip home from Norway.

COURTNEY TAYLOR-TAYLOR

Regarding Riders of the Purple Sage I’d have to say that the kamp/soap opera value ends up higher than it begins. Turns out Zane Grey is into Love. This book is dusty, dirty, dark and dangerous but when it comes to Love its written for a nine year old girl. From the 50’s.
If you can keep from getting snobby about the Love and a couple other minor flaws, all in all its an awesome ride and man is it a page burner. Rocks in a classic way and has a fuxton of atmosphere. Its ain’t an American classic for nothin.

This was just fine for about eight short plane flights. International politics and hi-tech weaponry. Some pretty silly dialogue, but it doesn’t get in the way as much as usually happens.

I think I bought it because it says “the Oregon Files.”

COURTNEY TAYLOR-TAYLOR

Previously.

Well this was only fun for a little while. I shoulda seen it coming.

He had two Hot Ladies on the team of good guys.  He was gonna feel the need to have them not get along (because character realism isn’t the point here, tension and release is). That particular subplot was not very believably written but merely annoying since the action rocked right along…. Until he decided they should really have it out.

Well when he did he blew it.

In storytelling and invention, an argument decided upon rather than arrived at is a real ball-dropper and basically since it got dropped, so has this book.   I’d like to get back into it cuz it was really quite fun for a while there.  Lots of great historical information and the dude can really write action.  I’ve tried twice but the spell has been broken.  I think.

COURTNEY TAYLOR-TAYLOR