A Field Guide to Burying Your Parents and Gone

I have been slacking off posting about the books I've read. I am beginning to wonder if anyone reads this blog. Anyway, I read two books recently. Here they are:

A Field Guilde to Burying Your Parents by Liza Palmer is a funny, smart-alecky, touching book that really was like reading about a friend and the troubles they've seen. Well written with wit and compassion and absolutely no sap. Loved it! 

Gone by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge was equally as good. I'm not sure if I've read any of Ledwidge's other books (let's face it, he wrote it, right?) but I think I will. I liked this NYC detective who was in witness protection hiding out with his large brood in Northern California. 

Book Read:  A Field Guide to Burying Your Parents and Gone
Author:  Liza Palmer

and

Book Read:  Gone
Author:  James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

NYPD Red by James Patterson and Marshall Karp

Last night I stayed up way too late to finish reading NYPD Red, but if you've read his books you know how short 50 pages or so of his novels are.

It seems like this was just one of James Patterson's many books of the week. Not really, of course, but doesn't it seem like he churns them out awfully fast? I know he had help with this one as he does with many of his later books. And I wonder what exactly each writer does. 

I mean, to put Patterson's name on the book has to guarantee mega sales. So does he think up an idea and the other writer actually write it? Does anyone know?

No matter, I liked NYPD Red. It had the right mix of characters. Sometimes there are so many I just can't keep them straight. The story was somewhat believable even!

Do you like to read James Patterson's books? 

Book Read:  NYPD Red
Author:  James Patterson and Marshall Karp

Private Games by James Patterson and Mark Sullivan

Private Games was a step up from most of James Patterson's more recent books I've read, which really makes me wonder how much of these books he writes. Very little of this one, I'm guessing. 

This book was plenty suspenseful but didn't feel gimicky like many of his novels. I think I'd like Mark Sullivan's other books!

This novel's tagline inside the cover reads:  "Celebrate the glory of the Olympic games--before a psychopathic killer extinguishes the flame forever."

I thought it would be fun to read this around the time of the actual London Olympics and am glad I did. Of course I don't hope any of the horrible crap happens for real, but it was fun to read about the sporting arenas and venues that are accurate, according to a note by Patterson in the acknowledgements at the end of the book.

Do you plan to watch the Olympics in London in a few weeks? Pick up this book and you'll be sure to finish it quickly. Patterson's books are always a quick read and entertaining.

Book Read: Private Games

Author:  James Patterson and Mark Sullivan

ISBN:  978-0-316-20682-2

The Postcard Killers by James Patterson and Liza Marklund

The Postcard Killers by James Patterson and Liza Marklund was classic Patterson, which is to say, the same old, same old. The story was interesting enough, I guess. I mean, I finished it, but I certainly didn't have the feeling of "oh, I can't wait to start reading it again."

Maybe it's just that I'm tired to James Patterson's writing. Here are my main gripes with James Patterson in general:

-  When a co-author is listed along with his name, I wonder if he even wrote a word of the book or did he discuss a plot with someone, that person wrote the book and the publisher slapped his name on there to sell books?

-  What is up with the 2-page "chapters"? I mean, I've done typesetting, desktop publishing, editing. This is such a blatant padding technique that his books would probably be about one-third the size if that little technique wasn't used.


-  Does he pull a plot out of a hat to reuse? His books all seem the same, at least the last few I've read.

Maybe I've just outgrown James Patterson's writing. What do you think? Are you a fan of James Patterson? Were you ever?

Book Read:  The Postcard Killers
Author:  James Patterson and Liza Marklund
ISBN:  978-0-316-08951-7

I, Alex Cross by James Patterson

Like all of James Patterson's books, I enjoyed reading the 3- or 4-page chapters (feels like you're really accomplishing something!) in I, Alex Cross, but this book was especially gory (a wood chipper? really?) and just sick and wrong. And the storyline was unbelievable to me, not that some of the strangest stories can't really happen. Maybe they really do. But this one just didn't grab me like some of his books have. I think I, Alex Cross is a good summer read though. Except be warned:  It's not nice nor light.

Book Read:  I, Alex Cross
Author:  James Patterson
ISBN:  978-0-316-01878-4