Recent Reads

104. The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ
The audiobook is wonderfully narrated by the author, and while I quite enjoyed the first half, the second half did not seem as interesting a read.

Stories are powerful, and this book explores how stories become stories. This is an alternate version of what is often touted as the greatest story ever told. I love the idea of Jesus having an identical twin, and reading about well known stories told with a slightly different twist, which changes everything is quite fun. Pullman wonderfully challenges the reader on similar themes in His Dark Materials Trilogy, but this work felt a little weak to me. For a much more enjoyable ride I'd recommend His Dark Materials, or Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal. Rating: 2 stars.

105. I Am Pilgrim (Pilgrim #1)
I like big books and I cannot lie. This first book in the Pilgrim series is a little over 600 pages, and the hardcover version hurt my wrists while reading in bed, but I digress. 

This book could not quite decide what it wants to be when it grows up. Will it be a mystery, a detective story, a crime novel, a spy/espionage thriller, or a terrorist doomsday saga? So many choices, and so many pages to try them all out. I get that this is a debut novel, and the author clearly enjoyed writing it, but it could have used tighter editing, and needs to shed about 200 pages.

Pilgrim is the code name for this super-duper-top-secret guy who has been deep, deep uncover. So covert in fact that the organization he worked for has a code name, as do all the people he works with, and no-one has ever heard of them. After he makes a name for himself, 9/11 happens, and he quits his job and tries to have a normal life, but not before writing and publishing a book detailing all the clever ways to kill someone and get away with it. That book has fans - not all of whom are law abiding citizens. While helping in a murder investigation, he gets the call: America is in danger Batman. Add to this mix a disgruntled and traumatized Saudi and a biological terror threat that could very well end America as we know it. Pilgrim is our only hope. Can he save us?

I love spy-espionage-terrorism stories, but this ones tries to do too much. There are too many threads that do not add to the main story line, and too many flashbacks to far flung locations around the globe to help fill out some of the background story for the main characters. Still, for a debut novel this is an enjoyable summer read. Rating: 3 stars.

106. Congratulations, by the way: Some Thoughts on Kindness
This slim little volume is a reprint in book form of the graduation address that the author gave at Syracuse University in 2013. You can also read it for free online, or listen to his 12 minute address on YouTube. His message? Try to be kinder. As graduation speeches go, it is not horrible, but it is also far from inspirational. I agree with the message, but am glad this is a book I decided to borrow from my library. Rating: 2 stars.

107. Genius
This is a graphic novel about Ted. Ted is a physicist who was labeled a genius as a kid (he skipped two grades), but he is not living up to his potential. He stumbles upon the fact that his father-in-law, Francis, knew Einstein, and that Einstein entrusted Francis with a secret idea, one that would blow our minds and change physics as we know it. Can Ted pry this secret out of his father-in-law?

It must be hard to labor under the assumption one is a genius. I wouldn't know, but it must be tough to have Einstein as the bar set for you. I liked the sketchy monochromatic art, but found myself not caring about Ted at all. I did however love the crotchety old father-in-law. Rating: 2 stars.