Inside Delta Force by Eric Haney
I checked this book out from the library to use as research for my awesome NaNoWriMo book. But I really really liked it as a story too. It seems like it would have been super cool to be in Delta Force in the 70's and early 80's because I guess everyone had sweet mustaches. (As an aside, the only kind of facial hair you can have in APD is a mustache. Aaron and I have an agreement, he is free to grow a mustache, but as long as he has it, he has to sleep on the couch.)
The book included a lot about the Delta selection and training programs which are totally hard and crazy and awesome. He also had many many stories about the missions he went on, including Beruit, Greneda, rescuing hijacked planes and other very cool things. There were also many things that were not cool - like his theory that the US government purposely left POWs in Vietnam, and that the Sandenistas were led by U.S. soldiers. Not good things, but really interesting. I might have to read this book again, after a little research, so I can get a better handle on the stuff he talks about.
I thought his writing style was very interesting. You can tell he is a soldier writing a book about being a soldier, and not a writer writing a book about being a soldier. The dialogue seemed really authentic and his descriptions had a unique point of view.
I am not sure if he has written anything else, but I did hear that the TV show "The Unit" was based on Delta Force as portrayed in this book. I guess technically Delta is a secret unit, even though everyone knows about them. Thanks to this book I guess, and the movie Black Hawk Down (the guy Hoot played by Eric Bana) which was a great movie.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
No. 133: Tsar
Tsar by Ted Bell
I borrowed this book from Jesse, and embarassingly enough, this book is about a million times better traveled than I am. This book just got back from Bora Bora.
But anyway, this was a good book. I think it is set slightly in the future (not the immediate present because the world leaders are different, but still alive). It is about spies and Russia and cool slightly futuristic technology like giant zepplins and brain computers. It was a pretty long book but I managed to read it in two days, the farther along I got in the book the better it got. I liked the main character (a spy) because he was awesome, but realistic, not like James Bond, but a little like James Bond. I also really liked the secondary characters, and there were a lot. I did not however like the FMC at all. I thought she was weird and weak and her motives were questionable - there wasn't enough explination. Also this book had Navy SEALs, which you know I love.
My two favorite parts were my favorites for totally different reasons. First, I liked that the MMC had a fire pole in his bedroom that went down into a lagoon under his bedroom (he lived in Bermuda) That just seems so awesome - jump out of bed and slide into the ocean!
Second was a really disturbing and gross part about this crazy prison in Russia purposely built on a nuclear waste site so everyone got horribly sick from radiation poisioning (unless they died from being impaled first - eewww). But the cool part was that former Russian President Putin was imprisioned there and had a secret lead lined room in his cell. That is pretty stinking cool.
I borrowed this book from Jesse, and embarassingly enough, this book is about a million times better traveled than I am. This book just got back from Bora Bora.
But anyway, this was a good book. I think it is set slightly in the future (not the immediate present because the world leaders are different, but still alive). It is about spies and Russia and cool slightly futuristic technology like giant zepplins and brain computers. It was a pretty long book but I managed to read it in two days, the farther along I got in the book the better it got. I liked the main character (a spy) because he was awesome, but realistic, not like James Bond, but a little like James Bond. I also really liked the secondary characters, and there were a lot. I did not however like the FMC at all. I thought she was weird and weak and her motives were questionable - there wasn't enough explination. Also this book had Navy SEALs, which you know I love.
My two favorite parts were my favorites for totally different reasons. First, I liked that the MMC had a fire pole in his bedroom that went down into a lagoon under his bedroom (he lived in Bermuda) That just seems so awesome - jump out of bed and slide into the ocean!
Second was a really disturbing and gross part about this crazy prison in Russia purposely built on a nuclear waste site so everyone got horribly sick from radiation poisioning (unless they died from being impaled first - eewww). But the cool part was that former Russian President Putin was imprisioned there and had a secret lead lined room in his cell. That is pretty stinking cool.
Friday, October 24, 2008
No. 132: Springwater Wedding
Springwater Wedding by Linda Lael Miller
So technically, since this is a contemporary book, and not post-civil war, I did read something different than usual. Although it is still set in the same town as all the other Springwater books, so it is really not that different. But I found it in my library pile and it was almost due back and I think (hope) that it is the last un-read Springwater book.
But it wasn't very good - I prefer the historical westerns to the contemporary ones. This book had too many cliches, and my cliche tolerance level is pretty high. I did like the sherriff whose name was Purvis (good name) and his relationship with Nell and his mother. The rest of it was so-so. I really am going to read something totally different now. Probably.
So technically, since this is a contemporary book, and not post-civil war, I did read something different than usual. Although it is still set in the same town as all the other Springwater books, so it is really not that different. But I found it in my library pile and it was almost due back and I think (hope) that it is the last un-read Springwater book.
But it wasn't very good - I prefer the historical westerns to the contemporary ones. This book had too many cliches, and my cliche tolerance level is pretty high. I did like the sherriff whose name was Purvis (good name) and his relationship with Nell and his mother. The rest of it was so-so. I really am going to read something totally different now. Probably.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
No. 131: Caroline and the Raider
Caroline and the Raider by Linda Lael Miller
So, it turns out I checked out about a million Linda Lael Miller books from the library. I am not sure why, I am kind of sick of them, but if I have a book that I have not read, I am compelled to read it. This particular book had a pretty good plot, a little different - the FMC and MMC were both initially promised to other peole, and they were trying hard not to like each other (for awhile) and then it kind of went downhill. All of the "romance" parts were horrible!!! The dialogue and descriptions were just ridiculous. I could not stop rolling my eyes, and on several occasions I actually snorted out loud. Which was kind of embarassing when I was reading it at work during lunch. Peole kept looking in my office like they were concerned about me.
So, I think it is time for a break from the old west post-civil war Linda Lael Miller books. They are all sounding the same and kind of annoying.
So, it turns out I checked out about a million Linda Lael Miller books from the library. I am not sure why, I am kind of sick of them, but if I have a book that I have not read, I am compelled to read it. This particular book had a pretty good plot, a little different - the FMC and MMC were both initially promised to other peole, and they were trying hard not to like each other (for awhile) and then it kind of went downhill. All of the "romance" parts were horrible!!! The dialogue and descriptions were just ridiculous. I could not stop rolling my eyes, and on several occasions I actually snorted out loud. Which was kind of embarassing when I was reading it at work during lunch. Peole kept looking in my office like they were concerned about me.
So, I think it is time for a break from the old west post-civil war Linda Lael Miller books. They are all sounding the same and kind of annoying.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
No. 130: Springwater
Springwater by Linda Lael Miller
I basically read this entire series backwards, starting with the newest release and only now, after reading the rest of the series, did I read the first one. Even though I had it all along in my massive pile of books from the library.
But you know what, I think this might be the best of the lot. It was a much better story, I actually really liked the FMC and the MMC. There were great secondary characters, especially the daughter who was totally hysterical. She is supposed to be 6 but kept saying things like - "he is spectacular" so I plan on teaching Ella the appropriate use of the word spectacular first thing in the morning. This book also had a different sort of plot that was very compelling - they reluctantly fall in love, confess it to each other, don't do much about it except for one kiss, but are prepared to go their seperate ways. Kind of interesting. Of course, since it is a romance novel, they live happily ever after :)
I think there is supposed to be another one in this series coming out at Christmas, I am sure I will read it.
I basically read this entire series backwards, starting with the newest release and only now, after reading the rest of the series, did I read the first one. Even though I had it all along in my massive pile of books from the library.
But you know what, I think this might be the best of the lot. It was a much better story, I actually really liked the FMC and the MMC. There were great secondary characters, especially the daughter who was totally hysterical. She is supposed to be 6 but kept saying things like - "he is spectacular" so I plan on teaching Ella the appropriate use of the word spectacular first thing in the morning. This book also had a different sort of plot that was very compelling - they reluctantly fall in love, confess it to each other, don't do much about it except for one kiss, but are prepared to go their seperate ways. Kind of interesting. Of course, since it is a romance novel, they live happily ever after :)
I think there is supposed to be another one in this series coming out at Christmas, I am sure I will read it.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
No. 129: Twilight (3)
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
Forget the 5 new books that I bought and the 15 or so library books that are waiting in a pile in the living room for me to read, I had a bad day so I decided to re-read Twilight. And you know what, it was just as good the third time as it was the first. This time however, I had recently read the released part of Midnight Sun (Twilight from Edwards perspective) so for about half the book, while I was reading Bella's POV, I could think about and remember Edwards. And since Edward is by far the best thing about the series, it was awesome. Now I want to re-read Midnight Sun, and then probably re-read Twilight again before the movie comes out next month. It is a never ending cycle I guess. But really, I have never read a book before that I have thought about so much once I was done reading. I read this book for the first time in the beginning of July - almost 4 months ago - and I still think about it all the time. I think that is a sign of a great book. Even if it is an embarassing teenage vampire romance :)
Forget the 5 new books that I bought and the 15 or so library books that are waiting in a pile in the living room for me to read, I had a bad day so I decided to re-read Twilight. And you know what, it was just as good the third time as it was the first. This time however, I had recently read the released part of Midnight Sun (Twilight from Edwards perspective) so for about half the book, while I was reading Bella's POV, I could think about and remember Edwards. And since Edward is by far the best thing about the series, it was awesome. Now I want to re-read Midnight Sun, and then probably re-read Twilight again before the movie comes out next month. It is a never ending cycle I guess. But really, I have never read a book before that I have thought about so much once I was done reading. I read this book for the first time in the beginning of July - almost 4 months ago - and I still think about it all the time. I think that is a sign of a great book. Even if it is an embarassing teenage vampire romance :)
Monday, October 13, 2008
No. 128: Springwater Seasons - Jessica
Jessica by Linda Lael Miller
This was my least favorite of the four. I hate it when a misunderstanding makes the characters act so unreasonably! So annoying! So the FMC was super irritating. The MMC was not much better because he apparently fell in love with her even though she claimed to hate him. The other part I hated was that she had twin new babies that she was going to raise after her brother and sister-in-law died but the vast majority of the story happened when someone else was dealing with the babies. Like she left and was gone for several days, then got back and then got married right away and went on a honeymoon. All with no babies. That is irritating. So this was the worst, but reading them all in a row wasn't too bad because I got a lot of follow up on the previous characters.
This was my least favorite of the four. I hate it when a misunderstanding makes the characters act so unreasonably! So annoying! So the FMC was super irritating. The MMC was not much better because he apparently fell in love with her even though she claimed to hate him. The other part I hated was that she had twin new babies that she was going to raise after her brother and sister-in-law died but the vast majority of the story happened when someone else was dealing with the babies. Like she left and was gone for several days, then got back and then got married right away and went on a honeymoon. All with no babies. That is irritating. So this was the worst, but reading them all in a row wasn't too bad because I got a lot of follow up on the previous characters.
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