pontalba

muggle, what about Blood Meridian? I've started it twice and couldn't go any farther....just too....too much. I'm wondering how the Border Trilogy compares to it. I have read and enjoyed The Road, very much.

I've read about using robots in surgery. I can imagine that if programmed correctly, they can be far more accurate and quick than it is possible for a human to be. I guess I've just grown up on all the old books that featured wars between humans and the ultimate robots. After all, humans still have to program them, and how reliable are we? But, it's progress, and is not going to just go away. I hope it is good.

Hostage by Robert Crais is a well written, fast paced thriller that delves into the psychology of a hostage situation. 4/5 Three men rob a convenience store, killing the owner. Fleeing the scene their truck breaks down on the road and they penetrate a gated community by breaching the fence. Invading the nearest home, they take a father and two children hostage. The story evolves from there into some extremely risky paths. Dangerous all the way around for the family, the Police Chief in charge, and inadvertently, themselves. They know not where they tread. There is a great deal of great detail about hostage negotiations that I found to be realistically done, and the characters were well drawn. The story is told from various points of view, which I found moved the story along well. This is not part of a series, but a stand alone of Crais. Recommended.

Marie, me too! It was really good, not heavily SF at all. Good story. If you look up thread, there are reviews on Steve's thread and on my book thread.

Well, I wavered between a 3 and 4 star, finally settling on an actual 3.5/5 rating. Not knowing the Estonian history behind some of the political stuff was against me. I did figure it out, but that was about half way through. I thought her characters were well fleshed out and aside from what I've mentioned, it'd be a solid 4/5 for me. I know I'll certainly pick up more books by her.

Plus the fact this fourth one will not be based on Larsson's notes doesn't thrill me.

Thanks, Julie. I read The Scarlet Letter back in high school. I've downloaded it to my kindle for a future reread.

Is Google our friend? I know I always say that, but I'm beginning to wonder. We're crossing into new territory, and I'm a bit.......well, both awed and scared. Nervous about it? A bit. Is this fantastically wonderful, or absolutely crazy? http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/wp/2013/12/19/google-is-hoarding-robots-heres-what-they-may-be-planning/?wprss=rss_technology&wpisrc=nl_tech'>Google is hoarding robots. Here’s what they may be planning http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/wp/2013/12/19/google-is-hoarding-robots-heres-what-they-may-be-planning/?wprss=rss_technology&wpisrc=nl_tech Wow, Just wow.

Wow, Gaia! Verra impressed. Well done! Yup, gobsmacked is it!

Read and reviewed When She Woke by Hillary Jordan, and probably will start Robert Crais's Hostage, thanks to Ian's review.

Well, it sounds as though you've already had the perfect birthday, Sari! I'm very happy for you and wish you the best, always. The books you received are great. I'm especially interested in the one about Confederacy of Dunces. I have it around here, Confederacy, not your new one. Haven't read it yet and def on the fence about it. I look forward to your impressions. btw...finished Purge. Liked it. Reviewed it. Thanks!

When She Woke by Hillary Jordan is a self proclaimed riff of Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter. A very interesting and well done riff, I have to add. 3/5 It occurs in a slightly futuristic, extremely fundamentalist-gone-mad, United States. Instead of Hester Prynne's scarlet A, we have Hannah Payne's skin genetically altered to a bright red. The process is called "chroming" and different colors are used for different classes of crime. Red is for murder. I've seen the book compared to Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, and there certainly is a distinctly similar dystopian feel to When She Woke, but I'd still call it a modern The Scarlet Letter. I found it to be well written, and interesting enough to keep reading. It's been many decades since I read Hawthorne's novel, I really need a reread. Recommended.

I loved Mary Stewart. Read most of them when I was a teenager, and early 20's. Should go back for a reread of some.

The first I read about Sherman was in A First-Rate Madness: Uncovering the Links Between Leadership and Mental Illness by Nassir Ghaemi. One of the sections is on Sherman. Fascinating. I read it last year, put up a brief review here..... http://www.bookclubforum.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/9619-pontalbas-2012-reading-list/page-4?hl= nassir ghaemi

???? Didn't see a link.

I was fortunate to hit one of those 2.99 USD kindle copy sales. I'd been interested in it, but not at "new" prices.

Giving them away doesn't count! LOL I've always kept ahead of the curve, not as much as recently, but ahead. Can't stand not to have any unread books in the house! It's just wrong! If there is, which I am sure there is, I have it from both sides of the family. Only one? Darn! I'd better get busy!

I'll be interested in your opinion of his other(s).

Ahhh, muggle! Yup, what she said. ^^^^^^^^^^^^ Thanks, Gaia.

Talisman, My Mother always said, "when in doubt, don't". I think you're wise to take a wait and see attitude.

Hah, know that feeling! I. Love. This!! You go, girl!! Hurrah! Both for making the trip, and getting such a great deal on the books!! List Please!

Awww! You guys! I liked it.

Whoops! Sorry, Julie! I haven't read Secret History, it's the January Reading discussion though. I'll read it for that, and really look forward to it! Glad to hear you liked it so much. When did you read it?

Ahhh, to find it!