Good Authors – Good Reads

If you are searching for some interesting reading, you might try these authors. I’ve found their work enjoyable to read. Don’t look for computer science or technical books here. Everyone has got to have recreational reading to make them whole.

Most recently read books: The Closers (Michael Connelly), Saving Cascadia (John Nance) and The Miracle of St. Anthony: A Season with Coach Bob Hurley and Basketball's Most Improbable Dynasty (Adrian Woinarowski)

Dan Brown http://www.danbrown.com/

Dan Brown is a popular author who became most well know for his book The daVinci Code. The Code is part action thriller, murder mystery, detective story that seeks to find descendants of Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene. The book is fiction based somewhat on the theories and conjectures of academics and theorists both religious and secular. What ever you believe, I think you’ll find it good reading, but only if you can keep an open mind and remember that it is a book of fiction.

I enjoyed reading The daVinci Code (2003) so much that I put Dan Brown on my must read list. I have since read Angels and Demons (2000), a story of religious intrigue about a threat to destroy Vatican City and Rome. The plots of both books twist and turn as the characters move from setting to setting in search of clues to solve their problems.

I have also read Deception Point (2001) and The Digital Fortress (1998), which both deal with technology, intrigue, and murder involving government agencies and the military within the U.S. These two books are different from the Code and Angels and Demons, both in subject and treatment.

If you like contemporary murder mysteries with modern twists, read a Dan Brown book.

Michael Connelly http://www.michaelconnelly.com/

Michael Connelly originally worked as a crime reporter for the LA Times. He has since moved on to become a best selling author of crime fiction. His themes and setting are generally from the Los Angeles area. The details he infuses in his novels make reading them enjoyable and consuming. Connelly’s writing style brings me into his books.

One of his main characters is detective Harry Bosch. Bosch is popular an reappear in Connelly novels regularly. Bosch served in Viet Nam. This background influences his character development throughout the novels. Bosch is a dedicated lead detective on the homicide table working for the Hollywood Division. He often butts heads with higher-ranking brass. Connelly has written other crime books that do not center on the Bosch character. Blood Work was turned into a Clint Eastwood movie with Eastwood playing the character of Terry McCaleb, ex-FBI agent who undergoes a heart transplant. The tension between local police, e.g., LAPD and the FBI, plays a major part in several of Connelly’s stories.

The following Connelly books have appeared over time: Black Echo (1992), The Black Ice (1993), The Concrete Blond (1994), The Last Coyote (1995), The Poet (1996), Trunk Music (1997), Blood Work (1998), Angels Flight (1999), Void Moon (2000), A Darkness More Than Night (2001), City of Bones (2002), Chasing the Dime (2002) [deals with nanotechnology], Lost Light (2003), The Narrows (2004), and The Closers (2005). I have read all of these books and eagerly look forward to Michael Connelly’s next story.

Michael Connelly’s publisher has introduced a new twist with his last two book releases. Lost Light was released with a CD entitled Dark Sacred Night: The Music of Harry Bosch. It is a collection of Bosch’s (Connelly’s) favorite genre of music, jazz. Artists with cuts on the CD include Frank Morgan, John Coltrane, Art Pepper, Bill Evans, Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson, Clifford Brown, and Louis Armstrong. The Narrows was released with a DVD entitled Blue Neon Night: Michael Connelly’s Los Angeles. The DVD has William Peterson (Gil Grisson of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation) reading segments from each of Connelly’s novels. Each audio segment is read over appropriate scenes from LA. Michael Connelly also appears to talk about his books, his time in LA, and his inspiration. The DVD is full-length and very interesting for readers of Connelly’s work.

The Closers brings detective Harry Bosch back to the LAPD as a member of the Open-Unsolved Unit (aka Cold Case Investigation). He teams with an old partner Kizmin Rider, who also has just moved from an administrative position back to active detective duty in the same unit. Their first case together involves the death 17 years earlier of a high school junior. As we move through the book suspects are identified and ultimately eliminated until the real murderer is found. If you've read some of the earlier Bosch novels, you'll recognize some familiar persons and places.

Julian Stockwin http://www.julianstockwin.com/Julian%20Stockwin.htm

Stockwin is writing a series of nautical books focusing on one main character Thomas Kydd. I’ve read all of the novels written in the series thus far. The first novel, Kydd (2001), introduces Kydd to the British Navel of the early 1800’s. Thomas Kydd is an impressed seaman. Kydd travels through the series and sees the world moving from ship to ship and rising in rank. I’ve also read: Artemis (2001), Seaflower (2003), and Mutiny (2003).

John Nance http://www.johnjnance.com/

John Nance is a pilot and aviation expert for a national TV network. His action novels involve flying and dramas that occur in the air or that are associated with aircraft. I have read several of Nance’s novel including Headwind, Blackout, Turbulence, Skyhook, and Fire Flight.

John Nance's most recent book Saving Cascadia (2005) is a thriller set in the Pacific Northwest. It involves a helicopter charter company and its medevac sister company. Will "the big one" (earthquake) destroy the cost from Victoria, BC to northern California? Will a tsunami follow? Whose fault is it? Is it the entrepreneur building a resort on a small and fragile island bird sanctuary? Is it the well-respected engineering firm that hides, rewrites, or misinterprets the seismologic data? Is it reckless governor of Washington? How about the USGS regional and national officials? The plot will twist and turn, but mostly the action and intrigue hardly stop. Who saves Cascadia? Is it the native American Indian shaman? Is it the seismologic at the University of Washington? Is helicopter rescue pilot? Is Cascadia saved at all? You'll have to read the book and I heartily recommend that to you.

Bernard Cornwell http://www.bernardcornwell.net/index.cfm

Bernard Cornwell may be most well known for writing the Sharpe series of novel, some of which have been made into PBS TV offerings. I have seen some of these shows, but I have not read any of the Sharp Series.

I have read other books written by Bernard Cornwell and find his novels very interesting. Here are the novels that I have read and enjoyed: (1) Arthurian Trilogy – The Warlord Chronicles: The Winter King (1995), Enemy of God (1996), and Excalibur (1997), (2) Stonehenge: 2000 BC: A Novel (2000), (3) The Grail Quest Series: The Archer’s Tale (2001), Vagabond (2002), Heretic (2003), and (4) Gallows Thief (2002).

Michael Crichton http://www.crichton-official.com/

Crichton’s most recently published book is State of Fear (2004). The story is interesting and gets the reader into it. I had trouble putting the book down, once I had started reading it. Who are the “bad guys” – industry, government, science, or environmentalists? Like most of Crichton’s books, this one is about one aspect of science and its impact on us. The focus on the environment is relevant in light of four hurricanes hitting Florida within six weeks, an earthquake in Iran, and the tsunami that caused over 150,000 deaths in south Asia.

At times, Crichton, through his characters is a bit “preachy”. This slows the book in spots. Some of the events and situations are telegraphed. I like surprises. The book has plenty, but more could be left to the reader.

The two essays after the book ends reinforces Crichton’s opinions. I would still recommend the book to readers looking for a fast paced story.

Prey appeared in 2002. It presents nanotechnology, and should be of particular interest to computer science students.

J. K. Rowling

J. K. Rowling is the popular author of the Harry Potter Series. Yes, I enjoy reading the book. I’ve read all of them published thus far including: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Grade 5).

Tracy Kidder http://www.bookpage.com/9905bp/tracy_kidder.html

Tracy Kidder visited WMU shortly after completing Among School Children (1989). I believe he spent a year sitting in the back of a fourth grade class in Massachusetts. Kidder’s MO is to write true fiction, i.e., he spends about a year observing and documenting some event, Kidder then mixes mostly fact with some occasional fictionalized dialog. I’ve read all of Kidder’s books, but have seen a new one in awhile. Kidder’s first book, The Soul of a New Machine (1981) is about how Data General designed a new minicomputer. Computer science students should like this one. I read House (1985) twice, the second time prior to building my own home. Kidder’s Old Friends (1993) was said. It was set in a nursing home. Home Town (1999), which I have also read is about Northampton, MA the location of Mount Holyoke College. The book cover has a commentary written by Stuart Dybek, himself a well-respected author, and member of the WMU Department of English.

Tracy Kidder visited WMU again in 2003. I was there with a full house at WMU’s Little Theater. Kidder spoke about his most recent book, Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer (2003). Framer, a graduate of Harvard Medical School has worked around the world through Partners In Health to establish public health services in poor countries. Mountains Beyond Mountains focuses on Farmer’s work to establish clinics to handle AIDS and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Haiti, Peru, and prisons in Moscow.

Jack Whyte http://www.camulod.com/

Jack Whyte offers a different view of the Legend of King Author. Whyte’s fiction focuses on Author’s birth and youth as told through a Romanized Merlin. I’ve read all of the books in the Camulod Chronicles Series: The Skystone (1996), The Singing Sword (1996), The Eagles’ Brood (1997), The Saxon Shore (1998), The Fort at River’s Bend (1999), and The Sorcerer Metamorphosis (1999). The Chronicles are basically told from the view point of Merlyn.

Whyte has also written a follow-on book Uther. This book deals closely with the birth, childhood, and youth of Arthur before he becomes king. Whyte’s original goal was to complete the Camulod Chronicles with the rise of Arthur. His readers’ thirst for more has encouraged Whyte to move into the later life of King Arthur.

Whyte’s latest book, The Lance Thrower (2004), tells the story of Lancelot’s birth, youth, and development to manhood as told by (Clothar), Lancelot himself, as an old man. The novel ends as Clothar come to Britain and first meets Arthur.

Whyte tells a good story. His research on the Roman roots in Britain and focus on family life and the physical growth of his characters make the stories plausible and interesting.

Edward Rutherfurd http://www.arie.ws/rutherfurd/

Edward Rutherfurd writes long books that focus on the development of generations of fictional families, rich and poor, residing in a particular city, region or country. The reader experiences history through the eyes of the families. A la the late James Michener, stories often being in prehistory and fictionalized stories stretch many hundreds or even more than thousands of years into our own time. Rutherfurd now lives in Dublin, Ireland. He writes primarily about Great Britain. I’ve read four of Rutherfurd’s books: Sarum, London, The Forest, and The Princes of Ireland: The Dublin Saga.

Jeff Shaara http://jeffshaara.com/

Jeff Shaara writes about the military history of the U.S. I just completed reading his most recently published novel, To the Last Man: A Novel of the First World War (2004). Like Shaara’s earlier novels, he focuses on several individuals as they work their way through the war. Not everyone survives. The character Shaara follows are: General John Pershing, Private Roscoe Temple, Major Raoul Lufbery, and Baron Manfred von Richthofen (“The Red Baron”). Along the way we are introduced to George Patton, George Marsahll, John Lejeune, James Harbord, Edward RickenbackerEdwin “Ted” Parsons, Bert Hall, Woodrow Wilson, General Erich Lundendorff, Field Marshall Paul von Hindenburg, David Lloyd George, Marshal Ferdinand Foch, Sir Douglas Haig, Marshall Joseph Joffre, Henri-Philippe Petain, Billy Mitchell, Lothar von Richtenhofen, and others.

It always interests me to “see” (read about) historical figures and about people on their way to earning their glory. For instance, George Patton is assigned to learn about and train AEF soldiers in the “new” military weapon called a tank.

As with all of Shaara’s novels, the story of war is told through the eyes of a few individuals. Battles in which they do not take part are told in less depth or as background.

If you like US military history, try reading one of Jeff Shaara’s books. Several Shaara novels have already made their way onto a movie set, e.g., Gettysburg and Gods and Generals.

I have read the following Jeff Shaara novels: (1) novels of the Revolutionary War – Rise to Rebellion (2001) and The Glorious Cause (2002), (2) a novel of the War with Mexico – Gone for Soldiers (2000), (3) novels of the Civil War – The Killer Angels (1974), Gods and Generals (1996) The Last Full Measure (1998), and (4) a novel of WW I To the Last Man (2004).

Adrian Woinarowski

I generally don't read lots of books about sports, but this one intrigued me. I heard about it on National Public Radio, and subsequently on several radio sports shows. I found that The Miracle of St. Anthony: A Season with Coach Bob Hurley and Basketball's Most Improbable Dynasty was also on the New York Times' best seller list for non-fiction.

The book is a biography of Bob Hurley, the high school basketball coach for St. Anthony of Jersey City for over thirty years! Like Morgan Wooten, retired coach, of Dematha H.S. in Washington, DC. Hurley has amassed a tremendous winning record at a poor inner city school, over 800 wins. The story is more than just a retelling of the 2003-2004 basketball season. It is more than just about a strict disciplinarian. It is about Hurley's commitment to the kids who play for him. His goal is to change their lives, to prepare them for better lives through college. His goal is to get them off the streets and out of the housing projects. For the most part, Hurley has been very successful.

Can Hurley "save" the kids on the 2003-2004 team? He calls the team the most dysfunctional one he has coached in all of his time at St. Anthony's. Kids cut class. They have trouble listening. I encourage you to read the book and find out! You won't be disappointed.

If you liked the movies Hoosiers or Chariots of Fire, two of my favorite sports movies, you'll like this book. You'll read about Hurley's many successes. His son, Bobby played on three NCAA final four teams for Duke University. Hurley's other son, Danny, played for Seton Hall. When you read the book you might be surprised to find that high school basketball is changing, e.g., year round conditioning and AAU travel teams, schools that recruit nationally and internationally, high school "basketball" factories, big travel tournaments, televised games, college and junior college recruiting, national rankings, and national player ratings.

The book doesn't focus entirely on basketball games. Many chapters do take you thought the preparation, mental and physical, for an up coming game, and then through the game itself. Many chapters also focus on the home life or academic life of a player or two, especially the seniors on the Friar team. Many chapters also spend time on at least one other person, e.g., Bob Hurley and members of his family, members of the coaching staff, two nuns (the St. Anthony AD and the St. Anthony Principle), parents of the players, close friends of Hurly, other high school and college coaches, etc. This personal aspect makes the book a good read, even if you're not that interested in high school basketball.

Let me close with a lengthy quote that appears just before the Prologue. It will give you an idea of the value of what you are about to read. The quote is from Pat Kennedy, former Florida State and DePaul coach, currently at Towson University at the time the book was written.

"We were in Vegas at the AAU event last summer, recruiting some kids on a South Dakota team. They come in, all white kids, beautiful uniforms, four coaches, parents in tow, running all kinds of offenses and defenses. So, I told my assistants, 'Now, watch this. See this team here? Eight black kids from Jersey City. Shitty uniforms, no parents, not even a coach. Just a chaperone somewhere there.'

"So, I tell my assistants. 'Watch these Jersey City kids kick the shit out of that team.'

"They're like, 'Why? What's special about them?'

"I told them, 'They will not say a word to the refs. They will not say a word to the other kids. They'll get on each other's backs for not taking the charge, not closing out, not stopping penetration.'

"So the game starts, and they were huddling at the free-throw line, one or two kids were yelling about not closing on penetration. They're coaching themselves.

"My assistants finally said to me, 'Holy shit, these kids play like they're possessed, like they're freaking animals. Who are they?'"

"I said, 'Well, they're Bob Hurley's kids.'"