World War Z

I'm getting into the habit of seeing movie previews and then picking up the book if I think it will be interesting or if I've heard good things about it.  So was the case for World War Z. I saw the preview and picked up the book because I'd heard good things.  The book was a solid offering.  I felt it dragged in some parts when some of the technical military descriptions went on long.  The stories of personal escapes or triumphs were the ones I gravitated towards.  The Z in World War Z stands for zombies.  You have every right to roll your eyes here.  If it's not for you, it's not for you and that's understandable.  Basically, there is a patient zero who kicks of this worldwide plague and then it's on.  All the nations have their own ways of battling the zombies and reclaiming their nation and their stories reflect that.  The book is written in a documentary style.  The narrator is traversing the world and interviewing survivors of the war in order to preserve their tales of survival.  It is an interesting way to tell this particular war story and it does work.  Some of the descriptions were so vivid that I did actually have a bad dream or two.  If an author can affect your mind in that way, I think that is evidence of a well done job. 

The Diviners

Yes, this book can be found in the "Teen" section of your local library or bookstore, but it was a great read!  The setting is New York City in the 1930s and there is a supernatural killer on the loose.  A group of teenagers with supernatural powers (but they don't really know or understand why they have these powers) are coming into their own while also trying to stop the killer.  I'm assuming this is going to be a series even though the title doesn't specifically say "Book One" or anything like that.  It has an awesome cliffhanger at the end so I'm hoping for a second book...maybe a trilogy! Also in this tome, we are just starting to get to know the characters and their specific powers. There are two dream walkers, a healer, a young boy who can see the future, a boy who can become invisible, a robo-boy and a girl who I think controls heat or fire (it was unclear).  Some of the characters only crossed paths with one another while others became fast friends. Many of the characters don't even know what to do with their powers yet.  This book was a great introduction and set up.  You can just tell that they will eventually form a group and battle evil.  Or perhaps there will be some who will fight for good and some for evil.  It's the oldest battle in the world, good vs. evil.  It was a fun, fast read that I'd recommend over Twilight any day!  If you are going to let your child read it, just a heads up that there are murders with mutilation in this book (i.e. one person is killed and the hands are removed). Nothing is described in too much gore, but if you have a sensitive reader, be forewarned.

The Postcard Killers

Finally!  Of course my old standby, James Patterson, would get me out of this summer slump of books that go on and on when brevity would suffice.  He is notorious for his short chapters that keep you reading because they always end with some quasi-cliffhanger. In high school, James Patterson and Jackie Collins were my guilty pleasure go-to authors.  Who am I kidding; they are still my go-to authors for thrills (Patterson) and trashy lifestyles (Collins).

So naturally when I was in the Denver airport and saw a James Patterson paperback with the Eiffel Tower on the cover, I gladly slapped my ten dollars on the counter.  We know I love all things travel and The Postcard Killers did not disappoint.  A couple is traveling all over Europe killing other couples.  An NYPD detective whose daughter was one of the victims is on the case along with a Swedish journalist.  I started reading it on the plane, but when I got back to Philly I set it aside to read Gone Girl and The Art of Fielding (both of which were borrowed so I had to finish and return them). Finally today was the day I could get back to my thriller!  I finished it in about 7 hours (broken up of course by food, bathroom, internet, and phone breaks).  This is the perfect definition of summer reading.  Action packed, fast paced, and to the point.  No superfluous writing.  If Patterson can use one word, he uses one word. If the sky is blue, it's blue. Blue....one word we all understand.  After my run of books that say too much, this book said just enough.

Gone Girl

This book was really good during the first part, then the twist is introduced in the second part and it's still pretty good for about half of the second part.  Around the latter half of the second part, though, I started to think "Okay wrap it up.....let's get the story over with."  Then I started to skim-read.  I don't know if I'm just going through an impatient streak where I automatically feel like a lot of books are about 100 pages too long or if the stories are genuinely too long.  Either way, this had the makings of a great psychological thriller with the requisite "keep you guessing" twist.  However, once the twist is revealed, everything that happens after that just left me scratching my head and seriously contemplating the sanity of both main characters.  If you've ever seen the movie Secretary, you may find yourself thinking along the lines of that movie as you near the end of this book.  Some people are in the relationship they want, regardless of what it appears to be from the outside looking in.  It's a fairly quick read (2 days), so pick it up if you have a weekend to yourself to relax.

Special shout out to my colleague at work for allowing me to borrow this book since the wait at the library was ridiculous. Thanks CG!