My Kindle Reading List

I have had my Kindle 2 for a little over five months now. I really like it. I have done more reading in the last five months since any time in my life with the exception of college... Although, when I really think about it, this may also include college.

The following is a list of books, in no particular order, I have read on my Kindle since I got it.

Consent To Kill by Vince Flynn

A fun read. Vince Flynn writes potboiler spy novels that follow his CIA super agent Mitch Rapp. It is nice to read novels where our intelligence services are highly competent and get things done and protect our freedom. The other thing I like about the Mitch Rapp series is that Mitch is a former winner of the Ironman world championships. Not just his age group, the whole thing. Now he's a spy and people want to kill him!

Driving Like Crazy by P.J. O'Rourke

This is an updated collection of some of P.J.'s best automotive writing. It is often hilarious. If you're a fan of P.J. O'Rourke you will like this book.

The American Patriot's Almanac by William J. Bennett and John Cribb

I have not read the whole thing because it is an almanac. I read one section a day. It highlights a significant historical event that took place on that day. A fun way to go through American history.

Christ The Lord: Out Of Egypt by Anne Rice

No vampires, but a very well-written, scholarly and well-researched novel on the early days of Jesus. It starts with the family leaving Egypt and returning to Nazareth. Jesus is not fully aware of who he is, but there are hints. It is consistent with the Gospels where it can be and goes in a very logical but sometimes surprising direction where there is no reference in the Gospels.

Dog On It: A Chet and Bernie Mystery by Spencer Quinn

This was the first book I actually paid for on my Kindle. I didn't know anything about it, but read a description and decided to buy it. I have been telling anyone who will listen about it ever since. It is a mystery story that is narrated by a dog. Bernie is the detective, Chet is his faithful dog and together they make it work. If you enjoyed the dogs in the movie Up, you will enjoy this. This is amusingly told from the dog's point-of-view. Squirrel!

Checkmate by Karna Small Bodman

I heard the author on a radio talk show and thought that she was one of the most intelligent people I had ever heard call into a program. The host obviously thought so too because he started asking her about herself to find out about her background. She mentioned that she is currently a novelist and wrote political thrillers. I was intrigued enough to give her a shot. She was perhaps the best caller I have ever heard on a radio talk show, but she is not a good writer. I did manage to finish the book, but there were a few debates with myself as to weather I should. This was not well written and really just kind of lame. She has two more books out, but I do not plan on reading them. I wonder how many people, like me, bought her book after her appearance? It was a good way to sell books.

Memorial Day by Vince Flynn

Mitch Rapp saves Washington and New York from a nuclear attack by Muslim terrorists! He's one bad mother--

Shut your mouth!

But, I'm talkin' 'bout Rapp!

Born To Run by Christopher McDougall

I loved this book. I wrote a post about it that you can read here.

Executive Power by Vince Flynn

Hey, it's a Mitch Rapp thriller. He's manly and kills bad guys. What more do you want? The only down side is that his wife is starting to annoy me. He loves her, but she annoys me.

The Persian Night: Iran Under The Khomeinist Revolution by Amir Taheri

Read this book! It is especially relevant after the recent elections and protests in Iran.

Grave Sight by Charlain Harris

This is the same author who writes the Sookie Stackhouse stories on which HBO's True Blood is based. No vampires here, just a likable, but strange woman who feels vibes from dead people. She locates bodies and solves mysteries and kind of creeps people out. She and her eccentric brother are characters I liked spending time with. I will probably read the other books in the series eventually, but I didn't feel like jumping into them right away.

Separation of Power by Vince Flynn

Ironman Triathlete, super-spy and all around manly dude, Mitch Rapp is back killing bad guys, busting corrupt politicians and uncovering evil plots. Written before 9/11 and the Iraq war, you even have Saddam Hussein trying to acquire nuclear weapons.

Practical Demonkeeping by Christopher Moore

This was one of those "Amazon recommends for you" books and I decided I would give it a try. This is book that thinks it is a lot more hip and droll than I do. I imagine that the author thought he was being outrageously funny at every turn. I occasionally thought the book was mildly amusing. The plot is overly complicated and ultimately doesn't take you very far. I know Christopher Moore has his fans, I'm just not one of them.

The Third Option by Vince Flynn

Mitch Rapp kills more bad guys and saves the world and sometimes gets all mad about stuff. I like it.

Small Steps by Louis Sachar

This is a sequel of sorts to Holes, a truly wonderful book and movie. It follows X-Ray, a minor character in Holes, a couple of years after his time in the juvenile detention camp. It is okay young adult fare, but doesn't have the magic of Holes. The plot of Holes was somewhat improbable, but worked in the world that was created by the author, the plot of Small Steps is just improbable. However, the characters are likable enough that I cared what happened to them in this fairly short read.

Lawn Boy by Gary Paulson

This was offered as a free download on the Kindle and since the price was right, I went for it. It is a short novel that is written for pre-teens. I imagine that I would really have enjoyed it as a pre-teen. It is about a boy who inheirets a riding lawn mower and becomes a lawn mowing tycoon. Eventually bad guys are involved and they get their comeuppance. At least I read it. Most of the things that I download for free from Kindle I don't get past the first chapter.

The Forgotten Man by Amity Shlaes

A detailed and very well-written history of the Great Depression. It certainly makes one question the wisdom of the New Deal.

The Babysitter's Code by Laura Lippman

This short story was also a free download on Kindle. It was worth every cent I paid for it. If it has been ten pages longer I don't think I would have bothered to finish it.

John Thum