One Year With My Kindle 2

It was one year ago (March 5) that I got my Kindle 2. This is a device that has improved my life. I have always read to one degree or another, but I am doing a lot more of it now. A few months after I received my Kindle I blogged about the books I read on it, so this is an update. I will start with the books I am currently reading and go back to all the books I have read.
Current:

The American Patriot's Almanac by William J. Bennett and John Cribb
I put this book on the last list because as an almanac I read one section a day. It talks about a significant event that took place on each day and a round-up of other things that happened on that day. I purchased this rather early in my Kindle experience, so I a within a month or two of finishing it. However, I might continue to read it as a refresher. I really enjoy this book.

Proverbs from the Old Testament by King Solomon

We are doing a series at Church on wisdom and the pastor suggested we read a chapter a day from Proverbs. There are thirty one chapters and thirty on days in a month. Sounds good. Everything said in that book is relevant today. Solomon was truly wise.

The Sign Of Four by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

This is the second Sherlock Holmes novel and the second story published. After reading two collections of short stories, I downloaded The Complete Sherlock Holmes and I am making my way through it all. Before Kindle, I had never read Sherlock Holmes, but I am very much enjoying it.

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

This was the first book I purchased on Kindle and liked it so much I was telling anyone who would listen, and a few who wouldn't, to read this book. The second book in the series, Thereby Hangs A Tail, was published earlier this year and after reading that, I wanted to revisit the original. It stands up quite well.

Recently finished:

Murder Takes The Cake by Gayle Trent

I have become somewhat of a murder mystery enthusiast and this was one of the free downloads. It involves a Cake Decorator who moves back to her hometown and gets involved in a murder investigation. I guess I was drawn to it because I enjoy watching Ace Of Cakes on the Food Network and I like murder mysteries. It was okay. There is a section at the end that gives recipes for all of the cakes the main character makes.

A Study In Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

This was the first Sherlock Holmes story and first novel. Having read a number of the short stories, it was nice to read this book because it is referenced quite a bit in later stories. You get the introduction of Dr. Watson to Sherlock Holmes and how they came to be roommates. You get how Watson came to be Homles' chronicaler. You also learn a great deal about Watson in this book, much more than you learn about Holmes. At the point in the story where Holmes declares that he has solved the mystery, about half way through the book, there is a very detailed back story that takes the reader to the American west that is quite facinating. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end.

How To Raise The Perfect Dog by Cesar Millan with Melissa Jo Peltier

I have been watching The Dog Whisperer for many years. It is one of the things that inspired me to get a dog. I also wanted to raise my dog in a way that avoided some of the problems I see on the show. Because I am an admirer of Cesar Millan, I thought getting his book on raising a dog from a puppy made a lot of sense. Having watched The Dog Whisperer so often, I didn't learn a great deal of new things, but the reinforcement of the pricipals of raising a dog are good.

The Return Of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyal

The more I read Sherlock Holmes, the more I want to read. This is a very nice collection from different periods.

Thereby Hangs A Tail: A Chet And Bernie Mystery by Spencer Quinn

The second in the Chet and Bernie series. I was happy to spend more time with Chet and Bernine in this very humerous book. I think I enjoy the series even more now that I have a dog. The books are narrated by Chet, the faithful dog and partner of Bernie Little, a private detective.

The Ten Big Lies About America by Michael Medved

Worth a read. As a culture we have a lot of commonly accepted misconceptions about our history. Radio talkshow host and movie critic, Michael Medved, goes through ten of them like "The Power of Big Business Hurts the Country and Oppresses the People," and "Government Programs the Only Remedy for Economic Downturns and Poverty."

House Of Danger by R.A. Montgomery

This was a free download with an interesting premise that was not all that interesting in its execution. It is a mystery that at the end of each chapter you can choose what the charaters do next. Oh well, it was free and didn't take too long to read.

The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

I have never read this classic. It is quite different than I expected, but quite enjoyable. That Icabod Crane is an odd duck.

Huckleberry Finished by Livia J. Washburn

Another free download that was reasonably enjoyable. I'm sure the idea was that I would like it so much that I would buy the other books in the series, but I don't think I will be doing that. The premis is that a travel agent who leads historical tours ends up having to solve the murder of one of her guests. In this case it was on a riverboat excursion to Hannibal, Misourri, the hometown of Mark Twain. I would think that after a while having tour guests murdered would negatively affect business, but I guess not, because the are quite a nuber of books in the series.

Pursuit Of Honor by Vince Flynn

The latests Mitch Rapp novel. The first one I have purchased when it was just released, having now read all of the others staring with book one. It is every thing you want in a Vince Flynn/Mitch Rapp book. Bad guys get it, corruption is unearthed and a number of tense moments.

The Godfather by Mario Puzo

I have never read this book, but have seen the movies a number of times, (GF I & II). I was surprised on a number of levels. This is really just a very trashy novel that was made into a couple of great movies. I did like the background stuff that was in the book that the movies never had time to go into. This is one of those rare cases where the movie is better than the book, but I did enjoy it.

Protect And Defend by Vince Flynn

In this thriller super agent Mitch Rapp must rescue the Director of Central Intelligence before she is tortured and gives up valuable secrets.

Extreme Measures by Vince Flynn

The plot is different, but the idea is the same. Mitch Rapp saves the country, uncovers corruption and kills people!

Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris

The second in a series of books about a woman who can find dead people. They are odd an slightly creepy but also charming. The locals and police don't like them, but they always solve the case in the end.

Christ The Lord: The Road To Cana by Anne Rice

This takes place more than twenty years after the end of Christ The Lord: Out Of Egypt. It is time for Jesus to begin his ministry but there are a lot of conflicts. Like the previous book, Anne Rice follows the Gospels where she can and makes sensible but often surprising choices where there are no Biblical references. We see Jesus getting babtized and his forty days in the desert. We see his temptation by Satan. The book ends with his turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana, but why he was there and who was getting married is intriguing. This is a novel, but it is well written enough that I could see where some might take it as a more detailed version of the Gospels.

The Adventures Of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi

Very different from the Disney version. Far darker and Pinocchio is really an awful jerk through most of the story. The Talking Cricket (no Jiminy here), is killed by Pinocchio very early in the book. The Cricket's ghost does come back to guide Pinocchio. Pinocchio does eventually become a real boy, but if it were up to me, I would have put him in the fireplace by chapter five. I can see why Disney softened this story, but I'm not sure why this is such a beloved children's classic in Italy.

Act Of Treason by Vince Flynn

Vince Flynn/Mitch Rapp novels are a lot like James Bond movies (and probably books), They're all very similar, but they're a fun ride.

To see all of the books that I read on my Kindle from March, 2009 to August 2009 click here.

John Thum