Today I finished

The Book:   Face of Betrayal is a fiction suspense novel about Katie Converse, a pretty "All American - Girl Next Door" seventeen year old MISSING Senate page.  This story is about how 3 friends a reporter, a lawyer, and an FBI agent come together to solve the case in time to save the girl. 

My thoughts:  I like to read murder mysteries, I had not heard of this author prior to this book and I am glad I ended up liking it.  It was paced well and it had a real James Patterson feel to it.  I enjoyed getting to know the "friends" through out the story. 

On a side note:  I also thought the dated chapter titles helped a great deal in keeping a mental time-line, so to speak, since the story goes from present tense, to Katie’s final days up until she went missing.  Jumping around usually drives me insane, but I did not mind it so much with this book.

Without saying too much, I will say that everything in the book was "plausible", which made it eerily enjoyable.

The author sets out to define romance to the graduating class of 1983 at the University of Iowa. Not an easy task…does anyone listen to commencement speeches? Are we not too fidgety in our eagerness to “get on with it” the “it” being, life.

So Waller sets out to teach the over-schooled one last lesson. The one thing that makes

All the living and doing you are so anxious to get on with worthwhile. More than that, it makes the living and the doing better—better in terms of quality and quantity.

He is able to describe romance by defining romantics or more so what romantics are not. They are not drowned out in the roar of our times, beat down by naysayers or lost to uniform thinking.  Romantics are the ones who care about the dumb things no one else cares about. Stray animals, items of disrepair, old things with little value except the sentimental and because romantics care for these things stray animals and broken things find them often.  I can relate.

Waller goes on to explain the best ways to rid yourself of romance…be excessively neat, focus on the details, worry about the future until your creativity is stifled. Romance will flee!

I have to disagree with Waller a bit at this point. I am a waffler. Like any good waffle I have peaks and valleys and sometimes I care too much about the future or the cleanliness of the carpet and other times I believe with all my heart my sick old dog with a failing heart will be well simple because I wish it. Of course that never happens and this makes romance flee for quite some time. 

I think romance fleeing is not such a bad thing…it should come a go or how would I know its so great?  I suspect there are plenty more wafflers out there, than eye dancing romantics or the other extreme, former romantics, put together. We may travel between the extremes but we do enjoy a fair amount of both.

A Cantical For Roadcat

The author is taught about higher purpose in being chosen by a like-minded cat.

As all who love animals as equals already understand, and those who don’t might never grasp,  author Bob explains how we rank the importance of things (…God in whatever form we seek, Us, then Everything Else)  is too strict an interpretation for his tastes. He suggests a new order…God, then Everything Else. Of course, we humans are lumped in with the everything else and should be pleased as punch to be so. For example to be placed on even keel with a Mt. Everest, a Redwood , or a Blue Whale should be a great compliment. If only we could see it that way, right?

He even suggests we obtained our higher ranking due only to the fact we made the ranking up in the first place and we NEED something to look down on to elevate ourselves. Ya Think?   *wink* 

In Waller’s ranking scheme there is a tip of the hat to some creatures deserving to step above the classification of "everything else".  Wiggling apart from the squishy crowd at the bottom where we are for certain to climb a tad closer to God not for what they take from this world but for what they give back.

This essay illustrates why Roadcat was destined for this station from the get go. In my humble opinion, its the best essay in the book.

Every time I read this essay, I giggle in all the same spots, but cry in all kinds of new ones. Proof of something?  I don’t know. I hope it means I am still getting a new take on it each time, but it could be I just like cats a lot. 

The Author ( after this I am tempted to call him Bob) braves the re-introduction of otters into an Iowa river as witness and photographer, but then the “other” wildlife shows up.

Thinking I have already given too much away, I will go ahead a say a bit more. *wink*

Having never attended the re-release of any wild creature I found the notion pretty exciting. This essay illustrates why most of us have never been to such an event, despite the fact we wouldn’t turn down the invitation. And I was forced to realize it is on account of our typical human behavior that most wild animals choose to live as far from us as possible.

There is more than a few chuckles waiting for you when reading this one.

The author  writes to his wife about their nearly 25 years of marriage.

Okay, let’s get one thing out of the way. Georgia Ann is perfect. I often shy from the word, but in this instance its correct and in my imperfection both applaud her and hate her for it. With this revelation of rspectful envy, we move on. 

My love letters come in the form of home built computers and internet connection troubleshooting.  A dryer packed with lint that mysteriously gets clean. A washing machine that every part has been replaced, some twice. Knowing Jack carries the model and serial numbers to all my favorite appliances in his wallet because he happily knows I will not give them up until they stop making parts. The satisfied smile he flashes me after Cherry Pie. So who needs any letter? I do, now that I read this one from RJW to Georgia Ann. 

What Waller does with this essay is not just gush about his wife.  He makes us understand it was a process of her and him to come to these easy living terms. A woman who could easily have been lost in the largeness of his adventures, his far-flung travel,  his music, and  his famous writer status has triumphed at holding on to her unique nature…found a life which runs along side his without worry about it being equal or fair.  Or worry about keeping a tally on how much time they spend together as opposed to all his other loves. Worry has long since left their equation. In reading this essay, I find hope for the rest of us blind squirrels. Somehow, with luck, we’ll come up with the same brand of nut.  Love letters or no love letters.

It starts out with the discovery of two HEADLESS bodies found in the Humboltd Kill. Add to THAT shock the fact that one of the skeletons is hideously malformed and you are already tensing up with the realisation that there is another Museum Beast out there.

Well, fear no more. Unlike the sequels of most creature features today, Preston and Child have evolved their villain into a new and much more dangerous foe. Ok, maybe you’d better start fearing again. And knowing the inherent “fear of the dark” most people suffer from, whether they will admit it or not, they lead us even LOWER than the tunnels under the museum. This time, we’re going down, down, down to the Devil’s Attic. As in, if you went any deeper you’d be IN Hell.

Reliquary brings back our favorite characters from Relic. Margo Green, who is now an assistant curator, Dr Frock, who is now retired, William Smithback, who is now a full-fledged reporter for the Post, Lt Vincent D’Agosta, who was passed over for promotion when the Mayor from Relic was ousted from office mainly because he was IN office when the Museum Beast killings occured. And of course, our hero, Special Agent Pendergast of the FBI.

Pendergast’s penchant for popping up during the most bizarre cases still mystifies me. He never seems to have clearance from the bureau yet he always seems to know when these cases are going to become somewhat supernatural. Sort of an X-file department, I guess. And again, Pendergast’s role in this book, although not the major player, developes over time because the next book in this series, The Cabinet of Curiosities, is his Big Reveal. The one that started everyone’s love of this character. (That review is coming up next week.)

Under Grand Central Station, there are seven stories of tunnels. That’s seven stories DOWN. Back in “the day”, the Vanderbuilts, the Astors, the Rockefellers, etc made their own railroad tunnel BELOW those used by the “unwashed masses” for their own personal use. Then flooding of the sewers ruined their plans and the tunnel was abandoned, with all it’s finery, to be taken over by the “mole people”.

In Reliquary we learn a lot about this underground world, where people actually live, work and bear children, feeling safe from the injustices of the people “Upstairs”. The leader of one of these underground societies is Mephisto. Trying to save his own people who are victims of this new foe, he ends up joining Pendergast, D’Agosta and Margo in their attempt to unravel the mystery and discover the connection between the Museum Beast killings and this new threat.

The only thing I was kinda iffy about in this book is the scene where the “mole people” get in a brawl with the high-class mob of protesters in Central Park. A bit wild for me but I guess you can’t expect anything but pandemonium when hundreds of homeless come up against hundreds of protesters.

I was quite surprised and yes, shocked by the ending of this book. Maybe I missed a clue, both times I read it, but I just never thought of this happening. Reliquary was first released in 1998 and I haven’t read it since so had forgotten the ending. After reading it last week, I wanted to start over from the beginning and try to find the clue I missed but I have at least 4 more books to re-read before the new release of Cemetery Dance on May 19th, 2009.  I recommend reading these two books in order as so much of one pertains to the other. Another “thrilling” read from Preston and Child.

Relic is the first book in a series written by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child together. Although they do write separately, I much prefer their combined genius. Bunny said I had to give my book reviews a tag with the genre. The style of these two authors gave me a hard time with this.

At first, I put down murder mystery. Which it is. But it is so much more! It could be classified as adventure, suspense, fantasy, even “creature feature” but none of these were conclusive. The vivid descriptions of the gruesome details of the murders made me want to add Horror to the tag list. But in combining all of these together, I came up with Thriller. Which it most DEFINITELY is.

Relic is set in the New York Museum of Natural History where Margo Green is a grad student. After two children are found murdered in the museum, the New York police dept, under Lt. Vincent D’Agosta, descend on the museum. Because of a spectacular new exhibition soon to open, the museum is reluctant to close even after a couple more murders prove this isn’t a lone incident. Lt. D’Agosta is pressured into letting them hold a huge gala against his better judgement. Too much money has already been spent and the political higher-ups are in agreement.

The bizarre murders prompt the appearance of one Special Agent Pendergast of the FBI who’s been investigating similar murders in New Orleans. For Relic, Pendergast takes a bit of a back seat. But you still get a sense of the “aura” surrounding him. He is a tall, aristocratic Southern Gentleman. (Notice I capitalized both of those. You’ll see why when you read the book.) He has pale skin and hair so blonde it’s white but he’s NOT albino. He always wears expensive black suits that must have a dozen hidden pockets because he’s always pulling out test tubes of chemicals or to store evidence in. And……..he’s brilliant. As in Mensa Genius. Even though you don’t get a real sense of who Pendergast really is until book 3, his character is highly developed in Relic, although the movie version left him out entirely. (by the way, don’t watch the movie. It’s a true dud and only superficially resembles the book.)

As the story proceeds the twists and turns are action filled and downright scary most of the time. This is a great book to read at night when you’re home alone. LOL! Eventually you end up lost in the tunnels under the museum with the “hideous monster” of your worst nightmares just one step behind you. The horrid “goatish smell” is all there is to let you know you’re next on the menu. 

Although it sounds a bit overdone, believe me when I say the suspense is real; the action is fast, the fear for even the most unknown of characters is heart breaking. All in all the book is quite “Thrilling”. I HIGHLY recommend reading this series in order as the characters become more and more defined as the series progresses.

Okay I crack this book with much anticipation, even though I have read it many times, I only read it cover to cover the first time. After that I just went right to my favorite essays like a vegetarian cave man would have pounced on a defenseless carrot separated from the herd. 

Excavating Rachel’s Room 

When Rachel leaves for Boston to start her own life, her parents clear her room and find more than just missing tools and drinking glasses.

We always hear this scene played out from the mom viewpoint. Its refreshing to see it anew from dad’s. I chuckled along when dad suggest a blow torch might be in order, or a front end loader?  True-er words were never spoken. I, like Rachel, left a room for my parents to clear out.  I thought it would be my room forever, my first lesson in life being temporary was coming home to it as a guest room and realizing I didn’t live there anymore.  I wonder if my parents worked their way around the room like archeologists? * grin*  Like Rachel again, I fell out of love with my horse and it was sold and I squirreled away the brushes and tack. Unlike Rachel I took it with me when I departed. I have it still, Poker’s box of goodies now sits next to a box of baby stuff from each of my boys. I open it up every so often and its still smells like horsey! Ahhh! Horse-love dies hard.

Reading this essay helped me understand what I left behind and when it time for me to drive the loader, I hope to be able to say goodbye to all the stuff accumulated as easily as these two did. I fear my intentions will be good, but after time to think about it. I will be arm wrestling bags back from the garbage men at 5 am with puffy eyes and drippy mascara. ” I know I threw it away…now I want to UN-away it!” “Hands off Buzz Lightyear, buddy!”

Twister? How could they have thrown away Twister? “The game that ties you up in knots!” Certainly, they regretted tossing that!

Then Waller’s stories about people who take care of animals got me. ” In Cedar Key, Harriet Smith Loves Birds, and Hates Plastic.” Then I got into the ones about Waller and his family. Now I see the ones written about other people, not family,  Waller admired as the most valuable. As if I finally understand why he felt compelled to write about them above all those he could have chosen. 

I got this book from a book club about 15 years ago,  you know when you get a dozen or some odd books for a penny to join the club? Well, I had run out of DIY and biographies choices and needed to fill in a few more spots. I saw this guitar player on the cover and though it would work. (  instinctual weakness  for muscians I expect ) It turns out its the only book I remember reading. I bet I read all the others, even kept some of the DIYs, out of the Friends of the Library donation box. This book is going nowhere. It will sit at my bedside until I stop reading.  This is the book you want to let friends borrow, but don’t for fear it will never come back. Not because you have lousy friends! *grin* Because you know it’s that good.  I buy copies when I see them and give those away instead. Tricky. 

I want to read through this book THIS time while sharing Daily Updates on this site. I think DAILY  Updates sounds wishful, but I will give it a whirl. If it turns out to be a few good posts a week well then quality over quantity it is.

A little bit about the book and author:

I had no idea who Robert James Waller was. And I only have an inkling now. His book “Bridges of Madison County” had been released as a movie when I found this book, but I had no idea he was the writer. Like so many movies with big name actors the wheels DON’T show…that would be the writers. We think of the players but the players wouldn’t play if the writers didn’t write and the writers wouldn’t write unless they got away from the desk and experienced some life. So maybe its good we don’t know all the writers as well as we know the players. We would smother all the good stuff right out of them. Talked myself right out to that one! * guffaw*  So this book was released as a tie in to the movie so to speak. Except ”Old Songs in a New Cafe” is better than both “Bridges” and the movie it became. ( sorry Clint, Baby. Books are to movies what watching sunsets is to a picture of one. )   A wider range accounts for some of that, yet I like to think its because these stories cover the author’s experiences as a musician, traveler, photographer, and those he shares the journey with. The real life bits and pieces it takes a lifetime to write about with a depth of living a fictional book or a movie can only pretend at. 

This book is about the people and animals and things I care about. It’s about growing up and showing your stuff, finding love, winning and losing, and getting older. It’s about where I began and where I came to at a particular  part of my life, as a person and as a writer. And I suppose it’s also about where I’m headed, though I never seem to realize such things at the time.  We come, we do, we go and the doing can be rather a grand voyage if you don’t panic and if you believe, as I believe, in magic and imagination and wizards who live along quiet country rivers. ~ Robert James Waller

Today is day 5 reading Brisingr, by Christoper Paolini.   Still not turning cartwheels at the sheer joy and excitement of reading this one.  Alas, my update:

Arya met up with Eragon and they are headed back to the Varden. I like her.  I am hoping she and Eragon will hook up, I think.  The repeated HINTS that they will are driving me INSANE.  What great story doesn’t have the hero getting his freak on at some point?  Hook Up, I say! 

For some strange unapparent reason, there is a spiel about Eragon running into some little old man.  He seemed a bit like a Yoda reference to me.  Rambling on about finding the answer to his "question" and if he knew the "answer" then he would know the "question".  HUH?  All righty then. haha.

There is a spiel where Arya was telling Eragon about her man-thing, who is  now dead.  I was genuinely sad for her.  Good writing in that bit.  Only complaint:  where was the hookup?!  I want them to hook-up, I say! lol… 

There was a spiel with some "spirits" who seem to have the effect of a good set of shrooms, lol… I really hope that plays in somehow later on, or I am going to be pissed I wasted that 30 minutes of my life…

Nasuada takes Roran into the army, but let him know flat out she didnt REALLY trust him. Kewl, I like her.  Roran, then asks if his missions can wait, because he wants to marry Katriana.  BLUH.  Who cares?  I don’t.

Twelve elves arrive at the camp. The leader of the group, Blödhgarm has blue fur, the eyes of an eagle, and the fangs of a wolf.  Sound sexy?  Yea, me either. lol..  He apparently has a seductive smell and Nasuada starts hearing a little “chicka-chicka-bow-ow” in the background. again, NO HOOKOUP…  ‘sup with that? 

and…  that’s where I am now.

Still not overly excited, but willing to pick it up just ONE MORE TIME.  Just to see if it gets better. ha.

Until tomorrow…