Book reviews

 

BOOK 1:  The Breach by Patrick Lee.

This is a techno-thriller by a new author.

The lead character is recent ex-con ex-cop Travis Chase who is trying to figure out which direction he wants to go in life when he encounters a plane crash in remote Alaska. He finds and helps the lone survivor escape the terrorist team responsible for the crash. He gets more deeply involved when the survivor is part of a secret organization who must recover the item taken by the murderers. The book was intriguing enough to keep me reading even though the body count was getting extremely high. But when you get to the end of the book you realized that it all has meaning. Definitely makes you review some of the events of the book after finishing.

 

BOOK 2:  At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson.

I am currently listening to this as an audiobook which is read by the author.

 

The book is loosely based on his explorations based on wandering about the 19th century English rectory he calls home, but dives into historical research and trivia. At times it can be quite harsh to read (listen) to some of the more graphic descriptions of early harsh living conditions but he wanders wide and far into history, sociology, and anthropology. While it starts in England he wanders the globe in exploring everything from salt, pepper and spices (the kitchen musings) to exploration of building materials from mud bricks to steel and the growth of American economic and technological expansion.

 

For fans of Bryson's other books you will find the humor missing mostly because he is discussing historical events rather than personal observations. Still it is an interesting book that might appeal to history buffs. More than once I thought several passages might appeal to young boys who find the gross both fascinating and interesting -- like how the crew of the Magellan survived the long crossing of the Pacific Ocean as they ran out of food (truly disgusting to even think about what they were forced to eat to survive). So don't be surprised that some passages are not for the squeamish due to (lack of) early hygiene and health practices. If squeamish and are willing to skip over those passages you will still find enough to find the journey interesting.