Linkmeister

I read the first two Kidd books and thought they were OK, but I prefer the Davenport books. I like the Flowers books, but am behind on them. Hard to believe, but other things tend to suck up my free time.

My dad just gave me his copy of "The Last Boy", Jane Leavy's biography of Mickey Mantle. I can't wait to dive into that.

I've discovered Robert Parker's Spenser books at the library, and I really like them. I just finished "The Professional." This book nearly approaches Greek tragedy: two characters are absolutely determined to do what they want to do with their lives, and as a side effect they destroy a pair of other lives that ordinarily they wouldn't even know existed. (Trying to avoid spoilers, but I highly recommend it - thoughtful and respectful of all characters.) Besides, the Spenser books contain Spenser's pal Hawk, and Hawk livens up any book he's in.

I really want to read the Leavy book, since I enjoyed the heck out of her Koufax bio.

Spenser (I'm told) has been getting tiresome as the series goes past 20 books or so. The first dozen are supposedly the best. Since I've only read one of them I can't really say.

Just read T. Smith's new book, "The Sticking Place". Tim was a San Diego policeman for 27 years. Retired as a Lt. His book features San Diego policemen on the job and move like a house afire. One tough book. He tells it like it is. This is the first novel of a planned series...and it's almost sold out its first printing already.

I've only read 3-4 Spenser books so far and liked them all; I think they're all pretty late. It's hard to know why people do or don't like an author, but I was impressed on a number of levels by this book and would recommend it. Parker's wit appeals to me and I'll probably read more of him.

I've kind of gone off Travis McGee, having read a few. Too many awful things happen to Travis McGee - one or two of his books gave me mental images I'd really like to get out of my head. I read for amusement, not to be horrified.

I'd love to say that I have read some good books lately, but I'd be lying. I live just outside of my local library's region, so I'd have to pay to get library privileges. I'll have to go look through my boxes and find my copy of "Job: A comedy of Justice" by Heinlein. He may have gone off of the deep end with his other works, but this was my favorite book by him.