One for the Money, by Janet Evanovich. I've been a bit of a hater if the last two reads are any indication. But alas! A pretty good book. The Facebook question on the B&N page asking about books that made readers laugh sparked my interest. It might not have a gut-splitter, but there was still some funny parts. The 250 pound whore, who apparently is in good physical shape--humping all day must keep you in shape! Who, besides Stephanie Plum, would, 1) intentionally hit the guy she screwed in high school with a Buick; 2) go into bounty hunting with no experience, and an initial fear of her gun; 3) get herself handcuffed to her shower rack naked?
The story was a bit wacky, but it moved. And it was a short (and thereby quick) read. Nothing too taxing, but interesting nonetheless. I think I might just give Two for the Money a shot.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Friday, February 4, 2011
Beyond Justice? Beyond Belief!
Beyond Justice, by Joshua Graham. There are plenty of times that I can see why others might enjoy a book that doesn't particularly appeal to me. I just don't get why the reviews for Beyond Justice have been so positive for a book with such a contrived and preposterous plot line. For example, the court room scenes are ridiculous. What DA goes to trial before the DNA results are available? What defense attorney argues a motion about the admissibility of those DNA results before reviewing the DNA results? What judge would entertain a motion to suppress without a basis? And if that's not enough, there's the scene in which an assistant DA impersonates a public defender in an attempt to get a confession out of Sam, the protagonist. I guess the author is unfamiliar with the rules of ethics and that beyond the impact on the case, the lawyer who attempted it would likely soon be both an ex-ADA, and indeed an ex-lawyer, even in the slimiest of DA offices.
Then there are the prison scenes. Since when can one correctional officer move a death row inmate into general population just out of vindictiveness? Can an inmate really casually walk out of a super-max prison with just a change of clothes and an escort in the form of a sympathetic CO?
When the real killer is finally identified, the clear conflict of interest between one of the detectives and the perp is just overlooked. Indeed, in virtually every setting, there are no more than two people who do everything. There are just two DAs, both of which handle Sam's case and the prosecution of the real killer. There's one detective, who gathers the evidence against Sam (and is a stock man-hating bitch) and who has a cyber-affair with the real perp, and is later allowed to assist in bringing him in. There are only two COs in the whole prison, and neither appears to be subject to much oversight.
Those are just the most blatant licenses taken in the story, but it's enough to make this book an almost total waste of time. I ultimately finished it just to see what would happen, but it wasn't the page-turner others described, rather just a book that required discipline to finish.
If there is one redeeming factor, it is that the author ackknowledged that there is some bad religion out there that serve only to discourage conversion. I'm not sure that what Graham presents is much better however. While the story doesn't end with a perfectly happy ending, there is still the kind of theology that makes it hard for non-believers to believe. Most of us will never have visions or read Bibles where the words glow or get the kind of "sign" from God that speaks in volumes. Those who expect such before they believe will never believe. That is the kind of fare served up in this book.
Oh well. Live and learn and what I've learned is that if there's a highly recommended book that lists for only $2.99, then I'm likely to get what I paid for.
Then there are the prison scenes. Since when can one correctional officer move a death row inmate into general population just out of vindictiveness? Can an inmate really casually walk out of a super-max prison with just a change of clothes and an escort in the form of a sympathetic CO?
When the real killer is finally identified, the clear conflict of interest between one of the detectives and the perp is just overlooked. Indeed, in virtually every setting, there are no more than two people who do everything. There are just two DAs, both of which handle Sam's case and the prosecution of the real killer. There's one detective, who gathers the evidence against Sam (and is a stock man-hating bitch) and who has a cyber-affair with the real perp, and is later allowed to assist in bringing him in. There are only two COs in the whole prison, and neither appears to be subject to much oversight.
Those are just the most blatant licenses taken in the story, but it's enough to make this book an almost total waste of time. I ultimately finished it just to see what would happen, but it wasn't the page-turner others described, rather just a book that required discipline to finish.
If there is one redeeming factor, it is that the author ackknowledged that there is some bad religion out there that serve only to discourage conversion. I'm not sure that what Graham presents is much better however. While the story doesn't end with a perfectly happy ending, there is still the kind of theology that makes it hard for non-believers to believe. Most of us will never have visions or read Bibles where the words glow or get the kind of "sign" from God that speaks in volumes. Those who expect such before they believe will never believe. That is the kind of fare served up in this book.
Oh well. Live and learn and what I've learned is that if there's a highly recommended book that lists for only $2.99, then I'm likely to get what I paid for.
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