Books I've Read

This year I am listing the kids books that I have read as well as the adult books.

I am also putting in a rating system. The kids books are rated G, unless otherwise noted.

Books that have some violent content (it's kind of hard to have a mystery or horror book without violence) or swearing are rated PG.

Books that have any scenes that are very violent or any scenes of a sexual nature are rated R.

Books that have graphic-stomach turning violence are rated X. If the book is rated X--BEWARE. I love horror and mystery novels. It takes a lot to turn my stomach.

Often times, I will discuss a book that I'm reading in my journal pages. If you're a regular reader of my journal, you will find more in depth discussions of some of the books. But, I do not put spoiler headings on my entries. However, I usually don't divulge anything that could really spoil your enjoyment of the book.

• Hepburn, Katharine -- The Making of the African Queen or How I Went to Africa with Bogart, Bacall and Huston and Almost Lost My Mind (reread)--G
  The title is self-explanatory.

• Brother David--God's Smuggler to China--PG
  Smuggling Bibles into China during the 70's and 80's. Rated PG because of the descriptions of violent persecutions of the Chinese by individuals working for the government. Makes one grateful to be living in America--and pause to evaluate our own depth of faith. [By the way--the persecutions have started again. Please pray for those who are suffering for the faith.]

• Crichton, Michael -- Disclosure -- R
  Very close to the movie. In fact, I may even like the movie a tad better than the book. Sexual harrassment is charged in order to disguise a company coverup.

• King, Stephen -- The Wastelands (reread)-- R
  The third book on the quest to The Dark Tower.
• King, Stephen -- Wizard and Glass -- R
  The fourth (and latest) book on the quest to The Dark Tower.

• Koontz, Dean -- Dark Rivers of the Heart -- R
  Not the usual Koontz horror novel as there are no supernatural forces at work here. My favorite (so far) of this author's books. It's about a covert government organization that will stop at nothing to prevent it's disclosure. I cared about the people trying to evade and subvert the organization.

• King, Stephen -- The Dead Zone -- R
  After coming out of a four and a half year coma, Johnny Smith is not feeling blessed by his new-found psychic ability. In fact, it feels more like a curse.

• King, Stephen -- Nightmares and Dreamscapes -- R
  A collection of short stories in the horror genre and a non-fiction article about Bangor's Little League team. This is not King's best collection--in fact, I think it's the worst of the collected works. However, it does have a couple of stories that I really liked. Ten O'Clock People was about the cigarette smokers and something that they can see that eludes other people. There was an X-Files episode that reminded me of this story a few weeks ago. Umney's Last Case may be my favorite of all the King short stories that are less than 100 pages. I'm almost sorry that it's in this collection with a lot of stories that I'm not particularly fond of.

• King, Stephen -- Cujo -- R
  I reread this book as part of a project to read the Castle Rock stories in the order that they were written. One of my least favorite of the books by King.

  Donna Trenton had an adulterous affair while her son was in daycamp. She ended the affair, but, her ex-lover gets revenge--first by informing her husband.

  Cujo is the Camber family dog that has been bitten by a rabid bat.

  When Donna's car acts up while her husband is out of town, he suggests that she take it to Joe Camber to get it fixed. She goes out to the lonely Camber farm without knowing that Camber's wife and son have gone out of town and there's no one home. The car dies in the Camber's driveway. Donna and her 4 year old son are held hostage by the rabid dog in a car that's not about to go anywhere. And where is Joe Camber?

• Laurance, Andrew--Ouija (NOT recommended)--X
  Playing with a ouija board leads to disasterous consequences.

• Rice, Anne--Interview with the Vampire --R
  The first book of what was later to become known as The Vampire Chronicles. This story is told from the point of view of Louis (that's French--pronounced Louie). Louis was made a vampire in the 18th century and this is the story of his existance in that world of darkness. Two hundred years later, he is still finding it hard to live with who and what he is.

  
  

• Christie, Agatha-- A Holiday for Murder--PG
  What the patriarch saw as a joke that Christmas backfired.

• Hillerman, Tony--The Fly on the Wall--PG
  Two reporters are murdered. But why? What's the real story?

• Parker, Robert B.-- Looking for Rachel Wallace--R
  The hero feels duty-bound to rescue a feminist lesbian.

• Parker, Robert B.-- Taming a Sea-Horse--R
  Spenser tries to save a prositute from life on the street. But, first he has to find her.

• Holmes, Marjorie--Two From Galiee (subtitled A love story of Mary and Joseph)--G
  The subtile says it all.

• Bradbury, Ray -- Fahrenheit 451 -- PG
  In a future world, books are forbidden...and the firemen burn the books. A classic.

• Crichton, Michael -- Jurassic Park -- R -- reread
  The carnage scenes are more graphic than those shown in the movie. If you've just seen the movie and haven't read the book, you might be surprised at a few of the changes made for the silver screen. My favorite scene didn't make it into the movie. But the premise is the same--genetically engineered dinosaurs get loose in the park after the power is cut off.

• Crichton, Michael -- The Lost World -- R
  The sequel to Jurassic Park is much, much different than the movie sequel. An entertaining read for those who enjoyed the first book.

• Applegate, K. A.--The Invasion--PG
  I rated this PG because of the intensity of the book and because of the violence. The first book of the Animorphs series. While I would have enjoyed the book as a kid, it is not for kids who are squeamish. An Andalite sent to warn/save the earth from the Yeerks gives 5 kids the power to morph into animal shapes as he lay dying from wounds inflicted during combat with the Yeerks. But, in order to morph, the kid has to first "acquire" the DNA from an animal by touching/stroking it. The power was given as a means of fighting the enemy.

• Corbett, Scott-- The Hangman's Ghost Trick
  The title is a misnomer. The boys are looking for a lost cat with the help of a woman they believe to be a witch.

• Marney, Dean -- The Easter Bunny that Ate My Sister
  No, it didn't. But the girl is a brat and the only redeeming quaility that I could see about the book is that explains some Roman Catholic practices.

• Sauer, Julia L.--The Light at Tern Rock (highly recommended)
  How would you feel if someone broke their promise to you?

• Wright, Betty Ren -- Ghosts Beneath Our Feet
  Katie hears noises beneath the ground and sees a ghost. But no one will believe her--until it's almost too late.

• Blume, Judy -- Blubber -- rated PG
  I read this book to see why it was banned at some school libraries. I found out why. It contains the word bitch. I will elaborate on this in the second July journal entry. It is essentially a book about a girl who is cruel to another student and learns the hard way what is like to have the tables turned on her.

• Kline, Suzy -- Horrible Harry and the Christmas Surprise
  The students of Room 2B try to find ways to cheer up their teacher who ends up in the hospital just before Christmas.

• West, Jerry -- The Happy Hollisters and the Secret of the Lucky Coins
  Written over 3 decades ago, this mystery story should still please kids (although I found the family relationships to be almost anachronistic.)