BOOKS READ/LISTEN TO
THE BEACH HOUSE: JAMES PATTERSON
HONEYMOON: JAMES PATTERSON
FROM A BUICK 8: STEPHEN KING
THE EUROPA CONSPIRACY: TIM LAHAYE
FEAR NOTHING: DEAN KOONTZ
THE PARTNER: JOHN GRISHAM
THE BROKER: JOHN GRISHAM
FRANKENSTEIN BOOK 2 CITY OF NIGHT: DEAN KOONTZ
THE STREET LAWYER: JOHN GRISHAM
CELL: STEPHEN KING
THE BREATHREN: JOHN GRISHAM
FALSE MEMORY: DEAN KOONTZ
KING OF TORTS: JOHN GRISHAM
DIGITAL FORTRESS: DAN BROWN
GLORIOUS APPEARING: TIM LAHAYE JERRY B. JENKINS
THE LIFEGUARD: JAMES PATTERSON
RUSSELL'S BEST BOOKS OF 2005
#1 INTESITY Dean Koontz: The name says it all.
#2 THE FACE Dean Koontz: Great story and writing.
#3 THE TAKING Dean Koontz: This one is a trip worth taking.
#4 VELOCITY Dean Koontz: Once again the title says all. Better hang on.
#5 THE JESTER James Patterson: Interesting journey back in time. No joke this one is good.
#6 SECRET ON ARARAT Tim Lahaye: The exciting search for Noah's Ark.
#7 LIFE EXPECTANCY Dean Koontz: I knew I was afraid of clowns for a reason.
#8 VALHALLA RISING Clive Cussler: The best of the Dirk Pitt's audio books I listen to this year.
#9 BABYLON RISING Tim Lahaye: Good vs. evil story.
#10 ARMAGEDDON Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim Lahaye: Together nothing beats the Left Behind story, separate just another piece to a grand puzzle. The best one.
#11 BROKEN PREY John Sandford: Lucas Davenport at his best.
#12 DECEPTION POINT Dan Brown: A real page turner even though I had cassettes.
#13 FLOODTIDE Clive Cussler: My first Dirk Pitt experience. A good one.
#14 STILL LIFE WITH CROWS Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child: Expected a little better from these two. Getting tired of Agent Pennagast.
#15 THE DAVINCI CODE Dan Brown: The book that just can't stop selling (still on the top 10 best seller list after 2 years.) It's definite worth a look.
#16 2ND CHANCE James Patterson: The best on the woman's murder club.
#17 TICK TOCK Dean Koontz: Another good Koontz read.
BOOKS READ OR LISTEN TO 2005
I am hooked on audio books. With the kids and all I haven't had the time I would like to sit down and read a book. I spend 2 hours a day on the road going to and from work so audio books are really convenient for me. And besides I enjoy having someone read a book to me (just like when I was a kid).
Currently Reading/listening to: THE LAKEHOUSE by James Patterson.
LIFE EXPECTANCY Dean Koontz: Another good read by an excellant author (and currently my favorite). If I wasn't I wasn't already afraid of clowns I would be after this book.
THE SECRET ON ARARAT Tim Lahaye & Bob Phillips: Second book in the BABYLON RISING series. Good story, nice action, better than the first.
BABYLON RISING Tim Lahaye & Greg Dinallo: New set of books from co-writer of LEFT BEHIND series.
SHOCKWAVE Clive Cussler:
TREASURE Clive Cussler:
LOST CITY Clive Cussler:
DEEP SIX Clive Cussler:
TROJAN ODYESSEY Clive Cussler: Good story with surprising ending.
PREY Michael Crichton: Teaches us what messing with mother nature will do.
VALHALLA RISING Clive Cussler: The best Dirk Pitt yet. Never ending action and suspense.
CYCLOPS Clive Cussler: Not one of the best Dirk Pitt novels but once you listen one you must listen to them all.
FLOOD TIDE Clive Cussler: My first Dirk Pitt novel. It got me hooked. Now I got to get them all.
HIDDEN PREY John Sandford: Lucas Davenport must solve another murder. Solid read, always a fan.
THE ART OF DECEPTION Ridley Pearson: Good story.
THE DA VINCI CODE Dan Brown: Wow the hype on this one. Wished I had a dollar for every copy sold. Interesting story. Kept me on edge til the end.
2ND CHANCE James Patterson Probably the best of the three "woman's murder club".
TICK TOCK Dean Koontz: Left me wanting more. Ending not as bang bang as I like but still makes me wary of bringing packages into my home.
1ST TO DIE James Patterson: Good solid story.
THE NIGHT CREW John Sandford: A little disappointed with this one. Guess I wanted better characters/ending.
BLACK CREEK CROSSING John Saul: Not enough scary stuff, ending let's you down.
THE BODY OF DAVID HAYES Ridley Pearson: I am really getting tired of these characters not going anywhere.
ICE BOUND Dean Koontz: Big letdown, expected better by Koontz.
DECEPTION POINT Dan Brown: Really good story. Couldn't wait to get to the end to see what happened.
STILL LIFE WITH CROWS Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child: Best read audio book. Almost scared the p out of me.
THE TAKING Dean Koontz: Wow, the ending is a trip well worth taking.
3RD DEGREE James Patterson: Ho hum, so, so, story. I knew who was gonna bite it and really didn't care.
INTENSITY Dean Koontz: The name sums it up. From the first page you are suck into a intense ride. Hang on.
ANGELS AND DEMONS Dan Brown: It was ok. Main character relied on luck too much and luck saved his bacon too often.
THE BOURNE IDENTITY Robert Ludlum: Crap! Book nothing like movie. This is one of the worst of the year.
THE FACE Dean Koontz: Gets your attention from the start. I really enjoyed this one.
LEFT BEHIND Tim LaHaye/Jerry B. Jenkins: Moving story. Easy to follow and interesting characters. Makes me want to listen to the others right away.
FROM THE CORNER OF HIS EYE Dean Koontz: Not one of his best. Just didn't get into this one but still better than ICE BOUND.
TRIBULATION FORCE Tim LaHaye/Jerry B. Jenkins: Continues story of LEFT BEHIND. Good one.
NICOLAE Tim LaHaye/Jerry B. Jenkins: 3rd LEFT BEHIND story. Probably the most exciting of the three.
FRANKENSTEIN BOOK ONE PRODICAL SON Dean Koontz: A little hard to follow at times. Hopefully next one is better.
SOUL HARVEST Tim LaHaye/Jerry B. Jenkins: Good listening.
APPOLLYON Tim LaHaye/Jerry B. Jenkins: The halfway point of the Tribulation bring more Judgments including scorpionlike locusts.
ASSASSINS Tim LaHaye/Jerry B. Jenkins: Horsemen slay a third of remaining population and the assassination of Nicholae Carpathia. Exciting story.
THE INDWELLING Tim LaHaye/Jerry B. Jenkins: People of the Earth mourn the fallen leader as the Tribulation Force fights for their lives.
THE MARK Tim LaHaye/Jerry B. Jenkins: Newly resurrected Carpathia makes his followers take the mark or die. Moving story that one can't quit in the middle of.
DESECRATION Tim LaHaye/Jerry B. Jenkins: The Global Community Potentate heads to Jerusalem as more of his followers take his mark.
THE REMNANT Tim LaHaye/Jerry B. Jenkins: Miracles save millions and Trib Force try to rescue one of their own.
ARMAGEDDON Tim LaHaye/Jerry B. Jenkins: The end is near especially for members of the Tribulation Force. The most moving and emotional LEFT BEHIND yet.
NATHANIEL by John Saul: Expected better.
4TH OF JULY James Patterson: Lt. Linsey Boxer is back making some of the same old dumb mistakes. Always carry your cell phone and never be without your gun (especially if you know someone is trying to kill you). Calling for backup might be nice once in awhile.
BROKEN PREY John Sandford:
Davenport has to find a killer who is copying the works of the notorious "Big 3". Pretty good. Nothing too bold. I still think CERTAIN and MORTAL PREYs are Sanford's best. Bring Clara Rinker back to life.
BRIMSTONE Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child: This one is a definite let down. Expected more from these two brillant authors.
VELOCITY Dean Koontz: Started a little slow but gain speed as it went along. Koontz at his best.
ALL TIME BEST BOOKS
#1 Riptide (Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child)
#2 Reliquary (Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child)
#3 Dirty White Boys (Stephen Hunter)
#4 Pale Horse Coming (Stephen Hunter)
#5 Typhoon (Mark Joseph)
#6 Dragon Tears (Dean Koontz)
#7 Dark Rivers of the Heart (Dean Koontz)
#8 Day Before Midnight Stephen Hunter)
#9 Blood of the Albatross Ridley Pearson)
#10 Hot Springs (Stephen Hunter)
MUSIC
Picking Wildflowers
Playing Chicken with a Train
My Give a Damn is Busted
All Jacked Up
I Must Be Doing Something Right
I have been listening to audio books in car so I haven't heard a lot of new music this year.
SPORTS
NFL SUPER BOWL: PITTSBURGH STEELERS
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: TEXAS LONGHORNS
MLB WORLD SERIES: CHICAGO WHITE SOX
NBA CHAMPIONS: SAN ANTONIO SPURS
NHL STANLEY CUP: Still the TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING.
COLLAGE BASKETBALL: FLORIDA GATORS
BOXING HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: ??
GOOD JOB KANSAS JAYHAWKS AND GOOD LUCK PHOENIX SUNS
