July 2021
So, America had another birthday. This year seemed to bring even more fireworks than last year. We beat the heat, went to the zoo, watched lots of soccer, and now we are loving the Olympics. What is your favorite summer Olympic sport to watch?
Here are the books I finished in July 2021 and my short reviews of them:
Fiction Books
Savage Son by Jack Carr (Terminal List 3)
James Reece picks up book 3 just after brain surgery. The surgery removed the brain tumor caused by the experimental drugs discussed in book one. For his recovery, he heads to Montana where his best friend Rafe has restored a cabin for him to use. At the cabin, he starts to get back to normal. Rafe’s family adopts Reese and generously cares for his needs. But the peace can’t last. The Russians, led by a US traitor, plan an ambush near the Montana ranch to kill Reece and Rafe. Luck and a tip-off from the CIA help to pull Reece from the teeth of the trap. Rafe’s family mobilizes and kills all of the Russian mobsters involved in the attack, except the one they interrogate first. Meanwhile, Rafe’s sister has been grabbed by the Russians. Rafe heads off alone to rescue her. Reece assembles a mean crew of former soldiers to mount a rescue. They learn that the Russian who has Rafe and his sister has commercialized the hunting of humans on a small Russian Island. The crew defeats an ambush on the island and rescues Rafe, but it is too late for the sister, who the Russian had already hunted and killed. In the end, Reece ghosts his way across Siberia to eliminate his target- the US traitor who had killed his father.
This book is for hunters, adventurers, and soldiers.
(Rated R, Score 8/10, ebook and audiobook read by Ray Porter, 12:56)
The Lions of Lucerne (Scot Harvath 1) by Brad Thor
Scot Harvath is the lead Secret Service agent for the US President’s ski vacation in Utah. Agent Harvath and the President’s daughter are the only survivors of an assault/avalanche that the Lions of Lucerne trigger on the ski mountain to kidnap the US President. Rescuing the President is the only way for Scot to save his career and redeem himself. By following his gut and chasing the smallest of clues, Scot ends up in Europe with a hunch and a bunch of injuries. With some luck and some help from a local investigator, Scot finds the President and saves him before the bad guys can do any more damage. This feels like a Mitch Rapp or Gray Man book without the assassin angle. Thanks, Chris, for the recommendation.
This book is for hunters, adventurers, and soldiers.
(Rated R, Score 7/10, audiobook read by Armand Schultz, 15:23)
To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini
I don’t know what I was expecting this book to be coming from Paolini’s dragon rider series, but this story was certainly different- a futuristic sci-fi epic. It is a long, complex story with twists, turns, highs, lows, lots of action, and drama. Kira Navárez is a biologist working on an early evaluation of a planet to determine if humans should build a settlement there. On a last-second mission, Kira stumbles on an ancient shrine. An alien nanotech skin suit attacks her, and bonds with her. She awakes weeks later to find that the suit is permanently intertwined with her body. Kira spends the rest of the story learning to work with and control the suit’s powers. They blast around space, starting and eventually ending an alien war, making friends and enemies, and generally making people and aliens uncomfortable (a lot like Venom in Spiderman). Kira is adopted into the rebel crew of a spaceship called the Wallfish, which becomes her space family. The characters are deep and memorable. The space travel construct is interesting and so complicated it gets its own addendum.
This book is for dreamers, sci-fi fans, and adventurers.
(Rated R, Score 8/10, ebook, audiobook read by Jennifer Hale, 32:29)
The Castle of Llyr by Lloyd Alexander (The Chronicles of Prydain Book 3)
Book 3 of The Chronicles of Prydain starts with the assistant pig keeper, Gurgi, and Princess Eilonwy departing their home under the care of Dallben the enchanter. The princess is going to Dinas Rhydnant to be trained/grown into a proper princess. Taran, Caw the crow, and Gurgi provide company on the voyage. They meet the blundering Prince Rhun, who is as accident-prone as he is cheerful. Once in Dinas Rhydnant, the crew is joined by the bard, Fflewddur Fflam, and they are warned of danger for the princess by a disguised Prince Gwydion. Before the heroes can unravel the evil plot, the princess is kidnapped. The search and rescue effort is launched, but Prince Rhun manages to get lost, causing Taran and the bard to separate from the search for the princess to rescue the prince. They stumble into a cavern occupied by a giant named Glew. When the crew finally escapes, they rejoin Gwydion and give him two powerful magical artifacts meant for Princess Eilonwy. They find the princess in her ancient home, the Castle of Llyr, but she is enchanted by Achren, the evil sorceress who arranged for the kidnapping. In the end, they are saved by the Princess, who destroys the ancient magic, the castle, and Achren’s magic.
This book is for assistant pig keepers, workers, protectors, and kids.
(Rated PG, Score 8/10, audiobook read by James Langton, 4:42)
Non-Fiction Books
Skunk Works: A Personal Memoir of My Years at Lockheed
This is an amazing book about several of the famous top-secret programs run at the Skunk Works by Ben Rich. It is autobiographical but focuses on the programs you have probably heard about over the years. Starting with the stealth fighter, Ben tells about stumbling across the stealth theory and implementing it in tests with amazing radar invisibility results. The shape and covering that make the plane so invisible on radar also make it a miracle that they found a way to make it fly. Rich discusses many of the technical and administrative challenges the team had to solve during the development and testing of the prototype. Next, Rich discusses the development and lifecycle of the U2 Spy Plane and the role he played in its adventures. From the U2, Rich jumps into the Blackbird program and the incredible development that went into the technical marvel that plane was (and still is). The technical and engineering feats the team put together to fly these planes at Mach 3 (3 times the speed of sound) are still, today, unbelievable. Finally, Rich touches on a few other projects that were less successful/prominent and discusses some of the relationships he had at the Skunk Works, specifically his mentor and predecessor, Kelly Johnson. Thanks, Aunt Sandra, for the fantastic recommendation.
This book is for the engineers, the pilots, the spies, and the techies.
(Rated PG-13, Score 8/10, audiobook read by Pete Larkin, 12:08)
A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson
Ever since I was in grade school I can remember hearing or reading about the Appalachian Trail (AT) with interest and curiosity. This book answered a lot of the mystery about the trail for me. I think the adventurer in me would love to go hike on the AT. I think the old man in me could not handle the trail, the cold, the heat, the bugs, the light packing, and fast walking. I think the soft, spoiled American part of me would throw a fit like Katz does in his despair on day one on the trail. Bryson tells his story of tackling the AT, sometimes with a walking partner (Kats, who is a character), and sometimes solo. Bryson sprinkles AT lore and history throughout his narrative. There are also some digressions into the ecological pressures we have put onto the land around the AT. Some of the book is serious and heavy; most of the book is funny and self-deprecating. In the end, Bryson and Katz master the spirit of the AT. They own the trail and the woods and that is enough. Thanks, Peggy, for lending me the book.
This book is for the naturalists, historians, and wanderers.
(Rated PG-13, Score 8/10, audiobook read by Rob McQuay, 9:44)
Should the Tent Be Burning Like That?: A Professional Amateur’s Guide to the Outdoors by Bill Heavey
This book is a collection of 60 pieces written by Bill Heavey for Field and Stream magazine. Most of them are humorous. Most of the humor is at his own expense. Most of them include references to his inability to stop buying and hoarding gear. Heavey’s humor is slow, subtle, and sometimes sneaky. Also, he tends to throw really heavy, emotional themes in when you least expect it. Heavey is the outdoor writer that people feel sorry for, from time to time, because of his bad luck and self-inflicted mediocrity. He tells great stories about world-class guides putting him on target of the best game, only to blow the shot. He tells about his crazy fishing buddies and their adventures. He tells about trying to parent a teenage daughter and all of their struggles. Thanks, Dad, for the recommendation.
This book is for dads, fishermen, hunters, and anyone needing a boost.
(Rated PG-13, Score 9/10, audiobook read by Jeff Harding, 9:13)
The Fish That Ate the Whale by Rich Cohen
This is the tale of the Banana Man and how he went from being a penniless immigrant to being the president of the biggest fruit company in the world. Samuel Zemurray didn’t do anything in a conventional way. He started by buying ripe bananas that the other sellers didn’t want and rushing them to market. He took the trash and turned it into cash. He learned every aspect of the business. He talked to the workers, he hauled bananas, he learned about boats and shipping.
When things got tough, he found creative solutions. When the US government threatened his business by meddling with the government in the South American country where he grew his bananas, Zemurray simply changed the government. He managed to install a government that would grant him concessions and land and favors. Eventually, he was faced to combine his company with the United Fruit Company. When he realized that the leadership of the massive company was not capable of leading the company out of hardship, Zemurray quietly approached all the stockholders he could, got their proxy votes, and fired the Board. He took over the massive company and turned it around, becoming the fish that ate the whale.
This book is for the entrepreneurs, the little guys, and those who aspire to lead.
(Rated PG-13, Score 7/10, audiobook read by Robertson Dean, )
Preview/Currently Reading-
Here are the books I am currently working through:
Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kippling
I track my books in a database called Goodreads. You might find it helpful in managing your reading lists.
Final Thoughts-
It’s amazing how fast this year has gone. The days and weeks seem to blur together for me. I set a goal of reading 100 books this year, and I just hit 50. So, that’s good and bad right? Halfway to the stretch goal, but less than half of the year left to finish. So, if you have some short books worth reading, please send those ideas my way so I can pad my stats. I also passed 100 total reviews in this month’s collection. I hope you all have gotten value out of these reviews.
Last month I asked for your favorite books. This month, send me any of your least favorite books, or books I should avoid.
Thanks for adventuring with me.
Comment with book ideas, brand ideas, or questions. I love the feedback.