Monkey Kings And Pawn Stars

I've been on a reading tear recently, mostly because in typical Wendy fashion, I've overextended myself on review obligations.  Which means if I want to read something I haven't "required" myself to read, I need to get on it, and quickly.  Two recent I Want To Read That So I Need To Find The Time Books aren't romances, and I thought it would be fun to talk about them together.

Tess Gerritsen is one of two authors I buy in hard cover, on release day.  Typically, for me, suspense series tend to ebb and flow.  I love some books, like others, and there are usually a couple I'm not so wild about.  Gerritsen is no exception, although I will say her last several have been very, very good reads for me.  The Silent Girl, the 9th book in the series, finds homicide detective, Jane Rizzoli, and medical examiner, Dr. Maura Isles investigating a brutal slaying in Boston's Chinatown.  When primate hairs are found on the victim, Jane finds herself plunged into the Chinese fable/legend of the Monkey King.

This was a good, solid entry to the series.  Jane is still Jane, Maura is still reeling from the aftermath of the last book, and the mystery is compelling, not to mention every loose thread is wrapped up.  Two things I really appreciate about Gerritsen's series is that she allows her characters to "grow" without morphing them into pod people, and that you can tell she got her start writing category romance (for Harlequin Intrigue).  I never feel like I'm slogging through a bunch of unimportant "filler" in a Gerritsen book.  Every word has it's place, every moment is there for a reason.  No drudging through verbal diarrhea to get to the goods.  More please.

Final Grade = B

My Man and I are addicted to Pawn Stars, a reality show on the History Channel here in the States.  We stumbled across it totally by accident, and got hooked after one show.  The show centers around a family-owned pawn shop in Las Vegas.  Since they aren't corporate, the Harrisons can deal in the off-beat and slightly odd-ball - like a 15th century samurai sword, a lottery ticket signed by George Washington, and original battle plans from the invasion of Iwo Jima.  After years of hard work, the business was a success, then TV happened.  License To Pawn: Deals, Steals and My Life at the Gold & Silver is mostly told from Rick Harrison's point of view - although the other personalities on the show, The Old Man, Big Hoss, and Chumlee, do get their own chapters.

My Man read this while I was at RWA, in about 2 sittings.  Let it be noted that as much as I love the guy - My Man ain't much of a reader.  He can read.  He has read.  But it's not his leisure activity of choice.  He called the book "fluffy."  I'm not sure I totally agree - but it is a super quick read.  I'm not sure it's going to appeal to anyone who hasn't seen (and enjoyed) the TV show, but if you're a fan?  It was interesting, if only to get some of the back-story.  And whoa doggie, it's quite a back-story.  These guys have led some....uh interesting lives.  Honestly, it's amazing Big Hoss isn't dead.  Chumlee isn't as dippy on the printed page as he is on the show, and Rick and The Old Man love the hustle.  I'm not sure I'd run out and plunk down hard cover prices for this book - but as a library read?  As a book that My Man actually read, and happily?  Good stuff.  Do you have a reluctant reader in your life who loves the show?  Yeah, this one is a no-brainer, slam-dunk.

Grade = B