"The Good Guy" By Dean Koontz

Title: The Good Guy
Author: Dean Koontz
Published Year: 2007
Pages: 386


Koontz is an author that makes you think and just when you believe you have his book figured out, WHAM, he hits you with another twist, and this book does not disappoint in regards to that idea. In this book of his, an average man ends up mixed up in a hired murder scheme when he is thought to be someone he isn't. Trying to save the person that is intended for the hit, he pushes himself into further trouble and makes himself a target. Vagueness of who the hired hit man is and his past left me wondering where he came from and who he was. It reminded me of another one of Koontz's books Mr. Murder. Other similarities of earlier works of Koontz also occurred to me as I read this particular book, including False Memory and The Key to Midnight. I am hoping that he is not running out of ideas. These books that I thought this book showed similarities to were published before his one and I have read other books of his that were published after this one and they did show new ideas. I have not read all of Koontz's works, so until I do so I will not know for sure.

From the reader's perspective this book flowed well and kept the story going at a good pace. In addition it kept me guessing what was going to happen next and continued adding plot twists and turns. I am a big Koontz fan and I was not disappointed in this one, I enjoy books that piece together concepts from other works of the same author because it seems like a puzzle for the reader to figure out and a reward to reading other books of the same author. Conspiracies abound in this book just as it does in many of his other works.

"Falling Up" By Shel Silverstein

Title: Falling Up
Author: Shel Silverstein
Published Year: 1996
Pages: 171

I have to start out by saying that Shel Silverstein absolutely rocks! His books were one of the major highlights of my childhood. One of my friends asked me what was something that I really wanted for my daughter that no one had gotten her yet when I was pregnant with her and I instantly responded with Shel Silverstein's books. So this book is actually hers even though she is only six weeks old.

This particular book is a collection of his poems and drawings. I enjoy it because some of the poems play on what the drawing is and you have to put two and two together. In other words it can be used as a correlation learning exercise for children. I am excited for my daughter to grow up and enjoy his work as much as I did, as least I hope she will. During my third and fourth grade years of school, his works were the most popular among my classmates and no matter what each one of us enjoyed in our normal readings, we all agreed on liking his works.

His poems and drawings are whimsical and fun, they make reading entertaining and enjoyable.

"True Hauntings: Spirits With a Purpose" By Hazel M Denning PhD

Title: True Hauntings: Spirits With A Purpose
Author: Hazel M Denning PhD
Published Year: 1996
Pages: 220
Genre: Non-fiction, Paranormal, Metaphysical


This entry will  be short, because frankly I did not like this book. Since I try to read all books that I start, I just had to finish it, thank goodness it was only 220 pages! The author is a person who "investigates" hauntings whether they be traditional or other cases such as possessions. This book is a collection of her writing about various cases that fit different categories. There is no real evidence backing these stories except her own testimony and the testimony of the people that she helped. Her main source that she used to help these people is a psychic friend of hers who goes with her and helps diagnose the problems with whatever type of haunting the case is dealing with.

As a general book with examples, the book is okay at best. It does provide with different examples, but these examples can also be found in hundreds of other books that are written better than how this one it. Just don't waste your time with it.

"The Trumpet of the Swan" By E.B. White

Title: The Trumpet of the Swan
Author: E.B. White
Pages: 210
Published Year: 1942
Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Before reading this book one thing you need to take into consideration is the year that this book was published in. For myself personally the year that it was published in is the year after my grandma was born. Based on this information, it is helpful to understand that the setting and the things that happen in this book are based on many years ago. When the book introduces the concept of money, this will be evident.

This book is magical in my own opinion. I have a love for animals, and this book provides animal characters that are really in depth as far as character goes. A young boy Sam Beaver finds a swan's nest on a small remote pond on one of his many camping trips with his father. He develops a bond with the swans, and when they hatch their young, he forms an even greater bond with one of the baby swans which is not able to speak or trumpet. The book follows the life of this one particular swan names Louis and his struggles with having no voice and how he is able to overcome it during his life.

The one message that I kept getting from this book is that no matter how bad off you are, there are ways to overcome your struggles. Based on the audience that this book is aimed at, the message is perfect for kids in that tough transitional time of life from pre-teen to just teen.

"The Reckoning" By Sarah Pinborough

Title: The Reckoning
Author: Sarah Pinborough
Published Year: 2005
Pages: 338


No matter how hard to try and to erase parts of your past, or just plain forget about parts, its never truly gone and that is the premise for this book. It is a work of fiction that weaves together the paranormal and the strengthening of character. Events that would seem not to piece together well, come together in this well spun tale.

Four childhood friends witnessed great mysteries during one summer as children. At the end of that one magical summer, the four separate and are no longer friends each going their own separate ways and none wanting to discuss or remember what happened that fateful summer. Two stay in the town they grew up in, while the other two move away. One of these two, Rob, moves back to try and piece back together the life he has been casually throwing around. After he gets to town, strange things start happening in town, many of which revolve around the people that were part of the fateful summer.

What is causing these strange events? The person the group originally thought was behind them is no where near the town, and the events are still going on.

The characters must remember their past they have all sought to forget and find out the connections between all the people involved as there are two new people that were not involved in what happened during the summer that drove the four childhood friends away from each other.

"Into the Bermuda Triangle"

Title:Into the Bermuda Triangle: Pursuing the Truth Behind the World's Greatest Mystery
Author: Gian J. Quasar
Published Year: 2004
Pages: 294
Genre: Non-fiction, metaphysical, science

This is not your ordinary Bermuda Triangle book. Instead of looking at just one idea behind what could be causing hundreds of planes and boats to disappear within the coordinates of the area nick-named the Bermuda Triangle, the author looks at different ideas each with its own backing and scientific information regarding each one. The book is well referenced and uses many eye witness accounts as well as quotes from other material that was used while doing the research for this book.

Quasar starts out the book with an introduction about the triangle with a bit of background on the triangle, where it is thought to exist and other pertinent information. From there he moves onto chapters that include information on missing ships and planes that were last reported in the area. In addition to some of the more well-known cases, the author also includes information on ones that are not well known. He has done extensive research on the subject of the triangle and this is extremely evident based on the information he shares within the pages of this book.

Of course, my favorite part of the book is the vast amount of information he provides on the different theories of why there are so many disappearances, and he also mentions the Devil's Triangle and how it is similar to the Bermuda Triangle (the Devil's Triangle is Japan's version of the Bermuda Triangle and there are similarities between the two). These theories include the following ideas: ufos, a sunken continent, and vortexes just to name a few that he mentions and explains. There were things in this book that I had not even thought of when it comes to the Bermuda Triangle.

There are so many books out there on the subject, but none that I have come across are as well detailed as this one is. In addition many of the other ones out there do not introduce some of the theories that are presented here, and this book is awesome in that regard.

"Encyclopedia of Urban Legends" By Jan Harold Brunvand

Title: Encyclopedia of Urban Legends
Author: Jan Harold Brunvand
Published Year: 2001
Pages: 525
Genre: Cultural Studies


I absolutely love reading about urban legends, and this isn't just your typical book that shares the different urban legends with the reader. Instead the book shares urban legends and provides background on them including how long they've been around, what their origins may be, other similar urban legends, and references of where the information was taken from.

After reading this I am amazed at how many urban legends are actually out there, and some of which I actually believed in until I read this book (don't worry, I made sure there was supporting documentation to go with the information). Not only does it provide the tales themselves, but it also provides sections on different countries and motifs that are in many urban legends.

As we progress as a society there will probably be more urban legends that crop up, and a sequel to this book or even a newer edition will be needed. However, the book is excellently written and easy to follow as well as easy to find what you are looking for. It is an awesome reference guide for urban legends.