James Rollins  “Excavation”

I came home one afternoon to find this and one of the “Bourne” series books in my mailbox. A quick look at the jacket blurbs of both solved the mystery of the mailbox books. The gifter HAD to be my dad. Only he would think these would be something I couldn’t live without. I put them aside on the shelf for a few months. Then, a few weeks ago, I was home alone and in desperate need of some reading material. My partner works the odd night shift and I’m seriously like a little kid afraid of the dark when he’s away. It’s totally ridiculous. I’ve found through trial and error that if I can find the right book, preferably something light and happy, I’ll fall asleep reading in the wee hours and not suffer any nightmares. Most importantly, I won’t wake up until morning. I couldn’t have picked a more unsuitable book.

This one starts out kind of interesting in a pseudo scientific way. An archaeologist discovers a mummy in the Andes of a Spanish priest with a unique gold cross. The mummy is out of place and there’s a bit of a mystery as to who it is and how he got there. Meanwhile, there’s a related archaeological dig in the jungle. They discover an ancient temple/pyramid, of course crowded with treasure. Of course the bad guys try to kill them so they can make away with the loot, but the plan backfires and the archaeologists are trapped underground. Now this is where things get really weird. I’ll just give you a quick rundown of what the rest of the story includes so as to not ruin the whole surprise…

-Indiana Jones type traps

-hostages

-Super aggressive and hungry tarantulas

-killer bat guano

-A weird cult

-Matter that can give eternal life

-A lost tribe of Aztecs

-Lots of bad guys and gratuitous killing

-Volcanoes erupting

-Zombies

-UFO’s

OK at some point I did fall asleep. I’d like to think some of the above were bad dreams but I’m pretty sure it’s all contained in this lovely book. Sweet dreams! Thanks dad!

A Million Little Pieces by James Frey

Ok, I sat down with this one last night and read...and read...and kept reading some more. Thank goodness its a Saturday and I could sleep in. This book struck me as strangely familiar - I had a roommate in college dealing with addiction and the relatively short time I spent around her and her support group is going to stick with me for life. The idea that addicts are weak couldn't be farther from the truth. They were some of the bravest, most determined people I've ever met and I recognized the ones I met in some of the characters in this book.
I liked this book. I know there was controversy as to how accurately it really portrays the authors experience. I really feel like all that has nothing to do with the value of the book. The book reads as believable and real, and has a story that is worth being told. I found his writing to be extremely effective. Addiction isn't pretty, so the bare bones style of writing suits the subject.
I'll admit there were times throughout the book when I was finding it a bit over the top. We get that you're angry and tough already! The part where he conciously decides not to argue or fight against other's beliefs in a God or a Higher Power got to me too. I'm sorry, but an integral part of the novel is an argument against the existence of anything but the here and now and the need for self reliance and acceptance. I got the vibe the argument might not be quite over :) He spoke to me though, and like many others I recognized parts of myself in him.
All in all, not my favorite book ever, but definitely one I'll keep on the shelf to read again sometime.