The Devil’s Punchbowl by Greg Iles

So in general, I enjoy reading Greg Iles, which I think I’ve stated on this blog before. His stories are usually engaging and while not the highest caliber fiction, they’re not the trash that other writers put out either. However, since Iles has chosen to base most of his stories around Penn Cage, the lawyer-turned-author and his hometown of Natchez, Mississippi, I can’t help but think that Natchez has got to be one of the worst places to live, ever. I mean, with everything bad that happens there, it’s a wonder the entire town doesn’t move out! Quick synopsis: The Devil's Punchbowl is the story of the corrupt managing partner of a floating casino and the lengths he’ll go to provide bigger and better action to his constituents. A huge portion of the novel focuses on dog fighting, which I found especially topical in the light of Michael Vick’s recent release from prison. This was another of Iles’ traditional murder mystery with a hint of social justice thrown in. Not his best work, but I did enjoy having some other familiar characters show up.

The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk

I had put off reading The Caine Mutiny because as much as I enjoy WW2 history, I was afraid it would be heavy handed, but I was so pleasantly surprised when I started reading this past weekend! This book is so well written and really flows well. This is the story of Willie Keith, a rich Long Islander who is assigned to the USS Caine, and how he matures and grows over the course of the book. But what this story is most known for is the notorious Captain Francis Queeg, who becomes so obsessed with minor infractions and petty issues that the safety of his crew and ship are put in danger. Some of the other characters, which help make this such an interesting story, include Lieutenant Tom Keefer, a cynic in the midst of writing his great American novel, and Lietuenant Steve Maryk, who in the midst of a typhoon, relieves Capt. Queeg of his command, citing Navy regulations. The subsequent Caine Mutiny trial and its aftermath are almost an afterthought after the build up of the story but I really enjoyed every minute. It isn’t a short book but I flew through it in less than a weekend. This is definitely one to check out, and soon!

A Song of Ice and Fire - Review of First Four Books

As I’ve mentioned many times, I’ve spent the last several weeks ensconced in the “A Song of Ice and Fire” series by George R. R. Martin. This series currently consists of four books, A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords and A Feast for Crows. These books are very reminiscent of other significant fantasy series including the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and the Harry Potter series. I highly recommend them and will try to give a quick synopsis of the series overall, without delving too deeply in to each book.

These stories primarily take place throughout the Seven Kingdoms on a continent known as Westeros. The story is told through alternating third person narratives. The majority of the characters are human although as the series progresses, we are introduced to non-humans as well, including dragons and the Others, a mysterious and menacing people from the North.

These narratives follow three distinct stories that, as time progresses, becoming increasingly intertwined. The first story line chronicles the struggle for the Iron Throne, and for control of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, after the death of King Robert. While the throne is claimed by Joffrey, Robert’s son, Eddard Stark, the King’s Hand, claims that Joffrey is illegitimate and that the throne should pass to Robert’s brother Stannis. Robert’s younger brother, Renly, also lays claim to the throne, and Eddard’s son, Rob, is proclaimed King of the North. The second story line takes place in the far north of Westeros, along the Wall, which was built over 8,000 years ago to defend Westeros from The Others, a race of icy creatures who are difficult to kill. The Wall is 300 miles long and 700 feet tall and is defended by the Night’s Watch. Jon Snow, Eddard Stark’s bastard, joins the Watch and this narrative follows him on his trip north and his subsequent years with the Watch. The final storyline is set in Essos, another continent, and follows Daenerys Targaryen, the daughter of the old King, who was killed by King Robert’s followers. Dany has her own claim to the Iron Throne and that claim grows stronger as she ages and becomes an extremely powerful ruler; in part, due to the fact that she owns the only known living dragons. Her goal in life is to return to Westeros and take back the throne.

That is the series in a nutshell but I would highly recommend you go out and get them yourself. The story is so engrossing, that I had a hard time putting the books down! I even dreamed about the storylines, I was so enthralled. I can only hope that the author is still working hard on the rest of the series, and that the last three books, A Dance with Dragons, The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring will be out soon.