Justice Denied, by Robert K. Tanenbaum
More good stuff from the Karps. One of the things I like out of this series is that each book contains a single contained story line that is both complex and logical. It also develops the characters outside of that story line so that the series itself is connected and flows through time. That is appealing to me. More research has revealed that the actual guy who wrote most of these, Michael Gruber, is Tanenbaum's cousin. And, one might surmise, that Butch Karp is a heroic interpretation of Tanenbaum himself. This book involves some Armenian terrorism, the second kind of terorism in the series, the first being Serbian. It also deals with Marlene developing her Rape division. It's a good read. As they mostly all are. I also think they could be turned into screenplays. Let's see...
I have already said
Edward Burns as Karp
Edward Norton as VT Newbury
Paul Giamatti as Guma
and
Blond Dewayne Johnson as Roland Hrcany
Leo from The West Wing as Harry Bello (he's skinnier than Bruce Willis)
Marlene... undecided could be Nicole Kidman? Beautiful Blond Italian who will spend most of the movies witha glass eye and destroyed fingers? Robin Wright Penn? strong character? I don't know
Lucy... still a noname child
Joe Morton as Clay Fulton
Frank Langhella as DA Bloom
some possibilities
Monday, December 24, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Material Witness
Material Witness, by Robert K. Tanenbaum
I liked this one as well. We got introduced to Harry Bello, and we see Marlene start to save him from his doom. We also get to meet Lucy, who is born during the book. We still have the gay couple downstairs that disappears somewhere later in the series, they play a major role in this one. Butch takes the fall for one of his ADAs, takes a leave of absence and pursues the main crime in the book while playing for the New York "Hustlers" as a 12th man. The premise seemed a bit lame, but I chalk it up in my head to a 1970s era NBA, pre-Magic and Larry. The book was written in 1993, though, and it involved an NBA star found shot in his car with drugs. It made me think a lot of Len Bias. I wonder if there was more to that story that we never heard or if "Tanenbaum" used that as a starting point. I also saw at the beginning of this book and a couple of others, Tanenbaum thanks our other author who "is primarily responsible for this manuscript". So why did Tanenbaum's name go on it? I was thinking about why I like this series. It is graphic, but not as graphic as Patterson. The main character is cool, smart, and the dialogue is funny. The solutions to the crime are logical and meticulous. Those things appeal to me. As does this series.
I liked this one as well. We got introduced to Harry Bello, and we see Marlene start to save him from his doom. We also get to meet Lucy, who is born during the book. We still have the gay couple downstairs that disappears somewhere later in the series, they play a major role in this one. Butch takes the fall for one of his ADAs, takes a leave of absence and pursues the main crime in the book while playing for the New York "Hustlers" as a 12th man. The premise seemed a bit lame, but I chalk it up in my head to a 1970s era NBA, pre-Magic and Larry. The book was written in 1993, though, and it involved an NBA star found shot in his car with drugs. It made me think a lot of Len Bias. I wonder if there was more to that story that we never heard or if "Tanenbaum" used that as a starting point. I also saw at the beginning of this book and a couple of others, Tanenbaum thanks our other author who "is primarily responsible for this manuscript". So why did Tanenbaum's name go on it? I was thinking about why I like this series. It is graphic, but not as graphic as Patterson. The main character is cool, smart, and the dialogue is funny. The solutions to the crime are logical and meticulous. Those things appeal to me. As does this series.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Reversible Error
Reversible Error, by Robert K. Tanenbaum
This was not as good as the one before, but I still think it was better than the first two. We had some new characters, the King Cole Trio, who added some good bits of violent levity. We still have Marlene pregnant with what will become Lucy. Karp and Marlene are not yet married, though they will be soon. Bloom is still the DA and Karp is still the Criminal Courts Bureau Chief. Marlene is facing losing her job. Once again, this has two story lines, Butch's and Marlene's that run parallel. Maybe the reason this one fell a bit is that there was no connection between them. I also miss Guma's humor. I like the idea of VT. He is the money/fraud guy. The story line here follows some drug dealers getting killed and tying it up with money laundering and stocks and such. I like connections between white collar crime and street crime. It feels like reminding us that they are both criminal acts. So, I liked it. Good, but not great.
This was not as good as the one before, but I still think it was better than the first two. We had some new characters, the King Cole Trio, who added some good bits of violent levity. We still have Marlene pregnant with what will become Lucy. Karp and Marlene are not yet married, though they will be soon. Bloom is still the DA and Karp is still the Criminal Courts Bureau Chief. Marlene is facing losing her job. Once again, this has two story lines, Butch's and Marlene's that run parallel. Maybe the reason this one fell a bit is that there was no connection between them. I also miss Guma's humor. I like the idea of VT. He is the money/fraud guy. The story line here follows some drug dealers getting killed and tying it up with money laundering and stocks and such. I like connections between white collar crime and street crime. It feels like reminding us that they are both criminal acts. So, I liked it. Good, but not great.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Immoral Certainty
Immoral Certainty, Robert K. Tanenbaum
I think this is the first Karp I read, and I understand, now, why I like the series so much. This book was a lot better than the ones before, in my opinion. The action was quick, the plot was complex, the dialogue was funny. And, everything got tied up in a credible way. Reading through these books, I have imagined them as movies and I think this might be one that could work. I can see Paul Giamatti as Guma, the DA with mob connections. I can maybe see Edward Burns as Karp, maybe Ed Norton as VT Newbury. The story line here was a bit disturbing, as it dealt with child molesting. I remember one particular image that has been an unpleasant part of my memory since I first read it. However, I think the story ties up well. With the remarkable difference between this one and the previous one, I wonder if there is not some credence given to the guy who said he ghost wrote several of these for Tanenbaum. I wonder if this was his first or the first one he didn't write. Either way, I recommend this one if you are looking for a legal thriller diversion.
I think this is the first Karp I read, and I understand, now, why I like the series so much. This book was a lot better than the ones before, in my opinion. The action was quick, the plot was complex, the dialogue was funny. And, everything got tied up in a credible way. Reading through these books, I have imagined them as movies and I think this might be one that could work. I can see Paul Giamatti as Guma, the DA with mob connections. I can maybe see Edward Burns as Karp, maybe Ed Norton as VT Newbury. The story line here was a bit disturbing, as it dealt with child molesting. I remember one particular image that has been an unpleasant part of my memory since I first read it. However, I think the story ties up well. With the remarkable difference between this one and the previous one, I wonder if there is not some credence given to the guy who said he ghost wrote several of these for Tanenbaum. I wonder if this was his first or the first one he didn't write. Either way, I recommend this one if you are looking for a legal thriller diversion.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Depraved Indifference
Depraved Indifference, Robert K Tanenbaum
This was book number two for Butch Karp et. al. I don't think I had read this one before. I enjoyed it, but not as much as I thought I would. There was lots of complexity in the book, but the characters still don't seem fully fleshed out. I look forward to the birth of Lucy and the appearance of Tran. This was set in 1976, and it is still interesting to think about these as movies. This one ended up being a conspiracy involving the Catholic Church, the CIA, and a Croatian zealot who turned out to not be who he was expected to be. We did see the probable removal of Karp's nemesis in his own department, Conrad Wharton, as well as Karp's removal as section chief. This main storyline here was a group of Croatian nationals who hijacked a plane and ended up blowing up a policeman with a bomb placed in a locker. But, there was a lot of intrigue surrounding it. Enjoyable, a quick read, but not spectacular. Yet.
This was book number two for Butch Karp et. al. I don't think I had read this one before. I enjoyed it, but not as much as I thought I would. There was lots of complexity in the book, but the characters still don't seem fully fleshed out. I look forward to the birth of Lucy and the appearance of Tran. This was set in 1976, and it is still interesting to think about these as movies. This one ended up being a conspiracy involving the Catholic Church, the CIA, and a Croatian zealot who turned out to not be who he was expected to be. We did see the probable removal of Karp's nemesis in his own department, Conrad Wharton, as well as Karp's removal as section chief. This main storyline here was a group of Croatian nationals who hijacked a plane and ended up blowing up a policeman with a bomb placed in a locker. But, there was a lot of intrigue surrounding it. Enjoyable, a quick read, but not spectacular. Yet.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
No Lesser Plea
No Lesser Plea, Robert K. Tanenbaum
This is the first book by Tanenbaum and the first book in the Butch Karp series, which I am intending to read from beginning to current next. I have read several of them before, but not all of them. I really like them, and I really like the characters involved. Karp, in this book, is employed as and Assisstant District Attorney in the New York City DA's office. In this book, he meets the woman to whom he will be married in the future, Marlene Ciampi. The book was written in 1988, but it is set in the early 70's. I feel like I would enjoy seeing it as a movie. Maybe as the series goes on I will be able to develop the cast. Rereading it this time, I found it to be a little more blue than I remembered. Not that that bothers me at all. There was also less violence than I thought. Somewhere between Robert B Parker and James Patterson. Nothing really profound in the book, but it is a fun read. Or at least, I thought so.
This is the first book by Tanenbaum and the first book in the Butch Karp series, which I am intending to read from beginning to current next. I have read several of them before, but not all of them. I really like them, and I really like the characters involved. Karp, in this book, is employed as and Assisstant District Attorney in the New York City DA's office. In this book, he meets the woman to whom he will be married in the future, Marlene Ciampi. The book was written in 1988, but it is set in the early 70's. I feel like I would enjoy seeing it as a movie. Maybe as the series goes on I will be able to develop the cast. Rereading it this time, I found it to be a little more blue than I remembered. Not that that bothers me at all. There was also less violence than I thought. Somewhere between Robert B Parker and James Patterson. Nothing really profound in the book, but it is a fun read. Or at least, I thought so.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Marx in Soho
Marx in Soho
Steve gave this book to me, either this Xmas or last, and I have been a little daunted by it's apparent high intellectual requirements. However, I think it was wonderful and not nearly as dense as I feared. It was really good. It is a one man play, penned as though Marx had been "sent back" and given the opportunity to address some of the criticisms launched at him by various critics. It also afforded him the opportunity to scoff at those who equated his beliefs with those of Communist Russia and to decry the notion of the "death" of his ideas. It was very well written. I am anxious to enjoy some more Howard Zinn, having read this one. I also would like to see Jack or Jay, Jack's Neo-Doppleganger perform this at the Neo Futurama on my next trip to Chi-Town. I highly reccommend this and I am now anxious to read both more Marx and more Zinn. Thanks again for the book, bro.
Winner of the 2000 Independent Publisher Award for best visionary fiction.
Steve gave this book to me, either this Xmas or last, and I have been a little daunted by it's apparent high intellectual requirements. However, I think it was wonderful and not nearly as dense as I feared. It was really good. It is a one man play, penned as though Marx had been "sent back" and given the opportunity to address some of the criticisms launched at him by various critics. It also afforded him the opportunity to scoff at those who equated his beliefs with those of Communist Russia and to decry the notion of the "death" of his ideas. It was very well written. I am anxious to enjoy some more Howard Zinn, having read this one. I also would like to see Jack or Jay, Jack's Neo-Doppleganger perform this at the Neo Futurama on my next trip to Chi-Town. I highly reccommend this and I am now anxious to read both more Marx and more Zinn. Thanks again for the book, bro.
Winner of the 2000 Independent Publisher Award for best visionary fiction.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
The Salaryman's Wife
The Salaryman's Wife, Sujita Massey
This was an award winning mystery, given to me by Steve prior to my first trip to Japan. I had not ever gotten around to it, but on my return flight from my latest trip, I finally got to it. I can't say it was worth the wait. It took a while to get into. I also had a hard time keeping track of the character's emotions. It felt like I was supposed to gain a lot of information from the bits of dialogue. But, I often found myself wondering why somebody was leaving mad, only to assume that the line I read must have been delivered in a different manner than what I expected. The mystery aspect was one that was left open, with lots of questions and red herrings, pointing fingers one way or the other. But, I knew whodunnit very early. My image of the book was not helped by the concluding Scooby Doo factor, complete with the actual use of the word "meddling", as in, I would have gotten away with it if it hadn't been for your meddling (or you meddling kids). Turns out this was an introductory book for a series around these characters, and, while I could imagine enjoying them, I just don't think I will be drawn to try them again. There were some cool Japanese references though, places, words I knew, products, etc.
This was an award winning mystery, given to me by Steve prior to my first trip to Japan. I had not ever gotten around to it, but on my return flight from my latest trip, I finally got to it. I can't say it was worth the wait. It took a while to get into. I also had a hard time keeping track of the character's emotions. It felt like I was supposed to gain a lot of information from the bits of dialogue. But, I often found myself wondering why somebody was leaving mad, only to assume that the line I read must have been delivered in a different manner than what I expected. The mystery aspect was one that was left open, with lots of questions and red herrings, pointing fingers one way or the other. But, I knew whodunnit very early. My image of the book was not helped by the concluding Scooby Doo factor, complete with the actual use of the word "meddling", as in, I would have gotten away with it if it hadn't been for your meddling (or you meddling kids). Turns out this was an introductory book for a series around these characters, and, while I could imagine enjoying them, I just don't think I will be drawn to try them again. There were some cool Japanese references though, places, words I knew, products, etc.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
The Pottys
Today I finished the Harry Potter Series, by JK Rowling. I highly reccommend it to any of you 
who haven't read it. It is, I think aimed at teen-readers, but I have really enjoyed it over the last several years. It is not crazily complex, there are many characters, but is not difficult to keep track of the main ones. There are often small details that turn out to be important later in the story, giving the reader the opportunity to make the connections before the author does, which I often find enjoyable. There are moments to determine if you agree or disagree with the conclusions the characters make, and you are later able to determine the right answers. All of these kinds of things are fun for me. When I delve into the world of fantasy, I am usually more interested in the Tolkien style, which is fairly limited in the magical realm, residing primarily in the swords and creatures area. However, I really liked this series anyway. Reading the seventh today, I was nearly brought to tears a couple of times, empathizing with some of the characters. I think the politics are fairly good, championing the rights of all, not just a priveleged few, valuing people for who they are and what they do, not where they are from, or what kinds of families they come from. It also places a large value on the importance of sacrifice and selfless acts. Those are all things that appeal to me. It has been a long ride, but a fun one. I hope you also enjoy it.
who haven't read it. It is, I think aimed at teen-readers, but I have really enjoyed it over the last several years. It is not crazily complex, there are many characters, but is not difficult to keep track of the main ones. There are often small details that turn out to be important later in the story, giving the reader the opportunity to make the connections before the author does, which I often find enjoyable. There are moments to determine if you agree or disagree with the conclusions the characters make, and you are later able to determine the right answers. All of these kinds of things are fun for me. When I delve into the world of fantasy, I am usually more interested in the Tolkien style, which is fairly limited in the magical realm, residing primarily in the swords and creatures area. However, I really liked this series anyway. Reading the seventh today, I was nearly brought to tears a couple of times, empathizing with some of the characters. I think the politics are fairly good, championing the rights of all, not just a priveleged few, valuing people for who they are and what they do, not where they are from, or what kinds of families they come from. It also places a large value on the importance of sacrifice and selfless acts. Those are all things that appeal to me. It has been a long ride, but a fun one. I hope you also enjoy it.
A New Blog's Beginning
The idea here, I think, is to talk a little about the books I'm reading, keep track of the series I am keeping up with, as I am quite the sucker for the serial, keep track of some authors I like, and perhaps make and receive some reccommendations from my reader or readers, should there ever be any. I don't expect there will be posts on this all the time, I intend to say a little something about each book or series I complete. Hopefully, I will also be able to put some dates on here to help remind me of some books that I am eagerly anticipating. So, that's the plan. Come back if it sounds interesting.
Just one note regarding the List fo Series/Authors, it is not complete by any means, yet, I will be adding to it for a while, I suspect. But, the series in bold are series that I have completed. The authors in parentheses are authors I am not necessarilyfollowing, the ones separated by a "/" I am attempting to pay attention to. For the record, I hate putting Tolkien in that way, LOTR is probably among my favorite series of all time, but things like The Silmarillion and The Children of Hurin and Farmer Giles of Ham also have his name on them, and I do not imagine I will ever read those things, so...
Anyway, that's the gist of it.
Just one note regarding the List fo Series/Authors, it is not complete by any means, yet, I will be adding to it for a while, I suspect. But, the series in bold are series that I have completed. The authors in parentheses are authors I am not necessarilyfollowing, the ones separated by a "/" I am attempting to pay attention to. For the record, I hate putting Tolkien in that way, LOTR is probably among my favorite series of all time, but things like The Silmarillion and The Children of Hurin and Farmer Giles of Ham also have his name on them, and I do not imagine I will ever read those things, so...
Anyway, that's the gist of it.
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