Rain Gods: 4 Stars

Rain God by James Lee Burke

My reasoning behind choosing this novel is all because of my dad. For years, my dad has worked a job that involves him being in a truck driving around for hours. (He repairs and installs pop machines and many of his customers are in other cities and/or states). He gave me this book to listen to with one question: Is the book really good, or does the reader make it really good?

The reader is none other than Mr. Will Patton, an actor I happen to adore. So of course I took the book and gave it a try.

The book is the second in a series about Sheriff Hackberry  Holland, the sheriff of a small Texas town not far from the Mexican border. After receiving a mysterious phone call about shots being fired near an old abandoned church, Holland goes out to discover the bodies of nine Asian women buried in shallow graves. He digs them up and calls for reinforcements. It doesn't take him long to figure out who made the call.

Pete is an ex-solider who has trouble adjusting to civilian life. After getting mixed up with the wrong people, he makes a call and then takes his girlfriend on the run. Not only are the running from the cops, but they are running from a psychotic criminal and a holier-than-thou religious hit-man. Needless to say, the story started out with a bang.

The story was intriguing. With all the different characters, it winded and twisted all the way to the end. What I really enjoyed about this tale were the strong women. Instead of just doing what their significant others tell them to do, and following like children, these women took their own path and stood strong on their own.

So the answer to the question?  That would be both. The book was really goo, but honestly, without Will Patton would have received 3 stars. Will Patton added so much  emotion with his voice that even simple phrases carried a strong non-verbal communication with his tone and cadence. I must find more audiobooks by him!

Darkly Dreaming Dexter: 4 Stars

 Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay

I really enjoyed the show Dexter of Showtime so I figured I should try the books. The first book follows a very similar plot to the first season of the show. I wouldn't have guessed the end if it weren't for the TV show. I thought the book was very well written. I'll try the rest of the series. I did listen to the audiobook. Nick Landrum read and I did not like him. I could hear him swallow constantly and he would confuse the voices sometimes. 

The basic plot of Dexter is that he is a serial killer. After being adopted by a cop, Dexter's father, Harry, begins to notice strange things about Dexter. He is killing animals and seems to lack empathy. It doesn't take Harry long to learn that Dexter lacks something very important, feelings. Dexter isn't missing all feelings. He does feel loyalty to Harry and his adoptive sister Deborah and he does enjoy killing, but he lacks things like compassion, love, and respect. Seeing what is happening to his son, Harry tries a unique tactic: he teaches Dexter to kill without getting caught. But he gives Dexter a code so that he only kills bad guys. So Dexter is a serial killer vigilante. 

Now, some of you may be wondering how anyone could possibly enjoy a book about a psycho serial killer, vigilante or not. The answer is rather simple.  This book was less about Dexter's kills and more about how Dexter attempts to function in a society he doesn't understand. Without emotions, there are many things Dexter simply doesn't understand. As the narrator, Dexter has a unique perspective on social functions. It is fascinating to me. 

I do have one criticism to the books however. Deborah. She is mouthy like 20 sailors combined and more moody than a teenage girl. Every time she appears in the book, I root for her demise. Perhaps future books will help me see her purpose.  

Playing the Enemy: 5 Stars

Playing the Enemy by John Carlin

Considering the current condition of Nelson Mandela, I decided to post this review today in his honor. 

This is the tale of Nelson Mandela becoming president of South Africa after apartheid ended and his use of the national rugby team to bring the nation together. I knew very little about this before the movie Invictus, the movie inspired by the book, and decided I wanted to know more. To my surprise, the movie doesn't cover much of the book. 

The book doesn't really start the rugby tale until over half way through. The rest of the book is the back story, setting up the importance of the game. I loved learning about this. Mandela lived a unique life, and while not perfect, was exactly what that country needed at the time. 

After being arrested for terrorism, Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison. The powers of transformation that he had were incredible. The prison warden, Colonel Piet Badenhorst, showed his hatred when three judges came to visit the prison and Mandela accused the guards of beating the black prisoners.  Badenhorst said, "Be careful, Mandela. If you talk about things you haven't seen, you will get yourself into trouble, if you know what I mean". Mandela turned to the judges and said "Gentlemen, you see for yourself the type of man we are dealing with as a commanding officer. If he can threaten me here, in your presence, you can only image what he does when you are not here." By the time Mandela left Robben Prison, that same man made a point to come see him and wish him luck. 

Other guards Mandela won over by speaking about rugby, and even one grew so close to him, he snuck his eight month old son into prison just so Mandela could hold him. 

Mandela knew from early on that sports are a great way to unite people. I, myself, immediately feel more inclined to like someone if I find out they are an Atlanta Braves fan. In fact, I can hate someone, but if they talk about my team, I immediately warm up to them.  

One note, this book was definitely written with Americans in mind. Several times while describing the game of rugby, the author used American football as a reference.  He also referred to the world's news crews and named a few as examples, all American. I liked this approach because he explained this from the perspective of someone who knows little about the culture and political struggles at that time, a.k.a ME!

I cannot recommend this book enough. He is such a great man and while his legacy may not be easily forgotten in South Africa, it should not be forgotten here in the United States.