Three Nights in August

I really enjoyed this book. I've always been a Cardinals fan. Over the past 3-4 years, even much more so. I always rooted for them and simply watched games when they came on. now, I'm following the team more, paying attention to who's hurt, who's playing well, and who should be sent down for re-hab.

Three Nights in August gives a lot of insight into Tony's mind not just about these three games, but various other times throughout the season. The chapter on D.K. was just horrible to read - I hadn't realized what a big person he was in the club, and reading it really made me sad.

The new afterward talks a lot about Moneyball, which I think i'll have to read soon. The author of that book says that the A's, by following the new philosophy, have almost made the playoffs several times, so the theory is good. The author of "TNiA" says that's like praising a hitter for getting the ball to the warning track every time. It's close, but it's no home run.

The Wizard of Oz

Yes, I read The Wizard of Oz. I had finished my book, and saw this in Olivia's room. I is a very quick read. Yes, it's a kids book. Yes, it's an allegory, or a metaphor or a social commentary, or whatever. But I didn't like it.

In about two pages, the group is attacked by, and defeats, a large pack of wolves, a swarm of bees, and some other large group of creatures. it basically went "The witch sent the wolves. the tin woodsman killed them. The witch sent the bees. they covered everyone with the straw from the scarecrow, and the bees stung the woodsman and died. The then attacked, and they killed them too." Not much of an epic battle.

Yes, i know it's a kids book, and you can't have pages and pages describing the battle. But it IS fantasy... so I'd expect something. Lot's of deus ex machina.

Homebody

i just finished Homebody, by Orson Scott Card, today. It was an OK read, nothing stellar. i didn't like how he seemed to just completely drop one of the story lines halfway through the book. At first, the protagonist meets the Realtor and strikes up a relationship with her. There is some minor plot points about whether she gave him preferential treatment, he's kind to her... and then you never see or hear from her again.

The ending could be seen from a mile away. As soon as the crazy neighbor lady says "don't let the woman touch the ghost", you know EXACTLY what's going to happen to give the happy ending.

It went quick, it didn't suck, but not the best book i've ever read.