Books for July

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J K Rowling

Review

Okay, I've read this book before. I expect most people here have. But there's something about it that keeps drawing me back. J K Rowling gives us a much darker story here than in any of the previous books, but knows when to break it up with interesting and often amusing interludes about her heroes. Her new characters are fascinating individuals, and Professor Slughorn, although he isn't a terribly deep or subtle character (that sort of character rarely is), is quite amusing and has a major role to play in the book's plot. The only problem I have with Slughorn is, in fact, his name. He's a large and selfish guy and his name just seems to be a none-too-subtle reminder of his personality. We know what sort of character he probably is even before Harry meets him.

All in all, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is a good penultimate book in the Harry Potter series. It makes Hogwarts feel like a much more dangerous place, introduces new characters, wraps up loose ends and gives Harry his final mission, which will carry him through the seventh and final book in the series.

First Strike by Jack Higgins

Review

I have only read the first book in this series, which was about a plot to monopolize the oil industry, but the narrative seems to have moved on from there quite a bit. The latest book involves a violent resistance movement against the Chinese government, a dangerous American terrorist group which has kidnapped the president, and threat of a nuclear Armageddon in a war between China and the United States. As you can see, things are not going well in the capital.

The book begins with the almost-fatal shooting of a corrupt businessman who once sold the main characters of the series out to the Mafia. Despite his actions, it is clear that he has something he needs to tell John Chance, a British spy who has been enjoying some much needed down time. After the shooting, the businessman mutters a few cryptic words and then sinks into a coma. Meanwhile, the new Chinese province of Wiengwei is the center of a power struggle between the People's Army of China and militant rebels organized by an enigmatic individual, the Marshal Wieng. The latest casualties of the conflict have been American troops sent it to keep the peace, but were shot down and are most likely being held by the Chinese government, although they are denying it. The rebels seem to have found common ground with an American terrorist group who believe that they must get in the first strike against China and launch American nuclear weapons into Beijing. Unfortunately, only the United States president has the codes, and he is unlikely to authorize the launch. At least not willingly...

-- JackW - 21 Jul 2010