Books I've Read
Recent Books
The Pope Of Palm Beach
Serge Storms, #21. Serge goes to a book-signing or two. The library book return gets over-filled. Some coke smugglers get delayed revenge ... or not.
Quote:
Pablo stood still a moment, comprehending the folly of shooting multiple times into anything that's around your neck.Read:
5/2024
Clownfish Blues
Serge Storms, #20. Serge takes on the Lottery.
Quote:
The reptile was hog-tied with rubber bands and hung from the handlebars of a Schwinn bicycle, joining five other similarly dangling reptiles all wondering how life had come to this.Quote:
I see a disco ball, I say, 'Go with God.'"Read:
5/2024
Torpedo Juice
Serge Storms, #7. Serge gets married, almost killed by a serial killer, and, oh yeah, Colman comes back from the dead.
Quote:
"Stop right there," said Serge. "This is beginning to sound like some lame soap opera device to bring back a character they regretted killing off."Quote:
"...To borrow from Fire-sign Theater, Everything You Know Is Wrong..."Read:
5/2024
Sam Gunn, Jr.
Sam Gunn dies, his son takes over. I was gonna include a bunch quotes, poor treatment of women, mistakes, and oddities. But it's too much effort. The book is OK, in a 50s sort of way, the author died before it was published, we move on.
Read:
5/2024
My Favorites: A Collection Of Short Stories
I enjoyed all the stories in this book very much, and gave it five stars because, darn it, I'd read it again!
Quote:
"A Catholic, a Jew, and a Muslim are stuck in the middle of Mars," said Rashid Faiyum.
"That isn't funny," Jacob Bernstein replied wearily.
Patrick O'Conner, the leader of the three-man team, shook his head...Quote:
"...When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes..." -- Hey, that's familiar!Quote:
At that instant we felt a slight lurch. Spacecrafts don't lurch, not unless something bad has happened to them ...Read:
4/2024
The Stingray Shuffle
Serge Storms, #5. Serge is still chasing that suitcase, and it takes him on a railroad trip from New York to somewhere in Florida, I forget exactly where.
Quote:
...and a fishing guide named Skip. -- A nod to Hiaasen?Quote:
"... Wait! Look! There's something shiny down there! Help me move these bales of dope."Quote:
"I'm glad I was never part of the drug culture," said Serge, loading an automatic pistol in his lap.
"This isn't about the drug culture--it's about women," said Lenny.Quote:
Serge raised up and exploded: "I did it my way!Quote:
"... As long as you know the gauge conversion, which happens to be three-point-five millimeters to the foot, the rest is easy..." -- I would have gone with scale conversion there. Read:
4/2024
Florida Roadkill
Serge Storms #1. Well, I learned these books were not published in chronological order, as Sharon and Coleman get killed in this one.
Dry Tortugas has an appearance in this one!
Quote:
...Bambi's first steps.Quote:
"Hi, I'm Seymour," he said, "but friends call me Coleman."Quote:
"It's hot as hell in here," griped the bass player. "Why can't we practice with the door open?"
"I told you, because of the noise complaints from the airport!" said the singer.Quote:
"That's a new one," said Serge.Read:
4/2024
Coconut Cowboy
Serge Storm, #19. Serge buys a Harley. We learn about sinkholes, a donkey and a hippo, and small town machinations.
Read:
4/2024
Pineapple Grenade
Serge Storms, #15. Serge tries prevent the assassination of a Latin American President. Plus other stuff.
Quote:
"The Canadians! Christ!"
"No shit. They scare the hell out of me," said Serge.Quote:
"Where's the rule that says you can't just unilaterally declare yourself a spy and snoop around for no reason?"Quote:
...in dim light that only came from the glowing bars and cocktail tables, fitted underneath with special diodes. -- "Special diodes"? What are those??? Quote:
"Federal agent!" Serge flashed his badge. "Open this room! Now!"
"No inglés." -- Why Felicia is right there, why doesn't she translate? Read:
4/2024
When Elves Attack
Serge Storms, #14. It's Christmas time in Florida. Will there be any snow this year?
Quote:
I stopped believing in Santa Claus when my mother took me to see him in a department store, and he asked for my autograph.
--SHIRLEY TEMPLEQuote:
"How about some ice cream? There's the food court."
"Jim, why do you always think a woman just needs ice cream to put her in a better mood?"
"It doesn't?"
"No, it's true. Where'd you see the ice cream parlor?"Quote:
"Last time you went the wrong way on the interstate. The semi missed us by inches."
"The traffic signs were confusing."
"'Do Not Enter,'" said Eunice. "Yeah that's a mystery for the ages."Read:
4/2024