Not so good.....

Borderline - the latest book by Nevada Barr

I've loved this series about the National Park Ranger Anna Pigeon, but the last 2 books have been un-finishable for me. (I know, I don't think unfinishable is a word either) This one, like the last one about wolves, just took itself wayy to seriously. I don't want to read about illegals dying trying to get to this country. I can read about that every day in the paper. I didn't make it very far....If you've never read anything by her - start with Firestorm or Blind Descent - they're exciting books set in different National Parks with a female Park Ranger as the lead character.




Shimmer by David Morrell

First of all, David Morrell is an incredible thriller writer. He started the whole Rambo thing; he's written other great books Scavenger and Creepers being my two favorites about urban exploreres.
This book suffers from the same thing the Barr book suffered from - just too realistic. If I want to read about marriages suffering, I'll read about it through Richard Ford or John Updike. Morrell is so incredible with the art of the thriller - I don't want to read about his take on a marriage "in trouble".

These writers are great - Barr and Morrell are at the top of their craft. I don't think Updike or Ford or Roth would be able to write a breath-taking thriller or mystery. It's not their bag. It feels like Barr and Morrell were trying too hard to be something they're not.