Sense of Grace by Richard McGonegal - 266 pages
Summary: This book features a rural county sheriff who is trying to solve the case of an ex-con who is repeatedly assaulted, while dealing with his own demons in his personal life. It is McGonegal’s first novel, and not a bad debut for a new author. Although this is not the type of book that I typically find myself reading, the story was enjoyable, even though the dialogue could use some work.
Dead Hot by M.K. Coker - 252 pages
Summary: Sequel to Dead News. A sheriff from South Dakota and one of her deputies travel to Arizona, where they find themselves involved in a case involving radiation poisoning at a government nuclear laboratory. Coker has numerous books in this series, and all are well written and entertaining.
Dead News by M.K. Coker - 314 pages
Summary: Another book in Coker’s Dakota Mystery series. The sheriff of a small South Dakota county finds herself under personal attack from a political challenger during election season, while trying to solve the murder of a newspaper magnate’s daughter. Coker has a writing style that is easy to enjoy, and presents nice mysteries that don’t have to rely on shock value for one’s attention.
Missouri State Constitution - 167 Pages
Summary: All the amendments that make up the state constitution. Not much to say, other than some very dry reading.
King of the Hill by A.E. Hotchner - 432 Pages
Summary: Playwright and novelist A.E. Hotchner writes of his childhood in St. Louis during the great depression. From having to evade landlords and debt collectors, making use of his imagination, a summer job at an Ozark campground, and many interesting neighborhood characters, Hotchner sucks the reader in with what was a surprisingly captivating memoir.
Reaching Dustin by Vicki Grove - 208 Pages
Summary: A schoolgirl takes an interest in a boy in her class who comes from a family of meth producers. Dealing with neglect and abuse, the boy has built walls around him that the girl is trying to help knock down. This book was meant for a younger crowd, and while not bad, wasn’t really my cup of tea.
Tales of the Missouri Indians by Dennis Edwards - 36 Pages
Summary: Edwards recollects tales and folklore of the Missouria, as they were told to him by a tribal member while growing up. Though short, it was a fairly interesting read.
Snack Attack by Terry Border - 32 Pages
Summary: In this children’s book, a few snacks leave the safety of their packaging to brave the unknown world of a human household. It was entertaining enough to keep me interested while reading it to my daughters, which they enjoyed.
Between the Star and the Cross by Laura Valenti - 254 Pages
Summary: The discovery of a small girl at the site of a meth lab explosion leads a rural sheriff to questions about his job and his faith. Although this book was not something I would normally read, it was fairly well written and the story was able to keep me engrossed.
Hey, Dog by Tony Johnston - 32 pages
Summary: A children’s book featuring a small boy discovering an abused dog. With a narrative focus on patience and compassion, the young boy slowly gains the dog’s trust and nurses him back to health. Not a bad kid’s book, but may be a bit much for very small kids.
Night Animals by Gianna Marino - 40 Pages
Summary: The animals of the forest hear a noise that scares them in this children’s book. My daughters loved it as the animals panicked, trying to figure out what was making the noise.
N is for Never Forget by Nancy Polette - 40 pages
Summary: Although this book is aimed for a younger crowd, and the topics present in the book are presented respectfully, this book may be a bit much for younger readers. Polette works through the alphabet, explaining P.O.W. camps, tap codes, air lifts, etc. In addition, each segment features a true story of an individual or group who were either prisoners of war, or working to free those captured. It was pretty interesting, even if I am a few decades outside of the target audience.
L.O.L. Ranch by Dan Burle Sr. - 256 Pages
Summary: A collection of stories and poems about life on a modern cattle ranch in Missouri. Written in a clean style of humor, Burle tackles everything from cleaning stalls, to cattle auctions. Burle and I have different sense of humor. I did not L.O.L.
Who was Walt Disney by Whitney Stewart - 112 Pages
Summary: A very short biography detailing the life of Walt Disney. Though not an in-depth examination of Disney’s life, there is plenty of information for kids to learn. Written for an elementary audience who should have no trouble reading this bio.
Great Walker: Ioway Leader by Greg Olson - 48 Pages
Summary: A brief biography of the Ioway chief. This book is targeted towards elementary school kids, and focuses on Great Walker, certain Ioway beliefs, forced relocation, and reluctance. Though short and outside of the target demographic, it was interesting to read about an often overlooked group of American Indians.
Gas House Gang by John Heidenry - 352 pages
Summary: Covers the story of the Cardinals, and players such as Dizzy Dean on their race for the pennant and winning of the World Series. As someone who is not a baseball fan, I found this book to be incredibly well-researched, very well-written, and was able to keep someone with zero interest in the game completely engaged. A very enjoyable read, for fans and history lovers alike.
Billy the Kid: A Short and Violent Life by Robert Utley - 342 pages
Summary: Utley provides a detailed biography of Billy the Kid. He covers legends and lore surrounding the young outlaw’s life, as well as dispelling myths (and even providing evidence that some myths might just actually be true). Utley does an excellent job of putting his research to the page, and this book is one that was an incredibly quick read because I would find excuses to keep reading.
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse by Peter Matthiessen - 688 pages
Summary: Where to begin with this classic work? Matthiessen focuses on the history of various American Indian tribes, most notably the Lakota Sioux, from their meeting of white fur trappers through the AIM movement of the 70’s and beyond. He explores the social impacts of broken treaties, boarding schools, and rampant poverty on reservations. While this is not the first time I have read this book, it was certainly worth reading again.
Devolution by Max Brooks - 304 pages
Summary: Brooks repeats the type of world building and narrative style that he used with World War Z, but this time, instead of a world overrun with the walking dead, a small community in the Pacific Northwest finds themselves under attack by a group of sasquatch following a volcanic eruption. Brutal, yet intelligently written, as Brooks always has done. Fans of previous works will enjoy it, even if it doesn’t have zombies.
To Hell on a Fast Horse by Mark Gardner - 336 pages
Summary: This is a combined biography of both Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett, and Garrett’s manhunt for the outlaw. While a good read, Gardner lets his bias show against Billy the Kid, where as Utley portrayed him as a more complex individual instead of a standard bad guy. Worth a read, but Utley’s work was better.
- read by Chris
