Since it's been a while since I read Dan Woll's debut novel, "Death on Cache Lake, I need to re-read as it's our bookclub's selection for December. I remember the day Dan brought his book into the store, introducing himself as a River Falls author and asking if I might like to take a look at his work and decide if would be something that Chapter2 would like to carry.

I started reading that morning and stayed late just to finish it. An adventure-friendship-mystery-historical fiction piece beginning in rural Wisconsin in the 1970's and proceeding into the wilds of Ontario and ending in Washington, D.C., Dan's novel is sure to interest anyone who lived during the tumultuous days of the early-70's. 

One of the best local-author books we stock.

A good Minnesota tale, Peter Geye's "The Lighthouse Road", is a very compelling work. Set in Gunflint, MN at the turn of the 20th Century, Geye certainly imparts the feelings of loneliness and isolation that a northern winter can bring as he paints an intriguing portrait of the lives of a family torn by their past.

Finally got through Ken Follet's "Fall of Giants", part one of the Century Trilogy. As sagas go, it's pretty good, with plenty of politics, romance, war, intrigue and drama. Most of the characters are at least interesting, with plenty of quirks and personality traits to make you want to follow their lives as they wind from the beginning of the twentieth century through the end of WW I.

I had started on this one back in October and just finished, not because it wasn't of interest, I just got side-tracked by some other stuff that I wanted to read. I'll definitely continue with "Winter of the World". 

Vince Flynn's latest Mitch Rapp thriller "The Last Man" is one of his best. Fans of the Minneapolis-based NYT bestselling author's protagonist will be pleased to learn that the intrepid CIA operative hasn't lost his touch. With characters that you'll either love or hate and a plot that has more twists than a 1960's go-go dancer, Flynn makes a strong case to maintain his role as the leading spy-thriller novelist since Tom Clancy. A certain hit.

I just finished Bill O'Reilly's two "Killing" books. Having read quite a bit about both the Lincoln and Kennedy assassinations, I was interested in seeing if the author brought anything new to light on either. I figured that so much had been written in the past that any new book must reveal something new. I was a little disappointed. Nothing really new - except for Booth's girlfriend's relationship with Robert Lincoln. 

However, both books give good, concise accounts of the events leading up to the events. They're well written and seem to be very factual. If you're looking to learn about either assassination, with insight into the lives of both killer and killee, these will certainly do the trick. Are Garfield and McKinley books next?

Sorry I haven't written lately. As my mom told me, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." I've been in a rut, but not for lack of trying. Nothing has turned me on. It's hard for me to recommend a book that I don't really like and I don't want to be negative in this forum. Anyone have any suggestions? Read anything good lately?

Michael Perry is in town tonight! For those of you familiar with Population: 485, Truck or Coop, you'll recognize the name as belonging to the local author responsible for these wonderful tales of life in small-town Wisconsin. He'll be at the Hudson Library tonight, beginning at 6:30. 

His latest effort, Visiting Tom, is another memoir-y type, full of stories about Mike, his family, the neighbors and, in this case, his good friends Tom and Arlene. I tell everyone that Mr. Perry's books are pretty much alike but that he could write a hundred of these and I'd read and love each one.

Told in an easy-going, flowing style, Mike's yarns are funny, sad, heart-warming and whimsical, evoking memories and fancies of life the way it should be: not always perfection but best spent in search of it. 

If you haven't been introduced to Mike's work, don't wait. You're missing out on some great reading.

Pete Townshend and Neil Young. Two of my favorite musical artists have each released autobiographies/memoirs in the past few weeks. Both are very good reads and give wonderful insight into the minds of each man. Although written in different styles, both would be great additions to any music-lover's library.

I first started listening to The Who back in high school. A friend introduced me to Quadrophenia the day it was sent to him as a member of one of those "Album of the Month" clubs. We drove around in his car with it blasting on his 8-track. I was amazed by the fullness of the sound and mesmerized by the lyrics. I immediately bought my own copy and drove my girlfriend nuts by playing it endlessly. I also purchased every other one of their albums on vinyl shortly thereafter. I've never stopped listening to their music.

I didn't know who Neil Young was until college, but he quickly became a favorite. A group of friends at another college had a house together with the words "Neil Youngsters" wood-burned into a small sign hanging from their front porch roof. I spent many a long weekend down in Macomb saying goodbye to numerous brain cells with Neil blasting in the background. Whether solo, or performing with The Springfield, CS&N or Crazy Horse, he has always "brung" it.

Townshend's Who I Am is written in a chronological manner, tracing his life from childhood to today. He details his battles with the various demons of depression, alcoholism and drug addiction in a very introspective style, not hiding any of the warts. Apparently, a rock-and-roll lifestyle isn't all fun and games.

Neil's book, Waging Heavy Peace, is pure Neil Young. All over the place. Going from his Lionel train and automobile obsessions to reminiscences from his life to his views on politics to his love of his family - often on the same page. Written in an easy-going, conversational style, it's like he's there in the same room, telling his stories directly to you.

Thank you to both for allowing me to relive a bit of my formative years. 

Three of my favorite authors have released new books recently. Jo Nesbo writes his sixth installment starring Harry Hole, Norway's most disturbed cop, Phantom. John Sanford has a new Virgil Flowers novel, Mad River. And Jack Reacher gets into trouble once again in Lee Child's A Wanted Man.


Although I enjoy all three characters equally, their detecting and personality styles are vastly different. Harry Hole is an alcoholic drug-addict with relationship problems. Perfect cop material, no? Virgil Flowers is a Minnesota BCA officer with an easy-going , whimsical look on life, women and crime-solving. Jack Reacher is a no-nonsense, physical ex-MP who is a trouble-magnet with a well-defined sense of right and wrong.

Good stories, excellent writing and interesting characters. What more could you ask for? All three books are excellent. Fans of the authors will love them. For those unfamiliar with these guys, but into good writing, you should start with the early books, especially with Nesbo or Sandford.

I just finished J.K. Rowling's new one, Casual Vacancy. While it's no Harry Potter, it's still a worthwhile read. The term "casual vacancy" is a British one describing a situation where an unfilled city council seat exists, in this case due to the death of a sitting councilperson. The story revolves around a small town and how it deals with the vacancy. It's about the people and families, their relationships and interactions.

I couldn't describe it as deep or profound, just a good, solid read. As I read it, I found myself rooting for certain characters, against others and very definitely interested in how events unfolded. If this was Dick Clark's Bandstand, I'd have to give it a 92 - good beat and easy to dance to.

We get many book-related questions, as you can imagine. Frequently we're asked for good books to read, our opinions on certain titles or authors and restaurant recommendations. Over the weekend, a customer asked me "What was the last book you read that changed your life?". My first thoughts were of some books that I had read lately that "moved" me - Kite Runner, Wingshooters, The Bottoms, among others. But, did they change my life? Not really. At least for me, at this stage of my life, eliciting deep emotional responses doesn't equate to changing who I am or how I act.

Then it hit me. I have read a book recently that caused a drastic change in my lifestyle. Eating Animals by Jonathan Foer turned me into a vegetarian. I think that probably qualifies as a book that changed my life. 

Previously, I'd been a happy carnivore. I grew up on a pig farm. I've eaten all the standard animals, plus a few of the exotics with no reservations and no guilt. Since May, none (well, a slice of my son's pepperoni pizza when I was really hungry).

Foer's description of the ways food animals are treated prior to market, the brutality of the actual slaughter and the stuff they feed them were enough to convince me to make this change. 

Since then, I've eaten a lot of potatoes, peanut butter and pasta. I've been keeping the deli counter at the County Market busy filling my orders for .63 lbs of different vegetarian salads (they love the challenge). I don't really miss eating animal flesh at all.

So, Hudson, two things: 1) send me your favorite vegetarian dishes; and, 2) share your life-changing books. We'll post the good ones. Thank you.


      Brian@chapter2books.com