The City

by Dean Koontz

I'm a BIG fan of Dean Koontz.  There are a few of his books that I haven't cared for but, overall, I like his work.

The City falls into the category of those I like.  I wasn't sure during the first half of the book if he was going to win me over.  Not really sure why I didn't care for it in the beginning buy by the end I was fully satisfied.

The main character, a young, black boy named Jonah is very likable but the character I liked the most was Mr. Yoshioka.  There was so much mystery surrounding him.

Here's a write-up from the cover:

 A young boy, a musical prodigy, discovering life’s wonders—and mortal dangers. 
His best friend, also a gifted musician, who will share his journey into destiny. 
His remarkable family, tested by the extremes of evil and bound by the depths of love . . . on a collision course with a band of killers about to unleash anarchy. 
And two unlikely allies, an everyday hero tempered by the past and a woman of mystery who holds the key to the future. 

These are the people of The City, a place where enchantment and malice entwine, courage and honor are found in the most unexpected quarters, and the way forward lies buried deep inside the heart. Brilliantly illumined by magic dark and light, their unforgettable story is a riveting, soul-stirring saga that speaks to everyone, a major milestone in the celebrated career of #1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz and a dazzling realization of the evergreen dreams we all share.

* I received a copy of  The City  from NetGalley in exchange for my review.  No other compensation was received.

The Innocent

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harlod Fry

The Informationist

What Alice Forgot

Accused

The Neighbor

The Wilder Rose

by Susan Wittig Albert

Death Angel

by Linda Fairstein

Spiderwick Vol 2: The Seeing Stone

Recommended by my grandkids.  Loved it.

Max Ginsburg Retrospective

Max Ginsburg, one of the most respected and highly accomplished realist painters today, presents for the first time, a collection of his paintings from 1956 to 2010. Exquisitely presented on 192 pages of high quality paper (11x12x1), this publication chronicles Max's prestigious career as a fine artist, a teacher and illustrator.

The book cover shows one of his paintings.  I'll bet you can guess the title after a quick look at the picture.  After guessing the title, Bus Stop, you'll want to go back for a longer look.

I think that's one of the gift's of Ginsburg talent - capturing human nature doing regular day-to-day activities.  Looking at his artwork is like looking at a photograph of friends or family or ourselves.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Ginsburg, learning more of his life and his art, and dwelling on the pictures.  This is a wonderful book for the coffee table.

* I received a copy of Retrospective  from NetGalley in exchange for my review.  No other compensation was received.