Tremor by Craig Dirgo

The book Tremor starts in the late 1890s when an inventor named Nikola Tesla is poised to test his latest invention - transmission of electrical currents without wires. With his experiment set up he successfully transmits electrical currents without wires a short distance. He invests most of his money into this new invention. It leaves him nearly bankrupt. Nearly 10 years later he sets up his experiment one last time. This time the electrical currents are transmitted from Colorada to San Francisco. The day is April 18, 1906 - the day of the San Francisco earthquake. Unbeknown to Nikola Tesla his invention has caused one of the greatest natural disasters on U.S. soil.

The book then flash forwards to current date when John Taft, a special agent for the NIA (National Intelligence Agency), is called into action after a series of unusual earthquakes hits Italy and then Spain. We later discover the sinister plot of a fanatical Serbian nationalist to destroy the U.S. economy by knocking out the largest power grid in the United States. This would raise gold prices and reduce the value of the dollar at the same time. It's up to Agent Taft to uncover who is behind the series of earthquakes and stop the terrorist before the US economy is destroyed.

I found this book at the library several weeks ago. It caught my attention because this author has co-authored two books with Clive Cussler -- Sacred Stone and Golden Buddha. I enjoyed Sacred Stone but I was not thrilled with Golden Buddha. I decided to give this book a try.

Out of 5 stars I would give it 2.5 stars. I really liked the idea of this devise, used to emit electrical currents without wires. And I liked how it was being used to create earthquakes. It's an interesting paradox we have with new technology. Even the greatest technology that sounds great can be used for great evil.

I struggled with how the story was written, though I had a hard time sticking with the plot. The story moved from point to another and I became lost trying to keep up. There weren't a lot of story sidebars to follow but I didn't find the story really flowing smoothly.

I also found it difficult to keep the characters straight. Some of the character's names were similar so as I was reading I couldn't keep straight who was was. There could have been a bit more character development so I knew who each person was. This apparently is the second book in the John Taft series so perhaps if I had read the first book first I would have understood more of the characters. When writing a series of books the author must write with the expectation that his audience has not read any of the others books so it's good to develop a character in each book. In all of Clive Cussler's books you learn that Dirk Pitt has deep green eyes and is an owner of classic cars. You get from Cussler's description he's a tall, blond man, who walks with confidence, and women pick up on his aura quickly.

I didn't like John Taft all that much either. He sounded wimpy to me. Near the beginning of the book we read that he wants to retire for not apparent good reason. He's then later pulled from the investigation and instead of fighting to stay on the job he allows himself to be pulled. He shows some anger with what happens but there is no passion. I imagine someone with passion for what he was trying to do would have disobeyed orders, gone in with guns blazing, and saved the day. Instead John just happens to be in the right place as none of his own doing and is able to be part of the rescue.

The book also ends pretty week with us not knowing if John Taft is alive or living as a vegetable. The book doesn't end with a strong sense that John Taft is a hero. Instead it comes across feeling we just got lucky.

If you like reading action books then pick this one up. Just be sure to keep a pen and paper close to write down the characters and what they are responsibly for doing as otherwise I think you may end up as lost as I did.

City of Ember Books

This week I finished the 4th book of what I call the City of Ember books. I thought I would review all of them at the same time.

The City of Ember - The story starts with us learning about a city built underground. We gather through the story that the people in this city came here from long ago before a Great War devasted the earth. This city is called the City of Ember. The people were given all they would need to last around 150 years including electricity, although it was failing fast. The city was dying. Provided to the people of Ember was a box. This would would open after so many years; however, it was soon lost and forgotten. After about 200 years the box is found by Lina. Inside the box are instructions. Together her and her friend Doon solve the mystery of the cryptic message in the box and find the way out of Ember.

I enjoyed this book. It was entertaining and kept my attention. Doon and Lina learn how to overcome challenges and rise above them. While the people of Ember, including the mayor, denied anything was wrong, Doon and Lina continued looking for a way out of the city. It's a classic tail of good versus evil.

The People of Sparks - This book starts where the other book leaves off. Doon and Lina have sent a message down to Ember giving them the information they need to leave Ember. The people follow the message and leave Ember. Outside of Ember they find a huge world with new sounds like birds and new sights like blue sky and white clouds. As strangers in the world they begin walking not sure where they are going. They find a city they learn is called The City of Sparks. The people of Sparks take the Emberites in, let them live in a hotel called the Pioneer Hotel, and provide them food and work. Soon the people of Sparks become angry with the Emberites as they felt they weren't pulling their own rate. Eventually the two sides are led to an almost all out battle. If it wasn't for a fire that broke out at City Hall there would have been many people hurt or killed.

I liked this book more than Ember. The theme of this book is that in order to overcome evil you have to break the habit of evil and do something good instead. This act of kindness has to be strong enough that good feelings overcome the bad feelings. I enjoyed reading how the people of Ember began to learn how to do things on their own. It' a good story of how two different sets of people can work out differences to live in peace.

The Prophet of Yonwood - This story starts 300-350 years before the people of Ember leave the underground city. Nickie and her Aunt Crystal are heading to Greenhaven, the home where Crystal grandfather recently passed away. Days before they arrive a woman named Althea Tower has a vision of the end of the world. This vision leaves her left only mumbling and incoherent. The people of Yonwood try to understanding what Althea means when she does mumble words. As the people of Yonwood strive to rid their town of sinners and evil doing the people begin to forget what is really important. They are told no more singing, no loving dogs, and no lights. The last straw for Nickie is when the dogs are to be banished because the "Prophet" said "no dogs" it's enough. Together her and Crystal try to save the dogs and the people of Yonwood from this Prophet before it's too late. In the end Althea Tower is "awakened" and explains what she saw. She did see something of the future but it turns out the future they thought was only days from happening doesn't happen for another 80 years. Nickie, it turns out, is one of the people selected to inhabit the City of Ember. It was she who leaves a journal at the exit of the Ember cave where she hopes one day it will be found.

This was my least favorite book of the four. It's a story that seemed to more distract from what was given in the first two books. Yes, we learn a little more about why this underground city was built but we learned about that in the first two books. Yes, we find out that Nickie is one chosen to live in Ember at the beginning, but who cares. The book carries a heavy religious tone. I struggled with what the book was trying to teach me. Really, if you read the last chapter of this book you'll learn everything you want to learn. I recommend skipping this book and just going to the last book as this one only distracts from the story. I was happiest when the book ended.

The Diamond of Darkhold - The story of the people of Ember and Sparks continues in this fourth and last book. A roamer arrives in to town. Doon sees a book and together with Lina they trade matches to buy the book. They discover that there was something hidden waiting for the people of Ember to find it. Doon and Lina decide to venture back to Ember and try to find this treasure. After arriving at the entrance of Ember they find a way into the underground cave where Ember is. They learn it's not abandoned as they thought. A family named Troggs found the city and have moved in pillaging the things left behind. Doon is captured and is forced to plan his escape. Lina hurries back to Sparks to get help. Doon learns of a diamond found outside of the cave. He knows it's for the people of Ember. Doon plans his escape. As the Troggs sleep he makes his escape. He takes the diamond with him. Outside he finds Lina and together they search the place the original diamond was found. Inside they find hundreds of more diamonds. They learn later these diamonds are powered by solar power. They have discovered electricty.

I really enjoyed this book and it's a good way to end the story. Perhaps the story of the Emberites doesn't end here but it could. We can't help but be happy for the people of Sparks and their new electricity. While for hundreds of years the people of earth dwelt in darkness after the Great War, they soon learned Sparks lived in light. Soon the diamonds were traded for other goods providing for great properity in Sparks. It teaches us to be persistant in the search for truth.

Evening Readings with Easton

I have to laugh that my first book review post will be a book written for children but hey, it's a book. Every evening Easton and I climb into his bed to read a couple of books. Because he could read his whole library of books (which is large) and it would take hours to do so I limit him to just two books that I choose (isn't it great being a parent). Plus every 3 weeks we go to the library to find new books to read for three weeks. I'll admit that getting 5 books at the library and reading them every evening for 3 weeks gets a little old but I do it out of love for Easton and for reading. It's my time to be with Easton and I wouldn't change that or anything.



Back to the review. Several weeks ago we borrowed the book called The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Alex Sheffler. It's a fantastic journey through the deep dark wood with a little mouse. Along his journey he encounters several animals wanting to eat him. He scares them away by describing a dark, fearsome creature called the Gruffalo, which he of course made up. Eventually the mouse runs into a Gruffalo and again fools the Gruffalo into thinking he, the mouse, is the scariest creature in the deep dark wood.



This is a wonderful book with rhymes that just work. It'll make you laugh as you read the story. And if you enjoyed this one then I also recommend another one of hers called Charlie Cook's Favourite Book.



Thanks for reading. Please leave comments on your favorite children's book. Easton loves new books to read.

Book Reviews

I love reading books. This section will include books I'm reading or listening to and what I think of the books. I'd love to receive your comments on books you are reading with title and author. I'm always looking for new authors to read but hesitate to just branch out without a very good recommendation.