Did I spell "espionage" correctly? I'd look it up on dictionary.com but my well, my computer would take the short bus getting there and ....nevermind.

/digressing rant

I read Charm School by Nelson DeMille in about two days. I liked it a lot. If you're into spies or would like to learn about Russia, maybe you'd like it as well. Where are all the book readers around here anyway? I'm in a small book club with family and friends, (go ahead, point and laugh ), so if anyone has any great suggestions, let me know. We try anything and everything from classics to horror to weepy sad Oprah crap, (whoops, did I just say that? ), to spy novels as aforementioned.

Try to read Conderates In The Attic, a funny book about how even today people are still obsessed with the Civil War aka The War of Northern Aggression aka The War Between The States. The author even comes to the area such as Harpers Ferry & Sharpsburg.

Anyway, what's the general plot to Charm School from the title it sounds like a chick book.

Split Second by David Baldacci - a great read!

Several different kinds of cops, kidnapping, killing, betrayal, twists & turns, and surprises.

I don't know WVU, that sounds pretty boring to me.

A chick book? Russian espionage = chick book? The general plot goes a little like this...young boy is touring Russia on his own and stumbles onto a big bad Russian secret that threatens the U.S. Some U.S. investigators go snooping around and the KGB bullies everyone around. It's Russia vs. America. Who's going to win?

Chick book

Thanks eash, I'll look that one up on amazon.

I mean the title sounds like a chick book, Charm School, just my IMO. Confederates In The Attic isn't really that boring, but I'm a big history buff, the book shows so much of our culture, and is generally funny.

Oh, I get you now, WVU. Charm school as in divas in training, powdered noses, prim and proper. Nope, not like that at all. The charm school is actually "Mrs. Ivanova's Charm School", a russian military camp holding U.S. POW MIA assumed dead soldiers from Vietnam (sp?). They are forced to teach and train young russian spies to look, act like, and live as U.S. citizens.

Sounds interesting, I guess I'll have to check it out next time I got to Barnes & Noble.

I guess that goes to show - you can't judge a book by it's title

True!

<standing here, blushing>

Maybe we should consolidate the book and music forums because they aren't very popular. I kind of feel guilty since I think I was the one that asked for them and yet I can't seem to kickstart them. It's difficult to discuss books anyway because you don't want to spoil anyone of any plot points if they happen to actually read the book one day.

Anyway, I cheated on my book club and read a different book. The Face by Dean Koontz, if you like spooky stuff. The story starts out describing a strange delivery from an anonymous source. The delivery is an apple that has been cut in half and then sewn back together with a surprise in the middle. That part hooked me in; wanting to figure out what it signified. The little boy Fric is a hoot and you just have to root for him. The character Whistler was strange and puzzling through the entire book. Even when I was through with the book I still wanted to ponder exactly which side he fought on and explore his motives.

My book club's next official book pick is Dead Sleep by Greg Iles. A murder mystery, I believe. Next book will either be a classic or something steeped in culture. Achebe, maybe. We try to keep the choices varied from one end of the spectrum to the other. Again, any recommendations are welcome. It won't be my turn to choose a book for awhile, but when it is, I'll print off this thread and confer with my book worms.

Recently Read
Plan of Attack by Bob Woodward - a "behind the scenes" look in the White House in the time period after Afghanistan and before Iraq. Told down the middle with plenty for liberals and conservatives to get mad about.

Blue Blood by Edward Conlon - true story of an NYPD officer's career from being a Harvard graduate to making detective. The ending where he describes sifting the the WTC debris at that New Jersey landfill is chilling.

D-Day by Stephen Ambrose - probably the best book I've read on the subject. It's a shame Mr. Amborse's career was tarnished by plagarism allegations just before his death a few years ago.

Currently Reading
Off With Their Heads by Dick Morris - Morris is a former Clinton aide and a current Fox News analyst that gives his take on things that bother him in the world. I agree with most of it, but if you watch FNC at all, you've heard all this before.

Song of Susanah by Stephen King - the next to last installment in the Dark Tower series.

Future reading
I don't know. I'm open to suggestions for anything (except romance), but would prefer some fiction to balance out a lot of recent non-fiction.

I'm also very curious to give President Clinton's 900+ page bio a look, but refuse to spend $35 bucks on it. It would probably be hard to pick up at the library for awhile.