The White Queen

The White Queen / Philippa Gregory. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2009. (464 p.)

To be completely honest, I don't usually like books by Philippa Gregory.  She takes a little too much authorial license with historical fact for my taste, though she does admit she's not a historian and doesn't go digging to make sure that she gets every detail correct.  However, I was surprisingly amused by The White Queen.  Partially, this is because I know little of the time period, and partly because, when it comes down to it, Gregory is a good writer.

This is the first of two books (so far) of the Lancaster/York wars for the English throne in the mid 1400s.  The White Queen is Elizabeth Grey (a Lancaster supporter), who weds the new York king, Edward IV, and the story is told from Elizabeth's point of view.   This novel was a fairly quick read, but in a good way.  If you like British historical fiction, I would recommend you read The White Queen.

The Secret History/Donna Tartt, New York: Vintage Books, 1992 (559 p.)

 Five college students at a fictitious small liberal arts college in Massachusetts in the 1980s fall under the spell of a charismatic classics professor. (A suspension of one's disbelief for sure!) The students form their own little society of Greek enthusiasts and engage in some unusual rituals. The plot is really rather simple but the character development is complex and extraordinarily well developed. Myself, I do not think it qualifies as a psychological thriller though it is definitely a morality tale. This said the obsessional qualities of the characters and their rich inner lives makes for a good read.

Covert Warriors/ W.E.B. Griffin and William E. Butterworth IV

Covert Warriors/ W.E.B. Griffin and William E. Butterworth IV. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, c2011 (372 p.)

Covert Warriors is the seventh in Griffin’s Presidential Agent series and the second co-written with his son, Butterworth.  This series focuses on a group of “special operators” from the military, the CIA, and the FBI, along with two Russian defectors (also former espionage agents) and a few civilians under the leadership of Retired Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Castillo.  The story begins with a relatively isolated kidnapping which would present few challenges for Castillo’s group and then proceeds to get more complex as Castillo seems to have as many enemies in the U.S. government as he does in other quarters.  The situation even becomes more complex as questions arise about the mental stability of the President.  Unfortunately none of these threads seem to get Griffin’s full attention and much of the action present in Griffin’s earlier books is missing here.  In the end, there are almost as many questions as there are answers.  For the hardcore Griffin fan, this book is okay, if not spectacular.  For new readers, I would recommend any of the books in Griffin’s Brotherhood of War series over this book. Bill Fryman

Creative Landscapes: Digital Photography Tips and Techniques

FRIDAY,  FEBRUARY 3, 2012

Creative Landscapes: Digital Photography Tips and Techniques/ Harold Davis. Indianapolis: Wiley Publishing, Inc., c2011 (240 p.)

I finished Davis’ book with mixed feelings.  The book contains a great deal of information for all levels of photographers.  It also contains examples on almost every page along with lens and exposure information and either a description of the subject, a description of technique, or both.  Unfortunately, because of the wealth of photos I found myself wanting to go back and forth between text and descriptions and photos which made keeping focus difficult.  The first third of the book concentrates more on Davis’ landscape philosophy and the final part of the book focuses more on technique.  Probably not the best book for the point-and-shoot or smart phone photographer, I would recommend this book to SLR and medium format photographers with an interest in landscape photography. Bill Fryman

The Night Circus

The Night Circus / Erin Morgenstern. New York: Doubleday, 2011 (387 p.)

Imagine a circus that travels the globe. It arrives unannounced and only opens its gates at night. But when you go in, you're greeted with tents filled with magic and mystery. Welcome to the Night Circus. While the plot centers on a strange competition between two magicians, the book's strength lies in the author's skillful and colorful description of the circus, its performers, and magical tents.

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games/ Suzanne Collins. New York : Scholastic Press, 2008. (374 p.)

I just finished reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. The Hunger Games is an annual televised event in the dystopian country of Panem. In these games, adolescents compete in a fight to the death. It is the ultimate reality show except the “reality” is manipulated by the Gamekeepers to keep the event, which lasts several weeks, exciting to viewers. So really this reality show is not much different from The Bachelor or American Idol; it’s just that the stakes are higher. In this bleak world, even the glimmers of hope are tainted, but the hopelessness of the story is simultaneously compelling and repellent.

Composition:  From Snapshots to Great Shots/ Laurie Excell. Berkeley: Peachpit Press, c2011, Simon and Schuster, c1991 (251 p.)

For the beginning digital photographer Excell covers the full spectrum of composition from equipment selection to patterns to spatial relationships.  Her work is complemented by chapters contributed by four other photographers focusing on specific subjects like black and white photography and sports.  For the more advanced photographer, the book serves as a refresher on skills that are sometimes overlooked in the rush to get that “magic photo”.  The chapters also include practical exercises that can be used to further reinforce the materials included in the book.  I would recommend this book to all but the most experienced photographer. Bill Fryman