I did manage to read a book in between, but have continued with my zeal for the Doc Ford series. I am a third of the way through Everglades.
It is odd for me to continue reading a series; so many putter out and dismay me. Many authors end up having their characters do things totally out of character, therefore I completely stop reading anything by them. (prime example, the Scarpetta series by Cornwell...she committed that unforgivable sin, and the characters that she didn't have doing unfathomable things she flatlined...they stopped developing).
Hence, the reason the Doc Ford series continues to draw me in: Character development. Characters staying true to themselves (in the midst of the reader discovering more about them), and plots that propel the characters into situations that don't have them straying from their central "being."
I love as well the interplay between Tomlinson and Doc Ford; it would be hard for anyone to pull off developing these two wildly differing people, yet White manages to do so.
I root for both characters, and root even more for their friendship.
The next four books in the series are due to arrive today; it certainly appears as if I will read through the series. Cuba Straits comes out in March. I have the others to read while I wait for that one. I actually entered a contest via Goodreads to win a copy of his latest, but since I never post anything to Goodreads, I am sure I won't win that. I entered through Facebook, after discovering he has an author page. He (or whomever runs his author's page) responded to a question I had about his Hannah Smith series...I truly didn't expect a response, so that was an added touch that makes me respect him even more. As an aside, I did try that series, and it didn't grab me like Doc Ford did.
Enough of my rambling; onto reading Everglades!
Truly, if you haven't picked up this series...do so now...only other comparison I can make, is with the Harry Potter series!
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Friday, January 2, 2015
Travel Reading
I love finding books set in the places I have traveled to. Reading The Perfect Storm while in the Rockport/Gloucester area about 15 years ago started me on this quest, to find books set in my destination, to read while there. I have enjoyed reading books set in Slovenia, Toronto, and Seattle...but none caused me to write about, or recommend anything particular. As we planned our trip to Florida, I looked for the Doc Ford series by Randy Wayne White. I picked up the first one Sanibel Flats at the library, the day before we left for Sanibel, Florida.
I read the second The Heat Islands (and discovered I had read it years ago; it was THE book that put Sanibel on the travel radar for me, only getting to visit now!). I bought it at Doc Fords restaurant, which is on Sanibel, and was just a couple of miles from the cottage we stayed in. I ordered books 3-7 on Amazon, and just finished Captiva, which is the fourth book (in I believe 21 at this point).
I vowed after reading each of the four thus far, that I would take a break and read something else in between, but each is so compelling, it has me reaching for the next book, without reading something else in one of my many piles of "to read" next books.
Thus, I am starting North of Havana, leaving piles of other reading material behind. I can't imagine reading all 21 before venturing into other genres/other writers, but who knows?
It is interesting to me that the first 3 were written in 3rd person, and Captiva switched to first person. White pulls this off beautifully, and I truly enjoyed the switch...I liked the 3rd person narratives, but enjoy hearing Ford's voice come through in such a compelling manner.
If you like Carl Hiaasen, you will enjoy this series. In reality it is probably more Hiaasen mixed with perhaps John MacDonald...basically, if you enjoy mysteries, interesting locales, great character development, and adventure thrown in for good measure (while also dealing with local politics and environmental issues), then you too might want to check out this series. Just be prepared, because you won't be able to stop with just one.
I read the second The Heat Islands (and discovered I had read it years ago; it was THE book that put Sanibel on the travel radar for me, only getting to visit now!). I bought it at Doc Fords restaurant, which is on Sanibel, and was just a couple of miles from the cottage we stayed in. I ordered books 3-7 on Amazon, and just finished Captiva, which is the fourth book (in I believe 21 at this point).
I vowed after reading each of the four thus far, that I would take a break and read something else in between, but each is so compelling, it has me reaching for the next book, without reading something else in one of my many piles of "to read" next books.
Thus, I am starting North of Havana, leaving piles of other reading material behind. I can't imagine reading all 21 before venturing into other genres/other writers, but who knows?
It is interesting to me that the first 3 were written in 3rd person, and Captiva switched to first person. White pulls this off beautifully, and I truly enjoyed the switch...I liked the 3rd person narratives, but enjoy hearing Ford's voice come through in such a compelling manner.
If you like Carl Hiaasen, you will enjoy this series. In reality it is probably more Hiaasen mixed with perhaps John MacDonald...basically, if you enjoy mysteries, interesting locales, great character development, and adventure thrown in for good measure (while also dealing with local politics and environmental issues), then you too might want to check out this series. Just be prepared, because you won't be able to stop with just one.
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