Books I've read in January (2011)

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - by Stieg Larsson  This is the world renowned, best-selling novel by Stieg Larsson about a bisexual, tough-as-nails, loner, private investigator and the investigative journalist who join forces to solve a decades old murder of Swedish teenager from a wealthy yet dysfunctional family.

My opinion - Great stuff, in this book Mr. Larsson keeps your attention the entire time from the initial premise of a long lost, murdered niece to the shocking conclusion. An excellent page-turner of novel.


The Peebles Principles - by R. Donahue Peebles Mr Peebles gives 12 of his principles for success for aspiring entrepreneurs. He also talks about how he started from nearly nothing about 3 decades ago and turned that into a Multi-Billion dollar real estate and building development business.

My opinion - One of the better entrepreneurship books I've read in the past year. I may be a little bit biased though...since the multi-millionaire took time out of his busy schedule recently to sit down for an interview with me where we talked about everything from the influence of his mother, grandfather and businessman who started at Washington hotel to how someone wrecked his Ferrari and his prediction for the 2011 NBA finals.


The Girl Who Played with Fire - by Stieg Larsson In this sequel to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Mr Larsson again crafts a great tale of intrigue about what starts out as the sex trade and morphs into something even more sinister. Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist return to bust the sex trade in Sweden open but soon realize they may be in over their heads.

My opinion - Although this book keeps your attention for the most part throughout with many twists an turns, I start to feel towards the end of the book that Mr. Larsson at first tried to give a little too much depth to too many characters. It feels like later in the book realizes his mistake and tries to end the book abruptly but ends up settling for a "to be continued"-type ending. Don't get me wrong the book is still a page turner but, it could have still kept your interest and told the same story with about 100-200 less pages.


The Fifth Mountain - By Paulo Coelho   Have you heard of The Alchemist? Well this is the same author. This book focuses on the trials and tribulations of the biblical prophet Elijah and an apparently fictionalized journey in exile through the town of Akbar. Along the way he learns things about himself, his faith and his destiny he might never had learned had he remained out of exile.


My opinion - Just such a great novel about having faith - whether that be in yourself or a higher power - despite every indication you've been given to go in another direction. turn back or give up. The book is peppered lightly with Bible verses but it also has an abundance of wisdom throughout and he doesn't save all that wisdom for Elijah the protagonist. Antagonists and 2 dimensional characters teach lessons as well.

So those are the books I've read in full for January 2011. I usually try to go fiction, non-fiction, fiction and  back again but, I had to take care of a few things earlier this month. I'll try and err on the side of non-fiction this month.