Chris Noth Books

Jurassic Park is an outstanding book. This is the second time I have read it and it got better. It is interesting becuase companies will probably be able to clone dinosuars like that soon. The book really kept me interested, it really didn't have a low spot. The book kinda tests your ability to understand fiction. At times you have to use a lot of imagination, but even with that it is a real good book.

All three of these books are absolute winners, and being able to read them without lifting a finger is a plus on its own! Full of action and adventure, all thee titles are sure to keep you o the edge of your seat. You'll never want to stop listening!

It has been said that 'Jurassic Park' is one of Crichton's best books (if not THE best) and I agree. An absolutely amazing work of original fiction which is written to near perfection. The movie was ripped to shreds by many fans of the novel for having 1-dimensional characters, but you cannot say that about the novel. Crichton breathes life into these people, especially Ian Malcom, easily his greatest creation (and Jeff Goldblum was perfectly cast in the movies I might add).

The idea of resurrecting extinct animals wasn't originated by Crichton, but he is the guy who took the idea and ran with it to the publisher first. I just cannot think of a more compelling idea for a fictional story which bases its original theory on literal facts. The idea of visiting living dinosaurs is facinating beyond words, but Ian Malcom said it best about the process of bringing to life animals that have been dead for millions of years when he said, "You were so interested in discovering whether or not you COULD clone dinosaurs that you never stopped to think if you SHOULD." Quite possibly one of the most entertaining adventure/thrillers ever published.

'The Lost World' in many ways was set up to fail by many even before they read it. How do you top 'Jurassic Park'? Since the total originality of the first book is gone, that takes away a little of the enjoyment, but I believe that Crichton sacrificed nothing with this sequel. Staying true to his original story he wrote a sequel to his book rather than the movie version, making this that much more compelling and entertaining. Never for a minute think that 'The Lost World' isn't as fun in almost every way as the original, because it IS. It is also SO different than the very poor movie that shared the same name. Actually they only shared about 5-10% of the same storyline, enough of a difference to wonder why they didn't come out with a novelized version of the movie. While not his best novel, I found it as exciting as the original and chock full of everything that makes a thriller worthwhile to read in the first place.

I had heard for years that 'The Andromeda Strain' was Crichtons best novel...and this is one area where I disagree. Although being a fun and very good book, it is easy to see how far he has come as an author when you read it. It is very possible that this book inspired a rash of movies which imitated the main plotline of a disease or alien being brought back to earth unknowingly, but one of Crichtons best novels? I don't think so. Still it IS a must read for every fan.

I am in the play presently and I play the main part Catherine, a girl of many personalities. The painfully shy insecure one around her father, the lover with her doting admirer, Morris, and the friend with her dear, sweet and hopelessly romantic Aunt Penniman. The various emotions and hidden meanings create a fascinating play with little bit of everything skillfully arranged in a captivating story.

James' "Washington Square" provides the basis for this adaptation of his novella. The story of Catherine Sloper and her romance with Morris Townsend provides not only good drama and well-crafted theatricality, but also paints a picture of a romantic love that is virtually unattainable in reality. Such notable actresses as Wendy Hiller, Beatrice Straight, Jane Alexander, Olivia de Havilland, and Cherry Jones have all played the role of Catherine. This is a marvelous example of the type of well-made made play that graced the Broadway stage fifty years ago.

I have read a ton of Crichton over the years. So I decided to read some of his earlier work starting with the Andromeda Strain. Overall, the book was a good read. I didn't really like the ending.

Interesting flashback to an earlier version of medical science fiction. I read it after viewing the recent remake for TV of the film version, and in anticipation of viewing the original film version on DVD.
The recent TV remake is better than the book, which today seems a little hackneyed. This long-ago first novel by Crichton included enough errors in the author's writing craft that, today, I must wonder how it ever got published.

It was about 15 years ago in my science class that I watched the movie Andromeda Strain, and I just finished reading the book last night in about 6 hours. Yes, it was difficult to put it down.

The story line is simple yet compelling. Satellite falls down into a very small town, and all the people were dead in very strange ways. The most striking point is that their all of their blood has been clotted, dried like solid, inside their body. When more thorough investigation was done, there are two survivors. These survivals and the satellite are brought to top secret laboratory designed to contain and study extraterrestrial life form.

Because the "disease" causes immediate death, group of scientists are at work to find solution or cure, as quickly as possible. As the scientists examine & learn more about the satellite & survivors, the plot thickens.

Keep in mind this book was published almost 40 years ago. Author has done incredible research and the whole idea of laboratory designed for alien life form seemed "radical", and truly science fiction 40 years ago in my opinion.

It's a great book to read, and I also recommend to watch the movie if you can find one.

I also know & realize that the ending is not quite good as it could've been and I agree. However, the ending shouldn't be the judging point of a book.

One other things people mentioned was that the book was too "scientific" & "technical". Author tried to explain basic biology & chemistry terms & ideas that was discussed in the book. I realize this may be confusing to some non-science people. Since I studied both chemistry & biology, I understood most of the techno-lingo. So be aware for non science people.

I actually saw the movie before I read the book. I thought the movie was really good until I read the book... Wow! Crichton's writing style is amazing and addictive! Now, when I see the movie, I still think it's good, but it pales in comparison to the book.

I saw a good portion of the Andromeda Strain on TV and it looked pretty interesting. I recalled that I had picked up the book at a book sale a few months ago so I got the book out and began reading.

Normally, the book is much, much better than the movie, so if you liked the movie, you will love the book. Not so with this one. The book was very difficult to read - you get to a point where you don't care if you finish or not. The book started off pretty slow, but I thought it would improve. It did not, not even a little. The ending was horrible and really didn't seem to finish the story. There were a lot of loose ends (such as what happened with the infant and the old man?).

The story is basically about a US satellite that brings back an extremely volatile virus from space. The virus kills just about everyone in a small town. It is studied in a top secret laboratory. I think they found a cure (it really was that boring).

The book was filled with interesting computer-generated graphics that really didn't add anything to the reading experience and looked just weird. Of course, this book was also written in 1969, so maybe they considered that to be top-notch back then.

I really don't recommend this book. This is the first time I would actually tell you to watch the movie as opposed to reading the book.

I'm glad this was not the first Michael Crichton book I read, because it would have turned me off to his other books (I've read several of his other books and I love them).

Having only recently been introduced to the crime novel world I'm very impressed so far with the Alex Cross series. It's nice to enjoy a crime thriller without all the gross stuff for a change. Couldn't put it down.

This 2nd book in the Alex Cross series was absolutely spellbinding! I couldn't put it down. The plot was very interesting and kept you on the edge of your seat wondering what was going to happen next. I could "see & feel" every scene and emotion as if I were right there with the characters. I would recommend reading the 1st in the series- Along came a spider - then proceed from there. I promise you won't be disappointed if you love suspense & mystery! S.L. Chessor author of My Tongue Fell Out & Poodlums Boogeymen and Booglers.Poodlums, Boogeymen and Booglers: A Poetry Collection My Tongue Fell Out

In the Research Triangle of North Carolina, young, intelligent women are being abducted by a mysterious kidnapper known as Casanova. Like his namesake, he loves women - but unlike the famous man, he kills those who do not obey his orders. Meanwhile, on the West Coast, a kidnapper known as the Gentleman Caller is kidnapping and killing young women, before sending his diaries to a young reporter at the L.A. Times. It's obvious that the two men are in communication. But are the same person? Or are there two serial kidnappers on the loose?

Enter Alex Cross, the D.C. detective and psychologist famed for bringing down Gary Soneji the year before. Cross's niece, Duke law student Naomi Cross, is one of Casanova's latest victims. Everyone is sure that the man commits the perfect crimes. But when a young UNC doctor named Kate McTiernan escapes his vanishing house of horror, the Durham police and FBI have some clues as to how Casanova operates.

There's only one problem. Despite knowing the Gentleman Caller's true identity, Casanova remains a mystery. Always seen in various masks, he makes it nearly impossible for his victims to identify him. When bad things start happening yet again, it's up to Cross, his partner Sampson, and Kate to find the man behind the kidnappings - and rescue Alex's niece.

James Patterson's second Alex Cross novel, "Kiss the Girls", is a riveting page-turner that will have you on the edge of your seats until the final page. As a long-time mystery fan, I thought I had the mystery figured out, but I was wrong. This is truly a suspenseful novel, up until the last surprise.

When I was a kid in junior high school, our class read a Sherlock Holmes story called "The Adventure of the Speckled Band." In the story, a villain releases a trained poisonous snake into a woman's bedroom through a ventilation aperture. After the snake administers its fatal bite, the villain summons it back through the aperture by whistling for it. The snake has to climb up a bell rope to get to the aperture, and it is rewarded for its efforts with a saucer of milk set out for it in the adjacent room. In the subsequent classroom discussion of the story, I learned that snakes can't be summoned with a whistle because they're deaf; snakes can't climb up ropes; and snakes don't drink milk.

But what on earth does this have to do with Kiss the Girls? Well, a villain in that book has a beautiful young woman stripped naked and bound with her legs hoisted up toward the ceiling. After administering a warm milk enema--some of which dribbles out--he then lets a snake out of a wicker basket. The snake gets a whiff of milk and--you guessed it--slithers into the hapless girl's fundamental orifice to get to its liquid treat.

Classic example of an author without a clue...

As is the case in nearly all James Patterson's novels, the villains are over the top here--geniuses, handsome devils, phi beta kappas--and the crimes they commit over years are well beyond belief. There are no crimes in real life to compare with those in this book or in other Alex Cross novels. Not even Jeffrey Dahmer or Jack the Ripper could compete with Casanova and his sidekick, The Gentleman Caller.

And Alex Cross, the psychologist police detective, is perhaps just a little too good in places and a bit naive, even blind, in others. Coupled with his character flaws are more serious plot flaws. Casanova has captured a good many women and is holding them in a cellar at a remote rural area. He parks his car some distance away and visits regularly to have his way with them. But when Cross goes looking there, he finds no path, and there surely must have been one with all the foot traffic in and out. Another flaw: Casanova gets some nasty karate kicks when he captures one victim, bone crushing kicks to the face, as they are characterized. Would there not have been clear signs of his injuries next day when he resumes his public persona? Didn't anyone notice that his nose was purple and bent sideways? It seems to me that the laws of physics apply in fiction, the same as in real life. There are other flaws as well, but two will suffice here. Certainly there are many readers who like crime fiction that goes far beyond reality, but for me it just gets funny, rather than scary, when the laws of nature are abrogated.

I have to add one observation with respect to this book and other Alex Cross novels: it is very dangerous for any woman to become closely involved with our hero. Such women get shot, raped, cut, traumatized for life, kidnapped, tortured, electrocuted, etc. Cross's love affairs are not to be envied, despite the fact that he keeps meeting gorgeous and willing females. Perhaps he should consider celibacy for the sake of society.

This book has a little bit of everything. It's a mystery, suspense, and romance all rolled into one. This is a mystery first and foremost with a little romance thrown in. The romance is nice and easy without being corny or superficial. This book is a great way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon on the beach or curled up in front of the fireplace with a comfy blanket and a good drink. I highly reccomend buying this book, you will not be disappointed in this one at all. Enjoy!

I have read several of Baldacci's later books and enjoyed them, so I went back one of his earlier novels I had missed. I agree with other reviewers that this is not Baldacci's best work, but it is still a compelling story. Saving Faith doesn't show the polish of his more recent books nor the plot ingenuity of his first few novels, but it does prove that Baldacci has excellent storytelling skills, even when pushed against what must have been a tough deadline. I enjoyed the book. I just rode the story and pushed aside the implausible motivations and light characterization. Adjust your expectations for a Baldacci novel and I believe you'll enjoy this quick read.
The Shut Mouth Society
The Shopkeeper

Good story, although a bit slow in places. Faith Lockhart has information that will allow the FBI to put away quite a few Congressmen. Problem is that CIA has been using her boss to gather intelligence on these same Congressmen for their own purposes.

I'm surprised that the average rating is only 3 stars. I've read every Baldacci Novel published through 2007 and Saving Faith is still my favorite. Everything - the story, characters, and settings - were all appealing and interesting to me. Last Man Standing is a close second favorite.

I thought this was right on par with David Baldacci's other books. It kept my interest and was fast paced. I liked the characterization of Faith and made me root for her. I would recommend this to people who like political thrillers!