Thursday Thirteen #29

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Heigh ho, and it’s another book list.  Being in a frivolous mood, I was looking at my shelves and I wondered about books with titles that contain animal names but are not actually about animals.  Do I have thirteen of them? As it happens, I do, so here are………

          Thirteen Books That Have Animal Names In Their Titles
                                      (but are not about animals)

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  “Cry Wolf”  by WILBUR SMITH.  Almost everything Smith writes is about Africa, and his commitment to the continent runs through his work.  This is a tale about the invasion of Ethiopia by Italy in 1935, and three white people caught up in the maelstrom, as they join the outgunned and overpowered Ethiopians in resisting the invaders.  Exciting and even light hearted in parts, it doesn’t conceal Smith’s loathing for what Mussolini’s armies were doing.  Buy it here

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“Flashman And The Tiger”  by GEORGE MACDNALD FRASER.  The Flashman series of books is probably the most enjoyable written in the last half century.   Soldier, adventurer and (unbeknownst to everyone else) coward and poltroon, Harry Flashman, manages to become involved in most major events in the nineteenth century, usually against his will.  These books are his memoirs, discovered after his death in 1915.  I never enjoyed a set of books so much!  Buy it here

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“Pigs At The Trough”  by ARIANNA HUFFINGTON.  As the name suggests, this is a study of greed, both political and corporate.  Some of the facts here, and the money spent on pay-offs, bribery -- I mean lobbying -- are truly staggering.  Buy it here

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“The White Rabbit”  by BRUCE MARSHALL.  Not a very girlie book.  This is the true story of a British agent in occupied Europe during the war.  He was captured three times, tortured, and three times he escaped from various concentration camps.  For those who enjoy stories of courage and dedication, this is just what the doctor ordered.  Buy it here

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“Monty Python’s Flying Circus” by CHAPMAN, CLEESE, IDLE et al.   This is described as the scripts, but it is more accurately the transcripts, because it is word for word what was broadcast.  If you’ve seen the actual shows, they you can hear them in your head as you read.  Buy it here

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“Touch The Lion’s Paw  by  DEREK LAMBERT.  This is a thriller about a huge diamond robbery: the people who plan it and the men  who try to foil them.  Buy it here

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“The Stone Leopard”  by COLIN FORBES.  A plot to assassinate the president of France.  Terrorism and counter terrorism in Europe.  Bearing in mind what happened at Paris airport a few years ago, the cover art is rather poignant.   Buy it here

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“Bring On The Empty Horses”  by DAVID NIVEN.  This is the second volume of his memoirs, full of anecdotes from his days in Hollywood.  Most are very light hearted, but one episode, with a woman he doesn’t name, is very dark.  If you’re interested in movie history, or just enjoy an amusing set of reminiscences, you’ll like this.  Buy it here

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“Hornet’s Nest”  by PATRICIA CORNWELL.  One of her novels about her character, pathologist Kay Scarpetta.  The hornet’s nest of the title refers to the Police Department of Charlotte, North Carolina.   Buy it here

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“Night Of The Fox”  by JACK HIGGINS.   Another by Higgins in a book list. When he isn’t writing about terrorists and the IRA, he likes to write about World War Two.  This one is about the rescue of an Allied officer, who knows all the details of the Normandy landings,  captured by the Germans.  A dashing hero and the regulation beautiful woman to help him.  A lot of the action takes place on Jersey – the island of, not New.  Buy it here

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“So Long And Thanks For All The Fish”  by DOUGLAS ADAMS.  As the cover blurb says, this is the fourth volume of the Hitchhiker Trilogy.  The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy was a touchstone in British comedy, being a brilliant radio series, closely followed by a number of books (of which this is one) and a TV series.  NB: I do not include in this list the dreadful film based on a what was left of the story after Hollywood executives with a mental age of ten pulled it to pieces.  If you haven’t read any of the books, I heartily recommend them.   Buy it here

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“Bear Island”  by ALISTAIR MACLEAN.   Not his best book by any means but it does manage to convey an atmosphere of all-pervading cold.  It takes place on and around a small island (a real place) inside the Artic circle.  Buy it here

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Item 13 comes in several parts because I have a number of books with birds in their titles, so here I present you wth an entire aviary....

“An Unkindness Of Ravens”  by RUTH RENDELL.  One of the Inspector Wexford mysteries. Beautifully written an plotted.  Buy it here

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“Hawks”  by JOSEPH AMIEL.  Quite a lot of these ‘bird’ books have aircraft on their covers.   This one is about he airline industry, power struggles, corruption and sabotage.   Buy it here

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“The Pelican Brief”  by JOHN GRISHAM.  I’m surprised that Grisham hasn’t turned up on one of my TT book lists before now, as I have almost all his books.  This one concerns lawyers (big surprise), murder, a beautiful woman and more.  Buy it here

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“Shroud For A Nightingale”  by P.D. JAMES.  One of her excellently written mystery stories featuring Insp. Adam Dalgliesh. This one is about the murders of a couple of nurses in a big city hospital.  Buy it here

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“A Hooded Crow”  by CRAIG THOMAS.  Another thriller by the author of “Firefox”.  This one all about smuggling, diplomacy, the KGB an sundry other ingredients of an exciting but not over demanding read.  Buy it here

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“To Kill A Mockingbird”  by HARPER LEE.  I don’t really have to say anything about this book, do I?  I expect almost all of you will have read it.  A lawyer who is an honourable man, and his two children living in a  small Southern town in the 1930s.  A rape case.  A vindictive man.  A neighbour no one ever sees.  Anyway, this is what my copy looks like.  Buy it here

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“Jackdaws”  by KEN FOLLETT.  He seems to churn them out pretty regularly these days, and so far I have enjoyed them all.  This one is about female secret agents behind enemy lines in the war.  The Allies sent 50 into occupied Europe and twelve of them never came home.  This novel stands as a tribute to what they did.  Buy it here

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“Sharpe’s Eagle”  by BERNARD CORNWELL.  A much better writer than the other Cornwell, in my opinion.  Richard Shape is a soldier in Wellington’s army, fighting Napoleon in the Peninsular war 1809-1814.  There is an entire series of books about this character and this is the first one published, but not the first one chronologically, since Cornwell has written a number of stories about Sharpe predating the action in this one.  Meticulously researched, exciting action, lots of fun.  Buy it here

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“Condor”  by THOMAS LUKE.  Another one with a plane on the cover.  At the end of the war, the Nazis tried to drop a biological bomb in America. It failed to ignite. 40 years later it is discovered and the only one who can disarm it is an ex-war criminal.   Buy it here

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Comments

[Chelle Y.]

Gosh! Do you read a book a day!?! :) One of these days, I am going to give YOU a topic, and see if you can come up with thirteen books that you have read on the topic I chose! :)

[Comedy Plus]

Love "To Kill A Mockingbird". I'd like to read "Pigs At The Trough" too. I so love coming here. You do this so very well. Have a great TT. :)

[pussreboots]

"Not a girlie book": I must read it immediately. I also have to admit to being one of a handful of people who has not read To Kill a Mockingbird (nor seen the film).

[Susan Helene Gottfried]

LOVE the Aviary idea, Nicholas!!

Happy TT, as always!

[SJ Reidhead]

Very good. Quite creative. "To Kill a Mockingbird" - incredible stuff.

SJ Reidhead
The Pink Flamingo

[Mary Emken]

I have read and have nine of John Grisham books, A Time To Kill,The Firm, The Pelican Brief, The Chamber, The Street Lawyer, The Testament, The Brethren, The King of Torts. I like to get, A Painted House and Skipping Christmas. Do you have those two? If you do did you enjoy them? I've also read To Kill A Mocking Bird and saw the movie. I wasn't to crazy about The King Of Torts.

I have a lot of Mary Higgins Clark books. Couldn't put down,You Belong To Me, until I completly finished it.

There's a couple on your list I would like to read.

As usual your list is fantastic.

[Jackie]

Veddddddddddddddddddddy interesting!!

Happy TT :)

[Janet]

"An Unkindness Of Ravens"; that title intrigues me! Going to check it out. Thanks for visiting :-)

[Nicole Austin]

Another great book list! Have you ever counted how many books you have? I used to have tons of books but had to thin out my collection when moving.

[Lori]

Great idea...have you read all of those books?? Which one was the best?? Happy TT and thanks, as always, for stopping by. Dont forget to read your book!! I cant wait to hear your review.

[Wylie Kinson]

Wow - I've read THREE of these. This is a new record for me when it comes to your lists!

[The Gal Herself]

Thanks for visiting my TT. And thanks for showing that Monty Python cover, cuz it made me smile. (Pssst! Hornet's Nest is by Cornwell, but it's not a Scarpetta mystery.)

[Lori]

Okay, tell the truth. You work in a library or bookstore, right? *smile* Another cool list. I think I'll start coming here just to take notes.

[No Nonsense girl]

You oughta be the owner of a bookstore!!!! As always my friend, interesting and informative TT!!! :)

[WorksForMom]

Everytime I visit here I am amazed at all your books. Seeing your bookcase just made my mouth drop! :)

[Emmyrose]

Very nice books..

its just sad most of them is not available in my country :(

[Titania]

Hi Nick,

I confess, I am weak with the books you posted this week. However, Pigs At the Trough, sounds really interesting. Very appropriate title for all politicians. You can tell I am not fond of them. Is it okay to say I border on being an anarchist?

Was there a BBC program about Richard Sharpe? I think called Sharpes Landing?

I sent you a reply in regards to last weeks T13. Hope that you received it. :o)

Take care.

[Leslie Dicken]

Thanks for the comment on my blog! What a great list for your THIRTEEN! I'm ashamed to say that I've only read one of them....

[Megan]

Interesting list! I read and loved Follett's Jackdaws. I'd never heard of the Flashman series, but it looks like something I'll definitely have to check out.

Happy TT!

[marcia v]

again one of my favorite books To Kill A Mockingbird

[MeL]

I've read the book- To Kill a Mockingbird! It's a great book. Happy TT! :)

[Friday's Child]

You really came up with a good list.
Thanks for the visit.

[Jedi4sweet (Leslie)]

LOL

Believe me, sugar free jello is a lot of fun when ya put some cool whip on top! ; ) Dessert for 30 calories or less always brings a smile to my face!

Happy T13 to you!

[Blue Momma]

I've read the Pelican Brief and To Kill a Mockingbird. Finally, I've read a book on one of your lists. I was beginning to wonder about myself....

[Robin from Israel]

I reread the Hitchhiker series every few years just to keep my perspective on things. At this very moment So Long And Thanks For All The Fish is sitting under my son's bed, so that whoever is sitting with him as he falls asleep can read a few pages. I enjoy PD James as well, but I haven't read many.