#20 - The World Treasury of Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics

Yes, I am probably the only person who considers a fairly large collection of math, physics, and astronomy writings to be a "beach read" but I do. The World Treasury of Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics is a great collection because it straddles the line between being too simple and too complex and mostly succeeds. It is understandable to the layman and can be used as a reference or "dictionary" of concepts or read through as a book that properly flows from one concept to the next like building blocks. Einstein, Hawking, Assimov, and on and on are captured from lectures and talks to dissertations and it is all accessible. Highly Recommended.

#19 - Lost on Planet China

I needed a good plane/beach read so I went with Maarten Troost's newest even though his second book was pretty much a failure for me. Lost on Planet China has brief glimpses of greatness but unfortunately it ultimately falls flat and fails to even tie up any of the story elements before ending abruptly. Just a meandering mess. It did manage to make me genuinely laugh out loud a few times but beyond that it just bombed. I hate to say it but it looks like his initial brilliance was just a flash in the pan. Not Recommended.

#18 - Touch The Dragon

Touch the dragon is part travelogue, part diary of a young girl's experience of living abroad in Thailand at the age of 17. The author, Karen Connelly, was originally from Canada and a Rotary Club exchange program sent her to live in this strange new land. Ultimately the book fails but the author does a good job of describing certain aspects of Thai life and play that it truly places you there in the middle of it. Much gets glossed over or rushed only to linger far too long on boring dairy-ish 17-year-old-girl bits. I have a love for Thai cuisine and culture and this book was a random purchase with little in the way of expectations. Which is good because I came away with little in the way of insight or depth, so I guess it was a wash. Not recommended.

#17 - The Hedge Knight

After finishing Legend and still in the fantasy mood, but not enough for another series novel, I turned to George R. R. Martin's "The Hedge Knight" graphic novel/comic book. It is a prequel to the Song of Ice and Fire novels and very centered around the characters and the human side of fantasy and heroes which so often goes underdeveloped in favor of action and tales of love. The Hedge Knight is thicker than a comic book but slightly undersized for a graphic novel, however it is a great mix of dialogue and art that is a treat for any fan of the series or genre. Certainly wordy for the average comic book but easily worth it. Recommended.

#16 - Legend

I have been meaning to read some of fantasy author David Gemmell for quite a while now so I started at the beginning with Legend. Gemmell was known for fantasy that incorporated magic sparingly but intelligently and gripping and descriptive battle scenes. For the most part I can agree with this but I have to say it was just shy of my expectations. A lot of his wording gets reused when it comes to battles and some characters are fully fleshed out while others become a muddy mess. The tale contained within is very enjoyable and worthwhile for fantasy fans and thankfully breaks free from some of the standard cliches but sadly not all of them. Recommended.

#15 - Anthony Bourdain's Les Halles Cookbook

Anthony Bourdain's Les Halles Cookbook: Strategies, Recipes, and Techniques of Classic Bistro Cooking is the full title of this one. So you may be thinking that a cookbook doesn't count, and to that I would say, without the recipes this would still be one of the best reads so far this year! Even if you took away my predisposition to the man, it again still tops the list easily.

Few people can inject such humor and reality into cooking, but it doesn't end there, this book is almost as informative as a full-on stint at cooking school. It goes even farther by also offering the most insightful tips and tricks of the restaurant industry that I have ever read in a book. Les Halles is the NYC French brasserie where Anthony last cooked before lucking out on the cushy celebrity chef life. The focus is on bistro/rustic style French cooking but I would refuse to believe a cook of any cuisine wouldn't find it indispensable. Many of the recipes call for some exotic ingredients, but nothing over the top that a truly passionate cook couldn't find with a little effort. Hardback, well bound, and reasonably priced. Highly recommended.

#14 - The Return

The Return is a novel which prominently displays Buzz Aldrin as co-author, how much or little he contributed is unknown. After reading it, one would hope very little beyond technical details and some insight to the mindset and inner struggles of space programs.

It is hokey, scattered, and descends into a dismal slow-motion crash not far past the beginning. This is a case of a book just trying to do too much. There is space tourism, corporate/government spies and espionage, lost love, childhood flashbacks, courtroom drama, a Michael Jordan knockoff, war, and space rescue. Sadly, way too much time is spent on lame courtroom drama and Michael Jordan... er Michael James and almost no time is spent on space. This one drug on for way too long for zero payout, truly terrible. Not Recommended.