• The Templars: The Dramatic History of the Knights Templar, the Most Powerful Military Order of the Crusades - Piers Paul Read

This was a fairly interesting book. Not amazing, but not poorly written either. I got a lot of good information out of the book, but a few more visual aids would have been nice - maps of fortifications and battle plans. I got a few good quotes out of this one. I can go around telling everyone wearing shoelaces that they're a pagan and watch them freak out. (I'm easily entertained.)

• The Modigliani Scandal - Ken Follett

Follett had a really good idea that was poorly executed. I finally found a Follett that I'm not thrilled with. The book started out well, but it was underwritten . The characters didn't have time to develop and there were just as many plot twists in this book as in Triple, but in a much shorter period. There are two storylines that merge in the end, but the storyline that focused on the search for the Modigliani was what really excited me, initially... All of a sudden this fairly detailed chase just stopped the climax of the chase is simply hastily summed up without any flare or buildup. This was one of Follett's last books before he hit it big with Eye of the Needle. He's come a long way from The Modigliani Scandal and he openly admits it on his website. He really has learned from his earlier books. I think that if Hollywood ever picked up the book they could make something rather interesting out of it. Like I said, it was based on a good idea...

"'What do you think of it?' Peter said.

'Bad question,' Mitch replied. 'It invites me to pour out a load of bullshit about movement, brushwork, design, and emotion. Better to ask whether I would hang it on my wall.'" - 46

"I think I know what it is like to be God." - Pablo Picasso - 227

• Lie Down With Lions - Ken Follett

I know I know I know! I need to read something other than Ken Follett! Don't worry, I'm getting close to running out of books by him. This book was a little different from the other spy books. It took place in Afghanistan and the primary spy isn't necessarily spying. As usually, it is initially based on real events. It's easy to overlook the thought that it was the U.S. that armed Afghanistan so that they could fight against the Soviet Union. We worked to unite the tribes and modernized their weaponry. The book really sheds light on how harsh the landscape really is and why it's nearly impossible for any army to successfully do anything in that territory.

"'Religious conviction may thwart a timid desire but nothing can stand against genuine lust.'" -64

• A Dangerous Fortune - Ken Follett

It was a little odd to read this book after several spy novels by Follett since this one is about a British banking family. However, once I got past the expectation of another plot centering around spies and World War II I started to get into the book. With this book you don't feel any sympathy for the so called "bad guys". They're not very likable and there's no debate as to whose side you're on (unless you're the type to hope the evil people win). It's an intersting plot and apparently it was made into a movie at some point. If you've seen it let me know if it was any good.

• Hornet Flight - Ken Follett

I really enjoyed this book as well. I love Heis, desite him being an very minor character. It was a bestseller and I can see why... Follett wrote another good book. A Danish boy stumbles across a Nazi secret and suddenly finds himself helping the Danish resistance and Bristish MI6, while hiding from the Danish police and the Germans.

"'Is this safe?' he said.

'Safer than being shot.'" - 484

"The aircraft slowed down in a few seconds. As it came to a halt, Harold looked through the broken windown and saw, just a few yards away, a young man on a bicycle, watching from a pathway alongside the field, staring at them openmouthed.

'I wonder where we are,' Karen said.

Herald called out to the bicyclist. 'Hello there!' he said in English. 'What is this place?'

The young man looked at him as if he had come from outerspace. 'Well,' he said at last, 'it's not the bloody airport.'" -502

• Jackdaws - Ken Follett

Again, loved the characters, the events, etc. Everytime I write about Ken Follett I tend to say the same things. I'm running out of new ways to say them.

This text is about a woman in the British SOE during WWII who goes into France and helps organize the resistance groups. The French resistance group fails so Flick must organize an all woman, French speaking team of British SOE rejects and novices to complete a covert opperation with only 3 days of training and a clock ticking quicking to D-day. There's a lot of shooting and torture in this one. I hate that I both like and hate the main vilain. There are moments when you sympathize with him, but you still always hope to see Flick to succeed in the end. Follett is good at creating characters like that. It's entertaining. Read it!

"It's nice to go away, but it's nice to come home." - 58