My last book of 2012 (didn't quite get to 52) but a really, really great one. Unlike the author's previous best seller, "Matterhorn"--an historical narrative that follows a young USMC lieutenant through his tour in Viet Nam--What it is Like... is a non-fiction observation of affects of war on a soldier. The author describe his time in Viet Nam (which will be very familiar if you read his narrative) and discusses the relationship between combat/military service and initiation to manhood. He is very candid about his own experiences and brilliantly insightful on the needs of serviceman (combat servicemen in particular) before, during, and after wartime. An absolute "must-read" for any military member or anyone thinking of joining the service.
Drew's #36 -- Legion by Brandon Sanderson
Saw this as a "freebie" on Amazon and decided to try it. Interesting concept--a freelance, schizophrenic detective who uses his diverse and numerous personalities to help him solve cases. Unique, fun read. Not exactly quality literature but it was OK.
Drew's #35 -- Steve Jobs Biography
A must read if you haven't already! I really didn't know what to expect--I'd heard a lot here and there about Steve Jobs, some friends of mine were really impressed with it, the man is obviously well known... I have to say this has been one of this year's best. It's a fascinating story. Make no mistake, the man was dynamic--he certainly had some strange quirks and he wasn't always the cuddliest kitten in the litter, but he was a brilliant man. If you haven't yet, this is a must-read for anyone wants to be awesome.
Drew's #34 -- No Easy Day by "Mark Owen"
This is the story of the Navy SEALs who took down Usama Bin Laden. Told by "Mark Owen" (a pseudonym actually) the story chronicles the build up to and execution of the assault on UBL's compound in Pakistan by a team of Navy SEALs. In build up to Operation GERONIMO, the ex-SEAL chronicles the evolution of the SEALs, including a bit about his own training, the establishment of of one of the Navy's elite special warfare units, SEAL Team Six, and some of DEVGRU's other operations (the rescue of an American ship's captain from Somali pirates). Very interesting; fast paced.
Drew's #33 -- Odd Hours by Dean Koontz
Blahhhh... Liked the 1st one, enjoyed the 2nd, loved the 3rd, but the penultimate (as of now) iteration of the Odd Thomas series is just dull. Like the other followups, it picks up where it's predecessor leaves off but really doesn't pull off much of a story. Recycles a lot of the Odd Thomas themes: quirky back and forth, reluctant hero misadventure, dead side-kicks... Still, it just falls flat. The story drags, the point really isn't all that clear, and the ending is just washes flat. Liked the 1sst three, though--might give the series one more chance with the final installment, but this was pretty unimpressive.
Drew's #32 -- Brother Odd by Dean Koontz
The third installment in Dean Koontz's Odd Thomas series, this one was my favorite. This one comes in where there sequel leaves off--Odd Thomas retreats to a monastery for solitude following his traumatic experiences in the 1st two books (can't say too much or I'll plot-spoil the previous stories). But ghostly murder manages to find him holed up with an eclectic collections of monks and nuns.