logankstewart has
597 books
(47 selected)
—
compare books
|
stats
logankstewart
>
Books:
2011-read
(47)
×
controls:
shelf settings: main
views:
covers
table
print
| # | cover | title | author | isbn | isbn13 | asin | num pages | avg rating | num ratings | date pub | date pub (ed.) | rating | my rating | review | notes | recommender | comments | votes |
read
|
date started | date read | date added | date purchased | owned | purchase location | condition | format | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 055358202X
| 9780553582024
| 3.99
| 154,492
| 2005
| Mar 04, 2011
|
None
| Notes are private!
| none
|
1
| Jun 07, 2011
| Jun 30, 2011
|
Jul 22, 2009
| Mass Market Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 030744645X
| 9780307446459
| 4.10
| 49
| Jan 11, 2011
| Jan 11, 2011
|
The Dragon and the Turtle Go on Safari is a cute kids book about a turtle named Roger and a dragon named Padraig. The two decide to spend an entire ni...more
The Dragon and the Turtle Go on Safari is a cute kids book about a turtle named Roger and a dragon named Padraig. The two decide to spend an entire night out camping, beneath the stars and alone all by themselves. While out, the familiar spooks and noises born from childhood imagination appear, and Roger and Padraig struggle to endure the long night. One thing I thought funny (and somewhat bizarre) was the high, Old English language the two buddies used to speak to one another. "I say my good man..." "Capital!" "Jolly ho." This stuff was fun to read but slightly odd. The illustrations (by Vincent Nguyen) are all beautiful and rich. Many forest animals appear and all are drawn very child-friendly. The night landscapes are also pretty. The book is a very full and vivid picture book for young readers. The themes are great for young kids, teaching them the values of friendship and of helping others. Also, on the back cover of the book there is a collection of questions to ask your kids to prompt them to respond to the story. Overall, The Dragon and the Turtle Go on Safari is a fun book for young children that teaches good morals and tells a fun story along with it. There is a lot of verbiage, so a parent may be used to help younger readers.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
1
| not set
| Jan 26, 2011
|
Jan 28, 2011
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 1892391988
| 9781892391988
| 4.00
| 256
| Jul 01, 2010
| Jul 15, 2010
|
Jeff VanderMeer's The Third Bear has been on my TBR pile for quite a while now. I've never read anything by the author, though his highly acclaimed no...more
Jeff VanderMeer's The Third Bear has been on my TBR pile for quite a while now. I've never read anything by the author, though his highly acclaimed novel Finch has garnered a load of attention. Likewise, his collection of bizarre short stories contained in The Third Bear has collected lauds and nods from nearly every review I've read. The book has a strange type of magic that charms the reader and takes him on a journey like never before. So I made preparations to read this book, curiosity piqued. The library purchased it on my suggestion, and then when the book arrived, I promptly forgot about it. Too many other things to read. Carl (or Stainless Steel Droppings, check out his fantastic blog) posted a review last week on this book, and his eloquence reminded me about my library request. That very day I went and picked up VanderMeer's work. I was immediately stricken. There's really no good way to describe this book. It defies genres. It defies expectations and normal thinking, subverting tropes and typical story-telling methodology for something unique and unforgettable. There are some stories that, upon completion, I couldn't bring myself to describe coherently, even if the tale was spectacular. This holds true for many of the stories, the inability to put into words what you just read, but it only serves to make the reading experience all the better. For this reason, there's no way I could give reviews to each story in this collection. I don't know if I could pick my favorite, as nearly all have their own speciality. The titular tale, "The Third Bear," is a dark and somewhat familiar story. It reads like an old fairy tale, and the growing sense of dread throughout makes for an unsettling read. "The Situation" is baffling. Part office-life, part post-apocalyptic, part Idon'thaveaclue, this story sealed the deal for me. I read it after reading "The Third Bear" (which I recommend you do as well, even though it doesn't follow the story in the layout of the book) and noticed a few coincidences that I could not ignore. I'm not sure at all how to describe what's going on in this story, but I highly recommend you read it. "Errata" is possibly the weirdest piece of fiction I've ever read. I daresay fiction because the story is about a writer named Jeff VanderMeer and he's working on a story around Lake Baikal. The thing reads as a letter written by VanderMeer to an editor and seems to be taken as a true story. Suffice it say that this story unfolded beautifully and still lingers in my mind. "The Surgeon's Tale" is probably the longest piece in this collection, but one of my favorites. It's reminiscent of Frankenstein, but it's also much more. This tale was emotional and beautifully written. I could smell the sea salt on the pages. I could watch the sargassum dance beneath the surface. The protagonist's longing was tragic, but his love was uncanny. And lastly is "Appoggiatura," a story so twisted and confusing, so different, so essential, that it practically begs to be re-read immediately. Reading this was like catching glimmers of the City out of the corners of my eye, almost as if I myself were somehow involved in the rich tales collected in the book. I think one of the main reasons I enjoyed The Third Bear so much is because Jeff VanderMeer knows his craft. His voice is strong; his imagery is top-notch; his creativity is uncapped. I'm tempted to say I've never read a work that evokes more imagery in the mind than this book (see the remarks regarding "The Surgeon's Tale"). His prose is fluid, flowing through the surreal landscapes he's created with ease, making the reader feel both comfortable and lost. He takes little-to-no time explaining himself, but instead leaves what he's told as fact and we're to accept it and go on. There's no reasoning why the rabbit can talk in "The Quickening," it just can. Once these weird truths are accepted, the stories shine like a reappearing sun after an eclipse, bright and glorious. After finishing "Appoggiatura" and the Author's Note, I felt the desire to return to some earlier tales, though I resisted this urge. Some other day. Am I gushing? Perhaps, but The Third Bear is worthy of it. The book was so unlike anything I've ever read that it has me wanting to read the rest of VanderMeer's catalog immediately. If you're in a rut and tired of reading the same thing over and over, check this book out. Or, if you're just wanting to experience the thrill of Vandermeer's magical oddity, do yourself a favor and read The Third Bear. I can't recommend it enough. Oh, and do check out Carl's review (here). Some of these stories are available for free online, and Carl's got all these links collected for your viewing pleasure. (less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
1
| Jan 12, 2011
| Jan 21, 2011
|
Jan 12, 2011
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 0679745580
| 9780679745587
| 3.98
| 232,095
| 1965
| Feb 01, 1994
|
Holcomb, Kan., Nov. 15 [1959] (UPI) -- A wealthy wheat farmer, his wife and their two young children were found shot to death today in their home. The...more Holcomb, Kan., Nov. 15 [1959] (UPI) -- A wealthy wheat farmer, his wife and their two young children were found shot to death today in their home. They had been killed by shotgun blasts at close range after being bound and gagged ... There were no signs of a struggle, and nothing had been stolen. The telephone lines had been cut.—The New York Times I'm hesitant to review Truman Capote's seminal true-crime novel In Cold Blood. How does one begin to review non-fiction, let alone true stories? I see the vanity of my opinion on the situation and want to run screaming the other way. But that curious part of me, that part buried in a metal box in the middle of my heart, twitches and pines for things it ought not. As I've mused time and again, I am inexplicably drawn to these things. In Cold Blood is the account of the Clutter murders. The book is broken up into four sections and told through numerous Points-of-View. We watch Herb Clutter, kindly and genteel, make his way around Holcomb, conducting business for his family farm. We see sixteen-year-old Nancy Clutter's budding relationship with her high school boyfriend. We struggle with Mrs. Clutter and her bouts of depression, and son Kenyon (15) and his aspirations. We're told about the small town of Holcomb and its caring citizens, where Church is society, the diner is always busy, and idle talk spreads fast. Beyond this, and the more intriguing parts of the book, we travel with Dick Hickock and Perry Smith, two parolees who ultimately murder four innocent people for the hope of a chance that Mr. Clutter kept a safe in his house, filled with at least ten thousand dollars. We learn of each man's upbringing, of their choices that landed them in jail, of their plans and goals, of their bitterness, and of their deaths. It's easy to pity them, to wish things better for them, but from the onset we're aware of their deed and their execution. Capote is brilliant in building dread and suspense. Scenes change quickly, and since this is a journalistic approach, we see various sides of people/events. There is much to be said about the crime, the victims, the criminals, and the aftermath, and Capote adroitly handles it all. Strikingly, the brutality of the crime (as well as the executions of Hickock, Smith, and some other men on Death Row) is done in a matter-of-fact way. Capote presents the scene with little fanfare, and this minimalism is chilling. The Reader is left as dazed and confused as the townsfolk of Holcomb were, and one can't help but press on to discover the true motive. Why? continually comes to mind. Emotion is poured into the book, though often it is reserved and professional, and this dichotomy makes for an oddly disturbing read. In Cold Blood has been on my TBR shelf for a very long time, and I'm glad it's finally gone. I wanted to read it for RIP this year because this stuff is what truly defines horror to me. It's real and 100% possible, not like some phantom killer or haunted house. I tend to think that we've created ghost stories as an escape, preferring the supernatural to the perfectly natural. Because there are killers out there. People that torture, kidnap, rape, murder, assault, harass, antagonize. And who knows when someone could simply snap and massacre a shopping center or bookstore? It's scary enough to make me want to take my family and live in a bomb shelter, buried and out of sight, safe and secure. And when my mind starts roaming these uncomfortable corridors, I have to ask myself one question: what if you're the one to snap? And it stops me. Cold. Because I'm human, just like Dick Hickock, Perry Smith, Herb Clutter, and everybody else. I'm no killer, but I could be. We all could be. We all have the potential. What keeps us held back is our self-control, or maybe our fear of prison and death. What keeps me back is my love for people, my love of life, made possible by the gospel of Jesus Christ. Without Him, I think I'd be some kind of messed up person, but I trust Him and His word that He'll never leave me or forsake me. But really, when you think about it, if you stand two people side-by-side, one a killer, the other not, and put them in identical clothes and ask someone to pick out the killer, there's no difference. Both are just simply people, and that's the most terrifying thing out there. We don't really know anyone... ----- [Note: After re-reading this, I realize how disturbing this post is, and I've considered simply deleting and starting over. But, as a purist, I find that path treacherous. Instead, I'll echo my previous line. I am enslaved to God and committed until I die, therefore I do not keep myself restrained from going out and murdering somebody. Instead, I deal with the more insidious sins, things like when Jesus said that being angry with your brother was basically wanting to kill him, and inward lust was the same thing as adultery, and pride--oh how I loathe thee!--that snakes its way into every aspect of my life. Yes, friends, I am perfectly sane (to my knowledge). Just trying to make my way in the world the same as the rest of ya.](less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
1
| Sep 26, 2011
| Oct 05, 2011
|
Jun 24, 2010
| Trade Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 1400073154
| 9781400073153
| 4.35
| 17
| Aug 19, 2008
| Aug 19, 2008
|
When God Created My Toes, by Dandi Daley Mackall, is a cute, rhyming children's picture book. It's beautifully illustrated with bright, vivid drawings...more
When God Created My Toes, by Dandi Daley Mackall, is a cute, rhyming children's picture book. It's beautifully illustrated with bright, vivid drawings by David Hohn. The plot is simple, written in short, catchy refrains, dealing with childhood musings by a young girl wondering if God had to hold his nose when He created her toes. The book progresses up through her body, asking similar questions for when God made her knees, ears, etc. I thought the illustrations were stunning, and combining these with the verse, I think any young child would be able to pay attention to the read. When God Created My Toes is a short, fun picture book, perfect for children learning to read. It poses funny scenarios and wonderings, and also provides a way for parents to encourage their children to come up with their own rhyme. *FTC Thingy: When God Created My Toes was provided to me freely from Waterbrook Multnomah in exchange for my honest review, which I've also posted elsewhere on the mighty Internets.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
1
| not set
| Apr 24, 2011
|
Apr 26, 2011
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| B0030P1W3Q
| unknown
| 4.15
| 796
| Jan 01, 2000
| unknown
|
This isn't a book on systematic theology proper. It's more like a mixtape of biblical truth that I've found personally significant. Dug Down Deep is m...more This isn't a book on systematic theology proper. It's more like a mixtape of biblical truth that I've found personally significant. Dug Down Deep is my reveling in theology in my own simple way--not too polished, sometimes awkward, less than scholarly, hopefully gracious and faithful. Even thought these are deep truths, I don't pretend to be swimming in the deep end of the pool. I'm splashing in the shallow end. But if my splashing can inspire you to dive in, I will have succeeded.In 1997, Joshua Harris broke into the scene with his book on dating, appropriately titled I Kissed Dating Goodbye . I'd heard of it, but never had a desire to read it, nor anything else by this author. As I saw it, he was one of those Christian authors that wrote on one and only one subject matter, and it just happened to be one I was uninterested in. However, back in September I requested a copy of Harris' book on systematic theology called Dug Down Deep, primarily because of the book's style. Harris chose to tackle the subjects through transparent memoirs (as opposed to exhaustive biblical analysis), and I thought his journey sounded interesting. In some ways, this book could have been written by Donald Miller (author of Blue Like Jazz, Searching for God Knows What, and several other books), as the tone of the author was very reminiscent. Harris begins Dug Down Deep with a thought-provoking question: what are you building your life on? He then goes on to talk about Jesus' parable in Matthew 7, comparing the man who built his house on the sand with the man who built his house on the more solid foundation: rock. Harris argues that building on the rock takes work, it takes some digging, but in the end, after the wind and the rain and the storms, the house remains standing. He explains, In the past I thought the point was simply that being a Christian is better than not being a Christian. And I suppose on a very rudimentary level, that is what it means. But I never thought about the specifics of what digging down to the rock represents.This was the impetus for the book. He grew up in the church and found himself lacking any biblical depth. He was familiar with theology, doctrine, orthodoxy, and the like, but at the same time, they meant very little to him. They were just old sounding words that old people used. For the remainder of the Dug Down Deep, Harris opens up with humbling honesty, explaining how he came to understand certain elements of theology. Some of the essays included are about the Father, the Son, the Spirit, the Word, sanctification, justification, the church, orthodoxy, and a few others. And if you're anything like me, some of those words sound boring (i.e., orthodoxy), but Harris points out (reasonably) that they shouldn't, and he explains why. Knowledge doesn't have to be dry and lifeless. And when you think about it, exactly what is our alternative? Ignorance? Falsehood? We're either building our lives on the reality of what God is truly like and what he's about, or we're basing our lives on our own imagination and misconceptions. We're all theologians. The question is whether what we know about God is true.When I finished Dug Down Deep, I had several passages highlighted and underlined. The chapter on sanctification is definitely worth the read, as I found it thoroughly fascinating and incredibly awe-inspiring. Another recommended chapter is the last one, where Harris writes on humble orthodoxy, bringing home the point of how crucial it is to remain humble in our lives. This is something I think many of us should read and take to heart, as pride is ever so subtle and we must be on guard. These are just two of the eleven chapters presented in the book, and all are well thought out and stimulating. Dug Down Deep is a very accessible book. It offers deep thoughts and unfathomable truths about God and His character, but Harris attempts to explain them as clearly as he can. I think the book would be a great tool for new believers, but I think the impact would be even stronger with those who've walked with God for a while, especially the ones that have grown frustrated with their fellow believers or their own faith. Really, the book is relative even to those outside of the fold, those that have questions about life's journey and the roads we travel on. Overall, I really enjoyed Joshua Harris' Dug Down Deep. Maybe it's where I'm at in life, but Dug Down Deep resonated with me. I found it encouraging and refreshing, and I think it's a book that many people could read and get something out of it. --- FTC Thingy: This book was provided to me free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I received no goods other than the ebook, and had I been offered any other goods (like, say, chocolate chip cookies) I would have been tempted to take the bribe. Nevertheless, I wasn't offered, nor did I ask. As such, the opinion expressed in this review is entirely my own and has in no way been affected by my lack of receiving free, home-baked chocolate goodies.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
1
| Oct 25, 2011
| Dec 04, 2011
|
Oct 25, 2011
| Kindle Edition
| |||||||||||||||
| 159307526X
| 9781593075262
| 3.42
| 630
| Aug 01, 1995
| Sep 12, 2006
|
As much as I love STAR WARS, and even enjoyed Tom Veitch's first Dark Empire, this graphic novel was horrible. I'm not sure if it's canon or not (I su...more
As much as I love STAR WARS, and even enjoyed Tom Veitch's first Dark Empire, this graphic novel was horrible. I'm not sure if it's canon or not (I suspect it is), but any STAR WARS fan should skip this one. Dark Empire II, by Tom Veitch, may possibly be the worst STAR WARS comic I have ever read. The characters are dull and flat, with little development put into any. The Emperor's revived clone (again) is utterly ridiculous. Luke is dumb. Han and Leia's relationship is as good as Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman's in EP III. C-3PO is annoying. Han's pals are pointless. There wasn't a single character that had any resounding impact on anything. The plot itself suffers from repetition (cf Dark Empire I) and a lack of excitement. My major issue here was that Veitch uses text boxes and practically guides the reader along matter-of-factly. This negates any sort of impact the dialogue would have, and it makes the reader feel like a 4 year old. Plus, it's just poorly written. The dialogue itself is ridiculous, especially when it comes to the Empire. I cannot imagine Palpatine saying anything like he would as he's portrayed in this book. Another disappointing thing was how silly the conflicts were. It seems as if every Imperial product was magically enhanced and powered by the Dark Side, all done through the Emperor and his mastery of the Force. Pssh. And Luke falling in love with that one lady over the course of three panels? What?! Since I'm on a roll here, the artwork was mostly horrid, too. Not to say that it wasn't good, cause it was, but perspective seemed way off, and colors were weak and awkward. Sure, this is a 15 year old comic, so part of that's understandable, but still, much was lacking in the art department. My copy of Dark Empire II also includes the final volume of the series, the short run called Empire's End. Since there really was no conclusion whatsoever for Dark Empire II, and since I was highly disappointed in the read, I decided to skip reading Empire's End and instead look at only the pictures. This was a more pleasant experience, to say the least. Was there any saving grace to Dark Empire II? I'd like to say yes, but I'd be lying. It felt like sitting through a repeat viewing of EP I, but only the poor parts. I cannot recommend this book to anyone, not even absolute die-hard STAR WARS fans, nor do I ever see myself reading it again. Just a waste of time as far as I'm concerned. NOTE: I don't like writing negative reviews. They make me feel like a sleemo. Sorry. I did enjoy Dark Empire I, for what it's worth. I just don't see the point of the sequel...(less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
1
| Jun 20, 2011
| Jun 24, 2011
|
Jan 26, 2010
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 0307459179
| 9780307459176
| 4.06
| 146
| 2010
| Jun 15, 2010
|
I had never heard of the Internet Monk prior to receiving this book, nor had I heard of Michael Spencer, the name he went by outside the blogosphere....more
I had never heard of the Internet Monk prior to receiving this book, nor had I heard of Michael Spencer, the name he went by outside the blogosphere. No, I chose this book for two reasons: One, the title, Mere Churchianity, was clever and Two, I was interested in this so-called "Jesus-Shaped Spirituality." So the book arrived, I discovered it was published posthumously, and I dove in to see what this was all about. To say I was immediately hooked would be misleading, though I was. For one, the author told a story at a Dairy Queen on Hartford Road, which, coincidentally, there was a DQ on a Hartford Rd just a few miles from my house. The story was a sad, indicative reflection of many modern youth groups and how they react outside of the church. But the sincerity of Michael Spencer's voice was heard: there was a problem with our churches. A few pages later I discovered that Spencer grew up in the town I now call home, a small(ish) city in Western Kentucky. To make things even more interesting, his family still abides in these parts. So learning that Spencer was a local might have buried the hooks even deeper into me, assuring that I continue reading. Yet, even without these coincidences, I would have had no problem finishing Mere Churchianity. The subject is something I believe is vitally important in our current, fast-paced, instantaneous society, and Spencer highlights many of the same problems I see all around me. Churchianity is the art of shaping one's life after the church, as opposed to Jesus. Some may find this discrepancy negligible or a matter of semantics, but it's not. Look around. How many churches are truly following Jesus? How many pastors are standing in their multi-million dollar buildings wearing their fancy clothes and proclaiming that Jesus wants us to "have our best life now"? How many church goers are bigots? Racists? Homophobes? It doesn't take a genius to know that the word "Christianity" carries negative connotations, that all Christians are judgmental and close-minded. While this is untrue of all Christians, largely, to the rest of the world we're a religion that is intolerant of anything that doesn't fall under the OK of our set traditions and customs, most of which originated from the church, not Christ Himself. Jesus was the ultimate example of love and humility. Who did He spend most of His time with while He was in His ministry? It wasn't the religious folks, that's for sure. No, He hung out with prostitutes, liars, thieves, tax collectors, Samaritans, and all the other lowlifes of the times. Jesus said in Matthew 9, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." How does this compare with our churches of today? Largely, this disconnect is the focus of Spencer's Mere Churchianity. The book was written for people that had left the church or were thinking about it, people that were dissatisfied with how things were going, people that wanted a REAL church, not a group of hypocrites. I found myself shaking my head at many of the things Spencer was saying, agreeing that we need to be REAL and dependent on each other, as the early church. There were some things that I disagreed with, of course, and I recommend reading these types of books with a critical & careful eye. Still, for the most part, Michael Spencer was absolutely right. Our churches are screwed up and are too busy focusing on things that don't matter and ignoring the One who does. I very much enjoyed this book. My copy has notes and underlinings all over the place. Spencer wrote conversationally, but with conviction and honesty. This is the kind of book I wish more people read so as to see that we're not all judgmental and uncaring. I can recommend this book for the target audience (those leaving or thinking about it), but also for the lay church attender as well. The argument is urgent, and if churches don't start fixing things, I fear for the future of the bride of Christ.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
1
| Dec 02, 2010
| Jan 05, 2011
|
Dec 01, 2010
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 0375420525
| 9780375420528
| 4.14
| 38,575
| Jan 01, 2000
| Mar 07, 2000
|
Little solace comes...more Little solace comes Defining Mark Z. Danielewski's House of Leaves is like asking a five year old to describe the Riemann Hypothesis. House of Leaves is, on its fringes, a story about the Reader. In the Introduction by Johnny Truant, we're flat out told that what we're reading is a product from a manuscript he found in the room of a dead man named Zampanò. The manuscript, as it turns out, is a scholarly work based on a documentary Zampanò has become obsessed with: The Navidson Record. And if House of Leaves is about anything at all--its heart, its cornerstone, its foundation--then it's about The Navidson Record. Will Navidson is a critically acclaimed photojournalist. Years of life spent away from his long-time partner Karen Green, a former cover model, and his two children, Chad and Daisy, has the Navidson family barreling towards non-existence. Will and Karen decide to purchase a quaint Virginia house and settle down and work on their family. Will seeks to finish his career with a simple documentary on their new lives in their new home. He installs video cameras throughout the house, motion sensors to pick up when activity is going on, and settles in for a calm retirement. But everything does not go as planned. The house seems odd, and one day, for no apparent reason, Will and Karen discover a new closet situated outside their bedroom door. Baffled, Will gets the floor plans and begins going through measurements, confused. And when he discovers that the house measures larger on the inside than it does on the outside, the groundwork is laid for the rest of the "movie." The Navidson Record is as tantalizing as it is terrifying. The house on Ash Tree Lane is creepy and dark. Navidson, an explorer at heart, sets out to understand the house and its unnerving black (and apparently unending) labyrinth of hallways that appears in its center. Zampanò's manuscript exhaustively covers the film, from its subtle and serene beginnings to its haunting and stunning conclusion. His work is littered with footnotes, and as Truant tells us at the onset, many of these footnotes' references simply do not exist in real life. Keeping this in mind, the remainder of the manuscript makes for a fascinating exploration of the film, sometimes mind-numbingly so. "As I discovered, there were reams and reams of it. Endless snarls of words, sometimes twisting into meaning, sometimes into nothing at all, frequently breaking apart, always branching off into other pieces I'd come across later--on old napkins, the tattered edges of an envelope, once even on the back of a postage stamp; everything and anything but empty; each fragment completely covered with the creep of years and years of ink pronouncements; layered, crossed out, amended; handwritten, typed; legible, illegible; impenetrable, lucid; torn, stained, scotch taped; some bits crisp and clean, others faded, burnt or folded and refolded so many times the creases have obliterated whole passages of god knows what--sense? truth? deceit? a legacy of prophecy or lunacy or nothing of the kind?, and in the end achieving, designating, describing, recreating--find your own words; I have no more; or plenty more but why? and all to tell--what?" (p.xvii) But still yet, in an even further removed frame, the Reader understands (again, at the beginning of the novel, so as to keep SPOILER-FREE) that we're also reading Johnny Truant's annotations of Zampanò's manuscript. Truant's story begins in the Introduction, and as it unfolds throughout the footnotes, we discover how the manuscript affects him. Truant is a mesmerizing POV, as one of the first things he tells us is that he's unreliable. And as we read, both the manuscript and the footnotes, we're constantly left puzzling over what's been altered, if anything. This, as the Reader will undoubtedly understand, is disorienting and intentional. And as we come to understand Truant's background, especially concerning the Whalestoe Letters, what's real and what's not comes under even more scrutiny. To me, the most interesting part of the book deals with the darkness inside the house. Danielewski a la Truant a la Zampanò paint a vivid picture of the blackness, the absence of light within the house. "The walls are endlessly bare. Nothing hangs on them, nothing defines them. They are without texture. Even to the keenest eye or most sentient fingertip, they remain unreadable. You will never find a mark there. No trace survives. The walls obliterate everything. They are permanently absolved of all record. Oblique, forever obscure and unwritten. Behold the perfect pantheon of absence." (p.423) I know what dark is. I live in the state with the largest cave system in the world. I've been to the depths of the earth and had the lights extinguished, propelled into absolute darkness, a blackness so thick that one can't help but despair. And yet, the darkness within the house seems darker. This has definitely played upon my mind at night as I've roamed the halls of my own house, and I confess to a quickened pulse a time or two. Another part that must be addressed is the bizarre formats used. This was the primary reason I wanted to read the book, and after finishing, I enjoyed the way the book was presented. The Reader has to flip the book, turn it sideways, and go through mental hoops to read certain passages, but it definitely adds to the story. I read the full color edition, which is the author's preferred edition, as it includes over two-hundred pages of appendices, filled with more fascinating puzzle pieces (and if you read the book, I recommend following the instructions to see the Appendix before continuing on with the novel) and I can't imagine reading this book any other way. So what is House of Leaves? It's a book containing four stories, one woven story, some spelled out more than others, some flat out ignored. It's meta. It's contained. It's puzzling. It's erudite, so keep a dictionary very close. It's compelling. It's tedious. It induces smiles and wicked grins, but groans and sighs. It's beautiful. It's art. It's a love story. It's disgusting and leaves one needing a bath. It's definitely not for the faint of heart or those offended by crude sex. It is a remarkable read, leaving the Reader satisfied and immediately ready to dive back in again to see what's missed, but at the same time worn down and betrayed. If Danielewski intended this, then he succeeded. I enjoyed House of Leaves immensely and would love to discuss it with someone (thankfully there are forums devoted to it). It's easy to recommend.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
1
| Sep 02, 2011
| Sep 25, 2011
|
Sep 15, 2010
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 0393061051
| 9780393061055
| 4.22
| 1,377
| 2005
| Dec 17, 2005
|
Will Eisner is a rather significant individual in the history of the graphic novel, as well as the comic world at large. He is, after all, sometimes r...more
Will Eisner is a rather significant individual in the history of the graphic novel, as well as the comic world at large. He is, after all, sometimes referred to as the Father of the Graphic Novel. In fact, the Eisner Awards (the comics' equivalent to the Oscars) are named after him. Of course, any serious fan of graphic novels has read some Will Eisner. Well, color me red and call me a strawberry, I can finally say I have. The Contract with God trilogy is one large collection of three individual graphic novels: A Contract with God and Other Tenement Stories, A Life Force, and Dropsie Avenue. Each volume tells a complete story, though the three are interwoven and related. The stories largely deal with racism, religious bigotry, and hard life through the Great Depression. The colors are all muted sepia toned, seemingly from pencil. This medium choice adds a bleakness throughout the book, certainly fitting to the setting. Eisner's lines are sometimes rushed and simple, befitting of a comic creator of Old, but I think anything fancier (i.e., more Realistic) would detract from the story. A Contract with God is composed of four smaller stories: "A Contract With God", "The Super", "The Street Singer", and "Cookalein". In it we read the tale of a Jewish Russian man who comes to America and settles down on Dropsie Avenue, taking up residence in a Bronx tenement. Life is hard and goes awry, and the story is grim and tragic. A Life Force pretty much deals with man's goals in life, to love and be happy, and compares them to a cockroach. This one at least has more characterization, and was easier to relate to than the first. It also seemed to have more of a plot, one that was more than halfway interesting. Still, the story was bleak. Dropsie Avenue was probably my favorite of the three. Its main character is Dropsie Avenue itself. This story begins in the late 1800s and chronicles the development of the land and its Dutch settlers to where it is now. We see the land change, moving from farms to tenements and factories. We see the people change, phasing through Dutch, Irish, Jewish, Russian, Puerto Rican, African American, and many other races. We see how the society changes and how it affects Dropsie Avenue. I enjoyed this story quite a bit. This review doesn't paint a pleasant picture of Eisner's acclaimed work, and that's probably because the story was so danged depressing. Eisner was born in 1917, so he lived through the Great Depression and through the changes he's created. In fact, he drew from his own experiences for many of these tales, and I suppose they're probably more autobiographical than we know. Reading tragedy is hard for me to "like," per se. However, I can't really say that I enjoyed the read and thoroughly recommend you to all read it immediately, either. I can understand and appreciate the history of this book, how it is largely responsible for the creation of the graphic novel industry today, and I'm thankful for this. Still, the story is very complex and meticulous, weaving many threads through many characters and locations, and the book never rose above its potential. So do I recommend Will Eisner's Contract with God trilogy? Yes, and no. Yes if you're a graphic novel fan and are interested in reading something by a legend. Yes if you enjoy stories told with a Great Depression setting, especially dealing with race, nationality, and religion. No if you're new to graphic novels and are curious about them (for that I'd recommend Craig Thompson's Blankets for something Real, or Alan Moore's Watchmen if you like super-heroes in your graphic novels). No if you're wanting something with color and something less depressing. In the end, I'm glad I've read it, but I don't plan to read any more by the man, either.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
1
| May 24, 2011
| Jun 2011
|
May 24, 2011
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 1433528525
| 9781433528521
| 4.05
| 171
| Jan 01, 2011
| Sep 08, 2011
|
Racism is not dead. Despite what you may think about the issue--from those that see our modern day America as a glorious fondue of ethnic delights to...more
Racism is not dead. Despite what you may think about the issue--from those that see our modern day America as a glorious fondue of ethnic delights to those that see through the smokescreen a bit too readily--racism is certainly not dead. For many of us, though, it is. We live in our content bubbles, satisfied with the status of ethnic diversity in America. Look at how far we've come, we say. Slavery abolished. Equal rights for all. Amen, and I'm thankful to God that we've come at least that far. But the question I raise, and one that John Piper points to in his latest book Bloodlines, is look how far we've still got to go. Bloodlines is an engaging and provocative book. Piper, respected globally as a passionate man of God, sets out to show how racial harmony and embracing ethnic diversity are Biblically sound doctrines and ultimately glorifying to God. He takes on several of the modern controversies surrounding race and addresses everything with the Bible. Indeed, he steps up and writes with blunt passion, even when it's difficult to do so. But as he says, This deeply felt sense of race as a continuing, painful, and pervasive issue in America means that talking about race continues to be difficult. The feelings run very deep and very high. If your skin is thin...hold your tongue. But holding our tongues does not usually advance understanding, deepen respect, warm the affections, or motivate action. Yes, if we want change, if we want a greater respect of our fellow man, then we cannot hold our tongues, and thankfully Piper doesn't. I think Bloodlines is an easy read, in that Piper is honest in his desire. He writes of growing up in South Carolina and of the racial sins he had to overcome, and only so by the blood of Jesus. And when he went into ministry he intentionally chose a region (Twin Cities area in Minnesota) that is one of the most ethnically diverse in the nation. He has lived there for over thirty years, passionate about diversity and harmony and exalting God. These things give credence to the points Piper raises, and hopefully many see his words as truth. The book begins with Piper telling why he's wrote Bloodlines, and then he follows with several statistics and the current shape of racism in America. One of the most staggering statistics: Homicide is the number one cause of death for black men between fifteen and twenty-nine years of age and has been for decades. After the statistical dump, Piper then dives into many of the current theories and resources surrounding racism. I was ignorant of many of these names and sources, but Piper definitely was not. I found this bit fascinating, reading what many leading minds think about the "Whys" and "Hows" of racism. The remainder of the book focuses on why a united people celebrating diversity and living peaceably is glorifying to God. Most of us are ignorant of our racism, and I suspect many of us would be appalled at ourselves if our secret thoughts were revealed. The blame is ours, but it's also the many generations before us. America has a dark history, one that misused Scripture to propel a false agenda that led to many sins, and we've still not recovered from this. It's important to note that throughout everything, Piper never strays from the gospel of Jesus Christ. With a multitude of verses to back up his thesis, it's eye opening to see how uninvolved so many of us are. Racial harmony is not the most important issue for a person, but it is an issue that should be pursued by some. Piper feels this way, as do many members and staff at Bethlehem Baptist Church. Just read this article (How and Why Bethlehem Pursues Ethnic Diversity) to understand that. Bloodlines is a thought-stirring book that brings up many strong arguments for why the fight against racism should be faced. While most of us don't feel like race is an issue to concern ourselves with, consider the following. Since majority people don't think of themselves in terms of race, none of our dysfunctions is viewed as a racial dysfunction. When you are the majority ethnicity, nothing you do is ethnic. It's just the way it's done. When you are a minority, everything you do has color. The words are true, and the implications staggering. We are all creatures of race. Whether majority or minority, we all share a common earthly bloodline, and that makes us all brothers and sisters. Praise God that we can all share a common heavenly bloodline, too, that of Jesus Christ, and it's only through His blood can we hope to have unity.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
1
| Aug 16, 2011
| Sep 06, 2011
|
Aug 09, 2011
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 9781595825674
| 3.79
| 233
| 2010
| Oct 13, 2010
|
Hellboy + Batman + Starman = :\, eh, who's Starman? I wanted to like Masks and Monsters, if only because Mignola illustrated (but didn't write) a Batma...more Hellboy + Batman + Starman = :\, eh, who's Starman? I wanted to like Masks and Monsters, if only because Mignola illustrated (but didn't write) a Batman & Hellboy story. Sadly, there was very little for me to enjoy in this doubly-arced collection. The first tale is a cut & paste typical Hellboy story. Nazis are trying to revive an Elder God down in San Diablo. The BPRD disapproves. So does Starman, because the Nazi's kidnapped his genius father and are using him for malignant purposes. Batman's involved early on because the poor, manipulated scientist is giving a boring lecture in Gotham City, and Hellboy goes to investigate. That's about it. Mignola's art even seemed less spectacular than normal. The plot was a yawn and I'm thankful this is not considered in the Hellboy canon. The second story is about Ghost, another notable "superhero(ine)" that I'd never heard of. This piece was written by Mignola (though not illustrated by him), and it was definitely more enjoyable than the first. I enjoyed the brutal, retro Mafia bit at the beginning, and this piece had enough humor to make it almost worth the read. Sadly, some of the art was flat, but not all, and some of the plot was ridiculous. Perhaps part of the reason I didn't care too much for this collection was because the last several volumes have been amazing. This book may be better as a standalone for someone only passably interested in Mignola's anti-hero, though there are so many other better options I can't imagine why anyone would pick this one up first. I suppose a diehard Starman or Ghost fan may like it, but if you're reading for the Caped Crusader, you're only gonna get a few scenes. Overall, for any serious Hellboy reader, this ones easily forgettable and pointless. Oh well, they can't all be wonderful.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
1
| Mar 29, 2011
| Apr 04, 2011
|
Mar 29, 2011
| Paperback
| ||||||||||||||||
| B003YL4LYI
| 4.19
| 117,207
| 2011
| Jul 12, 2011
|
*To Review or Not To Review, that is the question
| Notes are private!
| none
|
1
| Aug 24, 2011
| Oct 25, 2011
|
Jul 22, 2009
| Kindle Edition
| ||||||||||||||||
| 0756404738
| 9780756404734
| 4.53
| 70,902
| 2011
| Mar 01, 2011
|
Writing a review for The Wise Man's Fear, Book Two of Patrick Rothfuss's Kingkiller Chronicle, is a difficult task for me. First, the book is 994 page...more
Writing a review for The Wise Man's Fear, Book Two of Patrick Rothfuss's Kingkiller Chronicle, is a difficult task for me. First, the book is 994 pages in length and covers so many plot-lines that it's hard to create a manageable review. Second, there was considerable hype leading up to the release of the book, hype that I well bought into and dabbled with. Third is the fact that this is the middle volume of a trilogy and the story, in the long run, is still unread. Finally, and probably most importantly, is my bias towards Rothfuss. If not for his genre-crushing, decade favorite Name of the Wind, I may have given up on fantasy a few years ago. Instead, the man pulled the wool from my eyes and revealed that a story is more important than magic and cliches. That said, this review is spoiler-free for Book 2, though it will contain spoilers from Book 1. ----- Review (No WMF Spoilers) It's another day for Kvothe, his student/assistant Bast, and the acclaimed scribe Devan Lochees (aka the Chronicler) at the Waystone Inn. All more than a little burdened from the recent death of Shep and the unusual circumstances surrounding it, Kvothe is pressing on to tell the true story of the man behind the legends. Times are hard for Newarre and its poor farmers, but times are hard for everyone. Rothfuss wastes no time getting into the meat of the story. By Chapter Three, Kvothe is recalling the familiar story that began in Name of the Wind. In fact, if physical evidence didn't say otherwise, the transition between Book One and Book Two is flawless enough that it feels like I'm reading one book, carrying over the same tone and voice the first one did so well. If one considers The Wise Man's Fear on its own, problems arise. In its 994 pages a lot of stuff happens, and on the other hand, nothing happens. The reader gets plenty of insight to the Four Corners of Civilization, from language lessons in Ademre to lessons of the court in Severen, as well as more lore and history of all manner of folks between. There is enough world building that one would be tempted to say Rothfuss is wasting too much time with supplemental information, putting off the more important elements of the story. And, if one considers WMF on its own apart from the trilogy as a whole, I would agree. There is not enough action and the story is not tight enough for this book to fit the normal molds and expectations readers have. But, just as Rothfuss is not interested in telling a normal story with normal cliches, this book rises above the normal expectations. I cannot see how anyone can take a single volume of a story instead of the whole and weigh it and judge it, not fairly, but it happens. For myself, taking everything I learned in NotW and adding it to WMF, I see one beautiful tale, written in prose and verse sweet enough to charm anyone interested in a good story. And that's what Wise Man's Fear is. Better, even, than "good." It's complex, elegant, hilarious, devastating, tense, dark, mysterious, and many more adjectives. It's not a book that stands on its own, but its the middle piece to a three-piece puzzle. The story is the most important thing, and Rothfuss is spinning a wonderful yarn. All of this is not to say that I didn't have problems with WMF. Do I feel like there was a lot of extraneous stuff? Maybe, but is that necessarily a bad thing? How often do we fall in love with things (book series, tv shows, video games, etc.) and wish we had more? We long for special features and extended scenes. Why else would there be a Saw VI and two video games to boot? Could plenty of this stuff have been edited out and the story still be the same? Yes. But did I enjoy it all? Absolutely. I'm willing to wade through lots of boring stuff if the story's good, and Rothfuss's extra scenes are not boring. In the end, what I can say about Wise Man's Fear is that its long, and if you get frustrated at a story that likes to simmer and slow-boil instead of splash out on the stove, then you may be irked, but you'll be entertained, as well. If you liked The Name of the Wind you'll like this book. I know I did. (If you would like to read a more in-depth analysis, as well as some specific things I liked from the book, click here to go to my blog's review.)(less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
1
| Mar 03, 2011
| Mar 25, 2011
|
Jul 22, 2009
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 0615402321
| 9780615402321
| 3.00
| 2
| Sep 20, 2010
| Sep 22, 2010
|
Fearful to Fearless is a book with a simple premise: stop being afraid in life, stop being anxious or nervous, and instead be bold and fearless. The b...more Fearful to Fearless is a book with a simple premise: stop being afraid in life, stop being anxious or nervous, and instead be bold and fearless. The book is divided into three sections: "Fear Not", "Don't Worry", and "Fear God". Each one begins with a brief introduction and then proceeds into the familiar devotional format. The book at first seems unusual, as it essentially is an exhaustive collection of bible verses that relate to fear, worry, doubts, and the like. Yet, its simplicity is great, for whatever page you open to you are guaranteed to read a verse that directly relates to fear. Also, after each verse, Kusner gives a brief sentence or two to think and meditate on. This book basically is like running a query on the word "fear" and the bible and then putting the results into book format. While the idea is not original, it definitely shows the author's concern for his subject. However, be advised that any extra stuff is relegated primarily to the introductions, and this book lacks bells & whistles. (Yet, who needs bells & whistles when you've got God's Word?) Fearful to Fearless is a standard Christian book that offers encouragement to those with problems, this one chiefly being fear and apprehension. Some extra verses or commentary would've been nice, but then again, if one was looking only for a collection of verses on fear, this book would fit perfectly. For anyone that struggles with fear and worries and would like a devotion-type book, I can easily recommend Jeff Kusner's Fearful to Fearless. If you're wanting a more in-depth look and commentary on fear, this may not be the book for you. (less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
1
| Dec 29, 2010
| Jan 18, 2011
|
Dec 29, 2010
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 0397320825
| 9780397320820
| 4.07
| 4,344
| Jan 01, 1984
| Oct 31, 1984
|
Please see full series review at Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.
| Notes are private!
| none
|
1
| not set
| Sep 29, 2011
|
Sep 30, 2011
| Library Binding
| |||||||||||||||
| 0345484177
| 9780345484178
| 3.95
| 3,430
| Aug 24, 2010
| Aug 24, 2010
|
Hundreds of years after the fall of man, civilization is starting to come of its shell once again. Humans, Elves, Trolls, and others are all forced to...more
Hundreds of years after the fall of man, civilization is starting to come of its shell once again. Humans, Elves, Trolls, and others are all forced to survive the in their sequestered valley and surrounding lands. But even in the fledgling stages of rebirth, darkness and evil makes its way into hearts and threatens all. Like all other Terry Brooks novels, Bearers of the Black Staff is heavy on the characters, this time focusing on three main points of view. The Gray Man is the current bearer of the staff, a man descended from the long lineage of the Knights of the Word. Panterra Qu is a young scout learning the tricks of his trade with his partner Pru. Phryne, an Elven princess, is nosy and annoying and, uh, that's about it. These three each have their own wars to fight, but together there is something that will unite them all. That said, none of these are too terribly deep, but they're still somewhat engaging, if not familiar. Terry Brooks also tends to have quick, fast-paced chapters, and Bearers is no different. Things are always happening, be it a boring council meeting, a dangerous encounter in the woods, or any number of other activities. There's little down time in the three hundred plus pages, and yet, when I finished reading the book I felt like the focus could have been tighter and some pages omitted. This book, I think, is just another addition to the Shannara cannon. It helps develop certain races more, as well as give insight to why certain things are in the Four Lands, beginning with Sword of Shannara. It furthermore serves to link the Word & Void series to the Four Lands, and while it makes sense, it makes me wonder if this was Brooks' original intent. Overall, Bearers of the Black Staff gets a passing rating, but only because I've been a Terry Brooks fan for a long time. The tale is uninspired and predictable and has been told in pretty much any other Terry Brooks novel already in print. Unless you're a big Terry Brooks fan, this one's okay to skip.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
1
| Dec 29, 2010
| Feb 18, 2011
|
Jun 29, 2010
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 1563898683
| 9781563898686
| 4.07
| 9,558
| Oct 01, 2000
| Oct 01, 2002
|
Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale make beautiful comics. I'm a huge fan of Sale's artwork and style, finding his work perfectly suited to the comic medium. Loeb...more
Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale make beautiful comics. I'm a huge fan of Sale's artwork and style, finding his work perfectly suited to the comic medium. Loeb is a great storyteller, having penned some of my favorite comics. In addition to this, these two created the quintessential Batman comic arc:
Batman: The Long Halloween
. I had hoped that Dark Victory, a quasi-sequel that takes place a year or so later than the events of TLH, would be as good as its predecessor. Sadly, I was wrong. Sales art is top of the line here, no doubt. But Loeb dropped the ball. The arc spans 13 issues, and it seems that every issue recaps the previous ones with painstaking detail. What I mean by this is that for several panels throughout every issue, Batman muses to himself on the events that have been going on, which grows repetitive very quickly. To me, this seems to suggest that someone is going to be reading an intermediate issue having not read the prior ones and Loeb wants to ensure they understand what's going on. This was my biggest pet peeve. Another thing I didn't like was how little involvement Robin got. The cover features the Dynamic Duo, and yet we don't even see Dick Grayson until issue 8 or 9 or thereabouts. Another problem is that Dark Victory is essentially The Long Halloween again. TLH was about a serial killer going by the Holiday Killer that killed his victims on major holidays. Dark Victory is about a serial killer named The Hangman that kills his victims on major holidays. The only difference is that The Hangman is killing cops and people connected with Harvey Dent. So apart from Two Face now being a Hood, there's very little different between the two arcs. I almost feel like Loeb realized how lucrative TLH was and decided to cash in on it (or maybe the Big Bads at DC?) and take us in. If you're a Batman fan, then is this comic worth reading? Yeah, probably, but only just. TLH is superior in every way, but still, Dark Victory resolves some of the few open plots left after TLH. Anyone just looking to read a Batman comic, there are better ones out there. But if you're wanting some swell artwork, pick it up and give it a leaf through. (less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
1
| Nov 03, 2011
| Nov 10, 2011
|
Apr 26, 2010
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 1601459327
| 9781601459329
| 3.77
| 13
| Sep 01, 2009
| Sep 01, 2009
|
In the distant future, near the end of the 22nd century, Earth has not changed all that much. People are still going about life as normal, though tech...more
In the distant future, near the end of the 22nd century, Earth has not changed all that much. People are still going about life as normal, though technology is advanced enough that space travel isn't unheard of. Mason Dash, a pilot on the cleaning ship Kite, spends his working shifts orbiting the planet and eradicating litter, using KiTE's high-powered lasers and webbing. Bored and ready to retire, Dash passes time at work by sleeping in his underwear on a sofa. When he's home, he spends most of his time toying around with his AI personality Sheila that lives in the computer. But Dash, ever the trickster, begins to suspect not all is right in his normal life. Maybe the "abandoned" International Space Station II isn't quite so abandoned after all. Maybe Janet, his wife, has grown suspicious of his relationship with Sheila. Maybe he's gone off the deep end and is seeing things out in space. Such is the setup for KiTE, by Bill Shears. Well, that's my set-up. The official blurb, taken from INFINITYbound's website, goes like this. KiTE, by Bill Shears, is a science fiction novel set in Earth orbit. Mason Dash, operator of Kite, the flagship of Earth Orbit Maintenance Department’s debris sweeper fleet, suspects spacejackers on an abandoned space station may be using it as a platform for a terrorist attack on Earth targets. Sheila, his beautiful virtual companion, has been “enhanced” with an experimental free will module. Inside the computer system of Kite a digital uprising is under way. Sheila goes off on her own adventure and finds she’s forced to split her focus between Dash’s situation in the “real world” and an ambitious virtual tyrant who has also taken a fancy to her, and who wants to expand his empire beyond Kite. Meanwhile Dash finds the spacejackers are not what he suspected, maybe worse. And it’s just then that humankind’s first unearthly visitor appears in Earth orbit, who is none too pleased. Earth’s fate hangs in the balance. Blurbs are always a fickle thing for me. Sometimes I feel like they overdo it, throwing out spoilery when there shouldn't be any. That's how I feel about this blurb and the one on the back of the book. Nevertheless, that's neither here nor there. This is not a review of a book's blurb, but a book review, and the question is whether or not I enjoyed Shears' KiTE? Such a difficult question, honestly. At times, yes, I thought it was fun, entertaining, interesting, and original. There were some brilliant bits of character philosophy (I'm looking at you, HE_RA), some amazing sci-fi originality (how spaceships are launched, for example), and some clever dialogue. And yet, I had a few issues through my read, too. For one, there were a few too many grammatical/formatting errors. Normally, I don't pay attention to this kind of stuff, but there were enough instances that it jarred me the wrong way and seemed to impede the story. Another problem was the odd idioms Dash would use. I find it hard to believe that a simple pilot would be quoting Shakespeare or old television shows, considering the time setting. This, too, seemed to slow my progress with the story. Still, at the root of the matter, KiTE told an entertaining (and at times engrossing) story. Dash was passably likable, a sort of Everyman that I could relate to. He had a sense of humor that at times was grating, but nevertheless funny. Things seemed well and above his head and beyond his understanding, and his responses were how I could see myself acting sometimes. Unfortunately, KiTE is not just Dash's story. One entire plot thread that I didn't care too much about was the AI. Sheila was a great character, and her evolution was fun to watch. HE_RA, on the other hand, along with the entire setting of Kite's mainframe, were boring and irritating. I found myself dreading these scenes, not really interested in the characters or their plight. When it was suggested that the AI were evolving, literally from some sort of artificial DNA-type thing, I perked up, but still I wasn't really invested in this. I would have rather had more "personal" scenes, not "artificial," if that makes sense. And the thing that I really enjoyed and hated at the same time was the narrative mode used. Third-person omniscient tends to stimulate this reaction from me. I prefer limited (or first person, even) to the 3-p-o mode, usually, and KiTE was no different. It's hard on me, as a reader, to keep suspense up when the POVs are constantly shifting, and nothing is withheld. It's confusing when there are many characters in a scene and the POVs shift so much, and yet it's also fun to read something in this mode every once in a while. So really, the question remains. Did I enjoy KiTE? Somewhat, both yes and no. Would I recommend KiTE as a read? That would depend on the reader, honestly. I think sci-fi fans would enjoy it, and this is definitely a "hard" sci-fi novel. I tend to go "soft" when I read sci-fi, so that could be part of my problem. I'd also recommend it to someone looking for a short, not-too-serious sci-fi book, or someone interested in computers and AI. Personally, it's not my normal genre and I don't want to discount that, but KiTE didn't win me over by any means. *I received KiTE as from the author/agent/publisher for free, in exchange for my honest review. No moneys were transferred in the agreement, nor were any baked goods. -- -- Logan K Stewart (less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
1
| Mar 28, 2011
| Apr 14, 2011
|
Mar 18, 2011
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 0785107371
| 9780785107378
| 3.88
| 1,895
| 1999
| Jan 03, 2007
|
My friend Adam highly recommended the entire series run of Daredevil, Volume 2. From my understanding, Volume 1 had run stagnant after thirty-four yea...more
My friend Adam highly recommended the entire series run of Daredevil, Volume 2. From my understanding, Volume 1 had run stagnant after thirty-four years and 380 comics. Marvel decided to reboot the Man without Fear and start afresh. Anon, Kevin Smith was hired to write the first story arc for the new series, Guardian Devil, beginning in 1998. Volume 2 ran for 119 issues, and concluded with a 13-issue mini-run titled Shadowlands. I'll be the first to say that my knowledge of Daredevil is very limited. Having read comics for most of my life, I've always considered the hero as a lesser compatriot of Marvel's bigger names: Spider-Man, Wolverine, Hulk, the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, and not to mention practically all of the X-Men. Daredevil just wasn't that interesting to me. Yet, on Adam's considerable recommendation (ending when he brought the entire run over to my house in a heavy, white box), I found myself with 131 comics to read. Matt Murdock is an attorney by day and a red-leather-tights-wearing superhero by night. He's blind. He's intelligent. He struggles with his faith. After a freak accident as a teenager, where he saved the life of a pedestrian from an oncoming truck laden with nuclear waste (it's always nuclear something) and lost his eyesight, his remaining senses were all heightened to uncanny levels. The main plot of Guardian Devil revolves around an infant showing up in Murdock's law office. The mother drops the child off, claiming he's the Christ returned. Later, a mysterious man appears and tells Matt that the child is in fact the antichrist incarnate. Already conflicted, Murdock gets involved in a fight that spans from heaven to hell. Another important element to this arc was Murdock's relationship with his on-again, off-again flame Karen Page. Up front Adam told me the series started off kind of boring. He was right. The first eight issues held me captivated enough to press on, but suffered from some weak text and poor illustrations. Don't get me wrong. The art was just fine, but I was turned off by the peculiar choices Joe Quesada made, especially when it came to eyes. Every time I looked at a person's eyes I was turned off. They looked almost childish. This just didn't work with the tone of the story Smith was telling (and I'm already not much of a Smith fan). Nevertheless, I press onward. So far Daredevil still sits in the shadows of my mind, but I'm anxious to see if he rises to prominence. If I'm judging based on Guardian Devil, I'd say no. But, for the life of me, I'll read this series if only to see what Adam's talking about.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
1
| Nov 27, 2011
| Dec 25, 2011
|
Nov 30, 2011
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 0802458386
| 9780802458384
| 4.21
| 2,022
| 2009
| Apr 01, 2009
|
Every once in a while we have an epiphany. It may come while we're brushing our teeth and staring at ourselves in the mirror. It may come when we're p...more
Every once in a while we have an epiphany. It may come while we're brushing our teeth and staring at ourselves in the mirror. It may come when we're pouring soy into the wok, whiffing the wonderful scents of the steam. Or, as often is the case, it may come from a book. The Bible is great at this. It's amazing how we can read the same passages through the years, but still find so much truth with its words. This post isn't about the Bible, though. It's about Kevin DeYoung's book (which is based on the Bible) Just Do Something. Just Do Something has literally changed the way I think about a lot of stuff. Many Christians tend to "overspiritualize" things, some going so far as to avoid doing anything for fear of making a wrong choice. (Note: this problem isn't just related to Christians, but to anyone suffering from indecision, at least I suspect so.) We're inclined to believe that every choice we make in life ultimately affects some outcome at the end, and this simply is not true. In Just Do Something, DeYoung presents a case for simply doing, not worrying about the results. He argues that as long as a decision isn't sinful (what he calls "unethical" choices), then the choice is solely up to us and God doesn't care. Does it really matter what job we take and what school we attend? What car we buy? Who we marry, even? To God, these decisions are simply less important than "ethical" ones (i.e., God is supremely concerned with our choice on how we view His Son, Jesus). While this may seem infuriating or insensitive, DeYoung uses plenty of scripture to back up his beliefs, and I'm inclined to agree (with most)*. Early in the book DeYoung presents the problem many of us face. We want to be in the will of God and make Him happy with every thing we do. Agreed. And how often do we pray or hear others pray "if it's according to Your will...?" DeYoung states that there are three distinct categories for the will of God, and understanding these three is the first step to a new way of thinking. 1. The decreed will of God. God has already decreed everything from before time began, down to the hairs on our heads falling out and the sparrow's food for today. This is all sovereign and unchangeable. So, without getting too deep, everything we ever do is already in God's will. Everything that ever happens is already in God's will. He's already taken into consideration everything and allowed it all to happen "for the good" (Romans 8:28). This is God's decreed will, and we can never be out of it. What we should pray for is to be in God's desired will. I suspect (as does DeYoung) that as long as we make decisions based on biblical wisdom, then we'll always be in God's desired will, as it is the Spirit that speaks to us through God's Word. One chapter even presents practical things to pray for, and I found this quite helpful. How often we tend to overlook the obvious. What many of us actually pray for is for God's will of direction to be obvious, like Gideon's fleeces or the clouds above spelling out a phrase. This is just setting ourselves up for disappointment time and time again. Can God show us direction? Absolutely, but it's a rarity, both in scripture and now. "Apart from the Spirit working through Scripture, God does not promise to use any other means to guide us, nor should we expect him to." (p. 68) It seems to (once again) boil down to semantics. The English language lacks the proper capabilities to articulate clearly***. For example, our word hot may mean many different things, from spicy to scalding to sexy to trendy and on and on. One word for multiple meanings. That's why I try to use picante if I mean spicy; caliente for high temperatures; etc. Likewise, we shouldn't group God's Will into one phrase. This is key to understanding the book. DeYoung also posits that cultural differences between our time and a century ago is responsible for a lot of our indecision, especially with the privileged, instantaneous society we now find ourselves in. Most of us are spoiled and rich (in 1999, 3 billion people lived on less than $2 per day [source]) and impatient and the list goes on. These factors (especially growing up in America) certainly affect our outlook on life, as well as our parents and their parents, too. As such, we've been raised to think a certain way--that our each and every choice and action is extremely important. Look at "Choose Your Own Adventure" books or karma based video games like Fallout. They pander to the fact that every choice matters. No wonder we're so indecisive. The answer to the dilemma, as DeYoung would have us think, is to basically love God with our whole hearts, bodies, minds, and souls, and everything else will be in God's will. With everything we do, we should to it to glorify God. As I post this review, it should be for God's glory. As I chew on the black liquorice jelly bean I just ate, I should glorify God. For without Him, there would be nothing, and He alone is worthy to be praised. "Live for God. Obey the Scriptures. Think of others before yourself. Be holy. Love Jesus. And as you do these things, do whatever else you like, with whomever you like, wherever you like, and you'll be walking in the will of God." (p.122) It should also be noted that Just Do Something is a funny book. DeYoung writes with communicable language, which is perfect for this type of book. It's not too deep and eloquently written (a la CS Lewis), but it's friendly and conversational. There were stories that literally had me laughing aloud. In the end, Just Do Something was a powerful book. It has literally changed my views on how I see God's will working in my life, and how I work into God's will. My copy is heavily noted and written in (don't you just love books like that?), and I'm currently reading it aloud to Keisha. If you suffer from anxiety, indecision, and general fear from being out of God's will, then I highly recommend Just Do Something. Heck, even if you don't (which, coincidentally, I didn't/don't), the book is still worth the read. Whatever the case, I would love for everyone to read this book (and take to heart its message) so they can live life liberated. Jesus didn't die for us to tie ourselves up in bondage and serve tradition and fear; He died for our freedom and so that we can have life in Him.^ "...,the will of God for your life is pretty straightforward: Be holy like Jesus, by the power of the Spirit, for the glory of God." (p. 62) ------- *My wife didn't particularly care for the non-romantic view on marriage. DeYoung doesn't believe in "soul mates" and that stuff. I don't know whether I do or not, but I do believe that Keisha is my soul mate, if that makes sense. She is who I am supposed to be with and I love her more than she knows. **DeYoung doesn't get into this issue very much, and neither will I. In short, God didn't create robots, but independent creatures gifted with free will. He holds us responsible for our "ethical" choices. Everything else we do, we do for the glory of God. ***I started an outline and an essay a few months back on my problem(s) with language, in particular English language. Perhaps I'll have to revisit this again... ^This was a difficult review to write, and I feel like I either a) rambled, b) left out a lot, or c) both a & b. I easily could have kept going, but in an effort to not reveal too much, I chose to only approach certain topics of DeYoung's book. There are only 10 chapters across 128 pages or so, so there's not that much quantity-wise in it, but enough quality that there's plenty more to think about. (less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
1
| May 09, 2011
| May 10, 2011
|
May 09, 2011
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 1607060752
| 9781607060758
| 4.32
| 6,419
| Nov 2008
| Aug 29, 2009
|
It's been a while since I've been in The Walking Dead universe, but I remembered mostly everything within a few pages of starting What We Become. Rick...more It's been a while since I've been in The Walking Dead universe, but I remembered mostly everything within a few pages of starting What We Become. Rick and the gang are en route to Washington, DC, and they're still struggling against the many ills of the apocalyptic world. This volume was particularly great for two reasons: 1) the herd, and 2) Rick & Abraham's conversation about the things they've done to survive. This was very thought-provoking, seeing what these two men have became and their justifications for their actions. Overall, a great new direction for the series, and it certainly casts some doubt on the reader that may have not been present before. (less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
1
| not set
| Jan 31, 2011
|
Sep 15, 2010
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 0765326353
| 9780765326355
| 4.57
| 33,084
| Aug 01, 2010
| Aug 31, 2010
|
Beginning a ten book series can be daunting. It takes a kind of commitment that many of us just don't have the time for. It takes effort to stick with...more
Beginning a ten book series can be daunting. It takes a kind of commitment that many of us just don't have the time for. It takes effort to stick with a single story for a decade, gobbling up installments every year or so. We're an impatient people, by and large, and waiting is something we loathe. Just look at the vitriol surrounding GRRM's prolonged release of A Dance with Dragons. Nevertheless, Brandon Sanderson's The Way of Kings, Book One of The Stormlight Archive, delivers such an impressive story that it's impossible to resist. The hardcover spans over one thousand pages, but it's populated with beautiful internal artwork that goes right along with the story, not to mention the mesmerizing cover art. TWoK is difficult to summarize succinctly. Roshar is a land wracked and ravaged by storms. These storms are ferocious and lethal, with winds and rain strong enough that to be caught out in them is to die. In part, these storms have shaped the geography, ecology, and sociology of the ten countries that make up Roshar. Some animals have developed rock-shells for protection. In some lands, the grass even recedes. The creatures and places of Roshar are as much a story as the main characters. It's obvious Sanderson has labored and put thought into his grand epic, and the thrill of experiencing these unusual settings is absolutely delightful. But more than this, tWoK is a tight focused tale centering on a trio of characters. Kaladin, this novel's major POV character, has wanted to fight in the war on the Shattered Plains for years, and he's finally found himself there, though as a branded member of a bridge crew. Bridgemen are lower than slaves, especially the bridgemen of Sadeas' warcamp. To be a bridgeman is to have a death sentence. Dalinar Kholin, brother to the murdered king that started the war and uncle to the reigning king, is a man of honor and does thing the Old Ways. He will not let himself get entangled in the squabble of politics and quests for power, much to the chagrin of the other generals, and insists on doing things Right. But when Dalinar begins having vicious dreams during the highstorms, rumors circulate the warcamps that the Blackthorn is losing his mind. And Dalinar can't help but wonder the same. The third major player is Shallan, a girl who's family is plunged into impossible debt after the patriarch dies. Shallan decides to seek out Jasnah, the king's heretic sister, and steal her Soulcaster. She'll use the money to free her family, and possibly survive the quarreling houses. But the more Shallan learns about Jasnah, the more she begins to question her motives. These three characters are the major players of tWoK, but they are by far not the only ones. Sanderson has crafted a dramatis personae filled with memorable characters, from the enigmatic Szeth-son-son-Vallano, a Truthless Shin and an angst-driven assassin, to the equally enigmatic Wit, who I'll keep silent about, to Adolin, Dalinar's up-and-coming heir apparent and established warrior on the Plains. Each person has a wealth of information and life in them, and I eagerly look forward to seeing them all develop over the course of the series. Brandon Sanderson is widely known for his unique magic systems, and tWoK does not fail here. In fact, if you've read any other Sanderson, you'll certainly notice some similarities between the magic systems, but also some very original concepts, too. As this is Book One, there was a lot introduced, but also a lot of mystery left behind the magics waiting to be revealed. I could go on and on about this book, and I really haven't scratched the surface. The Way of Kings is a solid first novel for a series. It wraps up a lot of things, not leaving too many cliff hangers, but not enough to lull the excitement, either. The stories about these characters--all of them, not just the three primaries--are amazing. Sanderson knows how to turn a phrase, as well as keep the reader turning pages, and the plot never dies down during this massive read. If you want a completely different epic fantasy, one that leaves you eager for the next volume and filled with a sense of wonder and awe, then I heartily recommend The Way of Kings. I'm invested for the duration of the series, and I cannot wait to see where Sanderson takes us.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
1
| Aug 2011
| Aug 30, 2011
|
Jun 14, 2010
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 1401223826
| 9781401223823
| 3.95
| 855
| Jun 02, 2009
| Jun 02, 2009
|
Bayou is a dark bit of graphica, filled with racism, murder, kidnapping, golliwogs, faeries, and all other sorts of magic from the bayou region. And i...more
Bayou is a dark bit of graphica, filled with racism, murder, kidnapping, golliwogs, faeries, and all other sorts of magic from the bayou region. And it's here that Jeremy Love takes us away to, back to a time when folktales and monsters lived as real as anything else. Lee Wagstaff--prepubescent, imaginative, strong--is the daughter of a black sharecropper. Set in a time and place where racism is alive and flourishing, the graphic novel is unflinching when dealing with life. We see firsthand the abuse the characters go through, from the hanged remains of a young black boy to the beating of a young white Lily by her megalomaniacal mother. As it happens, Lily and Lee are friends, even though neither of their parents are too keen on the idea. And as it happens, Lily's loyalty is tested when she "loses" her locket to the bayou. Lily tells her mother that Lee stole it, but soon the two girls are back to the bayou, looking for the necklace. And this time the bayou has a more sinister plan. This event sets off the rest of the book, where we watch Lee's desperate quest to retrieve her kidnapped friend and save her doomed father. The trip is surreal and exciting, and it's easy to sympathize with Lee as she journeys deeper and deeper into the bayou. Bayou Vol. 1 obviously does not contain a full story, as it's an ongoing series. Still, the story is provocative and easily leaves the Reader wanting some resolution. If you've an interest in folklore, America's dark history, or want something different, then definitely check out Love's Bayou.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
1
| Nov 09, 2011
| Nov 09, 2011
|
Aug 15, 2011
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 1560978554
| 9781560978558
| 3.09
| 163
| Jul 02, 2007
| Jul 02, 2007
|
House, by Josh Simmons, is a silent graphic novel. From the back cover, Josh Simmons' first original graphic novel is a haunting, entirely wordless st...more House, by Josh Simmons, is a silent graphic novel. From the back cover, Josh Simmons' first original graphic novel is a haunting, entirely wordless story about a group of teenagers who discover a mysterious, abandoned mansion in the the forest. Their curiosity draws them inside, where both adventure and unexpected tragedy await. I was intrigued by the silent graphic novel concept, plus the book was short and beautifully illustrated, so I checked it out from the library. Because there are no words, much of the plot is left up to the reader, using the illustrated panels as guidance. Dialogue is inferred from facial expressions and body language. Unless explicitly drawn, I took it upon myself to have the freedom to do anything I wanted. The story has a simple premise, and it works wonderful with the medium used. Simmons' use of black and white pen drawings is moody and reminiscent of Edward Gorey. It captures the abandoned feel of the house perfectly. The color balance subtly shifts from start to close, adding a thick atmosphere to the bleak tale. And that's pretty much it. The book is very short and some of the illustrations are confusing (I had to study a few panels to understand what happened), but for the most part, House is an engrossing tale. Granted, because of the open-plot, there are many questions unanswered by the conclusion. Prominently, who the heck is the guy on the cover? I have my theories and ideas, but in the end, they don't really matter. If you're looking for an eye-opening, brilliant graphic novel, House isn't it. But if you're wanting an adventure, thick with claustrophobia and tragedy, and some beautiful artwork, check this book out. *It's interesting to note that I dreaded turning the pages as I progressed through the book. Suffice it to say, again, this book is a tragedy and will leave you feeling uneasy by its conclusion. (less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
1
| not set
| May 03, 2011
|
May 04, 2011
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 0316044989
| 9780316044981
| 4.18
| 7,676
| 2011
| Feb 07, 2011
|
What is a hero? This is the central question driving Joe Abercrombie's latest novel, The Heroes, and coming from such a dark & gritty writer, wher...more
What is a hero? This is the central question driving Joe Abercrombie's latest novel, The Heroes, and coming from such a dark & gritty writer, where convolution and betrayal are paramount, it's a darned good question. The North, "united" under Black Dow's banner, and the Union forces, under the direction of Marshall Kroy, have convened on a small plot of land to wage war. The focus point is a large hill spotted with ancient stones appropriately called The Heroes, named after long dead legends of the North. War is the opportune time to discover heroics, but the question is from whom will they come? The Heroes is filled with various POV characters. We have Crunden Craw, an aged Named Man who's spent his life as a straight-edge and is known for doing the "right" thing, whatever that's supposed to mean. Prince Calder, the youngest son of the recently murdered King of the North, is a notorious coward and an even more notorious schemer, and it's only a matter of time before he tries to take Skarling's Chair from Black Dow. There's also Beck, a young lad just old enough to take a weapon and enlist, with visions of glory and earning a name for himself. As for the Union soldiers, we have the disgraced Bremer dan Gorst, dispatched to observe the war for the King, though the brute of a man wants nothing more than to earn back his former rank and glory. There's Corporal Tunny, famed for his lackluster life as a soldier and his uncanny ability to turn profit, and who has little desire to rise above his self-interests. Finally there's Finree dan Brock, the only female POV, and the daughter of Marshall Kroy. Finree is manipulative and ambitious, but her marriage to a treacherous noble's son currently stands in her way. Abercrombie is known for presenting flawed characters with a few good traits in them, and he keeps this up with The Heroes. I personally found the Northmen much more interesting, especially Craw and Calder. It's as hard for the reader to pick a side as it is for those involved in the affair, and I'm not sure which side I wanted to win the battle. This, again, is a very Abercrombian thing to do. Present the sides and muddy them all grey. Ambiguity runs amok here. The Heroes is Abercrombie's fifth novel, and while it's not necessary to have read the previous works, I think you'd be missing out on some behind-the-scenes things that are likely important to the world of The First Law. Still yet, one could easily enjoy this book for what it is, and that's a fierce battle waged over the course of three days. This condensed timeline works great for Abercrombie, I think, because the sprawling tale that was Best Served Cold seemed to struggle under too much time. This book was hilarious and dark, violent and oddly beautiful, thought-provoking and entertaining. It's Abercrombie at his finest, and yet I didn't enjoy it as much as The First Law. Part of the problem was that I just didn't care that much about the Union troops. Gorst was annoying, Finree disappointing, and Tunny just didn't have enough time for him. On the other hand, I really enjoyed the North parts, especially whenever the Bloody Nine's name popped up.* Even Shivers, who I grew to dislike over the course of Best Served Cold, was fascinating here. Really the only time I enjoyed the Union pieces were when Bayaz was involved, and this only because it left me wanting to know more about what was going on between the First of the Magi and Ishri. Abercrombie is at the top of his game with The Heroes. The book is fluid and well written. The action scenes are exciting. The implications of the book's thesis question are questionable throughout. It's a standalone novel that leaves me curious to see what's going to happen in Abercrombie's next book. (I believe he mentioned something with a "Western" flair on his blog. Interesting.) If you've never read Joe Abercrombie, I'd recommend starting with The Blade Itself, but you could just as easily pick this one up. It's a bloody book, but you wouldn't read a book about war and not expect otherwise. Especially not from someone as twisted and dark as Abercrombie. Highly enjoyable. *How I miss Logen Ninefingers.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
1
| Jun 22, 2011
| Jul 16, 2011
|
Aug 10, 2010
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 0385342306
| 9780385342308
| 3.78
| 49,428
| Apr 28, 2009
| Apr 28, 2009
|
Flavia de Luce is a complex little girl. Uncannily bright for an eleven year old, I daresay to the point where one must suspend disbelief, even, Flavi...more
Flavia de Luce is a complex little girl. Uncannily bright for an eleven year old, I daresay to the point where one must suspend disbelief, even, Flavia spends her days "playing" in her laboratory, creating terrible concoctions for her terrorizing older sisters, Ophelia and Daphne. The young chemist has a particular fondness for poisons, and when a dead body turns up in the cucumber patch of Buckshaw, Flavia decides to get to the bottom of the mystery. What follows is a delightful adventure with a protagonist that's hard to forget. Flavia is both endearing for her strong will and pitiable for her too-advanced mind. She's sweet (usually when it's to her advantage), witty, well-read, far too clever, and hilarious. Her environs--1950s England--are masterfully detailed and the reader cannot help but feel whisked away. Alan Bradley's Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie is well outside my normal genres. A mystery novel with various mysteries throughout, I heartily enjoyed puzzling through the book with Flavia. The tale wasn't too complex, and everything clearly made sense by the end. There were twists and turns a-plenty, and I can imagine nearly every reader would enjoy the plot & pacing. A large part of the joy from this read is the fact that Bradley's prose is beautiful. The voice of the narrator is spot-on (as much as I can imagine the mind of an eleven year old girl), and from the start I easily slipped inside Flavia's head. Bradley's cast of characters is well suited to the story (if not a touch cliched), and I really enjoyed Flavia's sisters. Their antagonism of poor Flavia (and vice versa) was a highlight of the read. I listened to the audio version of this book, as read by Jayne Entwistle, and this was possibly one of the best audio books I've ever read. The voice acting was vastly superior to many audio books, and Entwistle sounds exactly like a bratty little 11 year old would. Of course, the British-ness also makes this a fun listen-to, but it's definitely the narrator that shines. In fact, I enjoyed her reading so much that I played a bit of it for my wife, just so she could hear how great it was. Two final notes, just in case you're not convinced of reading the book yet. One, it's quite funny. Flavia has a way with words that had me cracking up regularly. Two, Carl's review at Stainless Steel Dropping's and L's at Omphaloskepsis paint a much better review than I do, and just read their praise to see what I'm talking about. If you're looking for a good mystery (I say good, but alas, with little experience with the genre I guess), Alan Bradley's Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie will definitely satisfy your appetite. It's one of those books that puts a smile on your face and keeps it there after you're finished. I easily recommend to anyone, but especially people with a fondness for old Britain, young & clever heroines, stamp collectors, and mystery enthusiasts. (less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
1
| Jul 11, 2011
| Jul 13, 2011
|
Nov 23, 2010
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 0590431978
| 9780590431972
| 3.98
| 15,672
| 1981
| Oct 1989
|
Perhaps the reason I've an affinity for dark & twisted art lies with a trio of books I read as a child. Alvin Schwartz is most known for his colle...more
Perhaps the reason I've an affinity for dark & twisted art lies with a trio of books I read as a child. Alvin Schwartz is most known for his collection of folktales marketed towards children. His most famous books--Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill Your Bones--were some of my most favorite reads as a lad, and when I recently happened upon my personal copy of SS3, I couldn't help but dive in. I went to the library and checked out the first two volumes (not sure why I only have the third?), then promptly drove home and leafed through the pages. It's impossible to continue without acknowledging Stephen Gammell's defining artwork. In fact, I'm going out on a limb and saying that it's Gammell's work that makes this collection so cherished (and challenged*, for that matter). I love the loose, spindly, flowy lines that add an ethereal feel to each work. Everything has the tone of something horrific waiting to be loosed upon your mind. I would love to see Gammell do some Lovecraftian illustrations. Yes, it is Gammell's work that shines in these books, and they've no doubt affected my subconscious. Allow me to wax on here. The illustrations are grotesque. Magnetic, whereby they repulse the reader, but attract as well. I feel as if Gammell has somehow captured the essence of a nightmare (or some hell) and then rendered it on us, and, in particular, young minds. Frankly I'm surprised these books are read by kids, as I can easily see them getting utterly creeped out and running for Mommy in the dead hours after midnight. Moreover, as I was rocking Avonlea to sleep the other night, I was reading the books and left them beside her crib after she went to sleep. Keisha brought them to me later as I was brushing my teeth and said, "You can't leave those in there. If I look over there and see 'em in the middle of the night I'd be freaked out." I guess I would, too. I have this fleeting fear whenever I wake up during the night. With the thick shadows and eerie softglow lights, coupled with the fact that I'm not wearing my spectacles, everything is blurred and skewed. My mind deceives me. My eyes tell untruths and distortions. I see monsters and things unknown in the darkness, sinister and evil, things that would fit perfectly alongside these horrors Gammell's illustrated. Still, there is more to these books than just the art. Schwartz writes in an easy to understand form, especially for children. To my understanding, the intention is for these things to be read aloud, and working with that assumption, these stories all do well. However, if one looks too closely as the sentences, well, one gets disappointed in the simplicity. It's anticlimactic at times, coming across as uninspired and flat out boring. This is not prevalent, nor is it epidemic, but the way these stories are told is very weak when compared with other folktales. (This seems fickle, as I'm comparing a children's book to adult, scholarly things, but what can I say?) Nevertheless, I did feel like Schwartz dropped the ball several times throughout these three books, but if you're reading them aloud, it's not too bad. If we look at the folktales and urban legends themselves, then these three books are a treasure chest of them. Each tale spans from 1-3 pages (most falling at just over a page) in length, and because of that, there are a multitude of stories. Many are familiar things, things we all know, things our grandparents swear are true. But there are more than enough unfamiliar ones, too. And to me, digesting a "new" folktale, especially one that's been around for years, is like cream cheese icing on a carrot cake. Delicious. I appreciate Schwartz listing a bibliography at the end of each book, as it's nice to be able to dig deeper (or see different tellings) for a story. When things are from oral tradition, Schwartz lists people involved, too, or areas he collected from. I also like how there are "alternate endings" or miscellany for the stories listed. These three books are delightful little reads. There's no doubt that they're heavily responsible for my taking to folktales, as I read these books for the first time in elementary school, but they're also probably responsible for my weakness for dark art. I'm glad to have stumbled on my copy of SS3 the other day, and even more glad to find the library's copies were in the stacks and not checked out. Halloween is the perfect time to read these books, and the RIP challenge just makes it more pleasant. If you've never read the stories Schwartz tells, then you're missing out. But even more, if you've not had your heart stopped by Stephen Gammell's horrid illustrations, you're really missing out. I strongly recommend remedying this as soon as humanly possible. ----- *Not only was this series the most challenged during the 1990s, it was also the 7th most challenged between 2000-2009. I'm assuming (less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
1
| not set
| Sep 29, 2011
|
Sep 30, 2011
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 0060515228
| 9780060515225
| 4.00
| 23,405
| 2006
| Sep 26, 2006
|
Fragile Things is an entertaining collection of stories & thoughts from master story teller Neil Gaiman. There are a few pieces that fell flat for...more
Fragile Things is an entertaining collection of stories & thoughts from master story teller Neil Gaiman. There are a few pieces that fell flat for me, a few I just didn't get, but the majority were well worth the read. I've created mini/micro-reviews of each piece of this collection. For the most part, I listened to the audio book, which was narrated by Gaiman himself, making it an altogether pleasing experience. I read a few (from the book that sits on my shelf), but I found I preferred hearing the author's voice. I've boldfaced the stories that were my favorites from this collection. I've also included links for many of these that are available to read legally (mostly) for free online. If you've never read any Gaiman, this is a great collection to pick up and get an idea for the man's wonderful way with words. Introduction: Very interesting and informative just seeing how many of these stories have won awards. A Study in Emerald : This is a story of Sherlock Holmes meets something from Lovecraftian mythology. It was remarkably well done and fun to read a Gaiman take at this. (Read the story stylized as a newspaper piece from Gaiman's website here [PDF warning].) The Fairy Reel: A poem that has to be read aloud and more than once. It flows so beautifully. I particularly love the lines "She'd pluck wild eagles from the air/ and nail me to a lightning tree." This poem is great when read by Gaiman himself, too. (Read here.) October in the Chair : A frame story, beginning with the months of the year sitting around a campfire and telling stories to each other. The main event, being told by October, is a tale of a young boy named the Runt and his running away from home. It's quite bittersweet. Melancholic, I'd say. The ending leaves plenty of room for thinking. Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Secret House of the Night of Dread Desire: Beautifully written, but somewhat confusing. Great story. Flints of Memory Lane: Odd. Is it a true memory of Gaiman, or a made-up memoir? Regardless, it's nice to read. Closing Time: Another odd memory of Gaiman about a pub he used to frequent and an aspiring, alcoholic playwright that happened to own the pub. There are some collections of urban legends and folktales told between some of the characters. A "true" ghost story is finally told, of childhood, adolescence, and a haunted house. Very interesting. Going wodwo: Very short. Some beautiful lines, but otherwise not memorable. Bitter Grounds : A fascinating journey of a man who one day up and leaves his normal life and travels to New Orleans, on the way encountering some odd and interesting characters. I really enjoyed this story. Slightly confusing, slightly vulgar, but a very catchy story. (Available from Tor.com here.) Other People : This is the second tale I read from this book, and it sucked me in. I thoroughly enjoyed this short, dark piece. Somewhat freaky, but a great tale. (Read here.) Keepsakes and Treasures: A man's disturbing tale of revenge, or a coming-of-age story of a killer. Very dark, very well written and a great grasp of character. "Takes all sorts to make a world, [as] I say." This piece had some heavy vulgarity and some rather nasty bits, but a quite interesting premise that kept me curious throughout it all. Feels quite noir styled. It's also probably related to American Gods and the novella included at the end of Fragile Things, "Monarch of the Glen." Good Boys Deserve Favors: Boring. Not memorable. Something about a musical instrument... The Facts in the Case of the Departure of Miss Finch: A bizarre story about a group of friends that go to a circus and odd things happen. Seems very Bradbury-esque. The Problem of Susan: Fascinating, eloquent, and great for fans of Narnia and fairy & folk tales. Certainly provocative and one rather disturbing part (ie, sex scene between Aslan & the White Queen). Definitely not for children. Instructions: An interesting set of instructions that lead to some fantastical place, possibly to a young girl embarking on a Alice-like journey. It's a fairy tale, though it's mode of presentation is unique. If a reader were trapped within the pages of a fairy tale, this piece would come in handy. (Available to read here.) How Do You Think It Feels?: An illicit affair story between the narrator and a woman named Becky. Quite, um, graphic toward the end. Definitely graphic and very adult. The end is very bleak and dark. My Life : This is a hilarious poem about a man who's telling stories from his life. They're absurd, bizarre, ridiculous. Hysterical stuff, and very short. I highly recommend this read, if only for the humor of Gaiman's crazy story. Fifteen Painted Cards from a Vampire Tarot: A collection of quasi-related flash pieces of fiction, all dealing with vampires and how people see them. This was an interesting little story that makes you think about vampires, and quite good. Feeders and Eaters : This is a true story... pretty much. A man has fallen on hard times and tells his story at a bar, recalling an unsettling account involving an eerie old lady. It leaves you thinking when it's over something akin to Oh My.... "It's astonishing the things that people don't eat. All the things around them that people could eat, if only they knew it." This tale reminds me somewhat of Robby Boyle's horrifying opener "Blood" to the Stories anthology, which happens to be edited by Gaiman and Al Sarrantonio. This story originated from a nightmare Gaiman had in his twenties. Diseasemaker's Croup: A description of what the disease is, Diseasemaker's Croup. I can just picture an old poisoner rambling this off. In the End: A somewhat retelling of the Fall of Man (Genesis 4). It reads almost as if it were from the bible. Almost... Goliath: A story set within the universe of The Matrix. It's about a very tall man and his encounter with the Matrix, primarily dealing with deja vu and other things that fit nicely in the Wachowski's universe. If one had no knowledge of the Matrix, this story could lose some of its meaning and instead might read like a drugged-out science fiction piece. Pages from a Journal Found in a Shoebox Left in a Greyhound Bus Somewhere Between ulsa, Oklahoma, and Louisville, Kentucky: A "love" story/journal thing. Meh. How to Talk to Girls at Parties : The story of Enn & Vic and their adventure to a party, where Enn struggles to talk to the opposite sex. As it turns out, girls are rather hard to talk to, especially when they learn that the girls are foreign. This piece was funny, quirky, and quite enjoyable. (Available as both audio and text here.) The Day the Saucers Came : A humorous tale of Armageddon, mixing many end-of-the-world scenarios. Extremely short, and very funny. (Highly recommend to read this very short poem. It's reprinted here, though probably without permission. Still, check it, and chuckle as I did. Or, listen to Neil read it here.) Sunbird : Reminds me slightly of Gaiman's Graveyard Book and the ghouls of the grave how they describe food. A story of Epicureans and their quest for the legendary Suntown Sunbird. Just a taste is what they're after. This story was rather delightful and oddly captivating. I was very curious as to how this would end, and what a great ending it was. Inventing Aladdin: A story of Scheherazade telling the tale of Aladdin, and other tales from 1001 Nights. It's an origin story of the classic Arabian Nights and how they came to be. The Monarch of the Glen: A novella of Gaiman's highly enjoyable and lauded American Gods, this story continues Shadow's journey. He's in Scotland, where he gets a job to work as security for a party at a very old estate. It fits nicely in the mythos of American Gods, and reads like a (lengthy) deleted scene. Enjoyable, true, but a bit anticlimactic in one sense, albeit beautifully so.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
1
| Nov 23, 2010
| Jun 07, 2011
|
Nov 23, 2010
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 1601423101
| 9781601423108
| 4.17
| 10,806
| Mar 1986
| Jan 18, 2011
|
John Piper's Desiring God is one of the most influential books in Christian non-fiction. First released in 1986, Piper burst into the scene with his r...more
John Piper's Desiring God is one of the most influential books in Christian non-fiction. First released in 1986, Piper burst into the scene with his radical idea of Christian Hedonism, a term specifically chosen. Now, twenty-five years later, Piper's fourth edition of Desiring God has found its way into my hands for review. I already owned the 3rd edition, though I had not progressed past Chapter One of the book. This time around, I made my way through Piper's elegant writing and beautiful theology. Desiring God is a collection of ten essays, dealing with a different element in Christian lifestyle. Piper devotes a chapter each to happiness, conversion, worship, love, scripture, prayer, money, marriage, missions, and suffering. He also includes a thorough appendix and study guide in the back of the book to assist the reader. As Piper says in the Introduction, the purpose of Desiring God is to help the reader understand how Christian Hedonism should not only be pursued, but that its pursuit is biblical and ultimately satisfying to God. Piper turns the Westminster Shorter Catechism on its head by substituting the word by in place of and, yielding the thesis for Desiring God: The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever. Much of Desiring God deconstructs modern thinking with clear biblical examples. Truly, Piper's desire to share his joy is not exhaustive, though it is rather thorough. There were times when I was scratching my head after re-reading a paragraph three times and still confused. Other times I was shaking my head and silently amen-ing. And more, the evidence as proposed by Piper does in fact seem biblical and liberating. This book has not redefined my views as much as Kevin DeYoung's powerful Just Do Something did, but still, there is wisdom to be found in the pages. I can imagine a world filled with Christian Hedonists, running around and acting like Christians ought. I daresay that if more Christians acted like they ought--like the bible prescribes--and if more Christians had joy in their lives then we would have more people coming to God. To that end, Desiring God teaches a vital message. A time or two it felt like Piper's firm belief in TULIP* (and his being a 5-point Calvinist, as much as I hate to use labels) was shining through his writing. It wasn't a pounding over the head as some are wont to do, and I do not fault Piper for letting his belief's influence his writing, though some surely do. As such, I care not one jot for Calvinism and Arminianism and I find this endless debate tiring and detrimental to the gospel Jesus preached. Thankfully this has very little to do with Piper's book. In the end, Desiring God is an excellent book that has affected many, myself included. It would be a great book for a Sunday School class to discuss, or a discipleship group to meditate on. It's not an easy read, and it definitely requires a critical mind (and possibly a dictionary), but its teachings are worth the effort. Anything that pursues glorifying God is worth the effort, and if you're looking for some savvy non-fiction Christian thought, this book is perfect for you. Or, conversely, if you're curious about Christian Hedonism and its tenets, I can easily recommend John Piper's Desiring God . -------------------- Piper explains at the end of the book how he receives no royalties from Desiring God and that any money made from it goes to a fund to further the gospel by providing various resources for free. A number is listed to contact Desiring God Ministries for free resources, including this book, as well as many others. Also, Desiring God can be read for free on the DGM website, or also downloaded as a pdf and/or ebook. -------------------- *If you are not aware of this centuries old debate, then I don't recommend you educate yourself about it. It's ultimately disheartening and has caused way too much conflict within the world of Christianity. FTC Thingy: The 25th Anniversary Edition of Desiring God was provided to me for free by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I am not required to endorse the book, and my doing so was of my own volition. There was no hypnosis.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
1
| Apr 30, 2011
| Jul 26, 2011
|
Jul 22, 2009
| Paperback
|
Loading...
