I really enjoyed this classic young readers story about 12-year old Jonas, who is selected to be the Receiver of Memory in a community where roles are...moreI really enjoyed this classic young readers story about 12-year old Jonas, who is selected to be the Receiver of Memory in a community where roles are assigned and everything in life is orderly, predictable, same, and perfect. Or so the community believes. As Jonas receives memories of generations, pain and pleasure, warmth and cold, even color, he learns about and makes a life changing decision. Unfortunately, the ending is unclear and left to interpretation, the only reason I didn't give this story 5 stars.(less)
The premise of Dinner with a Perfect Stranger sounded interesting enough. A man, Nick Cominsky who is consumed by work and the demands of life, is inv...moreThe premise of Dinner with a Perfect Stranger sounded interesting enough. A man, Nick Cominsky who is consumed by work and the demands of life, is invited to and has dinner with Jesus. Initially, Nick believes it to be a prank. But their conversation touches on everything from faith, religion, punishment of sin, and more, and leaves Nick a changed man.
Dinner with a Perfect Stranger is a very quick and easy, sometimes thought-provoking read. It was relatively basic and not terribly deep, and some of what was presented I do not completely agree with. In fact I almost quit reading when on page 52, Jesus said "...God has to punish sin, because if he doesn't, he lets all creation be sabotaged." But in the end, I am glad I read on.(less)
Honestly, I couldn't remember if I had read To Kill a Mockingbird when I was younger or not. Having just finished now, I know that I clearly had not p...moreHonestly, I couldn't remember if I had read To Kill a Mockingbird when I was younger or not. Having just finished now, I know that I clearly had not previously read this book.
The small fault I found with To Kill a Mockingbird is that it is a bit slow to start. There were pages upon pages of story that occurs before the real story starts for me - and that is when the lawyer, Atticus, is called upon to defend the black man charged with raping a white girl. But then, the story comes alive!
What I enjoyed most were the true to life characters and strong emotions, it's portrayal of the racial prejudices in the deep south, and the overall message that most people, if you just take the time to know them, are good.
What can I say? This book had it all. Well developed and true-to-life characters, vivid description, and a captivating coming of age story. I highly r...moreWhat can I say? This book had it all. Well developed and true-to-life characters, vivid description, and a captivating coming of age story. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in good writing.(less)
Beautifully set in Nantucket, this story encompasses the lives and lusts of four best friend couples. But when Greg and Tess MacAvoy die in a boating ...moreBeautifully set in Nantucket, this story encompasses the lives and lusts of four best friend couples. But when Greg and Tess MacAvoy die in a boating accident on their wedding anniversary, the three remaining couples have to sort through their emotions and relationships as they try to determine what happened on that boat.
Best friend characters, but perhaps too much alike as I kept losing track of who was married to whom and who was in love with whom, which one had the farm, who was the real estate tycoon, etc. About the only character that felt truly unique to me was the Chief. I kept finding myself flipping back to figure out who each character was when the point of view shifted in the story. The story itself had some interesting twists and turns, making it an enjoyable enough read.(less)
Son of a Dog is supposedly a work of fiction based largely on real-life events, but it reads very much more like a memoir or slice of life through a s...moreSon of a Dog is supposedly a work of fiction based largely on real-life events, but it reads very much more like a memoir or slice of life through a series of humorous, and sometimes outrageous, stories about a woman and her rescued Greyhound dog. While reading the book, I couldn't help myself but wonder what had actually happened to the author, and what had not.
Unfortunately, I did not feel a connection with the characters in the book, and so it was hard for me to stay fully engaged. Some of the tales in the book were so ludicrous that it was hard to imagine they were anything but true, and I kept questioning what was fiction and what was not.
An easy and quick read, Son of a Dog is a recounting of some quirky happenings between a dog and his owner.
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What originally appealed to me about Green by Ted Dekker was that this book could be read either first or last in its series. Called the Circle Series...moreWhat originally appealed to me about Green by Ted Dekker was that this book could be read either first or last in its series. Called the Circle Series, Green is both the beginning and the end; it is Book Zero.
Green is a Christian fantasy story, set in both present day 21st century and 2000 years into the future, a time when good and evil manifests itself in the physical. Thomas Hunter is leader of The Circle, a peace loving people who worship Elyon and faithfully await his return. However, dissent and impatience stirs in The Circle, and there are those who wish to put peace aside, take up their swords, and defeat the evil Horde. Thomas’ own son, Samuel, leads these rebels into a worldwide calamity.
Ted Dekker paints a world where the imagery is vivid, both the beauty and color of good, and the dark, horrific detail of evil. Green is a fast-paced, exciting read, only it left me wanting more. I especially wanted to know more about the characters and their motivations, and as such, wonder if it isn’t best read as the final book in the series.
This was my first Ted Dekker book, but it won’t be my last. I look forward to reading the other books of this series.
Initially confusing, this novel has multiple characters that at first seem disassociated, but later are pulled together and explained through multiple...moreInitially confusing, this novel has multiple characters that at first seem disassociated, but later are pulled together and explained through multiple identities. Perhaps because of the multiple identities, I never felt as though I got to know any of the characters well. They felt superficial.
The storyline was compelling however, and I did find myself wanting to read more to understand who these people were and how they were all connected. Heath Sommer opens the book with an interesting prologue and first chapter that make the reader instantly begin searching for answers.
The Manufactured Identity was provided to me complimentary in exchange for a book review; however I have never met the author who I understand has a 2nd and 3rd book forthcoming. My thanks for the opportunity to read The Manufactured Identity.(less)
Groundswell is a great book to help people understand the revolutionary social technology changes that are occurring, why they are happening, and how ...moreGroundswell is a great book to help people understand the revolutionary social technology changes that are occurring, why they are happening, and how to tap into it and transform your business. It’s a very interesting read with good information, much of it familiar though, particularly for those already actively involved in social media.
The authors explain that people utilize social media to connect, collaborate, react, organize, and accelerate consumption. They give numerous examples of tools for each of these categories, and explain which of the five primary objectives these tools help companies meet. For example, blogs are effective tools for talking and getting feedback, while ratings, reviews, and online communities help energize the groundswell. In addition, people engage more or less with social media, and their involvement will range from completely inactive to active creators, with several levels of involvement in between.
Thus, planning is a large part of success. The idea is to look at the objectives first, especially since technology constantly evolves, and select appropriate tools that will develop the relationships to get there. The authors introduce a four part planning process that consists of people, objectives, strategy and technology.
Concrete examples and case studies provide additional substance and make the information easily digestible, enabling you to create actionable steps to move your company into the groundswell. I recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about social media and the steps to take to get involved.
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**spoiler alert** Warning – this review contains spoilers.
This is the story of a U.S. Air Force Pararescue Jumper, Joel Montgomery, coming...more**spoiler alert** Warning – this review contains spoilers.
This is the story of a U.S. Air Force Pararescue Jumper, Joel Montgomery, coming to grips with his broken past and helping a sick child get his most desired wish – that of a family.
While this Christian fiction story is heartwarming, it is also predictable. Joel fulfills the wish of a child with cancer by parachuting into the kid’s schoolyard, and then proceeds to fall for his beautiful teacher, Amber Stanton, who is trying to adopt the sick child. Joel and Amber each must overcome issues from their past before they can truly move forward.
This debut novel was an easy read with a happily-ever-after ending, but I prefer more flaws that provide depth and dimension to characters. Certainly they were Christians, but Joel and Amber seemed too perfect to feel real. Everyone was nice, polite, prim and proper, and that part felt contrived.
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Jodi Picoult is an author that writes complex characters and isn’t afraid to tackle difficult subjects. She has an ability to get into the heads of he...moreJodi Picoult is an author that writes complex characters and isn’t afraid to tackle difficult subjects. She has an ability to get into the heads of her characters and make them come alive. And so it is also with My Sister’s Keeper.
My Sister’s Keeper is the story of a family in turmoil. From her birth on, Anna spends time in and out of hospitals as a donor for her sister Kate, who has leukemia. In fact, Anna’s whole existence resulted from preimplantation genetic diagnosis because her parents sought a donor match to treat Kate’s medical condition, and this role became Anna’s life within minutes of her birth.
The story starts when Anna is thirteen and seeks medical emancipation from her parents. In the process of discovering who she is and her role in life, Anna makes decisions that dramatically affect her family. My Sister’s Keeper explores family dynamics, motivations, emotions, and morality, and it does not disappoint.
I loved this book and was pulled in at it’s opening sentence, “When I was little, the great mystery to me wasn’t how babies were made, but why.” It is a novel that actually brought me to tears, so real the emotions.
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If you adore dogs and enjoy a light easy read, then this book is for you. A Cup of Comfort for Dog Lovers II is a collection of short stories and essa...moreIf you adore dogs and enjoy a light easy read, then this book is for you. A Cup of Comfort for Dog Lovers II is a collection of short stories and essays that celebrate man's best friend, the dog. From heroic acts to plain silliness, these stories reflect the devotion we have for our four-legged friends and their unwavering love for us.
This is a heartfelt collection of fifty stories, well written by various authors, and edited by Colleen Sell. Some of the stories are serious, even sentimental, and others humorous, but they all share the magical ingredient of a dog’s devotion. This is a truly enjoyable collection of short stories.
While all the stories were good, a special acknowledgment goes to Susan H. Miller for her story, The Dachshund That (Almost) Conquered the World. Susan is a friend and fellow member of the Humble Fiction Café writers group. Her writing style and stories are an inspiration and joy to read.
Excellent – a very quick and enjoyable read. Death is really two books in one. First is Jaclyn's Ghost, which I had read pre-publication, loved, and b...moreExcellent – a very quick and enjoyable read. Death is really two books in one. First is Jaclyn's Ghost, which I had read pre-publication, loved, and blogged about it here. This is the story about fashion model Jaclyn Jade, who has to find the reason she doesn't make it into Heaven after her untimely and murderous death. She enlists the help of a psychic that can hear ghosts, as well as a mysterious and intriguing ghost named Logan. An exciting adventure ensues and one that is sure to captivate readers – it did me!
The second story is Passage to Mesentia. Here, Dorlana Vann surprises the reader with twists and turns that test Wade and Bella's relationship as they search for answers to the murder of Bella's archeological parents. A mysterious and surreal stranger named Ben solicits their help in finding an ancient Egyptian artifact believed to be the reason behind the murder, all the while pulling in Bella with his romantic and tragic past.
Dorlana Vann is a newly published author, fellow member of the Humble Fiction Café writers group, and a friend. Read the book if you get a chance, and watch for more of her novels in the future. (less)
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