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  <name><![CDATA[James]]></name>
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        <updates type="array">
            <update type="review">
        
  
  
  
    
    	<title>
    		<![CDATA[James added 'Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae']]>
    	</title>
  	  	<link>http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/57506472</link>
  	
    	<description>
    		<![CDATA[
    			James gave <img alt="4 of 5 stars" class="star" height="15" src="http://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/stars/red_star_4_of_5.gif?1260929573" title="4 of 5 stars" width="75" /> to:	<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1305.Gates_of_Fire_An_Epic_Novel_of_the_Battle_of_Thermopylae" class="bookTitle">Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae (Paperback)</a>
    			<span class="by">by</span>
    			<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/867.Steven_Pressfield" class="authorName">Steven Pressfield</a>
    			<br/>
    			



          
    			  Gates Of Fire was a great book by Steven Pressfiled about the few Spartans that fought off a million Persians in the battle of Thermopylae in ancient Greece. What I really liked about this book was how vividly Pressfiled described the battle sequences throught the novel and how he seemed to be able to bring them to life right out of the pages. The main reason I was atrracted to this book was after watching and loving the movie 300 I wanted to explore the life of Greece,Spartans, and the legendary battle of Thermoplyae. Yes, some of it is pretty gory and bloody but it almost needs to be if it is to seem truly realistic. The book was a little slow at first but it soon picks up pace and flows well all the way to the end (which was spectacular). Any fans of the film 300 or war buffs would love the book but it's definatly not for everyone. The book is similar to the movie 300 but different in how the Persians are portrayed. In 300 they are seen in quite a negative point of view, but in Gates Of Fire they are simply an enemy or a threat that must be removed. After reading the book it encouraged me to go out and learn more about the battle of Thermopylae and the Spartans that fought it. I went online and read some various articles about it and learned quite a bit. While I was researching it I found that the book was quite accurate to the actual events which made me appreciate it even more knowing that it was true and acurate to the real life event. One thing about the book that I disliked was that I wish the author had allowed the readers to get to know the characters a bit better. I felt somehow disconnected from them and what they looked like in the novel. I think that area of the book could have been improved, thats one of the things that I really liked about the Harry Potter series was how well you felt you knew all the characters and what they were like. Thats the only reason Gates Of Fire recieved four stars from me, a lack of character development. Overall however it was a great novel that I would reccomend to people for its great creativity of the battle sequences and how well described the events are.
    			
    		]]>
    	</description>
  	
    

      </update>
            <update type="questionuserstat">
        
  
  
  

    <title>
    	<![CDATA[James Mccollum took the never-ending book quiz]]>
    </title>
    <link>http://www.goodreads.com/trivia</link>
    <description>
    	<![CDATA[
    	<a href="/user/show/1498394-james"><img alt="1498394" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1223999631p2/1498394.jpg" /></a>

    		<span class="userReview"><a href="/user/show/1498394-james">James</a>
    		 took the <a href="/trivia">never-ending book quiz</a>.</span>
    		<br/>
    		<div class="reviewText">
    			<table class="notTableList smallTable">
  <tr>
    <td><a href="/trivia/answered/1498394-james">questions answered</a>:</td>
    <td>160</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>correct:</td>
    <td>57 (35.6%)</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>skipped:</td>
    <td>0</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>best streak:</td>
    <td>5</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><a href="/trivia/submitted/1498394-james">questions added</a>:</td>
    <td>1</td>
  </tr>
</table>
    		</div>
      <div style="text-align: right;">
        <a href="/trivia" class="actionLink">beat his score &raquo;</a>
      </div>
    		]]>
  	</description>

    

      </update>
            <update type="rating">
        
  
  
  

    <title>
    	<![CDATA[James Mccollum voted on a review]]>
    </title>
    <link>http://www.goodreads.com/</link>
    <description>
    	<![CDATA[
    	<table>
    		<tr><td>
    		<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/999062-steven"><img alt="999062" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1214005971p2/999062.jpg" /></a>
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2">
  <div class="updateContent">
  	<strong><a href="/user/show/1498394-james">James</a></strong>
  	read and liked
  	<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/18024175" class="userName">Steven</a>'s
  	review of <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/152175.Lost_Victories_The_War_Memoirs_of_Hitler_s_Most_Brilliant_General" class="bookTitleRegular">Lost Victories: The War Memoirs of Hitler's Most Brilliant General</a>:
  	<br/><br/>

  	
      
    	<span id="reviewTextContainer18024175" style="">&quot;<span id="freeTextContainerreview_rating18024175" class="reviewText">If Rommel was Germany's greatest fighting general from WWII, von Manstein was her greatest strategic general.  A tremendous book, especially for its insights into dealing personally with Hitler (not easy!)</span>
&quot;</span>
    

    <div class="updateCommentLink">
  

  <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/18024175" class="actionLink">add a comment</a> 
</div>

  </div>

    		</td></tr></table>
    		]]>
  	</description>

    

      </update>
            <update type="rating">
        
  
  
  

    <title>
    	<![CDATA[James Mccollum voted on a review]]>
    </title>
    <link>http://www.goodreads.com/</link>
    <description>
    	<![CDATA[
    	<table>
    		<tr><td>
    		<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1125613-jennifer-wardrip"><img alt="1125613" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1227325925p2/1125613.jpg" /></a>
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2">
  <div class="updateContent">
  	<strong><a href="/user/show/1498394-james">James</a></strong>
  	read and liked
  	<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/36588192" class="userName">Jennifer Wardrip</a>'s
  	review of <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2248573.Brisingr" class="bookTitleRegular">Brisingr (Inheritance, #3)</a>:
  	<br/><br/>

  	
      
    	<span id="reviewTextContainer36588192" style="">&quot;<span id="freeTextContainerreview_rating36588192" class="reviewText">Reviewed by The Compulsive Reader for TeensReadToo.com<br/><br/>Eragon and Saphira have just barely survived the latest battle between the Empire and Varden, and learned the truth about Eragon's parentage. Their encounter with Murtagh and Thorn has<a href="#" onclick="Element.show('freeTextreview_rating36588192'); Element.hide('freeTextContainerreview_rating36588192'); return false;">...more</a></span>
<span id="freeTextreview_rating36588192" style="display:none" class="reviewText">Reviewed by The Compulsive Reader for TeensReadToo.com<br/><br/>Eragon and Saphira have just barely survived the latest battle between the Empire and Varden, and learned the truth about Eragon's parentage. Their encounter with Murtagh and Thorn has made them realize that they desperately need to revisit their teachers in Ellesmera, but their multitudes of promises keep them from returning. They must help Roran recover Katrina from the Ra'zac, rally forces for the Varden, and find a way to thwart Murtagh. But along the way, they'll discover some dark secrets and learn the sickening methods behind their adversaries' strengths. <br/><br/>BRISINGR is a well executed follow-up to ERAGON and ELDEST. It moves at a brisk and almost businesslike pace, only dragging slightly near the center of the book, as Eragon and Saphira struggle to fulfill their promises. Readers will be glad to see that the duo, Eragon especially, has not been placed upon a lofty pedestal, and still admit ignorance at times, an element that adds just the right touch of plausibility to the book. <br/><br/>Paolini's descriptive writing is becoming easily recognizable, and his ability to draw similes and metaphors between the most unlikely objects only adds to his appeal, and contrary to what one might expect, will draw in reluctant readers. Like with the prequels, the author cleverly manages to sneak in colorful myths and historical stories into the book that only add to the reality and vividness of Alagaesia, and make for a more engaging read. <br/><br/>The plot of BRISINGR is a little less developed than its predecessors, and seems to serve more as a segue between the first two books and the conclusion of the lively series, although the revelation of certain secrets and the suspense and tension Paolini weaves into the pages go a long ways in making BRISINGR a quick read. <br/><br/>Seasoned Paolini fans will enjoy the story, and be eager to move on to the final book. <br/><a href="#" onclick="Element.hide('freeTextreview_rating36588192'); Element.show('freeTextContainerreview_rating36588192'); return false;">(less)</a></span>
&quot;</span>
    

    <div class="updateCommentLink">
  

  <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/36588192" class="actionLink">1 comment</a> 
</div>

  </div>

    		</td></tr></table>
    		]]>
  	</description>

    

      </update>
            <update type="review">
        
  
  
  
    
    	<title>
    		<![CDATA[James added 'Blade: Playing Dead']]>
    	</title>
  	  	<link>http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/57633001</link>
  	
    	<description>
    		<![CDATA[
    			James is currently reading:	<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6219380.Blade_Playing_Dead" class="bookTitle">Blade: Playing Dead (Hardcover)</a>
    			<span class="by">by</span>
    			<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/192549.Tim_Bowler" class="authorName">Tim Bowler</a>
    			<br/>
    			

	<span class="userReview">bookshelves: </span>
	
		<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1498394?shelf=currently-reading" class="actionLinkLite">currently-reading</a>
	
	<br/>



          
    			  
    			
    		]]>
    	</description>
  	
    

      </update>
            <update type="userstatus">
        
  <title>
		<![CDATA[James 

  is on page 11 of Blade: Playing Dead

]]>
	</title>
	<link>http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/57633001</link>
	<description>
		<![CDATA[<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1498394-james">James</a>       is on page 11 of 240 of     <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6219380.Blade_Playing_Dead" class="bookTitle">Blade: Playing Dead</a><div style="text-align:right">  <a href="/user_status/show/814134-is-on-page-11-of-240-of-blade-playing-dead-by-tim-bowler" class="actionLink">add a comment</a></div>
		]]>
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      </update>
            <update type="review">
        
  
  
  
    
    	<title>
    		<![CDATA[James added 'The Neverending Story']]>
    	</title>
  	  	<link>http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/57506140</link>
  	
    	<description>
    		<![CDATA[
    			James gave <img alt="3 of 5 stars" class="star" height="15" src="http://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/stars/red_star_3_of_5.gif?1260929573" title="3 of 5 stars" width="75" /> to:	<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27712.The_Neverending_Story" class="bookTitle">The Neverending Story (Hardcover)</a>
    			<span class="by">by</span>
    			<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15619.Michael_Ende" class="authorName">Michael Ende</a>
    			<br/>
    			



          
    			  
    			
    		]]>
    	</description>
  	
    

      </update>
            <update type="review">
        
  
  
  
    
    	<title>
    		<![CDATA[James added 'The Three Musketeers']]>
    	</title>
  	  	<link>http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/56768624</link>
  	
    	<description>
    		<![CDATA[
    			James marked as to-read:	<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7190.The_Three_Musketeers" class="bookTitle">The Three Musketeers (Modern Library Classics)</a>
    			<span class="by">by</span>
    			<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4785.Alexandre_Dumas" class="authorName">Alexandre Dumas</a>
    			<br/>
    			

	<span class="userReview">bookshelves: </span>
	
		<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1498394?shelf=to-read" class="actionLinkLite">to-read</a>
	
	<br/>



          
    			  
    			
    		]]>
    	</description>
  	
    

      </update>
            <update type="review">
        
  
  
  
    
    	<title>
    		<![CDATA[James added 'Les Misérables']]>
    	</title>
  	  	<link>http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/56768541</link>
  	
    	<description>
    		<![CDATA[
    			James marked as to-read:	<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24280.Les_Mis_rables" class="bookTitle">Les Misérables (Mass Market Paperback)</a>
    			<span class="by">by</span>
    			<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13661.Victor_Hugo" class="authorName">Victor Hugo</a>
    			<br/>
    			

	<span class="userReview">bookshelves: </span>
	
		<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1498394?shelf=to-read" class="actionLinkLite">to-read</a>
	
	<br/>



          
    			  
    			
    		]]>
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