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While reading this book, it's very hard not to feel overwhelmed. It's not just that the United States faces a single, all-consuming problem; it faces dozens, if not hundreds of them. There's not very much that's going right in America these days; fr...moreWhile reading this book, it's very hard not to feel overwhelmed. It's not just that the United States faces a single, all-consuming problem; it faces dozens, if not hundreds of them. There's not very much that's going right in America these days; from our failing schools to dismal unemployment rate to crumbling infrastructure, we barely resemble the global super power that confidently dominated world events after WWII. And even if these problems were easy to solve, our current gridlocked political system makes even the smallest change nearly impossible.
It's not always easy to keep up with current events, much less understand the socio-historic causes behind today's crises. Friedman and Mandelbaum do an excellent job getting us up to speed and providing essential background information. They also mostly succeed at taking a centrist stance, leveling criticism at both the right and left. While the book contains more problems than solutions, I certainly don't expect these journalists to solve the country's problems in a 400 page book, and to their credit, there are a few surprisingly good ideas found within. By the end, I still felt overwhelmed, but also highly informed and motivated to contribute to a solution.(less)
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Epic, inventive, and haunting. In the future, Earth has already survived one battle with an alien race known as the Buggers, and they're preparing for another invasion by sending gifted young children into space to attend Battle School. Ender Wiggi...moreEpic, inventive, and haunting. In the future, Earth has already survived one battle with an alien race known as the Buggers, and they're preparing for another invasion by sending gifted young children into space to attend Battle School. Ender Wiggin is a 6-year-old boy who will not only be sent to Battle School, but may end up being the savior of the human race.
I've read criticism of this book that accuses Card of writing children like they're adults. I do have to question why he sent children rather than adolescents or young adults on this particular journey; is it a critique of cultures that eschew childhood for military brainwashing, or simply because only children are powerless enough to be roped into this kind of sacrifice against their will? Either way, Ender's young age only lends poignancy to the awful things he must endure, and I don't think it's science fiction that gifted children could lead such psychologically mature and compelling lives.
I've never had much interest in war, battle, or military strategy, but Card writes in such a way that these typically dry subjects come to life, and I found myself thoroughly enjoying Ender's training battles. I also appreciated that this book can be read on a variety of levels; YA readers can easily follow the plot, while more mature audiences will undoubtedly be moved by the themes of innocence, sacrifice, genocide, and family that drive the story forward. I'm very much looking forward to reading the next book in the series.(less)
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Cudahy Popular Reading Collection (1st floor)
PN 2287 .D358 A3 2011
I love Ellen. I tape/watch her show everyday after work. It was a quick easy read that sounded like her. However, watching her show made me aware of many of the little stories she s...moreCudahy Popular Reading Collection (1st floor)
PN 2287 .D358 A3 2011
I love Ellen. I tape/watch her show everyday after work. It was a quick easy read that sounded like her. However, watching her show made me aware of many of the little stories she shared in the book.(less)
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Cudahy Popular Reading Collection (1st floor)
BF 723 .S43 T36 2009
It was the title that roped me into reading this. I found it enjoyable and eerily creepy when I saw more than a few similarities in my own relationships with sister.
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Frankly, it's a miracle I gave this two stars, because after the first 50 pages, I was ready to give it 0 stars and a kick across the room. This is my first experience reading Jen Lancaster, and she comes off VERY poorly at the beginning of this mem...moreFrankly, it's a miracle I gave this two stars, because after the first 50 pages, I was ready to give it 0 stars and a kick across the room. This is my first experience reading Jen Lancaster, and she comes off VERY poorly at the beginning of this memoir, which details her attempt to watch less reality TV and become more cultured. I thought this sounded like a fairly interesting project, particularly as American culture has become increasingly anti-intellectual. Sadly, Lancaster's attitude to both her project and this book is fairly casual, and I was disappointed that she squandered the opportunity to take a more focused, serious approach.
But as I kept reading, I realized that Jen Lancaster's books aren't supposed to be about serious reflection; they're about observational humor and snark, and by the end of the book, I found myself somewhat charmed by her writing. In real life, she would drive me crazy for a number of reasons, but she's a genuinely warm, funny writer, and I can absolutely see the appeal of her books. I've heard that her previous efforts were a bit more polished, so it's possible that I'll try another -- but in this case, I found myself wanting more substantive content.(less)
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Great premise, disappointing follow-through. I'm very surprised that I didn't like this; other reviews praise it for being engrossing, but I found most of it to be quite dull. Charles Rainier is an English politician and businessman who can't rememb...moreGreat premise, disappointing follow-through. I'm very surprised that I didn't like this; other reviews praise it for being engrossing, but I found most of it to be quite dull. Charles Rainier is an English politician and businessman who can't remember a few years of his life due to a WWI head injury. While set at the eve of WWII, most of the book is comprised of flashbacks to Rainier's life, eventually including scenes from his missing years. And, of course, there are women involved -- a cold present-day wife and the promise of an old, fiery romance that Rainier can't quite remember.
Sounds fantastic, right? Unfortunately, the book needs a shocking amount of editing; it is filled with tangents, superfluous characters, and a lot of talk about the state of England during and between the World Wars. Perhaps it's my fault for wanting to concentrate on the personal drama rather than the sociopolitical context, but I found myself frequently impatient, wading through pages about England when I *really* just wanted to concentrate on Rainier and his amnesia. I hear there's a terrific movie version available; perhaps I'll like that better.(less)
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I adored this book. I was initially uninterested, because I've read other books set at a circus and have had my fill of tawdry characters and behind-the-scenes dysfunction. But the Night Circus is unlike anything you've ever heard of -- (literally) ...moreI adored this book. I was initially uninterested, because I've read other books set at a circus and have had my fill of tawdry characters and behind-the-scenes dysfunction. But the Night Circus is unlike anything you've ever heard of -- (literally) magical, dreamlike, elegant, heartbreaking. While some of the characters are a bit two-dimensional, the leads are vibrant and compelling, and there's a love story that gave me chills. Perhaps I was simply in the mood for an old-fashioned romance, and others will find the book a bit too earnest, but I can't imagine not falling under its spell.(less)
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Really, I should just copy and paste my review of The Magicians into this space; I have the same complains about the sequel that I did about the first installment. In a nutshell: creative, engrossing book with very little heart or warmth.
Quentin an...moreReally, I should just copy and paste my review of The Magicians into this space; I have the same complains about the sequel that I did about the first installment. In a nutshell: creative, engrossing book with very little heart or warmth.
Quentin and his friends are now the Kings and Queens of Fillory, but because presiding over a magical kingdom isn't enough for Quentin, he goes in search of adventure and basically threatens the future of magic. As his story unfolds, we also go back in time a few years and discover how Julia, Quentin's high school crush, got herself into magic (and Fillory) by using a very different path. Predictably, these paths eventually collide, and Julia's personal experience becomes a critical tool in saving the future of magic.
Lev Grossman is gifted in so many ways -- his pacing is wonderful, his prose makes me laugh out loud on a regular basis. But there's something so cold and dank and inhuman about the whole enterprise, the characters and their relationships and the spirit behind the story. I know this is supposed to be Harry Potter for adults, but J. K. Rowling managed to go to some pretty dark places while maintaining the warmth and integrity of her characters. I didn't feel attached to a single person in The Magician King; the characters are not only unlikable but kind of soulless. The plot was exciting enough to keep me reading, but again, I'm left with a bad taste in my mouth on the final page.(less)
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Do you enjoy video games, adventure quests, and 80s nostalgia? I'm actually not a huge fan of ANY of those things, and I still had a great time reading this book. In a word, this book is FUN -- a treasure hunt of epic proportions with likable chara...moreDo you enjoy video games, adventure quests, and 80s nostalgia? I'm actually not a huge fan of ANY of those things, and I still had a great time reading this book. In a word, this book is FUN -- a treasure hunt of epic proportions with likable characters, loathsome villains, and plenty of surprises along the way. While Cline tips his toe into the waters of social commentary, his attempts are somewhat heavy-handed, and the plot-driven sections are much more effective. While it's not very creative to deem a sci-fi book "imaginative," I can't think of a more apt description -- Cline has not only created a dystopian future America set in 2044, but a new virtual reality called the Oasis with its own intriguing characters, landscapes, feuds, and rules. I thought the ending was a bit rushed, and hope a sequel is in the works to see what happens to Parzival and his friends.(less)
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