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I was originally drawn to this book because of the upcoming movie being released on June 22, 2012. I wanted to read the book before the movie just to see how the whole thing stuck together. It was an enjoyable, simple read that flowed through the lif...moreI was originally drawn to this book because of the upcoming movie being released on June 22, 2012. I wanted to read the book before the movie just to see how the whole thing stuck together. It was an enjoyable, simple read that flowed through the life and times of Abraham Lincoln well.
The author goes to great lengths to show the reader how Lincoln was driven by his desire to rid the nation of the undead. As major and minor events in his life seemed to bode well with the interspersing of Vampires it was troubling at times to find parts of the book wanting more details about who this man was and what was occuring through his mind. Because of the need to get to the next "Major milestone" parts of a neat story were cut short so we could jump to the next historical milestone. It would have been great to see this book a little longer or possibly made into two books "The Early Years" and "The Later Years".
The only real complaint is the non-resolution of the introduction where the author outlines how he recieved the diaries. I was hoping for a revist to the author when the story was completed, but alas the story ends with the telling of Abe's death and the events surrounding them after. A pretty descent read and deserves 3.5 stars! If only GoodReads allowed me to do such a thing.(less)
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After watching the BBC Sherlock Series 2 I wanted to read the original Sherlock Holmes mysteries to see how they compared. I was quite astonished at the similarities and differences. The story is quite compelling and the way it unfolds is a great tri...moreAfter watching the BBC Sherlock Series 2 I wanted to read the original Sherlock Holmes mysteries to see how they compared. I was quite astonished at the similarities and differences. The story is quite compelling and the way it unfolds is a great tribute to the writing style of Sir Conan Doyle. While the reader ultimately knows who murders the victims after the first section, it is the storytelling during the second section that shines insight into the why. It also makes the title "A Study in Scarlet" more appealing as you realize it isn't just the blood as it is the human condition which is being studied.
This is a great read for anyone interested in starting their Sherlock Holmes study, or for those who have been acquainted for a while and want to revisit the starting point again.(less)
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This book is a great view into the mental reasons of why we have a difficult time changing our habits. It starts with understanding the troubles of our psychological world (i.e. anxiety, phobias, depression, etc.), then discusses a number of key area...moreThis book is a great view into the mental reasons of why we have a difficult time changing our habits. It starts with understanding the troubles of our psychological world (i.e. anxiety, phobias, depression, etc.), then discusses a number of key areas people struggle (i.e. diet, alcoholism) and finally draws a conclusion of expectations we can assume during our seasons of expansion and contraction. The studies are a little shocking in their findings, but Dr. Seligman does a wonderful job of presenting facts without conjecture. He shares his opinions with the reader without making the reader feel they were just pushed into his philosophy. Even written over 20 years ago, the arguments still hold water ... and even though new findings have been discovered this book is a great foundation to understanding powerful change in anyone.(less)
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As a fan of Jasper Fforde I was excited to read an excursion from the literary worlds he has created in his "Friday Next" series and "Nursery Crime" mysteries. I will admit this book took a little while to get hooked into the world of Munsell.
Taki...moreAs a fan of Jasper Fforde I was excited to read an excursion from the literary worlds he has created in his "Friday Next" series and "Nursery Crime" mysteries. I will admit this book took a little while to get hooked into the world of Munsell.
Taking apart the world of color and adding class structure and heirarchy was a little challenging. One can only imagine the notes Fforde had to keep to create his new world in check. There are times when the class structure seems difficult to follow and manage, but as the story unfolds key elements are unvieled that allow the reader to understand the structure.
Once the world of becomes understood the story starts to become really enjoyable. With mystery, conspiracy and backstabbing happening all around the tale Shades of Grey is a great entrance into a larger story line magically told by Jasper Fforde. And with two sequals on their way the reader is sure to be excited about what the next installments bring to understand the dystopia/utopia that Munsell has created.
If you are fan of Jasper Fforde and expect the same creativity and storytelling as in his other books you will be dissapointed in this book. But if you are a fan of Fforde's writting style, commentary and wit then you will greatly appreciate this new story from a wildly creative author!(less)
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Flight is a modern day morality tale told from the perspective of a 15 year old displaced Native American/Irish boy. Originally defining his identity from his prominent deformities the protaganist calls himself Zits by cause "My real name is not impo...moreFlight is a modern day morality tale told from the perspective of a 15 year old displaced Native American/Irish boy. Originally defining his identity from his prominent deformities the protaganist calls himself Zits by cause "My real name is not important." From there Sherman Alexie takes the reader on a troubled journey filled with disgust, violence and hate. And just as Zits partakes on a "Ghost Dance" of his own the reader is rushed away into historical and modern day tales all striving to teach our hero that hope is not lost.
This is a good quick read, however, there is a lot of language which could make sensitive readers uncomfortable. There are no graphic sexual scenes, but there are mentions of lewd conduct enough for the reader to get a sense of what has occured. This story does have a lot of violent actions, some historical while others are more mordern day. There is only quick mentions of drug abuse with nothing more than "I used crack" being described. This book also has a whole "Questions for discussion" section at the back which opens up a little more insight and thought into the story being told.
As for Sherman Alexie's writting, this is a good book of his. It mixes his masterful storytelling with the poignant plights of Native Americans.(less)
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I wish I could give this book a 3.5 star rating. The story was nice and detailed and gave some interesting arguments about the origins of religious organizations. However, some of the writing seemed long and full of abundance that didn't need to be t...moreI wish I could give this book a 3.5 star rating. The story was nice and detailed and gave some interesting arguments about the origins of religious organizations. However, some of the writing seemed long and full of abundance that didn't need to be there. The book was 525 pages and felt that it could have lost around 100 pages and still be a good read.
My other problem was the total deconstruction of faith without the equal strength argument for faith. Even though there were circumstances and events that bring the "faith" argument to light, the majority of the book is built upon the "scientific" argument and diatribe against the lunacy of "spiritual" belief. While the story is enhanced by the "mad" manner of belief taken too far ... the book slams one belief repeatedly over the head of the reader.
Overall the story is a decent story. And even though it was a hefty page reader for a summer day it went by pretty fast.(less)
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I really enjoy reading Jasper Fforde novels. His wit and humor are right up there with other British contemporaries like Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchit and Douglas Adams. And his sense of weaving stories within stories is captivating and clever. Somehow...moreI really enjoy reading Jasper Fforde novels. His wit and humor are right up there with other British contemporaries like Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchit and Douglas Adams. And his sense of weaving stories within stories is captivating and clever. Somehow his topsy-turvy world of modern Europe is more believable than most people's current lives.
I wish I could have given this book a 4.5 stars instead of a full five. If only for the reason it would be nice to keep Fforde striving for more ambitious material. I'm interested in continuing the Thursday Next series to see what other adventures he will create.(less)
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Ok, so maybe this book isn't a "thriller" novel, but for a pre-teen elementary book it had a good "suspence" built into the narrative. I bought this book from the local Sam's Club because it had a picture of "Oragami Yoda" on the cover. I sat down an...moreOk, so maybe this book isn't a "thriller" novel, but for a pre-teen elementary book it had a good "suspence" built into the narrative. I bought this book from the local Sam's Club because it had a picture of "Oragami Yoda" on the cover. I sat down and read it from cover to cover in a little over an hour. It was surprisingly good.
The main story takes place from multiple perspectives all in an attempt to determine if "Oragami Yoda" is real. The final chapter brings a nice closure to the book leaving the reader to judge for themselves if "Oragami Yoda" has the Oragami Force. (Personally I'm a believer!)
The best part of books like these are moments when I read and think ... "Hehe, That's clever!" And there were a couple of moments in this book that made me do that. I thought it was so good that I lent it to my nephew in hopes that he can determine for himself if "Oragami Yoda" is real. Hopefully ... he will believe as well.(less)
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