S. Lee Spelbring's Blog, page 17
June 8, 2019
Dark Prince by Christine Feehan
Dark Prince by Christine Feehan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Whew! Well, if nothing else, this experience has taught me that I am not an audiobook person at all. It was the only copy of Dark Prince my library had so I thought I’d try it, I’m glad I did, and I do like the story, but not the format.
With that out of the way…
I like all of Christine Feehan’s Dark series, while this is the first in the series it is not the first one I’ve read (probably more like the 10th?), but I do like how it sets the stage for the rest of the series. How the Carpathian species is dying out, and humans go mad when converted, and then Raven survives the transition and becomes the hope of the Carpathian people. Gregori’s torment because he’s near his limit (that was interesting), and in general the beginning of the saga that is now 33 books as of this review. I also got a better view of Mikhail, the leader of the Carpathians.
Would I recommend reading them in order? Yes. Would I recommend reading them out of order? Yes.
Both methods are fine, because I recommend reading them in general and since it is a large series and probably difficult to find them all at once and in order, the second is probably easier anyway and doesn’t really mar the story in any way. However, I won’t be ‘reading’ any more audiobooks if I can avoid it!
June 5, 2019
Getting Things Done by David Allen
Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Well, thank you computer. This is my second attempt at writing a review, my computer somehow decided to “eat” the first one. Anyway, this book is full of information, to the point where I reread paragraphs and pages just to make sure I understood the concepts David Allen was laying out before me. Therefore, it took me much longer than I expected to read this book, but it was very much worth every minute I spent doing it.
Allen is inspiring with this book, including quotes from famous people to reinforce his methodology, and little experiences Allen has had working with others on his methodology. This book is also very good for quotes itself, as Allen makes some very good statements that encompass his strategy. I also found out that I had been implementing a few things from his methodology since first finding out about from Boho Berry on her blog some years ago.
The methodology is set up to be effective throughout the changes life throws at us: career changes, technology, and even relationships (Allen relates that he and his wife add ‘stuff’ to each others’ inboxes). Another thing that Allen advises is after implementing this methodology, to come back and read the book again in two to six months. I think I just might do that.
May 30, 2019
The Throwback Thursday Three
Throwback Thursday has been an internet thing for quite some time now, and it’s high time that I joined in! For this first #TBT I thought I would go all the way back to the beginning, for my first three posts.
One Glass is Never Enough by Jane Wenham-Jones
This is a little chick-lit story by an author that writes “how to author” books, which is how I found out about Wenham-Jones in the first place. I have yet to read more books by this author, or even reread the two writing books I own, but perhaps I should do so now.
Alaskan Midnight by Joyce Livingston
This was a book that was going around my work place and ended up in my possession for a time. It’s a collection of short romance stories based in Christian guidelines. While I liked the idea, the stories were altogether different.
The Man Who Knew Too Much by G.K. Chesterton
A Kindle Classic collection of short mystery stories, this was a fun little ebook to read. It reads a little like a lesser known Sherlock Holmes, but with the titular character being more normal minded than Holmes, and less insane(?).
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Which three books have you reread or mean to read again? Answers in the comments below!
May 25, 2019
[DVD] Movie Review – The Revenant
Based on the novel by Michael Punke which is based on a 1915 poem The Song of Hugh Glass, the movie, the novel, and the poem both detail the life of Hugh Glass, whom is played by Leonardo DiCaprio in this movie.
I read the book back in high school and loved this survival and revenge story in the Old West. I really wanted to this movie in theaters but didn’t quite get the job done, so I have it on DVD now.
After some bad luck and a bear attack, the group he’s traveling with leaves him for dead. Hugh battles his way through injuries, attacks from a rival native tribe, and winter storms to find the man who betrayed him.
I’m finding that I have a lot of DiCaprio movies in my collection, something I wasn’t aware of until watching this movie. I guess that means he’s a good actor I like or he makes a lot of good movies.
May 18, 2019
[DVD] Movie Review – Bedknobs & Broomsticks
I watched this growing up, and it’s part of why I love movies that blend live action and animation (see Who Framed Roger Rabbit or The Incredible Mr. Limpet). Movies don’t really do this anymore, if needed there is 3D animation for characters that can’t be actors.
Anyway, I also really like Angela Lansbury, and this is a young Angela. Also David Tomlinson is a treasure and really should have been in more Disney movies. There is a lot of nostalgia here for me, and so that is my bias here. Fair warning.
The Isle of Naboombu is a great sequence, and I love the ending where she finalizes the last spell to fight off the invaders (this movie takes place in WWII fyi). And, of course, since it’s Disney there’s a variety of lovely songs and dances to go along with the action.
May 15, 2019
How to Make Money with Your Blog by Duane Forrester & Gavin Powell
How to Make Money with Your Blog: The Ultimate Reference Guide for Building, Optimizing, and Monetizing Your Blog by Duane Forrester
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I have read blogging books before, but this was the first one I read in paperback, and so it was a little different, a little more in-depth, a little more like a reference guide as in the title. It’s written by a blogger and a computer programmer, which I think made a good combination for making this kind of book. You have Duane who knows the front end (blogging) and Gavin who knows the back end (programming) so you get a lot of information.
They cover a lot of the similar elements as the other blog books I’ve read: affiliate marketing, Google Adsense, ad networks, and general getting started information. However, thanks to Gavin you get a lot of SEO coding, RSS coding, and some other things I’ll have to reread to understand better.
They must have their blogging experience with Blogger as they use that as the basis for most of the book (with mentions to WordPress and others). They also use their own blogs as points of reference, but it would have helped to see other blogs and how they worked. Also, as Gavin is a musician, there are many references to MySpace, which dates this book quite a bit. My MySpace knowledge is limited, but it’s not a big social networking site anymore unless you are a musician(?).
This book also predates Facebook, so again a bit of common sense is needed but the general information presented is useful.
May 11, 2019
YouTube Marketing Power by Jason Miles
YouTube Marketing Power: How to Use Video to Find More Prospects, Launch Your Products, and Reach a Massive Audience by Jason Miles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
As the first YouTube marketing book I’ve ever read, I do not have anything to compare it to. I have read marketing books, but nothing specifically on online marketing. So with that out of the way, I did like this book even though it is a bit dated, YouTube has changed quite a bit since this book was published just to give some context.
This book comes at YouTube from a business stand point. The author refers to using it from a corporation view point, or to promote your business. It is not how to do YouTube for a living, or how to make any specific channel. It is more as how to use YouTube as part of your business.
Having said all that, there is some good information here: what types of videos to use, what style of videos to use, upload schedules, how to run a giveaway, and how to build your subscriber base. Take some things with a grain of salt, as parts of the book refer to YouTube features that are unavailable or have changed and don’t work the same.
May 8, 2019
Meet Me at the Library – May 2019
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I’ve been browsing the non-fiction section of my local library lately, as the subsections aren’t clearly marked I’ve been doing a LOT of browsing. I finally came across this little shelf with these online marketing books and I thought to myself, why not?
YouTube Marketing Power by Jason Miles
Grab YOUR share of YouTube’s BILLIONS of daily viewers YouTube is one of the world’s most popular websites–which makes it one of the best marketing tools on the planet.
Jason G. Miles, the author of Pinterest Power and Instagram Power, shows you how to get up and running on YouTube and offers best practices for using it to drive traffic to websites to increase sales. YouTube Marketing Power provides expert tips on how to design a powerful YouTube strategy.
LEARN HOW TO:
Make great videos–quickly and easily
Build brand loyalty with powerful videos
Drive traffic and revenue to your existing business
Advertise on YouTube
Monetize your YouTube work
This fast-paced but highly detailed guide reveals why companies frequently fail at YouTube marketing and how you can succeed by avoiding the same mistakes.
YouTube Marketing Power is the only guide you need to take full advantage of today’s most powerful and inexpensive marketing tools.
How to Make Money with Your Blog by Duane Forrester & Gavin Powell
Blogging for Dollars!
Whether you’re an experienced blogger or an absolute beginner, you can make money with your blog. Simply follow the step-by-step advice of two expert bloggers and industry insiders who have launched many successful sites of their own. They’ll walk you through every step of the blogging process, and they’ll even share their most profitable tricks of the trade.
Generate income using various types of ads
Tap into the power of other blogs
Maximize searches for more hits–and more money
“Every blogger and website owner needs to read this book.” –Bill Hartzer, billhartzer.com
What have you been reading? What did you get from your library?
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May 1, 2019
[DVD] Movie Review – Coraline
Coraline is a novel by Neil Gaiman, who is known for his dark fantasy work. This movie is pretty much just that, an animated dark fantasy, that almost borders on non-child-friendly.
Dakota Fanning voices Coraline Jones the main character, with Jennifer Saunders as a supporting character, and various others filling out the cast. Wybie is a extra character not found in the book, so that Coraline wouldn’t have to talk to herself.
I’ll remind everyone that I like dark movies (see Gothika) and this is a dark movie. To me animated dark movies are maybe a little too scary for their targeted audiences, so if you’re a parent maybe watch it before you show it to your kids.
Having said all that, I like this movie. I happen to like movies where the child fights for their parents. I do believe children are underestimated quite a lot of the time, so when the plot has the child as the savior I think it rocks. All the characters have parts to play, which I like too. They aren’t just shuffled to the side, they add to the story.
Again, I like this movie, and now I want to read the book!
April 27, 2019
The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness by Dave Ramsey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I’ve not read many personal finance books in my lifetime, so this is one of, if not the, first book I’ve read on the subject. It was recommended to me by a coworker, and so I found it at the library one day and took it home.
Having no reference point, I found this book to be straight forward, informative, and very much life changing. Holy crap do I have a new outlook on money.
Dave Ramsey starts out by dispelling myths, and letting you know that his book is nothing more than common sense, and maybe there isn’t even anything in the book you don’t already know. The secret is the HOW. He tells you how to get started, how to pay off debt, how to get financially fit. Step by step through his proven seven baby steps.
I’ve been discussing the book with said coworker throughout the entire process and that has helped to flesh out some of the ideas even more. All I can say if you’ve never read a book on personal finance this is the book to start with.
