S. Lee Spelbring's Blog, page 3

How to Work for Yourself by Bryan Cohen

How to Work for Yourself: 100 Ways to Make the Time, Energy and Priorities to Start a Business, Book or Blog by Bryan Cohen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a book prepared to go alongside an online course of the same name, but is meant to be used in addition to the course. Therefore, it can stand alone to a degree and be of use to those of us not interested in forking over a sum of monies at this point in time.

I will say though, that this is a list of items to find the time, energy, and motivation to keep going on your own steam. It gives you an idea of how to balance your time between work and home, and reminders of what is really important.

There are quite a few good nuggets in here though, and as it’s a freebie it’s worth a look.

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11.22.63 by Stephen King

11.22.63 by Stephen King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is a lot. There is a whole bunch of information laid out here to make this time traveling teacher’s story work. I needed plenty of intervals to absorb everything that was going on here.

The basic plotline is the idea that if you could travel back in time to change one poignant event, would you want to or even be able to? And what would that look like? What would the repercussions be? Would you break the entire timeline? (After watching Loki Season One and the teaser for Season Two, is this even something you’d want to mess with?)

A portal back in time to a few years before JFK is assassinated is discovered in the back of broken down diner. But time has a way of making things difficult. It doesn’t like change, it fights back. It harmonizes.

And what of those who are tied to the timeline? Those that protect it, guard it, keep the strings of fate from tangling? What happens to them?

And what happens if you do manage to change historical events?

So while we’re managing the intricacies of time travel and what the means for the future of mankind, we have a front row seat to a historical era of upheaval. The Cold War. Human Rights Activism. And the regular goings on of life in Texas in the 1950s and 1960s.

I honestly loved the ending to this story. I really thought it was going in a different direction, but enjoyed where it went much more. Thank you for another brilliant story Mr. King.

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The Wild Unknown Tarot Guidebook by Kim Krans

The Wild Unknown Tarot Guidebook by Kim Krans
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a set of a guidebook and tarot deck, the focus is the tarot deck itself, the book is an accessory. There’s a lot of reviews that say the guidebook doesn’t do enough, but I think the opposite it’s just right. This is not a guidebook to reading tarot cards in general, it assumes you have a baseline of tarot cards and what you’re doing which I think is the right stance for this deck as it’s not exactly based on the Rider-Waite tarot which is the most well known and often the default.

There are some examples of tarot spreads, which I always appreciate, especially if there’s one I don’t use a lot or wasn’t aware of. The card explanations go well with the art, which lets be honest is what we’re all here for, it’s the artwork on these things. I mean, it’s a gorgeous mostly black and white deck with pops of color to enunciate the meanings.

I am in love with this tarot deck and the guidebook is just fine, it does what it’s supposed to do. It’s currently my daily draw deck and I’m always pleased by the card(s) I draw.

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The Wild Unknown Tarot Guidebook by Kim KransMy rating: 5...

The Wild Unknown Tarot Guidebook by Kim Krans
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a set of a guidebook and tarot deck, the focus is the tarot deck itself, the book is an accessory. There’s a lot of reviews that say the guidebook doesn’t do enough, but I think the opposite it’s just right. This is not a guidebook to reading tarot cards in general, it assumes you have a baseline of tarot cards and what you’re doing which I think is the right stance for this deck as it’s not exactly based on the Rider-Waite tarot which is the most well known and often the default.

There are some examples of tarot spreads, which I always appreciate, especially if there’s one I don’t use a lot or wasn’t aware of. The card explanations go well with the art, which lets be honest is what we’re all here for, it’s the artwork on these things. I mean, it’s a gorgeous mostly black and white deck with pops of color to enunciate the meanings.

I am in love with this tarot deck and the guidebook is just fine, it does what it’s supposed to do. It’s currently my daily draw deck and I’m always pleased by the card(s) I draw.

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How to Be More D&D by Kat Kruger

Dungeons & Dragons: How to Be More D&D: Face Your Dragons, Be More Adventurous, and Live Your Best Geeky Life by Kat Kruger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As with all the other reviews of this book, I agree that it gives out the same advice you find in many other self-help books of how to get your life together. But, I do appreciate the Dungeons & Dragons spin on it. The provided templates and charts are a welcome touch as well.

The author writes with a good deal of insight into how D&D is played and relating it to our personal lives. It was a fun read, even if I never happen to do much with it. It’s also a fairly quick read as I was able to digest it in a quiet afternoon.

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The Complete Works of Confucius

The Complete Works of Confucius by Confucius
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was one of those reads that is often more contemplative and worth studying a bit to make sure the content is completely understood and in context. This is an ancient philosophical work, despite what modern “Confucius Says” jokes might have you believe otherwise.

I don’t read many non-fiction books either, so this is a bit of a rarity for me in general, but part of the reason I do not read many non-fiction books is that I like to take the time to do outside research while I read so I can better understand the content I’m consuming.

The entirety of the book is the teachings and stories that Confucius told to support his philosophy, which is that the social structure of the family unity was vital to the happiness and productivity of society and government.

The Father/Husband ruled over his family just as the Sovereign Ruler reigned over the country. The other idea behind Confucianism is the perfection of humanness resulted from self-discipline, internal motivation, and morality.

Confucius himself became something of an advisor to several politicians of ancient China, and this ebook is the collected stories, sayings, and teachings that were translated and revised.

In general this book is easier to read if you have an understanding of what Confucianism is to have the context behind what is being said, otherwise it sounds a bit confusing and nonsensical trying to read it blindly.

It is a lovely bit of historical text and the basis of ancient Chinese philosophy.

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Government and society in China were grounded in the Confucian philosophy, which held that there was a basic order in the universe and a natural harmony linking man, nature, and the cosmos (heaven); it also held that man was by nature a social being, and that the natural order of the universe should be reflected in human relations. The family unit was seen as the primary social unit; relationships within the family were fundamental to all others and comprised three of the “five relationships” that were the models for all others: sovereign-subject; husband-wife; parent-child; elder brother-younger brother; friend-friend. In this hierarchy of social relations, each role had clearly defined duties; reciprocity or mutual responsibility between subordinate and superior was fundamental to the Confucian concept of human relations. The virtue of filial piety, or devotion of the child to his parents, was the foundation for all others. When extended to all human beings, it nurtured the highest virtue, humaneness (“ren” or “jen”), or the sense of relatedness to other persons.

via Columbia University – Asia for Educators

Further ReadingIntroduction to Confucian Thought – Columbia UniversityConfucianism – WikipediaConfucius – Wikipedia

What I’m Reading Next || September 2022

I haven’t posted in awhile and part of that is due to just being busy. I went on a trip for the first time in 3 years. I entered some exhibits in my State Fair. I picked up some more hours at work, and my other hobby took off for a couple weeks. Also, I’ve just been tired from all the excitement!

To be completely honest though, with all of that the books I’m reading are very long, involved, and some require some thought and research to understand fully. Here’s a look at some of the books I’ve been reading in lieu of an actual book review.

The Complete Works of Confucius

This is actually one of those books where it’s better to have some context before attempting to read it. I did not know this so I took some time away from reading to read up on Confucius himself, and Confucianism.

Also, as I’ve mentioned, this is a pretty decently sized book, and I keep going back to bring in more context as I read. I’ve been reading the Kindle version and I’m currently 68% through this ebook.

Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes

This is a huge ebook detailing the author’s ideas for a perfect government. It’s written in a way that I need to have some outside sources to completely understand what the author is trying to say. I’m reading it because I want to diversify my reading habits, and it is most definitely different from everything I’m currently reading.

As the name implies this is also a Leviathan of an ebook as I’m only 36% of they way through it.

11/22/63 by Stephen King

This is the book I took with me on my trip. It was a bus trip so I had plenty of time on the bus to read. True to Stephen King it is a thick book and it’s a BOOK. The basic premise is that it tells the story of JFK’s assassination from a different perspective only King can provide and I’ll leave it at that.

But, as it’s a quasi-historical book as well, it’s one that has made me think with all the detail and significance of what’s going on and what actually happened in my country’s past. So occasionally I have to stop reading and pull my thoughts together before continuing. I’d guesstimate I’m around halfway through this one.

I’m still frequenting my local library as well, recieved a book from a friend to read, and even grabbed a few more free ebooks off Amazon. I’m still reading, it’s just not as voraciously as I have been. I still love my blog, I still want to post. I just needed a break to do some other things so I hope you’ll forgive my absence.

Thank you.

Women Who Changed the World (Barnes & Noble)

Women who Changed the World by NONE
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

First of all, I want to make it clear that I love the idea of this book – a brief biography of a bunch of influential women in many areas of life. I really do, it’s a nice introduction to role models, historical figures, and the power in being a woman.

However, the execution is a bit off. Probably the most minor thing (major in some cases) is all the typos. Some examples are featuring Jackie Onassis Kennedy as Christine Onassis Kennedy, a misspelling of Queen Victoria as Queen Victorian, and then various grammar errors and misspellings.

One specific instance I detest – they did Amelia Earhart dirty. They introduced her as being a pioneering pilot and her many achievements being overshadowed by her death, and then only talked about her death. Where are the achievements you hinted at??

I also feel that there were some questionable choices of the women included here, most notably J. K. Rowling – now I know Harry Potter took off and is incredibly popular, but there is no mention of her questionable beliefs that have caused some arguments recently, and Leni Riefenstahl who’s innovations changed the film world, but also created Nazi propaganda – at least they mention her questionable choices.

I have way too many complaints about this one to recommend it seriously. If there is another book that does this – gives brief overviews of influential women – I would like to know about it, especially if it does better than this one.

It is a very pretty book though, it’s bound in purple faux leather and embossed, but that’s not enough to redeem it.

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L is for Lawless by Sue Grafton

L is for Lawless by Sue Grafton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kinsey is back at it, this time it’s right in her own neighborhood. Her landlord asks her to look into something for a neighbor who has recently passed away. His relatives want to bury him with military honors but are having issues with the paperwork so they ask Kinsey for help.

She looks into and finds out quite a lot more than she ever wanted to know about her neighbors. She even ends up “kidnapped” and in another state on a treasure hunt.

I like that this book took on a very random road trip looking for buried treasure, literally. Her neighbor wasn’t in the military (which was pretty obvious from the beginning), but she was right in saying she had no idea what getting involved would involve.

I do like the plot, it’s very traditional, and used in many movies and classics (Treasure Island anyone?), road trip, treasure hunt, weird family dynamics, (I love Grandma btw, she’s so cute and logical) and an “X Marks the Spot” ending. A very fun book.

View all my reviewsPreviously: K is for Killer by Sue GraftonSubsequently: M is for Malice by Sue Grafton

June 2022 Wrap-Up: What I Read, Watched, Played, and Made

What I Read:

This month at the library I went straight for the Kinsey Milhone series from Sue Grafton. I’m also currently reading the last from that group of books which is L is for Lawless so keep an eye out for that review next week.

Women of the Night was a book loaned to me by a friend as suggested reading. Some of those various authors happen to be Stephen King and Neil Geiman.

I’m also not forgetting about The Women’s Murder Club, I just wanted to try something different for my reading schedule for a bit.

Women of the Night by Various AuthorsJ is for Judgment by Sue GraftonThe 9th Judgment by James PattersonK is for Killer by Sue GraftonWhat I Played:

There were a few cross posts across my blogs this month as I finished a section of my Knitting Challenge that is related to The Sims 4. I made an Animal Beanie and a post about the in-game aspiration (a set of tasks used to earn points in the game).

I also decided that I needed to start playing Final Fantasy XI again. Weird.

Lady of the Knits [The Sims 4] (Cross-posted)Nifty Knitting an Animal Beanie (Lv. 1) [The Sims 4] (Cross-posted)The Return of The Return to Final Fantasy XIWhat I Watched:

From King Kong last month, to the Son of Kong this month, monster movies are still in my “to watch” list with more to come!

Rodan is another classic monster origin story, and a rather important character to the Monster Universe. Rodan continues to reappear alongside Godzilla as the Godzilla Franchise continues along it’s merry way and it’s a good movie on it’s own.

I also pivoted from Monster Movies to to Supernatural Thrillers and Action Fantasy series. From Within is basically a small town going mad thanks to their prejudices, and well, do I really need to tell you about The Wheel of Time series on a book blog?

Son of Kong (1933)Rodan (1956)From Within (2008)The Wheel of Time (Season One)What I Made:

This month I neglected updating my craft blog. I’m not sure why that is, but I did manage to get two posts out that I was interested in and you maybe interested in to. They answer a couple of those pesky questions I think we all have, but just never actually ask ourselves or others to answer.

What’s Your Knitting or Crochet Skill Level?How to Finish Your WIPs in 7 Easy Steps [Video]

I’m tired. I love summer, but it just seems so much busier than any other time of year. I’m happy to admit that I am taking care of myself rather than attempting to push myself into getting everything done when some if it is not a high priority. Take care of yourselves first!

How has your month been? What did you do for Father’s Day? Juneteenth? Did you participate in Pride? A lot has happened this month!

Thank You for Reading!