Samyann's Blog, page 62
February 16, 2014
The Bottom of the Sky by William Pack – Review
Audiobook. If you’re a fan of the uplifting story, this book is not for you. This is a very sad story and within a few pages, the neurosis of the main characters has an obvious root in child abuse. A few issues follow.
One, each chapter is opened with a literary quote. Sometimes this is a well understood prelude to the following chapter content. Often, it seemed unrelated and annoying. An author attempt to create the next great literary novel? In my opinion, it’s not.
Two, the book is much longer than it needs to be to tell the story. Admirable decades in high finance comes through, more than necessary. This book should be split in two: One non-fiction and educational about the world of high-finance and brokerage. The second, a fiction about the story of Levi and Lam and their personal struggles.
Three, way too many characters in Levi’s professional life. Having been in a similar world, albeit not finance, I could easily relate to the myriad of personalities, the boardrooms and limos. But, there were simply too many names to keep track of, some not adding to the story arc at all. I finally stopped trying to keep them all straight.
With few exceptions, each of the main characters in this book has a boatload of personal demons. In my opinion, some of the behavior is over the top for anyone not institutionalized.
Narration is performed by Scott Brick. The story is depressing; the reading reflects the exasperation, desperation, and weight of the world carried by the characters.
February 12, 2014
February 11, 2014
Has a woman ever won the Congressional Medal of Honor?
Once, so far. Sort of find it hard to believe that no other woman has ever earned this award.
But, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker was not only the first woman surgeon in U.S. Military history, she was also the only woman in the Civil War to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest honor given to a citizen of the U.S.
She is the only female recipient of the award to date.
February 10, 2014
WWII Trivia, BAM!
During WWII, the acronym BAM stood for “Broad-Assed Marines,” or women soldiers in the U.S. Marine Corp. The women, however, called the men HAMs, for “Hairy-Assed Marines.”
February 9, 2014
WWII Trivia, Monopoly Board Game.
Germany allowed the Red Cross to send care packages to POWs and among the items that could to be sent were board games. Special Monopoly boxes were created that contained items to help the prisoners escape:
- German, French, and Italian money currency was hidden within the Monopolymoney.
- A metal file, hidden within the board.
- A small compass hidden in a play piece
- Silk maps of the prison and it’s location hidden inside the hotel pieces.
February 8, 2014
The Shack by William Young – Review
Audiobook. I tried, really did. Listened for just over an hour. It’s probably not fair for me to criticize the fundamental beliefs behind this book. Let’s just say throw a cliche out there: different strokes for different folks. I’m not a believer in the philosophies and therefore had a difficult time with the basics.
Beyond this issue is the patronizing tone of the writing. I felt like I was being lectured and spoken down to by a grown up that knew everything. Given I’m well past the half century mark, I felt the hackles of a rebellious teenager welling.
Not my cup ‘o tea.
WWII Trivia, Al Capone’s Car….
On the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Secret Service realized they did not have a have a bulletproof car to transport President Roosevelt safely to Congress to deliver his Infamy Speech. A quick thinking Secret Service agent realized that the U.S. Treasury had seized the bulletproof limo of Al Capone in 1931.
The car was still in working condition and safely transported the president to Congress. President Roosevelt reportedly quipped, “I hope Mr. Capone won’t mind.”
February 7, 2014
Blue Heaven by C. J. Box – Review
Audiobook. The first few pages grab your interest with a grizzly event involving two children witnessing a murder. The remainder of this procedural drama traverses the adventures of a toughened rancher seeking the answers. Bad cops have infiltrated a peaceful Idaho community.
The individual motivations of characters is nicely done, you feel sorry for some, detest others. Empathy is drawn even to peripheral characters caught up in the scenarios created.
No spoilers, but there are a few surprise deaths; the ending of the book is disappointing in that it became a bit ethereal. This isn’t an element throughout the book, only the last chapter.
I had no trouble with the reader; he did very well with a variety of ages, sexes, and ethnicities. No trouble determining who-said-what-to-who. Not what anyone would label as a deep book, simply a nice page-turning mystery. Easy listen.
February 4, 2014
14 by Peter Clines – Review
Audiobook. I’ve had this book in my queue for months and finally got around to reading (listening). Frankly, I almost turned off the book after the first few paragraphs not particularly impressed with the writing. I’m glad I decided to ‘hang in there’ and give the story a chance. No spoilers, but the it surrounds the mysteries of an apartment building in Los Angeles and a group of quirky tenants. The book is very intriguing when dealing with the oddities of the building and sleuthing on the part of the tenants, but I began to roll my eyes a bit with the introduction of sci-fi-alien-creatures of a netherworld. An entertaining yarn.
January 30, 2014
Yesterday – A review from a Canadian! Yea!!
Drawn to the characters, Jan. 29 2014Amazon Verified Purchase(What’s this?)
This review is from: Yesterday: A Novel of Reincarnation (Kindle Edition)
I have a confession. I picked up this book several months ago, and kept promising myself, I would find the time to sit down and read it, but life, as it has a habit of doing, got in the way, and time passed. Other demands kept me from seeking it out again, despite the fact that the book’s cover kept calling to me.This evening, I opened it, and began reading a mesmerizing story about Amanda and Mark, and I never couldn’t stop reading. I found myself drawn to the characters. Even the secondary characters are well-developed, but it is the main characters who steal your heart, especially Amanda as she tries to make sense of the familiarity of an antique clock, but also of the man who inhabits her world after she saves him.It is obvious that the author, SamyAnn is a gifted writer with the ability to breathe life into her characters, and she is a skilled researcher. The details she builds into the story make this story credible as we move back and forth between two time periods.
Well done. I look forward to reading more from this author and next time I am sure I won’t wait so long to dive into her world
