There are some absolutely delicious-sounding ideas in here, and the few that don't sound like guaranteed home runs at least sound intriguing. I can'tThere are some absolutely delicious-sounding ideas in here, and the few that don't sound like guaranteed home runs at least sound intriguing. I can't wait to make my way through them all (minus the ones with meat)....more
A different setting for Dr. Alex Delaware as he and Robin leave L.A. for an island in the South Pacific where some potentially interesting old case fiA different setting for Dr. Alex Delaware as he and Robin leave L.A. for an island in the South Pacific where some potentially interesting old case files (or a paid vacation offered by the owner of said case files) beckon. But of course even though Milo Sturgis doesn't follow Alex this time, murder still does, as well as several other mysteries that may or may not all be connected.
There are several interesting elements of this story, including the aforesaid murders, the odd behavior and hobbies of their benefactor, and some of the cases that he shares with Alex. The writing is good, the mystery is interesting, and there is some suspense and some excitement. All in all, it's a fair Alex Delaware book, not the best or most interesting one, but one of a series where even the worst book is probably going to be interesting reading....more
I love Ender's Game as well as Ender Wiggin, and that book will always be my favorite of the Ender books, not to mention one of my all around favoriteI love Ender's Game as well as Ender Wiggin, and that book will always be my favorite of the Ender books, not to mention one of my all around favorites. That being said, I think this book is better. It revealed dimensions of Ender's Game that fascinated (and kind of angered) me, it had many remarkable characters (some of which touched my heart and some of which chilled my blood), and plenty of dramatic events that made me rejoice or cry (and sometimes both).
I gave this book five stars because it was wonderful and it's also one of my favorites. I would probably even recommend it to people who for some reason can't or don't want to read Ender's Game for some bizarre reason, because I think it could stand on it's own. I really do love this book, and really like Bean. But I love Ender, and I love Ender's Game more.
My brother had to buy me this copy because he borrowed my original copy that I bought in Israel and gave it back to me so beat up that it was only technically still in one piece....more
I hadn't realized how much I'd missed Ender until there was a glimpse of him in A War of Gifts. And it wasn't enough. So I was glad to be given the giI hadn't realized how much I'd missed Ender until there was a glimpse of him in A War of Gifts. And it wasn't enough. So I was glad to be given the gift of a whole new Ender book. Even though large sections of it weren't actually about Ender, the book as a whole was very interesting and not really what I'd anticipated.
Even though we read the basic story of Ender becoming the Speaker for the Dead at the end of Ender's Game, this book filled in all the details, and the details really made the story. There were also some new storylines: some that began on Ender's colony before he arrived, some back on Earth, one that took place during his flight, and one that involved another colony and characters from the Shadow series (I thought this last storyline would need its own book to resolve--and maybe it should have had it).
There were a few times that the pacing felt off, sometimes going too fast, sometimes too slow, and it can be difficult so see beloved characters grow up, but I definitely enjoyed this book. It didn't mean as much to me or touch me the way Ender's Game did, or even as much as Ender's Shadow did, but it's still an Ender book....more
The Expected One explores the long untold story of Mary Magdalene. It follows a journalist as she begins to investigate that much maligned woman folloThe Expected One explores the long untold story of Mary Magdalene. It follows a journalist as she begins to investigate that much maligned woman following a series of visions that she believes are guiding her towards something--and finds out much more than she had anticipated, including her own role in the story that, after 2,000 years, is still being played out.
The story told in this book is an interesting one, although the writing wasn't the greatest. (Nor, however, is it the worst--it's merely simplistic and at times has too much monologue-as-exposition.) At any rate, it was interesting enough that I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the planned trilogy.
This book will inevitably be compared to The Da Vinci Code, because of their shared themes of ancient secret societies, intrigue and betrayal in Southern France, clues hidden in famous renaissance paintings, and the relationship between Mary Magdalene and Jesus. They have other similarities, including a lot of interesting ideas about history that are very tempting to believe (despite the lack of any need to cite--or even have--sources in fiction), and a writing style that belies more of an interest in telling a story than in creating high quality prose with any depth.
However, beyond these thematic and technical similarities, the two books tell very different stories. This one deals with fulfilling an ancient prophesy in this time, and also goes back 2,000 years to telling the story of Mary Magdalene's life, of Jesus and the apostles, and of the other people and events that surrounded them. That story is different from any others I've seen, has a very good message, and was worthwhile for me to read....more
I see a lot of people say they liked the cyberpunk stuff and were totally uninterested in the ancient language/religion aspect of the book. For me, itI see a lot of people say they liked the cyberpunk stuff and were totally uninterested in the ancient language/religion aspect of the book. For me, it was the opposite. I didn't even mind that a lot of the information about language and mythology came in huge blocks of exposition, because I found it really interesting. I kind of wish I'd read this book sooner, because I've probably had it since last millennium, and I could have reread it many times since then if I'd read it when it was given to me....more
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