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RE: Book Review - 6/30/2010 10:26:37 PM
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Auben
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From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
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Vanity Fair by W.M. Thackeray
A contemporary of Dickens who also released his novels in serial form (as an ongoing story in a magazine). This novel is subtitled 'a novel without a hero' and that's mostly true (although I think a case could be made for Dobbins). The general plot follows 2 couples and their extended friends and relations during the British Regency period around the time of the battle of Waterloo.
You don't care about most of the characters. The nice ones are too weak and the strong ones are too self-involved, but the great fun in the novel is listening to the voice of the narrator. Between the imperfect but satirical narrator and the books sense of irony it flows along fairly well. It is long (think Dickens without the emotional manipulation), and has a few slow spots (long chapters involving Dobbin's doomed but constant romance or joking about the nobility can get old) but I enjoyed it.
Recommended for people who enjoy satire and period pieces.
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Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Review - 7/3/2010 8:14:12 PM
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Nocturnalux
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Auben
Vanity Fair by W.M. Thackeray
I have been planning to read this for the longest of times and will eventually get to it. And speaking of mismatched (perhaps) satire:
Wings of the Dove by Henry James
There is no need to state that James is an extraordinary writer with a deep insight into every aspect of the human psyche without of course lacking in social critique. This book has all that, however, as the author admitted in the preface (and I absolutely love how James's prefaces never really reveal anything about the heart of his work) it is not one of his best. As brilliantly dense as always it veers into almost cumbersome prose and often forces a reader to go back a few lines to fully understand what is being said.
Much is hinted at without being actually stated which can be marvellous if you are into delicious subtext (as I am) but annoying if you want to have a clear idea of what is going on. Recommended for everyone who enjoys psychological novels and complicated emotional games.
História do Futuro (dos Profetas à Prospectiva) by Georges Minois [original title: Histoire de l'avenir]
I am a fan of history of the ideas as a movement in historical thinking and without a doubt Minois is one of its greatest authors. This very solid book looks into how societies have tried to see the future in advance and how this led to practical actions in the present. Going from Babylon to our days without missing the dystopics (Orwell, Huxley, Bradbury) Minois is as ever very thorough and his sources are many and well researched. His only flaw is that the chapters dedicated to contemporary times are less detailed than those preceding them but still his is a work to be reckoned with.
I dream of having him sign my copies of his books most of which I already own.
_____________________________
I am an agnostic but I mean no harm.
*Lux et Veritas*
Light, where art thou.
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RE: Book Review - 8/13/2010 12:56:21 PM
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Auben
Posts: 533
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From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
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Forgot to fill in some blanks here:
America's Test Kitchen Family Baking Book 8/10--3 ring binder, laminated pages, nicely organized, very basic recipes with beginner recipes marked
World War Z: an Oral History of the Zombie War 7.5/10--If Studs Terkel interviewed the survivors of the zombie apocalypse this would be it. Interesting. Far ranging in terms of culture and politics.
Floating in My Mother's Palm 7.5/10--the poetic sibling of Hegi's Stones from the River. Germany in the aftermath of WWII. More following of interesting town residents.
Where You Once Belonged 8/10--The story of one man who captured the ideal of a small town, and then used what they gave him. Sad, but an interesting look into how we read what we want to into our heroes--despite evidence to the contrary.
Katherine 6.5/10--American teaches English in China and changes the way her students think.
Nectar in a Sieve 6/10--An Indian version of The Good Earth. Peasants struggle to make their way during the urbanization of India.
The Soul of a New Machine 8/10...for those with interest in the world--Non-fiction tale of the building of a microcomputer in the late '70s. Interesting to those involved in the world of technology.
The Sparrow 8.25/10--a Jesuit team leaves for the first known inhabited planet, sure that it is God's plan smoothing the way for them. Beautiful moments and terrible consequences for mistakes. Interesting questions about coincidence, God, doubt, and fate.
< Message edited by Auben -- 8/13/2010 1:03:53 PM >
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Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Review - 8/13/2010 12:57:41 PM
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Auben
Posts: 533
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From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
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The Bride Price 7/10--interesting in an anthropological way, about the Ibo people of Nigeria. A girl looses her father, falls in love with the wrong man, and faces the consequences. A bit melodramatic. Would have worked better as the folk tale it was striving to be.
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Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Review - 9/4/2010 11:40:38 AM
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Nocturnalux
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Auben
World War Z: an Oral History of the Zombie War 7.5/10--If Studs Terkel interviewed the survivors of the zombie apocalypse this would be it. Interesting. Far ranging in terms of culture and politics.
I am reading this book and loving it. It's surprisingly realistic given the whacky premise.
The Tale of Genji by Lady Murasaki
trans. Arthur Waley
One of the first works of prose in world literature, The Tale of Genji is a must read for all fans of Medieval literature of the courtly kind. It follows Genji, a son of the emperor who is not in the running for the throne, in his many frustrated love affairs. Genji is something of a casanova with all the hyper sensibility so cherished by Japanese literary canons. Beautiful and intelligent he has a great character flaw in that he is utterly unable of breaking off any liasion. Interestingly enough Genji is very kind and does like the many women with whom he gets involved.
It's interesting to see how much of the love dialogue centres around poem penning and poetry quoting along with references galore. There are moments of downward comedy that lighten up the mood. Often rigged with overreactions the story is engaging in its human element. It is also amazing that it was written by a woman, it adds a very curious element to it.
Silence by Endo Shusako
trans. William Johnston
Reading this was a strange experience. Being a Portuguese person raised in a Catholic environment and with a strong interest in Japanese culture it was rather odd to read a Japanese author on Portuguese missionaries in Japan in the 17th century. It was almost as if I was seeing myself through someone else's eyes. At any rate, the book is every bit as moving and chilling as it is reported to be. Historically sound, too. As usual Endo pulls no punches and describes the cruelty to which Catholics in Japan were submitted to with a clear sobriety that makes it all the more horrible.
Interestingly enough the story is told from a Portuguese priest's point of view and Endo manages this cultural shift with ease. Sad, depressing, with golden moments of faith strewn in, this is a book about doubt and a study on how to endure it. The conclusion shocked quite a lot of people (including the still existing Christian community in Nagasaki) but is very coherent with the idea that the book holds, namely that Japan alters every single external element- Christianity being the case in point- until it becomes something else entirely.
A solemn perspective all around and a cool look on the reasons that lead people to die for what they believe. Strongly recommended.
The Sea and Poison by Endo Shusako
trans. Michael Gallagher
I am on a Endo Shusako roll. This book focus some of the war crimes perpetrated by the Japanese authorities during WWII, namely the vivisections of American prisoners of war. Not directly connected to the horrors of Unit 731 it is based on real events and follows the stories of the people directly involved in the dissecting a living human being. Endo was the first Japanese author to dare approch such a touchy topic and for that he has my admiration. But more than that, this book is a powerful testimony of how people can commit the most horrible of atrocities by thinking themselves into having reasons for doing so. Instead of focusing too much in the murder itself (for it does amount to that) it unravels the backstories of the doctors and nurse that committed the deed in an attempt of understanding why they agreed to it.
The main character is an assistant doctor who is unable to do anything other than watch the operation with growing horror. Others include a nurse with a hatred for Westerners in general and a doctor that lacks a sense of conscience (I kept thinking that this one would be right at home in a Dazai Osamu story). There are several points of view that intersect to bring about a narrative that forces the reader to pause.
Without resorting to cheap morality or easy solutions the book brings home the atrocity of it all by engaging it outside of contrived drama and honestly. Not an easy read and I would not recommend it to anyone going through a rough time but it is a wonderful book that I wish was better known in the West.
_____________________________
I am an agnostic but I mean no harm.
*Lux et Veritas*
Light, where art thou.
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RE: Book Review - 9/7/2010 10:29:48 AM
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Auben
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From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
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It by Stephen King...one of his better plotted and structured novels. At least the equal of The Stand and in some ways better IMO...however, creeped out by one of the plot devices used in the final 80 pages so not sure if I could recommend this to everyone. 9/10
In the Beginning was the Command Line by Neal Stephenson...interesting essay @ the evolution of the computer and Stephenson's opinion of operating systems. Read with my techie husband. 5/10 dated and opinionated but good metaphors.
Children of God by Maria Doria Russell...continuation of The Sparrow. Interesting and well plotted but not up to par philosophically with its predecessor. 7/10.
The Space Merchants by Fredrik Pohl and CM Cornbluth...groundbreaking '50s scifi which became the first look at the ascendence of marketing and advertising/consumer culture and the need for conservation. Okay. Not obvious. 7/10
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Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Review - 9/11/2010 7:01:38 PM
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Nocturnalux
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Auben
It by Stephen King...one of his better plotted and structured novels. At least the equal of The Stand and in some ways better IMO...however, creeped out by one of the plot devices used in the final 80 pages so not sure if I could recommend this to everyone. 9/10
Heh, but that's King for you. And I completely agree, in some ways it might excel the Stand. Especially in that while being rather long a book it still manages to be very tight in terms of narrative coherence. It is a more instrospective version of the Stand's epic scale.
I finally finished The Italian by Anne Radcliffe. I am a fan of early Gothic literature with all its hyped sensibility and warped Romantic background but I stalled this book for such a long time that I had to re-read it in order to actually finish. The plot is as usual with Radcliffe: Young sensible woman sees her romantic prospects foiled by the joint efforts of social prejudices (that she helps propagate due to excessive pride) and the evil Catholic church (woah!) all spiced with plenty of creepy moments. The highlights are also the usual ones: nice descriptions, a lot of suspense, twists galore.
I liked but I cannot help thinking that it could have pushed the envelope a bit. But I supposed that is what Lewis' The Monk is for.
_____________________________
I am an agnostic but I mean no harm.
*Lux et Veritas*
Light, where art thou.
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RE: Book Review - 9/24/2010 3:14:01 PM
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Nocturnalux
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Life of Pi by Yann Martel
I was a bit disappointed. The book starts off strongly as the first person narrative of a young boy in India and his three faiths: Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. This alone was already an interesting approach and the way the different religious sensibilities are personally experienced by the narrator assured that it did not veer into essay territory. Unfortunately the core of the book focuses on a survival story of said narrator who finds himself the sole survivor of a shipwreck that kills his family. The story is told in retrospect so there is no actual suspense as to whether survival was achieved. But it does not fail in weaving a poignant narrative in which stark realism is punctuated with moments of lyrical fantasy. And of course, Richard Parker, the tiger with which the eponymous Pi shares this adventure.
I was reminded of a prose version of Coleridge's Rime of the Ancient Mariner for obvious reasons. Overall, the book is well worth reading. I only wish that the religious theme had been more present in the main event instead of being consigned almost exclusively to the introduction and to narrative frame moments. In the end there is a clever reflection about the role of fiction and how it should operate that literary students will find of interest.
The Friendship: Wordsworth and Coleridge by Adam Sisman
Two frontrunners of English Romanticism, Wordswort and Coleridge's careers are deeply interwoven and could not have been what it was if not for the colaboration between them. The book covers this in depth as well as the contemporary events and their impact on the poets (namely the Revolution and the following Terror and the English reaction to these) without forgetting the wide array of people that were a part of their life (Dorothy Wordsworth, obviously, but also lesser names such as Poole).
The book tells a very human story without embellishments. Here Wordsworth and Coledrige are not just the grand poets of their age they are also people and as such riveted with flauts. It makes them much more approachable and likable.
I did not know that Southey was on such intimate terms with Coledrige nor was I was aware that Lamb also was close to him. The fallout between Wordsworth and Coleridge cannot fail to make one sorry once one realizes just how much they both profited from their relationship (although it might also have been detrimental to Coledrige's career, something I was not aware of).
Wild Ivy: the spiritual autobiography of Zen Master Hakuin (trans. Norman Waddel)
When one thinks of Zen the image that comes to mind is of someone being unfazed come what may and contemplating their own navel. But this is no hymn to quiet 'cool'. Hakuin was an energetic figure that pours his heart into his text (written in a cryptic poetic style in the original) even as he strikes against what he sees as corrupting elements that threaten the Zen tradition. His greatest attacks are on the Unborn of 'Do Nothing Zen' that under the banner of clearing off all thoughts from the mind (since thinking is already a deviation from the pure nothingness of Buddha-ness) lead completely vacuous lives of no value.
This criticism is grounded on Hakuin's one's experience as he weaves the story of his life (the account being written when he was in the 80's) and lies bare the difficulties that Zen presented to him as a way of providing answers for future students. And here is where the book will alienate many: its main objective is educational in nature and views to guide those toward the Way.
Hakuin equates this idea of teaching with 'the Mind of Enlightenment' and thus revaluates the Zen tradition as well as his own vocation. There is also a strange incursion into very Taoist notions of medical meditation to cure 'Zen disease', the particulars of which are somewhat odd.
The book reveals Japanese Buddhism as something other than a monolith but as a very lively reality in which many sensibilities intersect: something that is true of today as much (if not more) than it was in the 18th century.
The Temple of the Golden Pavilion by Mishima Yukio
I re-read this after visiting the golden temple myself. As usual Mishima chooses the elemental darkness of all things as his favorite subject. This is the anatomy of a pathological mind that leads to an act of destruction: the burning of the temple by a young acolyte. It should be noted that the event did take place and that the present temple is a reproduction of the former one (and more lively with reinforced gold, it must be said).
Subversive nihilism sets the tone for a very introspective story. It is very interesting how Buddhism is shown to cater to plenty of insanity and the almost orgamisc call to primal nothingness can probably not be understood outside of such a cultural frame.
The introduction (by some American scholar) amused me greatly, it was still written in the 50's and laments the incoming destruction of Japanese Buddhism while at the same time wonders about the future of the country without at all even hinting at what Japan would become. It's a case of understandable lack of insight but still amusing (hindsight is always twenty/twenty but highlights irony nonetheless).
_____________________________
I am an agnostic but I mean no harm.
*Lux et Veritas*
Light, where art thou.
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RE: Book Review - 10/1/2010 4:58:19 PM
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ajbx10
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The Aspern Papers, by Henry James
Excellent novella about a man's scheme to get hold of a long-dead poet's papers from an elderly woman and her niece. Publishing the papers would bring the man much acclaim, so he concocts a plan to rent rooms in the woman's crumbling Venetian villa while disguising his true purpose from her. He plans to befriend the women, getting them to show him the papers. This story has lots of suspense, along with great character development and wonderful descriptions of Venice. Recommended.
Cheryl
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RE: Book Review - 10/4/2010 1:56:40 PM
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Nocturnalux
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No Longer Human
by Dazai Osamu
This is a classic of Japanese literature and the fact that it has remained so popular (having been serialized in 1948) that it is still one of ten bestselling books in the country. I mention this only because it is interesting how such an introspective and highly depressing book could have achieved such a status. I am of the belief that if there is one thing that marks modern Japan it is a strong emphasis on the individual even to the point of paradoxis and solipsism, an idea that directly contradicts what is usually held about the Japanese culture outlook.
But enough of that, 'No Longer Human' is a very terse first person account of someone who cannot comprehend people at large and so adapts a series of pantomines in an effort to function in society with at least a guise of creditability. It's a story of alienation and of being an outcast from the onset.
There is a framing device that sets this account into a larger context but the story in itself is a progressive descent into something akin to madness. The narrator, Yozo, goes from being an outwardly agreeable child and young man to a suicidal alcoholic. Were it not so short a book it could prove something of a hurdle but as it is it has a certain austere sad poetry of the concise. A twisted haiku, if you will.
'Twisted' is probably the best adjective to qualify 'No Longer Human'. Not in terms of style, this is clear cut and neatly offered for the reader's inspection but the content is so. Perhaps its most poignant point is its honesty. The narrator is relentless in describing himself as utterly abject and goes over his faults with a minutiae that makes one almost a bit ashamed of reading them. The book is supposed to be a diary and it really shows.
It is note worthy that Yozo was sexually molested as a child by female servants, something that he freely admits scarred him forever. Such things make it difficult not to sympathize with him despite the load of flaws he attributes to himself. It being a first person account one also wonders how much of it accurate, Yozo may simply be perceiving himself through the lenses of an elemental low self esteem.
Half biographical, Dazai would commit suicide shortly after finishing it, 'No Longer Human' is a consistent study of the inner psychology of a wrecked person. I wonder if Yozo's inability to relate to humans was not a foreshadowing of today's hikikomorism. Which is to say that the novel is not only still highly popular as it is relevant to the public.
I was already familiar with the anime version (in 'Aoi Bungaku', a real gem that covers other important moments of Japanese literature, interestingly enough Mishima's work was not contemplated) and I was not disappointed with the book.
_____________________________
I am an agnostic but I mean no harm.
*Lux et Veritas*
Light, where art thou.
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RE: Book Review - 10/27/2010 11:51:31 AM
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Auben
Posts: 533
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Ahh...Mishima. I was reading that one out loud to my husband in the car the other day. "He's a little self-involved, isn't he?" my husband said and we moved on to something else. I need to finish that one. It's in a pile somewhere.
I would swear I've read the Aspern Papers but I can't think of when or what else was involved in the story.
Hyperion...science fiction using a story frame much like The Canterbury Tales. Seven pilgrims seek the deadly Shrike for various reasons. Space barbarians. Time Temples which cause a woman to live backwards to her birth. Sentient cyborg copies of Keats. Wide-ranging but annoyingly cut off for the next book. 7.5/10
Five Children and It (E. Nesbit)...children's book from the early 20th century. Five siblings find a sand fairy who gives wishes every day. The odd things that happen. The concept has been done quite a bit since this came out but Nesbit has a very open story feel. Her characters are not overly precious (like sometimes George MacDonald can get). Interesting. 7.5/10
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Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Review - 10/28/2010 2:57:10 PM
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Auben
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From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
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Forgot to update a few more:
Arctic Homestead by Norma Cobb 6.5/10...family in the '70s moves to Alaska (just within the arctic circle) to homestead. The wife becomes the last woman to file a homestead claim in the US. Building. Accidents. Bears. Bigfoot. Gold mining. There's some question about the complete veracity of her claims, but I think she thinks their true. An adventure tale.
Three Hainish Novels by Ursula LeGuin 7.75/10...3 novels about different time periods (and even a different planet) loosely related to reflect the evolution of two different peoples. Well done (it's hard to expect any less from LeGuin), subtle, with a nice combination of technological sword & sorcery. Very anthropological (as is all of LeGuin's work). Some tales balanced better than others.
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Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Review - 11/5/2010 5:23:10 AM
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gracetogracetoo
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Witnessing To Dracula by Billy Ng. I wanted to add to the reviews already made on amazon.com and witnessingtodracula facebook page. Apart from the overwhelming humor, I found this book to be very insightful on Perseverance. It gives me a fresh perspective on loyalty to God's calling.
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RE: Book Review - 11/5/2010 7:53:14 PM
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Auben
Posts: 533
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From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
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Up in Honey's Room by Elmore Leonard
Every 5 years or so my husband picks up one of Leonard's books. He has a nice conversational style and the mystery is never too brain-burning.
Eh. That's all I have to say about this one. Leonard still has an easy style but I found the characters bordering on the ridiculous, especially the women. Come to think of it that was so in the last one too.  At least the mystery and general weirdness covered for that. This book covers a bunch of not-very-bad Nazis in the US during the final days of WWII. And a woman who married one of them back in the '30s. And a US Marshall. That's pretty much it. There's no suspense (other then will the married Marshall have an affair with Honey or what?). No one keeps back any secrets. It's a miracle the entire city of Detroit doesn't know the plot.
Grade: 5 (for style) out of 10, not recommended
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Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Review - 11/11/2010 10:25:11 AM
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eschaton
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The Vindication Of Jesus Christ
A Brief Readers Guide to Revelation by James B. Jordan
Jordan believes that the Old Creation was destroyed at the destruction of
Jerusalem in 70 AD. He understands this as the main concern of the book of
Revelation. He is a biblical literalist who believes the earth was created in
seven 24 hour days, but understands the Old Creation as the Old Covenant.
Several outline structures are given for Revelation. They appear to be
contradictory, but Jordan assures us they are equally correct. He doesn't
explain exactly how this works. Even though the many outlines are overlapping,
Jordan says none of the various judgments in Revelation (seals, trumpets, bowls)
describe the same ground. There is no recapitulation.
Jordan also says that Jesus coming in the clouds is his ascension, not his
return. In another unique insight, he says the Man of Sin found in 2nd
Thessalonians 2 is the High Priest. If that wasn't a new revelation to readers,
then try this. Jordan says Greek was the language of the Roman Empire. In
another insight, Jordan proclaims that 666 represents the religious leaders of
Jewry and the millennium began in 70 AD. Satan is loosed to deceive certain
nations at certain times, such as Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia. He will
finally be loosed to deceive all nations.
The Bible says the length, breadth and the height of the New Jerusalem are
equal. Jordan says this is a pyramid.
The book is a summary of Jordan's studies and lectures. They are available for
$1000 at his web site. If you're not confused enough, you can pay out the extra
bucks.
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FREE eBOOK - THE REBELLION AGAINST GOD
http://www.lulu.com/arfuller
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RE: Book Review - 11/17/2010 10:15:21 AM
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Auben
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From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
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Forgot...Hunger Games 8.5.10
Teen dystopia. Okay characters. Great pacing. Involving.
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Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Review - 11/26/2010 10:29:30 PM
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Auben
Posts: 533
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From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
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The Kings of New York
A look at the top high school chess team in the country (from Murrow in Brooklyn) and the players on that team over the course of a year ('05 I think). Interesting and observant. Points off for being a bit insular (really?? didn't think cell phones would work in Tennessee and that they were automatically in danger as minorities??) and not always bringing the tangents back on track.
grade: 7/10
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Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Review - 12/12/2010 12:12:48 PM
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Auben
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From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
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Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins 8/10
More teen dystopia. Characters marginally better. I actually like this one better then the first but part of the plotline was a little forced and it was easy to get confused with who did what to whom toward the end of the novel. One more to go.
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Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Review - 12/24/2010 1:10:03 PM
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alwaysinjoy2000
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The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer - Siddhartha Mukherjee
A great book about the history of cancer written by an oncologist and research scientist. Cancer is an illness and disease that will affect everyone, now that we are living longer lives, cancer has become the big killer over the infectious diseases of past centuries. The book states that 1 in 2 American men will get (not if, but will) cancer in their lifetime, and 1 in 3 American women will get cancer. It's not boring or tedious, but quite easy reading and you will learn a lot you didn't know about cancer. The book starts off with a prologue of Dr. Mukherjee seeing a patient that was diagnosed with leukemia, and his thoughts about cancer and what got him started writing this book. Questions like: Where are we in the war on cancer? Where did cancer begin? How can we combat this disease?
I was riveted in fascination about the history of medicine and cancer, who the pioneers were, and the tireless determination and hardworking conditions many of these scientists and physicians endured to save lives. He started from the 1st recordings in history of people with cancer, going back to ancient Egypt and Greece, through the middle ages, the 18th and 19th centuries, to the present time. Basically giving a "biography of cancer"!
Did you know that one of the physician founders of Johns Hopkins medical school, Dr. Halstead who pioneered the idea of "radical surgery" to combat breast cancer, was a cocaine and morphine addict? That the idea of chemotherapy came from observing the effects of mustard gas on soldiers used during WWI? That not until around the 1950s, cancer research funding and seeking donors (both public, private, and government) was a "new concept". I say "new concept" because it had never been done before a physician working towards finding antileukemia drugs, Dr. Faber, approached wealthy socialite Mary Lasker. If a patient was diagnosed with leukemia in the 1940s in the U.S., there was no treatment. There was no such thing as "chemotherapy", and it was physicians like Dr. Sidney Faber that worked passionately to find any kind of temporary cure for leukemia to extend his patient's lives that got the ball rolling towards putting money towards research to find anticancer drugs.
I think this is a book everyone should read. It will make you that much more aware (and grateful) of the people in medicine and science trying to stay ahead of cancer. IMO, we owe a great big "Thank you" to people in the past like Dr. Faber who put cancer in the national spotlight and did everything they could to secure resources to combat it. As well as big "Thank you's" to current cancer physicians like Dr. Mukherjee that are working right now to save lives from cancer.
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RE: Book Review - 1/1/2011 12:20:16 PM
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Auben
Posts: 533
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
Status: offline
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All of these I read sometime in November of December. I just haven't posted them.
The Kings of New York by Michael Weinreb...5/10. Good journalism...but occasionally unimaginative (really, calling chess champions geeks?) and narrow-minded (New Yorkers think their cell phones won't work in Kentucky or implying that minorities are automatically in physical danger in 'fly-over' states??)
Neverwhere by Neil Gaimin...8/10. Borrows extensively from other fantasy writers but the world is complex and interesting. Good ideas. Moderate characterization.
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell...9/10. Well done sociological journalism. What makes someone successful? What separates them from the majority? A very interesting look in how little things (history, background, family, time, 10,000 of practice) add up to creating exceptional performance.
Trailer Park by Russell Banks...7.5/10. I like Banks but I didn't connect with the characters and they never seemed especially fleshed out. An interesting look at how people can react exactly the same for entirely different reasons.
_____________________________
Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Review - 1/20/2011 2:23:37 PM
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Auben
Posts: 533
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
Status: offline
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13 Treasures by Michelle Harrison 7.5/10
YA fairy tale. New author. Sometimes too much exposition, but does a good job with the plot and the character of the 13 year old girl.
The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of a Superman 7/10
Top marks for research, although I think some of the premises (Houdini as an American spy, Houdini murdered by Spiritualists) are foggy at best. Unfortunately there were so many things I really didn't want to know about Houdini, so this book felt at least 200 pages too long.
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins 8.5/10
A decent, although violent, ending to the series. Realistic. Possibly too realistic for preteen and younger teens.
The Mysterious Benedict Society 8/10
A fun children's book. Too many times the foreshadowing seemed incredibly obvious to me. I was surprised that they were surprised. lol. But enjoyable in many ways.
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Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Review - 1/24/2011 9:38:53 AM
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coachclinton
Posts: 4
Joined: 1/24/2011
Status: offline
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'Job - A Man for His Time, A Man for Our Time, A Man for All Time' by Dr. Gregory V. Jones Jr
Dr. Gregory V. Jones Jr., has chronicled the biblical epic of Job, injecting those points into the modern day struggles that every human beings faces...the challenges and the necessary tools needed to overcome.
The author takes us beyond the torment that besieges Job, reaching down into the depths of the story, challenging us with thought provoking dialogue:"Is misfortune always a divine punishment for something?"
In our humanness, we feel the desire to lash out at God for the terror that befalls us. But Dr. Jones has a unique gift of grasping and communicating the glorious, and sometimes mysterious, truths of scripture. Relating to the reader that "change is inevitable" and the wisdom of God is beyond human comprehension regardless of what happens .
In this "must read for all Christians" when life is at its darkest ,... what is life without change? ....change without struggle, ....struggle without strength. Because within the struggle we discover our strength not our triumph. Without it{ struggle} how can we rejoice in the triumph
I recommend this book for "any one" seeking encouragement through inspirational writings.
When life is at its darkest, change is inevitable.
http://www.jobthebook.net/
http://www.amazon.com/Job-Man-His-Time-ebook/dp/B0049B2C8E/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295880103&sr=1-1
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Counsel Determines Destiny
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RE: Book Review - 2/6/2011 1:25:59 AM
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learn-bible-prophecy
Posts: 25
Joined: 2/5/2011
Status: offline
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The Coming Economic Armageddon: What Bible Prophecy Warns about the New Global Economy by David Jeremiah
Dr. Jeremiah is a good writer and does a great job of explaining, in sobering terms, how we ended up in the economic mess that we are in; and, more importantly, where we are going. He does so via the science/art of economics and, of course, by understanding God's infallible prophetic Word. My degree is in Business Management and I read a lot about economics (in fact, Peter Schiff's recent book entitled Crash Proof 2.0 is a great book from a secular author that echoes much of what Jeremiah says--though I think Jeremiah's is better since it approaches the subject from a Christian worldview). I have also studied Bible prophecy for many years (and wrote a book entitled Pray That You May Escape that is becoming increasingly popular). I say that to hopefully explain that I especially enjoy the subjects of economics and Bible prophecy and, thus, can write with reasonable authority that David Jeremiah addresses both of those topics exceptionally well.
He explains how the world economy is more interrelated than ever. There is also a good presentation of how the Social Security System is little more than a grand "ponzi scheme" on the brink of collapse; and how the economic health of a "superpower" can impact many other areas of a nation, such as it's international political and military influence. A good explanation of how debt at either an individual or national level eventually leads to serious financial problems and that pumping "fiat money" into an economy at the rate we have will lead to inflation is provided. We know that scenario (inflation, wherein it will take a day's wages just to buy food) is predicted to happen in the end times according to Revelation 6:6.
Further in the book Jeremiah turns to what he knows best: end times prophecy. As a result, the reader will find a rock solid discussion of how a "new world order" will play a role in the end times, how the Antichrist will be able to control who may buy and sell, the mark of the beast, and other important topics. Readers of his previous books, such as What in the World is Going On?, will find a good bit of redundancy; but they will also see it being explained from a more economic angle. If you haven't read a previous book by Dr. Jeremiah, I think one could jump right into this one and not miss much and, thus, since this one is most current, I would say get this one.
In the end, Dr Jeremiah delivers a good book well worth reading and, once again, makes a valuable contribution to the idea that Christians should now, more than ever, learn as much as possible about end-times Bible prophecy given the times in which we live.
- Jeffrey R. Camino
Learn Bible Prophecy Ministries
http://www.LearnBibleProphecy.com
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RE: Book Review - 4/4/2011 1:59:54 PM
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Auben
Posts: 533
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
Status: offline
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Blink: the power of thinking without thinking by Malcolm Gladwell~I enjoyed this. Not as well as Outliers. The individual stories did not gel as well as Outliers did. I did not always find myself agreeing with his conclusions. But still an interesting look at snap judgements...where they come from, when they are good, when they're bad. 7.5/10
The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux~I really should like this. I love travelogues. I like Paul Theroux (to a degree) and I'm fascinated by central Asia and train travel. However, Theroux is a bit of a grump. While I find that realistic it didn't always make for fun reading. It meant he closed himself off to some people, and that he obviously judged others. 6/10
Phantastes by George MacDonald~I was on a fairy tale kick this winter. Phantastes was one of these books. The usual MacDonald, often with very poignant or wise moments (quotable stuff), but also terribly disjointed. It just hopped from here to there. Not bad, but not as good as The Princess and the Goblin or something like that. 7/10
Napoleon's Buttons: how 17 molecules changed the world by Penny LaConteur~Really interesting and informative look at chemistry and history and how chemistry formed history. Topics like Wonder Drugs and The Pill as well as Scurvy or Malaria. This is not a book to burn through. While fascinating I could only read the sections weeks apart for each other. Also comes from a simple history background, with an opinions formed by our modern era. 8.5/10
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech~enjoyable Youth read about a 13 year old girl dealing with her mother leaving and establishing a new life in the city far from her farm home and extended family. Interesting. Light writing about serious subjects. 8/10
Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin~Another of my fairy tale reads. Starts in beautiful magical realism about turn of the century New York. An orphaned boy becomes a thief and meets a magical horse. A village in the mountains of upstate New York lives in its own time. Good and evil play out against the city backdrop. A really beautiful book, but it loses its way @ 2/3 of the way through. The last 200 pages seem to be searching for philosophy in the dark. It still has its moments, but they never shine quite as brightly as they did before. The magic is lost. 8/10
_____________________________
Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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