Rachel
This is one of those times I wish Goodreads did half stars. I would really give this 2.5 stars. It was a quick read, with good promise, but ultimately missed the mark.
The Thorn and the Blossom advertises itself as a two sided love story.
- The accordion fold of the book was interesting, but made it difficult to hold and read the book. (strike 1).
- The love story was rushed. (strike 2). I get that it was a short story, but it was just too quick. As the reader, i was given no time to fall for the characters.
- The visions were never clearly explained. There was a huge opportunity here and the author missed the mark. (semi-strike 3).
There were some good points to the story. It was quick. The myth of the Green Man, and Gawan and the Green Knight are a recurring theme. Those are what kept the novel going.
Overall, I would have preferred the author spent more time polishing up this story and expanding it to a full novel. The Thorn and the Blossom felt more like a detailed outline than a proper short story.
The Art of Horror: An Illustrated History is a great coffee table book. It is filled with incredible images and an astounding collection of horror movie posters. Each chapter centers around different monsters/characters ranging from traditional vampires, to dragons, to ghosts and aliens. Simply put, it's very thorough on its collection of horror monsters.
I loved flipping through this collection. From an artistic standpoint, the images were magnificent. I also loved seeing how many films were created based on certain characters. Many I had never heard of. A horror buff would love this book. Even non horror fans may enjoy flipping through this book. It's different, but contains a lot.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Transmissions centers around a 13 year old boy named Charlie. One night, while playing with the old radio he inherited, he comes across a strange radio frequency. A woman's voice begins to recite a series of numbers. She repeats the numbers a few times, then it stops. Intrigued by the numbers, Charlie decides to enlist help from his friend Jenny. That's if she's willing to talk to him again. Who is reciting these numbers? What do they mean? Can Jenny and Charlie figure it out?
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was the perfect length for an afternoon read, and had me eagerly turning the pages for more. I had to find out who was sending the transmissions. What did they mean? What happened between Jenny and Charlie? Could they fix their friendship? A few times I thought “this is starting to sound like insert book, tv show or movie title here”. Rather than play it off as an original idea, he would call out where he picked up the idea from. Specifically the strange radio transmission that is featured in the tv show Lost. He also mentions a movie, and spends quality time recounting the history of numbers stations and how it works. I found it rather fascinating. It's not every day you read a book about the backstory of spy transmissions.
While the title is “Transmissions”, H.S. Stone also spends quality time on the relationship between Charlie and Jenny. I loved how he included the small details (eating lunch, biking around the neighborhood, construction, family quarrels). It made it seem very realistic. The characters had thoughts, feelings, and responsible actions and parents. How many children/young adult books have children running out the door and disappearing for days without telling their parents where they are going? H.S. Stone makes sure to note that Charlie always checks with his dad before he goes or does something. thumbs up!
Transmissions was the perfect length and an entertaining read. Up until the ending I was prepared to give this 5 stars. Without giving spoilers, but for anyone interested, it reminded me very much of a tv episode called “Night Call”. Not a bad ending, but the similarity was disappointing for me. I would still recommend this book and look forward to reading more by Mr. Stone.
Normally I start my reviews with a recap of the book. The best way I can describe it is “the story that never got off the ground”. This book follows two separate characters. One is Bird Girl and the other is the Man who followed the sun. Their stories don't really intersect.
While the legend itself was interesting, the real drawback was the execution. It suffered from too much explanation. Most of the time I thought “get on with it...”. From a historian perspective, it was filled with a rich amount of information. From a casual reader's perspective, it was boring
“He slept soundly but rose just after six-thirty, fully alert, rested enough but strangely eager to see how the tree he had planted had fared through its first night on this remote and secretive domain”
“His sense of direction had always been excellent and the fog had thrown him off only a few degrees so that he came first upon the dim green cluster of pebbles that was the cairn, before looking to his left and seeing the green cone of the tree, anaemic and still in its solitary spot on the cliff top.”
Look above. Did you notice that the second quote is a single sentence? That is a sample of the writing style used in The Memory of Trees. Each sentence is packed pull of descriptive terms and never ending words. Instead of letting the dread and forbidding build, the author shoves the emotions down your throat. “solitary” “haunting”. There was no room to breathe.
I've read a number of books on old folk tales, haunted places, ancient places, mysteries, etc. The description for this book was right up my alley. I was beyond excited to find a new book to add to my collection and that is why I'm so disappointed in it. This felt like a bad hollywood remake of a classic story. Too many fancy words (CGI), underwhelming and unrelatable characters. There was a good story underneath. That is why I give it 2 stars. How it has received higher ratings is incomprehensible to me.
I listened to the audiobook version of this narrated by Simon Prebble.
When reading/listening to an older book, I find it imperative to think like the people of that day and age. Journey to the Center of the Earth was originally written in the mid 1800s. (for American audiences, this is around the same time as the American Civil War). No cell phones, no internet, no air planes, no cars. The brave went on adventures, the majority of people didn't travel farther than their own town, or surrounding towns.
Much of what Jules Verne writes about sounds ridiculous to modern audiences. We know that most of what he writes about is impossible. He fills the book with facts that are passible to readers of the 1800s. Everything has an explanation, which makes the story seem more realistic. If I were to have read this back then, I'd have given the book 4.5 - 5 stars. There were some slower parts, but for the most part, it was a fast paced, heart pounding adventure. (this could also be due to Simon Prebble's fantastic narration). Regardless of its age, it is still an exciting read, and an enjoyable adventure book. Simon Prebble did a fantastic job narrating this story, and I look forward to listening to him again. I am also curious and excited to read the rest of Jules Verne's Extraordinary Voyages series.
I was fortunate to listen to the audiobook version. It is narrated by the man himself, Dick Van Dyke!
Keep Moving could easily be classified as a book for the elderly. I don't think that's a fair description. It's really a great book for everyone. Dick Van Dyke has such an enthusiasm for life. He's light hearted, always smiling, and moves better than a man half his age. Listening to him was very inspiring. Before you realize it, your life will pass you by. Take every opportunity you can get. Also, always look on the bright side of life. As Dick says, never let go of that inner child. Approach each day with wonder. Smile, laugh. Life is short and precious. Laugher and happiness is also one of the keys to a long life.
Dick is so full of life, it's hard to accept that he's in his 90's. If he can still do it, so can I. There is no excuse. Although short, it was a real treat to read/listen to this book. The audiobook was just over 5 hours and well worth it.
It's hard to review this book, so I'll break down the different parts.
Story: ** The story is an emotional roller coaster. Often I started to picture myself in their shoes. Not only does Kevin share his side, but his wife Sam shares hers. Various friends and crew members give outside points of view. Those were very powerful. It's easy to forget there are others in the world who are suffering. This puts it front and center. Kevin shares so many intimate details. It's raw, and an incredible insight into Kevin's struggles. Editing: **. there are so many names being dropped that it takes away from the overall story. It was too much. Clearly they were so eager to tell their story that they didn't know where to limit it. Reading: *** This was the second story I've heard Kevin Sorbo narrate. At first i hated it. he was so cocky. Then I realized that is who he is. who could present the story more realistically than the person it happened to. Sam provides narrative for herself and other book contributions. Hercules Fans: *** There isn't much insight into the shows until the 2/3 mark. then it gets really good. overall: **. the story is inspiring, but could have used more editing. Around the 40% mark I was ready to give up. I'm glad I didn't. the last 1/4 was the best. Kevin grew up. That made the rest worth it.
What a great book about success. I learned some great tips while reading/listening to this. I'm really looking forward to making my success board this weekend. Steve called it something else, but I can't remember it. I found the concepts to be more important.
I'd like to listen to this six months from now, comparing how successful I've been in that time. The audiobook only took 4 hours and was def worth the time to listen to.
oooh not what I expected. It's more about the producers than the show... Putting this in the DNF pile. Plenty of other books to read instead.
A truly fantastic nonfiction novel. Robin Hutton captures the full life of Sgt. Reckless, a mare plucked from her home stable to help the American Marines during the Korean War. With stories from her companions, Reckless comes alive off the page. Many times I couldn't help but laugh at the little horse's attitude. An excellent read.
Great book that should be required reading for all.
Everything comes down to your attitude. It's always a choice. Be happy, or be angry. The people who think positively and strive to keep learning will move ahead. And there is always opportunity to change.
Last year I read Steve Harvey's book Act Like a Success, Think Like a Success. It was one of the best books I read. More books came and went, yet that one always stood out in my mind.
When Jump appeared as an audiobook, I jumped on the chance to read it. Ironic, because the book is all about taking action. I took much of Steve's guidance from Act Like a Success to heart. He had to struggle, and many times things seemed impossible, yet he never lost faith. That is what I admire most about the man.
Before reading his audiobooks, I only knew of Steve Harvey from Family Fued. He seemed to be very humble, personable, honest, and good-hearted. Reading Act like a Success really opened my eyes. He never gave up hope on his dreams.
His new book Jump is about taking that next step in life. You won't get anywhere until you jump. Bad relationship? It wont change unless you jump. Don't like your weight? You need to jump, sign up for a fitness class, start taking the stairs. Jump is all about action. Yes, you need to weigh the pluses and minuses. You shouldn't jump blindly, but you also shouldn't let fear hold you back in life. The most successful people have made it where they are because they jumped. The happiest people are the ones who followed their dreams. They jumped. If you have faith in yourself and believe in your dreams you WILL succeed.
Thank you Mr. Steve Harvey for yet another inspiring book.
Really solid coffee table book. Each section is rather short (between 5 and 10 paragraphs per section). The size of the book is daunting, but the short chapters are encouraging. It is full of fascinating images (and the glossy paper they use smells divine!). The content ranges from ancient times (yes, more ancient than the Romans and Egyptians) and covers into the modern era. Overall a great book. Not one you can read in one sitting, but one that you can have on your table for years and enjoy in short bits at a time.
Side note: I borrow 99% of my books from the library (including this one), but I intend to save up enough to purchase a copy for my own bookshelf.
Solomon is one of probably many free men who were sold into slavery. Remembering that this is a true story makes it hard to swallow. It is heavy material that cannot be “binged”. I can applaud Solomon for writing his story. In that aspect, I give him 5 stars. I did wish there was more about his life after those 12 years.
Good third installment. Loved the Aquaman story. The other superheroes I was a little unfamiliar with, but they were still good. Aquaman, the Flash, Captain Marval, Shazam, all the super dogs, hawkman and hawkwoman.
I like listening to celebrities narrate their own books. I feel like it really gives you an insight into the REAL person.
When I picked up Nevertheless, I didn't know much about Alec Baldwin. I knew he was in Pearl Harbor. I knew he was on 30 Rock. I knew he portrayed Donald Trump on SNL. I have heard his name everywhere, but I didn't know much about him.
Long story short, Nevertheless isn't a comedic celebrity memoir. It's not simple fluff. I actually don't know how to rank it. When I started the book, I thought “wow, Alec Baldwin sounds like an asshole”. then I thought “I could call him an asshole in my review, he'd never read it, but even if he did I doubt he would even care.” He just gives off this vibe that he doesn't give a F what you think. Then he delved into his childhood. And suddenly it's like the doors were flung wide open. I could see what impacted his personality, and why he has such a gruff personality. I actually felt rather sad for him and his family. I'm thrilled that he escaped it and found such high levels of success, yes it's clear that what happened during his childhood has impacted him for the rest of his life.
The early parts of his career were interesting. I actually never realized that the husband from Beetlejuice was the same guy in Pearl Harbor and 30 Rock (ok I've never actually seen 30 Rock. It's on my list...). To me, they look like two completely different people. Maybe it has to do with the timeframes. The actor in beetlejuice in young and full of hope for an acting career. The Alec Baldwin from the 2000s and 2010s is more mature. His personality is a bit bittersweet. He carries a weight with him wherever he goes. His voice is soothing, yet strong, yet full of opinion. The Beetlejuice Baldwin would have accepted advice. My impression of the current Baldwin is that he just doesn't care what you think.
Maybe I'm judging the man too harshly. I don't think there's anything wrong with his attitude. I think that's what makes him so successful. Listening to him narrate his own story gave me a new appreciation for the man. Is he someone I'd like to have coffee with? not really. but is he someone I enjoy watching on tv? Absolutely. He brings something to his work that other actors can't. He has his niche in the acting community, and I wish him the best success going forward.
Side note summarizing my opinion on the book:
Alec's narration is excellent. It makes this book. If he wasn't narrating it, I'd have stopped rather quickly. The book itself was good, but a one time read. I actually really enjoyed the last 1/4 of the book. It humbled the man. I finally saw past that gruff exterior and saw the human behind him. It wasn't a favorite celebrity book, but it was good for a day's listen.
This book (while extremely short) was a DNF (did not finish).
It has a great message to it, especially tying in the story of the author's WWII horrors with stories of gardening. I actually wanted to like it, and skimmed for the parts about her uncle. Those were fascinating. But the writing was horrible.... Have you ever heard a hippie speak? That traditional “love the trees, god is good. I don't like complete sentences but live in another world cause i'm high outta my mind”. Well that's the voice that tells this story. Again, the story itself was good and very interesting, but the hippie speak killed it for me.
I started The Picture of Dorian Gray over a year ago. After nearly 100 pages I grew bored and shelved it. Since then it has been taunting me on Goodreads. How could a book so small be so hard to read? Was it bad? No, but like most classics you just need to be in the right mood to read it. The language is usually older, thus taking more concentration to read.
This past week I switched to an audiobook version. I'm glad I did. It was much easier to understand. Instead of tripping up over word pronunciations, I let the author's narration guide me through the unknown words. I actually really enjoyed this narration and found the voice to fit the character of Dorian. Slightly hoity, yet elegant. Bravo to the narrator for doing such an excellent portrayal.
Overall I enjoyed the story. It is at times slow, but carries a deeper message. Looks are one thing, but one's actions carry a deeper weight. I'm glad I finally finished it.
My review is broken down by topic:
Writing style: * - Not bad. It's early 1900's style writing. I have read two other books by H.G. Wells and enjoyed them. Started off slow, but still readable. Characters: ** - Under developed, but unsurprising for the time. I wanted to punch the main character. He could speak their language in less than 3 days? and found a love interest? and do all these other fantastical things? Yes, I get it, it's sci-fi, but what an infuriating man and completely illogical character. It reminded me too much of the father in Swiss Family Robinson (another horrible “classic” book) Plot Movement: - Started at **, grew up to *** near the end. Overall a ** plot speed. Plot: ** - Could have elaborated a lot more. Personally, I prefer to have the action happen in the present. Knowing from early on that the time traveler makes it back alive took away some of the excitement from the plot. Based on the time this was written, it was probably fascinating.
Overall: the second half of the book was very fast paced. I loved the pacing. H.G. Wells can build up a plot pretty well. The main character was infuriating, and the whole concept of time travel is preposterous. Still, it greatly impacted future books, films and tv shows. I have to give it credit for it's impact on society. Overall, it was a decent read, but not a book I would re-read or give space to on my shelf. (No, I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. It was a middle of the road classic for me)
What a fantastic book. Well written, and well paced.
I had to constantly remind myself that this was just a book. I grew angry at the pigs, and wanted to smack many of the other animals for their ignorance. It deserves its title as a “classic” and is a book everyone should read.