Andrew
A comprehensive introduction to the art of bonsai that covers the primary forms, suitable species, and basic techniques for training the tree. Has a bit of a UK bias given that's where the author lives and works, but he makes an effort to generalize as much as possible when talking about the seasons and handling the bonsai in different weather.
I most appreciated the section where he discussed the progress of trees in his own collection, with notes and pictures taken over the course of 10-15 years in some cases. It really highlighted both how much dramatic change a tree can be induced to undergo and also how minute, gradual refinements may go unnoticed for years at a time but add up to a noticeable difference in the final product.
As to whether or not the information and advice in the book is sufficient to help someone develop a successful bonsai...I guess get back to me in 5 years or so.
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My Rating Scale
5 stars - An all-time classic, a book that fundamentally changed or enriched my life. Would recommend to any and all readers.
4 stars - An excellent book that stands out in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would recommend to anyone with even a passing interest in the genre or subject matter.
3 stars - A perfectly serviceable book that may be entertaining or informative but does not push the envelope or linger long in the memory. Would recommend to pre-existing fans of the genre or author.
2 stars - A book that falls short in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would only recommend with reservations or would not recommend at all.
1 star - A book that has nothing to say, or says it so poorly it isn't worth reading. Would not recommend and would actively warn away from.
A comprehensive introduction to the art of bonsai that covers the primary forms, suitable species, and basic techniques for training the tree. Has a bit of a UK bias given that's where the author lives and works, but he makes an effort to generalize as much as possible when talking about the seasons and handling the bonsai in different weather.
I most appreciated the section where he discussed the progress of trees in his own collection, with notes and pictures taken over the course of 10-15 years in some cases. It really highlighted both how much dramatic change a tree can be induced to undergo and also how minute, gradual refinements may go unnoticed for years at a time but add up to a noticeable difference in the final product.
As to whether or not the information and advice in the book is sufficient to help someone develop a successful bonsai...I guess get back to me in 5 years or so.
_____
My Rating Scale
5 stars - An all-time classic, a book that fundamentally changed or enriched my life. Would recommend to any and all readers.
4 stars - An excellent book that stands out in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would recommend to anyone with even a passing interest in the genre or subject matter.
3 stars - A perfectly serviceable book that may be entertaining or informative but does not push the envelope or linger long in the memory. Would recommend to pre-existing fans of the genre or author.
2 stars - A book that falls short in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would only recommend with reservations or would not recommend at all.
1 star - A book that has nothing to say, or says it so poorly it isn't worth reading. Would not recommend and would actively warn away from.
A good mix of short stories about sex, violence, and greed from throughout Block's long career. Most are standalone stories, a few take place within his popular Matt Scudder series.
My favorite of the collection was the titular story, "Catch and Release, about a 'retired' serial killer. There were two other stories, "Clean Slate" and "Speaking of Lust" had elements that made me initially think they were related or describing the same events from different perspectives...but on further reflection, I think it was more a case of an author going back to the same well more than once in his career. Who knows how much it was intentional choice?
_____
My Rating Scale
5 stars - An all-time classic, a book that fundamentally changed or enriched my life. Would recommend to any and all readers.
4 stars - An excellent book that stands out in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would recommend to anyone with even a passing interest in the genre or subject matter.
3 stars - A perfectly serviceable book that may be entertaining or informative but does not push the envelope or linger long in the memory. Would recommend to pre-existing fans of the genre or author.
2 stars - A book that falls short in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would only recommend with reservations or would not recommend at all.
1 star - A book that has nothing to say, or says it so poorly it isn't worth reading. Would not recommend and would actively warn away from.
A good mix of short stories about sex, violence, and greed from throughout Block's long career. Most are standalone stories, a few take place within his popular Matt Scudder series.
My favorite of the collection was the titular story, "Catch and Release, about a 'retired' serial killer. There were two other stories, "Clean Slate" and "Speaking of Lust" had elements that made me initially think they were related or describing the same events from different perspectives...but on further reflection, I think it was more a case of an author going back to the same well more than once in his career. Who knows how much it was intentional choice?
_____
My Rating Scale
5 stars - An all-time classic, a book that fundamentally changed or enriched my life. Would recommend to any and all readers.
4 stars - An excellent book that stands out in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would recommend to anyone with even a passing interest in the genre or subject matter.
3 stars - A perfectly serviceable book that may be entertaining or informative but does not push the envelope or linger long in the memory. Would recommend to pre-existing fans of the genre or author.
2 stars - A book that falls short in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would only recommend with reservations or would not recommend at all.
1 star - A book that has nothing to say, or says it so poorly it isn't worth reading. Would not recommend and would actively warn away from.
On the one hand, this was an interesting story from the Wild West days of computer networking, before the concept of cybersecurity existed. As someone who spent my whole career in IT I enjoyed reading about the case where methods still in use today like packet capturing, audit trails, and honeypots were essentially invented on the fly. It was also enlightening to read about the philosophical standpoint of the network admins that were explicitly opposed to basic security practices because they believed in free and open collaboration and data sharing. What a happier, simpler time...
On the other hand, the book is too long by half and the middle section is so...damn...repetitive. Stoll pads the book with page after page of "On Sunday, I detected the hacker trying to break into military systems. I called the FBI but they said they couldn't get involved. Little did I know this case would last another 6 months...on Monday, the hacker was up to his old tricks. I called the NSA, but, as they had told me every day for the last 6 weeks, technically no crime had been committed. How much longer could this go on? The answer turned out to be 5 months, 3 weeks, and 6 days...on Wednesday, I was shocked to discover that..." and I can't express how much I am not exaggerating.
There are some merits to the book but at this point, 40 years after the fact, it's only of interest to aging computer nerds like myself who want to reminicise about olden times. There's no mass appeal here anymore.
_____
My Rating Scale
5 stars - An all-time classic, a book that fundamentally changed or enriched my life. Would recommend to any and all readers.
4 stars - An excellent book that stands out in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would recommend to anyone with even a passing interest in the genre or subject matter.
3 stars - A perfectly serviceable book that may be entertaining or informative but does not push the envelope or linger long in the memory. Would recommend to pre-existing fans of the genre or author.
2 stars - A book that falls short in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would only recommend with reservations or would not recommend at all.
1 star - A book that has nothing to say, or says it so poorly it isn't worth reading. Would not recommend and would actively warn away from.
On the one hand, this was an interesting story from the Wild West days of computer networking, before the concept of cybersecurity existed. As someone who spent my whole career in IT I enjoyed reading about the case where methods still in use today like packet capturing, audit trails, and honeypots were essentially invented on the fly. It was also enlightening to read about the philosophical standpoint of the network admins that were explicitly opposed to basic security practices because they believed in free and open collaboration and data sharing. What a happier, simpler time...
On the other hand, the book is too long by half and the middle section is so...damn...repetitive. Stoll pads the book with page after page of "On Sunday, I detected the hacker trying to break into military systems. I called the FBI but they said they couldn't get involved. Little did I know this case would last another 6 months...on Monday, the hacker was up to his old tricks. I called the NSA, but, as they had told me every day for the last 6 weeks, technically no crime had been committed. How much longer could this go on? The answer turned out to be 5 months, 3 weeks, and 6 days...on Wednesday, I was shocked to discover that..." and I can't express how much I am not exaggerating.
There are some merits to the book but at this point, 40 years after the fact, it's only of interest to aging computer nerds like myself who want to reminicise about olden times. There's no mass appeal here anymore.
_____
My Rating Scale
5 stars - An all-time classic, a book that fundamentally changed or enriched my life. Would recommend to any and all readers.
4 stars - An excellent book that stands out in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would recommend to anyone with even a passing interest in the genre or subject matter.
3 stars - A perfectly serviceable book that may be entertaining or informative but does not push the envelope or linger long in the memory. Would recommend to pre-existing fans of the genre or author.
2 stars - A book that falls short in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would only recommend with reservations or would not recommend at all.
1 star - A book that has nothing to say, or says it so poorly it isn't worth reading. Would not recommend and would actively warn away from.
A satisfying send-up of The Prisoner of Zenda. Flashman, the cowardly rogue, claims that the story was flimsily based on his own real life experience, although he was far less chaste and noble than his counterpart, Rudolph Rassendyll. In Flashman's telling, he was kidnapped by Otto von Bismarck and forced to impersonate a minor Danish noble in a plot that would have jumpstarted the Unification of German. It's a fun tale on it's own and more so for those familiar with the Ruritanian romances that it parodies.
There is one single word in the book that bumped my review score up from 3 to 3.5 stars...at one point Flashman sarcastically refers to the events as a "clever little bandobast." The text doesn't explain what a bandobast is and I had to look it up as I was unfamiliar, as I imagine 9 out of 10 other readers would be. It's an Anglicization of an Indian word that means "a plot, plan, or conspiracy." It's such a minor and unnecessary detail on Fraser's part to have Flashman use that archaic term but lends so much to the continuity and grounding that Flashman, who was stationed in India as a cavalry officer in the first book, would be familiar with this word and use it in his internal narration. I loved it.
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My Rating Scale
5 stars - An all-time classic, a book that fundamentally changed or enriched my life. Would recommend to any and all readers.
4 stars - An excellent book that stands out in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would recommend to anyone with even a passing interest in the genre or subject matter.
3 stars - A perfectly serviceable book that may be entertaining or informative but does not push the envelope or linger long in the memory. Would recommend to pre-existing fans of the genre or author.
2 stars - A book that falls short in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would only recommend with reservations or would not recommend at all.
1 star - A book that has nothing to say, or says it so poorly it isn't worth reading. Would not recommend and would actively warn away from.
A satisfying send-up of The Prisoner of Zenda. Flashman, the cowardly rogue, claims that the story was flimsily based on his own real life experience, although he was far less chaste and noble than his counterpart, Rudolph Rassendyll. In Flashman's telling, he was kidnapped by Otto von Bismarck and forced to impersonate a minor Danish noble in a plot that would have jumpstarted the Unification of German. It's a fun tale on it's own and more so for those familiar with the Ruritanian romances that it parodies.
There is one single word in the book that bumped my review score up from 3 to 3.5 stars...at one point Flashman sarcastically refers to the events as a "clever little bandobast." The text doesn't explain what a bandobast is and I had to look it up as I was unfamiliar, as I imagine 9 out of 10 other readers would be. It's an Anglicization of an Indian word that means "a plot, plan, or conspiracy." It's such a minor and unnecessary detail on Fraser's part to have Flashman use that archaic term but lends so much to the continuity and grounding that Flashman, who was stationed in India as a cavalry officer in the first book, would be familiar with this word and use it in his internal narration. I loved it.
____
My Rating Scale
5 stars - An all-time classic, a book that fundamentally changed or enriched my life. Would recommend to any and all readers.
4 stars - An excellent book that stands out in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would recommend to anyone with even a passing interest in the genre or subject matter.
3 stars - A perfectly serviceable book that may be entertaining or informative but does not push the envelope or linger long in the memory. Would recommend to pre-existing fans of the genre or author.
2 stars - A book that falls short in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would only recommend with reservations or would not recommend at all.
1 star - A book that has nothing to say, or says it so poorly it isn't worth reading. Would not recommend and would actively warn away from.
Very good story with a great, creepy ending. It's setup for the second book in The Captive's War series but honestly it works perfectly well on its own as a quick, disturbing, space marine tale.
_____
My Rating Scale
5 stars - An all-time classic, a book that fundamentally changed or enriched my life. Would recommend to any and all readers.
4 stars - An excellent book that stands out in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would recommend to anyone with even a passing interest in the genre or subject matter.
3 stars - A perfectly serviceable book that may be entertaining or informative but does not push the envelope or linger long in the memory. Would recommend to pre-existing fans of the genre or author.
2 stars - A book that falls short in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would only recommend with reservations or would not recommend at all.
1 star - A book that has nothing to say, or says it so poorly it isn't worth reading. Would not recommend and would actively warn away from.
Very good story with a great, creepy ending. It's setup for the second book in The Captive's War series but honestly it works perfectly well on its own as a quick, disturbing, space marine tale.
_____
My Rating Scale
5 stars - An all-time classic, a book that fundamentally changed or enriched my life. Would recommend to any and all readers.
4 stars - An excellent book that stands out in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would recommend to anyone with even a passing interest in the genre or subject matter.
3 stars - A perfectly serviceable book that may be entertaining or informative but does not push the envelope or linger long in the memory. Would recommend to pre-existing fans of the genre or author.
2 stars - A book that falls short in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would only recommend with reservations or would not recommend at all.
1 star - A book that has nothing to say, or says it so poorly it isn't worth reading. Would not recommend and would actively warn away from.
I listened to the audiobook when it first came out but sat down to read the book earlier this year to refresh myself ahead of the second novel coming out. Starts off fairly slow with a lot of buildup of plot lines that have no payoff...but on the second time through, I really see that as a strength. It helps lull you in and put you in the shoes of the characters, where all the petty workplace drama and interoffice politics they were caught up in become completely meaningless in the face of the Carryx invasion. Very good book overall, nice bit of world building and teases out enough threads to make one interested in continuing the series.
_____
My Rating Scale
5 stars - An all-time classic, a book that fundamentally changed or enriched my life. Would recommend to any and all readers.
4 stars - An excellent book that stands out in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would recommend to anyone with even a passing interest in the genre or subject matter.
3 stars - A perfectly serviceable book that may be entertaining or informative but does not push the envelope or linger long in the memory. Would recommend to pre-existing fans of the genre or author.
2 stars - A book that falls short in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would only recommend with reservations or would not recommend at all.
1 star - A book that has nothing to say, or says it so poorly it isn't worth reading. Would not recommend and would actively warn away from.
I listened to the audiobook when it first came out but sat down to read the book earlier this year to refresh myself ahead of the second novel coming out. Starts off fairly slow with a lot of buildup of plot lines that have no payoff...but on the second time through, I really see that as a strength. It helps lull you in and put you in the shoes of the characters, where all the petty workplace drama and interoffice politics they were caught up in become completely meaningless in the face of the Carryx invasion. Very good book overall, nice bit of world building and teases out enough threads to make one interested in continuing the series.
_____
My Rating Scale
5 stars - An all-time classic, a book that fundamentally changed or enriched my life. Would recommend to any and all readers.
4 stars - An excellent book that stands out in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would recommend to anyone with even a passing interest in the genre or subject matter.
3 stars - A perfectly serviceable book that may be entertaining or informative but does not push the envelope or linger long in the memory. Would recommend to pre-existing fans of the genre or author.
2 stars - A book that falls short in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would only recommend with reservations or would not recommend at all.
1 star - A book that has nothing to say, or says it so poorly it isn't worth reading. Would not recommend and would actively warn away from.
Someone recommended this book to me, saying, "you seem like you would enjoy this." I'll have to go the rest of my life knowing that's what they think of me and never knowing what I did to give them that impression.
There's only three things the fine folks of Black Banks, Kentucky love; faith, family, and going down to the honky-tonk every Saturday night. All the women look as pretty as a peach in their ol' gingham frocks and they be cooking that cornbread just right, every waking moment. The young men come up from the coal mine all blue-eyed and muscley, wearing them Levi jeans so tight they just about fit to bust. They love their mamas and they ain't got no daddies, and in between smoking a Marlboro Red, drinking a shot of Jim Beam, or singing/listening to gospel music at least once per paragraph, they stand out in the middle of the Appalachian holler looking up at that clear blanket of stars thinking deep thoughts about their place in the universe. Lord bless, they's so many deep thinking, whiskey drinking, God fearing folk staring up at the stars it's a wonder there's enough room for them all to stand side by side.
There ain't much plot to this [smoking a Marlboro] story, it's more of a character study and series of vignettes centered around 20-something year old orphan [shot of bourbon] Clay Sizemore, who ain't never been in love before until he meets and starts courting Alma, who play the fiddle just as sweet as a slice of strawberry rhubarb pie and done runned off from her no-good husband Denzel. The story is interspersed with flashbacks to Clay's dearly departed wild child saint of a mother, Anneth, [gospel music] and some mighty powerful symbolism and metaphors that weigh as heavy as the Appalachian hills themselves...and just like those hills, the symbolism is strip-mined and hollowed out for all it's worth until there hain't nothing left [smoking another Marlboro, double shot of bourbon].
The prose is so sappy and dripping with Southern aphorisms, you could sop it up with one of your grandmammy's buttermilk biscuits. If there's a single [gospel music] hillbilly stereotype that isn't loving portrayed at some point in this book, then I'll be a monkey's uncle.
_____
My Rating Scale
5 stars - An all-time classic, a book that fundamentally changed or enriched my life. Would recommend to any and all readers.
4 stars - An excellent book that stands out in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would recommend to anyone with even a passing interest in the genre or subject matter.
3 stars - A perfectly serviceable book that may be entertaining or informative but does not push the envelope or linger long in the memory. Would recommend to pre-existing fans of the genre or author.
2 stars - A book that falls short in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would only recommend with reservations or would not recommend at all.
1 star - A book that has nothing to say, or says it so poorly it isn't worth reading. Would not recommend and would actively warn away from.
Someone recommended this book to me, saying, "you seem like you would enjoy this." I'll have to go the rest of my life knowing that's what they think of me and never knowing what I did to give them that impression.
There's only three things the fine folks of Black Banks, Kentucky love; faith, family, and going down to the honky-tonk every Saturday night. All the women look as pretty as a peach in their ol' gingham frocks and they be cooking that cornbread just right, every waking moment. The young men come up from the coal mine all blue-eyed and muscley, wearing them Levi jeans so tight they just about fit to bust. They love their mamas and they ain't got no daddies, and in between smoking a Marlboro Red, drinking a shot of Jim Beam, or singing/listening to gospel music at least once per paragraph, they stand out in the middle of the Appalachian holler looking up at that clear blanket of stars thinking deep thoughts about their place in the universe. Lord bless, they's so many deep thinking, whiskey drinking, God fearing folk staring up at the stars it's a wonder there's enough room for them all to stand side by side.
There ain't much plot to this [smoking a Marlboro] story, it's more of a character study and series of vignettes centered around 20-something year old orphan [shot of bourbon] Clay Sizemore, who ain't never been in love before until he meets and starts courting Alma, who play the fiddle just as sweet as a slice of strawberry rhubarb pie and done runned off from her no-good husband Denzel. The story is interspersed with flashbacks to Clay's dearly departed wild child saint of a mother, Anneth, [gospel music] and some mighty powerful symbolism and metaphors that weigh as heavy as the Appalachian hills themselves...and just like those hills, the symbolism is strip-mined and hollowed out for all it's worth until there hain't nothing left [smoking another Marlboro, double shot of bourbon].
The prose is so sappy and dripping with Southern aphorisms, you could sop it up with one of your grandmammy's buttermilk biscuits. If there's a single [gospel music] hillbilly stereotype that isn't loving portrayed at some point in this book, then I'll be a monkey's uncle.
_____
My Rating Scale
5 stars - An all-time classic, a book that fundamentally changed or enriched my life. Would recommend to any and all readers.
4 stars - An excellent book that stands out in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would recommend to anyone with even a passing interest in the genre or subject matter.
3 stars - A perfectly serviceable book that may be entertaining or informative but does not push the envelope or linger long in the memory. Would recommend to pre-existing fans of the genre or author.
2 stars - A book that falls short in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would only recommend with reservations or would not recommend at all.
1 star - A book that has nothing to say, or says it so poorly it isn't worth reading. Would not recommend and would actively warn away from.
