Phil Lemons

I would not not have guessed I would enjoy this book as much as I did based on the book description. The writing is fantastic and the Aaronovitch casts the fantasy characters in a modernized light with the gravity of their history. I found the main character believable. Clever in his own way, but not a genius. He doesn't buy too much into his own stock and his awkwardness with women is a nice change from the stereotypical lead who is confident and comfortable with the opposite sex. I do think this could have been done without sounding so much like a teenager who is hyper aware of the female body. 

All said, this is a fun adventure blending modern London with mythical fantasy. 

I see a theme in Marvel shows about accepting one's self for who one really is. In the case of Mom Knight, our hero has a mental illness. Something that has long come with intrinsic shame. Finding a way to accept one's self when the world judges so harshly is a minimal difficulty. This graphic novel gives what I imagine is a small taste of that. And even us who don't have schizophrenia but struggle with our personal identity must face smaller mountains of challenges, but the end goal is the same. To thine own self, be true. 

This book is written specifically for a Seventh-Day Adventist audience as it is based on the theology, history, and culture of the denomination. Torres looks at these aspects of the denomination, how it has evolved, where it has stalled, and where we as members have come to rely on methods and procedures while losing sight of the bigger picture and the heart of the movement that inspired the formation of the denomination. Torres proposes that we as members would care more and have more to share with others who are looking for God if we lived remembering that God wants relationship with each person and that his presence in our hearts changes us from the inside out, we would have something to share that people want to hear and not rely on fear and winning intellectual arguments to reach people and connect them with God. 

A fun adventure about a young girl who gets an opportunity to find a new life with meaning. 

I really like the message that our true sense of worth comes from a personal connection with God/Jesus, not just doing right it believing right. 

A Chinese-American college student is invited to lead a heist to return Chinese art to China that museums have not ethically acquired. 

In the end, this book is more about the five characters trying to figure out who they are and where they fit in life in the US. The heist parts are fun and it was interesting to see the characters wrestle with their realities and the choices they made in the end. 

This story embodies the concept of walking in someone else's shoes. It looks at the world being dominated by a matriarchal society with men getting the treatment and bias judgment women have and do experience. It's not a perfect analogy. It does adhesive the goal for those who are willing to consider the concept upon which the story is based. I think we would live in a better society if we considered what the experience of those who don't have the same privileges as ourselves more regularly. 

This felt really slow for a Star Wars book. It was easy to put it aside and come back to it as it is a collection of short stories. There are stories that I liked a lot and some that weren't for me at this time. One thing that I do have a strong opinion about is that I don't like sex and swearing in Star Wars. It feels out of place for the Star Wars storytelling feel to me. I don't recall there being much of either and the sex is only innuendo. It just feels out of place in a story that was fun without it. 

I wanted to read this book after listening to it. In part because I couldn't remember the ending, and in part because books with depth require more thought on my part, which audiobooks don't afford as well. 

I enjoyed the science in this fiction, but more so the human experience. It seems that each planet could correlate to a different stage of our lives and how we respond to them. Each in our own unique ways. This may not be the intent of Chambers, but it is what this book has sparked in me. Whether on this world or another, the question that faces us daily is how to navigate this life. What do we use it for? And is our life of value, even if it doesn't have a commercial value? Or become a person who is off global or national influence? Most importantly, how do we treat others? How do we show them respect and honor their lives? 

I love books that get me thinking about deeper things and this one does just that. 

I've long been a fan of Alan Lee's Middle Earth art. Looking at his art and reading his thoughts along side was a great treat. My only complaint is that I wish it was a bigger book. 

What does it take to lead a person to piracy? Is the idiom “One a pirate, always a pirate?” true? This story lets us get to know Tempest Runner Lourna more personally. 

This book is the script for the audio drama, though I didn't realize that until I received it. I look forward to listening to the audio drama in the near future. That said, reading this book was fun. I had no problem entering the world without in depth descriptions of the world, to my surprise. 

From a deeper perspective, I find myself thinking about the tribes we create in this world. The way we are drawn to people we feel are like ourselves and are willing to fight against the other tribes. What would happen if we choose to try to understand others? To bridge the gap? Not by indoctrinating others or proving them wrong and ourselves right, but truly trying to see people for who they are and affirming the light in them? I think we would have a more peaceful galaxy. 

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this Star Wars story. I like the main character, Cere Junda. I like the way this Jedi padawan is passionate about truth and Justice while having the ability to learn and grow. I like that the world is complex, not necessarily black and white and easy to define. 

Hardy Boys books were one of the I started reading on my own when I was in elementary school. I liked the adventure and mystery. Now I'm reading them with boy and they seem to be formulaic and not nearly as interesting to me. I suppose that is how growing up goes. Some of the things from childhood get left behind. It's okay, but I wouldn't come back to this story. 

Choose Your Own Adventure, only Star Wars style. This was a fun adventure and fun to see how different choices ended up working out. The story really felt like it captures the essence of Han Solo, whether the choices work out or not. 

This is a book published on the style of a children's picture book with god natured fun referring to the original Star Trek series. If you're a fan, you'll get it. If you're not, don't worry about this one. 

What do you do when you have a strong curiosity, a scientific kind, and undeterred determination, but are born as a person the world doesn't consider capable of such things? You make the right friends, convince them to let you travel with them and write a scientific journal disguised as a travelogue. 

This is a slow burner, as those with rich world building are. The presentation of the story is first person with a voice that draws one into the story. The narrator was fantastic, sounding as though the character was telling right here in the room. 

“Maps bring people together.” This is a quote I think I will always remember and is my favorite in the book. This is a well crafted, fun story. I like the way the characters all respond in unique, realistic ways to the conflict. Good enough to read again. 

A quick memoir from a social introvert concerning the struggles of wanting meaningful social interaction that doesn't overwhelm her.

This is a fun space opera. This is a story for that time when one wants a story that feels familiar and goes the way one hopes it will. There are elements of the romance genre and a couple of erotic scenes that are racier than I'm used to. 

Which is more powerful: fear or love? In this world where fear and love take physical shape in the form of dragons presents a picture of what living in God's love looks like in this dragon world. 

Some may find this series preachy or too religious as Dekker makes reference to a number of Bible verses about the nature of God's love. Some might see Dekker's focus on unconditional love as being too liberal. I say, if reading this gets a person to think about and look for the reality of God's love, it is a very good thing. 

Murderstyles of the rich and famous is back looking at the politics and jealousy of the writing world. 

One of the things that sells this book is the performance of the reader. The story is compelling, though it has elements I don't look for in my reading. It's a fun mystery and I find that I like the main characters. 

There are elements I like about setting Darth Vader in a period of internal conflict. Triple Zero is an amusing character in a dark way. I think I've read this before, but for the most part, I don't find the story memorable. 

The story continues to explore the difference between fear and love. The arrival of the dragons has the boy excited. 

Dekker continues to illustrate and describe unconditional love and its respect for freedom of choice. This is a theme I personally never get tired of. 

At the beginning, I thought this might be too slow and a bit too dark for the boy. However, with the end of book one coming and a cliffhanger ending looming, he was eager to finish and start book two immediately. 

Ted Dekker readers who have obtained this book are likely familiar with the way he shares his faith through his story. It's not hidden, but it doesn't come across a preachy. This book talks about how the religious wars made all religious books illegal. So there are references sprinkled about as forbidden wisdom. 

I am a person of faith and I like reading Dekker's ideas illustrated with story. This first book appears to be paving a path for how Yeshua's (Jesus') love conquers fear. This first book sets up the story, so we shall have to wait to see where it goes. 

Once again, I find this a fun story, but ultimately not very memorable. Doctor Aphra's drops Triple Zero is the comic relief, and is likely the brightest spot for me. It feels like Darth Vader has to be written as a weaker character for our heroes to survive this one. 

First reading ** I continue to love the artwork in the Darth Vader series. However, I found the portrayal of Darth Vader to feel off. He doesn't feel like the character I see on the screen, but I don't have words to describe why. He feels weaker somehow. Most of the story feels like a side story to the main story from the previous series that promises to pick up in the next volume. Overall, I give the story a two stars and the art four, but I generally don't find comic book stories to have as much appeal for me personally, generally speaking.Second reading ** I wanted to revisit this as my boy has taken to Start Wars and is finding an interest in the Darth Vader graphic novels. I still see Vader as weaker in these stories. He is looking for help from others and sometimes feels he is at the mercy of others. Considering the idea that the Emperor may be holding a grudge after the destruction of the Death Star, I can now see that Vader is in a place where he has to prove himself. I'd like to think the Emperor knows Vader is the most powerful weapon he has, but must keep him somewhat broken to maintain power over him, rather than treating Vader as a disposable and replaceable asset. Overall, I enjoyed the story more the second time through.