Phil Lemons

Vader continued his search for Luke while employing Doctor Aphra and keeping it from the Emperor and everyone else. 

I like to hear a person's story. I like them better when they feel true and honest. We all see life from our own personal perspective and I don't believe anybody would publish all their dark secrets. 

What I like about Will's story is that it isn't just a memoir or a behind-the-scenes exposé. The stories he tells build his journey and inform his growth as a person. The message of finding that fame and fortune, not even the purest person who loves you can be the source of your self acceptance and happiness is true and hits the mark for me. It's remembering this truth that is the continual struggle. 

Darth Vader has disappointed the Emperor with the loss of the Death Star. Vader goes to work behind the scenes to regain that trust to find the unexpected. 

It is interesting to see a more nuanced view of Vader's internal struggles. Doctor Aphra is an interesting character, reminding me of a role a fan of Star Wars and Darth Vader inserted into the universe without force ability might look like. 

Ram just wants to be left alone in his comfort zone fixing things with his Bonbrak friends. The discovery of a sabotaged comms tower and a Nihil plot take him on an adventure he would not have chosen. 

This was more fun than I expected it to be. It's a middle school book, which comes with a certain bias on my part. I expected like Hardy Boys or other books I enjoyed during those years that I would have a light, fun read that wouldn't stick with me long. Ram and his friends sucked me in and I found I became invested in this story. It fits right in with the adult novel The Rising Storm, which was a fantastic story, as well. I would say these two stories belong to each other. You can read either without the other and have an enjoyable time, but the two together paint a bigger picture. 

This last installment of The Chronicles of Narnia is my least favorite, although I love the description of Aslan's country in the end. Some may not like where the allegory gets thin, but I like that Lewis shares his beliefs of heaven and the nature and attitude of God toward us. 

A favorite quote: And if any man do a cruelty in my name, then, though he says the name Aslan, it is Tash whom he serves... 

Here in 2022, it seems I hear a lot about people doing cruelty while claiming God's name and will. I truly want those who have experienced those cruelties to know that is not his way. 

A fun mystery adventure set in The High Republic era. A twist here and there I didn't see coming. A number of characters from  other stories make cameo appearances, which is fun. 

This book is half Barr's story, half history book. This puts the context of the topic into both personal and through the scope of history, which I think is a brilliant combination. I have the to not be subjugated to the short end of the patriarchy stick. I do continue to face it in my personal life among family and fellow Christians who seem to be amazed that my wife and I do not fall into these expected roles headship theology (referred to as complimentarianism in this book).

I learned a ton of history in this book, both and New Testament. When put in context with ideologies pushed in over the last century, Barr shows just how glaringly unChristlike this theology is and how much men have continued to find ways to maintain power and authority under different guises. 

It would be irresponsible to point out the importance of the personal narrative woven through this book. This isn't just a debate over a topic that has no current day impact on our lives like pre, mid, or post tribulation debates. This has a real world impact that hurts people here and now while also bearing witness about Jesus Christ and taking name in. 

I recommend this book to all who want to understand more about this theology and why it is so toxic to both men and women. I also recommend this book to those who believe this theology does not reflect God and need a well thought, historically researched treatise showing this is the case.

The story does show how power dynamics and revenge are so poisonous to our souls. I enjoyed reading this graphic novel, but it hasn't pulled me into being a fan yet. I may borrow the next volunteer from the library and see where it goes. 

This book is a novel, but it has an organic, truthful feel. I could believe it to be true. The amount of research Fu has done truly brings the story to life. The storytelling flows well, the flowing by, yet taking time to paint beautiful pictures along the way. Joy is woven in the pain and sadness. Beauty is found in destruction. Wounds can heal, even decades later. From this book, I take away this lesson.  Hearts are like soil. When left untended, uncared for, they are incapable of growing a life of beauty or the ability to give to others. When we take the time to address the pains and fears in our hearts, to look for the beauty around us, and let those who love us water our hearts, our lives produce a natural beauty that blesses everyone around us.

I don't have a deep love of the mirror universe, but wanted to see how a Star Trek comic would stand up to Star Wars. Overall, I think the story was stronger, but it feels weird to see all the characters have muscular bodies. 

The story is a rather typical mirror universe story. Having just finished, I can't say that I remember all the storylines, but I had fun reading them. 

I see a message in this book where I didn't before. The idea that living apart from God is like being enchanted and convinced that the poorer copies of the real things are the only things. This enchantment robs us of our joy and hope while enslaving us to the desires of the enemy of God. 

At the same time, believing and following doesn't mean one has to have some ignorant enlightenment. Puddleglum, like the other Jeremiah, shows us we can love God and be faithful followers while not being happy, shiny people. 

This book is beautifully written. Even so, the first half of the book had me wondering if I had picked up the correct book to listen to. I'm happy to say it all connects in the end. The second half of the book is where I found the rhythm and heart of the book. There is a lot to learn about how to interact with a person going through dementia. 

This book of written in second person. That bugged me a bit at first, but I got over that as the story progresses to where I think the second person view is more powerful. 

I think this book is a good introduction to living with a person with dementia. That being said, all people are different. This is one experience, not how they will all go. Still, the author shows how family can support their loved ones in this and how it's okay to have different feelings and perspectives on this reality than others in the family. 

This book is beautifully written with an equally beautiful message. Kawaguchi's characters feel so real and relatable. Their personal growth feels organic and true, not having forced a happily-ever-after upon them. The resolutions seem simple when reading them, but there is a lot that happens in one's soul to get there. Kawaguchi's characters display this brilliantly, showing a respect for the person and their personal thoughts while communicating the personal journey to the reader. I love this book as much as the first. 

Had I taken time to read about this book, I doubt I would have borrowed it. This seems that it is supposed to be a coffee table kind of book with large prints from episodes to go alongside quotes from Captain Picard throughout TV series and movies. The trouble is, that's all it is. 

I find that a quote in itself without context is a tenuous thing. Sometimes they retain their power as they communicate an universal truth beyond the context. There are a few of those in this book. Most of the quotes I feel need context, and some, even with context are just witty and don't convey any real wisdom. 

This book isn't for me for these reasons. Perhaps a fan who knows all the episodes more intimately than I do will find themselves transported to the episode and will feel the power and context of the quote. That is not the case for me. In my house, this would simply be a Star Trek themed dust collector. 

This is a quick, fun adventure that focuses more on Jedi learning than on the battles in the galaxy. I enjoyed following Lily's story and following her path learning from others as well as her own experience. 

There is a lot in these books I really like. I love the portrayal of coming to know and experience the love God has for me as an individual. The portrayal of the mystery of who God is and how we use our traditions to try to remember him, but tradition without relationship turns into empty religion without power to make any real difference in our lives. 

I think the story could have been shorter with a number of times something is repeated or explained removed. Sometimes it feels like the characters are stuck in a feedback loop, unable to move forward. Yet that is a realistic representation of most of us in this life, so perhaps that deserves more thought. 

I do enjoy this series and it will hold a special place as it encouraged me in a time I needed it. 

The thing that draws me to Modan's stories is the rich culture. Both the culture of where the story takes place and the personal culture that the characters have. May be fictional stories, but they are told and illustrated in such an organic way as to feel true stories.

Exit Wounds tells two stories in parallel. It's one of the things I love about this story. There is the wounds of the nation, the family, and the individuals.it reminds me that a nation is like a beach. While it is a thing in itself, it is made up of millions of individuals. While one grain is easily missed and can seem insignificant, the beach cannot exist without grains as a whole. This is with our families, as well. The wounds are a part of who we become as individuals. They and don't always make sense, but ultimately they lead us to the most beautiful parts of our lives we them.

Another enjoyable take for the High Republic. I like this one better than Into the Dark. This is not as dark, more of a mystery. There are a number of turns in the story with some unanswered questions leaving one wondering how they will be resolved. 

The story flowed well, with minimal telling and recounting the tale told in The Rising Storm. It wasn't all dialogue leaving one having to read carefully to know who is speaking, either. 

I like the way the main character is not a Jedi in a story about Jedi. Truly looking forward to the next installment. 

Most of us don't want to talk about the embarrassing stuff from our past. This is as true of us as a nation as it is of us personally. This fictionalized retelling of a true event reminds us that not talking about our abusive past only gives hate air to breathe and catch fire again. 

As a Christian, I am saddened that people who call themselves by the name perpetrated this hate and violence, believing they were doing the work of God. I think that was a god of their own making. An idol they used to empower them to commit these atrocities. 

Regardless of our faith, culture, or history, I believe we will always continue to take from those who are different from those in power, who believe different, who talk different, and have different traditions, until we as a nation learn to embrace each other and truly accept and respect each other in these differences. Let us work for that goal. 

This story does a wonderful job of illustrating the pain our own cultural and familial barriers cause us. The way a person's personal shame and secrets can be passed through the generations is a theme that is timeless. How we navigate these things is like sculpting. It in part shapes us to who we are and in part reveals who we are deep down. Fantastic story.

Curiosity and a digital borrow from the library got me to read this. This is an adaptation of The Light of the Jedi for the 6-8 year-old crowd. The artwork is first class and the story flows well. I believe this would resonate with early elementary age more than any other group. That being said, I like seeing pictures of the ships that are referred to in the adult novels for future context. 

This may me my favorite in the series. This was like Pilgrim's Progress for me in my youth. There are many concepts illustrated in what the heroes face on the journey. It gets me thinking deeply. Whether this is the intention of Lewis or not, it has this affect on me. For that I will always love this book. Plus, Reepicheep the Mouse!

This is a case where I think the audio is well worth an investment and adds a quality the print version cannot have. 

It's hard to tell how much of this is based on truth and how much is fictionalized. Spiner delves into self deprecating humor while sharing life lessons he learned at a point in life while acting in Star Trek: The Next Generation. I truly a good bit of this story is highly exaggerated. In the end, it is a well told story that amuses me, wrapped in a mystery, with some deeper lessons to contemplate. 

This is week produced and sounded like listening to a Star Trek episode. I rather enjoyed the quick look into the question of whether eternal life is something that is actually desirable or not. Forget, what makes life worth living for us mortals. I found these concepts more interesting than the actual story. 

Peter Enns does a great job of adding a bit of sugar to make the medicine go down. That being said, there is plenty of medicine here. Some of the concepts here reflect thoughts and ideas I've had in my own wrestling matches with God to try to understand the godhead and the Bible. Even more I recall from reading Enns' book Because the Bible Tells Me So. I did not anticipate the depth (and this is likely a scratching of the surface from an academic perspective) that this book would go.

I started off finding some relief to questions and struggles I've had over the years. Somewhere in the second half of the book, I found myself asking, have we just eliminated the possibility of an everlasting, living deity through logic and the evolving perspectives of those who follow the god named Yahweh? There are some personal reasonings and perspectives that have led me to believe God is real, though unseen and unheard except through the Bible and the life of Jesus. But what if this is self-imposed delusion?

Fortunately, Enns brings it all back around to how he reconciles this with faith, which had me feeling better. What I like is that this book challenges me to think deeply and to continue to hold on to God in this spiritual wrestling match of faith in my life, looking for what is real and true. (Note: true is not the same as factual. A truth can be conveyed through a fiction or exaggerated storytelling.) 

For those who believe God is big enough and strong enough to be asked the hardest questions, for those who are willing to admit our faith is only as big as a mustard seed, and want to dig deeper into how to reconcile the parts of the Bible that don't seem to reflect the God we think we know and serve, I recommend this book.