Phil Lemons

This is a fun story. I particularly like that the author presents characters that have shared interests with conflicting perspectives on how to accomplish them. The characters have strong biases they don't want to see past, which feels even more prescient than ever. The resolution of the story and what the author has to share afterward really connected with my desire to find ways to create peace between cultures and people even when we disagree on the details. That people are of more value than dogmas. 

This is a dark, dystopian story that makes one's soul ache. I love the cultural setting that is organic, not stereotypical. I like the look into what it means to be different from the majority and how one can try to become like the majority to survive, even at the cost of losing one's own identity. These are concepts most of us struggle with on some level. I cannot imagine the pain and struggle one would face because of their skin color or race they were born with. That which is one's very identity without choice. It reminds me that I want to acknowledge every person's value, regardless of their identity or origins. 

This is so very well written. It feels like reading a piece of art. I like this look into an ancient country that I have largely only had a view of in context of a war that was dying out when I was born. I did not want to put this down. 

This is quite an interesting look into the desire to be likeable and how it relates to women in the workplace and politics, specifically. As I person who wants to be liked, I can relate to a certain amount of this book. As a man, there is a lot that has opened my understanding to things I have witnessed and perspectives I was ignorant of. 

What I appreciate is that Menendez recognizes this is the problems women face in not being treated the same as men is one that cannot be fixed with policies or legal action. It would be a lot simpler if it could be. This is an issue that each of us has to wrestle with to make this a more equitable place for all people. Hopefully, policies and legal action can shine a light in some dark corners where unconscious bias lurks and guide us to working toward that goal. 

What I take away from this book for my personal self is, advocating for myself does not make me less likeable. 

As the universe expands, I find it more difficult to differentiate between the main characters, my biggest complaint. 

I really like the natural flow and style of the writing and the use of humor that feels organic. 

There are some scenarios that didn't appeal to me personally initially. As the story goes on, I see the subplots being mirrors to the main plot. That, I think, is quite genius. I like how this book brought me into thinking about what it means to be an individual verses what it means to be one individual in a community. 

I liked this better on the second read. I noticed the wisdom sprinkled through this book more this time. Words that remind us we are not going to be perfect and that's okay. I like the more nuanced Jedi here, too. Burying feelings and not recognizing them is unhealthy and damaging to a person. Learning how to work through the feelings and the hurt that caused them brings healing. I would like to see more of this in the Jedi.

This is a real tangle of a tale that leaves a number of items unresolved. I suppose that's the way a book two out of three goes. Overall, this sticks to the Firefly storytelling fashion. 

Thi Bui tells the story of her family's journey from Viet Nam to the United States, but also the journeys each of her parents and she herself take from childhood to parenthood. 

The stories here are personal and real. This is very character driven. It's the people in the story that I like most. 

I have never faced living in a war torn country, moving to a new home with a whole new culture and language. Further, I knew next to nothing about Viet Nam. Reading these stories was enlightening. The fact that these are also stories about individuals who were trying to find their ways in life with flawed parents with issues they didn't understand and trying to find their way in life is something I understand and identify with. The blend of these two journeys is a brilliant storytelling technique that makes for more than just learning about someone. It is an intimate look into another person's life that makes them less a random stranger and more of a real person I can identify with and respect. 

I have read a few graphic novels over the last couple of years for those times when I don't have time or energy to get into a regular book. For the most part, they've been entertaining while reading them, but not really memorable. These are the first graphic novels in a long time that I find that I recall the story after it's done. The High Republic continues to appeal to me. It's Star Wars without rehashing characters that we already know well. 

This was a fun read. This was an unexpected change of pace in the Picard Universe and it is greatly appreciated and well crafted. I love the way Miller brings elements from decades of Trek together in a way that works and isn't just fan service. Best of all, the story entertains all the way through the epilogues. 

There are some books that I don't want to talk about as I don't want to give any of it away. This is one of those books. Horowitz grabbed my attention from the start and I was anxious to walk through this investigation to learn the truth. The main characters are quite memorable and make the story come alive. The narrator of the audio was a brilliant reader, giving voice to each character without being outlandish or silly about it. 

I don't love that I'll find my way back to this one, but I thoroughly enjoyed the journey. 

This book is not for everyone. Some people may find the content of this boom to be heretical. Some will want to question whether they can believe anything is true. Some will find freedom for a kind of faith that is deeper and truer than proof text theology and a shoehorn faith. 

I grew up with parents from different faiths. While they agreed on 90% of their Christian beliefs, the holy wars over the parts they disagreed on have left me scarred and weary. I don't like discussions where we are trying to triumph over each other through superior knowledge, or using proof texts like pieces on a chessboard, methodically working to put the other in a corner they cannot escape and must declare you the winner as they have nothing left. This is a scenario where we have a winner and a loser. In my experience, the loser doesn't come to agree with the winner so much as vows to find a way to win the argument next time around. Thus, I have come to see apologetics as an ineffective way to introduce people to God. 

Here Peter Enns takes on some topics from the Bible where the Bible seems to present conflicting representations of God and events. Enns puts the books and writers of the text in historical and cultural context to help us understand how the text can be true while not being a precise recording of historical fact. I may not agree with every conclusion or perspective written here, but I greatly appreciate the wit and humor with which Enns makes his case. 

The point I take away from this book is that the Bible is meant to be read with Jesus being the point of the whole Bible. I love this! This is the conclusion I had come to, as well. (Score one for confirmation bias!) Anytime we use the Bible for any reason other than to understand who Jesus is and God's plan to rescue all of humanity, we get off on the wrong path. (Let's face it, even with those standards, people find ways to go off roading.) 

In conclusion, this book reminds me that God is a real, living, complex being who I cannot know completely anymore than I can know any other person on the planet completely. It also reminds me that is a good thing because that means he is big enough and strong enough to be ruler of the universe and that he is powerful enough to save me, an insignificant human with such a small life span, just trying to love God and love my neighbors. 

I learned a lot from this graphic biography. Some of the things I learned show our country and people when we weren't at our best. It pains me to see so many of the things that happened in the 1960s happening again (more likely) almost 60 years later. 

The quote I take to heart is, “When you lose your sense of fear, you're free.” I want to be a force that repels fear and instills love and respect in the people I interact with. 

I wanted this to be a bit faster pace, like prior Dekker books. Dekker does more world building in this one and it takes time. Perhaps a second reading knowing this happens will bring a different perspective. That was the thing that knocked this just short of 5 stars. 

As always, Ted challenges me to think about what really matters in this world. The message of this book is fantastic. I think another reading of this book is in order for the message to become even more clear. 

This story captured me from the start. I truly did not know where it would end up, but I was instantly jealous of someone living in a library. Washington's storytelling is fantastic. She brings the story to life in a way that I am glad to have listened to her telling rather than read it.

I resonate with how our views of life and those in our lives grows and shapes as we learn about them. People in real life are not heroes and villains painting themselves into all or nothing, two-dimensional dime store novel characters. We are nuanced, affected by the way we interact with the world. We expect that of ourselves as children, but I'm not sure it ever changes. We all have our dragons. I hope we can have the grace to see the beautiful people who have been scarred in their battles. Final thought, may we all become more like loving, accepting children who see the beauty and mystery in all life and not be consumed by prejudice and fear of people who are not like ourselves. Whether that be race, creed, social standing, or physical beauty. Jesus is all and in all. Let us treat each other like we would treat Jesus.

I have some mixed thoughts on this book. I liked it, but more in an intellectual way than an emotional way. There were a number of details that were not clear to me that seemed like I should know by the verbiage. In retrospect, I believe that was intentional as the story is told in first person by a character who is learning these things as the story goes along. That being said, this is a well written book. 

The thing that I struggled with most was how certain thoughts of the protagonist were not revealed in developing the story. I was confused by the character's reasoning and perspective when the story is being told from that character's perspective. For that reason, I missed out on seeing the main point of the story as I was distracted by other details in trying to understand. 

Ideas about discovering one's self, the influences family and circumstances have on our views and choices, privilege (and lack of it), and how we see others are all themes that are visited in this story. What I like about this story and the way these ideas are visited is they are presented as observations from the protagonist without judgment or qualification. 

Summary  There is a cafe that has a table where a person can travel in time. There are rules that must be followed. 1. You can only see people who have visited the cafe. 2. You cannot leave your seat while traveling. 3. You have to drink the coffee before it gets cold. There are some realities to know. Nothing a person does while traveling changes what has happened in the past or choices people make to current time. 
My Thoughts Each chapter focuses on an individual who chooses to travel in the cafe. Each has their own reasons and none of them are sure what they expect to get out of traveling, knowing they can change nothing by traveling. 
What each finds is that they themselves change with traveling in some way. They gain understanding they did not have before by having the opportunity to have conversations they did not have and wished they had. They come to see more of the picture the dispels fears or assumptions they had about other's thoughts and motives. 
The title itself is a proverb. Drink the coffee before it gets cold. Enjoy what you have while you have it. If we hesitate, if we let fear cow is into inaction, we miss out on what is good in our lives. The message is simple and the stories are not high action. The characters bring the parable to life. I read the English translation and the word nerd in me wishes I could read the original Japanese with a full understanding of the culture. I think the prose would resonate more deeply, even, and one may find even more parables within. 

I picked this book up at just the right time. I was overwhelmed by how much I want to read. Overwhelmed by things I want to watch. Overwhelmed my work. Overwhelmed by all the thoughts in my head. Anne reminds me to slow down. She gives actionable suggestions to take control of my thought life rather than have it control me. These are not a checklist to be done in a certain order to experience the magic spell, but a number of suggestions that will fit some and not others. More than the actionable, I appreciated the thoughts and ideology behind the actions. Anne doesn't give us a prescription but gives understanding of a number of ways we overthink and goes attitudes and strategies can change the way we think. This may not be the pinnacle of intellectual and psychological wisdom, but it has given me much to think about and courage to be a person who adds more joy and kindness to myself and the people I meet rather than an energy drain. 

There was some time between putting this on hold on Libby and listening to it. I forgot about the Holocaust connection and wasn't prepared for it. While there are intense scenes, it is not graphically violent. This is a masterfully written book, in my opinion. 

There are so many life scenarios in this book that are magnified by the war, but are coming to many of us in peaceful times, as well. I thought Harmel does a fantastic job of illustrating them. The characters are richly written and I wanted to know how their stories would unfold. Not just the main character, but many of the supporting cast, as well. 

This story made me think and brought up strong feelings for me. This doesn't fall into my typical reading selection, but I'm glad I branched out and stick with this one, even though I wasn't sure I would want to when feeling the reality of the Holocaust in Paris.

What a ride! The way these Picard books fill in the narrative of the TV show is great. I enjoyed reading novels 20-25 years ago, but those were stand alone stories that didn't and couldn't add depth to the story on the screen, for the most part. Where The Last Best Hope was a direct tie-in, this one is a bit farther removed, as Riker and Troi are not central to the Picard storyline. It does carry the tone and overall direction of the story of the Picard series. I think if it didn't, it would be quite disappointing.

What I liked about this book:
- The story. Swallow creates a fantastic mystery and uses the mystery of the Romulan culture to his advantage in the mystery.
- The characters. There isn't much you can do with Riker and Troi except represent them in a way that is true to their presentation on the show. This he does. However, I liked the main Romulan characters. Swallow continues to show nuance in the Romulan culture, rather than displaying them as a one dimensional, militaristic culture.
- Not all the questions get answered. Just like the show, there are some questions that don't get answered, leaving room for me to contemplate the possibilities.

I came into this one listening to the audiobook. The reader did a good job capturing the tone and mannerisms of most of the characters, but there was something about his reading cadence that I struggled with. Enough that I have a mind to get the book and read it myself.

That being said, the story is a good ol' Firefly romp. No sense in sayin' too much about it seeins some folk enjoy the surprise. Suffice it to say, things get interesting mighty fast and there's even an honest-to-god mystery.

If you're a Firefly fan and you're thinking the book can't be as good as the show, well, you might be right. But you won't know ‘ness you try it. Don't imagine it would hurt you none. I know I sure enjoyed it.

This was a good story. It adds and ties in well with the story told in Discovery season one. The artwork appealed to me, as well. I'm not as excited about the Klingon culture as some others in the ST universe, but I do like that the Klingons feel more nuanced than in other stories.

This is a dark book. I mean, this is dystopian. The Hunger Games is a happy place in comparison. That being said, there is a lot to learn from this book about human nature. The growing divide between rich and poor, slavery, racism... If there is a bias, Butler shows it's ugliness in full. There isn't graphic violence or sex, but it should be noted that of violence, sex, or mention of rape is a trigger, this book is not for you.

I wanted to find a brighter light in this book and I didn't get it. I wanted more hope to be realized. Perhaps during this time of pandemic, the darkness is harder to take. I struggled with the rating. The writing drew me in and kept me coming back. It made new think. Two things I want in a book. I am curious if things get brighter in the next book. Since I liked this one, I plan to read the next and find out.

The beginning of the book helps prepare the reader, explaining the background of these comics printed in the UK. Some of them are rather comedic. Clearly, the writers didn't get a chance to watch much Star Trek, especially early on. Other stories, while they had their quirks, are on par with their Spock's Brain episode.

I wouldn't recommend this as an example of fun ST stories outside the TV medium. In fact, if not for the ST connection, I would not have finished. It is an interesting intellectual look at how someone in the UK may have been introduced to the ST universe before the show was syndicated on the other side of the pond.

This probably deserves a two star rating, but it benefits from a Star Trek bias.

This is a good Start Wars novel. The story flows well and the main characters develop and grow. The story kept me hurting as to what would happen next.

From this book, I come away with the concepts that our biases can blind us. Biases about others, biases about ourselves. I also see that it is easy to lose one's true self when pretending to be someone you are not.

I truly enjoyed this book, but I'm not sure I'll ever come back to it. This has more of a dark side perspective than I typically care for.