Brig Berthold
This book was a riot. I dug this wonky story. Check it out, this is a legit, noir story. All of the boxes are checked and this could have been a Raymond Chandler or James Ellroy novel. Full-disclosure, I'm a noir snob. The great thing about this story is it brings a classic noir feel without being overly cliché. And then, in a stroke of genius, the protagonist is a wizard, with a capital “w”.
Think of all the beats you need in a great noir story, inject magical mischief, and you have a recipe for a 100% original story.
I can't recommend this highly enough and I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Despite being a bit of a departure from the entire series (specifically the switch into first person POV) I really enjoyed this installment. Gentry doesn't follow much of his traditional MO and that was actually interesting.
But, mark my words, Court Gentry will die before the last word of the final book in this series. I felt like this book is the beginning of the end and the subtle details from this story will appear voluminous in retrospect. I won't spoil anything by giving away details but I want it on record.
Well ... I pretty much hated this book.
I realize it's social commentary. I understand the moral struggles going against societal norms and peer pressure. And the cousins marrying thing is, albeit not cool, not the most grievous concern.
This ought to have been a short story. With some economy of words, and greater use of exposition (which Austen excells at), the reader could easily have come away with the same understanding Austen hiped we would. Much of the detail I regarded as meaningless, even in the end.
The language, as always, was excellent. Hence the second star.
Truly incredible.
I read this book from three perspectives. First, as a soldier, I was interested in the intricacies of the battle. The relationship between the command and control elements and the men on the ground particularly intrigued me. Second, I am a journalism student. As this account is written by a journalist with no military background, I carried a professional curiosity about the accuracy and integrity of the story. Finally, as many others have, I wanted to see how the cinematic depiction differed from the original account. My findings, on all counts, show this book worthy of its public spotlight and professional emphasis.
This book does not hesitate to recount the blunders alongside the triumphs of the operation. For this reason it is listed on many military professional development reading lists. As a student of the profession of arms, I endorse this perspective.
Journalistically, this narrative seems to fit within the bounds of ethics, professional inquiry, and a rare humility. I appreciated the author's willingness to parry accolade and redirect attention to those who truly deserve it; the soldiers, Rangers, operators, and SEALs. His actions appear to support his intentions.
Questions regarding the disparities between film and book should be placed at rest. Making concessions on backstory and character development (challenging in film) one can see the two align as closely as possible.
Positive thinking not working?
Negative throught spirals the enemy?
Insert, Trevor and his clear, accessible, and relatable perspective on every day success.
Success is built brick-by-brick. Choices are the bricks and mindset is mortar. Laying one brick, with the correct mortar, and then the next is the key. Simple? Yes. Easy? No. Again, insert Trevor and his world-class friends dropping world-class advice bombs.
I loved this book. It's going on my immediate recommendation list for people who have goals.
This is a luxurious read. Take it slow and let Steinbeck's mastery revitalize your mind. Anything I say will likely be perceived as absurd because I loved this book so much. Steinbeck is more than an author. This book is more philosophy than mere fiction. One might even classify it as allegorical in its exploration of deeply human and universal themes.
Everyone who reads this will likely get something wildly different out of it but one thing I think can be felt by all; this book epitomizes American literature. In fact, in the final chapters, Lee and Caleb discuss what it means to be American and it's brilliant. Not in the patriotic sense but in the core character of American rebellion and ingenuity and our sense of moral rightness (as held at the turn of the century). While much has changed in modern society, the values and evils and joys of American life are still prominent today.
One last note. I lived in Monterey, California, which sits just west of Salinas, where the bulk of this tale takes place. Steinbeck captures the charm and character of the setting so perfectly. He does so with a loving fondness that made me ache to spend more time in that wonderful county.
This book comes up all of the time. It seems, each time I happen upon a list of must read books, or suggested reading based on the greatest novels of whatever era/demographic/genre, I am met with Gaiman's American Gods. Let me say this, the plot was convoluted via symbolic depth. The sub-plots did jive with the story's main arch. The characters were dynamic in an odd, abstract, contemporary way. In fact, I found everything about this book to be abstract. Perhaps this is a classic case of something having been built up beyond its abilities to deliver. All-in-all, I would not recommend this to most people. That being said, there will likely be scores of university literature, creative writing, and theory based classes with this book at the heart of a great number of thesis statements. That, I believe, is justified. The artisanship of the craft, the meaning, buried beneath meaning, buried beneath plot and character certainly exists. Simply, I gave this book two stars because I found myself appreciating the work, while begging myself to finish so I could move on.
Chapter 53 (pages 614 - 622, hardcover) was possibly greatest chapter in the entire trilogy. And that is a bold claim, indeed.
This is perhaps my favorite YA series of all time. I think it's important for young people and adults. I believe these themes warrant our attentive consideration. Neal Shusterman has given us an entertaining and challenging framework from which to examine life and its complexities.
YA fiction is the only format that blends the entertainment value of genre fiction with the intellectual and emotional education offered by literary fiction. This series is incredible. Get yourself a copy. Give it away as gifts. Lend it out. Whatever.
I won't spoil it for you. If you haven't read Scythe, start there and buckle up.
I could not put this down.
Told from two perspectives, by the same character at different ages, this tale was better than I could have hoped. Circus life is mysterious, and while this book certainly cast light on the topic, the reader is left with an undiminished awe. The story was wonderfully crafted and immersive, but the mechanics of the writing won the day.
As mentioned, we are given two perspectives. The first, Jacob at 93 years old. He remembers his days on a traveling circus during the great depression. The second, Jacob at 23, recounting his intimate interactions with circus workers, performers, and bosses. The basis for all glory that this story is consists of the entire narative being done in first person. That alone, done with as much skill, is worthy of a reader's admiration. It was so immersive, there were times I actually felt I was living in Jacob's world.
Finally, the characters were incredibly dynamic. Their psychology was flawless. Their role in the story was precisely achieved. I could not put this book down.
Holy crap, I LOVED this experience. Wolf Larsen has joined the lineup of my favorite literary characters.
Well above average. This is a lawyer story, not a cops-n-robbers tale. Somehow I missed that detail. Despite that, this is a really good yarn. The writing was top shelf.
I enjoyed this book from start to finish.
First of all, the fast-paced structure was excellent for this genre and (what I assume to be) the target demographic. Nothing was longer or more detailed than it needed to be. We have come to expect that from Greaney but it was clear that Ripley had a heavy hand in this story.
As a veteran, I really enjoyed how thoroughly the military operational details were handled throughout the story. Despite a (very) few instances of narrative-driven decision-making straying from legitimate military doctrine or operational protocol, this was as true-to-form as I've ever read.
I feel obligated to point out that, for those readers in love with Greaney's pin-point technical detailing and rigid adherance to specialized knowledge, you will not be disappointed here. While there is no Gray Man exploiting the shadowy underworld in near superhuman feats of intellectual and physical dominance, what you will get is a realistically structured view of modern warfare.
I was pleased that the authors chose to acknowledge the fact that US Military expertise concerning combat operations have strayed dramatically from kinetic, traditional warfare with the emphasis placed on COIN. This singular detail intrigued me from yhe beginning.
I received an advanced reader copy and I will not hesitate to recommend this book widely.
The teaser at the end was not my favorite but I understand why it was included; both from a creative and a business standpoint.
Wow. I loved this book! The sheer expansion of the storyline, it's actually telescopic as it moves from this jarringly narrow focus to literal apocalypse. So, so awesome.
Thanks for the recommendation, Marci!
This is a great experience as it shows how a writer is able to successfully achieve a first-person narrative, deep point-of-view, character. For that reason alone, this book is worthy of exploration.
Absolutely loved it. Nothing more to say. If you're this far into the series, you won't need more.
This was not as good as Outliers, though nonetheless entertaining, informative, and delivered in a way is uniquely Gladwell. I felt the formatting was odd, though I see the decisions on formatting likely benefited the flow. Such a wealth of information, abstraction, and conceptual relevance in pursuit of understanding could only have been broken down in so many ways. With that said, it wasn't overly distracting.
I, too, have been judged based on the styling of my hair. That being the last point made, and during the acknowledgements no less, sold me. I was going for three stars until that point. Having shared such an experience, which I happen to have related closely with, brought everything full circle.
In my opinion, I would pass this up for one of two alternatives; also serials.
Spy School by Stuart Gibbs
Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger
That is all
(redacted)
I appreciated this book's message, its themes, and the other bits of context used to aid one's interaction with this novel. I did not, however, enjoy it and I will not be bullied into it.
Redeeming Statement: The Old Man and the Sea is an absolute masterpiece.
