Jeff
Excellent collection of “in-between” stories from Jim Butcher's Dresden Files Series!
These two books, Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion, comprise one of THE best stories I have read in a long, long time. I was almost weeping with heartfelt feelings during the final scene between the father and daughter toward the end, then smiling with complete satisfaction as the story came to a conclusion that felt right and was right.
I am so glad I finally read these books and only wish I had done so earlier.
See my review at http://thewordofjeff.com/2015/11/15/book-review-bury-my-heart-at-wounded-knee/
I made the mistake of starting this book today during lunch. I did NOT want to return to work when my lunch hour was over, lol.
OK, finished the book last night. It was, for the most part, an enjoyable read. It bogged down a bit toward the end but finished up nicely with an interesting little twist.
Not the best writing and there wasn't anything I haven't heard/read before, but it was nice to have the bulk of it on one place.
Another excellent installment of “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” series, and unfortunately the last. I enjoyed the evolution and growth of the title character in this novel.
Overall a good Star Trek novel that is true to the characters and the Star Trek universe. I felt the resolution of the problem and the ending were a bit rushed, but on the whole an enjoyable read and visit with some of my favorite fictional characters.
Just finished “The Passage” and enjoyed it enough that I'm looking forward to the sequel “The Twelve” coming out in October.
All eyes!
Lots of good information in this book, but the last chapter alone is worth the price of the book, to me.
Butcher really puts Harry through the wringer in this book. Major personal losses for Harry and a life-changing decision. Except the end leaves you wondering if there will even BE a life beyond this story.
Another Great Tale by Butcher
Once again, Jim Butcher has crafted a well-told, well-thought out tale in a world he has created that rivals that of The Dresden Files.
Enjoyable read. Reminds me of Malcolm Gladwell's style of using several data points to weave interesting stories into a surprising result.
I am still a bit shell-shocked from all the twists and turns in this book, but not so much so that I cannot say without hesitation that this is the best of the first three books. The way Martin moves, removes and “kings” his players on the chessboard is mesmerizing. The end, while I was sorry to see it, was incredible. I cannot wait to begin book 4.
I give this 5 stars for how intriguing the story and character(s) are, but I am still mightily confused, lol!
A Delightful Coming of Age Story
It's the summer of 1968 in rural Pennsylvania. Young Jack Elliot's cousin from Philadelphia, who he's never met, comes to visit the Ellitot's after his policeman father is targeted by criminal in riot-torn Philly.
Jack lives with his two older brothers, mother and father in the only home he's ever known and his cousin Frankie has never been outside the city. They are the city mouse and country mouse re-told. Jack has one goal this summer; to figure out a way to keep his soon-to-be draft eligible oldest brother Pete from being drafted and sent to Vietnam. But the summer turns into so much more than what Jack had planned, and Frankie plays a large part.
It's the summer of love, the clashing of political ideologies within a family, the assassination of Robert Kennedy, racial riots and all the changes that took place within our country and within Jack's family.
Author Bill River has a descriptive way with words that makes you feel, hear, see, taste and smell the life of rural Pennsylvania, as well as reminding you of what your own life (if you were a young man in 1968) was like in relation to events around our country.
This is a delightfully told coming of age story of two boys and the last summer they, really, will be boys. After this, things will never be the same and both find themselves growing up in ways they never imagined.
The Definitive Theory
The Big Bang Theory is one of less than a handful of TV comedies I love (the others being WKRP and Modern Family) so I have been delighted to read this intricate, detailed inside look at the behind the scenes history of this funny, funny, show, cast, and crew.
I was first introduced to this series 43 years ago. I haven't read any of the Mack Bolan books in years, but it was a relaxing visit to re-read this first volume again.
I prefer...
...authors and editors who know the difference between “council” and “counsel” and the proper use of each one.
This was also a pretty predictable plot, but the storytelling (aside from the misused word noted above) was just good enough to keep me on until the end.
5 stars!
This is a story that seems rather pedestrian at the beginning and almost like a re-imagining of Rear Window when suddenly it turns creepy. Like Stephen King-level creepy, so that's a good thing. In addition, there are so many twists, turns and almost unbelievable shifts that even a jaded reader (like myself) will find themselves surprised at the story changes. And those were pleasant surprises.
Highly recommended!
Got a little more than halfway through and finally had to give up on this one. It just wasn't worth it anymore.
HarperCollins Publishing sent me a dead-tree Advance Readers Copy of “No Second Chances” by Rio Youers a couple of weeks ago and I'm not quite sure WHY (unless it had something to do with my GoodReads account) and it turned out to be a very good book. I wanted to finish it before we leave next Sunday, so I read the entire book (389 pages) today while relaxing after all the holiday activity of the past few days.
It was a very good read and I'll be reading Youers' other books soon.
Now I'll leave the book in the laundry room so someone can enjoy it.
This is one of those books/series that you want to read the end of, but don't want it to end. However, as the saying goes, all good things must end.
And this WAS good!
As with the previous books, the secret ingredient is the characters and the depth that we get to explore, especially the core group that we've known from the beginning. That is not to shortchange the story/plot at all; it has been both expansive and yet detailed in its telling.
But the characters are THE stars of this story.
To be honest, before I was halfway through this final book, I expected all of them to die. I won't say whether that happened or not, so as not to spoil the end. But I will say that, after nine books and multiple short stories, I was satisfied with the conclusion of The Expanse series.
Choppy Entertainment
A good plot with recognizable characters (the co-authors were obviously skewering some real-life politicians; one in particular) but in a very choppy format that made getting a flow very difficult.