Phil Lemons

I'm going to have to think about this book for a little bit. I thought I was seeing the message Dekker was painting, but in the end, I realized he was illustrating something else. I may have to read it again to really get it.

What I liked was the story. I wanted to keep reading right on through to see how what would happen next. What I didn't like was the story. Maybe this sounds like a contradiction, but it seems that every Dekker book has a protagonist who can't be patient, who is emotionally charged and going off doing something I doubt I would ever think of doing. Perhaps this is the nature of the thriller genre, or Dekker's vision of living with passion rather than conforming to society's expectations. Either way, it sometimes feels like Dekker's protagonists are cut from the same cloth.

In the end the story was too quick to resolve for my taste. It does serve to bridge Seven of Nine's story to the first episode of Picard season three, so there is that little bonus. I wanted more story, a more fleshed development of it all, but that's asking a lot for this medium. 

This book is well written and is fun to read aloud. There are a number of clever bits, especially with (fictional) product placement throughout the book. The characters are somewhat the usual suspects for middle school, with a couple of moments of vulnerability and honesty sprinkled in.

This was a little bit of a reach for my boy entering 3rd grade—especially the teasing of romance. However, he enjoyed the jokes and all the antics that show up throughout the book.

I liked that the book has a good takeaway in the end, pointing the reader to look past the exterior and to realize that we are all real people with struggles and pains in different ways. We also get to see what becomes of keeping secrets.

Overall, the writing is great. I still don't miss middle school. The boy would probably say he really liked it. I'd wait to see if he chooses to come back to it before I would call it a favorite

This third installment of the series is my favorite, so far. I picked this series up with the idea that my boy may have an interest in reading it when he gets a bit older.

What I read tonight to finish this book hit me in a way that I didn't expect. In a good way. Saying this feels like a betrayal to my logical self that says that my feelings about something are suspect at best and are open to manipulation. At the same time, reading what Dekker is saying in this book rings true to my logical mind.

Growing up with a mandate to read only Christian material, Dekker's Circle books feel like they fall outside of that realm because of the strong depictions of evil and they way characters are susceptible to it and don't easily overcome the evil with the strength of God in their lives. That is a trope that doesn't seem genuine, but I understand that Christians want to encourage others without saying anything that might say that sinning is okay. Theo in this book feels like the world's most scared person and at first I thought of him as being realistic. Today, I believe that Dekker emphasizes the fear in order to create a space where it is safe for us to admit our fear. I walk away thinking that until we truly admit our fears and our inability to overcome them, we are blind to our need for God and the light of truth that he uses to set us free. Not just once, but as many times as we need.

This book does a good job of applying the material in the sister chapters of The Forgotten Way. Sometimes I thought the Study Guide had a better explanation than the main book. The questions for each chapter make for good thought, but honest answers may be uncomfortable in a group one doesn't trust.

The story is adapted well. The art is not the style I prefer. I still prefer the novel. 

I must admit that I would never have thought I would be reading a story about a world wide pandemic based in Nebraska while living through a world wide pandemic in Nebraska. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.

More than the story of the pandemic, it's the story of the protagonist Wynter Roth who is having to learn how to live life in a new normal. The forces of our inner voices that whisper fear and doubts, the external voices that tell us who we should be, the realities that threaten to take away that which we treasure. Being able to see past these to who we really are, the treasure of the people in our lives. Fear enslaves us while love frees us. These are the messages that spoke to me and have enriched my mind during this real life pandemic.

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. 

The story flows fairly well and there is a ton of history packed into this little book. At times, the density of the facts mean the story slows, but this is not a criticism. 

What I like about this book is the way it portrays perspectives and attitudes of people from Confederate states past and present. This is not done with a wide brush, painting everyone, rather characters have different perspectives and motives. There were good, likable people fighting for the South and they didn't necessarily hate the North, and vice versa. 

What I didn't like about this book were the cuss words, especially using the name Jesus Christ as a curse. While it may be how some kids talk, this could be authentic without this. It feels more out of place to me than a Gameboy in the 1800s.  

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. 

I borrowed this book to help my job hunting strategy. There is good advice in this book, but a lot of it feels like a sales pitch. A lot of the advice is qualified regularly by the author who reminds the reader of his expertise throughout the narrative.

I give five stars for the advice, one star for reminding me who he is every couple of pages. I would have completed the book of I was still job hunting, but I am in to greener pastures, so I lay this one to rest.

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. 

Han and Lando together on a heist! That's all I needed to be on board. That being said, I enjoyed the other characters that join the caper. I enjoyed the strategy, planning, and execution of it all. Listening to the audiobook was a fun experience with a reader who brings the characters to life, even pulling off believable impressions of Harrison Ford and Billy Dee Williams. Add in the Star Wars music and sound effects and the package is a smartly polished and easy to become absorbed in.

It's a Star Wars story, so there is going to be a bit of predictability here, but Zahn manages to get me with a couple of good surprises. I see myself coming back to this one in the future.

This first installment ends with a cliffhanger right when the story has started to be told. Most of this is setup for the main story and by itself is not enough. I do expect it to lead to something I enjoy very much. 

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. 

I picked up this book at the library based on the artwork alone. However, the story just didn't resonate with me. I believe this story is about identifying with people who don't feel like they belong. While that is something I struggle with, this story did not resonate with me. My boy is too young for this book still. He liked the pictures and tried to make sense of it by deciding it was about an octopus.

What I liked:
- Artwork.
- The writing voice. This story reads very naturally and smoothly. Better than most I've read.

What I didn't like:
- The story. I just didn't connect with the characters or quite get the story while reading it. I'm not sure I get it yet.

Although the art and writing are five star quality, I just didn't enjoy the book, and neither did my boy, thus the two stars.

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. 

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. 

I have mixed thoughts about this book. The Immortals give a possibility to a Christian superhero, but I have to admit that I didn't quite buy into the portrayal of 3,500 people. I had this problem with book 1, The 13th Tribe, but more so in this book. Secondly, Luparulo seems to do a lot of telling in this book. Especially of the weapons and how they work. It felt like there was a lot of filler. And half of the conflict was based on an excuse to have a fight, it felt to me.

That being said, I Liparulo illustrates some great points about faith and the reality of a spiritual realm. The illustrations of faith and the struggle to believe redeem this book for me. I imagine this will not be the last in this series and I hope for a stronger story next time.

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.

Tom Pawlick takes an interesting angle on Mr Constant's offer to relive seven hours of life, put death off by seven hours, or to pass on either offer. The story begins with the protagonist, Adrian, who finds himself sixty years younger and not sure how or why. The reader takes an increasingly intense ride with Adrian as he struggles to figure it all out.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story. A couple of things didn't quite sit well with me, though. The palm reader made me uncomfortable. That is probably a good thing. I do appreciate how Pawlick presents her from a non-Christian world view making the character real and believable. Next, I felt that the ending was a little rushed, but that is a minor complaint in he grand scheme of things. He did catch me by surprise with he ending and that I really liked. This is the first I've read of Pawlick. I like his style and would be willing to give another of his works a shot.

This didn't make me think about life in an existential way, which is usually what gets a five star for me. However, I very much enjoyed this mystery with thr portrayal of Moriarty as the protagonist and the interaction with Holmes. I am looking forward to the next installment. 

While I'm familiar with stories written by or based on work by Agatha Christie made for television, I've never actually read any of her work before. So, faced with an opportunity to listen a book on loan, I decided it was a good time to remedy that ailment.

When I think of Christie's work, I think of popular characters. While I had not heard of Tommy and Tuppence before, I found them to be characters I enjoyed going on an adventure with. Listening to a reader colors the characters, and I thought the reader did a fantastic job, making it easy to follow the different players.

Lastly, I enjoyed this story. Sometimes I enjoy trying to figure out the mystery, but this is one where I found myself wanting to simply enjoy the ride. Having 96 years of mysteries to study since the writing of this book, a reader could see this mystery as being a bit simple. In a way, I like that there aren't twists piled up on top of each other. That being said, I thought the end was well timed and well presented, keeping my curiosity piqued.

I am sure to pick up another Christie book for another fun adventure.

I borrowed this audiobook based on a recommendation by my doctor as an information source for eating better. It is an accessible book that doesn't overwhelm with scientific jargon and research data, although research is referenced.

I found the book discouraging. I felt that based on his research, healthy eating is nearly impossible unless you grow all your own food. Further, nearly all foods, even whole foods bought in stores have deleterious affects. So, I feel that I'm left eating the best of the bad food.

I appreciate that he has additional resources for the reader on his website, but after while I found myself feeling I was being solicited to support all his endeavors.

In the end, I believe I have gained some knowledge, but I am not sold that he is the final authority on health.

I'm a big fan of Ted Dekker, and the Circle books, especially. I loved The 49th Mystic and I was ready for more. Except that it felt like the story was hijacked and reset to me. I won't spoil anything here, but there is an explanation.

Still, I had a hard time diving back in. So much so that I was distracted easily enough to take time with a couple of library holds that became available while I put this one on hold. I feel sad about that. In the past, I've found I understand Dekker's books better on a second reading than the first, and that may be true of this one.

The five seals continue to be the heart of the story. In my polarity, I find myself wondering if Dekker subscribes to election theology or the idea that God will save all in the end, regardless of whether they accepted His love on this earth. But I think to focus on those details detracts from the greater message, which is best for the reader to work out for oneself.

Generally, books that bring me closer to the heart of God get five stars. And I would say this book did that. So why four stars? It seemed to me Dekker did a lot of explaining in this book. He worked hard to make it part of the story, but it still was a lot of explaining on how and why things worked. The ideas I see him portraying are such that they need explaining for most of us, so I'm not sure how he would get around that. Perhaps next time I read this book I will see it differently.

The message of this book is fantastic. I simply was thrown for some loops that I didn't follow well and got distracted by ideas I was afraid he was promoting, which he may or may not have been. I look forward to reading this series again in the future.