Plants and Books

Review: Justice League: Cry for Justice Issue 1

2011-01-25T19:47:00.006-06:00

Puttering Plot but packed with B-List Heroes and Extras (4 stars)

The mini series, Cry for Justice, reflects a wonderful theme of heroics and what the obligation of heroics entails. The comic starts off with a collective meeting of super heroes including Hal Jordan, Superman, Supergirl, the Green Arrow, the Flash, and others. With despair over the friends they have lost in the battle against evil this body starts to fracture about how they should push back and take the fight to their enemies; obviously with Superman taking the side of protecting and "fighting the good fight," so to speak.

The Green Lantern and the Green Arrow splinter off to take the fight to their enemies instead of waiting and responding. James Robinson does an excellent job of painting the camaraderie and friendship between the two Green Heroes, and alludes to a collective past history. Issue 1 of Call for Justice shines in the character relationships and interactions but it falls short in direction and plotting. By the end of the issue there has been little to no development of the master plan of the apparent antagonist Prometheus. The storyline jumps all over the place and follows several heroes and their personal call for justice and gives a little insight into how each character ticks. These scenes include the opening scene with Green Lantern and Green Arrow, Ray Palmer and the Atom, Starman, and Congobill.

While the plotting and direction drags in this opening installment there is definitely a feeling of the larger scope of good versus evil on the horizon. On its own right, the storyline is certainly not the strength of this issue, but the cast of characters and the way they interact with each other is the shining beacon. The illustrations by Mauro Cascioli are beautiful and realistic. For readers that enjoy the realistic touch with the edgy feel this is a good comic to fall into.

In addition, Cry for Justice issue 1 is packed with additional materials including writer James Robinson's commentary on the series, some panel sketches, and an origin story of CongoBill. While the Origin story is extremely short (only two pages) it contains a nice short story of how CongoBill came to be supplemented by some beautiful illustrations of the golden gorilla. Robinson makes it clear that he is interested in spotlighting some less famous heroes in this series so there should be some expectation for future Origin stories in the remaining issues. Interestingly enough, Robinson states that his desire with CongoBill is to bring him more mainstream and get him known simply by Bill; which becomes apparent in Issue 2 when Bill introduces himself. The commentary really adds to the entire experience.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: Death of Superman

2010-02-15T14:22:00.012-06:00

Title: Death of Superman
Author: Dan Jurgens, Louise Simonson, Roger Stern, Jerry Ordway
Copyright: 1993
Publisher: DC Comics
ISBN: 1563890976

Notes: First graphic novel adaptation of the Death and Return of Superman. Includes crossover issues from Superman, Superman: The Man of Steel, Adventures of Superman, and Action Comics.

The Death of an American Icon - 3 stars - a book review

In 1992 DC Comics killed off the superhero who brought comic books to their glory days. In a similar fashion, the death of Superman brought thousands upon thousands of new readers to the genre since Superman had become an American cultural icon. While short lived, this collection of comics represents a turning point in the comic industry, where no superhero was safe any longer. Shortly thereafter, DC Comics pulled a similar "stunt" with their other flagship hero, Batman, with the Knightfall story arc. Regardless, what transpired in the pages of these comics would be talked about for years.

Introduce Doomsday, a mysterious and sinister alien killing machine, with one thing on his limited mind: destruction. After escaping from being buried beneath the Earth's surface for who knows how long, Doomsday stages a one man mayhem show across half the United States.

Doomsday first faces off against the Justice League of America, quickly leveling them to nothingness, rendering them obsolete with his power and strength. Their combined powers do little to stop Doomsday, who time and time again proves he cares nothing for anything, killing birds in the palm of his hand and strangling a deer for no reason. What happens next would be the fight of the century against this beast and America's cultural icon, Superman.

The Death of Superman story arc is long in the action scenes and short in the storyline.
Absolutely no information is given about Doomsday at this point and the only focus of the remaining storylines is stopping him from destroying Metropolis (and everything else in his way). There are a few brief moments of reflection among minor characters about how Superman saved them or what Superman means to them. The virtue of the mysterious nature of Doomsday is appreciated, since it adds to his allure as a supervillain; similar to the recent movie, The Dark Knight, and the villain Joker. The reader is absolutely unaware of any motivation, making Doomsday that much more treacherous. Readers wouldn't find out about the history of Doomsday until the Superman/Doomsday: Hunter/Prey story arc published in 1994.

While Superman is one of my personal least favorite heroes, this collection is a must read for the same reason it sold out overnight with a starting number of published issues that had never before been dreamed. With Superman being such a cultural icon, watching his fall is a must anyone. The action is unparalleled as it had to be since the stakes had never been higher. How do you create a monster worthy of killing a Superman? The satisfying answer is in the Death of Superman.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: Daemon by Daniel Suarez

2010-02-14T12:40:00.005-06:00

Title: Daemon
Author: Daniel Suarez
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Dutton Adult
ISBN:0525951113

Notes: first book in a series, followed by Freedom.

Intriguing and Exciting Beginning; Story Comes Off the Track at the Midway Point - 3 stars - a book review

Daemon has an irresistible premise: upon the death of computer mastermind, Matthew Sobol, a computer virus type is released that wreaks havoc on the technology based world. Spread out (unknowingly) over thousands of computers, Sobol's Daemon is constantly checking online news websites for key words and phrases which, when triggered, unleash a new plague of technological insanity including stealing stocks and major business' money, recruiting members to his cause, and releasing alternative media. With Sobol already dead, it becomes increasingly impossible to stop the mayhem as everything is already in motion and nobody is directly controlling the direction of the Daemon.

The first half of the book is a wonderful techno thriller. During this early stage of the book, Suarez gives sufficient pertinent information about the inner working of the Daemon searching news sites and the logical progression of what terror is unleashed. The reader has full knowledge of each step of the Daemon's "thought process" and, although some suspension of belief is necessary, everything makes sense. Unfortunately, once the Daemon becomes so big and powerful; and a chunk of time elapses without any information provided to the reader, the book becomes much more of suspension of all belief. Whereas the first part of the book the reader feels like he/she is in control and knows everything that is going on, the last half of the book there is so much going on behind the scenes with only minor (and insignificant) views of Sobol's "army" doing things they don't even know why they are doing them. Each person in Sobol's "army" has no clue what he or she is doing, only a brief piece of the puzzle (i.e. take this mechanized part to location X). While this story telling mechanism works to push the story, it loses emphasis with the reader as to the power of the Daemon brainchild Sobol. At the beginning of the book I thought Sobol was a pure mastermind supervillian genius. By the end of the book, I really did not care much for the dead architect as the story shifted dramatically from a techno thriller to a simple action adventure story of nearly impossible proportions.

The characters in Daemon are unique and suffer many trials and tribulations. The best characters were the ones who thought they were in control and making headway towards stopping Sobol's Daemon only later to find out they were only a pawn in the master plan. The emotional responses in these characters were written well, and the characters had my full empathy.

Daemon, for the most part, is a tightly written techno thriller. I may be a bit too critical because I recognize how difficult it can be to accurately and completely write about the exponentially expanding influence of the Daemon; I only wish the entire book was a solid as the beginning. If you are looking for a solid techno thriller from beginning to end you might look elsewhere; however, if you like techno thrillers and action adventure you have come to the right place.

You might also check out Peacemaker, by Dan Ronco, for a similar techno thriller on the doomsday scenario with technology leading to societal downfall.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson

2010-02-11T12:56:00.006-06:00

Title: Deadhouse Gates
Author: Steven Erikson
Copyright: 2005
Publisher: Tor Books
ISBN: 0765348799

Notes: Second book in The Malazan Book of the Fallen series.

Amazon|Borders|B&N

Getting Better, but Still an Unsatisfying Return on Investment - 3 stars - a book review

Having been utterly amazed by the world building and utterly disappointed in the story telling of Gardens of the Moon, I started Deadhouse Gates. Had it not been for the epic world building and the positive opinions of people whose reading tastes and preferences generally aligns with my own I would have stopped right there with the Malazan Book of the Fallen. All over the internet almost everyone agrees that Gardens of the Moon is the weakest of the series, and that after you read Deadhouse Gates or (in some opinions) the third book, Memories of Ice, you will be hooked. Generally speaking, upwards of three thousand pages is a hefty undertaking, especially considering the return on investment is not so apparent. I have to say that Deadhouse Gates was a considerably better told story than its predecessor; but I'm not sure at this point if the time and energy spent was equivalent to the output received from Deadhouse Gates.

The first (and most obvious) thing to note is that this book starts a whole new storyline on an entirely different continent than the events that occur in Gardens of the Moon. This tactic works well because it establishes how epic and vast the worldly struggle is. The problem, of course, is with Erikson's writing style it is a huge personal struggle to get engaged with the new characters and the background of the area. If you enjoyed the confusion from Gardens of the Moon of being dropped in the middle of a sweeping landscape of political turmoil and magical/metaphysical trouble then you have that to look forward to again; although Erikson has definitely improved in area of character introductions. Some might be frustrated that it took 650+ pages to finally understand who the characters were in Gardens of the Moon and now they aren't in the second volume. If the third volume really plants me into this series (as it supposedly will) then having the multiple plotlines spanning multiple books will be a solid victory in establishing this series as an epic wartime dark fantasy series.

I thought the plotting of Deadhouse Gates was better than Gardens of the Moon and the storyline/character motivations were much more real and believable. In fact, I believe that Coltaine, the commander of the 7th army, is the most fascinating character of the series thus far. I was engaged with his hard nosed, duty stricken nature, cursed by both his objective of saving 30,000 refugees and his location in the heart of a savage desert. In addition to the plotting, the writing is so heavy and almost cumbersome to read at points. It takes a lot of focus and energy to read Erikson's writing.

I think the most significant struggle with Erikson's series is not that the book is not descriptive; it is ripe with description; the struggle is that it is descriptive in the wrong areas. There is still too many random occurrences and/or knowledge of the world, magic, culture, and army hierarchy that feels like it should be basic knowledge to the reader; but it isn't. I find that overall the sheer lack of information (that supposedly all comes to light in later volumes) is simply more frustrating than the benefit I received from the epic world building and the few extremely fascinating characters. A reader should not have to read seven massive tomes and over 5,000 pages to fully appreciate the first 650 pages of the series; and if a reader doesn't mind doing that or being confused, lost, or overwhelmed more power to him or her; but, I still cannot in good faith recommend this series to anyone outside the die hard fantasy junkies.

The cover art is wonderful and the maps, Dramatis Personae, and glossary are welcome additions to the overall purchase.

Am I planning on reading the third installment, Memories of Ice? Yes, although at this point I feel it would have to be an unbelievably spectacular experience in order to make the return on this reading investment worthwhile.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Kindle Cost Savings Analysis Update: Reflecting the $259 Price Tag

2010-01-10T15:29:00.007-06:00

The Amazon Kindle 2 was lowered in price a while back and I am finally updating my cost savings analysis to reflect the "new" $259 price tag. As I mentioned in the previous cost savings analysis, there are plenty of other non-tangible reasons to purchase a Kindle (or any e-reader) including wasting less paper, convenience of book access, and size. I created a spreadsheet that can be easily modified to book reading preference which will illustrate some rudimentary cost savings with some basic assumptions. The previous Kindle cost savings analysis can be found here.

Photo courtesy of Kindle 2.0 product page

Cost Savings Analysis One:
Assumptions:

Hardbacks purchased at Amazon
List price: $27.95
Hard Back discount: 40%
Kindle 2.0 start up cost: $259.00
Equivalent Kindle book price: $9.99
Shipping cost: $3.99
Break even point (without shipping): 15 books (previously 53)
Break even point (with shipping): 12 books (previously 34)

Cost Savings Analysis Two

Assumptions:
Paperbacks purchased at Amazon
List price: $7.99
Kindle 2.0 start up cost: $259.00
Equivalent Kindle book price: $6.39
Shipping cost: $3.99
Break even point (without shipping): 47 books (previously 65)
Break even point (with shipping): 162 books (previously 255)

One thing to keep in mind is the numbers proposed should be considered averages or assumptions. Obviously, it also depends on book buying patterns. I, for one, rarely buy hardback books. I may work on my spreadsheet more if I have nothing better to do than create Excel formulas that would project semi-random purchases of hardbacks (or paperbacks).

Food for thought.

As a side note, AMZN stock is currently at $133.52, thus my hypothetical investment would have yielded me a net profit of $8,512 so far.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

The Amazing Avatar

2009-12-19T23:59:00.005-06:00

If you haven't seen Avatar yet, I don't even want to know you. I took off work Friday morning and went and saw it with my wife. We went to the 3D version; but not the IMAX version. My wife tends to feel a little sick at certain movies with a lot of camera movement (i.e. Terminator Salvation) so went to the 3D version only. I'll probably go back someday (soon) and check out the IMAX on my own.

Needless to say, Avatar was an amazing experience. It almost lived up to the epic trailer; and, had the trailer been only slightly less epic the movie would have exceeded my expectations. As it stands, Avatar met my expectations in every single way.

The Colonel was classic in his warmongering ways and his dialogue was priceless. He was easily my favorite character. The main characters associated with the Avatar program were all believable and well done. The world building was nothing short of incredible.

If you haven't seen Avatar yet, you are doing yourself an injustice. My wife loved it and she typically is not a fan of the science fiction/fantasy genres. After the movie ended I started thinking about the entire world of Pandora and the wealth of storytelling that could occur. There could easily be a great, long running science fiction/fantasy fiction series with the world and the cultures. I wish it was...

Good viewing,

Plants and Books

Most Epic Movie Ever?

2009-11-27T22:23:00.004-06:00

If, somehow, the upcoming movie Avatar bombs in the box office, it will still have had the most epic movie trailer... ever.

Good viewing,

Plants and Books

Review: A History of Violence by John Wagner

2009-11-05T09:00:00.005-06:00

Title: A History of Violence
Writer: John Wagner
Illustrator: Vince Locke
Copyright: 2004
Publisher: Vertigo
ISBN: 1563893673

Amazon|Borders|B&N

Some of the Best Illustrations and a Great Story Line - 4 stars - a book review

A History of Violence is one of the most provocative graphic novels I have read recently. Vince Locke's illustrations are edgy, raw, and unrefined; which adds to the overall feel of the story. It is a gritty story and the hard black and white ink reinforces the chaos and unpredictability of the characters. Some of the shining moments are the large panels simply looking out over the town or a horizon with looming darkness spreading.

The storyline is perfectly articulated, starting with the murder of two people in the opening page. From this first page the reader can tell that all bets are off and anything goes. As the main characters (Tom McKenna) past comes out it becomes more and more obvious that the ending will only come after much bloodshed and violence. A History of Violence reads like an excellent crime book, with supplementary pictures that enhance the experience.

A History of Violence is one of those gems in the graphic novel medium that can almost be told without the commentary and text; the illustrations, while basic black and white, are that good.

The only drawback of A History of Violence is the fact that the story, while excellent, could have been even bigger and better. The resolution comes way too soon and with the capability to convey such an excellent chain of events through words and graphics it is almost squandered. I would have loved to have had twice as much story. Make no mistake, A History of Violence is not to be missed.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Plants and Books in Print?!

2009-10-29T20:35:00.005-05:00

I had an interesting conversation with one of the students at the university I work for today. She was telling me about how she was talking to some guy she knows that reviews movies for a newspaper (I'm not sure which) and that they were looking for someone to review books for the paper. The student mentioned my name and give him my email address; so she told me I should be expecting an email in the near future. It was pretty exciting, but I wonder if my reading interests will jive with what the paper is looking to review; since, shamefully, fantasy/science fiction isn't as mainstream as we all know it should be.

On a side note, I think I just broke the 20,000 page mark for total pages read since January 1. A few stats:

59 books read (or are in the process of reading);
Average book size: 355 pages;
Average duration of time to complete a book: 5.95 days;
Average pages read per day: 69.45; and,
Percentage of reviews requested (either by Amazon Vine or publisher/author request): 44.07%

Maybe I'll see you in the papers!

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Riding Again on the Winds of Time

2009-10-29T19:55:00.012-05:00

So the twelfth volume of Robert Jordan's epic fantasy masterpiece was released this past Tuesday, with the previous installment having been released four years ago, and the first volume published in 1990. I am about a third of the way through the book, and I already have to say that it is everything I dreamed and more.

I went to the bookstore on Tuesday over the lunch hour (I almost forgot that it came out that day!) and walking in greeted by a huge display case of The Gathering Storm books and other associated Wheel of Time books put me grinning like a child on Christmas. I decided not to take the afternoon off of work to pound through the book and opted to just enjoy the book like any other, taking it at a pace that was satisfying; although there have been times I haven't wanted to put it down.

I got home and opened The Gathering Storm and saw the familiar font... I haven't felt that great in a long time. Although portions of the book were written by Brandon Sanderson it is hard to see where the author voice changes. The style is very similar to Robert Jordan's and the story pacing so far is miraculous. I can already tell that this volume will be one of the best in recent times and many of the plot lines that had slowed in the past few books are definitely coming to an end (or at least making dramatic progress). The Dark One is definitely getting a stronger hold on reality as his prison weakens.

I'm hoping that there is some serious ta'veren weaving and pulling that occurs in this book, bringing characters together for events that seem to happen just by happenstance; something the first several books had all the time, creating scenes that were near magical. I have not read any Mat Cauthon chapters yet, and I hope that one of my most anticipated plot lines gets some progress; that being the Aelfinn and Eelfinn and Moraine. However, due to the fact that the next book is tentatively called Towers of Midnight I assume the the Tower of Genji and the White Tower plot lines will be resolved in that book.

Anyways... Was it worth the wait? Absolutely. Will it be "the one book to rule them all"? It just might be, but I'm thinking the next one is going to be even better.

Stay tuned for the review; I image I will finish by the end of the weekend at the latest.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Amazon Stocks Through the Roof

2009-10-26T16:37:00.004-05:00

For those of you have been following this blog, you'll remember back in January when I suggested to invest in Amazon stock (this was right around the time that Amazon was making a big announcement, which many correctly assumed would be about the Kindle 2.0). At the time, Amazon stock (AMZ) was trading at $48.40 per share. For the past month or two the price has been hovering around the high eighties/low nineties. I checked today, and Amazon stock is trading for $124.63!

That means my hypothetical investment of $4,840 would now be worth $12,463! I net gain of $7,626... Getting close to twice my initial(hypothetical) investment. I can only imagine that it will continue to go up with the holiday seasons coming up. However, the recent announcement of the Barnes and Noble Nook (the B&N electronic reader) it will be interesting to follow along the success/shortcomings of each business venture.

View the full AMZN chart at Wikinvest

Good investing,

Plants and Books

Review: The Man Who Laughs (Batman) by Ed Brubaker

2009-10-25T22:40:00.007-05:00

Title: The Man Who Laughs
Author: Ed Brubaker
Illustrator: Doug Mahnke
Copyright: 2008
Publisher: DC Comics
ISBN: 1401216226

Amazon|Borders|B&N

An Unbalanced Collection of Two Batman Stories - 3 stars - a book review

I still cannot imagine for the life of me why DC Comics published these two Batman stories together in one volume, let alone why the volume was name The Man Who Laughs (other than the title story sharing the same name). I can only wager a guess that when it was published The Dark Knight (the movie) was looming on the horizon and DC Comics wanted to get as much Joker/Batman as they could on the shelves. The two stories contained in this graphic novel include Batman: The Man Who Laughs and Batman: Made of Wood.

Batman: The Man Who Laughs introduces (again) the Joker, Batman's number one villain and a fan favorite from the beginning. While the story is familiar to most (especially those outside the comic world who have seen the original Batman movie), it is portrayed in an excellent, very straightforward fashion. There is not a lot of depth to the story; but the visuals and characterizations are what make this story strong.

Batman: Made of Wood was originally a three part story in Detective Comics, revolving around an unsolved mystery. Not only does the Joker not appear in this arc, but the Green Lantern makes an appearance. The story itself is a typical murder mystery with a retired Jim Gordon playing a major role as well. The depiction of Jim Gordon is perfect, in my opinion. In a collection titled The Man Who Laughs, one would expect the Joker to be a central figure in both stories; however, no mention of the Joker is made in Made of Wood.

Both stories are well told and wonderfully illustrated, making the stories real and full of life; but the seemingly polar opposites of the stories make this an awkward collection. With so many great Joker stories out there, and trying to capitalize on the Batman/Joker mania with the upcoming (at the time of publication) The Dark Knight film, could there not have been a better collection? Especially considering that Batman: Made of Wood was longer than Batman: The Man Who Laughs.

Fans of Batman will be sure to enjoy this one; but fans of the Joker will surely be disappointed.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

The Wheel Weaves as the Wheel Wills - Seven Days to Go

2009-10-20T13:43:00.013-05:00

I had a conversation with my wife several weeks ago, and by now it is sort of a wash of a memory, but I certainly remember the context and the outcome. She was telling me about waiting for some book to be published and how hard it was with the anticipation, given the level of success and public interest in the previous installments (it might have been the Twilight books, and I hesitate to even mention that series on this blog). She had the audacity to say to me:

"You just don't know what it is like to wait for something like that."

At this point I said something along the lines of:

"EXCUSE ME?! I don't know what it is like to wait?! I've been anxiously (and more patiently than a lot of fans, I might add) awaiting the conclusion to the epic fantasy series The Wheel of Time for over a decade! If anyone in this world knows what waiting for something is like, it is Wheel of Time fans, and nobody else.

Then I started in on the nature of the fantasy genre and specifically The Wheel of Time and epic volumes of high fantasy. Of course, while not factually correct, my statement does resonate the sentiment felt by many of us fantasy nuts who have been in a torrid love affair with a 10,000 page story for the better part of our lives. In any other context, and with the publishing of A Gathering Storm only months away (at the time), I would have certainly included George R.R. Martin fans; but I was already pushing my luck with the allowed time of fanatically speaking about fantasy literature for one car ride to the grocery store.

What's the point, you may ask? Well, in seven days the next installment of one of the all time bestselling fantasy series is being published. On October 27, A Gathering Storm, book 12 of The Wheel of Time, by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson will hit the shelves, just under four years after the previous volume. The light at the end of the tunnel is coming quickly, with a speculated publishing dates of November 2010 and November 2011 for the concluding two volumes of this fantasy work (tentatively titled Towers of Midnight and A Memory of Light, respectively).

After this conversation (or rather my outburst of total lack of respect for the fantasy readers' dedication and patience) I started thinking some more. I honestly can't even really remember life without the knowledge that there is another Wheel of Time volume on the way. What's going to happen in November 2011 once I finish the last word on the last page? The end?

If images like these don't make you wish you lived in a
different world, there is no hope for you.

I can't remember exactly when I started reading The Wheel of Time. I do know that my love for The Wheel of Time has transcended anything else that has been a constant in my life (in terms of duration); I've had three different cars, seven or eight different jobs, I've earned both a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree, overseen the planning and construction of an 18-million dollar building, been directly involved in close to a thousand college students' lives, I started dating and married the love of my life, and have celebrated four anniversaries with her (clearly the most important of those things were the last two).

Talk about young boys becoming men.
Grow out your beard, Wolfbrother.

I love reading. It is one of my favorite things to do. I love escaping into fantasy environments and reading coming of age, epic quests. For these reasons alone, I am eternally in debt to Robert Jordan, since before I picked up The Eye of the World you could not get me to read anything. I actually remember a field trip in junior high when I was sitting next to a guy from my class (who I would later become pretty good friends with) and he was reading one of the first couple of books from The Wheel of Time. I don't remember which one, but I do remember the classic Darrell K. Sweet artwork. He started telling me about the book and I simply said I wasn't interested. He asked me why not and said it is great. I responded:

"I don't like to read."

GASP! I now want to scream anytime I hear someone say that and I always think of this moment. Several years late he and I, along with several other friends, would be debating the weaving's of the Wheel and speculating on a number of pertinent issues on the roof of his house. Moments like those can never be emulated, nor would I want them to be.

As I mentioned previously, reading epic fantasy is truly a torrid love affair (or at least what I assume a love affair would be like). It has been an up and down roller coaster of excitement, disappointment, waiting, late nights, and waiting. I will not even begin to get into the quality of the last few books, as many fans have been rather disappointed. I will mention that sometime after I finished Crossroads of Twilight and after I started reviewing books at Amazon I drank a little too much and started reading reviews on Amazon, so in my passionate state of mind (read: drunken stupor) I pumped out a "review" basically calling anyone that didn't like the book a pseudo-WOT fan and saying they didn't appreciate the magnitude, and blah blah blah. It was great; I remember feeling like people were going to read my "review" and be like, "wait a second, he's on to something here..." I was going to start the revolution of bringing the viewpoints of fantasy fans back to this beloved series. For God's sake, The Wheel of Time is why I read these days! Such blasphemous things should never cross anybody's mind; but of course, it was mostly stupid ramblings and incoherent drivel. I never deleted that "review" because I have fun reading it sometimes. It is fun remembering those moments of passion. Actually, five people thought it was helpful (out of 23), which is still surprising. Some of the finer quotes from my Crossroads of Twilight "review":

Okay, here's the deal: A lot of so called WOT fans have been complaining about the last few books (mainly books seven and on) because they are boring and not as interesting as the first six. I will call these people pseudo-WOT fans because it is clear that they do not appreciate "The Wheel of Time" for it's entire worth, because they only appreciate specific scenes and incredible moments from the first six books (including all of "The Great Hunt," Domani's Wells, the battle with Rahvin, etc.).

I admit, I thought book ten was going to be "The One" book to rule them all. I was disappointed because not much really happens.

So, honestly, as a TRUE fan of "The Wheel of Time," I am telling you that if you truly appreciate the Wheel of Time world and the characters involved, you will appreciate "Crossroads of Twilight." It may not be the best book you've ever read, and you may get a little upset with it, but those are the times you need to step away and think about what is actually going on in the series. These pseudo-WOT fans obviously do not understand anything that is going on, because they are to preoccupied with looking for one good reason for this being "the last Robert Jordan book they ever read," which is exactly what they've been saying for the last three books. And yet, the pseudo-WOT fans will still pick up book eleven, and when it is "the One" book to rule them all, will say, "I LOVE ROBERT JORDAN, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A FAN OF HIS WORK!!!"
At that point, we will all look back at their one star reviews and say, "well actually, you wern't.... Sorry sucka!"

I cannot believe how stupid I was. The second quote is probably my favorite with regard to my fanaticism. I should also note, for the record, that this was prior to receiving both a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree, as mentioned above.

The last thing that I will mention is that The Gathering Storm is partially written by Brandon Sanderson, from Robert Jordan's notes. Sanderson is a phenomenal writer himself, but it will be different reading the story written by someone other than the visionary.

So, seven days from today I will have the next step in this decade old journey ahead of me. Like Rand al'Thor's coming of age story, I feel that in some ways my own coming of age story has been transpiring in the background (at least I hope so; but we'll see if people start trashing A Gathering Storm and I have a few too many beers one night - be on the lookout for Amazon reviews!). The next biggest decision is going to be power through the book in one sitting or try and savor it? I already know the answer, and have always known the answer since ten years ago. I just need to remember to request Tuesday off of work.

This image is where it all began. Possibly one of the
most celebrated covers in fantasy history.

If any of my fantasy friends out there are reading this, I'll be ready to grab a six pack and head up to the roof and enjoy the night in a way that Robert Jordan would have appreciated.

Ten years. Has it been worth the wait? Absolutely. So as they say, let the Dragon ride again on the Winds of Time.

Good waiting,

Plants and Books

Review: Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson

2009-10-20T00:08:00.009-05:00

DON'T FORGET TO UPDATE YOUR BOOKMARK TO THE MAIN PAGE TO SEE NEW UPDATES: http://plantsandbooks.blogspot.com

Title: Hero of Ages
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Copyright: 2008
Publisher: Tor Books
ISBN: 0765356147

Notes: The concluding volume to the Mistborn trilogy

Amazon|Borders|B&N

The Epic Conclusion to a fully Realized Fantasy World - 5 stars - a book review

Let me just say this before I begin: if you even consider yourself halfway interested in fantasy and you have not read the Mistborn trilogy, you are doing yourself a disservice everyday that passes without experiencing this epic masterpiece.
At the conclusion of The Well of Ascension Vin had been tricked into releasing Ruin, one of the Gods responsible for the creation of the world, and the one given the promise of destroying it. Vin, Elend, and the rest of their gang have their work cut out for them not only fighting an unknown force, the increased ash falls, and larger mists blocking the sun; but also uniting the Dominances and uncovering the secrets left behind by the Lord Ruler.

Hero of Ages brings the trilogy full circle, enlightening readers to things throughout the previous two volumes. The world of the Final Empire is epic in scope and fully realized in this volume. In each installment has unveiled a little bit more of the Final Empire, gradually increasing knowledge of Sanderson's world.

The characters all have their personal conflicts and ethical dilemmas they each have to deal with. They are believable and engaging. Some of the lesser characters in the original Kelsier gang take on more prominent roles, leading the charge on undermining local city governments and completing difficult tasks for Vin and/or Elend. Additionally, the Kandra, the Koloss, and the Inquisitors play a larger role as well, and the history of their species is rich and lush; providing a lot of background information about the land of the Final Empire and the Lord Ruler himself.

My main concern (and it is minor) with The Final Empire is with the character Sazed, the Terrisman scholar. He had previously been one of my favorite minor characters, but in this book he was so preachy about how he couldn't prove any of the hundreds of religions he knew were true; this is understandable since he was having a personal conflict after the loss of his recently found love at the end of The Well of Ascension. However, the nature of his internal dialogue is well executed, and although annoying at first, it does become more meaningful and thoughtful as the book continues.

Per usual, the allomancer battles are exciting and interesting. That magic system devised by Sanderson rivals anything in recent memory in terms of creativity and believability. He executes his Allomantic Pushes and Pulls with grace and ease.

Sanderson's world is enthralling and impossible to resist. I wouldn't recommend reading anything else until you've finished this trilogy. If you are a fantasy fan, you have been kidding yourself for far too long by not reading this.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: Joker by Brian Azzarello

2009-10-15T21:17:00.004-05:00

Title: Joker
Author: Brian Azzarello
Copyright: 2008
Publisher: DC Comics
ISBN: 1401215815

Amazon|Borders|B&N

The Joker?! Released from Arkham?! Talk about Insanity! - 4 stars - a book review

The premise of Joker is nearly unbelievable; however, given that premise, the story is believable beyond a shadow of doubt. Joker, in Joker, is in prime form, after being released from Arkham Asylum (for reasons never told, much like the vague and contradicting answers given in The Dark Knight about Joker's scars) and is starting from scratch, with nothing; no money, no help, and he considers "his city" in the toilet due to the negligence and greedy of his former associates. Anyone who thought they had the last laugh when Joker went away is in for the surprise of his life.

Joker's story is top notch; the reader is escorted through a journey with Joker as he tries to reinsert himself into the bowels of Gotham City through the vantage point of a henchman named Jonny Frost, Joker's newest loyal member, and the only guy who picks Joker up from Arkham. Joker starts calling in his old boys to deliver a message: the Joker that they all feared (and readers love) is back. The cast of characters include The Penguin, Killer Croc (in a more human rendition), Two-Face, Harley Quinn, the Riddler, and Batman.

The portrayal of Joker in this graphic novel is the side of Joker that I have always loved more than the others. As you can see, the imagery is strikingly similar to the Heath Ledger portrayal in The Dark Knight, with the ratty faded purple suit and makeup/scars. This is not the bright purple outfit, smiling, wise cracking jester (although Joker does have some great funny moments, although they are most likely only funny to Joker and the reader, as it should be). This Joker is out for blood and no joke will satisfy. The story is gruesome in parts but completely within the realm of plausibility, considering the subject matter.

For the most part, the illustrations are absolutely stunning, and do an excellent job of making the Joker, his associates, and Gotham come to life. This is a back alley story with only a couple of scenes in "higher society," and Lee Bermejo makes the setting a place you don't want to be, night or day. The only (minor) problem I have with the art is that the style switches from panel to panel during some of the story. At times, it is 100% illustration (and well done) and then the next panel will appear almost like a real picture or computer generated image (smudged for grits sake). While I appreciate both styles, I am a person that prefers consistency from panel to panel, from beginning to end.

The only other drawback of Joker is the fact that it is so short. Joker definitely should have been serialized since there is enough material here for several books of the same size. Many times, Joker does something where the plot would have benefited from a little more background (or visualization during the moment, since many times Joker just does stuff with no explanation). Although an excellent story, it almost left me unsatisfied since I felt it could have been a lot deeper, less rushed, and more impactful than it was; however, given the length, it does pack quite a punch.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: Slammer by Allan Guthrie

2009-10-03T20:43:00.005-05:00

Title: Slammer
Author: Allan Guthrie
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN: 0151012954

Amazon|Borders|B&N

Definitely Not A "Slammer" Dunk - 2 stars - a book review

I can see the appeal of this book and I can see how some people would like it; however, I hardly enjoyed it at all. The premise is solid, but underdeveloped. The terrorizing from the inmates to the guard could have been so much greater and the story would have been more of a "throat grabber" had there been more favors, more threats, and... well... more terrorizing. The main character, Glass, is only put in two situations before his life spirals out of control (and the story spirals out of control, I might add). There are parts of the story that are grotesque, but I felt it was more for shock value and could not really buy into those actions.

On top of all that, there seems to be random flashbacks that did not seem to fit in the story for any reason, providing seemingly insignificant details about the characters. Maybe they were significant; but if so, it was poorly executed. The ending was also so unsatisfying and disappointing.

My other concerns with Slammer is that there is no writing in the book above a sixth grade reading level. The writing was pretty juvenile and the dialogue was equally juvenile. It is hard to take a dark and gritty story seriously if there are no words over two syllables.

Overall, I say if the premise of the story strikes your fancy, go for it. Given that it is such an easy and quick read it won't take too much time, and you might enjoy it. In my opinion, there are far better books in this category that are executed better and ten times as engaging, with stronger characters; like Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk and each of the books in the Caught Stealing trilogy by Charlie Huston.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

2009-10-03T15:15:00.003-05:00

Title: The Well of Ascension
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Copyright: 2007
Publisher: Tor Books
ISBN: 0765316889

Notes: Second book in the Mistborn series.

Amazon|Borders|B&N

Sanderson is a Master of his Craft in this Second Volume - 5 stars - a book review

With The Final Empire (Mistborn book one) being one of the best fantasy novels I have read in the past five years, my hopes were high for the continued success of this fantasy world. Needless to say, I was not disappointed, and if Sanderson continues to pump out books at this pace (almost one a year) and this quality (magnificent) he could be hailed in the upper echelons of greats fantasy writers of the decade.

In The Well of Ascension, Brandon Sanderson not only builds upon the unique world and intriguing characters introduced in The Final Empire, but he also shows off his marvelous writing skills by expanding his storytelling repertoire into areas that were not explored previously. While The Final Empire was heavy world building, character introduction, coming of age story with enough magic and wizard battles to satisfy any fantasy junkie for the coming year, The Well of Ascension starts to explore another facet of fantasy fiction: political intrigue. The book starts one year after the conclusion of The Final Empire: Elende Venture is now the king in his experimental idealistic governmental setup imagined around beers with his friends in the previous installment. Since large portions of the book are focused on the political manuevering, The Well of Ascension starts significantly slower the any other Brandon Sanderson book I have read; however, once settled into the different style of book the pacing ramps up quickly and effectively making the overall reading experience beyond satisfying.

Alongside the political nature of The Well of Ascension, there is still the coming of age story of the heroine from The Final Empire, Vin. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Mistborn trilogy (so far) is the stereotypical fantasy coming of age story told in such a way that is original and engaging, making it nearly impossible to compare to the timeless tale of a boy gaining powers and saving the world. Vin has not only gained significant powers and is still struggling to find her powerful place in the world, but she is also struggling with problems that are far above her maturity level including falling in love, a sense of honor and duty, and the price each of these play on her own mortality.

Finally, what would a good fantasy story be without magic and fighting? As luck would have it, as true to form, there is no need to worry with The Well of Ascension. There is plenty of Pushing and Pulling and allomancer battles to feast upon. As Vin grows more powerful so does the epic-ness of the battles. The fight scenes are beautiful realized and exceptionally original; I could read the epic 700 page tomes of the Mistborn trilogy for the fight scenes alone. I started reading fantasy for the escapism from the real world and found magical worlds where my imagination could run wild. What I really look for in a fantasy book is something that leaves me with visual images that stick with me and that I can fully realize with very little effort. The tales and descriptions in the Mistborn books provide some of the most fully realized, enjoyable, engaging, and believable memories in modern fantasy.

All in all, The Well of Ascension, while starting a little slowly, is a tour de force of fantasy imagery, worldbuilding, and storytelling. If Sanderson is not already at the top his game with his first few books in his career (Elantris and Mistborn) I can’t even begin to imagine what is in store for fantasy in the next decade; of course, with Sanderson at the helm, I won’t have to do much imagining on my own and will be able to sit back and enjoy the ride.

My only minor complaint about this publication is the fact that there is a quote on the back of the mass market paperback comparing Brandon Sanderson to Terry Goodkind...

I’m still mad at myself that I let these books sit on my shelf for years waiting to be read.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson

2009-10-03T15:05:00.004-05:00

Title: Gardens of the Moon
Author: Steven Erikson
Copyright: 2004
Publisher: Tor Books
ISBN: 0765310015

Notes: First book in the Malazan Book of the Fallen series.

Amazon|Borders|B&N

Epic Worldbuilding; Mediocre Storytelling - 3 stars - a book review

First of all, for all the Malazan fanboys out there, let me say this: I get it; I really do. I recognize that many (if not most) of the Malazan cult followers will say that Gardens of the Moon is the weakest of the bunch, and the storytelling gets better and it all starts to come together after the second or third books. I get that. In fact, I am truly glad to hear it. I look forward to those moments as I fully intend to read on and most likely finish the series. In all honesty, I can see myself getting sucked into the Malazan world quite easily, becoming a fanboy who posts in the Malazan forums and awaits the next installments like Armageddon is on the horizon. That is what I do with fantasy series; especially series with fully realized worlds, which the Malazan world clearly is.

The truth of the matter is that despite needing two or three books to “get it,” Gardens of the Moon (and the Malazan Empire world) is not for everyone. Two or three books is a lot to swallow for the casual fantasy reader, given that the first two books clock in at 1400 to 1500 pages combined. That is a lot to swallow, especially if it is tough going for the first 300 to 500 pages. And in all honesty, it is tough going; that being said, one of the virtues of Gardens of the Moon is the fact that the world of the Malazan Empire is epic in magnitude and scope while fully realized in every aspect. The world exists and has lore and history galore; it is truly almost unbelievable. The Malazan Empire is the penultimate Dungeons and Dragons world crafted by the most obsessed Dungeon Master, and then written about in all of its glory. The problem with this incredible feat of worldbuilding is the simple girth of the world and the fact that the reader is literally dropped into the middle of it. I am actually hesitant to call it worldbuilding, since the world already exists and the reader almost awakens in the middle of a war.

Added on to that is the mediocre storytelling. There are countless plot lines at the beginning with no real (apparent) connection until much later in the book. Characters are introduced quickly and left behind abruptly, to only come around later on. There are also some fairly interesting plot devices that were almost a total turnoff for me; and I mean close the book and saying “who is kidding who?”

I can see the Malazan Empire in all its glory and I can see the war ravaged country sides, the battle hardened armies, and the towns that barely survived the individual Cleansings. The city of Darujhistan is unbelievable. However, the beauty and magnitude of these people and this world is interrupted, almost detrimentally by the previously mentioned plot devices. No matter how hard I tried, I could not picture in my head, nor believe that a marionette puppet was running around the countryside such as he was. I could not get past it and it ruined the beauty of the scenes that had been developing.

The overarching plot really comes together about halfway through and makes the book tough to put down. As a freshman work of fantasy fiction, I can already see the improvements from the beginning of the book to the end in the storytelling department. With all that in mind, Gardens of the Moon was certainly a chore to read; but it also introduced me to one of the most remarkable and engaging fantasy worlds. Unfortunately, the story told in this world was weak; but as it has been said, this is not a theme of the entire series. And remember fanboys, I will most likely be joining your ranks in another month or so.

I guess my point is that with a fully realized world (such as the one presented in Gardens of the Moon), anything is possible; and I fully expect Erikson to deliver in future installments.

At least at this time, I can honestly only recommend Gardens of the Moon for the most dedicated epic fantasy junkies.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Case Studies in Critical Controversy) by Mark Twain

2009-09-17T13:45:00.005-05:00

Title: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Case Studies in Critical Controversy)
Author: Mark Twain, edited by Gerald Graff and James Phelan
Copyright: 2003
Publisher: Bedford/St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312400292

Amazon|Borders|B&N

Not the Perfect Story; but Certainly the Perfect Edition - 5 stars - a book review

I've always said if a book has been banned and I haven't read it, I must be doing something wrong. Luckily enough, I had read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn before, and for the life of me I couldn't remember what the big deal was (outside of the obvious) (I was in Junior High at the time, some 12 years ago). I was taking an English class for fun at the university I work for and this was the first text on the reading list. The theme of the class is "racism in American culture and American literature." The reason I mention this is not because of the content of the story The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn but rather the "bonus features," such as they are, that are included.

The "Case Studies in Critical Controversy" edition of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn includes the following (in addition to the original 1885 text):

A wonderful introduction about the importance of studying controversies;
A portfolio of the original illustrations included with the 1885 edition;
Twenty essays "representing major critical and cultural controversies surrounding the work" (from the back cover) over three subject matters: the controversy over the ending; the controversy over racism; and, the controversy over gender and sexuality. These essays include:
- Lionel Trilling, "A Certain Formal Aptness";
- T.S. Eliot, "The Boy and the River: Without Beginning or End";
- Toni Morrison, "Jim's Africanist Presence in Huckleberry Finn" (New to this edition);
- Jane Smiley, "Say It Ain't So, Huck: Second Thoughts on Mark Twain's "Masterpiece"";
- Seymour Chwast, "Selling Huck Finn Down the River: A Response to Jane Smiley";
- Leslie Fiedler, "Come back to the Raft Ag'in, Huck Honey!";
- Christopher Looby, "'Innocent Homosexuality': The Fiedler Thesis in Retrospect"; and,
- Several other essays, many of which have been reproduced in other editions of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

With this edition clocking in at 550 pages, nearly 60% of the text is additional material regarding controversy in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. As my instructor said on the first day, "Everyone has their own opinions; but, leave them at the door. All I want to hear are facts." This edition has plenty of well research and comprehensive information for all sides of each controversy. Many of the essays are linked, being responses to each other. I believe oftentimes we, as a culture, forget that sometimes the discussion about the controversy is more important than the actual controversy. Reading this text is an important educational lesson, and if parents, teachers, and school children read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in the context of this edition it certainly would not be banned and I think we would all be more proud of our children for the level of discourse and behavior when engaging in controversial debate.

Granted, this is the only edition of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn I have read (since I was 15 years old); but, I can't ever imagine myself recommending any other edition for any other reason.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

2009-08-30T12:27:00.005-05:00

Title: Catching Fire
Author: Suzanne Collins
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Scholastic Press
ISBN: 0439023491

Notes: Second book in The Hunger Games Series

Amazon|Borders|B&N

Everyday is a Revolution - 4 stars - a book review

Catching Fire continues right where The Hunger Games ends, with the victory of Katniss and Peeta in the defiance of the powerful Capital. It seems their win has started some of the Districts to think that there may be a better way to live other than the complete control that The Capital has for them. Without giving away too much, there is plenty of the good stuff that readers enjoyed from The Hunger Games and more character development of the characters that made The Hunger Games so memorable.

Returning home from The Hunger Games is only the beginning, and as victors, Katniss and Peeta travel to all twelve districts and get a feeling that there is the beginning of a revolution. However, their lives will never be the same as The Capital pulls another fast one, putting them in another situation that they just may not be ready to deal with yet.

As mentioned, everything that was enjoyable about the first volume is back: compelling characters, sticky situations, a vicious enemy, and of course, blood thirsty killing. The beginning of the book starts a little slow, but ramps up in the intensity at about the halfway point and I wish there would have been more detail in the final setting. Although Catching Fire is not near as good as The Hunger Games, it is a worthy sequel and should be read by fans of the first book.

Good reading,

Plants and Books.

Review: Top Producer by Norb Vonnegut

2009-08-24T21:07:00.005-05:00

Title: Top Producer
Author: Norb Vonnegut
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Minotaur Books
ISBN: 0312384610

Amazon|Borders|B&N

Good Financial Mystery - 4 stars - a book review

Although I do not consider it a thriller, Top Producer was an enjoyable experience. The opening chapters set the stage as Grove O'Rourke and 500 other people watch as Charlie Keleman is gruesomely killed by sharks in an aquarium. Obviously Charlie was not as well loved as everyone seemed to believe.

Vonnegut displays his knowledge of Wall Street with skill, and against all odds, paints an exciting and interesting picture of high finance and a world where money is king. Traversing Charlie's accounts becomes a tiresome and mind boggling task for O'Rourke as he helps Charlie's wife reclaim the money that has been invested. Along the way, O'Rourke has to deal with the police and friends/associates whose business it is to not share secrets. However, the secrets do come out, and the mystery of Charlie's death becomes as tangled as a politicians income tax returns.

The characters in Top Producer are top notch. They are completely believable and well depicted as everyone has an agenda and keeping their jobs and making money is the might be more important than solving the mystery of who killed Charlie Keleman. Although Top Producer is filled with financial jargon and countless explanations of the business, Vonnegut writes it in such a way that it flows nicely with the story and provides the reader with exactly what is needed to know without going over the top. Not only is Top Producer a good mystery; but also a nice education lesson in accounting, investment, and Ponzi schemes.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: Bloodroot by Bill Loehfelm

2009-08-01T09:54:00.003-05:00

Title: Bloodroot
Author: Bill Loehfelm
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Putnam Adult
ISBN: 0399155929

Amazon|Borders|B&N

Couldn't Put it Down - 5 stars - a book review

I just adopted a puppy, so my reading time has been significantly less (read: none). However, Bloodroot really got me back in the fold and I could not stop reading it. For those of you who know how time consuming a puppy is this should mean a lot.

Bloodroot examines the idea of brotherhood and what people would go through in order to save those closest to us. Bloodroot follows Kevin who has recently come back in contact with his recovering heroin addicted brother, Danny. All seems well until Kevin gets involved in some of Danny's "business ventures" which begin to unravel the past to the harrowing end. How far will Kevin go to help his brother and his family? Does he have it in him to do what is necessary, no matter how right or how wrong it seems to him?

Bill Loehfelm has crafted a magnificent tale of family and brotherhood, with darkness around every corner. The plot may seem to some to move slowly at times, but in these moments are the most significant in terms of character development and personal insight. Following Kevin and Danny is a journey into the heart of family values, brotherhood, and sacrifice with stops in the darkest corners of their souls. The way Loehfelm unravels these characters is nothing short of perfect, weaving a tale that is impossible to resist.

If you liked Starvation Lake by Bryan Gruley then you will most certainly enjoy Bloodroot.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

2009-07-13T20:43:00.004-05:00

Title: Mistborn: The Final Empire
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Copyright: 2007
Publisher: Tor Books
ISBN: 0765350386

Notes: First book in the Mistborn series

Amazon|Borders|B&N

Nearly Perfect. The New Standard To Which Fantasy Should Be Held - 5 stars - a book review

Just when you think epic fantasy is beyond tired, someone like Brandon Sanderson comes along and re-imagines the timeless coming of age quest adventure in a way that is so unique, so memorable, so engaging, and more importantly, so refreshing. The review title says it all. Mistborn (The Final Empire) is nearly perfect. The Final Empire has everything that grand fantasy should: a well developed world, a unique and intriguing magic system, an evil that transcends humanity, and a coming of age story.

The premise of The Final Empire is irresistible: a band of lower class people planning the ultimate caper to defeat the evil and oppressive Lord Ruler and the ruling class of nobles all vying for power and money at the expense of the slave-like Skaa. The main characters are all individuals with a unique skillset that helps the party with their objective of destroying the Lord Ruler's grasp on the Mistborn realm. Even better, their unique attributes also help worldbuild and educate the reader on the history and happenings of the last one thousand years.

As mentioned, the magic system is intriguing, to say the least. By ingesting metals, Allomancers can "burn" each metal to perform different magical acts, such as Pushing or Pulling themselves towards metal and "flying" through the air or locating metals, making themselves stronger or faster, and an introduction to fabled metals that are so rare and even unknown. This magic system makes for interesting and exciting battles and help turn the tide for parties with Allomancers.

Sanderson is an incredibly talented writer. He is a tour-de-force in the fantasy genre and should not be missed. I'm not sure that I want to trust anyone that likes fantasy but did not enjoy Mistborn. The only problem I had with The Final Empire is that it took me two years to finally read it.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Getting Famous?

2009-07-13T00:17:00.004-05:00

For the few of you that follow my blog, you may have noticed that I have been on a little hiatus recently. My wife and I adopted a dog about a month ago and instead of reading I have been monitoring his every move. Regardless, because of this cool blog statistic/tracking site, GetClicky, I just checked to see how many people are checking in on my blog (not many) and how they are finding my site (search engines or links from other sites). I found some neat things.

First, Brent Weeks has linked my site on his website with blurbs from my reviews of his NIGHT ANGEL TRILOGY:

Plants and Books says “THE WAY OF SHADOWS is one of the best recent fantasy books I have read, if not one of the best fantasy books I have ever read. There are many strengths to this engaging book; but, one of the strongest is definitely the characters and their moral/ethical dilemmas. THE WAY OF SHADOWS is an emotional ride of vengeance, mercy, justice, terror, and humor.”

Plants and Books posted, “It has been a long time since I have read a book that has so easily charged me emotionally, which if for no other reason, is a reason to read SHADOW’S EDGE.”

In an otherwise tepid review, Plants and Books says “THE NIGHT ANGEL TRILOGY is one of the best additions to the fantasy genre in recent times.”

I had to laugh a little at the last comment on his review page because I did not realize that my review was so "luke warm" since I absolutely loved the book and the entire series.

I was also linked on an eBay listing for the entire Brent Weeks THE NIGHT ANGEL TRILOGY. Since eBay listings come and go, here is a picture:

I was also linked from some blog that you need to be invited to be view, so I have no idea what it is. Maybe if I link the blog here, he or she will see my link and send me an invite. Maybe this person thinks my blog sucks, or maybe this person thinks I'm an idiot. Maybe this person thinks I am the most amazing blogger since the internet was conceived... Obviously there must have been something worthwhile since he linked to me. I NEED TO KNOW!!

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: Bad Things Happen by Harry Dolan

2009-07-11T21:54:00.003-05:00

Title: Bad Things Happen
Author: Harry Dolan
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Penguin Group
ISBN: 9780399155635

Amazon|Borders|B&N

Elegant Writing With Exceptional Characters - 4 stars - a book review

Every once in a while there is a story that is written in such a unique manner it is hard to explain and impossible to deny. BAD THINGS HAPPEN is such a story. The writing style is not unusual, but has an aura of "classical-ness" to it that makes the story an almost instant classic. Whatever it is that I am trying to describe reminds me of the writing style of JONATHAN STRANGE & MR. NORRELL. That being said, BAD THINGS HAPPEN is not without faults.

BAD THINGS HAPPEN is unique in the sense that the plot revolves around a group of writers and editors. This premise sets up some great dialogue and postulations by the characters as they scramble to figure out who killed the founder of the murder mystery magazine, Gray Streets. Every single time the phrase, "if this was a story in Gray Streets, such and such would happen" followed by, "But this isn't a story in Gray Streets..." The dialogue is almost unreal in this sense, and nearly makes it impossible to believe, but with each unbelievable moment the story becomes that much more unforgettable.

The problems with BAD THINGS HAPPENS is that as more is uncovered about the murders, the less interested I became in who the actual killer (or killers) was. The story became extremely convoluted with the motives of characters that were insignificant previously and they had motives that were not that interesting to me. Of course, me not being a writer might have something to do with the inability to relate.

Overall, BAD THINGS HAPPENS was a worthwhile read. While not without faults, the dialogue and characters are what drive this story. If you like Charlie Huston's writing, then you will enjoy this book and vice versa.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Progress Report - 6/1/09

2009-06-06T23:50:00.007-05:00

It has been a couple of months since I last posted my reading progress, so I suppose it is time.

Books Read: 33
Pages Read: 11,990
Average Pages/Day: 76.37
Average Days/Book: 4.32

Books Reviewed: 32/33 (96.96%)
Average Review Ratings: 3.97 stars

Until next time, good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: The Doomsday Key by James Rollins

2009-06-06T23:22:00.004-05:00

Title: The Doomsday Key
Author: James Rollins
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: William Morrow
ISBN: 0061231401

Notes: A Novel of the Sigma Force

Amazon|Borders|B&N

A Good Summer Read - 4 stars - a book review

I've only read a small number of James Rollins' books; but, from my understanding, THE DOOMSDAY KEY is exactly what fans of his will expect and love. It has an easy to read and enjoyable plot involving multiple murders, biotechnology, chemical agents, history, and lore. THE DOOMSDAY KEY is truly an adventure, taking readers from Africa to locations all over Europe, to the Arctic.

I am not familiar with the characters, but I believe they have made appearances in previous Rollins books. Rollins excels in painting these people in precarious situations with real responses. They are believable and their actions are reasonable (for the most part). There were a couple of moments when I was truly impressed with their thought processes, and Rollins did a nice job of showing the internal moral struggles during these moments.

What else is there? Tons and tons of action. The only times when there is no action is when the characters are learning about the history of the artifact they seek, thus having dialogues and research sessions to fill themselves (and the reader) in on what they are trying to achieve. The action is almost over the top, and at times recklessly unbelievable. Rollins has no shame in destroying national monuments and tearing down anything and everything. This caviler attitude almost turned me off because there is no follow up on events that would seem impossible to get away with, and little discussion of the ramifications of such actions. However, it is a story, and these events were fun to read and created an enjoyable experience.

The plot revolving around the Doomsday Key and the Doomsday Book was interesting and moderately well researched, providing the lore with some semblance of believability. Although these artifacts were interesting, it was not breathtaking and "grab you by the throat." For some, the story could be a little too much action and not enough substance; but like any summer action movie: sometimes that is what we prefer.

Overall, THE DOOMSDAY KEY is a good summer read. If you are looking for a book that is easy to read, fast paced, doesn't involve a lot of thinking, and filled with action, I recommend picking it up. If you are looking for something with a little more substance or something with "a little more to it," you might consider passing on THE DOOMSDAY KEY.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Amazon Stock Soaring

2009-06-05T01:31:00.003-05:00

Over the past couple of months I have not been checking the Amazon stock (AMZ) too often. Between those interludes, the stock was hovering around $73.00, with a couple of spikes and a couple of declines. My hypothetical investment on January 27, 2009 of 100 shares (at $48.40/share) would have cost me a whopping total of $4,840.

Fast forward to today, where Amazon stock is at $85.52... That's a net profit of $3,712! Not bad for six months work.

Six months of ups and downs... but mostly ups.

What's next? Time will tell. I would be halfway tempted to cash out now, wait for a big dip which is sure to come, and then reinvest.

Good investing,

Plants and Books

Review: North From Calcutta by Duane Evans

2009-05-25T23:04:00.004-05:00

The Spy From the Other Side - 5 stars - a book review

Duane Evans has created an equally interesting and engaging story with his novel, NORTH FROM CALCUTTA. In a world of Islamic terrorism and Pakastani intelligence, this book reads like an espionage thriller on the other side of the world.

The main character, Tarek Durrani, is a believable, if not a troubled person in his own right. Fighting his own demons along the way to ensuring that India and Pakistan do not end up destroying each other (and the rest of the world) in nuclear war over Kashmir. Evans has a talent for painting a remarkably bleak picture with a hint of sunlight in the corner, and realizing this light in NORTH FROM CALCUTTA is as engaging as it gets.

One of the best features of NORTH FROM CALCUTTA is the pace at which the story is told. The story is engaging and builds chapter by chapter to an explosive conclusion that will be hard to forget. Every chapter is equally fulfilling and their is no down chapters or lagging that sometimes exists to move the plot along. The plot moves perfectly.

If you like espionage thrillers and you are looking for a change in venue for spy exploits, you should take a good look at NORTH FROM CALCUTTA. If you liked THE INCREMENT by David Ignatius you will enjoy NORTH FROM CALCUTTA and vice versa.

Good reading,

Plants and Books.

Review: Beyond the Shadows by Brent Weeks

2009-05-24T00:18:00.010-05:00

Title: Beyond the Shadows
Author: Brent Weeks
Copyright: 2008
Publisher: Orbit Books
ISBN: 0316033669

Notes: Final book in the Night Angel Trilogy

Amazon|Borders|B&N

A Satisfying Conclusion to a Refreshing Fantasy Series - 4 stars - a book review

Brent Weeks certainly made a grand entrance into the fantasy world with his NIGHT ANGEL TRILOGY. The entire trilogy is refreshing to read, real and emotional, and completely believable. I absolutely loved THE WAY OF SHADOWS and it was one of the best fantasy books I have read in a long time. The stage was set for a grand tale (and it was); but I was slightly disappointed with the execution, at least by comparison to the previous two installments.

After killing the Godking, Kylar Stern takes more of a journey and adventure of self discovery, learning about the Ka'kari and his role as the Night Angel. Old friendships are rekindled and rediscovered, to great success in terms of character development. One area that Weeks has always succeeded with is his character development and personal interactions. This book explores the bond of brotherhood and friendship to great depths, and the sacrifices necessary to save people. In the previous installments, Kylar's love interest, Elene, was a very one dimensional character. In BEYOND THE SHADOWS, she grows so much, and becomes a character that I was now interested in. Furthermore, many characters from the previous two books are featured in a much more prominent light, setting the stage across multiple countries building to a epic battle.

My one disappointment with BEYOND THE SHADOWS was how the format of the book was drastically different from the other two. BEYOND THE SHADOWS has so many more characters and there is so much more going on in their stories that it almost detracted from my favorite aspects of the series: that being Kylar and his growth as a Wetboy and his struggles balancing the life and his destiny. Because of this, there is so much worldbuilding that would have been better introduced previously because there are times of great exposition through dialogues between characters about the history of the realm. BEYOND THE SHADOWS further explores the entire realm, but almost too much for my comfort. I would have liked to have had more of this worldbuilding in the first two books.

Regardless, BEYOND THE SHADOWS is a solid book. THE NIGHT ANGEL TRILOGY is one of the best additions to the fantasy genre in recent times. Weeks excels is painting the tragic lives and choices of the characters and their actions are nothing short of believable.

If you like fantasy, you certainly do not want to miss this one.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: Orphan's Triumph by Robert Buettner

2009-05-21T01:26:00.006-05:00

Title: Orphan's Triumph
Author: Robert Buettner
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Orbit Books
ISBN: 0316001759

Notes: 5th book in the Jason Wander series

Amazon|Borders|B&N

Everybody Was Somebody Else Before the War - 5 stars - a book review

"Though Father of the great victory, I was laid upon the battlefield of Mantinea, bleeding from my wounds. I commanded my soldiers to lift me up, that I might see my orphans triumph, and I bade them make a lasting peace. But I died too soon to see these things, as all soldiers do."

-Epaminondas' Lament, attributed to Xenophon, ca. 364 BC (an excerpt from the opening of Orphan's Triumph.

True to form, Robert Buettner delivers in the finale of the Jason Wander series. Picking up at the conclusion of ORPHAN'S ALLIANCE, the United Human forces are ready to launch the ultimate counter stroke in the battle against the slugs that has raged on for four decades. At the heart of the novel is Jason Wander, the orphan who has stumbled his way to the position of Lieutenant General, much to the dismay of everyone. Wander was the first to encounter a slug and is determined to be the last one to see them alive. Along the way, through the entire series, he has sacrificed much, and lost even more.

ORPHAN'S TRIUMPH explores the price of command and the price of a life long service to the military as Wander comes to terms with what is necessary to win at all costs. As expected, the personal commentary by Wander in this first person account is raw and genuine. The voice is unmatched and deeply personal. As in ORPHAN'S ALLIANCE, there were times of true emotional responses from me while reading some of the passages, which proves the depth of this military science fiction installment.

The cast of characters includes those that readers of the series have come to appreciate (and love) including Ord, Mimi, Jude, Howard Hibble and his merry band of "Spooks," and Aud. Forty years of war has certainly had an effect on these people and as the end of the Slugs or the end of Humanity looms they will have to reconcile with each other and show the worth of their friendship/relationship. Buettner excels in casting his believable characters in situations that are, at times, excruciating and elegant to read, all at the same time.

ORPHAN'S TRIUMPH, as well as the entire series, is not to be missed. In the spirit of Robert Heinlein, ORPHAN'S TRIUMPH is today's commentary on war, exploration, and personal sacrifice.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Wheel of Time Cover Art

2009-05-17T18:34:00.019-05:00

Recently, Brandon Sanderson posted the release of the official THE GATHERING STORM cover art, painted by Darrell K. Sweet. THE WHEEL OF TIME cover art (and fantasy cover art in general) has often been the heart of a lot of debate and criticism, and THE GATHERING STORM is no exception. To the disappointment of many fans, Tor books has said that they will be sticking with Sweet as the artist for the remaining two WOT books (three including THE GATHERING STORM).

I feel obligated to say that while I certainly don't approve of THE GATHERING STORM's cover art (and several of the WOT covers), I am pleased to hear that Sweet will be finishing off the series. After the conclusion of the last volume being published in November of 2011, Tor will be repackaging the entire series with new art. I am a man that prefers standardization. While I don't particularly prefer the cover art for WOT, I do like that consistency in the paintings; and, many of the paintings are beautiful when you look at both the front and back covers as one sweeping epic moment in the WHEEL OF TIME saga.

To further add to this point, I was angered beyond belief when George R.R. Martin's epic fantasy series, THE SONG OF ICE AND FIRE, was given a new cover look after the third book. I was furious. I loved the first three covers, and I despise the new look. For you visual learners out there, take a look at these (the editions available when I started reading the series minus the A FEAST FOR CROWS cover, because it was never released with that cover):

Compared to:

Now obviously my complete set will never look like a complete set, because I have the first three covers under the old publication art, and every remaining book under the new publication art (unless Bantam decides to change the art once again).

Anyways, I digress. Back to THE WHEEL OF TIME cover art. In light of the cover art release of THE GATHERING STORM, I went back to look at all the old covers again and see which I loved, liked, appreciated, and despised. I think one of the reasons I am sometimes disappointed with Sweet's artwork is the close up images of the characters, most specifically the faces. I wish I could find the full paintings of the cover art including both the front and the back, because as I mentioned, sometimes the best art is not on the front, or for full appreciation of the epic scope of the painting requires the full painting (if you know where I can find the full images, please let me know. If I come across them I will post them later).

My all time favorite WHEEL OF TIME cover goes to CROSSROADS OF TWILIGHT. The full image shows an army of characters weaving through the woods approaching what appears to be some battle. The colors of the woods and the actions of the characters is beautifully illustrated and executed. Sweet does have a knack for painting landscape, as the woods in this cover demonstrates.

The second best cover, in my opinion, goes to A PATH OF DAGGERS (and a very close second to the best). A wonderful painting of an army heading to battle. The characters are done extremely well and look believable. This cover does an excellent job of providing the casual reader in the bookstore with the knowledge of the epic nature of the book.

My third favorite cover is A CROWN OF SWORDS. Again, the overall colors and dark nature of the image are incredibly well done. There is not a lot going on in the front cover image, but the back cover image displays more (small) characters and some of the villainous Trollocs. This particular cover does a nice job of illustrating Rand in the ruined city of Shadar Logoth. A beauty of balance in composition and colors.

Next, THE DRAGON REBORN. This cover paints the characters as youthful and inexperienced, yet fully realizing the epic nature of the quest before them as Rand reaches for the sword that is not a sword. On the back cover are some interesting looking characters that only the astute reader of the first two books (or the re-reader) would recognize, hinting at something bigger going on in the book.

Other notable covers include THE EYE OF THE WORLD, NEW SPRING, and THE GREAT HUNT. The first two portraying the exact image of a group setting out on an epic quest. THE EYE OF THE WORLD being the first book in the main sequence introduces a motley crew of young, naive boys and some huge characters who obviously know what they are up against. If all fantasy sagas are deep down just a coming of age and self realization story then THE EYE OF THE WORLD cover paints this image perfectly.

And the worst of the worst going to LORD OF CHAOS, WINTER'S HEART, and THE GATHERING STORM. Nothing paints epic fantasy worse than a sweeping cover with an image straight off of a sappy romance novel (especially when the main character has shoulders as broad as his torso is tall. Despite this terrible depiction of Rand, the back cover has some beautiful imagery of desolate landscape. WINTER'S HEART is another great traveling image, except for the horrible facial expressions on the main characters. And, THE GATHERING STORM... The house seems to be leaning (which I suppose whatever caused the huge burnt hole in the house could have destroyed the structural integrity of the house; but I prefer not to have to think that much with a cover) and I can't comprehend how Rand is standing the way he is. I love the commentary by Rob B at SFFWORLD when he said:

Is that the Bates Motel plopped into Little House on the Prairie?

I couldn't agree more.

Anyways, fantasy covers (in general) leave a lot to be desired; but standardizationally speaking, they do hold a dear place in my heart. I can see how it might be difficult for a new reader to be psyched about picking up these books, but once in, it is difficult to imagine it any other way.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: Wicked Prey by John Sandford

2009-05-13T23:46:00.009-05:00

Title: Wicked Prey
Author: John Sandford
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Putnam
ISBN: 0399155678

Notes: 19th Prey Novel

Amazon|Borders|B&N

One of the Best Lucas Davenport Books So Far - 5 stars - a book review

In his nineteenth edition to the Lucas Davenport Prey series, John Sandford proves beyond a reasonable doubt that somethings will never grow old or tired. The hero, Lucas Davenport, is up to his neck in problems in WICKED PREY. WICKED PREY has three different crimes running at the same time that seem to weave in and out of each other, all the while the Republican Nomination Convention sets the stage for limited resources and manpower in the background.

On the forefront there is a gang of armored car robbers looking for a big score, a man with a rifle looking for weaponry for a 750 yard shot, and Randy Witcomb (from previous Prey installments) looking to settle the score with Davenport.

Sandford excels in painting the life of a law enforcement official, from the slow times of walking the beat to the climatic shootouts, and WICKED PREY is no exception. The writing style is so elegant in the portrayal of the life looking for criminals, hoping for breaks, and running around in the thick of chaos. As he has proven time and time again, nobody writes a better criminal apprehension story than John Sandford, and WICKED PREY is no exception.

WICKED PREY is fantastic. It just might be one of my top three Lucas Davenport stories, coming in a close second or third behind BROKEN PREY and SECRET PREY. Don't miss this one; it's WICKED!

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

2009-05-10T22:31:00.005-05:00

Title: Warbreaker
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Tor Books
ISBN: 0765320304

Notes: A SciFi essential book

Amazon|Borders|B&N

Who Says Epic Standalone Fantasy Doesn't Exist? - 5 stars - a book review

WARBREAKER, by Brandon Sanderson, is a story about unseen and unknown forces at work. The novel follows a host of unique and interesting characters: the unnoticed princess sent (unprepared) to marry the God King of a rival kingdom; the sister who was supposed to marry the God King instead, an unsatisfied God of a kingdom, rebel faction leaders, a mysterious and powerful fighter, and the God King himself. Alternating between these main viewpoints (and a host of smaller characters), Sanderson has crafted a truly epic in scope standalone fantasy novel.

The overall plot of WARBREAKER is quite simple; but the tale is told in a complex and dramatic way. Two kingdoms fear that war is inevitable. The main characters and the political factions of these kingdoms are in engaged in a constant struggle to either shift the balance either in favor of war or against it. What makes WARBREAKER epic in a fantasy context is the method in which the environment, history, and characters are developed. In one single book, Sanderson has managed to successfully build a believable world and magic system using alternative methods to those typically employed in fantasy books. The world of WARBREAKER is a world of Biochromatic Breath, where people use this magic to bring objects to life and use fundamentally simplistic magic. The kingdom histories of Idris and Hallandren is revealed through the politics of the realm, while the councils of Gods and Goddesses meet to influence the course of a kingdom.

WARBREAKER was a wonderful experience and is filled with detailed and colorful descriptions that truly make the world come to life. Sanderson has accomplished in one book what some fantasy authors struggle to do in ten books: build a world that is believable and create a conclusive fantasy experience. This book should not be missed for any fantasy lover.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: Orphan's Alliance by Robert Buettner

2009-05-06T22:51:00.009-05:00

Title: Orphan's Alliance
Author: Robert Buettner
Copyright: 2008
Publisher: Orbit Books
ISBN: 0316001740

Notes: Fourth book in the Jason Wander series

Amazon|Borders|B&N

The Price of War, The Price of Humanity - 5 stars - a book review

"Nearby Waterloo, I saw a Sergeant of Artillery seated upon his caisson, which the rains had mired in the road ditch. His eye had been shot out, and one of his mean, whoes leg was off, wept beside him. The Sergeant complained that Prussian cavalry had bypassed them. He said, with some heat, "Our own allied abandoned us like orphans!" I told him straight, "in this hell, better an orphans' alliance than no alliance at all."

-Remarks at the annual Waterloo Dinner of 1812, attributed to the Duke of Wellington (an excerpt from the beginning of Orphan's Alliance)

After establishing an uneasy alliance with other human colonies on earth like wars in the previous installment (ORPHAN'S JOURNEY), Jason Wander finds himself playing the role of diplomat and warrior, a balance the Wander has had difficulty (and great success) doing in the past. Using interstellar travel methods similar to wormholes, Wander planet hops to build strengthen Earth's alliance against the never ending confrontation with the Slug armada that always seems to be knocking at the doorstep, leading to a beautifully thought out and wonderfully executed battle.

Robert Buettner has created a world that is believable and has explored a new aspect of humanity in each installment of the Jason Wander series. In ORPHAN'S ALLIANCE he tackles the price of war and the alliances of humans with personal interests with a war that hinges loosely on one more battle.

Buettner brings the cast of characters back that readers have grown fond of including Ord, Jude, Munchkin, and Howard. ORPHAN'S ALLIANCE brings a whole new element to his series with some true feeling, hard hitting emotions to the characters and their actions. As in every war, death strikes close to home and the emotional responses are touching to say the least. There are few books that I have had a true emotional response to, and Buettner achieved this with me not once, but twice toward the end of the book. Negating the rest of the other profound achievements in this book, these two moments alone are worth the time invested in reading this book.

Highly recommended.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: Miracle Ball by Brian Biegel

2009-04-25T23:10:00.005-05:00

Title: Miracle Ball
Author: Brian Biegel
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Crown
ISBN: 0307452689

Amazon|Borders|B&N

CSI: MLB - 4 stars - a book review

The premise of MIRACLE BALL is irresistible: with only two grainy pictures from 1951, can a man track down the arguably most famous home run baseball of all time?

I really enjoyed Brian Biegel's account of his search for the missing Bobby Thompson home run ball from 1951. While I wouldn't call MIRACLE BALL compelling, it was certainly beyond fascinating, with numerous personal accounts of how that moment in history changed lives and how that crack of the bat was so pivotal to not only baseball, but also to the lives of so many fans.

While this book may disappoint some baseball fans for lack of hard core baseball fanaticism and statistics, it has enough emotion from people affected by "The Shot Heard 'Round The World" during the golden era of baseball to make it memorable.

Besides the evidence presented, the most compelling aspect of this book is the lore from a time when baseball truly was "America's Pastime."

Definitely a recommended read for baseball enthusiasts, New Yorkers, and anyone who might have been watching their black and white TV's on October 3, 1951.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: Pain Killers by Jerry Stahl

2009-04-11T14:44:00.006-05:00

Title: Pain Killers
Author: Jerry Stahl
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Will iam Morrow
ISBN: 0060506652

Amazon|Borders|B&N

Good But Disappointing - 3 stars - a book review

Brief Synopsis:
Manny Rupert is a former cop and sometimes former recovering drug addict. In the opening third of the book we see just how difficult life is for Rupert as we are introduced to his struggles with his ex-wife, drugs, money, and general poor decision making skills. He is "asked" to go undercover at San Quentin as a addiction instructor to determine if one of the inmates is a believed to be dead SS officer from the days of the Holocaust. With nothing to lose (and seemingly nothing to gain), Rupert agrees and is introduced to host of bizarre characters and situations.

General Impressions:
I love a good, dark, gritty story as much as anything. PAIN KILLERS certainly falls into that category as all the back stories are revealed of not only Rupert, but also his ex-wife, the inmates, and the correctional facility employees. Unfortunately, I just could not bring myself to love this story. Typically I tear through novels of a similar nature, but the slow pace and seemingly irrelevance of the situations was difficult for me to swallow. I had difficulty continuing to read PAINKILLERS at many times.

I think the biggest setback for PAIN KILLERS is the fact that situations arise out of nowhere, and Rupert is often presented with decisions that border on completely unbelievable (or with no relevance to the story). The plot also moves very slowly (at least in the opening half of the book). Since I have not read the first book with Manny Rupert, PLAINCLOTHES NAKED, this could be part of the problem (although PAIN KILLERS spends ample time recounting things I assume to have happened in the previous book).

PAIN KILLERS suffers from a lack of direction, and while the readers knows exactly what Rupert's mission is, it is difficult to determine where and how he he achieves this goal while reading the story. Obviously, more information comes out that is important to Rupert (and the other characters) that change the motivations and the resolve of the main characters, but the pacing is difficult to stay interested in these things.

Despite these opinions, PAIN KILLERS is most certainly a niche book. If you like dark and gritty books, this should certainly be on your "to read" pile and you might appreciate it more than I did. There are other books I would recommend first, including the Hank Thompson Trilogy by Charlie Huston:

Good Reading,

Plants and Books

Review: Orphan's Journey by Robert Buettner

2009-04-06T17:48:00.019-05:00

Title: Orphan's Journey
Author: Robert Buettner
Copyright: 2008
Publisher: Orbit Books
ISBN: 0316001732

Notes: Third book in the Jason Wander series

Amazon|Borders|B&N

The Hero We Deserve and the Hero We Need - 4 stars - a book review

"Patton, himself, pinned my Purple Heart on my pillow today. I told him our Shermans were coffins. Undergunned, underarmored. The gasoline engine makes them rolling bombs. Still, I took on a German Tiger. My boys burned alive. I cried, and I thought he'd slap me. But he patted my shoulder and whispered, "Son, the army's a big family. But command is an orphan's journey." Then that SOB cried with me."

-Tank Commander's letter from France, December 1944 (an excerpt from the beginning of Orphan's Journey)

Brief Synopsis:
The hero of Robert Buettner's military science fiction series returns in the fourth installment of the Jason Wander series. ORPHAN'S JOURNEY begins right where ORPHAN'S DESTINY ended: with the capture of a slug vessel. Jason Wander's godson appears to be the only human that might have the reflexes to pilot the alien craft. In a test run, everything goes wrong and Jason is once again thrust into a situation that is beyond his control; but not beyond his command. The vessel essentially goes on autopilot and crash lands on an alien planet that seems analogous to our own earth. As Jason and his small crew learn about the cultures and battles occurring on this planet, the slugs make yet another appearance and Jason must once again rally the troops in a battle that seems unlikely to be won.

Overall Impressions:
Out of all the Jason Wander books so far, ORPHAN'S JOURNEY is the weakest; however, it is still a worthwhile read and creates a beautiful story arc as to where the series is going. There is less internal struggle portrayed in the mind of Jason Wander, now that he lacks a Commanding Officer. Some of the best and most classic moments of the first couple of books were the commentary about the nature of command, and ORPHAN'S JOURNEY lacks this aspect. However, there are several comparisons drawn and examples from our history. Eisenhower is mentioned several times, and I view this as Jason Wander growing and maturing. The coming of age story is really starting to become much more prevalent. At the conclusion of the book it becomes obvious where the series is going and the impending war between man and slug.

Jason Wander is a hero in every sense of the word; and, one of the most thought provoking themes in this series is the price of heroism and the nature of being a hero. Jason often appears to despise his acts of heroism and almost attributes them to shear luck or to the units he commands.

ORPHAN'S JOURNEY is an authentic work of human compassion and it triumphs in the glimpse portrayed of the fundamental necessity to survive.

It is also impossible to deny the cover art by Calvin Chu.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Books For Sale

2009-04-04T21:00:00.005-05:00

In the anticipation of possibly moving this summer we are starting to downsize. The first step was our boxes of books. We sorted through all the books visible on our shelves and in the boxes dedicated to books. I am positive that there are books stashed elsewhere through the apartment in various boxes, but those will be dealt with at another time.

I started weighing the books as I boxed them up. I was up to 180 pounds (and seeing the massive pile of nursing textbooks awaiting to be moved) before I gave up. My estimate of the total poundage was somewhere in the ballpark of 250 pounds. Here are a couple of pictures of the main stack of standard books (and a few nursing text books). There is a large box behind the back left stack filled to the brim with books and other nursing text books).

After almost throwing my back out on a number of occasions and ripping a massive hole in the back of my jeans, I took the books to Half Price Books, where I waited for 45 minutes for them to scan all my books. I received 121 dollars for all the books. Not too bad, I'd say.

Oh - and I must add if you see a book in the piles there that you gave me as a gift, the only thing I can tell you is that I probably read it and certainly loved it; and my selling it is just a way of sharing the wealth. The gift that keeps on giving, right?

Good reading (and selling),

Plants and Books

Progress Report - 3/31/09

2009-03-31T21:42:00.003-05:00

In one of my first posts, I discussed an ambitious goal of reading 50,000 pages in a calendar year, sometime in my life. Since I started tracking the number of pages I read each year, I have come nowhere near that close (I think the closest I've come so far has been 15,000).

If I keep reading the way I have been the first three months of this year, I may get three fifths of the way to my goal. I've currently read 7,103 pages (only counting books I have completed - I have several that I have started but they won't be included until after completion because of the way I have built my tracking spreadsheet). At this rate, I will hit 28,412 pages by the end of the year. Not too shabby.

The "box score" for completed books so far this year is as follows:

Books Read: 22
Pages Read: 7,103
Average Pages/Day: 78.92
Average Days/Book: 3.73

Books Reviewed: 21/22 (95%)
Average Review Ratings: 3.90 stars

Something interesting I noticed was that 59.09% of the text that I have read so far has been requested material; either through the Amazon Vine Program or books that have been sent to my by publishers or authors. I think that might have something to do with the massive increase in pages read. I have added a couple of things to the side of this blog; first being a slide show to show what I am currently reading and the second a slide show that displays all the books I have received that were requested of me to review.

Anyways, for you visual learners out there, here are the graphs (I have added one that compares monthly reading habits):

Until next time, good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: Deadlock by Iris Johansen

2009-03-28T15:59:00.004-05:00

Title: Deadlock
Author: Iris Johansen
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 0312368119

Amazon|Borders|B&N

Meh... Where Are We Going and When Will We Get There? - 2 stars - a book review

Brief Synopsis:
When Emily Hudson, an expert in artifacts for the United Nations, gets abducted it sets off a around the world chase fueled by revenge and greed. Introduced throughout the escapades are a host of characters with unique skill sets that all are focused on determining the significance of an artifact called Zelov's Hammer.

Overall Impressions:
DEADLOCK was not a terrible book; but it missed the mark in a lot of areas. The entire time I was reading it I had no direction to where the author, Johansen, was taking me. There is no reference to the significance of the artifact and the motivations of the characters. Ergo, the reader is taken on a 'round the world balloon trip with no real destination in mind. It may be like receiving a treasure map with no "X" on it and not knowing what the treasure might actually be. The only motivation is to hopefully get to the end, which is ultimately unsatisfying.

On the other hand, sometimes books can be a solid read based on the characters and their development alone. I had an extremely difficult time relating to any of the characters. The "romance" in the book is so bizarre and difficult to comprehend, and whatever gains might be expected from a romantic involvement is negated by the sheer implausibility of the entire situation.

Overall, this book goes back and forth, jet setting from one country to another without any significant details that one might wonder about when considering bypassing airport security other than the typical explanation in DEADLOCK: "So and so character is very good at what he does." There are a handful of conversations that are retold over and over, and over again.

DEADLOCK just does not deliver. This is my first Iris Johansen book, so I cannot comment regarding the comparison of her previous books; but, I can imagine that fans of hers may enjoy this book since there is a certain writing style that others may appreciate.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: Carbon Copy: Alpha Man by Gary Turcotte

2009-03-26T21:40:00.006-05:00

Must... Suspend... All... Belief... - 2 stars - a book review

I did not enjoy reading CARBON COPY: ALPHA MAN. When reading science fiction I do not mind suspending belief as long as it is reinforced with solid ideas and some level of plausibility. Unfortunately, CARBON COPY: ALPHA MAN forces the reading to suspend all possible belief with absolutely no level plausibility. The science is rudimentary and impossible to "buy into."

The characters are introduced haphazardly with no real background and explanation for their "elite skill set." For example, the opening sentence:

"Call me Derek 008. I'm a former secret agent of a major world power. I'm being pursued by teams of secret agent hunters. Most of the Nations want me alive. Some Nations want me dead. After this book is published, I will be hunted like a snake by a mongoose."

This is just a small example of the author pumping up the "excitement" without any real explanation or background to develop the character.

The storyline of CARBON COPY: ALPHA MAN is so far out of left field it is unbelievable. I do not mind stories that fit that description, as long as they are executed well; which unfortunately, this book is not. The story introduces so many varied plot lines of equally outstanding and fantastic nature. The story is all over the place and difficult to manage as a reader.

The reason I gave this book two stars (instead of one) is because I could see myself recommending CARBON COPY: ALPHA MAN to a mature young reader to possibly peak his or her interest in the science fiction genre. There is some vulgar language but nothing unmanageable for a mature reader.

Your best bet? Pass on this book.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: Inventions by Glenn Murphy

2009-03-25T13:39:00.006-05:00

Title: Inventions
Author: Glenn Murphy
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing
ISBN: 1416938656

Notes:
An Insiders book

Amazon|Borders|B&N

Reinventing the Way We Learn and the Way We Teach - 5 stars - a book review

INVENTIONS was the complete package. It is a beautifully illustrated book with just enough information about various life changing inventions to let the reader understand the basic principles and how the inventions are utilized by humanity. Each invention featured was not overly discussed and analyzed with minutia that could have lost some readers (especially younger readers) but therein lay the true beauty of this book: it inspired me to want to learn more about each invention.

This is the perfect book for anyone of any age with an interest in science or a curiosity of how things work. It is the perfect gift for young children because it speaks on a level of which anyone can relate.

Reading this book reminded me of one of my favorite books in grade school: THE WAY THINGS WORK simply because of the graphical concept, ease of reading, the feeling of empowerment to know something special, and the desire to learn more. Is that not something that should be on every child's bookshelf? If you are looking to stimulate the mind of your child or are looking for a way to spend quality time in an educational setting with your child, this is a perfect tool for initiating those moments and those conversations.

My only reservation about this book is that I felt adding to the introduction a brief overview of simple machines (i.e. lever, pulley, wheel, etc.) was necessary and would have been a great way to explain how machinery works on the fundamental level. Throughout INVENTIONS the author makes note of simple machines, but not in a way that transpires the individual invention on that page.

Inventions covered in this book include: the wheel, sail, clock, windmill, printing press, telescope, engine, camera, train, music player, power station, telephone, submarine, automobile, airship, airplane, radio and TV, computer, rockets, surgery, locks and keys, bionics, and the internet.

This book should be on every child's bookshelf for the pure educational and entertainment functions it serves. The only book I have read that is better in these areas is THE WAY THINGS WORK, by David Macaulay.

Good reading and learning,

Plants and Books

Review: Don't Look Twice by Andrew Gross

2009-03-24T23:06:00.004-05:00

Title: Don't Look Twice
Author: Andrew Gross
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: William Morrow
ISBN: 0061143448

Notes:
Second Book with the character Ty Hauck

Amazon|Borders|B&N

Good Story; but Nothing Groundbreaking - 3 stars - a book review

Brief Synopsis:
Lieutenant Ty Hauck was with his daughter at a gas station when a drive by shooting occurred. What first appears to be revenge by a local gang is slowly uncovered as a deeper conspiracy. Lt. Hauck is told to back off and let it be; but Lt. Hauck cannot accept that and digs deeper and deeper as the book unfolds.

Overall Impressions:
DON'T LOOK TWICE is a fairly standard murder mystery thriller. At times, the plot is all over the place, with details coming out that further implicate others. The characters are somewhat memorable and interesting, but their interactions are somewhat forced and unnatural at times. The plot is convoluted in a mess of a conspiracy that unfolds back and forth; however, it makes for an interesting story and is enjoyable to read. I was disappointed at the ending as it was somewhat anti-climatic.

Overall, I enjoyed reading DON'T LOOK TWICE; but, it was pretty standard murder thriller material these days and offered nothing groundbreaking. There are certainly better stories out there and there are certainly worse stories, too.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: Orphan's Destiny by Robert Buettner

2009-03-22T23:14:00.009-05:00

Title: Orphan's Destiny
Author: Robert Buettner
Copyright: 2008
Publisher: Orbit Books
ISBN: 0316019135

Notes:
Second Book in the Jason Wander series

Amazon|Borders|B&N

Different Plot. Different Location. Different Mission. Same Jason Wander. - 4 stars - a book review

"A Confederate sharpshooter's ball slew our drummer today, as he took breakfast on a fair July morning. The lad joined up when his parents died, and had not passed fourteen. They say it is a soldier's lot to die young and unexpectedly. Or to live and forever question God why he was spared. For me, should I live, I shall ask what cruel God makes death an orphan's destiny."

-True Occurrences During the Great Battle at Gettysburg; Recountings of a Soldier of the Sixty-first Ohio Infantry (excerpt from the opening of Orphan's Destiny).

Brief Synopsis:
After eradicating the slug force on Jupiter's moon, Ganymede, Jason Wander returns to an earth on the brink of economic collapse. The leaders of earth are declaring that the slugs have been completely annihilated and pose no additional threat; thereby transitioning to a post-war economy of reconstruction. Needless to say, Jason Wander is a General out of his comfort zone (if he ever had one). Then, the slugs come back with an armada for a full scale assault on the planet earth. The problem? Earth is not ready to fight another war and has only limited resources and no options to possibly win. Sounds like the odds Wander is used to.

Overall Impressions:
ORPHAN'S DESTINY is drastically different from its predecessor, ORPHANAGE. This addition to the series focuses a bulk of the prose toward politicking and the things that Jason has staunchly stated he cares nothing about; however, duty is duty. The final act focuses on what ORPHANAGE was all about: the infantry men doing whatever it takes to get the job done. While the plot elements may be different, the voice of the story is largely commentary on military issues and personnel. It is refreshing that despite the change in locale and mission, the story remains relatively comfortable in the tradition of military science.

While the reader must suspend some belief at the areas of science and realism, there is a wonderful tale woven on earth and in space. Some areas of science (especially in space travel and engine capacities) were only glossed over and not given proper face time, it is forgiven as I wouldn't expect such from a purely militaristic science fiction story. This book is not about science or space travel or futuristic technologies; it is about the personnel that harness these abilities; and for that alone, Buettner exceeds expectations.

Wander is one of the most interesting characters, and his development (along with the development of characters introduced in ORPHANAGE and a host of new characters) is remarkable. At every turn Wander reinforces his ideology while still learning and growing every step of the way. Obviously reading ORPHANAGE will prove to provide a better reading experience, but this book is one that shouldn't be missed.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: Shadow's Edge by Brent Weeks

2009-03-22T22:04:00.009-05:00

Title: Shadow's Edge
Author: Brent Weeks
Copyright: 2008
Publisher: Orbit Books
ISBN: 0316033650

Notes:
Second Book in The Night Angel Trilogy

Amazon|Borders|B&N

Good Continuation of a Great Series - 4 stars - a book review

Brief Synopsis:
With the fall of his home, Cenaria, to the Godking, Kylar Stern has left the wetboy (assassin) life behind. He, his "wife," and his adopted "daughter" are looking to settle elsewhere, but the nature of his skills and passions proves difficult to abandon. Meanwhile, the King of Cenaria is living in the dungeon of the castle making allies and enemies with the wretched criminals. Events transpire that force Kylar to return to his home, his former allies, and his previous lifestyle.

Overall Impressions:
SHADOW'S EDGE was a nice follow-up to THE WAY OF SHADOWS. It does not surpass by any means, but it picks up nicely and continues the intriguing character development of some of the most memorable characters in recent fantasy literature.

SHADOW'S EDGE takes place in a multitude of locales and the travel in between. This technique allows for Weeks to do some more world building for his fantasy world, which is well executed. The reader should have a greater appreciation for Weeks' creation after reading this book.

By far one of the strongest aspects of Weeks' The Night Angel Trilogy is the characters. They are interesting, compelling, and believable. Logan and Kylar are extremely fascinating and reading about their exploits incites emotions that range from love to hatred, empathy to disgust, and everything in between. It has been a long time since I have read a book that has so easily charged me emotionally, which if for no other reason, is a reason to read SHADOW'S EDGE.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Kind Words from an American Gladiator

2009-03-22T21:39:00.007-05:00

In response to a recent review of GLADIATOR, by Dan "Nitro" Clark, I received the following email:

Thanks for the kind words about the book. You totally got it.

Peace be with you,
Dan Nitro Clark

It's always nice to receive appreciation, especially saying "you totally got it" from an author regarding his or her book. You can learn more about Mr. Clark and his book at his website.

Good appreciating,

Plants and Books

It's Not A Gamble if it's a Lock!

2009-03-22T21:15:00.002-05:00

Sometimes I feel like Cassandra in The Odyssey, cursed such that no one would believe her when she predicted the future.

Recall my hypothetical investment in Amazon stock (AMZN). If I had actually purchased 100 shares of Amazon stock on January 27, 2009, I would currently be up $2,155; which is 44.5% of my initial (hypothetical) investment.

Good investing,

Plants and Books

2009 Hugo Nominations Announced

2009-03-22T20:22:00.009-05:00

The 2009 Hugo Award nominations were announced on March 19, and once again, I have read or seen few of them; although many of the writing nominees are on my TBR pile. Personal notables include:

Anthem by Neil Stephenson - Best Novel - this has been on my TBR pile since it was published;
Zoe's Tale by John Scalzi - Best Novel - I have read the first entry in this "series," Old Man's War; but don't know if I will followup with the other entries;
The Dark Knight - Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form - a shoo-in in my opinion, since it is one of the best movies I have ever seen;
WALL-E - Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form - a wonderful, visually stimulating story that tells a compelling tale;

For more information and category links check out the Hugo Awards Wikipedia entry. I typically read several of the previous winners and nominees each year. I frequently view the comprehensive list of Novel entries for both the Hugo Award for Best Novel and the Nebula Award for Best Novel.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

American Gladiators

2009-03-12T23:53:00.004-05:00

I just finished reading GLADIATOR, by Dan Clark (also known to you people of the nineties as Nitro from American Gladiators) and it was a very compelling read. While reading about his twenty year struggle with steroids I was still able to remember with fond nostalgia one of the greatest television shows ever created: American Gladiators.

To further this walk down memory lane I stumbled across some classic American Gladiator moments, with some narration by Dan Clark himself.

This first clip is of Nitro pushing a guy off the block after a joust match. It has become especially memorable because it is discussed during GLADIATOR, and should always relate to the divisive character struggling with steroids. Nitro wasn't mad about losing the match; he was mad because the Contender kept on swinging after Nitro had lost.

Who can deny the "It's always personal."

I remember watching this Eliminator on TV. One of the most exciting moments on national television during the nineties.

I love how the Gladiators look angry that either of the Contenders won.

Finally, the return of Nitro. He briefly discusses the reasons why he and several other gladiators left the show (they wanted a standard cut of all the merchandising and were basically told to show up under the current agreement or you're fired). In GLADIATOR, Dan Clark discusses in an emotional moment visiting several kids in the hospital and this small, weak child telling him that he is the biggest American Gladiator fan; and how he was sad that Nitro was no longer on the show. The kid told him that when Nitro ran, he ran. When Nitro jumped, he jumped.

There are some great clips out there. All of these came from the American Gladiators website, but I also watched several episodes on YouTube. I watched the very first episode, and by today's standards, the quality is almost laughable; but, the idea and the charisma is absolutely timeless.

Good reminiscing,

Plants and Books

Review: Gladiator by Dan Clark

2009-03-12T23:20:00.006-05:00

Title: Gladiator
Author: Dan Clark
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Scribner
ISBN: 1416597328

Amazon|Borders|B&N

Heroes Get Remember; but Legends Never Die (5 stars) - a book review

We all remember the early nineties for various reasons. One reason could be one of the finest television shows ever syndicated: American Gladiators. One of the biggest stars of the show, Nitro (or Dan Clark), has finally written a memoir on his life, which chronicles his public rise and his personal fall, leaving nothing untouched including the bad and the ugly, and then the road to redemption.

This not a book about American Gladiators. This is a book about a single American Gladiator: Dan Clark. He tells a compelling story of a divided family and the loss of his brother in a tragic accident. From there out the story is laid out, one tragedy after another; most of which are self induced by an obsession with image and success; but mostly with steroids.

Twenty years of rampid steroid abuse is chronicled through GLADIATOR. Clark tells his story in such a wonderful way. It is not overly dark and disgusting, but close enough to get an appreciative understanding of the terrible consequences and side effects of steroids. Clark weaves together the account of his life as a high school football player, Italian Superbowl champion, pro football player (four games, I think), struggling actor, and of course, an American Gladiator. Throughout his struggles, the one constant thing in his life void of positive emotion is steroids. Clark glosses over stories of 'roid rage with friends, surgeries, smuggling steroids, death, sexual escapades, and other relevant topics that were present throughout his twenty year binge on steroids. While the language is rough at times, the story is told in a manner that is not over the top; yet completely engaging.

Nitro was every one's hero during the prime time days of American Gladiators; but maybe for all the wrong reasons. After reading this book, Nitro should be a legend for honestly telling his story about steroid abuse.

Other recommendations about steroids:

Game of Shadows: Barry Bonds, BALCO, and the Steroids Scandal that Rocked Professional Sports by Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams; and,
Faust's Gold: Inside the East German Doping Machine by Steven Ungerleider and Bill Bradley.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: Starvation Lake by Bryan Gruley

2009-03-11T23:14:00.010-05:00

Title: Starvation Lake
Author: Bryan Gruley
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Touchstone
ISBN: 1416563628

Notes: Debut Novel

Amazon|Borders|B&N

Exceptional Debut. One of the "Must Reads" of 2009.

Brief Synopsis:
The small town of Starvation Lake has had better days. Due to Coach Blackburn raising up a bunch of kids from the town into a competitor for the state hockey title, Starvation Lake become a tourist attraction. Unfortunately, the team lost their one chance at the title and Coach Blackburn died in a snowmobile accident several years later.

Enter the main character, Gus Carpenter, in which the story is told in his first person narrative. Carpenter was the player who is blamed for losing the State title since he was the goalie for the team that year. He is fleeing from Detroit under mysterious circumstances at the Detroit Times and is now works at the local newspaper, The Pilot. What happens next baffles the town, as Coach Blackburn's snowmobile resurfaces in the wrong lake.

Carpenter quickly picks up some of the loose ends and starts to uncover the dark past of Starvation Lake and some of her residents.

Overall Impressions:
STARVATION LAKE is a phenomenal tour-de-force. It is a compelling story with several interesting characters, each with fundamental flaws. As Carpenter starts to unravel the mysteries of Coach Blackburn and his associates/friends things start to become more and more clear. The character development is crafted to perfection, as each character becomes more and more human and as the story progresses.

Interwoven between the clues and plot lines are some wonderful recollections of hockey games and memories of the glorious past of Starvation Lake. These memories add to the realism of the town and the overall story and the accountability of the characters involved. Finding the truth surrounding Coach Blackburn's death is only the tip of the iceberg, and the reader is taken hold of and not let go until the concluding chapters.

I would not miss this book when it is released. It is probably the best book I have read so far this year. Definitely a "must read."

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: Prescription for Murder by Andrea Bartlett

2009-03-11T23:08:00.004-05:00

Good Debut Character Study (4 stars) - a book review

PRESCRIPTION FOR MURDER was an exceptionally quick read. I started and finished on a flight from Denver to Seattle. The reader follows the main character, Jill, as she hard noses her way through the cops and lawyers while her new boyfriend's son is being investigated for the murder of his girlfriend.

PRESCRIPTION FOR MURDER was not necessarily a mystery or thriller, but more of a character study for the three main characters (Jill, her pharmacist boyfriend, and his son). It was a good tale that wove in and out of their lives, all the while fighting against some hard nosed cops that simply love to further their own careers at the cost of sexist jokes, hiding evidence, and other shenanigans.

My only disappointment with this book was the information dump at the end. Everything is pulled together nicely and a lot is revealed in the final chapters; some of which I would have liked to have read (or been alluded to) throughout the book.

All in all, a very nice debut novel. I will certainly pick up the next book published by Andrea Bartlett.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Progress Report - 3/8/09

2009-03-09T00:57:00.003-05:00

My reading has leveled off in the past couple of weeks since I got back from vacation. I have only read two books (one of which was only 100 pages) since I got home. Regardless, I thought it might be time for another progress report of my reading data tracking.

You can tell when I was on vacation because of the massive jump over the course of a week. Here is a quick summary; or, the "box score," if you will:

Books Read: 14
Pages Read: 5110
Average Pages/Day: 76.27
Average Days/Book: 4.29

Books Reviewed: 11/14
Average Review Ratings: 4.09 stars

I've got several reviews to write before I fall too far behind; and, I've got an book debt (books that need to be read for either publishers or reviewing programs) that is fairly sizable...

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: The Tourist by Olen Steinhauer

2009-02-26T22:27:00.006-06:00

Title: The Tourist
Author: Olen Steinhauer
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Minotaur Books
ISBN: 0312369727

Amazon|Borders|B&N

Non Stop Intrigue. A True Spy Novel for the 21st Century (5 stars) - a book review

Brief Synopsis:
The protagonist, Milo Weaver, is a former Tourist from the CIA. As a tourist, he traveled from country to country learning information, protecting USA interests, eliminating threats, and other cool spy stuff. Since retiring, Weaver has become a husband and a step father. He is brought back into the world of espionage when one of his friends is believed to be a traitor selling USA secrets. Although he has a difficult time justifying his intent in setting up his friend he realizes that nothing is what it seems in the world of spies; including friendships. Naturally, a quick day trip for his assignment quickly derails when people start dying and he starts learning additional information.

Overall Impressions:
THE TOURIST was a wonderful espionage thriller. The author, Olen Steinhauer has crafted a believable world full of interesting characters, each with their own flaws. As with any good spy novel, there is intrigue at every corner, deception during every interaction, and a master plot that is unveiled one agonizing piece at a time.

The main character, Milo Weaver, is constantly struggling with depression and the life he thought he had left behind for a family. While globetrotting around the world, he is constantly left with the moral obligation to keep his family and friends out of harms way.

THE TOURIST is classic espionage reminiscent of THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE ROSE and other David Morrell books. It has been a long time since I read such a clever, fast paced, intriguing, and awe inducing espionage book. I applaud every aspect of this book and look forward to more publications by Steinhauer in the years to come.

Recommendations:
The Brotherhood of the Rose by David Morrell;
The Fraternity of the Stone by David Morrell; and,
The Spy Who Came in From the Cold by John le Carre.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Kindle: A Cost Savings Analysis

2009-02-22T18:51:00.017-06:00

Update: 1/10/10: I have updated the cost analysis to reflect the lower Kindle 2 price tag of $259. That post can be found here.

With Amazon's new Kindle 2.0 having such a heavy start-up cost ($359.00), one might wonder if it is a sound financial investment. Exactly, how many books will be necessary to read in order to "break even" compared to purchasing physical books? Of course, financial concerns aside, there are plenty of other non-tangible reasons to purchase a Kindle (or any e-reader) including wasting less paper, convenience of book access, and size. I created a spreadsheet that can be easily modified to book reading preference which will illustrate some rudimentary cost savings with some basic assumptions.

Photo courtesy of Kindle 2.0 product page

Cost Savings Analysis One:

Assumptions:
Hardbacks purchased at Amazon
List price: $27.95
Hard Back discount: 40%
Kindle 2.0 start up cost: $359.00
Equivalent Kindle book price: $9.99
Shipping cost: $3.99
Break even point (without shipping): 53 books
Break even point (with shipping): 34 books

Cost Savings Analysis Two

Assumptions:
Paperbacks purchased at Amazon
List price: $7.99
Kindle 2.0 start up cost: $359.00
Equivalent Kindle book price: $6.39
Shipping cost: $3.99
Break even point (without shipping): 65 books
Break even point (with shipping): 225 books

One thing to keep in mind is the numbers proposed should be considered averages or assumptions. Obviously, it also depends on book buying patterns. I, for one, rarely buy hardback books. I may work on my spreadsheet more if I have nothing better to do than create Excel formulas that would project semi-random purchases of hardbacks (or paperbacks).

Food for thought.

As a side note, AMZN stock is currently at $63.86, thus my hypothetical investment would have yielded me a net profit of $1553 so far.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks

2009-02-22T13:47:00.009-06:00

Title: The Way of Shadows
Author: Brent Weeks
Copyright: 2008
Publisher: Orbit Books
ISBN: 0316033677

Notes:
First book in the Night Angel Trilogy

Amazon|Borders|B&N

The Best Fantasy Entry in a Long Time (5 stars) - a book review

Brief Synopsis:
THE WAY OF SHADOWS starts out following a young boy by the name of Azoth and the reader is immediately introduced to the troubled life of guild rats in the slums of the Warrens. Life is hard, and is especially hard for Azoth who takes it upon himself to look after the other guild rats.

Azoth's luck changes when the most accomplished and deadly assassin (wetboy), Durzo Blint, agrees to take Azoth in as his apprentice, providing Azoth with the opportunity to leave his old life behind and learn the trade of hiding in the shadows, all sorts of medicinal poisons, and the art of weaponry and killing. The price to be allowed to be Durzo's apprentice? Killing the corrupt and brutal leader of Azoth's current guild.

Thus begins the compelling transformation of Azoth into Kylar Stern, a killing machine in his own right. He is cleverly placed in with a family so he can learn the art of politics and nobility and further establish his new persona.

On top of following the master and the apprentice through countless training exercises the reader sees a city in turmoil and under siege.

Overall Impressions:
THE WAY OF SHADOWS is one of the best recent fantasy books I have read, if not one of the best fantasy books I have ever read. There are many strengths to this engaging book; but, one of the strongest is definitely the characters and their moral/ethical dilemmas. THE WAY OF SHADOWS is an emotional ride of vengeance, mercy, justice, terror, and humor.

While learning the ways of being an accomplished wetboy, Kylar has a continuous dialogue about his purpose and him wondering when his master, Durzo, will actually kill him at a moment's notice. Kylar and Durzo's dialogues are in top form, and masterfully written. They are believable characters, with believable motivations and interests.

The political nature of this book adds a certain element which is only enhanced by the political power of the wetboys, used as tools for the bigger picture. There is so much development throughout the book that it could almost be overwhelming; but, Weeks does a masterful job of stringing the reader along and introducing only as much information as is necessary to further the plot and satisfy the reader without overwhelming the reader with pages and pages of history, lore, and development.

Finally, the book shines in the raw portrayal of an assassin's life, putting the assassins against others and themselves as they struggle to follow the "wetboy code" that is counter intuitive to their moral fiber.

Overall, I would not miss this book if you are a fan of the fantasy genre or like political intrigue and assassin books. I would certainly recommend keeping Brent Weeks on your radar as he has the potential to become one of the next great fantasy writers.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Vacation: Mexico and Honduras

2009-02-20T17:43:00.006-06:00

My wife and just got back from vacation about a week ago and I am finally getting around to uploading some pictures. We went on a cruise that stopped in Roatan, Honduras; Costa Maya, Mexico; and Cozumel, Mexico. It was a seven day cruise through Royal Caribbean, so we had three days at sea. It was extremely relaxing and we had not a care in the world; exactly how vacations should be.

Our first stop was in Roatan, where we went to the beach for the morning through the early afternoon. It was possibly the most beautiful beach I have ever been on. I have never seen a beach so clean, and the water was absolutely gorgeous.

At the beginning of this day I applied ample amounts of sunscreen, as directed by the packaging. I reapplied twice while on the beach and once more when I returned to the ship and sat on the top deck reading. The sunscreen was Neutrogena Ultra Sheer spray. To recap, I correctly applied this suncreen four times over the course of six hours. I was absolutely baked the next day! It was terrible, and my left shoulder was nearly purple. I should have taken a picture of the burn... I can not recommend avoiding this product enough. I should have made a shirtless video review to post on Amazon. Regardless of how terrible my burn was, I still managed to enjoy the rest of the cruise.

The following day, in Costa Maya, Mexico, where we went to Chaccoben, an ancient Maya city. I had always wanted to visit a Maya city. My wife was not as impressed, and commented on how she would rather be in the ocean with a cocktail. The following picture will show the sign that is the overlay of the city. Many of the buildings are still under foilage, rocks, and overgrown with jungle; but, you could see where they were.

We started the tour at the first temple (number 3 on the sign).

I thought this was pretty neat, and was not expecting to see much more. However, as we got further in the tour, we came upon a set of thirty some large stone steps. We were allowed to go up them (which was not allowed on the first temple).

Coming to the top of the stairs, I was blown away at the sight before me. Not only were there stairs to the top, but there was an entire level of grassland and several temples. This must have been a massive undertaking when constructed. The raised area contained temples 7, 8, 9, and 10.

This was the biggest temple on the top (number 10 on the sign).:

I made a panoramic picture of the area, which unfortunately I cannot make much bigger than it will show. If you would like the entire picture to see it in glorious detail, send me an email and I will attach it to the response. You can see on the left side of the picture two more small temples which had specific functions. The small temple on the right was used only by the astronomy families. Our guide also told us that it is believed that the temples were originally painted in red dye.

In Cozumel, Mexico, we went around with a couple from our dinner table that we had become friends with. Afterwards, we went on a Catmaran sailing excursion where did some SCUBA and then were dropped off at a beach for a little while.

Here are some pictures from the ship:

It was a great trip. I read a ton. I finished four books and clocked 1950 pages over the course of seven days.

Good tripping,

Plants and Books

Update: Kindle 2.0

2009-02-17T21:31:00.004-06:00

Note: I was on vacation for the past week and thus unable to post when the following event occured (since I chose not to pay the $0.55/minute internet cost on the cruise I went on).

In a recent post I proposed (along with 90% of the world) that at Amazon's February 9 "mystery" press conference, Jeff Bezos (Amazon CEO) would announce the release date for the Amazon Kindle 2.0. The following may come as a shock; but, I (we) were correct. The Amazon Kindle 2.0 will be available on February 24, 2009.

Photo from Amazon Kindle 2.0 product page

Since I am not planning on getting one anytime soon because of the $359 sticker price, I get to sit back and watch the show and see if it grabs hold of the reading world and revolutionizes the way we read. In my opinion, it is inevitable that e-reading devices take over, just as the iPod has nearly put the nail in the coffin for Compact Disks. No matter what camp you are in ("electronic reading is the wave of the future" versus "reading without a physical book is insane") one thing is for sure: in a climate geared more towards sustainability and with businesses pinching every peeny, publishers will be selling more electronic documents and less physical books. A publisher can produce (and sell) a book electronically for a fraction of the cost of a physical book AND increasing revenue exponentially. Sometimes the bottom line forces innovation.

I suggested on January 27 to purchase Amazon stock (AMZN) at $48.40 per share. My hypothetical investment (since I was unable to convince my wife of the coming revolution in the book world) of 100 shares at the time would have cost me $4840. Approximately a week and a half later I checked back and my hypothetical investment would have yielded me a net profit of approximately $1,800. AMZN stock is now selling at $61.67, yielding me a profit of $1327. Obviously it is slightly down now from my initial check, and this could be for several reasons, including the Author's Guild's concern that the text to speech infringes on author and publisher rights, the high sticker price which was rumored to be around $250 months ago, and the troubling market in general.

As I mentioned, my wife was not convinced by my argument. She responded something along the lines of "Now is not the time to be gambling in the stock market." And of course, her logic is solid, but for the sake of sensationalism, I simply responded, "It's not a gamble if it is a lock!

Amazon stock over the past month

I've said it before and I'll say it again, buy AMZN stock. Stay tuned.

Good reading (and investing),

Plants and Books

Review: Orphanage by Robert Buettner

2009-02-16T22:03:00.009-06:00

Title: Orphan
Author: Robert Buettner
Copyright: 2008
Publisher: Orbit Books
ISBN: 0316019127

Notes:
First book in the Jason Wander series

Amazon|Borders|B&N

Military Science Fiction for the Rest of Us (4 stars) - a book review

We crabbed shoulder to shoulder down cargo nets to our landing craft bucking in the Channel, each GI's bilge-and-sea-soaked boots drenching his buddy below. In that moment I realized that we fight not for flags or against tyrants but for each other. For whatever remains of my life, those barely met strangers who dangled around me will be my only family. Strip away politics, and, wherever or whenever, war is an orphanage.

-Anonymous letter fragment, Recovered on Omaha Beach, Normandy June 1944 (an excerpt from the beginning of Orphanage)

Brief Synopsis:
The story starts with Jason Wander, a somewhat misguided youth with two options: join the military or go to jail. Enter the devastation caused by the alien race later termed as "the slugs." The story follows Wander and his exploits in basic training and the planning behind the first counter offensive against the slugs on their base on one of Jupiter's moons.

Overall Impressions:
ORPHANAGE, by Robert Buettner, may remind many readers of STARSHIP TROOPERS, by Robert Heinlein, and rightfully so. I have seen some discussion about how it was written as a tribute or to STARSHIP TROOPERS. The basic plots are the same, but they are different enough for mutual appreciation.

As a side note, STARSHIP TROOPERS is one of my favorite books. I judge military science fiction on two things:

How often the phrase "bought the farm" is used; and,
How many moments there are that are only funny when taken outside the context of the military and wartime.

While somewhat superficial, at face value you can derive a lot from military science fiction from those two criteria (and by no means am I serious that a book like this is only good based on these two things; especially since ORPHANAGE only says "bought the farm" once). For one, even though ORPHANAGE is set in the future, the moments that are only humorous outside the context of war, only bring a real time element to the book. It is easy to relate to a story, however far into the future it may be. Believability is incredibly important, and by using elements that are prevalent in today's society, an author (in this case Buettner) makes the story believable and easy in which to relate.

More importantly than the plot, Buettner has created a cast of characters that go on a roller coaster of emotional responses. Wander has superior officers and friends that he interacts with that the reader with which the reader becomes attached. The characters are given countless moral dilemmas that add to their depth. Upon the invasion of Jupiter's moon, war becomes war, and with casualties amounting the way Wander and the characters respond is remarkable. Promotions, demotions, and stress exacerbate the chaos that is war. ORPHANAGE has everything that a military science fiction book should: believable and memorable characters, a tragic premise, and lots of action.

Closing Comments:
One problem I have with the book is the fact that it is written in first person from the perspective of Jason Wander. Unfortunately, as explained previously, there are many great characters and I would have liked to hear more of their internal dialogue. However, I do not believe the story would be as compelling if not told from Wander's perspective. I normally do not prefer first person stories, but ORPHANAGE is a wonderful exception.

Another thing that separates ORPHANAGE from STARSHIP TROOPERS is the fact that ORPHANAGE is just the start of a series. At the conclusion of this book the reader only has more to look forward to.

Recommendations:
If you enjoyed these books, you will enjoy ORPHANAGE:

STARSHIP TROOPERS by Robert Heinlein; and,
THE FOREVER WAR by Joe Haldeman

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Progress Report - 1/28/09

2009-01-28T19:32:00.007-06:00

As of this moment, I have read 2088 pages (7 books) since January 1. Here is my daily progress:

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Amazon Kindle 2.0? The bee's knees?

2009-01-27T23:07:00.005-06:00

Amazon.com released an electronic reading device, the Amazon Kindle, in the spring of 2007. If you review the customer reviews of the Kindle you will see that it was overwhelmingly met with positive comments. If you read closely many of these stated that it was not perfect, but definitely a good "first step" and when the fabled second version is released that many of the bugs or annoyances will be worked out.

People have been talking about the Kindle 2.0 for a long time now, and there are countless people on the waiting list for the original since months before Christmas time in 2008. USA Today reports that there is an "important press conference" on February 9 with no details about the nature of the press conferences. Is it time to move into the next generation of electronic reading? Is the Kindle really going to be the iPod of the book world? It is hard to say since there is a legitimate attitude that you cannot replace the experience of holding a paper tome in your hand.

View alleged Kindle 2.0 images at the Boy Genius Report blog.

I keep telling my wife that we should buy some Amazon stock. Amazon (AMZN) is currently selling at $48.40. I'm going to imagine that I bought 100 shares today and see what happens in the next month or two. Will we see a huge increase in Amazon as we did when the iPod exploded on to the market?

There is one huge difference between the Kindle and the iPod, and that is functionality. An iPod can be used anytime, during any activity. People use them while walking to class, working out, or plugged into the car, whereas it is difficult to read and do other things at the same time. The iPod has become an integral part of many people's lives since it can be used anytime. The Kindle will not be as big because it cannot be integrated into everyday life except by people wanting to read, and only read.

This being said, it is important to look at the direction society is heading. We are becoming a more "green" population and paper conservation is going to become more important. Furthermore, it won't even matter since publishing companies will be able to sell books at half the cost and make twice as much profit since materials and overhead will be eliminated. There is also serious discussion going around about the Kindle 2.0 being designed with school textbooks in mind, where students will not have to buy (and carry around) $500 worth of paper and utilize highlighting functionality, text searching, and note taking capabilities. Instead of carrying 25 pounds of books, students will carry 2.6 pounds of electronic equipment.

The new Kindle 2.0 may not be the next iPod, but it may very well be the closest thing we will see in the next decade or two. Amazon is already a powerhouse in the book world, and if the Kindle 2.0 is rolled out correctly, Amazon will have a stranglehold on the literary world.

Go buy your AMZN stocks now.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: The Man Who Folded Himself by David Gerrold

2009-01-25T21:27:00.019-06:00

Title: The Man Who Folded Himself
Author: David Gerrold
Copyright: 1972, 2003
Publisher: Ben Bella Books
ISBN: 1932100067

Notes:
Nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Novel, 1973
Nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Novel, 1974

Amazon|Borders|B&N

A Wonderful Time Travel Journal - A Saga of A Man Against Time (and Himself) - 5 stars - a book review

Brief Synopsis:
The main character (and one of the only characters), Daniel Eakins is presented with a unique belt that was entrusted to him after his Uncle Jim passed away. Daniel discovers the belt has the ability to transport the wearer throughout time, which Daniel quickly learns how to use. After using his time machine for the first significant time, he is greeted by himself, one day later. During his first temporal jump, Daniel goes with himself (referred to as Don) to the racetrack where they quickly win by betting on horses, at which point Daniel begins to understand the immediate gratification allowed by time travel. Of course, after traveling back to his original time period, Don departs and Daniel is left to become Don the next day when he waits to greet the Daniel from his past. Upon returning to the track with Daniel, he starts to wonder about paradoxes and begins to realize the awesome power, and encourages Daniel to double the initial bet, seeing what would happen to make more money. He then encounters a Don to his Daniel, who has come back in time to warn him not to attract too much attention. At the internal dialogue that follows this encounter is any indication of the confusion Daniel (and the reader) is to experience, it is only the beginning, as Daniel proceeds to live life and encounters himself all the time, and many times during his time travel he encounters several versions of himself.

THE MAN WHO FOLDED HIMSELF is a journal written by the main character about his adventures, catastrophes, close encounters, hi jinx, and personal reflection through time.

Overall Impressions:
THE MAN WHO FOLDED HIMSELF is extremely well written. With multiple permutations of the main character, Daniel, interacting with himself, there are times where there are long portions of internal dialogue and debate about time travel, which is confusing, but written in such a way that it is easy to follow the train of thought.

While a central function of the book, time travel is not the focus of the story. The story is about the time traveling man, and how he lives with himself (both externally as in the case of interacting with himself and internally as in the case of him dealing with his emotions). As one might speculate, being the singular time traveling agent can be a lonely existence. The story revolves around Daniel's isolation and his choices in dealing with that solitude. The author, David Gerrold, creates some interesting, and possibly controversial, situations that are still believable and created in such a way to inspire a sympathetic response from the reader. It is in these moments that literature really pushes the envelope in speculation and emotional responses from the readership. I personally guarantee an emotional response one way or another from reading this book, a quality to which all literature should aspire.

Closing Comments:
The 2003 edition of THE MAN WHO FOLDED HIMSELF has a wonderful introduction titled The Author That Folded Me, by Robert J. Sawyer (a Hugo and Nebula Award winner) that discusses the impact this book had on him when he first read it in 1972. It is near inspiring to read these few pages written by someone who has achieved such a high stature in the world of science fiction and then credits his inspiration and success to David Gerrold.

There is also an Afterward by Geoffrey Klempner that should be read by all the science nuts and those looking for further discussion on time travel and philosophy. He also includes several recommended readings for further discussion and learning.

Finally, there is an Author's Note after the conclusion of the book which is equally fascinating and interesting as he discusses the difficulty in writing the gay sexual sequences of the central character and relates it to his having (or not having) a "gay agenda" as a gay man himself. There are many negative reviews out on the internet that condemn this book and claim it is "great stuff if you're looking to push your teen boys towards the broody wasteland of Colombine" and other implications that are simply not true. As Gerrold says himself in the Author's Note:

"The story isn't about being gay or straight, male or female, or any other specific condition. It's about being human, and dealing with the transfinite possibilities of life - all the choices before us when we exist only as an unwritten tale."

If that doesn't sum it up, I don't know what will.

I go out of my way to mention these three unrelated to the main story because they only enhance the overall reading experience. The entire publication is an experience from beginning to end, and is what all literature should attempt to achieve.

Some further commentary (spoiler warning): As mentioned above, there is some negative publicity surrounding this book. I believe it to be frustrating because people latch on to a controversial idea that is presented and somehow this detracts from the true message. For example, this post on a Science Fiction and Fantasy forum I frequent:

"And yeah, it is basically a time travel story about a man who travels back in time to have sex with himself."

Now seriously, this one point that is extrapolated throughout the story can hardly be considered the focal point of the story. To suggest otherwise is simply ignorance or flaming. I would think that this would be obvious to anyone except the casual reader, but apparently, it is not so obvious. One of the fundamental charges (or expectations) of good science fiction is to speculate on possible worlds that do not exist and the reactions of humans (and humanity) given the described circumstances. I'm not suggesting that I would follow the choices Daniel Eakins made, but the speculation behind THE MAN WHO FOLDED HIMSELF regards the human spirit and need to matter and we travel through time with Daniel Eakins' solitude that chasing time, constantly correcting mistakes, playing with history, and experiencing other tragedies of time travel creates. It may be uncomfortable; but, it is believable, and David Gerrold paints this one derivation perfectly.

Recommendations:

REPLAY, by Ken Grimwood - a book I read recently about time travel and also focuses on the isolation of such a gift.
ALL YOU ZOMBIES, by Robert Heinlein - I have not read this short story, but it is often associated with the reviewed book in discussions and recommendations. Several people I trust have encouraged me to read this and I have no reasons to doubt their recommendation.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Plants: Nepenthes Hybrids

2009-01-24T19:11:00.002-06:00

Due to being overly busy with work and searching for a new job, I have not been taking as good of care to plants as I would like. However, some are still looking nice despite not being watered as often as necessary. These two Nepenthes hybrids are small, but offer great potential in mature pitchers.

N. ampullaria x ventricosa

N. spectabilis x aristolochidoides:

Good growing,

Plants and Books

Review: Army of the Republic by Stuart Archer Cohen (5 stars)

2009-01-22T14:34:00.003-06:00

Note: Review originally posted at Amazon on November 24, 2008.

Project Mayhem on Steroids

I don't know where to start. I was completely blown away by this book. ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC is similar to FIGHT CLUB, only bigger, grander, and more organized. Everything in FIGHT CLUB is in this book, with the biggest difference being the other viewpoints in a revolution.

While reading, we follow along from the first person viewpoints of a militant, a civil protest organizer, and a CEO. I am normally not a big fan of first person, but Cohen does it with such style and appreciation for the characters and their interwoven lives that I had to be impressed. Every viewpoint and every chapter was engaging. Once I hit the halfway mark through this book I could not put it down.

The beginning of ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC starts off with a masterful tone that sets the stage for the rest of the book. This book does seem to model what I would expect of a revolution in the pacing. There are times that are so high octane while others are more subtle, but still loaded with undeniable scenes that only promote the entire world and the civil unrest in that world. Furthermore, like a revolution, the books ramps up the intensity and doesn't let go. It truly is explosive.

I was engaged for every minute that I had this book in my hands. So you want a revolution? The rest is up to you.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: Bottom of the Ninth by Michael Shapiro (4 stars)

2009-01-22T14:15:00.002-06:00

Historic Baseball Moments

BOTTOM OF THE NINTH is a baseball fan's dream. The book is filled to the top with historical moments, lore, and characters that shaped America's national pastime. The books spans several years in one of baseball's defining moments in history.

This book is not for everyone, as it is loaded with players, managers, political figures, prominent city people, cities, states, and their little (or big) stories and motivations. With the sheer volume of stuff going on in this book it is hard to keep track, but the mastery of the writing is almost magical. The author, Michael Shapiro keeps dumping data, quotes, stories, and reports, and accounts but it never gets lost or overpowering because the way it is all integrated into the story and the chapters. Reading this book is truly like reminiscing about the good old days of baseball, which is further supported because most of the people involved in the main two story arcs aren't even big name baseball players! It's like sitting around a bar listening to people talk about the phenomenal game of baseball in the Micky Mantle era.

BOTTOM OF THE NINTH is a tale of a sport (and the men and women associated with it) defining themselves for the next several decades. I learned so much from this book that I am amazed. I never knew that there was serious consideration for the development of a third baseball league, the Continental League. There is so much history about politics and baseball cities. The stories of Casey Stengel are classic. His personality and the way the players and public viewed him is captured perfectly. Reading the pages you can feel the disgust, contempt, and appreciation that various people felt at any given moment.

This is a wonderful tale about the people of baseball in the 50s. There are enough play-by-play of classic great games that any baseball fan, no matter how die-hard, will enjoy this book. If you get chills from hearing "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" you will enjoy this book more than others. If you just like baseball, then you may be discouraged by the massive amount of information conveyed in each chapter.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

A Note on Statistics

2009-01-21T01:29:00.002-06:00

In a recent post, I talked about tracking all the books I read. For the past several years I have done a simple word processing document and manually added up the pages. In the past couple of years I have become (in my opinion) quite skillful at extracting data using a spreadsheet. So, recently, as I was updating my "Books I've Read - 2009" document I realized that if I could create a workbook in Microsoft Excel with 20+ worksheets that proposes housing rates, meal plan rates, and is fully customizable down to the penny (including calculating how much institutional aid students are awarded) I could surely find a better way of collecting and tracking page data in any given year.

At the end of the year, with the spreadsheet I have designed, I will be able to tell on any given day approximately how many pages I read, how long it took me to read any particular book, whether or not I read a particular genre more quickly than others, and have a graph displaying pages read over time. Sound cool? Well, I think so; and, it gets even better than that. Over the course of several years I will be able to cross compare years and display a graph of all these years overlapped, and will be able to see trends. Do I read more in the summer? Do I read more at the end of the year? Of course, I already have a pretty good idea of these answers, but is that not what statistics do best? Manipulate data to show what we already knew?

I remember my statistics class my Sophomore year of college. It was an introductory course; and, as a side note, my spreadsheet skills did not start in this class but rather an introductory physics class called Physical Computations, or something like that.

Anyways, if you really truly think about it, statistics is truly a powerful tool. If you strip away all the political connotations and stop skewing data, statistics might be able to tell us everything. For example, as we plot data points on a graph we can see trends. Never do all the dots fall directly on the "line of best fit;" it is my conjecture that this is simply because we have not yet described the data points accurately enough. So, if we add another dimension to our graph (now making it a three dimensional graph), we have more data to look at per data point. This point is more accurately described.

Of course, we still have outliers and data points that do not fall on the line of best fit. Now I'm sure we all are thinking about those introductory statistics class and how could this accurately predict anything (let alone everything); but, if you think about the things we are comparing, how could you predict anything. For example, in a two dimensional comparison, pages over time. Just tracking pages and time is not enough. There is no way to tell how many pages I will read in any given day just based on how many pages I've read in the past. However, if we start describing these points better, we come a lot closer to being able to predict. How about adding a couple more "descriptions" like my mood after work, other engagements I may have, how satisfied I am with my current book, and even how much oxygen is in my lungs at the time (since increased oxygen may result in higher brain stimulation and a higher reading volume).

Do you see where I am going here? Give me a graph with an infinite number of dimensions and I could predict anything, at any given time.

So, statistics is quite a powerful tool, and not just for proposing budgets, proposing annual residence hall rates, and tracking books read. On the other hand, statistics also provides some fun bar tricks (if you are lucky). If you are in a group of 25 people, there is a 50% chance that two of them will have the same birthday. Sound illogical? It's not. I won a free beer once with this.

Good reading (and analyzing),

Plants and Books

Books I've Read: 2008

2009-01-19T21:25:00.005-06:00

I am finally posting the books I read during the 2008 year. After burying the hatchet with the Amazon reviewing program and started reviewing books toward the end of the year. The links provided are currently linked to my Amazon reviews until I get all caught up with reviews on this site. In all honesty, I doubt I'll ever come back and change these to link internally to the reviews here, but in a year (provided Amazon does not make another stupid format change that makes me walk from the site again) I'll have all my reviews linked to this site with the yearly update. I suppose the entire thing about Amazon is moot since they won't be linked there anyway!

I read (and tracked) 12,558 pages this year, which equates to approximately 34.58 pages per day. Since it was a leap year my total was nine tenths higher than if I had that extra day (and did not read anything). This is still staggeringly short of my ambitious goal; but, I still have plenty of years ahead to read 50,000 pages in a single year. Anyways, without further ado, the books I read in 2008:

Shadowfall by James Clemens
Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein
Red Dragon by Thomas Harris
Scream of Stone by Philip Athans (2/5 stars)
Neversfall by Ed Gentry
Point of Impact by Stephen Hunter
No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy
A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin
Creepers by David Morrell
Rant by Chuck Palahniuk(3/5 stars)
Watchmen by Alan Moore
The Brotherhood of the Rose by David Morrell
Scavenger by David Morrell
Heat Lightning by John Sandford
Fraternity of the Stone by David Morrell (5/5 stars)
First Blood by David Morrell (3/5 stars)
Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer (3/5 stars)
Battle Royale by Koushun Takami (4/5 stars)
Do You Think What You Think You Think? by Julian Baggini (4/5 stars)
Forced Out by Stephen Frey (4/5 stars)
Army of the Republic by Stuart Archer Cohen (5/5 stars)
Dead is a State of Mind by Marlene Perez (3/5 stars)
Mixed Blood by Roger Smith (4/5 stars)
Peacemaker by Dan Ronco (5/5 stars)
When March Went Mad by Seth Davis (4/5 stars)
The Night of the Gun by David Carr (3/5 stars)
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (5/5 stars)
The World Without Us by Alan Weisman
Caught Stealing by Charlie Huston (5/5 stars)
Six Bad Things by Charlie Huston (4/5 stars)
I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell by Max Tucker (2/5 stars)
A Dangerous Man by Charlie Hutson (5/5 stars)
Replay by Ken Grimwood (5/5 stars)
The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death by Charlie Huston (3/5 stars)

Total read: 12,558 pages
Total reviewed: 21/35 (60%)

5 stars: 7
4 stars: 6
3 stars: 6
2 stars: 2
1 stars: 0

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: Unholy Domain by Dan Ronco (5 stars)

2009-01-19T02:11:00.002-06:00

It's Fiction; But For How Long?

Throughout the history of the science fiction genre authors have have crafted a story that seems completely unbelievable and remain fiction for only so many years.

Dan Ronco has crafted an energetic and fast paced thriller about the, in my opinion, inevitable collision course of technology and what it means to be a "human." UNHOLY DOMAIN ramps up the plot ten years after the cataclysmic events in PEACEMAKER, the first book in Ronco's series. Enter a world in the middle of global depression and a divided culture (sound familiar already?).

The characters, while not overly deep, are compelling in their actions and their individual encounters. Ronco excelled in crafting a world where there are those fighting for science and technology, those fighting for religion, and those in between just fighting to get by.

I think the most important facets of this novel are the themes and the ideas that will only come more prevalent as we progress as a society, and reading this book makes it that much more obvious that the potential for the "fiction" may only be "fiction" for so long.

A highly recommended techno-thriller.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Plants: Three New Nepenthes

2009-01-15T23:24:00.008-06:00

This is my first plant post of this blog. Besides reviewing and discussing books, the other goal of this blog is to showcase some of my carnivorous plants and provide information regarding their history, cultivation, and other horticultural information. My parents gave me the following three plants for my birthday. They were imported from Exotica Plants, one of the leading Nepenthes hybrid nurseries, based in Australia. Since importing plants can be expensive, oftentimes members of the carnivorous plant community will combine orders to split the import, shipping, and paperwork costs. Many times, these group orders are organized in online forums, with mixed success. With public "group orders," there is always the potential for something to go wrong. Everyone will get excited when a group order gets announced, everyone wants to get involved, but many people will fall through (for whatever reason). With good fortune, I have met (online) many reliable carnivorous plant enthusiasts, and was fortunate to get involved in a private group order. The following plants were received in this order, and were shipped from Australia, to Los Angeles, to Nebraska, to Kansas City, Missouri.

The three plants I received are all Nepenthes hybrids.

The first plant is a hybrid between N. maxima "dark" and a N. Trusmadiensis. The Trusmadienses is a very unique, naturally occuring hybrid between N. macrophylla and N. lowii. The unique features of this plants can be attributed to the following plants, with links to public access pictures of those plants):

Splotched coloration: N. maxima;
Toothed peristome (the lip around the pitcher opening): N. Trusmadiensis (the teeth in that hybrid are faded and come from N. macrophylla); and,
Upper pitchers: N. lowii - the plant I received does not have upper pitcher yet, but the N. lowii has very dominant traits that always are expressed in upper pitchers that will make huge mouths and very distorted pitchers.

N. maxima "dark" x N. Trusmadiensis:

The next two plants are smaller, seed grown hybrids that will most certainly blossom into stunning beauties!

First, a hybrid between N. ventricosa and N. ephippiata (a close relative to N. lowii, mentioned above):

And second, a hybrid between N. truncata and N. Trusmadiensis:

I hope you enjoy those pictures. I look forward to posting more and many years of growth and beauty!

Good growing,

Plants and Books

Review: The Family Bones by Kimberly Raiser (4 stars)

2009-01-15T17:22:00.001-06:00

A Little Bit of Everything. Overall Good Read.

What do you get when you mix some horror, thriller, suspense, and science fiction all together? You get a well written novel that goes by the name of THE FAMILY BONES, by Kimberly Raiser. Raiser has crafted a short book that is hard to describe, and even harder without spoiling anything.

For a book with so many different elements and a variety of characters, it can sometimes be overwhelming. However, Raiser does a nice job transitioning between the opening terrifying chapters to moving the plot along and developing the characters. In the author's note, she talks about how THE FAMILY BONES was first a short story, and it is obvious reading how where the transition occurs.

I had a lot of fun reading this book. I almost read it in one sitting (and would have had my wife not found me at 2:30 AM in the living room telling me to come to bed). It was a quick, fun, engaging read; and, I'm glad I got the opportunity to read it.

The only drawback to this book is I felt like it should have been longer. As I mentioned, there is a lot of quick character and plot development and there are points where there are pages of information that are sort of out of context with the actions of the plot. Had THE FAMILY BONES been 300 pages I believe it could have been a stronger book.

All in all, this book is definitely worth the time it took to read.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: A Shadow in Summer by Daniel Abraham (4 stars)

2009-01-12T21:11:00.001-06:00

Refreshing Fantasy. A Promising Start to a Good Series.

A SHADOW IN SUMMER was a wonderful read. It accomplished everything that a first fantasy book should. It introduced an engaging world, created interesting characters that were equally engaging, and completed the story while leaving the door open for the entire world to develop in future volumes.

I sometimes have difficulty starting new fantasy series because sometimes there is simply information overload on the world, the history, and the unique sociological intricacies. A SHADOW IN SUMMER creates a fantastic world with very unique (and refreshing) characteristics (i.e. the poets, trade and commerce, contracts, and family houses) but he does so in such a way that does not overwhelm the reader. The author, Abraham, introduces characters and things but does not fully develop them at that time. He gives you enough to be fascinated and curious, but not enough to bog the story down. Throughout the story, he continues to introduce more information in relevant places.

This book is filled with basic political intrigue. The intrigue is not overly complicated and is easy to follow, while remaining interesting and plausible. While we see only a small portion of the entire fantasy world, there is enough dialogue and actions that give the reader a taste of the overall world, which is presumed to be more involved later in the series.

Abraham is a fantastic writing. He creates a very concise and cohesive story (which is refreshing in the world of epic fantasy tomes). I cannot recommend this book enough to fans of the fantasy genre. Abraham is an author to keep on your radar.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: Lark and Termite by Jayne Anne Phillips (2 stars)

2009-01-03T00:47:00.002-06:00

Not My Cup of Tea; But Recommended For Some

Let me start by saying that this is one of those times when I dislike assigning star ratings to reviews. That being said, and this being a non-professional, completely consumer review, I had to give it two stars. This book, as the title of this review suggests, was not my cup of tea; however, I would not encourage people to shy away from this book. In fact, once it is published and released, I intend to recommend it to my mother.

I was unable to finish this book. I got about a third of the way through it before I stopped. When I ordered this book through the Amazon Vine Program, I was expecting to be enthralled by the characters and looking to see how they developed and engaged in the interesting situations/character traits they were presented/had. In good consciousness, I can see how others would enjoy this story and these characters; but, since I do not normally read this style of book, it was not for me.

I had difficulty caring about the characters, and was frustrated by the story that was developing and the characterizations created. The plot line is somewhat interesting, but not enough to grab me for an extended period of time.

Again, do not take this two star review as the gospel saying "do not read this book;" rather, take it as I did not enjoy it, but you might. As I said, I will recommend this book to my mother and some of my colleagues, who I'm sure would give it much higher reviews than I did.

I would normally give a book I cannot finish one star, but since I can clearly see the appeal for others and there are redeeming things about this book, I gave it two stars.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: Hater by David Moody (4 stars)

2009-01-02T00:18:00.005-06:00

Paranoia at its Finest

HATER is a great mixture of a lot of themes in recent popular culture mediums. Similarities can be drawn between widespread viruses, zombies, war, and near Armageddon scenarios. However, while this book seems similar to many movies (28 days later, I Am Legend, etc.), HATER is still a unique book with a compelling and equally unique storyline.

HATER is a narrative told from the perspective of a father and husband in a world that, day by day, becomes more chaotic and dangerous. This book has an emotional element that is superb. There are times when the author, David Moody, has created an attraction to both sides of the violence that has spread through the world. Truly, at each violent encounter, the reader is left wondering, who was in the right and who was in the wrong. Were the actions justified? Who is really a "Hater" and who is not?

This book is certainly violent, but not in such a grotesque and disgusting way. It is not often that a movie is created before the book that the movie is based on is published. While reading this book, it became obvious that this could easily be adapted into a movie, which Guillermo del Toro is doing.

HATER is a fast paced account of a world gone mad and torn against itself. The pacing is wonderful, and there is action, emotional responses, fear, and sheer paranoia throughout each chapter. HATER is a compelling story that is littered with a first person account of paranoia. As the main character, Danny, becomes closer to the violence, the reader is forced to feel the pure paranoia he feels.

Highly recommended. Look for the movie in 2010.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death by Charlie Huston (3 stars)

2009-01-01T21:23:00.005-06:00

Good Dialogue, Poor Pacing and Plot

I can't say that I am completely disappointed in Charlie Huston's latest book, THE MYSTIC ARTS OF ERASING ALL SIGNS OF DEATH, but I can't say I enjoyed it, either.

Per typical Huston books, the characters are interesting and the dialogue is witty, sharp, and gritty. However, in this book, it was almost over the top and at times I was discouraged. The premise of the book is somewhat interesting, with cleaning up deaths, and opens the door for tremendous potential knowing the other is famous for noir based stories. Disappointingly enough, the plot stops there and nothing is advanced in terms of plot for the first half of the book. The first half of the book is just back and forth banter between the angry main character and the people he encounters.

When the plot does start to advance, it is not very interesting and hardly engaging. So much potential is squandered with the premise of this book. I would typically say "pass" on this book, but the dialogue and characters, while almost annoyingly "over the top," are redeeming in their own right. Fans of Huston will probably enjoy this book.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Those Left Unfinished - 2008

2008-12-29T00:08:00.000-06:00

As the year comes to a close, I have discovered a few books lying around my apartment that have, for one reason or another, been left unfinished. Some of these I recognize why I never read the entire book, while others I am surprised at the lack of completion. I have a terrible habit of reading several books at once, and oftentimes not completing the first book I started for several months. As the "to read" pile grows larger, taking one of the top of the stack is sometimes easier (or more convenient) than finding a book that is half read and possibly forgotten. Here are a few that I know I have not finished this year:

A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin;
Gardens of the Moon by Stephen Erikson;
Armor by John Steakley;
I Am Legend by Richard Matheson (short stories section left unread); and,
Other books I cannot recall or have yet to "refind."

I have picked up Armor again, and will probably finish it before the end of the year, depending on the arrival of some new Amazon Vine books currently being shipped. I have tried reading Gardens of the Moon two times now, and am ultimately (and unfortunately) easily distracted from completing this book. This is one of those cases that I am confident that I will enjoy this book (and ultimately the entire series) once I have finished it since I am a huge fan of epic fantasy series.

Will these books be finished this year or next? Only time will tell. Until then,

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: Replay by Ken Grimwood (5 stars)

2008-12-28T23:43:00.001-06:00

The Finest Speculation. REPLAY Has it All

REPLAY, by Ken Grimwood, is a miraculous journey through time and the human spirit. Grimwood wonderfully exposes the possible outcomes of having advanced knowledge while leading life. What happens when you live the same thirty years over, and over, and over? What makes a life worthwhile? Is it a lifetime of money, fame, or positive interactions with others? What does anything matter if at the end of the "replay" everything just gets erased, except in your memory?

REPLAY is at times an emotional ride of personal reflection while still maintaining a level of intrigue and curiosity that awaits the protagonist. While only science fiction on a basic level (time traveling), there is a incredible amount of speculation about human motivations, given the frame of reference for the characters. This speculation is what truly makes REPLAY a gem.

There is something for everyone in this book. REPLAY is one of those rare books that captures the imagination, the mind, and the spirit of humanity.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: A Dangerous Man by Charlie Huston (5 stars)

2008-12-28T01:26:00.000-06:00

A Worthy Conclusion to a Worthy Trilogy

For those of you that have read CAUGHT STEALING and SIX BAD THINGS, it should be a no brainer to pick up this concluding volume. For those of you who have not read any of this series, I highly suggest you read the previously mentioned books immediately. This trilogy is one of the freshest and most well written set of books I have read in a significant amount of time. I keep kicking myself that I have just now discovered Charlie Huston. Anyways, I digress.

In A DANGEROUS MAN, our antihero has hit rock bottom. The resulting book comes from the depressed outlook and drug induced reference of keeping his parents alive by living a "dangerous lifestyle," doing the dirty work of a Russian mobster. Ultimately, the frame of reference of this book is much darker than its predecessors, but it does an exceptional job of portraying accurate and believable feelings and emotions.

As always, Huston introduces a barrage of new characters, some of which are beyond likable, including the young hot shot baseball player, Miguel, which Henry has been given the charge of "taking care of" in his old stomping grounds of New York City. Obviously chaos ensues, and it is enjoyable every step of the way.

I have not read a book recently with such penetrating and believable characters. The characters (and the situations they are put in) are above and beyond the driving force of these books. A DANGEROUS MAN is an exceptional conclusion to the series, and should be considered a "must read" book.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: Six Bad Things by Charlie Huston (4 stars)

2008-12-26T14:46:00.000-06:00

If It Wasn't For Bad Luck, I'd Have No Luck At All

SIX BAD THINGS is a worthy sequel to the phenomenal. It was another hard core ride into non stop running, hiding, terror, and the worst of luck.

The antihero, Henry Thompson, has been living safely in Mexico for several years when he is discovered by the nephew of the Russian mob. What happens next? More of the same as happens in CAUGHT STEALING, only with a whole new cast of characters.

Charlie Huston has continued his wonderful trademark noir, cast with grit, dirt, swearing, and non-stop, grip you by the throat action. While not as good as CAUGHT STEALING, it is certainly a worthy followup and a great transition into the final volume of this trilogy, A DANGEROUS MAN.

This book is a must read for Noir fans and Charlie Huston readers. While the first book could be a stand alone book, this one catapults it into a must read set of three books. You should not miss this one, if you have already.

Good Reading,

Plants and Books

Review: I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell by Tucker Max (2 stars)

2008-12-25T19:12:00.000-06:00

You Had to be There

Tucker Max's account of his life reads more like all those jokes and stories you hear that are shortly followed by "you had to be there" or "it would be funnier if you had been there." The various stories seem more like well described inside jokes.

I thought I would really enjoy this book, but unfortunately I was ultimately disappointed. While outrageous, his stories were really not that engaging or interesting. The first half of the book was truly juvenile with not a lot of substance or worthwhile stories. I love stories about jerks and unworldly encounters, but Max's presentation or lack of organization in his delivery is unsettling.

The stories improve in the last half of the book. However, there is only so many stories about how drunk someone got, how many women someone slept with, etc. I can stand in 300 pages. This book seems like it could be written by someone in high school who likes talking about how wasted he got over the weekend (which I suppose is ultimately the point).

Do not get me wrong, there are some great moments of recollected dialogue and verbal exchanges; but, ultimately, they are too few and far between to enjoy this book. If you like reading outrageous stories about booze and women, I recommend this book to you. Otherwise, it is not worth it.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Books I've Read: 2005

2008-12-23T22:02:00.000-06:00

This list was started in the summer of 2005 and therefore does not contain every book I read that year. You can definitely track the types of books or authors I was reading during each of these yearly updates. I am going to link to my Amazon reviews for each book until I post those reviews here.

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (4/5 stars)
Pacific Vortex! by Clive Cussler (4/5 stars)
The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum (4/5 stars)
On Bullshit by Harry G. Frankfurt (5/5 stars)
Shadow Prey by John Sandford (4/5 stars)
Eyes of Prey by John Sandford (5/5 stars)
Silent Prey by John Sandford (3/5 stars)
Winter Prey by John Sandford (4/5 stars)
Night Prey by John Sandford (4/5 stars)
Mind Prey by John Sandford (3/5 stars)
The Giver by Lois Lowry (5/5 stars)
Master of Chains by Jess Lebow (4/5 stars)
Evaluation in Organizations by Darlene Russ-Eft and Hallie Preskill (5/5 stars)
The Man Who Grew Young by Daniel Quinn (5/5 stars)
Sudden Prey by John Sandford (5/5 stars)
Secret Prey by John Sandford (5/5 stars)
Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan (4/5 stars)
Deschooling Society by Ivan Illich (4/5 stars)
Whisper of Waves by Philip Athans (4/5 stars)
Farthest Reach by Richard Baker (5/5 stars)
The Baseball Fan's Companion by Nick Bakalar (5/5 stars)
A Million Little Pieces by James Frey (3/5 stars)

Total Read: 7196 pages
Total Reviewed: 22 (100%)

5 Stars: 9 books
4 Stars: 10 books
3 Stars: 3 books
2 Stars: 0 books
1 Stars: 0 books

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Yearly Update Coming Soon

2008-12-23T21:47:00.000-06:00

I have been keeping track of every book (almost) that I have read since the summer of 2005. I started doing this as a way to keep track of what I had read throughout the year, total the number of pages I read in a particular year, and track my book reviews on my Amazon profile. Several years ago I made a goal to read 50,000 pages in a year. To achieve this goal I would have to read approximately 140 pages a day. Each year since I have fallen staggeringly short.

I was surprised to learn that despite moving a couple times and using different computers I still had my records since 2005. Come January, I will make a post listing every book I read this year. I am also going to post all the books I've read since summer of 2005. Obviously, these list may not be comprehensive and I may have missed a book or two. Nobody is perfect, right? Additionally, I sometimes include books that some may not consider literature or real books, like Graphic Novels and Comic Book collections. However, I consider these to be important literary mediums and convey just as much (if not more sometimes) of a story as traditional books.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: Caught Stealing by Charlie Huston (5 stars)

2008-12-23T21:31:00.000-06:00

When Doing the Right Thing Becomes Increasingly Impossible

CAUGHT STEALING was a fantastic novel from the beginning to the very end. I started reading this book and literally (and figuratively) did not put it down until it was over, several hours later.

There is an all star cast of characters that it is impossible not desire to learn about their motivations and anticipate their next moves. They are so unique it is almost laughable... almost. The pacing of the story is extremely fast and furious and the dialogue is sharp. I could not help but be compassionate to some of the characters.

The plot is gritty, dark, and mildly disturbing in some parts. This is one of those books that sucked me in from the first page and took me for the ride of a lifetime with two hands clinching my throat. The situations posed in the book test the characters in every sense. The main character is especially real, and I truly felt for each painstaking decision he had to make while his life spiraled out of control. I loved how just when I thought his life could not get any worse, it did... by leaps and bounds. This book was a tour de force. I highly recommend this book for noir buffs, action junkies, and really... anyone.

I cannot say enough how glad I am I discovered this author. I anticipate finishing SIX BAD THINGS tonight and A DANGEROUS MAN the following night, because the story was that compelling.

Good reading,

Plants and Books

Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (5 stars)

2008-12-19T19:23:00.001-06:00

Engaging from Beginning to End

THE HUNGER GAMES is one of those books that is impossible to resist and you do not want to put down. The premise is irresistible, one of those guilty pleasures, and reminiscent of BATTLE ROYALE. There can be many comparisons drawn between these two books; but, most would fall staggeringly short as the only thing these books really have in common is young children placed in an area where they will kill each other.

What makes THE HUNGER GAMES a force to be read is the beauty in which the "fantasy world" is built. There is a lot of history in this near post-apocalyptic world, and it is revealed in small doses in perfect increments. The story is woven between the history of the children, the history of the government and ruling class, and the history of the games. Strung throughout the book are engaging characters, intriguing situations, with the common denominator being the wonderfully paced prose.

This was not a book that I could not put down; but, it was a book that I did not want to put down. Finding a book with good pacing is difficult these days. The entire book is not just a buildup to an unexpected and unstoppable climax, but rather chapter after chapter of climax.

Back on the comparison of BATTLE ROYALE, this book does not get bogged down with irrelevant details and countless flashbacks that break up the story. I loved BATTLE ROYLE and I loved THE HUNGER GAMES. As I said, they really cannot be compared other than the fundamental premise. However, if you liked one, I recommend the other.

Good reading,

Plants and Books