I've become a huge fan of Tessa Afshar's, and Daughter of Rome did not disappoint. It's one of my (many) favorites of hers: engaging, intriguing, and I've become a huge fan of Tessa Afshar's, and Daughter of Rome did not disappoint. It's one of my (many) favorites of hers: engaging, intriguing, and enlightening. Aquila and Priscilla's story, a mere few verses in the Bible, comes to life in vivid detail: meticulous care to be accurate to Biblical accounts, theology, and other historical details don't hamper Afshar's creativity in the least. Instead, the rich tapestry of history serves as a rich setting for a tale of mystery, friendship, and romance....more
A nice little book, not Henry's finest but still quite good. "White Stallion of Lipizza" is a peek into the near-magical world of the Spanish Riding SA nice little book, not Henry's finest but still quite good. "White Stallion of Lipizza" is a peek into the near-magical world of the Spanish Riding School, where the finest horses and riders in the world train and perform. The setting was excellent, and it has Henry's usual pleasant prose, but the characters and plot weren't the most engaging. Still, it was a pleasant, breezy read that transported me quite well to bygone days in Austria....more
The Only Plane in the Sky is a hard book to review. It is gripping and the audio is very high quality, but the content is hard to digest. The storie The Only Plane in the Sky is a hard book to review. It is gripping and the audio is very high quality, but the content is hard to digest. The stories are well-written, but the oral history format can be a bit confusing at first. Still, it's one of my new favorite audiobooks, and one I can definitely see myself re-reading (a rare occurrence for me when it comes to audios).
I have no memories of 9/11 - I turned one just a week before the attacks. I've grown up on hearing stories of the day, though, and I've been to the memorial service at the crash site in Shanksville. But I didn't understand the full horror of that day until I listened to this book. The poignant stories - from those on the planes, in the buildings, in the government, and ordinary citizens hundreds of miles away - highlight the massive scope of the event. I had never fully considered the ramifications for the entire country, and was almost surprised by the way it shook the nation to the core.
Throughout the book, God's goodness and the resiliency of the American people shine through, giving it a bit of hope despite the tragedy. Highly recommended....more
Quite good (4.5* rounding down), especially for a short book on a small topic. It's an easy read on a challenging subject, and one definitely worth thQuite good (4.5* rounding down), especially for a short book on a small topic. It's an easy read on a challenging subject, and one definitely worth the read....more
Full disclosure: I was unaware that this book was the second in a series, so I can only speak for Najila and not the first book.
Najila had an interestFull disclosure: I was unaware that this book was the second in a series, so I can only speak for Najila and not the first book.
Najila had an interesting premise but fell flat for me. It spans Najila's entire life, birth to death, and is definitely more slice-of-life than plot driven. I do like some slice-of-life type books, but in this one, none of the characters were captivating, and at times it was hard to keep reading. ...more
Walking out of the theatre after seeing TROS, I was honestly a bit disappointed. Oh, it was good, but it just didn't blow me away. A lot of it felt clWalking out of the theatre after seeing TROS, I was honestly a bit disappointed. Oh, it was good, but it just didn't blow me away. A lot of it felt clunky, convoluted, and way too fast paced. The novelization redeems much of the movie, with a much cleaner, slower feel, and answers a lot of the movie's biggest questions. How was Palpatine alive? (view spoiler)[ He'd transferred his consciousness to a cloned body (hide spoiler)]. Who was Palpatine's son? (view spoiler)[ A failed clone. (hide spoiler)] How did Zorii Bliss and Babu Frick survive the destruction of Kijimi? (view spoiler)[ A friend sacrificed herself distracting the First Order so Zorii could get off planet. (hide spoiler)] Just who did Lando get to come help the Resistance? (view spoiler)[ The Mon Calimari fleet, the Ghost, Phantom Squadron, Zay Versio and Inferno Squad, Alphabet Two, and Kaz and the Fireball (hide spoiler)] Was Jannah Lando's daughter? (view spoiler)[ No. (hide spoiler)] What would Chewie's last moans have been about, had he, Finn, and Poe been executed? (view spoiler)[ He was moaning in Shryiiwook about how he was about to die on an empty stomach. (hide spoiler)] Okay, maybe that last one wasn't one of the BIGGEST questions but, well, you get the point. This book has a lot of delightful moments. That being said, it didn't suddenly make the movie perfect, and some of the issues still remain. I'm still salty they killed three of my favorite characters. I'm still not a big fan of Rey Palpatine. And the last scene still doesn't strike me as the best ending they could've done for the Skywalker Saga. That being said, I enjoyed the story here more than I did in the movie.
I read this book and just...could not get into it. Consequently, I ended up speed-reading and skimming it. It was okay, but a bit slow and dull, especI read this book and just...could not get into it. Consequently, I ended up speed-reading and skimming it. It was okay, but a bit slow and dull, especially in the first half....more
I really like The Last Jedi and I love the novelization. It's possibly my favorite novelization of any of the Disney movies so far. So many added deI really like The Last Jedi and I love the novelization. It's possibly my favorite novelization of any of the Disney movies so far. So many added details, extra scenes, and references to other media, all woven in organically. (One of the major highlights for me, personally, is BB8's monologues.) It "fixes" the movie's flaws in all the right ways, explaining rather than undoing. Jason Fry's writing is great and Marc Thompson's narration is predictably excellent. Of course, the book isn't perfect; there are still a few little dull spots here and there, the timeline is still odd, and Marc Thompson's Rose voice is probably my least-favorite of all his character impressions. Aside from that, it is fantastic....more
I've had National Velvet on my shelf for quite some time and decided to finally pick it up. I had high hopes for this horsey classic, but they were daI've had National Velvet on my shelf for quite some time and decided to finally pick it up. I had high hopes for this horsey classic, but they were dashed by the time I got to page 50. I slogged through, though, hoping the story would redeem itself somewhere along the way. Alas, it was not to be.
For starters, I found this book poorly written, with a scattered plot, characters who I didn't care about in the slightest, and far more foul language then I expected from a children's book. It's extremely dated, in prose and in content. It's also incredibly unbelievable, and honestly the amount of good things that kept happening to Velvet put me off. And then there's the horses. In horse books, the horses and the way the author portrays them can really make or break a story. In National Velvet, the horses range from jerks (Miss Ada) to weirdos (the Piebald) to bland and remarkably forgettable (literally every other horse in the book). Didn't get the feeling that I would particularly want to ride ANY of them.
This novel's only saving grace is that it's fairly short, so at least I didn't waste too much of my life on it. ...more
This is Star Wars at its quirkiest: fun new places to explore, strange new aliens, and rebellion era hi jinx galore. Seriously, these comics have it aThis is Star Wars at its quirkiest: fun new places to explore, strange new aliens, and rebellion era hi jinx galore. Seriously, these comics have it all:
*Crazy new aliens, ranging from cat-people to lizard-people to frog-people to a horse with a dinosaur tail *Dated art with Leia's hair a shaded black (read: blue) color *Luke hitting on his sister *R2-D2 and C-3PO acquiring weapons systems *Pink space dinosaurs on Yavin IV *Boba Fett teaching Luke Skywalker to snowboard?!
In summary, this is a weird comic. It's pretty enjoyable, and definitely has some fun nerdy nuggets for the die-hard fan. ...more
A good read, but one that just didn't live up to my expectations. It's "fantasy", but it's got no magic and only a touch of whimsy. Coming off readingA good read, but one that just didn't live up to my expectations. It's "fantasy", but it's got no magic and only a touch of whimsy. Coming off reading - and loving - a number of extremely fantastical books, this one just didn't blow me away. It's a good book, just not the right one for me right now. I'd definitely recommend it to others, though - it's a got good characterization; a solid, albeit simple, plot; and some interesting moral lessons....more
Good but not great ending to the trilogy. It just felt a little weird and didn't mesh as well with the other installments. I didn't care much for Ken Good but not great ending to the trilogy. It just felt a little weird and didn't mesh as well with the other installments. I didn't care much for Ken and Carey's romance, and there weren't enough horses....more
Remarkably enjoyable, 1000 Ways to Win Monopoly Games is a book of intense Monopoly strategy and statistics - and heaps of wit and humor - all in a smRemarkably enjoyable, 1000 Ways to Win Monopoly Games is a book of intense Monopoly strategy and statistics - and heaps of wit and humor - all in a small, friendly package. It starts with basic strategy but moves on to Lehman and Walker's "expanded rules", which, while opposed by Parker Brothers and not in common use today, are nevertheless fascinating and worth reading about. Definitely worth seeking out for the die-hard Monopoly fan....more
I knew I had to read this book as soon as I saw the title and premise: historical fiction about a mule-riding librarian? Yes please! it delighted me tI knew I had to read this book as soon as I saw the title and premise: historical fiction about a mule-riding librarian? Yes please! it delighted me to find something that satisfied both my bookish heart and my horsey one in equal measure. This book is unexpectedly dark and thoughtful, though, and it's quite slowly paced. I'm not sure how much I would've enjoyed it in print, but the narration was excellent and it was a very pleasant, meandering listen.
4.5* rounding down only because I can't decide whether or not I liked the ending. It was a bit overdramatic and sad....more
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