Ryland Grace wakes up from a coma in space. He doesn't know exactly how he got there or why, but his two crewmates are dead. Slowly his memories returRyland Grace wakes up from a coma in space. He doesn't know exactly how he got there or why, but his two crewmates are dead. Slowly his memories return and he realizes it is up to him to save the human race from a microorganism that is draining the sun of its energy.
I couldn't stop reading this book. I stayed up much too late on work nights reading. I read this while cooking (and eating) dinner, during breaks at work, and any time I could get a few minutes to sneak in a few pages. The story is masterfully written and as the author answers questions, he brings up new ones, keeping the reader engaged and excited.
There are obvious similarities to The Martian. Both stories are set in space, they're about survival, and the protagonists have a good sense of humor. However, this is a separate, fully-formed and highly satisfying novel on its own merits. In fact I'd rate it higher than The Martian, which is high praise indeed.
"First I have to wait for my computer to wake up." "Hurry." "Okay, I'll wait faster."
I listened to the audiobook for my second go-round, and it was interesting to hear the musical notes rather than to see them printed on the page. It was such an intense pleasure to revisit the story and Rocky, who is such an incredible character. I love him so much.
If you like Michael Crichton, you will enjoy Andy Weir, only I think Weir's novels are better....more
I love time travel stories, so I was naturally interested in this book which centers around a woman who nursed soldiers during WWII who is suddenly trI love time travel stories, so I was naturally interested in this book which centers around a woman who nursed soldiers during WWII who is suddenly transported back 200 years. The excellent flow of the storytelling makes this daunting novel not only easy to read, but so satisfying that one cannot stop. It has flaws-- I felt the amount of sex that the author described was unneccesary-- but it is so entertaining, one forgives these faults.
There are also moments of wisdom, especially about the relationships between Claire and the men in her life. Ex: "Not for the first time, I reflected that intimacy and romance are not synonymous." Each character is extremely well-developed, including the auxillary players.
I don't see how anyone could be content to not read onto the next novel in the series....more
Simon Morley has a job in advertising in New York. He has a pleasant girlfriend. However, he isn't excited by his life, so when a squat man named RubeSimon Morley has a job in advertising in New York. He has a pleasant girlfriend. However, he isn't excited by his life, so when a squat man named Rube comes to see him and asks him to join a super-secret government project, so secret he can't disclose what it is until he agrees, Si agrees. Of course the project is time travel. Si requests New York in the late 1800s because his girlfriend's grandfather killed himself because of a mysterious letter that was posted at that time. He wants to witness the event and try to decipher what caused him to make such a rash decision.
He gets more than he bargained for when the experiment works, and Si tries to observe without meddling. This book is filled with a fascinating plot, melodrama, action, and history. I found myself running to Google to find out if the buildings mentioned did in fact exist and whether or not they still stood in New York. Finney does an excellent job of describing without sounding monotonous or dull. He provided pictures to help with the descriptions which was a nice touch.
I'm a sucker for a good time travel story, and this one delivered. It is hard for me to describe why it touched me so much other than to say it really took me there, to that specific time and place, in a way that few, possibly no other time travel book has. It takes a while to get going, but once it does, you're living it. ...more
It is the year 2060 and time travel has been invented. Historians at Oxford are able to travel back in time once their assignments have been carefullyIt is the year 2060 and time travel has been invented. Historians at Oxford are able to travel back in time once their assignments have been carefully planned and scheduled by the head of the program, and the current time period that the students are researching is WWII.
At the last minute, the scheduled travel times have been changed, causing the historians to lose research time, and for their arrival times to be affected by "slippage" so they don't arrive on the correct date or in the correct location.
Eileen (Merope) O'Reilly is studying the evacuation of children from London and she poses as a maid at an estate in the country. Mike (Michael) Davis is studying heroism at Dunkirk and he poses as an American reporter on assignment in Dover. Polly Sebastian (Churchill) is studying the Blitz and arrives in London posing as a shopgirl. Mary Kent is studying the ambulance drivers at a post transporting generals and wounded soldiers.
Usually the time travelers do their duty and when they're finished with their assignments, they go back to their "drop" sites and return home, but as each person gets caught up in the war, they are unable to go back, and by the time they are able to reach their drops, the time portal does not open, leaving them stranded.
This book is long, and considering that it is part one of a two part series, it is massive, but it is an exciting read with great pacing, well-developed characters, and a treat for history lovers. There is a lot going on, and the author rarely continues the same story-line for more than a chapter at a time, but the writing is excellent so the reader never gets lost. Each character has a distinct and exciting story, so it keeps you reading not only for one more chapter, but for multiple chapters on end. I cannot recommend it highly enough and I can't wait to read the second part....more
Kivrin is a time travel student, a historian studying the Middle Ages. Although that period in time has been prohibited because of the plague, Kivrin Kivrin is a time travel student, a historian studying the Middle Ages. Although that period in time has been prohibited because of the plague, Kivrin has obtained special clearance to visit 1320, more than 20 years before the start of the plague in Europe. Her mentor Mr. Dunworthy is beside himself with worry for her safety, and when the technician that sends her back in time falls ill with a mysterious virus and is unable to confirm that the procedure went as planned, a quarantine makes it almost impossible to retrieve Kivrin out of the past.
Connie Willis is a fantastic writer. Her pacing is breakneck and makes the 500+ pages fly by. Toggling between the past and "present" (set in the future) might have been confusing in another author's hands, but her writing is clear and organized. Each character breathes; it is impossible not to get wrapped up in their worries because they are so realistic, and for the most part likeable. Agnes and Father Roche are the most likeable, and judging from my experience with Willis' writing, her talent lies in forming child characters and male mentor characters.
Although this was not the first of the Oxford Time Travel stories I read, I did not feel that my experience was spoiled by reading them out of order. This book stands alone as an excellent read, but because it is so wonderful, it is exciting to know there are others in the series with the same characters.
There is a line from Freaks and Geeks about the Grateful Dead's American Beauty album that says, "I wish I never heard it, just so I could hear it again for the first time." That's the way I feel about this book....more
Who doesn't like The Little Rascals? I loved them as a kid and I love them even more now, and this book is an excellent companion for people who want Who doesn't like The Little Rascals? I loved them as a kid and I love them even more now, and this book is an excellent companion for people who want to know the history of the series, the actors, and a list of each short. It is filled with information and pictures and is a lot of fun to read.
Maltin released an update to his original book with more accurate biographical information about the rascals. Unfortunately, many of them have since passed away, so another update might be in order.
I have an autographed copy of this book signed by both authors who I had the pleasure of meeting at the final Cinefest in Syracuse. I treasure it. This book was instrumental in introducing me the world of classic movies....more
My little cousin recommended this book to me and I am so glad she did, because although the setting wasn't my taste (a juvenile detention center in thMy little cousin recommended this book to me and I am so glad she did, because although the setting wasn't my taste (a juvenile detention center in the desert), the story was.
Stanley Yelnats is wrongfully accused of theft and he's sent to Camp Greenlake, a dried up lakebed and site of a correctional facility for young criminals. The warden is as vicious as her snake venom nail polish, and she lets her guards use force when necessary. The punishment is hard labor; the boys spend their days digging holes in the lake 6 feet wide by 6 feet deep. It is soon apparent that they're supposed to be looking for something, but Stanley just wants to go home.
A masterfully crafted and told story, Holes is a book I have read several times in my life, and it is one that I will read to my children (when I have them). The way Sachar weaves history into the present is fascinating and exciting. Books like this are rare....more
I read The Outsiders countless times as a pre-teen. I was in love with Ponyboy and wished that boys like him really existed (and have since found out I read The Outsiders countless times as a pre-teen. I was in love with Ponyboy and wished that boys like him really existed (and have since found out that they do). Even though I didn't live in a rough neighborhood, I understood the problems of these kids and related to them.
I always find books about people who love books appealing, because of course I love to read too. Maybe that is a cheap way to grab your audience but it works.
Ponyboy is a greaser, a poor kid from the wrong side of the tracks. He lives with his brothers Darry and Sodapop who work hard to keep him in school. His friends Two-Bit, Dallas, and Johnny Cade provide humor, toughness, and sensitivity to the group, and they are closer than family. When Ponyboy and Johnny get jumped one day, everything goes wrong and the boys have to hide from the cops for a while....more
There are great autobiographies or memoirs written by friends of celebrities that consist of personal information and small tidbits that greatly interThere are great autobiographies or memoirs written by friends of celebrities that consist of personal information and small tidbits that greatly interest readers. Then there are biographies, often more informational and objective than autobiographies. This book is composed of both which makes it one of the best books about a celebrity around.
Maria Riva is the daughter of legend Marlene Dietrich, an androgynous star of the 1930s, 40s, 50s, and 60s. One would believe that a daughter would be the most biased person to write a biography but this is not the case with this book. Riva shares personal information but she always cites when she does so as to not confuse fact and observation. She includes diary entries, letters from lovers, and a bevy of other sources including other acquaintances of Dietrich. She reveals things that her mother made up for the press and what her mother really thought about things like films, other stars, and sex.
Riva always remains objective and portrays her mother respectably even in embarrassing or hateful situations because she is aware of the multitude of Dietrich fans. She does not praise simply to praise though; she seems to understand the adoration of the facade Marlene Dietrich showed the world. Riva talks about how she had to trick her mother into being treated for the cancer she swore she didn't have. She writes about her mother forcing her to get fitted for a diaphragm before she traveled overseas to entertain the troops during the second World War. Even when she speaks of when Dietrich told Riva's sons that their mother had stolen them from her, she does not try to persuade readers to hate her mother.
This is an incredible book. Enjoy this jewel of writing. ...more
Kevin Brownlow is absolutely brilliant. This is an amazing resource book. It has some biographical information, an extensive filmography section with Kevin Brownlow is absolutely brilliant. This is an amazing resource book. It has some biographical information, an extensive filmography section with excellent photos and background on every feature including those that are lost today, and an overview of the Biograph shorts. This is the real appeal of this book, but the other information provided, like the story of how Brownlow discovered her and eventually met her, is quite entertaining as well. Essential....more
After seeing Frank Capra's film version of this book, I had to read James Hilton's novel. The book and the film are very similar, so my love for the fAfter seeing Frank Capra's film version of this book, I had to read James Hilton's novel. The book and the film are very similar, so my love for the film has transferred to the original work. Lost Horizon is the story of four people, an American, a young British soldier, a middle-aged British man, and a female missionary, who have the misfortune of being kidnapped on an airplane. They are crashed near a mysterious and dismal mountain somewhere in Tibet, and all seems to be lost to them, including their pilot who dies in the crash. However, they are rescued by a group of men who live in a strange valley nearby. They call their oasis Shangri-La.
The middle-aged British man is named Conway; he has the best grasp of the goals of Shangri-La of any of the people in his group. Instead of fidgeting when he is told he and his friends will never leave the villiage, he embraces his new home where everything is done in moderation. He marvels over the expensive library of treasures and begins to love a tiny Chinese girl with a fondness for music. He has the good fortune to meet the High Lama of the monastery there and to be told the secrets of Shangri-La.
Conway's sentiments narrate the story, and his calm personality resonates with the reader and makes the sometimes outlandish beliefs of Shangri-La become vivid and desirable.
This is a magical book with the same feeling of hope and inspiration that is present in Frank Capra's films. Although it was written in the early 30s, the sentiments are applicable in today's world. Thus, it is a timeless classic that every person should have the good fortune of stumbling upon. It will never leave you. ...more
When I was a kid, I watched many movie versions of this novel because it was one of my mom's favorite stories. Her favorite movie version was the WondWhen I was a kid, I watched many movie versions of this novel because it was one of my mom's favorite stories. Her favorite movie version was the Wonderworks' edition starring Amelia Shankley, and I found myself conjuring images of it throughout my reading. It is a wonderful companion.
A Little Princess is the story of Sara Crewe, who despite all of her extreme wealth is a kindhearted and strong-willed girl. She attends a seminiary in London while her father works in India. He purchases a diamond mine that is supposed to make him even wealthier, but he loses his fortune and dies. Sara is then relegated to becoming a servant for the seminary, teaching the young children French, running errands for the cook, and living in meager conditions with no fire to warm her and no food to comfort her.
But Sara is an unusual girl with a strong imagination, and she make-believes that her life isn't so bad, and that she is truly a princess who will be taken away from the squalor sooner or later.
Burnett is a brilliant writer because she accomplishes so much with a simple and straight-forward style. This book is sentimental, but it is not over-adorned with the flourish that many Victorian writers gave their novels. It is a timeless classic that every child should read, and is a joy to revisit when they grow up.
When I used to think of Tarzan, I thought of children and images of men in ape suits. The book surprised me. It is mature and full of adventure, so itWhen I used to think of Tarzan, I thought of children and images of men in ape suits. The book surprised me. It is mature and full of adventure, so it appeals to all ages. This first book explains how Tarzan came to live in the jungle among the apes, how he comes from a high class family who died on the shores of Africa and how he was adopted by an ape and taught the ways of the wild. We read about him discovering humans for the first time and disliking them, and then stumbling upon a human female of his own race, the beautiful Jane. These passages are very steamy; I couldn't wait to read the sequels.
A rousing adventure book, King Solomon's Mines is densely packed with excitement. From narrowly escaping dying of thirst in a desert to facing the fieA rousing adventure book, King Solomon's Mines is densely packed with excitement. From narrowly escaping dying of thirst in a desert to facing the fierce violence and trickery of natives, there is never a dull moment. The writing style is a bit antiquated, but that does not make it difficult to read or any less thrilling. If you don't get the adventure bug after reading this, you didn't do it right.
King Solomon's Mines is an outstanding adventure story which inspired many others in the genre, including that Tarzan series, Indiana Jones, and even The Goonies. Some of the scenes maybe feel familiar, but do not immediately discredit Haggard's work. He was the originator.
The narrator is refreshingly frank, and warns us immediately that this will not be a complete story, filled with boring details of the equipment, the locations, the exact time frames. Instead, the book is a recounting of the unbelievable exploits of himself and two fellow travelers on a mission to find a missing brother and to discover King Solomon's fabled treasure across the African desert. The story is broken up into mini-adventures, beginning with setting out on the journey and hunting wild game, then heading into the desert and risking death by thirst, stumbling upon a lost African tribe, and finally finding the mines. Each section is fascinating and keeps the reading easy and enjoyable.
This book has not lost its ability to excite and shock. The author paints vivid, sometimes gruesome pictures with words and leaves one wanting more.
Gone With the Wind is one of those perfect books. It has something for everyone: great characters, history, war, love, death, melodrama, humor, etc. TGone With the Wind is one of those perfect books. It has something for everyone: great characters, history, war, love, death, melodrama, humor, etc. The writing is excellent; it is simple enough to keep you going but wise enough to keep you thinking.
I never completely understood the complexities of the Civil War until I read Gone With the Wind, and it made history come alive. The book gives the point of view of the south, and being from Ohio, this perspective was never taught to me. This was my first glimpse into the notion that the south had valid reasons for succession and that in losing the war they also lost a way of life.
The characters are realistic because they are all flawed (although Melanie Hamilton is pretty close to being a saint). Scarlett O'Hara is an excellent character because she is so emotional and she takes us on the roller coaster that she experiences. We see her and her community as they grow and develop from adolescents to adults.
People like to dog this book because its main characters owned slaves and hate Yankees who pander to former slaves for their political support. They also form the KKK to scare and hurt "uppity" black people (not the word they use). The picture is painted in a matter-of-fact way and any reader with a brain in their heads could see that these opinions are wrong, and that these characters are imperfect, just like real people. However there are moments where the tables are turned. Scarlett has an encounter with a Yankee woman asking for advice on getting a governess for her child. Scarlett recommends she find a former slave to employ and the woman recoils at the thought of a black woman being trusted with something so precious as her children. "What did these strangers know of black hands, how dear and comforting they could be, how unerringly they knew how to soothe, to pat, to fondle?" Mitchell gives us the story of the Civil War warts and all but gives us insight into the thought processes of the people who lost, so we can see the logic behind their stance, wrong or not. Subsequent readings reminded me of how brutal Scarlett could be, not just against her slaves, but to everyone, her friends, especially her children.
This book is more than 1000 pages and each one is perfection. I have read it several times and although it is long, it never seems like a chore....more
The Secret Garden is a timeless coming of age story about an orphaned little girl who goes to live with her uncle. He lives in a mansion which is largThe Secret Garden is a timeless coming of age story about an orphaned little girl who goes to live with her uncle. He lives in a mansion which is largely uninhabited and forbidden from being explored. Of course, being a curious and impertinent, she explores anyway and discovers a locked garden. She takes it for herself and makes friends with Dickon, a local boy with a green thumb, and a cousin she never knew about. The garden flourishes.
An excellent book for all ages, this book flawlessly transitions the characters into a new era in their lives. It can be read again and again.
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