by Robert Draper
***** [5/5]
I have been recommending this book to everyone I know. The author researched and followed the freshman class of tea party republicans that took office a few years ago. This book really helped me understand the background of these people, and while humanizing it is also fairly humiliating for them. The author clearly paints the picture of idealism run amok, and the frightful disfunction they forced on congress.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Friday, July 20, 2012
When I Found You
by Catherine Hyde
** [2/5]
This book tells the story of an infant boy found in the woods by a hunter. The boy struggles in life with his broken family and searches hard for a career and a future. The book weaves the life of the boy and his rescuer together more tightly over time, but the end is fairly predictable and the drama is over-played. Not a great read.
** [2/5]
This book tells the story of an infant boy found in the woods by a hunter. The boy struggles in life with his broken family and searches hard for a career and a future. The book weaves the life of the boy and his rescuer together more tightly over time, but the end is fairly predictable and the drama is over-played. Not a great read.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
My Memories of a Future Life
by Roz Morris
** [2/5]
This is a really odd book. The story is about a young musician dealing with injury that prevents her music and her roommate. The heroine finds herself involved in a psychology study where she is hypnotized and tells of her memories of a future life, which weaves into the struggle she faces in the present. The book is dark, complicated, and not as insightful as one might hope.
** [2/5]
This is a really odd book. The story is about a young musician dealing with injury that prevents her music and her roommate. The heroine finds herself involved in a psychology study where she is hypnotized and tells of her memories of a future life, which weaves into the struggle she faces in the present. The book is dark, complicated, and not as insightful as one might hope.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Then Again
by Diane Keaton
**** [4/5]
This biography is actually very well structured, although I would probably only recommend it if you are a fan of Keaton. She has a more interesting family than I would have guessed, and she demonstrates great strength in her relationships and personal issues. I liked it, and it motivated me to watch Annie Hall for the first time, which was also interesting.
**** [4/5]
This biography is actually very well structured, although I would probably only recommend it if you are a fan of Keaton. She has a more interesting family than I would have guessed, and she demonstrates great strength in her relationships and personal issues. I liked it, and it motivated me to watch Annie Hall for the first time, which was also interesting.
Thursday, July 05, 2012
The Summer Son
by Craig Lancaster
** [2/5]
This story is about a teenage boy spending the summer with his separated dad in Montana. The summer becomes pivotal for his family's further disintegration as his older brother and his father bicker and his step mother leaves. The theme of the book ties to the future as the son struggles to understand his father much later in life, but the ending is easy to see coming and the mellow-drama doesn't have much depth.
** [2/5]
This story is about a teenage boy spending the summer with his separated dad in Montana. The summer becomes pivotal for his family's further disintegration as his older brother and his father bicker and his step mother leaves. The theme of the book ties to the future as the son struggles to understand his father much later in life, but the ending is easy to see coming and the mellow-drama doesn't have much depth.
Monday, April 30, 2012
London in Chains
by Gillian Bradshaw
*** [3/5]
This book tells the story of a young lady printer in the city of London during the English Civil War. The story is well told and the background of the civil war may be unfamiliar to many readers. Fair work from Bradshaw.
*** [3/5]
This book tells the story of a young lady printer in the city of London during the English Civil War. The story is well told and the background of the civil war may be unfamiliar to many readers. Fair work from Bradshaw.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Tudor Rose: The Story of the Queen Who United a Kingdom
by Margaret Campbell Barnes
*** [3/5]
This book is classic historical fiction. The author dwells on the life of Elizabeth of York during the war of the roses and follows her marriage and struggles. The story is well told and the author weaves in the drama of the war of the roses and the intrigue of the time well. Solid and interesting.
*** [3/5]
This book is classic historical fiction. The author dwells on the life of Elizabeth of York during the war of the roses and follows her marriage and struggles. The story is well told and the author weaves in the drama of the war of the roses and the intrigue of the time well. Solid and interesting.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
11/22/63
by Stephen King
** [2/5]
I read this book because I was interested in the Kennedy assassination. This book does focus on this one pivotal event in history, but the story drags on even after the ultimate outcome of the time traveler's meddling has become obvious to the reader. So possibly interesting if you like the historical context but don't expect a surprise ending.
** [2/5]
I read this book because I was interested in the Kennedy assassination. This book does focus on this one pivotal event in history, but the story drags on even after the ultimate outcome of the time traveler's meddling has become obvious to the reader. So possibly interesting if you like the historical context but don't expect a surprise ending.
Sunday, April 01, 2012
The Glass Room
by Simon Mawer
**** [4/5]
This book is based on a family who lives a a home with a glass room. The story follows the family through WWII and the other occupants of the home after they are forced to flee Poland. The story is woven around a real home with similar architectural features. I thought the author did a great job of pulling the reader into "the glass room" and making each of the sub-plots connect in interesting ways. A worthy read but a bit dark.
**** [4/5]
This book is based on a family who lives a a home with a glass room. The story follows the family through WWII and the other occupants of the home after they are forced to flee Poland. The story is woven around a real home with similar architectural features. I thought the author did a great job of pulling the reader into "the glass room" and making each of the sub-plots connect in interesting ways. A worthy read but a bit dark.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
by Laura Hillenbrand
***** [5/5]
This book is a chronicle of the WWII experiences of an aviator who is stranded in the pacific ocean and survives on a raft. He ends up in the Japanese POW camps and the book tells a remarkable story of forgiveness and healing after the war. A great read.
***** [5/5]
This book is a chronicle of the WWII experiences of an aviator who is stranded in the pacific ocean and survives on a raft. He ends up in the Japanese POW camps and the book tells a remarkable story of forgiveness and healing after the war. A great read.
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Blessed Assurance
by Lyn Cote
*** [3/5]
This is a book that follows several generations of a family during difficult times in the history of the US. The central theme is the relationship of two families and the racial tensions of the times they live through. This is an interesting read, another book I picked up because of my mother in law.
*** [3/5]
This is a book that follows several generations of a family during difficult times in the history of the US. The central theme is the relationship of two families and the racial tensions of the times they live through. This is an interesting read, another book I picked up because of my mother in law.
Monday, January 30, 2012
The Help
by Kathryn Stockett
**** [4/5]
I read this based on a recommendation of a friend. I found it much lighter and funnier than I would have guessed for a civil rights era story. A fun read if you have time.
**** [4/5]
I read this based on a recommendation of a friend. I found it much lighter and funnier than I would have guessed for a civil rights era story. A fun read if you have time.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Sarah's Key
by Tatiana de Rosnay
*** [3/5]
This book explores the consequences of one fated decision. A young girl tells her brother to hide in a cupboard when the French police arrive to take her Jewish family into custody. The ripple effects of this moment cascade through the book and the results are not revealed until late in the story. The book explores a less known round-up conducted by the French police during WWII with un-flattering context. Not a cheerful read but interesting for historical context.
*** [3/5]
This book explores the consequences of one fated decision. A young girl tells her brother to hide in a cupboard when the French police arrive to take her Jewish family into custody. The ripple effects of this moment cascade through the book and the results are not revealed until late in the story. The book explores a less known round-up conducted by the French police during WWII with un-flattering context. Not a cheerful read but interesting for historical context.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Magic's Poison
by Gillian Bradshaw
*** [3/5]
This book is fantasy, which is not always my favorite, but the work is well done. It tells of a world with magicians who have the ability to magnify power with a poison from another race. The theme is based on this power conflict and the issues with balancing the power. I liked the first two books in the series but the third was not as well executed.
*** [3/5]
This book is fantasy, which is not always my favorite, but the work is well done. It tells of a world with magicians who have the ability to magnify power with a poison from another race. The theme is based on this power conflict and the issues with balancing the power. I liked the first two books in the series but the third was not as well executed.
Monday, January 09, 2012
The Sojourn
by Andrew Krivak
**** [4/5]
This is the story of two brothers (sort-of) who spend the second world war as snipers. The story is very sad but also well told. The depth of the characters is great and the story unfolds with several surprising twists.
**** [4/5]
This is the story of two brothers (sort-of) who spend the second world war as snipers. The story is very sad but also well told. The depth of the characters is great and the story unfolds with several surprising twists.
Monday, January 02, 2012
Spirit Horses
by Alan Evans
** [2/5]
This book is about one man and his experience with the wild mustangs of Wyoming. The story is sad and a bit predictable in form, but a fast read.
** [2/5]
This book is about one man and his experience with the wild mustangs of Wyoming. The story is sad and a bit predictable in form, but a fast read.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
