tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89708310122566849662012-02-16T12:19:54.020-08:00Tonynoreply@blogger.comBlogger1021100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-30345313791658707292011-08-23T02:06:00.000-07:002011-09-18T02:06:45.085-07:00

The Ranger's Apprentice, Book 10: The Emperor of Nihon-Ja by John Flanagan My rating: 4 of 5 stars So another new country, but this time it is on the other side of the world. We see the Skandians innovating with ship building, we watch Evanlyn and Alyss resolve the last of the love triangle that was never capitalized on, and (my favorite) we get a brief suggestion that perhaps this is not a look

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-21261062212268856352011-08-16T01:52:00.000-07:002011-09-18T01:52:59.108-07:00

Halt's Peril by John Flanagan My rating: 4 of 5 stars 4 Stars for the following:1. Pulling in past characters and developing them further.2. Letting Halt get hurt (no one is infallible.)3. Another all-around great story. View all my reviews

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-37067052421843622122011-08-09T01:41:00.000-07:002011-09-18T01:41:22.512-07:00

The Kings of Clonmel by John Flanagan My rating: 3 of 5 stars So I am not such a big fan of the cult-as-an-antagonist storyline. I suppose that it is plausible, but it is just missing something. There aren't really any political struggles, or true military oppositions, just a bunch of easily-duped villagers. I have never supported that view of humanity. Anyway, it is good for what it is, and

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-76145070159723449732011-08-02T01:34:00.000-07:002011-09-18T01:36:28.148-07:00

Erak's Ransom by John Flanagan My rating: 4 of 5 stars Ok, so this is where I rant for a little bit. What kind of stupid mistake did somebody make to put this book as the 7th in the series? It comes before the previous two books in the overall series storyline! It was written well for that position, so I don't think this is an author issue. I think it is an editor/publisher issuer, maybe when

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-7088430515440147802011-07-26T16:19:00.000-07:002011-09-18T01:20:33.102-07:00

The Siege of Macindaw by John Flanagan My rating: 4 of 5 stars I can give this one four stars for several reasons:1. I am aggregating all of the .2 and point .1 from the other Ranger's Apprentice books :) It is a great series and deserves that credit somewhere.2. I liked Will handling the adventure beginning to end. No "Gandalf" showing up to save the day...3. This is both a benefit and a

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-43636898066747755892011-07-19T01:04:00.000-07:002011-09-18T01:04:52.174-07:00

The Sorcerer in the North by John Flanagan My rating: 3 of 5 stars I liked Will doing the Ranger thing out on his own, and dealing with his own insecurities and life lessons. I took his apparent promotion at the beginning of the book in stride (only to be betrayed later, see future posts for those details.) I was not a fan of his separation from the princess(? am I downplaying their

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-52807654433893259942011-07-12T00:49:00.000-07:002011-09-18T00:56:22.123-07:00

The Battle for Skandia by John Flanagan My rating: 3 of 5 stars This installment continues the development of the characters, while providing another tale of the Ranger Corps. I am behind in my log here, so my comments will be brief: I like the war/fighting scenes. Flanagan deserves credit for keeping the battle scenes simple, yet engaging. He has also continued to maintain the simple

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-42085451656017834122011-07-04T23:53:00.000-07:002011-09-18T01:05:53.969-07:00

The Icebound Land by John FlanaganMy rating: 4 of 5 starsSo this series is great for a couple of reasons. First, the books are short and easily digestible, which is perfect for my situation (I don't have much free time.) Second, the characters are all maturing, and we get to follow along as the author confronts the inherent conflicts of adolescents and grows his characters to overcome them.

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-2655152390075566672011-05-27T02:59:00.000-07:002011-05-27T03:00:27.982-07:00

The Burning Bridge by John FlanaganMy rating: 4 of 5 starsI'm still impressed with this series as it provides a plot that moves along well, and has many deeper aspects to it, but remains at a late-grade-school level. I think it is the model for positioning a book in its category.The story itself shows the main character, Will, growing and engaging, this time without his archetypal mentor (Halt=

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-30368309596120529602011-05-10T02:50:00.000-07:002011-05-27T02:52:23.169-07:00

Death by Meeting: A Leadership Fable...About Solving the Most Painful Problem in Business by Patrick LencioniMy rating: 4 of 5 starsPros for this title are easy to come up with: It was a quick read. The information is easily consumable. The resulting recommendation is fairly specific and easy to implement. The concept behind this strategy for your meetings seems solid.Cons are that the

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-59840284431275080932011-05-02T02:24:00.000-07:002011-05-27T02:33:45.256-07:00

First, Break All the Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently by Marcus BuckinghamMy rating: 3 of 5 starsAs another research-based business book, this one presented a great point-of-view on managing people. While it does seem that Buckingham departed from his research slightly from time to time, the message still rings true. I would recommend that all managers consider the idea

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-30647358676192813982011-02-11T20:22:00.000-08:002011-02-11T20:23:30.070-08:00

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't by Jim CollinsMy rating: 5 of 5 starsI haven't handed out five stars in a long time. So how did this book get all five? Well, part of it might be that I haven't broken out of the Fantasy genre in a while, given my goal of getting through the Wheel of Time. Or maybe this is just a fantastic study on what makes companies great.

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-87712222763624574882011-01-15T23:14:00.000-08:002011-01-23T23:16:03.971-08:00

Knife of Dreams by Robert JordanMy rating: 4 of 5 starsSo after two months and about 30,000 airline miles I finally finished this one. It was a sheer act of will. The good news is that the delay was more due to my workload, the holidays, and my overall lack of time, not the book. Finally this series is picking up again! And some of my less-favorite plot lines are getting resolved! Hallelujah

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-60797786050415217102011-01-02T23:16:00.000-08:002011-01-23T23:19:07.915-08:00

Here is a list of the books I read in 2010. It was a busy year, and overall the books were bigger, so the number read was lower this year. The joy I got from my favorite past-time was not.#BookAuthorDate Completed26Crossroads of TwilightRobert JordanNovember 226The Ruins of GorlanJohn FlanaganOctober 3125The Violet KeystoneGarth NixSeptember 1524Into BattleGarth NixSeptember 623Above the

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-47738680463568828742010-11-07T16:19:00.000-08:002010-11-07T16:22:03.622-08:00

Crossroads of Twilight by Robert JordanMy rating: 3 of 5 starsWhat more can I say about this series? What would you want to know? Am I going to keep reading it? Yes. Was this book just more of the same: too many subplots, too much political crap and only a handful of action scenes for an 800 page book? Yes. So why do I keep reading? I have hope that although Robert Jordan seems to have

Tonynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-14178356403749336642010-11-07T08:15:00.000-08:002010-11-07T08:17:40.653-08:00

The Ruins of Gorlan by John FlanaganMy rating: 3 of 5 starsI enjoyed this book, but at the same time I was disappointed. This was an enjoyable read for me because it is right at the level that I think I need to target with my writing. At times it almost seemed too simplistic in its language and the voice Flanangan used seemed prone to state obvious conclusions, but those are the qualities that

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-92096935963475193382010-09-22T21:03:00.000-07:002010-09-22T21:15:44.526-07:00

The Violet Keystone by Garth NixMy rating: 4 of 5 starsOk, so this is the last book in the series. If you decide to read these books, and I hope you do, I recommend getting the combined volumes, rather than reading them one little book at a time. The continuity would have been nice. So the pros: The best thing about this book is that it is so Garth Nixish. The only way to describe it is

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-90806369590297325562010-09-22T21:01:00.001-07:002010-09-22T21:01:46.123-07:00

Into Battle by Garth NixMy rating: 4 of 5 starsAnother quick read. I am trying to place what the spiritual/metaphysical practices of the Icecarls remind me of... I think it is the cult-classic Galaxy Quest, and the mak'tar chant of strength (Larak tarath, larak tarath). Anyway, it is almost funny, and yet somehow fits that a teenage girl is able to put herself in weird trances all the time,

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-41402531229595123342010-09-22T20:52:00.000-07:002010-09-22T20:53:19.726-07:00

Above the Veil by Garth NixMy rating: 3 of 5 starsThese books are so short that I don't have a lot of new things to say about this installment of the series. My opinion is more of the whole series. So why did this particular book only get 3 stars? Well, while the status-quo was maintained, I didn't get any surprises from this plot. It kept the story moving and that was great, but nothing

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-7444536024602129872010-09-22T20:15:00.001-07:002010-09-22T20:15:28.684-07:00

Aenir by Garth NixMy rating: 4 of 5 starsHmm. This book incorporates the spirit world of Aenir into the setting, bringing to life the concepts Nix introduced in the first two books in the Seventh Tower series. What I like about this is that there are deeper levels to his story, or his message if you will, in this book. It offers a mature, could-be-studied-in-English-class aura to a much younger

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-47882360092653295252010-09-22T20:05:00.001-07:002010-09-22T20:05:59.073-07:00

Castle by Garth NixMy rating: 4 of 5 starsSo this series (Seventh Tower) remains simplistic, so simplistic that I almost feel guilty for counting this as a separate book. And then I remember all of the Robert Jordan monsters I read this year, and I don't feel bad any more. It all averages out.I think of Castle as the next chapter to the story more than the next book, but even when targeting a

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-21115022543998381582010-08-15T13:48:00.000-07:002010-08-15T13:50:00.284-07:00

The Fall by Garth NixMy rating: 4 of 5 starsSince I have become a full-blown Garth Nix fan, I looked for his other titles, and found The Sevent Tower series. This first installment surprised me in a couple of ways. First, it is significantly shorter than the books (and series) I am used to reading. I guess that I am stepping down a reading level or two, since I would put this one within the

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-64784033376638718022010-08-15T09:00:00.000-07:002010-08-15T09:01:25.231-07:00

Winter's Heart by Robert JordanMy rating: 3 of 5 starsAh, what more can I say. The series is consistant. There is too much time spent on politcal intrigue and character's plotting and planning, and too little time spent seeing those action come to life. The old writing rule of thumb of "show them the story, don't tell them the story" should have been applied within this story as well. While

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-60737520720481511752010-07-21T19:14:00.000-07:002010-07-21T19:16:21.413-07:00

The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness by Dave RamseyMy rating: 5 of 5 starsJust like Financial Peace, this book is a must read. It doesn't have a vastly different message, but rather more details and more motivation to get it done. And that is worth a whole lot.I still disagree with a few points of his strategy, but they are very few, and he makes the very good point

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-51108312686812454332010-07-21T18:37:00.000-07:002010-07-21T18:38:14.070-07:00

The Path of Daggers by Robert JordanMy rating: 3 of 5 starsSo, I can't say much on this book. It is another piece of the larger story (as I have said about the other books) but it doesn't really resolve anything. The plot(s) is/are about as deep as possible, so I can't say that the plot is getting deeper. Rather it is just moving around in its deepness.More than anything I just want to get to

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-39049899786226778322010-07-21T17:50:00.000-07:002010-07-21T17:57:39.842-07:00

Lord Sunday by Garth NixMy rating: 5 of 5 starsSo this was a great series. Everything I have read from Garth Nix has been great, and he writes to his audience very well. As with any fantastical fantasy finale, there are fine scientific points I could pick at when it comes to his ultimate resolution. But really, that is half the fun of reading a fantasy series. It is not unlike the pasttime of

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-52109332453355048322010-05-23T02:08:00.001-07:002010-05-23T02:08:53.191-07:00

Superior Saturday by Garth NixMy rating: 4 of 5 starsThis is cheesy, I know, but one reason I give this a 4 is for brevity. The story is not lacking in any way, but this is a much shorter read, which is opposite of the bloat that many authors engage in as they try to wrap up all of the plotlines introduced in previous books. At the same time, I can't say that I am fond of the ending. I don't

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-66468427959543592302010-05-15T02:03:00.000-07:002010-05-23T02:03:25.211-07:00

Lady Friday by Garth NixMy rating: 3 of 5 starsSo this is probably my least favorite of the series. The concept of "experiencing" somehow isn't mentioned in any of the previous books, but it seems to be really appealing to the denizens, similar to the black-market trading for human ailments, which is used and referred to throughout the series. Also, it doesn't make sense to me how denizens

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-63139147574382434752010-04-25T01:56:00.000-07:002010-05-23T01:57:26.580-07:00

Sir Thursday by Garth NixMy rating: 4 of 5 starsFor some reason I am partial to this book... Maybe because there is fighting in it? Maybe because it drags the main character into the worst possible situation? One where you wait and wait for Arthur to find a way out of it, and in the end, he doesn't escape, but instead deals with it? I don't know, but I was tempted by a five on this one... I

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-56699253963630154042010-04-20T02:15:00.000-07:002010-05-23T02:16:32.700-07:00

Do What You Are : Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type--Revised and Updated Edition Featuring E-careers for the 21st Century by Paul D. TiegerMy rating: 5 of 5 starsSo this gets one of my rare 5 stars. I don't know if anyone else will find this book that enlightening, but for me it answered my questions, so its value is high.I have long been a fan of

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-7458087428788244432010-04-15T01:52:00.000-07:002010-05-23T01:53:25.737-07:00

Drowned Wednesday by Garth NixMy rating: 3 of 5 starsI had to give this just three stars. I still really like the series, and this book did move the overall plot along nicely, but a humongous whale? Really? I did almost give it a 4 just for a pirate that can reattach his own head at will, but they can't all be 4s...View all my reviews >>

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-18061789591643097652010-04-10T01:40:00.000-07:002010-05-23T01:41:05.170-07:00

Grim Tuesday by Garth NixMy rating: 4 of 5 starsThe series builds, and I especially appreciate the seamless integration into the next book...View all my reviews >>

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-47338860348148155542010-04-05T01:35:00.000-07:002010-05-23T01:35:30.248-07:00

Mister Monday by Garth NixMy rating: 4 of 5 starsSo I read this series last year, but there were 3 problems with my reading: (1) I read it too fast. It was like a move that you watched and enjoyed, but you were so tired that you later couldn't tell your friends what it was about. (2) I read it alone. I really enjoy reading books with my family, and this one is a prime candidate. (3) The final

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-62533436421947028402010-03-20T01:18:00.000-07:002010-05-23T01:20:11.542-07:00

The Last Olympian by Rick RiordanMy rating: 4 of 5 starsThis books wraps up the series well, as far as the general plot goes, but there were a few things that didn't flow well for me. The big one I don't get is Typhon, (which is so close to Typhoon it kills me.) How does this monster put up a fight against all of the gods, and not fight against the Titan's as well? Maybe I missed something

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-68245344960599606152010-03-15T01:07:00.000-07:002010-05-23T01:08:36.667-07:00

The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick RiordanMy rating: 4 of 5 starsI said it 5 minutes ago, and I'll say it again, this was a great series. I like the twists it is taking, and I feel that this installment offered a bit more of a fantasy spin on the mythical subject matter/characters. View all my reviews >>

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-27758854258249628372010-03-10T01:00:00.000-08:002010-05-23T01:08:54.860-07:00

The Titan's Curse by Rick RiordanMy rating: 4 of 5 starsI loved this whole series, so I think it earns a good mark all the way around. One unresolved problem for me as I read through it: The age of the main character and his feats/love interests don't seem to match. I just can't picture a 14 year old kid fighting of monsters with a sword after a few weeks of training... I know, it is just

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-76630734228485711952010-02-27T01:23:00.000-08:002010-02-27T01:24:26.384-08:00

A Crown of Swords by Robert JordanMy rating: 3 of 5 starsSo we are inching back to four stars with this Wheel of Time book, but only inching. We saw some of the far-flung plots reach some conclusions; Nynaeve and Elayne have the Bowl of Winds, and an army, more or less; Matt is heading for his long-forshadowed run-in with the Daughter of the Nine Moons; and one more Forsaken is dead. We have a

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-59219584568521927102010-02-27T01:15:00.001-08:002010-02-27T01:15:25.229-08:00

The Sea of Monsters by Rick RiordanMy rating: 4 of 5 starsContinuing with the saga that began with Lightning Thief, which introduced us to the characters and setting, The Sea of Monsters took us on a voyage that showed the real conflict. Good vs. evil will meet again in this series, and we met a few new characters along the way to that discovery. I can't wait to find out what happens next.

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-71394304698196733982010-02-27T01:00:00.000-08:002010-02-27T01:01:10.172-08:00

The Lightning Thief by Rick RiordanMy rating: 4 of 5 starsYes, we are jumping onto a bandwagon here. We saw the movie trailer some months ago, and we decided to read the series. So did everyone else who visits the public library. After months on a wait list we finally got our hands on this book, and from me to our 8 year old, everyone fought for their turn to read it. Solution: Audio book.

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-3454539112305027982010-01-28T18:41:00.000-08:002010-01-28T18:42:20.152-08:00

Lord of Chaos by Robert JordanMy rating: 3 of 5 starsWe are continuing the unfortunate bog that is the middle of an otherwise great series. I don't have a lot to add, although I am getting tired of the plots that the Forsaken seem to be always putting together, but that don't really seem to produce anything. He should be picking them off a couple per book. At the end Jordan could turn Taim,

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-46317075793138530152010-01-28T18:28:00.001-08:002010-01-28T18:28:34.393-08:00

The Fires of Heaven by Robert JordanMy rating: 3 of 5 starsAh, and this was the famous slow-down in Jordan's great Wheel of Time series. As the characters spread out and become involved in their own plots the story starts to drag some, and it is harder to pull it all together. I noticed this the first time around (years ago) when I read these, and so I was ready for it this time, and my plan

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-24254644354035719112010-01-01T18:33:00.000-08:002010-01-28T18:35:43.945-08:00

Not only do I love books, but I also love lists. That means that a booklist is a no-brainer for me. This is a list of the books I have read in 2009. #BookAuthorDate Completed18The Dark is RisingRobert Jordan27 December17The Dragon RebornRobert Jordan11 December16The Great HuntRobert Jordan3 December15The Eye of the WorldRobert Jordan20 November14The Magic of OzL. Frank Baum20 October13Breaking

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-57008457288778390222009-12-30T10:23:00.000-08:002009-12-30T10:24:43.877-08:00

The Shadow Rising by Robert JordanMy rating: 4 of 5 starsThe good: The story is building and getting deeper. It is easy to get drawn into the story and I am looking forward to more. The bad: It is starting to get pretty spread out. Rather than one story line, this book carries three different story line, and in any other world would be 3 separate books. It is just plain hard to keep it all

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-64906954854792925062009-12-13T21:55:00.000-08:002009-12-13T21:58:25.110-08:00

The Dragon Reborn by Robert JordanMy rating: 4 of 5 starsI made it through the 3rd book, which is an accomplishment. For anyone who decides to read this series, let me just give you a hint on keeping up with the story/characters: it is all about speed. This plot gets deep really quick and then keeps going. You have to dedicate the time to it so that you can read it quickly, which at times

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-55140976726975157162009-12-07T08:19:00.001-08:002009-12-07T08:19:46.276-08:00

The Great Hunt by Robert JordanMy rating: 4 of 5 starsSo now that the series is under way, I am really enjoying re-reading these books. It is interesting though, that about half of the events I remember from my first reading (over 10 years ago) have already happened. That either speaks to how great these first two books are, or how bad the next 6 are... I'm going to stick with the first two

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-87346978893938938232009-11-24T03:16:00.000-08:002009-11-24T03:17:59.278-08:00

The Eye of the World by Robert JordanMy rating: 4 of 5 starsThis series was one of my favorites, but I set it aside for the last 10 years, hoping for it to come to a conclusion. Well we are still a few years away from the final book, but I thought I would start it again anyway. It really is an epic story, with all of the depth that goes with a world-building fantasy plot. I know that the

Tonynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-81864954592553227552009-10-24T04:52:00.000-07:002009-10-24T04:55:18.724-07:00

I just wanted to highlight something amazing. 7 of the 14 books I have read this year were read on my Tmobile G1 cell phone. I never thought that reading on a cell phone would work. Screen size, formatting, availability, etc. But in the end this has become an awesome way to go! I have been limited in what books are available, and that has obviously affected my reading choices, but I have been

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-34946835692203054762009-10-24T04:29:00.001-07:002009-10-24T04:29:52.246-07:00

The Magic of Oz by L. Frank BaumMy rating: 2 of 5 starsOk, so I wouldn't have read this book except it was on my phone. It wasn't bad for what it was, but I'm the first to admit that my main reason for reading Oz books is nostalgia. The stories are mediocre for this century. Still, not bad for what it was.View all my reviews >>

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-77366342869361844642009-10-12T22:08:00.000-07:002009-10-12T22:09:02.907-07:00

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie MeyerSo this was the best book in the series. I had to give it four stars, just like a famous actor with a huge career, but no awards, has to get that life-time award to validate all those years of effort. The sum is greater than the parts. And so it is here. This series definitely pulled me in and took me on the ride. It made me angry when the characters were

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-87662558572831360222009-10-12T21:52:00.001-07:002009-10-12T21:52:36.899-07:00

Eclipse by Stephenie MeyerMy rating: 2 of 5 starsSo this one just made me angry. Why? Let me expound:1. Bella is an idiot. She knows that she has to end up with Edward, but can't stand up to Jacob and deliver the bad news. Come on. 2. The book was actually going great. Better than New Moon at least. New details about the vampire world, old enemies coming back as new threats, even the

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-39402428844819365272009-10-12T21:40:00.000-07:002009-10-12T21:41:41.046-07:00

New Moon by Stephenie MeyerMy rating: 3 of 5 starsNew Moon barely scrapes by in the 3 stars category, and most of that because of the last few chapters where things get dicey with the Volturi. Why am I being so hard on this one? Simply put: I don't believe it. I don't believe that Bella or Edward would have acted the way they did in this book. The characterization I praised in the last book

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-25193150096942756942009-09-15T11:36:00.000-07:002009-09-15T11:39:36.519-07:00

Twilight by Stephenie MeyerI originally put Twilight on my list to appease my wife, who is an avid Stephanie Myer fan. She drove 10 hrs just to see her after Twilight came out. Anyway, after several years of suggestions, prodding and occasional threats she finally found a way to get me into it. She knows that if I get into a book I am lost until it is over, so she just had to set the hook.

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-84562317406455912392009-07-14T20:41:00.000-07:002009-07-14T20:42:18.292-07:00

Shards of a Broken Crown by Raymond E. Feist For some reason it took me forever to get to this book. I will be honest: this wasn't the best book in the series. It served its necessary function of wrapping up the series, and had a lot of good aspects as it successfully developed many different characters, some old, some new. My main criticism is the ending. I don't want to write a spoiler

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-85526376390012938152009-06-26T07:37:00.000-07:002009-06-26T07:49:49.913-07:00

Nineteen Eighty-four by George Orwell My review rating: 3 of 5 starsSomehow I missed whatever high school English class required this book, and since it was available on my phone, I began reading it. Wow. It was more intense than I suspected. I think what makes this book a classic, and what will keep it in classrooms for years to come, is that it inevitably prompts a discussion as to what

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-75158533741721764872009-06-12T09:58:00.000-07:002009-06-12T10:07:27.157-07:00

Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki My review rating: 5 of 5 starsThis is a MUST READ. It is simply written from one man's experience, but just like you can constantly learn new things about an old friend year after year, revisiting this book will continue to teach you from his experiences time after time. If you haven't read this, GET IT NOW. IF you have read it, move on to the next

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-29236454553212457882009-05-19T16:50:00.000-07:002009-05-19T16:52:29.937-07:00

Memory, Sorrow and Thorn, Vol 3: To Green Angel Tower, Part 1 by Tad Williams My review rating: 4 of 5 starsSo I wrapped up this series. Finally. Not that it took an inordinate amount of time, but I just had to rush to the end. Unlike some other series I've read lately, I think that the last book is by far the best. Everything that has built up over the last three books winds tighter and

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-32270164781885323522009-05-03T16:38:00.000-07:002009-05-19T16:52:02.517-07:00

Memory, Sorrow and Thorn, Vol 3: To Green Angel Tower, Part 1 by Tad Williams My review rating: 4 of 5 starsSince this is only part 1 of the last book, I am diving right into the last installment. I'll let you know when I come up for air. View all my reviews.

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-88044112800537374872009-04-25T16:42:00.000-07:002009-05-19T16:43:30.554-07:00

Memory, Sorrow and Thorn, Vol 2: Stone of Farewell by Tad Williams My review rating: 3 of 5 starsThis is part of a great series that I am happily revisting after many years. It was one of those books that years after I read it, I could remember bits and pieces of the story, but didn't remember which book they came from. Reading it again I am running into those bits and pieces that are fondly

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-56430765311920953562009-04-07T12:56:00.000-07:002009-04-08T22:52:30.706-07:00

And here is my list for 2008. I actually made time to jot down some notes on each of them. I made a goal to read 52 books (150 pg+/ea) and I made it. By one book. Not bad considering everything else I had to do that year.#BookAuthorDate Completed53SabrielGarth Nix30 December52Leadership and Self Deception: Getting Out of the BoxArbinger Institute18 December51Leading with the Heart: Coach K's

Tonynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-60985252026659536872009-04-07T12:53:00.000-07:002009-04-07T12:55:50.035-07:00

Several years ago I started making alist of all of the books I read, and it turned out to be something I have really enjoyed. I wanted to re-post my older lists because they were scattered, and for me at least, are fun to look back at. These are the books I read in 2007.#BookAuthorDate Completed1MagykAngie SageJanuary2FlyteAngie SageJanuary3Wizards First RuleTerry GoodkindJanuary4Sometimes the

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-8620722976465795012009-01-01T17:38:00.000-08:002009-01-01T17:52:17.132-08:00

Completed: 12/30/08Rating: 4.2So I have had a lot going on and finally decided to throw responsibility out the window during the Christmas vacation and read a book for fun. And of all the books I could have read, I was lucky to pick up Sabriel. And how did I pick this one? Well, for one I have enjoyed the Keys to the Kingdom series also written by Nix, so I was looking for some of his other

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-10319786411549612942008-12-18T14:14:00.000-08:002009-01-01T17:38:49.950-08:00

Completed: December 18, 2008Rating: 4.5Yes, I am giving this one of the highest rating I have ever given, and it is a self-help book. The basic ideas of the book is that we all struggle with the ability to constantly view and treat others as human beings--with interests, wants and needs--rather than as objects. Basic, but deep. In my opinion, this goes on my Must Be Read By Everyone list under

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-84404634182393068272008-12-09T14:12:00.000-08:002009-01-01T17:38:24.618-08:00

Completed: December 9, 2008Rating: 3.0This is the first book in the Dark Is Rising Series by Susan Cooper, which includes a Newberry Award winner, I believe. It is another nostalgic read for me, since I read the whole series about 20 years ago, and I have been returning to the classics on-and-off all year. Unfortunately, a few of the other characteristics common to these nostalgic reads are found

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-47726755625632705872008-11-18T18:21:00.000-08:002008-11-18T21:28:25.315-08:00

There are few books that are life changers. This one was an almost-life changer. If I had found this book a year ago when I had a chance to use more of Coach K's principles in every day life, it would have been a life changer. It is just that good. Coach Mike Krzyzewski (pronounced She-shef-ski) has made a success of the Duke basketball program by a unique blend of systematic, military-style

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-45419390994924226392008-11-18T17:35:00.000-08:002009-01-04T02:14:46.874-08:00

I will admit, I read this book purely because of the movie that is coming out. I like to read the book before seeing the movie, as it is near impossible, in my opinion, to do it the other way around. So what did I find in this Newberry winner? For one, I sense that this story continues on levels that I didn't even perceive on the first read through. If I wanted to, I could read this book three

Tonynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-69773892540870532342008-11-18T17:09:00.000-08:002008-11-18T17:33:25.847-08:00

So I said a while ago that the next story I read to my boys for a bedtime story was going to be a more recent, more boyish story. Well, I said that but I already had Ralph S. Mouse in my library basket at home, so I somewhat postponed that statement. I say somewhat because by all accounts this classic by Beverly Cleary is more boyish. Still a little dated, but much more boyish.The boys would

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-3448901202356992302008-10-31T18:37:00.000-07:002008-11-03T19:19:13.170-08:00

So I picked up Storyteller out of fear. I have been working on a storyline that sounded eerily similar to this one for several years, and when I saw this book on the shelf my heart sank with the concern that only rookie writers have: "oh no, someone already wrote my book!"Of course, that is ridiculous and as I got into this book its ridiculousness was confirmed. This book is nothing like my book.

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-44051086174055683732008-10-29T21:10:00.000-07:002008-10-29T21:30:55.833-07:00

This might seem like an odd book for this list, I don't know. It will probably seem less odd, however, if you consider that this was the follow-up bedtime story book to Mrs. PiggleWiggle. There are some interesting parallels between the two. Both are set in a time that my boys would associate with their grandparents; a world where mothers stayed at home and the fathers worked, and every kid in

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-26117076966972162222008-10-27T23:06:00.000-07:002008-10-27T23:16:18.793-07:00

It is late, so this will be short. This is a fantastic book in every way, with only one criticism. Mull doesn't know how to write a stand-alone book. By all accounts he isn't planning more Candy Shop books. Now I don't think that will happen because I think his fans/editor/neighbors/mother will persuade him otherwise, but he thinks he has written a stand alone book.I don't profess to be an

Tonynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-18791219764289218972008-10-27T22:36:00.000-07:002008-10-27T23:05:37.027-07:00

So a few posts ago I blogged my first audio book, counting it among my books read. This is one more step in that direction as this too was an audio program. However, I saw no reference that it was a book as well, so my counting it as a book is somewhat tenuous, however I am supported by Amazon, which has it listed in the "book" category. In any case, it was a worthwhile listen so it definitely

Tonynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-13351809305503785842008-10-19T22:54:00.000-07:002008-10-19T23:07:56.758-07:00

Superior Saturday (The Keys To The Kingdom)My turn finally came to borrow this one from the library, it being a new release and all. At this point I have decided that this series is worthy of adding to my personal collection, but I am going to make an effort to get a deal on them instaed of buying them all full price one by one.In this, the next to last book, Nix does a great job of keeping the

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-3796019575637468882008-10-19T20:04:00.001-07:002008-10-19T20:45:56.851-07:00

Birnbaum's Walt Disney World for Kids, by Kids 2007 (Birnbaum's Walt Disney World for Kids By Kids)So I must be feeling adventurous these days because this represents another first for this blog. This is my first juvenile non-fiction book this year. Of course, the topic is Disney; Disneyworld to be more specific. Of course, that was a draw for me, but I also was curious to see how the juvenile

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-62420464591552940112008-10-19T09:09:00.000-07:002008-10-19T09:21:19.888-07:00

I am doing away with the synopsis link. When I started this blog, I first felt compelled to give my imaginary reader a brief summary of the book, and then give my opinion. This seemed like a bad idea for two reasons: 1.)it is tremendously redundant as there are a countless other Internet sites that provide that and 2.) it is a very time consuming task. I wouldn't mind spending the time, of course

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-11424948696984744642008-10-14T15:02:00.000-07:002008-10-14T15:25:17.635-07:00

Link to Amazon synopsis: This is my first step into the realm of audiobooks on this list. In the end I decided to include it because, after all, a book is a book. Also, I will be able to cover more ground, so to speak, by using my time driving to "read". I have already acquired my next two audiobooks after this one, so I think it is a trend that will be around a while.For those of you who don't

Tonynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-24191862596057082202008-10-07T21:24:00.000-07:002008-10-07T22:58:56.012-07:00

Link to Amazon synopsis:Rage of a Demon King (Serpentwar Saga , Vol 3)So I can't say much about this book. I can't say I would recommend this to young readers; it is an adult book. I can't say it was the best work I have read from Feist. I can't say it is the worst. I can't say it was predictable, but I can't say that it felt all that different from his other books. In a lot of ways this book met

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-39828485202600224682008-09-29T20:14:00.000-07:002008-09-29T20:26:57.248-07:00

Amazon page: Mrs. Piggle-WiggleWow. So this is quite the jump. In some ways this was a refreshing counter-part to the Raymond Feist book I finished at about the same time, as this is probably at the lower end of the reading level I am interested in. In fact I went back and forth as to whether or not I should count it, but in the end I decided to draw the line at 100 pages, and this was over

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-22809018796875317262008-09-29T19:53:00.000-07:002008-09-29T20:08:39.135-07:00

Amazon summary: Rise of a Merchant Prince (Serpentwar Saga)So first let me say that this is not a kids book by any means. I don't think I have many (or any) readers, but if you have stumbled onto this blog and are under the age of 16, you can just stop reading now because Raymond Feist is an Adult author. Thanks.OK, so now that the young'uns have left, let me say that this was the most

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-25309188714364440642008-09-13T20:53:00.000-07:002008-09-13T21:24:51.435-07:00

Link to Amazon Description: Lady Friday (Keys to the Kingdom, Book 5)I'm just going to skip straight to the pros and cons, or cons and pros in this case:Cons: I have a simple criticism of this series. Nix has done a great job with the characters and the plot in general. The setting works as well. What gets me is that there is a lot of buildup to a single scene in every book where Arthur, the

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-37115110278293385442008-09-07T12:14:00.000-07:002008-09-07T12:25:03.410-07:00

Link to Amazon synopsis: Shadow of a Dark Queen (The Serpentwar Saga, Book 1)Feist has started another winning series in my mind. I actually don't have much to say about it. It is another intriguing Fantasy series, born out of the setting and characters of the previous Riftwar series. My only concern is that while the plot is different, the strategy is not. Here is his formula: War happens, there

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-34379321554754078502008-09-02T11:27:00.000-07:002008-09-02T11:31:44.493-07:00

Synopsis on Amazon: Should I Do What I Love?: Or Do What I Do - So I Can Do What I Love on the Side?This book addresses the age old question of "what should I do with my life." OK, it's not an age-old question really. Not too many generations ago people were just hoping to have something to do to earn a living, and were not so preoccupied with their personal happiness. In fact, a conversation

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-6503876947794710872008-08-24T15:30:00.000-07:002008-08-24T15:49:31.291-07:00

Link to the Amazon synopsis: Sir Thursday (The Keys To The Kingdom, Book 4)In previous posts on the Keys to the Kingdom series I expressed concern about these books becoming monotonous, or at the very least repetitive. Drowned Wednesday did a good job of involving new characters and new settings, but I was still a little skeptical. Well, after Sir Thursday, I think that Nix is brilliant. The

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-31575756339533563512008-08-23T01:04:00.000-07:002008-08-23T01:17:11.542-07:00

Link to Amazon summary: Drowned Wednesday (Keys to the Kingdom, Book 3)So my concern after book 2 was that the series was going to get predictable. I think Nix did an excellent job of walking the line. The series didn't take a huge turn in direction, but the resolution at the end came about in some new ways and with some new people. My only criticism is that it felt a bit rushed, almost like

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-83177250355787609992008-08-17T23:21:00.000-07:002008-08-17T23:34:36.386-07:00

Link to Amazon synopsis:Grim Tuesday (Keys to the Kingdom, Book 2)Once again, I have a strong recommendation for the work of Garth Nix. The saga continues from the first book, Mister Monday, and the pace of the story is maintained through the whole book. The reading experience was one of those "did I really just read this whole book in one sitting" type experiences. Yes, it is written for a young

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-81932204891080675082008-08-16T13:15:00.000-07:002008-09-13T23:32:12.130-07:00

Link to Amazon synopsis: Half MagicAs I mentioned in the last post, I had a basket full of series-starters. This was one of them. It was a different choice for me given the shortness of the book and big print, but the name drew me in, and there was a big shelf of similarly bound books, so I thought I would give it a try. It was a little on the disappointing side. The story idea was fine, but the

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-495220864618616842008-08-16T12:48:00.000-07:002008-08-16T13:13:59.726-07:00

Link to synopsis at Amazon here: The Keys to the Kingdom, Book 1: Mister MondayI have a history with this book. As I mention at least every other post, I like to just peruse the juvenile fiction section at our local library, looking for books with the right font on the spine and the right thickness. Basically, I have physically profiled the books I like to read. Anyway, I picked up Mister Monday

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-37474075995639528702008-07-27T15:57:00.000-07:002008-07-27T16:05:37.472-07:00

Link to synopsis:Prince of the Blood, 15th Anniversary EditionSo in my posting about The King's Buccaneer I ranted about reading books out of order, and this is the one that I should have read first. Oh well. After reading both, the only thing I really missed out on was some character background. The main story is still intact, but without the background you miss out on some of the subtle

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-53247698488089268802008-07-27T15:23:00.000-07:002008-07-27T15:49:32.780-07:00

Link to synopsis: The King's BuccaneerMaybe I am a little bit of an organizational freak, but if I have one hard and fast rule about reading a series, or even books connected by the same setting, I have to read them in order. I get frustrated every time an author writes a prequel, forcing me to make a judgment as to which order to follow, the order they were written, or the order of the storyline

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-8102450626638418912008-07-05T23:54:00.000-07:002008-07-06T00:14:57.876-07:00

Link to Synopsis: The Book of LiesAs I often do, I was wandering around in the juvenile fiction section of our local library, waiting for my 6 year old to finally pick which easy reader we would suffer over for the next week, and I happened on to this book. I will admit, I am a sucker for great cover art and a catchy font on the spine. There are some fonts that just ring true to the type of book

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-32530332577537913362008-07-05T23:28:00.000-07:002008-07-06T00:16:04.722-07:00

Link to synopsis: Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague (Fablehaven)I am a huge Fablehaven fan. When I talk about how and why I like juvenile fiction, I am talking about books like this. Don't be fooled, this is not some cutsie little story meant to replace Saturday morning cartoons where no one gets hurt and the dialogue is limited to an occasional three-syllable word here and there. No, this is

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-81781785634143932702008-07-03T18:51:00.000-07:002008-07-03T19:26:37.646-07:00

Link to synopsis: A Darkness at Sethanon: Volume IV in the Riftwar SagaUnfortunately I am behind in my reviews here. I say unfortunately because I think that this book would have gotten a much better review (which it deserves) if I had done it right away. In short, a series that I had serious reservations about after the first book came to an awesome conclusion in A Darkness at Sethanon: Volume

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-19620356773356545802008-06-08T23:05:00.000-07:002008-06-08T23:29:06.665-07:00

Link to synopsis: The StarstoneLets see. So this is the last book in the Gom of Windy Mountain series, and I have the same criticism for this one as I do for several other series-enders. The ending is sadly insufficient. Nothing is settled, as far as the main character goes, and as for the plot, there was a flippin' war going on! How can you end the series in the middle of a war? I guess we are

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-59090427650303880712008-06-08T22:20:00.000-07:002008-06-08T22:56:47.679-07:00

Link to synopsis:Gregor And The Code Of Claw (Underland Chronicles)It took two different hold requests at the local library to finally get my hands on this book. The series as a whole is fantastic, a term here meant to mean both good and hard to believe. (Sorry, I had a Series of Unfortunate Events moment there.) This book was about 85% of everything I hoped it would be. I guess that is good

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-61447370589269001842008-06-08T21:59:00.000-07:002008-06-08T22:15:11.410-07:00

Link to synopsis: Jason's Seven Magical Night RidesI will be brief. I like a lot of Chetwin's work. It is generally slower paced, but it gets it done, generally speaking. This book is not in that category. I had to force myself to finish it. It was disjointed and had very little sensible plot. The one bright spot (worth .5): Many of the scenes used a variety of historical settings that were both

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-49868279274127792292008-06-08T21:22:00.000-07:002008-06-08T21:55:58.813-07:00

Link to Synopsis: Silverthorn (Riftwar Saga, Volume 3)I had taken a bit of a break from this series, having left the previous two books with mixed responses. The first ended very abruptly, while the second seemed the natural continuation of the first, and sweetened the experience quite a bit. The ending was complete from a plot perspective, while the author left you wanting to know more about the

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-81906394252749707882008-05-09T18:23:00.000-07:002008-05-09T18:31:40.880-07:00

Link to synopsis: The Crystal Stair (Tales of Gom in the Legends of Ulm)While the last book felt a little slow, this one seemed just a tad quicker paced. I wonder if this series was an early work for Chetwin, as you can see her improving from book to book. A few critical points I picked out:1. Everyone is either obviously good or bad. You know within the first paragraph of meeting someone what

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-20475692412663720942008-05-09T18:09:00.000-07:002008-05-09T18:20:18.679-07:00

Link for synopsis: Riddle and the Rune, TheSo life has been busy, but I did pick up the Gom of Windy Mountain series again. Actually, I had to request it from the library, since it seems to be a fairly rare and yet popular series. In some ways I can see why, as you get to know the characters through page after page of hearing their inner thoughts and seeing the world from their point of view. For

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-60154882092226605092008-05-09T17:57:00.001-07:002008-05-09T18:19:48.507-07:00

Link for synopsis: Magician: Master (Riftwar Saga)So where I was disappointed with the first book in this series, I am feeling a lot better after this one. The connection between these books is more solid than many others series as it reads more like one continuous story. The conflict I felt at the end of the last book with relationships--oh and the fact the main character had disappeared-- were

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-43850916367065374942008-04-26T21:13:00.000-07:002008-04-26T21:34:34.771-07:00

Link for synopsis: Magician: Apprentice (Riftwar Saga)So this book came highly recommended from a brother-in-law, so I decided to pick it up. In many ways it is a predictable fantasy read, complete with castles, princesses, political intrigue, elves, dwarfs, magicians, swordplay and aliens. Aliens? Ok, so it does have a few unique features, in fact the added twist of aliens in this classic

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-886456155761875352008-04-20T14:26:00.000-07:002008-04-20T15:03:31.344-07:00

So I realized that my plot descriptions were largely redundant because Amazon provides them for everything anyway, so I am just going to provide a link to that page here: Charlie Bone and The Beast (Children Of The Red King, Book 6) and call it good.What I really want is a chance to respond to what I read, so that is what I will do from now on.So after reading Charlie Bone And The Hidden King (

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8970831012256684966.post-5500651343611980432008-04-10T20:48:00.000-07:002008-04-10T20:52:07.361-07:00

Synopsis: J.D. (John Dennis) has a little brain. His brother Tom however has a great brain. From one chapter to the next we watch as Tom uses his great brain to save lives, help the disabled and welcome oppressed immigrants in the great state of Utah before the turn of the century. Oh, and he turns a profit every time. J.D. is thoroughly impressed as the brother he idolizes moves from one

Tonynoreply@blogger.com0