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Question re Book Reviews - 6/7/2006 3:14:27 PM
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netemp
Posts: 1
Joined: 6/7/2006
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Are the book reviews limited to fiction, or can I post a review of a non-fiction book?
-- N.E.
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RE: Question re Book Reviews - 6/7/2006 7:48:16 PM
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Auben
Posts: 1612
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
Status: online
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NE
Any kind of book is welcome.
_____________________________
Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Reviews - 6/7/2006 10:40:49 PM
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Matt5verse6
Posts: 11
Joined: 5/22/2006
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quote:
ORIGINAL: sdent1
Just googling around!  My book signing in Lafayette got bumped to July 13th so I had a little time to surf.<LOL> PLUS my ears were burning. You are quite the reviewer though and I just wanted to drop in and say thanks! So, Thanks! 
Your welcome. I can't help myself I just love your book Never Ceese! As I have mentioned many times before, reading it was like watching a movie in my mind. Fabulous writing!
And before I forget that I'm in the book review thread I better throw out another review before I get booted out of here. How about The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan! Got to love a good classic!
quote:
ORIGINAL: Auben
*a summary of the plot/characters (without giving away major twists and turning points)
For this I am going to quote Robert B. Kamm, President Emeritus/ Professor Emeritus, Oklahoma State University who says, "The book depicts, in Part 1, the life of "Pilgrim," the central figure, as he makes his Christian journey - a journey similar to that experienced by others for nearly 2000 years. Jesus fortold how difficult it would be; and His disciples, the apostle Paul, and other Christians have found that the journey is one of hardships and sacrifices, although there are great joys along the way. Part 2 of The Pilgrim's Progress, published six years after Part 1 relates the journey of Pilgrim's wife "Christiana", her children, and friends."
quote:
ORIGINAL: Auben
*how it made you feel/what it made you think of
I loved this book so much I did my senior analysis on it back in HS. I felt I could identify with Christian as he made his journey to the Celestial City; all of his hardships and fears along the way; and his sorrow that his family was not with him.
quote:
ORIGINAL: Auben
*a description of the way it was written (genre, good dialogue, lots of description, stream-of-consciousness, tone, character development)
Genre: Christian Fiction
Dialogue: Excellent
Lots of Description: Yes
Stream of Consciousness/Lit style/ Flow of Thoughts: Beautiful, frightening, happy, sad (A variety of emotions). Excellent. Thought provoking.
quote:
ORIGINAL: Auben
*if it reminded you of another book you've read
The Pilgrim's Progress was originally published in 1678. It reminds me of others book written during or around that time. Nothing modern day.
quote:
ORIGINAL: Auben
*a grade based on 1-10 (or A-F if you are more comfortable with that)
10!!! Definately! Excellent book!
_____________________________
~May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
~Matt5verse6 Ministry
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RE: Book Reviews - 6/28/2006 11:20:39 AM
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Auben
Posts: 1612
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
Status: online
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A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
This novel weaves the stories of 4 main characters who become roommates in a large Indian 'city by the sea' during the Emergency of the 70s. Two Parsi with middle class backgrounds, two Hindus from a low caste. What the author does is a balancing act of hope and despair. The best parts are when the author is setting the tale, weaving the backstories, and making the characters interact. Interposing the terrible events with hopeful situations and symbols of beauty. As the characters achieve balance and the story turns to free fall, it becomes less controlled. Sometimes it seems like a historical reinactment. How many situations can we force these characters in to relive the horror of the past? A fight between a supernatural amount of coincidence and being ruthlessly realistic.
A beautiful novel, and one that seemed necessary for Mistry (he even has one wise character talk about how necessary it is to tell a story to know who you are), but I wonder if he had trouble with the ending. He had to drop his pattern to give the ending he felt would be the most true and that transition is noticable.
Recommended. There are some very sad situations (lots of the violence and abuse of the poor) in this novel but they are important to the historical accuracy. It left me with a curiousity of India's history.
Grade: 8.75, extremely well done but the theme overcame the writing in the last third.
_____________________________
Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Reviews - 6/28/2006 6:49:00 PM
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crzy_4_books
Posts: 91
Joined: 3/1/2006
From: Wonderland
Status: offline
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"First Light" by Bodie and Brock Thoene
Jerusalem: the ancient city where hatred, desire, deciet, longing and desperation smolder in every heart. Spiritual and political darkness shourd the world's holiest city. Ruled by Rome and manipulated by religious rulers with only selfish intrest in mind, the people of Jerusalem wonder if their Deliverer will ever come.
Susanna and Manaen desperatley search for hope and meaning-in a world where their love is forbidden! Others pray and wait for light, the True Light, to dawn. Peniel the beggar, Marcus the Roman centurion, Zadok the Cheif Shepherd of Israel, and his three adopted orphan boys-all long for a vision of hope. Now a healer is walking the streets of Jerusalem. Is He the true Messiah? Or only another imposter, like so many before?
This book is a must read for any historical fiction fans. It is great!
_____________________________
_______________________________________________
Holy Spirit, all divine,
dwell within this heart of mine.
Cast down every idol throne,
reign supreme and reign alone.
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RE: Book Reviews - 6/28/2006 11:19:24 PM
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Matt5verse6
Posts: 11
Joined: 5/22/2006
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Auben
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
This novel weaves the stories of 4 main characters who become roommates in a large Indian 'city by the sea' during the Emergency of the 70s. Two Parsi with middle class backgrounds, two Hindus from a low caste. What the author does is a balancing act of hope and despair. The best parts are when the author is setting the tale, weaving the backstories, and making the characters interact. Interposing the terrible events with hopeful situations and symbols of beauty. As the characters achieve balance and the story turns to free fall, it becomes less controlled. Sometimes it seems like a historical reinactment. How many situations can we force these characters in to relive the horror of the past? A fight between a supernatural amount of coincidence and being ruthlessly realistic.
A beautiful novel, and one that seemed necessary for Mistry (he even has one wise character talk about how necessary it is to tell a story to know who you are), but I wonder if he had trouble with the ending. He had to drop his pattern to give the ending he felt would be the most true and that transition is noticable.
Recommended. There are some very sad situations (lots of the violence and abuse of the poor) in this novel but they are important to the historical accuracy. It left me with a curiousity of India's history.
Grade: 8.75, extremely well done but the theme overcame the writing in the last third.
Oh...my...goodness! GREAT Avatar picture!!!!!
_____________________________
~May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
~Matt5verse6 Ministry
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RE: Book Reviews - 7/7/2006 2:13:49 PM
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Auben
Posts: 1612
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
Status: online
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CS Lewis through the Shadowlands by Brian Sibley
This book covered the life and marriage of CS Lewis and Joy Davidman. Generally the same thing covered in the movie Shadowlands but much more detail about the two of them. I enjoyed it because it answered a lot of questions I had about the two of them (the validity of their marriage, her divorce) that weren't covered in the movie. Recommended. Fairly short but interesting and easy to read.
Grade: 8
_____________________________
Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Reviews - 7/16/2006 4:59:52 PM
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TheHunt
Posts: 1
Joined: 7/16/2006
Status: offline
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Rouge Angel: The spiritual journey of on of the FBI's Ten Most Wanted By Jodi Werhanowicz
I loved this book so much. It is great on so many different levels. First off, it tells the amazing story of Mary Kay Beard. It starts out with Mary's home life, how she was raised and what her younger years were like that led her to her life in crime. Then it goes onto tell of Mrs. Beard's crime life, the clothes, money, and the people that it involved. Not many of us think that a little ol' southern bell would be holding up banks at gunpoint, but that is what happens. The book really picks up when we see Mary Kay's life in prison and what she goes on to do after that. The biggest being her change into a christian and starting Angel Tree. The organization that provides gifts to the children of prisoners each christmas. Reading this book for the story alone is worth it. Rouge Angel is also great because it can be read and enjoyed by all ages. My brother read it and loved it (age 12), but so did my grandpa (age well he wouldn't like me to say, but WWII was something he fought in). So I recommend it to all. I found it through marykaybeard.com there was a special I think that is still be allowed for 20% off if you use the coupon code: WEST. Check it out and let me know how you like it.
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RE: Book Reviews - 7/18/2006 3:00:46 PM
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Auben
Posts: 1612
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
Status: online
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Walking the Labyrinth by Lisa Goldstein
Story of a woman curious about her ancestors who finds they were part of a mystical order of the labyrinth which appers to still exist. She travels to England to see the labyrinth and to uncover more about the lives of her parents, grandparents, and great grandparents.
This was sort of a page turner I picked up at the library sale. Fairly decent, plot-focused, based on the paranormal rather than the occult (ESP versus talking to spirits) but still too much of the supernatural for me. Ending too pat (IMO).
Grade: 5...elements of the paranormal
Samurai William by Giles Milton
Non-fiction account of the Englishman, William Adams, who first entered Japan and became a protoge of the Shogun. Many elements of his story were copied by James Clavell for his popular novel (and mini series) Shogun. It also covers the history of the Jesuits, Portuguese, Dutch, and English introductions and trading with Japan during this period and the eventual edict against christianity. Based on several diaries of the time period.
Fascinating. You really get a strong feel for the people who's journals are used. Unfortunately Adams was not one of these and it depends a lot on his letters and what others thought of him. He was an amazing man who managed to fit into a very complex and very different culture.
The western men who traveled the world for trade were not nearly as dependable and there is much description of their drinking parties, fights, and 'whoring.'
Grade: 8.5, interesting time period--resources limited but well used.
_____________________________
Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Reviews - 8/10/2006 9:44:15 PM
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Auben
Posts: 1612
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
Status: online
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I've been on vacation so I've read at least 3 or 4 books since my last entry. I'll try to get them all in and be short.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintainance
Finally finished this philosophical novel about a man with a history of mental illness who takes his son on a motorcycle journey from Minnesota to California and while doing so comes to believe his son also has mental problems. Many discussions of philosophers from Aristotle and Plato to Poincare. A discussion of Quality and Value. A long look into the past and how he became a private philosopher.
Interesting in many of its points. Repetitive in a few others. I thought some of his logic faulty. It took me a few years to finish this one because I got bored a few 100 pages in.
Grade: 6.5
Love Medicine by Louise Erdich
A collection of short stories surrounding a family of Chippewa in North Dakota, moving from the 20s to the 80s. Erdich is a strong writer. I recommend these for people that like short stories. It reads that way more than like a novel, although you learn about all of the characters.
Grade: 9 (some better some worse)
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
I love Lahiri's prize-winning collection Interpreter of Maladies and she did not disappoint here. The story follows a Bengali couple (with a traditional arranged marriage) who move to the United States. They raise 2 children who always seem somewhat foreign to them. The greatest part of this novel is the level of detail. It follows the older son Gogol, named by an accident of fate, and always slightly embarassed by his roots. I found her descriptions of the life of Ivy league intellectuals to be fascinating and right-on.
Grade: 8.75
_____________________________
Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Reviews - 8/10/2006 9:49:36 PM
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Auben
Posts: 1612
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
Status: online
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Crow Lake
The story of a bright family of siblings in Northern Ontario, 2 older brothers (19 & 17) and 2 younger sisters (7 & 18mo) who loose their parents and face the challenges of giving up dreams to provide for each other. It delves into education and guilt. It went by very quickly, a page turner for me. Very interesting.
Grade: 8
_____________________________
Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Reviews - 8/11/2006 10:11:34 PM
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mizbooks
Posts: 5
Joined: 8/4/2006
Status: offline
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I know this isn't *exactly* what you're looking for in this forum, but it's related...
My reviews blog: Village Cafe
I review books for Bethany House publishers, so I put all of my reviews of those books up there, plus reviews of other Christian books that I really NEED to rave (or rant) about! :o)
<>< mizbooks
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RE: Book Reviews - 8/16/2006 2:18:19 AM
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ChristinaBeana
Posts: 139
Joined: 6/29/2006
From: Denver, CO
Status: offline
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I don't know if someone else has already reviewed this, I only read MOST of the posts...
My Sister's Keeper, by Jodi Picoult. I'm currently reading it now. The book centers around 13-year-old Anna, who was conceived as a genetic match to help her older sister, Kate, deal with a rare form of leukiema (sp?). Anna has always provided Kate with cells, bone marrow, etc, and now that Anna's parents want Anna to give Kate one of her kidneys, Anna's not sure if she wants to be a human pin cushion anymore. The book centers around this one family: Anna, her mother Sara, who devotes her life to taking care of Kate; Brian, the father, who's a firefighter; Anna/Kate's older brother Jesse, the forgotten one who struggles w/ pyromania and drug addiction, Anna's lawyer Campbell and her guardian ad litum, Julia.
The book is told through multiple viewpoints, and if you don't catch who the narrator is at the beginning of the chapter, it's easy to get confused- although each character has their own font. The book has already made me cry and I haven't finished it yet, so don't read it if you're expecting something uplifting.
I would give this book an A.
Warnings: This book does contain some bad words, brief sex encounters, and mentions- but doesn't go into a lot of detail about- Julia's twin sister Isobel's homosexual relationship. However, that is an incredibly small part of an otherwise wonderful book.
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RE: Book Reviews - 9/7/2006 3:00:38 PM
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Auben
Posts: 1612
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
Status: online
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The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana by Umberto Eco
The usual Eco fare with a 60 year old antiquitarian book dealer who loses his 'emotional' memory during a stroke. He remembers everything he's read (and quotes from it frequently) but can't remember things as simple as what food tastes like or who his wife and daughters are. Thus starts a journey visiting his families country home and reading and reliving the stories of his past. Matter include pulp fiction, comic books, records from the 30s and 40s, fascist propaganda and WWII, and his first and greatest love.
Anyone who's read Eco knows that 50-70% of the book is based on his encyclopedic knowledge of areas like comic books, pulp fiction, and old songs. I wonder if he's a compulsive list maker. I bet he is. If you can wade through all of it he's as charming as ever and adds plot points every so often to keep one from becoming too bored.
Grade: 7, not recommended unless you are a fan of Eco already
Visions of Victory by Gerhart Weinberg
Non-fiction book detailing the goals and future imagined by the major leaders of WWII (Hitler, Mussolini, Kai-shek, Tojo, Stalin, Churchill, Roosevelt, de Gaulle). Excellent in premise, not quite as fascinating in practice. Weinberg is very in control of his subject but its obvious that some of the players (in particular Tojo and at times Stalin) are beyond his research ability due to archival limitations in those countries.
The best (IMO) are Hitler (absolutely chilling), Roosevelt and Churchill. I learned a lot about Stalin but I felt Weinberg was rushed to get in a lot of information in about a very complex man (sometimes guessing without the proper documentation). I think Stalin's chapter would make much more sense with a good biography under your belt first (I may do just that).
A wonderful book for anyone interested in the history of WWII. It helped me with The Mysterious Flame... in the previous review. I would consider a good resource for teachers going over WWII, especially if you want to understand the internal motivations of Hitler and the Allies.
Grade: 8, good for history buffs
_____________________________
Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Reviews - 9/26/2006 1:03:14 AM
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Auben
Posts: 1612
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
Status: online
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The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl
Historical novel (with quite a level of detail) of fictional round of murders in 1865 which require the (real) Dante Club of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and his Boston pals (James Lowell, Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr., their publisher Fields, and Rev. George Washington Greene) to find a killer who mimics Dante's Inferno as they translate it into English. Characterization of the real people is taken from their journals, letters, and anecdotes. Nicely done. Murders a bit grisly. Lots of plot movement. Good character interaction.
I was impressed, even if I felt he skated over character and plot a tiny bit to gallop to the end.
Grade: 8.9
2 grisly murders and 2 suicides, otherwise very 19th century
_____________________________
Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Reviews - 10/7/2006 6:15:29 PM
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jastay3
Posts: 10
Joined: 2/24/2006
Status: offline
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Istanbul Intrigues: by Barry Rubin
A spy history of the Eastern Meditteranean during WWii. Heavy on atmosphere.
Venice: a city, a republic, an empire by alvise zorzi
a coffeetable volume about the Venitian Empire
War Without Hate by John Bierman
An entertaining history of the North African War, despite the fact that it's title might seem odd to some.
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RE: Book Reviews - 10/9/2006 2:30:33 PM
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dt29
Posts: 49
Joined: 9/21/2006
Status: offline
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Can anyone recommend a good christian fiction book with a not so happy/hollywood ending?...don't want the book to be about the ending but rather about the journey. And I really do mean "christian fiction", where the characters struggle with real tough issues about life, the christian life, relationship with God, etc. Thanks.
_____________________________
"Believe me, my advice is easier said than done. And when I give advice, the person that needs to follow it the most and struggles the greatest with it is...ME!"
Feel free to email me replies: davidtemple29@gmail.com
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RE: Book Reviews - 10/9/2006 3:53:14 PM
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Auben
Posts: 1612
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
Status: online
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David,
Have you tried anything by Marilynne Robinson? Leif Enger? Both of them are christians who write mainstream fiction about christian characters. Both are very complex and well-done.
_____________________________
Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Reviews - 10/18/2006 1:00:07 PM
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Auben
Posts: 1612
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
Status: online
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Reading in the Dark by Seamus Deane
A poetic memoir-like novel of a boy growing up in Derry, Ireland in the '40s and '50s. He's bookish and curious and finds himself immersed (because of his own curiousity) in his families dark secrets and fairy tales. A study of guilt and sorrow over the past and their effect on a family. Coming of age novel.
I'm not sure how to grade this. I liked it very much. I could tell Deane is a poet. The secret was a bit overdone in the end, but at the same time I felt the obsession growing and taking over the plot in the same way that it took over the family and their relationships.
Grade: 8.7, but if you like fast paced books stay away.
_____________________________
Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Reviews - 10/23/2006 1:53:13 PM
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Auben
Posts: 1612
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
Status: online
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The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston
Memoir of a second generation Chinese woman who has much to say about the way women are viewed in her culture. The most interesting thing about this memoir is that she manages to get all of this out without much use of the standard first person narrative. Her memoir includes a Chinese fairy tale (The Woman Warrior) used as an allegory of her life, a series of retellings of the a story as she tries to figure the truth about an unknown aunt's suicide, first person narrative of her mother's life (a woman who she obviously both respects and feels anger toward), another aunt's settlement the US after decades in Hong Kong, and only near the end lapses into a more traditional memoir fare.
Fascinating. Sometimes very angry, but never allows the characters to be simple 'poor me' or good vs evil. Everyone is complex with intense motivations. Very well done. I felt like I knew so much about her before the story even focused on her. A good read for people who think feminism was unnecessary. Also a good read for writers because of the incredible skill she brings to the telling her story without focusing on herself.
grade: 8.9, non-fiction
_____________________________
Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Reviews - 10/23/2006 3:36:30 PM
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techne
Posts: 581
Joined: 4/12/2005
Status: offline
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hey auben -
you a speed reader?
(or anyone else for that matter)
and if so, any suggestions on how to become one?
_____________________________
And when people cease to believe that there is good and evil
Only beauty will call to them and save them
So that they still know how to say: this is true and that is false.
One more day by Czeslaw Milosz
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