Dang, T.J. Klune does it again! The story is structured so that the main character, Benji, is telling the story about a traumatic event in 4-4.5 stars
Dang, T.J. Klune does it again! The story is structured so that the main character, Benji, is telling the story about a traumatic event in his life and a pivotal moment 5 years later when an angel fell from the sky and changed his life and the town's life forever. The style is such that he tells us the story, but then he also shares all the thoughts that flit through his mind as those events take place. I didn't think I would like this, but the narrator, Matt Baca, did an amazing job distinguishing between Benji's head voice and his storytelling voice, and it totally worked for me. He did a great job conveying the emotions without making it seem over the top. This is the first audiobook I've listened by Baca and I thought he was perfect for this story. The only thing with the sound was that occasionally you could hear background sounds (including breathing) and sometimes the tone of the recording would change. But those were minor issues for me.
For the story itself, well, I thought it was going to be a romance story about an angel and a human boy, and yes, that was an important part of the story and the connection between Benji and Kal was real. I also thought this was going to be about the mystery of what happened to his father, and once again, that was part of it and I felt the danger and suspense as the villains threatened, killed, and did all the horrible things. But at its core, it was about the relationship between Benji and Big Eddie, even though Eddie died before the book began. Through mostly flashbacks, you end up getting a full picture of the amazing man and father Eddie was, and it was amazing.
This book made me sob, but it also made me laugh, and sometimes it just quietly made me smile. In many ways, this felt to me like Benji was sharing the story of all that happened, and then commenting along the way, sort of how directors might do with a movie that they created. Occasionally the story seemed to lose steam, but never completely, and Klune always brought me back with an emotional moment that made me love the characters even more.
Many of Klune's books are long and this audiobook is almost 19 hours long (although I tend to listen to it at 1.5x speed), but that never ends up mattering to me. As with every one of his books, he makes me feel all the feels for his characters, and that's enough for me. Highly recommended.
Merged review:
4-4.5 stars
Dang, T.J. Klune does it again! The story is structured so that the main character, Benji, is telling the story about a traumatic event in his life and a pivotal moment 5 years later when an angel fell from the sky and changed his life and the town's life forever. The style is such that he tells us the story, but then he also shares all the thoughts that flit through his mind as those events take place. I didn't think I would like this, but the narrator, Matt Baca, did an amazing job distinguishing between Benji's head voice and his storytelling voice, and it totally worked for me. He did a great job conveying the emotions without making it seem over the top. This is the first audiobook I've listened by Baca and I thought he was perfect for this story. The only thing with the sound was that occasionally you could hear background sounds (including breathing) and sometimes the tone of the recording would change. But those were minor issues for me.
For the story itself, well, I thought it was going to be a romance story about an angel and a human boy, and yes, that was an important part of the story and the connection between Benji and Kal was real. I also thought this was going to be about the mystery of what happened to his father, and once again, that was part of it and I felt the danger and suspense as the villains threatened, killed, and did all the horrible things. But at its core, it was about the relationship between Benji and Big Eddie, even though Eddie died before the book began. Through mostly flashbacks, you end up getting a full picture of the amazing man and father Eddie was, and it was amazing.
This book made me sob, but it also made me laugh, and sometimes it just quietly made me smile. In many ways, this felt to me like Benji was sharing the story of all that happened, and then commenting along the way, sort of how directors might do with a movie that they created. Occasionally the story seemed to lose steam, but never completely, and Klune always brought me back with an emotional moment that made me love the characters even more.
Many of Klune's books are long and this audiobook is almost 19 hours long (although I tend to listen to it at 1.5x speed), but that never ends up mattering to me. As with every one of his books, he makes me feel all the feels for his characters, and that's enough for me. Highly recommended....more
Yep, after listening to this, I would have to agree!
I was a bit disappointed that there weren't more animals coming to li"Sometimes dead is better."
Yep, after listening to this, I would have to agree!
I was a bit disappointed that there weren't more animals coming to life, lol! I have spent all these years thinking that this book was about pets coming to life and while one animal does and they talk about other animals in the past, this was not about that. But it was still a darn good tale. I listened to the audio and Michael C. Hall does a fabulous job creating just the right atmosphere throughout. But he has a lot of great material to work with. I still haven't come near to reading the majority of King's books, but this feels like classic King to me. Great characters, setting, atmosphere, and fantastic story telling. He just draws you into the story where you can feel the chill in the air, smell the stench, and absolutely recoil because the cat just doesn't look quite right.
If you've ever thought about reading a Stephen King Horror, but haven't known where to start, this would be a good one to try. ...more
This was a collection of previously published magazine articles by Douglas Preston, so it spans many years in terms of when he wrote them. But I like This was a collection of previously published magazine articles by Douglas Preston, so it spans many years in terms of when he wrote them. But I like that at the end, he would add an epilogue if there was additional information related to the case that has shown up since he first wrote and published the article.
The stories range from archeological stories (my favorites) to true crime (some I liked more than others) to conspiracy stories about mysterious deaths, buried treasure, etc. Besides being a journalist, he was also a writer and editor at the American Museum of Natural history and I loved how he talked about it being the inspiration for Relic and Reliquary. I also liked that he talked about how many funereal remains there are of mostly indigenous people not just at the American Museum of Natural History, but also at museums around the world, and the politics and ethics regarding their study.
Each story had unique elements and while I found some more interesting than others, I still found myself fascinated by some aspect of each one. After listening to this collection, I would love to read his Lost City of the Monkey God.
The narration was done by Will Collyer and I thought he did a solid job drawing you into the story. His voices were not always distinctive, but for the most part it worked. There was one feature of the audio that some might find distracting--the beginning and the end of each story has background music and there were a few times when I had to go back and relisten because the music made it hard for me to understand everything he said. So if I were to make one suggestion--it would be to leave the music out. It doesn't really add anything to the narration and can be a distraction.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Ìý...more
I have not read Slocumb's first novel so I have no idea how this compares, but I found myself hooked fairly early on. The story ta4.5 stars rounded up
I have not read Slocumb's first novel so I have no idea how this compares, but I found myself hooked fairly early on. The story takes place in two timelines, but I like that the author presents the current timeline and allows it to develop a fair bit before introducing the past timeline. He then takes some time to develop the past timeline, which allows us to get to know the characters in both timelines fairly well. Often with duo timelines, one timeline is much more interesting or the timelines jump back and forth so quickly you get confused about what is happening with each timeline and I get characters mixed up, especially if I'm listening to the book. But I had no problems with this one and really loved both timelines and when he switched, I looked forward to finding out another piece of the puzzle.
The book focuses on themes of racism, ownership of ideas, power and control. I thought I was going to hate Delaney, end of story, but as the author revealed everything that happened, I could sort of see how he ended up doing what he did. I still hated him, but not nearly as much as I thought I would. I absolutely loved Josephine and I loved how the author revealed parallels between the past and present and make me excited to find out more in both timelines. I also loved how he created this "master of music" out of thin air and made him seem like a real historical figure, with Josephine being that shadowy figure who was the real story behind the scenes.
I loved this story and will be checking out his past and future works!...more
I've loved just about every book I've read by this author, and this one was no exception. The story is set in the 1950s in a small town in Mi4.5 stars
I've loved just about every book I've read by this author, and this one was no exception. The story is set in the 1950s in a small town in Minnesota, probably in a similar area to the Cork O'Connor books. The story begins with the discovery of the body of a prominent man in town, eaten by the fishes. The Sheriff of the town is a good man who has seen some horrific things in the war, and it's up to him to determine how and why the man died, whether it was accident, suicide, or murder. As the man was troubled man, prone to violence and bouts of melancholy and not at all well-liked, it could have been any of the three.
In this small town in this time period, many of the families were dealing with the aftereffects of the war, and alcoholism, domestic violence, and mental health issues were quite prevalent. Additionally, there was a lot of bad blood between the indigenous people and the white settlers who ousted them, and prejudice and racism was very commonplace, both subtle and blatant, and directed towards the indigenous people, blacks, and Japanese/Asians.
Sheriff Brody Dern, a highly decorated war hero, wrestles with his own demons even while struggling to do the right thing and not jump to any conclusions. However, he needs to balance his trauma with the past, his inner conscience, and what many of the town folk want him to do (jump to conclusions, assume murder, and string up the Native American WWII Veteran and if his Japanese wife gets caught in the crosshairs, so much the better.
As in all of his books, Krueger does a fantastic job created fully-fleshed characters with believable backstories, helping us to understand someone when they lash out. There were several moments where I was moved to tears as I listened to what was being revealed by someone. He manages to use an even hand when it comes to representing the different sides, and I loved it when some of the characters were able to see into the heart of the other, even if they were initially on different sides. For example, Dern himself had PTSD from WWII having to do with some horrific moments of cruelty from the Japanese and during his initial reaction to the Japanese woman you could just see the pain, anger, and desire to lash out at an innocent woman because of what he went through. But I liked that he was able to hold himself back and think on it and then later treat her with compassion and even admiration.
I thought this book was just as good as Tender Land, which up to now, was one of my favorites. I think I just have to say that I will read anything this author writes. The only book by this author that didn't have me raving was the Levee, in large part because it was a short story, so not enough room to fully develop the characters, but also because the narration wasn't nearly as good as in his other books. This narration was done by CJ Wilson and I thought he did a great job.
I enjoyed this listen, although I thought this book would be more about Oscar than about Dr. Dosa. Oscar was "just" an ordinary cat, but in m3.5 stars
I enjoyed this listen, although I thought this book would be more about Oscar than about Dr. Dosa. Oscar was "just" an ordinary cat, but in my opinion, all cats are special for one reason or another. Dr. Dosa would not agree, but then again, he begins the story saying he isn't a cat person, and that Oscar was not a particularly affectionate cat (Oscar passed away last year, 2-22-22). Dr. Dosa is a geriatric doctor who works at Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation in Rhode Island.
This story is more about Dr. Dosa thoughts about end-of-life decisions that people face, but Oscar has been part of his story for years. Whether Oscar actually had the ability to predict death (possibly by detecting chemicals emitted by the body as it starts to near death), the fact is that he was a comfort to many families. There were several places in this book where I was moved to tears and almost every time it was through the words of a loved one describing the end of their family member's life and what Oscar meant to them during that time. This book also made me think about our family's own journey with my father and now, potentially with my FIL. Several times this book made me think of Atul Gawande's Being Mortal, which is a much more extensive and well-written book having to do with end-of-life decisions. If you like this book at all, possibly because the cat drew you in, I urge you to read Being Mortal.
Yet, even though this was not on the level of Being Mortal, I enjoyed listening to the book, and I especially enjoyed learning about Oscar and the way he helped families transition. My family is a cat family and I hope that in the end, we will each be surrounded by cats and our loved ones. Whatever the truth is about Oscar in terms of foreknowledge, etc., the fact is that his presence made the lives of many families better and that makes me smile. If you're looking for a quick story with some sadness as well as some smiles, I can recommend this listen....more
Okay, this series is not bad, and if you're a fan of cultivation, I think this is a pretty solid series. That said, I think I find the whole 3.5 stars
Okay, this series is not bad, and if you're a fan of cultivation, I think this is a pretty solid series. That said, I think I find the whole genre to be interesting, but not riveting. Part of it is the slow pacing of this series. Perhaps that's part of the point, because cultivation is something that practitioners would take a lifetime to achieve. Yes, they end up with increased lifetimes, assuming they don't die along the way. But it's a process that takes dedication, hard work, and a lot of patience. Which means things don't progress quickly, and sometimes move backwards.
I believe that A Thousand Li refers to the Chinese measurement for mile, but it basically means a long distance. This makes sense to me considering how the first three books have gone. Wu-Ling's journey is progressing, but it's not progressing quickly. Along the way, he's making friends/allies, but he's also making enemies or at least learning how to deal with those who may not have his best interests at heart (okay, some of them die). He goes back and forth between listening and not listening to the advice of others, which include his friends as well as some of the elders. You're left wondering what the other person is leaving out.
This one was called the First War, which means that Wu-Ling and his friends end up getting drawn into one of the endless wars between factions. War books are never my favorite, and in this case, I actually wish more time was spent on his Cultivation process, but instead we had to deal with military dudes having only one goal in mind, and anyone getting in their way should be eliminated by any means necessary.
I did not dislike this book, but it also didn't suddenly make me want to read the rest of the books in this series. I may pick it back up in the future, but there are many other series vying for my attention. So we shall see....more
Well, that was a lot of fun! It was definitely a slow start, and I think you need to be a fan of Jane Austen to really love this book. Or at least, yoWell, that was a lot of fun! It was definitely a slow start, and I think you need to be a fan of Jane Austen to really love this book. Or at least, you need to have some knowledge of her books and her characters. I have read many of her books, but not all of them, and I had to look up some of the characters because I didn't know who they were or what their story was. The general idea is that this story takes place maybe 20 years after the events of Pride and Prejudice. Some of the main characters from each (?) of her books congregate at the home of Mr. Knightley and Emma for a house party, some with more reluctance than others. Mr. Wickham crashes the party and is subsequently murdered (I don't think that's a spoiler, ha ha). While they all reel with the notoriety of being in the house where a murder takes place, the two youngest attendees, Juliet Tilney (Northanger Abbey--one of the books I have not yet read) and Jonathan Darcy (the Darcy's oldest son) end up taking matters into their own hands to solve the murder.
While the story started out slowly and I had to take time to figure out who all the characters were, it did hit its stride, and I was left guessing who the murderer was. I did make a few correct guesses about what happened, which is always fun, but I think what I really loved was Jonathan's character and the apparent representation of a child on the spectrum. I loved how Juliet saw him as a person and not as an heir, and that she accepted him for who he was. It was fun to see their interest in each other grow, even within the confines of rigid societal norms. But neither of them were exactly conventional, and I liked that they each saw a kindred spirit in the other.
I also liked how each of the couples were struggling with one thing or another, but throughout the story, more was revealed and their eyes were opened in some way throughout the story, in some cases because an outsider helped them see a little bit more clearly.
Overall, a slow start, but a great finish, definitely more for fans of Austen. I can recommend this one!...more
This was a perfect read for October, dark and disturbing, with six short stories by different authors, four of whom were new to me. All stories featurThis was a perfect read for October, dark and disturbing, with six short stories by different authors, four of whom were new to me. All stories feature a nanny working in unusual situations, only some of whom survive to tell the tale.
The Silver Whistle by Marlena Frank - 3 stars This author was new to me and I had no idea what was going on except that I kept telling Marion, the main character, to get out of there. I was surprised by the ending, but I'm not sure I liked it. It was definitely unsettling, so it achieved that at least.
When You Hear Them Scream by C. Vonzale Lewis - 5 stars I've read two short stories by her before, both in anthologies with Elle Beaumont (Emporium of Superstition and Beyond the Cogs). I don't remember all the details, but I remember really liking both her short stories. This one was no exception. It was one of the longer of the stories in this collection, which I loved, and the author was able to take her time with developing the story and the characters. The story was creative and creepy, and I really loved the ending. The story contained two timelines, and I really liked how the past timeline was used--it really added depth and complexity to the story. After reading this story, I really need to check out her full-length novel series, Blood and Sacrifice (starting with Lineage) as it's apparent I really like her writing!
A Little Blood and a Broken Cage by Jessica Cranberry - 4 stars I've also read one of her stories before, in Emporium of Superstition. Her previous story was one of my favorites, mainly because I really liked the two main characters and the feel of the story was New Orleans. This one was a bit strange, and I didn't connect as strongly with the main character. I think I wanted a little more depth. But it still kept me interested and I kept imagining what was happening behind the scenes. Overall, it was a satisfying read.
That Thing In the House With the Arched Roof by Katya De Becerra - 5 stars Another author from the Emporium of Superstition and another one of my favorites from that collection. Katya has the ability to write a true short story and keep you riveted the entire time and give you a satisfying ending that keeps you unsettled and knowing there may be a next time. This was short, creepy, and man, I was looking down a dark corridor and remembering this story, lol!
You Can Close Your Eyes by Elle Beaumont - 4.5 stars Any collection or story by Elle Beaumont that comes across my notifications for Book Sirens or from her is an automatic request from me. I always enjoy what she writes, and she's how I ended up discovering many of the writers in this collection and in the Emporium of Superstition. Rachel was such a disturbing character, and I couldn't understand how Eva could stand to work with her for more than a day! The ending was surprising but yikes!
A Mother's Love by D. M. Siciliano - 3.5 stars This was a bit of an odd one, involving a doll. Not a fan of dolls, but they do make scary subjects in ghost stories. I don't want to reveal spoilers, but there were two things that Alexandra did when nannying for this girl that had me screaming to her, don't do that! She basically did what all the people do in horror movies that you keep telling them not to do. Despite that stupidity, I still was pretty creeped out by this story. But unlike some of the previous stories, I liked that Alexandra actually talked to her loved ones and shared some of what was going on!
Overall, I'd give this collection 4 stars, and if you like this, I would also recommend that you read the Emporium of Superstition. If you like steampunk, Beyond the Cogs is good, although it only contains 3 stories.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from BookSirens. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Yes, I enjoyed this. At least a little bit. At any rate, it was a quick read. But remember how I mentioned that the science in book 3 was a bit sketchYes, I enjoyed this. At least a little bit. At any rate, it was a quick read. But remember how I mentioned that the science in book 3 was a bit sketchy? The science in this one is downright ridiculous and the bad guys are rather one-dimensional and ridiculous as well. The things they do to torture and manipulate, and abuse Dorothy is so bad it’s almost cartoonish, except it really is awful. The oddity with Dorothy reading the Bible and having her own awakening was rather bizarre. I mean, religion worked in the second book, but here, it was just a bit odd. The ending was also very neat, considering the mess in the first part of the book, and I’m not so sure about what happens with Wyman and Melissa. I mean, I guess that’s okay? But is this supposed to be the last book? And the thing with the president? I mean, yes, it was satisfying, but it was still a bit too perfect in how everything worked out. This includes the plot thread having to do with the boy and his family. I didn’t mind that plot thread, but again too neatly wrapped up.
And yet, despite the mess that this book was, I was still entertained and finished it pretty quickly. So is it worth reading? It’s probably the weakest of the 4 books (this is just my opinion), but I enjoyed parts of it. These four books are standalone plots, so honestly, if you didn’t read this one, you wouldn’t be missing anything, but if you’re like me and want to read all the books in a series, it’s worth the time....more
This was my favorite of the 4 books (I’m a bit late in writing this review). Yes, it’s also one of the most far fetched in terms of the scien4.5 stars
This was my favorite of the 4 books (I’m a bit late in writing this review). Yes, it’s also one of the most far fetched in terms of the science, but that’s okay—I still really enjoyed it. I think it’s partly because I really liked the main character, Abby, and the friendship she had with Jackie, who would be by her side even if she didn’t agree with what she was doing. I liked how Wyman saw there was something amazing about her and really listened to her even as others in her town thought her nuts. While I don’t think her dad really understood her, the love between them was genuine and I really liked that.
The science, as I said, was extremely far-fetched, and the ending was just a bit too neat, but I still liked it, lol. Overall, the story was fast-paced, exciting, and held my interest from start to finish. I think overall I prefer the Pendergast series, but this series is a lot of fun as well....more
I am both a science person and a Christian and I have no trouble reconciling the two, so it frustrates me when one side or the other claims t3.5 stars
I am both a science person and a Christian and I have no trouble reconciling the two, so it frustrates me when one side or the other claims there isn’t room for the other. Unfortunately, I’ve come across more folks who claim to be Christian and then proceed to tell me why their child should be excused from learning about evolution, the Big Bang, etc., because it goes against their beliefs. Sigh. As a science teacher this makes me very sad.
In this book, Douglas Preston takes it to some extremes, and there were many moments when I found myself squirming in my seat because sadly, what he was describing was not unfamiliar to me. But the interesting thing is that he took the other side as well, with scientists claiming that religion was just one of the myriad of ways of understanding how the universe works and science was another, but that there really was no God, just our limited understanding of how the world works.
I don’t want to spend too much time discussing all this as it will end up heading into spoiler territory, but I will say that this book had me thinking a lot, even as I disagreed with several of the characters. Wyman Ford continues to be an interesting character as he tries to play a more objective role—I related to some of his thinking for sure. But also included in this story was the conflict between the North American indigenous people and white men and their many abuses, manipulations, and broken promises. I liked how Preston connected all the stories, and I was left guessing to the very end.
Overall, it was a very solid story, but I suspect this will alienate a large chunk of the population—in that, it is aptly named. I would still recommend it though!...more
I really enjoyed this fourth story in the Hamelin Stoop series, and even though it's been 2.5 years since I read the third story, I was able 4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this fourth story in the Hamelin Stoop series, and even though it's been 2.5 years since I read the third story, I was able to reread the last two chapters in the third book and get back up to speed. The third book left us with somewhat of a cliffhanger, so I was thrilled when I discovered the author was releasing this book.
While Hamelin has matured much over the past several books, he still makes mistakes, and I often have to remind myself just how young he was when this series first started, and how young he still is.
I really enjoyed that this story focused on the relationship between the four sisters, as well as their relationship with their father, Hamelin, and Amy. Initially, the king had a tendency to overlook his daughters in terms of their abilities to assist in the fight against the enemy, and I found that frustrating. But I liked that the give and take between them helped the king realize what he was doing and that he had the chance to change that. I also liked that he treated Hamelin like a son, especially as Hamelin still hasn't managed to find his parents.
The story also gave us some idea of what Brian was up to, but most of the focus was on the princesses and what was going on with them. Still, we learn enough about Brian and his brother to know that they are still not completely in agreement over what to do next, and Brian has to play a balancing act to keep himself alive while still trying to figure out how he's going to get his brother and him out of their situation.
While this story is not overtly religious, it still strikes the "wholesome" cord in me. There is an "Ancient One" who has a master plan in place, but those who serve the Ancient One make choices that have consequences, good or bad. But one is never completely written off, and there is always the chance to make the right choice at any given point. I've really enjoyed this series and I am looking forward to the next book, whenever it is written!...more
I really enjoyed this introduction to Wyman Ford, although he doesn’t show up until later in the book. There was a conversation with the author at theI really enjoyed this introduction to Wyman Ford, although he doesn’t show up until later in the book. There was a conversation with the author at the end of this audiobook and he mentions that the story did not begin as a Wyman Ford story, but his character ended up taking up a life of its own, and the series was born. The story mostly takes place in New Mexico, which I love, since my husband was born and raised in that area of our country. There are several key characters in this story and initially, you have no idea who the “main� characters are—as in who will survive to the end. Well, except Wyman Ford since the series ended up being named after him.
Besides the setting, I really liked getting into the head of the various characters. The point-of-view switches by chapter between the main players (one of the reasons I couldn’t tell who might actually make it to the end), and I liked getting to know Wyman Ford (when he finally showed up) as well as Tom Broadbent and his wife Sally. One of the big villains, Maddox, was one of those villains you love to hate. The guy he worked for? Yeah, I definitely wanted to punch him in the face. I loved how the story weaves together science, secret government agency conspiracies, Indiana Jones type adventure/archeology/paleontology, and science fiction. The science fiction sits on that border between reality and otherworldliness that you can almost believe that something like that exists.
I loved this book and am looking forward to the rest of the books. It’ll keep me occupied while I wait for the next Pendergast book....more
This was a beautiful book and it was my first by the author. It was wonderfully narrated by Ell Potter, who did a good job drawing me into th4.5 stars
This was a beautiful book and it was my first by the author. It was wonderfully narrated by Ell Potter, who did a good job drawing me into the story. It was a slow start for me, as I tried to figure out the duo timelines (which jumps back and forth) and all the characters. However, as I settled into the story, I started connecting very much with Agnes and especially Hamnet and Judith. Although I knew William Shakespeare was her husband and father of the children, he remained unnamed throughout the story, and I think that was so that she could focus on Agnes because this really was much more her story than anyone else's.
I loved that Agnes and her husband were both children of an abusive parent (or stepparent) who also didn't fit in very well in their families. I loved her fascination with nature and her falcon, and I loved that they fell in love because they saw something in the other that let them know they were kindred spirits. I didn't like that he stayed away after the death of Hamnet, but I can sort of understand it. But Agnes was left to pick up the pieces with her remaining children and whatever he was going through, it seems that he could have at least talked to her. But as much as this is a fictional work based on a few scanty facts, I think she wanted to create a story that was within the realm of possibility.
In the end, my sense of the story is one that is both tragic and beautiful. I loved many of the characters, especially Agnes, but I also loved her children and her brother Bartholemew. Incorporating the plague into the story reminded me of just how things were during that time, and I find it interesting that Shakespeare never mentioned the plague in any of his stories (that I know of). Her tracing of the plague from the flea on the monkey to the boy and so on was interesting and while it is entirely fictional, it is also plausible and for me, at least, it added something to the story.
Overall, this story worked for me and I'm glad I decided to pick it up. I am definitely open to suggestions for what I should read next by this author. ...more
I have some mixed feelings about this book. I wanted to love it more than I did, but it could have been I was just not in the right frame of mi3 stars
I have some mixed feelings about this book. I wanted to love it more than I did, but it could have been I was just not in the right frame of mind for it, or because I was expecting something a bit more rooted in hard science and less having to do with social science.
The story is about the colonization of Mars, and they do talk about the coalition of Americans and Russians working together to land the first colony ship, establishing a settlement (Underhill) and sending out colonies on the moon Phobos, as well as the arguments about terraforming and making the planet habitable. I honestly started getting lost with all the arguments as they talked about the pros and cons of terraforming which eventually resulted in Red and Green factions. There were also arguments about connecting with Earth (through a space elevator), and about whether they should have their own government, entirely independent of Earth or if there should be more direct influence between the two planets. Anyone who loves learning about the history of political structures and developing nations would probably love this book. But for me, there were too many characters with their own agendas, some forming uneasy alliances, and I started getting lost about who wanted what and why. Perhaps this is something that I should have read along with the narrator. The narrator, by the way, was excellent, so if someone wants to listen to the audio, I can definitely recommend Richard Ferrone's narration. I just think I could have used a family tree style diagram to keep track of all the individuals at the very least, or maybe just have the book to follow along.
There were certain characters that I started to become invested in, but the author is careful to not make any one player seem more like the main protagonist than any of the others. They are each flawed, but ultimately, you get the feeling, most of them are trying to do the best they can in this new world with some being a little more selfish than others.
In terms of the colonization and science, I mentioned above that I thought this would be more rooted in science or at least that the author would include more of the science. While there were arguments about terraforming, they didn't spend much time about the how so much as whether they should. The space elevator from Earth? I have a hard time picturing such a thing and I wasn't sure how that was supposed to happen. I've always seen Mars as a harsh planet, but I was surprised that there weren't more accidents or other dangers associated with the colonization of Mars. Most of the danger was man-made, which is great for those who love stories about the machinations of humans. This book is very messy, but in a way that reflect real human behavior, so I was impressed at how well he was able to incorporate all of that in this story.
So will I continue with this story? Very likely. Any book I rate 3 and higher in a series tends to get a second look from me. But based on my experience with this book, I will probably download the kindle of book 2 and read along with the narration and see if I have an easier time keeping up with the story and the people. ...more
This was not what I was expecting, but it was definitely fascinating. True crime is not my favorite genre (I prefer fictional mystery), but I was ofteThis was not what I was expecting, but it was definitely fascinating. True crime is not my favorite genre (I prefer fictional mystery), but I was often left openmouthed as I listened to what he went through. While I suspect that many of the exact details might be a bit murky (he did, after all, partake in the various products), it's possible that some of it was even more nuts than what he remembers. He readily admits that this story is told from his own admittedly fuzzy memories as well as from stories told by others to him. But true or not, what I found really interesting was his constant philosophizing about religion, the meaning of life, spiritual practices, etc. This really distinguished it (in my mind) from other true crime stories. For one, this is semi-autobiographical. He shares family stories mostly told to him by his uncle Aloyz, but of course he also shares many of his experiences with smugglers, gangs, conmen, law enforcement, and even politicians. From his stories, it's apparent that good and evil are not black and white, and some of the most dangerous situations he found himself in were with the "good guys". Sadly, this did not surprise me all that much.
He did not have the most stable upbringing, and the fact that it appears he survived all of this craziness to build a strong partnership with his wife to raise their many children in a stable environment (Montana, I believe, and very much one with nature) is a miracle in itself.
The pacing was at times uneven, and I found myself drifting occasionally, but soon, I would get sucked back into his narrative. The audiobook was narrated by Dustin Pete and while I've never heard anything by this narrator, I thought he did a really solid job.
I received a free copy of the audiobook from the author and publisher, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own....more
Like many people around me (and I asked a lot of people in my life), I had never heard of Irena Sendler, though many (but not all) have heard4.5 stars
Like many people around me (and I asked a lot of people in my life), I had never heard of Irena Sendler, though many (but not all) have heard of Oskar Schindler, mainly because of the movie. But what makes this a remarkable story is not just Irena Sendler, but also the three Catholic girls in a rural and impoverished town who discovered her story and turned her into a universal hero, not just in Israel (where she was known and celebrated), but in Poland, where this all occurred. Since history was always my weakest subject growing up, I didn't know anything about National History Day, nor that kids compete all over the country, with the national competition taking place in my own backyard.
Two of my students this summer introduced me to this book, and in their high school, kids participate in National History Day every year as part of their history class. This book introduces them to what the project can be, and how discovering and understanding history can greatly affect your present and your future. I've read some books on the holocaust set in Poland, and while authors did their research, and I was moved by those stories (all historical fiction), this one had me amazed because Irena Sendler was a real person and she was absolutely extraordinary in her ordinariness. What she did certainly makes her a hero in anyone's book, but she never saw herself as such, and merely said that she did what had to be done and her biggest regret is that she only saved just a minute percent of all the babies.
I found the girls' stories to also be compelling, especially that they were attacked and made fun of for being "Jew lovers" (I hate this term, but it's what was used), and yet, with the help of their teacher and other critical people in their lives, they continued to do what they felt they had to do. At times, the tone of the story felt a bit preachy, and it felt like the girls would do or say certain things because it was expected of them. But I also think that was partly due to the community in which they lived.
If you have never heard of Irena Sendler or this project, I don't want to say anything else to spoil the story for you. But suffice it to say that Irena had an incredible impact on these girls' lives, not the least of which was because they were driven to share her story, and eventually create the Irena Sendler Project. I love that one of the girls eventually became a founder of this project and that the work that carries out her legacy continues to this day. A large percentage of the proceeds from this book supports the mission.
I feel that this book should be read and studied in schools everywhere. I'm happy that some of the schools in our area are reading this book. Highly recommended....more
I was really hoping to love this story more than I did, especially because I find Egyptian mythology to be fascinating, and reading the description ofI was really hoping to love this story more than I did, especially because I find Egyptian mythology to be fascinating, and reading the description of The Mummy meets Death of the Nile really made me think I would love this, especially because I enjoyed a previous book by this author. I also reread Death Comes at the End (Agatha Christie), which takes place in Ancient Egypt, so I was all set for a good ride. Sadly, I didn't quite get that with this book. It wasn't all terrible--it was still a decent read. But there were things that just left me feeling meh.
Part of it may have been the audiobook narration. I listened to and read along with the narration, and I think that made it easier. But the narrator's rendition of the main character, Inez Olivera, made her sound like a schoolgirl. I get that she's not that old, but still, she often ended up making me think she was 12, rather than almost 18. But I think it's also because of her actions. On the one hand, she was a strong-willed woman who knew what she wanted and was willing to throw convention into the wind so that she could go after it. From an educational standpoint, she was fairly learned, having been schooled in multiple languages, the general sciences, history, and she read a LOT. But she was also extremely naive and thought that just because she wanted something, it should happen. She also seemed to go from strong and strong-willed woman to weak little girl depending on the situation and that just got aggravating after a while.
A few times the narration was from Whit's point of view and a different narrator was used for him. But this only happened a few times, so although I'm glad they used a different voice, it was still jarring every time they switched to his point of view.
As for the chemistry between them--I just didn't quite feel it. We were told there was chemistry simmering between them, but something just felt off. Maybe because she spent most of the book thinking she couldn't trust him because they were on opposing sides?
And that ending--I was sooooo confused. It took me rereading it 5 times before I realized this must mean there would be a second book. But that ending seemed to come from nowhere, especially because that name only appeared once before (thank goodness for the search feature on ebooks) and even after I searched for it, I couldn't figure out what everything meant. I still am not 100% sure, but I suspect we'll learn more in the next book. If nothing else, I want to read the next book just so I can figure out what's going on.
So part of my rating may be because I was expecting so much more than what was delivered, but overall, I was left somewhat underwhelmed. Do I plan on reading the next one? Yes, probably so. I really do want to know what's going on. But I'm definitely hoping for more.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ...more
I was surprised by how much I liked the first one, so I was thrilled to get a copy of this ARC. I listened to the first one, but read this one on my oI was surprised by how much I liked the first one, so I was thrilled to get a copy of this ARC. I listened to the first one, but read this one on my own, and I think both worked for me! I would eventually love to listen to the audiobook, but I really enjoyed this story, possibly even more than the first. The story picks up where the first one left off and Uzochi suddenly finds himself in charge of the newly awaken children of Nubia as his power as catalyst (among his other powers) is to awaken them and help them make the transition. He and Zuberi also have a burgeoning relationship developing, although neither has put a name to it yet. They also have Zuberi’s best friend to rescue from the Sky and avoid the eye of the St. John’s soldiers. Other new characters show up, and what I loved about this is that although Uzochi might be considered the primary character, the POV fluidly moves among the different main characters, including Zuberi, Lencho, St. John, and his daughter. The story is fast-paced, complex, full of intrigue and history, it tackles racism and socioeconomic status head on, has interesting characters, and a cool storyline, all of which the authors skillfully weave together. I enjoyed taking my time with the story and trying to see if I could figure out what was going on. However, this story is ultimately about family and choices. It could easily be turned into a tv series (not surprising given the authors� careers), although I have no idea if that’s in the works. This book does a good job of wrapping up some of the main plots, but leaves us set up for the next book. I look forward to it!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own....more
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