en-US Tue, 06 May 2025 20:09:41 -0700 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg ReadStatus9396320056 Tue, 06 May 2025 20:09:41 -0700 /review/show/7549384156 Mark is currently reading The Clockwork Dynasty by Daniel H. Wilson
]]> Review7501440117 Tue, 06 May 2025 19:44:14 -0700 /review/show/7501440117 Mark gave 5 stars to Paradise Lost (Audiobook) by John Milton
One of humanity’s greatest literary epics for good reason! A soaring masterwork of poetic beauty and theological depth. I chose to listen to an audiobook performance to enjoy all the verbal nuance that I could, as well as listening to a free online study course offered by Hillsdale College. In that course, Professor Stephen Smith broke down each of Milton’s chapters and helped me better understand the themes and developments before I listened to them in the audiobook. Taking it a few chapters at a time, and carefully thinking through all the lofty language, ideas, and imagery, I feel I was able to fully enjoy and appreciate “Paradise Lost�. Learning about how he composed this epic work while completely blind staggers the imagination, making it even more an utterly unique work of art. An amazing and blessed experience! ]]> UserStatus1048498401 Sat, 19 Apr 2025 11:27:34 -0700 Mark is 25% done with <a href="/book/show/20452324-paradise-lost">Paradise Lost</a>. ]]> ReadStatus9327448606 Sat, 19 Apr 2025 11:25:35 -0700 /review/show/7501440117 Mark is currently reading Paradise Lost by John Milton
]]> Review7456155065 Sat, 12 Apr 2025 12:25:11 -0700 /review/show/7456155065 Mark gave 4 stars to His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire, #1) by Naomi Novik
A delightful mash-up of actual European history and a very well-developed dragon lore. Imagining a dragon air corps duking it out over Napoleon’s battlefields was a ton of fun and look forward to experiencing the ongoing series! ]]> ReadStatus9262018655 Wed, 02 Apr 2025 05:24:48 -0700 /review/show/7456155065 Mark is currently reading His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik
]]> Review7348981524 Mon, 17 Mar 2025 20:01:46 -0700 /review/show/7348981524 Mark gave 2 stars to Waking Gods (Themis Files, #2) by Sylvain Neuvel
Definitely not as interesting as the first book. The story felt rushed and underdeveloped, with major events either feeling rushed or taking place entirely “off stage� from the narrative. The epistolary style of storytelling started in the first book also starts getting cumbersome, especially when the primary interlocutor from the first book is removed. Finally, the solution for staving off the giant robot conquest felt silly and half-assed, and not really deserving of all the build up.

Disappointing. ]]> Review7405686064 Mon, 17 Mar 2025 19:51:53 -0700 /review/show/7405686064 Mark gave 4 stars to Livesuit (The Captive’s War #1.5) by James S.A. Corey
]]> Review7348981524 Sat, 15 Mar 2025 12:15:50 -0700 /review/show/7348981524 Mark gave 2 stars to Waking Gods (Themis Files, #2) by Sylvain Neuvel
Definitely not as interesting as the first book. The story felt rushed and underdeveloped, with major events either feeling rushed or taking place entirely “off stage� from the narrative. The epistolary style of storytelling started in the first book also starts getting cumbersome, especially when the primary interlocutor from the first book is removed. Finally, the solution for staving off the giant robot conquest felt silly and half-assed, and not really deserving of all the build up.

Disappointing. ]]> Review7335613500 Thu, 13 Mar 2025 10:35:08 -0700 /review/show/7335613500 Mark gave 4 stars to The Mercy of Gods (The Captive's War #1) by James S.A. Corey
Like their epic Expanse series, the writing duo takes their time carefully setting the table for a luxurious feast. There are big ideas at work here amongst the vast scope and tragedy of this tale, reminiscent of the historic Holocaust, as an implacable enemy imprisons and subjugates whole cultures under its seemingly invincible power and inscrutable goals.

I’m definitely on board for the next one! ]]>