en-US Mon, 21 Apr 2025 08:52:19 -0700 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Review6966516465 Mon, 21 Apr 2025 08:52:19 -0700 /review/show/6966516465 Jeff gave 4 stars to Star Trek Movie Memories (Audible Audio) by William Shatner
bookshelves: audio-collection, read-in-2025
]]> Review74432033 Mon, 21 Apr 2025 08:51:58 -0700 /review/show/74432033 Jeff gave 5 stars to The Door Into Summer (MP3 CD) by Robert A. Heinlein
bookshelves: read-in-2009, audio-collection, read-in-2012, read-in-2001, read-in-2003, read-in-2014, read-in-2017, read-with-kids, read-in-2019, read-in-2020, read-in-2021, read-in-2025
I particularly enjoyed this on my most recent reread. It is hard to write a time-travel story that doesn't rankle, but Heinlein managed it several times for me. ]]> ReadStatus1834151815 Mon, 21 Apr 2025 08:51:27 -0700 /review/show/74432033 Jeff finished reading The Door Into Summer by Robert A. Heinlein
]]> Review74432392 Mon, 21 Apr 2025 08:51:01 -0700 /review/show/74432392 Jeff gave 5 stars to The Moon is a Harsh Mistress (Audio CD) by Robert A. Heinlein
bookshelves: read-in-2009, audio-collection, read-in-2008, read-in-2007, read-in-2006, read-in-2004, read-in-2011, read-in-2012, read-in-2013, read-in-2014, read-in-2017, read-with-kids, read-in-2018, read-in-2020, read-in-2021, read-in-2022, read-in-2025
Moon is one of my favorite of Heinlein's novels. It is a near-future story where the moon has become a penal colony. Harsh survival conditions grow an admirable culture and the story surrounds a revolution for freedom and independence from the jailors.

Unlike some of Heinlein's novels, the plot is solid from beginning to end. Characters are amazing as always with Heinlein. The libertarian backdrop and plausibility of both the culture with which we start and the actions taken in revolution are satisfying. For adults approaching Heinlein, this is an excellent start.

As of my 2012 reading, my seventh, this is a still a favorite. The end still makes me cry and the novel still makes me happy throughout. This was a perfect addition to my current "literary comfort food" binge.

In 2013, I tried this one with the kids, and it was a bit much. I mostly ended up skipping ahead and revisiting it on my own. ]]> Review7506523010 Mon, 21 Apr 2025 08:48:35 -0700 /review/show/7506523010 Jeff gave 2 stars to Successful Operation (Paperback) by Robert A. Heinlein
bookshelves: audio-collection, read-in-2025
I've read before, for sure, and I would have entered it here. It probably got the "not a book" treatment being a specific Heinlein story. Anyway... it is a nice addition to the Heinlein corpus for other completists. Not one of the stronger ones.
]]> Review7412086542 Mon, 17 Mar 2025 16:03:19 -0700 /review/show/7412086542 Jeff gave 3 stars to The Case Against Education: Why the Education System Is a Waste of Time and Money (Audible Audio) by Bryan Caplan
bookshelves: abandoned, audio-collection
I had mixed reactions to the beginning of this book, and plan to revisit it. ]]> Review7412082661 Mon, 17 Mar 2025 16:01:14 -0700 /review/show/7412082661 Jeff gave 5 stars to Effective Egoism: An Individualist's Guide to Pride, Purpose, and the Pursuit of Happiness (Kindle Edition) by Don Watkins
bookshelves: audio-collection, read-in-2025, books-recommended-to-everyone
]]> Review7412077379 Mon, 17 Mar 2025 15:59:19 -0700 /review/show/7412077379 Jeff gave 1 star to Cadillac Beach (Serge Storms, #6) by Tim Dorsey
bookshelves: audio-collection, abandoned, read-in-2025
Another dud. :-( I know these get good soon!
]]> Review89885609 Mon, 17 Mar 2025 15:58:19 -0700 /review/show/89885609 Jeff gave 5 stars to Time Enough for Love: Library Edition (MP3 CD) by Robert A. Heinlein
bookshelves: audio-collection, read-in-2008, read-in-2007, read-in-2005, read-in-2004, read-in-2001, read-in-1999, read-in-2010, read-in-2012, read-in-2013, read-in-2015, read-with-kids, read-in-2017, read-in-2019, read-in-2020, read-in-2021, read-in-2024, read-with-lisa, read-in-2025, currently-reading
Heinlein's rambling stories collected under auspices of memoirs of Lazarus Long remains one of my favorite bits of literary comfort food. Except for once, all "readings" were listenings to the narration by Lloyd James who does an amazing job personifying these characters. He adds tremendously to the book.

In 2015, I tried this with the kids. It took a very long time in small bites, and their reaction was luke warm, but overall, not a bad experiment. ]]> Review2498463050 Tue, 25 Feb 2025 09:04:29 -0800 /review/show/2498463050 Jeff gave 3 stars to The Beekeeper's Apprentice, or On the Segregation of the Queen (Mary Russell, #1) by Laurie R. King
bookshelves: audio-collection, read-in-2018, read-in-2025
This is the only adaptation of Holmes that was set with the original character in period that actually captured the flavor of the character. For the first couple of chapters, I imagined a new favorite series. Sadly, the weakness in the original series is rather weak mystery plots. It is nearly completely a character- and dialog-driven experience, but those elements are so good as to make them among my favorites.

Sadly, the thin plot is another factor that this story captured. This was more than a good enough start to have me continue the series, but I wish this was more of a John Grisham plot, with such brilliant capture of the character.

2025: I made it through all the way this time, and am actually going to try the next item in the series. I think the character of Mary has some potential. It'll be interesting to see how this continues after the first book.
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