Derek's Updates en-US Wed, 23 Apr 2025 10:31:19 -0700 60 Derek's Updates 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg GiveawayRequest704471092 Wed, 23 Apr 2025 10:31:19 -0700 <![CDATA[<a href="/user/show/2736824-derek">Derek</a> entered a giveaway]]> /giveaway/show/410282-the-meat-teacher-cookbook-the-ultimate-backyard-bbq-guide-for-an-a-in The Meat Teacher Cookbook by Matt Groark ]]> GiveawayRequest698372911 Sun, 06 Apr 2025 11:47:21 -0700 <![CDATA[<a href="/user/show/2736824-derek">Derek</a> entered a giveaway]]> /giveaway/show/410317-big-dumb-eyes-stories-from-a-simpler-mind Big Dumb Eyes by Nate Bargatze ]]> ReadStatus8649226870 Tue, 19 Nov 2024 05:43:29 -0800 <![CDATA[Derek finished reading 'Pet Sematary']]> /review/show/7017555420 Pet Sematary by Stephen King Derek finished reading Pet Sematary by Stephen King
]]> Review6805522536 Fri, 30 Aug 2024 21:49:49 -0700 <![CDATA[Derek added 'The God Delusion']]> /review/show/6805522536 The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins Derek gave 4 stars to The God Delusion (Hardcover) by Richard Dawkins
]]> ReadStatus7831295864 Wed, 17 Apr 2024 17:51:59 -0700 <![CDATA[Derek is currently reading 'Lost Christianities: Christian Scriptures and the Battles Over Authentication']]> /review/show/6437020849 Lost Christianities by Bart D. Ehrman Derek is currently reading Lost Christianities: Christian Scriptures and the Battles Over Authentication by Bart D. Ehrman
]]> ReadStatus7831293377 Wed, 17 Apr 2024 17:51:12 -0700 <![CDATA[Derek finished reading 'The Year of the Locust']]> /review/show/6330399802 The Year of the Locust by Terry Hayes Derek finished reading The Year of the Locust by Terry Hayes
]]> ReadStatus7682626453 Sat, 09 Mar 2024 13:53:38 -0800 <![CDATA[Derek is currently reading 'The Year of the Locust']]> /review/show/6330399802 The Year of the Locust by Terry Hayes Derek is currently reading The Year of the Locust by Terry Hayes
]]> Review6325727970 Thu, 07 Mar 2024 17:02:42 -0800 <![CDATA[Derek added 'God's Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Question - Why We Suffer']]> /review/show/6325727970 God's Problem by Bart D. Ehrman Derek gave 3 stars to God's Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Question - Why We Suffer (Hardcover) by Bart D. Ehrman
I finally got to the book where Dr. Ehrman gives us his two cents, so to speak. I found this book difficult to read, not because it is not well written or because the topic is not a good one, but because it is tragic. Who knew right? Reading a book on suffering. I had to take a lot of breaks while reading it, some things just hit too close to home. In short, those of us that have left the faith do so for many reasons. One thing or another strikes a particular note in us that we just can't shake and the longer we go the louder the note gets until we just can't ignore it any longer. That note was suffering for Dr. Ehrman. It was what drove him away from faith. While the book makes excellent points and Dr. Ehrman writes with enthusiasm and passion, it was not that note for me. Don't get me wrong, it certainly adds to the pile but ultimately other things convinced me. That said, I think it is an excellent book on the topic and I'm sure has been that note for others. ]]> Review6290800701 Sat, 24 Feb 2024 11:52:25 -0800 <![CDATA[Derek added 'Fool Me Twice']]> /review/show/6290800701 Fool Me Twice by Jeff Lindsay Derek gave 3 stars to Fool Me Twice (Riley Wolfe #2) by Jeff Lindsay
I struggled with this review. It was almost a two star. I read the paperback (approximately 400 pages) and it took about 260 pages for anything significant to happen. The bulk of the book is the main character whining. It got exhausting. There is a section where the main character cuts himself on a piece of plastic then goes on a three page rant about the evils of plastic in our society. I can't imagine Mr. Lindsay is in any need of money following the success of his dexter series but he writes like a man getting paid by the word. So much of the book was unnecessary and overly drawn out. My final issue with the book is due to the stark contrast the author exhibits in his climactic scenes between the first and second book. In the first book in the series, the author went to great pains to make sure the picture was clearly painted and understood by the reader. In this book, the author seemed to phone it in. It almost seemed like he didn't care. Towards the end, it read like a bad 80"s horror movie. I don't know why I am so surprised, the author had the same trend with the dexter series. ]]> Review6283779929 Wed, 21 Feb 2024 18:37:15 -0800 <![CDATA[Derek added 'Jesus, Interrupted: Revealing the Hidden Contradictions in the Bible & Why We Don't Know About Them']]> /review/show/6283779929 Jesus, Interrupted by Bart D. Ehrman Derek gave 4 stars to Jesus, Interrupted: Revealing the Hidden Contradictions in the Bible & Why We Don't Know About Them (Hardcover) by Bart D. Ehrman
This was my second Bart Ehrman and it was better than the first. To be fair, I am far more interested in this topic that I was the last one. I was surprised to learn so much in a short book. It is jam packed full of information. Again, Dr. Ehrman does a delicate and expert job of keeping his own opinion out of the book. This book was easier to read since it dealt more directly with the Bible and less to do with the culture and outside writings of the Bible than the first book. ]]>