Thursday, December 8, 2011
Explosive Eihteen by Janet Evonavich
The newest installment of the Stephanie Plum mysteries by Janet Evanovich is called Explosive Eighteen and as the name suggests it is number 18 in the series. I have read all of the books since Ten Big Ones with some reluctance. At about book number ten I was hoping that the major conflict between the choice of two lovers would be resolved. It still has not but the conflict seems to have escalated in this "Explosive" number eighteen.
I have to admit to being a bit tired of this aspect of the story. I am a person who likes resolution and tidiness. However, that being said, the story line continues to be fun, however untidy, and Stephanie never fails to entertain.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Star Wars- Legacy of the Force
Star Wars: Legacy of the Force by Karen Traviss, Aaron Alliston, and Troy Denning, 2006-2008. Series Comprises: Betrayal, Bloodlines, Tempest, Exile, Sacrifice, Inferno, Fury, Revelation, and Invincible.
If (like me) you have not been following the Expanded Universe of the Star Wars novels, you should prepare for a complicated reentry in this series that offers both gravity and payoffs aplenty to the Star Wars aficionado. In a storyline beginning forty years after the Battle of Yavin (known to the layperson as the first movie), the families of Luke Skywalker and Han and Leia Solo become embroiled in a new galactic conflict, with family and friends on both sides. In the midst of the confusion, Han and Leia’s son Jacen Solo begins treading a disturbingly familiar path towards darkness, while the Jedi Order tries to keep peace and discern the right in a galaxy gone to shades of moral gray.
The aforementioned Expanded Universe is sum of all events published under the Star Wars name, such as the New Jedi Order series. Fortunately, it is not necessary to have read previous novels in order to comprehend this series; the characters are introduced gradually, and with nine novels one would hope the individuals are known to us by the end of the journey. The prose is well delivered, and there is a conscious avoidance of Star Wars arcana which would alienate a newcomer; moreover, there are frequent moments of great human introspection, where a specific character will dive into the current events and take the time to give a very personal interpretation.
But by far the most compelling moments deal with the beloved characters of the movies; Wedge Antilles and Han Solo exchange friendly banter, and Luke Skywalker’s steps carry the weight of having been the epitome of the Jedi for four decades. These characters have changed in the years but still remain recognizable, triggering a nostalgia that touches on the profound. The Star Wars universe has moved on, and become a place that is surprisingly very similar to what we used to know. This series is an excellent read for anyone who still has a little crush on George Lucas’ infamous world, as well as simple a marvelous and epic tale of love, evil, and life.
If (like me) you have not been following the Expanded Universe of the Star Wars novels, you should prepare for a complicated reentry in this series that offers both gravity and payoffs aplenty to the Star Wars aficionado. In a storyline beginning forty years after the Battle of Yavin (known to the layperson as the first movie), the families of Luke Skywalker and Han and Leia Solo become embroiled in a new galactic conflict, with family and friends on both sides. In the midst of the confusion, Han and Leia’s son Jacen Solo begins treading a disturbingly familiar path towards darkness, while the Jedi Order tries to keep peace and discern the right in a galaxy gone to shades of moral gray.
The aforementioned Expanded Universe is sum of all events published under the Star Wars name, such as the New Jedi Order series. Fortunately, it is not necessary to have read previous novels in order to comprehend this series; the characters are introduced gradually, and with nine novels one would hope the individuals are known to us by the end of the journey. The prose is well delivered, and there is a conscious avoidance of Star Wars arcana which would alienate a newcomer; moreover, there are frequent moments of great human introspection, where a specific character will dive into the current events and take the time to give a very personal interpretation.
But by far the most compelling moments deal with the beloved characters of the movies; Wedge Antilles and Han Solo exchange friendly banter, and Luke Skywalker’s steps carry the weight of having been the epitome of the Jedi for four decades. These characters have changed in the years but still remain recognizable, triggering a nostalgia that touches on the profound. The Star Wars universe has moved on, and become a place that is surprisingly very similar to what we used to know. This series is an excellent read for anyone who still has a little crush on George Lucas’ infamous world, as well as simple a marvelous and epic tale of love, evil, and life.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
The Third Jesus by Deepak Chopra, 2008
No, don’t run; it’s okay, I promise. This compelling book, more of a guide then an explicit impetus for circumvention of religion, is based on an observation of Chopra’s: there is a historical Jesus, the actual man; the theological Jesus, the Son of God; and the mystical Jesus, a teacher of wisdom and enlightenment. Chopra eschews the potentially maddening controversy of soteriological debate and focuses solely on the teachings of Jesus as contained in the Gospels, and also to some extent in the most ancient “heretical” Gnostic Gospels. The basis of Chopra’s argument is that Jesus is bigger than Christianity, and so he approaches what little we know of Jesus from the perspective of a person seeking comfort, meaning, and peace. In this, Chopra clearly shows his Indian background, drawing on his familiarity with meditation and wisdom traditions.
For a Westerner who is unfamiliar with religious pluralism, Chopra’s views may be confusing or even frightening, but as with any look at such a controversial subject, a certain ability to let go of judgment is necessary. Instead, taking the book for what it is – an approach to the teachings of Jesus that neither attacks nor affirms Christianity, but rather claims that religion has stopped short of them – results in a close look at the strange familiarity possessed by this homeless rabbi who was executed as a criminal two millennia ago.
No, don’t run; it’s okay, I promise. This compelling book, more of a guide then an explicit impetus for circumvention of religion, is based on an observation of Chopra’s: there is a historical Jesus, the actual man; the theological Jesus, the Son of God; and the mystical Jesus, a teacher of wisdom and enlightenment. Chopra eschews the potentially maddening controversy of soteriological debate and focuses solely on the teachings of Jesus as contained in the Gospels, and also to some extent in the most ancient “heretical” Gnostic Gospels. The basis of Chopra’s argument is that Jesus is bigger than Christianity, and so he approaches what little we know of Jesus from the perspective of a person seeking comfort, meaning, and peace. In this, Chopra clearly shows his Indian background, drawing on his familiarity with meditation and wisdom traditions.
For a Westerner who is unfamiliar with religious pluralism, Chopra’s views may be confusing or even frightening, but as with any look at such a controversial subject, a certain ability to let go of judgment is necessary. Instead, taking the book for what it is – an approach to the teachings of Jesus that neither attacks nor affirms Christianity, but rather claims that religion has stopped short of them – results in a close look at the strange familiarity possessed by this homeless rabbi who was executed as a criminal two millennia ago.
Me of Little Faith by Lewis Black, 2008
Let’s get this out of the way: if you like Lewis Black, you’ll like this book. If you don’t like him, you probably won’t. If you don’t know who he is, your best bet is to invest five minutes into a YouTube search; if after five minutes of his rage you are not amused, this probably is not a book for you. In this chronicle of a faith-journey to nowhere, Black inserts his trademark brand of common-sense and righteous indignation to result in a very smart commentary on his own quest to figure life out in the midst of the mess of American religion. Black’s journey is told in small episodic rants, from his birth to the present day, on topics from his Jewish heritage to psychics to LSD. Though Black’s humor is slightly lessened in this book – likely from a lack of the ability to shout and a serious commitment to what he’s saying – this is made up for by a serious moral: stop killing people over this stuff. Regardless of your perspective on Black’s agnostic anti-conclusion, his conviction that religion is full of human foibles is hard to deny, and it’s harder not to enjoy the results.
Let’s get this out of the way: if you like Lewis Black, you’ll like this book. If you don’t like him, you probably won’t. If you don’t know who he is, your best bet is to invest five minutes into a YouTube search; if after five minutes of his rage you are not amused, this probably is not a book for you. In this chronicle of a faith-journey to nowhere, Black inserts his trademark brand of common-sense and righteous indignation to result in a very smart commentary on his own quest to figure life out in the midst of the mess of American religion. Black’s journey is told in small episodic rants, from his birth to the present day, on topics from his Jewish heritage to psychics to LSD. Though Black’s humor is slightly lessened in this book – likely from a lack of the ability to shout and a serious commitment to what he’s saying – this is made up for by a serious moral: stop killing people over this stuff. Regardless of your perspective on Black’s agnostic anti-conclusion, his conviction that religion is full of human foibles is hard to deny, and it’s harder not to enjoy the results.
On the Wealth of Nations by P. J. O’Rourke, 2007
Adam Smith published a classic book on the fundamentals of economics in 1776, a nine-hundred-plus page monster (including the sixty-plus page Digression concerning the Variations in the Value of Silver during the Course of the last Four Centuries) that, like many such books, is much-praised and little-read. On a quest to bring Smith’s genius theory of economics into the modern purview, O’Rourke dispenses a whirlwind of irreverent interpretation which amuses and informs. Whether you’re curious about the fundamentals of capitalism or you want to understand why Angelina Jolie makes so much money, this is a book to feed your inner sarcastic intellect.
Adam Smith published a classic book on the fundamentals of economics in 1776, a nine-hundred-plus page monster (including the sixty-plus page Digression concerning the Variations in the Value of Silver during the Course of the last Four Centuries) that, like many such books, is much-praised and little-read. On a quest to bring Smith’s genius theory of economics into the modern purview, O’Rourke dispenses a whirlwind of irreverent interpretation which amuses and informs. Whether you’re curious about the fundamentals of capitalism or you want to understand why Angelina Jolie makes so much money, this is a book to feed your inner sarcastic intellect.
Non-Fiction Reviews by Gary Woodruff
The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama, 2006
If, like me, you’re having a hard time figuring out exactly who Barack Obama is, then this is an excellent place to get some idea of the man and the mission. In a common-sense tone, Obama presents a book that is part vision, part history, and part biography. Taking care to examine the last century of American history and the context in which we find our society, he shows a clear picture of where he’s been and why he is in politics. Regardless of your political faction, it’s hard not to see Obama’s points: that it is the responsibility of the government to care for the neglected, and the responsibility of the people to ensure that the government does its job. For contemplation of history, introduction to an important political figure, or just to think on the state of the Union, this is an excellent and important read for an election year.
If, like me, you’re having a hard time figuring out exactly who Barack Obama is, then this is an excellent place to get some idea of the man and the mission. In a common-sense tone, Obama presents a book that is part vision, part history, and part biography. Taking care to examine the last century of American history and the context in which we find our society, he shows a clear picture of where he’s been and why he is in politics. Regardless of your political faction, it’s hard not to see Obama’s points: that it is the responsibility of the government to care for the neglected, and the responsibility of the people to ensure that the government does its job. For contemplation of history, introduction to an important political figure, or just to think on the state of the Union, this is an excellent and important read for an election year.
Monday, April 28, 2008
John Adams
A great read or listen, David McCullough’s biography on the life of John Adams truly brings history to life. I hate to use this cliché, but McCullough’s speech is very picturesque. McCullough describes a man who, more than any other person of his time, believed in the cause of freedom, for both the Colonies and the slaves, and in prosperity through education.
The conversational letters McCullough shares between Adams and wife Abigail, and Adams and Thomas Jefferson give a true glimpse into Adams personality and beliefs. And he does not hesitate to share both the positives and negatives about the man.
When the book was done, I felt as if I had had a conversation with one of the greatest men in this country’s history, and that I truly knew him. Now, I only wish more people would give him the honor he rightly deserves.
The conversational letters McCullough shares between Adams and wife Abigail, and Adams and Thomas Jefferson give a true glimpse into Adams personality and beliefs. And he does not hesitate to share both the positives and negatives about the man.
When the book was done, I felt as if I had had a conversation with one of the greatest men in this country’s history, and that I truly knew him. Now, I only wish more people would give him the honor he rightly deserves.
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