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Hammered by Elizabeth Bear

Science Fiction; Reviewed May 2, 2008.

I first heard of Elizabeth Bear in my online writing workshop, of which she was also a member. This was her first published work and it is very impressive. The first several pages were difficult to read because her syntax is unusual, but once I got into the rhythm of her writing, I could not put the book down. It's refreshing to read about heros who are in their 50's instead of in their 20's, too. The story takes place half in Hartford and half in Toronto, in the near future when society has tinkered pretty successfully with nano-drugs and artificial limbs, and the main character's name is Jenny (great name), a lady who is almost a techno-bionic woman and a war hero. I'm not sure of where the story is going because the novel ended at the beginning of the plot, pretty much, which ensures I will be reading the 2nd book of the trilogy, SCARDOWN.


Rule #1 by Phil Town

Finance; Reviewed February 29, 2008.

The more education I receive about finances in general, the more alluring the stock market becomes. Phil Town went from part-time vagrant to full-time millionaire by investing wisely in the stock market, and he imparts his wisdom to the masses via this book. It gets a little technical, but with a few re-readings, should not be beyond any average person's ability to understand and emulate.

Aside from the obstacle of understanding the stock market, I think the biggest reason most folks do not participate in trading stocks is the fear of losing money. Phil Town's book reiterates Rule #1, which is "don't lose money", and he shows the reader how to weave a very strong and extensive net around any investment undertaking that will handily prevent loss of revenue.

The most important lesson of the book is that amassing a significant amount of money will take a significant amount of time (it all depends on how much money you start with, of course). Just set your mind on the next 20-30 years. It would be nearly impossible to make a windfall within 5 years, unless you invested in stocks that were predisposed to breaking Rule #1, and then you stand a better chance of losing than of winning.

I recommend this book to everybody. You don't need too much additional funding to get started: I think how much money you need will depend on which online trading company you decide to use. But if the guidelines set forth in this book can be trusted, then you can amass enough capital to retire on comfortably, regardless of your current employment benefits (or lack thereof).

Blink by Malcolm Gladwell

Business; Reviewed February 15, 2008

I have my best friend from childhood to thank for this book, which was a Christmas gift. You've probably seen the book in stores: it's small and thin, unimposing, easy to flip open and start reading. I was engaged from paragraph one. I've always been interested in body language, in understanding how our subconcious reads the world and gives us away against our will, and this book is case study after case study in that very area. It is packed with information, and will require a second reading. I'm still not sure of the basic premise, except that it has something to do with First Impressions...

Dune by Frank Herbert

Science Fiction; Reviewed January 27, 2008

Every few years I return to this masterpiece, and I guess 2008 is the Year of the Worm for me, because I just can't get it out of my head. I recently subscribed to Easton Press' Masterpieces of Science Fiction, and when DUNE came, I almost fell over with excitement, it was so big and beautiful!


My love for DUNE remains steadfast because it heralded a series of "firsts" for me. I was 14 years old, in Jacksonville, Florida, and roaming the streets of my neighborhood alone one Saturday morning, when I happened upon a yard sale. Some old guy was selling a box of paperbacks. At the time, I simply bought the whole box for some reason (I guess I had a little money somehow), which was the FIRST time I ever bought myself a book.


Sometime after that, whilst watching TV, I saw a preview for the movie DUNE, and thought the main character (Kyle MacLachlan) was the most beautiful man I had ever seen (though I have since learned the error of my ways). I begged mom to take me to that movie, and she did the next best thing: she dropped me off at the theatre. That was the FIRST time I ever went to a movie alone. Well, I had no idea what was going on. This was the strangest, most confusing movie of my life (so far), but I recalled that the novel was in my possession. As soon as I got home that afternoon, I began to read the book, thus marking the FIRST time I ever read an adult book. I have to admit that the book didn't make much sense to me either, but the masterful prose stirred my spirit, inspiring me on some subconscious level in a permanent way.


Reading the novel hoy en dia is an exhilarating experience. Not only is the prose still masterful, but Herbert's powers of articulation surpass any other novel I've come across, with the possible except of Thomas Mann's THE MAGIC MOUNTAIN. The way Herbert plays with Time surpasses my powers of comprehension, yet I remain riveted, I can't look away. And the movie I now understand, having literally memorized it over the years. They say a picture is worth a thousand words but I disagree. There's no way a 3-hour movie, containing tens of thousands of stills (there's your "picture"), can ever come close to the novel. Why? Because you can't capture a lot of intangibles with a visual medium. Our physical eyes see the concrete only, whereas only our mind's eye can see abstraction. And Time is invisible. You know, it's almost invisible to the mind as well. We need constant physical reminders of the passage of time: clocks, hourglasses (yes, I have one--don't you??), the sun moving overhead, our faces wrinkling, etc.


Without all these reminders of time, would there even *be* any time?
Selah.


Interestingly enough, this is the only book by Herbert that I own. I have never been able to get into any of his other books, not even the sequels to DUNE that HE penned (you know his son has been writing DUNE prequels for several years now, but they aren't masterful, trust me). I have found that to be the case many times: the first of the series is really the classic. It's that way with the Matrix--the two sequels are unbelievably bad and should never have been made. Of course, there are exceptions, like George RR Martin's "The Song of Ice and Fire" series, and Stephen Lawhead's "Pendragon Cycle"...

Conamara Blues by John O'Donohue

Poetry; Reviewed January 7, 2008

This is a book of poetry by the recently deceased Irish poet and mystic, John O'Donohue. The very first poem took my breath away. I post it here for you:

THOUGHT-WORK
In memory of Joe Pilkington

Off course from the frail music sought by words
And the path that always claims the journey,
In the pursuit of a more oblique rhythm,
Creating mostly its own geography,
The mind is an old crow
Who knows only to gather dead twigs,
Then take them back to the vacancy
Between the branches of the parent tree
And entwine them around the emptiness
With silence and unfailing patience
Until what was fallen, withered and lost
Is now set to fill with dreams as a nest.

They Have a Word For It by Howard Rheingold

Linguistics; Reviewed January 7, 2008

I bought this on Amazon, it came in the mail yesterday, and I read the introduction. Get this: "...language is not just a neutral vessel for conveying thoughts but is an invisible mold that actually shapes the way people think and percieve" (p.6) Correct me if I'm wrong, but is this not what my November 15th, 2007 post attempted to articulate?? Maybe there are subtleties of meaning that separate us, but it is surely along the same vein.


Now, why did I buy this book? Well, in reading DUNE, I came across this entry: "The Fremen were supreme in that quality the ancients called 'spannungsbogen'--which is the self-imposed delay between desire for a thing and the act of reaching out to grasp that thing." I wanted to see if 'spannungsbogen' was a real word, so I googled it, and stumbled onto an internet board discussing various words from other languages that have no one-word equivalent in English. [For the record, I believe the English equivalent of 'spannungsbogen' is 'delayed gratification', but that's just me.] I found the discussion interesting, and someone referenced this here book as being a lexicon of untranslatable words and phrases, so I bought it. I did not know about the linguistic discussion that prefaced the lexicon.


This I find very interesting: my mind is consciously following a thought-path while my subconsious reaches its feelers out into the ether for the sole purpose of furthering the journey. I don't know where we are going, but I like it. I've always had an interest in linguistics, and the quote above is describing a linguistic theory known as the Whorfian Hypothesis. Stay with me, this gets better...


Who was this guy Whorf, anyway? (No, we are not talking Star Trek here)...Page 7: "I discovered that Whorf did not start out as an investigator of language, but as an investigator of the cause of fires! Working for an insurance company before he undertook his extensive study of American Indian languages, Whorf discovered that the way people misunderstood certain words was the cause of many fires. The chief culprit was the word empty: People would exercise caution near barrels that were full of flammable liquid but all too often did not hesitate to toss matches into 'empty' gasoline drums (which were filled with flammable fumes)."


Okay, if you are wondering why I quoted all that, remember that I, too, work for an insurance company. So, is this a sign? Am I being led to leave my day job and tackle something wonderful in the magical world of linguistics? I dunno about that. But I am going to do additional research on this guy Whorf, believe you me!

Saint by Mark Bailey

Fiction; Reviewed January 13, 2008

A well-written book, so far as the mechanics of writing go, but poorly constructed thematic elements. The premise is basically that Saint Peter comes back to life in the 21st Century and offers his views on the modern ways of the world. Evidently, at least according to this author, the historical Saint Peter never read the Bible, but instead feasted on New Age humanism for spiritual "growth". Crazy.

Ecclesiastes

The Bible; Reviewed February 26, 2006.

If you'd like to have a sobering thought, read this book. It was written by King Solomon, arguably the wisest man who ever lived aside from Jesus. Solomon details his journey in search of the meaning of life in this comprehensive little book. Perhaps you are searching too. If so, you might actually enjoy shadowing Solomon as he sinks his sorrows in strong drink, then works his fingers to the bone, then gives himself over to every sensual pleasure, then denies himself the basic comforts of life, then buries himself in books and learning, AND MORE! all in a futile attempt to discover man's purpose on this earth. Does he find that purpose? Well, yes and no. It's up to each reader to decide.

Foundations of Risk Management and Insurance: CPCU 510

Finance; Reviewed February 25, 2006

If you are interested in learning about insurance--what is it? where did it come from? why is it necessary?--then this is the book for you. If you are like me, you might have a difficult time understanding your homeowners policy and determining what is covered, what is excluded, and why on both accounts. If so, read this book.

First & Second Chronicles

The Bible; Reviewed January 30, 2006

These are the last two of six consecutive books in the Old Testament that chronicle the rise and fall of hundreds of years of kings in Israel. Some of the kings did right in the sight of God, but sad to say, most did not. Maybe it's a testament to how absolute power corrupts absolutely.

In 2nd Chronicles can be found a very famous verse, in which GOD says, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (ch 7, vs 14).

Also in 2nd Chronicles we find the story of the Queen of Sheba, who, hearing of the wisdom and wealth of King Solomon, traveled long and hard to see him for herself. After she spoke with him at length, and saw his riches with her own eyes, she said, "It was a true report which I heard in mine own land of thine acts, and of thy wisdom: howbeit I believed not their words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me: for thou exceedeth the fame that I heard. Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and hear thy wisdom. Blessed be the LORD thy GOD, which delighted in thee to set thee on his throne, to be king for the LORD thy GOD: because thy GOD loved Israel" (ch 9, vss 5-8).

The Legal Environment of Risk Management and Insurance: CPCU 530

Finance; Reviewed December 31, 2005.

The Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) program from AICPCU.org is an 8-course college-level program designed to provide employees in various insurance fields a broader and deeper knowledge of the industry. This course covers the basics of American law, from crimes and torts to contracts and employment law. It was a meaty read, but one that organized the scattered bits and pieces of my understanding of these things into one cohesive and comprehensive compartment of my brain. I would encourage anyone who works in any area of insurance to read this book and take the exam.

Talking from 9 to 5 by Deborah Tannen, Ph.D.

Linguistics; Reviewed November 30, 2005.

This book explores the way that women behave in the workplace versus the way men behave. Since the business world was created by men, it stands to reason that typical "male" behavior is more valued and rewarded than typical "female" behavior. Although women have since joined the workforce en masse, they still haven't penetrated the upper levels of the corporate world en masse, and this book explores why.

Basically, Tannen suggests that conversational patterns between women serve to keep each participant on an equal footing with the others, whereas conversational patterns between men tend to consist of each participant "one-upping" the others in an everlasting attempt to establish a pecking order. The most obvious examples are the "p's and q's"--women tend to pepper almost every interaction with "please", "thank you", and "I'm sorry", whereas most men rarely if ever use those phrases in normal conversation.

However, the purpose of the book is not merely to point out these differences, but to show why these differences tend to work against women when it comes to upper level promotions. Dr. Tannen provides scores of case studies and interesting insights into different major corporations to prove her point. I found this to be an enlightening and instructive book, one that I will keep in my library as a valuable reference, and I encourage men and women alike to give it a chance.

Seeds of Time by Kay Kenyon

Science Fiction; Reviewed October 30, 2005.

It is rare to find a female science fiction writer, and even rarer to find a good female science fiction writer. But my search has ended with Kay Kenyon. I can't believe this is her first published novel, because it contains none of that awkward "feeling your way" plot set-ups that normally accompany first books. No, this lady writes professionally from the beginning.

SUMMARY: Clio Finn is a beautiful, independent woman who happens to be the best Dive pilot around. Because the Earth is quickly dying, she takes a spacecraft through Dive to different spots in the universe at different ages, trying to find a planet that is enough like Earth that its harvested seeds and plantlife will survive on Earth and regreen it. But the story is not all about Diving. It's more about Clio Finn, her hardships, her love life, her hopes and dreams. Don't let that last sentence fool you, though; this novel is not a sappy romance that just happens to be set in a technologically advanced future. In fact, you'll swear that the author is a man. Women just don't write science this well!

Of Tangible Ghosts by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.

Science Fiction; Reviewed September 30, 2005.

Another success by one of my favorite authors! This is the second novel I have read by Modesitt, and it is far more maturely written. The story is set against the backdrop of an alternate history, which is not a genre I'm usually attracted to because I do not have any depth of knowledge about history in general. But the story did not revolve around key issues in this alternate history that would require an understanding of true history, so it was easy to skim over with little detrimental effect on the story as a whole.

Summary: Dr. Eschbach, former government employee, works at a small university and tries to live his life as low-key as possible. He pursues Lady DuBoise, the music teacher, and struggles to teach his dull students about environmental politics, but his past keeps coming back to haunt him. In addition, this Earth in which he lives contains many visible ghosts who float around reliving the circumstances of their deaths, and it is one such ghost in particular, Carolynne, that captures Dr. Eschbach's attention and motivates him to study ghosts more intensely.

The writing is flawless and utterly convincing, as is the plot and setting. But what I like best about the novel is the way the author includes tiny details here and there that do not directly affect the action, but which sound a note of truth. Indeed, it is in reality a part of our mental make-up to notice details that seem irrelevant to others and that lead nowhere, yet that are somehow the result of a mass of our interconnected thoughts and feelings and are therefore vital pieces of who we are. Modesitt captures this phenomena superbly.

The Sensitives by Herbert Burkholz

Fiction; Reviewed September 20, 2005.

This is an "electrifying psychic superthriller", according to the book cover, which was what caught my eye and ultimately led me to purchase the novel. I've never heard of the author, but he turned out to write fairly well. I would give the book 3 out of 5 stars--it was entertaining, mildly riveting, and satisfying enough at the end.

Summary: Ben Slade is one of 5 mindreaders working for the CIA. He is effectively a prisoner of the government, because if he doesn't obey his insttructions, he will be eliminated. He falls in love with a mindreader who's working for the Russian government, and the two of them plot to escape their respective jailors and live together in freedom. Their plan works. For several years they live happily together in a small town in Europe, until their betters ultimately find them--that's when the chase begins again.

The story was well-conceived and thoroughly looped up, but still I felt there was something missing, some sense of emotional depth that didn't quite come across as strongly as it ought to have.

Manifold Origin by Stephen Baxter

Science Fiction; Reviewed August 31, 2005.

This is the third book in a trilogy of Manifold novels that I mistakenly read first. The writing is thoughtful and deliberate, sometimes full of tension, riddled with mysteries and occasional humor.

However, this is not usually the kind of novel I enjoy, because its main thrust is to explore the origin of species. Thus, it is full of living hominids of various intelligence, based on the theory of evolution. It must be said that Baxter is very imaginative, for in addition to coming up with all manner of "historical" reconstructions, he also envisioned the more brilliant descendents of homo sapiens as gorilla-type beings whose knuckles drag the ground and whose ears swivel around their heads. Bizarre.

To summarize [SPOILER]: Emma Stoney gets sucked into a portal in the sky while flying in a jet across modern-day Africa. She is deposited on what is called "the Red Moon" (as seen from earth), a planet very like earth on which multiple species of humans live in tight little clusters. Much of the first half of the novel describes her struggle to survive. Meanwhile, her husband back on Earth, Malenfant, succeeds in getting NASA to build a rocket in which he will fly to the Red Moon and rescue his wife, and another chunk of the novel revolves around his efforts, first to fly there, and then once he gets there, to survive himself. Finally, they find each other, just in time for Malenfant to die. Emma then goes on a quest to discover why this Red Moon barged in on Earth, why the Red Moon has so many different species of humans living on it, why the Red Moon appears to be portal-jumping to different planets every few months, etc. She finds the answer, and let me assure you that it was a disappointing one. I didn't feel satisfied with the conclusion at all. How about you?

The First Book of the Kings

The Bible: Old Testament; Reviewed August 27, 2005.

This book of the Old Testament chronicles the death of King David and the reign of his son, King Solomon, who reigned over Israel for 40 years. King Solomon was called the wisest man who ever lived, and also the richest man who ever lived. It was to visit him that the Queen of Sheba travelled to Israel, and when she had finished interviewing him, looking through his palaces, and watching how he interacted with the people, she said, "It is a true report that I heard in my own land about your deeds and your wisdom. But I didn't believe it until I came and saw it with my own eyes, and behold, the half was not told to me. Your wisdom and riches exceed the fame which I had heard. Your men are happy and your servants are happy to stand in your presence daily and hear your great wisdom. Blessed be the Lord your God, who delighted in you, to set you on the throne of Israel. It is because the Lord loved Israel so much that he made you its king, to do judgment and justice."

Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem, which you might have heard about, with walls and floors of gold and precious stones. He also wrote "The Proverbs", which is the 20th book in the Old Testament (and happens to have 31 chapters, making it easy to read a chapter a day). But Solomon did have one fault--he loved too many women. He had 700 wives and 300 concubines who eventually turned his heart away from God in his old age. They were foreign women and they wanted him to build altars to their strange gods. He did so, because he loved them, and as a result, God told him that his seed would not rule all of Israel anymore.

Instead, God divided Israel into two kingdoms, and set Solomon's son as king over the smaller one. So, when Solomon died, Israel became two kingdoms: Judah and Israel. And the rest of "First Kings" chronicles the next several kings who ruled over Judah and those who ruled over Israel.

Mindkiller by Spider Robinson

Fiction; Reviewed August 16, 2005.

What a great novel! This is my first Spider Robinson novel, but it definitely will not be my last. His writing is beautiful, complex, thought-provoking, and hilarious. It is rare that a book with a serious theme can make me actually laugh out loud, but Spider's did it multiple times.

The plot is convoluted, so I won't go into it much, but the distortion works marvelously to step up the tension and suspense. When I was halfway through the book, I told my husband that I still wasn't sure what it was about. He said, "Why are you still reading it then?" and I smiled and said, "I can't stop!" The character development is outstanding. The setting is just right. There are no loose ends.

Unfortunately, the author seems obsessed with drug use and sex, so several scenes I found rather repulsive. However, the quality of the descriptive narrative amazed me, so I will share a few lines that I simply loved:
1. "He wore his hair moderately long; the wind had whipped it into a fantastic scultpure and kept revising the design."
2. "For the first few nights he bounced around his apartment like a Ping-Pong ball in a blender, a workaholic evading savage withdrawal."
3. "The air was inexpressibly clear and good, the smell of woods had all the subtle nuances of flavor of a truly great dessert, the earth was springy beneath his feet."
4. "Oh, my mind scrabbled around in my skull like a trapped rat."

Five Patients by Michael Crichton

Nonfiction; Reviewed August 8, 2005.

This is a nonfiction book that Michael Crichton wrote in 1970 that chronicles the rise of the "modern" American hospital by recounting the experiences of five different patients at the Massachusetts General Hospital. As you may know, Crichton finished medical school back then, before he began his career as a novelist, and so was privy to a lot of insider information in the field of health care.

Although the book is 35 years old, it is still fascinating, and much of the information has not changed significantly, based on what I've seen of the hit television series by Michael Crichton: ER. However, not being too much interested in medicine myself, and having a history of hating hospitals, much of the discussion was over my head, but not by far, because Crichton is truly gifted at breaking down complex ideas or procedures into bitesize pieces of information that any layman can digest.

Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula by Loren D. Estleman

Mystery; Reviewed July 31, 2005.

Estleman wrote this book before he wrote _Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Holmes_. In fact, this first novel was a better seller than the latter, though it is the inferior of the two. If I had read this book first, I doubt I would have continued on to read another, for this one was superficial and unbelievable, as well as having the kind of plot that attempts to use innumerable twists and turns to mask the fact that nothing truly is happening.

I suppose that Dracula fans will have to read this simply because it is published, though I fear that no new or unique glimpses into the count's character, pain or motivations grace these pages. In fact, he is presented as a rather two-dimensional boring character, when the world knows he is far more complex.

On the other hand, Sherlock Holmes is here depicted as possessing less brilliance than normal while Dr. Watson seems to have vastly and inexplicably improved his sleuthing skills. Being something of a purist, I found this viewpoint unsettling and disappointing. In addition, the author persisted in explaining Holmes' conclusions when they appeared extraordinary, but the explanations themselves were bizarre and trite and lessened the respect Holmes deserves for his analytical prowess. All in all, a less than satisfying read.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Holmes by Loren D. Estleman

Mystery; Reviewed June 30, 2005.

Being a fan of anything Sherlockian, I jumped at the chance to read another mystery with the esteemed detective as the main character. Though there are a few books out by Laurie R. King with Holmes centrally involved, I haven't taken to them because the setting was not 19th century London, which is where I always feel that Holmes belongs (though one day I swear I am going to write a story called "Sherlock in Space").

This novel combines the authentic setting and style of the original Holmes with another very famous character of the same century: Dr. Jekyll. I felt that this Holmes' behavior and dialogue ran consistent with the original, and that the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was fleshed out a bit with this version of the events. I only wish I had not previously known about Dr. Jekyll's power to become Mr. Hyde with a chemical, because that would have made the mystery aspect of the novel quite appealing.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book anyway, and have begun reading a similar book by the same author called "Sherlock Holmes Vs. Dracula." Look for my review of that book in July 2005.

The Second Book of Samuel

The Bible: Old Testament; Reviewed June 20, 2005.

This book chronicles the reign of King David from the death of Saul, his predecessor, to the death of Absalom, his son. In this narrative, we see the unconventional ways that David responded to negative events and the subsequent ways God blessed him for it. The most famous of these negative events was spawned by David's own sin: he saw a beautiful woman bathing on her housetop and brought her to the castle for an immoral interlude. Later, when she told him she was pregnant, he had her husband killed and then he married her. This woman was the infamous Bathsheba. The penalty for this sin of David was the death of the baby. Nevertheless, David kept his faith in God and repented of his sin. As a result, God then gave Bathsheba a second son named Solomon, who turned out to be the third king of Israel and the wisest man who ever lived, and from whom Jesus Christ was descended.

This book is full of action and adventure, romance and intrigue, politics and betrayals. Yet it is only about 30 pages long. Go ahead and read it!

Fortress in the Eye of Time by C.J. Cherryh

Fantasy; Reviewed May 31, 2005.

I like fantasy books, but normally I imagine fantasy is to science fiction what romance is to literature, and I normally go for fantasy or romance when my mind wants an easy read. But this book broke out of my stereotypes with an exhaustingly mental ride.

First of all, the writing itself is dense--no words are wasted. Second, the subject matter turns on delicacy, subtlety, and nuance--covering the depths of not only court intrigue and political alliances, but also of love, friendship, and awareness. Finally, the protagonist suffers from a form of amnesia, so he is constantly doubting himself or remembering something that may or may not be significant to the current situation, and the reader must carry these bits and pieces of information in the forefront of his mind throughout the story just in case some of them become relevant.

Whether a person will enjoy this story depends on his maturity level, his education, and his attitude toward introspection (namely, does he believe that intuition equals action?). For myself, I found the story, the writing, and nuance to be powerful and interesting, and do not hesitate to recommend it. But after reading the worst reviews on Amazon, it becomes clear that one man's "nuance and subtlety" is another man's "too detailed and boring." Buyer beware.

To summarize: A powerful wizard pulls a soul from death to take life again, but when this Shaping appears, he is a baby in a man's body--he has to learn even how to walk. He has no memory of who he was in his previous life, a fact that devastates the wizard, who gives up hope of ever using this Shaping to defeat the Enemy, which had been the reason to bring him into existence in the first place. The wizard is soon killed, and the Shaping runs away down a long dark road. Eventually, the Shaping is taken in by a nearby prince for amusement purposes, but as the Shaping learns how to live and has increasing revelations of memory, he begins to overshadow the prince in every way. Meanwhile, the prince is trying to keep the kingdom together and ward off invasion, and is never quite sure if this Shaping is friend or foe. In fact, even the reader is not sure! Events play out in a rather predictable way, but it is the players who are unpredictable and who provide the source of most of the action. The ending is somewhat of a let-down, but obviously sets the stage for a second book, and I hear that there are now 4 books to this series.

The First Book of Samuel

The Bible: Old Testament; Reviewed May 21, 2005.

This Old Testament book (also called The First Book of the Kings) chronicles the life of the prophet Samuel, from the cradle to the grave, and even beyond the grave. In addition, the book describes how the first King of Israel was raised up and brought low--that would be Saul, son of Kish.

According to the Biblical account, Saul was a handsome man who stood head and shoulders above the average Israelite. The people were pleased to have him as their king because of his strong appearance. And Saul began his reign with wisdom, but soon the fame and power went to his head and he lost his kingdom over it.

Here's what happened: The Lord told Saul to take his army and destroy a certain enemy. When the Lord said "destroy", he meant "utterly wipe out man, woman, child and beast." So Saul takes his army and destroys all the people, but brings home all the oxen and sheep as spoils of war.

As he comes into town, the prophet Samuel stops him and asks him why he didn't obey the Lord and kill all the animals. Saul's reply was ingenious: "I brought the best of the sheep and oxen back here so we could sacrifice them to the Lord." How noble! What a righteous man he must be!

But Samuel pressed him again, asking why he didn't obey the Lord and kill all the animals. This time Saul feels the pressure and comes up with a better answer than before: "I personally obeyed the Lord; it's the army who decided to bring back the best of the sheep and oxen to sacrifice to God. I tried to tell them, but they wouldn't hear me." Now Saul has shifted the blame off himself--so if the Lord is angry, the Lord can punish the army, not Saul.

And the prophet Samuel's response is eternal: "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice." And Saul was rejected as King.

Enter David, a shepherd, youngest of 8 sons of Jesse. He was fearless in the face of evil, because he had so much faith in God. And he was chosen as the next King. But the transition wasn't easy, because Saul was stubbornly hanging on to his throne. The way Saul pursued David, and the way David consistently responded, is definitely worth reading. Won't you read it today?

And as you read, keep in mind that Jesus' earthly father, Joseph, was the direct descendant of this same David.

Hyde Park Headsman by Anne Perry

Mystery; Reviewed May 11, 2005.

This book was not on my original reading list for this year, but I was in the mood for an old-fashioned mystery. Most of Anne Perry's novels are set in the late 1800's and her writing reminds me of a modern Charlotte Bronte. Yes, that's both good and bad. Good because all of the nuances of society life are included, bad because all of the nuances of society life are included.

Honestly, it took about 30 pages of laborious pressing forward until I began to get into the rhythm of the story enough to not dread opening the book again the next day. I read about 30 pages a sitting and, while I enjoyed the story line, the pace was sometimes excruciatingly slow. The total number of pages in the hardback is 392, which probably could have withstood cutting to 300 without losing any substance whatsoever.

To summarize: Thomas Pitt has just been promoted to Police Superintendent when a series of 4 murders occur. All of London is in an uproar for the police to do something, because it wasn't long before that Jack the Ripper had terrorized the city and never been caught. Superintendent Pitt's job is on the line unless he can arrest the serial killer, but he has nothing to go on for the majority of the book until finally he is relieved of his job, a situation which jolts him to an awareness of who the killer must be (in the last 10 pages). Meanwhile, his wife Charlotte is putting up wallpapers and furnishings in their new home and gossipping with her sister, Emily.

I didn't care about the aspects of furnishing the new home, or some of the other subplots that included Charlotte's mom dating a musician. To me, these were all filler pages and I read through them rather quickly each time in order to get back to Superintendant Pitt's predicaments, which I did find very interesting. Would I recommend this book? Only for true devotees of Anne Perry.

The Book of Ruth

The Bible: Old Testament; Reviewed April 30, 2005.

Contrary to popular uninformed belief, the Bible is full of heartwarming love stories, and I believe this is one of the best.

To summarize, a woman named Naomi went with her husband and two sons to a distant land to escape the famine in Israel. In this distant land (Moab), each of the sons took a wife. During the course of about 10 years, Naomi's husband and two sons all die, leaving her alone with the two daughters-in-law. Naomi hears that the famine in Israel is over, so she returns, but one of her dauthers-in-law, Ruth, wants to go with her and live with her.

The pair travel back to Israel and the next day, Ruth goes out into some fields to start picking grain for food. She just happens to end up in the field owned by a rich older man named Boaz, who just happens to be a distant relative of Naomi's dead husband. Boaz tells her that he's heard about her, that the whole town knows how virtuous and good a woman she is, and that because of this, Boaz wants her to always come to his field and no one else's.

Finally the end of the growing season arrives, and Boaz hasn't made a move. So Naomi tells Ruth to make it clear that she wants to marry Boaz. Ruth does so, and Boaz ends up blessing her for not wanting to marry a younger man. In the end, the two are married and have a son named Obed. Obed is the grandfather of King David, the greatest king of Israel, the friend of God.

To me, besides being a great love story, this is a prime example of the principle that goodness and virtue travel down through generations. After all, King David is in the direct line of Jesus' lineage.

Emerald Windows Terri Blackstock

Christian Fiction; Reviewed May 3, 2005.

Terri Blackstock is a successful Christian fiction author and I thought it was past time that I checked her out. While I felt that there was some awkwardness in the multiple plot lines coming together, I did see a diamond in the rough.

The story begins 7 years after a scandal rocks a small Mississippi town--a teacher having an affair with a student. The story ends with--well, I can't really tell you that if you plan to read this, but it ends on the opposite pole. During the journey, the author weaves several themes into the storyline, including trusting God, forgiving others, and facing your fears.

To be a little bit critical, the action seemed manipulated all too often by the author, and that made events take on an unrealistic slant. I know this is fiction, but I like to be so enveloped in a story that it feels completely real, and this book didn't quite achieve that. But it was written in 2001, and I'm sure Terry Blackstock is only getting better...

The Book of Judges

The Bible: Old Testament; Reviewed May 3, 2005.

The seventh book of the Old Testament, Judges overflows with action and adventure. It is in Judges that we find the story of Samson and Delilah, arguably the most famous couple in history. But Samson is only one of thirteen great warriors chronicled in this book who rescued Israel from slavery to other nations. One of these warriors was a woman, Deborah, and because of her strength and fortitude, babies even today are commonly named after her. This is astounding when you look at the names of some of the other judges: Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Barak, Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon. I've never met anyone with these names, have you?

The judge I left out is another very famous man who, though babies aren't named after him much, still gets a lot of great name recognition, at least in the church. He was Gideon, and he's famous because he doubted God. Gideon was a man who needed a lot of reassurance. First, an angel came to him with the message from God, that he would deliver Israel. Gideon doubted, and so THREE TIMES he asked the angel, "Are you sure?" and the answer was yes.

But Gideon still doubted, so he asked for a sign, and the angel made fire come out of his staff. A few days later, when the time for action had come, Gideon again doubted God. He asked for a second sign--that the morning dew would not touch the ground the next day, but only Gideon's fleece of wool would be wet. God did it. What a miracle! But still Gideon doubted. He asked for a THIRD sign--that the next morning's dew would be all over the ground but not on his fleece of wool. God did it. Finally, after all these signs, Gideon decided to believe.

What I find fascinating about this story is that God didn't get upset with Gideon. And when I think of Doubting Thomas, who didn't believe that Jesus had appeared to the other disciples after his crucifixion, I remember that Jesus didn't get upset with Thomas either. He just gave him the sign he needed so that he *could* believe.

Legacy by James A Michener

Historical Fiction; Reviewed May 3, 2005.

This is my first experience reading James Michener. I found his style to be straightforward and easy to follow, but with that gift of simple profundity so common in great writers.

The book was short but captivating, as it followed the generations of the Starr family, a fictional lineage that traveled the spheres of great men and women of the United States from the Declaration of Independence to the Iran-Contra Affair. The reader is introduced to our founding fathers in a manner that reveals their humanity as well as their innate nobility. In addition, the Constitution of the United States is reprinted in full at the end of the book.

This was an educational and entertaining read that I would recommend without reservation.

State of Fear by Michael Crichton

Fiction; Reviewed May 3, 2005.

We've all heard the rumours that global warming is unsubstantiated, but who has the time to sift through hundreds of scientific journals in order to extract the necessary data to prove the point?? Michael Crichton does, for one, and he has presented his findings in this book, and wrapped his research into a suspenseful and thrilling fictional plot line to make it more palatable.

He sets up the book by describing various happenings along a mysterious timeline, which, as they unfold, seem to point to some ominous man-made world catastrophe. Along the ride, some of the main characters are pro-global warming and some are anti-global warming, and the two sides have plenty of opportunities to exchange ideas and opinions. Much of this dialogue is presented with footnotes that point to the specific publication or scientific journal where it was originally presented, and the footnotes are all real. The end result is a more informed reader and a tidy plot resolution.

I have enjoyed Michael Crichton's books for many years, and having recently seen him interviewed on television, now have a greater appreciation for his intellect and capacity for reasoning. And he is extremely articulate, both live and on paper. I would recommend this book without reservation.

Einstein's Brain by Mark Olshaker

Fiction; Reviewed March 6, 2005.

If someone is going to write a thriller which is full of suspense because of a mysterious element that will only be made clear in the last five pages of the book, then I have a word of advice: don't give away the mystery in the TITLE of said book!

It's hard for me to say how well I enjoyed this book because of that fact. If I had NOT known why three people felt powerfully drawn to one another when they had little in common, if I had NOT known why several organizations were secretly protecting each of them or trying to kill each of them, if I had NOT known why each of them felt strangely drawn to Albert Einstein, and if I had NOT known why each of them had mysteriously survived a terminal brain tumor a few years after Einstein died, then maybe this would have been a better book.

Now, I know that many times it's all about the journey, not the destination. But when your entire journey is fueled by a mystery, the rules change. I also know that many times an editor will come up with a title that may override the title the author prefers, all for the sake of marketing. And I must acknowledge that the only reason I picked up this book was that the title intrigued me. But surely they could have found a title that wasn't quite so obvious...

The Book of Joshua

The Bible: Old Testament; Reviewed January 2005.

This is one of my favorite books of the Old Testament because it chronicles the successes of Joshua the son of Nun, a man nearly crippled with fear and self-doubt, who is chosen by God to succeed Moses as the leader of the nation of Israel. It's his job to lead the people in war against the inhabitants of the Promised Land before the Israelites can settle in what is now known as Jerusalem and the surrounding area.

But Joshua doubts his own worth as a leader. Can he really pull this off? God knows that Joshua needs encouragement, so He gives it to him time and time again, never tiring of speaking words of comfort to His servant:

The Footprints of God by Greg Iles

Fiction; Reviewed January 2005.

I picked this book up for two reasons: first, it has a celtic symbol of the trinity on the cover, and second, I liked the title. The book turns out to be a scifi thriller that takes place in the here and now of (mostly) the United States.

The book reads quickly--a real pageturner--and keeps the tension rising with a smooth and constant progression. The plot was the best thing about the book: until the last few pages (529 of them), I had absolutely no idea where the story was going. Really. Nothing about the story was predictable--including the way it ended--except that the main characters didn't die halfway through.

I'll be interested to read Iles' new book coming out in February called BLOOD MEMORY.

Einstein, A Life by Denis Brian

Biography; Reviewed January 2005.

This is the first Einstein biography I've ever read, though I started one a few years ago that set out to prove that Einstein had been a communist, and I couldn't get through it. On the contrary, this book proves by Einstein's own letters and speeches, and also by first-hand testimony of friends and relatives, that the great scientist was also a great humanitarian.

The book is one of the first to have access to many deeply personal materials available about Einstein since the death of Otto Nathan, Einstein's posthumous and self-appointed gaurdian. For years, he kept a lot of material about Einstein supressed in order to protect Einstein's reputation, but now legal action has released these materials and allowed Denis Brian to paint a much more accurate picture of the scientist than has been previously portrayed.

After reading this, I feel so much love for the man and so much admiration for the scientist. Like all of us, he had some skeletons in his closet because of some errors in judgment as a young man, but he more than made up for those in later years. The book also touched on the development of physics, but not so much so that I couldn't follow along easily. All in all, I felt that I got a rounded and complete picture of the greatest scientist of the 20th century, and I enjoyed every page of it.

Helliconia Summer by Brian W. Aldiss

Science Fiction; Reviewed January 2005.

This is a tale of adventures of foreign people on a strange planet in outer space, but Aldiss paints his human characters with such intimacy and familiarity that the average reader cannot help but strongly relate. It's one of those books that doesn't come across as science fiction, even though it's replete with descriptions of a cyclical ecology that could theoretically work in real life.

Helliconia Summer is the second of a trilogy. The first book, Helliconia Spring, takes over half of its space describing the evolution of the planet and, consequently, the humans inhabiting it. The last fourth of the novel zooms in on one small but key town and follows the goings on of about 10 characters. Helliconia Summer opens in the same zoom on a new set of characters many centuries later, and follows them until the very end, where about 8 pages are zoomed back out to describe the evolution of the planet again.

Aldiss won the John W. Campbell Award in 1983 for Helliconia Spring, but to my surprise, has not won any awards that I know of for Helliconia Summer, which in my opinion is a far better book. I am hoping that the final book, Helliconia Winter, will finally be the best!

Lord Foul's Bane by Stephen R Donaldson

Fantasy; Reviewed December 2004.

Two of my favorite all-time books are The Mirror of her Dreams and A Man Rides Through, both by Donaldson, so I bought the six-ology that he wrote in the '80's that begins with this book. I've heard rumors that these chronicles are of spiritual significance, and it's no secret that Donaldson grew up as a missionary kid in India. This first book is very well-written, and full of new vocabulary words for me. Early in the book, the main character rapes a young girl (around 16 years old), which is very unsettling, but I have to believe there is a profound reason for this that will only become evident in a later book. My thinking is that the main character needs to find salvation, and the reader must believe in the character's NEED for this salvation, so Donaldson gives the reader solid evidence in the form of this rape. If you can make it past this disturbing event, you will not be disappointed. On to number 2!

A Tale of Three Kings by Gene Edwards

Theology; Reviewed December 2004.

This is a retelling of the rise and fall of the three greatest kings in Jewish history: Saul, David, and Absolam. But it is written in a devotional format in which many Biblical passages are paraphrased and medidated upon. The point of the book is to give Biblical counsel on how Christians who have been hurt by other Christians should now behave. I found it encouraging and insightful, and would recommend it to all Christians everywhere, for we have all been hurt at one time or another by someone else in the body. The author has written another book called Letters to a Devastated Christian, which encourages Christians who have been subjected to the irrationality of legalism in the church, and I plan to read that one soon as well.

The Fifth Book of Moses Called Deuteronomy

The Bible: Old Testament; Reviewed December 2004.

This book is the fifth book of the Old Testament and the last book written by Moses, in which he summarizes the Jew's 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and repeats the 10 commandments. He exhorts the new nation of Israel not to forget God; to remember that it was because of God's promise to Abraham and because of the wickedness of the Gentiles that God favored the Jews--NOT because of their righteousness. He gives the people permission to eat meat and proscribes God's dietary laws and tithing rules to them. He establishes feasts and holidays to be held throughout each year, as well as social mores. He gives a blessing to each tribe and then a general curse to the whole nation if they don't obey God, and then Moses dies. His death is oddly described, giving rise to the belief that he may have been taken up bodily into heaven like Elijah was. This possibility would then mean that when the two prophets "who haven't died" come back to earth at the end times, those two may be Moses and Elijah. But bear in mind that Enoch certainly was taken up bodily into heaven...

The Wrong Reflection by Gillian Bradshaw

Science Fiction; Reviewed November 2004.

I've always enjoyed reading novels whose main character has some degree of amnesia. This book adds a unique and nicely woven twist into the eventual flood of memories that makes for a satisfying and compelling read. However, I did have two small criticisms of the book: first, the author mixes points of view within chapters and even paragraphs, and even though this is understandable based on the content, it is still jarring; second, only the main character is multi-dimensional--all other characters (and there are four other main characters and several peripheral ones) appear one-dimensional and cardboard. Nevertheless, these things can be ignored for the ingenious plot.

The Book of Kells by RA MacAvoy

Fantasy; Reviewed November 2004.

I bought this book because I have always been fascinated by the real Book of Kells. Since I'd never heard of the author, I figured this would be an average to bad read, but still found myself curious, fortunately. Why do I say fortunately? Because this turned out to be an extremely well-written novel of Ireland in the 10th century, complete with tender emotional moments, hilariously humorous spots, and riveting suspense. Since I began reading it, I have purchased several of this author's books and I am glad to say I've found another favorite writer. You can get this book at Amazon.com for less than a dollar--great value for such a treasure.

Knowing Me, Knowing God: Exploring Your Spirituality with Myers-Briggs by Malcolm Goldsmith

Psychology; Reviewed November 2004.

The main thrust of this book is that each person has dominant and inferior functions of the Myers-Briggs personality types, and that the goal of the organized church should be to cultivate and strengthen the inferior functions so that each of us can become more like Christ, who had no preferred functions, but rather used all 8 of his in balance, switching back and forth where appropriate (I know, that is a looooong sentence).

Prayer: Asking and Receiving by John R Rice

Theology; Reviewed November 2004.

Though I'm only about a quarter of the way through this book, it has already raised more questions than I had when I began it, which I believe is a good thing. One of the first issues the author takes up is this notion that God answers prayer in three ways: (1)Yes, (2)No, and (3)Wait awhile. The author challenges anyone to show him where the Bible teaches this widely-held 'truth'--and he's right, I've never read this in my Bible. Instead, my Bible confidently repeats that he who asks will receive. Based on the Bible's attitude toward prayer as a way to get things from God, the author of this book states that the only answer God gives is YES. If we are not getting a Yes to our prayer, the problem is not with God, it is with us. I'll update this as I get further along in the book, but I would welcome anyone else's perspective on this (email me).

The Fourth Book of Moses called NUMBERS

The Bible: Old Testament; Reviewed October 2004.

This is the fourth book of the Old Testament, and it's called Numbers because it contains the first known record of the census of Israel. This is also an oft-overlooked book because it starts out with the census, which is not very exciting to read. However, if you will stick it through, you can find some gems of historical and spiritual significance within its pages. For example, the book of Numbers describes the continued journey of the Jews through the wilderness and explains how God used the appearance of a cloud over the tabernacle to indicate that they were to rest for a while.

The book of Numbers gives a detailed account of how God sent manna from heaven to feed them, and when they complained about having no meat to eat, He send quails to them daily for an entire month. It was during this time that God was so displeased with that generation that He caused them to wander in the wilderness long enough for all the oldtimers to die off. The book of Numbers describes how Aaron's staff budded and blossomed--a sign that showed God had chosen the tribe of Levites to be the priestly tribe. The book of Numbers also recounts how the prophet Baalim went against the will of God and how finally Baalim's donkey spoke and rebuked him!

She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb

Fiction; Reviewed October 2004.

Generally speaking, anything that makes it into Oprah's Book Club is bound to be above average, and this book is no exception. It is a coming-of-age story about a girl who goes through a traumatic event as an early teen and fights her trauma with food. The fact that she is grossly overweight is what gets most attention from the outside world, but the reality is that her obesity is simply an indicator of the overwhelming odds she's struggling with internally. The book chronicles the steps she takes to get better and the lessons she learns along the way. I found the book to be well-written and very engaging, with brilliant flashes of insight and wisdom. Be aware before reading this that some of the situations in the story can be very disturbing, making this book less recommended for younger audiences.

Knowing God by J.I. Packer

Theology; Reviewed October 2004.

I've heard it said that every believer should find a spiritual classic and adopt it, reading it over and over again throughout the course of his life. I believe that I have found mine in this book, and I've already started re-reading it. The book is a study of God, but it shouldn't be categorized with all those stuffy doctrinal theses that only seminary students can understand. What makes this book different from those is its main thrust--to come to a deeper knowledge of God. If you are looking for ways to thwart the erroneous views of other religious sects, this is not the book for you. If you are looking for a syrupy sweet emotionally inspiring daily devotional, this is not the book for you. But if you truly want to cultivate a deeper knowledge of God, to know how you can begin to bridge the mighty gap between the human and the divine, to take clues from the Word of God about what pleases Him, then this is the book you should be reading.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Philosophy; Reviewed October 2004.

Although I am not sure what I was expecting, this book wasn't it. This is the story of a young shepherd boy who had a dream about treasure and then spent a significant portion of his life searching for the treasure. He learns a lot of philosophy along the way, but it's a hodge-podge of Christian and Eastern religious philosophy and ends up making no sense.

The Night She Died by Jennifer Patrick

Fiction; Reviewed October 2004.

I only made it halfway through this book. It is set in a fictitious town that just happens to resemble Winder, Georgia, where my mom lives. The author went way overboard in her descriptions of southern life, trying to make us country folk out to be dumb and dirty. I was offended. The story was average, but there wasn't enough meat in the telling of it to keep my attention. I felt like I would take nothing away from the experience, so I decided not to finish it.

Helliconia Spring by Brian Aldiss

Science Fiction; Reviewed September 2004.

I picked this book up because of its favorable comparisons to Dune. I thought it would be similar in content as well as in scope. I was wrong. The author does create a very realistic new world and has oodles of geological history interspersed in the action, but that's about as far as the similarity goes to Herbert's triumph.

Helliconia Spring was more along the lines of what I imagine Jean Auel's books to be--full of nearly brainless bipeds warring and loving as the earth grows up around them. I was hoping for a much more "gadget-y" read, which is what I think of when I hear "science fiction."

Nevertheless, though I didn't get what I expected, I did get an engrossing read. The story picked up about halfway through and held me firmly till th end. The first half of the novel felt like a preface...

There are 2 books left in the series. I think I will read something else less primordial before going to the second novel.

The Third Book of Moses, called LEVITICUS

The Bible: Old Testament; Reviewed September 2004.

I would hazard a guess that this is the least read book of Moses because it contains no action/adventure, no romance, no plot of any kind, really. This book discusses the details of God's law to the Hebrews and includes instructions about diet, relationships, feasts, and the way in which lands can be bought, sold, or redeemed. This is the book that is most quoted to illustrate that God views homosexuality as not only unnatural, but worth of death, and on a par with bestiality. In addition, this book contains laws against getting a tattoo or seeing a fortune teller.

The Second Book of Moses, called EXODUS

The Bible: Old Testament; Reviewed August 2004

This is arguably the most famous book of the Bible. It begins with the birth of Moses, chronicles the 10 plagues against Egypt, and describes the exodus of the Jews from Egypt, during which many miracles occurred including the parting of the Red Sea and the showers of manna from heaven.

In addition, within this book, Moses is given the Ten Commandments as well as the specific instructions for building the Ark of the Covenant. Herein also we have a new insight into God Almighty: "For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." (chapter 34, verse 14)

The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown

Fiction; Reviewed August 2004.

After finishing this book, I am amazed at the "controversy" it stirred in the media. I hope that I can publish a book that gets so much free publicity! This is a murder mystery in which the main character happens to be a symbologist. Since the majority of the novel was written in his point of view, everything that happens or doesn't happen is seen as symbolic.

The "controversy" arises at the point where the main character begins acusing the modern Catholic church of rewriting history and of being evil. Since the character bases half of his suppositions on the assumption that the Bible is trustworthy, and the other half on the assumption that the Bible is NOT trustworthy, his logic shortly unravels into nonsense.

The plot itself is riveting until about halfway through the novel, when I found myself tiring of the same old teases that the author uses ad nauseum to keep the reader hooked till the end. And by the way, the ending resolved only about 10% of the mystery.

Stepping Heavenward by Mrs. E. Prentiss

Christian Fiction; Reviewed August 2004.

A friend recommended this book, and I am grateful. It is written in the tradition of Pilgrim's Progress and details the fictitious story of a woman's lifelong attempt to be a true Christian, beginning from her sixteenth birthday and ending shortly before her 50th. The book is well-written and thought provoking, and I believe it should be required reading for all girls over 16 who strive to be Christ-like.

Houston, Houston, Do You Read? by James Tiptree Jr.

Science Fiction; Reviewed August 2004.

This is Tor Double Novel #11, and I purchased it for the flip story, Souls, by Joanna Russ. Both novels are pretty pro-female, and both more or less conclude that human males are brutish. While I don't subscribe to that theory, I still found the ideas in each novel to be well-thought out and well presented. Both were Hugo winners.

The Dark Lady by Mike Resnick

Fantasy; Reviewed August 2004.

This is a cute paperback good for a lazy day. The story involved a woman who has been pictured in paintings for 8000 years and yet she is an unknown. She appears mysteriously to some men on their deathbeds. Is she human? Is she a ghost? Read the book and you won't really find out. The ending was very ambiguous.

I, Robot by Isaac Asimov

Science Fiction; Reviewed July 2004.

I wanted to read this book before seeing the new movie that's out (the movie just can't be good, can it?). The book turns out to be a series of short stories about robots that is strung together under the guise of a woman doing an interview. Each chapter is a different story containing some sort of riddle about a robot's behavior, so this is something of a science fiction mystery book. I liked it!

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

Fiction; Reviewed July 2004.

A friend recommended this book, and I am indebted to her. This was a pure work of art. In spite of the fact that the author used some of her characters to voice her own political opinions (which I happen to disagree with), the novel still enthralled me. The biggest thing I carry away from it is the fact of my great luck in being born and raised in America. Why I am here when so many are on the other side, poverty-stricken, ignorant, living lives of daily tragedy, is a riddle I am consumed with solving.

Three Complete Novels by Robin Cook

Fiction; Reviewed June 2004.

I read only the first novel, Terminal. I had recently purchased the "Coma" DVD, which is Robin Cook's most famous work, and wanted to read something else by him. Terminal turned out to be a medical thriller with average characters, average plot, and average setting. I felt that I wasted my time reading it, considering how many other books in my library are actually investments. I won't read any more by this author.

The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

Theology; Reviewed May 2004.

I found this book to be simplistic and unconvincing--I felt like I was reading a book of cliches instead of a well-researched and thought-provoking work. After thinking about it, I decided that this book is milk for the newborns of the church, and is not intended to be meat for more mature Christians. The hope would be that a new Christian would devour this book with the understanding that a wide world of deeper and more complicated understanding awaits them, and that this is NOT all there is to knowing God.

The Path, Creating your Mission Statement for Work and for Life by Laurie Beth Jones

Business; Reviewed April 2004.

As my life gets more and more hectic, I have ordered a new planner from Franklin Covey. If you are familiar with their products, they emphasize having a mission statement from which to decide what goals I should strive for on an annual, monthly, weekly, and daily basis. This book I am reading claims to provide a formula by which one's mission statement can be created with hours after finishing the book. If it works, you'll be seeing a new paragraph on my website called "My Mission Statement". :)

UPDATE: It didn't work. Following the author's directions, I created a hodgepodge sentence full of dreams and half-wants--nothing I'd let anyone actually see, mind you.

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards

Nonfiction; Reviewed April 2004.

I came across this book in the pyschology section of my favorite used bookstore, and it has already been a lifechanging read (I'm only half-way through it). The main premise of the book is that people who have innate artistic ability have simply learned to view the physical world in a different way than those who "can't" draw. Since the right side of the brain perceives objects and the left side of the brain uses symbols, those of us who cannot draw need to learn how to shut off the left brain and turn on the right brain.

The first exercise of this book had me draw myself from a mirror, which I have posted here for your ridicule. The last exercise of the book will have me draw myself again after learning how to use the right brain to do so, and I shall post that one when it is complete, for your admiration. :)

The Road Less Travelled by M. Scott Peck, M.D.

Psychology; Reviewed March 2004.

I read this book while I was in college (over 10 years ago) and didn't think much of it. Just recently, my husband pulled it out of his bookshelf and read a few excerpts from it. I was so intrigued that I began reading it for myself, and this go-round, I actually understood what I was reading! It is amazing to see how much much more mature my mind and emotions have become in just 10 years. In addition, the fact that I have now been acquainted with so many people of such varied backgrounds has given me a better overall sampling of humanity, through which I can better grasp the explanations set forth in this book. I recommend this book without reservation to any and all who wish to better their minds.

Punished by Rewards by Alfie Kohn

Psychology; Reviewed February 2004.

Subtitle is "The trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A's, Praise, and Other Bribes."

I am only on page 68 and I'm already intrigued. You see, I have always tried to "handle" my students by using some type of rewards system. Unfortunately, my rewards never seemed to work for very long, and I never understood why. The author of this book suggests that rewards don't work because they devalue learning and encourage laziness. So far, what he states makes all the sense in the world to me. Has anyone else ever read this book? Let me know.

The Introvert Advantage: How to Thrive in an Extrovert World by Marti Olsen Laney

Psychology; Reviewed January 2004.

I am an introvert, so I'm naturally drawn to these types of books. I have particularly enjoyed reading this one because the language used is not very technical. The analogies the author uses are striking. For example, she explains why introverts get exhausted more easily than extroverts: "focusing on the outside world is like driving an SUV: it's a gas guzzler." pg 193

I would recommend this book to everyone, introvert and extrovert alike. It's important to understand yourself and those around you, and where a person gets his energy determines a lot about his habits, preferences, and communication styles.

The Runaway Jury by John Grisham

Fiction; Reviewed October 2003.

I read this because I anticipated seeing the movie. Neither the novel nor the movie impressed me much.

Dark Intent by Rae Foley

Fiction; Reviewed October 2003.

A light mystery for a rainy day. I read it in Large Print, which was refreshing.

Timeline by Michael Crichton

Fiction; Reviewed October 2003.

I also read this book in anticipation of the new movie release in a couple of weeks. An interesting plot, believeable characters, and lots of intriguing science lessons are packed into this novel.

Emma by Jane Austen

Fiction; Reviewed July 2003.

I read this novel as a teenager and loved it. However, this weekend I watched the movie and knew that I had utterly misunderstood the point of the book those many years ago! So I fetched my worn copy out of my library and started over again. I just hope I can get through all the frivolous and seemingly useless chatter that fills the pages...

Firestar by Michael Flynn

Science Fiction; Reviewed June 2003.

This novel begins a story that ends in the fourth book. It details the resurrection of the space program, including moon visits and space stations, in the very-near future. The book was written in 1996, so it reads almost like a non-fictional account much of the time. The characters are deep and multi-dimensional, and Flynn has introduced most of them flawed so that they can develop through the course of the story and redeem themselves. One of the main premises of the book is that our modern-day public schools need to be radically turned around, and having a little bit of experience in education, I appreciate the author's ideas. I have read a review on all four books that basically says, "Enjoy this first one, because it only goes downhill from here." Well, I'll have to wait and see, because I bought the other three already.

Brain Power: Learn to Improve Your Thinking Skills by Karl Albrecht

Nonfiction; Reviewed May 2003.

I have had this book for several years, but I just started reading through it again to get some ideas for a story I'm writing called "Auster University", which explores the role that the subconscious mind plays in what is commonly called the sixth sense. Here is what the rear cover of this book states:

"Brain Power introduces the six functional thinking abilities you need to become an adaptive, innovative thinker. As you develop your ability to think on your feet, to isolate and arrange facts, and to avoid logical pitfalls you will see how to use creative problem solving strategies, both in business and in private life. With practical exercises to improve your full range of mental capabilities from concentration to intuition, management consultant Karl Albrecht answers all your questions on becoming a more efficient and effective thinker."

Gravity Dreams by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.

Science Fiction; Reviewed April 2003.

I'm only about halfway through this book at this point. I chose it because of the back cover summary: "In Earth's distant future, Tyndel is both teacher and mentor, a staunch devotee to his conservative and rigidly structured religious culture. Then a rogue infection of nanotechnology transforms him into a 'demon', something more than human, and he is forced into exile, fleeing to the more technologically advanced space-faring civilization that lies to the north, one that his own righteous people consider evil. Although shaken by his transformation, he has the rare talent required to become a space pilot. What no one, least of all Tyndel, expects, is his deep-space encounter with a vastly superior being--perhaps with God."

His religion is called Dzin, and the author is careful to separate the validity of Dzin from the manipulation of Dzin by the head masters to keep the people ignorant. I have been impressed with that so far. The new society of which he becomes a part is dedicated to personal responsibility and honesty, an intriguing development that I hope will be fleshed out in later chapters.

Borderlands of Science by Charles Sheffield

Nonfiction; Reviewed April 2003.

Have you ever read a science fiction novel and wondered where the author got his "science"? Or have you, like me, ever wondered if you had to be a physicist or planetologist in order to write credible science fiction? This book is Sheffield's attempt to give some of the secrets of the universe to non-technical writers. I find it to be a bit technical itself, but not without merit. It's a good crash course for world building and space travel foundations.

A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin

Fantasy; Reviewed April 2003.

Third of six, this book is worth its weight in gold. Fantasy fiction with slighly less of the magic, sorcery, talking animals, and faerie dust than usual (which is my kind of fantasy), this series is more along the lines of Frank Herbert's Dune for me, in that political intrigue is king. George R.R. Martin is a talented writer, with deeply complex characters and a beautiful setting. This series is becoming one of my all-time favorites.