Secondhand Souls By: Christopher Moore
Fiction: Mystery, paranormal, humor 335 pages
Physical Book Count: 4
Book Count: 11
This book is the sequel to "A Dirty Job" review here. And you might want to read "Coyote Blue" too before this book as it is mentioned too, review here.
The story picks up about a year after the end of the last book, and has all the same main characters as last time, with a few new ones. Charlie is living in his squirrel person body with Audrey, the nun. Sophie lives with her aunt Jane and Cassie in Charlie's old building. Mrs. Ling and Mrs. Korjev treat her like a grandchild. Lily is working for the suicide prevention hotline after a short time that she was dating Minty and they were running a pizza/jazz store. Minty is running a used music shop, and Rivera is now a death merchant with a book store, but he hasn't been collecting.
The story starts with the Emperor walking into Rivera's shop looking for a journal and a number 2 pencil to record the dead of the city before they get forgotten, then a banshee shows up with a message of doom and ends up stealing a stun gun. The hell hounds go missing, and Charlie needs to get back in the picture (which is quite hard to do when you look like a 14 inch tall crocodile wizard. ) Along the way we meet Mike, a painter on the Golden Gate Bridge; Concepcion Arguella, a ghost; Helen, a racist old lady that speaks French; Jean-Pierre Baptiste, a death merchant with an on-line store, W.C., who need a cheez; and a mysterious man dressed all in yellow, who's identities will be important. Also Bob changes his name to Theeb, but Steve is more logical. And the Ghost Thief needs to be found.
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Under the Mantle: Marian Thoughts from a 21st Century Priest:
Under the Mantle: Marian Thoughts from a 21st Century Priest By: Fr. Donald H. Calloway, MIC
Non-fiction: religion, 273 pages
Physical Book Count: 4
Book Count: 11
I wanted to like this book, I really did want to like it. I heard the author talk about it over the radio and put it on my private Amazon list to buy sometime, luckily I ended up finding it at a library before I spent money on it.
The main idea of the book is that it a book for all the people that the author can not do parish missions and talks for, due to physical limitations of time and space. It is a book on Jesus through Mary, with many quotes from saints at the end of each section on Mary and the topic. And that it was written for the "Joe-six-pack in the pew." And that last part is where the problem lies.
The book started out fine, it might of had some phrases that I wouldn't expect in a religious book, but nothing where I stopped reading and went "what?!" But then we got to the part on the priesthood. I would like to state now I don't disagree with the Church having a all male priesthood, I have heard many well written arguments with theological, Biblical, and nuanced reasons for why that is, but not from this book. His main argument used, made me want to disagree with him for how bad it was. As although there were a number of good points that he made, his main one is that only men are priests because it is a soldier/warrior job. (With the implied, only men can fight idea.) But it is a Marian book, so it then adds that God gave priest Mary to help them in the battle and in the quotes section (and maybe in the main section, as it was a library book I couldn't highlight parts, and I didn't see it glancing over it,) it deals with the idea that Mary is the leader or general of God's army. So that kind of nullifies his whole argument. Again, I am only disagreeing with his poorly thought out metaphor here and not the idea he was using the metaphor for.
After that section things went back to okay for a while, he clearly doesn't understand complex mathematical ideas, and is of the belief that yoga stretches (when called that) are inherently worshiping of Hindu gods. (He didn't get into it enough to be like most people in the all yoga is evil group to say that when you do any of the exercises that copy a yoga move exactly and then rename it, it then becomes okay. Which is my main issue with the yoga is evil group, they are fine with Pilates which has a number of the exact same stretches or the various "Christian" stretching exercises, which again copy yoga moves exactly but change the names and add Christian pray and/or music to it.)
But, then he gets to the sections on "Manhood" and "Femininity." Where I learned many "gems" that sound like they were written by a less racist Archie Bunker. All men love; hunting, fishing, sports, and war games, and if you are a male that doesn't, there is something fundamentally wrong with you. It might be that you were raised by a single mother, who was overprotective, and as a female could not teach you the importation mainly hunting, fishing, fighting traits, and because of this you are gay. If you are a female your main goals in life should be:1 being a pretty, pretty princess, 2. getting married (there was nothing about nuns/religious sisters in that section, although we were informed that all women love "Chick Flicks" and it did mention Mary being married to God,) 3. being a mother, he did note that there is physical and spiritual motherhood, but didn't get into it a lot, as that section was mostly on the science of fetal microchimerism (how some cells of the child remind in the mother for life,) and why he doesn't think Mary died.
In closing, if you skip any section of this book where gender is a main point it would be a fine book.
Non-fiction: religion, 273 pages
Physical Book Count: 4
Book Count: 11
I wanted to like this book, I really did want to like it. I heard the author talk about it over the radio and put it on my private Amazon list to buy sometime, luckily I ended up finding it at a library before I spent money on it.
The main idea of the book is that it a book for all the people that the author can not do parish missions and talks for, due to physical limitations of time and space. It is a book on Jesus through Mary, with many quotes from saints at the end of each section on Mary and the topic. And that it was written for the "Joe-six-pack in the pew." And that last part is where the problem lies.
The book started out fine, it might of had some phrases that I wouldn't expect in a religious book, but nothing where I stopped reading and went "what?!" But then we got to the part on the priesthood. I would like to state now I don't disagree with the Church having a all male priesthood, I have heard many well written arguments with theological, Biblical, and nuanced reasons for why that is, but not from this book. His main argument used, made me want to disagree with him for how bad it was. As although there were a number of good points that he made, his main one is that only men are priests because it is a soldier/warrior job. (With the implied, only men can fight idea.) But it is a Marian book, so it then adds that God gave priest Mary to help them in the battle and in the quotes section (and maybe in the main section, as it was a library book I couldn't highlight parts, and I didn't see it glancing over it,) it deals with the idea that Mary is the leader or general of God's army. So that kind of nullifies his whole argument. Again, I am only disagreeing with his poorly thought out metaphor here and not the idea he was using the metaphor for.
After that section things went back to okay for a while, he clearly doesn't understand complex mathematical ideas, and is of the belief that yoga stretches (when called that) are inherently worshiping of Hindu gods. (He didn't get into it enough to be like most people in the all yoga is evil group to say that when you do any of the exercises that copy a yoga move exactly and then rename it, it then becomes okay. Which is my main issue with the yoga is evil group, they are fine with Pilates which has a number of the exact same stretches or the various "Christian" stretching exercises, which again copy yoga moves exactly but change the names and add Christian pray and/or music to it.)
But, then he gets to the sections on "Manhood" and "Femininity." Where I learned many "gems" that sound like they were written by a less racist Archie Bunker. All men love; hunting, fishing, sports, and war games, and if you are a male that doesn't, there is something fundamentally wrong with you. It might be that you were raised by a single mother, who was overprotective, and as a female could not teach you the importation mainly hunting, fishing, fighting traits, and because of this you are gay. If you are a female your main goals in life should be:1 being a pretty, pretty princess, 2. getting married (there was nothing about nuns/religious sisters in that section, although we were informed that all women love "Chick Flicks" and it did mention Mary being married to God,) 3. being a mother, he did note that there is physical and spiritual motherhood, but didn't get into it a lot, as that section was mostly on the science of fetal microchimerism (how some cells of the child remind in the mother for life,) and why he doesn't think Mary died.
In closing, if you skip any section of this book where gender is a main point it would be a fine book.
Friday, April 22, 2016
Curiosity House:The Shrunken Head:
Curiosity House:The Shrunken Head By: Lauren Oliver & H.C. Chester
Fiction: Mystery, Children's, 362 pages
Physical Book Count: 3
Book Count: 10
This is the first book in a series about a group of 4 children that have special abilities and work and live at Dumfrey's Dime Museum of Freaks, Oddities, and Wonders. Sam is a strongman, but doesn't look like it. Thomas is able to fit into almost any small space (he often travels using the vents and duct work in the museum) and is a genius. Philippa is a mentalist, but she mostly can tell what is in people's pockets. And Max, the new girl, can throw knifes and pickpocket amazingly well.
There is a new object at the museum, a shrunken head. It was billed as the head of Chief Ticuna-Piranha from the Amazon, and a cursed object, but it was meant to just be hype to get people into the nearly bankrupt museum, but then the head is stolen and people started dying. The four kids work to solve the mystery and end up also finding out more about themselves as well as the people around them.
Fiction: Mystery, Children's, 362 pages
Physical Book Count: 3
Book Count: 10
This is the first book in a series about a group of 4 children that have special abilities and work and live at Dumfrey's Dime Museum of Freaks, Oddities, and Wonders. Sam is a strongman, but doesn't look like it. Thomas is able to fit into almost any small space (he often travels using the vents and duct work in the museum) and is a genius. Philippa is a mentalist, but she mostly can tell what is in people's pockets. And Max, the new girl, can throw knifes and pickpocket amazingly well.
There is a new object at the museum, a shrunken head. It was billed as the head of Chief Ticuna-Piranha from the Amazon, and a cursed object, but it was meant to just be hype to get people into the nearly bankrupt museum, but then the head is stolen and people started dying. The four kids work to solve the mystery and end up also finding out more about themselves as well as the people around them.
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Everyday Worship:
Everyday Worship By: Chris Voigt
Non-fiction: Religion, E-book, NYR,
E-Book Count: 8
Book Count: 9
This shorter book is about how worship is not just what you do on Sunday morning, but should be a complete way of life for Christians. It has many Biblical and personal stories to showcase different parts of this idea as well as questions and sometimes things to pray about at the end of each chapter.
Non-fiction: Religion, E-book, NYR,
E-Book Count: 8
Book Count: 9
This shorter book is about how worship is not just what you do on Sunday morning, but should be a complete way of life for Christians. It has many Biblical and personal stories to showcase different parts of this idea as well as questions and sometimes things to pray about at the end of each chapter.
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Revelations of Divine Love:
Revelations of Divine Love By: Julian of Norwich
Non-fiction: Religion, NYR, E-Book
E-Book Count: 7
Book Count: 8
This book is apparently the first book written in the English language and published by a women. Maybe if there wasn't 86 chapters there would be more early English books by women. (And the paperback versions are between around 200-300 pages so these are reasonable length chapters, and I read the long version.) Also as an early modern English book, there are a ton of words ending with th, and with weird spellings, and even a few words that the e-reader dictionary looked at and said "that's not a word."
Now about the book itself. This book is a collection of visions that the author had, when she was deathly ill in 1373. It was apparently one of the most popular religious books of England during the Middle Ages. Although it is a very old book, many of the thoughts and theological ideas that are in the book connect well with modern readers. In fact I picked this book to read, not because of the long history or importance of the book, but having read a short bit of the book in a class, almost all of the women in the class picked it as their favorite reading out of the whole class, and everyone seamed to enjoy it. There are some things in the book, besides the archaic wording, that show the age of the book; however, the majority of it has a timelessness about it.
Non-fiction: Religion, NYR, E-Book
E-Book Count: 7
Book Count: 8
This book is apparently the first book written in the English language and published by a women. Maybe if there wasn't 86 chapters there would be more early English books by women. (And the paperback versions are between around 200-300 pages so these are reasonable length chapters, and I read the long version.) Also as an early modern English book, there are a ton of words ending with th, and with weird spellings, and even a few words that the e-reader dictionary looked at and said "that's not a word."
Now about the book itself. This book is a collection of visions that the author had, when she was deathly ill in 1373. It was apparently one of the most popular religious books of England during the Middle Ages. Although it is a very old book, many of the thoughts and theological ideas that are in the book connect well with modern readers. In fact I picked this book to read, not because of the long history or importance of the book, but having read a short bit of the book in a class, almost all of the women in the class picked it as their favorite reading out of the whole class, and everyone seamed to enjoy it. There are some things in the book, besides the archaic wording, that show the age of the book; however, the majority of it has a timelessness about it.
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
The Exorcism of Sara May:
The Exorcism of Sara May By: Joe Hart
Fiction: Horror, E-book
E-Book Count: 6
Book Count: 7
First a note, as I didn't think about the fact that this book could be easily be in either of the main genre of stories that I read, this is a fiction horror novel and not a non-fiction religious book. Just so you know.
This book is a story of a small farming community in the Great Depression. There are a number of weird and scary things that are happening to one of the teen aged boys who is telling this story that includes weird animals, creepy monsters, talking dead and the girl that he has a crush on acting and speaking weird. Much like a campy horror film, there is a back story that includes the parents being involved in something years ago that might be the cause of this all.
Fiction: Horror, E-book
E-Book Count: 6
Book Count: 7
First a note, as I didn't think about the fact that this book could be easily be in either of the main genre of stories that I read, this is a fiction horror novel and not a non-fiction religious book. Just so you know.
This book is a story of a small farming community in the Great Depression. There are a number of weird and scary things that are happening to one of the teen aged boys who is telling this story that includes weird animals, creepy monsters, talking dead and the girl that he has a crush on acting and speaking weird. Much like a campy horror film, there is a back story that includes the parents being involved in something years ago that might be the cause of this all.
Monday, February 29, 2016
Skeletons in the Closet:
Skeletons in the Closet: (Laundry Hag Series, Book 1) By: Jennifer L. Hart
Fiction: Mystery, E-book
E-Book Count: 5
Book Count: 6
Maggie is a penny pincher who with the "help" of her friend ends up starting a cleaning service. Her first client is the rich socialite that resonantly moved into the neighborhood with her creepy husband that collects medieval torture devices. Because of her job cleaning the house, she witnesses the wife's affair and is the husband's alibi when the wife ends up murdered. And then like all mysteries of this type, she then gets caught up in the mystery and has to solve the case as she bumbles along from one misadventure to the next. So she almost gets shot by a little old lady, looses her wheelbarrow on a shopping trip, hosts Thanksgiving for in-laws she hates, and hires assistants ranging from a very pregnant teen to a grumpy old man that spends his time flirting with the older clients and complaining about food.
Fiction: Mystery, E-book
E-Book Count: 5
Book Count: 6
Maggie is a penny pincher who with the "help" of her friend ends up starting a cleaning service. Her first client is the rich socialite that resonantly moved into the neighborhood with her creepy husband that collects medieval torture devices. Because of her job cleaning the house, she witnesses the wife's affair and is the husband's alibi when the wife ends up murdered. And then like all mysteries of this type, she then gets caught up in the mystery and has to solve the case as she bumbles along from one misadventure to the next. So she almost gets shot by a little old lady, looses her wheelbarrow on a shopping trip, hosts Thanksgiving for in-laws she hates, and hires assistants ranging from a very pregnant teen to a grumpy old man that spends his time flirting with the older clients and complaining about food.
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Autumn's Breath:
Autumn's Breath: A Horror Short Story by: M. R. Mathias and Michael Robb
Fiction: short story, horror, e-book
E-Book Count: 4
Book Count: 5
First a note, the e-book count has been changed from the last time, but not the book count, as this book was only a short story and not a full book length.
A boy and a girl at make out point, ghosts, monsters, a killing frost, aliens?, time travel?, the FBI?, hell freazing over?, there are many things that might have happened in this story. Much like the protagonist we don't get the whole story in a clear format, but a mix of people and things as seen by her so knowing what really happened is unclear.
Fiction: short story, horror, e-book
E-Book Count: 4
Book Count: 5
First a note, the e-book count has been changed from the last time, but not the book count, as this book was only a short story and not a full book length.
A boy and a girl at make out point, ghosts, monsters, a killing frost, aliens?, time travel?, the FBI?, hell freazing over?, there are many things that might have happened in this story. Much like the protagonist we don't get the whole story in a clear format, but a mix of people and things as seen by her so knowing what really happened is unclear.
Friday, February 12, 2016
Making Radical Disciples: Make and Multiply Disciples Like Jesus Using Ten Contagious Disciple Making Lessons:
Making Radical Disciples: Make and Multiply Disciples Like Jesus Using Ten Contagious Disciple Making Lessons: By: Daniel B. Lancaster
Non-fiction: Religion, E-book
E-Book Count: 3
Book Count: 5
Some people enjoy B-grade horror films for their cheesy badness. Some people watch films that they know has bad/missing/incomprehensible plot lines, bad dialog and cheesy special effects just to enjoy how bad it really is. You might wonder why I would start a book review with that, and the reason why is that most people that do anything related to disciple making, point out that there is no magic bullet that will work on everyone. But this book is a magic bullet to make disciples in 10 easy lessons!!!! So I only read it to see how bad it was. (And of course because it was free, as I might spend a couple of dollars on a movie I know is bad, but I'm not spending book money on this.) This is also why I am not counting it in my new year's resolution count.
The main idea of the book is that, this is a series of lessons that they made up teaching people how to be disciples in southeast Asia, where they do not have a Christian history so that even non-Christians have some idea about the religion, like in America. Although it says it isn't a "just teach this lesson" way of doing things that doesn't work, it then gives step by step instructions on how to teach the lessons. This includes having the people repeat what you taught them exactly how you did it multiple times so they learn it. And having them look up things in the Bible for answers and then making them keep redoing it until they get the answer that you want them to have.
It also teaches 8 pictures of Jesus to help the people learn about Him, including hand movements and has people recite memory verses over and over again for each lesson. Both of these things make it feel like it was designed for children, or as they stated in the beginning, people with no knowledge of Jesus. If it was for kids I could see it working, not to make sure they are a disciple, but as a Sunday school class. If it was for adults that were new Christians or wanted to learn about Christ, and didn't have any pre-existing knowledge, I would be concerned; as when reading it, it talked about Jesus a lot and it talked about God, but it didn't talk about Jesus as God. There were times that it did say Jesus was God's son, but reading it, if you weren't familiar with the idea of the trinity, it would sound like Jesus was some sort of demi-god, or ideal human as it emphasized the separation between Jesus and God the Father or the Holy Spirit more then most people do. (It was in the context of how we should be like Jesus and listen to the Holy Spirit, etc. but reading it, it just hit me that I don't think it said Jesus was God and if I wasn't Christian I don't think I would learn it in the actual lesson parts of the program.) Besides that I could see the pictures useful in teaching people about Jesus, but teaching someone about Jesus is not the same thing as helping them be a radical disciple.
Also, it's method of multiplying disciples was presented in such a way that it made Christianity sound like a pyramid scheme with getting a gold star from God as the prize. (Note: it did not suggest that you would get a gold star, only candy.)
In closing: this book does have a number of useful pieces in it, but I do not know how following it exactly (as it states you should do) will result in making all sorts of radical disciples as the title states. It could be a useful tool in teaching people who don't know anything about Jesus things, but it wouldn't be the only tool needed. Also it is so much easier to write long reviews of books I don't like then ones that I do like, as I don't worry about giving too much away. That is why a number of the reviews on mystery books are just a list of characters and the opening events. And I am glad that this book actual worked for all the people that gave it 5 stars on Amazon, I just don't know how it did.
Non-fiction: Religion, E-book
E-Book Count: 3
Book Count: 5
Some people enjoy B-grade horror films for their cheesy badness. Some people watch films that they know has bad/missing/incomprehensible plot lines, bad dialog and cheesy special effects just to enjoy how bad it really is. You might wonder why I would start a book review with that, and the reason why is that most people that do anything related to disciple making, point out that there is no magic bullet that will work on everyone. But this book is a magic bullet to make disciples in 10 easy lessons!!!! So I only read it to see how bad it was. (And of course because it was free, as I might spend a couple of dollars on a movie I know is bad, but I'm not spending book money on this.) This is also why I am not counting it in my new year's resolution count.
The main idea of the book is that, this is a series of lessons that they made up teaching people how to be disciples in southeast Asia, where they do not have a Christian history so that even non-Christians have some idea about the religion, like in America. Although it says it isn't a "just teach this lesson" way of doing things that doesn't work, it then gives step by step instructions on how to teach the lessons. This includes having the people repeat what you taught them exactly how you did it multiple times so they learn it. And having them look up things in the Bible for answers and then making them keep redoing it until they get the answer that you want them to have.
It also teaches 8 pictures of Jesus to help the people learn about Him, including hand movements and has people recite memory verses over and over again for each lesson. Both of these things make it feel like it was designed for children, or as they stated in the beginning, people with no knowledge of Jesus. If it was for kids I could see it working, not to make sure they are a disciple, but as a Sunday school class. If it was for adults that were new Christians or wanted to learn about Christ, and didn't have any pre-existing knowledge, I would be concerned; as when reading it, it talked about Jesus a lot and it talked about God, but it didn't talk about Jesus as God. There were times that it did say Jesus was God's son, but reading it, if you weren't familiar with the idea of the trinity, it would sound like Jesus was some sort of demi-god, or ideal human as it emphasized the separation between Jesus and God the Father or the Holy Spirit more then most people do. (It was in the context of how we should be like Jesus and listen to the Holy Spirit, etc. but reading it, it just hit me that I don't think it said Jesus was God and if I wasn't Christian I don't think I would learn it in the actual lesson parts of the program.) Besides that I could see the pictures useful in teaching people about Jesus, but teaching someone about Jesus is not the same thing as helping them be a radical disciple.
Also, it's method of multiplying disciples was presented in such a way that it made Christianity sound like a pyramid scheme with getting a gold star from God as the prize. (Note: it did not suggest that you would get a gold star, only candy.)
In closing: this book does have a number of useful pieces in it, but I do not know how following it exactly (as it states you should do) will result in making all sorts of radical disciples as the title states. It could be a useful tool in teaching people who don't know anything about Jesus things, but it wouldn't be the only tool needed. Also it is so much easier to write long reviews of books I don't like then ones that I do like, as I don't worry about giving too much away. That is why a number of the reviews on mystery books are just a list of characters and the opening events. And I am glad that this book actual worked for all the people that gave it 5 stars on Amazon, I just don't know how it did.
Thursday, February 04, 2016
Sent Together: How the Gospel Sends Leaders to Start Missional Communities:
Sent Together: How the Gospel Sends Leaders to Start Missional Communities: By: Brad Watson
Non-fiction: Religion, NYR, E-book
E-Book Count: 2
Book Count: 4
So I read this book because it relates to something that we are trying out at church and that I am working on. Although, as I told one friend when talking about it, I knew that it was going to be a Protestant book when I got it, but then it really cinched it by quoting (and there forth meaning that the author actually read,) one of the documents of Vatican II. As seen by a conversation that I only overheard part of, but which I think was someone complaining about the same church activity that caused me to read this book, which included the line, "You know that Vatican II really said. . ." and was stated by someone that I am almost positive never read any of the actual documents. (Side bar to the conversation that I had: I think I have read the document that was quoted in the book. Maybe if it looks like he needs a laugh sometime, I will confess it to my priest. . . " Father forgive me, It's been 2 months since my last confession: I actually read things that the popes said before forming an unmovable opinion on it, oh and here is the bottle of water you asked for.")
And now onto the actual book, which from the title you might have guessed is about making mission communities/church planting/neighborhood outreach or what ever you might want to call many similar activities of that sort. It includes practical advice, questions to ask yourself/group, personal stories of how things have worked or not worked for them in real life, and a Bible based set of reasons why to do something like this. It includes a loose framework to do these things, including suggestions for more exact things you might pick from to do depending on where your group is: spiritually, in life, physically, etc. It also has a large number of quotes from the Bible, and Christians from various backgrounds relating to each chapter. And some great, simple explanations of the kerygma/Gospel/Salvation story. At the end there is a series of appendixes for all planning activities suggested in the book.
Non-fiction: Religion, NYR, E-book
E-Book Count: 2
Book Count: 4
So I read this book because it relates to something that we are trying out at church and that I am working on. Although, as I told one friend when talking about it, I knew that it was going to be a Protestant book when I got it, but then it really cinched it by quoting (and there forth meaning that the author actually read,) one of the documents of Vatican II. As seen by a conversation that I only overheard part of, but which I think was someone complaining about the same church activity that caused me to read this book, which included the line, "You know that Vatican II really said. . ." and was stated by someone that I am almost positive never read any of the actual documents. (Side bar to the conversation that I had: I think I have read the document that was quoted in the book. Maybe if it looks like he needs a laugh sometime, I will confess it to my priest. . . " Father forgive me, It's been 2 months since my last confession: I actually read things that the popes said before forming an unmovable opinion on it, oh and here is the bottle of water you asked for.")
And now onto the actual book, which from the title you might have guessed is about making mission communities/church planting/neighborhood outreach or what ever you might want to call many similar activities of that sort. It includes practical advice, questions to ask yourself/group, personal stories of how things have worked or not worked for them in real life, and a Bible based set of reasons why to do something like this. It includes a loose framework to do these things, including suggestions for more exact things you might pick from to do depending on where your group is: spiritually, in life, physically, etc. It also has a large number of quotes from the Bible, and Christians from various backgrounds relating to each chapter. And some great, simple explanations of the kerygma/Gospel/Salvation story. At the end there is a series of appendixes for all planning activities suggested in the book.
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Rediscover Jesus:
Rediscover Jesus: an Invitation By: Matthew Kelly
Non-Fiction: Religion,NYR, 187 pages
Physical Book Count: 2
Book Count: 3
First here is a link to my friend's review of this book. (Even if he does hate everything that Matthew Kelly writes as Kelly doesn't write for where he happens to be spiritually right at this time. And he had more grammar problems in that post then most any other post that he has done.)
Anyway if you haven't clicked on the link, this book is written in 40 short chapters that are made so that you can read one in a few minutes every day, with the idea being that you can read one each day during Lent. (Not counting Sundays, and with a prologue and opening that are not part of the 40 count.) At the end of each chapter is: a point to ponder that sums up the reading, a Bible verse, a question to ask yourself about the chapter, and a short prayer. It is written for people that might be new Christians, or have been Christians for some time but wants to renew or grow their faith/love. Also although it is written for reading during Lent and is from a Catholic organization, it is written in a general Christian tone that people of different branches of Christianity would not find issue with any doctrinal differences in the book, as it isn't concerned with it.
Non-Fiction: Religion,NYR, 187 pages
Physical Book Count: 2
Book Count: 3
First here is a link to my friend's review of this book. (Even if he does hate everything that Matthew Kelly writes as Kelly doesn't write for where he happens to be spiritually right at this time. And he had more grammar problems in that post then most any other post that he has done.)
Anyway if you haven't clicked on the link, this book is written in 40 short chapters that are made so that you can read one in a few minutes every day, with the idea being that you can read one each day during Lent. (Not counting Sundays, and with a prologue and opening that are not part of the 40 count.) At the end of each chapter is: a point to ponder that sums up the reading, a Bible verse, a question to ask yourself about the chapter, and a short prayer. It is written for people that might be new Christians, or have been Christians for some time but wants to renew or grow their faith/love. Also although it is written for reading during Lent and is from a Catholic organization, it is written in a general Christian tone that people of different branches of Christianity would not find issue with any doctrinal differences in the book, as it isn't concerned with it.
Sunday, January 17, 2016
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team:
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable By: Patrick Lencioni
Non-fiction: Business, 224 pages
Physical Book Count: 1
Book Count: 2
I read this book because it was given to me in a meeting at church. It is apparently the book that is going threw all the ministry groups for this year. Also the author is friends with Matthew Kelly and does a similar thing of taking all the things that they used in the business world to help churches. This book is much more just business, but it deals with problems that would be helpful for all sorts of organizations. And it deals with group dynamics and meetings, two things that are very important to church groups.
The 5 interrelated dysfunctions that it talks about are: lack of trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoiding accountability and inattention to results. The book tells a story of a business to show how all of these things work together to cause a group to fail. It also induces more traditional non-fiction style writing at the end with charts and data covering the same info in a more condensed format.
Non-fiction: Business, 224 pages
Physical Book Count: 1
Book Count: 2
I read this book because it was given to me in a meeting at church. It is apparently the book that is going threw all the ministry groups for this year. Also the author is friends with Matthew Kelly and does a similar thing of taking all the things that they used in the business world to help churches. This book is much more just business, but it deals with problems that would be helpful for all sorts of organizations. And it deals with group dynamics and meetings, two things that are very important to church groups.
The 5 interrelated dysfunctions that it talks about are: lack of trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoiding accountability and inattention to results. The book tells a story of a business to show how all of these things work together to cause a group to fail. It also induces more traditional non-fiction style writing at the end with charts and data covering the same info in a more condensed format.
Saturday, January 16, 2016
Change in book counting:
I have decided to change up our book count method. As you might have noticed in the past I have only noted the number of physical books that I have read. But there are a number of books that are full length books, but I read on an e-book format and so I did not count it, making my book count much lower then it really was. So for now on I will count both full length e-books and physical books under the book count. And then list all the things that I read either as a physical book count, or an e-book count, even if the e-book is a novella. So my book count will be the number of full length books that I have read in the year, as well as a count of the number of physical books and e-books that I have read in the year.
Tuesday, January 05, 2016
Mother Night:
Mother Night by: Kurt Vonnegut
Fiction: humor,e-book
E-Book Count:1
Book Count:1
Note: this is my first attempt at writing this on a new screen, that does not seem to hate me yet. But I am sure auto correct shall torment me soon on it.
This book is the story of a Nazi living in a run down apartment in NCY years after loosing the war. And it is the story of a American spy that had nothing really left to live for with the war over. And it is the story of a writer whose wife and muse is gone, leaving him with nothing but memoires. And it is the story of a man hiding who he is, who becomes best friends with a Russian spy who is also hiding his true self. And as you might have guessed, all these men are the same guy, who is writing down his life story as he sits in an Israeli jail waiting to see if he will be killed for his war crimes or if proof that he was working for the USA will come in time.
Fiction: humor,e-book
E-Book Count:1
Book Count:1
Note: this is my first attempt at writing this on a new screen, that does not seem to hate me yet. But I am sure auto correct shall torment me soon on it.
This book is the story of a Nazi living in a run down apartment in NCY years after loosing the war. And it is the story of a American spy that had nothing really left to live for with the war over. And it is the story of a writer whose wife and muse is gone, leaving him with nothing but memoires. And it is the story of a man hiding who he is, who becomes best friends with a Russian spy who is also hiding his true self. And as you might have guessed, all these men are the same guy, who is writing down his life story as he sits in an Israeli jail waiting to see if he will be killed for his war crimes or if proof that he was working for the USA will come in time.
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Hexes and X's:
Hexes and X's: (Z & C Mysteries#3) by: Zoey and Claire Kane
Fiction: Mystery, E-Book
This is book 3 in the series, but is a stand alone story. In this book they are dealing with missing people, murder, witches, a horrible storm, and a pirate treasure. Also there is a river of poop, because some how the traps, clues and other things set up by the original owner of the antique house they are in, did not get changed in any way. This includes the part that is connected to the cities sewer system, because that is realistic.
Fiction: Mystery, E-Book
This is book 3 in the series, but is a stand alone story. In this book they are dealing with missing people, murder, witches, a horrible storm, and a pirate treasure. Also there is a river of poop, because some how the traps, clues and other things set up by the original owner of the antique house they are in, did not get changed in any way. This includes the part that is connected to the cities sewer system, because that is realistic.
New Year's Resolutions:
As I stated yesterday, I will not be making resolutions that could not be done by the Amish, because then the machines won't win. At least not this time.
1.- Required weight lost goal- Less cheat days/foods.
2 - The spiritual goal - To read 12 books/essays/pieces by saints, religious leaders, and/or others on the subject. Note to my kindle: Just because I loaded you up with things that fit this, doesn't mean that I don't have a supply of paperbacks that could work just as well, so don't get any ideas.
3- The writing goal- To work on at least 3 pieces this year. Note to the computer: I can write this with paper and a pen, given the attitude that the printer has, I might just start out this way with them.
So for my IRL friends, there is the list of things that you can bug me about this year. Now I just need to eat all this junk food before midnight.
1.- Required weight lost goal- Less cheat days/foods.
2 - The spiritual goal - To read 12 books/essays/pieces by saints, religious leaders, and/or others on the subject. Note to my kindle: Just because I loaded you up with things that fit this, doesn't mean that I don't have a supply of paperbacks that could work just as well, so don't get any ideas.
3- The writing goal- To work on at least 3 pieces this year. Note to the computer: I can write this with paper and a pen, given the attitude that the printer has, I might just start out this way with them.
So for my IRL friends, there is the list of things that you can bug me about this year. Now I just need to eat all this junk food before midnight.
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Last Year's Resolutions:
As you might remember from my earlier post, computers have decided to turn on me this year. So almost everything that I had planned to do, I gave up on after having to deal with crashes, breaking and disappearing data. So I did manage to read the 12 books that I wanted too, and I think they all ended up on the FB list with rating, but besides that, I think this next year none of my resolutions should be dependent on electronics.
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
A Night of Horrors:
A Night of Horrors:A Historical Thriller about the 24 Hours of Lincoln's Assassination by: John C. Berry
Fiction: History, E-book
Yes, this another book that deals with an historic event by writing a novel style story based on the facts and information written by people that were there. In this case it is the story of the events surrounding the assassination of Lincoln, and the plot to kill other members of the government at the same time. This story is told from many different point of view, including that of Booth. It also deals with what is happening in multiple places at the same time, so that you can read about what the president and other government and military members were doing at the same time as what Booth and the others working with him were doing.
Fiction: History, E-book
Yes, this another book that deals with an historic event by writing a novel style story based on the facts and information written by people that were there. In this case it is the story of the events surrounding the assassination of Lincoln, and the plot to kill other members of the government at the same time. This story is told from many different point of view, including that of Booth. It also deals with what is happening in multiple places at the same time, so that you can read about what the president and other government and military members were doing at the same time as what Booth and the others working with him were doing.
Friday, December 18, 2015
The Lost Tribe of Coney Island:
The Lost Tribe of Coney Island: Headhunters, Luna Park, and the Man Who Pulled Off the Spectacle of the Century By: Claire Prentice
Non-Fiction: History, E-book
1st- We are back from our month(ish) of writing, and then gift buying. (We did finish a non-Nanowrimo piece today.)
2nd- This title was so long that I had to look up the book on-line to read it all.
3rd- All computers hate me, it is the only reasonable answer for this year, I do not know what I did to anger them, but they are mad.
4th- A review of the book. . .
This book is about the true story of when America first gained control of the Philippines and became enamored with the native peoples, especially the Igorrote tribe that were headhunters from the interior of the country. They were first shown in the World's Fair in America and then Truman Hunt, got the idea to make money by showing them around the USA. This started with a place on Coney Island, and ended up with them touring any county fair or amusement park that he could find, as he mismanaged funds, lied to governments, and kidnapped the tribes people after the one year term of their contract with him ended. It is written in a novel format, but is based on all of the records that the author could find. It also ends with more info on what happened to all the people, or at least all of the info they could find on them, as many of the records were lost, or there were not necessary much records to begin with. (For example, the records of people that went back to tribal life are almost nonexistent.) It also deals some with other people that showed tribes people around America and Europe and the degrees in which the either also mistreated them, or treated them well, as well as the issues that this brought up
Non-Fiction: History, E-book
1st- We are back from our month(ish) of writing, and then gift buying. (We did finish a non-Nanowrimo piece today.)
2nd- This title was so long that I had to look up the book on-line to read it all.
3rd- All computers hate me, it is the only reasonable answer for this year, I do not know what I did to anger them, but they are mad.
4th- A review of the book. . .
This book is about the true story of when America first gained control of the Philippines and became enamored with the native peoples, especially the Igorrote tribe that were headhunters from the interior of the country. They were first shown in the World's Fair in America and then Truman Hunt, got the idea to make money by showing them around the USA. This started with a place on Coney Island, and ended up with them touring any county fair or amusement park that he could find, as he mismanaged funds, lied to governments, and kidnapped the tribes people after the one year term of their contract with him ended. It is written in a novel format, but is based on all of the records that the author could find. It also ends with more info on what happened to all the people, or at least all of the info they could find on them, as many of the records were lost, or there were not necessary much records to begin with. (For example, the records of people that went back to tribal life are almost nonexistent.) It also deals some with other people that showed tribes people around America and Europe and the degrees in which the either also mistreated them, or treated them well, as well as the issues that this brought up
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Rags & Bones
Rags & Bones: New Twists on Timeless Tales ed By: Melissa Marr and Tim Pratt
Fiction: Short Stories, Classics, Sci Fi, Fantasy, Paranormal 350 pages
Book Count: 48
This collection of short stories are all based on other works: classics, fairy tales, etc. Each one retells the story in some way; changing the time and place, point of view, or even taking the ideas in a whole new direction.
Fiction: Short Stories, Classics, Sci Fi, Fantasy, Paranormal 350 pages
Book Count: 48
This collection of short stories are all based on other works: classics, fairy tales, etc. Each one retells the story in some way; changing the time and place, point of view, or even taking the ideas in a whole new direction.
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