The Boxcar Children by: Gertrude Chandler Warner
Fiction: children's, 154 pages
Physical Book Count: 11
Book Count: 22
Someone just had to read this book for the summer. It was on their to do list and everything. Then I get it in from the library, and they are all meh. So I read it, because someone at this house was going to enjoy the book, after waiting 2 months for it.
Friday, August 19, 2016
Thursday, August 18, 2016
The Brick Testament:
The Brick Testament: Stories from the Book of Genesis retold and illustrated by: Brendan Powell Smith
Nonfiction: religion, 173 pages
Physical Book Count: 10
Book Count: 21
Ten biblical stories as told in Lego bricks.
Nonfiction: religion, 173 pages
Physical Book Count: 10
Book Count: 21
Ten biblical stories as told in Lego bricks.
Sunday, August 14, 2016
The Templar's Cross: A Medieval Mystery:
The Templar's Cross: A Medieval Mystery By: J.R.Tomlin
Fiction: Mystery, History, E-book
E-Book Count: 13
Book Count: 20
After last time picking out a free e-book that was a disappointment, I decided to pick up something that could only surprise me in a positive way. I mean it has Templar and mystery right in the title. It even takes place after the Templars were disbanded and it was a treasure hunt and murder mystery. However, the most annoying thing about the book was it's use of old and or Scottish slang words and phrases. Most of them were easy to understand and there is a dictionary of those words in the back of the book, they just sometimes took you out of the story as you determined what the word means.
This book is about an older knight that just lost his employment and is injured, so he is trying to get any work that he can. He takes a job to look for a man, although he is sure that the person who gave him the job is lying about the reasons he was to find the man. He has one of his friends help him, only to have both his friend and the man end up dead on the same night. Then he ends up deeper and deeper in the web of lies and half truths surrounding this situation.
Fiction: Mystery, History, E-book
E-Book Count: 13
Book Count: 20
After last time picking out a free e-book that was a disappointment, I decided to pick up something that could only surprise me in a positive way. I mean it has Templar and mystery right in the title. It even takes place after the Templars were disbanded and it was a treasure hunt and murder mystery. However, the most annoying thing about the book was it's use of old and or Scottish slang words and phrases. Most of them were easy to understand and there is a dictionary of those words in the back of the book, they just sometimes took you out of the story as you determined what the word means.
This book is about an older knight that just lost his employment and is injured, so he is trying to get any work that he can. He takes a job to look for a man, although he is sure that the person who gave him the job is lying about the reasons he was to find the man. He has one of his friends help him, only to have both his friend and the man end up dead on the same night. Then he ends up deeper and deeper in the web of lies and half truths surrounding this situation.
Tuesday, August 02, 2016
City of Stairs:
City of Stairs by: Robert Jackson Bennett
Fiction: Sci-fi/Fantasy, 452 pages
Physical Book Count: 9
Book Count: 19
This was another book that a friend suggested that I would like. It is much more a fantasy then a sci-fi novel, but as we were talking about sci-fi books and it has a dystopian feel and human like, but not human life forms in it, I put both in the labels.
As stated above this story doesn't take place on earth. It is on a world where there are 3 very different humanoid lifeforms; one that were chosen by the Divinities, one that were slaves until they found out how to kill the Divinities, and one that we know little about besides that they are sailors with out a king. The killing of the Divinities happened many generations before this story started. In fact the main character, Shara is a descendant of the Kaj, who is the one who killed the Divinities. She goes to the city of Bulikov, the city of stairs, that once was the center of the Continent where the gods and their chosen people lived, to investigate a murder of a historian that she knew. Once there she finds she finds much more going on then a simple murder. She also has to deal with her past, as a former lover is an important city official, who may or may not be a part of the conspiracy that she has got caught up in.
Fiction: Sci-fi/Fantasy, 452 pages
Physical Book Count: 9
Book Count: 19
This was another book that a friend suggested that I would like. It is much more a fantasy then a sci-fi novel, but as we were talking about sci-fi books and it has a dystopian feel and human like, but not human life forms in it, I put both in the labels.
As stated above this story doesn't take place on earth. It is on a world where there are 3 very different humanoid lifeforms; one that were chosen by the Divinities, one that were slaves until they found out how to kill the Divinities, and one that we know little about besides that they are sailors with out a king. The killing of the Divinities happened many generations before this story started. In fact the main character, Shara is a descendant of the Kaj, who is the one who killed the Divinities. She goes to the city of Bulikov, the city of stairs, that once was the center of the Continent where the gods and their chosen people lived, to investigate a murder of a historian that she knew. Once there she finds she finds much more going on then a simple murder. She also has to deal with her past, as a former lover is an important city official, who may or may not be a part of the conspiracy that she has got caught up in.
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
The Anatomy of a Disciple:
The Anatomy of a Disciple: So Many Believers. So Few Disciples. By: Rick Taylor
Non-fiction: religion, E-book
E-Book Count: 12
Book Count: 18
Okay, so on Amazon Prime you get one free e-book a month from a large list of books. It was the end of the month of June, I had an almost dead battery and I needed to pick something quickly or forfeit my free book for the month. This book's title looked interesting enough to be better then nothing. I did not give it the normal amount of looking over that I usually do for my monthly book. And that is why I finished reading this book, as otherwise I would still have lost my free book.
That being said, this books main idea is that God is the one that does all the work and so all you need to do is: read your Bible, "bend the knees of your heart" in prayer, and be around other Christians that will hold you accountable to become a disciple and not just a believer who fails constantly and burns out by trying on their own to be a good Christian. . . you know by reading their Bible, praying and doing Christianly things with other Christians. So it reads like a self-help book with a neat graph on things to aim for, stories on how it works in real life, Biblical examples, bullet-point lists, and end notes; however, as it isn't about what you will be doing it feels long and rambling. Like if it had the beginning with the graph of actions and practices of a disciple and the end with it's reiterating on how to be open to God making you a disciple (minus the plug to buy their personality test.) it might have been an okay read.
Non-fiction: religion, E-book
E-Book Count: 12
Book Count: 18
Okay, so on Amazon Prime you get one free e-book a month from a large list of books. It was the end of the month of June, I had an almost dead battery and I needed to pick something quickly or forfeit my free book for the month. This book's title looked interesting enough to be better then nothing. I did not give it the normal amount of looking over that I usually do for my monthly book. And that is why I finished reading this book, as otherwise I would still have lost my free book.
That being said, this books main idea is that God is the one that does all the work and so all you need to do is: read your Bible, "bend the knees of your heart" in prayer, and be around other Christians that will hold you accountable to become a disciple and not just a believer who fails constantly and burns out by trying on their own to be a good Christian. . . you know by reading their Bible, praying and doing Christianly things with other Christians. So it reads like a self-help book with a neat graph on things to aim for, stories on how it works in real life, Biblical examples, bullet-point lists, and end notes; however, as it isn't about what you will be doing it feels long and rambling. Like if it had the beginning with the graph of actions and practices of a disciple and the end with it's reiterating on how to be open to God making you a disciple (minus the plug to buy their personality test.) it might have been an okay read.
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
No Price Too High:
No Price Too High: A Pentecostal Preacher Becomes Catholic By: Diane Hanson
Non-fiction: Religion, Biography, NYR, 258 pages
Physical Book Count: 8
Book Count: 17
This is the conversion story of Alex Jones as well as his wife, Donna. Each shared their own story with the author, so it is like two books in one, with the author writing it in each of their voices.
Non-fiction: Religion, Biography, NYR, 258 pages
Physical Book Count: 8
Book Count: 17
This is the conversion story of Alex Jones as well as his wife, Donna. Each shared their own story with the author, so it is like two books in one, with the author writing it in each of their voices.
Monday, July 11, 2016
My Badass Book of Saints:
My Badass Book of Saints: Courageous Women Who Showed Me How to Live By: Maria Morera Johnson
Non-fiction: Religion, Biography, NYR, 132 pages
Physical Book Count: 7
Book Count: 16
This book both tells stories about the author's life as well as that of saints and other women that she looks up to. There are 11 chapters, each that deals with one topic and includes the stories of at least 2 women that are an example for how to live out that virtue, one of them a saint or blessed. Most of the other women are also Catholic, but she also draws inspiration from a couple of women that were not necessarily religiously motivated in their activities. After that the book ends on Mary. There are a couple questions at the end of each chapter as well as a guide at the end to use it in a 6 week study.
At the start of the book it does go into how she ended up writing a book about saints titled bad ass. The short version is that as she is bi-lingual she read the Spanish version of a friend's book where one word translated more to mean bad ass in Spanish then the meaning of the original word, and also she wanted a book on women saints where it showcased their boldness.
Non-fiction: Religion, Biography, NYR, 132 pages
Physical Book Count: 7
Book Count: 16
This book both tells stories about the author's life as well as that of saints and other women that she looks up to. There are 11 chapters, each that deals with one topic and includes the stories of at least 2 women that are an example for how to live out that virtue, one of them a saint or blessed. Most of the other women are also Catholic, but she also draws inspiration from a couple of women that were not necessarily religiously motivated in their activities. After that the book ends on Mary. There are a couple questions at the end of each chapter as well as a guide at the end to use it in a 6 week study.
At the start of the book it does go into how she ended up writing a book about saints titled bad ass. The short version is that as she is bi-lingual she read the Spanish version of a friend's book where one word translated more to mean bad ass in Spanish then the meaning of the original word, and also she wanted a book on women saints where it showcased their boldness.
Monday, June 27, 2016
The Everything Saint Book:
The Everything Saint Book by: Jenny Schroedel
Non-fiction: religion,biography, NYR, e-book
First, some notes: there are a number of formatting issues, typos, and minor mistakes in the book. Most are not a big deal; as you learn that the e-fact is in the middle of the rest of the text and read accordingly etc, but the book cuts out at the beginning of appendix a in the e-book for some reason, which is annoying. And it includes some information that isn't correct; for example most priests in the Latin Rite of the Catholic church can not be married, but in the Eastern Rites there are different traditions, and there are some situations in which a married man can become a priest in the Latin Rite. Which is something that I would expect a book that deals with saints in both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches to know.
Second, as noted earlier, this book deals with people that are seen as a saints in both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. Some are considered saints in both churches as they lived before the Great Schism, but unlike many books I have read, it deals with saints that are modern and from Orthodox Churches. So it was interesting to read about people that I would not otherwise learn about. Also as this book is a few years old there are a number of people that were listed as on the path to being declared a saint that since the publishing of this book have been declared a saint. But it also has a number of notes on other books one can read for more in-depth biographies of some of the people, so if one wanted more then a couple pages of information they could find out more.
Non-fiction: religion,biography, NYR, e-book
E-Book Count: 11
Book Count: 15First, some notes: there are a number of formatting issues, typos, and minor mistakes in the book. Most are not a big deal; as you learn that the e-fact is in the middle of the rest of the text and read accordingly etc, but the book cuts out at the beginning of appendix a in the e-book for some reason, which is annoying. And it includes some information that isn't correct; for example most priests in the Latin Rite of the Catholic church can not be married, but in the Eastern Rites there are different traditions, and there are some situations in which a married man can become a priest in the Latin Rite. Which is something that I would expect a book that deals with saints in both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches to know.
Second, as noted earlier, this book deals with people that are seen as a saints in both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. Some are considered saints in both churches as they lived before the Great Schism, but unlike many books I have read, it deals with saints that are modern and from Orthodox Churches. So it was interesting to read about people that I would not otherwise learn about. Also as this book is a few years old there are a number of people that were listed as on the path to being declared a saint that since the publishing of this book have been declared a saint. But it also has a number of notes on other books one can read for more in-depth biographies of some of the people, so if one wanted more then a couple pages of information they could find out more.
Thursday, June 23, 2016
A Canticle for Leibowitz:
A Canticle for Leibowitz By: Walter M. Miller Jr.
Fiction: Sci-fi, religion, NYR, 338 pages
Physical Book Count: 6
Book Count: 14
I picked up this book because after working a convention, at the after party over some Scotch old enough to drink Scotch, a not religious friend( I think he is agnostic but I'm not sure what label he would use for sure,) of my husband and me, who knew we were Catholic and that we were looking for some good sci-fi to read, suggested this book. (as well as a couple others.) After I finished this book, one of the religious websites that I follow, listed this as one of the 10 books Catholics should read in their life. (Besides the Bible and other religious non-fiction books, as it was a list of fiction books only.) So as you might have guessed this book is both a good sci-fi epic and a book that deals with the deeper issues of faith, belief and religion.
As this book is an epic, there isn't just one or two main characters that the book follows. The story is broke into 3 parts and takes place over generations of humanity. The common thread is that it is the story of the monks of the Albertian Order of Leibowitz. An order founded by Leibowitz, who at the start of the book isn't even officially a saint, a man who lived threw the fire deluge (nuclear war) and who's order was dedicated to saving the writings and intellectualism of the past during a time of a violent reaction against the knowledge that caused the cataclysmic events that set the world back a millennium plus. The story starts when the world is still at a time of war against intellect, even though the time from the fire deluge is enough that people only know of it from stories and legends, and a number of things that they "know" about it is not based on facts. It then jumps to a time when people are rediscovering science and technology. And it ends at the time when humanity has advanced to the level like that of the time of the fire deluge and the question of will humanity destroy itself is once again an issue.
Although the story is set well into the future, a basic knowledge of Ecclesiastical Lain will be helpful in reading this book, as they are monks. At the start of the book they do translate important phrases, and it is not necessary to translate all of the Latin to understand the story line. A basic knowledge of monastic life would be helpful and as always the parts of the Mass that are still in Greek are still in Greek. Also, interesting right before reading this book I had a conversation during Taco Tuesday (the smallest, most unofficial small group in our parish) about why there wasn't a completely missing the point legend about a certain Biblical figure like there was of the wandering Jew from Matt 24:34/Mk 13:30/Lk 21:34 and they were in there in the legendary storyline that I was thinking of. Also in the future Litanies sound much more hardcore, while still keeping with the traditional format.
Fiction: Sci-fi, religion, NYR, 338 pages
Physical Book Count: 6
Book Count: 14
I picked up this book because after working a convention, at the after party over some Scotch old enough to drink Scotch, a not religious friend( I think he is agnostic but I'm not sure what label he would use for sure,) of my husband and me, who knew we were Catholic and that we were looking for some good sci-fi to read, suggested this book. (as well as a couple others.) After I finished this book, one of the religious websites that I follow, listed this as one of the 10 books Catholics should read in their life. (Besides the Bible and other religious non-fiction books, as it was a list of fiction books only.) So as you might have guessed this book is both a good sci-fi epic and a book that deals with the deeper issues of faith, belief and religion.
As this book is an epic, there isn't just one or two main characters that the book follows. The story is broke into 3 parts and takes place over generations of humanity. The common thread is that it is the story of the monks of the Albertian Order of Leibowitz. An order founded by Leibowitz, who at the start of the book isn't even officially a saint, a man who lived threw the fire deluge (nuclear war) and who's order was dedicated to saving the writings and intellectualism of the past during a time of a violent reaction against the knowledge that caused the cataclysmic events that set the world back a millennium plus. The story starts when the world is still at a time of war against intellect, even though the time from the fire deluge is enough that people only know of it from stories and legends, and a number of things that they "know" about it is not based on facts. It then jumps to a time when people are rediscovering science and technology. And it ends at the time when humanity has advanced to the level like that of the time of the fire deluge and the question of will humanity destroy itself is once again an issue.
Although the story is set well into the future, a basic knowledge of Ecclesiastical Lain will be helpful in reading this book, as they are monks. At the start of the book they do translate important phrases, and it is not necessary to translate all of the Latin to understand the story line. A basic knowledge of monastic life would be helpful and as always the parts of the Mass that are still in Greek are still in Greek. Also, interesting right before reading this book I had a conversation during Taco Tuesday (the smallest, most unofficial small group in our parish) about why there wasn't a completely missing the point legend about a certain Biblical figure like there was of the wandering Jew from Matt 24:34/Mk 13:30/Lk 21:34 and they were in there in the legendary storyline that I was thinking of. Also in the future Litanies sound much more hardcore, while still keeping with the traditional format.
Friday, June 03, 2016
Swept Under the Rug:
Swept Under the Rug (Laundry Hag Series, Book 2) By: Jennifer L. Hart
Fiction, Mystery, E-book
E-Book Count: 10
Book Count: 13This is book two in the series. The review of book one is here. This book happens shortly after the end of book one. Maggie is cleaning houses in her new business and stumbles on a mysterious fax. From there she gets into a whole new mess of a mystery. She also is dealing with finding that her best friend's husband is cheating, her brother coming home with his very pregnant new girlfriend, and a guy named Richard Head.
Friday, May 13, 2016
History's Most Insane Rulers:
History's Most Insane Rulers: (the subtitle is to long to read off my kindle) by: Michael Rank
Non-Fiction: History, Bio, E-book
E-Book Count: 9
Book Count: 12
This book is a collection of short biographies of famous insane rulers. This includes a number of the European monarchs that due to genetic issues suffered from mental health issues that where not understood at the time, and they didn't have ways to help treat then. It also has the stories of dictators that just went crazy with power. It starts out with Caligula and ends with Kim Jong-Il. It was a very short book with only a couple pages for each person.
Non-Fiction: History, Bio, E-book
E-Book Count: 9
Book Count: 12
This book is a collection of short biographies of famous insane rulers. This includes a number of the European monarchs that due to genetic issues suffered from mental health issues that where not understood at the time, and they didn't have ways to help treat then. It also has the stories of dictators that just went crazy with power. It starts out with Caligula and ends with Kim Jong-Il. It was a very short book with only a couple pages for each person.
Drinking in America:
Drinking in America: Our Secret History By: Susan Cheever
Non-fiction: History, 221 pages
Physical Book Count: 5
Book Count: 12
This book attempts to explore America's Love/Hate relationship with alcohol. It starts with the way that a lack of beer helped cause the Pilgrims to land where they did to the founding of AA. It deals with key points in the history of America and explores the highs and lows of how drinking shaped the country. It includes how America could in one century go from the most drinking country in the world to outlawing drinking completely, and where the pendulum is swinging today. It was written by a person that was a child of an alcoholic and also had addiction issues, so that might have colored some of the book. (It wasn't a major issue in any way, just that they saw the connection between alcoholism and people's behavior even when they weren't drinking, while someone without that background would more likely see the people as jerks, who also happened to drink at times.)
Non-fiction: History, 221 pages
Physical Book Count: 5
Book Count: 12
This book attempts to explore America's Love/Hate relationship with alcohol. It starts with the way that a lack of beer helped cause the Pilgrims to land where they did to the founding of AA. It deals with key points in the history of America and explores the highs and lows of how drinking shaped the country. It includes how America could in one century go from the most drinking country in the world to outlawing drinking completely, and where the pendulum is swinging today. It was written by a person that was a child of an alcoholic and also had addiction issues, so that might have colored some of the book. (It wasn't a major issue in any way, just that they saw the connection between alcoholism and people's behavior even when they weren't drinking, while someone without that background would more likely see the people as jerks, who also happened to drink at times.)
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Secondhand Souls:
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.
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)