Purgatory 101: Everything You Wanted To Know About Purgatory by: Johan Cyprich
Non-fiction: Religion, E-book
This book should be called: vaguely superstitious uses of devotions and incorrect, likely Rad Trad "information" on the Catholic faith, pray for the souls in Purgatory. For example, it notes that we know little on Purgatory and that visions, even from saints aren't official doctrine. It then spends most of the book going over all the ways that you can pray for the souls in Purgatory. Which wouldn't be bad; except, it's not information on Purgatory and it includes statements declared incorrect by popes. Things like, if you pray the St. Gertrude the Great prayer 1,000 souls will go to Heaven. Or if you have 30 Gregorian Masses said for someone, having one said every day for 30 days straight (with no skipping days) then that person will automatically go to Heaven on day 30. In short, superstitious uses of otherwise good devotions. And then there is the things that are completely wrong, which were likely right 70 years ago. Things like saying Lent ends on Easter Vigil or there are 3 mysteries of the rosary (I am assuming that they meant to say 3 groups or types of mysteries. Also I checked when the Luminous Mysteries were made in relationship to the book, they started in 2002, the book was updated this year.)
Friday, August 23, 2019
Thursday, August 22, 2019
The Man Who Became Frankenstein's Monster:
The Man Who Became Frankenstein's Monster by:Robert Daicy
Fiction: Historic, E-book
This story is set in the 1920's. William Barker has a fairly normal life. He has a good job, a son he loves, and a wife who is unhappy, but one doesn't just get a divorce. Then after a day of fun activities out with his son, they get in a car accident. His son, James, dies and he barely lives, with many ugly scars all over his body. His wife used the son's death as a reason to get a divorce and be free to marry her lover. William looses his job, as he is too disfigured to work with the customers. His mom would be happy to let him live with her, but he ends up meeting a man that runs a travelling carnival who offers him a job in the freak show.
Fiction: Historic, E-book
This story is set in the 1920's. William Barker has a fairly normal life. He has a good job, a son he loves, and a wife who is unhappy, but one doesn't just get a divorce. Then after a day of fun activities out with his son, they get in a car accident. His son, James, dies and he barely lives, with many ugly scars all over his body. His wife used the son's death as a reason to get a divorce and be free to marry her lover. William looses his job, as he is too disfigured to work with the customers. His mom would be happy to let him live with her, but he ends up meeting a man that runs a travelling carnival who offers him a job in the freak show.
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Behold Your Mother:
Behold Your Mother: A Biblical and Historical Defense of the Marian Doctrines By: Tim Staples
Non-fiction: Religion, 352 pages
A book on the various Marian doctrines divided up by doctrine. Many of the common arguments and sources used, both for and against the doctrines, but also some less common.
Non-fiction: Religion, 352 pages
A book on the various Marian doctrines divided up by doctrine. Many of the common arguments and sources used, both for and against the doctrines, but also some less common.
Monday, August 19, 2019
The Adventures of John Blake: Mystery of the Ghost Ship:
The Adventures of John Blake: Mystery of the Ghost Ship (The Adventures of John Blake #1) by Philip Pullman, illustrated by: Fred Fordham
Fiction: Sci-fi, mystery, graphic novel, 160 pages
A mysterious ghost ship appears out of a sudden fog. If you look into the eyes of the boy on board you die. Or at least that is the story; the ship isn't full of ghosts, its full of people from all different times who are very much alive, but trapped traveling back and forth in time. And there is someone from the present day after them. As well as others searching for answers and deeply connected to the ship's sailors. John Blake, the boy who is at the center of this all, saves the life of a girl from modern times, and has to risk everything to put her back in her time.
Fiction: Sci-fi, mystery, graphic novel, 160 pages
A mysterious ghost ship appears out of a sudden fog. If you look into the eyes of the boy on board you die. Or at least that is the story; the ship isn't full of ghosts, its full of people from all different times who are very much alive, but trapped traveling back and forth in time. And there is someone from the present day after them. As well as others searching for answers and deeply connected to the ship's sailors. John Blake, the boy who is at the center of this all, saves the life of a girl from modern times, and has to risk everything to put her back in her time.
Sunday, August 18, 2019
Baba Yaga's Assistant:
Baba Yaga's Assistant by: Marika McCoola, illustrated by: Emily Carroll
Fiction, Graphic Novel, Paranormal, Fantasy 132 pages
This story ended too quickly. First thing I did after finishing it was look to see if their might be more books in a series to read. I didn't want the book to end.
A young adult who's mother died when she was young and her grandmother who raised her also just died finds out her father is getting re-married and she is getting a brat of a step-sister. She also sees an ad for being Baba Yaga's assistant. She grew up on the stories that her grandmother told of when she knew Baba Yaga and so she sets out to try and work for her. Of course it's not as simple as filling out forms, Masha (the girl) has a series of tests starting with even finding the house.
Fiction, Graphic Novel, Paranormal, Fantasy 132 pages
This story ended too quickly. First thing I did after finishing it was look to see if their might be more books in a series to read. I didn't want the book to end.
A young adult who's mother died when she was young and her grandmother who raised her also just died finds out her father is getting re-married and she is getting a brat of a step-sister. She also sees an ad for being Baba Yaga's assistant. She grew up on the stories that her grandmother told of when she knew Baba Yaga and so she sets out to try and work for her. Of course it's not as simple as filling out forms, Masha (the girl) has a series of tests starting with even finding the house.
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Vlad the Impaler: A Life From Beginning to End:
Vlad the Impaler: A Life From Beginning to End by:Hourly History
Non-fiction, History, Biography, E-book
As one might tell by the author of the book, this is a cliffnotes version of the history/life story of Vlad the Impaler, which info on his connection to the story "Dracula." It does go over major points of his life.
Non-fiction, History, Biography, E-book
As one might tell by the author of the book, this is a cliffnotes version of the history/life story of Vlad the Impaler, which info on his connection to the story "Dracula." It does go over major points of his life.
Friday, August 16, 2019
CASE CLOSED: Serial Killers Captured:
CASE CLOSED: Serial Killers Captured by: by R.J. Parker
Non-fiction: True Crime, E-book
A collection of shorter telling of the story of some of the most famous serial killers as well as some lesser known ones. It goes over the crime, capture and what became of the killer.
Non-fiction: True Crime, E-book
A collection of shorter telling of the story of some of the most famous serial killers as well as some lesser known ones. It goes over the crime, capture and what became of the killer.
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Grunge, Nerds, and Gastropubs: A Mass Culture Odyssey:
Grunge, Nerds, and Gastropubs: A Mass Culture Odyssey by: Kevin Craft
Non-fiction, Essays, Pop Culture, E-book
First this book is all about being a part of Gen X by someone that is considered a Millennial by a number of people. It is a great set of essays on why they like a band not even often considered grunge, is a geek (with some nerdy qualities but why they wouldn't say geek when it would make it alliteration?) and why they think Olive Garden is good food. In short, the book and the title are two very different things.
Non-fiction, Essays, Pop Culture, E-book
First this book is all about being a part of Gen X by someone that is considered a Millennial by a number of people. It is a great set of essays on why they like a band not even often considered grunge, is a geek (with some nerdy qualities but why they wouldn't say geek when it would make it alliteration?) and why they think Olive Garden is good food. In short, the book and the title are two very different things.
Thursday, August 01, 2019
Lilith: A Romance:
Lilith: A Romance by George MacDonald
Fiction: Religion, Fantasy, Classic, E-book
There is nothing like Victorian, allegorical, religious fantasy. (Which is probably a good thing.) This book was a better read then the (later written, not Victorian, allegorical, religious fantasy) Narnia books; however, it was also way, way more heretical. Like everyone will be saved, including the demons (or pure evil, the void, Satan?) and just giving up and dying is the way to go. Also, there is a creepy thing with a person that looks like a girl even if she is older then the guy obsessed with her.
Fiction: Religion, Fantasy, Classic, E-book
There is nothing like Victorian, allegorical, religious fantasy. (Which is probably a good thing.) This book was a better read then the (later written, not Victorian, allegorical, religious fantasy) Narnia books; however, it was also way, way more heretical. Like everyone will be saved, including the demons (or pure evil, the void, Satan?) and just giving up and dying is the way to go. Also, there is a creepy thing with a person that looks like a girl even if she is older then the guy obsessed with her.
Wednesday, July 31, 2019
Father Brown (Complete Collection):
Father Brown (Complete Collection) by: G. K. Chesterton
Fiction: Mystery, Classics, E-book
This book contains all the stories written about Father Brown by Chesterton, so it is really 7 books of short stories all put in the order they were published. Having watched the TV series, I was surprised how quickly Flambeau went from the criminal mastermind to a friend of Fr. Brown who works with him in dealing with mysteries. Also, as it is an older book their is the warning that it does contain language that modern readers will find offensive. (Much like in his other works that I have commented on here or elsewhere, it is a case of these were the commonly used words in his day and there doesn't appear to be any of the derogatoryness that these words convey now implied in the use, but it is jarring to read.) Besides that it is an interesting collection of mystery stories. Some of them, I could see where the clues were leading and some I didn't know who did it until the explanation.
Fiction: Mystery, Classics, E-book
This book contains all the stories written about Father Brown by Chesterton, so it is really 7 books of short stories all put in the order they were published. Having watched the TV series, I was surprised how quickly Flambeau went from the criminal mastermind to a friend of Fr. Brown who works with him in dealing with mysteries. Also, as it is an older book their is the warning that it does contain language that modern readers will find offensive. (Much like in his other works that I have commented on here or elsewhere, it is a case of these were the commonly used words in his day and there doesn't appear to be any of the derogatoryness that these words convey now implied in the use, but it is jarring to read.) Besides that it is an interesting collection of mystery stories. Some of them, I could see where the clues were leading and some I didn't know who did it until the explanation.
Tuesday, July 30, 2019
Dead Man Talking:
Dead Man Talking by:T.M. Simmons
Fiction: Mystery, Paranormal, E-book
In this 1st book in a series we meet Alice a writer who sees ghosts and lives in a haunted house. (With a number of ghost, her dog and cat.) We also meet her ghost seeing granny, cousin, mentor, skeptical ex-husband and ghost who range from a few hours to centuries old. And find her cousin in the situation of finding the body of the newest ghost and being accused of his murder. So they have to solve that murder as well as the accidental murder of Sir Gary (a centuries old ghost) so he can pass on into the light (and stop messing with people here.)
Fiction: Mystery, Paranormal, E-book
In this 1st book in a series we meet Alice a writer who sees ghosts and lives in a haunted house. (With a number of ghost, her dog and cat.) We also meet her ghost seeing granny, cousin, mentor, skeptical ex-husband and ghost who range from a few hours to centuries old. And find her cousin in the situation of finding the body of the newest ghost and being accused of his murder. So they have to solve that murder as well as the accidental murder of Sir Gary (a centuries old ghost) so he can pass on into the light (and stop messing with people here.)
Monday, July 29, 2019
The Reckless Way of Love: Notes on Following Jesus:
The Reckless Way of Love: Notes on Following Jesus by Dorothy Day
Non-Fiction: Religion, Memoir, 149 pages
A collection of short sayings and thoughts from Dorothy Day about many subjects.
Non-Fiction: Religion, Memoir, 149 pages
A collection of short sayings and thoughts from Dorothy Day about many subjects.
Saturday, July 13, 2019
The Little Book of Big Mistakes:
The Little Book of Big Mistakes by:Ken Lytle
Non-Fiction: History, 220 pages
I took this book with me on a trip. If I hadn't I might not have finished it. Each page is about a "Big Mistake" that happened in history in chronological order, some have a short paragraph at the end that relates to the story but not necessary directly. When it started with the original sin as a story of a woman that wanted to go apple picking, I thought I would give it a chance on a story that was more historic, factual, detail based. There were a few stories that I knew and were like meh, not a good explanation, but then it did the Galileo was 100% correct with the science to prove it and the Church was just anti-science and backwards myth, where I was like did you look into any of these things or just repeat the half truth elementary school version of these events?
Non-Fiction: History, 220 pages
I took this book with me on a trip. If I hadn't I might not have finished it. Each page is about a "Big Mistake" that happened in history in chronological order, some have a short paragraph at the end that relates to the story but not necessary directly. When it started with the original sin as a story of a woman that wanted to go apple picking, I thought I would give it a chance on a story that was more historic, factual, detail based. There were a few stories that I knew and were like meh, not a good explanation, but then it did the Galileo was 100% correct with the science to prove it and the Church was just anti-science and backwards myth, where I was like did you look into any of these things or just repeat the half truth elementary school version of these events?
The Apostasy That Wasn't: The Extraordinary Story of the Unbreakable Early Church:
The Apostasy That Wasn't: The Extraordinary Story of the Unbreakable Early Church by: Rod Bennett
Non-fiction: Religion, E- book
This book deals with the real history of the time that many people say the "Great Apostasy" happened. Just yesterday I was talking with someone that believes all the anti-Catholic lies including that Constantine "made" the Catholic Church and caused his religion to be the official and only religion of the Roman Empire destroying all the "real" Christians who some how were also perfectly erased from history until X preacher remade the "Early Church." It included information with lots of foot notes for from the years before Constantine to later rules that effected the role of the church in the Empire. It also dealt with the actually heresies and different groups within the Church that were there at the time. There is of course many things on Arianism and the different Church councils of the time as well as actual writings from people at the time. And it includes plenty of information on what the different heretics groups believed so people can see that they were nothing like what preacher X says that they believed.
Non-fiction: Religion, E- book
This book deals with the real history of the time that many people say the "Great Apostasy" happened. Just yesterday I was talking with someone that believes all the anti-Catholic lies including that Constantine "made" the Catholic Church and caused his religion to be the official and only religion of the Roman Empire destroying all the "real" Christians who some how were also perfectly erased from history until X preacher remade the "Early Church." It included information with lots of foot notes for from the years before Constantine to later rules that effected the role of the church in the Empire. It also dealt with the actually heresies and different groups within the Church that were there at the time. There is of course many things on Arianism and the different Church councils of the time as well as actual writings from people at the time. And it includes plenty of information on what the different heretics groups believed so people can see that they were nothing like what preacher X says that they believed.
Friday, July 12, 2019
One Thousand and One Ghosts:
One Thousand and One Ghosts by: Alexandre Dumas
Fiction: Classic, Paranormal, 203 pages
This book is interesting as the author himself is a "character" in the book. Besides that, the book is a collection of ghost stories connected with the time of the French Revolution. Some stories are directly connected to the revolution, some are just based off of a group of people all sharing their stores with each other. Some are classic ghosts, one is a vampire tale, but many are the bodies of the dead staying animated until they can finish some unfinished business.
Fiction: Classic, Paranormal, 203 pages
This book is interesting as the author himself is a "character" in the book. Besides that, the book is a collection of ghost stories connected with the time of the French Revolution. Some stories are directly connected to the revolution, some are just based off of a group of people all sharing their stores with each other. Some are classic ghosts, one is a vampire tale, but many are the bodies of the dead staying animated until they can finish some unfinished business.
Thursday, July 11, 2019
The Unhappy Medium: A Supernatural Comedy:
The Unhappy Medium: A Supernatural Comedy By: T.J. Brown
Fiction: Mystery, Paranormal, E-book
Dr Newton Barlow is a scientist and life long skeptic of anything that can't be proven by science. So he was understandably upset when a dead friend who also didn't believe in an afterlife, ghosts, paranormal events etc shows up. And then tells him that he has an important job for Newton working with ghosts for purgatory.
Fiction: Mystery, Paranormal, E-book
Dr Newton Barlow is a scientist and life long skeptic of anything that can't be proven by science. So he was understandably upset when a dead friend who also didn't believe in an afterlife, ghosts, paranormal events etc shows up. And then tells him that he has an important job for Newton working with ghosts for purgatory.
Wednesday, July 10, 2019
The Protoevangelium of James:
The Protoevangelium of James by: Unknown. . . James?
Non-fiction, Religion, E-book
1st, in the same way that books that made it into the Bible are each called books I'm counting this as a book even though it can be read in one sitting. (It is still longer then 3 John.) 2nd, given the number of times that this book is used to explain things that are in church tradition, but not in the bible, I expected that it would be a longer book that was more like the books that made it into the Bible. As after reading this I can see how it didn't make it into the bible, even though at least some of the information in it was seen as true.
Non-fiction, Religion, E-book
1st, in the same way that books that made it into the Bible are each called books I'm counting this as a book even though it can be read in one sitting. (It is still longer then 3 John.) 2nd, given the number of times that this book is used to explain things that are in church tradition, but not in the bible, I expected that it would be a longer book that was more like the books that made it into the Bible. As after reading this I can see how it didn't make it into the bible, even though at least some of the information in it was seen as true.
Friday, June 21, 2019
Supernatural: Children of Anubis:
Supernatural: Children of Anubis by: Tim Waggoner
Fiction: Paranormal, Pop Culture, 315 pages
This book takes place during season 12 of Supernatural. In this book they are on the hunt for werewolves in a small town in Indiana. While there they learn that Garth is also there hoping to get the werewolves to join his pack of peaceful, non-human-eating werewolves. They also meet their first jakkals. Jakkals are in many ways like pure blood werewolves in that they can shape shift into jackals whenever they want and act much like jackals. As they are carrion eaters, they don't usually kill people and so most hunters know nothing about them. Also jakkals carry the mummy of their god, Anubis with them and must preform monthly rituals to keep him asleep.
Fiction: Paranormal, Pop Culture, 315 pages
This book takes place during season 12 of Supernatural. In this book they are on the hunt for werewolves in a small town in Indiana. While there they learn that Garth is also there hoping to get the werewolves to join his pack of peaceful, non-human-eating werewolves. They also meet their first jakkals. Jakkals are in many ways like pure blood werewolves in that they can shape shift into jackals whenever they want and act much like jackals. As they are carrion eaters, they don't usually kill people and so most hunters know nothing about them. Also jakkals carry the mummy of their god, Anubis with them and must preform monthly rituals to keep him asleep.
Thursday, June 20, 2019
The Weirdness:
The Weirdness by: Jeremy P. Bushnell
Fiction: Fantasy, Paranormal, 277 pages
What would you do if your roommate had disappeared for weeks to go to a conference? You're having issues with your girlfriend? You hate your job? And the devil broke into your house to make coffee and ask you to find his lucky cat?
Well, Billy has all these problems and more.
Fiction: Fantasy, Paranormal, 277 pages
What would you do if your roommate had disappeared for weeks to go to a conference? You're having issues with your girlfriend? You hate your job? And the devil broke into your house to make coffee and ask you to find his lucky cat?
Well, Billy has all these problems and more.
Saturday, June 08, 2019
The Didache:
The Didache by: Unknown
Non-Fiction: Religion, History, E-book
This book is thought to be written by the disciples. At the very least it is a very old document of the church with information on 1st century Christianity. After hearing about it many times, I thought it would be much longer then it was.
Non-Fiction: Religion, History, E-book
This book is thought to be written by the disciples. At the very least it is a very old document of the church with information on 1st century Christianity. After hearing about it many times, I thought it would be much longer then it was.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)