Fiction

The Great Hunt

Background

Released a mere 11 months after The Eye of the World, the 2nd book of the Wheel of Time series “The Great Hunt” came out in November of 1990. This book continues the journey of Rand and his companions to fight against the dark one.

The Great Hunt
The Great Hunt

My Thoughts

I love the difference the span of years make from the first time I read this book to today. Book 2 gives so much more depth to the characters and makes everyone seem a bit more human. I believe Jordan did a good job in letting his characters grow into the roles they need to play.

Recommendation

Great book.

The Eye of the World

Background

Robert Jordan published The Eye of the World in January of 1990. It is the story of some urban teens who suddenly find themselves in the midst of adventure. This is a world of swords and magic where light fights dark and most people just want to be left to themselves.

The Eye of the World
The Eye of the World

My Thoughts

I remember when this book came out and somehow I remember getting a hold of it very early on. I was still in junior high at the time so I don’t know how I got it. However, I do remember not being able to wait for the next one to come out. In particular, I remember trying to keep the flame in my mind and isolating myself from the outside world. (It didn’t quite work out like I intended.)

Recommendation

Great book. I’m enjoying going through it again.

The Martian

Background

Andy Weir’s original book published in 2011 and made into a movie shortly thereafter. It follows an unfortunate astronaut who is stranded on Mars and does his best to survive.

The Martian
The Martian

My Thoughts

With no offense to Matt Damon, the book was indeed better than the movie. There is so much more detail in the book and I really enjoyed it. I was very taken into the character and pulled into the drama of surviving against all odds.

Recommendation

Great book! There was a reason it took the world by storm and became a movie so quickly.

The Turn of the Key

Background

Published in August 2019, “The Turn of the Key” is a suspense novel about a nanny’s new job and how it went so very wrong.

The Turn of the Key
The Turn of the Key

My Thoughts

Really, suspense isn’t my genre of books but I enjoyed it none-the-less. It was well written and kept my attention. I felt like the subject matter was forced at times and the ending didn’t make any sense at all. In fairness, it didn’t see it coming… I had a hard time identifying with the characters though there is always something about being set in Scotland which makes me happy.

Recommendation

I won’t be reading it again but it wasn’t bad.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Background

Book 7 and last of the Harry Potter series. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the culmination and climax of the epic struggle between good wizards and bad. We muggles just didn’t hear about it…

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

My Thoughts

I actually liked it better this time around. I’m not sure why, maybe I knew what was happening and was able to accept some of the more campy parts like when Voldemort had his snake kill Snape rather than by wand like everyone else or Harry’s self righteous rants and so on. I just let the story happen and allowed it to take me along.

Recommendation

A great read. I will likely read it again next year 🙂

Attack Surface

Background

Published in October of 2020, “Attack Surface” is a science fiction novel by author and activist Cory Doctorow, which explores the relationship between technology and social justice. The book follows the story of Masha Maximow, a former government cybersecurity expert who becomes disillusioned with her work and begins to use her skills to help oppressed communities around the world. As she becomes increasingly involved in these activities, Masha is forced to confront the ethical and political implications of her work, and to navigate the complex landscape of global power and technology.

Attack Surface
Attack Surface

My Thoughts

This is one of those stories which will make you look over your shoulder and 2nd guess everything you do with your cell phone. It forces you to think about everything your gadgets know about you and who might be listening in.

However, it also has this girl power vibe to the whole thing. I didn’t care for the tone and the underlying theme of the story. Too much forced drama…

Recommendation

I didn’t like it.

News of the World

Background

News of the world was published in October of 2016 and will apparently be made into a movie coming out this December. (Tom Hanks of all people.) It is the story of old man who goes from town to town reading the news to people who largely can’t read. He tends to look after himself but ends up getting stuck with a young girl who was rescued from the Indians. (They had kidnapped her as a young child.) He finds himself trying to get her back home and she just wants to get back to the tribe who took her.

News of the World
News of the World

My Thoughts

It was a compelling story and I made it through it pretty quickly. It was a reminder of a time in our country when lawlessness was pretty much rampant and protection was your own responsibility.

Recommendation

It was worth the read.

A Tale of Two Cities

Background

Originally published in 1859 by Charles Dickens, this book tells the fictional tale of people living in London and Paris through the French revolution and the “Reign of Terror” immediately following it.

A Tale of Two Cities
A Tale of Two Cities

My Thoughts

This was one of those books I hadn’t read since High School and I honestly didn’t remember it. What a terrible time to be alive! I’m so thankful I’m living in our modern world and in the United States!

The book was ok. I had some struggle getting through it as I wasn’t particularly engaged and there is a good deal of jumping around in the story from a variety of characters. This is one of those stories that do not really have a character with whom I would like or identify with. That made it hard to really want to get through it.

Recommendation

It is one of those books we all should read. However, that doesn’t mean you are going to like it.

The Reckoning

Background

John Grisham brings us the story of a war-hero-come-home to the Jim Crow South. He is the owner of a good plantation and by all appearances is doing well. Until he executes the local preacher. What happened and why did he do what he did?

The Reckoning
The Reckoning

My Thoughts

I didn’t really like this book. Though it was well written, it was full of ugliness that I just didn’t need. It was a compelling story and there is no doubt John Grisham is a gifted writer. Yet, I just feel dirty after having read it.

Recommendation

Just walk by this one.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Background

Snape, Snape, Severus Snap! We get some glimpses into the life of one of the most interesting characters in the Harry Potter world. Published in 2006, this book starts everything in motion for the last and final book of the Harry Potter series.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

My Thoughts

Again Harry is forced to consider life is not as black and white as he thought and there are usually reasons why people do the things they do. However, that still doesn’t make them right…

Recommendation

Great read. Great book.