Ryan's Book Blog – Page 51 – I read therefore I am.

12 Essential Scientific Concepts

November 20, 2019 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Scientist and Opra star Dr. Indre Viskontas, shares her knowledge in a series of 24 lectures about science. Her upbeat and detailed lecture style helps the subject matter become more accessible and entertaining to learners. Published in 2014, these lectures go a step further than most classrooms.

My Thoughts

This was a very well done lecture series. I consider myself to be fairly well versed in the basics of science. Yet, I found myself lost from time to time as she went a little deeper than I had heard before.

Some concepts need time to sink in and work through. I believe I went too fast through this lecture to really get everything out of it. It did spark some interest to go back some of the chemistry and theoretical physics which I haven’t refreshed in some time. I found myself very rusty in these concepts.

Recommendation

A good lecture. Not for the beginner.

Gulp

November 12, 2019 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Published in 2013, Gulp is just under 400 pages detailing the trip food makes through a human and the stops in between.

My Thoughts

Mary Roach is an engaging writer who makes snarky comments as she goes about her descriptions. In short, I enjoyed it. The subject matter wasn’t as new to me as perhaps I was expecting. There were some side information like Elvis’s colon which I hadn’t hear but that wasn’t really what I came for. Still, I felt the book was well done and I enjoyed it.

Recommendation

It is worth the read.

A Dance with Dragons

November 9, 2019 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Published in 2011, A Dance with Dragons is the 5th book in the “Song of Fire and Ice” series otherwise known as the Game of Thrones series. It was originally packaged with the previous book until the publisher told the author that 2000 pages would be a bit to unwieldy.

At a mere 1016 pages, it is a little longer than the former A Feast for Crows. This version follows Bran, John, Tyrion and others not mentioned in A Feast for Crows as the author didn’t split the books chronologically. Rather he split them by each of their stories.

My Thoughts

It’s a great book for a long memory. We knew a good deal of the story so we were waiting for it to unfold by the perspective of the next character. The ending included several great cliffhangers.

The author has been at work on the next volume for the last 8 years. I have no idea when it will come out but I’m sure there will be a media storm around it and I’m sure it won’t be short. I guess I will wait.

Recommendation

I was glad I read it but I don’t know I would have read it if I knew the series wasn’t complete. I hate the feeling of waiting for the next thing, particularly when it is 8 years ago. (At least I haven’t been waiting since then…)

The Fix

November 4, 2019 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

The Fix is the third book in the “Memory Man” series or the books following Amos Decker. At this point, Decker is a special agent with the FBI who is so new he still hasn’t had his clearance completed. He and his former journalist turned agent, and now roommate, work together to solve a mystery which is much bigger than they thought.

My Thoughts

Yet another fun read from David Baldacci. I was interested from start to finish and enjoyed the process.

Recommendation

Good read but start at the first book in the series.

Seven Brief Lessons on Physics

October 29, 2019 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Published in 2014, this 94 page book talks about; relativity, quantum mechanics, the architecture of the cosmos, elementary particles, quantum gravity, black holes and how we fit in.

My Thoughts

This book went by in a flash. The science part was good but I could have done without the narrative toward the end.

Recommendation

Interesting but I won’t be reading it again

A Feast for Crows

October 24, 2019 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Published in 2007 and at a mere 753 pages, A Feast for Crows is the fourth book in the Game of Thrones series. It was the first of the series to reach number one on the The New York Times Best Seller list and was orignically tied together with the next book in the series A Dance of Dragons. The original manuscript was so long that the publisher asked the author to split it into two books. Rather that split them chronologically, they were split by the character story lines. These two books make up the basis of a few seasons of the HBO series and even touch into season 6.

My Thoughts

I didn’t know the narrative was split but it makes sense in retrospect. I’m currently reading the next book at the time of this review and it is filling in a lot of the gaps about the characters who were missing from the last book. I also just learned that the author has been working on book six for the last 8 years and is planning to have book seven come out at some point. Yikes! I’m glad I just found out about it. I don’t know I would have started reading it. Like the Wheel of Time series, I gave up because it didn’t seem like it was ever going to end.

Recommendation

I’m not certain I would read it again. However, I did enjoy it.

Fablehaven: Keys to the Demon Prison

October 20, 2019 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Published in 2010, Keys to the Demon Prison is the final book in the Fablehaven series. The Society of the Evening Star has all the artifacts and holds all the cards. Will they open the demon prison and release them all into this world?

My Thoughts

This book is almost 600 pages and yet it flew by. I was excited to get to the end and to see what happened.

Recommendation

Great read!

Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague

October 14, 2019 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Published in 2008, Grip of the Shadow Plague is the third book in the Fablehaven series. This time around, Fablehaven is being threatened by a plague which turns everyone into a nightmare version of themselves.

My Thoughts

This was a great transitional book. It sets the scene for most of the things to come and didn’t quite feel as tacked on as some.

Recommendation

Great read. You have to keep going…

Fablehaven: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary

October 12, 2019 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Book four of the Fablehaven series and published in 2009, Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary takes our heroes gain another of the artifacts they need to oppose the Society of the Evening Star.

My Thoughts

Another fun read. We get to learn about dragons in this book and even meet a very special dragon. The book is set up for young readers so Seth and Kendra are the main characters. They are starting to learn how special they are and people are falling like flies around them. Seriously! The author doesn’t have any problem with bumping folks off in these books. It has sort of a Disney level of disproportion here. Worse than death can happen to folks at any time and the others seem to get over it a little too quickly… But that’s just a thought.

Recommendation

Great books. I will likely read them again at some point.

A Storm of Swords

October 11, 2019 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

The 3rd book in the Game of Thrones series, A Storm of Swords is the continuation of plots and characters too numerous to explain in a brief summary. However, at 973 pages, it can fit “much and more”. Published in the US in 2000, the book was only beaten out by Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire for the Hugo Award.

My Thoughts

The plot continues to thicken. Surprisingly, I haven’t gotten bored of it as of yet. The narrative is convoluted but compelling. The language can be base and imagery brutal. However, I continue reading. It has sucked me into the story and I just keep listening.

Recommendation

This book is not for children and even I wonder if I’m old enough to read it… However, I did enjoy it.