Ryan's Book Blog – Page 65 – I read therefore I am.

Insurgent

January 20, 2019 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Insurgent is the sequel to Divergent in the series by Veronica Roth. It was published a mere year after Divergent was released.

This time it goes beyond the factions. One is trying to wipe out all the resistance and take over the city.

My Thoughts

Though easy to read and not a bad story there is still too much of the odd self deprecating yet almost unstoppable protagonist who has powers beyond everyone around her. She suffers self doubt constantly yet somehow survives the un-survivable. The world is seen through the eyes of a 16 year old girl and it shows.

Recommendation

If you are a 16 year old girl then you will likely enjoy this book. However, I wouldn’t suggest it for the 16 year old girl. Yet, I was still glad I read it… If nothing else, I know what people are talking about.

The Maze Runner

January 18, 2019 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

The Maze Runner was written in 2009 by James Dashner and is the first book in the Maze Runner series. It is a post apocalyptic juvenile fiction book that centers on a gifted 16 year old named Thomas. He finds himself placed in a maze without memories and needing to survive.

My Thoughts

This was a good book and may even want to see the movie. (If nothing else, I’d like to see how they depicted the reavers. Though it was pretty campy at times it was an engaging read and I didn’t get bored reading it.

Recommendations

Be aware there is some nasty violent scenes and some messed up situations. However, if you are good with that, I would recommend the book.

Divergent

January 16, 2019 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Divergent is the story of post-apocalyptic world where the main character is just coming of age. It is part of the Divergent Trilogy and was made into a movie by the same name a mere 3 years after the book’s release.

My Thoughts

I haven’t seen the movie and I don’t know that I will. This book reads a lot like the Twilight Series. That is to say it is teenage girl fodder. It is a decent story and all but there are some surprisingly sensual parts of it that I don’t think the average teenager needs in their life. As a forty something man, it was a bit comical to read about the male characters. If you dropped a teenage girl in the body of man and she tried to act male, this is what you would get.

Just like Twilight, it was made into a movie pretty quickly after the books. It feels a bit like it was made for it.

Recommendation

Probably stick to the movie on this one and skip the book.

Girl Wash Your Face

January 9, 2019 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Girl Wash Your Face is a self help book from Rachel Hollis who does a variety of things from podcasting to seminars and a little bit of everything in between.

This book is aimed at women who want to better themselves by feeling more empowered by believing they are good enough.

My Thoughts

I listen to the Rise Together podcast and several women in my life are very familiar with Rachel Hollis. Many of the stories she tells in this book I had heard before. It reads a lot like she talks so it felt very familiar.

It is targeted toward women so I shouldn’t have felt bothered that she kept addressing the reader as “Girl!”. But it was a grating after a while. It is a lot like going to a yoga class and the instructor speaks to us all like we are all middle aged women.

Still, the message was good and I certainly respect where she is coming from. She certainly doesn’t have any issue sharing her feelings and what is on her mind. Yet, it felt like oversharing a couple of times. I don’t know, I like the Hollis couple and I will continue to listen to the podcast but, I didn’t get too much out of this book.

Recommendation

If you are a woman, you’ll likely like this book.

The War That Saved My Life

January 9, 2019 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Published in 2015 Kimberly Brubaker Bradley intended this book to be a historical fiction for middle school students. It became a best seller and has a sequel The War I Finally Won.

It is a story of an English girl and her brother were moved out to the country during the German assault on the UK in WWII.

My Thoughts

I read this because my 13 year old son was reading it for school. It really wasn’t a bad story but it isn’t my normal genre of book. Ms. Bradley does a good job of keeping the reader engaged and wanting to continue.

I was glad to hear there was a sequel to the book as it left off without much closure.

Recommendation

I’m about half way on this. I’m not sure why my son was reading it for school but it isn’t a bad story.

The Fellowship of the Ring

January 8, 2019 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

I don’t think there needs to be too much introduction to this book. The Fellowship of the Ring is J.R.R. Tolkien’s the first book in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

My Thoughts

I enjoyed this rendition of the book. I’ve read it a few times now and I enjoyed the audiobook. It was much quicker and still enjoyable. However, it did skip a good deal of the details.

The story itself keeps you engaged throughout the story. The whole series is the classic hero’s epic of how Hobbits saved all of Middle Earth.

Recommendation

Read it rather than watch the movies. They are good but the book is better.

Grant

December 28, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Grant by Ron Chernow is the biography of the Commanding General of the Civil War and our 18th President. Mr. Chernow takes us through the early life of Hyrum Ulysses Grant, on through West Point where he became styled Ulysses S. Grant, through his business exploits, through the Civil War, through both terms of his Presidency, and on through the his tragic death.

My Thoughts

Growing up, I’ve heard the name Grant more associated with “General” than President. Though he was both, I think that is more of how we think of him.

I was very touched by his honesty and saddened by how he was taken advantage of… Not to be too Pollyanna, I believe there are people like him everywhere. People do the right thing everyday without much fanfare.

I was glad to hear the story and it knit a good deal of history together for me.

Recommendation

Very good read but sooo long. It is well over a 1000 pages so buckle up! However, I must say I didn’t get bored the entire time. That says a lot…

The Hobbit

December 27, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

The Hobbit is the first book which kicked off the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien over 80 years ago. It is the tale of a halflings, or Hobbits, or rather, one Hobbit and an adventure he hadn’t planned on taking. This is a fantasy story of dwarfs, elves, dragons, goblins, trolls, and others… The book was originally a children’s book before it was taken and made into 3-PG-13 movies.

My Thoughts

I’ve read this book several times and this go around was the most unique. I was scheduled for 2 teeth which were in need of root canal re-treatments and was facing at least 3 hours in a dentist’s chair. I wanted something to take my mind off of the drama and felt this was a good way to go.

For the most part, it worked. I still enjoyed the book, which is saying something as I was literally being drilled during it. Particularly, I enjoyed the BBC radio version. All the characters had their own voices and it really made it come to life.

Recommendation

Great book! Well worth the time and effort.

A Study in Scarlet

December 18, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

A Study in Scarlet is the first novel with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Written in 1886 by Arthur Conan Doyle. This work introduces Mr. Holmes’ famed powers of deduction and sets up his rocky association with Scotland Yard.

Also included is a short story of “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” which is a quick murder mystery which is solved by Mr. Holmes.

My Thoughts

Surprisingly, it was more a story of the killer than of Sherlock and Watson. More surprising, it gave a description of the Mormon Pioneers and life in frontier Salt Lake City before Utah became part of the United States after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I was surprised and a little dismayed by the light cast on the church and how they did business at that time. Conan Doyle stated it was a work of fiction and “best to let the matter rest”. I will also let it rest but simply to say, I didn’t expect it.

Recommendation

I enjoyed the read. It also spurred me to check out a number of sources regarding the time period. I would recommend it.

Theft by Finding

December 14, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

David Sedaris is an acclaimed writer who started gaining fame in the 90’s as Ira Glass from “This American Life” picked him up on his talk show. Theft by Finding is a compilation of Mr. Sedaris’s diary which he has kept since the 70’s to 2002.

My Thoughts

This diary was one of the more depressing things I have been subjected to in a long time. I couldn’t finish it… I’ve found David Sedaris to be witty and engaging through my experience with “This American Life” but I didn’t enjoy his diary at all. It saddens me to think that there are many people out there with as bleak a life as Mr. Sedaris.

Recommendation

I would not recommend this book. There was little to nothing redeeming about it.