The Good: A great read, easily one of the best by Dick or Felix Francis. Lots of fun horse and horse racing facts mixed in what a good thriller.
The Bad: It seemed to end too quickly – abrupt really. Maybe that just shows I liked it a lot and didn’t want it to end? Nah, lousy author.
The Ugly: It took some research to figure out this one was written by Felix, the forth since his dad Dick’s death. Sad to see him have to write alone, pretty cool to see the son pick up where his dad left off.
The Good: Unlike the rest of the reading world, I’m new to Reacher. I hear the books improve the more you read. Not that you could prove that by this one.
The Bad: A few things here – #3 SPOILER ALERT! Skip it if you need to as it gives something away.
1 – The story took a long time to get going.
2 – Reacher seemed more like a lucky creep than a cool, wise, good-guy.
3 – In the end, it reminded me of the old Saturday Morning Cartoons – unbelievable. Muscles that stop bullets? Gag me.
The Ugly: Three books into the series and I’m done with Reacher. I know the books are supposed to improve, but this one isn’t nearly as good as the first two, and I just can’t get behind a cradle-steeling, bullet-stopping-pectoral-muscle creep saving the day. I miss underdog.
In 2010, author Joel Rosenberg wrote a fiction work, The Twelfth Iman, about a nuclear deal between the USA, its allies, and Iran. Sound familiar? And, for my “less conservative” Canadian friends, you will like it. Don’t assume because Rosenberg is an American believer in the Bible, that he follows the typical conservative views or storyline. He probably doesn’t even own a Glock, which makes me wonder about his salvation.
The Good: Rosenberg can write. He won the Gold Medallion for Best Novel in 2006. He has made the NY Times Bestseller List. He is a graduate of Syracuse and does impeccable research. As a result, the book is a great read – although it did take me a few chapters to get into it. A bit too much back-story for me.
The Bad: There isn’t much not to like here – except that I’m not sure I’d want to live through all that happens in this book. I’m hoping his prophetic luck ended with the deal.
The Ugly: It’s a shame it came out ten years ago. It is SO NOW. It’s perfect read for April 2015, but that doesn’t help Joel or Amazon much. I got mine free from the library.
The Good: This is easily the best biography I’ve ever read. Time named it the “top nonfiction book of the year.” Laura describes events as if you are watching them – living them. In this real life Series of Unfortunate Events, there is surprising inspiration. If you read one book this year, you won’t go wrong choosing Unbroken.
The Bad: When my wife JO first gave me the book, I read a chapter and gave up. I’m an extremely lazy reader, and it just didn’t grab me. Then we went to the movie against my objections, and I decided to give it another shot. Once in a few chapters I couldn’t put it down – no more skimming, I wanted every word.
BTW, reading the book AFTER watching them move worked out better for me. The book is much darker in the bad times, and much brighter in the good. I’d have been disappointed if I’d watched the movie after reading the book, but this way I enjoyed both.
The Ugly: A note about the movie. Before seeing it, I had read that much was left out from the end of the book. Somehow that was suppose to make the movie lousy. I watched the movie, loved it, and thought they were wrong.
Then I read the book.
They were right.
As much as I loved the movie, after reading Unbroken, looking back on the movie it seemed flat. It’s black-and-white in my memory in comparison. The worst of it is that the movie misses the main point of the book. The movie leaves one with the impression that the end of the war was the redemption the Japanese POWs needed to start a new life. Nothing could be further from the truth. For most of the captives, the end of the war was the beginning of a new hell back in the states as they strove to start a new life without dignity and with PTSD. So, in a sense, the movie, as good as it was, leaves you with a lie. The book continues through the hell of hatred, flashbacks and resentment to true redemption. Don’t miss it.
My favorite quotes in the book weren’t written by Laura Hillenbrand, but are the quotes she chooses record. Here are a few of them:
• “Darkness doesn’t hide the eyes of God” – Billy Graham, p.380
• Louie’s letter to Matsuhiro Wantanabe is worth the price of the book alone. I won’t put it in so as to spoil the book, but it comes on pages 404-405. These words of Louie are the binding of the entire book – the reason the rest of his story is worth telling. It is a shame they left it out of the movie completely. These words have no great meaning without his previous life story, but his story has no meaning without these words.
• Resentment… “nails every one of us onto the cross of his ruined past.” – Jean Amery
The Good: It’s a Jack Reacher novel. If MacGyver and Jack Bower could have a kid, it would be Reacher.
The Bad: I liked the first book, Killing Floor better. Lee Child is an amazing writer, but this wasn’t one of his best stories. For the first 75% of the book it seemed to me like Reacher was just along for the ride. “Come ON,” I kept thinking, “Kill somebody already!” Then he did, and I was happy again.
The Ugly: Unlike Killing Floor, I ended up skipping some of this book. It’s worth the read to stay with the series, just not my favorite by Child.
For a series that improves with the second book, try Bizarre Bible Stories! 2.
The Good: Small groups are essential for fulfilling the 60+ Biblical commands for believers to “build up one another.” Sometimes though, small groups do a better job at being a source for frustration and division within the church. Bradley Wright, the author, gives practical, biblical help for organizing and leading small groups, while keeping your church in one piece – and growing as a result.
The Bad: I’m an ADD story lover, who can learn to rebuild an engine on YouTube but can’t figure out how to change windshield wipers with the instructions that come in the package. Bradley has a treasure chest of small group experience. This means his instructions are spot on – but it can read like an instruction manual. I need YouTube. Here is an example.
On page 61 Bradley writes, “Effective small group leaders prepare for their role prior to the first meeting. Great small group leaders are always preparing for their role…” Then he explains how to prepare – through prayer, following another leader, etc. I was hoping the next paragraph would state, “The last time I wasn’t prepared we started talking politics, a fight broke out, the police had to be called, three people went to the hospital, (only two died) and the church split.” I suppose a good example of preparation would have been cool too. In short, the book tells, rather than shows.
The Ugly: As a pastor, I’ve struggled to find a good book on small groups – at least one that is current being printed. I think this may be the best out right now – as the content is sharp, even if you have to dig a bit. I heard rumor Brad is editing and updating the current edition. I hope he will put in some stories and pictures for me. Then this easily goes from 4 stars to 5!
The Good – Author Joel Rosenberg knows how to write! As always when reading one of Joel’s books, I get upset at every text message, phone call – even loving interruptions. His books aren’t good on my marriage. Joel does introduce people to the gospel here and there, but it isn’t preachy. Well done!
The Bad – Somewhere in the middle of the book, a van driver dies. The guy on the passenger’s side of a van can’t hit the brakes due to stuck seat belt, so has to pull the e-break instead, locking up the front brakes, and causing a major wreck with cars flipping, fires, carnage, and other exciting stuff. This is bad on SO MANY levels. The e-break would be next to the driver’s door, further away than the foot-break on a fan. An e-break also only works on the rear brakes – not the front. I enjoy the way Rosenberg normally does his research – from politics to history to abortion rates and porn sales to knowing you can conceal a Glock 26, but you had best be careful, as it doesn’t have a safety. What he needs is a driver on his editing staff. Hey Joel, if you’re looking…
The Ugly – Lots die. People die – and I assume dogs, horses, and guinea pigs. It’s all highly sanitized, and the good news is cats die too. No spoiler here – it is set in the end times after all. However, about half way through I was wondering if there would be anyone left alive for another book. Thankfully, Joel spared a few.
I highly recommend reading the book. Just rip out the van page.
I just started reading the Jack Reacher series – by Lee Child. I found this difficult, as Tom Cruise plays Reacher in the movies.
I hate Tom Cruise.
It’s not like we use to be best buddies, Tom and I. It’s ever since I watched Top Gun, and his character was such an arrogant… All I needed to love that movie would have been for some Russian to blow him out of the air. No such luck. I’ve hated him ever since.
But I read the book anyway. Here we go:
The Good: There is an awesome new introduction by the author in the book I got – the book has a great story line, lots of fun to read, not too steamy. Too much steam, I reach for another book. I’m married. I don’t need to read about what make-believe people are doing between the sheets. I love the way Lee Child has Reacher fix things as he goes, instead of doing stupid things throughout to increase the tension. There were plenty of other characters to do stupid things.
The Bad: Nothing really bad here, except that I wanted a bit more for a favorite line. Here it is: “But that phrase has a very precise meaning. A lot of those stock sayings do. Like when people say they slept like a baby. Do they mean they slept well? or do that mean they woke up every ten minutes, screaming?”
The Ugly: Did I mention that Tom Cruise plays Reacher in the movie series?
Bizarre Bible Stories 2! Now available in your local bookstore, Amazon, and I hope lots of other places.
I need your help to keep my family together. If you have read Bizarre Bible Stories 2!, would you post a review on Amazon? It makes a HUGE difference.
The first Bizarre Bible Stories was marketed by Baker Books, got reviews from kids and adults – then was recommended by The Dallas Morning News, was used by churches for VBS, went to a second printing to sell in Wall-mart, and maybe doubled the population of Heaven.
Bizarre Bible Stories 2! is … quiet. Three reviews on Amazon. This publisher can’t afford marketing and I would hate to sell any more kids to pay for it. If you have read Bizarre 2!, would you Click here and write a review – even just a sentence? It makes a huge difference, and I can keep all my kids.
JoLynn thanks you in advance.
The Good: The book. It’s just flat good. I was surprised – shocked maybe. Melinda is a first time author, published by the small Rebelight Publishing. I should have known better. Any publisher with the motto – crack the spine: blow your mind has to put out good stuff. Enslavement stuck in my head – if I took a break from reading my mind stayed in the book. What I needed was a port-a-potty and an IV so I wouldn’t have to move. A great read.
The Bad: Probably my favorite series right now is the Ian Rutledge series by Charles Todd. As soon as I’m done with one, I can’t wait to pick up the next. There are like a zillion in the series, and I’m good with that. Here is the rub; Enslavement is the first book of the One Bright Future series. But. . . there is no book two yet. Melinda, get out of bed, let some violent video game raise your kids, quit any other job, give your husband the remote and write. Thanks.
The Ugly: Here is the ugly truth. With a small publisher limiting marketing, and everyone and their dog flooding the market with self-published books, Enslavement could get lost in the avalanche of new books. That would be a shame. Give it a read and recommend it if you liked it as I did. I’ve already ordered the potty and IV for book 2. Click on the cover photo if you want to go to Amazon to order.
Bizarre Bible Stories 2! Now available in your local bookstore, Amazon, and I hope lots of other places.
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