Author Archives: Chris

The Eye of the World

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The Eye of the World

By Robert Jordan

This book published by Tor Books came out back in 1990, so it is really an older book.  This book however is definitely a classic book in the realm of Fantasy writing.  Not the first of its kind but definitely one of the more famous establishments in the realm.

This book is the first of currently 11 books in the Wheel of Time series.  I had been reluctant to start this series prior to this because the author passed away before writing the last book.  When I found out that the authors widow and publisher had appointed an author to finish his work with one last book I decided that I was going to read the series, even thought the last book will come out about the fall of 2009.  This is a long time away, but those 11 books are really long and I won’t read them all straight through at once.

Okay that preamble out of the way, I was hesitant to read this book.  This book isn’t really the brand of magic type books that you find in the likes of Harry Potter or Artemis Fowl.  It takes you to a whole new world, with new creatures, people, and so on.

I was also hesitant because I had started this book probably 12 years or so ago and I just didn’t get into it.  It was a bit beyond my short attention teenage span at the time.  Don’t disparage however, at the same time I picked up Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and told my mom I thought it was no good.  I grew in my tastes.

This book is good in the fact that it doesn’t go overboard on the magic factor but brings balance.  The characters as well have morals and ideals that are enviable by any person (give them a break on small bad habits though).

Overall the book is worth a read.  Here is the basic story.

Three friends who have grown up together in the Two Rivers, Rand, Matt and Perrin find out that they are actually more than farm boys and a blacksmith.  They are wanted by the great dark lord because they may actually be the only once that could lead to his actual destruction.

An Aes Sedia (a woman who can use magic) comes and saves them and takes them on the beginning of a journey that ultimately will last for the next 12 books.  They fight trollocs, myrdral, and other evils and eventually are faced with two of the forsaken who are the only things almost as bad as the great dark lord.  They escape and conquer them in the end.

This is an incredibly short synopsis.  For more go to this link at Wikipedia and read more.

I suggest it, especially if you like magic type stories.

Overall a 4 out of 5 stars.

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Legacy of Lies by Cindy Christiansen

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Legacy of Lies

By Cindy A. Christiansen

This novel by Cindy A. Christiansen is a book of non stop action that will surely be a page turner. With characters that entice and interest the reader and a plot that will keep you hooked until the last sentence, this is a must read book.

I was privileged to have the chance to read it before it was actually printed Continue reading →

Eragon

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Eragon (Inheritance, Book 1)

by Christopher Paolini

If you don’t know about this book, then here is a short background…

This book is a fantasy adventure novel part of the inheritance series and is a story about a boy named Eragon who lives in a land called Allegasia who discovers an odd stone which turns out to be a dragon egg. This dragon, who he names Saphira, hatches for him and bonds to him at the beginning of this adventure. Upon finding the dragon many changes happen inside him and to those around him pushing the adventure into overdrive. Continue reading →

Fahrenheit 451 – by Ray Bradbury

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Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

This book is remarkable in its future outlook. It was written many years ago projecting around the time of our day. The way he wrote the book a reader might think he had seen forward to our time and seen the iPOD, and LCD televisions.

The story starts on the premise that it has become against the law to own and read books. For many reasons that will be presented this futuristic society simplified things and got rid of radical ideas and anything that might be presented in books that wouldn’t allow things to be nice and simple. Continue reading →

Fifty Places to Go Birding Before You Die

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Fifty Places to Go Birding Before You Die: Birding Experts Share The World’s Greatest Destinations

By Chris Santella

If you a bird watcher this is a destination guide for you! This is a book for bird watchers. If your not a bird watcher and want a gift for this is also for you, but otherwise this review isn’t for you.

Santella talks to the luminaries of the bird watching sport and finds out the most amazing places they have been or would go to bird watch. Included with the recommended destinations are travel ideas and tips, but most of all stories about the places that make them even more incredible.

This book is great, especially of you love to scheme and dream about traveling. It also does quite well at including a variety of destinations, not just destinations most people could never even dream about going. About half of the destinations are in the United States making the book even or useful for the average birdwatcher.

My only negative about the book is that there are only 50 spots, and no real information about each area on a broader scale suggesting other close by hot spots and things that can be done around those destinations. Many places listed are only one hot spot among many. Otherwise this is a great book, and a great starting place for finding an incredible place to go birding!

Rating 4/5.

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Father Knows Less Or: “Can I Cook My Sister?”

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Father Knows Less Or: “Can I Cook My Sister?”: One Dad’s Quest to Answer His Son’s Most Baffling Questions

By Wendell Jamieson

This book is from a dad who decided to find the answers to the questions his inquisitive son had. You get the good, bad and ugly in this book to answer almost all the questions you might expect to get as a parent. Not just that, it offers an introspective into parenting and bigger questions parents will face themselves.

This book is well written and hilarious to read as odd questions and answers roll forth from the mouths of kids and experts.

Fun to read a bit at a time or all the way through, it is a good change from the same old thing you’ve been reading. A must read for everyone.

Rating 5/5.

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Father Knows Less Or: “Can I Cook My Sister?”: One Dad’s Quest to Answer His Son’s Most Baffling Questions

Collapse – Jared Diamond

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Collapse – How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed

By Jared Diamond

Collapse is a book for everyone to read. It isn’t a soft fluffy fairy tail but a serious look at the journey of mankind. It considers where we have been, mistakes we have made along with successes and suggest directions we may be heading unless we make some major and minor course corrections.

This book digs deep into why past societies have failed and what led up to those failures. Diamond then considers how the multitude of failures seen in the past, apparent and not, might be sneaking into our own society. The book isn’t a doom and gloom book but does attempt give an honest perspective on where we are as a society, both good and bad.

Overall this book really should be read by everyone, environmentalist or not. It is slow at times because of the depth of information given, but Diamonds story telling ability makes even boring facts come to life and fit into a proper and interesting context.

I give it a must read and rating of 5/5.

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Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed

The Secret

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The Secret

by Rhonda Byrne

This book falls under the Self Help category…

This book is all about you, as the classification of Genre explains. It is focussed on empowering you as the reader for improving yourself. I truly agree that this is where self improvement will be generated from. Unfortunately I disagree with the further premise that it is basically only yourself that will be able to do anything. I believe in family, god and other factors being a major support to my being able to self improve.

Beyond this the book is a wide collection of inspirational writings that are uplifting and can empower self improvement. It would likely be seen as a great collection of writings for reading every now and then, or a bit each day. I just don’t care for the more subtle messages that it sends. Besides is really any of that a secret at all?

I hope this review doesn’t turn you off if you enjoy this type of book. I usually don’t and it doesn’t get me excited for more overall.

Overall Rating = 2 of 5

Why the 2? I didn’t care for it at all. The genre aside I didn’t like the subtle direction it lead the reader and others may actually find this quite offensive.

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The Secret

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