January 2017 – Looking For a Good Book

January 31, 2017

SPACEMAN – Mike Massimino

Stemming from my interest in science fiction, I have a weakness for most things NASA-related and lately I’ve noted how much I enjoy reading biographies and non-fiction, so this book was a much-anticipated ARC for me. Mike Massimino is not a name that would be recognized in most homes today, but it’s more than likely that Continue reading

MEMOIR, NON-FICTION, Uncategorized

4 stars, Biography, Book Reviews, Books, Memoir, non-fiction, Reviews

January 30, 2017

JERRY’S MAGIC – W. W. Rowe

Nope. This middle grade reader falls apart on just about every level. Jerry Shore is ten years old and is now the man of the house after his father is killed in the Big War. As such, he finds the need to start bringing home money, but instead of going out to get a job, he finds Continue reading

CHILDREN’S, Uncategorized

1 Star, Book Reviews, Books, Children’s Books, Reviews

January 27, 2017

MARS AND HOUSTON – James Crowley

There’s a really beautiful idea behind this story, but the story fails. Joey is an autistic young man who dreams and play-acts at being an astronaut. Joey’s mother has a difficult time dealing with Joey’s autism and tends to discourage anything he does, being quite over-protective. One day a new boy moves in to the Continue reading

CHILDREN’S, Uncategorized, YA

1 Star, Book Reviews, Books, Children’s Books, Reviews, Young Adult

January 26, 2017

THE FERRYMAN INSTITUTE – Colin Gigl

I knew next to nothing about this book before going in to it except that the basic description seemed pretty interesting. It sounded like a school for Ferrymen … those who help the recently departed cross over from life to the after-life. The book was so much more than that and both more and less than I Continue reading

HUMOR, ROMANCE, SF/FANTASY, Uncategorized

5 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Humor, Literature, Reviews, Romance, SF/Fantasy

January 25, 2017

GEEKERELLA – Ashley Poston

This looks like it might be outside my personal comfort zone, being a teen romance fairy tale type book, but I got sucked in by the ‘geek’ aspect as mentioned in the description. Danielle “Elle” Wittimer is a super fan girl for the series Starfield. She likes to cosplay her favorite Starfield characters and she Continue reading

Uncategorized, YA

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, Reviews, Young Adult

January 24, 2017

TIME SIEGE – Wesley Chu

I was so excited to see this book now available, after I devoured and really adored the first book in this series, Time Salvager (see review here). James Griffin-Mars is a former chronman – a time traveler who works for a governmental agency going back through time to salvage resources moments before they would be destroyed Continue reading

SF/FANTASY, Uncategorized

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Reviews, SF/Fantasy

January 23, 2017

THE EARLY SCIENCE FICTION OF PHILIP K. DICK – Philip K. Dick

If you don’t already know who Philip K. Dick is, or you haven’t read any of his phenomenal novels, then you probably shouldn’t bother with this book. While this collection of short stories and novellas may represent Dick at the beginning of his writing career, these aren’t the works that have set him up as Continue reading

SF/FANTASY, SHORT FICTION, Uncategorized

4 stars, Book Reviews, Reviews, SF/Fantasy, Short Stories

January 20, 2017

HARLAN ELLISON’S 7 AGAINST CHAOS – graphic novel

I am one of those people who will buy anything that has Harlan Ellison’s name on it. I know that his name isn’t always a guarantee for the quality of the work inside, but it is more often than not, and I can certainly expect something a little out of the ordinary with Ellison. And Continue reading

GRAPHIC NOVEL, Uncategorized

2 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Graphic Novels, Reviews, SF/Fantasy

January 19, 2017

MACHINATIONS – Hayley Stone

Ingredients for teenage girl YA: Teen girl protagonist – check. A true love – check. A death of someone close to teen girl protagonist – check. No one understands teen girl protagonist, creating lots of angst – check. Girl must fight hard for acceptance and no one can possibly understand girl – check. It’s all Continue reading

SF/FANTASY, Uncategorized, YA

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Reviews, SF/Fantasy, Young Adult

January 18, 2017

THE PAPER MAGICIAN – Charlie N. Holmberg

I’ve listened to the Audible version of this book twice – once on my own, and again after recommending it to members of my family as we drove across country. Both times I found it to be really a wonderful, magical book that entertains and encourages curiosity. Ceony Twill has finished her studies at magician’s Continue reading

SF/FANTASY, Uncategorized, YA

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, Magic, Reviews, SF/Fantasy, Young Adult

January 17, 2017

ART OF ATARI – Tim Lapetino

I love coffee-table-style art books. I own more art books than my local library – okay…I live in a very rural area so that’s not such a big deal. Still, I own a lot. And when I get the opportunity to review an art book, I am so thrilled an eager. Art of Atari is Continue reading

NON-FICTION

5 Stars, Art, Book Reviews, Books, History, non-fiction, Reviews

January 16, 2017

ONCE A CROOKED MAN – David McCallum

I’m typically not a big fan of actors/celebrities turning to fiction writing, but I’ve enjoyed David McCallum’s acting work since his days on The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and again more recently with N.C.I.S. and I was really hoping to enjoy this book. Unfortunately, I didn’t. Harry Murphy is a talented actor who gets caught up Continue reading

MYSTERY, Uncategorized

1 Star, Book Reviews, Books, Mystery, Reviews, Thriller