4 stars – Page 66 – Looking For a Good Book

December 29, 2015

SLAVE NARRATIVES OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD – Christine Rudisel and Bob Blaisdell, eds.

I have to admit that I don’t know nearly as much as I should about the struggle of slaves in America and their flight to freedom and emancipation, despite the fact that there’s a slavery underground house just a few blocks from my home. Certainly I’ve read about it in history classes, but it was… Continue reading

MEMOIR, NON-FICTION, Uncategorized

4 stars, Biography, Book Reviews, Books, History, history book, Memoir, non-fiction, Reviews

December 24, 2015

LUTHERANISM 101 – Scot A. Kinnaman, general editor

Having grown up Lutheran but now married to a Catholic, I’ve often been asked, “Well, what do Lutherans think about that?” And like all good Lutherans, I wouldn’t have a clue. This is an amazingly concise and readable book full of history (Christian in general and Lutheran specifically) and a comprehensive explanation why Lutherans worship… Continue reading

NON-FICTION, Uncategorized

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, History, Mythology/Legend, non-fiction, Religion, Reviews

December 22, 2015

THE ART OF COMIC BOOK WRITING – Mark Kneece

I have to admit that when I see something that claims to be the “definitive guide” to anything, I tend to be skeptical. Author Mark Kneece teaches comics writing (at the Savannah College of Art and Design). I suspect that much of this book comes from his lessons for his class. But the problem with… Continue reading

GRAPHIC NOVEL, NON-FICTION, Uncategorized

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, Graphic Novels, non-fiction, Reviews, Young Adult

December 18, 2015

BEYOND A DOUBT – Nancy Cole Silverman

I reviewed the first book in this mystery series about a year ago (you can read that review here) and found it to be fine but not outstanding. I am glad to report that this second book, Beyond a Doubt, by Nancy Cole Silverman, steps it up a notch and delivers an exciting mystery. More… Continue reading

MYSTERY, Uncategorized

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, Mystery, Reviews, Thriller

December 17, 2015

ALL MY FRIENDS ARE SUPERHEROES – Andrew Kaufman

THROWBACK THURSDAY: REVIEWING A REISSUE This was a surprising little book, and I quite enjoyed it, though I was confused for a time, as to whom it was intended. I understand, now, that this is a reissue, though I was not aware of that when I read the book (no, I don’t typically research or… Continue reading

OTHER, SHORT FICTION, Uncategorized

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, Humor, Literature, Reviews

December 10, 2015

BLUES HANDS – Joseph A. Rosen

There is something very calming in blues music (the term means ‘melancholy’) and photographer Joseph A. Rosen has managed to capture that calmness in his book, Blues Hands. Great music tells a story as do great photos and the two together are sweet music. The photo on the cover, as depicted above, is pretty typical of… Continue reading

ENTERTAINMENT, NON-FICTION, Uncategorized

4 stars, Art, Book Reviews, Books, Entertainment, Music, non-fiction, Reviews

December 9, 2015

THE SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY QUIZ BOOK – Joseph McCullough

Just in time for the holidays comes this great stocking-stuffer for that know-it-all geek in your life (if you can’t think who that would be, it’s probably you). The Science Fiction and Fantasy Quiz Book is just that. A book full of trivia in the form of quiz’s. There are no frills to this book;… Continue reading

NON-FICTION, SF/FANTASY, Uncategorized

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, non-fiction, Reviews, SF/Fantasy

December 8, 2015

THE RICH ARE DIFFERENT – Chris Orcutt

For reasons I won’t go into (because they aren’t interesting), I am reading the Dakota Stevens books in reverse order. I read and reviewed the third book back in May (see that review here) and I hope to read the first book in the series soon. I’ve been reading a number of new mysteries lately… Continue reading

MYSTERY, Uncategorized

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, Mystery, Reviews

December 3, 2015

THE BEST AMERICAN ESSAYS 2013 – Cheryl Strayed, editor

Clearly I’m behind in my reading since this is from 2013, though I will admit that it’s one of my older ARC’s. I’ve written before that I really like the Best American series and the essays are probably my most favored in the series (though the Science and Nature Essays might be a close second).… Continue reading

NON-FICTION, Uncategorized

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, essays, non-fiction, Reviews

December 1, 2015

BONES NEVER LIE – Kathy Reichs

I have never previously read any “Bones” books, nor have I ever watched an episode of “Bones,” though my wife and oldest son have been hooked on the television show. I was absolutely riveted to this story. Dr. Temperance Brennan is called to the Charlotte PD’s Cold Case unit. A connection has been made between… Continue reading

ENTERTAINMENT, MYSTERY, Uncategorized

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, Entertainment, Mystery, Reviews

November 28, 2015

THE RIPPER GENE – Michael Ransom

**WARNING — THIS REVIEW CONTAINS POTENTIAL SPOILERS** Michael Ransom’s debut novel, The Ripper Gene, is a fast-paced who-dunnit thriller that should keep you glued to the pages of the book. I read this book in three sittings, and only reluctantly stopped reading the first two times. Dr. Lucas Madden is a former neuroscientist who has… Continue reading

MYSTERY, Uncategorized

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, Mystery, Reviews, Thriller

November 26, 2015

IF THEN – Matthew de Abaitua

In the near future, in a post-apocalyptic town, a small community is controlled by a computer which calculates all the algorithms to determine precisely what each person needs and can provide for the community, and also determines who stays and who is no longer necessary and must be expelled from the community. This is called… Continue reading

SF/FANTASY, Uncategorized

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, Reviews, SF/Fantasy