The Prophet is one of those books that is timeless. It's relevant throughout the ages and is immensely dynamic. It was originally published in 1923 and I believe I read that it has been translated into over 20 languages. The English translation reads as a story broken down into shorter essays...if that makes sense.
It starts out with Mustafa talking about how his "ship" has come to take him home. The people of the town revere him and ask that he share his knowledge. They wish for him to speak of various issues; such as love, marriage, freedom, friendship, teaching, religion, prayer, birth, and death... just to name a few. The story goes along like this...with Mustafa commenting on one topic and when finished, another person will ask him to speak on another topic.
He speaks of a person's life, his in particular, in the beginning as a passing of time and lessons. As if his goal was to find the meaning of life and in this place he found the answers he sought. In the end he speaks of going home and returning again.
The book is peaceful and insightful. It is non-judgmental. I like that the language was Old English but the sentiments are so very relevant. I think the book would be a great introduction into religion. I don't consider myself to be a particularly religious person. I do feel rather spiritual. If this book were to be classified as a "religious" book I'd love to read and re-read it (as I suspect that I will).
The lessons in the book are ones that every person should heed. If we did, our world and the peoples of this world would be much better off. I highly recommend this book for all to read!!
Happy reading!
Judi
Thursday, July 28, 2016
Top Secret Twenty-One by Janet Evanovich
Top Secret Twenty-One is the 21st novel in the Stephanie Plum series. I've been a long time fan of Janet Evanovich. I find this series rather entertaining. I believe I've mentioned before that I will laugh out loud reading these books.
I am coming to the point, however, where these stories do all seem to be the same. The quirkiness of the book is still top notch, however, Stephanie still hasn't decided between Ranger and Morelli, she still takes Lula around with her to capture skips, Lula still wears too small of clothes, Grandma Mazur is still a bit out there (however funny as all get out), Stephanie has another vehicle torched, she's still worried about money, her apartment gets firebombed again, and she mooches meals off her parents.
Don't get me wrong, the stories are quick reads that provide a bit of relief, or a buffer of sorts, between other books. I find myself smiling, laughing, and shaking my head when I read the book. But it has had no new developments in a long time. And, honestly, how many people truly need to be bonded out in Trenton, New Jersey? Are there really that many fruitcakes in Trenton that she can continue to write stories about them?
Even the conversation between Stephanie and Morelli seemed a bit tired in this book. No real need for elaboration, as we've all been reading their story for the last 20 books. I did notice that some of the devices and phrases have been updated to reflect the times; such as text messages, smartphones, and GPS via the phones.
I could have a bit of a skewed viewpoint because I wasn't sure what I wanted to read and thought, 'these are usually quick and entertaining I can go with that.' I may not have been in the right mindset for this book. I also wanted to read something more upbeat because my last book I read was a bit of a tear-jerker. Maybe some of that atmosphere leaked in...
Anyhow, Evanovich fans are sure to read this book, as we've come this far...
If you want a quick, entertaining read I'd recommend any of the Plum novels.
Happy reading!
Judi
I am coming to the point, however, where these stories do all seem to be the same. The quirkiness of the book is still top notch, however, Stephanie still hasn't decided between Ranger and Morelli, she still takes Lula around with her to capture skips, Lula still wears too small of clothes, Grandma Mazur is still a bit out there (however funny as all get out), Stephanie has another vehicle torched, she's still worried about money, her apartment gets firebombed again, and she mooches meals off her parents.
Don't get me wrong, the stories are quick reads that provide a bit of relief, or a buffer of sorts, between other books. I find myself smiling, laughing, and shaking my head when I read the book. But it has had no new developments in a long time. And, honestly, how many people truly need to be bonded out in Trenton, New Jersey? Are there really that many fruitcakes in Trenton that she can continue to write stories about them?
Even the conversation between Stephanie and Morelli seemed a bit tired in this book. No real need for elaboration, as we've all been reading their story for the last 20 books. I did notice that some of the devices and phrases have been updated to reflect the times; such as text messages, smartphones, and GPS via the phones.
I could have a bit of a skewed viewpoint because I wasn't sure what I wanted to read and thought, 'these are usually quick and entertaining I can go with that.' I may not have been in the right mindset for this book. I also wanted to read something more upbeat because my last book I read was a bit of a tear-jerker. Maybe some of that atmosphere leaked in...
Anyhow, Evanovich fans are sure to read this book, as we've come this far...
If you want a quick, entertaining read I'd recommend any of the Plum novels.
Happy reading!
Judi
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
I must admit I have a hopeless romantic side. As such, I love reading love stories. A long time ago I read the back cover of Me Before You while wandering in the bookstore. I have a habit of just perusing and taking note of a book for later. I'm not being metaphorical here, I have a note created in my phone that is labeled "Books." When I find something I want to read but either do not have the money or the time to procure said book at that time I add it to the list for another date. So Me Before You goes on the list. And there is sits for several years. I ended up getting the book as a gift later on and it still sat waiting for me to get to it.
Fast forward a bit to June 2016 and I find myself FINALLY getting around to reading the book. I was wasting all that time leaving that book to sit. It was such a good book. I've made note that there is a second book, to which I'm excited and a bit befuddled-as the end of the book leaves little room to continue on. As such, I cannot wait to get to reading that book and finding out what Moyes can do with the sequel.
I like the development of the characters and how this is not your typical love story. Lou Clark has worked one job all her life. She has not real aspirations to go anywhere or do anything outside of her mundane life. She has a boyfriend, Patrick, who is very...familiar. Lou takes a job as a caregiver for Will Traynor, a socialite adventurer who has an accident and gets spinal cord injury that has left him paralyzed. The nature of her job is not desired by Will and he does his best to make her go away.
Lou finds out more about Will and makes it her mission to help him out of his depressive state. She enlists the help of Nathan, Will's nurse, and they set out on adventures that end up helping Lou along on her journey to self discovery more than anything else. Lou and Will teach each other so many crucial aspects of life. And they do this all within the 6 month deadline that has been set for her.
The book touches on issue such as quality vs quantity of life and doctor assisted suicide. It shows the types of support systems people in Will's condition can have available to them. As someone with a nursing background I found the medical aspect of the book to be spot on but not overwhelming or overshadowing to the storyline.
This story is frustrating, humorous, cute, thought provoking, and heart-wrenching. It's a good read that so many can appreciate.
Happy reading!
Judi
Fast forward a bit to June 2016 and I find myself FINALLY getting around to reading the book. I was wasting all that time leaving that book to sit. It was such a good book. I've made note that there is a second book, to which I'm excited and a bit befuddled-as the end of the book leaves little room to continue on. As such, I cannot wait to get to reading that book and finding out what Moyes can do with the sequel.
I like the development of the characters and how this is not your typical love story. Lou Clark has worked one job all her life. She has not real aspirations to go anywhere or do anything outside of her mundane life. She has a boyfriend, Patrick, who is very...familiar. Lou takes a job as a caregiver for Will Traynor, a socialite adventurer who has an accident and gets spinal cord injury that has left him paralyzed. The nature of her job is not desired by Will and he does his best to make her go away.
Lou finds out more about Will and makes it her mission to help him out of his depressive state. She enlists the help of Nathan, Will's nurse, and they set out on adventures that end up helping Lou along on her journey to self discovery more than anything else. Lou and Will teach each other so many crucial aspects of life. And they do this all within the 6 month deadline that has been set for her.
The book touches on issue such as quality vs quantity of life and doctor assisted suicide. It shows the types of support systems people in Will's condition can have available to them. As someone with a nursing background I found the medical aspect of the book to be spot on but not overwhelming or overshadowing to the storyline.
This story is frustrating, humorous, cute, thought provoking, and heart-wrenching. It's a good read that so many can appreciate.
Happy reading!
Judi
The Aeronaut's Windlass (The Cinder Spires, #1) by Jim Butcher
I am a big fan of the world's Jim Butcher creates. A friend, and fellow Butcher enthusiast, told me about this series and I was excited. I cannot imagine a series tanking when it is written by Mr. Butcher. That being said, I was a bit disappointed by this book. I think I hyped it up in my head too much.
I felt the book was forced a bit. It felt like Star Wars presented in a steampunk sort of atmosphere. Don't get me wrong, I will still read the subsequent books because it leaves you hanging at the end...way to be Butcher. However, this series pales in comparison to The Dresden Files and is more akin to the Codex Alera books. As I've only read one of the books in this new series I do not yet know which of the two series I'd rank above the other.
The Aeronaut's Windlass is set in a futuristic world in which people do not live on the surface of earth anymore. Steam-powered technology, magical solders, and the Spires protect and rule the human-race. Everyone has a faction style mindset.
Captain Grimm is commander and chief of a merchant ship. He seems to be in the right place at the right time throughout most of the book. Due to his military background he is able to turn his serendipitous tendencies into acts of heroism. A rather hideous and deadly creature has made it's way up from the surface of the earth. If not for Captain Grimm and band of mix-matched crewmembers, as well as the help of an Etherealist (an Oracle of sorts) and his assistant, all might have been lost. Now a type of civil war has broke out and chaos has started to descend upon the Spirearchs.
If you enjoy Jim Butcher's writing style I'd pay your homage and take a look at this series; especially if you enjoyed the Codes Alera series. If you are a Star Wars fan and/or find the steampunk genre intriguing, you should give this book a try.
Happy reading!
Judi
I felt the book was forced a bit. It felt like Star Wars presented in a steampunk sort of atmosphere. Don't get me wrong, I will still read the subsequent books because it leaves you hanging at the end...way to be Butcher. However, this series pales in comparison to The Dresden Files and is more akin to the Codex Alera books. As I've only read one of the books in this new series I do not yet know which of the two series I'd rank above the other.
The Aeronaut's Windlass is set in a futuristic world in which people do not live on the surface of earth anymore. Steam-powered technology, magical solders, and the Spires protect and rule the human-race. Everyone has a faction style mindset.
Captain Grimm is commander and chief of a merchant ship. He seems to be in the right place at the right time throughout most of the book. Due to his military background he is able to turn his serendipitous tendencies into acts of heroism. A rather hideous and deadly creature has made it's way up from the surface of the earth. If not for Captain Grimm and band of mix-matched crewmembers, as well as the help of an Etherealist (an Oracle of sorts) and his assistant, all might have been lost. Now a type of civil war has broke out and chaos has started to descend upon the Spirearchs.
If you enjoy Jim Butcher's writing style I'd pay your homage and take a look at this series; especially if you enjoyed the Codes Alera series. If you are a Star Wars fan and/or find the steampunk genre intriguing, you should give this book a try.
Happy reading!
Judi
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
To Kill a Mockingbird is a great American classic. Many cultural issues with regard to segregation were brought up in To Kill a Mockingbird. Scout's Dad seemed the pillar of such morals.
In Go Set a Watchman Scout is 26 years old and has been away at school in New York. She is home visiting and describes her transition from New York to Maycomb as entering another world. She changes her wardrobe and even starts changing her mindset, to a certain degree. This descriptive beginning sets the tone for the rest of the book; which is set during a time of great civil rights and political tension.
Scout is met at the train station by her childhood sweetheart Hank. Hank happens to work for Atticus at the law firm and is striving to move up in the world of law and wishes to have a higher standing in the community. Much of these ambitions are driven by self-pride, but a small portion of it is driven by Hank's desire to build a life with Scout. The two have a type of banter that can only be achieved through years of association.
Scout's father, Atticus, is aging and has some difficulties with mobility and daily living activities. As such, his sister has moved in with him to help out. Aunt Alexandra now runs the household and attempts to run all manners of Jean Louise's (Scout) life. This goes over like a lead balloon.
There is a death in the town and one of the members of the "black" community is involved. He is related to the maid that Scout grew up with. It is during a visit to Calpurnia that Scout realizes that not everything is as it seems in Maycomb.
In the time that Scout is home she learns a lot about those she loves and the people of her little slice of the world. Maycomb is not exactly what it seems. Scout is now viewing the world through the eyes of a woman who has been molded by a father who seemed to represent righteousness. Her childish views of many of the town situations are being shattered and Scout has a hard time dealing with this.
Scout's Uncle Jack helps her make sense of all of the perceived craziness that has come over the town. Jack acts as a mentor for Scout and uses some unconventional methods to help Scout see the truth. He has a way about him that you can see Scout mimicking. I found this intriguing because of the monkey see- monkey do mentality Scout had with regard to her father.
The book is an adult's view on To Kill a Mockingbird. The thoughts and ideals that founded To Kill a Mockingbird are great ideas that often require rocky pathways to achieve. These are the lessons learned as an adult and attempted to be reiterated to children.
I found Go Set a Watchman to be just as fantastic as To Kill a Mockingbird. A greater appreciation has been established by this reader. Forget the hype associated with the book and the very vocal negative attention. If you enjoyed To Kill a Mockingbird you should read Go Set a Watchman.
Happy reading!
Judi
In Go Set a Watchman Scout is 26 years old and has been away at school in New York. She is home visiting and describes her transition from New York to Maycomb as entering another world. She changes her wardrobe and even starts changing her mindset, to a certain degree. This descriptive beginning sets the tone for the rest of the book; which is set during a time of great civil rights and political tension.
Scout is met at the train station by her childhood sweetheart Hank. Hank happens to work for Atticus at the law firm and is striving to move up in the world of law and wishes to have a higher standing in the community. Much of these ambitions are driven by self-pride, but a small portion of it is driven by Hank's desire to build a life with Scout. The two have a type of banter that can only be achieved through years of association.
Scout's father, Atticus, is aging and has some difficulties with mobility and daily living activities. As such, his sister has moved in with him to help out. Aunt Alexandra now runs the household and attempts to run all manners of Jean Louise's (Scout) life. This goes over like a lead balloon.
There is a death in the town and one of the members of the "black" community is involved. He is related to the maid that Scout grew up with. It is during a visit to Calpurnia that Scout realizes that not everything is as it seems in Maycomb.
In the time that Scout is home she learns a lot about those she loves and the people of her little slice of the world. Maycomb is not exactly what it seems. Scout is now viewing the world through the eyes of a woman who has been molded by a father who seemed to represent righteousness. Her childish views of many of the town situations are being shattered and Scout has a hard time dealing with this.
Scout's Uncle Jack helps her make sense of all of the perceived craziness that has come over the town. Jack acts as a mentor for Scout and uses some unconventional methods to help Scout see the truth. He has a way about him that you can see Scout mimicking. I found this intriguing because of the monkey see- monkey do mentality Scout had with regard to her father.
The book is an adult's view on To Kill a Mockingbird. The thoughts and ideals that founded To Kill a Mockingbird are great ideas that often require rocky pathways to achieve. These are the lessons learned as an adult and attempted to be reiterated to children.
I found Go Set a Watchman to be just as fantastic as To Kill a Mockingbird. A greater appreciation has been established by this reader. Forget the hype associated with the book and the very vocal negative attention. If you enjoyed To Kill a Mockingbird you should read Go Set a Watchman.
Happy reading!
Judi
Friday, July 15, 2016
How to Be Single by Liz Tuccillo
My sister and I had watched this movie and I found it to be somewhat entertaining. We all know the books are better than the movies so I decided to read the book. The two are not the same...
The book was SO much better. It brought up a lot of questions, but still read as a story. As a single person I found myself going "hmmm" quite often.
Basically the book is about Julie Jenson, a book publicist, who decides she's wasting her life and realizes that it could be a rut she and her friends are in because none of them seem very happy. She decides women in other cultures seem to have it all together and decides to pitch a book idea to her editor. She is going to travel the world and figure out how women around the world deal with the phenomenon of being single. Throughout the process she entangles herself in a whirlwind romance that has her questioning everything. She also both loves and hates the situation she has found herself in.
I was surprised by some of the answers to the questions. I would have thought one of the biggest fears of being single is dying alone...and it was one of the answers. But not all of the answers. They talked about meeting someone and having certain expectations, being forced to marry (FYI not at all what has been portrayed as a generalization with regard to the Indian culture), romantic love, projections about a relationship-what you want them to be and yourself to be, the issue of friends with benefits, who initiates what, influences, meeting someone and what your first thoughts are, do you just dive in or do you keep looking for the love of your life?
I found it interesting some of the viewpoints of women from other parts of the world. For example, some women felt they needed to initiate things because men are "lazy and shy." I don't know about you but this is not my first thought of a guy...well the shy part at least. Some areas the women only wanted to date American men and others loathed American men. In Australia the ratio of women to men is craziness; which then leads to a totally different lifestyle for those women.
From an anthropological point of view I found it fascinating and worth the read.
Happy reading!
Judi
The book was SO much better. It brought up a lot of questions, but still read as a story. As a single person I found myself going "hmmm" quite often.
Basically the book is about Julie Jenson, a book publicist, who decides she's wasting her life and realizes that it could be a rut she and her friends are in because none of them seem very happy. She decides women in other cultures seem to have it all together and decides to pitch a book idea to her editor. She is going to travel the world and figure out how women around the world deal with the phenomenon of being single. Throughout the process she entangles herself in a whirlwind romance that has her questioning everything. She also both loves and hates the situation she has found herself in.
I was surprised by some of the answers to the questions. I would have thought one of the biggest fears of being single is dying alone...and it was one of the answers. But not all of the answers. They talked about meeting someone and having certain expectations, being forced to marry (FYI not at all what has been portrayed as a generalization with regard to the Indian culture), romantic love, projections about a relationship-what you want them to be and yourself to be, the issue of friends with benefits, who initiates what, influences, meeting someone and what your first thoughts are, do you just dive in or do you keep looking for the love of your life?
I found it interesting some of the viewpoints of women from other parts of the world. For example, some women felt they needed to initiate things because men are "lazy and shy." I don't know about you but this is not my first thought of a guy...well the shy part at least. Some areas the women only wanted to date American men and others loathed American men. In Australia the ratio of women to men is craziness; which then leads to a totally different lifestyle for those women.
From an anthropological point of view I found it fascinating and worth the read.
Happy reading!
Judi
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