Where James Rollins makes you grit your teeth as your favorite characters are seemingly killed only to pop up safe at the end, Iain Banks pushes your favorite characters through gut-wrenching punishment and still has the sadism to kill ‘em all at the end anyway. Don’t worry, it’s the ride that counts (or at least that’s what I keep telling myself).
09/05/2008 | [0] Comments | Filed under: , Bookshelf
Few books touch me so indelibly. Rarer still are true stories that leave a mark or impression on my soul. Tuesday’s with Morrie has done that with rapacious wit, candora, melancholy, but most importantly, truth. Life is to be lived, and fully, not sequestered away seeking money, fame. Life is who you love. This is a book to own. I hope my kids will pick it up off the shelf when they’re old enough and give it a read.
08/29/2008 | [0] Comments | Filed under: , Bookshelf
Great resource read for anyone thinking of building their own electric guitar. Great examples and nice anecdotal information. Tremendously lacking in schematic or diagramatic details, but rich with verbal suggestions. I’d recommend reading this to get an idea before going online and getting more pertinent details. Organization is a bit confusing, but when used as a reference (i.e.: skipping to a needed section) the book still proves its worth.
07/09/2008 | [0] Comments | Filed under: , Bookshelf
An American arctic research submarine stumbles upon an ice-entombed WWII-era Soviet research base holding a secret so sinister that both countries will do anything to obtain it, or ensure it is never seen by the public eye. Not the traditional action-adventure novel, Ice Hunt adds fantastic character-development, accurate science, a highly unpredictable plot to the exciting non-stop peril. Think of Michael Crichton and Dean R. Koontz on a dose of realism and you get Ice Hunt.
04/18/2008 | [0] Comments | Filed under: , Bookshelf
Satire at it’s 18th-century best! Phenomenal in scope, astonishingly poignant, and staggeringly applicable to today. Through the guise of Gulliver, a traveler who encounters lands still equally amazing now as they were when published a couple-hundred years a go, Swift diatribes academia, scientists, governments, religions, cultures, societies, etc… in an entertaining way that will make you openly laugh as you secretly question your own motivations. Easily one of my favorite books of all time!
04/10/2008 | [0] Comments | Filed under: , Bookshelf
Subterranean was undoubtedly my biggest guilty pleasure of 2008. Certain things are virtually guaranteed in a Rollins book: incredibly large cavern systems, a crack adventure team, and some sort of bizarre hominid species. Y’know what? It was fun! Sure, it seemed an odd mish-mash of Jurassic Park, The Descent, and Journey to the Center of the Earth, and despite the really weak opening chapters, the characters became likeable, entertaining, and I never had an inkling how it would end.
04/02/2008 | [0] Comments | Filed under: , Bookshelf
How can anyone dislike Jules Vernes? My second-favorite French-man (Nerio claims the #1 spot) delivers another incredible tale with relatable intelligent characters, beautiful language, and an ever-imaginative and compelling plot. It’s Swiss Family Robinson on steroids!
03/25/2008 | [0] Comments | Filed under: , Bookshelf
Ender’s Game Rocked: Space Boy Sucks. With a name ripped from a Smashing Pumpkins song you’d think it’d be more enjoyable! Interesting twist on wormholes with characters you wouldn’t give a smashed pumpkin for.
01/17/2008 | [0] Comments | Filed under: , Bookshelf
Why did I take so long to pick up this book? It’s not just for creepy Dungeons & Dragons kids who wear cloaks, carry a bow-staff and will never kiss a girl in their youth! Realistic characters who are not simply “good” or “bad” (Thorin, for example), and superb dialog are where this one shines.
01/05/2008 | [0] Comments | Filed under: Bookshelf, Recommended , Bookshelf
Even with the frequent pomposity and self-serving plugs in this book on CSS-based web-design, there are some incredibly useful tools for the web-designer presented herein, meriting the at-times tedious reading. Be fore-warned, however, this book is really a superficial covering of CSS and design. Look for real meat-and-potatoes elsewhere!
12/27/2007 | [0] Comments | Filed under: , Bookshelf
