Zen in the Art of Writing: Releasing the Creative Genius Within You
A very good and insightful book, both into the mind of a masterful craftsman as well as his vision/approach to writing. The book reads very easily and showed me a lot of good things, several of which I am already doing. :-)
Games of Adversaries was quite a surprise for me. In the beginning it seemed to jump from one type of reality to something so completely different that I wondered if I had missed something. Not in the least though, as reading on showed me.
This story deals with a coming together of cultures so different that it's amazing. I don't want to spoil anything for you but that is difficult. There are two main characters, one from each world, and they need to work out a mutual problem, but before they are ready to do that they first need to find a commonplace where they understand each other's background. This, of course, goes with plenty of problems.
The story flows well, moves along swiftly and yet brings enough information and background to understand the implications of most actions. I appreciated this book very much.
This story deals with a coming together of cultures so different that it's amazing. I don't want to spoil anything for you but that is difficult. There are two main characters, one from each world, and they need to work out a mutual problem, but before they are ready to do that they first need to find a commonplace where they understand each other's background. This, of course, goes with plenty of problems.
The story flows well, moves along swiftly and yet brings enough information and background to understand the implications of most actions. I appreciated this book very much.
Second Death
Second Death got me in an incredible way. The story began interesting, moved to and fro without becoming a puzzle while a puzzle was in fact unfolding on the pages, among the members of the Giles family. Spanning many generations, a big family issue is coming to light. An issue so complex and mind-boggling that people to try to use the power that envelopes it for their own plans.Follow the astounding discoveries of Mark Richards as he works his way through libraries and history, flashbacks and revelations.
And the end? I’m not going to tell you, read it yourself. One thing’s certain: I didn’t see that one coming.
Chains of Freedom
Chains of Freedom. An interesting book about a Maori tribe that has to learn how to live with invaders in their land. Not only British soldiers but also problems from an entirely different kind arrive.Chains of freedom is well written and the story is easy to follow. It shows the problems that arise when cultures clash and the dangers that can arise when misunderstanding and miscommunication are piled on top of each other. Mrs. Mountifield has done her research for this book, the Maori characters really come out well.
Viridis
Viridis. An interesting book. At first it was a bit difficult to get into it for me, to perceive the atmosphere of the world that Viridis plays in. As the story progressed and the characters became more visible and alive, the book increased in value and reading pleasure. The plot was set up well and the very end was quite a surprise; I had not seen that coming.In some places in the book there are sentences that seem to miss a word. Not many that I found, 2 or 3, but that is something that a good beta-reader or editor should have caught.
Still, all in all a worthwhile read which I enjoyed.
Viridis - A Steampunk Romance & Mystery (The Viridis Series)
Viridis.An interesting book. At first it was a bit difficult to get into it for me, to perceive the atmosphere of the world that Viridis plays in. As the story progressed and the characters became more visible and alive, the book increased in value and reading pleasure. The plot was set up well and the very end was quite a surprise; I had not seen that coming.
In some places in the book there are sentences that seem to miss a word. Not many that I found, 2 or 3, but that is something that a good beta-reader or editor should have caught.
Still, all in all a worthwhile read which I enjoyed.
Fahrenheit 451 (Spanish Language Edition) (Spanish Edition)
This is a masterfully written book about the future and how people in the future will be 'trained' to use their mind. Or perhaps not. The story tells about the adventures of fireman Guy Montag who, at a certain moment in his life, starts thinking about his life, the life of the people around him, and about what he does for a living. Once he gets a grasp on that, everything around him changes.It's an old book (published in 1953), and it is shocking to see how many things in this book are happening now, be it not to the extent that Mr. Bradbury described in his novel. If you are interested in the ways of how censorship is applied and also like a good book, I can recommend this book.
The Shadowbearer: (Aegis of the Gods)
This book is the prequel to the Aegis of the Gods series. The centre character of the story, King General Stefan Dorn, is put into several difficult positions where decisions are made for him, and he doesn’t like many of those. Still, being who he is he tries to work through everything, even when the King Nerian the Lightbearer (who was as a father to him once) starts making less and less sense.Terry Simpson wrote a fast-paced book with great imagery, well balanced characters and he shows us the struggle of a man who wants to hold on to his values and is forced to rethink just about everything that he has fought for. (And I just love the way of travel!)
Darwinia: A Novel of a Very Different Twentieth Century
Darwinia proved to be a surprising book. Set on our own Earth, history takes a very odd turn when on an entirely different level of the universe something goes very wrong. Part of the Earth changes, explorers and adventurers head out to investigate, make profits or find a new life for themselves. Dangers are plentiful.Darwinia plays on different levels, where human greed and desires are no match for the plans that are unfolding on a higher plain. Gods and demons are encountered and called the other thing by the opposing party and it becomes clear that some people in Darwinia have more background than they thought, and that makes them important for the future.
5 stars and worth every one of them.
Steve Jobs
Marking it finished even though I didn't. The book offers a good insight in Steve Jobs's life and thoughts, but at a certain point it became boring to read the same things over and over again so I quit.
Sherdan's Prophecy (Sherdan, #1)
Sherdan's Prophecy is one of those books that make me say "End? What?!"A strong book about the battle between science and religion without exaggerating either side. A scientist who has a dream he wants to fulfil at seemingly any cost, even when he needs to 'break' people for that, meets his match in someone whose resilience is beyond what he can imagine.
The end of this book, which is the first part of the Sherdan series, left me in need of the sequel.
Note of warning to parents: this book is not suited for readers younger than 16, perhaps even 18, as there quite some violence and abuse in the story.
Song of the Fairy Queen
Song of the Fairy Queen. A spectacular book in which very much is brought together. Adventure, love, loyalty and trust, battle, betrayal and the worst that people can bring up, all forged into a story that made it hard to put the book down even when my eyelids demanded it.The characters are all detailed in a very friendly and convincing way, their interaction - be it with friend of foe - is believable (important especially for a fantasy book). Every new setting that I was led into became real in my mind, I could hear and see and smell it. And trust me, some of the places that the heroes in the story visit are definitely unpleasant. Definitely a book to read for fantasy lovers who appreciate Fairies without the fairy-tale bit.
The Bone Key
The Bone Key is a surprising book.Meet Kyle Murchison Booth, who works in a museum where he catalogues items. In the number of short stories in this book, that follow up on each other and show more and more of Mr. Booth’s life, thoughts and past, we encounter all kinds of amazing people, things and… other things. Mr. Booth is perceptive to many things, and he is not the average person. Just leave him in his quarters with his books. But life itself of course won’t allow that.
If you enjoy macabre things found behind double walls, ghosts and oddities, you’ll appreciate The Bone Key.
Death of a Kingdom (Norothian Cycle, #2)
Death of a Kingdom is the second book in the Norothian Cycle (preceded by The Sable City).Again we meet Matilda Lanai, Zeb, Phinn and many others as they proceed on their journey through the Lands under the Code and those who want to be. As new friends appear and new emotions develop and deepen, also new dangers and problems arise. The problems in Chengdea and Daul increase and boil down to war, a kingdom dies and is left without a ruler. Phinn plays with a forbidden toy and an acquaintance from the Sable City reappears for a moment, and the remarkably strange and dangerous, yet intriguing lady Nesha-tari has a revelation from a side she had not expected.
Death of a Kingdom is a wonderful sequel to the first book. The characters come more to life, and the lands they travel through are depicted in a very image-rich way. The way Mr. McNally has used cultural elements from our world and added them into this series of books, using a nice twist to them, is very appealing and makes the story all the more wonderful.
The Source of Lightning
The Source of Lightning is written by an independent writer. I tend to drift towards indie writers more and more, probably because I am one myself. But that aside.The start of this book is surprising. It’s a steampunk book but starts out feeling like a western. This changes quickly, and before you know it you are immersed in aether, airships, father-son difficulties and all kinds of relational problems. The main characters are thrown in deep and sometimes boiling water by Donna K. Fitch, and it is up to them to find their way out of it. Their attempts are of course hindered by people who are out for power. These people don’t use the nicest of methods to get to their goal, and the place where the final confrontation is played out is an amazing space where the beginning of the book never pointed to. If you like complex characters and a good steampunk read, the Source of Lightning is definitely for you.
A Princess of Mars (Penguin Classics)
After seeing the film John Carter, which is based on this book, I decided to read the book again. It’s been quite a long time and many books ago so I was curious. After the first number of chapters already I was aware that ‘based on’ in this case should be taken very lightly. Yes, there is a John Carter and yes, he goes to Mars or Barsoom. Most of the characters are there, like Dejah Thoris, Sola and Tars Tarkas. Most of the adventures and locations however were changed or entirely discarded. This is quite a lot for a 140 page book.Again I found the book to be better than the film. So far this has never been different (only with Lord of the Rings I can say that the films equal the books in many places but still there the books are the best).
Edgar Rice Burroughs did an outstanding job in creating the people and conditions on Mars, considering he wrote the book in 1917. With the knowledge of the red planet from those days he had a lot of things quite right, which is why I give it that 5th star. Of course now we have the Curiosity Rover, but that does not take anything away from the brilliance of this book. I can highly recommend it.