Review: Monk's Hood

Monk's Hood by Ellis Peters

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Truth be told, I am enjoying this series, but it can get pedestrian at times.

Thankfully, the Father Abbot Heribert is being replaced, so I'm hoping the new Father will play a slightly larger role.



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Review: The Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I wanted to like this more than I actually did. I know read a version of this book [probably an abridged one] back in highschool and have watched several iterations of the movie and liked them all.

The idea is awesome. The setting is properly "gothic". The characters were appropriately hotheaded, lovely, terrible and stupid, all as needed.

Unfortunately, Leroux's writing just didn't work for me. I can't pin it down exactly what it is that put me off, unfortunately. One of life's great mysteries I guess...



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Review: Doctor Zhivago

Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This was a very hard book to rate. At times I was thoroughly enthralled by Pasternak's wandering thoughts and at other times I felt like I was listening to my Great Aunt Lilly [93'ish] talk about whatever subject came into her head.

The book jumped quite a bit, quite abruptly. Kind of felt like I was on a coal cart and never knew when the cart would jump the tracks to another completely new track.

But this was a lush story. The hope, the despair, the national psyche, how everyone was effected by their emotions was as much a part of the story as the actual plot.

Characters weren't ones that you'd want to hang out with. Everyone was a revolutionary at the beginning, until they realized just want the Communists actually were. And the characters' dream of a Soviet Utopia died in fire, famine and horror.

Zhivago himself was a sad, pathetic character and at the same time I commiserated with him and hated him. He was crushed by the reality of communism, he went into and out of relationships like they had no meaning [3 wives? and 2 of them he created families with? Only to abandon them?]. Let's just say I wasn't sad at the ending of Zhivago's part of the story. In many ways it was better than he, Zhivago, deserved.

The ending to the book itself was so long and drawn out that I was ready for it to be done with after about 2 pages of the "Continuation" and "Epilogue".

It definitely helped that I've read books by [a:Ivan Goncharov|5326370|Ivan Goncharov|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1334441735p2/5326370.jpg], [a:Leo Tolstoy|128382|Leo Tolstoy|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1342945438p2/128382.jpg] and [a:Fyodor Dostoyevsky|3137322|Fyodor Dostoyevsky|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1328375676p2/3137322.jpg] before this.



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Review: Windows 8 for Dummies

Windows 8 for Dummies by Andy Rathbone

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This is a review for the full 433'ish page book. Not the quick start guide, not the cheat sheet, etc, etc.

If you are familiar with Windows XP-W7, then the first 50'ishpages will be enough for you. Rathbone goes over the major differences in W8 and how to navigate and accomplish what you want.

After that, this book is more for newbs who are learning about Windows for the first time.

I am glad to have this as a reference for when I forget where something is or how to "Task X". I read the first 135 pages then skimmed the rest of the book.







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Review: Imperfect Weapon

Imperfect Weapon by A.B. Potts

My rating: 0 of 5 stars



I only read the free sample. Which is why I'm not rating this.

From what I did read [prologue and first 4 or 5 chapters], it was grammatically correct and no glaring errors. However, I did feel like I was at a piano recital of a highschooler playing a difficult piece by Mozart. It was technically correctly done, but it was dry and by the numbers.

Nothing I read made me want to buy the whole book.



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Review: Second Chance: An Allons-y Adventure

Second Chance: An Allons-y Adventure by Shawn Kass

My rating: 1 of 5 stars



This author spam promoted his book in a group I am a member of, against the very easy to read rules about spamming and self-promotion.

So that ended my reading of this book. Hence the "abandoned" and "authors to avoid" tag...



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Review: Free Stories 2011

Free Stories 2011 by Patrick Lundrigan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This collection of short stories runs the gamut from the absolutely awesome to the unbearably dull.

Most of these stories appear to take place in each of the authors' own universe. So if you are not familiar with that universe, you're going to feel like an interloper at a party.

Honestly though, the worst I can say is that some of these stories were just boring.

And the good stuff really makes up for it. I liked the following stories.

Zahn's story took place in his Cobra War trilogy. It was a typical Zahn. I wasn't blown away, but I did enjoy it and I enjoyed the extra "boost" to the overall trilogy that this story added.

Second was a story called "Intelligent Design" that dealt with a young boy who discovers some sort of sentient computer. I really liked the idea.

Third, last and Best, was Larry C's short MHI story "Tanya: Princess of the Elves". Edward the urk is just awesome. And it was pretty amusing to see a little more into the elve's world, of ho-ho's and ranch dressing :)

I got this for free from Baen [Baenebooks.com]. Not sure I would have paid for this.



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Review: Dark of the Moon

Dark of the Moon by P.C. Hodgell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Gone is the light funny tone of the first book.

The story is split between Jame and her brother Tori. And between the viewpoint switching, the on purpose positively opaque writing, there were times that I felt as drugged and confused as Jame and Tori were. I didn't really enjoy that feeling.

There is a lot of deeper backstory that exists that we the readers aren't privy too. This makes for mystery, suspense and a sense of "keep reading to find out the ineffable mysteries!" Sometimes this works for me. This time, not so much.

There is a good bit of action, politic'ing, etc. I enjoyed this book overall, but not quite as much as the first book. I think part of that stems from suddenly having a second main character/viewpoint thrust upon me unawares.



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Review: Intrepid

Intrepid by Mike Shepherd

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Really enjoyed the ground based battle that comprised the first 2/3rds of the book then the space based battle was "meh".

I think I enjoyed this more because Kris wasn't whining every 3 seconds about either her lack of boobs, her "hatred" of all things political or her lack of romance.

This was more action and less emotion. I liked it.



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Review: The Rithmatist

The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The first couple of chapters left me feeling "meh", as the main character was not that likable. Then it gelled and became a standard Sanderson book, which being translated, means it was AWESOME!

This is steampunk. I hate steampunk. And Sanderson made me like this book.

Age of reading is definitely a step above the Alcatraz books, but not the full on adult world of say [b:Mistborn: The Final Empire|68428|Mistborn The Final Empire (Mistborn, #1)|Brandon Sanderson|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1312038619s/68428.jpg|66322] or even [b:Elantris|68427|Elantris|Brandon Sanderson|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1316637512s/68427.jpg|2908871].

Really cool ideas that are well thought out. Characters were interesting, engaging, true to life [ie, even complete dicks have their good points] and fun.

The plot was twisty, turny with just the right amount of sentiment, hints of young love, pathos and courageous determinism.

The main reason I didn't give this a 5star is because it is the first of a series. Maybe the series will suck later and affect my thoughts on this book. Maybe Sanderson will die partway through book 2. Who knows. So I reserve judgement for that final star...



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